A gay story: Christmas in Zonei Pt. 11 (c) Copyright jvaughn, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Copyright violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
Chapter Nineteen
Steam billowed out the door as Raeden stepped into the bathroom. He could see Kim standing in the shower, his head thrown back, water running down his chest. His spill of ink black hair brushed the top of his tiny but oh-so-shapely ass. A shudder of desire ran through him. His cock, which had stayed semi-erect with anticipation the entire time he was putting the groceries away and the lasagna in the oven, now fattened and lengthened toward full readiness.
Balancing the wine glasses he carried, he carefully opened the door of the shower enclosure.
“Hey,” he said in soft greeting, not wanting to break the spell that Kim seemed to be under.
Kim opened his eyes and smiled dreamily up at him. Dazzling.
“Sip of wine?” Raeden offered him the glass of the Italian white he’d opened.
Kim took it and gave it a sniff before taking a small sip. Raeden tasted his own, rolling it around on his palate before swallowing. It was crisp and dry—not quite as cold as it should have been but still very drinkable.
“What do you think?” he asked.
“It’s fine.” Kim’s neutral expression matched his words, but Raeden felt his distaste.
“What do you really think of it?” he chided.
“It’s not what I was expecting,” Kim admitted. “All of the wine I’ve had before has been quite sweet. This is sort of sourish or maybe bitter.”
“Yes, it’s on the dry side.”
“Of course. ‘Dry.’ Must be an acquired taste.”
“I can get you something else,” Raeden offered, but now that he had finally made it back to Kim’s side, he was loath to leave it.
“No, this is fine. If we’re going to live in your fancy world, I should acquire a taste for fine wine.” He smiled up at Raeden and took another sip.
Raeden reached out and push a wayward strand of wet hair away from Kim’s face. “Have you washed your hair yet?” he asked.
Gorgeous color crept into Kim’s cheeks. “No … I haven’t done anything at all except stand here and … luxuriate.” Suddenly he stiffened, a shock of concern emanating from him. “How much will it cost—this long hot shower?”
“It’s fine, little one,” Raeden assured him. “We can afford it. We do live in a world of scarce resources, so I wouldn’t recommend taking a forty-five minute shower every day, but once in a while is just fine.”
Kim relaxed again and took another sip of wine before handing Raeden his glass. “I guess I’d better get on with it though.”
Raeden stepped out to set the glasses on the counter before joining Kim in the shower again. He stopped him just as he was about to pour shampoo into his palm. “Let me. I love to touch your hair.” He took the small bottle away from Kim and proceeded to lather his young lover’s hair with the fragrant liquid, massaging his scalp while he was at it.
Kim let out a moan of bliss that reverberated through Raeden. He would never get enough of hearing Kim’s sounds of pleasure. He ran his fingers through the silken strands of Kim’s long fall of hair. “So amazing. I love your hair.”
“Yeah? I was thinking of cutting it.” Kim’s voice was a dreamy murmur.
Raeden frowned. “Why on earth would you cut it?”
“It seems kind of juvenile now. I always kept my hair long because my father had a long braid. I used to love tugging on it. I remember so little about him.” Raeden felt Kim’s wistfulness and it brought a lump to his throat. He fervently hoped his plans worked out. He still couldn’t believe Kim’s father was alive and apparently well after all these years.
“…and it’s a pain to wash,” Kim was saying.
“I’ll wash your hair for you anytime, little one. Especially if that means you don’t cut it. It’s way too beautiful to destroy.”
Kim looked up at Raeden, his dark eyes sparkling. “Okay. I’ll keep it long for you—for now.”
Raeden finished washing Kim’s hair and began working a basil-scented conditioner into it. Meanwhile Kim had found the shower gel and a washcloth and was rubbing suds across his broad chest. His skin shivered with pleasure under Kim’s gentle hands. When his lover stroked the rough cloth across one of his sensitive nipples, the erotic sensation wrenched a gasp from Raeden.
Kim smiled at him slyly. “You like that?” He brushed the cloth back and forth across one nipple while he began pinching the other nipple. Raeden dropped his head back and let out a long drawn out groan. His hard cock twitched, bouncing toward Kim’s chest as if it were magnetic.
Raeden felt a tendril of fear break through Kim’s pleasure. He looked down to find the young man staring at his cock with wide eyes. Dropping to his knees, he sat back on his heels in a non-threatening position and felt Kim’s anxiety drop away.
Taking the washcloth out of his mate’s hand, he squirted more soap onto it and began to rub it lovingly across Kim’s pale wet skin. Kim wound his fingers into Raeden’s short hair and tugged gently. Then he poured shampoo into his hand and used that as an excuse to thoroughly entangle his fingers in the blond crop.
Raeden was lost in a haze. Between the feel of warm, supple skin under his fingers and the scrape of Kim’s fingernails against his scalp, he was in heaven. He leaned forward and planted a kiss on the curve of Kim’s hipbone. He felt a tremor run through the other man. This close, he could smell Kim’s sex, clean and earthy.
He ran the washcloth across Kim’s butt cheek with one hand while he kneaded its twin with the other. Pushing the cloth into Kim’s crack, he ran it slowly forward across his perineum, to wash his balls from behind. Watching the eggs jiggle in their wrinkly sacks, Raeden needed a taste. He pulled one gently into his mouth to a squeal from Kim. The hands washing his hair suddenly clutched and pulled. He rolled the ball around in his mouth, giving it a thorough tongue bath. Kim’s breath hitched and he let out a small needy sound.
Raeden let the orb go only to swallow up the other one, giving it the same treatment. The grip on his hair tightened and Kim’s small hips thrust forward. Then the young man slid one of his legs over Raeden’s shoulder, giving him full access to his taint and balls. Raeden adjusted his hands, taking part of Kim’s weight and steadying him as he renewed his efforts to map his lover’s balls with his tongue.
“Nnngh!” Kim said.
“So delicious,” Raeden murmured, nuzzling.
As the fingers of one hand automatically sought Kim’s puckered hole, petting softly, his tongue wound its way upward, tracing the veins on Kim’s slender cock. He sucked gently on the head, pushing the foreskin down with his lips to slide his tongue around the ridge.
“Rae!” Kim cried out and Raeden savored the sound of his name coming so desperately from his lover’s lips. He wanted more. He tongued Kim’s slit and then greedily sucked on the ruddy head.
“Raeden—oh!”
Raeden smiled around the cock in his mouth and then sucked it in, sliding his lips to the base, the head of Kim’s shaft bumping the back of his throat. He set up a rhythm then, steady and fast, his hands on Kim’s butt urging him to fuck his face.
Kim no longer cried out his name. Instead all manner of small frantic noises fell from his lips. His fingers scrabbled, trying to get a better grip on Raeden’s short hair. Raeden could feel the trembling in his legs and the build up of tension in his muscles even as he sensed Kim’s impending orgasm through their mind connection.
His own body was an electric wire, crackling with energy. He felt more alive than he had since—
He shut down that line of thought, forcing himself to stay in the here and now, in the moment. It wasn’t hard. His senses were swamped by Kim: his lovely, needy sounds, his intoxicating scent, the warm, wet skin under his hands, and the sheer pleasure flowing through Kim’s mind.
And then Kim came. He felt it through their mindlink—that moment when the pleasure and tension became just too much. The orgasm rocketed through Kim’s body, spilling into his mouth in a torrent of salty spray. Kim screamed his name as he thrust his hips helplessly into Raeden’s face. He was only peripherally aware of the painful grip Kim had on his hair, of himself swallowing quickly to keep up with flood of Kim’s release. Caught in the maelstrom of his mate’s orgasm, he couldn’t tell where Kim’s ended and his own began. He grabbed his leaking cock, pumping furiously, and in three strokes he his seed erupted from his organ in a pulsing torrent. He let out a guttural cry that mingled with Kim’s whimpers.
Everything was white noise for several long moments, then Raeden heard Kim gasping for air, felt his body starting to relax, heard a sweet moan of satiation come from Kim’s lips. He gave a few more soft licks to his lover’s spent member, then rested his head against Kim’s narrow hip, panting. The world was still spinning dizzily. He ran his hands up and down Kim’s legs, the motion soothing him, helping him to gather up the tattered remnants of his mind.
“Oh, Rae,” Kim said on a gasp as he collapsed against him. Raeden gathered the tiny man up in his arms, holding him close. He was still too overwhelmed to speak. It was the first orgasm he’d had in eight months and it had been … momentous. He felt tension that he didn’t even realize he’d been carrying ease away on a sea of bliss.
He’d thought his sex life was over forever. He hadn’t even been able to get hard since Lyzel’s death. And now this beautiful, erotic young man had given him one of the best orgasms ever. He was overwhelmed with love and gratitude.
After a few moments Kim began to giggle. “You still have soap in your hair.”
Raeden pulled back to look Kim in the eye. His mate’s dark eyes met his, sparkling with a joy that Raeden had never seen in him before. Raeden grinned back, feeling happy and relaxed and downright wonderful for the first time in a very long time.
*****
“Wow! Oh, wow!” Kim stared in awe as the lights on the Christmas tree began to blink. Raeden had just turned them on. Multicolored light reflected off shiny bulbs and cast pastel-hued shimmers across the walls. “I’ve never had my own Christmas tree before,” he said softly. “We never had enough money for such things.”
“I love the way the real ones smell,” Raeden said. “It seems a waste to grow them and then chop them down, especially since we’re so short on farmland. It must have cost a small fortune. Lyzel and I had a fake one, but it was a good fake one. I suppose I still have it somewhere with all the rest of our stuff—” He broke off not wanting to dwell on the boxes that were piled high in the spare bedroom. It was too painful to think about. He wasn’t sure when he’d find the strength to go through them.
He stepped up behind Kim and pulled the young man back against his chest, taking comfort in his warmth. His fingers automatically sought their way between the folds of his robe to splay across his bare chest. Raeden bent and nuzzled his hair, his melancholy slipping away with the touch of his new mate. His fingers brushed across a nipple and Kim shuddered.
Raeden caught Kim’s earlobe in his mouth and bit gently while he worried the nipple with his fingers.
“Rae!” Kim cried out, grasping Raeden’s wrist in his small hands and tugging. “I … you’re…” he panted.
“What?” Raeden asked with a smirk, letting Kim pull his hand away.
“God! Just one touch and I’m like—’zing!’—ready to go again.” Kim looked down at himself and Raeden leaned over his shoulder to follow his gaze. They were both wearing nothing but the white terry robes they’d found in the bathroom, and Kim’s robe was starting to tent. Raeden was in the same condition.
“And that’s bad because…?”
“Because I’m hungry.”
Just then Raeden’s stomach chimed in with a loud growl. They both laughed. “I guess we’d better eat then.” Not wanting to lose the solace of Kim’s touch, Raeden grabbed his hand and led him to the kitchen area. Glancing at the timer, he said, “We’ve got thirty more minutes on the lasagna—just enough time to enjoy some antipasto.”
Working together they made short work of slicing the cheese, bread, and salami, and arranging it on a large plate with some of the olives and pickled vegetables. As Raeden filled their wine glasses, he said, “Let’s eat on the rug in front of the fire.”
“An excellent plan,” Kim agreed. “I want to enjoy the tree and the view, but that white couch—that is such a bad idea for me. I know I won’t be able to eat anywhere close to it without spilling something on it.” Kim carried the tray into the living area and set it on the coffee table. Raeden followed with the wine and napkins.
“Is it always going to be like this with you?” Kim asked as he nibbled a piece of cheese and stared, trancelike, at the Christmas tree. He was nestled between Raeden’s legs, leaning back against his chest. “Perfect?”
Raeden snorted. “I’m far from perfect, Kim. I can get grumpy and irritable and be a downright ass. Surely you haven’t forgotten that.”
Kim turned surprised eyes on him. “I thought—” He broke off, but sensing his emotions, Raeden could guess what he had been about to say.
“You thought that I was cured now?” He chuckled softly. “You saw me at my worst, I will say. But I do get that way now and again. It usually doesn’t last long—I’ve never slid into a funk for months at a time before, but I’m not always a nice guy, so I’ll apologize in advance.”
“Nobody’s perfect,” Kim said, settling back against Raeden’s chest, “but you’re about the closest thing that I’ve ever seen.”
*****
Kim awoke to the realization that he was stark naked and there was a very large cock nudged against his butt cheek. Terror flashed through him, but he caught Raeden’s scent and immediately started to calm down. Raeden wouldn’t hurt him—he’d promised and Kim trusted him. The night before he’d been so gentle with him; they’d made love three times and each time Raeden had treated him with reverence. They hadn’t gone all the way, but they’d exchanged blowjobs and hand jobs and frotted, and it’d been better than he’d imagined it could be. Raeden had not pushed for more—had not even hinted that he might want more.
The big mod stirred. “What is it, love?” he mumbled sleepily.
“Nothing. I’m good. It’s early. Go back to sleep.”
Raeden pulled him a bit more tightly to his chest, nuzzled his hair, and his breathing dropped back into slow steady rhythm.
Kim sighed in contentment. Am I really going to wake up every morning in his arms? It seemed too good to be true.
Kim was awake now and he sensed it was early morning, too close to the time he normally got up for him to fall back to sleep, but he wasn’t ready to move from Raeden’s embrace. He opened his eyes and stared sleepily out the window.
The sky was still dark with no sign of the late winter dawn, but big fat flakes swirled lazily down, and the ambient glow of the city lights reflecting off the new fallen snow gave a brightness to the world that belied the night. Kim’s thoughts drifted along with the snow, not following any particular line, but mostly focused on Raeden and the magical evening they’d spent together.
“Merry Christmas, little one,” Raeden whispered in his ear.
Yes, Christmas! Kim had forgotten. “Good morning. Merry Christmas. I didn’t know you were still awake.”
“It doesn’t look like it, but it’s quarter to seven,” Raeden said. “And it’s Christmas morning. How could I possibly go back to sleep?”
“I haven’t gotten you anything,” Kim said with regret. “I … there hasn’t been time.” Kim pushed the memories of the terrifying days they’d spent at CorpSec headquarters out of his mind. He didn’t want any bad thoughts to encroach on his beautiful Christmas morning with Raeden.
“I haven’t gotten anything for you either,” Raeden kissed along Kim’s shoulder, “but just spending time with you is enough for me.”
“It is more than enough for me too, but I’d still like to get you something. Maybe we can have a second Christmas in a few days after we’ve had time to shop?”
“You just want more presents,” Raeden chided, but Kim heard the smile in his voice.
He shifted around so he was facing Raeden. “More something,” he said suggestively, eyes fastening on Raeden’s wide lips. He had no more time for thought before his mind was blown with a crushing kiss.
*****
Kim’s jaw ached slightly, a pleasant reminder of their morning sixty-nine session. Much to his surprise, he’d fallen back to sleep afterward. Now he’d woken alone in bed. “Jingle Bells” was playing over the speakers in the bedroom. Stretching his mind as well as his ears, he detected Raeden in the kitchen. It was odd to have that sixth sense—the awareness of another’s mind and along with that a knowledge of their whereabouts.
He sensed Raeden approaching just before the big man bounded into the room.
“It’s Christmas! Up and at ’em. There’s presents awaiting.” Raeden’s grin was huge and the expression on his face was so reminiscent of a little boy that Kim couldn’t help but catch his enthusiasm.
Not waiting for Kim to climb out of bed, Raeden whipped the covers back and scooped him into his arms. Kim started to protest, but Raeden circumvented him with a kiss, then he jogged into the living room and deposited him on the couch.
Kim pulled a throw blanket around his shoulders, shivering slightly as he looked at the fresh snow that was now several inches deep on the back porch. Raeden whisked into the kitchen and returned a few seconds later with a platter of the Italian Christmas cake they had bought the day before, sliced, as well as the exotic fruit, plates and napkins. One more quick trip to the kitchen and he was delivering a cup of hot coffee into Kim’s waiting hands.
“I could get used to this,” Kim said, taking a sip of the dark brew.
Raeden added milk to his coffee and then began munching on the sweet, dense cake. “What do you suppose they got us?” he asked, nodding towards the two wrapped packages still sitting under the tree.
“I can’t imagine,” Kim replied. “Shall we open them?” Without waiting for a response he got up and retrieved the presents. Noting the weight of the boxes, he said, “Clothing of some sort, is my guess.”
He settled cross-legged on the couch next to Raeden, his knee touching the mod’s thigh. He tossed Raeden’s gift at him and they both set about opening them. The packages were labeled from Randy, but they each had an envelope from Michelle tucked into the ribbon. Raeden opened his envelope first.
“Oh, way cool! She got us tickets to a Crushers’ game.” The Crushers were K-Corporation’s basketball team. Professional sports had all but died out after the war, but recently some of the corporations had put together teams for basketball, football, soccer and baseball. They competed with teams from other “friendly” Corporations, although there weren’t really enough teams to make a full season’s worth of games. Kim didn’t know much about any of the sports and didn’t really understand the attraction, but Raeden seemed quite pleased with the gift.
Kim opened his envelope to find tickets to the opera.
“Opera?” Raeden said aghast. “What was Michelle thinking?”
“I’ve always wanted to go to an opera,” Kim said. “I’ve read about them. You’ll come with me, won’t you?”
“As long as you’re there, it won’t be all bad,” Raeden conceded, smiling.
Then they both attacked their packages from Randy. Kim’s gift turned out to be black fleece lounge pants with a pattern of white doves and a black long-sleeved tee with a single dove in the center. They looked like they would fit perfectly. “These are great!” Kim said, holding them up. Then he noticed something else in the bottom of the box: violet briefs in a silky fabric. He snatched them up and ran them through his fingers. He’d never owned anything except cheap cotton briefs. His eyes misted slightly as he stared at the sexy underwear.
“Can’t wait to see you in those.” Raeden’s husky voice sent a shiver up Kim’s spine.
He smiled up at his lover. “What’d you get?”
With a grin, Raeden held up a pair of Santa boxers and matching red tank top. “But I also got some sexy underwear.” He tossed the clothes back in the box and held up a pair of blue silk briefs.
Kim launched himself into Raeden’s lap, bowling him back onto the couch. He attacked Raeden’s mouth with his lips, but they both started laughing too hard to give it a good go.
“There mere sight of sexy underwear gets you going—I can’t imagine what you’ll be like once I get them on,” Raeden teased.
Kim plucked at the boxers Raeden was wearing. “Let’s find out.”
*****
“A taxi? Really? Do they even go to Zonei?” Kim knew they did. He’d seen them there before, but the sight was so rare that he had to question the notion.
“Of course,” Raeden answered. “You have to hire the high-security taxis, but they’ll take you into Zonen even. Not usually Zoneo or lower, but I’m not sure why anyone would want to go there anyway.”
Kim shivered slightly, trying not to imagine what life might be like in the lowest zones. “But it must cost a fortune.”
“Kim, we have money.” Raeden’s tone was exasperated. “You need to quit worrying about it.”
Kim clenched his teeth against a hot retort. He and Raeden had already had that argument several times in as many days. Kim did have money now—tons of his own money, it seemed. As Raeden’s new mate, somehow he’d inherited all of Lyzel’s assets. By rights her money and belongings went to Raeden. The mods didn’t have any family other than their mate. They could have willed their assets to someone else, but Raeden said he’d never heard of that happening. Mods were usually killed as a pair and then all of their assets returned to the Corporation. It was unprecedented for a mod to outlive his or her mate for more than a few months, let alone retain the wherewithal to do something with their partner’s wealth.
Raeden seemed to relish sticking it to the Corporation. He could have kept Lyzel’s money for himself, but he’d assured Kim that he didn’t need it. He’d said it made more sense for Kim to have it because then Kim wouldn’t have to come to him if he ever needed anything expensive. Kim would have his own salary soon enough, and Michelle had assured him it would be generous. Kim imagined it would be way more than he would have any idea what to do with.
The first day that the banks were open after Christmas, Raeden had had Lyzel’s accounts closed and all the money transferred into Kim’s account. The amount had been staggering. Kim was still reeling in shock. Even Raeden had been surprised with the sum.
“I hadn’t realized she was such a savvy investor,” he’d murmured, looking stunned. “She always seemed to spend without thought and she didn’t like to talk about money so we didn’t. I figured she had some set aside, but I had no idea…”
At that point, Kim had tried to get Raeden to take it back, or at least take most of it back, but he refused. “If you don’t want it, you can give it away,” he’d said. Kim had considered that. Was still considering it but wasn’t sure where the money would do the most good. He had decided to sit on it for the time being. Then that afternoon he had spent a small fortune on Raeden’s Christmas present.
He was very excited about what he’d found to give Raeden. He hoped his new mate would be overwhelmed by it—in good way—but he was nervous. He wasn’t sure if his gift would bring up sad memories or be comforting. Raeden himself seemed quite nervous about the gift he was giving Kim and that piqued his curiosity. Like Kim, Raeden was not carrying a visible gift, only a bag of food for lunch.
They’d agreed on only one personal present for each other and, for some reason, Raeden had insisted that they exchange gifts at Kim’s old unit in Zonei—he seemed to think it’d be romantic, although Kim couldn’t think of anything more romantic than the night before Christmas when they’d spent their time snuggling in front of the fireplace and gazing at the city lights spread out below them—with the twinkling Christmas tree adding magic to the mood. But in any case, they needed to pick up the things Kim wanted to keep from his old life and figure out what to do with the things he didn’t, so Kim had readily agreed to Raeden’s plan.
Now he took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “All right,” he conceded. “We can take a taxi there, but I think we should take the train back.”
Raeden smiled at him. “It’ll get easier,” he said.
“What will?”
“Spending money.”
Kim laughed. “I imagine it will.” They’d gone shopping the day after Christmas and bought clothes for both of them. They’d also ordered groceries and things for the apartment on the infonet. Kim’s mind goggled every time he looked at a bill. “Much easier to go from having no money to having lots of money than the other way around, I imagine.”
Raeden grinned. “Yes, definitely.”
The taxi was indeed high security. Both he and Raeden had to provide not only their intel but also their retina scan before the unit opened for them. The vehicle itself was heavily shielded—able to withstand a significant-sized blast, according to their infonet ad. It ran on surface streets and was driven by computer rather than an actual human being. It did come with an armed guard, however, who politely introduced himself before raising the shield between the front of the cab and the back.
The guard would have frightened Kim if he hadn’t been with Raeden. The man was completely encased in high-tech riot gear and carried a high-powered automatic weapon. What disconcerted Kim, however, were the thoughts he picked up from the man—his brain was that of a thug: he was hoping for a confrontation because he enjoyed killing. Kim shivered and shifted closer to Raeden on the red faux leather seat, fully aware that although they seemed to be in private, the guard was observing and listening to them via a hidden video monitor.
When Kim brought that up to Raeden via their mind link, Raeden confirmed that he had already smelled the spy electronics. They kept their audible conversation to the mundane, but mostly Kim stared out the window in horrified fascination as they passed from one zone to the next and their surrounding became shabbier and more dangerous.
In due time they arrived at The Shangri La and it looked even more tawdry than Kim remembered.
I’ve been gone less than a week and already this doesn’t feel like home.
Good! Your home is with me. Raeden smiled at him but Kim could feel his nervousness. He didn’t think it was caused by Zonei—it was caused by the Christmas present that he was planning to give Kim. Kim stringently refused to let himself pry into Raeden’s private thoughts, and as nervous as he was, Raeden wasn’t allowing his thoughts to leak out.
Dirty snow crunched under their feet as they stepped out onto the curb and a biting wind stole Kim’s warmth within seconds, reminding him that he needed to buy a warmer coat. The taxi immediately buttoned itself up and took off back the way it had come.
Kim went through the familiar ritual of getting through security. The cold seeped into him and by the time they were standing in front of the door to his unit, he was shivering in spite of just having climbed four flights of stairs. He was about to place his hand on the scanner to open the door when Raeden grabbed it.
Hold, little one. Raeden then knocked on the door.
What’s going on, Rae? Kim asked in confusion. Then he heard the sound of someone approaching the door from the other side.
Who the hell is in my unit?
Raeden didn’t respond but his anxiety peaked. Kim felt his stomach flipping over. He was thoroughly perplexed and would have been having a panic attack if his protective mate, whom he trusted implicitly, wasn’t standing right next to him with a nervous grin on his face.
The door swung open and Kim found himself face to face with an older Japanese man.
Welcome, son, a voice rang out clearly in his head.
Chapter Twenty
Kim stared at the man in front of him in disbelief. Was this really his father? His memories of his father were vague but he had looked at pictures of him often enough. The man did look like his father. He had aged, of course, but still looked young for his forty-five years. His full head of salt and pepper hair was cropped close. He was a few inches taller than Kim, and from what Kim could see of his body—he was dressed in a fitted black tee and tight blue jeans—he was incredibly fit. The man was smiling at him, a great, huge grin. That smile he recognized.
Somehow, incredibly, his father stood before him.
“Dad!” Kim threw himself into his father’s arms, blinking back the tears that threatened to overflow. As the older man’s wrapped him into a tight hug, a lump bloomed in his throat. He buried his face in his father’s neck, the long-forgotten herbal scent washing over him along with a million memories of his earliest years.
Caught up in the maelstrom of his emotions, he barely noticed when he was shuffled into the small unit and Raeden closed the door behind them. Finally, taking a deep breath, he pulled away from the clinging hold he had on his father to look him in his face again.
Hiroshi was still smiling, the corners of his eyes crinkling. Kim became aware that his face was wet and he quickly drew the back of his hand across his cheeks.
“How … how can you possibly be alive after all these years?” Kim’s happiness and astonishment was tempered with a flare of hurt and anger. Had his father abandoned them?
“Please…” His father’s voice was low and calm. He released his hold on Kim’s shoulders, but touched his arm gently. “Sit. Relax. Let me make you some tea. Then I will answer your questions.” He gestured toward a pile of cushions scattered across the floor and Kim looked around the room in surprise.
The heavy curtain that had separated the room into two halves was gone and bright winter sun shone through the windows. The worn overstuffed chairs had also disappeared and in their place were a large woven tatami mat, seating cushions, and throw pillows. The plastic boxes that held Kim’s things were stacked neatly in a corner, but a Japanese-style, dark wood, modular unit, with drawers and cupboards, took up one whole wall.
The next thing Kim noticed was that the room was warm. Looking around, he spotted a large modern space heater, plugged into the PowMon. How lovely it would have been to have had that while he’d lived here. His father obviously had means. More questions came to mind, but he bit them back. Perhaps sensing his impatience, Raeden took his hand, led him over to the cushions, and settled down with him.
He waited with high anticipation while his father went through the ritual of making tea. It seemed surreal to be sitting in his old unit watching his father making tea in his old teapot. He fidgeted and Raeden laid a calming hand on his knee.
Leaning close, Raeden said quietly, “Merry Christmas, Kim!”
“This is your present for me?” Kim asked, agog.
“Yes. Do you like it?”
“I’m overwhelmed! I … I never imagined… ” He let out a short laugh. “Of course, I like it. I love it! Oh my God! My dad! How on earth did you find him? You did find him? He didn’t just come back on his own?”
“Michelle found him,” Raeden replied, “but I’ll let him tell you his story.”
Hiroshi had placed the tea set on a small tray which he now set on the floor in front of them. Dropping gracefully onto one of the cushions, he said, “I’m sorry. I still need to buy a zashiki table.”
Kim could only guess that his father meant the short tables that Japanese used when they were sitting on the floor. Another pang of loss swept over him; if he’d grown up with his father around, he would surely have known this already.
Hiroshi smiled at him, a sort of wistful smile as if he knew what Kim was thinking. He served in silence, settled back, and took a sip of tea. “So, what I am going to tell you is for your ears only. Do I have your agreement that my story does not leave this room?”
Both Kim and Raeden nodded solemnly.
“You are, of course, familiar with the Corporations’s former policy of testing everyone for telepathic inclinations?”
“Former policy?” Kim echoed. He’d wondered why he’d never been tested, but wasn’t aware that the government had discontinued the program.
“A few years ago they decided that the results they were getting were not worth the expense. You were never tested, were you?”
Kim shook his head. “No, never.”
His father smiled tightly. “I’m glad.”
“So what happened to you? Where have you been all these years?”
“The day I never returned home to you and your mother was the day I was tested for telepathic abilities. As soon as they saw my score, they whisked me away to be studied, poked, prodded, and trained. I’ve been a prisoner ever since.”
Kim stared at his father in horror. “Seventeen years! They’ve kept you prisoner this whole time?”
His father nodded. Kim glanced at Raeden. The big mod’s face was stony and while anger was radiating from him, there was no surprise. Raeden had obviously already known this.
“But you … you are well?” Kim asked. His father looked healthy.
Hiroshi let out a mirthless laugh, shaking his head. “Recently, I’ve been mostly left alone. Confined but not molested. The early years—when they didn’t know what they were doing and I had no means to defend myself—those years were rough. I’ve been imprisoned in virtual solitude for quite some time now. I am sure it has taken its toll on my psyche. I cannot judge my own mental health. Nevertheless, I am alive and functioning still, and I’ve been reunited with my son, so that is something.
Kim threw himself at his father, pulling him into a tight embrace. “I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry,” he murmured into his father’s neck. After a brief moment he realized that Hiroshi was not hugging him back; his body was stiff as a board. He started to pull away and his father patted him awkwardly on the shoulder.
“You will have to forgive me. I’m not used to such close contact.”
The lump that had been in Kim’s throat since he’d entered the unit swelled to choking proportions.
“It’s okay, Kim,” Hiroshi said gruffly. “I know it’s normal for family to comfort one another. It will take some time before I adjust, but I enjoyed your hug.”
Kim nodded and retreated back to his own cushion where Raeden wrapped a comforting arm around him. Kim snuggled into Raeden’s warmth. Not trusting himself to speak, he nodded at his father to continue his story.
“So, as I said, the beginning years were rough. I missed you and your mother terribly. Every day I chafed against confinement and fought my captors with every means I had available to me. Their restraints were unassailable and the more I fought them openly, the harsher their punishments became.
“But they were training me in telepathy during this time. I learned a great deal and started picking up on their thoughts. I realized the hopelessness of my situation and ceased to fight them openly. But I never gave up hope of escape—well, sometimes in my darkest hours hope would desert me—but when I saw the sun again it would always return. I thought of you and mother constantly and wondered how you were doing. Worried about how you would cope without my income. It looks like you managed to keep your Zonei status, at least.” He smiled again, a small wan smile. “When I am done with my story, I would very much like to hear yours.”
“Of course. There’s not much to tell.”
Hiroshi cocked an eyebrow at him and looked meaningfully at the giant mod whose lap Kim was practically sitting in.
“Well … until I met Raeden, anyway.” He felt heat rising in his cheeks and quickly turned the conversation back to his father. “So, what did the Corporation want from you?”
“They wished to train me to be one their spies, but I didn’t want to work for them. And I certainly didn’t want to comb through peoples thoughts and report on them. The more I resisted the harsher their methods became.”
Kim shuddered. He did not want to imagine what his father had gone through, but sitting on his slate-blue cushion, telling them his story, the older man was composed. A deep sense of calm emanated from him and Kim wondered at its source.
As if reading his thoughts, Hiroshi said, “I have studied the old ways. I meditate daily for at least an hour. It has been a balm to my soul.”
Kim nodded.
Your father is amazing. Raeden spoke clearly in his mind and Kim noticed a minute widening of his father’s eyes.
I think he can hear us, Kim responded.
Hiroshi smiled. Yes, I can. I’m sorry. I did not mean to eavesdrop, but your mental conversation is as clear to me as if you had spoken aloud.
“But the information I received is that you lost your telepathic abilities,” Raeden said, speaking aloud.
Kim’s father nodded. “Yes. It was how I survived. How I eventually escaped—with your help, of course. It would have taken me another year or two to do it on my own.”
Both Kim and Raeden looked at him expectantly, waiting for further explanation.
This is one of the things I don’t want to leave this room, Hiroshi said, using their mindlink. The only reason they let me go is because they no longer have any use for me. I managed to gain enough telepathic ability to fool their tests. I let my ability appear to gradually wane, of course. I didn’t want to give them any reason to study me further. Slowly, slowly, with each test they administered my score dropped. I am now, apparently, completely mundane. Have been for three years.
Kim’s heart started thumping with hope. You fooled their tests? That’s possible?
Yes. It wasn’t easy. The telepathy test involves a trained telepath reading your mind and judging how well you can sense them. Sometimes they’ll strike using a technique that is very painful to a telepath, but would not be noticeable by a mundane. You need to learn to withstand that without appearing to notice. You also need to put some thoughts on display for them to tromp through and to hide your real thoughts so well that they don’t even realize you’re hiding them. It took me a long time to perfect my techniques.
So you are a powerful mind reader? Raeden asked.
Yes. I have met no one better.
Can you train Kim to fool the testers?
Likely, but whether or not he can learn well enough before they test him is doubtful.
Kim shuddered slightly. Would they take him away from Raeden and torture him like they had his father? Then another thought occurred to him and he was horrified.
If they succeed in reading my mind, they’ll find out about you!
Yes. Hiroshi’s calm demeanor didn’t change. It was a risk I was willing to take because I don’t want to lose you to the same fate that befell me. But we have much to do. Raeden said that you will report to CorpSci next Tuesday morning to begin training as a warrior pair. I expect they will test you soon thereafter. I would like you to remain with me until then and I will spend every waking moment training you. His father grinned evilly at him. And I might not let you sleep.
Kim glanced at Raeden to see his reaction. The big man was frowning at his father and Kim sensed his trepidation. Kim trusted his father instinctively even though he really didn’t know him at all anymore. But the thought of spending time away from Raeden when they had just gotten together was an anathema. He could feel Raeden’s horror at the idea as well.
“What do you think, Kim?” Raeden asked, his voice neutral in spite of the conflicting emotions pouring off of him. “It’s up to you. I could stay here with you, if you like. I can sleep on the floor.”
Kim brightened at that thought, but then Hiroshi said, “No.” You are a distraction that he can’t afford right now. He will need all of his focus on his studies.
Taking in Kim’s expression, Hiroshi’s stance softened. “Raeden may visit every day.” He addressed his next comment to Raeden. It would be good for you to train as well. Although you already know how to shield your mind, your shields won’t hold up against a well-trained and determined interrogator. We’ll set up times for you to come train with us.
Hiroshi shifted his gaze back to Kim. “It’s decided then?”
Kim was torn but he knew that if he wanted to have any hope of fooling the telepathy tests that he should give it his all. And he desperately wanted to fool those tests. “Yes, I’ll stay with you,” he said, already feeling bereft.
Raeden patted his hand. “It’s only for six days. I think it’s the right decision—although in all the time I was with Lyzel, I never spent a single night apart from her. I’m not sure how I’ll make it on my own.”
“You’ll visit me every day,” Kim said, as much to assure himself as Raeden.
“Good. Let’s get started,” Hiroshi said, all business.
“Shall we eat lunch first?” Raeden suggested, reaching for the basket he’d set aside.
“And I still need to give you your Christmas present,” Kim reminded him. Then he turned to his father. “I’m sorry, I don’t have anything for you.”
Hiroshi laughed. “You didn’t even know you’d be seeing me, so how can I expect you to have a gift for me? And Raeden has already given me access to a small fortune, which I have been spending willy-nilly.” He addressed his next comment to Raeden. “I assure you, I will pay you back as soon as I start working.”
“You’re getting a job?” Kim asked. Somehow he couldn’t imagine his father going to work for the Corporation and there were few other jobs to be had.
“I have some ideas on how I can make money,” Hiroshi answered, “but that will need to wait until you are trained.”
As Kim got out his small package for Raeden, his father got up and went to the cupboard, returning with two beautifully wrapped packages. “I, of course, knew I’d be seeing you.”
“Oh you shouldn’t have,” Kim said.
“I’ve missed all those Christmases,” his father said, gazing at Kim wistfully. “This is for me more than for you.”
Kim swallowed the lump in his throat and took the package that his father handed him. He let Raeden open his first. It was a long thin package that turned out to hide a traditional Japanese fighting knife, simple in design with a wooden handle and a bamboo scabbard.
Raeden’s eyes widened as he took in the treasure. He ran his finger carefully along the blade.
“It belonged to my great grandfather.”
“I … it’s very beautiful, but I can’t take this. It’s a family heirloom.”
“You are my son’s partner and protector. I want you to have it,” Hiroshi said firmly.
“Thank you. I will cherish it,” Raeden replied. He slid the knife into the inside of his boot. “Look. It fits perfectly.”
Kim thought Raeden’s claws were certainly a more effective weapon than the knife, however, it was a beautiful and unique gift. He smiled warmly at his father.
Carefully removing the exquisitely decorated paper from his own gift, he found a framed photo of his parents. They were young and sitting together on a park bench. His father was holding both of his mother’s hands in his own and they were staring into each other’s eyes. It was clear from their rapt expressions that they were very much in love. The picture was black and white and a little grainy, but it was printed on very high quality photo stock and matted in a black lacquer frame.
“Wow! It’s … I will cherish this always,” Kim said, feeling overwhelmed with emotions. His parents looked so young. “How old were you when this picture was taken? How come I’ve never seen it before?”
“We were young … younger than you are now, I think. And you haven’t seen it before because I just discovered it a few years ago.”
Kim looked at him in surprise.
“I’ve had much time on my hands, especially the past few years when they had no use for me. They let me have a laptop and access to parts of the infonet. I found a program that was designed to recognize visual patterns and trained it to look for me. Then I set it to comb through all of the old videos and photos that were available on the infonet. It found this one. I found pictures of you and your mother in the same way. I was able to find a snapshot or video of you every few months when you were growing up.”
His voice became heavy. “When Raeden told me your mother had passed away, I had already guessed as much. The past several years there have been no new images of her and the few I’ve found of you—you looked very sad and lonely.”
Kim nodded. “I was terribly lonely until I met Raeden.”
Raeden pulled him closer, hugging him tightly. “You saved my life,” he whispered into Kim’s hair.
“Well, we need to get started with your training.” His father broke the pensive mood.
“Raeden still needs to open his present from me,” Kim protested.
“Of course.” Hiroshi nodded.
Kim’s hand shook slightly as he handed Raeden his small package. “I hope you like it.”
“I’m sure I will,” Raeden responded. He made short work of the scrap of wrapping and carefully opened the box.
His eyes widened in shock as he stared at the contents. “How…?” Wonder was mixed with love and happiness poured off of Raeden.
Kim sighed in relief.
Raeden pulled him onto his lap and kissed him thoroughly until Hiroshi cleared his throat.
Kim felt his face coloring. “You like them? It’s okay?” he asked even though he had already felt that Raeden loved his gift.
“Kim, it’s amazing. How on earth did you find them?”
“My dad is not the only one who knows how to use the infonet. I just searched for used sapphire rings and then looked carefully at the photos until I found Lyzel’s in a pawnshop in Zonee. But meanwhile I also found the other one for sale too. It is yours, isn’t it?”
“Yes, we had them made as a pair.” Raeden slipped the larger ring, the twin to the tiny ring that had belonged to Lyzel, onto his finger. Then he turned to Kim with the smaller ring between his fingers, clearly intending to slide it onto Kim’s finger.
“It won’t fit me,” Kim said, “and it’s not mine anyway. I got it for you.”
“I could have it sized to fit you,” Raeden said.
Kim shook his head. “It wouldn’t feel right.”
Raeden nodded silently. “Thank you so much, Kim. I will cherish these always.” He put the tiny ring carefully back into the box and slipped it into his jacket pocket. Then he hugged Kim tightly again.
Kim sighed happily.
“Well, shall we get started with your training now?” Hiroshi interrupted his bliss.
“Not until we’ve eaten,” Raeden said, shifting Kim off his lap and reaching for the picnic basket.