A Soldier’s Passion

by Jon Cunningham

  “Sweet,” he replied. “Some prime wines and cognac – keeping those. And some great coffees and teas, and cocoa. There is some beautiful meat and expensive cheeses. I’ll send the produce and pastas and breads to the foundling home later. Lt. Remak is arranging for the pick-up. I got all the business cards, so we can thank them.”

  I cocked a brow at him.

  “Hey, I can do gallant,” he retorted.

  I smiled at him, making room on the sofa so he could rest his body against mine. He fit well that way with his head coming to rest naturally on my shoulder. I wrapped my arms around his waist and inhaled the scent of his hair.

  That’s when we noticed what was actually on the television screen. It was a news report on the attack at the market. The omni-present security cameras caught the event from the moment Bobby and Jenn were snatched.

  “You know, what we do looks really crazy,” Vincent commented. “You turned a ten ton truck directly at you.”

  “It seemed really crazy to me at the time,” I chuckled weakly.

  Then, I saw how distraught Vincent was when I collapsed. It pained me to see him so devastated. I squeezed his waist.

  “’S’okay,” he murmured.

  There were wonderful things said about us by the merchants who had heard us declare that we were going to protect the Market. Those glowing words were followed by some of the same thing from our Superiors. We were called world heroes. The battle with the behemoth suddenly appeared in the report. The thing filled the screen no matter what the angle was. Vincent and I looked like fireflies attacking a rampaging elephant. Bobby made a noise of admiration as he watched us fight. It looked impressive. I was channeling so much electromagnetic power from that thing that I was levitating off the ground as I sent the current back into it. Vincent looked deadly as he too used the energy the ship generated against it. Each blow from his clenched fists made the entire vessel shudder.

  “As you can see, their actions are of no surprise to us,” General Braun began. “They are always professionals with the best interest of the people in their actions.”

  “Like he never told us to go out and level everything every time we fought,” Vincent muttered.

  “We’ve launched a full investigation. This matter will be resolved quickly and the culprits punished,” he concluded.

  Remak was back in the room watching the screen with a grimace I recognized.

  “When is he coming here?” I asked grimly.

  “Tomorrow morning,” she replied. “Only the doctor prevented him from being here now.”

  “You know more about this than we do,” Vincent remarked. “We haven’t interviewed anyone.”

  “They still have to get our statements,” I said. “My concern is about the statements they may want us to make.”

  “Sir?” Remak asked.

  “Just as someone wants to use us to discredit the military, our superiors may want to use us to bolster their cause,” I said.

  “We can’t allow that either, Rik,” Vincent said quietly.

  “Nor shall we,” I assured him. “But we must handle the entreaties with great care until I can defend myself. We are extremely vulnerable while I am in this state.”

  “Sir, you needn’t worry...”

  “Ouida, I could not ask the squad to defy superiors should we get drummed out of the military prematurely,” I stated firmly. “Vincent and I can hold our tongues for a week or ten days, can’t we, Vincent?”

  My lover slumped back with a noisy, exasperated sigh. “Yeah, I guess.”

  Bobby laughed. “You’re my brother, alright. Cake?”

  “What do you think?” Vincent asked.

  “Sir, I took the liberty of sending for cots for Mr. Greven and myself,” Remak said. “The car picking up the foodstuffs will drop those off.”

  “That’s fine, Lieutenant,” I replied mildly. “I’ll need you here for at least three days. You both should make yourself comfortable.”

  “Hmmmm...those darlin’ ladies,” Vincent purred around a forkful of cake. “Do you know any recipes, Lieutenant?”

  “Recipes, Hardcase?”

  “I like to learn new things. Can you teach me to make soup?”

  “Certainly,” she replied.

  “I bought some stew meat today,” he continued almost to himself. “We should cook that tomorrow.”

  “I can help you with that as well,” she offered. I felt her relax a little. Maybe she realized that she would not be exiled from our lives.

  I didn’t want that. Remak was often the voice of sanity and sometimes ethics when my training over rode my higher reasoning. The only reason I was still tempted to transfer her away from me was a fear that she would never seek another mate to share her beautiful body and dry wit.

  We settled in the living room in front of the TV. I almost laughed out loud at what an odd family unit that was. Vincent and Bobby were enjoying their slices of cake while yet another replay of our epic battle with the behemoth was repeated on the news.

  “How did you fight that thing?” Bobby asked.

  “It was big and powerful, but it’s own make-up made it easier to fight,” I said. “It had a defensive shield that kept out conventional weapons, but it was made of an electro-magnetic field. I used their own power against it.”

  “The ship itself was made of very lightweight material so it could maneuver,” Vincent continued. “They depended on the defensive shield for protection. The hull was actually fragile. We just had to keep attacking and outlast it. The problem was more of endurance because it was so big. Bringing it down seemed to take forever.”

  “I think the truck was harder,” I said.

  “Well, we couldn’t smash it, that’s why,” Vincent snorted.

  The discussion drifted into combat tactics, which made Remak very happy. Since Vincent enjoyed fighting as much as he loved sex, he was an enthusiastic participant. I let their excited chatter pleasantly wash over me while I enjoyed holding Vincent unfettered. Of course, I had to comment when my protégés formulated some extreme actions. Bobby shyly asked me questions about his ability to focus. I talked him through one of my favorite meditations. He learned it with the same speed and accuracy as his brother.

  “Very good,” I said. “You did well today. You kept your head and took your shots at the right time.”

  “Thanks, Colonel.”

  I considered the young man for a moment. “You should come spar with us once I’m well.”

  Vincent squeezed my hand in approval while Bobby’s eyes grew large.

  “You mean it?”

  “Yes,” I replied. “I think you’re ready.”

  The doorbell rang then. I reluctantly released my lover, so he could supervise the food transfer. It also wouldn’t have been good for him to be in my arms in front of the enlisted men. One of the females who worked in our offices came in carrying a suitcase and a rucksack. Two male soldiers carried in the cots and linens. They were officers’ cots with very good mattresses. The soldiers saluted me. I returned the gesture albeit weakly, then told them to address any questions to Remak.

  “We have posted men at either entrance of this domicile,” the female said. “The citizen’s watch has taken position on the perimeters.

  I raised a curious brow at Remak.

  “A delegation came with the gifts,” Remak said. “They prefer to handle the area security as you are a neighbor. No objection was made to our presence on your property. Central Command felt it best to comply.”

  I nodded in agreement then closed my eyes as the activity around me continued. Eventually, they were gone. Vincent made me have another bowl of soup with some buttered bread. I was quite hungry by then, but hadn’t realized it. While I ate, Vincent was doing something in the kitchen while our housemates set up their beds. Remak set hers up near the front door. Bobby’s was nearest our door. They left enough room to maneuver to the bathroom.

  Vincent emerged from the kitchen with a pair of steaming mugs while Remak w
as out with the guards.

  “I made cocoa for four,” he declared. “Bobby, can you get yours and the Lieutenant’s on the counter.”

  “Cocoa, Vincent?” I asked with a smirk.

  He leaned close to my ear. “Theirs is like Grandmom used to make. Ours is using your recipe.”

  We enjoyed the fire while our guests took terms preparing for bed. Then we hobbled into our room.

  “I hope you don’t mind us locking the door,” Vincent said to Remak.

  “I was hoping you would,” Remak said. “Goodnight, Colonel, Vincent.”

  We all said goodnight, then Vincent locked at the bedroom door.

  “I wanted us to be skin on skin in bed,” Vincent explained.

  I smiled at that. Exhaustion was catching up to me, and being naked with him sounded good. Vincent helped me quickly strip down and into bed. He was with me a short time later. Vincent settled against me as we had been sleeping along my side with his head on my chest. Our arms were wrapped around each other.

  Some time later, my sleep was disrupted by a plaintive whimper. It was a struggle to open my eyes, but I managed. Somehow, Vincent was in trouble. He was still in my arms, yet something was very wrong. He was grimacing. The distress was clear on beautiful features in the moonlight. I acted on instinct, not wanting him to wake in terror. Gently, I began to massage his scalp while rubbing his back. It took several long moments, but the disturbance in my lover subsided, and he calmed into sleep once more. I wondered how many times he held his feelings in check during the day only to have them torment him in sleep.

  “No more bad dreams,” I whispered. “For either of us, Vincent.”

  4

  It was early morning when I was next awake. A gentle hand was pushing the hair from my face. I opened my eyes to find Vincent gazing down at me intently.

  “Good morning,” he whispered. “You look a lot better. How do you feel?”

  I reached up and gently tugged him down by the hair to kiss him with all the hunger for him I was feeling. He moaned appreciatively.

  “I feel much better,” I said after Vincent broke the kiss.

  “I can tell,” he breathed.

  “There are things we can do,” I murmured.

  Vincent kissed me silent.

  “No. We’ll wait,” he murmured. “You’ve spoiled me. I don’t want us to have to hold back. That’s the way we fight. That’s the way I want everything between us.”

  “One more kiss then, before we face the day?”

  Vincent smiled before capturing my lips in a languid kiss. I let my fingers roam through his hair for a moment before releasing him.

  “I’ll help you dress,” he said. “We can shower after the fuckheads leave.”

  “Vincent,” I cautioned.

  “I’m getting the bad words out now, okay?” He muttered. “I think you should wear pajamas. I don’t want them thinking you should leave the house.”

  I gave Vincent a look but didn’t really fight him. He was genuinely concerned. That touched me. I also shared his sentiment about our superiors, and I wanted my strength back, so I could have Vincent to myself again.

  “I hate sharing you,” I muttered.

  He smirked at that. “You’re a selfish bastard. I knew that.”

  I snorted at him, and then put on the pajamas he was holding out. My limbs no longer felt like lead. Actually, I felt good enough to catch my lover in a close embrace. He sighed against my neck and melted against me for a moment. When we parted, I leaned on his shoulder and headed for the door.

  Breakfast was under way when we came into the livingroom. Vincent deposited me on the sofa then stomped from the room to find out what Remak was doing to ‘his’ kitchen. Bobby was in the shower. The morning news had moved away from the actual facts of what happened the day before and onto speculation on the cause of the attack. The theories were varied and largely tiresome. I was happy when Vincent emerged and turned the TV off.

  “You looked annoyed,” he explained. He had our plates in hand and a big smile on his face. “You bought the sausages.”

  “How could I not?”

  Vincent pressed a quick kiss against my lips then nipped away again. He returned with mugs of coffee.

  “Lt. Remak is on the phone, but she said to go ahead,” Vincent said. “She and Bobby already ate.”

  That suited me. I planned to send them both on lengthy errands while we spoke to our Superiors. I had hopes that we would be alone for most of the morning afterward. The errands were vital to any post-military plans I had. All of those I needed to contact preferred not to do confidential business to any electronic communications. That meant it would take time to reach them all. The added benefit would be time alone with my lover.

  “What are you thinking about?” Vincent demanded softly. “I’ve seen that look before and it is never good.”

  “You trust me, Vincent?”

  “With everything,” he replied without hesitation.

  “I will not mislead you, but I may keep you in the dark for a short time.”

  “Why? I might be able to help.”

  “You will be helping me,” I assured him. “A lot has happened in your absence. The upper echelon of the military has changed. I’m not sure of all of the motivations. I need to tread with extreme care.”

  Vincent chewed thoughtfully. A wonderfully mischievous look crossed his face.

  “I’m not very good with military bigwigs,” he admitted easily. “I may be worse than before I left. That thing we fought was a notion of a military big wig. I may get us exiled to a place where it never stops snowing.”

  “I don’t care where we are as long as we’re together,” I replied with a wistful smile. “I was considering extending our leave through the winter and praying for blizzards.”

  Vincent blushed becomingly. “I’ll get back to that later. Why do this dance with those jerks if you don’t care where we end up?”

  “This isn’t about our careers. It’s about being free from coercion or confinement,” I said quietly. “Vincent, I found this out after you were gone. No Altered has ever retired from service.”

  “What?”

  “We are used until that last mission when our focus isn’t so sharp or we get hurt too badly,” I replied grimly. “Even our instructors never leave.”

  Vincent swallowed hard. “I don’t want that. I don’t know if I can do any mission for them again.”

  I stroked his smooth cheek with the back of my hand. I ached to kiss that look from his face. “Nor do I. We will find a way to retire that really frees us, but keeps the military relaxed.”

  “I understand, now,” Vincent said with a chuckle. “I have never relaxed the military. But promise me something.”

  “Yes?”

  Vincent reached out to cup my chin. His eyes were solemn, but his expression was tender and warm.

  “I may not be able to help you with these negotiations, but I can share your burden,” he said. “I’m not that same volatile kid anymore. I can see a lot in people, and I can be silent when you need me to be. We are stronger together.”

  “I know,” I admitted. “I’d prefer you stay beside me.”

  Remak was in the room then with notebook in hand just as the shower was turned off.

  “Good morning, Lieutenant,” I said. “Thanks for the wonderful breakfast.”

  “Yes, thanks,” Vincent said as he took our plates in the kitchen.

  “You are quite welcome,” she replied. “Members of Joint Command will be here in an hour.”

  “That’s fine. Meanwhile, I need you to call on some very important people,” I said. “Vincent, there is a folder on the top of the bookshelf in the dining room. Will you bring that to me?”

  “Sure thing.”

  “But, sir, your meeting....”

  “We’ll be fine. There are two soldiers outside,” I replied. “Besides, Command won’t want a lot of ears around. I also have to contend with my laundress, who is not very social
.”

  “Laundress?” Vincent asked.

  “A village widow,” I explained. “She drops off clean things and takes away the soiled things. And she’s very cranky.”

  I pulled a short list of names from the folder and handed it to Remak. Vincent was scribbling a list of his own. Bobby exited the bathroom then carrying his toilet kit and a pile of neatly folded clothing in hand.

  “Good morning,” he said brightly.