ZEDD - A FEW MINUTES AGO
I've dropped some papers on Dar's desk and headed for the kitchen for lunch. I find myself wondering if it would be possible to maybe take Thomas with for some of the smaller jobs that are coming up. After all, while he's not fully recovered, he's certainly come a long way - particularly in the last week or so and so long as he learns to control himself when holding his staff there shouldn't be any major problems such as what occurred with the still being repaired turret. At least I'd hope there wouldn't be.
Upon reaching the desired room, I'm a little surprised that Thomas isn't here with the others. "Where's Thomas?"
Dar frowns. "Isn't he up in the tower working?"
"I'll take that to mean that you haven't let him know that it's almost time for lunch."
"Didn't you?" Dar counters.
"I haven't been to the tower."
Dar smirks. "Maybe he'll come down when he's hungry."
Pina and I roll our eyes at his paraphrasing of his own words not long after I brought Thomas here. Pina smacks his arm. "He wasn't a wild darko then and he isn't now."
I shake my head. "I'll go get him. Hopefully, he hasn't overworked himself."
"I doubt he has. After all he has you to do that for him now."
Rolling my eyes again at Dar's amusement concerning my recent activities with the Ranger I shake my head. "I'll be right back."
Swiftly, I head up to the tower, not really concerned as everything seems all right through our connection. I climb the last of the stairs and open the door, whatever I was going to say dying in my throat. He's gotten a sizable amount of work done, but that's not what draws my attention. He's shirtless and has been for some time judging by the color of his skin and the light sheen of sweat on him - not unlike during our mating yesterday. There is a small breeze and he stretches. I lose my breath and my mouth goes dry as I watch the play of muscle under the nearly flawless skin and by the powers I want him.
He stiffens suddenly, hyper alert as he sniffs the air again. A drop of sweat slowly courses its way from his hairline, down his neck, over his shoulder and down his back before it's absorbed by his clothes. I swallow hard and try to pull myself together. "Thomas."
He turns quickly, relaxing when he sees that it's only me, even as puzzlement crosses his face. I know that he's still trying to figure out what he smelled, still adjusting to his new heightened senses, but how do I tell him that the word he's looking for is 'lust'? Apparently unconcerned for now, he smiles at me. "What's up, Zedd?"
"Lunch, Thomas." Although he'd certainly make a wonderful snack.
The surprised look on his face is almost comical. "Already?" I nod and he shakes his head ruefully. "Wow, time flew this morning. Although now that you mention it, I am a bit hungry and thirsty." His voice is still hoarse, but nowhere near where it was when we got up this morning. Remembering what made him hoarse in the first place does nothing to diminish the desire that I'm currently feeling. He picks up his shirt, wipes his face and stretches once more as another gust of wind crosses the tower. "No breeze all morning and now twice in a few minutes" he comments. "I need a quick shower and then I'll be down. Why don't you go ahead and go eat?"
I can't help it. "Oh, I want to eat, but I don't have to go anywhere to do it."
He grins at me, slight color gracing his cheeks. "Much as I'd like that, I'm pretty gross right now. Trust me, from over there it's no problem, but I'm filthy - and not in a fun way." He holds out his hands and - now that I'm not focused on the rest of his body - I can see how dirty his hands are as well as the dirt tracks up his arms. "I'll make it up to you later" he promises. Damn right you will.
Disappointed, I agree. "Hurry up then."
We head downstairs and he gives me a quick kiss as we part ways. It takes all I have to respect his wishes and not press further as even if he is right in that he's a bit of a mess, a little dirt is hardly a deal breaker for me. Once in the kitchen, I tell Goldar, "He's gotten a remarkable amount of work done." I look at Pina. "You did take him out, right?"
"Yes, but we were only out for an hour or so. And you two think I'm bad about wanting to care for the animals - he's just as bad or worse." She relates what happened in the woods this morning and I must say I'm not too thrilled about the matter when I hear it. "I was, frankly, scared to death that it was going to wake up and attack, but he wasn't. It was almost like he knew that there was no danger."
"For all his lack of training with his animal spirit," Dar comments "it's almost like it's more a part of him than yours is with you."
"Almost," she agrees. "Perhaps it's because, according to my research, humans are more instinctive than we are - especially at our ages. By this point in our lives, we rely more on our experiences and knowledge than our gut feeling more often than not."
"Yes well he needs to be more careful or his gut feelings are going to get his guts torn out all over the forest floor. Do me a favor, don't let him do anything like that again Pina. I know how much you love animals, and I understand how softhearted he is as you say, but please don't let him get so close to a creature like that anymore. He's a half breed now but still very easily breakable."
"I know, and I lectured him the whole way back. We agreed if we came on something of that nature again we would either put it out of its pain or find some non life threatening solution."
It's not long before Thomas joins us and I can't stop myself from the biting words on my tongue, still agitated that he was so foolish with his safety. "Seriously, Thomas? A bear?"
He rolls his eyes and shrugs as he takes a seat with us. "It's not like I was going to wrestle it or anything, Zedd. It needed help." He says this like it explains everything and maybe for him, it does but for Dar and I - not so much.
"I understand you care about animals, Thomas, but its life would not have been a good exchange for your own or Pina's."
Looking at Pina he heaves a sigh. "You just had to tell him didn't you. Couldn't have just let it be at lecturing me."
"Dar's my mate, Tommy, he knew something was wrong by my worry when we were out. As for Zedd, well he asked." I personally don't care if I asked or not, she actually should have told me once they got back.
Turning to me, he shakes his head. "Do you really think that I'd have risked myself, never mind Pina, if I wasn't reasonably sure it would be all right? I no longer have a death wish, thank you very much."
"Are you sure?" He looks at me, clearly offended. "I did not mean that the way it sounded."
"Yes you did and yes I am sure."
Frowning at his serious tone and wording choice now that I'm taking a moment to let it sink in, I can't help but press a bit. "What do you mean 'no longer have a death wish'?"
He sighs, obviously regretting having made the remark. "It's kind of a long story and I really don't want to get into it right now. Lunch ready?"
I have so many questions that are obviously not going to be answered right now. At this point, I'm expecting the meal to be a silent and awkward affair. However, Dar distracts my mate with a discussion about his lessons and teasing remarks about last night and shortly Thomas is out of his mood - for now.
