“I know there’s more to it than that, but I’m not going to ask. I’ll be right back.”
Ocher watches her head into the kitchen and Azure gently trails his fingertips up the inside of Ocher’s wrist, grinning when the other boy pulls his arm away in confusion. “Don’t tell me you like her too? You have a thing for redheads, Ocher?” Azure pulls his braid over his shoulder and studies it critically, “My hair’s black sadly, must be why you don’t like me much,” he teases.
“That’s not the truth and you know it,” Ocher whispers back to him angrily. “You’re the one with the issue.”
Azure brightens and gives Ocher a sly smile, “I like redheads too. Maybe I’d be more partial if you dyed your hair.”
“No fighting,” Savanta interrupts when she returns and catches the look on Ocher’s face. She hands them each a cup of water and places the dish of snacks on the table. “Azure, I know you started it. Give him a break, who knows how long he’s been stuck with you.”
He shrugs, grabbing a cookie. “His choice.”
“How long are you staying?” Savanta questions once they’re all settled in with food.
“Not long, this was the closest station to Ustrina. There’s something I need there.”
“Don’t do anything stupid.”
“I would never do anything stupid, you know me better than that.”
“I’ve known you since we were kids and I know there’s nothing good left there, so I say again, don’t do anything stupid.”
“Maybe there’s nothing for anyone else there, but for me there is.”
“Ghosts.”
“No.”
“Be careful.” She nods towards Ocher, “Are you taking him with you?”
Azure doesn’t get a chance to respond before the front door bursts open and Sara comes running in, dropping herself down next to him on the couch and edging Ocher away. She grabs his arm and pulls it around her shoulders. “Hey Azure.”
“Shouldn’t you be at school?”
Sara pouts back at her sister, “I skipped so I could have more time with Azure before he left.”
“You already saw her?”
Azure shrugs, “And it was a much warmer welcome.” Savanta rolls her eyes and he grins. “Sara, she’s making me sleep on the floor.”
Sara frowns. “That’s not right. I’ll sleep with Savanta, then you and your stray can take my room.”
“Sara!” Savanta snaps.
“What? You don’t want to share with me?”
“You know that’s not what I’m talking about.”
“I agree.” Azure runs a hand through her hair. “You shouldn’t say things like that, especially when he thinks you’re cute.”
Three sets of his eyes shift to Ocher and he stands up in a rush, cheeks already coloring and Azure can already see he’s tired of the jabs. “Azure, I do not. Stop telling her that. You’re the only one of us who wants them!”
Ocher slams out of the door with heavy steps and all three of them wince at the sound. “You’re not going to go after him?” Sara asks.
“No, he’ll be fine. He can take care of himself.”
“Yeah, but he’s a little...odd, he’ll rub someone the wrong way.” She squeezes his arm tighter, “But, seriously who is he?”
“I found him near the capital, he had nothing and I thought he could be of use to me.”
Savanta nods knowingly, “That sounds about right. You don’t like to deal with difficult people or compromise. He’s completely dependent on you, isn’t he? That way he has to listen to you or he’ll have nothing.”
“Something like that, but it works out for both of us.”
“Azure, even I can tell he’s innocent despite how little he talks. He let himself become dependent on you and you’ll have him do something to ruin that innocence for your own gain.”
Her concerns are completely valid, but just too late. Ocher’s already killed for him, he can’t change that and wouldn’t even if he could.
“Savanta!” Sara scolds. “Azure isn’t like that.” She furrows her eyebrows at her older sister, “What’s wrong with you? You should be happy he’s visiting.”
“I can’t deal with you two,” Savanta murmurs, standing up, and grabbing her bag. “I’ll go find him before he wanders into a pile of fish or gets gutted by a stray fishing hook.”
Together they watch her go and Azure grins down at Sara, “Still fooling her I see.”
“Of course, she’d keep a much closer eye if she thought I wasn’t as airheaded as she thinks. That boy is an odd choice though.”
Azure nods, “He’s a deserter from the army. Which makes him a great asset.”
Her eyes widen, “He’s a soldier? You really do go for the worst thing possible.”
“He’s a bit emotionally repressed, but I don’t have to keep him if he doesn’t work out.”
Sara laughs and nudges him with her shoulder, “I see you haven’t changed one bit.”
◆◆◆
Savanta returns about an hour later with both Ocher and Calliston in tow and Sara subtly tenses at his side.
Calliston’s blue eyes fall on him and widen before a grin spreads across his face, “Azure? Glad to see you, man!” His eyes dart to Sara, “Still messing with the younger ones I see.”
“Calliston,” he returns the greeting, already regretting his decision to come here when the other male uses one muscled, tanned arm to yank his shirt over his head and roll back his shoulders.
“If only we hadn’t needed a third,” Sara mumbles, turning her face into his arm.
“It’s pretty hot out there after doing a full day’s work! Not that you would know anything about that.” Calliston looks back over his shoulder to where Ocher is still hovering awkwardly by the entrance. “Now, it makes sense. I was wondering where Sav found him, but he must be yours.” He wrinkles his nose, “You both give off that same weird atmosphere. Two of you in a room, how will we handle it,” Calliston adds with a laugh.
“We won’t be here long,” Azure clarifies curtly.
“That’s right, always doing more important things,” he chuckles. “Little Azure outgrew the small fishing village that took him in and raised him. We never even hear from you, and now you just randomly show up.”
Azure stands abruptly, tired of engaging with someone he so strongly dislikes. “Sara, I’m actually really tired.”
She pops up immediately, relieved to also be offered the chance to escape the living room. “Okay, let’s get you settled in for the night.”
“Oh, that’s right.” Calliston calls out. “I have your room now, guess it’s not quite like home anymore. Things change.”
“You’re right, Calliston. They do, sometimes for the worse, and sometimes they don’t at all. Keep your shirt on next time, I’m still not interested.” He looks past him, “Ocher.”
Ocher follows after them into Sara’s room and she gestures him onto the bed. He sits and Azure sprawls out across his lap, “I can’t stand that guy.”