Brotherhood ~ Chapter 7

Work what?  What on earth were they talking about?  And since when did those two get so chummy anyway? I wondered in confusion as I slowly backed away from the scene.  Whatever Aidan and Collin were discussing, it certainly had not been meant for my ears.

And who the hell were the AFA and The Order?

When Aidan and I first crossed paths with Collin, I thought I had seen a fleeting look of recognition – or perhaps acknowledgement – pass between the two men.  I was now of the mind that they had known each other in the Time Before, and if perhaps not, then they had certainly made their acquaintance in this Time After.

I had a feeling that something wasn’t quite right and so this was why I had gone looking for them.  The fear that they might finally mix it up in a seriously bad way up was always a concern, and when I heard Collin’s raised voice on the wind I had a hunch that they were fighting about me.  However, after witnessing the scene, now I was not so certain – they weren’t quarreling over me but rather over what to do with me!

Disillusioned to the max, I felt like slinking away – back out into the desert all by my lonesome.

I would have, if not but for the fact that I loved both Aidan and Collin.

What a freaking mess you’ve gotten yourself into, Sierra, I glumly considered as I chewed on my lip.

Skulking back into camp, I figured I should occupy myself so that when the two men returned it wouldn’t be obvious that I had been eavesdropping.  A little carving would do the trick – this task would busy my hands and my mind as well.

In short order, I found a suitable piece of wood that I could smooth and shape into a walking staff for Collin.  Even though he had healed and was up to par for the most part, his leg still troubled him on elevation hikes and thus a hiking stick would be a big help.

Not long after I had taken up working the wood was when I heard both men approaching.  Craning my head, I glanced over my shoulder and thought, here comes trouble.  With trepidation I now rose to my feet, turning to face them.

As they drew near I now offered up a congenial smile.  Act like nothing is wrong, I inwardly laughed, wondering if I’d be able to convincingly pull it off.

Easier said than done, I thought as my smile now began to falter.

I could sense that Aidan he was brooding, even though outwardly he showed no sign I could feel it.  On the other hand, Collin’s mood was elevated and he made no attempt whatsoever to conceal this.  That was Collin all over, though – quick to each emotion in its turn, seldom giving thought to suppressing any of them, regardless their nature or intensity.  And then he expected everyone around him to get over his emotional outbursts just as quickly as he did himself.

He didn’t expect much, huh? I considered in amusement.  However, because of this ability, I suspected that he also did not hold grudges.  Harbor them perhaps, but hold them?  No.  Collin was a man who got over things fast.

“Sierra, we’d need to speak with you” Aidan slowly began as he and Collin came to a stop to now stand before me.  He was his usual close, reserved self whereas Collin was rocking on his heels, clearly expectant.  “Collin has brought it to my attention that you and he share a mutual attraction,” Aidan continued, at which point my jaw abruptly dropped.  I was certain I must have turned eight shades of red.

Was he hoping for a denial on my part? I wondered.  Most often his visage was so stoic that it was impossible to tell what he was thinking with any degree of accuracy.  Swallowing hard, I had no idea what I should say but one thing was certain – I was not about to lie to the man.

In the Time Before, the order of the day between people had always been dirty little secrets, dirty little lies, to quote some old but dead-on lyrics.  These lies had plagued our society to no end.  Dirty laundry – as accurate an assessment back then as it would be today.  A serious shortage of truth in our pre-apocalyptic world had caused a whole shit load full of trouble.  And this, I had no doubts, had played a major role in the untimely demise of our civilization.

Yes – it was indeed time to break those nasty old habits.  Let the chips fall where they may, I decided and so took a deep breath before speaking.

“Yeah, uh – I guess I didn’t conceal that all too well, huh?” I apologized, somehow feeling as if I were at fault here for being attracted to two men.

“You weren’t expected to, Sierra” Aidan was quick to assure me.  “Although I will not apologize for being protective of you, I regret having made you feel as if you couldn’t talk to me.  You are free to do as you wish, of course” he conceded.  Aidan was genuine in his assertion; however, I could now sense his discomfort.  The man truly did love me!  In many ways we had behaved like people who were in love but had yet to say to each other the L word, making it official.

Standing there looking back and forth between the two men, I was torn.  So, Aidan wasn’t going to rip Collin’s limbs off if I choose to get cozy with him.  That was a relief, but beneath the surface of this I suspected it went deeper – a lot deeper.

While he listened, Collin continued to rock on his heels in anticipation, a joyous smile gracing that handsome face of his.  Brat, I thought in exasperation of the man.  It was more than obvious that Collin was taking inventory of the possibilities which could now present themselves.  The man made a shallow effort at best to suppress his elation.  He was visibly on a high and who could blame the man?  After all – Collin was just that, a man.  And I knew the one thing that was always on a man’s mind, and this was sex.  Prisoners of their own hormones men were – now in this Time After as they had been in the Time Before.

“Ok,” I slowly began, “thanks for letting Jane here make her own decisions, Tarzan” I made light but yet held back a tear regardless.  Up until then, I hadn’t realized just how devoted I had become to Aidan, despite my carnal attraction to Collin.  After all, how could any woman not be attracted to Collin? I considered in dismay – with those killer good looks and that come hither smile?  The man was eye-candy hands down all the way.  Yet now, standing there knowing that I was free to make my own choice without any repercussions from Aidan for either of us, I suddenly found myself unsure.

“We are stronger together than apart,” I reasoned with a shrug, although I felt like I had really stepped in it this time, “and if this is what it takes to keep the two of you from killing each other, then I am willing to keep an open mind and won’t close any doors” I assured the two men, but it came out sounding like I was nothing more than a fence sitter.  But wasn’t that a woman’s prerogative, after all?  It might have been, but that wasn’t how I liked living my life.

Offering Aidan a tentative smile, he only held my eyes in return but otherwise had nothing to say.  Yeah, he wasn’t at all thrilled about this I could tell and so was dismayed by just how much.  Something was brewing in Aidan right below the surface, as if there was a new play about to unfold as a result of this change in fortunes.

Briefly glancing at Collin, I was able to see confirmation of this reflected in his own face, which was far more readable than Aidan’s.  It shown through his fierce tiger-green eyes as well.  Collin held my gaze for a moment and then winked as he now grinned.  The man then turned on his heel, striding off and humming a tune.  Was that We are the Champions he hummed?  I could only laugh to myself – Collin was certainly one eclectic man.

As I watched him walking away it was clear that he had a lilt in his step.  This spoke itself quite clearly – victory was his and this much he knew with the absolute certainty of confidence.