Every thought hurts

He wasn't sure what he expected after asking the question, but it probably wasn't that. So his eyebrows raised in slight surprise as she admitted their brief, intimate connection, the news stirring a mix of emotions and reactions within him. There was the initial, irrational hot flush of a reaction, a flare of jealousy, but it was nothing but a flash, a moment, chased away soon after it arrived by more rational, steadying thoughts.

"Ohh," he commented, letting a small smile curve his lips as he met her gaze, as he accepted this information with as clear a mind as he could. Both of them had pasts, past lovers, past experiences, he wouldn't hold it against her, just as she wouldn't hold his past against him. He took another bite of his toast, brewing with his thoughts, letting them percolate, nodding slightly. The food was helping, he was feeling more like himself the more he digested.

"Thanks for telling me," he said, hoping to reach out and give her hand a gentle squeeze - he wanted to reassure her. Learning about one's partner's ex's (or in this case, temporary pleasures) was always going to be awkward, but he was confident in the strength of their togetherness that it need not be an issue. In fact, it explained a bit as to why Korbin seemed to try to use her as a barb against him, as if he was trying to incite guilt within Chuy for committing the cardinal sin of finding happiness. He wasn't sure what else to say - what else was there to say on the matter? So he offered another tidbit from his past in response.

"Not sure I can call my last experience before coming here a one night stand - it was one night, certainly. But…" He blushed, the sensation causing his vision to blur for a moment as he took a breath to steady himself against it. The headache was fading, but every now and then it threatened to rise back up and give him grief - he took another bite of toast, swallowed it, and had a drink before he continued talking. "It was the first time I realised I might be bi." He finished then, still blushing from the memory of the realisation.

The frozen plains of Antarctica had led to a lot for discoveries for the vet. Coming from a rather closeted rural area of Australia, it is no surprise he reacted this way to such things - no wonder it took him so long to recognise this about himself. Caido was a very different world, in more ways than the magic and gods.

chulane

KIADA

you are a weapon

His ohh has a smaller laugh leaving her, as the realization hits, and she scans his face for anything else out of it. But as she smells the toast begin to grow a bit more crisp than she likes, she turns momentarily to slip it onto the plate and to blow out the flame. She moves toward the table, setting her plate before her and suddenly her hand finds his – her iceberg gaze flickering up to meet his own as he thanks her. And honestly? She can’t quite understand why. But she squeezes his hand back and gives him a brighter smile. “You’re welcome.”

There wasn’t any use in hiding it, anyway, was there?

No, not with how often Korbin seemed to constantly throw it in her face as a reason she shouldn’t care. But regardless, she picks up a piece of her own toast and bites into it, feeling it crack beneath her teeth as her gaze focuses on him. “Oh?” She mumbles, a hand coming to cover her mouth as he elaborates. And then there’s almost a conspirators look that crosses her face as she goes to swallow her bite. “You’re cute when you blush, Chuy.” She comments for a moment before she sets the toast down.

“What was he like?” She asks, reaching to take a sip of her water before continuing to bite into her toast, waiting for the story and the information to pour out.

and weapons

don't

weep

The comment on his blushing only had him blushing harder. "Raised in a world where sexuality was a taboo subject and on a land that had only recently granted those of the same gender to marry - Australia was great, but I am still a victim of my conservative upbringing." He stuck his tongue out at her, even as his cheeks filled with a rosy red hue, his ears burning, and his neck itching. Only with her could he really talk like this, let his embarrassment show, laugh at it, grow from it. It was a sign that he was feeling better at least, that the lightheadedness was coming in shorter bursts, the headache fading, healing.

What was he like? He gave a pause as he considered the memory of the man who stirred some very intense feelings within him - feelings and attractions that had always been there but that he had ignored, shunned, overlooked because even though his family were supportive of his happiness, he was raised in such a small and close-minded town he couldn't help but feel conflicted for being… himself.

"He was… kind. A vet, as well. He was a kiwi - uh, from a place called New Zealand. On a similar expedition as me. We met at base camp, and…" he shrugged, a smile on his lips at the memory. It was all so innocent, just kisses and warm embraces, desires and feelings stirred up that had never been acknowledged by the vet before. A promise to stay in touch after their separate expeditions brought them home, no real commitments made, no actual relationship formed. Just... a mutual night of discoveries.

"His name was Zeke. Ezekial." Taking another bite from his toast, he let his words hang between them for a moment. The brief night spent with Zeke had been a bit of fun, a realisation of one's true self, one's true desires, of recognition, of solidarity in learning one wasn't alone in this journey.

chulane

KIADA

you are a weapon

She doesn’t quite understand what that’s like – having never really grown up with the same parameters and expectations. But she gives him her entire attention, nodding as she absorbs it. “It makes sense.” She offers him as he sticks his tongue out at her, and she manages to chuckle brightly in response before she takes another bite of her toast. And she listens as he begins to explain – swallowing a bit hard as he says he was a kiwi – immediately her mind drifting to a fruit of all things before she can’t keep the small half smirk from crossing her face.

’And…’

Then there’s a name added to this other man she’ll likely never meet – still she can’t help the smile that remains on her face. “Zeke.” She reiterates, finding no jealousy or anything within the idea of it – just simple honesty of what had occurred beforehand. Much like her and Korbin – except poor Chulane seems to constantly be around Korbin which likely doesn’t help much now knowing this information. But she exhales quietly, a soft smile remaining. “He sounds like he was just what you needed.” She offers as she focuses her attention on him again. “I played spin the bottle last spring and I kissed a woman named Evie. And it was… Nice, to be honest. Only as it turns out, she’s Amalia’s sister now and that makes things awkward.” She can’t help the louder laugh.

and weapons

don't

weep

Knowing what he did now about Korbin was actually a bit of a relief - it gave a bit more clarity on the raven-boy, on why he behaved the way he did, why he might look on he and Kia's relationship with dark, brooding eyes. Did he look at them and want what they had? Did he wish that Chulane never arrived, never befriended her, never admitted the true depth of his feelings to her? Chulane could only idly wonder - he wasn't truly interested in the answer, he would never seek it out. He hoped the boy was as carefree about Kia and his shared experience as Kia was - that they could all move on and live their lives.

Chulane himself would take this information and put it to use if he ever needed to - but unless Korbin tried to use it against him in the future, he didn't know why it would come up again.

He smiled as he heard Zeke's name on her lips, liking the sound of it - liking pretty much anything she said, with her easy acceptance of everything he was, everything he offered, the different walk of life he's had so far. He couldn't help the laugh that was summoned in response to her story about spin the bottle in spring. "I've heard of people having strange feelings of attraction for their cousins, but never an aunt," he teased, grinning as he took the last bite of his toast and ate it with great satisfaction.

chulane

KIADA

you are a weapon

With as often as Korbin likes to bring it up to her for trying to care about Korbin’s wellbeing, she wonders if he’d ever mention it while Chulane was near. It’s also an idle thought, one that sits there for a brief moment before it begins to fade away with the story he offers – of the other man, the New Zealander that had captured his attention however briefly it might have been. And she offers her own small tidbit of spin the bottle, before Chulane’s own jest reaches her ears and she pins him with a playful look.

“Hey now. I’m not blood related.” She winks, before snickering and spending a moment to finish the rest of her toast. And when he’s done, she fills his glass with a bit more water, collecting the dishes and setting them in the sink to be dealt with later. And she waits, with idle conversation and teasing in the meantime for him to finish his water, before trying to drag him to the bathroom for a quick cleanup and then eventually to bed, hoping he feels better in the morning.

FIN

and weapons

don't

weep