Everything had been very, very pleasant so far, but right now, the High General wanted to spend some time with their siblings, and it turned out that the Lake had a jacuzzi, something Gath had always wanted to try, so that was what Gath, Lysar and Kuta were all doing right now, sitting in a jacuzzi, relaxing and listening to trickling water and nature sounds. Technically, what with them all being the poten-partners of the Rethianoi siblings, that made the three of them Siblings-by-Partnership (the Rethan term for a brother- or sister-in-law), and it was suggested they spend some time getting used to each other.
Granted, it had taken Kuta a little coaxing to take their armour off and join Gath and Lysar. Kuta was very much aware that they were unnatural in more ways than one, and wasn’t really a fan of letting non-Retvik people see their naked body. However, Gath had managed to convince Kuta by stripping in front of them and showing off the cracks in their plating and the bullet embedded in their thigh, saying that Kuta couldn’t have been that bad.
So now the three of them were just siting there, slowly getting drunk and enjoying the warm, bubbly water.
“So, Kuta, if you do not mind me asking, how did you and Retvik become poten-partners?” Lysar randomly asked. “Because you set me up with Rethais and Ritlir set Gath up with Relkir. You two are clearly somewhat match-made as well. You have to be, considering the age difference.”
Kuta frowned. “Actually, you and Rethais was also Ritlir’s idea. As was Hasvik with their poten-partner. I just helped because of my higher rank at the time.”
Gath tilted their head to one side. “Ritlir is that really young General, yes? The new 10th Legion one? I saw them in the Twenty Below Cafe when Relkir and I got serious.”
“That may have been coincidental. Ritlir is almost as weird as I am and they like to eat at unusual hours.”
Lysar shrugged. “Ritlir is very young but they seem normal to me.”
“Ritlir worships Sini, the Allbirther, and believes part of their duties is to match up Rethans who would normally never have partners.”
“Oh… That is… a little weird…” Lysar leaned back. “But Ritlir does seem to mean well. Did they match you with Retvik?”
Kuta shook their head. “No, I admittedly got to know Retvik better via Arkay. When Arkay left me and disappeared, I visited Retvik in the hopes of finding Arkay and we just… sat there and talked to each other. It turns out we have a lot in common.”
“You are nearly double Retvik’s age though!” Lysar exclaimed.
Gath blinked. “You… you are? Oh… I remember now, Relkir told me, you recently hit triple digits. But you look so young.”
“I am aware of that, yes!” Kuta tutted. “The same way I am painfully aware of my ice blue eyes, my stupidly sharp armour and my fangs. I know I am weird and strange and am judged by everyone who sees me. And, funnily enough, that is what Retvik and I have in common. Retvik, being exiled, was judged by everyone, despite everything he has achieved. He is one of the best gladiators alive currently, he has a current win streak of nearly 300 and has a flawless win rate with his Dessaron team, but vok still shunned him until Rethais repatriated him! And, frankly, even now, I have seen some of Rethais’s 47th Legion troops giving Retvik looks.”
“Oh! So you bonded for the same reason Relkir and I bonded! Over our differences! Very… poetic. I think…” Gath very suddenly went quiet and stared blankly at the water. Kuta quickly realized what was going on and put their hand on Gath’s shoulder, very gently nudging them and silently leveraging a tiny amount of their telepathic power to bring Gath back.
“You have prostaxia…” Kuta frowned.
“Again, yes…” Gath sighed, rubbing their eyes. “I suppose you two Below Twenties do not know what going Defensive Stance is like, but whatever happened to me has had many consequences. I am thankful that I have only had it happen twice since… that day, and both times, I did not sleep for a fortnight.”
“Actually, you say that, I have gone Defensive Stance twice myself!” Kuta was doing their best to be understanding. “I do not remember the first time, I was very young, but the second time, like you, I did not sleep for a long time either.”
Lysar crossed their arms. “Kuta, you have been working Below Twenty jobs most of your life! How have you had the chance to go Defensive Stance more than once?”
“Oh, only half my life, Lysar. You should be aware that I was in the 606th Legion before it was disbanded. I mean, of course I was, I am capable of moving through shadows, that is literally perfect for the Legion of Hidden Blades.”
“I mean… fair…” Lysar grunted. “Do you remember what triggered you?”
Kuta shook their head some more. “Yes, but I cannot give you all the details. We were shot at during a surveillance mission and one of my fellow soldiers died, which triggered my Defensive Stance. It took five other Rethans to subdue me and…” Kuta lowered their voice. “I am certain I killed someone. Several someones. But I do not remember specifically what happened or how I killed them. I should have been imprisoned, but, well, Gath, you understand, yes?”
Gath nodded. “I do, yes. I am quite thankful that I do not remember what happened. I just wish I also did not remember losing Vikal the way I did…”
Kuta and Gath both fell silent. Lysar glanced at them both, then decided to give them some space.
“I know you do not like being seen, Kuta, so I will fetch us some drinks, alright? What do you both want?”
“Oh. Mead. Definitely more mead!” Gath laughed awkwardly. “And maybe some milkshakes. Not vanilla though. Vanilla is a pointless milkshake flavour, you might as well just drink milk.”
“Hah, I have not had a nice milkshake in a while!” Kuta smiled weakly. “Thank you, Lysar.”
Lysar bowed their head slightly, then awkwardly climbed out of the jacuzzi, grabbed a nearby towel and wrapped it around themselves, before leaving the room. However, Gath and Kuta both went back to being silent for a while. Gath went back to staring blankly at the bubbles in the water, however Kuta found themselves… examining Gath.
“You should tell Relkir…” Kuta suddenly muttered.
Gath blinked some more. “What do you mean?”
“About your illnesses. Your plans to retire early. That your doctors do not think you will make it to triple digits. Relkir loves you more than anything, I saw it in their eyes when Rethais dragged them off for their family thing. They want to be with you, forever. But you will not live forever.”
“Relkir does not need to carry my burdens.”
“Relkir wants to to help you carry your burdens. That is what loving partners do for each other. But Relkir cannot help you if they do not know you need help…” Kuta sighed. “Let me put this another way. You are middle-aged, yes, but you hold a prestigious position. You could retire tomorrow and live a good rest of your life. But Relkir would want to be by your side as you grow older and weaker, and they cannot do that and be happy if they do not know the full story and cannot make their own preparations.
“And, at the same time, you do not want to live with regret. Granted, my relationship experiences outside of Retvik have been… bad, but there are things I regret not saying or doing while I had the chance. Which is why I sat down with Retvik and told him everything. I do not want someone as amazing as you, someone as timid as Relkir, feeling the same way I have done in the past.”
Gath grunted, but remained silent, closing their eyes. After a short while, they opened up again. “You are a very wise, very odd person, Kuta. But you are also very right. I will speak to Relkir, I will tell them the truth. Thank you.”
Kuta patted Gath on the shoulder. “Do not mention it. If anything, I am sorry for both accidentally using my telepathy on you and not realizing sooner.”
“It is fine. Despite your odd ways, you do try to be a good person.”
“I have to be a good person. Otherwise I will just be the monster everyone assumed me to be.”
Gath grunted again. “Well, I get that. Us… freaks ought to stick together.”
“Indeed…” Kuta leaned back and sank into the water somewhat. “Either way, we ought to cease this conversation. Lysar is just outside.”
“Hah. Yes. Let us take a break and just enjoy this silly stuff. I am glad we are friends now.”
“Mhm. Me too.”