Page 81 of Redemption

“Yeah, you’re right,” Alaric replies. “I’m just surprised that you know that.”

Liam’s eyebrows raise. “Have you forgotten who helped you study for your police exams?”

“You helped him study?” Atlas asks with surprise.

Liam smiles warmly. “Yes, I did.”

It’s so obvious to me that every time he speaks to Atlas, he’s so proud of him and just grateful that Atlas is speaking to him. He doesn’t behave like a father who abused his child, and I know more than most that monsters are very good at pretending that they aren’t monsters. I’m used to spotting them. Liam doesn’t behave like that at all.

It’s because I’m good at spotting them that I can see that Liam isn’t playing. There is regret, guilt, fear, and pride in his expression. There isn’t anger, disgust, or deceit there.

I’m watching the situation cautiously. We all are, but there is something more that’s going on.

The way that Alaric is behaving with him has changed as well. He’s let his guard down. I would be willing to bet that something has happened to cause the change in attitude while they’ve been working together to coordinate all of this.

I really hope for Alaric and Atlas’s sake that Liam isn’t playing them. While Atlas is still extremely cautious, Alaric seems happier and pleased that he has his brother with us.

That’s a pretty big one-eighty from how he felt about him before.

Trick and Alaric continue to go over the plan and make sure everyone knows what is expected of them, especially now that we’ve changed the timeline to avoid Hunt from realizing that we’re here.

Atlas

It’s really strange.

This whole fucking situation is.

If Liam were behaving how he has behaved for most of my life, then I think I would be coping with it so much better.

It would be familiar and expected.

This isn’t.

Even Alaric is acting differently. They’re acting like brothers, and honestly it’s really confusing, and it’s worrying me.

It’s also bringing up memories that I haven’t thought about for a really long time. The way that he used to show me his art, and we would paint together. I was awful, it is not a talent of mine, and yet he never told me that I was shit. He always encouraged me, told me to try again, and gave me tips on how I could improve.

There were more moments, gentle moments, advice, and caring.

It’s a direct contrast to a lot of my childhood.

Except those moments were private, it was only ever the two of us, and while I don’t want to make excuses for his behavior, something is telling me that means something.

“Atlas, can I talk to you for a moment?” Alaric asks.

I don’t miss the warning look that Liam gives him, and to be honest, that just makes me more curious.

“Yeah,” I reply simply as I get up and follow him out of the room and into one of the bedrooms. “Is everything okay?”

Alaric frowns as he closes the door. “I learned something.”

“About Liam?” I ask as I watch him closely.

Alaric nods. “He didn’t want me to tell you. But I think that it's really important that you know. I know that you’re confused by his behavior, and I think knowing will help, although it may also make you even more confused than you were before.”

I cross my arms over my chest, aware that it’s a defensive position, and raise my eyebrow as I say, “Spit it out, Alaric.”

He smiles quickly before it drops and his expression becomes serious again.