But this was a dream, and the only way to waking was through.
“I wasn’t scared,” he told Fian.
“Okay,” said the other man, amusement coiling around the corners of that smiling mouth, making those full lips stand out even more.
Kai swallowed.“Okay.”
He let his eyes roam over Fian, but he tried to be subtle about it.Then he remembered this was only a dream and dropped all subtlety.
Fian didn’t seem to mind.“Do you like what you see?”
It’s a dream.Don’t be nervous.He has to do whatever you dream him to do.It sounded simple enough, but the unfamiliar underwater setting and the clarity of the dream were unusual.Stress.You haven’t dreamed at all when you were in what shithead Nick called a relationship.
Kai cleared his throat, wondering that a dream required it.“You’re wearing a lot of clothes.That really limits what I can see.”If this is a dream, he’ll take his clothes off.If he doesn’t, I probably have a mysterious illness that makes you dream hot dudes and bigger things to worry about.
Fian’s eyes widened in pleased surprise.He licked his lips.“I can do that.But not for just the asking.Tell me something you like, and I’ll give you my pants.”His hand drifted to his crotch, indicating he was willing to give more than just his pants.
This is fast.Ho, boy, this is fast.Not that I’m complaining.
“I like…well.Okay, this is silly.No, wait, it’s really not.I like ending a day by getting comfy on my couch—the couch I used to own, back at my place.My old place.In the city, you know.Before I moved.I liked getting comfy, maybe putting on a facemask which made me look like some sort of nightmare monster, and then I’d just play whatever game I was into at the time.”Kai smiled.“I haven’t really done this.But when you came into the Jammery earlier today, the real you, when the real you came into the Jammery, I decided to do it.I got out my console, and I just did what I wanted to.Felt so good.”
Fian listened with intent, his eyes never once wavering from Kai’s face.“I’m glad.Hmm.I’ve never played a game like that, I think, although I like games the humans play.There was that one with the snake on one of the earliest phones I got.The snake ate treats and got longer and longer.I really liked that.”
Kai cocked his head.“That’s very, uh, old-school.Gaming has come a long way since then.”
Fian reached for Kai’s hand.“I had no idea.Do you think you’d maybe want to show me sometime?Oh, I could cook okra for us, with mushrooms!”
One hundred percent the weirdest dream ever.“Sure.But you were saying about your pants?”
Fian’s mouth formed anohas if he’d forgotten all about that.
“They are yours, Kai.But before that, I have to tell you that this is not a simple dream.I am not a figment of your imagination.I am real, and whatever you choose to share with me—to do with me—it will be real.”
“Excuse me?”
Fian gestured.“It’s…there is metaphysical laws and stuff.The explanation is normally quite long-winded.All I’m trying to say is, don’t do anything with me here that you wouldn’t do with me on land.”
Kai nodded slowly.Fian was still holding his hand in a strong, warm grip that dispelled so much of the weight Kai had felt upon himself.
“Weirdest dream ever, I swear.Please take off your pants now.”
5
“Pleasetakeoffyourpants now.”
Fian wasn’t exactly sure, but the request—the steadfast order—was quite possibly better than the rosehip jam Kai had given him.
Maybe he doesn’t need much convincing.Maybe he’ll be my landbride just for the asking.I’d bring him seashells as gifts—no, stupid, that’s the stories.I’d carve him things from driftwood, pretty things and useful things like…things humans find useful.They like spoons and car tires and water bottles.Well, I can’t carve water bottles or tires, but I’ll make him all the cutlery he ever dreamed of.And possibly a decorative phallus or two, and—
“What about those pants?”Kai gestured down to where Fian’s legs were.The low current moved his honey-golden hair, making him look as if he were illuminated.
He’s so handsome.Fian blinked.“Of course.Yes.But, Kai, this reallyisreal, and you must want it.You shouldn’t do anything in your dreams that you wouldn’t also do in real life.”
“I don’t think that’s how dreams work.”The lovely human grinned.“Besides, nothing better to get over getting cheated on than falling into someone else’s arms.”His grin crumbled.“Although…I’ve never done that.Even with the swimmer—I mean, it’s weird.I don’t think I really feel anything for Nick, you know.I’m not sad he was an asshole, I’m just sad I wasted my time on him and moved to this fucking ass-pit of a town when I had a good life before.I’m no longer sure why I did it.”
Kai frowned, that beautiful grin now gone like sandcastles in the incoming tide.
Fian hated that because, dream ethics aside, seeing Kai happy and eager to jump his tentacles had made Fian feel lighter.He wanted that expression back on Kai’s face, selfish perhaps, but then he was a demon and was allowed at least a small pearl’s worth of that.He would explain about the magic soon, and he’d unravel it, also soon.
