Salt lets out a low grunt and suddenly says, "Did you watch porn in your room to kill time? I did sometimes, guilty as charged."
"Well, yeah, but not all the time. After training I was fucking exhausted; I’d crash hard."
"I get it. So what were you training? Some sword stuff or something? I saw you with that… pipe thing. You got some moves, huh…"
I struggle to hold back a laugh.
"I trained in Kendo for years, the Japanese sword-fighting art. Anzo was great at it and insisted we learn it too. Besides that, it was mostly wrestling, jiu-jitsu, and Muay Thai."
Salt is silent for a moment, then rubs his chin lightly.
"Sounds like a lot to learn."
"Yeah. So. When the FBI took Anzo away, I escaped along with my brother Mauro and a few others." I hesitate for a moment, then decide to say it.
"I spent a few days wandering the streets until I ended up outside the Fate’s Choice agency, and that was when Storm approached me, claiming he could see human auras, and that someone under his care had an aura identical to mine. And that’s how we met."
Silence falls. Salt plucks at the end of a strand of his hair, saying nothing, lost in thought.
"There is not much more I can tell you, really. I never had close relationships. I never even had… friends. Everything is new to me, in the outside world."
Salt keeps quiet for a long moment. The silence is really deep, so heavy I can almost feel his thoughts physically. He has sunk into something dark and serious.
Then, all of a sudden, I decide to say the thing that should have been said between us a long time ago.
"But… if we are True Mates, we will find out today. Have you thought about what you would do if that turned out to be true?"
Salt jerks away from me and turns to face me. Losing contact with his skin is unpleasant, and I can see something strange shift across his face.
"Eliano, stop. I do not believe in that!"
"Do you not believe in it, or do you just not want it to be true?"
"I do not believe in it, period."
I shrug lightly. "Look, it doesn’t really matter if you believe in it or not. If it’s real, it’s gonna affect us either way. I just want to know what you’d do in that situation, and if it would change anything for you," I say in a slightly cranky tone.
As I’m talking, I can already feel that sharp spike of energy rolling off Salt, but I push on.
"We haven’t talked about this before because I didn’t want to corner you. Didn’t want to make you lie, or straight up admit you’re planning to leave the island."
When his eyes suddenly widen, I add quickly, "Hey, relax. I’m not asking for an answer." Then I snort lightly and go on, "But here’s the brutal truth. If we really are fated, and that energy coil snaps into place, then whatever happens to you… happens to me too," I finish more quietly.
Even softened like this, it still lands hard. Salt’s face drains of color, suddenly twisting into pure anger.
"You can’t…" he snaps through clenched teeth, then cuts himself off and drags in a breath. "You can’t force this on me, Eliano!" he shouts.
The reaction is so over the top and simply absurd that I burst out laughing before I can stop myself, which only sets him off more.
In one sharp move, he jolts to his feet, stepping out of the tub and sending foam and water sloshing across the floor.
"Salt, wait!" I say fast. "I’m not forcing anything. Hell, I’ve got doubts too. I’m just talking about a possibility. One that’s kinda real, because there are signs it might be."
He suddenly stops and glares at me. "What signs?!"
I hesitate, then mutter, "Starting with the taste of our semen. And the way I can feel you so clearly. Your moods, your emotions…"
Salt’s face is dark and stormy now, as he averts his gaze. He dries off quickly and leaves the bathroom.
