Revik reached Jon in a few more strides, clapping him on the shoulder.
“I’d like a word with you,” he said.
He waved at the other two to continue without him.
The one who wasn’t covered in tattoos hesitated, but Revik’s sharp look got him moving in the direction of the elevator.
Jon found himself in the utterly surreal position of being steered by Revik’s hand, led back down the corridor from which the three of them had just come. He couldn’t stop staring at the Elaerian’s face, trying to come to grips with the utterly foreign personality he saw behind those clear eyes.
He found himself understanding Allie better suddenly.
More than he’d really wanted, actually...at least in relation to this.
Revik had become like family in those months that he, Jon and Cass survived Terian together...even before it sank in that Terian’s jabs about Revik’s “marriage” to his sister weren’t actually just his idea of being funny.
More than that, Revik had been his friend. He’d trusted Revik with his life, despite his “issues” with Allie...including a tendency towards possessiveness that put Jon’s teeth on edge at times. He’d grown to understand the seer. To love him, even.
Now, looking at him, it felt more like looking at his ghost.
“...I want to ask you a favor, Jon,” Revik said, still resting his arm on his shoulder. “Allie’s in there...” He motioned with his head towards a door at the end of the corridor.
When Jon began to speak, the seer raised a hand, warding off his concern.
Jon couldn’t help but notice that he still wore their father’s ring, which Allie had given to him. He followed it with his eyes.
“...She’s fine,” Revik said. “I’m having clothes sent up.” A smile touched his mouth, but not his eyes. When Jon didn’t return the smile, his voice turned matter of fact.
“...I’m not taking her with me, Jon. Her choice.”
Jon’s jaw hardened. “So? You got her answer. What do you want with me?”
Revik hesitated, removing his hand from his shoulder. His eyes grew serious, almost thoughtful, but still holding nothing Jon quite recognized. The pale, almost colorless irises carried a profusion of things that each felt familiar on their own, but together created something entirely foreign to him.
“Jon,” he said, taking a step back. “...I’d like to ask you something. I’d like to not have to read you for it.”
Jon shoved his hands in his pockets, looking at him. “Fine. Ask.”
Revik hesitated again, his pale eyes looking between Jon’s. “Is she still angry about D.C.?” he said. “...About the op there? You know...with Kat?” His face grew uncomfortable. “...and the others. Is that still an issue with her?”
Jon stared up at him, incredulous.
“I know it’s a personal question...” Revik said.
“Why the hell didn’t you ask her that?” Jon said.
“I did. She didn’t answer...exactly.”
Jon continued to stare at him. He contemplated making a crack about the mark on the seer’s face, but didn’t. Finally, he shook his head.
“Jesus, Revik. I don’t think that’s the issue, honestly.”
“Is she seeing anyone?”
Jon felt his jaw harden. “Are you kidding me?”
“Answer the question, Jon.”
He shook his head. “No. I absolutely will not answer that question. You’re going to have to read me for that, Revik...or piss off. I hope she told you the same.”
Revik’s expression didn’t move at first. For an instant, Jon thought he’d angered him, then the Elaerian tilted a palm, a gesture of dismissal.
“I guess I deserve that,” he said. “And if it makes you feel better...she did,” he said. “...Tell me to piss off, I mean.” He paused, studying Jon’s eyes. “You know I’d give her anything, Jon. Anything she asked. I want things to be good with us...”
“Then stop killing people,” Jon said.
Revik just looked at him for a moment. His friendly expression grew more taut, despite the smile.
“Anything but that.” When Jon opened his mouth again, Revik cut him off. “...Don’t even pretend you understand my motives on this, Jon. You don’t. Whatever I may feel for you, don’t pretend we’re similar in this...”
“Jesus, Revik. Would you listen to yourself? You need help, man. Why don’t you go to Vash, talk to them about—”
“Vash? I need Vash’s help?” For the first time, the seer looked actually angry. “What would I need his help with exactly, Jon? Cracking my mind in half again? Lying to me? Killing another of my mates? No. I don’t think so...”
His mouth hardened as he met Jon’s eyes.
Jon flinched a little at what he saw there, in spite of himself.
As if noticing his reaction, Revik looked away, placing his hands on his hips. He clicked softly, his gaze unfocused as he looked out the long window at the end of the corridor.
“I want things to be right again with me and Allie,” he said, softer. “I do, Jon...more than anything. I know she’s angry about what I did in D.C., and I don’t blame her. I really don’t. I understand more than I told her in there...” He gestured towards the door at the end of the hall, right before his eyes swiveled back to Jon.
“But I’m not willing to play tit for tat,” he said. His jaw hardened again. “...not about this. I love her. I’ll give her all the evidence she wants of that. But I won’t play games with this...not with her. She needs to understand that, Jon...you need to help her understand.”
“Tit for tat?” Jon frowned up at him. “What does that even mean?”
“I’m willing to meet her halfway,” Revik went on, his voice openly warning. “...But I don’t trust those pious fucks to keep her safe...and you shouldn’t either. You want to help your sister, Jon? Tell her to come back to me. Convince her I’ll keep her a lot safer than they will. You know me, Jon. You know that much is true...”
Jon shook his head, shoving his hands in his pockets.
“It’s not about the Seven, Revik. Or about the two of you compromising on china patterns or where to buy a house—”
“She gets all of me, Jon...that’s the deal.”
For the first time, though, Jon saw doubt in his eyes, an anger that sifted someplace deeper, illuminating the fragments. As if feeling Jon’s reaction, he looked away, staring down the empty hallway. Jon saw the long fingers tighten on his hips.
“No matter how much that might piss her off right now,” he said, quieter. “...in the end, she’ll realize she wants me this way, too.” He met Jon’s gaze, his voice carrying a faint steel. “Seers aren’t like humans, Jon. She married me...not half of me. On some level, she knew that. When she’s more aware of herself, of who she really is, she’ll realize I’m right.”
Seeing the doubtful look in Jon’s eyes, Revik clenched his jaw.
“Our marriage isn’t just going to go away...”
“It is if you get yourself killed,” Jon retorted.
Revik stared at him.
Then he surprised Jon by smiling. He shook his head humorously, clicking in a softer tone.
“I always did admire your courage, Jon. I hope you know I mean that. You’re exceptional, for a human...you really are.”
Jon folded his arms. “Wow. I’m just...overwhelmed, Revik.”
“Good,” he said, still smiling a little. “In that case, I’d like to ask you to deliver a message to her for me, Jon.”
“Weren’t you just with her?”
Revik’s eyes flattened. “Give it to her anyway, Jon,” he said.
After a pause, Jon waved him on. “Fine.”
The seer’s voice grew flatter still. “Remind my wife that I warned her it was a one-way ticket with me,” he said. “I don’t care how angry she is at me...or how justified she feels in getting revenge. If she tries to yank my chain with this, I guarantee she won’t like the results. Tell her that after today, anyone s
he sleeps with...anyone besides me, of course...I’ll kill. No exceptions.” His eyes hardened. “Even you, Jon. So don’t get any ideas about trying to ease things for her...”
Jon felt his face flush hot. “What?”
“You heard me.”
“Revik,” He stared at him. “...this is Jon. Her brother...remember?”
“Don’t give me that crap,” Revik said. “You’re no blood relation of hers. She thinks of you that way, so I do, too, but don’t push it—”
“—Her brother who likes guys,” Jon said, ignoring his words. “Why in god’s name would you think that I, of all people, would—”
“I know what you did,” Revik cut in.
When Jon looked up, the pale eyes turned the color of ice.
“...in high school,” Revik said. “You were afraid she’d get hurt...the first time she experienced real separation pain.” The narrow mouth hardened. “I understand why you did it, Jon...I do. I know you love her. I also know you’d do anything to see her not in pain. But if you do it again...now, while she’s married to me...I’ll kill you.” He paused, his face devoid of expression. “...Even if you tell yourself you’re doing it to keep her from being raped...even if she begs you, little brother. I’ll still kill you if you put your cock in her. Or anything else of yours, for that matter...”
Jon gaped up at him.
For a long moment, he couldn’t comprehend what the seer had said.
He hadn’t told anyone that...ever. No one. It was one of those memories he buried so far deep in his mind he barely remembered it himself.
Allie couldn’t have told him about that, could she?
She’d sworn she wouldn’t...one of those childhood promises that you never, ever break, no matter what the reason, no matter who asks. He’d done it because she asked, and because they’d both been young and stupid. He’d also done it for the reasons Revik said, so he didn’t even blame himself really...but neither of them ever really wanted to talk about it again.
It had been a mistake, but one they’d moved past.
Years ago, they’d moved past it.
“You understanding me, Jon?” Revik said. “Are we going to have a problem, you and I? Or can you let my wife and I sort this out on our own...?”
“What the hell happened to you?” Jon said. It burst out of him. “Seriously, man...just how fucking crazy are you now?”
Revik’s expression grew flatter, even as he gave Jon another smile. His eyes held nothing...no glimmer of anything Jon could get a read on.
“I think we do understand each other, Jon.” He reached into his jacket, pulling out a wallet. “Make sure our friend, Balidor, gets the message too...”
Pulling a stack of bills out of his wallet, he handed them to Jon.
“For the dress,” he said, smiling wryly. He tucked the wallet back in his tuxedo jacket, smiling a little more genuinely as Jon stared at the bills. “...I’d like to give her another message, too, Jon...about how much I enjoyed our short time together...but I’m afraid common decency won’t allow it. Suffice it to say, it wasn’t nearly long enough.” His eyes hardened slightly above the smile. “...I want her home, little brother. You can tell her that, too.”
Still smiling faintly, he gave the human a short bow.
“Be seeing you, Jon.”
As he turned to go, Jon found himself grabbing the seer’s long arm.
Revik tensed, his eyes narrowing, but he let himself be stopped.
“What, Jon?”
Looking up at him, Jon felt his throat close.
“Revik, man...” He swallowed. “Seriously. You can’t be okay. You can’t be. Not like this. If not Vash...maybe someone else...”
Revik’s eyes grew colder.
After a pause, he extracted his arm from Jon’s fingers.
“Give her the message, Jon,” he said. “And do me a last favor...stay with her until the valet brings up her clothes.” He gestured vaguely at the corridor. “I don’t want her wandering around like that...even armed. Not here.”
Without another word he turned, walking away down the corridor.
Jon watched him go, still fighting to find words as the tall seer made his way back to the service elevator.
He was still standing there when he realized Revik was already gone.
5
POWERLESS
IT TOOK JON another few minutes to collect himself after the seer left.
He stared at the bills in his hands, then realized they weren’t Indian rupees or even dollars, but euros...and in high denominations. Blinking at the stack gripped between the thumb and middle finger of his mutilated hand, he found himself counting the bills in spite of himself, and realized Revik had just handed him a small fortune.
Clearly he wasn’t above bribery to try and get Allie to come back with him, either.
Even so, Jon felt slightly light-headed, staring at what he held in his hand combined with the conversation he’d just had with the seer.
Allie always joked before about how cheap Revik was. It was one of those things about him she seemed to find funny.
After experiencing Revik firsthand, Jon found himself reluctant to go to her. He wasn’t sure what he’d find on the other side of that door, but doubted she would be a shining ball of joy and light, no matter what had just happened between them.
Enough time passed that Jon eventually felt pulled to act.
She might need him now. Especially now.
He and Cass hadn’t exactly been the paragons of support lately. They’d both tried, in their own ways, especially in the first month after the thing in D.C. But she’d just been so damned unhappy. Being with her had been like sitting beside a black hole, even when she was trying to pretend everything was okay...maybe especially then. At first Jon thought it had to do with that op as much as anything, what she’d walked in on with Revik and those prostitutes.
Eventually he realized that was a detail, compared to what happened after.
To her, it was as if Revik had died...ever since he came to see her that night in the Pamir. Now, after experiencing him in the flesh, Jon understood why.
Hesitating at the door a second longer, he reached out with his good hand, and knocked.
When he didn’t hear anything after a few beats, he knocked again.
The third time, he started to get worried.
He was about to knock a fourth time...when the door opened, all at once.
Jon found himself facing Allie.
She looked pale, and blinked against the corridor lights, holding the top of her dress to one shoulder, her arm across her chest. Her hair, which looked like something out of a fashion magazine earlier that night, now hung around her shoulders, the jeweled clips stuck in awkward chunks of curls, lower down and bunched more on one side of her head.
Jon couldn’t help glimpsing bruises on her neck and arms and the top of her breasts...what looked like teeth marks on her shoulder.
She looked like she’d been in a fight.
“Jesus, Al,” he muttered, looking away. He flipped his tuxedo jacket off his shoulders, handing it to her as she backed into the room. She released the door, leaving it open for him to follow. Closing it behind them, Jon watched her put on the jacket once her back was to him.
“Did he force you?” he said, his voice thick.
She grunted, pulling what looked like an expensive bottle of champagne out of a silver ice bucket. Jon watched her glance at the label, then take a long drink.
He waved her off when she offered him some.
“Not exactly,” she said, lowering the bottle.
“Not exactly? What the hell does that mean?”
She’d been looking out the window at the skyline, but now she glanced over her shoulder at him, her mouth hard.
“It means no, Jon. He didn’t force me. He asked. I said yes. Happy?”
Jon frowned, glancing around the dim room.
A fire in the fireplace had burned down, making the lights from the cit
y below stand out against the night sky. He walked towards the windows in spite of himself, looking out over a view of the newer part of New Delhi, and the gardens winding below glass-covered skyscrapers with their oddly jutting balconies on the higher floors.
Further away, pollution blurred the outline of a far denser skyline crowded with buildings and car lights on the streets. While not the oldest part of Delhi, that jagged piece of sky belonged to the original business district, before the more organic-looking additions of the last decade or so.
He looked back at his adopted sister, and found her sitting on the dark, leather sofa, her legs crossed, wrapped in his tuxedo jacket. Despite how much she’d grown in the past year, she still looked small to him, like a kid in her father’s clothes.
“I saw him,” Jon said. “Revik.”
She glanced up at him. At the look in his eyes, she frowned. Then she gestured fluidly with one hand, seer-fashion, indicating his body up and down.
“Well,” she said. “You’re still here.”
“He was...talkative.”
She nodded, her eyes growing dull. “Yeah.”
He hesitated, fingering the money in his pocket, and decided it could wait. Given Allie’s demeanor right then, she might not take it the right way. He didn’t much care about making Revik look bad...at least not the Revik he’d just spoken to in the hotel corridor...but he couldn’t handle the look that might come to her face if he tried to explain to her where he got it.
For the same reason, he decided the “message” he’d been asked to deliver could wait, too.
“He’s sending up clothes,” Jon said, when she didn’t speak. “He told me where you were.”
She nodded again, not looking up.
Jon noticed the cracked mirror then, and a broken lamp not far from the couch. He considered asking about those too, then didn’t.
Sighing, he walked to her, slumping down on the couch beside her.
“Al.” He took her hand. “Are you all right?”
She gave another short laugh, retracting her hand from his. “Jesus, Jon.” Resting her forehead on her palm, she looked at him, her voice bitter. “What the hell do you think?”
Allie's War Season Two Page 6
