Before Gem could truly absorb it, Rusty opened his mouth, bared his canines, and screamed. It was guttural and raw, and it made Gem’s own throat ache as it scraped up and out of Rusty’s mouth. Gem wanted to run away, because there was pain here, a pain Rusty normally kept bottled up tight, and it scared him. It scared him how very real it was, but he refusedto flee. He couldn’t undo Rusty’s past; the least he could do was stand and bear witness.
Rusty screamed into the sky until he ran out of air, then he gasped in a breath and slumped onto the railing, chest heaving. He still didn’t look at Gem, glaring down at the metal between his clenched paws.
Facing forward again, Gem thought of the Avia’s sharp talons running down his arm. The way the lights had gone fuzzy, and the world had spun. He’d been confused and scared, and the Avia had said, “Don’t worry, baby. I’ll take good care of you.” But he was a liar. He’d looked at Gem and thought he was entitled to what he saw, and it made Gem so fucking angry.
So he screamed his rage and helplessness, leaning out over the fire escape until the railing dug into his stomach. He screamed until his throat ached and his vocal chords gave out. He screamed until he couldn’t scream anymore, and only then did he choke on a desperate inhale, breath catching. Looking down, he met Rusty’s gaze, and the Pyclon nodded. Just once.
Then they both turned and screamed again, Rusty’s a low, animalistic snarl, Gem’s a furious shriek of indignation. They screamed until they were empty, and somehow, Gem felt better. He grinned down at Rusty, and the Pyclon smirked back.
Then someone from a neighboring building shouted, “Hey, keep it down over there!”
“You keep it down,” Gem yelled back, waving several arms threateningly. “We’re having a cathartic moment!”
“Gemae? Is that you?” they called, and Gem exchanged a worried look with Rusty.
“Uh, yeah?”
“No way! It’s me, Kravyn.”
“Kravyn? Oh my gods, how are you? How’s Brandi?” Gem knocked Rusty’s arm. “It’s Kravyn!”
Rusty shook his head. “I don’t know who that is.”
“I’m doing good,” Kravyn said. “Brandi had the baby, and we got another one on the way.”
“What? Congratulations! That’s so great.” To Rusty, Gem said, “They were trying for a really long time. I’m so glad it’s finally happening for them.”
Rusty arched an eyebrow, and Gem remembered why they were out there and what they were doing. So he cupped his hands over his mouth and said, “Listen, I’m kinda going through something right now. It’s a long story. But let’s get dinner and catch up soon. You should text me. My number’s eight, three—”
“Don’t shout your number, Gem,” Rusty interrupted, and Gem nodded.
“Good call.” To Kravyn, he yelled, “Just have your mom call my mom.”
“Okay, will do. You take it easy, okay?”
“I will. You too.” Gem leaned back and giggled. “What a small world.”
Rusty simply stared at him.
He blinked in a wave from left to right. “What?”
Shaking his head, Rusty pulled out his tobacco and rolled up a cigarette. “Nothing.”
He lit up and took a drag before offering the cigarette to Gem. Gem took it and inhaled the spicy smoke, releasing it in a rush as he handed the cigarette back. They smoked in silence as the sun sank below the buildings, casting them in shadow.
“The soup’s getting cold,” Gem said as Rusty crushed the butt into the metal railing.
“We can’t let that happen,” Rusty said, and Gem chuckled.
They didn’t talk about the scream therapy they’d shared together. They didn’t really talk much at all as Gem heated the soup quickly in the microwave and Rusty set up the dishes on the coffee table. Gem’s stomach rumbled as he portioned out the soup into two bowls and took a much needed drink of water.
Tucking his legs under him, Rusty settled in the lounge chair as Gem returned to the couch. He sniffed cautiously at the soup before taking a hesitant sip. It was rich and savory, but mild enough that he didn’t think it would upset his stomach. He took a bigger bite, slurping up a noodle and snorting when it splattered his chin with broth.
Rusty watched him, his own spoon hovering in front of his mouth. “And?”
“It’s really good,” Gem said, taking another bite. “I don’t think I’ve ever had this before.”
“It’s a Pyclese dish,” Rusty explained as he took his first bite, his eyes drifting shut on a subtle sigh. “My mom would make this for me when I was sick. It always helped me feel better.”
