bathroom with a shower installed. Go ahead and program your preferences in the panel and get showers after you eat. You’re welcome to use my bed, but I know you probably won’t. Unfortunately, I don’t have a lot of luxuries here and that bed is pretty much the only soft place to lie down. I suggest you get past your anger long enough to get a good rest.”
“Where are you going?”
“To get some fresh food.”
He left the room and I sagged on the edge of the bed and buried my face in my hands.
“You think that man is responsible for all the explosions on Kithra?”
I looked up at Bastian. I don’t think he even realized he was swaying in place. Even though I hated to admit it, Jacks was right. We needed food and rest first. Then we’d be strong enough to deal with this ridiculous situation. Shaking my head, I stalked to the simulator and programmed a simple vegetable pie into it. It was a dish most simulators couldn’t mess up. A six-inch diameter personal serving of vegetable protein, spices and enough nutrients to replenish our bodies. One minute later, I handed the pie to Bastian, who looked around for a table.
“There’s only the one in the corner with all the clothes on it. No chairs. It’s hard to believe Jacks lives like this. He always liked his creature comforts.”
Bastian sat on the end of the bed. “I get the feeling he’s nothing like he was when you knew him. The man has suffered.”
“Good.”
He took a bite of the pie, chewed while he stared at me. He swallowed. “Vala, I think he hates himself as much as you hate him. Just listen to him—that’s all I ask. Sometimes…sometimes there’s more to a person’s story. Reasons why they did bad things.”
I grabbed another pie and sat next to him. “Why do you care whether I listen to him or not?”
He shrugged. “The man’s got a glare that makes my balls shrink, but I don’t sense any danger from him.” He looked down at his lap. “I’ve become very good at picking out bad seeds over the years. I don’t think he’s one of them. And, Vala, the man cares for you. Deeply.”
I shook my head. “Bastian—”
“No,” he interrupted. “You’re too smart not to know there’s more to the story.”
I took a bite of the pie, surprised to find it was better than I expected. I searched Bastian’s eyes, feeling a smile tug at the corner of my mouth. “You are something else. How did you end up so kind after growing up in an orphanage?”
He shrugged, chewed another bite of food. “I’m not as kind as you think. I’ve done some bad things, Vala.” He set the plate in his lap. “Really bad things. I hope the people I’ve hurt will someday forgive me.”
“Who did you hurt, Bastian?”
“A friend. A long time ago. I lost him when I should have held on to him.”
There was a lot more to this story, but I saw true exhaustion sagging his shoulders, watched as his chewing grew slower. I hurriedly finished my pie, then looked around, trying to figure out how Jacks washed his plates. Shrugging, I set them on the rickety table then came back to the bed to hold out my hand. “Let’s hold each other up in that shower.”
We ended up literally doing that. Jacks’ palm reader had a glitch and I had to program our preferences into it twice, and still the first stream of water that hit us was freezing. I would have enjoyed thoroughly soaping Bastian from head to toe, but we were too tired for anything more than a perfunctory wash before we stood under the stream and just held on to each other. The water was nice and warm now, and I placed my cheek on his chest, listening to his heartbeat as I closed my eyes.
Bastian had his back against the simulated glass panel as I leaned on him. Even as exhausted as we were, desire uncurled between us. What I felt for him was growing stronger, and it was so very different from the desperate ache I’d carried for Jacks. This was warmer, comforting…yet all those warm fuzzies were laced
“Where are you going?”
“To get some fresh food.”
He left the room and I sagged on the edge of the bed and buried my face in my hands.
“You think that man is responsible for all the explosions on Kithra?”
I looked up at Bastian. I don’t think he even realized he was swaying in place. Even though I hated to admit it, Jacks was right. We needed food and rest first. Then we’d be strong enough to deal with this ridiculous situation. Shaking my head, I stalked to the simulator and programmed a simple vegetable pie into it. It was a dish most simulators couldn’t mess up. A six-inch diameter personal serving of vegetable protein, spices and enough nutrients to replenish our bodies. One minute later, I handed the pie to Bastian, who looked around for a table.
“There’s only the one in the corner with all the clothes on it. No chairs. It’s hard to believe Jacks lives like this. He always liked his creature comforts.”
Bastian sat on the end of the bed. “I get the feeling he’s nothing like he was when you knew him. The man has suffered.”
“Good.”
He took a bite of the pie, chewed while he stared at me. He swallowed. “Vala, I think he hates himself as much as you hate him. Just listen to him—that’s all I ask. Sometimes…sometimes there’s more to a person’s story. Reasons why they did bad things.”
I grabbed another pie and sat next to him. “Why do you care whether I listen to him or not?”
He shrugged. “The man’s got a glare that makes my balls shrink, but I don’t sense any danger from him.” He looked down at his lap. “I’ve become very good at picking out bad seeds over the years. I don’t think he’s one of them. And, Vala, the man cares for you. Deeply.”
I shook my head. “Bastian—”
“No,” he interrupted. “You’re too smart not to know there’s more to the story.”
I took a bite of the pie, surprised to find it was better than I expected. I searched Bastian’s eyes, feeling a smile tug at the corner of my mouth. “You are something else. How did you end up so kind after growing up in an orphanage?”
He shrugged, chewed another bite of food. “I’m not as kind as you think. I’ve done some bad things, Vala.” He set the plate in his lap. “Really bad things. I hope the people I’ve hurt will someday forgive me.”
“Who did you hurt, Bastian?”
“A friend. A long time ago. I lost him when I should have held on to him.”
There was a lot more to this story, but I saw true exhaustion sagging his shoulders, watched as his chewing grew slower. I hurriedly finished my pie, then looked around, trying to figure out how Jacks washed his plates. Shrugging, I set them on the rickety table then came back to the bed to hold out my hand. “Let’s hold each other up in that shower.”
We ended up literally doing that. Jacks’ palm reader had a glitch and I had to program our preferences into it twice, and still the first stream of water that hit us was freezing. I would have enjoyed thoroughly soaping Bastian from head to toe, but we were too tired for anything more than a perfunctory wash before we stood under the stream and just held on to each other. The water was nice and warm now, and I placed my cheek on his chest, listening to his heartbeat as I closed my eyes.
Bastian had his back against the simulated glass panel as I leaned on him. Even as exhausted as we were, desire uncurled between us. What I felt for him was growing stronger, and it was so very different from the desperate ache I’d carried for Jacks. This was warmer, comforting…yet all those warm fuzzies were laced
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