Page 41 of Concluded
“You are a hero, though.You save people.Save, uh, NHSs.You’re trying to save the world.”
Achilles scoffed and ran fingers through already wild hair.“I do my job.I’m okay at it—other agents are way better.I’ve fucked up royally a few times.”
“You didn’t give in to Ashley under torture.”
“I might’ve, eventually.”But Achilles looked pleased at the acknowledgement.Then he ran a palm over his bristly chin.“Gods, I probably look like a Sasquatch’s runty cousin.Do you think you could find me a razor?”
Dee went off to root through cupboards, thoughts of heroes tumbling in his head.
CHAPTER17
Neither Grimes nor Tenrael returned that evening, although aliens came by a couple of times to make sure everything was okay.That made Achilles want to know what they called themselves—aliensfelt slightly rude and derogatory—but he couldn’t really ask since he didn’t speak their language.Anyway, the bed was great, there was plenty of food, and Dee didn’t seem to mind waiting on him hand and foot.Due to the combination of meals, plenty of sleep, and the first aid kit, Achilles felt fairly decent come nightfall, and he joined Dee on a small couch in front of the TV.
“There were big protests everywhere today,” said Dee as he flicked through channels.“I saw it on the news.”
“That’s heartening.”
“The president and his people, are they allied with Ashley’s group, do you think?”
Achilles shrugged.“Dunno.It’s possible that they’ve signed on to the same program as her.It’s also possible that they have no clue about her gang, and their BS is just helping to feed the fire.Or maybe there are a couple of key advisors who are in on it and the president is clueless, a handy means to their end.Same results in any case.”
“There are a couple of his buddies that I’d be willing to bet are like Ashley.”
“I’m inclined to agree,” said Achilles.He’d never paid much attention to politics, preferring to keep his attention on things that he could influence in some way.He understood NHSs better than he did those people in DC.
Dee was quiet for a while, although Achilles had the sense that his mind wasn’t truly onThe Drew Barrymore Show, which was what he’d paused on.Luke Wilson was the guest.After a while, Dee rubbed the back of his neck.“That extraterrestrial who greeted us, did she— Um, are they a she?And if so, is she pregnant?The way that they sort of cradled their belly a few times made me think so.”
Achilles remembered what he’d been taught.“Like humans, they have multiple genders and multiple sexes.Individuals shift genders and sexes at various points in their life, although I have no idea what the rules are for that.If there are any.And I don’t speak the language, so I don’t know the proper terminology.I think it’s more complicated for them to get pregnant than it is for us.Takes more than two to tango.But there is one sex that carries the fetuses and breast-feeds them when they’re born, and the Bureau tends to use she/her pronouns for them.And yeah, I think she is.”The idea made him smile; it was a sign that the survival efforts were succeeding.
But Dee was frowning.“If Ashley’s group wins, our hosts here, they’ll be wiped out too, right?Not just humans?”
“A lot of species will be—human, NHS, and otherwise.”
“That sucks.”
Achilles was inclined to agree with that as well.
Which turned his thoughts in a pretty depressing direction.He was casting about for something cheerier to talk about when he noticed that Dee was staring at him rather intently.
“What?”Achilles demanded.
Dee’s cheeks colored but he didn’t look away.“You’re really good-looking.”
“You mentioned that before.”Achilles tried hard not to blush in response.“Is that a problem?”
“No.And you’re gay.”
“Isthata problem?”
“No.”
This was a weird conversation, but it beat thinking about the end of the world.“Then why are you bringing these things up?”
“Because….”Chewing his lip, Dee looked down at the remote in his hand.He kept his gaze trained downward as he continued.“I’m not….I can appreciate a pretty face of any gender.But I hardly ever want to get physical with anyone.I mean, I’ve had sex before.Maybe a dozen times?Mostly because it seemed like something I should want to do, but the reality was pretty meh.”
Achilles used to enjoy sex a lot, although in recent years it hadn’t often felt as if it were worth the hassle.So he could sort of understand.But he didn’t get why Dee had raised the issue.“To each his own,” Achilles said.
“Sure.Except that now I, uh….”Dee swallowed audibly.“I keep thinking about what it would be like to kiss you.”He faced Achilles again, scowling.“Have you put a spell on me or something?”
