“You’re Jason,” Linus said, repeating the name Helen had given them.
He nodded. “Aye. And you’re here for the boyo.”
“David.” Arthur looked toward the door. “Is he inside?”
Jason turned to face them, the smile gone, replaced by a wary expression. “Helen said you’re good people.”
“She’s too kind,” Arthur said.
“And that you’ve got … others.”
“We do,” Linus said. “If you listened to the hearing as you say, then you’ll know that to be true.”
Jason scrubbed a hand over his face. “I heard. Did it go as you thought? B was pretty pissed over it.”
“Who’s B?” Linus asked.
“My partner,” Jason said. “Byron. Uses they/them pronouns, so if that’s going to be a problem, you can leave now. Won’t have anyone coming after B, not in our home.”
“That won’t be an issue,” Arthur assured him. “We’re welcoming of everyone.”
Jason stared at him a long moment before nodding. For his part, Arthur didn’t look away. “Good to know. Figured as much but can’t be too careful.” He glanced at the door. “Bad business, yesterday. Seems as if EUM is alive and well, just with different people. Ya seen the papers?”
“We ignored them on purpose,” Linus said.
“Don’t blame ya for that,” Jason said. “Most made your fella out to be something dark. Conveniently ignored everything he said and focused on that little display at the end. Pictures and all. Some are running with your accusations of bugging your hotel room, but…” He shrugged. “Woulda done the same, yeah? Show them what’s what.” He grinned suddenly. “But don’t tell B I said that. They’re already on the war path, and woe to anyone who gets in their way, me included.”
Arthur chuckled at the fondness in Jason’s voice. “Sounds as if they are formidable.”
“How many people are here?” Linus asked as the sound of laughter came through the open door.
Jason narrowed his eyes, and Arthur felt in him a kindred spirit. “You’re not here for them.” He held up his hand as Linus started to splutter. “That’s how it is. Helen vouched for you, said you were both good men, but trust is in short supply these days, especially for someone who used to work for DICOMY.”
Linus nodded stiffly. “I did.”
Jason looked surprised, as if he hadn’t expected Linus to admit it so readily. “Huh. I see.” He sighed, picking dirt from underneath his fingernails as he leaned against the porch railing. “Look, lads. This is delicate work. Probably don’t need to tell you that, but I figure it doesn’t hurt to be reminded. Not just about us. About the people, yeah? Anything for them. It’s why B and me do what we do. Help people that need it. But we help adults. Kids are so much harder to explain when an inspector comes around, especially since none of them are registered.” He spat over the side of the railing, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand before glancing at Arthur. “But we made an exception for an old friend.”
“Helen,” Arthur said.
Jason nodded. “Aye, fine lass. Got a fire lit under her some months back.” He jerked his head toward Linus. “Said you had something to do with it.”
“She popped my bubble,” Linus said.
Jason’s eyebrows rose. “I don’t know about all that, but she’s proven herself time and time again. Said her village is more accepting than it once was.”
“It is,” Arthur said. “Work still needs to be done, but it’s getting there.”
“Good to know. Helen came to us and asked us to look after a wee boy. Said it was temporary while she, in her words, ‘convinced a pair of lovebirds they had room for one more.’” He waggled his eyebrows. “That be you?”
Linus groaned as Arthur held up his hand, the stones of his ring catching the gloomy light.
Jason whistled, bending over until his face was inches from the ring. “Would you look at that! Warms my heart, it does. Love, lads. It’s what makes the world go round.” He stepped back as Arthur dropped his hand. “So, she right? You have room for another?”
“We do,” Arthur said. “More than enough. And our children are just as excited as we are to have David come stay with us.”
“He knows we’re coming?” Linus asked.
Jason snorted. “Aye, he does. Worked himself up into a right state over it. Excited, nervous, everything in between. Wish we could keep him, but we’ve got our hands full as it is. Not enough room. Needs more than B and I can give right now. Kids need kids. Simple as that.” He sighed. “Doesn’t help that we’ve got our own inspection coming up for the adults we house. I’d rather him be far away from here than run the risk of getting noticed by the government.”
“But,” Arthur said, because he knew it was there.
“But,” Jason said, drawing the word out. “You heard it same as me. Rowder knows his name.” He glared at Arthur and Linus as if he thought it was their doing. “Doesn’t sit right with me. You’re in the same boat, only the inspector is going to be looking for children. How’s that going to work?”
“We know,” Linus said. “And we have contingency plans in place.”
“Such as?” Jason asked.
“The island has many secrets,” Arthur said. “Trust me when I say David’s safety and well-being are a priority to the both of us.”
Jason nodded slowly. “I’ll hold you to that, Mr. Parnassus. Anything happens to him, you’ll answer to me. May not be magic like you and B, but I can hold my own.”
A pointed threat, and one Arthur believed.
“How has he adapted?” Linus asked. “Given how quiet Helen said he is, this place must have been a bit of a shock.”
Jason laughed loudly, bending over and slapping his knee. “Quiet? For the first couple of days, sure. Now, though? Quiet and David are at opposite ends of the spectrum.” He moved toward the door, stopping with his hand on the doorknob. He looked back over his shoulder at them, wearing an odd smile. “He can be a bit … theatrical.”
“Theatrical,” Linus repeated with that funny little wrinkle between his eyes, the one Arthur recognized well. He was puzzled. “I thought—it’s just that Helen told us he’s quiet and shy.”
