V. H. King's Ink

“So—Wick just went ahead and—“

“Call it a love bite from a few nights ago,” Mallory said, not meeting Rianne’s gaze.

“Oh really?” 

Rianne raised an eyebrow, waiting for more.  Mallory rolled her eyes, crumbling her toast. 

“You know Wick won’t turn me.  We’ve talked about that.”

“But he’ll happily shift and impersonate your body without a second thought?”

Mallory gave Rianne a look.  

“It was just for today.  For me, because I asked them to.”

“That boy loves you too damn much.”

“And you love them, so don’t act like you’re all put out.”

“You know what time he’ll be back?” Rianne asked with a wink.  

“I’m hoping this afternoon, but there’s no telling.”  Mallory sighed and finished the rest of her tea.  “You know how board meetings go.”

“Do I?” Rianne got up from the table, shooing Mallory off to the living room. “Go rest.  I’ll tidy up.”

“Thank you.”

Rianne followed Mallory to the couch, making sure she actually did lay down.  Five minutes of soothing air strokes later, Mallory was asleep.  Rianne stayed where ze was for a little while longer, thinking.  Ze loved Mallory and Warwick both.  It was impossible not to.  Mallory with her adamant bravery, Wick with their quiet gentleness.  Ze was one of the few people who could refer to Wick as he, and ze didn’t take that lightly. 

Ze didn’t want to pry too much into whatever the conversation had been that morning, but ze did worry about Wick shifting unexpectedly.  Wick didn’t say a lot about all their years on this earth, but they’d seen plenty.  Rianne thought it was a wonder that Wick was still so full of care, all this time later.  The world could use more souls like Wick’s, but not at the cost of so much bruising and hurt. 

It occurred to Rianne that Wick must be half-dead on his feet by now.  Wick didn’t need to sleep, exactly, but it was a luxury he’d indulged in for a long time.  Sixteen hours on his feet was bound to put a hurting on him, on top of whatever energy it took to maintain form.  Rianne made quick work of washing the few dishes and starting some laundry before ze sat at the kitchen table and tried calling Wick.  Again. 

“Hello?”

Rianne couldn’t suppress a shiver.  Rianne couldn’t suppress the shiver that went through zir.  With Mallory still asleep on the couch, it was eerie to hear her voice coming through crisp and clear on the phone.  Rianne put on zir best face anyway.

“That’s all you have to say to me?  Just ‘hello’?  No ‘thank you for taking care of our darling, Rianne I owe you big-time’?”

“Rianne—sorry—today has been—“

“You don’t even know the half of it, honey.”

Rianne laughed, hoping it would put Wick at ease.  They could be cute when they were flustered, but they were still at the office. 

“I could hear every phone call and text you sent me, but I just couldn’t check while I was in the middle of things.”

“You still in the middle of something?”

“I haven’t had a chance to look through everything yet, but I managed to interrupt Ted so I could take your call.  How’s Ma—How are things?”

“They’re alright—nothing for you to panic over,” Rianne assured.  “When are you coming home?  You want me to have dinner ready?”

“I should be home by three or four.  Promise.”

“You have some crackers or something?  Because I know you didn’t have a single bite this morning and you’ve been running ever since.”

“I’ll find something.”

“You better,” Rianne said, smiling.  “I’ll call you around three to check in, alright?”

“Thanks, Rianne.  Seriously—I mean it.”

“I know you do, sugar bunches.”

“Should I read the messages, or…?”

“I’ll leave that up to you.”

---

Wick decided not to read the messages.  Not because they didn’t want to know, but because sometimes knowing half of the truth was worse than knowing nothing at all.  They’d rather hear everything from Mallory and Rianne.  And Wick wanted to be there, to be home, when they found out whatever the news was.  There was a certain kind of loneliness to finding out sudden news and not being able to say anything about how it made you feel.

Anyway, Wick wanted to leave things in a good place for Mallory to come back to—which was pretty easy, considering she was already five steps ahead of most people she worked with.  Plus, Mallory brainstormed most of her projects out loud.  Wick already had a good idea of the latest updates and changes, and Mallory’s inbox filled in the gaps for almost everything else.  Before they knew it, their phone was ringing again.

“You left yet?” Rianne asked.

“Thirty minutes and I’m home, I promise.”

“Is that what I sound like?” Mallory’s voice floated in the background, creating a ripple across Wick’s skin.

Wick frowned, looking down at their arm.  They watched closely as another tremor surfaced and then eased off.  Wick had never kept track of how long a shift could last, mostly because they’d never thought they’d have a reason to bother shape-shifting into someone else.  Wick had a feeling that time was running out. Fast.

“Of course that’s what you sound like,” Rianne was saying.  “Always making one more excuse to keep working.”

“I have good reasons!”

Another ripple, this time along Wick’s neck.

“You get yourself fixed on something and don’t quit, even when you do leave the office,” Rianne pointed out.  “How else would Wick know how to do your job flawlessly?”

“Because they’re my hero,” Mallory sing-songed, making kissing noises.  “If it takes you a little longer to get home—“

“No, actually—“  Wick cleared their throat, hoping the concern wasn’t in their voice.  “I think I should leave now.  I’m, um, feeling a little shaky.”

“Did you eat anything?” Mallory asked.  “I’ve got those miniature rice krispies in the bottom drawer of my desk.”

“You pass out on the way home and I’m going to have to start charging you, for making me play doctor.”

“I’ll be alright,” Wick said, munching on a treat.  “I’ll be home as soon as I pack up everything.”

“Alright then,” Rianne said.  “We’ll be waiting.”

Come to think of it, maybe it would be a good thing if the shift happened on the way home.  Preferably at a stop light, and not while they were trying to merge lanes.  It would be better to hear the news while they were in their own body.  Besides, they had a feeling that if they saw Mallory while they were Mallory—well, it had been fine that morning, but it was better not to risk it now. 

Wick neatly tucked several papers and print-outs into Mallory’s work bag, locked the computer, and headed out of the office.  The rice krispie treats had only made them realize how hungry they were.  Wick hoped Rianne had made dinner.  Had they asked zir to?  They couldn’t remember.  Maybe ze had already decided on something that would be gentle enough for Mallory’s stomach.  Wick hoped so.