Ajax: Relinquished

by Gavin Magson

“I could not stop myself, it looked too funny. If you were seriously injured I would not laugh at you, honest. Let me kiss it better, turn around.”

  “Get away you fruit. So you'd not laugh if I actually injured myself? Why do I not believe you?” pondered Ajax. He laid down in an attempt to alleviate the pain, careful to not further aggravate his tender posterior. “Tell me about how you met Rine, it might take my mind off this incredible ball ache.”

  “I'm not even going to ask what you mean by that. It was my third summer hiding amongst the greenery of this park, I was reading a book under that tree,” Ajax lifted his head to see where she pointed to, a tall, thick based tree with branches that stretched across the clearing and over them. It was the only one nearby that still held onto its bright green leaves.

  “I must have fallen asleep, it was such a warm day and I remember being comfortable resting against the trunk with the sun shining on me. When I awoke I could hear this commotion going on behind me, so I crawled around the trees base to see what had woken me. Rine was taking on these four men, I could see a body on the floor behind them but wasn't sure if the person was alive.

  “I had never seen a fight before, despite being raised in Sector Four, it was such an exhilarating experience. Rine was prodigious even back then, it was very impressive, considering his lithe body. The man is incredibly strong, against the odds he easily defeated the men. When they had left, running from his attacks, I came out of the undergrowth to talk with him.

  “The person on the floor wasn't even known to Rine, it was such a selfless act to defend the man against the thugs. Rine was thanked and the man left to find a doctor, leaving me to question him about his motives; I have never met someone like him since. We became instant friends, despite the age gap.”

  “So were you part of his organisation as a child?” asked Ajax.

  “Don't be silly, despite his reputation Rine is a kind man with morals and rules that he follows vehemently; he would never allow a child that young to be a part of his business. No, it was a few years until I found out about his operation and what he did for a living. Back then he only had a few employees, they were jostling for position amongst a multitude of competitors. I asked to be a part of it, even his protests weren't enough to stop my joining. It would be a couple more years before I was managing fights, everyone starts off at the bottom regardless of how close you are to the boss.”

  Ajax stared up at the clouds listing across his vision, each a different shade of grey, not a single white cloud in sight. He suspected that the morning’s clement weather would not last much longer, yet was too comfortable in the moment to ruin it by seeking refuge.

  He had not given much thought about Aiko's past, she had such a rough and arctic personality when he first met her that Ajax assumed she had experienced a more typical upbringing, akin to Ilya in the slums, and would be hesitant to discuss it. His uncertainty of how to deal with people led him to avoid asking about their pasts, in case it brought up bad memories, or his lack of familiarity with Konar revealed him to not be a native. Despite her sombre story Aiko did not sound sad about regaling him with her life experiences.

  “You are hardly the poster girl for illegal underground fights and drug distribution; what made you so interested in this line of work?” asked Ajax. Aiko flashed him a full smile that brought on one of his own.

  “I couldn't tell you in simple words, it was just that after hearing what Rine did for a living I found it so exciting. It was a big middle finger at the social hounds that nipped at my father’s heels, the same people who ruffled my hair and called me princess. Perhaps it was as simple as rebellion, something so new and alien to occupy myself with.”

  “I suppose it makes sense if you did it out of defiance to what was expected of you. I think perhaps you both feared and admired the work, and maybe it was the thrill that you could not resist.” Ajax said as he shifted onto his side to face Aiko. “There is something I have been meaning to ask you since I got back. You are aware that it is Ilya's union tomorrow?”

  “You had mentioned it a few times by message.” her sudden change of tone went unnoticed by the oblivious Ajax.

  “Well, I know it is short notice, but would you like to... be my date for tomorrow? If you are not busy, of course.”

  It was the first time Aiko had seen the man show something close to shyness, or uncertainty, and his vulnerable state came as a sudden surprise. In that moment she felt a surge of strong emotions that all mixed together; was he really the cool and calm man that she thought he was? He looked so young right here, right now, no longer exuding the kind of confidence that left others ill at ease.

  “I was waiting for you to ask, and you didn’t half take your damn time. Of course I'll be your date, I look forward to it.” said Aiko.

  She leant down and kissed him lightly on the lips, which inevitably turned into a passionate entwining of the tongues. Ajax held her there, enjoying their closeness in the secluded clearing. When Aiko pulled away Ajax swept the hair that had fallen across her face and grinned once more at the woman.

  “Come on, we haven't got long before I'll have to go back to the Haven. I would like you to show me a bit more of your past, it's been nice to get to know you better.” said Ajax, resisting the urge to pull her back in and kiss Aiko again and again.

  Chapter 17

  “Did Ilya say how long she would be?” asked Duke between mouthfuls of wine. No one pointed out how strange it was to see him drinking something a little more cultured than his usual beer. The glass seemed so small and fragile in his calloused hand, which only aided in making the sight more amusing.

  Greg checked the clock and did the mental arithmetic with only a minimal movement of his lips. “She should be along soon, she is only twenty minutes late. That is normal for the girl, I'd be stunned if she changed a lifetime of habit.”

  The four men were uncomfortably out of place and emanated their unease with minimal effort; tonight they almost appeared passable as gentlemen. Everyone had donned their best clothes for the evening, but even the attire could not hide their humble origins.

  The restaurant was quaint, as the new Ilya would describe it with a grin on her face. The men squinted at each other through the soft light, which came from candles that littered the small room. It was barely enough for the men to see by as they sipped at crystal glasses. They were wary of the multitude of cutlery that dazzled and confused, which seemed to cover every inch of their table. They tried not to appear too threatening, but by the sideways glances from other customers this did not appear to be working.

  Duke was dangerously close to finishing his bottle of wine already. He had insisted from the minute their waiter arrived that he would be ordering by the bottle, not, “Some minute fucking thimble.” Lev had asked his partner what a thimble was to a round of laughter and derision, which only caused the gentle giant to curse at them.

  “I've never know Ilya to be on time, why don't we order now and just pre-empt things?” asked Duke.

  “Just have some more wine, which should sate your appetite for now. This is Ilya's night; we can't start the dinner without her. Here, just read the menu and let your imagination do the rest.” said Ajax.

  He passed over the elegant hard-bound menu, which he knew no one at the table would be able to decipher from past experience with fancier eateries. The menus gold edgings left him smiling to himself; Ilya knew none of the men would ever visit this restaurant by choice.

  Three other tables within the cramped dining room currently had diners seated around them, each person appearing far more comfortable in this environment than the quartet. Occasionally a patron would glance at their table, usually followed by a snide remark that earned the speaker a round of quiet laughter. Duke, despite having consumed a lot of alcohol already to quash his nerves, became aware of the onlookers and began to stare down the other diners.

  “Will you behave yourself, I can see Ilya crossing over to us right now, Duke.” chided Greg, pointing a
t the large window into the street beyond.

  Ilya stepped through the restaurants threshold and closed the umbrella she carried, causing water to cascade onto the floor. Ajax was stunned at the transformation she had undergone since last they met; not a single ounce of her old self remained. The woman he saw was graceful, clothed in an elegant, shimmering dress and holding herself like a woman of import. Gone now was the orphan who fought every day to live in the slums, who had everything taken from her and depended only on her own ability to survive. She had adapted to her new life and, at least at first glance, forgotten all about the past. She easily spotted the men gawping at her from the table and began to walk over, a smile spreading across her face.

  Almost as one the table of four rose. Duke stumbled as his brain lazily sent out signals to his muscles, which caused him to clash with the table leg and mutter under his breath. Ilya certainly knew how to make an excellent first impression. Despite being a long-time friend to three of the men she appeared almost as a stranger to the group. Their efforts to dress to impress paled in comparison with the expensive attire Ilya wore as a second skin.

  “You are looking beautiful tonight.” said Ajax, when the silence had gone on too long.

  Did he imagine it? Ajax thought he saw Ilya's mature, almost stern face soften for just a second after his comment; the old Ilya, insecurities and all showed for a moment. He stepped around the swaying Duke to pull out her chair and returned to his own swiftly.

  “Thank you, Ajax, you are all looking particularly handsome tonight; thank you for making the effort. I hope I haven't kept you waiting for long?”

  A whimper came from Duke, from the quiet thud it sounded as if Greg's foot had reacted faster than the man could complain about her timekeeping. Ajax flashed a quick smirk as a waiter hovered precariously close to their table and Duke continued to grumble under his breath. The waiter lingered too long, not managing to escape before a grimacing Duke ordered a second bottle of wine.

  “I have to ask, Ilya, why the short notice in changing the date for your big day?” Lev's deep voice rumbled and cut through the gentle background noise.

  “It's to do with Henry's work. He needed to organise a lot of different things to cover his absence when we go on honeymoon. Turns out there is something special coming up that requires his attention, we decided to move the dates forward so as not to conflict and make the most of his free time. How is the new Illicit Jane coming along?”

  It was Duke's turn to talk; a gentle elbow to the ribs was required to get the man's attention.

  “It is coming along nicely, we should be back in business within the next week or two. I take it that Greg had updated you about Deborah joining our crew?”

  “He had indeed, though has not told me anymore about my replacement. How come she is not here tonight?”

  “I did not think it appropriate to invite someone that you’ve not even met before to your pre-union celebrations. Besides, I don’t think this would be her scene, not that it’s mine either. I wasn’t planning to set off for another haul until after your union, so it looks like we might be departing sooner than the original plan. If you weren't on your honeymoon tomorrow night I would have invited you to come see the new gal. Where is the happy couple going on their first night as man and wife?”

  “We are going off planet. Henry insisted we should do a tour of the system. He keeps on going on about this nebula he wants us to pass; I don't think he realises I will have seen it a dozen times before, but I stopped myself pointing this out to him. Enough about tomorrow, I'm here to put my mind off it and enjoy myself with the other men in my life. Is anyone else ready for food?”

  The chorus of answers was over zealous, their voices mashed together into something unidentifiable. Ilya giggled at the sight, which seemed to finally break the spell of serious adult that had been cast over her. The menus were studied and food ordered, even Ilya made a comment on Duke's drink of choice before ordering a crisp beer; the other three men followed her example.

  “How are you feeling about tomorrow? You are looking a lot calmer than I would expect.” asked Greg after their starters arrived. Duke's small platter did not last him long and was soon followed by more complaints.

  “Trust me, my appearance does nothing to reflect how I am feeling on the inside. I need something stronger, this beer is doing nothing for me. Do you think they have any spirits in this place?” asked Ilya out loud, trying to get the waiters attention.

  The waiter took the unsubtle hint and, despite some gentle protests from Greg, returned with a bottle of purple liquid that probably cost more than Ajax's daily salary. Ilya did not even bat an eyelid when the price was shown to her, hidden from the men who tried to crane their necks to see. Five small glasses appeared with the new bottle, soon replaced by five larger ones when it was pointed out they wanted to get drunk, not simply admire the stuff.

  After the main course came a rich dessert that went down well with the group, along with yet more alcohol. The time was filled with past stories Ajax could not share in, though he did not mind listening to their reminiscing and laughed along with the group just the same.

  Some of the stories he had heard before, several were consistently featured whenever the old crew were drinking heavily together, others seemed to be embellished upon with each subsequent retelling. It was at times like these that he wished he had actually grown up in this city, with the people he now called friends. Not having a childhood memory, even one such as Aiko's, had started to bother him more of late. Ajax wondered if he would ever remember all of his past, knowing that doing so could not change his present. What little had been revealed to him was frequently mulled over at night, examined thoroughly for anything that he might have missed that could help him better understand himself.

  “What do you say we take the bottle and continue our drinking back at the Haven, I've been dying to see the place for weeks now.” said Ilya, doing well not to speak with a slur.

  “Best idea anyone has had all night,” said Lev, picking up the large bottle easily in one giant hand.

  “Tally ho!” was the captain’s contribution, to a round of laughter and obscene remarks.

  It did not take long for the five-some to finish the remainder of their bottles contents. When it was emptied they moved on to what passed as the finer selection of Sal's alcohol, which none had known to exist before this night and the arrival of Ilya’s seemingly limitless money.

  The Haven was experiencing a slow evening, unusual by its standards, so the landlord was more than happy to start selling his pricier stock in bulk. At one point Ajax was sure the stuff he was drinking should have eaten through the metal tankard before it even reached his lips. His drunken cough was echoed by the group and the bottle left untouched.

  “You know, I had a bet that it would be our boy Ajax here that would make you an honest woman one day, Ilya. Greg hasn't stopped chiding me about it ever since, or pestering me for the wager I placed.” said Lev whilst swigging on something sweet and unfamiliar.

  Ajax and Ilya mirrored each other’s blushing and were only saved from it being pointed out by the horrendously drunken state of their companions. They exchanged a quick glance across the table, the briefest hint of a shared knowing look before they almost instantaneously moved their heads away.

  “What made you think that, Lev?” she asked the giant.

  “Just the way things were between you in the beginning. You were preaching for him to be jettisoned into space with the rest of that ship’s crew, yet after he saved Duke's life you haven't looked back. I just thought you two would be good together, similar strong minded people and all that. I fear that the world would not have been able to withstand such a partnership.”

  “Unfortunately we will never know what might have been, my friend. Ilya will be starting her new life with Henry tomorrow, one of many familiar sights that will undoubtedly frustrate her to begin with, but a lot of new experiences along the way. I am not sure you should be saying
such things to a woman on the eve of her union, you might start putting thoughts of doubt in her head.” said Ajax. Ilya mouthed the words, “thank you” across the table to him, but they did nothing to quell the sickening feeling that had washed over him. He was powerless and it did nothing but enrage Ajax, he could feel a hollowness within him that only grew the more he thought of Ilya spending her life with another man.

  Lev struggled to comprehend Ajax's words, which meant his plan was working out well. The man picked up his tankard and replaced thought with more alcohol. Ajax poured Ilya some of the new batch and watched as the multi-coloured liquid gradually separated into three layers in her clear glass. A gentle snore from Duke indicated that they had one less person to share the drink with, which was always a bonus.

  Greg let out a hiccup and put one hand to his mouth, eyes flaring wide. Lev glanced at his boyfriend and recognised the look of panic on his face, despite his own crippling inebriation. Without being prompted Greg scurried from the table, heading straight for the stairs without a backwards glance. Lev stood up whilst Ilya and Ajax looked at him through hazy eyes.

  “I think Greg will have to call it a night, hopefully I won’t be left to clean up after him this time. I'll take Duke up to bed, since he is definitely done for the evening. I shall see you both early tomorrow; I hope you have enjoyed yourself tonight, Ilya.” said the man as his body slowly rocked on the spot.

  Lev leant over the table and planted a soft kiss on Ilya's offered cheek, Ajax made do with shaking Lev by the hand as the giant picked up a near empty bottle and the snoozing captain. The pair gently manoeuvred out of sight, passing several empty tables along the way. Ajax turned his head to watch them amble away and heard Ilya's soft giggle from behind.

  “I suppose you will want to call it a night then?” asked Ajax.

  “Don't be fucking silly, the night is young and I want to spend some time enjoying my freedom for as long as I can. Now what do you say that we order another bottle before Sal starts chucking people out?”