Chapter 6
“And what about of this, of all the things you sent to me?” Once again the clearly used, from all the rough edges and folds that could be seen in it, photo was waved across his face as if to prove something. Harry wanted to destroy the thing. It wasn’t that— Okay, it was awful. Truly everything in it was shame-worthy, from the chubbiness of his baby cheeks, his missing teeth, andthe fact that he was chewing and drooling all over Padfoot’s tail. It was an awful picture— his parents disagreed and “Hadrian” also seemed to do it from how much he was throwing it around— and Harry had been happy to see it missing from where it was usually marked in the living room so that every guest could see it.
He wasn’t so happy now that he discovered where it had ended up. He should have known better than to believe, thatsuch a precious possession and family heirloom inSirius’ words, would be banished. Especially after it was covered in every protection charm and sticky spells his fathers had been able to conjure, Harry had tried to take it out himself several times but never managed to move it not even an inch.
“Would you stop waving that around all the time and put it away! Better yet give it to me andI’ll burn it.” Harry jumped quickly to snatch it back, trying to use the seeker’s reflexes his dad always said he had.
Turns out you need to be on a broom to manage to catch something that's higher than you because the taller and mean man, who had shown up at his house claiming to be his lost love, merely raised his arm higher, way above Harry’s admittedly short high and out of his range, and looked at him with eyes full of sadistic glee. “No. It’s mine. You gave it to me.”
“Ididn’t give you shit! And would you stop lying already, Idon’t know you, you crazy psycho! Stop pretending to be someone who doesn’t exist.” Harry refused to be swayed by pretty dark chocolate eyes and beautiful smiles. The worst chocolates always come in the prettiest wrappers. Harry didn’t know this man, had never known him and would like it very much if he just left already.
Briar chose that moment to join what they had called their “little reunion” fanning himself vigorously. “Maybe we should listen to Teddy more often about his star wishes because this is truly a miracle. And to think we were told you were–”
“Dead?” Dark eyes narrowed with something he didn’t recognize but they never strayed from him and Harry cursed himself for agreeing to let his empathy be dampened. He would have liked to know what was behind those intense eyes and sharp irony. “I’m not dead. Touch and see for yourself.”
Huh? Touch?
Surely he heard wrong, but as Harry’s wrist was caught and drawn up to the ACE’schest he was less sure. Harry tried to twist his hand to set himself free but the strong grip didn’t flatter and he ended up with his hand pressed against a warm, defined chest, directly on top of his heath. He could feel it fluttering weakly against his palm. His fingers twitched repressing the instinct to sink his nails, deep enough to claw it out of the chest.
“I’m no casper, angel.” Harry, for the sake of his dignity ignored the undignified sound Briar made at Hadrian's words, focused on the gentle circles the ACE was tracing on his hand in a stark contrast with his early roughness.His hand was once again guidedbutthis time Harry didn’t fight it and a yellowed paper ended up between their joined hands. Harry whined when he recognized the messy handwriting in it. “I received your letters, dove. Every last one.”
It took a while to subtly kick his grandfather out of the room and a bit more to make sure he wasn’t pressed against the door trying to hear anything along with Rian. Fully embarrassed by his family Harry turned to face the other man again and hissed, mindful of the ears that this particular house walls seemed to have. “Who are you?”
The alleged Hadrian rolled his eyes and even tsked. “Didn’t we already cover that?”
Harry muffled a frustrated sound into his hands.“Don’t you have any shame, coming here as an imposter and deceiving my little brother?”
“Imposter” The man huffed sarcastically. “I’m no imposter, angel. And, right now, I’ll admit I don’t have any shame. Just like you”
“Excuse you?”
“Ohdon’t play pretend now little sinner.” Hadrian shook his head reproachful and started unfolding the previously forgotten letter. “It’s not nice to tell lies, Harry, especially if you use me in them.”
Harry tangled his fingers into his hair nervously. “I-I don’t understand—”
“Really, you don’t? Is it so impossible to believe that the name and rank you pulled from your ass might belong to an actual man somewhere? Sorry to burst your bubble but Hadrian is not exactly an uncommon name and neither is an ACE rank, especially in the pits.”
“Tha— Okay, yes. But I never properly addressed anything. The section number of the pits doesn’t exist. I checked. And honestly, Eros was more likely to eat it or crash it in a puddle than actually deliver it to someone. It doesn’t make sense, they should have never arrived to anyone. It could be considered nothing short of a miracle that it arrived to—”
“Me? Well, miracle or not, they did.”
“Oh Arielle, you read them?” Harry didn’t even let him answer horrified of the answer and, at this point, after years of one-sided letters, he was more than used to maintaining a conversation by himself. “Of course you did. Oh now, you know about Shadow. And you’re my family saw you and— Ergen, Kandra is going to laugh at me so much. And what will I tell everyone, thiscan’t be happening youcan’t be happening. You– You need to leave.”
Hadrian laughed mockingly. “Leave? Not a chance darling.”
Harry tried to tug on the ACE’s sleeve but he didn’t bulge, pushing him proved to have a similar result and finally, he gave up under the ACE's smug and amused smile. “Come on, just leave. If you do, I can convince my family this is all a mistake, because it is. You know that. I never meant to bother you with my stupid mess.”
“Perhaps you didn’t mean to but you involved me nonetheless.”
What do you even want for me? Is it an apology? If so, I’m sorry. I’m so so so sorry. Please, if you’lljust give me the letters back, oh and the photos, and— Actually, you can keep the rats, just be on your way, I’ll be grateful. And kind! I’ll pay you for your troubles. Generously.”
Hadrian shook his head. “Not leaving, angel. Not for all the money in your pitiful account.”
Harry grimaced but didn’t refute the state of his account, he should stop buying things for the Nyturas… and Teddy. “What do you want then?”
“Simple. I want allwhat your letters said, what they— you promised me and what you’ve been telling your family for years. I received all of your letters and despite your, and a few others, best attempts to kill me I’m very much alive. I’m ACE Hadrian Maruke, your ACE, take responsibility, darling,” Hadrian slid a finger under Harry’s chin tilting his face to his. “because I’ve come to bond you.”