Chapter Two #2
Elinor tilts her head and squints. “When you say you have time, you’re talking about the fact that you won’t die until you’re ready to, aren’t you?”
It seems odd to have it put so bluntly, but… “Yes.”
“David doesn’t have quite that much time,” Noah says gently. “I mean, he’s still got more than me, but not near as much as you.”
Andrew straightens abruptly and crosses his arms over his chest, his face set. He often seems displeased when Noah refers to his own lifespan, and I make a mental note to find a way to delicately discuss this with someone.
“I don’t plan to need centuries,” I assure Noah. “A few decades should be more than enough.”
He makes a choking sound and mutters something about “slow burn,” but Sam smiles. “That’s great. We’re all very much in favor of David having a life outside of his work, and we don’t know you well, but we think the way you adore him is probably a good start.”
Relief sweeps over me. Having the support and approval of David’s friends is important. Few relationships are successful when family and friends hate your partner.
“If you have suggestions on the best way for me to proceed, I would be happy to hear them.” I’m eager to know more about David, and any assistance they can give would be helpful.
“Well,” Sam begins, but then falls silent and looks toward the doorway.
I look also. There’s nobody there, but a moment later, David appears, followed by Gideon.
Sam must have heard them coming. I have to say, I’m quite envious of some of these shifter abilities—enhanced hearing, sight, and smell would be nice to have.
I smile at David, feeling my insides warm a little at the sight of him.
He looks tired, but we’re all a little tired right now, given the catastrophe we’re trying to avoid.
The glow of his beautiful soul still shines through.
He’s pretty from a physical perspective, too, with his thick black hair and dark blue eyes—contrast between hair and eye color is commonly held as a standard of beauty amongst my people.
We like contrasts. I wonder how he’d look with his hair long, framing his face?
I hold back a shiver of desire.
“Good morning, David,” I say, eager for him to see that I’m here waiting for him, not late. “And you, Gideon,” I add. “I hope you’re well.”
Gideon doesn’t smile back, but his habitual scowl lightens a little.
I’ve reconciled the fact that his expression doesn’t always match what he’s saying and feeling.
Which is just as well, or I’d be constantly on guard against attack when around him.
“Good morning,” he says, going over to Sam.
I smile again, this time automatically, because it’s so nice to see how their souls resonate together. They complement each other perfectly.
A paired soul relationship is a thing of joy.
David musters up a smile, but it’s entirely professional and not at all natural, sending a little pang through me. One day, he’ll smile like seeing me is the only thing he needs to be happy. My soul sings with the certainty of it.
“Good morning, Caolan, Garin. I apologize for being tardy—Percy had some unexpected additions to our meeting agenda.” He casts a slightly sour look at Gideon and then turns it on the rest of his friends. Andrew laughs outright, while Elinor whistles and looks up at the ceiling.
Noah’s reaction is the most interesting. “I told them to stop wussing out. Jesus fucking Christ, imagine taking years to offer someone a promotion because you don’t want to have to talk him into it.”
The translator spell takes a moment to put “promotion” in the right context, but then joy bursts in me.
“Oh! Congratulations,” I tell David. How wonderful that others are recognizing his worth!
Andrew laughs again, and this time Sam snickers a little too. David narrows his eyes at them but gives me another of those hideous polite smiles.
“Thank you. It’s more for political expediency rather than anything else.”
Elinor makes a harsh, drawn-out sound, which the translator spell tells me is an indication of displeasure. Or the sound a spiritual entity might shout, which makes no sense at all.
David ignores her, keeping his attention on me. I like that.
“Thank you also for being on time. I appreciate how difficult that is for you, and I want you to know that we all value the effort you’re making. Later today, I hope to get you all some watches— timekeeping devices—that will hopefully make things easier for you.”
A timekeeping device sounds like a particularly cruel and twisted form of torture, but now that we’re living on Earth, conforming to at least some local customs will help us fit in. So Garin and I exchange glances, then smile and nod.
“That would be most helpful,” my childhood friend says.
“I can take care of that while you’re out,” Sam offers helpfully. “Although, rather than watches, should we think about phones? They’re going to need them eventually anyway, and this way we’ll be able to maintain contact more easily.”
“Yes,” I burst out. “Phones. An excellent idea.” I’ve seen them using these phones they speak of.
They’re not all the same, but the general principle applies to them all—the ability to communicate over distances.
It’s also an information repository and can create images of people and places. I would very much like one.
Sam bites his lip, smiling. “I’ll arrange for them, then.”
“Wonderful,” Garin says, nodding. “I would like one with the kitten bubble exercise, if that’s possible.”
I frown at him. “What kitten bubble exercise?” And how did he learn about it?
“Same question,” Sam says. “And also, what even is a kitten bubble exercise?”
“Alistair showed it to me. His phone has it. There are kittens in bubbles, and the purpose of the exercise is to return them to their parent cat. It requires strategic thinking.”
“Ohhhh.” Sam nods while Gideon mutters something about Alistair that seems quite uncomplimentary. “That’s fine. You can add that after—ask Alistair to show you how.”
Garin seems satisfied by that, but I’m still rather miffed that I haven’t seen this exercise. I am generally considered to be the better strategist of the two of us.
“Okay.” David’s voice interrupts my plan to corner Alistair and convince him to show me the exercise. “We’re already running a little behind—that’s our fault—so maybe we should get a move on. Is there anything we need to discuss before we go? Or anything you need?”
I shake my head. My hair slides forward over my shoulder, and David’s gaze goes to it. He’s difficult to read, but I’m sure that’s admiration—perhaps lust?—in his gaze, so I give my head another small shake. I do have lovely hair, and I’m not against using it to secure his attention.
“There is nothing,” I reply with my most alluring smile. “We are ready to go.”
David swallows, then says, “Okay then. Uh, Percy has requested that Gideon come too. Is that okay?” There’s a faintly hopeful note in his voice that confuses me.
Does he think we will deny Gideon the right to join us?
Why would we antagonize our allies over so small a thing?
Further, why would I risk displeasing David for no real reason?
“Of course it’s okay,” I confirm, turning to smile at Gideon. He smiles back, shocking me.
“Thanks, Caolan,” he says. “I appreciate it, even if David doesn’t.”
David… doesn’t? I look back at him, but his face is back in that polite, neutral mask. Did I say the wrong thing? Should I have forbidden Gideon from joining us?
“Don’t be a douche,” David tells Gideon, then turns his pretty eyes on me. “He’s teasing,” he assures me. “Sometimes he does that just to confuse us all. Of course I appreciate your willingness to accede to Percy’s whims.”
The words are mostly right, but there’s an underlying bite to his tone that concerns me. It’s going to take quite a lot of time to fully understand how these Earth species communicate. For now, I will accept his words at their apparent value. “Shall we go, then?”
Gideon kisses Sam, making my soul sing, and leads the way from the office. Garin and I follow, but as I pass David, he lays a hand on my arm, making my whole body tingle.
“Could I have a word?” he murmurs, and after a brief moment of confusion—which word? How do I give it to him?—the translator spell advises that he wishes to speak with me.
“Of course.” I try not to sound too eager. I’ve noticed that he doesn’t seem to appreciate public displays of my fervor. But I do inject as much restrained enthusiasm as I can manage into my voice. Anything you want, you have only to ask of me.
He removes his hand from my arm, which is disappointing, but falls into step beside me as we leave the office. The hallways are not so narrow, but neither of us is small, so our shoulders brush occasionally as we walk, and it’s wonderful.
“I’d like to thank you for your thoughtful gift this morning,” he begins, speaking softly—although after only two days amongst his people, I already know it’s not soft enough to prevent others from hearing.
“It was most kind of you. But I would be wrong if I didn’t remind you that things must remain professional between us. ”
“It was a professional gift,” I blurt. Did he read my note?
Did Noah transcribe it correctly? I’m sure he did; he questioned me closely about the intended meaning so there wouldn’t be an inadvertent mistranslation.
“An offering between diplomatic envoys.” I wish I could take it back as soon as the words leave my mouth. What a completely stupid thing to say.
David clears his throat, and I sneak a sideways glance at him. There’s a tiny smile on his lips, and my heart leaps with joy. I made him smile! Even if it was because of my foolishness.
“I truly appreciated it,” he assures me. “But gifts are not necessary between us. On a diplomatic level. Or any level.”
Ahead of us, Gideon half turns and shoots David an incredulous look, one eyebrow raised. I knew he could hear us.