Page 80 of Guiding Reason

“What in the most fucked-up fucking Wild Hunt that ever hunted have you two idiots been doing?”

Hyran shrugged and picked at his braids. Strands had come loose, and he needed to undo them, start fresh.Or maybe I can leave my hair free so he can bury his perfect hands in it.

Hyran cleared his throat. “We didn’t do anything. I took Taros to see Kashana. He got a dress. It looks good on him. That’s it.”

“Sure.” Col rolled his eyes, exasperated.

“What have you been doing?” Hyran came closer to the nest Col had made of words, spotted and empty plate, and was glad he’d had some food while reading.

Col held up the letter in his hand. “This woman was evacuated by Shoda. She’s writing to us regardless to say she owes her lifeto us.” He picked up a card. “This one is from the parents of one of the extras who survived and is being treated for burns now. There’s one here where a daughter writes to thank us for saving all three of her parents. I wanted to make a list initially, but then I just started reading and… I should stop. There are other things that need doing.”

Hyran sat at the foot of the bed and picked up some of the letters, started gathering them. “You are allowed to rest as well, Col. Have a proper meal.”

Col nodded, his eyes drifting off into the distance. “Tomorrow. Tomorrow is going to be the last day, and then I’m sending the team home. The Op-AI says it’s not suited for copying itself and can’t because the hardware was destroyed. If the situation is dire enough and if there is the appropriate hardware, it says it would try. Day after tomorrow, you and I leave to see your friends outside the walls. We’ll have to reschedule the dinner with your mothers. I’m sorry.”

Hyran opened his mouth. Then he just nodded.

“Okay. We’ll do that. What can I do to help you?”

Col rolled onto his back. “I think the Op-AI is going to take care of the security bots. I have to check in with Rasev, but he sent a report, and while it’s a lot of work, he’s handling things. He’s using several office AIs to help him. I have to check with Orrey and make sure the Agri-Team can handle food production on the Grounds without an Op-AI. Have you noticed anything getting worse with the auto-drives?”

Hyran moved closer, gently took Col’s feet and put them in his lap. “I don’t think so. Restaurant wasn’t as full as normal, but not entirely empty either. That tells me people are leaving their homes.”

“Of course they are. What are you doing?”

“Massaging your feet. You don’t like it?”

“No, I do. No one ever did this for me, but I think I could get used to it.”

Hyran grinned at his supine Conduit. “Good.”

For a long, long moment, they didn’t speak, just looked at one another. Col relaxed visibly, clearly enjoying the attention. Hyran found it hard to control himself, but he did, focused on making his Conduit feel good.

“How long would it take you to clear all the letters away? Off the bed, I mean?” Col’s eyes darkened when he asked the question, their brown and blue almost eclipsed.

“I don’t know. Do you want to count the seconds? Tell me when you’re ready, and I’ll run.”

Like that, on his back and smiling, he’s perfect.

“Now.”

Hyran didn’t think. He sped, gathering papers from around Col and putting them on the ground next to the bed.

When he stopped, he stood at the foot of the bed in Col’s line of sight and began unwinding his braids.

“I got to two.” Col put an arm under his head and watched.

“Then I was slow.”

“Really?”

“No. I was in a hurry.” His first braid fell open on his left. He dropped the hairpin on the floor. Moved on to the second.

“I see. Why?”

“Ah, because I was hoping you’d invite me to join you on the bed. I’d hoped you’d prefer me to the papers.” His second braid unwound, and he shook out his hair, enjoying the fact that Col was watching. Hyran still felt the aftereffects of the Beating everywhere, but it didn’t bother him as much with Col’s eyes on him.

“Well, Guardian Hyran, I believe that, given that both you and Taros were out doing plainly stupid things, I should reject you from my bed.”