“I wish to speak with you, Ξ.A.kr’ξ??’p,” Titan said once he had their attention.
Avoiding eye contact, Al turned back to dishing out disks of sweet bread to the offspring. “I do not wish to speak with you,” he said in response.
“Al,” Human Jude murmured, gently putting a hand on his mate’s elbow.
Al shot him a look that made Human Jude sigh.
“We are busy feeding the offspring,” Al said as an excuse.
“I can handle it,” Human Jude assured him. Almost too quietly for Titan to hear, he added, “Go see what he has to say. Maybe he’ll surprise you.”
Al did not appear to believe this would be the case. Harrumphing, he turned to his offspring. “Behave for your father and consume your sustenance in a timely and efficient manner. I am going to speak with Uncle Titan. I will return soon. Very soon,” he added, shooting a glare Titan’s way.
“Are you upset ’cause Uncle Titan and Uncle Ezra had a sleepover?” Eleanor asked. Jude snickered, but stopped quickly when Al turned his glare on him instead.
“Behave, offspring,” Al said again, abandoning the kitchen and gesturing for Titan to follow.
The two of them walked silently into the formal dining room next door. Titan took a seat at the large mahogany table, and Al pointedly sat several spaces away from him. They did not speak for nearly a minute.
“If you want to say something, ?.Λ.yz’Ο,” Al said in Darvrokian, “say it quickly.”
“We need to talk about a couple things,” Titan replied in their native tongue.
“Oh, let me guess.” Al rolled his eyes. “I shouldn’t be upset that you and Ezra hooked up, since you’resogreat and should be able to have anything you want, and anyone who disagrees is just getting in your way. Am I close?”
“No,” Titan said quietly. Pensively. He spent an increment considering his next words, then amended, “Perhaps I would have believed that to be true as recently as an Earth week ago, but… not anymore. Now, what I want to say, more than anything else, is that I’m sorry.”
“You’re—what?” Al faltered.
“I’m sorry,” Titan repeated. “Not just for hooking up with Ezra, but for… all of it.”
“All of it?” Al frowned at him. “All of what?”
Titan got up out of his chair and went over to take a seat closer to Al. Al watched him warily as he approached and leaned away from him as he sat down. When Titan angled himself so that he was facing him, Al scooted his chair back. Titan sighed.
“I haven’t been a good brother to you, Ξ.A.kr’ξ??’p… no, not Ξ.A.kr’ξ??’p. AA.??’p’Zx. That’s your name now. I’m sorry for that, too. For not acknowledging the being you’ve become this past Earth year.”
Al looked stricken and speechless, so Titan barreled on.
“I’m still learning what all these new feelings I’ve been having mean. My whole life, I’ve been told that I’m destined for great things, and because of that, I’ve been arrogant. Cruel. I’ve beencruel.But you must understand, AA.??’p’Zx, this cruelty… I think, maybe, it has come from a place of jealousy.”
“Jealousy?” Al asked, squeaking out a disbelieving laugh. “You’ve spent your whole life making it perfectly clear that there’s nothing about me that’s worth envying.”
“But there is,” Titan said, impassioned. “I was born with the burden of expectation. Father has always put pressure on me to be the perfect offspring, to follow in his footsteps, but you? You’ve had freedom. You’ve had the freedom to be whomever you wanted to be. I think it’s possible that I was cruel to you because part of me wanted what you had. And then you found your True Mate, and…” He blew out a breath. “Brother, there are many, many things about you that are enviable. You are a remarkable being, and always have been, and I apologize for not telling you sooner.”
Al said nothing, continuing to stare in shock, so Titan rambled on.
“I realize none of this is an excuse,” he said. “And you have every reason to detest me. I won’t hold it against you if you can’t forgive me, but I needed you to know the truth.”
“Why?” Al asked finally, voice tiny.
Titan cocked his head. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, why now? What changed?”
Titan smiled, somewhat wistful.
“Ambassador Ezra,” he said, heart leaping at the mere thought of him. “He is not simply a conquest, AA.??’p’Zx. I love him.”
