Partner

I inadvertantly ended up answering several of Suryallee's questions in story. Which was like... how? Ah well.

This will not be the last time Paw says that line "Behold the power of Whisper."

I might update Sequel today. This has given me several ideas for it and I've been thinking about doing one since Mik and Paw went on television the second time.

But before that is likely going to be a class, a lunch and several hours of shopping for work clothing and a costume. That could take a while.

Maybe.

Read, Review and Enjoy




Mik tugged off his shirt and dropped it beside the tub. Paw played with the lighter and candles, lighting and blowing out this or that candle several times before moving on. The water filled the tub, the scent of lavender rising from the hot water. Bubbles sprang up here and there, a few but not a lot. The tub had just begun filling though, that could change.

Paw walked up behind Mik and wrapped his arms around Mik’s torso, bending his head to kiss Mik’s shoulder. Mik shivered and cocked his head to the side so Paw had better access to the shoulder. The Sidhe’s fingers grazed over Mik’s stomach.

“Dark,” Paw murmured.

“Quiet,” Mik muttered in response, “almost too quiet.”

Had he already gotten used to the sound of Lillow and Hohi chatting back and forth in the living room, to the sound of the mesa pushing over whatever the creature could get its hands onto? The phone ringing off the hook and Koln beating down the doors… er… doorframes? The buzz of technology and that odd sound the fridge made. The muffled buzzing from nearby apartments, getting them ready for new partners.

Paw smiled against Mik’s skin, “place of home never quiet. Smell always, but good smell.”

Mik closed his eyes and leaned against Paw, certain for a moment that the sunlight dappled across the floor, flickering through layers of leaves and branches to reach them. Certain that lavender was joined by humus and leaves, of the smells of his mother’s gardens and more. Birds twittered and something scuttled across a tree branch.

He opened his eyes, seeing the carefully grown wood, worn smooth by time and hands, sun dancing over them in various shades. The room was carefully bowed over, a roof and walls domed over them. Branches twining tightly for the door.

Paw leaned over Mik’s shoulder.

“Behold. The power of Whisper,” He said quietly, soothingly.

“Are we-”

“No,” Paw gave a small shake of his head, “is simply the… data… of another mind offering a small blissful prayer to Illuva. Thanking her for protection. Meditation room.”

“It’s so…” it began wavering and fading.

“He finishes.”

The image shifted and the ceiling came up fast. What had looked to be a large room was hardly tall enough to contain the Sidhe who lived this reality. Through the distortion Mik saw clearly, amongst the branches a dragonfly chasing a butterfly.

The image faded completely and Mik was left groping in the near dark for the butterfly that wasn’t there. Butterflies. Made of the blood of gods, the blood used to create magic and higher spirits.

Paw caught Mik’s hand and brought it back, kissing the back of it as Paw moved around Mik to check on the water. The tub was near to full. Paw turned the taps off and smiled sweetly at Mik.

“How can you live here, if that is what you are missing?” Mik asked Paw.

Paw thought for a moment, “such little time, to us, that we have been here. Not forever. And if we were out there, in the forest, we would be without a home, wandering nomads. The people who caught us went after the children and elders. Souse’s people proved too powerful so they burned the tree in the night. Whisper had sent warning, thankfully. Our children live. Our children are strong. Their divisions are gone and all that is left is their desire to live and survive.”

“Why not call them here? Why not become one tribe again?”

“Afraid to,” Paw murmured, “Paw and Auhi have a relative amongst the Elders. He still lives. He… would not be happy by mesas or by Mik. Or by program. Or by Mari or Koln or journalists or people. People have now taken his home. Taken his mate. Taken his Whisper and his daughter and his son and his grand child. Such darkness burns in his soul. And… more children than we have adults.”

“With the partners-”

“Paw was counting the partners,” Paw murmured, smile cracking his dark expression, “children not counted in tribe numbers. Tribe numbers are those that can fight,” Paw paused at Mik’s look, “most would leave to go to other tribes. They may even leave and start own tribe, nearby, if old time tree can be found.”

“Ooooh, can your people make stuff grow faster?”

Paw giggled, “myth.”

“Damn.”

“Can make tree appear over night,” Paw smiled, “quick, hard workers Sidhe are.”

Mik kicked off his pants and socks and climbed into the water, beckoning to Paw. The Sidhe striped and climbed into the tub, settling between Mik’s legs, knees bent above the water and the back of his head resting on Mik’s shoulder.

“Is said that Ayato can do that. But. Is said also that Ayato is god. A god. Gods not walk world of man for long time.”

“Several hundred years,” Mik muttered, “last time Whisper was about?”

“No,” Paw considered, “before television and such so… ehm… two hundred maybe. Illuva came down and someone took her picture. She not want her face everywhere so she fled back to the heavens, crying all the way.”

“Man finally disobeyed her,” Mik murmured.

“When last time Illuva intervene with people?”

“I dunno…”

“When Moon Line be made. Right before she became goddess. Now she buy and trade like every other god, just she better than others at it. Moon Line made art, helped Ayato, because of Moon Line Sun Line not destroy Sidhe. Illuva intervened at the behest of us and saved us. Again.”

“… So where is she now?”

“Paw will show Mik picture. Later.” Paw murmured


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