Redamancy

by T D Cloud

  Sorin pulled a face. “It’s something I just bet you’ll love,” he said ominously, taking them down the stairs. Their bags were nestled at the foot of the banister, waiting patiently for them to go. He let go once they reached the parlor, snatching up his pack to double check that he had everything he needed. “If we’re up this early we might as well get an early start,” he muttered, hefting his ax to sling it over his customary shoulder.

  “Shouldn’t we stay for breakfast?” Khouri wondered. The chefs wouldn’t be in this early, but they could probably figure something out.

  “We can just stop somewhere once we’re above,” Sorin said, shaking his head. He stood up and put on his pack, letting out a sigh. “Besides, with his mom coming it’d be best not to mess with things too much. You remember what happened the last time we messed around in the kitchens.”

  They all shared a grimace. For as adept at Sorin with cooking, Drow appliances were a different story entirely when it came to operating them. They’d been fortunate to start only a small fire. Khouri and Navidae nodded ruefully. It was probably the better option.

  That didn’t mean they had to like it.

  Sorin lifted Khouri’s pack off the ground and handed it to him. Khouri sighed, putting it on. He’d know this was going to happen this morning. Knowing didn’t make it any easier. As eager as he was to go above… Well, this part of the process was the worst part. By and large. No contest.

  He wasn’t the only one to think so. Navidae crossed his arms and tried not to look bitter when Sorin approached him. But he was making an effort, Khouri noticed. Navidae still managed a weak smile. “If you’re really leaving, I just wanted to say...” He paused, clearing his throat pointedly. His eyes roved the parlor, avoiding Sorin skillfully. “If your family should ever wish to visit,” he said, finally making eye contact. “Please let them know they have a place to stay here. If Khouri likes them, then… Then I suppose I’d enjoy meeting them as well.”

  He shifted on his feet for a few seconds as silence descended. Navidae brought his hand to his mouth, coughing awkwardly, only to choke when Sorin strode forward and wrapped him into a hug. Khouri smothered his laugh with his hand when Navidae let out a yelp as his feet left the floor. Oh, he’d been there before. It was nice to see that despite the six inches Navidae had on him, he still wasn’t immune to Sorin’s size and strength either.

  “Put me down, you troll!” Navidae demanded, smacking Sorin’s shoulders until the man finally set him back on his feet. Navidae’s cheeks were decidedly flushed, his scowl at war with an embarrassed grimace. “If your family is as atrocious as you are, then you can forget my hospitality entirely!”

  Khouri patted Sorin on the shoulder, giving up his attempt to hold back his laughter. “Don’t listen to him,” he managed to get out around his mirth. “I live here too and I say they can stay whenever they want.”

  “Khouri,” Navidae shot.

  “I’ll be sure to let Mastha know,” Sorin said, talking louder to drown out Navidae’s disapproval. “I think bringing those brats through the tunnels would be worth the hassle if I got to see how Navidae dealt with three little hellions tearing through this place. You’ll regret ever being born,” he told Navidae with a grin. “They love to climb.”

  Navidae paled. Khouri hid his face in his hands, shaking from head to toe at the thought. His eyes began to water. He leaned against Sorin to stay on his feet. Gods, they’d tear this place to pieces. Khouri couldn’t wait to see it.

  His head came up when he felt someone grab his shoulders and tug him away from Sorin. Khouri looked up, grinned at Navidae’s pout, and braced himself for a kiss that he had never had any sort of defense against. Navidae kissed the laughter from his lips and then held on tighter, taking even more. Khouri moaned weakly, hands clutching his arms, and kissed back, knowing that despite all the jokes and teasing and fun, that this? This right here was goodbye.

  Goodbye for a few months. Goodbye for the spring and summer and the months Khouri didn’t have a name for in the common tongue. Khouri stood on his toes and brought his hands to Navidae’s hair, tangling his fingers until he could feel his lover from head to toe. The armor was in the way. It wasn’t enough. His lungs were aching and Navidae already pulling back. Khouri closed his eyes, making it be.

  “Let’s hope the next time you make fun of someone that it isn’t me,” Navidae gasped, caressing Khouri’s cheek and hair and neck with his warm, strong hands. “Save your laughter until I see you again, pet. I’ll be hearing it in my dreams until then.”

  “Navi,” Khouri breathed, hugging him tightly. “Good luck with your mother.” Perhaps her company might lessen the sting of their absence, if only a tiny bit.

  “I love you,” Navidae recited in their language, a parting line just for Khouri. “I love you so much.”

  Khouri smiled, holding Navidae’s hand to his cheek. “I love you too,” he answered, pulling away before he let that warmth entice him into changing his mind.

  He glanced over at Sorin and found the man with his arms crossed and back facing them, leaning on a pillar as he no doubt did his best to give them privacy. Khouri laughed a little to himself, shaking his head. He looked at Navidae and jerked his head towards Sorin, giving him a knowing look.

  “Go on,” he whispered, noting how Navidae fidgeted. “Tell him goodbye.”

  Navidae pulled a face. Khouri pouted and pushed him towards Sorin. A huff sounded from the Lord and that drew Sorin’s attention. He turned just in time to find himself with an armful of Navidae as he tripped over himself and fell face first into Sorin’s chest.

  “What the hell—” Sorin began, but Navidae seemed to take the chance for what it was, cutting him off with a dominating kiss.

  Sorin stumbled a bit but caught himself against the pillar. He grabbed at Navidae and slowly relaxed once he realized what was happening. Khouri watched as the man closed his eyes, bringing his hands to Navidae’s cheek to pull back a little and slow the kiss down. Navidae made a startled little sound, but Khouri knew all too well how Sorin operated. Within a few seconds he had Navidae leaning against his chest for support, the kiss a smooth, deep touch that had to be intensely intimate given how it looked from the outside.

  It broke after a few more seconds. Navidae listed a little.

  Sorin held tight.

  “Wow,” Khouri heard Navidae mumble. “Good riddance to you too.”

  Sorin laughed, a warm and rumbly thing, and patted Navidae on the cheek. “Goodbye, Navidae,” he said, shaking his head a little. “Don’t pine for me too hard, okay? I’ll be sure to come back soon.”

  Navidae pushed away from Sorin’s chest at that, crossing his arms with an impervious scoff as he waved Sorin off and went back over to Khouri. He was embarrassed, and no matter how hard he tried to hide it, it was plain to see. “Get out of my house,” he grunted, moving past Khouri and to the door to jerk it open pointedly. The tips of his ears were flushed a dark violet. Khouri wanted desperately to kiss them.

  “Fine, you big baby,” Sorin laughed, his grin so wide beneath his beard that it was all too infectious. Even Navidae had trouble keeping his frown in place. Sorin angled towards the door, clapping Navidae on the shoulder before he passed him by. He leaned in for another quick peck, smiling when Navidae didn’t pull away.

  “Goodbye, Navi,” Sorin whispered. “Be sure to keep the lights on for us when we come home.”

  “Hmm. We’ll see,” Navidae murmured, averting his eyes without bothering to smother his wry little smile.

  Sorin let go of his shoulder and went outside, taking in the dim view of the street during the light-hours of morning.

  Khouri cleared his throat and moved towards him, pausing by Navidae for just a moment more.

  Navidae smiled warmly at him, caressing his cheek with an even warmer hand. “Second thoughts?” he asked, almost hopeful, mostly resigned.

  Khouri held his hand to his cheek, shaking his head. “No,” he said, smiling a little sadly a
t him. “Just wishing you could come too.”

  “Don’t worry about me,” his lover said, dropping his hand to press a kiss to Khouri’s cheek, his temple, his nose. He paused over Khouri’s lips, his sigh only a little forlorn. “I have my mother coming in a few hours. I’ve got my own adventure to weather here.”

  Khouri leaned in and kissed him, just a chaste little peck that didn’t do much beyond make him want more. “I believe in you,” he said, looking into Navidae’s eyes. “And I love you.”

  “Go on,” Navidae chuckled, doing the hard thing for Khouri and pulling away first. “I love you too. Know you are always in my thoughts. I pray that I’ll be in yours.”

  He would be, Khouri knew, forcing himself to turn away and make his way out the door. He’d always been in Khouri’s thoughts, even when they were sharing the same bed. The cool air of the Duskriven stung Khouri’s cheeks as he joined Sorin in the walkway. It’d sting even more in the tunnels, but they had a bit longer yet before they had to deal with it.

  And after that… the surface. The surface and all the warmth it could offer him.

  He looked back at Navidae leaning in the doorway. It was just a shame he couldn’t share that warmth with Navidae. But it was okay, he thought as he smiled, lifting his hand to wave at his lover. They both had new adventures to look forward to now. Khouri couldn’t wait to come home and hear all about it.

  “You ready, brat?”

  Khouri turned away and looked at Sorin. He held out his hand and smiled when it was taken. It would be a long trip back to the surface, and then an even longer one as they figured out where to go next. There were jobs to take, bounties to hunt, people to meet, and all sorts of fun things to see. A lifetime of traveling wouldn’t be enough to show him everything, let alone a handful of months.

  But Khouri was willing to try regardless. Eager, even.

  “Of course,” Khouri laughed, tugging him towards the gates. “I’m just waiting on you.”

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