Page 65 of Guiding Reason
Hyran closed the bathroom door behind Col and himself, leaving the bot to wait outside. He couldn’t help himself, ran a hand over Col’s back, and watched as the Conduit soaped his hands, rinsed off the blood and suds.
“Don’t you think it’s a bit much to have the sharp black and white even here?”
Hyran looked up and met Col’s eyes in the mirror wall above the row of sinks. “Huh?”
“Well, Guardian, mind your surroundings. White tile floor, black tiles on the walls. Seems like a lot for a bathroom.”
He soaped his hands for a second time.Yes, wash off every trace of that vile Guardian. Forget he ever tried to—tried to—
“Hyran?”
Hyran focused on Col’s eyes, blue and brown.So pretty. Mine. Mine to protect.
“I’m here. I don’t know. It’s just a bathroom. Sorry, can I see? I think it’s a little red, a little swollen? How about we just get a quick scan done, hmm? They won’t keep you long for a scan, and it’s practically on the way back to the Tower.”
Col lifted his hand up in front of Hyran’s eyes and flexed, made a fist, splayed his fingers. He showed no signs of pain, but Hyran reached for the recycle towels and handed one to Col, then used another to carefully dab the possibly injured hand dry.
“I’m fine. We’re going back without stopping by the clinic, but I appreciate that you’re making sure I’m not hurting. That means a lot, Hyran.”
Hyran ran his fingers over the back of Col’s hand, making his touch light and marveling at the soft skin. He hadn’t exactly noticed how soft Col’s skin was before. It made him feel like a fool for missing something so wonderful and failing to appreciate it.
“You’re trained to say that. I know that. What’s strange though? It still helps to hear you say it.”
Col held the towel out to him. “That’s why they teach us it. Can you toss that for me? And my hand is dry now. I think I’ll need it back.”
Hyran did, tossing the towel he’d used as well, glad to have something to do while at the same time realizing that’s why Col had asked. He sighed.
“I really hate Guardians like that Alesa,” Col said. “You are nothing like him. You’re all the things I love about Guardians.”
“Trained to say that as well?”
Hyran simply couldn’t stop holding Col, touching Col. He’d backed him up against the sink.Vile. Cornering him like this is vile.So Hyran stepped back, only half a step.
“Yes. Look at yourself. You need it.”
Hyran did. The mirror made him ugly, pupils wide like a hunter’s, face pale like someone about to run for his life.I am ready for a fight to the death, to protect my Conduit, and it shows. With nothing to fight, it might be my Conduit getting hurt.
“Yeah, okay. Okay.”
“You can hold on to me. For a few minutes, just until you calm down.”
Thank Covenant.Hyran pulled Col against his chest and concentrated on how it felt to have his Conduit breathe against him, rest against him. Like nothing else in the entire world was the answer, and Hyran let his eyes drift shut, let the feeling take him.
Col didn’t insist on staying at the Judiciary for another interview. One of the security bots handed him his blouse, and after asking about Linar, they were headed back toward the Grounds.
“She’s calm but quiet,” Hyran repeated when they were back in the elevator.
“She is still grieving,” Col said. He had his back turned to the view now, was facing Hyran instead. “She’s all alone in her grief.”
They left the Judiciary quietly, walking hand in hand. The Municipal AI once more had an auto-drive ready for them, and once they were inside, Hyran breathed a sigh of relief.
“The Western Entrance is quickest, and it can’t hurt to let people see us,” Col said, and so that way it was.
After a minimal holdup at the entrance and a Grounds auto-drive that accelerated and decelerated constantly and without good reason, making it a bumpy ride, they were finally back at the Champions’ Tower. The late afternoon sun was pleasantly warm, and a few of the Guardian Champions were out and about, lazing on the lawn across the street or eating a late lunch at the tables just outside the building.
“Do you—” Hyran began but stopped.
Taros walked toward them. Col hadn’t yet seen Taros because the Conduit looked after the auto-drive as it stuttered away, frowning deeply.
