Chapter Twenty: Sated | Part 5
Thirtyx felt like he floated back to the dorm. He’d given Seerla a 10-fraction head start, but the adrenaline in his muscles and buzzing in his brain thankfully persisted. Reality would set in soon, and he’d have to deal with his apprenticeship applications and the attacks against Grimmary and the discriminatory legislation threatening his future.
But not tonight.
When Thirtyx entered his room, Benn sat on his bed, scribbling on a formidable stack of papers. He didn’t need to study Thirtyx’s face long before smirking. “You look happy.”
“I just passed my Comps. Of course I’m happy. You and Rhea told me to have fun, didn’t you?”
Benn set his papers aside and fixed Thirtyx with his undivided attention. “So did you… have fun with Seerla, then?”
Thirtyx kicked off his shoes and rummaged in his dresser for pajamas. “We were both pretty excited.”
“She kissed you, didn’t she?”
Thirtyx had known the ruse wouldn’t hold up long, but he delighted in making Benn drag it out of him. He let his grin stretch wider. “I’m really not sure which of us kissed the other. I think your bet with Rhea is a stalemate.”
“By the Twins, finally!” Thirtyx turned in time to watch Benn collapse beside his papers, hands over his eyes. “Rhea and I were about to lock you two in a closet until you sorted out your feelings. We don’t have time for your angst with these anti-discrimination laws crumbling around us.”
Thirtyx settled on the edge of his bed to change. “Is that what you’re busy working on? I couldn’t tell if it was an essay or a ridiculously long letter.”
“How is that nearly as interesting as you kissing Seerla?”
“It’s not. It’s a shameless ploy to distract you.”
“Fine.” Benn’s scoff sounded uncannily like his sister. “It’s essentially both. I’m informing the Dragonfolk council about the horrible effects on commerce when you allow discrimination, even against a species that’s so far in the minority that we don’t count them in the census.” He rubbed his eyes with his fingertips. “It has references. And footnotes. And they probably won’t even read it.”
Thirtyx’s smile turned from blissful to encouraging. “For what it’s worth, it means a lot that you’re trying. And if you ever need help pulling references, I’m happy to pitch in. Tell Rhea the same, since I know you’ll give her the good news the second I turn my back, if she isn’t in your head already.”
Benn grinned. “She agreed to let us have our ‘guy talk’ first.” He framed the words with finger quotes. “But she’s checking in every half-bar.”
“Ugh. Were we really that obvious?”
“I’d like to remind you that Rhea and I knew about your crush before you did.”
“Okay, fair point. Can you believe Seerla was afraid I’d move on since we can’t be around each other anymore? Move on to whom exactly? It’s a little silly that she thought she had any competition.”
Benn sat up, one eyebrow cocked with derision. “I mean, it’s not like you were making any moves…”
Thirtyx threw back his covers with a huff, although he wasn’t sure he could be frustrated by anyone right now. “Whatever. I kissed someone tonight, and you didn’t. So I’m going to bed instead of letting homework and apprenticeship applications ruin this delightful evening.”
“It’s 42nd bar.”
“I didn’t say I was going to sleep.” Thirtyx crawled into bed and rolled onto his side to give Benn a serious look. “Look, I don’t get a lot of opportunities to be this unguardedly happy. I’m just going to bask in the moment for a while. Is that okay?”
It was Benn’s turn for an encouraging smile. “Of course it’s okay. I really am happy for you.”
“Thanks, Benn.”
“Unless you want to stick around for my debrief with Rhea, since she’s due to check in any fraction now, and I’m sure she’ll want a bunch of gossipy details I don’t have.”
“Goodnight, Benn.” Thirtyx rolled over to face the wall, grin still firmly intact on his face.
Calley Jones 