Raikidan’s brow rose. “He has a brother?” I nodded. “He isn’t gay too, is he?”
I laughed. “Hell no. Andariel is as straight as you can get.”
“Good. Dealing with one gay man is enough for me.”
I snickered. “Not all gay men are like Azriel. Most act like everyone else and give people their space. Azriel is… how should I put it…”
“Dominant?” Raikidan finished.
I nodded. “That would be a good word for it. You’ve probably met a few gay men and never realized it.”
“All right, now back to this ear thing. Why doesn’t everyone have ears like them? Did it not work?”
I shook my head. “The theory was correct, but the outcome wasn’t. They theorized a second set of ears would allow more sound to be picked up, but by the time Azriel and Andariel were let out, the second set of ears they had only grew to the length of a half-elf’s instead of the standard nu-human length and the result they wanted didn’t happen. They hear the same as I do, it’s just split between the two ears.”
“So if you covered one set of their ears, what would happen?” Raikidan asked.
“They’d hear half as well,” I explained. “So in the end, it’s still an advantage, since if you covered my ears, my hearing would be cut by more than half.”
“But that’s the only advantage,” Raikidan mused.
I nodded. “Yes, and that’s why Zarda decided there was no need to change our basic design. That one advantage wasn’t enough to change the formula to make nu-humans, so he had their design scrapped.”
He opened his mouth to say something, but Azriel’s voice interrupted him. “Good. You’re here.”
I sighed. “Yeah, I am. What do you want to yell at me about?”
Azriel gave me a quizzical look. “Yell at you? Who in their right mind told you that I wanted to do that?”
“Told you,” Raikidan taunted.
I blinked. “Then why do you want me over here?”
“Adrian went home early. Said something about his little girl being sick and her good-for-nothing mother not being able to do jack shit. Or something like that, so I need you to work the bar.”
I grinned. “I thought you’d never ask. But who is going to take my tables?”
“Cassandra came in. She’ll be taking the tables.”
I laughed. “Those poor souls.”
Standing at an abnormal height of six feet seven inches and made entirely of muscle, with an attitude to match, Cassandra was as scary as civilians came, and she put most tank-borns to shame. I was surprised the blonde hadn’t scared any customers off by now. Or Azriel hadn’t given her a bouncer position.
Maneuvering around the bar, I looked at Azriel expectantly. “So what do I do first?”
He smirked. “The first thing you do is teach Raikidan how to do this.”
In confusion, I looked over at Raikidan, who also appeared confused. “Um, what?”
“I need more bartenders now,” Azriel said. “Remember how a few quit last week?”
I had completely forgotten all about that. They had been pissed by the recent soldiers’ behavior and tight money situation, preventing them from picking up extra hours.
“When he’s not bouncing, he can tend the bar. That should make up for any time you work and he can’t come in as a bouncer.”
“All right. Raikidan, get over here.” He made his way around the bar and stood next to me. Azriel disappeared soon after, leaving the two of us alone. “I guess I’ll teach you the different drinks since you’ll need to know them by name before you can make them.”
He nodded and listened as I went about explaining everything to him.
Chapter 12
My violet hair whipped around me as I spoke with a comrade. We were out doing an information exchange, and it was going well. Even though Ryoko and I had little information ourselves, these two women had an endless collection to share.
“Zarda finally got his hands on Astoria,” one said.
Ryoko gasped. “No way! That elven city’s defenses are ridiculously tough.”
“Not all that surprising if you think about it,” I countered. “Zarda has been slowly cutting off their resources, while hammering away at their defense. They were bound to crumble eventually.”
“But you have to admit, the fight they put up was a good one,” the other woman said.
I nodded in agreement.
“And from what we gathered, he’s going for Ravenward next,” she said.
I chuckled. “I wish him all the luck with that.”
The first woman shook her head. “Why even get sarcastic about it? Everyone knows that elven city doesn’t have any defenses. They’ll be obliterated in seconds.”
I snorted. “You obviously know nothing about them. The city and the forest are one entity, and those in control of the city, as well as those protecting it, are all earth elementalists. That city is protected, it’s just not as obvious.”
The woman rolled her eyes. “I still doubt they’re capable of fighting off an army of this city’s caliber.”
Conversation ended at the sound of two approaching motorcycles. The four of us looked as two men parked their motorcycles and climbed off them.
“Wow…” the second women breathed. “I wish my housemates were that hot. You two are so lucky.”
“You have to admit it, Laz, they do look good.” Ryoko sounded a little hungry, and to be honest, I couldn’t blame her.
I couldn’t feel the way she did, but I could approve of how the boys looked. Both were decked out in leather and hid their eyes behind reflective sunglasses with colored lenses, and they had also chosen to keep their hair their natural colors, though it appeared Raikidan had worked some gel into his hair, as it stood up in a way that it looked as though he had spread the gel on his hand and quickly ran it through his hair.
I had to admit to myself, and only myself, I liked this look on him. I liked it a lot. I lowered my sunglasses to show my approval.
Ryoko giggled. “I am right. You do like him.”
I scoffed and rolled my eyes as I put my sunglasses back over my eyes. “You’re still wrong. I just approve of what he’s wearing.”
“I’ll take either of them if you won’t,” one of the women said, a clear hunger in her eye.
I noticed Ryoko tense, and grinned. “Don’t like him, huh?”
Ryoko blushed three shades of red and went to open her mouth to protest, but was unable to as the boys made it to us.
Rylan grinned and ran his finger along Ryoko’s hair. “Blue looks nice on you.”
Ryoko smiled. “Thanks.”
I was tempted to shake my head. She was trying hard not to show her feelings. I didn’t understand. Then again, I didn’t understand those feelings in general.
I looked at Raikidan as he leaned on my motorcycle. “What, no compliments?”
Raikidan grunted. “Why would I give you one? You throw them back at me.”
I laughed. “There’s that brain again.”
He leaned closer to me. “You know it’s not nice to say things like that.”
“I never said I was nice,” I said as I pushed him away by his chest.
He grinned but didn’t get to say more.
“Hey!” a man cried out behind him. “We need our keys!”
Rylan and Raikidan reached into their pockets and pulled out a set of keys. They tossed them to the two men standing by the motorcycles, who caught them with ease.
“Let’s go, ladies,” the other called.
The two women sighed and headed toward the two men but not before giving both Rylan and Raikidan seductive looks. “Bye, boys.”
Rylan grunted and muttered, “whores.”
I chuckled. �
�Sounds like you learned a new word while I was gone.”
Rylan shot me a scolding look, making me laugh. “Let’s head back to the house.”
“Yes, please!” Ryoko exclaimed. “My back is killing me today.”
Agreeing with them, I turned to climb onto my bike, but was stopped by Raikidan grabbing me by my cropped jacket.
“What gives?” I demanded.
“I’m driving,” he told me.
“Like hell you are,” I objected. “I don’t ride passenger on motorcycles.”
“Well, you will this time,” he told me as he pulled me back and climbed onto the motorcycle. “Now get on.”
I crossed my arms in defiance. “No.”
“Stop being a baby, Laz, and get on,” Ryoko teased. “It’s not going to kill you.”
“I don’t ride passenger,” I insisted.
“Fine, then you can walk home,” Rylan stated as he climbed onto Ryoko’s motorcycle. Everyone stared at him. “What?”
“I can’t believe you actually suggested that,” Ryoko breathed. “You never say stuff like that.”
Rylan shrugged. “If she’s going to act like a child, then let her. We’ll treat her in the same respect. Besides, I’m not going to sit around here while Laz behaves this way. I want to get out of these stupid clothes.”
“I think you look nice…” Ryoko murmured as she climbed on the motorcycle behind him.
Rylan’s face tinted with a small flush, and it grew as she wrapped her arms around him. He fumbled with the keys in the ignition but recovered and started the motorcycle.
Grumbling, I climbed on the motorcycle behind Raikidan and wrapped my arms loosely around him. Raikidan didn’t say anything as he started up the motorcycle and kicked it into gear. My grip tightened as we took off down the road quickly. He was as crazy as me when it came to driving, but my grip loosened once I became accustomed to it.
“Why do you hate this so much?” he asked.
“Because.”
“That’s not a reason.”
“I just do.”
“You have a real reason. What is it?”
I sighed. “When you learn to rely on only yourself, it’s hard to go back to relying on others. It makes you feel weak.”
“This makes you feel weak?”
I nodded. “In a car, I still have control regardless of where I sit. On a bike, however, I have to rely on you completely to get me somewhere. I’m not in control of something as simple as getting from point A to point B.”
“Having the chance to rely on someone else is nice,” he told me. “Makes you feel less alone.”
I grunted. “I thought you liked being alone.”
“I choose to be alone because there is no one I can rely on. There is no one around I can trust.”
Instead of replying, I looked at him and ran his words through my mind over and over. I tightened my grip around his waist and rested my head on his back. A small ounce of shock rippled though his body, but he didn’t voice a protest.
“You look nice,” I murmured.
A chuckle rumbled through his chest. “What is with you all of a sudden?”
“Just take the compliment, will you?”
He looked back at me, but I avoided his gaze. It had been hard enough saying it to him, but for him to ignore it completely, that was hard for me to handle. Even though I turned compliments down, at least I acknowledged them in some way on those rare occasions when I did receive them.
Raikidan focused back on the road and then rested his hand on top of mine, making me tense. I could feel the definition of his abs as he held my hands against his body. His skin was warm, which was a nice contrast to the cool wind around us.
Not only was he not driving with his full attention on keeping us balanced, but he was also holding my hand in some way. He had done this once before in the car when he was trying to get me to listen to him.
Just as suddenly as he had grasped my hands, he let go and placed his hand back on the handlebar. I looked at him. He glanced back at me with a small grin.
“I meant what I said,” I said.
“You only like it because I’m shirtless.”
“I’d be lying if I said you were wrong.” He glanced back at me in shock and I laughed. “I’m kidding.”
“Don’t make me kick you off this thing.”
I tightened my grip and rested my head on his back again. “You wouldn’t be that mean.”
“You’re right,” he chuckled. “I’d throw you into the arms of your favorite general we just passed.”
“We what?”
“Yeah, he looked pretty shocked to see us. I hope you can come up with a good excuse the next time you see him face-to-face.”
I groaned. “I knew I should have dyed my hair.”
“I like that you didn’t. You look better with your hair this color.”
A flush rushed through my cheeks. “I think I looked better with red hair.”
“You did look good that way. And with black hair as well, but I can’t call you Butterfly unless you keep it this color.”
“Then maybe I’ll dye my hair red when I get home and make sure it’s a permanent.”
“I wouldn’t do that,” Raikidan advised. “At the club I saw Zo doing that thing you call flirting, with a woman with red hair, and he was being more aggressive with with her than he is with you.”
I groaned again. “When will my hellish torture end?”
“When you say it’s okay for me to kill him.”
I blinked. “Why do you want to kill him so bad? It’s not like he’s after you or something.”
“His actions are upsetting you, though. That’s reason enough for me.”
My face burned again. “Um, well… thanks… but I don’t need to be protected or anything. I do fine on my own.”
“Doing fine shouldn’t be good enough. You shouldn’t be settling for anything less than perfect.”
“Why would I do that when I’m not perfect myself?”
Raikidan didn’t respond, caught off guard by my words, even though I didn’t think he should have been. I was nowhere near perfect, and I never once expected anything to be perfect. I saw that nothing could truly be perfect, so why try to force the impossible?
“Eira…”
I looked at him. “Yeah?”
“You… you look nice today. Your clothes match… your personality.”
I smiled despite myself. “Thanks.”
Shock rippled through Raikidan’s body. I didn’t blame him. It had been the first time I had accepted one of his compliments.
“Eira.”
I chuckled. “Yes?”
“I think you’re a little more perfect than you realize.”
I shook my head. “No, you’re wrong, Raikidan. I’m far from that.”
Raikidan shook his head and focused on driving. He wasn’t going to agree with me, but no one else did, either. No one else could see me the way I did. I didn’t have low self-esteem. I just knew how to handle the truth a little bit better than most.
Ryoko tossed her jacket on the floor and plopped face down on the couch with a moan. I felt bad for her. She didn’t deserve it. It wasn’t like she wanted a large chest, but then again she didn’t strive to go out and get them reduced, either.
“Ryoko, why don’t I give you a massage?” I offered.
She tilted her head and looked up at me. “Really? That would be amazing.”
“I’ll go get the table, then,” I told her.
Opening the door to the utility closet, I pulled out a long table and headed back to the living room. Ryoko climbed off the couch and onto the table while I entered my room and came back out with a small bottle of oil. Applying a thin coating of oil t
o my hands, I rubbed my hands over her back. Ryoko sighed with contentment.
With knots everywhere, easing her pain proved no easy task. It was typical for our bodies to knot up from the stress we put them under, but Ryoko had gotten the short end of the stick. No matter how much you worked with her, it would come back sooner than anyone wanted. I figured it had to do with her design, but I couldn’t be sure.
“How do you feel now?” I asked her after cracking her back for the fifth time.
“Much better,” she mumbled sleepily.
I laughed. “Maybe you should go sleep in your room?”
Ryoko shook her head. “Too relaxed and comfy.”
I laughed and nudged her. She groaned, but after a few more pushes, she finally rolled off and dragged herself to her room. With a shake of my head and a small chuckle, I put the massage table away. Bottle of oil in hand, I headed to my room to change. It was only sunset, so sleep was out of the question for now, but I figured I’d get comfortable anyway.
As I hung up my jacket in my closet, my door closed. Poking my head out of my closet, I looked at Raikidan to find him leaning against the door with his arms crossed and staring at the floor with a furrowed brow. He looked deep in thought, but I needed him to leave.
“I need to change,” I told him. “Come back in a little bit.”
“Can I ask you something first?” He didn’t look up as he spoke.
“Um, sure?” I couldn’t think of anything that would make him want to ask me questions now.
“What is this massage thing you gave Ryoko? I’ve never seen anything like it or seen anything make someone so relaxed by touch alone.”
I leaned against the frame of my closet. “Well, it’s a type of relaxing technique humans use to unwind our bodies. By touching major muscle groups, joints, and pressure points, we’re able to relieve large amounts of stress from the body. It also helps with realigning any joints that have moved out of place.”
“Interesting…” he mused. “Are humans the only ones who do this?”
I shook my head. “Not exactly. We’re the only ones who do it exactly like that, but the elves learned it from us and adapted it for their own needs.”
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