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As Lar’a strode over, the coil of unhappiness that had still been gathering in Mal’ik’s chest at being sent away loosened. An hour surrounded by weights with an old friend was better than watching diplomats snipe at each other, no matter who they were.
“Here I am. I also just saw Teav?” Mal’ik let the insinuation trail off and was not surprised when Lar’a’s grin turned roguish.
“She just stopped by to talk about some data. It probably could have been a data tablet message, but…” Lar’a shrugged in a faux casual way. Mal’ik had known Lar’a long enough to know that the but was “but if she just happened to stop by while I was showing off with a barbell, then that’s even better.”
“Right. Well, you’ll have to make do with me now. I can’t lift with you, though. I’m still on duty.”
“That’s fine. You can spot for us.” Lar’a waved over the young girl, who had been perched on a bench. “Astrid, this is Captain Mal’ik. He taught me to use a gatlung.”
“That’s not true.” Mal’ik snorted. He looked down at the girl. “She was already very good when I met her.”
“You made me better.” Lar’a pointed at him. “Mal’ik, this is Astrid Harrison. She’ll be one of the first humans to be trained by the Gat’Raph.”
“Harrison?”
Astrid grinned. “You probably met my dad.”
“Bryant,” Lar’a supplied.
Mal’ik took a moment to rearrange his conception of the rough-looking man by Serihk’s side so that it could include him being the father of a young daughter. Then the second half of Lar’a’s introduction caught up with him.
“The Gat’Raph?”
“They’re starting an experimental mixed regiment of humans and klah’eel,” Astrid said with the air of someone reciting something they were very proud of. “I’ll be one of the first human recruits.”
“That’s good.” Mal’ik nodded and thought of the years he’d fought beside Patrick. “Some of my greatest comrades were humans. And our empire needs more integration between the species.”
“That’s what Lar’a and Serihk always say.”
“And that’s why we’re friends.” Lar’a clapped her hands. “Come on, rest time’s over. We’ve got a lot more sets to get through.”
They fell into the easy rhythms of a workout, with Mal’ik as a full-time spotter. Lar’a had written an aggressive workout on the large screen on the wall, and Mal’ik was privately glad he had a solid excuse for not participating. Though, if he was starting to shy away from workouts, it meant he needed to do them more. He’d make Patrick step up their training regimens once these talks were over and the job was done.
And Oliver left.
Mal’ik pushed the thought away. Yes, Oliver would leave in a week or so when this was all done. And everything would go back to the way it was before. Mal’ik had never had a problem with the way things had been before. Things were barely any different right now.
He’d only met Oliver a few days ago. And yes, Oliver made his heart race and chest warm. And yes, he made Mal’ik feel…worthwhile. Like he was more than just the soldier he’d always been. And yes, Mal’ik had fucked him, and it had been amazing. But none of it changed anything. It certainly hadn’t changed anything for Oliver.
“What’s eating you?” Lar’a looked up at him, sniffing with a scrunched nose. She was lying on her back on a bench, hands on the barbell that Mal’ik was about to help her lift off the rack.
“Nothing.” Mal’ik shook his head and braced to lift the weight before Lar’a could press for a better answer. “Ready?”
The workout slowed after the better part of an hour, moving into a cooldown and stretching phase that didn’t need Mal’ik’s help. So he sat on one of the benches and twirled a little two-pound weight in his hand.
Lar’a brought her arm across her chest to stretch her shoulders. “Job’s been quiet so far.”
Mal’ik nodded. “Yeah.”
Astrid glanced between them. “You guys don’t like it, do you?”
“Nope.” Lar’a shook her head. “I’ve been hearing things about that new Resistance leader.”
“So have I.” Mal’ik sighed and set the weight down. “Ethan mentioned him in one of his letters recently. Said he’s even more idealistic than most, and not in a good way.”
“Ethan?” Lar’a repeated. “You still hear from him?”
“He sends me letters every few months. Lets me know how he’s doing.”
