Rory was welcomed with a pair of hugs in Elphina’s the next morning. He asked how everything was going and was told yet again that all was well and he had nothing to worry about. Rory doubted that, but still followed Elphina into the back, per her request.

“You know, dear, I heard the oddest thing this morning when I read the local news?” Rory raised his eyebrows and she continued. “The place we used to get our herbs from, Carlisle’s, had a beast breakout in its warehouse floor.”

“That’s terrible news!” Rory responded with an over-the-top shocked face. “I hope no one was hurt.”

“That’s sweet of you, dear,” she said, patting his arm. “The story says that none of the workers were hurt, but the place was quite severely damaged including much of the goods and equipment. Nobody can figure out where it came from.”

“Well, I’m very relieved to hear nobody was hurt. That snake must have really disliked herbs. Incidentally, have you spoken to George? Any issues there?”

“Oh, no. In fact, he has been quite accommodating. Did you know he has an older brother, Stanley? He’s quite handsome and loves to talk herbology.”

Rory turned to her with honest surprise. “Seriously?” She nodded while chuckling to herself. Now that he looked at Elphina, he could see a bit of pep in the old woman’s step. She seemed full of energy. “Huh. Well, I’m sure he would love to… uhh… talk plants with someone.” She openly cackled.

Guiding him into her little workshop, she said, “I’ve been working on your personal project. I need three drops of your blood and two strands of hair.”

Rory opened his mouth when she reached over and jabbed him in the forearm. “Ouch!”

“Stop being a baby!” she scolded as she collected the blood in a tiny jar. Then she dabbed something on the tiny wound and it stopped bleeding immediately. When he looked down at his arm, she reached up and yanked at his hair. “Ow! Dammit, you old bat!”

“Aren’t you supposed to be a big tough Soul Warrior? All I hear is whining. Now that I have what I need, get out of my way. Go find something useful to do with yourself.”

Rory sighed and walked out, shaking his head.

She’s not normal.

***

His next stop was Cosmica. Or more specifically Steph. He wasn’t due for a measurement until the next day but wanted to see if she was back yet.

Her surprise was obvious but then she smiled nervously at him when he approached the custom order desk, also with a nervous smile.

“Hey,” he said.

“Hey,” she replied.

Rory looked down when he spoke. “Umm. I know I’m early, but I wanted to see you and talk. Can you step away from the desk or… ?”

“Sure,” she told him, looking over at Edbun or whatever, who was speaking with another customer. “I’ll get someone to cover the desk for a bit. The room’s empty right now and recently cleaned so you can go on ahead. I’ll be there in a bit.” He nodded to her and walked in that direction.

Once inside, Rory sat on the now-familiar couch, his gloves and boots off, legs crossed, and leaning against the side. He just waited, trying to go over what he was going to say. A few minutes later, she entered, made sure the door was secured as always, disabled the surveillance, let her nice shoes slip off her feet, padded over, and then sat on the couch about a foot away facing him with her legs tucked under her.

Rory looked into her gray eyes, not sure where to start. His mouth opened a few times and then closed. She decided to rescue him.

“You have questions, right?” Rory nodded. “Just ask them. I’m a big girl.”

His first question was sort of the basis for all the others. “Why me?”

She sighed. “Why not you?”

“Really?” he asked with an eye roll.

She nodded. “Yes, really. Why not you?”

Rory couldn’t keep her gaze so he looked down, staring at the swirling knots that covered his hands. “Cause I’m… me. And you’re you and can have anything. Why pick someone like me when you can have someone like you?”

Steph gently put her hand under his chin and lifted it, forcing him to look at her. “What do you mean ‘like me?’ Tell me what you really mean, Rory. Just ask your questions.”

He sighed. “You’re beautiful and smart and really good at your job. And then your family and all the money and nice clothes and things. There have to be guys at your level that are better looking, with piles of money and posh things like vehicles and mansions and stuff. People in your… umm… you know, umm... social circle or whatever.” He waved his hands in a circle, as if trying to help him explain. “But I’m not like any of that. I’m just a poor low-level warrior with issues. I don’t share things with you and you know I have family stuff and that I don’t trust anyone. I’m not exactly someone you want to introduce to your family. I get we have a business arrangement, and your grandmother, a duchess by the way, seems okay with that. But…” He slumped. “You’re fun and amazing and I think about you a lot. Are we just having fun and then you’ll move on? I looked up things about nobles and there are stories in the news. It’s what rich noble people do sometimes. They play around with us little people, have their fun, and them move back to the stars.” Rory shrugged. “I don’t know… I haven’t really thought a lot about that, but I don’t know if I’ll be okay if that’s the case. I guess maybe I would. I mean it’s fun, but I’m so new at this and I’m not sure.” He stopped, breathing a little hard.

Steph tilted her head to the side, put her hand on his cheek. “Is there more?” she asked. He nodded. “Go ahead then.”

He looked down again. “I also think… umm… maybe I’m afraid you might view this as a business arrangement? You’re keeping me hooked to the company for the skins and stuff? I really am okay working with Mr. Forsythe. He’s been honest with me so far. At least I think he has. You don’t have to force yourself to be with me. I have this image in my mind that you spent time with me and then I leave and you think I’m disgusting and smell like the slums I lived in and you go home and shower off my stink.”

Oh shit! Did I just say that?

He gasped and looked up at her wide-eyed. “Wait. I didn’t-”

She put her hand on his face again. “Calm down.”

He slumped and leaned against the back of the couch, laid his head back, and closed his eyes. “I’m messing this all up. I had a whole speech. I even practiced it. But my mind got all scrambled.”

“Rory, is it okay if I curl up next to you?” she asked softly.

He nodded without looking at her.

Feeling her lean against him, Rory raised his arm and placing it around her shoulders and she laid her head on it. Then she started speaking. “If I didn’t know what I think I do, I would be offended by what you just asked. I wouldn’t whore myself out for the company, even if that's what they wanted.”

Rory’s head shot up. “Oh shit! I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize that’s what I was saying.” His head fell back and he let out a puff of air. “I’m such an idiot.”

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He felt her laugh against his side. “I know you’re not like that. And I’m not doing this just for fun. First, let’s get something out of the way. You’re quite attractive. Not just good-looking. But dashingly handsome.”

He snorted. “Freckles and pale skin. Sure.”

She whacked his chest. “It’s my turn to talk. So you listen like I did. Okay?”

“Okay. Sorry.”

“You don’t seem to have an accurate view of yourself, Rory. Your skin isn’t pale. It’s just light and quite healthy-looking. Not to mention silky smooth and very touchable. Your few freckles, which I like, aren’t as prominent as you seem to think. Your face is quite attractive, your lips kissable and your eyes, drop-dead gorgeous. Like emeralds. Your hair… well, I think you know how I feel about it. Every time I see you I just want to run my hands through it. And of course, your body is a warrior’s and continues to become even more refined. I’m surprised you don’t have women climbing over each other to get to you.” Rory huffed at the thought but she kept going. “I’ll admit, at first I flirted with you because I was sure you already had a girlfriend and was just having a little fun. Or thought maybe we could have a little romp and move on, like you said you read about. ‘He’s too good-looking not to have done that,’ I thought at the time. Then you told me you had never had any experience at all. Like none. Well, I’ll admit that was kind of a turn-on. I’m saying this before anything else because I want you to know I am honestly attracted to you and not forcing myself to do anything for anyone’s benefit but my own and hopefully yours.”

Rory lifted his head and looked down at her. She was looking up at him. He couldn’t find a lie on her face.

She sighed. “The people at my level, as you put it, aren’t the kind of people I would prefer over you. You’re honest, if secretive. They, on the other hand, are a bunch of lying vipers who would sell me out in a second for their own or their family’s’ gain. In case you’re curious, my father,” Rory heard a growl in that word, “has tried to foist a few young men from various families and businesses on me. That did not work out well for either party.”

Rory tightened his hold on her, surprised by how upset that idea made him.

“Why do you think I’m here on this lovely planet?” she asked him with an arm out. “I left the Sol system because I wanted to get away. A chance to succeed on my own without help or interference.” She shook her head. “I was kidding myself, of course. There will always be interference. Yes, I’m occasionally called back to attend to family affairs, which include annoying reminders of my responsibilities as a member of the Empire’s peerage, including marriage and heirs. It’s all part of the package with a dynasty.” Rory felt like he knew where this was going and he didn’t like it. She tucked her head back into his chest and continued. “But when I went on this last trip home, I kept thinking about getting back as soon as I could so I could see you. It sort of shocked me to be honest. I couldn’t get back to you soon enough.” She squeezed him tightly then. “I think I like you a lot. Way more than makes sense given we haven’t been together all that long.”

Then she sighed and shook her head against him. “But I also have a family that has expectations of me. One day, if we continue as we are and maybe move further, I’d have to introduce you to them. You won’t be welcomed, at least by most. You’ll be insulted, reminded of the difference in our… levels. Told you aren’t worthy of me. Do you understand?”

Rory blinked at her. That wasn't where he had thought she was going with it. The idea of that was obviously intimidating. But what mattered to him was that she believed it could get to that point, and, of course, what she thought of him, not what they thought of him.

He knew who and what he was. He’d already told her. A poor, unsponsored Soul Warrior without any family or connections.

“I’m not sure what to say to that,” he told her. “They’re not wrong. You’re royal and I’m a… well… I'm not. By a lot.”

“I don’t like it when you agree with my father and brothers,” she mumbled.

“Okay. It’s pretty obvious he and I won’t be getting along so well. But, what would you say to them after they tell me and remind you how much I’m scum of the galaxy then?” he asked.

“I don’t know,” she said quietly. “You don’t understand the politics. It’s not your fault, you haven’t lived with it your whole life. I’d want to tell them they’re wrong and can shove it up their asses. But that wouldn’t be good for you. It wouldn’t matter for me, but for you… seeing me defend you would weaken you in their minds. Make you even less. Needing of protection. My brothers aren’t smart enough to do this, but my father would wonder if he could use you to get to me. Probably come up with various plots and such to either turn us against each other or come up with ways to humiliate you publicly. Manipulation is his strength.”

After a few seconds of thought, Rory was surprised to realize that actually made sense to him. After all, he’d been of victim of power before. “I think I understand,” he told her. “At least about some of it. I mean, I learned early in my life that I need to defend myself and not depend on others to do it for me. Cause they won’t.”

She looked back up at him for a few seconds before speaking. “I wish you’d share your story with me.” He sighed and opened his mouth, but quickly discovered that once again, he couldn’t figure out what say.

Into the silence, Steph asked, “Rory, I want to keep trying to make this work. Do you?”

He was surprised at how quickly his mind immediately went to, Yes!

Was he this attached because it was his first relationship, he wondered. He was frustrated that he knew so little about… well anything related to this sort of thing. It obviously wasn’t Steph’s first time in a relationship.

He looked down at her face and saw her looking nervous and hopeful at the same time. She was beautiful, rich, famous, smart. Instead of answering he responded with a bit of truth. “I know you’re too good for me. But then why I can’t stop thinking about you? Is that normal?”

“You’re wrong, but to answer your question, what’s normal?” she asked back. “Like I said I think these things usually take longer but I’m in the same starship. I think about you and wanted to return to you when I was away. Not the planet, or this job. You,” and she tapped a finger to his chest. “That's a first for me, Rory.”

Her finger turned to an open hand and she placed it on his chest. “I feel like I can trust you, even now that you know. Here’s the thing though. Trust needs to come from both directions.”

Rory lifted his head and looked down at her. She looked back as she said, “You’re going to need to share a little with me. How can you ask me to trust if you don’t?”

Looking at her, once again Rory couldn’t see anything resembling deceit in her gray eyes. He tried to find. Searched for it. But there just wasn’t anything there but… hope he supposed.

So he laid his head back and thought. After almost a minute he spoke. “Yesterday I dropped my mum at rehab in New Greenfield. She’s been unconscious on moonshine and worse for almost seven years straight. I was only able to afford it thanks to the deal with Cosmica, otherwise she would probably have died from alcohol poisoning, or been killed for stealing to get more. Or suicide.”

She squeezed him around the middle but didn’t say anything.

“I’ve been a slum scavenger for that same period of time, barely able to make enough money to feed the two of us every couple of days and give her enough moonshine to stop her from ending up dead. I’m a nobody. Really, lower than that. Maybe you looked me up and found the same thing as Forsythe. Maybe your grandmother did too. I’m surprised you haven’t found more. I guess it doesn’t matter. What does is that Forsythe is wrong about his guesses. I don’t have a wealthy family. I don’t have connections. The only money I have is from your company and what else I can hunt and sell. I have no sponsors, no backing, no support. I’m so far from someone your family would approve of that they wouldn’t even let me near you, never mind in the door. That’s the truth. Like I said, your father wouldn’t be wrong, I’m not good enough for you. Never mind what your royal family would think, I have no idea why you would want to be around me now that you know.”

She didn’t say anything for a while and Rory was mentally preparing himself for her to move away from him and tell him and his slum stink to bugger off.

“Thank you.” She said softly. “I suspected something like that.”

Rory jerked his head up. “You did?”

She nodded. “You know so little. The music, the relationship stuff. The words and phrases most people our age know. And even the common knowledge on the Soul Wielder stuff. Anybody with even a poor sponsor would be aware of the things you weren’t. So yeah, I wondered.” She pushed up against him and looked straight into his eyes. “What happened to you, Rory?”

He looked back into the shiny gray eyes and gulped. He quickly looked down and said softly. “I can’t talk about it yet. It’s… hard.”

She curled herself back up against his chest and nodded. “I understand. We can trade secrets as we learn to trust each other more.”

Rory exhaled. “That’s fair.” More than a minute of silence followed when he decided to try to change the topic. “Umm. So, you saw my new place?”

She giggled. “Thanks for the tour. It looks nice.”

“It has a big kitchen,” he said. “I want to learn to cook.”

He could hear the smile in her voice when she said, “That’s a good thing to know.”

“You could come over and I’ll cook for you. But not yet. I’d just poison us.”

That made her laugh. “I look forward to the invite. Can I come over before you learn to cook? We could order in?”

He smiled down at her and he saw what was becoming a familiar heated look. He leaned down and they kissed. This time Steph was a little more aggressive. After twenty minutes of making out, she sat back.

Taking a breath, she asked him, “Have you understood more what I meant by ‘pent up’ before?”

He nodded. After a few sessions of her rubbing herself all over him, he had definitely figured it out. And sympathized.

Smiling, she leaned back, reached for the hem of his shirt and pulled up. He raised his arms, allowing her remove it. She’d never done that before, but he did like it when she touched his skin. Her eyes went to his inscriptions first, as always. Almost instantly, though, those same eyes raked over him so hotly he could almost feel it. She took a breath and pushed him down on the couch. He was a bit confused and concerned, but allowed it. Then she sat atop him and looked down.

“I want to show you something,” she told him. “It won’t break our rules. It might stretch them a bit, but it’ll also help release that feeling.”

Then she held out her hand a bottle appeared in it. He read the label and blushed so hard he felt like he was on fire.