Disarmed (Fence #2)

by Sarah Rees Brennan

“Do you want to go to Camp Menton?” Seiji demanded abruptly. “Sure.” Nicholas tried to smile. “Same way I’d like to fly around in a private jet or have superpowers. Have I told you what my superhero name would be? I’ve figured out a cool one.” “No, Nicholas,” said Seiji. “For the last time, I don’t want to hear your superhero name. Do some drills. I have to go make a call. I mean, take a call.”

Rich BF Seiji gonna take his BF Nicholas to France

But it must be nice to have your dad call you.

I hate being touched by someone who’s not Harvard? I hate you for not being Harvard?

He’d thrown himself into misery instead and hadn’t come up for air. Why would he do that when he just wanted to drown?

I’m calling about something important. This is about Nicholas.” “Okay, wow, it’s happening,” said his father.

Dad ships it

“Doesn’t matter! What matters is you, Seiji. I think I know what you’re going to tell me. I’m so glad you feel able to share this with me! Thank you. I, ah—love you.”

“I must meet Nicholas someday soon,” Seiji’s dad added. “Why would you want to do that?” Seiji was baffled. “I really don’t think you’d have much in common.” “We have you in common,” said his father.

Jesse had Nicholas’s dad. But Nicholas had Jesse’s fencing partner.

He just wished he could also take a vacation from himself.

Relatable.

He had started stealing Seiji’s stuff, which Seiji had decided Nicholas was allowed to do,

Aiden just whispered, “Hey, Harvard,” in his ear. He sounded like he was smiling. Harvard couldn’t help smiling, too. “Hey,” he murmured back, soft as a song to send Aiden back to sleep.

I don’t want to be embarrassed for anyone from Kings Row, and your behavior has been embarrassing ever since you and Harvard stopped dating.”

You tell him Seiji!

Seiji, plainly unable to deal with this situation, looked around for his security idiot, Nicholas Cox.

“You’re a dummy,” Seiji told Nicholas, comforted.

Dummy (affectionate)

“You can always make up for any mistakes, Aiden, no matter how bad they are. It’s not too late. All you have to do is try.”

Seiji gave some thought to what Eugene would like best on his card, and he drew a careful picture of protein shake ingredients, with a list by the side to show that the drawing was accurate. He folded the picture and wrote, Recover soon. Then he considered the matter some more and added Bro, because Eugene would like that.

“Since you don’t speak French”—Seiji cleared his throat—“you should stay beside me.” “Yeah, I will.” Seiji hesitated. “Promise you’ll do that.” “Sure,” said Nicholas. “I promise.”

it was safe for Aiden to go back to their room and retrieve Harvard Paw. It was a comfort to hold on to him.

If Nicholas were looking for someone to date, he didn’t think he’d pick someone super chatty.

People said that Seiji’s face was expressionless. They didn’t realize how carefully he’d trained himself not to constantly roll his eyes.

Seiji didn’t know how to deal with emotions, other than shutting them up within himself and staying silent.

Nicholas shrugged. “I’ve only done, like, small delinquent things. Tiny bit of shoplifting. Slight vandalism.” “Nicholas!” “Just, like, spray-painting walls. It’s artistic, in a way—” “Nicholas, you deface public property? I cannot believe my ears—” “One fire, but it was small and accidental—”

Once he had hold of Aiden, the world seemed a better and brighter place. Holding Aiden had been one of his favorite things.

It would do no good to call his father, but for some reason, Seiji did it anyway. His father answered on the third ring.

The highlight of this book is Seiji and his Father's relationship developing. I LOVE IT

“Next time, I’ll call just to… chat.” He wasn’t sure what he would say, but he would figure it out. His father sounded as though he was smiling. “Looking forward to it. Say hello to Nicholas from me.” “I will,” promised Seiji. “Later he’s helping me trespass.” “Um,” said his father. “What?” Right. Nicholas had made it clear that the first rule of petty crime was not alerting authority figures. Seiji told his first lie of the day. “Oh no,” he said. “The connection of this international call has gone wrong. You’re breaking up. We can’t continue the conversation.” “Seiji—” “Goodbye, I love you,” Seiji announced stiffly, then escaped from terminal embarrassment and criminal revelations by hanging up the phone. The sky was pearl white over a slate-blue sea. It was time to face Jesse, but Seiji wouldn’t do it alone.

“I mean, I’m with you to the death, Nicholas, but I’m actually very worried it won’t work! Can we get banned for life from Camp Menton?” “The dream,” murmured Dante.

You do you Dante!

Jesse was right there, but Seiji was paying attention to Nicholas, so Nicholas felt great about everything.

A captain had to lead by example. This was for his team and for himself. This was how Harvard would prove he was a worthy captain to lead them to victory at the state championships.

“Aiden whispered in my ear, ‘You’re going to lose.’”

“Are we going to hug?” Aiden asked in dread. “Oh, no, thank you,” said Seiji.

“I didn’t know that,” Jesse answered slowly. “Listen—” Seiji’s head turned. “I can’t. I have to watch Nicholas’s fencing match now, Jesse,” Seiji told him. “We always watch each other’s matches. It’s what friends do.”

Maybe it was just that you were the only person in his messed-up life who he could rely on, but he obviously thought you hung the moon, the sun, and all the little stars.

“This was like the first date I wanted,” Aiden had confessed after Harvard took him to the fair. When Harvard had asked Aiden if he ever had real feelings for anyone, Aiden had said yes, and confessed, “I never said anything to him. But there were things I wanted to say.”

“I can’t give up on Aiden yet.”

Harvard had taken solid ground away from Aiden, and then wondered why Aiden was drowning.

“Hey, Harvard,” murmured Aiden. “Hey, Aiden,” said Harvard. “I love you.”

This was the person he loved best in the world, the person Harvard would have sworn he’d never hurt. But he had hurt him. He had, and until he told the truth, he would still be hurting Aiden. Harvard gathered all his courage, and confessed, “I lied to you.” Amusement died in Aiden’s voice. “What?” “I’m so sorry, Aiden,” said Harvard. “I know you rely on me to tell you the truth, to always be there for you. I always intended to be that, to be a safe place for you, but I didn’t manage it. I didn’t want to hurt you. I didn’t want to get hurt. Do you remember when I told you that I only wanted to be friends because I didn’t want to fall in love with you?” His voice distant now, Aiden answered, “Of course I remember.” Of course he did. Aiden had trusted him, and Harvard had lied, but it was time to tell the truth now. He was so scared of what would happen when he said it, scared of what might change, scared he was too late. But he had to face the truth. He couldn’t watch Aiden’s face when he told him. So he fixed his eyes on the ballroom floor instead, and began to speak. “That was the lie I told you. I’d only realized what I wanted the night before. I was terrified of losing you. I should have realized how I felt about you before, but how do you see the planet you live on? The air you breathe? It was always there. It was too big for me to see. You were always just there. I could look at you every day, the same way I can look at the stars every day. I never had to think about h...

When Harvard looked up from the gleaming ballroom floor, startled, Aiden leaned in and kissed him.

“Fool,” murmured Aiden against his mouth, so sweet. “I love you back. I loved you first. You’re not going anywhere. You’re never getting rid of me now.”

“Harvard. Harvard. Harvard. I love you.”

“My whole life,” he said, “this is all I ever wanted.”

Beautiful and his. He wasn’t taking starlight for granted, not ever again. “I promise,” whispered Harvard. “I mean it. You can trust me.” Aiden smiled, grasping hold of Harvard’s shirt collar, pulling him down. His hands slipped inside Harvard’s shirt. When Aiden’s fingers brushed skin, Harvard gasped, and Aiden made a soft noise, wordless encouragement, only the first of many loving, lovely sounds to come. Aiden said, “Always have.”

“More drills and fewer matches in future,” Seiji cautioned. “Aw, Seiji,” Nicholas protested, voice light as the sound of blades chiming and birds over the sea. “That’s no fun, Seiji!” “I’m no fun, Nicholas,” said Seiji calmly. “Haven’t you heard?” “Everyone tells me,” said Nicholas. “But I don’t believe them.” “What do you believe?” “You’re my match,” said Nicholas. “You’re the match I’m going to win someday. The one I’m looking forward to the most.” Just looking at Nicholas’s face, you could see how much he believed it, and it was almost enough to make Seiji believe it as well. It had been wrong of Seiji not to trust him, but he would trust Nicholas from now on. He wouldn’t let his mind betray him, imagining similarities when there were none. Nicholas was nothing like Jesse at all.

“Hey,” said Aiden, trying to recall Harvard to the important matters in life. “I love you.” “I love you, too, Aiden Kane, but you’re the worst.” Harvard gave him a reproachful look. “We’re responsible for them.” “Wow—watch that we. I want nothing to do with them. I’m not their captain-in-law,” Aiden grumbled.

Harvard and Aiden, the freshmens' parents

Aiden couldn’t help smiling. “Are you, Captain?” “Oh wait,” Harvard said. “Oh no. That can’t be a sexy thing. Nicholas calls me that. You can’t call me that when you’re using that voice, okay?” Aiden let his smile turn wicked and mischievous. It stayed happy. “Whatever you say,” Aiden whispered into Harvard’s mouth, “Captain.”

Reminds me of Yok calling Dan 'officer' and if you get that reference <3

Aiden loves Harvard, for far longer than a year and a day.

Finally, finally, Harvard Lee liked him back.

An awful revelation struck Aiden. He sort of was their captain-in-law.

“Yes,” said Seiji. “I’m Seiji Katayama.”

Slay Seiji

“I’m glad they are back together,” Seiji said, to the surprise of all. “I think Aiden was sad. And that was bound to affect his fencing.”