Finding Home Box Set

Chapter 4: Cars and Voodoo

Chapter 4: Cars and VoodooOswald didn’t remember the guy’s name. They’d been introduced, but that had been a lifetime ago. With one last tug, the guy managed to pull him out of the water and onto the grass-covered riverbank.

“There you go.”

Oswald would’ve said something if it hadn’t been for the tremors shaking his body.

“Do you mind if I check you over?” It wasn’t until he asked that Oswald realised the man hadn’t touched him any more than he needed to. Not once he’d had solid ground under his feet—or rather, body, since he’d crumbled to the ground on the first step out of the water.

“I’m fine. Only my hands hurt.” And his hip, and elbow, and forearms. His entire body ached, his throat sore as if he’d been screaming for hours.

“Okay…I guess it can wait then. You didn’t hit your head?”

Oswald shook his head, tapped his thumb seven times against the ground, then rasped, “No.”

The silence stretched, and Oswald was distantly aware of the man pacing a couple of metres away from him, but he didn’t have the energy to care.

“Oz?”

Oswald jumped. When had he moved close?

“I know you’re tired, but we need to get moving.”

“Where to?” Where the f**k should he go? His car was far away from here, and the canoe was…wherever it was. His wallet and phone were in his pockets, the phone most likely useless after a dip in the river, and maybe the contents of his wallet as well.

“If you’re okay with it I’ll take you home. A hot shower and you can borrow some clothes.”

Oswald made a sound he hoped would be taken for a chuckle. Borrowed clothes he’d drown in sounded nice despite the embarrassment it would bring him.

“What’s your name again?”

“Oh, sorry. Josh. Joshua Roth.”

“And you’re Aid’s friend?”

Silence crept into the air again. “No, not really. Everyone knows everybody in a backwater intersection like Nortown, but I don’t hang out with Aiden on my off time, no.”

“Why?” Why wouldn’t he hang out with Aiden? Guys usually flocked around him like bees to honey. He glanced at Joshua. Could be he wasn’t gay and didn’t see the allure. He didn’t exactly like the relief flooding him, but it was there nonetheless.

If Joshua were straight, none of his touches would mean he expected s*x—not that he was touching him now, but it took that alternative out of the equation.

Joshua chuckled. “I like peace and quiet.”

Oswald smiled, and not the fake smile he’d had to plaster on from time to time during the last months. “I do too.”

“Okay, then.” Joshua offered him a hand. “It’s a bit of a walk, not the easiest path either if you don’t know your way in the dark, so I suggest we start moving.”

* * * *

Joshua wanted to keep hold of Oz as they walked, but every time he touched him Oz tensed, not shying away, but his teeth stopped chattering as if he froze up, so most often Josh let him stumble on his own. Slowing down as they neared the place where Josh had pulled up the canoe, he held out his hand. “Might need some help here.”

“Why?”

Oswald didn’t take his hand, and Josh frowned. “It’s stones, an old cairn that’s plummeted into the river. Come on. We’re almost at the place I left my things.”

Josh swallowed a curse as Oswald swayed when his foot slipped on one of the rounded stones. He grabbed his elbow. “Here.” Oswald didn’t protest when Josh linked their arms together. “It’s only for a few metres.”

“Sorry.”

“Nothing to be sorry about, I’m happy I don’t have to carry you. Imagine if you’d hit your head, if you’d been unconscious.” Josh didn’t add ‘dead’ to the list.

“I meant for being clumsy. I know it’s an annoyance, that I’m an annoyance.”

Josh frowned, not that Oswald would be able to see it. Annoyance? s**t, the poor sod could be dead or still up in the water slowly succumbing to hypothermia. “You’re not. It’s dark, the ground is uneven, you’re cold and probably more than a little tired. Give yourself a break.” Josh probably shouldn’t have growled the last part, but come on! “Ready for another dip?”

“W-what?”

“My car is on the other side of the river. We’ll have to cross it.”

Oswald’s trembling increased.

“The current isn’t nearly as strong, and while it probably will reach about waist-high on you, it’s not for more than a few steps.” If it would have helped, Josh would’ve lent him his waders but he was already soaked, plus they’d be too big. He’d neatly pushed Oswald into the small-guy-category when he’d first seen him, but he’d compared him to Aiden. Aiden was small. Having Oz walking next to him now made him realise small really was small. The top of his head didn’t reach Joshua’s shoulder. He almost wanted to test and see if Oswald could walk under his arm without having to duck. The sound of teeth chattering made him push away all thoughts of size.

“You’ll be all right.” He curled his fingers around Oswald’s wrist and slipped into the water.

It was chilly, but he didn’t get wet. Oswald wasn’t so lucky, the hitch of his breath had Josh wincing. “It’ll get easier after this, I promise.”

“Your car is there, on the other side?” They strode through the current.

“Ah…erm…no, it’s a bit farther on, but it’s a really nice trail, nice and smooth, no stones or branches.”

“How…how much farther?”

Josh tugged and pulled and soon they were past the deepest spot. “Almost there.”

“I-I meant…shit…” the teeth chattering reached a new level “…till we’re by the car.”

Josh considered lying. “It’s about half an hour, sorry. Come on.” Joshua took the last steps and got up on the riverbank, pulling Oz with him. “I’ll pour you a nice big whisky once we get home.”

“I-I’m not m-much…of a…drinker.”

Joshua chuckled. “It’ll warm you right up.”

* * * *

Oswald wasn’t sure if he was dreaming. Perhaps he had a fever and was hallucinating.

“How are you holding up?” Joshua touched his elbow, and Oswald jerked away, stumbling as he did so. Joshua grabbed his arm, and before he could stop himself, he hissed. It hurt.

“s**t, are you hurt? You said you were fine.” There were hands everywhere. Or maybe not everywhere but Joshua was gently running his hands over Oswald’s arms, shoulders, and up his neck. A shiver, different from that of the cold, shot through Oswald.

“I-I’m fine.” He tried to step away, but Joshua curled his fingers around his wrist again like he’d done several times since he fished him out of the water.

“I’m not sure I trust you, Mr…”

“S-Sattle.”

“Sooner or later, I’ll check you over, just so you know. We’ll have you out of those clothes, and I’ll have a look.”

Oswald held his breath. What did that mean? Have a look.

“Mind out of the gutter, Mr. Sattle. I can hear the cogs turning.”

“I wasn’t…It wasn’t anything like…I wouldn’t think…I know you’re not—”

Joshua chuckled which only made Oswald more confused than before. “I’m joking, Oz. Your virtue is safe with me.”

“Oh…” If he hadn’t been about to freeze to death, he might have blushed, but as it was, the embarrassment gave him no warmth. Even if Joshua had been gay, he wouldn’t have wanted someone like Oswald so he didn’t need to waste energy thinking about what it would have been like. And he hadn’t. “Sorry.”

“What for?”

Oswald didn’t know, but there was probably something he should apologise for. He didn’t want to risk infuriating Joshua further though, so he kept quiet.

“So, Oz, if you’re Aiden’s friend, how come you haven’t visited him before?”

Oswald concentrated on putting one foot in front of the other. It was harder to see the ground now since the trail went into the forest, but it was as Joshua had said—no stones or other obstacles.

“Oswald?”

“Sorry…What did you say?”

“Why haven’t you been to Nortown before? Or maybe you have, and I just haven’t seen you.”

“Erm…no, I’ve never been here.” Silence settled again, and Oswald forced himself to keep moving.

Joshua ran a hand through his hair, or, at least, Oswald thought he did. He didn’t look up to check, but he heard the rustling of his movements, and maybe there was a sigh too.

“How long have you known Aiden?”

Oswald wasn’t sure his legs obeyed him anymore. They moved, which was good, but he wasn’t sure he was the one making them do it.

“Oswald!”

He jumped at Joshua’s raised voice and then, before he could stop himself, he flinched. “Sorry.”

“No, it’s okay. I’m just…you’re sure you didn’t hit your head?” Joshua reached for his head, but Oswald moved away.

“I didn’t hit it. I fell into the water.” He shuddered. “But it was pretty deep where I fell; then the current pulled me towards the fall, that’s where the rocks came.”

“Okay, good. Keep on talking.” There was a growly edge to Joshua’s words, and Oswald’s mind blanked. Talk? About what? “I’m not hearing you, Oz. Keep up the chatter.”

“W-why?” Oswald wasn’t interesting enough for someone to want to listen to him. Guy had always said it was mind-numbing to hear him talk. His mouth was made for sucking c**k, not talking.

“If you go quiet on me, I’ll assume you’re hurt and take you straight to the hospital, and if your speech turns slurred, I’ll know you’re hurt, and I’ll take you straight to the hospital.”

“Is there any way I can avoid the hospital?”

“Of course. All you have to do is keep talking.”

Oswald’s heart began hammering, and he drummed his thumb against his thigh seven times. Josh would be bored out of his mind before they reached his car. “This feels like blackmailing.”

Joshua laughed softly, way closer than Oswald had believed him to be. “Then we understand each other. Now, talk.”

Oswald sucked in a breath. Talk. What should he talk about? He pushed his forefinger against his thumb seven times. His pulse rang in his ears. He had nothing to say.

“Why did you become an acupuncturist?”

“I wanted to help people.” That was easy; many people had asked him that question.

“Why not a doctor, then?” Joshua walked so close their arms almost brushed against each other.

“Not smart enough.”

“I’m not sure I believe you, but okay. Why not a massage therapist like Aiden?”

Oswald slowly blew out the air. “I’m a little strange with touch.” Too honest. He bit his lip, cursing himself for not thinking before talking.

Josh was quiet for a moment too long. Oswald went through his words in his head again. Stupid. He should’ve lied, should’ve said something about…about…what could he have said?

“Strange with touch? You like sticking needles into them instead? You’re a Voodoo practitioner, aren’t you?”

“What? No!”

Joshua chuckled again. “You’re too easy, Oz.” He touched his shoulder, just a quick squeeze. “Look there.” He pointed through the trees and Oswald came close to tears when he saw the shape of a car.