“There’s nothing wrong with me,” Blaze answered. “And there’s nothing to be done for a disease that doesn’t exist.”
Arik was quiet for a short while, thinking. “So you have to follow the visions, then?”
“I do,” Blaze confirmed. He inched closer, tucking a strand of hair behind Arik’s ear. “And they do scare me. Used to piss me off. I used to be drunk or high or half dead most of the time, trying to get away from them, but…” Blaze shrugged. “Didn’t matter in the end. They found me. And I figured out the way to stay sane is to savor the good Quests.”
A flutter of a smile danced across Arik’s mouth. “Am I one of the good ones?”
“I hope so,” Blaze replied.
Arik hummed and deliberately placed his hands on Blaze’s bare knees. The sizzle and pop-crackle rose between the points of contact. “Does that…mark me as good?” Arik asked.
“Rare,” Blaze answered, leaning forward as Arik’s hands traveled higher. “Marks you as rare.”