Part 19 (1/2)
”Little bit.”
”Want to join us? Two on two?”
”Sure. Who's on my team?”
War slapped at Talyn's leg. ”I'll take Talyn. Brothers gotta stick together.”
Talyn laughed. ”Hear that, Vari? You're out in the cold.”
Gavarian made a sound of extreme aggravation as the other boys left the court. ”Typical.” He jerked his chin at Fain. ”All right. Let's shame them, Hauk. Show them what we're made of.”
Galene pinned the braid against Vega's head. ”You are very beautiful.”
The girl gave her a tenuous smile in the mirror. ”You think Hauk's mad at me for what I said?”
”Nah. I've said much worse to him and he's forgiven me for it.”
Vega laughed.
”C'mon, let's go find our males.” Galene led the girl out of her condo. She had no idea where to search, but Vega stepped past her and led the way to a small rec area where several kids were playing. It wasn't until they reached the griball court that she saw the boys locked in what appeared to be a death match.
Vega paused to frown at them. ”What are they doing?”
Galene sighed at the fierce way they played. Luckily, Talyn was large enough that he was able to keep War sheltered so that Fain and Gavarian couldn't trample the much smaller human. Though it appeared at times, they were trying. ”I believe they're actually playing.”
”They look like they're trying to kill each other.”
She couldn't argue that. But as she watched them, it drove home exactly what fate had deprived them all of. It was the first time she'd seen Fain and Talyn interact as something other than adversaries.
Gone was any hostility. Other than that innate male compet.i.tive drive they all had. But it wasn't the same as what they normally had when they faced off. This was what it should have been.
Playful and good-natured.
It also showed her how much of his father's natural athleticism Talyn had inherited.
And even though it wasn't in Fain's personality to lose, she saw him pull back so that Talyn, with War in his arms, could cut around him and allow War to score the final goal.
”Wahoo!” War shouted. ”We won!” He latched on to Talyn's neck and bounced in his arms.
Laughing, Gavarian wiped at the sweat on his face. ”No fair. Next time, I call Talyn.”
War's eyes widened as he saw his sister. He jumped from Talyn to run at her. ”Vega! Did you see my goal!” Then he pulled up short and cupped himself. ”Oh wait. I still have my p.e.n.i.s.” Biting his lip, he looked around nervously.
Vega groaned and covered her face in embarra.s.sment. ”It's fine, Warwyk. Shus.h.!.+”
His excitement returned. ”Did you see my goal?”
”I saw. You did awesome.”
He ran back to get the ball while she approached Fain sheepishly.
”You feeling better?” he asked in a concerned tone.
She nodded. ”I'm very sorry for how I acted.”
Hugging her, he pa.s.sed a nervous glance to Galene. ”No problem.” Then he introduced her to Talyn and Gavarian.
Her eyes bulged as they pulled their uniform jackets back on over their bared chests and fastened them. She murmured a pleasantry before she grabbed War's hand and all but dragged him toward their condo.
Fain scowled at her actions.
Galene laughed. ”She's becoming a young woman.”
”Yeah, I know. I worry about her here by herself. I try to come down a couple of times a week to visit them. Make sure everything's okay and that no one's bothering them.”
”She told me. She also said that you've put the fear into a couple of boys she has a crush on.”
Fain grinned proudly. ”Do what I can.”
Galene shook her head at him. ”Well, that was what had her upset. One of them asked her to a dance and she didn't have a dress. She tried to earn the credit for it and it was stolen by an older boy.”
The humor faded from his eyes. ”Who?”
”It's fine. I'm taking care of it.”
”Who took her credits?”
She placed her hand on Fain's arm. ”I'm taking care of it, Fain. Just breathe.” Kissing his cheek, she offered him a smile. ”I need to get back to the command center. Try not to kill our son.”
Talyn snorted at her humor.
As she started away, Fain stopped her. ”You never answered me about dinner.”
”Tomorrow night. My place. I'll see you at six.”
Those words thrilled him, until he caught the glower on his son's face. ”I take it you'll be there?”
”Wouldn't miss it for anything.”
Fain silently groaned as Gavarian let out an evil laugh at Talyn's grim, promising smirk. Wonderful. ”Looking forward to our quality time together.”
That seemed to relax the sternness from Talyn's face. ”Why don't you grab the kids and we can get something to eat now? You can take something to Mum, while Vari and I feed them.”
”You trust me?”
”More than The Tavali in the command center.”
”So I'm the lesser evil?”
”For the moment.” Talyn offered him a drink of his water. ”Get the kids. Dinner's on me for being such a jacka.s.s.”