A Soldier’s Passion

by Jon Cunningham

  “Where are you?” Vincent said from the diningroom.

  “In here,” I called.

  He peeked inside. “Why?”

  I leaned on the desk and looked at my lover intently.

  “I was wondering if Bobby might want a room here,” I said quietly.

  Vincent’s already large eyes grew larger. He swallowed hard as he walked toward me.

  “I...I thought you didn’t want to share me,” he said softly.

  “I don’t, believe me,” I replied sincerely. “But he is important to you, and we have the space...”

  Vincent cried out and then my arms were full of him.

  “I love you, so much,” he said against my ear.

  “Hmmm...same here...” I murmured inhaling his wonderful scent, holding him close.

  “Is everything okay?” Bobby asked from the door.

  Vincent turned toward his brother. A beautiful smile graced his features.

  “Everything is fine,” he replied.

  “I’ve never seen you smile like that, Brother.”

  “I try to get him to smile like that every chance I get,” I said.

  Vincent blushed. “Rik was wondering if you’d like a place here. We have room.”

  “You mean it?”

  “Of course,” I said. “This shouldn’t take more than a couple of days to clean and fix up. You can camp on the couch in the meantime.”

  “I’d love to! Thanks, Colonel!”

  Vincent smiled at me again. I beamed at him.

  “Oh, brother,” Bobby sighed. “I’ll be in the kitchen.”

  “Better get used to it,” Vincent yelled after him.

  “Whatever,” a voice floated back.

  “I don’t speak Greven,” I said looking at the empty door. “Is he okay with this?”

  Vincent raised his brows. “Are you okay, bonehead?”

  “I’m fine, jerkwad. Just making a call.”

  “He’s fine. Now, kiss me.”

  I was still confused, but that order made everything less important. I was still leaning against the desk when I pulled Vincent against me and took his mouth in a deep, but gentle kiss. It was sweet and tender but moved me greatly. I held him for a long moment before we left the room.

  The workout was fun for us all. Bobby was swimming in my training ghees, but he soon found a combination of cuffs and ties that kept the excess material from hampering his movement. I took them through a long and exacting meditation and stretch. I gently corrected Bobby’s form until he could perfectly mirror Vincent and me. I felt him let go of conscious self and completely relax into the movement. We meditated for a long while until I felt Bobby reach maximum focus.

  “Now,” I said turning on my lover and attacked.

  Vincent and I went after each other until Bobby interceded to fight his brother. I saw the blur in movement before Vincent reacted to it. They froze for a split second then continued. Their movements were a flash of graceful limbs and increasing speed. I stepped in and fought them both slowing down the pace and making them concentrate on their bodies and how to move them most efficiently. The fight was pitched, but I kept it from escalating. We finished in a flurry that left us breathless.

  “Cool down,” I ordered. I recited the movement and the beats. My own heart was hammering in my chest.

  When I finally released them, Vincent grabbed Bobby in a fierce embrace while he gazed at me. His eyes were full of fear. I couldn’t stand that. I looked at my lover with complete calm, willing him to understand that I had a plan. The fear softened into uncertainty.

  “Bobby,” I said as Vincent released him. “Why don’t you hit the shower?”

  “Did you see, Colonel?” He asked. His eyes were bright with glee.

  “Yes. And I am pleased. Now, shower while I talk to Vincent.”

  “Right.”

  I had my lover in my arms as soon as the screen door closed.

  “It’s alright, love.”

  “How? They’ll take him...they’ll change him.”

  “No, they won’t,” I murmured holding him close. “I found out at the library that a guardian has to sign him over into service.”

  Vincent stilled in my arms. He looked up at me. “Our parents signed for me before they were killed.”

  “That’s right. I was already a ward of the State,” I said gently. “You are Bobby’s guardian.”

  “That’s right,” he whispered.

  “And first thing tomorrow, I’ll file paperwork to be his guardian as well,” I said cupping Vincent’s chin. “We’ll have a united front.”

  Vincent sighed with relief, but he still looked worried around the edges. “What if he wants to be Altered? What if he wants to serve?”

  “My love, he is an intelligent young man with many of your fine qualities. If that is the case, trust his choice,” I said holding his gaze. “We can be there to help him through it without the trauma we endured.”

  “I had hoped he could avoid all of it,” Vincent lamented.

  “He may yet, but if he chooses our path, he’ll need our support,” I said.

  He pulled me close for a long moment before kissing me on the neck.

  “I guess I’ll make lunch,” he said. “Can you have Bobby’s stuff picked up?”

  “I can do that,” I replied as I guided him into the house. “But remember to explain to him about our baths and showers. I’m not willing to give those up.”

  “That won’t be a problem,” he said. “The bathroom isn’t connected to his room and neither is ours. He’ll have a place to go if it bothers him. He’ll need a TV and a stereo.”

  “Okay, Mr. Back Pay,” I retorted. I refrained from mentioning a car for the boy.

  Vincent made a face at me then headed into the kitchen. I rang up Remak.

  “A corner office and a cute assistant,” I began.

  She laughed attractively. “What do you need, sir?”

  I filled her in quickly though I used oblique phrasing in case there were other ears on the line. She understood immediately. I knew she would want to help. Remak really liked Bobby.

  “I will handle everything myself,” she said.

  “Thank you. And you will stay for supper.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Vincent smiled ruefully at me as I entered the kitchen. I wrapped my arms around his waist from behind and held him while he finished making sandwiches.

  “So much for solitude,” Vincent chuckled.

  I inhaled his hair with a satisfied hum.

  “I knew that I could never have you entirely to myself,” I said wistfully. “You’ve never had fewer than a half dozen people around you, my love. People are attracted and easily attached to you.”

  “But I’m a pain in the ass,” he whined leaning back against me.

  I laughed at that. “Yes, you are. But you’re also a fiercely loyal friend, you’re very kind, you’re often funny, and you’ve always been gorgeous. People like being with you – even when you’re prickly.”

  Vincent sighed heavily. “You really don’t mind that?”

  “No,” I replied without hesitation. “I knew what could come with being close to you. It’s a small sacrifice, believe me.”

  He seemed to believe me. Still, he kept me from pulling away until he finished the sandwiches.

  “What do you want to do?” Vincent asked Bobby after they wolfed down their food.

  “I-I don’t know,” he replied. “I know what you went through. I still see a sadness in your eyes that makes me think I shouldn’t.”

  “But you are thinking about it?” I asked.

  “You guys help so many people. You’re so...amazing...”

  “Yeah, we’re hot, we know,” Vincent muttered. “But there was so much pain, Bobby. I never let you see me that way.”

  “Maybe you should,” I said. “I’m requesting our development and training records for our research. Bobby, if you are really considering this path, you should be completely informed.”
<
br />   “We never were,” Vincent said thoughtfully. “They showed us recordings of the coolest parts of this life, but never told us what we would have to go through.”

  “Are you sure you’re okay with me thinking about it, Brother?”

  Vincent shrugged. “You have to make your own way. I know I’d never let anyone tell me what to do. Just promise me that you’ll really think about everything you see and hear from us.”

  “I will. I promise.”

  “You must not talk about your manifestation to anyone but us, okay?” I said.

  “I understand.”

  “Good. Now, I have a question for you,” I continued.

  “Yes, Colonel?”

  “Do you trust me enough to be your legal guardian?”

  “Of course, sir.”

  “Please, call me Rik.”

  “I’ll try, sir.”

  Vincent laughed. I sighed.

  “We’ll file the papers in the morning before school,” I said.

  Bobby smiled. “It’ll be nice to have a permanent place to belong. Ma Saxl and Jenn have been great, but it always felt temporary.”

  “We’ll make it a home,” I said. “After school, we’ll get the furnishings.”

  “Did Ma Saxl mind you leaving?” Vincent asked his brother.

  “No...she knew I’ve wanted to be with you as much as possible since you’ve been back,” he replied. “And I’d been crashing at the dorms on nights when I study late, so I was there less and less anyway.”

  I knew that Vincent wanted to ask about Jenn, but he didn’t. Bobby looked relieved.

  “Gentlemen, I’m going to have a nap,” I announced. “There are boxes in the back yard shed you can use to pack up that old office. There are cleaning supplies under the kitchen sink.”

  I really preferred napping with Vincent plastered all over me, but the brothers needed to talk, and I was still supposed to be resting. Some of their conversation drifted to my ears as I got comfortable on the sofa under a light blanket.

  At first, Bobby was trying to make sure that Vincent hadn’t somehow forced me to invite him to stay. That amused my lover to no end. Later, I heard him explaining how we came together and why we needed each other so much.

  “The night we fought that thing,” Vincent said softly. “I tried to follow it back into the crater.”

  “Why...didn’t you want to see us again?”

  “Of course I did...more than anything...but I couldn’t see how I could have a happy ever after when so many people were dead. I had been in so much pain for so long, I didn’t know how to feel anything else,” Vincent said.

  “What stopped you?”

  “Rik did. He grabbed me and pulled me back,” Vincent replied. “He shielded me with his body and wouldn’t let me go until we were rescued.”

  “I never felt so safe anywhere,” he continued. “It’s hard for me to explain, but I don’t feel completely right anywhere else but in his arms.”

  I smiled and let myself drift. Somehow knowing it wasn’t easy for Vincent to share our time made me feel better. Yeah, I’m a selfish bastard.

  7

  Lt. Remak arrived a few hours later as Vincent was showing Bobby how to shred cheese. I was trusted to chop the salad fixings though those amber eyes watched me like a hawk as I worked. The menu was macaroni and cheese with a side salad. Remak thought the meal lacked protein. I rolled my eyes at Bobby as Remak and Vincent figured out how to add shredded ham to the meal. The younger Greven laughed heartily at my faces. That got us both banished to the livingroom. Bobby looked at me sheepishly until I dissolved into laughter. He looked shocked for a moment then laughed as well.

  “Colonel,” Bobby said quietly after Vincent glared us into silence. “Rik, what did you first manifest?”

  “Strength – the one I’m least known for,” I replied. “The control over energy came after I was Altered.”

  “Vincent’s was speed,” Bobby said.

  “Yeah. No one thought to test him for strength. I think it was because of his size,” I mused. “Then he broke that metal table in two during his first week of advanced training and shocked everyone. No one figured him for a multiple.”

  “Why did he do that? He never would tell me.”

  I smiled. “He really didn’t like creamed corn. I think that’s why he learned to cook.”

  Bobby chuckled softly. “He sure is serious about food. How is he, really? He seems happy.”

  “He’s still Vincent – mercurial and maddening,” I said. “But he is happy. More so each day.”

  Bobby looked at me shyly. “Thanks again for taking me in and for protecting me.”

  “I’m glad to. Now, we must make amends to the chef,” I whispered as the food was noisily set out.

  Bobby was his usual sincere, guileless self. His soon overcame his brother’s annoyance.

  “I can’t make anything like this, Bother,” he said after a few forkfuls. “This is better than Ma Saxl’s. And there’s so much.”

  “Yes, you can,” Vincent said, finally smiling. “There aren’t many ingredients and it divides down for one person.”

  “It’s true, Bobby. This casserole is a staple for students and soldiers,” Remak said.

  “I can’t make it,” I said.

  Vincent glowered at me. “I’ll teach you both.”

  “I have the Post Mortem on your spar,” Remak said changing the subject.

  “Great. We’ll look at it after dinner.”

  Remak bowed out of dessert and coffee citing an early morning of work before we were due to meet. I let her go, grateful for her help. Meanwhile, Vincent and Bobby cleaned the kitchen. I put the recording in the player.

  The recording began as we ran into Hogan’ Alley. I wanted to watch Vincent. He had his best battle scowl. His eyes were fierce, focused and intense. His speed and strength were impressive, even at 80 percent. He was also beautiful in form and movement. When Vincent turned on me in the square, he took my breath away. There was fire in his eyes from the battle, but there was much more. Thankfully, only I knew what that expression meant.

  At the very end of the spar, I saw something that stopped me short. There was a flash between our bodies just before I shielded us from the battle bots. I replayed the segment and saw it again.

  “Hey, play it from the beginning,” Vincent said as he came into the room. He carried two mugs with him.

  I restarted it, then paused while Vincent made himself comfortable on my body. He nuzzled my neck then kissed my cheek before sipping his hot cocoa cocktail.

  “I made room on the sofa,” Vincent said patting the sofa cushion.

  “Right,” Bobby snorted sitting in the adjacent easy chair. “And you guys remember that I’m sleeping there.”

  I laugh into Vincent’s hair then re-started the recording.

  “What are those numbers?” Bobby asked.

  “Telemetry, vital signs,” I said.

  “Pulse, breathing, blood pressure,” Vincent added.

  Bobby looked at the images intently.

  “I don’t know a lot about blood pressure, but it looks kinda low. So does the pulse,” He said.

  I paused the recording. “That’s the way it should look. We should not be stressing our bodies from the inside if we’re functioning properly.”

  “That’s called running hot,” Vincent explained. “Any machine, even a human one, will stop working if it runs hot for too long.”

  The recording continued. Vincent and I answered Bobby’s questions. I commented on some of the new moves I noticed Vincent was using, but refrained from critiquing. There didn’t seem to be much point in critiquing a level three spar on 2/3rds of our strength. When we reached the end, Vincent stiffened in my arms.

  “What the hell was that?” He wondered.

  “I don’t know,” I replied softly. “It’s between us, not something from the course.”

  “How can we find out?”

  “There are a lot of tests we could
run on the recording measuring the intensity of the flash,” I mused. “Or we could do this...”

  I set down my mug then took his and put it on the end table as well.