January 29, 2363 AIA

The Colibri

The next morning, Reyer was sitting at the table in the center of the main cabin. Her head was resting on her folded arms. She had tucked her face into her elbow to block out as much light as possible.

Vas slammed a liter of water down in front of her.

Alix moaned.

“Drink that,” he commanded. “All of it.”

Jane had raised her hand when she’d shied at the sudden noise. Now she returned it to the table. “Geez, Vas. Could you spare a little compassion? The woman is clearly suffering enough.”

Reyer grabbed the bottle and put the cool surface to her temple. “It’s all right, Jane. I knew what I was getting into.”

“Are you talking about the hangover or the jealousy?” Ciro asked.

“Aren’t you supposed to be finding Bobbin?” Vas snapped.

Ciro bit the inside of his cheek to hide his grin.

Reyer let out a sigh, then groped for the cane leaning on the table beside her. Once it was in hand, she used it to force herself to her feet. “I think I’m going to go lay down. Unless you need me?”

The question had been directed at Vas. He glanced up from the computer Ciro was working on. She hadn’t arched her eyebrow, but her voice sounded a little too innocent, and he could see the amusement she wasn’t trying very hard to hide.

“I think you getting some rest would be a good idea,” he said.

“Thank you, Captain.” She detoured enough to touch his arm as she left.

When Reyer was almost at the end of the passage, Jane stood up.

“Captain Adan Vas,” she said.

Vas looked up in surprise. “Dr. Jane?”

“You can be a real dick sometimes.” She turned on her heels and left.

The captain’s eyes returned to the screen. His brother wondered if that would be the end of the matter, but then:

“Ciro?”

“Aha.”

“Does Jane ever call you names?”

“Sure. Wonder Boy is still her favorite, but there are a few others—some of which are none of your business—”

“Does she ever call you a dick?”

“No. But then, I’m not a dick, am I?”

Vas ground his knuckle into the top of his brother’s skull. “I guess that’s a matter of opinion, isn’t it, smart-ass?”

“Yeah, she does call me that.” Ciro shoved his brother’s hand away and rubbed his head.

Lynx had been standing to the side with several wires running from him to the mess of tablets set up in front of Ciro. He raised his head. “Captain, may I ask a question?”

“What is it, Lynx?”

“What’s a dick?”

Ciro snorted. His typing stopped; his shoulders were shaking too much to continue.

“Why are you laughing?” Adan said. “You should be ashamed if your bot doesn’t even know that much.”

Lynx said, “I’m aware of ‘dick’ being the slang term for the male sexual appendage”—(Ciro had to put his tablet down at that point, for fear of dropping it)—“which is why I assumed I misunderstood. Surely, Doctor Jane can see you’re not a dick. She’s a fully qualified biologist.”

Vas picked up his tablet from the table. “You explain it, Ciro. I’m going up to the bridge to get you more power. I don’t want that signal dropping.” From near the passageway, he added, “Lynx, if he starts to choke, just let him die.”

The captain hesitated as he neared his quarters. He lifted his hand to the door handle, but before he could decide about going in, Tennama emerged from the cabin behind him.

“Captain.”

Vas nodded by way of greeting.

The xeno noticed the tablet Adan was holding. “Has Ciro hacked into a stable channel already?”

“The channel’s stable. Our machines are less so. I was about to go give him a boost.”

“I’ll go in and see if there’s anything I can do to help.”

Vas watched Tennama walk into the main cabin, then he left the door to his room and continued on to the ladder. He stared at the tablet as he climbed, so he didn’t notice Alix was on the bridge until he stopped at the top of the stairs and heard her groan.

“What are you doing here?” Vas asked.

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Reyer was lying on the bench by the rail. “I was trying to relax.”

“Is there something wrong with our bed?”

“This was the quietest place on the ship, until somebody came stomping up the steps like an elephant.”

Adan crossed over to the on-board computer. “Did you drink all the water?”

Alix held up the bottle and shook what was left. “Most of it.”

“It’ll be quiet again soon,” he said as he typed. “I only have to transfer some processing power down to Ciro.”

“You don’t have to go.”

Vas glanced at her for half a second. Any longer and he risked losing the edge of his ire. When she was tired but otherwise cheerful, her face always took on an inconveniently lovely expression.

“You’re still mad at me,” she said.

Adan finished inputting the command and blanked out the screen. “Finish your water.”

As he walked by, she reached out and grabbed his hand.

God dammit. He stopped when he felt her touch. Like she knew he would. Because he always did. You’re the galaxy’s biggest pushover, Adan Vas.

“Do you love me?” she asked.

“You know I do.”

“Good.”

Reyer pulled him down so abruptly he almost lost his balance and went crashing to the deck. He caught himself, but only after he was squatting beside her with one knee on the ground. She put her arms around his neck and pulled him close with a content sigh. This was an old habit of hers: pull him close, then sigh. He privately thought of it as her teddy-bear maneuver. She did it every time he crawled into bed when she was supposed to be asleep.

“Was it the drinking that made you mad, or are you jealous?” she muttered.

Vas adjusted himself so he’d be more comfortable. “You’re on Exalt, Alix.”

“Half dose, Adan. Lynx checked me out afterward. Besides, you know that’s only a problem if you’re a heavy drinker.”

“And what do you call last night?”

Reyer giggled as she snuggled her face into his neck. He was losing this fight, and he knew it.

“A lot of fun?” she said. “Certainly a rare occasion. I haven’t drunk like that in…seven? Eight years?” She moaned. “No math. No thinking. At any rate, I was young and foolish.”

“Are you still having fun?”

She kissed his neck. “Yes.”

“Stop that.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m trying to be mad at you.”

“Oh.” She kissed him again. “What if I promise not to do it again?”

“I’m not sure I’d believe you.”

“What if I promise to be more careful?”

“I would be grateful.”

“Okay. I promise.” She released him and rolled onto her back. After laying a hand over her eyes, she said, “I’m out of practice for that kind of drinking anyway.”

Vas gave in. It wasn’t like his attempts to stay angry ever accomplished anything—aside from goading Alix into being more affectionate.

He’d been around Reyer and Lynx long enough, a part of him wondered if that was the reason he did it…

Which only proved psychology was worthless. Obviously.

He put an arm over her and scooted closer. “My lovely idiot.”

She lifted her hand enough she could peer out from under her palm. “What about the jealousy?”

Adan made a face.

Alix lowered her arm. “Ciro’s pretty good about knowing these kinds of things.”

“Is he?”

“I’ve learned to listen for his hints. So, were you jealous?”

“I invoke my right to silence. You can’t force me to incriminate myself.”

“Adan, you were right there! It’s not like I could have gotten up to anything. Did you think I was flirting with him?”

“You don't get it! You don’t have to flirt! You’ve got this laugh and this smile, and then”—he snapped his fingers—“every straight man within a hundred miles falls in love with you.”

Reyer was showing off that legendary smile now. It was all she could do not to laugh.

“Don’t you think that’s a bit of an exaggeration, Adan?”

“Not in the slightest,” he said. “I would know.”

“Right,” she said. “So no more smiling and laughing, and no having any fun.”

“When you put it like that, you make me sound unreasonable.”

“Hmmm.”

“You can smile around me.”

“Oh, thank you.”

“But not around anyone else.”

“Officers always give such reasonable and well-thought-out orders.” Reyer put a hand on his cheek. He hadn’t bothered shaving, so she gently scratched at the scruff of his emerging beard. “Is there anything I can do to convince you that I love you?”

“No, Alix.” Adan took her hand. “It’s not you. You know that. It’s my hang-up.”

“I know. I don’t blame you.”

“But I appreciate how patient you are with me being so…protective.”

“Protective? Is that what you call it?”

“That’s what you call it, and it’s better than calling it stupid. Anyway, thank you for being willing to reassure me.”

“Always, Adan Vas. Like you said, we’re just two broken people trying to hold each other together.”

Alix grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him close. At first she was content savored the feeling of his lips resting on hers, but when he kissed her, she responded in kind—slow, tender, considerate. When she gave no sign of wanting to stop, it became something deeper and, before long, more passionate.

Vas pulled away enough to say, “Maybe I should take you down to our cabin and have my way with you.”

“Adan, would you believe me if I told you I had a headache?”

She winced when he laughed.

“Excuses, excuses.” He kissed her forehead. “Later then, you coy beast.”

His com beeped.

“Go ahead,” he said into it.

“Captain”—it was Lynx—“we’re losing the signal again. We need your authorization to transfer the rest of the nonessential power to Master Ciro.”

“I’m on my way.”

He ran a finger down Reyer’s nose and lightly flick the end of it. She wrinkled it in response, but since he was leaving, she didn’t bother turning away or covering it with her arm.

Vas got to his feet and went down to the main level.

Reyer had barely closed her eyes when she heard Adan’s voice.

“Tennama.”

Vas wasn’t talking loudly, but Alix still heard him without difficulty. A grimace flickered across her face.

“Captain,” Tennama said.

“Ciro’s done with you?”

“He had to transfer all the power to one console. I decided I’d rather look at the stars than stare over his shoulder.”

“That’s understandable.”

“Captain Vas.” There was a pause. “Do you mind if I go up to the bridge? I prefer a real chair to sitting on the stairs.”

The silence this time was slightly longer.

“You can go up,” Vas said. “Miss Reyer is already there, resting.”

“Thank you.”

A moment later, Reyer heard Anthony coming up the ladder. He walked carefully, to avoid making too much noise.

“Good morning, Tennama.” She wanted him to know she was awake.

“Good morning, Miss Reyer.”

“Were you listening?”

Tennama rubbed his jaw. Then, with averted eyes, he admitted, “Yes, Miss Reyer. I did happen to overhear part of your conversation.” He looked at her. “Please believe me, I wasn’t trying to eavesdrop.”

“You need to make more noise when you move.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault,” she assured him. “I didn’t realize how easy it would be to hear us. That’ll teach me to be more careful about where I have my private conversations.”

“And I’ll try to find a bell to tie around my neck.”

“Thank you.”

She watched as he went around the other side of the rails and sat in the pilot’s seat. Once settled, he put his elbows on the arms of the chair and laced his fingers together.

“You look comfortable,” Alix said.

“I find the view relaxing.”

“Most people don’t choose that chair.”

“I was a pilot, Miss Reyer. This is the one I’m most comfortable in.” The xeno glanced over and saw her smile. “Why? Will the captain have something to say about it?”

“He can be a little territorial, but if he has a problem, I’ll let him kick you out.” She shifted to her side. “My sympathies are with anyone trying to be comfortable.”

Tennama turned his attention to the stars. “You love him, don’t you?”

When she didn’t respond, Anthony felt his stomach twist. He didn’t know what had possessed him to ask such a stupid question.

He was about to apologize, when she finally answered.

“Very much.” The statement was quiet but heartfelt. “I’m lucky.”

“I think…you’re both very lucky.”

Since Reyer was curled away from him, she missed the faint expression on his face.