“She’s good with color,” Robin murmured. He turned to Lucas with a puzzled but patient, almost Lucas-like feeling in his chest. “I See herhere. Did you?”
Crinkles formed at the corners of Lucas’ eyes even as he shook his head. “That is your gift, Blessing, not mine.”
“‘That is your gift, Blessing,’” Robin echoed back at him, grumbling, then shuffled forward until he was in Lucas’ lap. After a moment’s surprise, Lucas wrapped his arms around him, and he didn’t even complain when Robin buried his face in the crook of his neck and shoulder.
“I’m sorry.” It burned through Lucas’ voice, painfully sincere because he would ask again. Lucas would do what needed to be done, even if he didn’t like it.
“I’m still glad you’re here,” Robin told Lucas’ shoulder fiercely. He hesitated before looking up. He made his voice sweet. “I forgot to thank you for your gift of the Yule log. You’re probably going to try to tell me it was a sign, that it was meant for me to use, but what sign told you to chop up the rest and bring that in here too, first thing, on the morning of the solstice? Nothing but wanting me to be warm and happy. So I thank the sky and the tree and the lightning, but I also thank you, Lucas.”
Lucas was wide-eyed. He swallowed, then licked his parted lips. “Itwasa sign.”
Robin put just his fingertip beneath Lucas’ chin. “And?”
“And I wanted you warm and happy.” Lucas let it out in a rush.
Robin ducked back down and pressed a kiss to Lucas’ throat. Then he rested his head on Lucas’ shoulder and closed his eyes.
“Iamsorry.” The apology stirred Robin’s curls. “Your gift was given to you with purpose. It is yours, even if it’s not good for you, or fair to you.”
“Fairis an idea that does not exist to anyone but humans.” Robin kept his eyes firmly shut.
“It’s not like being given brown hair or freckles. You can change your hair, or tan, or get tattoos, or cover up. That choice is your own, and you may do as you will as long as no one else is harmed. But this…” Lucas stopped abruptly, then went on, quieter. “I’m sorry because I know you don’t want it and the cost of denial might hurt you.”
Not Looking might hurt him too, if it meant something happened to Lucas or any of the others.
Robin raised his head and opened his eyes.
Lucas was as earnest as he had ever been. “I once questioned why I’m this way. I insisted that what I’d been shown for me could not be right. I demanded answers.” He glanced away. “I was set firmly back on this path. I see hints of why, now. I should’ve pushed harder, or learned patience sooner.”
Robin leaned up to kiss the side of Lucas’ throat, then the faint scratch of stubble on his cheek. He slid his other hand along Lucas’ jaw, urging Lucas to look at him again.
Lucas’ lips were soft under the sweep of Robin’s thumb.
“You have not been forcefully set on any path, Blessing.” Lucas was amazed, though at what, he didn’t say. He frowned when Robin nodded to encourage him to keep going, as if he knew Robin wasn’t listening with as much attention as he should have. But he also did not stop Robin from touching him. “That tells me this is part of your gift, the waiting. That you have been permitted to hide from destiny, at least so far. Maybe… maybeyou’re meant to use your gift just once, when it’s truly important, and maybe that time is far in the future. Maybe there will come a time when it’s needed and, in the meantime, you may rest. Perhaps you will use it in a way I’d never expect. I have not been shown the hows. But you are here, now, with this strength, and it means something.” He took hold of Robin’s wrist until Robin met his stare. “You are an omen. Even your name calls it out to anyone willing to listen. But I have never been able to predict you. So I can’t tell you when all this will be or how you will choose to use your gift. I’m sorry, and yet, last night you were also given that log for your Midwinter’s fire, long-lasting warmth and light.”
All of that said to comfort Robin, when Lucas was the one who had, as he put it, been forcefully set back on his path to learn patience.
Which he had learned. Too well, in Robin’s opinion.
“Too patient. Too giving,” Robin huffed, leaving a kiss on Lucas’ skin for each complaint. That Lucas would dare to look confused after that was why Robin had to urge him closer. With his hand on Lucas’ cheek, he kissed his mouth and then lingered there, soothing the worry from him with whispers of nonsense.
“The stars, and the sun, and the moon,” Robin told him, kissing him again. “Maybe this fire was a gift for you too.”
Lucas tightened his hold on Robin’s wrist. “Robin.”
“Robinnow, am I?” Robin wondered, not really angry.
Lucas was determined to be serious, even while Robin traced his half eyebrow. “We don’t always like the gifts we are given, or are allowed to see where our paths lead. But I can help them. I can help you. I haven’t fully figured how yet, but it’s only a matter of time.”
“How?” Robin echoed blankly, since Lucas had done nothingbuthelp him for days now.
“How you will let me,” Lucas explained.
Robin pulled his hand away. “You make it sound as if I’ve argued with you every time you’ve approached my door.”
Lucas met Robin’s indignant stare with an annoyingly patient one of his own.
Robin nearly crossed his arms. “Well, if I’d known what you were offering, I would’ve….” Dragged him inside. Argued some more. Shut the door in his face. Run after him. Robin honestly had no idea what he would have done. He was tired of talking in any case.
