The Fine Flair Of Gowshit

Chapter 9

The Fine Flair Of Gowshit

"Is this not the part where you lay your whole soul bare and tell us how in the gods you knew the king of the bio-world?!" Zaylee exclaimed, throwing her hands up in the air. She, along with the rest of my teammates, flew into the bio-medical wing like there was a fire on their heels. It took only five minutes after Xanth left for them to come busting in through the doors, immediately shooting off questions my voice inhibitor would never let me answer. I had never even gotten the chance to get some actual sleep. I scratched my brow, sighing as Zaylee continued to go on her rant. Masha, as usual, was quiet. She sat in a chair near my cot with her eyes narrowed at Zaylee. Her mouth pressed in a firm line, and she crossed her arms over her chest as she waited for Zaylee to finish her tirade. This had been going for the past few minutes, and neither one of my teammates had chosen to intervene. Once Zaylee had an outburst, it was nothing you could do but just let her finish. We all had our ways of venting mine, was going into my ethereal form and releasing waves into a planet. Daisha chose to use one of us as a sparring partner, along with Masha. Kira chose to make new poisons and throw her knives into a practicing dummy and watch how the wood rotted from it. Even now, Kira tossed her dagger up in the air as she leaned back on one of the pillows of my bed. I scooched over a little giving her some room to rest her head. She glanced up at me rolling her eyes as Zaylee continued in her outpouring. I smiled down at Kira nudging her shoulder. Zaylee, on the other hand, liked to rant. A smile began to crest the edges of Kira's lips. Her reaction, already saying what I felt. I liked that Zaylee was going on her war rampage. We all did, even though it could be annoying as bad waves at times. Zaylee only had a tirade like this when she was scared for us. Of course, she wouldn't flat out say it, but it also meant she cared. Daisha huffed out a breath where she and Zaylee both sat at the edge of my feet. Daisha sat hunched over, her elbow on her thigh and her hand under her chin. Her blue eyes had a bored glaze look on them, but she too had a soft smile on her face. I smiled wider when my dragons slithered up my arms again like they were trying to cover their ears against Zaylee's high pitch screeching. When I saw Zaylee's face beginning to turn a deep shade of red, I leaned forward a little patting her knee. A silent reminder for her to breathe. Zaylee sucked in a deep breath as she finished. Heaving out a lungful of air as she ran her fingers through her blue hair. The ends of it cricked and crackled as her anxiety settled down.

"Okay, I'm done." Masha gave her a lifted eyebrow.

"Seriously I am. Promise." Masha paused for a few moments testing to see if Zaylee was done.

When she didn't so much as twitch, Masha finally leaned forward, her white eyes locking with my brown ones.

"Mute, can you even sign your answer, or does that things prevent even the smallest of answers."

I swallowed, the warm spit flowing down my throat was a stark contrast against the cold metal of my voice inhibitor. "I can't say, but worse for you all, Danger. Floated." My teammates followed my signing as best as they could. Their faces, going pale as I finished. They all exchanged worried looks with each other. Daisha sighed and placed a hand over my folded legs. Her blue eyes darkened into an opaque green. A clear sign she was trying to keep from crying. "You've been through so much. Haven't you?" All eyes landed on me as I blinked away the tears forming in my own eyes. The Bio-world had taken everything from me. My home, my sister, even my ability to trust those around me. It was getting harder and harder to keep on fighting, but I still kept trying to escape. It was the only way I could stay sane. Once, I had gotten so damn close to freedom, only for it to be snatched up by someone who betrayed me. I cleared my throat, trying to keep from screaming out my pain. Forcing down the memories of the day my sister died. Instead, I just shook my head yes, because it was true. Something warm and wet dripped down on my hand. I swiped at it. Two more fell, and that was when I realized I was crying. Ancestors, how did I let it get this far, but damn did it not feel good to let it out. I guess the release I did into this planet could only do so much for my emotions.

"Mute?"

I glanced up at Zaylee, realizing that my teammates had all gotten closer to me. They all had looks of worry and confusion on their faces. It was the first time I had let them see me cry.

"I know you don't like hugs, but is it oka-"

I didn't give Daisha the chance to finish her sentence as I shot forward, wrapping my arms around her and Zaylee. They returned my hug full force, and I felt Masha and Kira join in. This hug wasn't something that I wanted, but damn, is it not something that I needed. I felt my teammates' tears join mine. I felt their lines in our link jump with their pain and sadness. Xanth was right, I didn't know how I could have been so blind. I was not the only one who was in pain. We all have our stories, mute. We sat like that for what felt like seconds, but I knew minutes had passed before we released each other. Zaylee was the first to pull away.

"Kira, when was the last time you washed your hair." She sniffed, clearing her throat. I sighed, smiling as I felt Kira tense up around me.

"You just had to ruin it didn't you." Kira scoffed, leaning back against the pillows. The bangs of her ebony hair fell into her irate, silver eyes.

Zaylee blinked at her. "Well, I'm sorry I don't like smelling sweaty Kira all the time." I leaned back next to Kira shaking my head. Masha returned to her chair, rolling her eyes as Kira refuted.

"I just got out of training, drozit!"

Zaylee held a finger against her nose. "And you didn't take a shower. That is nasty. Mm, I'm going to throw up now."

Kira gave a closed-lip scream. "Give me one good reason why I shouldn't toss this knife into your throat."

Zaylee just shot her a dead look. "Girl, that is some fine flair of gowshit your spitting there. We all had time to take a shower, and you just decided not to. Oh, and I pray to the gods that you would throw that knife at me."

Daisha didn't even bother using her words of peace this time. She just sighed, squinting her eyes at the wall behind me before she dragged a fighting Zaylee by the scruff of her shirt, walking toward the door. She waved goodbye to me before leaving.

"Get some sleep, Mute. If I had known Kira wasn't going to take a shower, I would have locked the door." Zaylee's retort echoed down the hallway. Masha chose that moment to block a now screaming Kira. Masha grabbed Kira by her shirt as well, as she called back to me "Sleep well, Mute. We'll see you tomorrow for training." I smiled to myself as the door slid shut behind them. Younglings. I was surrounded by younglings.

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After some well-needed sleep and a nice warm, shower to relax my still aching muscles. I finally made my way toward the training room. My wet hair, tied in a braid, curled up as it dried. Small pieces of it popped free and fell to rest on the sides of my cheeks. My dragons floated and twirled around each other as they waited for me to finish wrapping the burn gauze. The salve Xanth had given me did wonders for my agitated skin, but the scalds still had a long way before they would vanish. As good as it was, it still didn't stop the wrap from slipping. I blew out a sigh. Ancestors, this was starting to piss me off. Once again, I tried to guide it around my arm, but for some reason, the gauze decided today was the day to piss me off. Frustrated, I gave a growl tossing my hands in the air. I heard one of the doors slide open and paused mid-walk. Xanth stood there in another white sleeveless robe. The ends of it streamed down to the ground. The skin on his arms, left uncovered, was smooth and tan, marked by tattoos. The intricate patterns were like smaller tattoos that made up a massive one. They flowed down his bare shoulders and stopped at the tips of his forearms. He had on white pants that touched the ends of his ankles. His feet were covered in white slip-on shoes. Every single inch of the cloth fit him in all the right places. I sputtered. Xanth had to be a tempter, there was no other way for someone that gorgeous not to be. To quote Zaylee, Good gracious ass bodacious. The man had to be sculpted by the gods. He had yet to notice me practically ogling him as he stood there glowering down at a bio-telescreen. His long onyx hair was braided on the sides while the rest of it spilled around his broad shoulders, looking silky. The braids had silver jewels adorning them this time, a way to show his status in the world. I had almost forgotten that Xanth was the Bio-king's son, and next in line for the throne. If his father ever keeled over and died, and that was a very big If. I shook my head. Get a hold of yourself. Mute. He was trying to comfort me yesterday, that was all. It was a mutual comfort between friends. Yeah, that is it. Don't let your emotions affect your judgment. After a horrible wrap finish, I waved my dragons over. Lux immediately slid onto my shoulder, caressing my cheek. Noctis, however, had other plans. I waved him toward me again, but he just floated in the air, his eyes on Xanth. His little head tilted to the side. Above me, Noctis made some sort of chittering sound.