Earth Touched - A Dragon Tribe Origin

Chapter Thirty-Nine - Finn

"I got a weird note today," Finn said as he dealt out the cards for the night's game. "It was right on my desk waiting for me this morning."

"Weird how?" Zel asked as he handed out drinks for the group.

Finn finished dealing and then looked at his hand. "It said: 'he's not what you think.' Whatever that means. I'm wondering if it was actually for Janette. She's in the cube across from me and her fiancée is definitely sketchy."

One by one, the four friends settled around the table. Gage, who was holding Gus with one hand and his cards in the other, frowned. "Seems to be a lot of that going around—sketchy guys. Has Martie told you anything more about her ex, Xio?"

"Only that he's not her ex," Xio said. He stuck his tongue out as he organized his cards and added in a mumble, "She's very insistent on that. He's not her ex. Then she goes into all of the reasons he's not a problem and it's all in her head."

"And you're still not buying it," Gage said.

"Nope."

Finn watched the two of them as they spoke. "Maybe I should stay home instead of going to the council."

"No! How else are we going to get all the good gossip?" Xio pouted. "Finn! You have to!"

"What he's trying to say," Zel said, giving Xio a glare. "Is that you're our eyes and ears for the Inero problem." He glanced over at Gage, and the two seemed to exchange a strange look. "I love Martie, but the Inero, the uprooting of the tribes, is kind of more important."

Sighing, Gage nodded. "I have to be prepared. Dad isn't going to help me." He gazed over at Finn. "You know he's going to keep me in the dark for as long as possible."

That's when Finn connected the dots. "The calling of the Touched. Got it. I..." He pressed his lips together tightly, wondering how much he wanted to actually admit. They already know, so why keep denying it? "I like Martie a lot."

"Oh, we know." Xio waggled his eyebrows. "She's in good hands. I'm hurt that you don't think highly of my services."

Finn snorted. "If I can't see her, I worry."

"Wow, you've got it worse than I thought! Can't wait to tell her!"

"Don't!" Finn threw a handful of chips at Xio.

Zel put his face into the palm of his hand. "What a waste of food. Those are imported, I hope you know."

"Just because it's touched the table doesn't mean it's infected with disease all of a sudden." Xio picked up a chip and ate it without a second thought. "Still tastes fine. I'm not going to...oh no! I... Ack!" He pretended to fake choke before playing dead in his chair. "Here lies Xio, dead from tainted potato chip."

A round of chuckles circled the table, though Finn noticed Gage's was less enthusiastic. Finn cleared his throat. "I'll tell you everything that's not classified."

"I need it all," Gage said softly. "Don't hold back. Not from me. I won't tell anyone, you know that."

Finn swallowed, knowing he shouldn't agree. He was under an oath to protect the secrets of the office for the betterment of the people. Outsiders didn't need to know everything that went on behind closed doors. Gage, especially, didn't care about all of those details, so why did he need them all? But he was Touched, and his duty to God was more important than Finn's duty to his faction, right?

"You're right." Finn played a card, his hand shaking. "I'll make sure to take solid notes."

"Interested in being Touched all of a sudden?" Xio asked, and for that Finn was glad because he didn't want to be the one to do it. Every time Finn brought it up, there was a fight.

Shrugging, Gage pulled a stray card from Gus' mouth. "This is going to shock you all even more, but I'm thinking of dating again."

If ever there was a topic to get everyone off of Gage's extra blessing, it was definitely the one of dating. Gage dating, even! That was bigger news than Finn having an interest in a girl. Xio was so surprised a chip fell out of his open mouth, half eaten.

"Not fair," Xio said. "But do tell us more. Who is she? Where did you meet? How long has this been going on?"

"Thinking," Gage said. "I'm thinking about it. We met at the diner."

Zel raised both of his eyebrows. "Don't take this the wrong way, but isn't Lori too cool for you?"

"I'm cool," Gage mumbled.

"Not like she is," Xio stated. "She's black leather and you're roses. Then again..."

"Are you sure she's the right one to take this step with?" Zel interjected quickly.

Poor Gage, though Finn wasn't surprised. He liked Lori as a person. She was funny, independent, and held her own well. Something else about her rubbed him the wrong way. A something he couldn't put his finger on. Her smell? It seemed so stupid to fixate on, but something about her smelled wrong and familiar.

Instead of voicing all of that, he said, "She doesn't seem like the type of girl who wants to settle down."

"That." Zel pointed to Finn.

"Dating is not the same as wanting to marry her," Gage said with a great deal of calm. Surprising, because in the past he would have blown up at them all. "Being attracted to her is a step. I'm allowing myself to look again. To flirt a little. Can I enjoy that? Do I have to be looking for another wife?"

"No," Xio said gently.

Zel nodded, slowly. "If you like her, that's good enough for me right now."

"Just don't be stupid," Finn said.

Gage clenched his hand tightly around his cards. Subtle, but Finn noticed it all the same. "I'm not stupid."

"Plenty of smart people do stupid things all of the time."

"Okay, Gus, time for bed." Gage stood from his chair and retreated with his son up the stairs.

Like usual, Finn stated the truth and it ended up biting him in the backside. He didn't bother to try and justify his points. They all knew his concerns were valid. What was wrong with him looking out for his closest friend? Gage had a soft heart, and one that would easily break if not taken care of properly. Why was Finn the bad guy for giving a simple reminder?

He didn't get it, though he never did.

"We won't let him be stupid," Zel said in a hushed voice. "Something about her..."

"I noticed it too," Finn said, equally as quiet.

Xio shook his head. "I like her. Don't do this guys. Let him be happy, even if it's stupid happy. Martie vouches for her and that's good enough for me. No way she'd be friends with anyone bad."

At the mention of Martie, Finn felt his heart beat a tiny bit faster. He kept glancing at the door, hoping she'd be coming back soon. The guys were having a night, and the girls were having one of their own—out apparently, or at least, not in the basement. Maybe she won't be gone too late, and I'll get to see her before I head home.

"She's at the diner while Lori works," Xio said, waving his phone for Finn to see. "I'm making her text me so I know she's okay. They'll be here before you go, don't worry."

"Wasn't worried," Finn mumbled.

Xio gazed over at Zel and shook his head. "Back on track here, guys. No more giving Gage crap, okay? The foot is going down. If he's going through with this Touched thing, he deserves the happy escape too."

"Fine," Zel said.

They both shifted their gazes to Finn, expectantly.

"I'll be quiet unless it gets bad." That was the most he could promise.

Xio was about to protest, but Gage's steps could be heard coming back down the stairs. Instead he whispered, "We're going to have a talk about what bad is later."