Page 39 of Suffer No Fools
"I could have killed you that night." Tovey smirked. "I never thanked you for that, either."
"Who else would have stepped between you and that naval air weaver the night you wanted to see who had the faster air whip?"
"Gods, you're lucky there was a healer on hand. That was the most foolhardy thing I've ever seen you do."
"Who else would have lied to protect you, time and again?" That was as close as Stan could come to confessing hissecret without spilling it completely. Tovey wasn't ready to hear it. Sure, he'd be mad at Stan for lying, but he'd be even angrier at himself when he realized he'd stood in the way of his own happiness for so long.
"We're pirates," Tovey said. "That's what we do. Look at Captain Efren, pretending we're a merchant ship, or Vadim. Fuck, Vadim lied to Coryn's face about us."
"Aye, but you're too honest." Stan grinned to take some of the sting out of his words. "The only person you lie to is yourself."
Tovey swallowed hard, and he retreated to his bench, trying to clean up the mess of worms as he went. Even with his air weaves forming a barrier around them, some had squiggled beneath the benches, out of reach.
"I'd like to try again tonight," Tovey whispered as he packed up his fishing pole. "If Hugo will have us."
"I'd like that, too." Stan tried to keep his voice neutral, so he didn't scare Tovey with his sheer elation. He didn't have a reason for his constant apologies, but he thought he knew why he'd chased Tovey away. "Only if you tell me what you want. I should have waited for you to tell me before I asked."
"Damn right you should have waited," Tovey griped, but then he laughed. "I like being in charge."
If Stan wanted a place by Tovey's side, he needed to let Tovey lead.
#
Tovey
The fish Stan prepared that night were delicious. Stan waited to season his, as promised, using just a dash of pepper and a hint of lemon zest in the pan to give it flavor. Then, he coated his own serving with turmeric and pepper, same as always. Tovey wondered if Stan secretly disliked fish, but heused the same spices on chicken and in his vegetable soup. The man clearly had no taste buds.
Tovey didn't let it bother him. He was still soaring in the clouds after their date. He and Hugo had talked more, but their conversation hadn't been as meaningful. Tovey felt like he'd gotten somewhere with Stan. He'd finally shared his fear that Stan would try to change him, even as he realized Stan had shown the opposite behavior for fifteen years. Stan had plenty of reasons to want Tovey to change, but he'd never once tried to mold him into someone else. He had simply intervened when Tovey's schemes got out of hand.
Stan would never tell him not to get in a fight with another air weaver. He would simply intervene before they both cut each other to pieces, leaving himself open to the crossfire. Tovey hadn't shed a single drop of Stan's blood, but that other asshole air weaver had cut him in wide ribbons from his shoulders to his hips. The man was lucky to still be alive. Only Tovey's sheer necessity to get Stan to a healer before he bled out had saved him.
Tovey had expected Stan to leave once he saw what an asshole he was. He'd even tried to push him away a few times in the beginning. He'd been ignoring what was right in front of him for fifteen years. Stan wouldn't abandon him, or their friendship, no matter what Tovey did.
After dinner, they all cleaned the kitchen before Hugo had a surprise for them outside. Efren had always bathed in the ocean and then rinsed himself clean with his water weaves, so the large tub on the patio was a recent addition. It could fit at least four people, and the fresh water was already churning with an air weave Tovey hadn't set.
He glanced at Stan. "You made this?"
"Aye, but the best part is yet to come. Hugo learned a trick today while training with Frost and Jasmine."
"Watch!" Hugo closed his eyes. He tipped off balance and flailed, almost falling, before correcting. "Not that," he said. "This." He held his hands out over the bubbling water. Soon, steam rose to meet his fingers. He gazed at them with an exultant grin once he'd tested it and tied his weave so it would continue to heat the water to the exact temperature.
Tovey tested the water with his finger. It was perfect.
"Nicely done," Stan said. "The air weave will keep the water from getting too hot in any one place." He stepped into the tub and eased himself down with a happy sigh.
Tovey and Hugo followed Stan's lead, sitting beside him at an angle so their legs didn't tangle together in the middle. The wood was smooth, without seams, on the inside, as though it had been carved within the trunk of a tree. Tovey was amazed at Stan's craftsmanship, and the gentle way the water caressed his aching leg muscles. He leaned forward for a moment, enjoying the feel of it along his back. He was surprised when Stan started massaging his shoulders. He had to be careful not to relax too much, or he would fall face-first into the water.
"Long day?" Hugo asked. "I could have helped, you know."
"You counted," Stan said. "That was a big help."
"I could have moved the boxes, barrels, and bags around the hold, same as you. I'm supposed to build muscle."
"That reminds me," Stan said. "We haven't practiced sword fighting since we arrived. There used to be a pit on the far side of the island, near the old barracks. We should go at first light, before tomorrow's lessons."
Hugo didn't even try to hide his moue of displeasure. "I still can't hold my sword right. How is it necessary for weaving, again? I'm much more adept with fire and ice than I am with a sword."
"You'll learn," Tovey said. "Until then, you'll watch."
