Page 12 of Guiding Reason
“Yeah, I got that.”
Col reached for the shower gel, sugar cream scented, and squeezed some in his hand. The sweet smell immediately filled the room. He began the process of getting clean, mechanical, eager to get done rather than enjoying it. He stopped when his mind had caught up with Hyran’s words, his body half soaped up.
“Wait. Hold on. You were suspecting us? You were suspecting Alesa of working with outsiders?”
“I have my reasons.”
“The fuck you do. Tell me them.”
Hyran stared at Col. “Can you please finish with your shower first?”
Col wanted to torture Hyran much like he would have tortured Taros. The difference was, he knew how much he could torture any of his brothers—any but Orrey perhaps—but with Hyran, hehad no idea. The Guardian might be good, or he might be good within certain limits.
I’ll learn that about him when I’m not hurting all over and when I’m back to thinking straight again.
Resigned, Col finished the shower fast as he could and took the towel Hyran offered him. Hyran watched as Col put his clothes back on, though he tried not to stare. That cost him, Col could tell that much, although with his drug-addled brain, he wasn’t sure how to feel about it.
5
HYRAN
OpenLog/entry
While reviewing older entries in this log, I received a request from Guardian Hyran. Never would I have answered him and pointed out Conduit Coldis’s favorite foods, but Hyran stated—and the Argentean Op-AI has confirmed this—that he imprinted on Coldis.
This is a joyous occasion. I find myself wanting to tell the Op-AI, but it is no more. It’s like there is silence where it used to be. It’s like the suite without anyone living in it and asking for things. A world, but no purpose in it. No one living in it.
I told Guardian Hyran about the sorono hummus and the three-color crackers. I might never see Conduit Coldis again.
(From Butler Bot 35’s personal log.)
You are beautiful,Hyran thought, over and over, as he watched Col dry himself. He didn’t want to say it because it was just the kind of thing a Conduit would have expected the Guardian imprinting upon him to say.
It wasn’t what Hyran wanted to tell anyone in the bathroom of the G&C Clinic where there were no windows and really nothing more personal than the option to adjust the brightness and hue of the lights.It’s true though. He’s so pretty. He’s special. He’s perfect.
Coldis’s eyes were captivating, blue and brown, though Hyran would have gladly given a decade of his life to just explore Coldis’s body for an hour.
He blinked, rubbed his forehead with a hand to hide that he’d very nearly been staring at Coldis’s flawless tawny skin and the droplets of water clinging to it.No. He’s more than that. He’s not a thing I can spend an hour exploring. I won’t ever see him as some sort of object, and if his team ever did, then I’ll stop them from seeing him altogether.
Coldis tossed the towel in the laundry chute and put his clothes back on. Hyran helped him with the shirt, weaving it back along the IV.
“Your socks, Coldis.”
“I don’t want them. You mentioned sorono.”
Hyran was glad he’d thought to get in touch with that butler bot, and he was glad it had delivered. “As much as you want.”
Coldis merely nodded and ambled out of the bathroom. He moved like someone in a lot of pain, but he was moving. That was good.
Hyran sped ahead of Coldis and pushed the sheets back to make sure the Conduit had an easier time getting back under them.
“Fuck,” Coldis said, gasping.
“What?” Hyran held out his arm, hoping Coldis would allow the help getting back on the bed. It was ridiculously high off the ground for a Conduit-sized patient.
“You’re fast. I’m not used to that.”
“Oh. I’m sorry.”
