It was deeply satisfying to witness Jun’s eyes widen with reluctant interest, snapping to take in Ari with renewed focus. “Geologist. But you’d need equipment to stabilize holozite. We don’t have any.”
Theo dug a jovial elbow into the solid muscle of Jun’s stomach. “Did I fail to mention he has a fully equipped lab aboard our vessel?”
Really, Jun ought to have considered Theo with patent gratitude rather than teeth-grinding fury. “You didn’t mention that.”
Theo gave a loose-limbed shrug and took a few steps away as though preparing to board his ship after all. “Oh. Well, he does. But that wouldn’t interest you, as you have no need of help, so I’ll just tell him to pack it all up and head back to the Verge.”
It was anything but a surprise to receive Jun’s staying hand on his shoulder. “Alright. You win. He can help.”
Theo accepted the hand as if they were dancing a waltz and turned into Jun’s arms to pat him on the cheek. “How magnanimous of you. Truly, just astoundingly generous. However shall we thank you for your condescension to accept the assistance of two very well-regarded experts in their field?”
Ari made one of his small, squeaking Ari noises that meant he thought Theo was prevaricating but didn’t want to call him out for it in public.
Theo sighed, dropping his hand with a reluctant gesture Ari’s way. “Well, Ari is certainly well regarded. I’m generally well regarded until someone meets me in person. I tend to ruin whatever regard had been built up simply by virtue of my personality. Couldn’t begin to tell you why.”
Ari jumped in as loyally as ever. “Theo is renowned for his work in several prominent publications.” He’d used the line to sell Theo to skeptical colleagues for years. It was as sweet as it was tiring to hear it, and know Ari considered that to be Theo’s greatest, and only, accomplishment.
Theo muttered, “Yes, I do seem to come across much better on paper.”
Caring, perceptive Ari sensed his deflation and offered a light touch to his elbow with a smile. “You’re wonderful in person, as well, my dear. I shun the opinion of any who would disagree.”
Theo caught his fingers with a swift squeeze, offering a smile of his own. “Thank you, darling. To be shunned by Dr. Aristotle Campbell is a dire fate indeed.”
Mr. Stone leaned in, and Theo didn’t miss the absent, familiar manner in which his hands fell to Ari’s hips as his deep voice rumbled overhead. “I’d rather be bitten to death by warsnakes, myself.”
Ari spun with a gasp to swat at Mr. Stone’s chest indignantly. “Oh, don’t say that, Orin!”
Theo had despaired of ever seeing his brother so happy; it lit a glow inside of him that tumbled out in laughter. “First names, Ari? My, my, it must be serious.”
Ari aimed his stubborn chin Theo’s way and the glow abated, subsumed by a rush of anger. “Don’t think it escaped my notice that you have reached a similar level of familiarity with your Captain Park, Theo. We will be discussing that, I assure you.”
He could feel Jun stiffening at his side, shifting with discomfort, and Theo rushed to prevent Ari from pushing too far. “There’s nothing to discuss.”
His brother rolled his eyes in a vulgar display of disbelief most uncharacteristic of his behavior in public. For the first time, Theo began to wonder whether this adventure had changed Ari in some permanent ways. The thought was nearly as intriguing as it was concerning. “Oh yes, there is,” Ari responded. “For all I know, you have once again fallen beneath the sway of a dastardly fiend, and I shall not stand by in idleness while he takes deplorable advantage of your innocent and trusting nature!”
Jun made a choked sound at the word “innocent,” but he was examining the ceiling when Theo turned a glare his way.
Ari continued in a soft, condescending tone so much like their mother that it set Theo’s teeth on edge. “Theo, I mean no offense—”
“He only says that when he fully intends to offend me,” Theo offered in an aside to Mr. Stone, who grinned in response as if their bickering was his favorite show.
Ari narrowed his eyes at Theo, hands planted firmly on his hips. “As I was saying”—his tone had lost a bit of its softness, hard edges pushing through—“I mean no offense, but you have not shown the best judgement in regards to your choices in romantic partners, historically.”
Theo flung his hands out, smacking one into Jun’s chest and eliciting a low grunt that was swiftly drowned out by Theo’s raised volume. “One time! One time, I walked out with somebody who turned out to be a confidence man. We didn’t need that month’s allowance anyway, with my TA stipend. You must admit, Ari, that his mustache was very handsome. Had he been a foot taller and twice as wide, you would have given him a second glance and you know it.”
Ari pinched the bridge of his nose, eyes falling shut while he counted to three under his breath. It was a funny little tic of Ari’s that often cropped up when he was speaking to Theo. He finally dropped his hand with a sharp inhale, pinning Theo with his gaze. “I know no such thing. My point is that we can hardly trust you to be an excellent judge of character when it comes to love.”
Jun’s brows shot up as he glanced down at Theo and then quickly away as he directed his gaze back to the ceiling, a suspect wash of color tinting his high cheekbones.
Theo blew a lock of hair out of his face, his chest clenching at Jun’s obvious discomfort.
Unrequited love was awful; Theo found little to recommend it.
“Oh fiddlesticks, Ari. Captain Park has, with the exception of his initial abduction, behaved most admirably.”
He had nearly forgotten how amusing it was to watch Ari sputter with indignation.
“With the exception of—
