Fan Fiction ❯ No Regrets ❯ Except maybe one ( Chapter 3 )

Title: No Regrets

Author: I_nv_u50

Warnings: Slash. Though not yet. Pity, really.

Pairings: They're beginning. Sort of. See if you can tell ^^;

Claimer: All characters are mine, ask before you use them…. If you really want to O.o;

Chapter Rating: PG13 for language. I can't get used to writing swear words though, so it might seem a little awkward.

Author's Note: Chapter three! We meet Kael… and … that's about it.

Oh, and if you want to see Devika and Arical as kitties, go to this link: http://www.geocities.com/kerikits/kits/caldev.jpg

A friend of mine requested them ^^; I'm so happy she did, this chapter is for you love! ^^

And… Shameless plug, to go see more kitties, go to http://www.geocities.com/kerikits/ or http://dreamwater.net/ghostofdawn/

That's about it ^^

More soon ^^

When I woke up, 'Vika was sitting on the edge of the bed, stretching and rubbing his eyes sleepily. I had, sometime during the night, buried my face in the pillow again, and it was warm with breath and body heat. It was calming, as the room was too cold outside the cozy bed.

The blankets were drawn up until the wound, so the heat was spread unevenly.

My shoulders were freezing.

"C'mon, 'Rica, we have to get up." 'Vika spoke without looking around, standing up and going to the small window to draw back the curtains.

I was pressing the fleshy bit between thumb and forefinger to my nose in a pointless attempt to try to warm it up. My hand was as cold as my ears.

'Vika twisted around to stare at me. "Aww, poor baby. Get up, 'Rica. Today's important."
I scowled at him, not just a little confused by his behaviour. His eyes told me what he couldn't say, flickering quickly to the doorway and back to my face again.

I slowly turned my head, mourning the loss of warmth for one ear while it left the pillow. Then I could do nothing but blink, gaping at the doorway where someone who looked vaguely familiar was standing.

"Good morning, Cal." Her voice was as smooth and as detached as ever. "You've decreased in age a bit since I've seen you. I need to talk to you. Alone."

I gritted my teeth and shoved myself up, trying not to let her see my pain.

'Vika frowned at her. "Leave him alone."

She merely stared at him, her eyes disinterested before switching them over to me. "Tell him to leave, Arical."

"No, 'Rica. Don't make me go, I don't trust her."

I ignored her amused look, and shook my head at him. "Go on, 'Vika. Just go … go get Nicolai or Alexes or something. Make breakfast. Leave."

He scowled at me, a stubborn gleam entering his hard green eyes. "No."

"I weary of this game, Arical."

"Just… Just shut up, Cerise. I'm going as fast as I can. 'Vika, just go!"

He blinked at me, obviously startled at my vehement insistence, before heaving a disgusted sigh and reluctantly standing up. "You know, I'm coming back down here in 10 minutes."

"I wouldn't suggest it." Cerise hinted, but he ignored her and stalked out, only just stopping himself from pushing her out of the way.

The air warmed up a little, and she sighed and sat on the bed.

"You have no idea how much I begged Daddy to let me come here." She smirked at me, not sparing a glance for the brand.

"What do you want?"

"I'm hurt!" She gave a mock sob and peeked at me through her spread fingers to see if I was buying it. I wasn't.

"What do you want, Cerise?"

"Well, Daddy says you can come back if you do something for me. I mean him."

I stared at her. "What?"

"Daddy wants you to prepare."

"Prepare for what?"

She blinked at me. "Whatever makes you think I know?"

I had to allow her that one. The king rarely explained his orders. That was why I had been so mislead in the first place.

I sighed. "Well, go ask him what he wants me to prepare for. I can't unless I know what to expect."

She agreed meekly to this, which made me suspect her immediately. Cerise was anything but meek.

Then she was coming forward, and I couldn't go anywhere, trapped between the headboard and her, and then she was kissing me.

It was exactly how I remembered her to be, and everything that used to excite me revolted me. I gagged on her tongue, and shoved her away, barely managing not to spit out her taste or wipe my mouth.

She glared at me innocently. "What the hell?"

I frowned back. "Shit, Cerise, that was gross!"

"You're telling me! You used to taste quite different!"

"I'm mortal now! All mortals taste different, you know that!"

She gave me a calculating look. "Well no, I suppose you're right. I suppose I taste bad to you as well now?"

I nodded slowly.

She sighed, with what sounded like honest regret. "Pity. I can wait until you achieve full status again, but I don't know if it'll be the same, even then."

I blinked at her, startled. "Full status? I can go back?"

She looked at me again. "Yes, of course. Didn't Daddy … No, I suppose he wouldn't." The air got slightly colder again as her face hardened. "It was your own fault, you know."

I groaned, and rubbed my face with a hand. "Oh, just let it go, Cerise. I'm being punished, what more do you want?"

"You. Back to normal. I wasn't ecstatic with the way things were, but I was content."

I blinked at her. "Ok… Cerise, I have a fifteen year old, mortal brain. You're going to have to explain better than that."

Cerise smirked at me, looking more like the princess I remembered. "You're as sharp as you ever were, if you ask me. Fifteen? I forgot how short these lives were. It'll take you a few lifetimes to achieve the full status then."

I shook my head, but couldn't say anything as 'Vika walked in, glaring at Cerise as if she were a threat. I suppose she was.

"Rica…"

"Vika, this is Cerise. Cerise, this is my twin, Devika." I cut him off before he could start a lecture.

Cerise eyed him searchingly. She was obviously happy with what she saw, because the air got warmer again, balmier, and she winked at me. "Daddy obviously chose a good one then."

I scowled at her, and she gave 'Vika a quick grin before leaving. I heard her talking to people upstairs, probably Nicolai and Alexes, and I couldn't help wondering how she knew them.

'Vika was staring at me. "How'd you know her?"

"What, disappointed with the company I keep?"

"Yes." Was his short answer, and I sneered at him.

"How does she know Nicolai and Alexes?"

He blinked at me. "So you don't know her that well… She's got the same art class."

I should have figured. "Didn't see her yesterday."

He gave me a small smile. "You didn't see a lot of people yesterday. Besides, she only joined in late afternoon."

I nodded, and stretched a hand towards him. He came forward immediately.

"Help me up? I'm hungry, want some breakfast. What's for breakfast?"

"You mean brunch." He smirked at me, and tugged gently until I was standing unsteadily.

"Yea, fine. Brunch. What's to eat?"

"You'll have to see when you get up there, won't you?"

I aimed a swat in his direction, and he chuckled and helped me up the steep stairs.

The living room was occupied, with Alexes and Nicolai, and the professor. There was also a strange man sitting down, middle aged with a studious air. 'Vika actually almost smiled.

"Good morning, Cal." Alexes spoke. I wondered if I was forgiven. "Prof. McDougal came to visit, to see how you were doing. This is Prof. Maleko, Cal. He wants to see your brand."

I glanced at the aforementioned professor. He was looking uncommonly gleeful, happy to get a new chance to study something that, by all rights, no mortal should have ever known. I tried to put a fake face on.

"Why would he want to?" I grinned at him. "It's just some random mark sick people decided to lay on me."

"Derek here," said the art professor "was very insistent to see it once I mentioned it."

I stifled the urge to glare at him. "I'd rather not, thank you. I'm hungry, and tired, and sore, and I just want to be left alone!" My voice wavered, 'Vika squeezed my hand.

The occupants of the room stared at me, their eyes showing startlement at my outburst, and 'Vika stepped closer.

"Please excuse my brother. Maybe you can look at it later, but right now…" 'Vika trailed off, his formal manner affecting them like my cracked voice almost did.

The professors looked ashamed, almost, and Alexes and Nicolai jumped up to help me to a vacant couch. I was forgiven then.

"Dev, go get your brother some toast from the kitchen, please." Nicolai spoke, and 'Vika walked off, trying to pretend it was his idea. Which, it probably would have been in a few moments.

Alexes saw the two guests out, then came back in. "So Cal, what did Cerise want with you?"

I flushed. "N-nothing. Just to see how I was…"

Alexes grinned. "I was like that too, you know. Attracting girls by the time I was twelve. Unfortunately for them, I wasn't interested."

I watched him, curiously. "Why not?"

Nicolai spoke up, idly flipping channels. "He had already lost his heart. To one-"

"Nic!" Alexes yelped warningly.

Nicolai smirked at him. "To one Keri Wilkinson."

Alexes scowled at him. "Bullshit. It wasn't for her, it was for her -" He stopped himself, and I glanced at him again.

"For her?"

"Never mind." Alexes flushed, and sat on another vacant couch. "What are we going to do today?"

"Absolutely nothing." 'Vika's voice floated through from the kitchen. "He can't be moved."

I frowned at the kitchen, knowing 'Vika would feel my annoyance. He did.

"Yes 'Rica, you are an invalid. Now shut up and sit down."

I scowled again and relaxed against the arm of the couch, turning my face to the TV.

Alexes and Nicolai were staring at me.

"What?" I asked them. "Can I have the remote?"

Nicolai slid it to me on the floor; it stopped in the middle of the room, halted by 'Vika's foot as he walked towards me with a plate. He glanced down at it, unconcerned before flicking it back to Nicolai.

I groaned. "'Vika! I wanted that!"

'Vika sniffed. I scowled.

"Yes, I am going to stay up here! That room is freezing!" I knew it would warm up now the ice princess had left, but they didn't.

Alexes looked worried, but Nicolai looked fascinated, watching 'Vika and me intently.

"Is it really cold down there? I hope the heating's not broken again. That'll be the… ninth time this month?"

Nicolai shook his head in answer to Alexes questioning look. "Tenth. Is your bond so strong then?" He directed the question at me.

I blinked at him. "Huh?"

"You two. Twins. Is a twin's link always so strong?"

'Vika sat by my head, watching me steadily as I picked at the piece of toast. He obviously wouldn't answer.

"No. Some are stronger than others. Ours is just a little stronger than most."

"Really?" Now Alexes sounded fascinated. "So what else can you do?"

"Oh, well I can move things with my mind, and 'Vika can change any object into another at will." I beamed at them innocently, and 'Vika snorted.

So did Nicolai and Alexes.

"No, really. What can you do?"

"I can see his dreams sometimes…" 'Vika spoke up quietly, and I looked at him in astonishment. I hadn't known that. He continued. "And we can feel what the other is feeling. I sometimes can tell what he's thinking, and vice versa."

I blinked at him. So did the others.

He stared back. "What? I am here, and I can talk. Eat that now, 'Rica, then you're going back to bed."

"No I'm not."

"Huh?"

"I haven't seen Kael in days! I'm going into withdrawal here!"

'Vika scowled, flushing a little. He was jealous of Kael, and Kael was uncomfortable around him. They'd tolerate each other, but they weren't overly friendly.

Nicolai looked at Alexes. "Keri called, you two. She wants you to know that she's still looking, although she hasn't found a good place yet. There is, however, a nursery you can stay in if you want to."

"And if you want to phone Kael, Cal, there's a phone next to the bed." Alexes said, disappearing into the kitchen.

I looked at 'Vika pleadingly. "Please 'Vika?"

He sighed but got up. "You're spoilt rotten, you know that?"

"It's only because you love me!"

"Yes, and sometimes I wonder if it's worth it."

I pouted and scowled, stubbornly refusing to watch him go downstairs.

I forgot I wasn't alone until Nicolai cleared his throat.

"Cal, why didn't you let them look at the brand? Surely it could clear up a few questions, especially as not too many people can know that language. Don't you want to know who did it to you?"

"I already know who did it, and I never want to see them, any of them, again." I answered shortly. "And don't tell 'Vika, he's too protective for his own good."

Nicolai eyed me and stood up slowly. "Yes… About that, yesterday morning Cal…"

He stepped forward, his dark eyes burning into mine, and I could feel a slow flush creep up.

Alexes' voice called from the kitchen. "Hey, Nic?"

Nicolai stopped where he was. "Yes?"

Alexes appeared in the doorway to the kitchen, holding a dishcloth. "Did you check the mail? Last month's reports should be arriving today."

Nicolai smiled. "Really? I'll go check now then."

He didn't look at me as he walked out, and Alexes only glanced at me curiously before disappearing again.

I wasn't sure if I was happy or sad by the interruption.

'Vika stomped up the stairs, and I twisted my head to look at him. "What now?"

He scowled at me, not answering, before throwing me the phone and stalking into the kitchen.

I blinked at his strange behaviour, and looked down at the cordless phone.

"Hey, Alexes? Do I press talk before or after I dial?"

There was a soft murmur of voices in the kitchen, and 'Vika poked his head around the door, scowling, and a little flushed. "He says you can do it either. Not too long, ok 'Rica?"

I stuck my tongue out at him, and then proceeded to ignore him. He sighed, and by the time I dialed, the soft murmur had started up again.

"Hello, Jodie speaking."

"Hey girl!"

"Cal! Ohmigod, we were so worried about you! Mom's having a fit because you haven't called sooner!"

"Sorry. Hey, is Kael there?"

"Yea, sure you are. Hold on a sec, I'll go call him."

I waited a second, grinning in appreciation as a screech echoed through on the phone.

A second later, Kael answered the phone.

Kael was cheerful to the point of being annoying, very tolerant and a great prankster. He had curly, copper coloured hair, which he hated, and expressive gray eyes. You could always tell what he was thinking.

"Aw, geez. Hey Ricci, howzit going? You doing any better?"

"Better than I was. Sorry I didn't call earlier…"

"Oh shut up. We all know about the moving thing. Jodie's just bitching cuz she has a crush on you and cant think of a better reason to stay on the phone when you didn't ask for her."

I heard an outraged shriek in the background and grinned. Kael also had a knack for stating the truth. Especially if it annoyed his sister.

"Glad to hear it."

"What, that she's got a crush on you? Don't fool around with her, Ricci. I'll kill you."

He reminded me of 'Vika.

"Buddy, she's smarter than you. All you'll have to do is hide the body while she mourns."

I could all but feel his grin. "Sure thing, dude."

"Kay?"

"Yea?"

"I need to get out. 'Vika hovering like you wouldn't believe."

"For once, I agree with him. You need to be hovered around."

"But Kay-" I wailed.

He sniggered. "Oh, all right. Wanna go meet at the park?"

"Will Ryan and Greg be there?"

"No, but Al might."

I groaned. "He's just as bad."

"I know, I know."

'Vika came in, standing over me, astonishingly disapproving. I blinked up at him.

"Uh, Kay? See you there at…"

"It's one thirty three now…"

"How about two?"

"Alright. Ciao, dude!"

"Later!"

I hung up and stared at my brother. "What?"

"Hovering, am I?"

"Shit, 'Vika, you know you are. Quit it already!"

I caught a flash of hurt on his face before he turned away. "Fine. I won't bother any more."

"'Vika, no, wait, I didn't mean it like that."

He ignored me and stalked back into the kitchen.

Before I could follow him, Nicolai came back in, calling to Alexes in excitement. The reports had arrived, and it seemed like they were good ones.

"What are those?" I asked Nicolai, and he smiled at me happily.

"Our art class were assigned a client to paint a wall mural for, two people per mural. We were graded on different things, but they all turned out pretty good."

Alexes came out of the kitchen, 'Vika trailing behind. "So how'd we do?"

Nicolai grinned at him. "You did fine. I did great."

Alexes laughed and threw the dishcloth at him. 'Vika cracked a small smile.

"Nicolai, can you give me a ride to the park?"

He turned to me, still laughing. "Sure. What time?"

"I need to be there by two. Make it two thirty."

"Then you'd better hurry. Dev going as well?"

"I… No." 'Vika muttered, and vanished into the kitchen again.

Nicolai blinked, and Alexes frowned in concern before they turned to me.

"What's wrong with him?" Nicolai asked, moving to the closet to get a coat.

I struggled to my feet. "We just had a fight. He'll be fine."

They blinked, but I ignored them, concentrating on being ready in time.

'Vika was still sulking when Nicolai helped me into his car, and when I left, there was a serious feeling of discontent emanating from him. I ignored it.

When we got to the park, Nicolai helped me to the basketball court, which was the usual meeting place for everyone.

"I'll pick you up at six, alright? We're going out tonight, you need to look nice by seven o clock."

"Where we're going?"

He smirked down at me. "You'll have to wait and see, won't you."

I pouted and sat on the bench as he waved and walked off.

Kael joined me a few minutes later. "Hey man! Who was that?"

"That was Nicolai."

He sneered at me. "Cute?"

"Sure." I answered. My preferences were no secret between us. Unfortunately, Kael was as straight as a board. Just as well, I would never have been able to handle sleeping with him.

"So anyway, Greg and Ryan are here," he ignored my involuntary groan, "and so is Al. You wanna go somewhere else?"

"Can't. Being picked up here at six."

Kael blinked at me. "Dude, the café's only ten minutes from the edge of the park."

I looked at him, exasperated. "Kael, it took me 15 minutes to travel a 7 minute path."

"So? We can both do math, Ricci. C'mon, I know you don't want to be here when Ryan and Greg find you. They're pathetically sorry about yesterday."

"You know about yesterday?"

"Of course. Greg told Al when he got home, and Al told Josh, who told Sarah, who told Debbie who told Jodie who told me."

"My god, it's broken telephone all over again! What, do you have nothing better to do than talk about me?"

He grinned and stood up, offering me a careful hand. "Nope, sorry."

I scowled, and felt a pang of nervousness that wasn't mine. I turned to him. "Hey, Kael?"

"Yea?"

"Do you have your celphone on you?"

"What, now? What for?"

"'Vika."

"Oh."

I flipped open his celphone and dialed with ease that comes from experience. Kael knew about 'Vika and I.

"Hello?" Alexes' voice sounded breathless.

"Hey, it's me. Can you put 'Vika on?"

"Cal? … Sure, I guess. Hang on a sec."

A minute later, 'Vika came on. I could hear the embarrassment in his voice when he spoke. "'Rica?"

"You ok?"

"You weren't supposed to feel that."

"I probably wasn't, but I did. What happened?"

"I… don't want to talk about it."

"C'mon, 'Vika. You can tell me."

"Not now. Maybe later."

"Tonight, ok?"

His voice was reluctant. "Alright. And 'Rica?"

"Yea?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hover."

I grinned at Kael, who was making chatting noises with his hand. "S'ok. I was irritated by… everything else. I'm sorry."

"It's alright." 'Vika sounded a lot more cheerful, and I hung up, confident that he was ok.

"Ready to go?" Kael asked, and slipped a supporting arm around my waist to help me walk over the uneven ground.

"Sure."

I wavered, and tottered, and we reeled into the fast food restaurant about 20 minutes after starting out. We were both chuckling over some corny joke Kael had heard somewhere when we sat down to wait for our orders.

Then Allen, Greg and Ryan walked in, straight up to the counter.

I groaned and ducked down, and Kael was starting to look regretful. They never left him alone either.

Greg saw us first. "Hey guys! Hi Cal! Hi Kael!" He sniggered a little at the similar sounding names.

"Sorry, Ricci." Kael's voice was sincere as Greg and Ryan made their way over to us, leaving Allen to place the orders.

"Why? You're going to have to stick it out with me."

He shot me a mockingly reproachful look. "And here I was planning on abandoning you the first chance I got!"

"Hey guys, what are you laughing at?" Greg pulled out a plastic chair and sat down next to Kael. Impossibly close. It was a running joke that Greg had a sick obsession with Kael, and Kael hated the idea, no matter how true it actually seemed.

"Nothing you'd understand."

Ryan seemed to take this in stride, sitting next to me. "Hey, Cal? What was wrong yesterday?"

I scowled at the table, then looked up at him. He flinched, and I blinked.

"Whoa dude…" Even Kael sounded strange.

I blinked at him. "What?"

"You're eyes. They flashed. For a second there, I though they were red."

I laughed, a little unnerved. "Seriously? I told you I was thinking about those contacts. Maybe they caught the light or something."

Kael caught my warning glance, even if Greg and Ryan missed it, and we were all laughing at Ryan's reaction when Allen came by.

Allen's not too bad on his own, but around Greg and Ryan he seems to revert back to their I.Q., which, when combined, wouldn't add up to any of their shoe sizes.

"Hey guys." He said, a little breathlessly. It looked like a heavy tray. "Looks like your orders are coming up soon, Cal."

"Really?"

I looked around to the counter, and froze. There, watching our table, watching me, was Cerise.

I groaned, and Kael stared at me.

"What?"

"Tell me. Do you see that lady by the counter? She's just picking up a chocolate sundae."

He looked and gave a low whistle. "Whoa dude, she's hot. Little old for you though, isn't she?"

Allen and the others turned around abruptly at that, and all fervently agreed with Kael.

I scowled at him. "I know that, damnit. I just wanted to know if she was real."

Kael gave me a strange look, then looked at her again. "You know, you're right. She's too pretty to be here." He looked closer. "You know, Ricci, I think she's trying to catch your attention."

"Wouldn't surprise me at all." I muttered.

"Yea. Hey Ricci, why not go talk to her?"

I glared at the uninvited use of one of my nicknames, and Greg smiled back weakly.

"Fine." I muttered. I was getting tired of Cerise. "Move, would you?"

Ryan hastily got out of the way, and I stumbled towards Cerise, who came forward to help me.

"Poor Arical, Daddy really got you good, didn't he."

I frowned at her. "Daddy nothing. It was your idea."

She shrugged, not looking at all abashed. "It was your own fault."

"Like hell it was!" I hissed at her. "And would you please stop following me? You're making all my friends wonder!"

She gave the table I had been sitting at a cool glance, and the temperature dropped slightly. "Like you ever cared about what anyone else thought before? Besides, they're mortals!" Her voice was disgusted, and the air frosted a bit more.

I all but slapped her. "Back off, Cerise. You don't know a thing about them, don't judge them. They're not your court; they don't have to please you. You hold no power here anyway!"

She smirked at me, her cruel streak showing itself all too clearly. "That's where you're wrong, Arical darling."

I flinched at the term of endearment.

She sneered. "Hurts, doesn't it? I owned you before, Arical, and I can and will again. When you reach full status, you will come back. And I will be waiting."

I backed away from her, horrified and angry and really, really afraid.

I knew what she was capable of. She hadn't cared when I got branded, and she had, I suppose, in her own way, loved me.

Cerise smirked at me one last time, and flicked her hair over her shoulder, walking out gracefully.

Kael came up behind me, rubbing his bare arms. "It's cold in here, you wanna go back to the park?"

I nodded numbly, and 25 minutes later I was sitting on the bench by the basketball court, watching Kael and Josh play one on one.

'Vika was concerned for me, he had felt the fear and anger, and was worried over what it might mean. I guessed we had a lot of explaining to do to each other that night.

I was dozing off where I sat when a gentle hand touched my neck, and I jumped, startled by the warm fingertips in the chilly air.

It was Nicolai, he smiled down at me, and gestured the way to the parking lot. "Ready to go?"

"Yea…" I stifled a yawn, and called good-bye to Kael. He waved in my direction absently, and Nicolai helped me stand up.

I flushed, feeling Kael's all too interested gaze on my back as Nicolai helped me over to the van.

"We're all almost ready to go, it's just the showers and changing that needs to be done."

"Where are we going?"

Nicolai shut the door behind me, and I rested my head on my arms as he slid into the driver's seat. He looked at me in the rearview mirror.

"Can't tell you. Alexes would kill me."

"Aw, man!"

He chuckled, and I stuck my tongue out at him as he started the car.

"Anyway, we have two showers at our disposal. Dev's booked mine, so you can share time with him, and I'll use Alexes'."

I hesitated before asking. "Does Alexes have any social life?"

Nicolai's dark gaze caught mine. "Why do you say that?"

"'Cuz he's always with us."

Nicolai laughed outright at that. "Idiot. You've only known him for two days."

"Ahh, alright. I'll lay off. What about you? Don't you have a social life?"

Nicolai's eyes got guarded. "Not really, right now. I'm too busy thinking about school to worry about that. Speaking of school, when do you think you'll be able to get back?"

I immediately groaned in pain, and Nicolai chuckled.

"You aren't fooling me with that one. I know every trick in the book, I've tried them all at least once."

"Even being branded?"

He paused, then, carefully: "Well, no, not that particular one."

I smirked triumphantly.

We traveled in silence for a while, before I thought of something.

"Hey, what were you doing about 20 minutes after you dropped me off?"

"Me? I was buying some milk and bread."

"Oh…"

"Why?"

"No reason."

His eyes searched mine, but he dropped the subject.

When we got to the apartment building, I was hustled into Nicolai's apartment. The shower was already running, and Nicolai indicated the bathroom.

"That's probably Dev. Hurry up, will you? We need to be there soon."

"Be where?" I wailed after him, but he only waved and exited the apartment, heading for Alexes' shower.

I grumbled to myself and wandered around, picking and choosing some clothes to wear.

I was in the middle of looking for a determinedly lost sock, when the shower switched off, and 'Vika wandered through, stark naked.

He paused at the sight of me, and flushed a little, but decided to ignore me. I looked at him over my shoulder, digging around in a washing basket for the cursed sock.

"What if I had been Nicolai? Or Alexes?"

His flush darkened, confirming my suspicions. But he shrugged, picking up a towel and absently drying himself with it. "It wouldn't be. They're both in Alexes' apartment."

"Right." I snorted, and he studiously avoided my gaze.

I shook my head at him, and went in for a shower, remembering to take my towel.

When I was clean and my hair washed and sprayed with detangler, I wandered through to our bedroom, and put on some pants and a shirt.

'Vika studied me from where he was tying back his hair. "Want me to brush it for you?"

"Please." I replied, and sat down on the floor so he could sit on the bed. My hair was too long for just me to brush. But 'Vika liked doing it, and I liked 'Vika doing it, so we kept it that long. It was one way of telling us apart.

He made a soft noise of approval as the comb slid through with hardly any knots, and I grinned to myself.

When I tried to look at him over my shoulder, he pushed my head around to face the front. So I had to ask him without watching him.

"Hey, 'Vika?"

"Mm?"

"Who do you have a crush on?"

His hand paused in its downward stroke. "I don't know what you're talking about." His voice was rich with embarrassment.

I turned to face him. He didn't push me around again.

"Honestly, 'Vika. Do you like Nicolai? Or Alexes?"

His darker flush at the name told me all I needed to know.