UNMASKED

#29

Eli wished he could say getting shot at was something he was unused to.

He also wished he had a normal boyfriend, but it was a bit late for that. He'd kind of gotten used to Matthew now and really, it wasn't like he could do better. Not when he was about as weird as Matthew. After all, he was in what could definitely be called a life and death situation and yet here he was, contemplating his dating choices.

"You know, it would be real nice if you could have a plan next time," Eli said as he ducked behind some machinery.

"Next time? You're already thinking of a next time?" Matthew looked at Eli with an incredulous look.

"I'm just being realistic!" Eli figured he might as well accept the fact that this was his life now. "And how did you even get here so fast with your stupid costume and all?" Maybe it was just that he'd had a moment to actually think about it, or maybe it was just that questioning these things at least distracted him from the danger they were in.

"Adria's people. They drove me here and had my suit ready."

"Well, at least they didn't kill you on the way," Eli said, with only a dash of sarcasm.

"You realize I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for Adria and her guys?"

"Oh what a coincidence, neither would I," Eli didn't appreciate the look Matthew gave him. He also didn't appreciate getting interrupted just as he was about to say something about it.

A bullet hit dangerously close to him and he watched Matthew's eyes narrow as he glared in the direction it had come from.

"Stay here," he said in a voice that made it clear someone was getting their teeth knocked in. He was gone a moment later, fading into the smoke still lingering and casting a thick haze over the room.

Eli had to resist peering around the corner, curious about what Matthew was up to. Apart from kicking some poor idiot's ass. He figured Matthew would be pissed if he got back to find Eli shot because he was feeling nosy. Eli should have figured there was still a chance he'd get shot thanks to his awful luck alone.

He heard someone approaching—their steps clear thanks to the metal flooring. Eli turned, squinting as he tried to see through the haze around them. His ears strained to pick up anything other than Matthew beating the absolute shit out of the bad guys. When he saw a blurry shape past the smoke, Eli felt his heartbeat speed up because he was not prepared to fight. Honestly, he could barely keep up even with Matthew dragging him along. Turned out, getting repeatedly punched in the face made it just a tad harder to focus.

I can't believe I miss my taser, Eli thought.

Eli still managed to tackle the guy. Although, that might have just been thanks to dumb luck and an impressive disregard for his own safety. He wondered if maybe his friends had a point, if maybe he really was that stupid. Either way, he was still very much alive, so he figured it was okay if he was a little bit stupid.

Of course, that still left him with the issue of the surprised looking guy sprawled out under him. Eli stared. The guy stared back. Neither seemed too sure about what to do. Fortunately, Eli was quick to react. Probably because of all the times he'd found himself in a similar situation.

Before the guy could fully snap out of it, Eli punched him. It probably hurt his fist more than the guy's face, considering he didn't look all that bothered, but at least it kept him from getting up and murdering Eli. At least, for a second, it did. He shook the hit off quickly enough and suddenly, Eli was getting tossed to the side. He scrambled to get up, but his leg was caught by the other guy. Eli was yanked back, his arms slipping out from under him making him faceplant rather painfully. Now more pissed off than before, Eli twisted until he was on his back and kicked out with his free leg, managing to catch the guy right in the face.