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Kuen woke at the tug on his fingers. He looked up at Fiera. She was staring at her window. “It’s dawn,” she mumbled. “We need t’get up.”

She rolled off her bed and did her stretches before opening her door. She walked across the hall and dragged her fingers down the wood, just as Phelix had done the night before. Kuen joined her in the hall just as Phelix opened his door.

“What time is it?” he mumbled.

“‘Bout half past dawn. Want t’give ma a bit of a lie in. ‘Sides, it’ll be best t’teach ‘em how t’get their showers now while it’s quiet,” Fiera said.

“Right. Let me go roust the other one,” Phelix said.

“Be gentle. He’s not used t’our time yet,” Fiera said.

“I’m always gentle. Yer the rude ketch.” Phelix nudged Gaspare’s hip with his foot. Gaspare came awake instantly. “Time t’learn the mornin’ routine. It’s hectic here so gettin’ up before everyone else helps.”

“Okay,” Gaspare said, yawning. He stood up. “What do we do?”

“Shower first, and you only get ‘bout two minutes of water so you have to be smart,” Fiera said.

“Any tips?” Gaspare asked.

“First, you get two minutes in the shower. Best thing Flicks and me learned how t’do was soak a washcloth in the sink, soap up there, and rinse off in the shower, wash your hair, and get out. Two minutes is all you need t’rinse and do yer hair, especially with how short I had you boys cut it.”

Gaspare rubbed his jawline. “Might take me an extra few minutes since I have to shave.”

“You ever use a straight razor?” Phelix asked.

“No. I’m used to the stuff in the Core,” Gaspare said.

“I’ll go in with you to make sure you don’t slit yer own throat,” Phelix said. “The one we keep is frakkin’ sharp. I have t’shave too. Ma usually don’t like facial hair, but I think she’ll let Kuen keep his.”

“She doesn’t get a choice. It’s helpin’ hide his bloodline,” Fiera said.

“Right. You two want it first?” Phelix asked.

“Go on. Just don’t take all mornin’. I want the coffee on before ma gets up. Maybe actually have some food cookin’ fer her fer a change,” Fiera said.

“Got it.” Phelix dragged Gaspare into the small bathroom. Ten minutes later the two men came out.

“You weren’t kidding about how sharp that razor was,” Gaspare was saying.

“Told you,” Phelix said. “Yer turn, Fury.”

“Come on, Kuen. We double up we can be done faster.” She dragged him into the bathroom with her. She handed him a washcloth. “Soak it and soap it.” She showed him what she meant, and he followed her example.

“This is the strangest soap I’ve ever used,” he said. “It doesn’t feel at all like the stuff in the Core.”

“Ma makes this every winter, when the farm work’s a bit slower. She gets us t’help her. It’s good soap, works better’n the stuff in the Core as far as I’m concerned,” Fiera said.

Kuen smiled. “I think you believe everything in the Colonies is better than the Core.”

“I do, fer the most part. Our medics aren’t as good, mostly ‘cause we get the short end of the stick out here fer supplies. But the way of life is much better,” Fiera said.

She dove into the shower, and he saw what she meant about two minutes. The shower shut itself off just as she finished rinsing. “Okay, my turn. This should be interesting,” Kuen said.

“You might have t’kneel. You’re a bit tall,” Fiera said.

Kuen managed to rinse and wash his hair before the water shut off. “That was an experience.” He dressed in the clothing Fiera had picked out for them on the station and they joined the other two in the hall.

“I heard ma stirrin’. Let’s go start the coffee,” Phelix said.

They headed downstairs, not caring this time if they creaked. They got the coffee going and Fiera started cooking. It felt good to be back in a proper kitchen. Alena came down a short while later.

“I knew it had t’be Fury cookin’. She’s the only one I know who makes pancakes, eggs, bacon, and sausage all in one meal. Plus whatever fruit she’s got simmerin’ in the pans,” Alena said with a broad smile.

“I’ve had lots of help this mornin’,” Fiera said. “I’m teachin’ the boys how t’cook too.”

“I have never actually done anything like this,” Gaspare said from where he was stirring a pot. “I’ve been told it can’t stick to the bottom and to keep stirring until I’m allowed to stop.”

“That’s right. That’s got a lot of sugar in it and sugar burns real easy,” Alena said. She came over and took over for him for a moment. “This side’s scorchin’ a little but that’s easy enough t’fix. Just give it a good, hard stir like this and yer fine. Now, make sure you stir the whole pot and not just one area.” She handed him back the spoon.

By the time the rest of the family showed up the food was served. Kuen felt himself smiling more in that morning than he felt he had in his whole life as he passed food, kept things from spilling with his faster reflexes, and joined in on the conversation when he felt he could. Was this what being part of a family was like? If so, he didn’t blame Fiera for wanting to be back here.

Everyone scattered to their various pursuits for the day. Fiera turned to her mother. “Okay Ma, Flicks and me are headed to the registration office t’get our plots. Keep the boys out of trouble while we’re gone.” She pulled Kuen down for a quick kiss and headed out.

“How often does she do that these days?” Alena asked softly.

“Kiss me like that? Very rarely. She’s having one of her good days,” Kuen said seriously.

“You,” Alena pointed to Gaspare. “Go wash dishes. Hot water, lots of soap, and no scraps of food left on them.”

“Yes ma’am,” Gaspare said.

“Washing dishes is one chore both of us know how to do. We were on deployment often enough to learn,” Kuen said.

“Good. Now, I want a word with you about what yer intentions towards my daughter are,” Alena said, gesturing for Kuen to follow her into the living room.

Kuen bit back a groan as he sat down beside Fiera’s mother. “Alena, my intentions are the same as they were before the war broke out. I’m her friend first, her lover on her terms, and eventually – if she’ll have me – her husband. Again, only on her terms because I learned a very long time ago not to try to push her into things.”

“She needs t’be pushed sometimes, but in this case yer doin’ it the right way,” Alena said. “You know what she went through?”

“I saw the damage. I don’t know every detail but knowing who held her captive for eight months I have a good idea of what she might have gone through,” Kuen said, his voice tight with anger. “One of those is dead. The other we had to leave alive in order to extract her safely.”

“Kuen, there’s no one here but the three of us. You can tell me the whole of it,” Alena said.

Kuen looked at the woman who’d raised Fiera. He took a deep breath. Then he did tell her the truth of who’d held her daughter prisoner for eight months, and what he suspected had been done to her. Then he told her how he had that idea of what was done to Fiera, detailing his own experiences with Michi and Lakshmi’s tortures.

“I would have killed my own mother at the moment if I’d thought we could have gotten out alive, Alena,” Kuen said, saying the words he’d kept inside for so long. “I wanted to kill her. But getting Fiera out was the priority that day and I knew if I gave in and killed her all three of us would die. So I let my mother live.”

“She isn’t yer ma, Kuen,” Alena said, surprising him. “Oh, she donated genetic material to the procreation efforts that spawned you. But she isn’t yer ma. No ma does what she’s done t’you. You owe her nothin’. I’m glad you didn’t kill her though ‘cause then I’d never have gotten t’see my daughter again.”

A sudden weight lifted from Kuen’s shoulders. If anyone knew what it meant to be a good mother, Alena would. “You really think so, Alena? Some would say that because of the fact she birthed me I owe her everything,” Kuen said.

Alena snorted. “Yes, and they’re vapor brained. I’ve seen a lot of abusive parents out here, Kuen. I take in some of the littles until new homes can be found fer ‘em. Thea’s a real help with those littles ‘cause she can reach ‘em when I can’t. We know firsthand what kind of trauma abuse causes. Sounds like yer ma was abused herself, never broke free of the cycle, and it became somethin’ far worse ‘cause of her money.”

“Something my father told me,” Gaspare said from where he was doing the dishes. “No one ever told Michi Nakano no. Not even when she was growing up. He said his parents used to talk about how spoiled she was.”

“Always sayin’ yes to a child is almost worse than always sayin’ no. If you never set boundaries, they never learn that there are limits in the universe. Sounds like that’s what happened t’yer ma, and it just got worse as she got older,” Alena said.

“That could be why she hates Eire so much. Did you know they were once engaged to be married, Alena?” Kuen asked.

“Yeah, the bastard told me that at some point,” Alena said.

“I don’t know why it ended, but he broke off their engagement and vanished. Her parents were murdered, and she tried pinning their deaths on him, but it was later proven someone else killed them,” Kuen said.

“He told me he saw her fer what she really was, and she wasn’t the person he thought. Don’t know what he meant by it, and he never explained,” Alena said. “But him gettin’ framed fer murder tells me why he lit out fer the Colonies. He never did explain that one.”

“Maybe he was trying to protect you. He figured if you didn’t know about it you couldn’t be forced to tell anyone,” Gaspare said.

“More like he was savin’ his own hide. I know my husband, boys.” Alena sighed. “Eire used t’be a good man. But right before he sent Fury off, somethin’ happened. Somethin’ changed him. I think it was losin’ the wee ones.” She looked at them. “Did Fury tell you ‘bout the famine?”

“She did,” Kuen said. “She said you lost her youngest sisters.”

“Morrigan and Morgana. Eire took their deaths pretty hard. Prob’ly ‘cause he knew I was done after them. I went and got myself fixed, though I didn’t tell any of the rest that. Eire doted on those two. He loved ‘em almost as much as he did Fury. Losin’ ‘em, he just snapped,” Alena said.

“Alena, how long ago was the famine? I don’t think Fury’s entirely sure anymore,” Kuen said.

“How can she not be sure? She lived it with us,” Alena said.

The two men exchanged looks. “Alena, your husband used DiME programming on Fury to make her blend in better in the Core,” Kuen said.

“That slag eatin’ son of a shipyard whore,” Alena swore. “I swear to all the stars if I see him, I’m goin’ t’pound him into the ground. And that’s only if Flicks and Fury don’t get t’him first. I know those two’ll tag team him near t’death.”

“I know she’s still very angry with him,” Kuen said. “I think she blames him for what was done to her too.”

“Wouldn’t surprise me. She’s got a wild temper. Don’t think that’s changed much.” Alena sighed. “The famine was still goin’ strong when we sent her off. Eire told me she was headin’ for Totov, t’study and get another certification. Then he goes and blows up the frakkin’ ship she’s on and gets her trapped in the Core.”

“Alena, do you want us to tell you what she was doing? Or would you rather it came from her?” Gaspare asked.

“You better tell me ‘cause I know she won’t,” Alena said. “She’s not real good ‘bout tellin’ things that she thinks might cause me t’worry.”

Kuen rubbed the back of his neck. “Alena, do you know what a Pleasure Seeker is?” he asked.

“Do I know what the Core definition of one is? Or the Colony definition?” Alena asked.

“Well, she was in the Core,” Gaspare pointed out.

“She was a fancy ornament fer some person’s arm, sometimes used fer sex, but mostly fer talkin’ and entertainin’,” Alena said, surprising both of them. “What, I do know how t’read, boys. I may not look it, but I’m better educated than you might think.”

“It’s just we don’t run into many who know that definition of a Pleasure Seeker outside of the Core,” Kuen said. “Most have a very skewed sense of what they are.”

Alena nodded. “Most like wallowin’ in ignorance out here. That’s one thing Eire has in his favor with me. He taught me t’open my eyes and learn.”

“She was the courtesan known as the Blue Butterfly of Bouarus, a very popular ornament for those who could pay her price. And she wasn’t cheap. You paid dearly for her company, even before she paid her debts off,” Gaspare said.

“She was indentured to begin with?” Alena asked.

Kuen nodded. “What should have taken her thirty years to pay off only took her five, and eventually Gaspare and I paid to be her favored patrons. She had other jobs, but we needed to keep her safe, especially after we found out who she was.”

“Wait, wait, you two found out who she was? How?” Alena asked.

“My sister Honore’s twentieth birthday party, I contracted Fury for Kuen because no other courtesan would work with him,” Gaspare said, coming over to join the other two.

“I was a real mess back then. You wouldn’t have liked me, Alena,” Kuen said. “I was turning into the perfect puppet for that woman.”

“Fury stood up to him, gave him hell, and wouldn’t put up with his nonsense. They got into a couple of fights and then finally something happened that broke something loose in Fury’s head. She went digging and found her name and face but didn’t fully believe it until she had a revelation about Lady Kakoric,” Gaspare continued.

“Wait, Angeliki? What does she have t’do with this?” Alena asked.

“Eire used her to extract information from Fiera,” Kuen said. “She was the one who knew how to break down the DiME barrier and get Fiera talking. Fiera was furious and didn’t think she’d agreed to this, got Lady Kakoric to break the programming, and somehow combined the two personalities into one.”

Alena nodded. “Sounds like Fury. Never could stand someone tellin’ her what t’think or feel.”

“She talked to us about farm life on Sorus,” Gaspare said. Kuen’s hands clenched as he remembered the party that night. “Then Honore’s actual birthday party happened, and she told me my mother was being poisoned. She could tell by the smell of her perfume. We were chatting about it and an assassin tried to kill us. Fury saved us but took a Xenospar blade for her troubles.”

Alena gasped. “That’s fatal out here, unless yer very lucky.”

“My sister Emele was chief medical officer for a bunch of the High Command and just so happened to be home for Honore’s birthday party. She took over Fury’s care and saved her life,” Gaspare said.

“His father wanted to let her die,” Kuen said, the old anger surfacing. “We…had a word with him about that.”

“Kuen hit him first, and then I beat him into the ground. It took three of my sisters pulling me off of him or he’d probably have ended up dead,” Gaspare said grimly. “I don’t take kindly to people threatening my friends’ lives.”

“You already considered Fury a friend?” Alena asked.

“I did,” Gaspare said. “I liked her immensely from the start, and the fact that she put herself at risk to help save my mother only cemented that feeling.”

“Gaspare and I set up contracts so we could have as much of Fiera’s time as we wanted, with the stipulation she could still take other contracts so it wouldn’t look suspicious,” Kuen said. “Then that woman sent her aide to threaten Fiera and we stepped up our protection of her.”

“When it became obvious war was inevitable, Kuen smuggled her back to the Colonies,” Gaspare said. “She wanted to go home but she also didn’t want to leave.”

“Because she loved you too much t’want t’lose you.” Alena said this, eyes fixed on Kuen.

Kuen nodded. He reached inside his shirt and unpinned the phoenix. “I gave her this as an apology for being a complete vapor brain and told her to keep it with her. She kept it until that last day on Junna, when she begged me to take it back so nothing would happen to you. I keep looking for a chance to give it back to her, but I don’t think she’s ready for it yet.”

Alena took it, looked it over, and passed it back. “You’ll know when she is, and I think she’ll be grateful. Did you give her anything else?”

Kuen passed over the ring that he kept on the chain around his neck. “I gave her this too. I wanted to give it to her as an engagement ring. Instead I slipped it on her finger the day we parted on Icrtara.”

“Use it as a weddin’ ring here. Somethin’ this precious would be used only fer that purpose,” Alena said. She passed the necklace back and pulled a chain of her own from around her neck. “I stopped wearin’ mine the day Eire took off, but I haven’t parted with it yet ‘cause in spite of everythin’ I still love that vapor brained bastard. Don’t mean I won’t pound him into the ground if I see him, but I haven’t given up completely on him.”

The ring dangling from it was a ruby heart surrounded by tiny, pinhead sized diamonds. “That’s beautiful,” Gaspare said.

“Eire saved up for five years t’buy this fer me from a shop in the Core,” Alena said. “He got Angeliki t’get it since he couldn’t show his face there. We’d actually known each other fer the entire time, but were nearin’ the end of our contract and he had t’marry me or we had t’split up. I was gettin’ worried he’d leave me high and dry.”

There was a smile on her face. “You must have loved him a lot in those days,” Kuen said.

“Oh yes. He was a lot like Fury, actually. Wild, strong, but with a real sense of what was right.” Alena sighed. “He lost that over the years.” She looked at Kuen. “I didn’t do a good enough job with Eire. I’m trustin’ you t’make sure she doesn’t follow in her da’s footsteps.”

“I will do my best to keep her from becoming like him,” Kuen said.

“Best I can hope fer since I know she’s as rock headed as they come.” Alena sighed and tucked the ring back under her shirt. “Now, Gaspare, how do you feel ‘bout climbin’ on the roof and nailin’ down some shingles fer me?”

“I can do that,” Gaspare said.

“And Kuen, I’ll have you fasten down some sidin’ sheets that have come loose. Can’t have ‘em blowin’ off or we’ll lose our weatherproofin’,” Alena said.

“Happy to help,” Kuen said.

The repairs were done and they were having a snack when a skimmer showed up. “Alena, is Fury around? Or those two boys she came in with?” Nico called.

“Right here,” Kuen said, stepping out.

“Yer stuff arrived, right on schedule. I’m due some credits fer the rest of the delivery fee,” Nico said.

“Here you go, Nickel,” Alena said, bringing out a small basket of fresh vegetables. “Will that cover it?”

“Yer garden always gives the best stuff, Alena. I’ll take it since Fiera paid the main freight on this yesterday,” Nico said with a grin, tucking the basket out of sight. “Now, you got someone who can help me with this?”

“We’ll help,” Gaspare said, coming up.

They unloaded all the crates into the shed Alena pointed to and Nico took off. “That looks like everything we ordered,” Kuen said.

“We’ll go through it when more of the Roughlings are back. Marc especially will have a good idea of where we can sell ‘em. I expect ‘em all home fer lunch, except fer Herry. He’s still in school,” Alena said.

Gaspare groaned. “I didn’t think I was this far out of shape. I used to be able to do more work than this on a high grav world and not feel it.”

“You’ve been livin’ soft, featherweight,” Alena teased. “Go take a nap if you need one. I need you work ready in ‘bout two hours.”

“Sounds good.” Gaspare headed up to the room he was sharing with Phelix.

“How’re you holdin’ up, Kuen?” Alena asked, coming over and looking him up and down.

“Surprisingly, I’m not tired at all. I guess I’ve kept in better shape than Gaspare has,” Kuen said.

“Did you ever spar with Fury?” Alena asked.

“Constantly. She kept me on my toes for a good portion of our relationship. She was relentless at it until I got up to the point where we could call it a draw with our matches,” Kuen said.

“Do you still keep up with the things she taught you durin’ those sparring matches?” Alena asked.

Kuen had to think about that. “Actually yes. It’s how I’m usually able to beat him so easily.”

Alena nodded, satisfied. “She taught you our way of fightin’, which means you were conditionin’ yer body to our way of life. Yer goin’ t’get tired eventually, but you’ve got more stayin’ power than yer friend.”

They heard a whistle and looked up. Fiera and Phelix were walking up to the gate. Fiera looked tired but he saw her face light up, whether it was at the sight of the farm or the two of them he wasn’t sure. “How’d it go?” Alena called.

“We’re good. You know that valley me and Flicks always said was goin’ t’be ours when we grew up?” Fiera replied as Phelix opened the gate.

“I do.” Alena was smiling.

“It’s ours now. We laid claim t’twenty of the thirty plots there, and the other ten are on hold,” Fiera said.

“Why’re they on hold?” Alena asked.

The twins exchanged a look and said something in twinspeak. “Ma, you prob’ly aren’t goin’ t’like what we did,” Phelix said.

“Flicks, Fury, spill it,” Alena said.

“Look, it was do it or get the boys gene scanned, and I can’t let that happen,” Fiera said.

“Fury, you missed the part when –.” Alena stopped. “Skathi, you took out marriage contracts.”

“It’s just two years, Ma,” Phelix said. “If Gaspare isn’t actually antero then I’ll find him a girl.”

“And me and Kuen aren’t plannin’ on separatin’ ever, so it’s not like we did anythin’ you didn’t expect fer us,” Fiera said.

“It’s not you two I’m worried about,” Alena said, her eyes fixed on Phelix. “Flicks, if he isn’t antero and you go and lose yer heart t’him.” He muttered something in twinspeak. “I don’t even have t’know what you two are sayin’ t’know what you just said, Flicks.”

“Look Ma, it don’t mean nothin’ if it isn’t mutual. I’ll keep my mouth shut and let him decide one way or the other. He didn’t even know antero was a thing,” Phelix said.

Alena buried her face in her hands. “You two complicate everythin’ you get into,” she moaned. “Right, right, I know. It’s yer talent. Fury, go sit down before you pass out. Kuen, get her a drink from the pitcher in the cooler. I need a word with Flicks here.”

“Okay Alena,” Kuen said. He took Fiera from Phelix and escorted her inside. “Is she really angry at him?”

“No, she’s worried. Last time Flicks lost his heart to a guy who wasn’t antero it ended badly fer both of ‘em. That was years ago, when we were still teenagers. Flicks knows better’n t’say somethin’ now though,” Fiera said.

Kuen got her seated on the couch and brought her a cold drink. She smiled her thanks. “Is Flicks really interested in Gaspare?”

“I think so. He didn’t stop talkin’ ‘bout him the whole way there and it took a lot t’get him t’talk ‘bout the farm on the way back,” Fiera said. She closed her eyes and Kuen caught the glass before she dropped it as she slipped into a light doze. He set it on one of the tiny coasters on the table.

Alena came in and saw her daughter. “She nappin’?” Kuen nodded. “Flicks is out kickin’ a post. I don’t know if I made sense t’him or not. Kuen, Gaspare’s yer friend. You think he might be antero?”

“Truth, Alena, I think he is.” This surprised her. “His parents have been flinging girls at him since he was old enough to know the difference between girls and boys, but Gaspare only ever showed interest in one woman – and that was the courtesan Aoi. Even then, his interest was more in a friendly, protective manner than a romantic one.”

“Was she someone Fury knew?” Alena asked.

“She was a friend of Fury’s who ended up dying of an aneurysm at the same party we almost lost Fury at.” Kuen swallowed hard. “It was partially her death that broke the DiME programming – and got me slapped hard enough to knock some sense back into my thick skull.”

Alena snorted. “Somehow it doesn’t surprise me that Fury would do that.”

“Alena, I’d see him watch the men bathing or the male cadets practicing and then he’d get a confused look – almost frightened – and walk away quickly. His father was almost literal death on anyone who showed signs of being antero, and that has to do with what happened to him in his past,” Kuen said.

Alena leaned against the wall. “What do you mean?”

Kuen got up and made sure Gaspare wasn’t anywhere around. “This stays between us unless Gaspare needs to hear it. I don’t think he knows. I only found out about it through that woman.” Alena nodded. Kuen lowered his voice. “Back when he was a cadet, Gaspare’s father was assaulted by one of his advisors. The man claimed to be antero and took advantage of his cadets whether they were willing or not. This scarred Gaspare’s father so much that he equates antero with that act and he can’t stand the thought of anyone else being victimized like that, even though it came out later the man wasn’t antero – just a sick and twisted asshole. High Admiral Benoit is the whole reason rape is a death sentence if you’re actually caught in the act.”

“Makes sense why he’d keep the boy from realizing what he is. Doesn’t mean it’s right, but now I understand. You think he could learn t’love Flicks?” Alena asked.

“It’s possible, Alena. It’ll be up to Gaspare and Flicks to work things out on their own. I will say this though. Gaspare isn’t one to give his heart lightly. If he makes up his mind Flicks is the man he loves, he won’t change his mind and he won’t give him up,” Kuen said.

Alena nodded. “Sounds like the kind of man I could look on as a son, if he goes that route.”

“Want me to go talk to Flicks? Seems like there might be some room for misunderstanding here if I don’t,” Kuen said.

“It might help if he knew where Gaspare was comin’ from. I don’t think Flicks quite understands. Unless those two stayed up late talkin’, which is also possible,” Alena said.

“Let me go talk to him. I’ll be back.” Kuen let himself out.

He found Phelix kicking a battered post. It looked like it was used exclusively for the Rezouac family to take out their aggressions on. “What do you want?” Phelix asked as he came up. “Here t’warn me off yer friend too?”

“Actually, I came to tell you I don’t mind the fact you’re chasing Gaspare,” Kuen said.

Phelix dropped his leg. “Fury tells me t’take it easy on the flirtin’. Ma tells me not t’go after him. But you, the person who should be the most worried ‘bout it, says go fer it?”

Kuen sighed. “Flicks, Gaspare grew up in a very repressive household. He doesn’t even know what being antero means. You saw that last night. But it doesn’t mean he doesn’t know his own feelings.” Kuen paused. Gaspare can pound me into the ground later. “I think, in his own way, Gaspare actually does know what being antero means even if he didn’t know the word for it.”

“What do you mean?” Phelix asked.

Kuen told Phelix about how Gaspare had reacted to the males in the showers and as they practiced, and the constant confusion. “I think he is attracted to men, Flicks. He just never knew how to deal with it because he was never told it was something perfectly natural. In fact, knowing his father the way I do, if Gaspare showed so much as a hint of interest in men he’d have gone off the deep end and lectured him on how wrong it was while beating him into the ground.”

“But why? Bein’ antero’s no more wrong than bein’ het,” Phelix said.

“It is to a man who was repeatedly raped and abused by a man who claimed to be antero,” Kuen said.

Phelix’s expression turned sour. “I hate people like that. They use bein’ antero as an excuse fer bein’ worse than slime and in the end it’s the rest of us who suffer fer it.”

Kuen nodded. “It’s why I’m not going to stop you from pursuing Gaspare. I’m just going to ask you to use your very good sense in how you approach him. I will say once he gives his heart, he doesn’t go halves. He is very much an all or nothing type of person, Flicks. So if he does end up falling for you, it’ll be pretty obvious.”

Phelix smiled a crooked grin almost identical to his sister’s. “Good t’know I won’t have t’play ‘what’s he thinkin’ today’ with him. Had my fill of that with my last partner. I like someone who’s plain in what he thinks and says.”

“Gaspare can be as secretive as they come. He learned that to protect himself. You’ll have to pry at him now and then. But when he opens up, expect a flood,” Kuen said.

Phelix nodded. “Thanks for takin’ my side in this, Kuen. Ma said you’d prob’ly take Gaspare’s side and tell me not t’chase him.”

“I’m the last person in the universe to tell you not to go after someone you’re interested in, especially when I think you’d be good for him. If you can get him to open up to you,” Kuen said.

Phelix held out his good hand. Kuen clasped it. Phelix pulled him in for a quick hug. “I’ll be glad for the day I can officially call you my brother,” he said. “I’m glad yer workin’ at Fury’s pace though.”

“Only ever at her speed. I won’t rush her into anything she doesn’t want,” Kuen said.

“Thanks for takin’ such good care of her,” Phelix said.

“I love her, Flicks. How could I do any less?” Kuen asked.

Phelix grinned. “Some people find her hard t’love. You’ve got t’get past that tough ketch act she pulls.” This was said louder than necessary and Kuen turned to see Fiera leaning on the fence.

“You two done bondin’? Can I steal him away, Flicks? Gaspare’s awake and wants t’talk to him,” Fiera called.

“Starfire, now what?” Kuen groaned. “Right, going in. Why don’t you two talk now?”

“Oh, we’re goin’ to,” Fiera said. “I promised him he could see what we brought with us. Don’t take too long, Kuen. The other Roughlings will be back soon, and we’ll need yer help sortin’ this stuff.”

“We’ll be right down,” Kuen said and headed inside.

Gaspare beckoned him up into the room he was sharing with Phelix. “Kuen, what you said about my father, was that true?” he asked.

“Slag it,” Kuen muttered. “I was hoping you were still asleep.”

“I woke up and overheard what you said to Alena. At least I heard a part of it. Can you please explain to me exactly what you learned about my father?” Gaspare asked.

“When he was a cadet, there was a teacher at the Academy he went through that claimed to be antero. He used that, and his position, to abuse his cadets. Your father was one of his victims. It later came out that he wasn’t actually antero. He was just a predator. But your father couldn’t stop equating what he suffered at the hands of that bastard with an entire group of people who are, for the most part, completely innocent,” Kuen said.

“Do those who are antero do horrible things like that?” Gaspare asked.

“Do people who are hetero do things like that?” Kuen asked. “Think on the despicable actions of the young men and women of our former social caste. You will find predators among every group of people. I will say though that I see far more cases of hetero predators than I do antero. I also don’t think any of the Rezouac family are predators of that sort, so even if that kind of person exists no one in this family will hurt you like that, Gaspare. Least of all Phelix.”

“I know that, Kuen. I just – I’m not sure what to think,” Gaspare said. He sighed. “We should go down and help with lunch. We don’t want them thinking we’re avoiding hard work.”

“Are you going to be okay?” Kuen asked.

“Yeah,” Gaspare said. He smiled faintly. “I just had a world altering revelation dropped on my head. Hard work will be a good way to help me sort through it.” “Then let’s go down,” Kuen said. He stood and held out his hand. Gaspare took it and Kuen hauled him to his feet. The two men headed out of the room.