Page 67 of Steel & Thunder
“Sounds good to me.” I am feeling a little overstimulated.
I hug Ayla before Khazak leads me into a very large kitchen. Orlun is bent over a sink washing dishes while Rurig and Jarek are off to the side dealing with leftovers. Everyone pauses when they see us, Rurig approaching first with a stack of wrapped dishes in his arms and both husbands right behind him.
“He is too skinny. Make sure he eats these.” He pushes the food toward his son before turning to me. “I expect to see some meat on these bones the next time I see you.” He pinches my arm for effect.
“Yes, sir.” I nod my head, not even considering there might be a next time. “I swear I’m working on it.”
“Good.” He gives me a toothy smile. Are all orc smiles technically toothy?
“It was nice to meet you, David.” Jarek steps around his larger husband.
“Try to stay out of trouble.” Orlun joins him.
“Yes, sir.” The more I say it, the more I feel like I’m back in school.
When it’s time to speak to their son however, they switch into their own language, the conversation between them flowing so much faster than it did in Common. God, they must feel like they’re dumbing themselves down so much when they have to talk to me. I should have asked Ayla if she had any tricks for learning new languages. The three of them walk us to the front door where Yogik waves his goodbye from a distance. Good. Ayla is there, but the other two are nowhere in sight, and after more hugs and goodbyes, we are outside, walking home in the moonlight.
Things are silent for a little too long, and I have to break it. “So.”
“So,” comes the oddly neutral response.
“That was...”
“A very interesting shitshow?” He turns to me and I can make out a wry smile.
“Something like that.” I’m glad to see he’s in good spirits. “I dunno. It could have gone worse.”
“It also could have gone much better,” he grumbles. “Or preferably not at all.”
“Oh my gods, that’s why you didn’t want me to come.” And here I thought he was trying to look out for me. “You were worried your family was going to embarrass you.”
“I may have considered that as a possibility.” I remember his sister’s words on the patio. Always a plan. “I sometimes find it difficult to be around my family but...you enjoyed your evening?”
“Yeah. I like them.” For the most part. “Your dads seem nice. Your sister is pretty cool, your younger siblings are weird, and uh, I think your brother hit on me.”
“He what?” Khazak freezes in his tracks.
“When I passed him in the hall, he asked me...” I really hope this isn’t something a brother usually asks. “He asked me if you had started sharing me yet.”
In the dim light I can just make out Khazak’s hands tensing as they grip the leftovers. “I am going to strangle that little rodent.” He turns on his heel and starts walking back toward his parent’s house.
“Wait, wait!” I pull on his arm to stop. “Next time. I’d honestly rather just go home tonight.” I’m not sure I’m up for any more family confrontations.
“I am very sorry, David,” he apologizes with a sigh. “That is not something he should have asked you. That is not something even within the realm of possibility, and he knows that. I think he may have done it to get a rise out of you, or more likely me, but I do not understand why.”
“It’s okay. My brother can be a dick too.” And a smug one at that. “I understand what you mean by difficult to be around.”
“Would that have anything to do with the real reason you traveled here all the way from home?” My body goes still. “Like say, a father you do not seem to like being named after?”
I can only stare, mouth agape like I want to say something but haven’t figured out what.
“You do not have to tell me unless you want to,” he offers softly, encouraging me to continue walking with him, “but I would be happy to listen.”
We walk in silence for a few minutes before I finally speak up. “He’s not the reason I left, but he is one of the reasons I didn’t stay.”
Khazak turns his face to me, not saying anything but still walking.
“I wasn’t happy with where it looked like my life was headed. A lot of other people seemed to be, but I wasn’t.” I stare at the ground as I walk.
