The Travelers - Chapter 3

Arlytian Terms:

*Dearling - a term of endearment used usually by a man for his female companion

*Fluttering - Arlytian way of saying someone is obviously stressing or anxious

*****

Chapter 3

It did take a full day to reboot the backup systems before a well-worked and tired crew was finally given a full twenty-two hours off from duty, except in the case of emergency. 

Oz, Cay, and Amrynn considered themselves lucky to have the day off together.  There was only a week before their expected advent at Neveah and they all needed a little time to prepare for the arrival.

But Ozias had a few things of greater priority to handle before they moved on to other areas; the first and foremost being a good meal and at least a solid six hours of uninterrupted sleep for all of them.  Almost as soon as Charge pilot Seren gave them the day’s leave, Oz sent a transmit to the nutrition team in charge of the dining area and requested a specific meal be delivered to their quarters.  It arrived fifteen minutes after they did, and it was clear that while Cay and Amrynn hadn’t been thinking much beyond a shower and sleep, the sight of the food was welcome.

Amrynn, knowing it was Oz who would have thought ahead to order it, moved to his side and wrapped her arms around his waist in a hug.  His arms held her tightly against him for a long moment as he kissed the top of her head.

“Eat now, dearling.  Then we’re all going to get some rest.”

Cayson was uncovering the plates as Oz and Amrynn joined him at the table, and a large smile appeared on his face as he saw a selection of some of their favorite foods.  He pulled Oz into an appreciative hug and kiss before the three of them sat and ate with pleasure.  When they were done, the empty dishes were left to be later returned to the dining area and the three of them settled warmly into their bed with Cay and Amrynn lying on either side of Oz.

Several hours later, as was typical, Cayson was the first one to wake.  His gaze landed on the room’s small, sealed window.  There was no light shining in, which depressed him a little.  The stars and planets they’d gotten to observe on their travels were beautiful, but he missed the sight and warmth of the sun as it rose in the morning back home, and he couldn’t help but wonder if it would be the same on Neveah.  This trip was filled with hopes and fears, but Cay was discovering that one of the most difficult things for him was the homesickness he felt for Arlytia.  It was highly unlikely he’d ever see his birth planet again.  He’d never go back and swim in the waters of Corlan Lake where his parents had taken him for his twelfth birthday.  He’d never again see the first home he’d lived in with Amrynn and Oz.  He’d never have the chance to visit the Casseo Mountains, something he’d wanted to go see since he’d been a boy. 

His heart paining him a little, Cay slid out from under the covers and padded to the kitchenette to make a cup of nectar.  His thoughts distracted, he didn’t hear anyone else moving around until he was pouring the hot brew into a cup and strong arms wrapped around him from behind.  Warm lips kissed below his ear, a place that was always a bit ticklish, and he shivered at the pleasant sensation that rippled through him.

“Come back to bed,” Oz’s deep voice said from behind.

“I’ll just toss and turn,” Cay mildly argued.  “Sorry to wake you.”

Oz softly grunted as his hands lazily roamed what they could reach of Cayson’s body.  “Come talk to me,” he said after a minute.

Cay tensed slightly.  Those words always sent a bolt through him.  Oz was one of those people who said very little in words and yet spoke volumes in his actions, body language and expressions.  He wasn’t a conversationalist, although when he spoke it was always worth listening to.  He was most often happy listening to his two partners chat instead of being an active part of the discussion himself.  So when he requested a conversation, it usually meant there was something purposeful on his mind.

Cay went somewhat warily with his husband as Oz brought them to the far corner of the room and sat on the small couch.  He pulled Cay down with him and rubbed at his shoulders.

“You’re fluttering,” Oz said quietly, partly because he was a quiet person and partly to make sure they didn’t wake Amrynn.  Cay started to shake his head, but stopped when Oz cupped his cheek.  “You are,” the bigger man insisted.  “It was an exhausting day and I know you’re still tired.”  His thumb rubbed under Cay’s right eye.  “I can see it in your eyes, but you’re awake and shuffling around and looking lost as you do it.  Why?”

Cay shrugged, really not wanting to get into it.  He gulped and instinctively tried to pull away when Oz’s arm abruptly came around him and began to lever him over his lap. 

The action really wasn’t a surprise, although it might seem like it to an observer.  Gentle as he was, Oz didn’t take prisoners, and Cay knew that his husband wouldn’t let him get away with just a shrug.  And it wasn’t because Oz was mad.  He wasn’t.  He simply took away the option of Cay stressing in silent misery by using necessary force to get you to spill your guts.  It was a practice he’d been perfecting on Cayson since they were fourteen.

Cay also knew that babbled promises that this wasn’t necessary and he’d talk now wouldn’t do him any good in that moment.  Oz didn’t put him or Amrynn over his lap for appearances.  He did it because he’d deduced that it was needed for some reason—punishment, stress relief, enforcing a rule.  Once he’d deemed it necessary, he followed through.

However, Cay couldn’t help one hopeful excuse for Oz not to tan him.  “Oz!  You’ll wake Am!”

“I can be quiet if you can,” Oz replied.

It was on the tip of his tongue to call Oz a rotten name, but he held back.  It would not help his situation.  He squeezed his eyes shut and braced himself, and still wasn’t prepared for the sting of the swat that landed. 

Oz was right, the noise was no more than a dull thud on the seat of his sleepwear, but the burn was still there and Cay sucked in a breath through his teeth.  Silently, trying to focus elsewhere than the growing sting in his rump, Cay counted each smack and held his breath in an attempt to remain silent.  Oz stopped at the count of ten, but those had been hard enough to light a fire on Cay’s backside.

“Why are you fluttering?” Oz repeated his earlier question, and Cay took comfort in the sympathy in the tone.  He took some time to regain his breath and felt his face heat as the tears he’d held back filled his eyes.

“I want to go home,” he said in a whisper.

A warm hand rubbed from the small of his back, up his spine, along his neck, and into his hair where it massaged soothingly.  The burn in his backside was quickly receding to a warmth that was almost as comforting as the fingers rubbing his head, and Cay slowly relaxed.  He knew there was no quick fix to his feelings, but it helped to have voiced them.

“I’ve been homesick too,” Oz said almost inaudibly after a few minutes.

Cay moved and Oz allowed him to shift until he was still across his lap but now facing up.  “You have?”

Oz nodded and reached to intertwine the fingers of one hand with one of Cay’s.  “My parents and my garden the most,” he explained.

“You haven’t said anything,” Cay stated with mild accusation.

“I know,” Oz said simply.

Cay studied him for a moment.  “You say you’re homesick, but you don’t seem bothered by it.”

Oz shrugged even as he explained.  “Hope and reality help make what I miss less painful.”

That didn’t make any sense to Cay.  “What do you mean?”

“I mean that I remember why we’re on this mission and I have the hope of a life of safety for our people.  I also have the hope of all of us seeing our friends and family again, even if it does take a few years.  But it’s the reality of our situation that helps me the most.”

Cay looked at him questioningly.  “The reality?”

Oz nodded.  “Do you remember what it was like when we were kids?  The three of us were always together.  Your house and Amrynn’s house were as much ‘home’ to me as my own.  When I realized at fourteen how much I loved both of you, I understood that my home was wherever the two of you were.  That’s my reality.  If I’m with you and Am, I’m home no matter where I happen to be.”

“Oh, Oz.”

The voice was Amrynn’s and the men looked toward the bed to see her sitting up, her hair was disheveled and her eyes were still sleepy, but she looked inordinately happy.  She lifted one arm and held her hand out to the two of them in a silent but clear invitation.  They went to her and Amrynn pulled Oz down to kiss him deeply.

“I love you,” she said earnestly, and her eyes glanced briefly at Cay so he’d know she was including him in her words.  Cay smiled warmly and with heated eyes at her, while Oz took a more direct approach and kissed her again as he used his larger stature to urge her to her back.  She moaned appreciatively, her arms coming around him while Cayson settled at their side and let his hands and mouth caress the two of them. 

        It was an extensive time of intimacy which left them as they’d started, asleep wrapped around each other.