Page 38 of Citiali: Teach
“Citiali sent air and energy through you. You doing okay, Brother?” Justice asks.
The Prospect coughs with no water coming out. “Yeah, Pres, was I hurt?”
Cort laughs. “You got a scar on your head and Raid knocked whatever air you had left out of you when he fell on top of you. Citiali did whatever and you’re here. No headache?”
“No, Boss. I feel fine but everyone huddled around me is weird even for freaky. You’re huge, Boss, and that dog can’t be a real dog.”
I stand up. The Brothers laugh and Cort helps the Prospect stand. Justice waves his hand and the blood is gone from the guy’s face like Justice wiped it away with a towel. “You need a clean shirt but you won’t scare the little kids.”
“What happened?”Seren and Chenoa push their way closer. I look for my girl as they go over the whole minute in details that will take five, I spot my girl and walk away.
“Hey! I want the recipe for that chicken you made!” Raid yells loud enough that everyone stops to watch.
I spin around at the fuckin’ lunatic that almost got a kid hurt and Prospect dead. One hand stops the giant. “Abilities are a gift and should be appreciated. Because we have ability, a boy isn’t hurt right now, a Prospect isn’t dead right now. The only thing you should be yelling about is how sorry you are for causing that whole fuckin’ scene. That Prospect is standing up right now when he would have been a drowning statistic if you had to wait for a doctor to show. Show appreciation to the ancestors, apologize to the Prospect and thank Justice for saving the baby. I can’t even look at what would have happened to the boy if he wasn’t in Justice’s arms.” I turn and walk away more pissed than I’ve been in a long time. I know by the Brothers and ol’ ladies shuffling out of my way, that my eyes are flashing. There’s probably paint on my face too.
My girl has her arm out and I walk right into her. “The boys are fine.”
I nod. “Teller threw it to me.” Turning, I look for him. Mase and his kids are keeping the two sets of twins busy playing kickball in the grass. Teller looks from the boys to me and throws me chin. I give it back.
“Your back is beautiful, Citiali.”
I turn away from the kids and my thanks to the ancestors that they’re all okay. “Thanks, Seren.”
“You’re always with your feathers. I got your shirt and shit, Brother.” Raid has my T, arm band and feathers in his hand piled just as I left them on the table.
My eyes meet his. “Thanks.”I take them but don’t put the sweaty T on. Justice hugs me making me laugh. I’m in breeches and one of my cotton shirts. “Thanks, the sweaty T wasn’t going back on me.”
He nods, stepping back. “You good?”
I smile. “Yeah, I’ll jump but I’m good now. Your energy always calms me.”
Raid doesn’t leave so I turn back to him and wait for what he has to say. “You’re right. I see the freaky shit and think it’s normal now. It was amazing at first, it should always be amazing and we all should see the gifts that you have as gifts sent here to make us better Brothers. I took that for granted but won’t ever again. I was being funny about the recipe to calm everyone down without thinking about how you all see, then saved, what could have been tragic. Thank you, Brother. You saved three today. I say three because I’d never forgive myself if people died because I missed the Italian meal no one saved me a plate of. I stole the chicken and sauce Cort stashed for a sandwich.” He makes me want to laugh but he’s not done. “That was the best food I ever stole. I didn’t see what could happen because I was pissed about a plate, but, Brother, I know I’d never make it if I killed innocent people over fuckin’ food. It’s a lesson I won’t need again. Yourabilities are appreciated but your honesty when I needed it will be appreciated for the rest of my life, Citiali. Thank you.”
I throw him chin and calming energy. Now that I’m calm, I see his words are true and the lives he almost took hurt him deeply.
“You’re right, Citiali, he feels it and everyone is here and safe. Next time don’t waste energy pushing me. I went sky high.” Justice is a good leader, changing our focus.
I laugh. “I thought about the boy and just reacted, but they’re swimmers.” I shrug. Justice wouldn’t need my help.
He hits my shoulder while Raid does the Brother hug. I take a step back to Dyani, glad she didn’t leave. Her arm goes around me and I feel the connection we already have. “You calm me too, thank you, Dyani.”
She watches Raid turn then looks up at me with her eyes bright and that small smile, like she has a secret, on her lips. “You still want to do this tonight?”
I nod and raise my hand. “Brothers, I claim, Dyani Nanyehi…” I swear Mase would have bowled me over with the body slam if I wasn’t shielded. I push him away and fix my hair back over my shoulders.
“Congratulations, Brother, Dyani. Let her go, Citiali, so I can hug her and get back for my turn.”
“Get the fuck out of here. Find your woman and hug her.”
Cort pulls my hand off Dyani and hugs her, then the women surround my girl and move her out.
She looks back with a smile. “Don’t you dare leave without me.”
I laugh getting crushed. Brothers are fuckin’ crazy.
***
Teach Officer’s compound
