Ortai Legacy

19 - Imitation (L)

Trigger Warning: SA, Self-Harm

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Had I really addressed Mark like a mate? Was it the translation error that I'd suspected? Or did it have something to do with me calling him Mark instead of Mar'kost?

"Ortai don't follow our naming conventions. A shortened name has no special meaning to her."

"She said she wouldn't 'share' you."

"My time is limited, and we both know Baliko would monopolize it."

He leveled narrowed eyes on me. "Are you romantically involved with Mar'kost?"

What, did he really think I would disagree with Mark right in front of him? "Ew, no. He's too squishy."

Mark slipped his hand from mine. I hoped he didn't think I was serious.

"You think he's too... squishy?"

"Yep. I prefer guys who stay in one shape. He's a great Knight, though."

"I see." He ducked into the kitchen to retrieve Baliko, who immediately went to Mark. He gestured for me to get up. "Let's grant them some time to reacquaint themselves."

I glanced at Mark, and he gave me a look that said 'please don't leave me with her.'

"Sorry, I can't walk without help, so I'm afraid he-"

"I'll assist you." Ikaru grabbed my arm in a way that looked gentle but had a bit of force behind it. He tried to pull me to my feet but barely managed to make me scoot a little in the chair. "I believe you must attempt to stand, Ortai Liza."

"I'd prefer if Mark-kost assisted me."

"His name is Mar'kost."

"Right, that's what I said." More or less.

"You-" His faux reverent tone slipped. "A shifter's name has meaning. Mispronouncing it on purpose is disrespectful."

"Oh, so saying Icky-roo would be bad, right?"

He looked like he wanted to strangle me. "Yes, calling me anything other than Ick-ah-roo would be highly insulting."

"Gotcha, Ick-ah-ruh."

"Ick-ah-roo."

"That's what I said."

"That most certainly is not what you-"

Mark cleared his throat. "Father, she recently went through an extreme physical transformation. Her senses haven't fully recovered, and neither has her mind or body. Forgive her rudeness and allow me to tend to her. I'll return once she's settled." He hooked his arm under mine and ushered me out of the room. In the hall, he lowered his voice to murmur in my ear. "I understand you were only teasing him, but purposely mispronouncing a shifter's name is tantamount to using a slur. Please don't do it again."

Heat rose in my face as he took me into the guest bedroom. I opened my mouth to apologize, but the words caught in my throat. It would've been bad enough if I'd just called Ikaru a 'slur,' but I'd called Mar'kost 'Mark' tons of times today, and he'd pretended it was okay just because he was excited I was alive.

He helped me to the bed and sat next to it in a chair. "You needn't be upset. My father wouldn't have liked you even if you were on your best behavior."

"I-" I swallowed past the knot in my throat. "Why did you tell me you liked being called Ma- a nickname?"

He cocked his head. "I don't like 'being called Mark.' I like when you call me Mark."