Chapter 39.

Last edited on October 5th,2016. I really enjoyed these last two chapters… I love it when my stories surprise me!

Corridan played the Hallikset(1). Kevain hobbled over as Mako laughed herself silly over something Lars had said. Corridan always looked relaxed while playing the Hallikset.

"Think we need a minute."

Corridan looked up eyes widened at Kevain's approach.

"What's up?"

Kevain chewed his lower lip, side-glancing away. He inhaled deep.

"I think we like the same girl."

Corridan smiled and shrugged. "No we don't."

Kevain frowned. And met Corridan eyes. For a moment his blues met Cor's browns. Sweat ran down his right temple. Cor sighed.

"You don't have to lie to me."

Kevain tried not to shake. He held still as sweat began to bead on his brows. Cor put the Hallisket down and put a calm and relaxed hand on Kevain's shoulder.

"Come, let's get some air."

Kevain shook now. Cor put both hands on his shoulders and smiled. "Kevain, you know me. You're safe. I'm not Vizla, none of us are."

Kevain looked away as if he had been struck, but nodded.

Cor lead them out of the main galley. Corridan hobble on his crutch with an arm on Kevain's shoulders, Kevain hobbled as well on another crutch. They held each other up as much as they held each other. Cor left Kevain to sit at the table the usually used for their hasty dinner's between missions while he prepped some caf for the both of them.

Kevain's shoulders remained raised, his arms tense, his good leg bounced; restless.

Once Cor was done prepping the machine, he turned back to Kevain. Kevain looked up, silent his lips pressed in a thin line.

"I really couldn't care less if you prefer men to women, Kevain. You are a valuable member to this team and a friend. And what you do on your personal time is your business."

Kevain said nothing, but continued to shake more.

Corridan tried to smile, but it did not reach his eyes. He sat down next to Kevain. He reached to put his arm back on Kevain's shoulders, but Kevain recoiled.

The caf began to drip from the machine behind them.

Corridan sighed and laced his fingers together instead.

"Do you remember when you and your brother joined us?"

Kevain swallowed audibly. "Yes."

He spoke, but with a voice gone hoarse. Corridan nodded and did his best not to frown. "I think that's the only other time I have ever seen you like this."

Kevain frowned. "What do you mean?"

Corridan looked at his brother at arms. "Afraid of me, of everyone."

They both looked away from each other and said no more. The caf went from a slow drip to a constant stream.

Corridan leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. Kevain remained hunched forward, shoulders bent forward, hands laced together, clutching, leg still bounding. Corridan inhaled a deep breath and exhaled.

"Davain told me what they did to you. Why you left. He also told me he would relieve me of every single chicklet in my mouth before he ever let anyone touch you like that again. He made it clear that if I had a problem with you, I had a problem with him."

Kevain's leg stopped bouncing.

"How long has it been since we started hunting together?"

Corridan watched Kevain do the mental math.

Kevain gave a side-long glance to Corridan, still tense. "Two years."

Corridan nodded. "So you know. I don't have a problem. I'm just sorry that it had to be him. "

Kevain's shoulders shook, but he said nothing, Corridan couldn't even hear him breath.

Corridan sighed. "I'm going to touch your shoulder now."

Kevain remained silent, so Corridan reached. "You don't have to hide or put up a front. "

Corridan rubbed Kevain's back and after a long time Kevain inhaled a deep and ragged breath, but his shaking began to ease.

"That's why I was assigned babysitting duty twice as much as everyone else. "

"Yea, I knew you two got along, and you were happy."

Kevain shook his head. "Sort of."

Kevain looked at Corridan. Eyes red and wet. He shrugged. "Sadly, Torian doesn't feel the same."

Corridan's smile was laced with pain. "I'm sorry, Kev."

Kevain's shook his head. "Don't be. He's great to work with and a great friend."

Corridan nodded.

They sat together and said no more. Once the caf was done brewing. Corridan stood up and prepared two cups. He handed one to Kevain and they each sipped at their cups. Kevain sighed at the rich aroma.

"I do like her though."

Corridan smiled. "We all do, she's great."

Kevain looked at Corridan.

"You should go for it. We've been trooping together for two years now and I have never seen you take a shine to anyone like you have with her."

A bit of color began to bloom on Corridan's cheeks. He shrugged. "I guess."

They sat for a time, drinking their drinks. Between sips, Kevain unwound. Corridan began to relax as well.

Kevain sighed and looked at Corridan again. "How did you know?"

Corridan looked up. "Know what?"

Kevain rubbed the back of his neck and kept looking away. "About. You know. Torian."

Corridan frowned. "It doesn't matter-"

"It does if I ever have to troop in another company."

"Kevain, most of us aren't like Vi-"

"And how am I going to know that?"

Kevain's body turned to face Corridan. It caused him to pause. Kevain's eyes were wide, showing a lot of white, nostrils flared and hair almost standing on ends.

"I don't know if I've ever seen you mad before."

"You're not the one they strung up on the post naked and-"

Kevain looked away silenced by a memory Corridan had only heard of. Corridan reached again for Kevain but his hand stopped short of his friend.

"I hope you never feel the need to leave."

Kevain shook. Corridan's face broke, he grabbed Kevain and pulled him into a hug while still holding his caf mug. Kevain froze, but did not lash out. He did spill his caf though.

"Seriously. I just explained to Mako how you're the glue that holds our team together. No one is ever going to hurt you like your last clan did."

Kevain relaxed into the hug, but now shook with the effort of containing his emotions. Corridan began to stroke his hair.

"It's okay. You're safe vod. You're safe."

NOTES:

Space guitar!