Chapter 30 #2
Red Comet brayed out a pleased laugh, robes shifting around them as they stepped back.
"Yes, I can see how you would be a very challenging client.
" It sounded like a compliment. They then vanished back into the crowd of media broadcasters and tourists, many of whom had trekked down when we'd put the word out about what was happening in Ballast Ward.
I'd already signed a number of hastily purchased Tournament souvenirs; the iless from Radiant Ward I'd met briefly had come when I'd messaged and was doing a brisk trade in knock-off mugs, photographs, shirts, and – horrifyingly – those anatomically inaccurate dolls.
I'd had to sign three already. Judging from the double-headed dick the doll was sporting, they'd started their life off as brin toys before gaining a new face and losing a tail.
I'd shown one to Araxis, eyebrows raised. "I mean, it would be kind of fun," I admitted, and he'd looked at me with a mixture of exasperation and affection, all underpinned by the same nervousness that I felt.
Here outside our warehouse in Ballast Ward, we were sitting ducks.
We'd sent Vivith and the rest of the creche back to the ship after checking in with the retrofitting dock security to make sure there hadn't been any additional incidents.
Egnax had messaged to confirm that things were well, and then outlined the ways in which she would gleefully murder anyone who tried to come for her ship.
The shuttle would attach directly to the Creche Thiel ship, bypassing the dock entirely; it was as secure as things could possibly be.
Once the ship unmoored, they would come here, we'd load our cargo hold while chatting with media and fans, and then we'd be off with enough distance from Sozamia and the Concord's grasping influence to figure the rest of it out.
Because there were things we definitely had to figure out.
There were conversations we definitely needed to have.
Elethenn was still with us: I wasn't quite ready to let him out of our sight yet.
He has some things to tell you, I'd told Araxis, while Elethenn had gone all glassy-eyed again as he ducked his head.
And until he does, he's going to stay within reach.
At that, Araxis had fixed Elethenn with such an unflinchingly disappointed stare that I'd actually felt badly for him as he squirmed while we waited for the media to set up their broadcasting equipment.
For now, though –
I triple-checked our mics were off and angled Araxis to one side so that our backs were to the array of broadcasters and spectators.
I raised my hands to his lapels, like I was straightening the edge of his very utilitarian jumpsuit.
He was about as gussied up for a press conference as I was in my gray sweater; thank god I'd shoved it into a pack and that it was immune to wrinkles, because explaining why my jumpsuit had clearly been burned by blaster fire was definitely beyond the scope of this press conference.
I let my hands rest on his chest, looking up into his eyes.
"Just checking," I murmured, smoothing the fabric. "This is still okay?"
Araxis fluted out a breath, one of his hands resting gently against my ribs; on his features was a softer expression than I thought the moment warranted, given what we were facing – but then, he'd always reserved his softness for me.
"I should be asking you, Sashen. Are you certain?
And – of course you may change your mind at any point, regardless of what we say today.
That has always been the case, back in the Thenat Cluster, here on Sozamia, and it will be true in Xitera as well. It will be true always."
I knew that, and he was right that this was different. This wasn't a contract with an exit date. This wasn't feeling out the edges of our relationship to see if it could work for us. This wasn't doing anything in careful, measured steps.
Then again, yesterday I'd been scrubbing blood from the grating of Creche Thiel's ship. I mean, fuck, in the past day I'd murdered three people to keep Araxis and the creche safe.
When had I ever done anything in a careful and cautious way?
I shrugged. "You know me," I murmured, pinching the collar of his jumpsuit between my fingers as if examining something, like the very first time I'd spoken to him way back in the den. "I'm a bit of a show-off. And I would very much like to show you off."
He silvered like I knew he would, which was good.
I'd rather see him blushing than the brittle, terrified head of house he'd been on the flight from the ship to Sozamia, although I would take him however he came.
I would take him in all of his facets. I clicked the mics on and we stepped up to the podium.
Araxis's hand settled in the small of my back as he straightened himself to full height, every inch the prince he'd been on broadcast.
"Our thanks to all in attendance for joining us," Araxis said, and above us, a wave of silver cameras flashed in the cavernous space of Ballast Ward.
"And thank you to everyone watching later," I added, turning on my brightest dancer's smile, which I'd been told was nearly blinding.
If I was able to dazzle everyone with my smile, maybe none of them would notice that I looked like I'd been in a fire fight – which, of course, I had been.
"It means a lot for us to be able to share our news with the people who've supported us since we first met at the Galactic Tournament of Superiority. "
I could hear the whir of cameras flitting overhead. I didn't let myself look: I'd learned that much from being on broadcast.
Araxis's fingers twitched against me; I could feel them through my sweater, his touch firm and certain.
"In my culture," he said, "it is understood that there will be a difficult period of transition when a virra declares for a new creche.
Our Sashen has also entered into abayan culture from the outside, and so we anticipated that this adjustment would take more time and be more – tumultuous. "
I glanced at him, noting his hesitation over the word, and his stare met mine. The corner of his mouth turned down, his jaw pulsing with tension, and I knew what he was thinking, as clearly as if I were thinking it.