Gestures, part 9

[frogs_of_war]

I met my daughter’s new boyfriend on Halloween. He was dressed in a black suit with a red tie and my older son instantly recognized his costume (Agent 47, from a video game, I believe) even before he turned around and we spotted the barcode on the back of his shaved head.

He is six eight (203cm, the same height as Kurt). I know other men who are in the six six, six eight range. Most, like my uncle, are gangly or, like my ex-coworker’s son (who happens to be the same age as my daughter’s boyfriend and I had a few hours of sleepless worry that they might be one and the same), have gym muscles over a beanstalk figure. But Agent 47 fit his height. Even with my daughter (five five, 165cm and half his weight) standing in front of him, he didn’t look out-of-proportionally large.



Title: Gestures
Status: Part 9 of 10
Genre: science fiction, romance, slash
Rating: PG (13?)
Content: beads, a present, a kiss, the watering hole, welcome, agreement, introduction, home, kisses, swimming, temptation, planning, leaving, a pang, the ocean, trading, boats, sharing, paperwork, cargo, wants, goodbye, tears, flight
Length: about 4,400 words
Summary: Colt goes back to his home away from home, but his journey isn’t over.

Masterlist

The next morning Orion dropped a dozen beautiful beads into Colt’s hand. “I couldn’t just leave them among the ashes. Make something for Lion.”

Colt made a loop of leather and beads to add to Lion’s belt. He held it up to the light. “Why are you doing this? Why am I? Isn’t it just cruel to lead him on when I’m going away?”

“Don’t think like that.” Orion put his hand on Colt’s knee. “You are giving him something to remember you by. These beads will outlive him.”

But this still didn’t feel right. Colt should be giving Lion presents as a declaration that he would never leave his side.

But he made a second and a third. When Lion return with fruit and firewood, Colt asked for the belt and spent quite a while getting the decorations right.

After they ate, he presented Lion with the completed gift. Lion grinned and took it and then pressed his lips against Colt’s. Colt had to concentrate on not opening his mouth and introducing tongues.

He should not feel this way. He should not want Lion when Orion, who was all he’d ever wanted, was within reach.

—

A few days later, just before midday, the four stopped at a watering hole. This wasn’t just any spot of deep water; this was the one just outside Lion’s village. Python touched each of their shoulders, blew them kisses, and then lifted the cat pelt and carried it into the trees. Colt’s heart broke a little more.

—

Lion’s Grandfather crossed his arms and scowled, but the rest of the village danced and sang and chattered and forced food on them.

Grandfather touched his cheek and made the question sound. Lion looked at the ground. Grandfather repeated the sound. Lion turned away. Grandmother wrapped her arms around Lion. “Lion home. Grandmother happy.”

Lion didn’t hug her back. “Lion journey. Horse find Star. Lion find new home.”

So he had gone there. Colt couldn’t stand the heartbreak on Grandmother’s face. He stood by the fire and told of their journey. When Colt mentioned Python, Grandfather interrupted. Lion’s mother told him to shut up. She wanted to hear about her son’s journey.

Colt glossed over lots of it, but emphasized how brave and true Lion and Python where as they fought the cat.

Grandfather disputed the size of the cat.

Python appeared on the trail, carrying the pelt. Everyone turned to watch him. He unrolled it at Lion’s feet. People gathered around to touch and exclaim over it.

Python grinned up at Grandfather. “Lion new home. New home Python, Horse, Star.”

Grandfather narrowed his eyes. “Not Python.”

Python laughed that arrogant I’ve-already-won laugh that had so annoyed Colt before they started their journey. Colt would miss it when he left.

Grandfather touched his cheek and made the question noise. Python touched his fading marks. “New home. Python, Lion, Horse, Star: Hunter. New home welcome. Python, Lion, Horse, Star go back. Live.”

Lion sat and wrapped himself in the pelt. “New home Lion Lion.”

Grandfather stamped his foot. “Home Lion Lion.

Lion turned his head away. “Here Lion not Lion.”

Orion got up, stood behind Lion, wrapped his arms around Lion’s neck, and kissed Lion’s head. “I don’t know what’s wrong, but I want you to know I’m on your side.”

Lion lifted a hand and patted Orion’s arm.

Grandfather grunted and pointed at Orion. Orion kissed Lion’s head again, stood up, and put out his hand. “Orion Felix Donovan Maximus Zane Santiago of the Donovan Station Santiagos lately of the jungle somewhere hereabouts.”

Orion had spoken in his native tongue, which didn’t share a single word with Trade and therefore with Aglen Deresla. Grandfather grunted again. Colt felt for him. “Star.”

“Star?”

Python laughed. “Horse finish story. Grandfather learn.”

Grandfather glanced at Python and then stared at Colt as if Grandfather’s interruption had been Colt’s fault. Colt lost what little sympathy he’d had, but Grandmother and all the others were quietly and no so quietly waiting for Colt’s story. He turned to his waiting audience and continued with the cat and saving Kite, finding out that a blond lived in Kite’s village, and arriving there to find that the blond was Colt very own Star that he’d been looking for all that time.

Colt stepped back to show he was done with his story. Grandmother called Orion forward so she could get a good look at him. Before Colt could translate, Orion complied.

Grandmother looked him over. Orion smiled at her. “You look like a woman who can hold her own in any situation.” He bowed his head. “I am honored to meet you.”

Grandmother looked at Colt. He translated loosely. Orion grinned. “What did you say?”

“That you think she is strong and brave and beautiful. She’s Lion’s grandmother, his mother’s mother, as well as an elder in the village.

Then Grandmother asked what Orion had said. This could go on all night. “Star make Python necklace.”

He tugged Python closer and, much to Colt’s surprise, even when the villagers gathered around him to admire his treasure, Python didn’t let go of Colt’s hand.

This was a bad sign, but of what? But then Orion tucked himself against Colt’s other side and Lion grinned at them as he played with his siblings and cousins. All was right.

—

That night the four of them piled into Lion’s bed. They couldn’t really all fit in it, but that didn’t matter. They were home, at least a kind of home, and together.

They wouldn’t be together long, but maybe that meant they should enjoy every moment of the time they had.

—

Colt woke in just his drawers. Python hadn’t liked the coverall fabric against his skin. Lion stretched. Orion protested. Colt was about as far away as he could be in the small bed. Python must have wiggled out from between them at some point. Colt rolled over against Lion’s side. A warm body pressed against his back. He closed his eyes.

He deserved to take a day off.

—

Lion lapped up his family’s attention, but he clammed up and shut down whenever his grandfather was near. Colt loved the village and the people in it too, but seeing Lion’s pain broke his heart.

Colt wanted to talk to Python, but the man disappeared for most of every day. Maybe he was off wherever he’d lived before.

Orion leaned on Colt’s arm. “Talk to me.”

Colt sighed. “We should leave this place. I don’t want to. This village is the closest place to home that didn’t actually have my mother living there.”

Orion looked up with bright eyes. “You miss your mother.”

Colt wanted to say of course he did, didn’t everyone, but Orion hardly mentioned his family at all and then only when he was talking about his tutor, nanny, or valet.

Colt couldn’t stand a life like that. He kissed Orion’s head. “You’d miss her too if you ever met her.”

Orion smiled. “I’m sure I would.”

Then he kissed Colt full on the lips and Colt melted against him. Orion deepened the kiss and then pulled away. They hadn’t been together in too long.

Orion led Colt to Lion’s hut and gently pushed him in. He turned to someone outside that Colt couldn’t see. “Sorry Gramps. I couldn’t understand a word. You’ll have to try again later.”

Then he walked inside and pounced on Colt. Nothing was better. Colt was going to enjoy Orion while he could.

—

Colt sat up. His mind was still cloudy with sated lust, but one thought filled it. “The headman doesn’t approve of men having sex with each other.”

Orion flicked a stray lock of hair behind his shoulder. “I believe the headman doesn’t approve of a lot of things.”

Colt scrambled for his clothes. “I hope he doesn’t take his disapproval out on Lion.”

Colt hurried outside, but he couldn’t find Lion or his grandfather. He waved some small children over and asked if they’d seen either. Lion had gone off somewhere with Python.

Colt sighed with relief.

“Horse go.”

Grandfather.

Colt turned. “Horse go. Horse Star go.”

“Lion stay.”

“Lion…”

“Lion’s going to do what he wants to regardless of what you think or feel.” Orion grinned from the doorway.

Grandfather blinked slowly.

Colt nodded as if Grandfather had understood what Orion said. “Lion go. Lion stay. Lion come. Lion leave. Lion Lion. Lion know.”

“Lion stay!” Grandfather banged his chest.

Now that was enough. “Lion Python Horse Star go. Dawn. Horse Star fly. Lion Python home.”

Grandfather grunted. “Lion home. Python home.”

Colt shrugged. He wasn’t going to argue. “Come on, Orion. Let’s find the others.”

They held hands when the path was wide enough and acquired a tail of children following them. At the swimming hole, Colt shucked off his clothes and jumped in. Orion watched him from a shady rock.

Colt swam a few laps and then bobbed in front of Orion. “We should leave tomorrow.”

Orion nodded. “I don’t understand most of the words, but I lived through exactly what Lion is going through.”

“Your grandmother?”

Orion smiled. “You met her?”

“She swore at me.”

Orion frowned and leaned forward. “Why?”

“Because I had the gall to say you weren’t kidnapped.”

Orion leaned back and closed his eyes. “They would have thought that. I didn’t even leave a note.”

The water splashed and waves beat against the rocks. Orion shook the water out of his hair. “Lion, that was a wonderful splash.”

Lion grinned as water dripped from his hair.

Python dove into the water with barely a ripple and came up to Colt. He looked Colt over.

Colt looked from him to Lion and back. “Horse Star Lion Python go. Dawn.”

Lion frowned. Python nodded. “Good.”

Then Python grabbed the waistband of Colt’s drawers and gave it a gentle tug. Colt’s body hardened, but he wasn’t about to let Python go there, especially with children present. He swam away but turned after a few strokes to make sure Python knew he wasn’t upset.

Python’s eyes lit up and he dove after Colt. Python could out swim Colt, but he didn’t as they played a form of tag, or maybe shark and prey. Lion joined in and then the children, but Colt was more surprised when Orion pulled his clothes off and joined in.

Swimming was a lot of fun. Colt climbed onto the sun warmed rocks and closed his eyes. If Grandfather wasn’t such a grouch, Colt would be tempted to stay forever.

So maybe this way was for the best.

The children returned to the village ready for dinner. The four hadn’t been awake, alone, and all together in days.

Colt stopped Lion when he stood up. “Dawn.”

Lion frowned. Python touched Lion’s arm and said not to tell the others. They’d just find more reasons to keep Lion home. Lion wasn’t ready to go, but Python said Colt and Orion needed a guide and if Lion didn’t want to come, Python would get him on the way back.

Lion frowned. “Python return? Horse Star return?”

Python nodded. “Horse Star return. Home Horse Star home.”

Orion smiled. “I think I understood that. Lion, my dear, are you going to see us off?”

He tugged Lion back down to the rock. “Lion come.”

Orion glanced at Colt.

Colt nodded. That sounded right to him. “Put your hand against your chest. No like this,” Colt got on his knees and arranged Orion’s fingers, “when you say ‘come’ to mean come with me.”

Orion practically sat in Lion’s lap. “Lion come.” He touched his chest in almost the right way. “Tomorrow.”

He glanced at Colt, but the look on Lion’s face proved Orion’s success.

Python thumped Colt’s back. “Good.”

It was good. Now if he could only teach Lion and Python to speak Derelsa III, he’d have even less of a reason to leave.

Colt let out a long breath. He needed to remember all the things he couldn’t do here, like fly.

The sooner they left the better. “Dawn.”

The others nodded. “Dawn.”

Colt hated the idea of leaving Lion and Python and knowing Orion would leave him soon after made the idea even worse, but maybe like peeling off a bandage: best all at once.

—

Python came up with a plan. He left during the night with Orion’s tools and a few other things they wanted to bring with them. The bed wasn’t as cozy without him.

Lion left while the sky was still deep blue. He didn’t want to see any of his family for fear he’d give himself away. The bed was a lot colder without him.

Orion snuggled close. Colt should have slept, but he couldn’t.

They were leaving the big cat pelt, so Lion’s family would know he’d return.

Colt waited until the sky turned colors and woke Orion. Several villagers were already up, including Grandfather, so Colt wouldn’t get a chance to say goodbye.

But as he ate his breakfast, Grandmother sat down beside him and squeezed his hand. “Horse go soon.”

Colt nodded.

“Horse take care.”

Colt nodded and squeezed her hand back. “Grandmother take care.”

“Horse take care Lion.”

Colt closed his eyes. She was really never going to quit, was she? “Horse go. Horse fly. Horse home Star.”

Orion leaned against Colt’s back. “What is she about?”

“She’s trying to hook me up with her grandson.”

Orion grinned. “I can see why. You are quite a catch.”

Colt ignored the little pang that Orion didn’t want to catch Colt as much as Colt wanted caught.

Orion moved in front of Grandmother, took her hand from Colt’s and kissed it. “I’m sorry to say, you must let us go.”

She smiled at Orion. “Good Star. Horse Happy.”

Orion put his hand on his heart. “I strive to, milady.”

He got up and tugged Colt to his feet and walked with him out of the village. “We have men waiting for us.”

They did, but Colt hoped he would see these villagers again.

—

Python used a different trail than Colt had. Colt felt bad that he couldn’t tell any of the people that helped him on his way that he’d found his blond star. But the trip to the coast was much shorter. As the sun set, Colt heard the ocean.

He wanted to stop. He wanted to go back, maybe to the village where he’s met Orion.

But he had a duty. Once he was off planet he’d feel differently. Once he saw his mother and sister, once he’d spent a night in his own bed, once he went on to another job, all his time here would seem like a dream. He would have thought that this close to home he wouldn’t want to stop.

They ate fish Python caught with a net he took from a tree. He’d been here before.

The food was good. They didn’t have blankets to cut the wind, so the piled up in a dip behind a fallen log. The next morning they walked along the shore. They could see Port Island, but it was much too far away to swim to, except maybe by Python.

A village Colt hadn’t seen from the other shore was tucked in among the trees. Python walked up to a fisherman and haggled.

A young woman carried a tray of cups to Colt. “Would you like a drink?”

Colt thanked her and took a cup. “You know other languages?”

She blushed. “My father was a tourist. My mother convinced him to stay.”

Orion took a cup. “I can see why.”

She turned her head away.

Lion grunted the question noise. Orion put a hand on his arm. Lion relaxed. Colt passed Lion the last cup and took his cup to Python.

The fisherman wanted game animals for food and leather. Python agreed to the price. He grinned at Colt and drained the cup. Then he called to Lion and they walked out of the village.

Colt put the cup back on the tray. The girl’s gaze followed Lion and Python into the woods. “Is he your… mate?”

Colt looked back at the woods. “Is who?”

“The short one. Wives bring their husbands drink like that, but friends don’t.”

Orion laughed. “The perils of different cultures. No, miss, Python isn’t Colton’s — Horse’s mate, I am at least temporarily. But the other two would jump at the chance if it was offered.”

Colt didn’t want to think about the future. He looked out over the water. “I’m a pilot. I travel a great deal. And my ship only holds one.”

Orion smiled. “Well that puts me in my place.”

Colt stopped and touched his arm. “That’s not what I meant.”

Orion patted his arm. “I know. I know. What shall we do while we wait for our men to return.”

Our men. If only that were true.

—

Python and Lion returned with a deer flung over Lion’s shoulder and half a dozen small mammals hanging from various places on Python.

Python stopped in the village center, well within range of the women, each making dinner for her own family. The fishermen came over and Python haggled again. The fishermen demanded all the meat and pelts in exchange for one boat ride and each boat only held three.

Python showed off the rich fur of the small mammals to the women and then said he’d find another village that would appreciate the pelts more. The women rose up in protest.

But instead of coming together to force their wills on the men, they each picked one man to threaten and cajole. The pelts and meat wouldn’t belong to the village, but to the families of the fisherman that rowed them over.

And maybe the local tanner.

Once Python had two fishermen willing to take them over, he insisted on starting right away, while the men wanted to wait for the meat to be butchered and skinned.

Python again threatened to take the animals elsewhere.

A man agreed to butcher and skin the animals in exchange for a small pelt and some of the deer meat.

Python herded the men to the dock and forced them into the boats. Lion and Python got into one and Colt and Orion the other. Python had Colt’s boat go first and he kept a good eye on it and proved himself adept at oars when Colt’s boat owner changed his mind a little way from shore.

They reached the other side as the sun was setting. Python hopped out like he’d lived in boats all his life. Colt got out more slowly. This trip wasn’t as bad as the last one. He’d been able to keep his eyes open. Most of the time.

No one came out to greet them. Either the farmers were busy or Hunters landing on Port Island was a normal occurrence.

Python helped Lion out of the boat. He didn’t look like he’d fared better than Colt had. Orion enjoyed the entire trip if his running commentary meant anything.

Python led the way to the outpost. Vin looked up from his dinner. “Colton, wasn’t it? I didn’t expect you. I can’t believe you’re back. I told Eli that you were the type we lose. Not to death or anything, but to wanting to stay.”

Colt clapped him on the back before he could continue. “You were nearly right. I found places that felt like home here, but I’ve got a job to complete. Can we leave in the morning?”

“All of you? These three look native. Only you’re not are you? You’re the blond man Colt was after. I’m glad he found you. You look happier than before, doesn’t he, Eli? But you look native. I’m Vin. By the way. Who might you be?”

Orion put out his hand. “Orion Felix Donovan Maximus Zane Santiago, please to meet you. Is that lamb stew? I can’t remember the last time I had lamb stew. Do you mind?”

“No, no. Welcome. Only our last visitors were clumsy, like you wouldn’t believe, and we are down to just one extra bowl.”

Orion smiled. “That’s fine. I’ve learned to share.”

Colt took refuge at Eli’s side and gestured for Lion and Python to follow him. Eli nodded at Python. “This one I’ve met before.”

Python nodded back.

Colt introduced Lion. Eli looked him over. “I don’t think he’d last off planet. Python might. He hasn’t learned all there is to know.”

Eli nodded at Python again and went back to his meal. Vin brought over his extra bowl and apologized again for not having more. But other than a bite or two Colt wasn’t hungry. The children in the village had offered him food in exchange for language practice, but Colt preferred every other village to that one. He watched the others share the bowl and turned to Eli. “When is the next shuttle?”

“Next month. You just missed the last one.”

Vin talked about who was on it and how long they’d stayed and the likelihood of seeing them again. Orion waited for him to pause from breath. “How soon can we launch the skipper?”

“Late morning, but can you fit enough in there to be considered a we?”

“I have room for one if he lies down. Orion, do you mind going as cargo?”

“If I can breathe and move a bit, I’m good.”

“Once we’re out of the atmosphere, you can even sit up and talk to me. The flight is only a few hours long.”

Orion smiled.

Vin looked at Python and Lion. “So you two are staying? That’s probably for the best. I’m not sure regulations allow natives to travel off world without permission, but I don’t know whose. I’ll have to look it up. Tomorrow maybe. I’m pretty tired tonight and the question is just academic. Are you two spending the night here? It’s pretty late for anything else.”

“They are spending the night with me.” Orion stood up. “Where can we sleep?”

Vin showed them the small alcove, but Orion said the cot wouldn’t hold them all, so he moved the mattress to the floor and laid the bedding beside it. Vin still didn’t believe they would fit, but Orion assure him that they had slept in smaller spaces. Vin raised his eyebrows and dug out all his spare blankets. Colt thanked him, but all Colt needed to keep him warm was three hot bodies next to him.

Colt asked Vin for permission to send a message to the Agency. He had a job to do.

When he returned to the alcove, the other three were already in bed. Python tugged on Colt’s coverall to get him to remove them as the three pointed out the space they’d left for him. Warm, strong arms held him close, and despite the small space they all fit, mostly skin to skin, which was the way he wanted to be.

He didn’t expect to sleep. He didn’t want to sleep, not tonight, his last night on the planet, his last night with his men. But his eyes were heavy and the gentle sounds of breathing dragged him to sleep.

—

Morning dawned cool and bright and much too soon. Colt didn’t want to get up, but Vin and Eli moved about just outside the curtain.

Anyway, he needed to see his skipper.

Python got up when Colt did. He’d probably been awake for a while.

The skipper was in fine form despite weeks of being grounded. Colt checked all systems and was considering a test run when Vin called them all in for breakfast.

The oatmeal reminded Colt of home, although his family hadn’t eaten much of it. His sister hated even the smell of oatmeal.

After breakfast Colt filled out paperwork and signed all the proper forms and ledgers. Then he got in his test run and his final system’s check.

He took in a deep breath. As the world fell away, he felt like a new man. All his cares and worries and vivid memories and might-have-beens would be erased by time and distance. He landed and jumped out, feeling much better. “Ready, Orion?”

The sooner they left, the sooner the ache in Colt’s heart would end.

Orion hugged everyone, including Vin and Eli, then examined his accommodations. “More space than I imagined. Why didn’t they send you with a bigger ship?”

“Because this little ship is mine.”

Python tapped Colt’s shoulder. “Colton, we will miss you. Come back soon to us.”

Colt would have thought he was hearing things if not for the awkward phrasing. He felt prickles behind his eyes. He wasn’t going to cry. He wasn’t.

Then Lion took his hand. “Horse.” He cleared his throat. “Colton, come back. Bring our star back to us. We wait.”

Python nodded, maybe as much to reassure Lion on the words that sounded like Lion had memorized as to say Python agreed with them.

Colt wanted to wrap his arms around them and kiss Lion with a little tongue and then turn and be kissing Python. He wanted a night with them to feel their hands on him and to fill and be filled.

Why had he wasted last night and all the other nights? Why hadn’t he just said yes?

He blew a kiss to Lion and then one to Python. They both set them against their lips.

Colt quickly hopped into his cockpit and covered his wet cheeks with his helmet then made sure Orion was secure.

The flight check was very quick. As Colt lifted off, Lion blew him another kiss. Colt hated the distance between them. He hated everything. He pulled back on the control rod and zoomed up until the land was simply green.

He wanted to fly to the end of the universe, to scout planets no one had ever seen. But he couldn’t outrun himself. He set the skipper toward home.

When he opened Orion’s box, Orion was deep in thought and didn’t seem to notice. Colt left the box open a crack, but he was glad for the silence. This chapter in his life would soon be over.