best.” He took another drink and his head tilted as he stared at Reid. “So, what’s your origin story?” Carter asked and Reid laughed as he was drinking and almost choked on his water.
“My origin story?” His brows shot up and Carter grinned.
“Every hero has an origin story. You know, something that changed their life and motivates them. Why did you become a hero?” He asked as he leaned forward. Reid felt a twinge of pain and a heavy weight settled into his stomach. He shut his eyes as the memory flashed and he took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes Carter looked concerned. Reid looked down at the napkin in his lap and rubbed the edge between his fingertips.
“I had another sister, Kelsey. She was two years younger than me.” He heard a faint groan from Carter and Reid nodded weakly but kept his eyes in his lap and blinked rapidly, trying to keep them from watering. “I was seven and we were riding our bikes in the street in front of our house when a car came speeding around the corner and hit her. There was nothing the paramedics could do when they got there, she couldn’t be stabilized and she died in the street. I felt so helpless and I kept thinking that I could have saved her if I was a doctor.” Reid’s voice was soft and low. Carter reached for his hand and squeezed it.
“Jesus, Reid. I’m so sorry.” His voice broke and Reid looked up. Carter’s eyes were shattered. Reid squeezed his hand back and offered him a weak smile.
“It’s fine.” He insisted. “It was hard for years after but we all healed and I held onto the desire to learn how to fix people. In a way, I think I’ve brought her back.” Reid tapped his fingers against Carter’s hand as he tried to find a way to explain. “I think I’ve made up for all the things we lost with her through all the lives I was able to save. All the people that went on to laugh, cry, sing, love… They replaced all those things that she wasn’t able to give the world. I think I’ve made up for her, if that makes sense.” Reid saw Carter wipe the corner of his eye quickly and he nodded.
“It makes perfect sense.” He whispered. His eyes poured into Reid’s, large and infinite like a night sky and Reid let them pull him in, relieving him of the heaviness in his stomach and chest. “Why neurology?” Carter asked after several moments. Reid was suddenly relaxed and present and Carter was suddenly potent and irresistible again. Reid gave him a wicked grin and Carter’s eyes became even darker.
“The human body is, for the most part, a machine. A lot of the parts are repairable or replaceable. Some, you can even live without. But the brain is everything. Its electricity. Its consciousness and identity.” Reid turned Carter’s hand over and his middle finger brushed slowly over his palm. “This simple gesture, a million processes create it and result from it. It starts as a simple command that sets off a chain reaction that happens almost instantly, a million neurons and synapse firing effortlessly. It ends with your response to the reception of sensation. If I keep doing this and I do it right, your pupils dilate, your heart beats faster, your body temperature elevates and your skin becomes flushed. These are all chemical responses caused by arousal, guided by your brain in reaction to the feel of my finger touching your skin.” Reid looked up at Carter and his eyes were heavy. “Everyone thinks love is in the heart and sex is about their body but it's the brain. The brain is love, sex and everything else.” He let his finger slide slowly, from the inside of Carter’s wrist all the way to the tip of his middle finger. Carter shivered and licked his lips.
“I think you just broke mine.” He mumbled and Reid pulled Carter’s hand to his lips and kissed his palm.
“Good. I’ve been operating without mine all evening.” Reid whispered.
Chapter 7
Carter sighed happily as he dropped into the passenger’s seat and
“My origin story?” His brows shot up and Carter grinned.
“Every hero has an origin story. You know, something that changed their life and motivates them. Why did you become a hero?” He asked as he leaned forward. Reid felt a twinge of pain and a heavy weight settled into his stomach. He shut his eyes as the memory flashed and he took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes Carter looked concerned. Reid looked down at the napkin in his lap and rubbed the edge between his fingertips.
“I had another sister, Kelsey. She was two years younger than me.” He heard a faint groan from Carter and Reid nodded weakly but kept his eyes in his lap and blinked rapidly, trying to keep them from watering. “I was seven and we were riding our bikes in the street in front of our house when a car came speeding around the corner and hit her. There was nothing the paramedics could do when they got there, she couldn’t be stabilized and she died in the street. I felt so helpless and I kept thinking that I could have saved her if I was a doctor.” Reid’s voice was soft and low. Carter reached for his hand and squeezed it.
“Jesus, Reid. I’m so sorry.” His voice broke and Reid looked up. Carter’s eyes were shattered. Reid squeezed his hand back and offered him a weak smile.
“It’s fine.” He insisted. “It was hard for years after but we all healed and I held onto the desire to learn how to fix people. In a way, I think I’ve brought her back.” Reid tapped his fingers against Carter’s hand as he tried to find a way to explain. “I think I’ve made up for all the things we lost with her through all the lives I was able to save. All the people that went on to laugh, cry, sing, love… They replaced all those things that she wasn’t able to give the world. I think I’ve made up for her, if that makes sense.” Reid saw Carter wipe the corner of his eye quickly and he nodded.
“It makes perfect sense.” He whispered. His eyes poured into Reid’s, large and infinite like a night sky and Reid let them pull him in, relieving him of the heaviness in his stomach and chest. “Why neurology?” Carter asked after several moments. Reid was suddenly relaxed and present and Carter was suddenly potent and irresistible again. Reid gave him a wicked grin and Carter’s eyes became even darker.
“The human body is, for the most part, a machine. A lot of the parts are repairable or replaceable. Some, you can even live without. But the brain is everything. Its electricity. Its consciousness and identity.” Reid turned Carter’s hand over and his middle finger brushed slowly over his palm. “This simple gesture, a million processes create it and result from it. It starts as a simple command that sets off a chain reaction that happens almost instantly, a million neurons and synapse firing effortlessly. It ends with your response to the reception of sensation. If I keep doing this and I do it right, your pupils dilate, your heart beats faster, your body temperature elevates and your skin becomes flushed. These are all chemical responses caused by arousal, guided by your brain in reaction to the feel of my finger touching your skin.” Reid looked up at Carter and his eyes were heavy. “Everyone thinks love is in the heart and sex is about their body but it's the brain. The brain is love, sex and everything else.” He let his finger slide slowly, from the inside of Carter’s wrist all the way to the tip of his middle finger. Carter shivered and licked his lips.
“I think you just broke mine.” He mumbled and Reid pulled Carter’s hand to his lips and kissed his palm.
“Good. I’ve been operating without mine all evening.” Reid whispered.
Chapter 7
Carter sighed happily as he dropped into the passenger’s seat and
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