Bird of a Cage [BoW 4]

Chapter 11

Innofe introduced himself after Oira left the two of them alone with a soft smile and the offer of a firm handshake. Taidra approved of the strength but kept his grip light. Energy fizzled over him as his connection with the security system waxed and waned, stretching and contracting in its new space.

Oira left him alone with Innofe.

This stranger would be responsible for his care while Taidra struggled with his new status. Nothing alarming about that at all, right? The smile faded after the introduction, niceties over as he started to work. The A.I pinged random facts about Innofe and the people of the base. Points that Taidra was too tired to look into it academically right now. Taidra kept his muscles relaxed as the man wheeled him into the bathroom and helped him onto the toilet. Lifting him with one arm, Innofe helped Taidra pull his trousers down to the point where Taidra was still hidden but could do the rest on his own.

"Call me when you're done," Innofe nodded. He left the bathroom.

Using an actual toilet again pulled on some of the homesickness locked in Taidra. He'd grown up in an alchemist stronghold; unlike many people, he'd always had access to these types of technology. He slumped on the cold plating, eyes aching as he did what he needed to do. His cousins remained on the battlefield far from them and with Inai - too far for him to connect to them. He wished he could.

Returning on his call, Innofe helped him out of his travelling clothes and into some clean sleeping clothes. They peeled off him, Taidra trying not to think too hard about how long he'd worn them. Not for the entire journey, but most of the guards hadn't wanted to do those kinds of jobs. The sheets would need washing in the morning.

"I'd take you to the showers, but we don't have running water at this time of day," Innofe said as Taidra grimaced. "I'll come to wake you up in the morning and take you. I'm in the room opposite yours, so just hit the triangle button on the intercom if you need me. Okay?" Next to the bed in reach was an intercom device. Simple, not like what they had on the warship, which let someone phone between any of the rooms but better than nothing at all.

"Yes, thank you," Taidra said.

The man nodded before leaving the room without another word. That felt off. They didn't know each other very well yet, but that didn't suggest Innofe would be open to being friends with him. That could be potentially dangerous given the man was responsible for looking after him. Possibly he wasn't a friendly guy? Not impossible, but his interaction with Oira hinted at a warm personality but that, that left Taidra cold. Feno would never, not even to someone he didn't like.

The Feno sized hole in his heart ached again, and his eyes stung. Feno had often been the one to put him to bed long before their relationship developed into intimacy. He'd remind Taidra that while he was the best at using the system, his performance decreased if he didn't get enough sleep. The man would have kissed him on the forehead and wished him good night.

Maybe it was best that Innofe hadn't wished him goodnight.

Taidra settled down, turning the light off and curling on his side of the bed. The gaping space behind him where Feno should lie echoed, the pressure building in his ears. His face damp and scalp itching, Taidra drifted into blissful darkness.

A low beep woke him up the following day. The A.I prodding at his mind in a silent alarm. Innofe was on his way. Taidra remained in the sheets, not wanting to turn on the scorning fluorescent lights yet. Joys of an underground base, most of the room had the same type of lighting. He'd get used to it again, but his eyes hated it. The ship mixed and matched lighting sources with the lesser-used areas utilising organic glow inducers and the more commonly used electrical lights. Any rooms with windows did, but that wasn't an option underground. Possibly the inducers were. Another louder beep ripped through the room, the doorbell as Innofe let himself into the room.