By Anonymous<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Solu heard Brick pacing at the door outside his hut, setting a beat for the night’s song. He rolled his eyes and lathered his brows in preparation to shave. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou gonna knock or something, or are you just makin\u2019 a dent on my doorstep?\u201d Bricks pacing stopped. He cleared his throat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUm, may I come in?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2018Course.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brick pushed the stiff fabric back and stepped in, quick to remove his shoes. Solu said nothing and turned back to his tarnished mirror. Brick’s hesitation was palpable and so, he let him take his time to say whatever he needed to, continuing to shave. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThings are going really well with this alliance with Lenars\u2019 group, don’t you think?\u201d The gritty scrape of the razor filled the small hut, then Solu\u2019s warm mumble. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSure. They eat our food while they work on their doo-hickeys and doo-dads, but they aint caused no trouble yet. Some of their gadgets seem useful. Why?\u201d he looked back at Brick through the mirror before dipping his head in the small wooden basin before him. When he rose, Brick was fiddling with a small gadget of his own in his hands. It whirred and clicked haphazardly. Lord was he nervous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brick disregarded his question. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou and Lenar seem to be getting along well, no?\u201d Brick asked as Solu patted his face dry and turned to face the other. Brick, his Right-hand-man. Man only in the phrase; He could never not see the boy he’d met all those years ago when he looked at Brick. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShe’s good company, true, but I think she’s just tryin\u2019 to set a good example for the rest of her people.\u201d Brick’s neck twitched in confusion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou think that’s the only reason she’s almost always around you?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, what other reason would there be? She’s a good leader, we\u2019re sharing resources and knowledge \u2018n shit, it’s good to be friendly. I mean I get it, ain’t no hurt feelings.\u201d Brick was fiddling with his gizmo even faster, swaying his weight from side to side. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd you can’t think of any other reasons why she\u2019d want to be around you?\u201d Humming in thought, Solu ran their interactions together through his brain. Lenar was always finding ways to be around him. When Solu was doing his daily check ins with his group, while he was taking inventory, or even on his walks in the woods that circled their camp, Lenar often found a way to be there. Sometimes, she even invited him to look at what her group was working on, explaining the highly advanced technology to him, even if his nature-based brain couldn’t comprehend a thing. It was nice, yes, but his conclusion remained the same. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah naw, that’s the only reason I can think of.\u201d Frustration had begun to ripple in his throat, though mainly with Brick. He always tried to come at topics in such round-about ways. Solu wished he had learned by now that that technique would never work with him. He crossed his arms over his large, bare chest. \u201cWhat are you trying to get at, kid?\u201d Brick huffed, opened his mouth, stopped, huffed again, and replanted his feet. When he started to repeat the cycle, Solu began his nightly routine. He had never been a patient person, but if Brick needed time, he might as well use it wisely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was as Solu strapped his shoes on, back towards him, that Brick finally blurted out, <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe think Lenar\u2019s into you!\u201d A stiffness crawled from the base of his spine to his neck. He sucked at his teeth and turned to face Brick, whose face was starting to turn equal parts green and red.
\u201cI like ya, kid, but that’s a way outta line thing to say to me.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI- it’s just an observation, Boss!\u201d Standing slowly he went to grab his coat. The nights were starting to get colder. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen keep it to yourself.\u201d He swept back the curtain, heading out for his nightly walk. Brick tumbled after him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy? We all think that you and her would make a great team together, and she seems, like, really into you!\u201d Solu whipped around and grabbed the front of Brick’s shirt, pulling him down to his level. His voice was as quiet and careful as he could make it. Surprising himself, Solu scanned the compound for anybody else. Thank goodness everyone was in for the night. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook, and listen while you’re at it. I’ve never been people’s cup of tea.\u201d He didn’t let Brick rebuttal, \u201cNot in the way you\u2019re insinuatin\u2019. Even before the Rain, romance-\u201d He spit the word out the same way he spit out eggshells, \u201cain’t something I was interested in, so I sure as hell ain’t gonna worry about it now, got it?\u201d He released Brick, who rubbed his chest in pain. \u201cBesides,\u201d a rare moment of softness flowed from him, a shocking contrast from his concrete usual, \u201cI don’t have time to think like that; the world we live in don’t let us.\u201d He smoothed his hands over his plaited hair to ground himself. \u201cI- we gotta be reasonable, ya hear?\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brick bit his lip. It wasn’t often that Solu lost his composure, even less common to see him soften, but Brick only wanted the best for his Boss, and that meant pushing Solu\u2019s buttons for his own good. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
His Boss had walked a few paces when Brick was able to talk again, his plan sure in his mind now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat about a bet?\u201d Solu stopped for the second time and swiveled. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou sure you wanna do that?\u201d Brick felt his constitution drop. Solu took bets very seriously, mainly because he had never lost one his whole life. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes.\u201d Brick walked to Solu, trying his best to not be intimidated. He wasn’t very successful. \u201cI- I wanna bet that if you give Lenar a fair chance, she\u2019ll definitely tell you that she likes you.\u201d He crossed his arms over his chest and stood his ground, channeling as much of his boss as he could. Solu seemed exhausted by the whole ordeal, but knew that sometimes it was best to just humor the kid. He matched Brick’s stance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOkay, I\u2019ll give her a solid chance, whatever that means. But when I win, you gotta complete one of your gadgets a day, for a week.\u201d He motioned Brick to walk with him. Brick pouted but followed, his tall lanky body even more comical than usual when proportioned next to his short and squat leader. \u201cYou never finish any of them and they\u2019re just layin \u2018round!\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOkay, okay! But, when I win,\u201d Solu gave him a pity soaked glance, \u201cYou gotta give me a story.\u201d Solu rolled his eyes, but spit in his hand and stuck it out. Brick did the same, and they shook on it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFine, now let me go on my walk, dammit. And no funny business, got it?!\u201d He yelled at Brick who was busy prancing away. Little shit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Walking through the woods, Solu let himself relax, and he chuckled to himself. Lenar, liking him like that? He liked himself, hell, he loved himself, but Lenar having any \u2018unprofessional\u2019 feelings towards him was just not realistic. She hardly knew the first thing about him. Not many people did. He had never found reason to tell stories about himself, there were so many more important lessons to be learned then those of his own life. That’s why Brick wanted a story out of the bet, not that he would win. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He rubbed the swooping scars on his chest. The cold always got to them. They had not properly healed, the Rain didn’t let him heal. What would Lenar think, what would she say?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He quickly shook himself free of the thought. It didn’t matter what her reaction would be, he couldn’t waste his time thinking about useless things like that. He needed to make his nightly rounds. He needed to fulfill his responsibilities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Solu tried to leave thoughts of Lenar in the woods, but just like Lenar herself, they always seemed to find their way to Solu. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
( I need to write like\u2026.2 more scenes, my apologies. I just thought that something would be better than nothing.) <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI must admit, however, that this proposition is tainted with selfish intent.\u201d Lenar leaned forward in her chair, and Solu did the same, ready to hear whatever Lenars true intentions were. \u201cIn these past few months of our people coming together, I have found myself\u2026\u201d She sucked her teeth in thought, \u201cI have found that I enjoy our time together. I enjoy you, Solu, and your knowledge, your voice, the way you see the world!\u201d Solu didn’t move, didn’t blink, just looked at Lenar with his large dark eyes. Lenar kept rattling on, speech growing faster with nerves, \u201cOur groups have grown in strength and community, but I have grown to want you, by my side. If- if you’ll have me.\u201d Lenar was uncomfortable in her vulnerability, looking at Solu for any signs of emotion. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Solu shouldn’t have been blind-sided her confession, yet he was. Brick had told him that they\u2019d all noticed how Lenar treated him, but he thought, had known that she was just being kind, being a good leader to help their two communities unite by example. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And deep down he felt the same way. Her skills, her leadership, her elegance drew him in like a bear to honey, but Solu never let himself indulge in such trivial fantasies. They lived in a damn hellscape. He had to be realistic about things, but now he questioned that ideology. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Frozen as he tried to find his footing in this new unknown territory, the most prominent thought in his mind was fuck, <\/em>Brick was right. He\u2019d lost the bet, and his winning streak, to fucking Brick. He laughed at the thought lest he cry out in frustration. It started small in his chest before it rose in volume. He tried to hide it, tried to hide his blushing face, but as intently as Lenar was staring at him, he knew that she picked up every little detail. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Her face turned to stone and she stood, knocking the stool out from under her. Her shields were back up. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI thought better of you to at least not laugh right in my face, Solu.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo, no no I ain’t laughing at you, I promise!\u201d He raised his hands in supplication, \u201cit’s just,\u201d he let the embers of his laughter fade as he stood, taking her clenched fists in his relaxed hands, \u201cI aint never let myself think that somebody could deal with me, let alone wanna be with me\u2026 like that, ya know?\u201d Her face twisted in subtle sadness, \u201cEspecially someone as ethereal as yourself.\u201d The word felt stiff in his voice, like he shouldn’t say it, but that’s what she was; Ethereal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lenar looked down at him now, eyes soft as Solu\u2019s met hers. \u201cI like ya, Lenar, I do want to be with ya\u201d They both paused for a moment, sitting in the soft natural confession, \u201c and I’m sorry for laughing, but, ah,\u201d Lenar leaned closer to him in interest, \u201cNow I owe a kid a story, the lil shit.\u201d One thin eyebrow rose on her face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd why,\u201d She said, voice suede and teasing within their close distance, \u201cdo you owe them a story?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Solu looked away, sour as he admitted his loss.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI bet that lil shit Brick that you weren’t into me and that he was seeing things.\u201d He looked back at Lenar, who’s now doing her best to not laugh at him. He smiled, \u201cBut, and never tell him this!\u201d She did laugh then, but promised to never tell a soul, \u201cI’m glad that he’s right, cuz now I get to do this.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lenar pressed down onto Solu as he stretched upwards to hold the sides of her face. Intimacy had long been an unneeded and unknown concept for the both of them. A delicacy neither had the privilege to indulge in. Until now. It was pleasant, learning this dance together. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It was sweet, it was quiet, and best of all, it was real.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"