He felt the blood rush to his face as the thought of Val alone with that man raced through his mind.
"You can't be around him," he said harshly.
Her face fell, and Val stood in shock, staring at him.
"What?" she finally managed to get out.
He shook his head and turned away from her. "That guy is bad news."
The bitter notes of jealousy pushed at her.
She clenched her fists at her side and tried to compose herself. Decking him might not go so well. Who the hell did he think he was telling her what to do?
"I think I can decide that for myself," she said through gritted teeth.
He whirled around and invaded her space. "What? Like how you did a great job in judging your neighbor?"
Her mouth fell open. "Who my neighbor is hardly something I can choose. I was fine."
Apollo moved closer, and she could smell him filling the air around her. His spicy scent lured her closer. "I'm sure you would have been fine all the way inside his place."
Quickly, before she even knew what she was doing, Val jabbed forward hard with her fist right into his stomach.
His eyes widened in shock as he grunted.
"I would have been fine," she said and stepped around him.
She turned and could see the younger hybrids standing at the door, watching their exchange.
"Let's go." She smiled at them.
The two walked around him, and she wondered what they were feeling. It was hard to read people when they were younger. She always thought that it might have to do with ever-changing emotions. Whatever it was, she was almost glad not to have to bother. Her ability could be distracting and exhausting at times.
She glanced back and found Apollo following with a sour expression. Maybe she shouldn't have found such pleasure in the situation, but he more than had it coming.
* * *
Apollo sat on the steps, glaring out at the world. He didn't care that he looked mad this time. He'd had enough of this shit. Babysitting sucked, and now he'd only increased the number.
Val passed by, and he watched her with suspicion. Not that he was going to admit it out loud, but she packed a hell of a punch. And if she'd been able to do that this whole time, why hadn't she used it on her creepy neighbor?
Dean snorted as he walked by, and Apollo had to restrain himself from going to thump the snot-nosed kid on the damn head. Mocking him. Where the hell did he get off? He was going to have to talk to Augustus about the serious lack of control he seemed to have over the younger hybrids.
The older boy carried the camera to the table they had set up. Peter was quieter than the others Apollo had seen about his age. He seemed to be thinking and taking in everything around him with his amber eyes.
Apollo shook his head. If they were in the facility, a boy Peter's age would be separated from the rest. He was on the cusp of manhood and would go through the final growth stage. It was hell, and most still didn't like to talk about it.
He watched the boy and wondered if it was something that was covered in the school they'd set up. Not that it was his job to worry, but it was just another thing that linked them all.
Peter placed the last of the parts on the table and came over to where Apollo was for his lunch. He sat down quietly next to him and munched on his sandwich.
They sat there in silence, Apollo not really knowing what to say, and Peter just enjoying the quiet.
He quickly finished his sandwich and stood.
Dean passed by and made another noise. Apollo bristled at the little brat.
"He doesn't mean anything by it," Peter said.
Apollo made a noise in the back of his throat. "Oh, I think he does."
Peter looked down at him and gave the first smile he'd seen from the boy.
"Okay, he does, but he just wants to be helpful," he said. His brown hair was shaggy and hung into his eyes.
"Can't he be helpful at the school?" Apollo asked.
Peter looked out to where the school sat in the distance and sighed.
"It's … " He furrowed his brow. "Augustus is great, but he's very focused."
Apollo frowned. "That's not a bad thing."
The boy looked down at him, and for the first time, he felt like the younger man.
"We want to learn," he said. His face was stern and unyielding. "Our time was just as bad as yours. But some of the boys have a chance for more."
Apollo stared at Dean. He was young and far more carefree than Apollo had been at his age. And why wouldn't he be? He had the chance to have a different sort of life. They had freedom now, a chance at a new future.
He looked up at Peter.
"And you?" Apollo asked.