The Stories We Keep Secret

[losthunter]

Hunter has received a few phone calls after completing his memorial to Kendra, and getting the opportunity to display the artwork in his dimension. His goal of finding the other people who might have had Kendra affect their lives had been successful. And now he is ready to go speak to them personally.

But first, he didn't want to go alone. And at the same time, he didn't want those he was meeting to know that he didn't trust them. So he called Faris to join him in the adventure. Hopefully he would be able to put more of Kendra's memory to peace by doing this.

Comments

[boldygoing]

"She wasn't?" Jim repeats, a little surprised to hear that Kendra would appear as anything other than female. Mostly because all the little girls they met during their trip back in time were clearly... well, girls. The names being different comes as no surprise, however.

"I shall," Faris agrees, stretching out his paws and back, and curling his whiplike tail to loosen up the joints. "As one who knows little of magic or oracles, the experience was an interesting glimpse into a world I do not know. All persons involved displayed distinct talents that had been gifted to them."

[losthunter]

"Each of the people that we spoke to... had spoken of challenges in their own life. Most had suffered some kind of abuse before meeting Kendra's aspect." Hunter paused for a moment.

"Most also spoke about how, once they were given support and guidance from Kendra's aspect, that she disappeared out of their lives."

Hunter paused again. "Most of them also spoke about making a romantic connection in their lives. Someone who took over that role of providing support and guidance..."

[boldygoing]

Now it makes all the more sense why those doubts plagued Hunter so strongly, why he and Faris had spoken about romantic partners, and Jim frowns a little. Sure, Hunter has said that he no longer feels a need to define their relationship, and that the lack of permanence doesn't bother him, but Jim is an expert at pretending everything's fine when it's not.

"And you don't have that in common."

[losthunter]

Hunter can guess where Jim's mind has gone. His mind has gone the same route.

"My dad was tough on me. But I was never abused..." He has to clarify that there is one more connection that is missing. One more thing that had made him question things.

"But... as for the relationships..." Hunter turns to look at Jim again. "It wasn't until you were in my life, when Kendra disappeared. And I know it was because she finally knew that I had someone who could give me that support and guidance."

[boldygoing]

"I can't pretend to understand how she would know that, but... I think you're right," Jim says after a long moment's consideration.

[losthunter]

Hunter smiles softly at Jim's agreement. "All of them, except for Austin, spoke very highly of their time with Kendra's aspect."

"I had to tell a few of them that she wasn't coming back. That she was gone."

Hunter closed his eyes for a moment. "I think that only Austin and I witnessed Kendra fading away. But for him... it was more gradual. Her aspect was in a hospital. And I get the feeling that she faded away in that sterile environment and that he felt helpless to help her."

[boldygoing]

Jim isn't a big fan of hospitals, and he knows neither is Hunter. So the thought of watching somebody like that just... fade away... it's disturbing.

"So he attacked you?"

[losthunter]

"He got really agitated when I tried to ask him questions. Even more agitated when I tried to relate to him."

Hunter touches his arm for a moment. "I never expected him to get violent."

[boldygoing]

"Of course not. Why would you?" Jim hopes that Hunter doesn't blame himself. It's not his fault this Austin guy flipped out.

[losthunter]

"I'm glad that I had Faris there. It helped me to stay calm. To stay focused."

Hunter doesn't know where things will lead, once he goes looking for Austin. But he feels that it is a continuation of the path that he has already taken.

"He may be lost. He may need someone to guide him, now that he doesn't have that aspect of Kendra anymore."

[poetwarrior]

"A commendable attitude, though I still advise caution," Faris says. "If he has harmed you once, he could do so again."

[losthunter]

"I am going to be wary... I won't let him hurt me again. Or anyone else."

[boldygoing]

"Is there any kind of... I don't know... magical defenses you can use?" Jim asks, unsure of how the whole thing works. "Like some kind of... anti-curse protection."

[losthunter]

"That is a good question. And I know just the people to ask about that." Hunter is glad he has Jim here to advise him.

"It is a little reassuring to know that I have time to prepare. To plan out my next steps."

[boldygoing]

Jim smiles slightly. "Always prepare when you can."

[losthunter]

"Yes. Lesson learned about not being prepared."

Hunter snuggles close to Jim for a moment.

"So... I got us an escort for our Drag Date."

[boldygoing]

Faris decides to give the two humans some measure of privacy, and ventures out into the apartment in search of breakfast. He's fairly certain he remembers where Hunter keeps his favorite ingredients, motor oil and all.

"Oh, now who's using the word 'date'?" Jim says, teasing lightly. "I didn't know we needed an escort."

[losthunter]

Hunter blushes. He is going to use that word more often now. It is just a nice feeling to say it.

"Well, I invited Verity. She noted that someone should not be wearing high heels."

It might occur to Jim now that Verity might be the she, that the dark doubts were questioning.

[boldygoing]

He does wonder, but Hunter's mood right now is a good one, and Jim doesn't want to ruin it by bringing it up. Besides... it really does seem like those doubts aren't weighing on him at all, now that he's free of the curse.

"I guess that's practical," Jim agrees, raising his eyebrows. "Although if we get into trouble and end up having to run or something, I'm taking my shoes off."

[losthunter]

"Now now now... let's not stray into Cinderella too much..." Hunter takes advantage of the fact that they are alone for the moment, to nuzzle Jim's neck.

[boldygoing]

Jim laughs a little at that. "I wasn't even thinking about that."

[losthunter]

Hunter is pretty tempted to test if Jim's libido has returned or not. After all, he feels even closer to the other man, considering what they have both gone through. But he figures that if it had, Jim would tell him.

"I am going to shower. And then make you breakfast." He smiles.

[boldygoing]

Jim's recovery has been proceeding well, and while he's still not back to a hundred percent, he's been noticing improvements in his body's responses to his desires. Probably not enough for any kind of marathon sex session or anything, but enough to do something with, at least.

Of course, he also hasn't necessarily found a good way to bring it up, particularly after Hunter's been through such a trying time. But he sees an opening now, and gives Hunter a mildly flirtatious look. "Got room in the shower for one more?"

[losthunter]

"Of course I do..." Hunter slides off his bed, offering his hands to Jim. "Have you seen the size of my shower?"

[boldygoing]

"Sure," Jim says, taking Hunter's hands and letting him help him up off the bed. "But let's get real, it's not the size, it's how you use it."