Chapter 13 – Pain and Talks
I sat down in the dark wooden chair that was conveniently placed on the lower light wooden deck of the rental house that was rented for me on the forced leave. I breathed in the salted air that came from the large body of water in front of the deck. The smell was mixed in with a slightly woody smell that came from the small forest off to the right of the rental house. Looking out over the white painted railing of the deck, I saw the water was reflecting the rising sun. The water shone with the mixed range of the sky that nearest to the house was a dark purple then went down in color. The horizon had the slightly blinding colors of orange and white. The clouds in the sky took the colors perfectly and made it a beautiful view to allow me to take in. I brought the aqua green mug to my lips and took a sip of the tea. The tea flavor had a heavy cherry with an undertone of vanilla and almonds hit my taste buds and flooded my senses with warmth and peace. I felt my body relax and blinked my eyes a couple of times as I settled further into the chair. I pulled the blanket, I brought out, around me securely as a chill from the breeze from the water swept along the land and up onto the deck.
I woke up to the voice of Orion stating that breakfast was about to close. I groaned as I left my dream state of the time that I felt relaxed and peaceful. I tried opening my eyes, but they still had pain from pushing my eyes over many hours of working with many different enhancements used at one. Three enhancements were a bit much at once. I am used to using two at once and I can continue using those two for days without any pain.
"Orion," I called out to my AI. "Is there any pain medication in the drawer beside my bed?" I needed to know if they were there so I can make the effort of moving to get them.
"Yes, they are there." Orion stated and I turned over and brought my right hand out of my cocoon of blankets to open the drawer. I grabbed the bottle and brought it back under my blankets. I untwisted the top, took a pill out, and placed two pain killer pills into my mouth and swallowed them dry. I closed the cap to the bottle and placed it in the drawer. I settled back down into the bed and waited for the pain to be dulled.
Some time went by and the pain dulled down to almost nothing. I was able to open my eyes and threw the blankets away from my body. I dragged my legs over the side of the bed and stood up. I headed to the bathroom to do my morning routine. I changed into baggy bight orange lounge pants with a large light red sweatshirt; I wanted to be comfortable while I did the needed research. I had to figure out what this feeling is and why I am feeling it with Eton. I took a seat at my desk and picked up my data pad. I turned it on and waited for it to turn on. The screen opened to a blue background with the symbol for the UNSC in the middle colored in white.
"Orion, gather all the information on soulmates and soul marks." I spoke out. I saw pop ups of entries for the two different search requirements. I started reading through the first one that was displayed first.
After reading through the soulmates articles that Orion brought forth. I have highlighted some entries that I was unsure about.
Soulmate is a person ideally suited to another as a close friend or romantic partner.
This entry came from the third article that I saw. I know the feeling for Eton is not of a close friend. I came upon another article that had this entry: soulmate – someone, usually your romantic or sexual partner, who you have a special relationship with, and who you know and love very much.
This last article that I found spoke to me a lot more than the last few that I was reading. The highlighted portion of this article is a soulmate is another unique soul that compliments with your soul. Fate and destiny contribute to the romantic bliss and happiness where both partners are so immersed in the strong karmic connection. It feels like a pull to each other. Soul mates feel that their souls are connected no matter the distance. A soul mates completes you.
This is what I feel slightly. I am still confused about the whole concept. I turned towards my search for the soul marks. The very words that I have on my thigh. That I have always been curious about. I pulled up the only article that that had a definite response to the soul mark search that Orion sent out into the database. The article was very telling.
Soul marks are marks somewhere on the body of an individual with the first words they will say to the other.
This brought about a new meaning to the words on my thigh. I still need to figure out why I am having the feeling in my chest. I need to find someone who might know this unusual feeling that I am having.
"Orion," I saw Orion pop up on my data pad. "Do you know if John, the Spartan, has been through a possible feeling as I am going through?" I asked and saw him nod his head. I then noticed the time on the data pad. It was well into the afternoon. I have missed breakfast and lunch by now. I can feel my stomach grumbling from the hunger. "Where is John located now?" I asked as I stood up from the chair. I walked over to the shoes that were under my bed and took out my white tennis shoes. I placed them on my feet and waited for a response from Orion.
"He is in the common room for enhancements." Orion said as he turned off the data pad for me. I walked out the door and headed to the common room. I observed the look on peoples faces from the outrageous clothing I am wearing. I felt a small smile reach my lips from the looks. I reached the common room and walked in. I saw that John was sitting on the couch nearest to the window reading from his data pad. He was wearing black slacks with a pale colored long sleeved shirt. He was alone. I stepped forward and cleared my throat.
"Do you have a minute to talk?" I spoke out and saw John look up at me and nod. He nodded to the seat next to him. I walked over and sat down. I watched as he looked me up and down. He had an amused expression on his face.
"Do you want to talk about your outrageous clothing?" he chuckled as he shook his head. "What do you want to talk about?" I shifted around as I felt uncomfortable about bringing this up. John turned to me and just waited for me to start the conversation. I kept wringing my hands together as I tried to gather the right words.
"John," I looked up at him with a worried look. "What did it feel like to get your soulmate?" I had to know for sure. I am so unsure of what to be feeling in this situation that I have never been trained for.
"The feeling that I felt after the words were said. My heart started beating faster and an urgent pull towards Thel." John looked over at me to see my expression. I had an inkling of it but was not certain. "A warm feeling spread like a wildfire across my body and it made me feel weary. I did not know what this was all about. I kept pushing Thel away." I knew the feeling that John was describing. "Yet, I had the urge to reach out to him for a simple touch such as skin brushing each other. Every time we went on a mission, I kept feeling my eyes pulling towards Thel to make sure he was safe." As John was saying this, I remembered when I was on this past mission and had the same feeling of watching Eton to make sure that he was safe. "I had to ask Cortana for an explanation of what the mark on my wrist was all about and the symptoms of what I was feeling. She explained it to me that Thel was my soulmate and that the attraction I was feeling was normal." John chuckled as he continued. "I felt grateful as she said that. I figure out what I wanted from this and how far I was willing to go. It took me a while for that and a serious talk with Thel." John looked down at his hands and continued. "The culture difference was hard to get used to. Just with us moving forward with our predicament." I sighed as I know that I am not the only one that went through this issue.
"Glad to know that I am not the only one that felt this way when it happened." I looked over at John with a small smile. He smiled back as he nodded his head. I shifted around on the couch and raised my left leg up to allow me to lay my head on the knee. I started thinking about how I should go about this. I wonder if I should talk with him or just keep pushing him away, I thought. I turned my head towards John and saw that he went back to reading from his data pad. I saw that he was reading some novel. I hummed put my leg back down and stood up. I waved to John indicating that I was leaving. I need to get food in me before I looked up the Sangheili culture.
I headed towards the galley that usually has a snack left on the cooks left on the open salad bar for anyone to get. I walked into the galley and saw that Eton was sitting in a booth looking at a data pad. I felt my heart fly into a flutter. I walked to the salad bar and grabbed an apple and went over to the booth. I cleared my throat lightly. Eton looked up at me and seemed to smile at me.
"Valkyrie!" Eton looked up at me with joy on his face and I felt elated to see that. He indicated that I should sit down across from him. I took the seat and took a bite out of the apple as I observed his features. The skin was black but around his eyes it dulled down to a dark gray which brought out the dark blue in them. The ridges along the top of his head and down his neck had the intricate designs of the same tattoos that were on his mandibles. The brow over his eyes were pronounced and shadowed his eyes to make them seem darker. There were small scars along his face and neck that were also a dull dark gray color that stood out along with the tattoos. His neck flared out connect with his shoulders. His shoulders were bulky from the muscles that he has obtained throughout his life. He is an amazing individual to look at. I just feel hot and bothered from looking closer at what he looks like. His eyes were staring into mine with an expression that I could not describe what it was.
"Eton, how are you?" I asked as I looked at him. I could feel the slight pain happening in my eyes again. I just ignored it. I smiled back at Eton.
"I am doing well." Eton put his data pad down on the ground and turned his focus solely on me. "How is your headache?" I shrugged my shoulders at that and chuckled softly. I saw his mandibles flare open in what I assumed was a large smile. It made my stomach feel like it had butterflies in it.
"They are better. I took a few pain pills to help with the pain." I stated as I took a bite out of the apple. Eton seemed to follow the movement of my jaw and throat with his eyes. I felt like I was the prey here.
"I saw that your eyes were closed after we left the armory yesterday." Eton looked into my eyes after he said that as it seemed that he was trying to decipher what they were trying to say.
"Yes, with using three or more eye enhancements for hours on end causes my eyes to be in pain." I could feel my eyes become sore from all the use they have been through today.
"Did the pain killers help with the pain?" I blushed from the concern in Eton's voice when he asked the question. The feeling in my chest felt like it sputtered a bit then grew into a fierce yearning.
"Yes," I cleared my throat. "though the pain is slowly returning." I saw Eton's expression change from joyful to a frown.
"Would you need assistance in returning to your room?" Eton's voice carried over a caring and worried tone. It made my heart clench at that. I just wanted to pull him into my arms and hold him against me. I wanted to tell him that I will be better if I was in his arms.
"I would not mind the company when I leave for my room." I replied and gave a sheepish smile as I felt a heat form on my cheeks.
"I will accompany you then." He smiled and clasped his hands together, laying them down on the table in the middle of us. I can just reach over there and touch his hand.
I turned my attention down to the data pad that was located in between his arms. "What are you reading?"
Eton looked down at the data pad and then looked back. "I am looking over the reports that were submitted earlier today for yesterday's mission." I hummed as I nodded my head.
"Anything noteworthy?" I raised an eyebrow as I looked at him. He tilted his head to the side as he seemed to try to replicate what I did. I chuckled as he completely failed in replicating it. He laughed with me as soon as he realized that he could not join in with the exact expression.
"Yes, it was interesting to read about your group's report." He shook his head yes as he continued. "It says that the other warriors are glad that you are on their side instead of the opposite with that weapon of yours." I felt the scar on my face being pulled as I gave into laughing full heartedly. I placed my hands on the table to keep myself from falling over from the motion. I noticed an unknown look in Eton's eyes as he looked upon me.
"That is not the first time that I have heard that." I had to calm down my laughing to reply and I know that I snorted at least once or twice. I saw that Eton expected for me to elaborate on what I said. "I have heard many marines say that under their breath while in the field. Come to think of it, it was mentioned in a couple of reports too." I thought out loud as I placed my index finger of my right hand onto my chin.
"One of these days," he started. I looked at him waiting for him to finish. "I would like to see you in action." I felt like there were many ways he would like to see me in action. I know that I would like to see him in action also. I could feel heat slowly make its way down my body and settle in my lower half with a throbbing need.
"We can figure out something out." I responded after I pushed down the need to throw myself into his arms. I did not want to do that right now. I have only met this warrior two days ago. I feel like this whole situation is stuck on super speed and I cannot wrap my head around it. I felt like I was slowly suffocating in this new desire that I am not familiar with. I clasp my hands together and looked up at him from under my eyelashes. "I would like to return to my room." I stood up and Eton followed my lead. He held out his hand for me to take. I breathed slowly out my nose and took his hand. I felt the intense pull as my skin touched his. I stumbled a bit into him. He caught me and helped me stand. He directed me out of the galley and headed towards my room.
We reached my room and we stood in front of the door staring at each other. I did not want him to leave just yet, but I did not know if anything would happen if I asked him to join me. I put my pin into the keypad and watched as the door opened. I took Eton's hand and pulled him into my room behind me.