It was going to be splendid good fun, visiting upon Ari all of the torments he had put Theo through in his romantic endeavors. Theo couldn’t wait to start.
Just as Orin Stone confessed his undying love for Theo’s brother and announced that he wasn’t going anywhere, Theo leaned in with a serious expression. He pitched his voice to break their concentration on each other.
“That’s certainly good to hear, because we need your help.”
The disappointed twist on Mr. Stone’s rugged face made Theo giggle maniacally. His timing was impeccable, as ever.
Mr. Stone gave Theo a considering look as he tugged Ari close to his side. “What kind of help do y’all need?”
It was disconcerting to see Theo’s prim and proper brother with this Verge tough. He almost couldn’t fathom it, had always imagined Ari would end up with a quiet, boring academic by his side.
Something told Theo Mr. Stone was anything but boring.
Jun drew even with Theo, arms held in that loose cross he used when he wanted to display that he was armed, glaring at Mr. Stone. “I don’t need your help—” He turned his glare to Theo. “—and there is no ‘we.’”
Theo’s blood was already up from fighting his twin. If Jun wanted to do this now, in front of Ari and his pilot and the watchful eyes of Boom’s vid feed, then so be it. He stood toe-to-toe with Jun, lifting his chin with challenge and ignoring Ari’s soft, worried gasp. “Yes, of course. Because you never need any help from anyone, right, Captain? Except, on occasion, when you are so desperate for help that you kidnap academics to assist you in your endeavors.”
Jun scoffed, lips lifting in a sneer, but Theo continued before he could get a word in, pressing a firm hand to Jun’s chest.
“And, as for the existence of a ‘we.’ It must have been my imagination a few hours ago when you had me up against that”—he pointed back at the dinghy—“hull, practically begging for me.”
Jun loomed over Theo, wrapping a hand in his jacket.
Ari inhaled sharply at the move, and Theo vaguely registered his pilot reassuring him. He was too entranced by the flames dancing in Jun’s eyes.
“If anyone was begging,” Jun said, “it was you.”
Theo batted his lashes, affecting a calculated pout that dropped Jun’s gaze to his lips like clockwork. “Only because you like it so very much, Captain. I do try to cater to your unique preferences.”
Releasing him with a snarl, Jun took a step back. He tossed up a rude gesture to the cameras, and Theo noticed for the first time that the coms were suspiciously silent. “Your brother’s here. Your ship is here. You even have a pilot, if you can stomach that Verge smell.”
The pilot in question growled, and Ari petted at his massive chest and cooed as though he were calming a horse. Theo would have found it amusing if he weren’t steeped up to his eyebrows in righteous fury.
Theo pretended to check his nails, suppressing a smile at the way being ignored made Jun huff like a bull. “Did you have a point, or were you simply inspired to list my favorable circumstances?”
“You need to leave. Go back home to Britannia. Forget all of this.” There was as much steel in Jun’s voice as there was in the banged-up walls surrounding them.
The forget me wasn’t spoken aloud, but it didn’t have to be. It was clear enough.
All traces of amusement fled as Theo’s heart dropped into his stomach with a dull thud. “I thought you needed my help. That only I could finish the translation. I thought you needed me.”
I thought you wanted me. He didn’t say it, but it was there in the tremble of his voice.
Jun’s gaze darted over to their audience, then fixed on Theo. Jun curled over him in a semblance of intimacy as he lowered his volume. “Theo. You’re incredible, and have already helped more than you can know—”
Theo grabbed onto Jun’s hand, trying to pour every ounce of his sincerity in his face, to drown out the desperation he knew must be written there. “Then why would I leave? I know you must be tired of me, but I intend to see this through.”
Slowly, sweetly, Jun’s hand turned in his grip, lacing their fingers together. “I’m not tired of you. Not even close.” He gazed down at Theo with stars in his eyes. “How could I tire of an ever-changing sky?”
Every word lifted Theo’s heart back into place until he felt incandescent with strength and determination. “Well, then I have excellent news, Jun. I’m staying, and I’m going to help you see this through.”
Jun blinked away the stars as he shook his head and released Theo’s hand. “No. You have to leave; we’re out of time.”
Now that Theo knew for sure Jun had not tired of him, that his motivation stemmed from some as yet unrevealed self-sacrificing source, it was easy to resist. Effortless, really, to dig in roots and plant himself right where he wanted to be. Alongside Jun.
Theo focused narrowly on Jun’s worried face, scanning the cracks in his stoic expression for points of access. “What about the holozite you intend to acquire? I suppose you have a laboratory on board to stabilize it?”
Jun turned his head away, mouth twisting unhappily at the corners under Theo’s direct hit. “I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.”
Nodding slowly, Theo pretended to contemplate that for a moment. He then held up his finger in a mock pose of discovery. “Or, you could simply ask one of the leading authorities on complex combustibles.”
The lack of amusement Jun graced him with at that was nothing short of delightful, and Theo had to suppress a wriggle of glee at Jun’s dry tone. “Great idea; I’ll just go out and get one of those on my next run.”
“Allow me to present to you—” Theo gestured to Ari, who startled as though he
