Scribbles and Drabbles

Life Debt 3

Nichols looked more resigned than anything else. Not angry or determined like Bradshaw or Ollie. The tiredness over his body was almost painful to watch. Clive remembered this bit of grief; he had it some days still. When you wanted the world to piss off for a bit, but pesky things like work or friends were getting in the way of that task. Or in this case, another partner on the warpath to get revenge for the death of their love.

"Did my one or your one accost you?" 

"Both, neither giving much explanation," Clive found himself pushing Nichols into his quarters. He'd already seen the looks from his comrades and the others on the station. He didn't need a second public scene. "Yours chose to kiss me in the middle of the corridor while trapping me against a wall, though. That was interesting."

"Right," Nichols sat calmly on the sofa and rubbed his temples like a headache was beginning to develop. "My apologies. He rather sprung this plan on us all, and now it's in the system as a formal request. If I had known he had a partner, I would have ..." he trailed off. 

Credits, they were spent on my things and bonuses. Being partnered meant Clive and Ollie were entitled to a shared room and to be stationed within the same system. It was the first step in getting permission to marry. The fact the Great A.I was organising that showed it was aware the deal was not one they were going to like, and this was a kindness. Being married had a few benefits like being allowed time to visit each other every month and well-matched shift schedules where possible. It had some downsides too.

"He's your husband, not your charge. You have no control over his actions." Clive moved to the fabricator and ordered some tea, fingers tapping on the side of the device. The computer providing him with Nichols preferred brand without needing details. "The deal is classified, so I will need to you tell me what the formal request is." He sat down and passed the man the cup, taking a sip of his own beverage. 

"Did Williams tell you he was part Rygan?"

"Mostly Rygan. His mother's mother was an outsider, the rest of the family was Rygan," Clive nodded. He had a vague overview of his love's life on the planet. "Enough outside blood that his house? Clan? Didn't warrant him worthy enough to be theirs once he was legally an adult."

"That sounds cruel," Nichols frowned, a hand idly running over his neck where his markings were. "Being part of the upper-class is not easy nor pleasant. Most wish they could have the freedom he would have had. Being free of them gave him options. I digress. We knew he had blood. We didn't know he was an active mod. And that lineage." There was a whistle, and Nichols gave Clive a look.  "His family was higher than mine in the rankings. That mod as well. I think Jamie may have lost grip on reality for a moment."

"That good, eh?" Clive winced. "Still Bradshaw wanted access to his genes is easy enough. Certainly nothing worth needing to seduce both Ollie for and me. Ollie would happily do that in payment of the life debt."

"Jamie gave the ultimatum that either Ollie surrenders himself to him and becomes our third or you become part of the squad under his control." 

Clive stood up and put the cup on the table, not wanting to break the thing as something surged inside of him. "Explain."