"Hm, yes," Araxis said."He sounds thoughtful.And I am told that one of the best ways to remediate stress is by firing very expensive weapons at targets across a great distance."
"I mean, that'soneway to remediate stress," I said, sly.
The flush turned that rosy pink I liked so much.I laughed, delighted, as he led us back to the provisioner, who was beaming at the two of us like we were characters from a broadcast come to life – and I suppose we were.She escorted us to the range out back, before setting out a row of arc lances and blast pistols and other weapons I didn't know the names for, and then she left us to our own devices.
What followed was one of the best afternoons I'd had in recent memory.Maybe in my life.Araxis took his time, telling me about each weapon that was arrayed before us; he walked me through safety features and effective use, had me hold them while he cozied up behind me, his hips fitted against mine, his hands supporting my arms, changing my grip.He let his mouth rest gently against my ear, murmuring easy explanations and then drifting away to watch as I took aim and fired at distant targets.He was quick to congratulate me when my aim was excellent, and to join me in laughter when it was abysmal.And all the while, my skin hummed with pleasure, something like contentment filling the cavernous space inside my chest.I'd catch myself watching him as he took apart one of the rifles with professional efficiency, lost in the task while he ran through an explanation of how the model worked and its drawbacks and benefits when compared to the others, and I realized, as I studied him, that it wasn't just curiosity I was feeling, but some strange admixture of pride and longing.
"You know," I said once, unable to help myself, "you're pretty fucking hot."
His black stare had flicked up and met mine; those pretty eyelashes fluttered as he felt the weight of my scrutiny, and he ducked his head, flushing a pleased pink, even as he said, "It is just rudimentary training.It's nothing."
"I don't know," I said, skin pleasantly warm as I watched him continue to snap the arc lance he'd pulled apart to show me the charge mechanism back together with an ease and grace borne of incredible competence."Myrudimentary training was all about the fastest ways to make different species come, so I think it's fair to say yours was better."
A smile, flashfire quick, caught his mouth.He clicked the barrel out, the weapon unfolding beautifully in his elegant hands."And if I were to say that I find you… particularly hot as well?"He still didn't look up at me, pretending he was busy getting the settings ready for me in the way he'd determined that I'd liked.
"I guess I'd have to send you an invite to my fan club," I intoned, and he trilled and, when he passed the lance to me, I let my fingers linger against his, my heartbeat warm and syrupy in my chest.
Eventually, we squared off with two of the same model of arc lance and ran through a shooting exercise.It came as no surprise at all that Araxis won but, as we walked down to the end of the range to examine the damage, it became clear that he hadn't won by much.I jostled his shoulder with mine, grinning."Be careful, I might end up coming for your job as creche protector."
He hummed noncommittally, examining the scorch marks I'd left on the targets."Wedoneed an entinn.Perhaps I will step into that role instead.Although – there would be even more meetings, Sashen.I am not certain I would be able to endure."
"Yeah, I've got to say, for creche protector and defender, you have to do a lot of administrative shit."We began to wander back across the range, side-by-side, his hip gently nudging mine every few steps."When was the last time you picked up your swords?"
He fluted out a long breath."It is one of the drawbacks of having such a small creche.We might normally divide our responsibilities across many shoulders, but as we are so few, they fall upon me to see through.But it will be worth the labour, once we see Creche Thiel restored to the Hall of Records and we take our rightful place in the Assembly."
He said it like he was trying to convince himself that it was true.
"You are, of course, correct, Sashen," he continued thoughtfully."I have not picked up my swords in weeks.Would – I wonder –" He bit off the rest.
I waited as we passed the row of rifles and lances again, casting a fleeting, longing look at the glittery arc lance I'd been staring at earlier."Would I what?"I prompted, when Araxis said nothing else.
"I wonder if you would have any interest in sparring again," he said finally, picking idly at his cuff as though there was a stray thread – although I knew for a fact therewasn't."I enjoy sword-dancing with you."
My lips quirked."Oh, were you looking for more lessons?"
He trilled, angling his chin so that when he looked up at me, it was through those impossibly dark lashes."Only if my instructor is amenable."
Could I add in more training, I wondered distantly, or would I reach the limit of what my body could handle?And when would I fit it in?I couldn't cut into my language lessons and practice.I couldn't miss meetings – Araxis had to be at those anyway – and I'd already fallen behind in my training with Tam.
Some of my hesitation must have shown, because Araxis stiffened immediately."I apologize," he said."Of course I understand if – You will of course wish to continue to have time on your own.I am already intruding on that.I should not –"
"Stop," I said, sharper than I intended.His mouth snapped shut."Yes, I'd like to start training with you again.I'm just figuring out my timetable.I like spending time with you.I like sword-dancing with you.Ilikewhen you take me places, like today – both for work and for… not-work.Let's look at our calendar when we get back and reserve some time."Then, because he still looked a little hurt, "Listen, if you were impressed today, wait until you see how much faster I've gotten.I’ve been training.I'll probably knock you flat on your ass – just prepare yourself emotionally for the inevitable trouncing."
His eyelids fluttered a little, Araxis's weight shifting as he rocked back slightly."Hm."That lovely purple tongue flicked out to his bottom lip."So many promises, Sashen."And then he turned and headed toward Imisu, my stomach clenching with a pleasant buzz of anticipation.
He bought me the gold-edged arc lance and looked absolutely too pleased with himself as the sephear took my measurements – apparently they could becustomizedto your body shape and limb configuration – and promised it would be ready with the order we'd placed to sell in Xitera.
I don't believe in foresight.I don't believe in much, truth be told.You know, cosmic dust, interstellar radiation, random bursts of static across great distances.But looking back, part of me wonders if there was something in the gravitational waves that told Araxis he might need me to be armed eventually.That maybe that same force had been nudging me to training, to working myself to the bone to become stronger and faster, to become merciless.Maybe it was necessary, in the end.
Chapter9
From the Jump
Vivith was gone.It is, I can admit, pretty embarrassing that it took me two days to realize that; then again, we were good at avoiding each other at the best of times, and it was decidedlynotthe best of times from the perspective of 'virra to cinelaat' relations.After our fourth meeting without Vivith in attendance, I finally clued in to the fact that their absence was conspicuous.
"So – Vivith is somewhere else?"I asked after a very tense meeting with an entinn from Creche Arvas, who had been slightly more amenable to Araxis's argument that we didn't need to be aligned in politics to still work together after I'd done my level best to act like the universe's biggest airhead who sometimes made very silly decisions, which my sinnenthi – strong and protective – indulged because he loved me very much.
"Yes," said Araxis, standing at his permanent post in front of the display in our room, black eyes taking in lines of text from what looked like a series of legal documents.He was holding a datapad as well, making rapid-fire notes, but he clipped the stylus to the top and looked at me as I shrugged out of my gauzy top and into my usual worn and slightly dishevelled clothes for my trek down to Radiant Ward."I thought it would be prudent to give us all some… space.They're still on Sozamia, completing the work I've tasked them with, but they will not be back with the creche for some days yet."He fluted out a breath."Even Vivith cannot work that quickly."
