Kevin M. Casin

“The bones aren’t human or of any animal in Enmar,” said Richard as he stared at the grave and tapped on the tablet. Sleek black drones drove into the depths and reconstructed the thick diphysis on the translucent screen.

“Could this be a Jotunn?”

Richard had theorized the existence of giants a few years ago. The archeological record was filled to the brim with fossils from extraordinarily large creatures. Few accepted his hypothesis but the mystery in these bones was the key. A cacophony of questions came to him: where did they come from? And where is the ship? And why visit Enmar? To dig a grave and die under a mesa?

“It’s nearly the length of the mountain,” Liam said, interrupting the noisy inquiries.

Richard felt him hovering over his shoulder. His familiar pulsing breath on his neck distracted him.

Richard shrugged his shoulders and stepped away from Liam, who threw up his hands and said, “totally innocent today. Business only, I swear.”

“Then go fix the spectrometer,” Richard snapped. “Damn thing isn’t ionizing properly and we’ve got to get this thing analyzed by the end of the day. Quorum’s expecting this report–”

“Fine! I won’t keep distracting you. I promise.” Liam grinned.

With a wave of his hand, waves of matter rippled across the air, and he summoned a drone of his own. A “fairy” people used to call the dragonfly-winged creature fluttering around Liam’s head.

“Richard!” Said Avery, the mint fleshed figure in a form-fitting silver jumpsuit. They waved furiously, void black hair bobbing around.

“Good to see you,” Richard said and nodded.

He watched Avery follow Liam to the translucent box. Richard’s eyes fell to watch Liam squat and shape matter into instruments he and Avery could use. Richard did everything he could to pry his attention away, to ignore how adorable he found Liam’s tongue chewing as he concentrated, or the exposed gray, loose boxer briefs–and the memory of them last night on his pillow.

Why couldn’t Liam just leave him alone? Everything was fine before he showed up. Love was also a frivolous thing. It took away from important things, like proving his theory. After years of writing grants, researching the fossil records, lobbying the Quorom, getting them to admit the grave even existed, much less give him the permit to excavate the bones, he was so close to the proof. He didn’t need love. He had giants.

“Ah, problem’s with the ionizer,” said Liam, breaking Richard’s visions.

“I know that, did you fix it?”

“Yup! Quadrupole looks good. Chromatographers ready. I think we’re all set.”

Liam rose, boots squeaked as he spun around and waddled over to Richard. The instruments dissolved in Liam’s hands and Avery flew away to help the drones. They were alone.

Liam stood too close. Richard had to say something, anything to slap out of his mind how soft he found Liam’s arm hair. Work was always the best distraction.

“There’s no way these bones are made of calcium. Crystals don’t look right from these images.”

“I’m sorry,” Liam said. He huffed and a fragrant air of spearmint and coffee cuddled Richard. It coerced the memories of other kisses. “I can’t ignore what happened. It’s what I wanted to happen. Couldn’t you tell I’ve been flirting with you all these years? I finally got up the nerve to make my move. Didn’t you like it?”

Richard couldn’t tell him how much he liked it, how much he loved it. He wanted to. He’d never been good at flirting or dating, he didn’t understand how it was so easy for others. It was easy with Liam, so easy it scared him.

“Say something. Don’t just tap at your screen. The analysis is going to take a while anyway.”

Work had always been a wonderful distraction for Richard. He channeled his emotions, his time, his desires into studying the mysteries of the Enmar. It had never failed him before until Liam showed up. Why was he so afraid?

The tablet fractured, crumbling into sand, and Liam grabbed Richard’s wrist. He turned, his eyes never meeting those rich, amber irises that had caused all this trouble. But he didn’t have a choice. Liam’s hand, delicate and rough, cupped his cheeks, and forced their eyes to link.

“You aren’t going to ignore this. I’ve known you too long to know how you are and what you do. I know you like me. This will work if you take a chance. We can solve this mystery together.”

The last words came out like a whisper, one between their minds. Richard still didn’t believe him. Love had never been something Richard considered for his life. He didn’t think the world had any to spare for him. Why Liam, a beautiful, perfect man, had any interest in Richard confounded him. Could they solve that mystery?

Avery zipped up to Liam, who turned his head toward the fairy and said, “it’s a giant! We found a Jotunn from the legends! The chemical analysis confirms they aren’t calcium crystals, but lead. And the origins aren’t from Enmar. The giants are out there somewhere.”

Liam glanced back at Richard. He grinned and said, “what to go find them?”

Richard wanted nothing more than to find the giants, to prove his theory was correct once and for all. Could he do it with Liam? Could he mind the distraction? Richard allowed himself to peer into Liam’s eyes. There was a whole happy future waiting for him. It wasn’t a promise. It was a chance.

Richard leaned in and kissed Liam. He took so many chances at work. He could do this too.