Partner

Mik only refers to people as last names, all last names are a consonant, a vowel and two consonants. I realised that about two chapters ago. When there's a name that's not like that, the person is from another country.

How did I write that without realising it?

I've heard a few comments about Paw seeming a bit immature, but loveable. Paw seems to like being a comedian, he likes making people laugh. And he likes speaking improperly, just to see if he could confuse Mik or others.

Just a few things I noticed...

Read, Review and Enjoy.






Back in the damned room, with the black wall. Koln waited until everyone had arrived before having the wall dropped.

And there were twenty Sidhe of a variety of sizes and colours and shapes. None were fat, none were even close. One’s arm was in a cast. Another could only see out one eye, the other clouded with a murky white, a scar slashing across the eye and down his cheek. The oldest was perhaps middle aged. The youngest had, maybe, neared the end of her puberty. Her face was young and soft and innocent even. But her bared arms were covered in scars, her wrists wrapped in bandages where cuffs had worn through her skin.

Essuan made a sound that attracted the attention of the tallest one in the room. Same hair colour, same eye colour, the male was taller than Essuan by a head, he towered over the smaller Sidhe, most especially over the people in the room. His fingers were long and he held them away from his body, he seemed to be slouched backwards. Backwards.

Yet every line of his body and his face made Mik cautious. It was not aggressive enough to be a challenge, but it was warning enough to imply that any who tried him would be sore. Both hands, draped almost casually, were curled, as if he was used to holding a weapon.

Silence came over the room as the twenty Sidhe watched the mix of people and Sidhe.

“How,” Mik whispered to Paw, barely audible even to him, “do I know what to do?”

How to avoid another bite.

“How,” Paw replied, just a bit louder, “does Mik know when to piss?”

Essuan was the first to rush over the line, right at the tall male. Her arms were up and she leapt upon him, wrapped her arms around his neck and knocked him back several steps. She babbled through tears and he laughed heartily and whatever she said.

A relative, obviously. The others seemed to have no such luck.

Souse was next to step over the line, cautious and careful. He approached, not the older male or any of those that seemed aggressive, but the young female with the scars down her arms. Souse made a show of bowing to her, so that his head came lower than hers, one of his legs bent as the other moved to the side, so he didn’t bend at the waist, but simply lowered himself to her level.

Her purple eyes, the colour of violet, watched him, her face impassive, as he rose once more and extended a hand towards her. She turned her face away from him, either unsure of her place or not accepting Souse’s offer.

A girl like that… Mik tried not to think of what had to have happened to cause those scars, tried not to think of what a girl like that must have gone through.

Her startling eyes shifted towards him as her head jerked away from Souse. A frown and the purple turned almost black.

She pointed at him and said something to Souse.

Souse shook his head and responded.

Lillow broke away from Taln and took Mik’s hand, tugging him almost playfully to the other girl, “Fwahhhh,” Lillow giggled and held Mik’s hand out to the other giving the back a small caress.

…

Was all he could think as the girl reached out tentatively and touched the back of Mik’s hand. It was a fluttering, a fearful touch that was snatched away a moment later. As she tried to retreat, Souse grabbed her wrist and brought the struggling girl against him, whispering in her ear as she fought uselessly against him.

If she was struggling, why did he not simply put her in her place, as Souse would have with anyone else? The moment Mik thought it, the girl stopped struggling and glared at Mik.

Glared. Like she knew what he had thought.

Yeah…

The glare deepened, the bottom lip came out as the lips scrunched into a disapproving, down turned… thing. So young and she had managed to perfect a look that made Mik want to run in the other direction. A slap from Souse’s hand on the girl’s arm and a warning tone. The girl managed to expertly kick Souse between the legs and slip out of his arms before moving for Mik.

Paw stepped between the two of them, caught the girl’s hand and spun her around and stumbling back to Souse.

Mik had no freaking clue what was going on.

Apparently neither did Koln, he stepped over the line and Souse growled something. Paw was off and trying to urge Koln to go back but the man ignored the Sidhe and simply walked around him.

“I hate to … somehow. Make matters worse, but what the fuck is going on? I thought you talked with them,” Koln snapped at Souse.

“I did. But talking them into doing something and then expecting them to do it is another thing. She thinks Mik has nice skin, she wants him as a pet. We said no. She was going to take what she wanted.”

“How about the evil glare of doom any time I think about her,” Mik muttered.

“Female Sidhe are like that,” Souse sighed, “why do you think they are so powerful amongst the tribe?”

“I feel for you, I do,” Koln said to Souse, “but get the girl under control.”

“Koln, they’ve obviously been abused,” Mik responded, “like a beaten dog.”

“They are not dogs,” Koln snapped back.

“Fine. A beaten child,” Mik bellowed, causing even Souse to step away from him, “it doesn’t matter what it is, it is still beaten, it isn’t going to trust you just because you tell it that you’ll be nice. Alright? Now how about we all fucking calm down,” he made a hand motion as if to urge everyone to sit. The Sidhe sat, “you get back over the fucking line and wait your god damned turn.”

“Mik.” Koln growled.

“Go.”

Koln retreated.

Souse looked at Mik, thought for a moment then pointed at his feet, “sit.”

“What?”

“Sit.”

Mik sighed and sat.

“Over here, at my feet,” Souse snapped his fingers then pointed again.

Mik tried not to sigh as he stood, moved to Souse’s feet and sat once more. Paw was sitting beside Mik a moment later, hand on his leg, apparently laying claim on the man.

The violet eyed girl said something and made a jab at Mik.

Paw reached with one hand, turned Mik’s face towards him and gave Mik a gentle poke between the eyes, “Boop.” and then looked at the girl.

The girl seemed to understand then, and she sighed out.

What followed was a long dialogue from Souse. Mik hoped it was something about the protection the program offered and the fact that the partners were ones the Sidhe chose themselves and such on. The girl seemed to worry, her arms crossed over her chest as if she were cold, a protective gesture. She even turned to face almost away from Souse at one point. A hand motion towards Mik and more words and the girl turned back.

Eventually the girl inclined her head to Souse and the older Sidhe sighed heavily.

“You, Mik. And you, Paw, will stay here until the last of them has chosen. Behave.”

“Essuan,” Paw muttered.

“She stays with her brother,” Souse growled, “pair him well, I want him in the higher apartments sooner than later. He, at least, she will listen to when heavy with child. I could be regurgitated meat for all she cares.”

“When heavy with child,” Paw added, “Essuan love Souse when not heavy with child.”

Souse growled at Paw and walked away.

Mik wondered why the floor was so uncomfortable when Sidhe were meant to spend hours in the room at a time. Perhaps even days.

He would have a lot of time to contemplate that, he thought wearily. It was still an hour before group two came to meet the new Sidhe.


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