Visit The Agency's 'top three' were seated comfortably around the polished dark wood table. There were plenty of refreshments to hand - they had a lot to discuss.
"I'm sensing a breaking-down -" a middle-aged, softly dressed woman frowned, her eyes closed as she concentrated, "- or a... giving-way."
"Dams can 'give way' with the pressure of what they're holding back," a second woman, conservative and neat, scowled. "This isn't necessarily a good thing."
The first's pale-blue eyes snapped open and focused on her associate.
"You don't think Razor's progress towards humanity is a 'good thing', Anna?" Her tone was faintly contemptuous, they'd had this argument before.
"I'm not saying that, Claudia, as you well know," the second woman's scowl deepened, "I'm saying that barriers are there for a reason and I think we should go very, very slowly here."
"We've been going so slowly as to be considered timid," a heavy-set man, the third person at the table spoke, "this is the first real break-through we've had. God knows how long it would have taken for her to get to this level of understanding if she hadn't been there to witness the girl's death. Razor made more progress in that one day than in the three years she's been with us."
"I know, I know," Anna sighed, "But what if she doesn't have a stable emotional framework to fall back on? We haven't established that yet. Even Greg hasn't been able to do a proper, in-depth scan. The last thing we want to do is force the issue, break her defences without proper preparation and push her into a psychotic episode!"
"That's not going to happen," Claudia said firmly, "not with Angel to anchor her."
"You're putting an awful lot of faith in what is ultimately a tenuous connection…"
"There's nothing tenuous about it at all!" Claudia snapped, "Angel is the bedrock of Razor's life now - and vice-versa - they're wound so tightly around each other sometimes the lines are blurred."
"Fine." Anna rubbed her temples tiredly. "We won't even think about the consequences to Razor's stability if something happens to Angel." She changed the subject abruptly, "Devon and James?"
The man chuckled.
"Ah yes. For someone with a genius level intelligence, James can be frightfully stupid sometimes."
"How so?" Claudia asked, winter-blue eyes curious.
"All his efforts to push the boy to failure are only making him more determined to succeed. Devon's doing very nicely as a result."
"Will their dislike of each other cause any other problems?"
"No." the man shook his head, "Cloudie won't let either of them get away with any nonsense."
"She has that much influence?" Claudia was sceptical.
"More than she realises," Anna chuckled, "and despite Stephan's antipathy to James, he'll back her up one hundred percent - he doesn't want his 'petit amor' hurt."
"Speaking of Cloudie, she's requested a few days off to visit her people." Claudia said, "They're usually only a few hours out of London this time of year - and she's itching to give that bike she rescued a proper run."
"I can't see any problem with that." the man said, Anna nodding agreement.
"She's also asked if she can invite Devon along."
"Will they have an escort?" the man asked.
"Naturally. Cloudie simply doesn't think about personal safety and Devon's not fully trained yet."
"It'll be good for the boy to get out and about for a bit," the man mused, "he deserves a break."
The three nodded agreement and moved on to the next topic.
"Has there been any progress infiltrating that group of activists, Claudia...?"It had recently come as something of a nasty shock to the Agency's external security divisions to find that dozens of low-key, apparently random and unconnected acts of sabotage over the past few years were neither random, nor unconnected. An extremist group - unique amongst such groups in that they didn't have a name and didn't publicly claim their events - had been targeting a diverse collection of corporations and individuals. So far, the Agency hadn't had any luck either discovering the linking factor between the targets or getting an agent on the inside of the group. It'd been established that the organisation was made up of an unknown number of small 'cells' scattered over Europe and Britain and that the individual cells received their instructions and equipment anonymously. No one knew, however, who the leaders or the go-betweens were, or where the group got it's funding. It was suspected there were psionics involved as well, but how they got there, what their capabilities were or if they were there voluntarily was still a mystery...
"Very little, I'm afraid," Claudia sighed, "They're surprisingly well organised, and very tightly knit. We're persisting though," she sighed again, "there's currently six field-agents, psionic and normals, working at this. One of them at least has got to find some idea of what's going on…"Arms full of a heavy potted plant - a tall fern, the fronds of which reached up to cover her face - Cloudie tapped on Devon's door with her bare foot. She was feeling a little apprehensive; Devon had been short with her for the past few days and was always 'busy' when she suggested they get together. The tinkerer had no idea what she'd done wrong but Devon's distance had to be her fault. Stephan hadn't been able to shed any light on the matter either.
"Come in." she heard the young psi call out – he sounded distracted. Cloudie was nonplussed; her arms were full, should she ask him to open the door for her? The tinkerer giggled: idiot, her TK was strong enough to tackle a door handle. Cloudie manipulated the knob and, balancing briefly on one leg, nudged the door open with her foot.
"Dev? I hope you don't mind, I've brought you a present."
In the silence she could just hear him padding towards her. The fronds in front of her face parted and she found herself looking into cool, green eyes.
"Um, it's a plant," Cloudie immediately winced at her brainless comment. The corner of the young TK's mouth quirked up.
"A plant, you say? I thought it was a fucking goldfish."
Cloudie chuckled.
"Ah, you city kids don't know nothing." They smiled at each other through the foliage. "Can I put it down, please, Dev? It's very heavy."
She breathed a sigh of relief as she felt the pot being lifted out of her arms. Devon set the plant down to one side of the window, where Cloudie had directed, then turned and regarded her, his arms folded across his chest.
"Look, Dev, I don't know what I did to upset you," Cloudie twisted her hands together in front of her stomach, "but I'm sorry."
Devon breathed out noisily, thin shoulders drooping.
"No, I'm sorry, it's not your fault – it's only me being a prat."
"How – "
"I don't want to talk about it," Devon held up his hand, "just – can you accept my apology and we'll get on with things?"
"Sure, sweetie." Cloudie beamed a smile at him then snaffled him into a close hug, burying her nose in his neck. "Missed you, Dev." she whispered. They stood cuddled comfortably together for a few moments then the tinkerer pulled away a little.
"I have to go now, things are busy in the workshop, but can I meet you for dinner?"
"Yeah, okay," Devon's smile was small but warm as he stroked a twist of bright blonde hair behind her ear, "we can order something in from the restaurant and if you've got no other plans for the evening –" he leant in to nuzzle her cheek while flicking a slender thumb over her nipple, "– you can stay overnight if you like."
"Oh, I'd like!" Cloudie grinned, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him deeply. "I'd like very much."After the tinkerer had left, Devon slumped back into his extremely comfortable computer chair to stare blankly at the monitor. He really did feel like a prat – why stay away from Cloud when it was James he was pissed off with? It was his own fault really, he should've checked with the switchboard to see if she was free before barging into her quarters to find her face down on her bed, eyes closed in ecstasy and her fingers twisting into the colourful sheets as James pounded into her. It was obvious Cloud had no idea he was there but the look James gave him, without breaking rhythm, very clearly said 'don't even fucking think about it'. It was a childish response, he knew, but Devon had left in a huff and avoided the tinkerer since. Devon scowled: Cloud was her own person, dammit, it was none of his business who she chose to fuck... Why did it have to be James though? Why did it have to look like she was really enjoying it? He'd considered for a brief moment that maybe she wasn't enjoying herself as much as she seemed to be then instantly discarded the thought. Cloud didn't have a devious bone in her body and her responses were genuine – his throbbing cock could attest to that.
Cloudie sighed happily and snuggled into a drowsing Devon. Their dinner had been delicious and they'd been daft with it, feeding each other, laughing and making a mess, which naturally led to them needing a bath... They'd started making love in the huge tub before finishing – eventually - in Devon's bedroom. Cloudie tickled her fingertips lightly over the TK's nipples; the piercings were practically healed and Devon was finding out just how much fun they could be.
"Hey, Dev?" Cloudie kissed his cheek.
"Hmm?" he stirred muzzily awake. "What?"
"I'm going to visit my folks, would you like to come too?"
Devon considered this.
"Uh, yeah, if I can get the time off."
"Great!" the tinkerer hugged him, sliding her knee between his thighs to press lightly against his balls. "How do you feel about sleeping in a tent?"
"Dunno," Devon smirked and tugged her to lie on top of him, "never slept in a tent before. What's it like?" He stroked down her spine, long fingers delving between round buttocks.
"Oh, fine," Cloudie giggled, easing her thighs open as she kissed the point of his chin, "unless it's raining."
"Which at this time of the year is…"
"More than likely." The tinkerer finished for him, her laugh deep and throaty now in response to the finger stroking slowly into her arse.
"I wouldn't worry though," Cloudie murmured, melting, moulding her body to his, "You'll probably get loads of offers for... accommodation. Oh, Dev..." she shivered as he pushed another finger into her, "where's the lube...?"Two days later in the Agency's underground car-park, Devon watched bemused as Cloudie stowed the last of a small mountain – a small fortune - of stuff into the boot of a mid-sized car. The back seat of the vehicle was already packed tight as was Cloudie's back-pack and the two brightly painted panniers on her motorbike.
"Right, that's it, I think," the tinkerer, hands on hips, regarded her handiwork critically.
"What's all this?" Devon, who'd always travelled light, frowned at what he considered an excess of luggage. "We're only fucking going away for a couple of days!"
"Dry goods, freeze-dried foods," Cloudie ticked them off on her fingers, "vacuum-packed meat that doesn’t need refrigeration, medical supplies, motor oil, car parts, toys, presents…" she grinned, "that kind of thing. Oh, and tents and bedding for us."
Devon smirked and shook his head.
"One-woman travelling supermarket, that's what you are."
"That's the idea!" the tinkerer laughed, "I bring supplies for my clan whenever I visit."
At that point a short, but sturdy-looking man dressed sedately in blues and greys strode out of the elevator.
"Morning, Cloudie, morning, Devon."
Devon knew the man - Ernst - vaguely, a telepath and ostensibly one of James' team. Not that the TK held that against him, Ernst seemed likeable enough.
"Thanks for coming with us," Cloudie brushed a kiss over his cheek.
"Heh, nice to get out on an assignment where I don't have to risk my life!"
"Don't be so sure," the tinkerer grinned, "those kids will be older now."
"Ah, I can handle them," the short man smirked, "Ready to go?"
"Yup," Cloudie turned to Devon, "Do you want to ride with Ernst in the car or with me?" She inclined her head towards her bike - which Devon now noticed had a purple, pink and green paisley paint job, and a purple leather seat.
"I'll risk being a style and fashion outcast and ride with you," he smirked, "but I'm not fucking wearing that!" he added as Cloudie went to toss him her spare, lime-green, helmet.
"It's safer." she quirked an eyebrow.
"Not as safe as this," Devon smiled, wrapping the tinkerer in a strong, protective buffer of invisible force.
"Sure it's not because you're worried about helmet-hair?" Cloudie giggled at Devon's narrow-eyed look. "Okay, fine, it's your skull."
Ernst had slid in behind the steering wheel of the car; he wound down the window to speak to Cloudie.
"I'm following you?" he asked her.
"Uhuh, but we're heading for Oakwoodhill, in case we get separated."
"Sure thing, babe." Ernst winked then started the engine. Cloudie listened intently to the low rumble of the engine for a few seconds before nodding with satisfaction, then she shifted her attention to the motorbike, running her fingertips lovingly over the gaily decorated fuel tank.
"You ready for a run, baby?" she crooned, her expression soft and warm, "yeah, me too." Cloudie slipped the - bright orange with painted daisies - helmet over her mane of ringlets.
"Oh, I should warn you," she grinned at Devon, "I'll 'tune-in' to my bike while we're riding so don’t worry if I don't speak to you." She kissed the TK on the nose, not an easy thing to do with the helmet on. "Ready to roll?" Devon nodded, settling himself behind her, unable to resist running a fingernail down the crotch seam of Cloudie's jeans as, spread-thighed, she made herself comfortable.
"Keep doing that and we'll get nowhere," she threw a smouldering look back over her shoulder at him. Devon smirked unrepentantly and Cloudie laughed.The tinkerer was only peripherally aware of Devon's presence as her consciousness settled easily into her vehicle, naturally melding more effectively with the machine than any flatscan could with a neural link. Cloudie's perceptions became the bike's and she gloried in the tarmac speeding beneath her wheels, the wind whipping past her sleek, stream-lined frame…
They had a good run, only stopping twice; once for a quick break after a couple of hours travelling and then a little later to help a stranded motorist. Cloudie had felt the four-wheel drive's pain before they saw it pulled over at the side of the road. Safeguarded watchfully by Ernst and Devon, the tinkerer discreetly fixed the problem, to the effusive gratitude of the driver, and advised him to get his car in for a service as soon as possible.
"How much further now, do you think?" Ernst asked her as they got ready to resume the journey.
Cloudie shrugged.
"Less than an hour maybe. Not far anyway. We'll be there around lunchtime."Sure enough it was nudging 12.30 by the time they pulled into the Spiral Clan's encampment.
Devon wasn't quite sure what he'd been expecting of a traveller clan but the motley collection of old cars, trucks, caravans and camper-vans, interspersed with a wide variety of tents and pavilions seemed perfectly in keeping with the latter-day gypsies. His nose wrinkled infinitesimally at the gamey smell of less-than-perfectly clean humans – he'd gotten used to a good standard of hygiene in his time with the Agency – but that was soon overridden by the mouth-watering aroma of something delicious cooking.
He tensed as four conspicuously armed people accompanied by three vicious-looking guard dogs materialised from nowhere and advanced purposefully on the visitors.
"Hey, Tiger!" Cloudie took off her helmet and beamed at the lead male, a scruffy-looking half-castee who blinked, dark-brown eyes going very round before he yelped happily, thrust his rifle at the woman next to him and barrelled towards the tinkerer to sweep her off her feet in a fierce hug.
"Cloudie! It's so good to see you!" He gave her a smacking kiss on the lips which she returned enthusiastically.
"And you, Tiger." She hugged him again, fiercely, then wriggled out of his grasp to give similarly enthusiastic greetings to the other three guards while the dogs whined and barked in submissive excitement around them. Cloudie laughed and squatted down to rub the tummy of a big black dog that had flung itself on its back at her feet, his tail thumping solidly against the damp ground.
"Hello, Rastus," Cloudie grinned, "you remember me, eh?" She stood up again and beckoned Devon and Ernst closer.
"You know Ernst, this is Devon," she introduced the TK to the group, giggling at the look on his face as the dogs snuffled eagerly around him. "Don't worry, you're with me, you're part of the pack."
Devon smiled thinly then started as an ugly brown dog thrust its nose into his groin.
"You go in and see everyone else," Tiger beamed down at her; he was considerably taller than the tinkerer, "we'll watch your gear."
"Thanks, Tiger," Cloudie hugged him again, lingeringly, then walked into the encampment, her mop of blonde ringlets bouncing in time to her jaunty stride.
Loud and joyful greetings welcomed the tinkerer home; Devon stood a little awkwardly to one side as Ernst, who was obviously well-liked, was also welcomed.
"Hey, everyone!" Cloudie had gotten their attention with an ear-splitting whistle, "this is Devon, a good friend of mine."
"Be welcome, friends," an older man, with long, lank grey hair tied back in a pony-tail and the clearest blue eyes the young city-dweller had ever seen, stepped forward, holding his arms open, "will you share our food?"
"Uh, thanks," Devon half-smiled, not sure if there was a correct response as such.
"This is Pike," Cloudie grinned, hugging the lean man around the waist, "he and Myrna are like everyone's grandparents."
Pike laughed, revealing a mouth with nearly all his teeth intact. Devon noticed he also had spiral tattoo on his upper cheek, as Cloudie did, but his was barely discernible. It looked like he'd had it for a long time.
"Eh, well, someone's got to guide you youngsters." He kissed Cloudie's forehead fondly. "Your mum and dad are about here somewhere. So's Rowan."
"Thanks, Pike," Cloudie smiled, "We'll go find them before we unload the car."Devon looked around him as Cloudie led them through to her parents van. The camp-site seemed crowded and chaotic, but he didn't doubt Cloud's claim that her clan could be packed up and gone in well under an hour if necessary. The Spiral clan, with around sixty members, was one of the biggest of the hundreds of nomadic groups that travelled over Britain. Not the biggest, that honour went to the Pendragons who had close to three hundred in their fold; Cloud had laughed and said it was a major undertaking when the Pendragons upped stakes! No one knew for sure exactly how many travellers there were, no census had ever been taken and the travellers didn't bother to register their births or deaths with any civil authority. The Clans were a law unto themselves and fiercely protective of their members...
A gaggle of different aged children sat in a group in front of a large, old whiteboard, listening intently to the middle-aged man who appeared to be taking a lesson in maths.
"All our kids get educated," Cloudie noticed Devon's curious gaze, "in fact our kids have better educations than some in the cities."
"Why?" Devon asked.
"Why?" Cloudie echoed. "Because even at the fringes of 'civilization' you still need to read and write, you still have to know things to function efficiently. A traveller's life isn't easy and we care about our kids," she smiled and waved at the children and their teacher, "we don't want them hurt or taken advantage of because they're ignorant."
A small figure came hurtling at them from behind a van, charging straight into Cloudie's arms. The tinkerer laughed and hugged the child tightly, then pulled away and still smiling happily, waggled her hands in front of her. The boy, fair and slender, maybe nine years old, grinned and did something similar before tearing off again, a small white and brown mongrel dog galloping happily beside him.
"That was Rowan, my brother," Cloudie grinned at the TK, "or technically, my half-brother. His mum walked with the clan for a few years, hooked up with my mum and dad and had a baby. She decided to move on when Row was five, and he chose to stay with us."
"He's deaf?" Devon asked.
"Yup." Cloudie nodded. "Since birth. It's been checked out and there's nothing we can do short of cyberware."
The mention of the tech brought Devon up short. All psis could, to some extent, recognise another psi by an indefinable feel about them. The seekers had this ability greatly enhanced, the more skilled or powerful being able to pinpoint a person's specific talent. Devon, in his time at the Agency had learnt to sense this psiness in others, and there was definitely something about Cloudie's brother…
"Has Rowan been psi-tested?" he asked the tinkerer.
"Not yet," Cloudie said quietly, "that's one of the reasons Ernst is here." She looked enquiringly at the 'path.
"There's something there all right this time, last time I wasn't sure." Ernst frowned. "Whatever it is it's weak, but whether that's because it's an inherently low-powered talent or simply because he's had no training, I can't say."
"What sort of talent is it?" Cloudie asked, blue-grey eyes shining with excitement.
"Don't know," the older man sighed, "not 'kinetic, not seer, most likely 'path."
"Great, thanks, Ernst," she squeezed the short man's muscled forearm. "This could mean the psi potential comes from my dad. I mean, what are the chances? Two psionic children by two different women?"
"Do you think you could persuade him to father more children?" Ernst said half-jokingly.
Cloudie laughed.
"It's possible; mum'll be all for it if Rowan ends up coming with us." She paused thoughtfully. "Though dad'll have to find another willing woman." She noticed Devon's inquiring look. "Mum couldn't have any more kids after me."
An excited barking heralded Rowan's return; he literally skidded to a halt in front of Cloudie, signed something quickly at her then darted off again.
"Does he ever walk anywhere?" Devon chuckled.
"Nope." The tinkerer smiled fondly, "He's been moving at top speed all his life."
"Cloudie!"
"Mum! Dad!" she flung herself at the man and woman who'd hurried along in the boy's wake.
"How are you, love?" The woman's curls were so dark a blonde as to be almost brown and her round face shone with pleasure at the sight of her daughter. "You've been missed."
"Where are my grandchildren?" the man was tall and slender with grey-blue eyes that were sharply reminiscent of his daughter.
"Dad!" Cloudie laughed and punched him in the arm.
"What? ...ow!..." grinning like a maniac, he rubbed his arm briskly, "Is it wrong for a man to want his only daughter to give him grandchildren.?"
Cloudie exchanged an exasperated look with her mother who laughed and held up her hands in defeat.
"Don't look at me for help."
The tinkerer's father, eyes twinkling, arched an eyebrow at Devon and Ernst.
"I'm sure there's no shortage of eligible fathers..."
"Dad!" Cloudie blushed and hit him again, making him wince even as he laughed and danced back out of reach.
"Blimey, you've got some arm on you there, Cloudie, been working out or something?"
"Yes." she said pointedly, hands on hips, then laughed and stepped forward to kiss her father on the cheek. "Don't worry, dad, the moment there's the slightest chance of me getting knocked up you'll be the first to know."
"I suppose that'll have to do," he smiled lovingly at his daughter, then looked over at the two men watching the by-play. "Hi, Ernst, good to see you again. I'm Malcolm." he said to Devon. "Friends of Cloudie's are always welcome."
"Thanks." The TK introduced himself with a reserved smile.
"Are you hungry?" Cloudie's mother asked, "Lunch is almost ready. I'm Daisy, by the way." she beamed at Devon.
Cloudie turned to her companions.
"You guys go ahead and eat, there's something I need to see to. Save some for me!" the tinkerer called back over her shoulder as she jogged away.
"We've been having problems with one of the trucks," Malcolm explained, his grin widening as Cloudie's mock-outraged 'what the hell have you done with my truck!?' drifted across the campsite. "I'd better go mediate," he chuckled, giving Daisy an affectionate squeeze before ambling after their daughter.
The 'kitchen' was a three-sided pavilion, set slightly to one side of an open space in the middle of the camp. From what Devon could see, the food was prepared in there while the actual cooking took place at the fire-pit in the middle of the clearing. Whatever was bubbling away in the huge pots set over the embers set the TK's mouth to watering; he eagerly accepted the bowl of thick stew and chunk of still warm bread Daisy handed him.
"Cloudie's looking much happier," the elder woman commented as she indicated a series of sturdy but light aluminium benches near the kitchen tent. "Who do we have to thank for that?"
Devon blinked, not entirely sure if she was directing the comment at him.
"You can thank Cloudie herself," Ernst slid smoothly into the conversation, "She got herself back on track."
"We were very worried about her for a while," Daisy sighed, lowering herself to sit beside him. "Nick really screwed her over."
Devon stayed quiet as he tucked into the delicious food - he didn't know a lot about Cloud's past, he realised.
"We hardly saw her while she was with him," Daisy continued, "and when she did come to visit it was like she was... diminished, somehow."
"It wasn't a good match," Ernst murmured agreement, "very one-sided, but you have to give her credit, she stuck it out for as long as she could - really tried hard to make it work."
"Too hard," Daisy muttered, "Cloudie's well rid of him. She needs someone who'll appreciate her, someone who's capable of loving as much as she is."
Devon suddenly choked on a chunk of succulent carrot - maybe he was being paranoid but he was sure Daisy had just flashed him a sidelong glance.
"You all right, sweetie?" Cloudie was suddenly there, slapping him firmly on the back.
The TK nodded, eyes watering.
"Just – something went down the wrong way." he gasped out between racking coughs.
"It's best to chew your food thoroughly before trying to swallow it, dear." Daisy's tone was solicitous but her blue eyes were twinkling.
"Yes, thanks, Mum," Cloudie laughed and rolled her eyes. Still rubbing Devon's back she looked wistfully over at the large, apparently empty stewpot. "Is there any left?"
"Course there is," a broad, elderly woman lumbered over and held a big bowl of still steaming stew out to the tinkerer, "we'd never let our best mechanic go hungry."
"Ah, get away wit ya, Eira" Cloudie giggled, readily accepting the food from the grinning woman. "I'm not the best mechanic I'm just the one that doesn't need to take an engine block apart to fix something inside!"
"Where's mine?" Malcolm plopped down to sit beside his partner, brushing her thick curls away from her neck to plant a light kiss under her ear. Eira arched a solid, grey eyebrow at him.
"You just sit yourself down, Mal," she said with heavy sarcasm, "I'll drag my weary old bones over there to scrape the burnt leavings from the bottom of the pot."
"Mum!" Daisy giggled a protest at the melodramatics as she leant into Malcolm's cuddle.
"Would you? Thanks, Eira," Cloudie's father smirked, "I'd do it myself but I've got a woman in my lap..."
The tinkerer was laughing.
"Is there anything more embarrassing than family?" She pecked Devon on the cheek then got down to the serious business of eating.After lunch, Cloudie organised the unpacking and stowing of the supplies she'd brought then handed out the more personal gifts. Myrna gladly took charge of the several kilos of bright metal ornaments the tinkerer had made for the clan to sell and Daisy's eyes shone at the long length of sunshine yellow cotton her daughter had given her. Rowan's grin threatened to split his cheeks when Cloudie handed him a small, compact tool kit. The boy hugged his sister tightly then pelted off again, the small metal case already tucked securely into a leather pouch hanging from his belt. She gazed fondly after him then turned to Devon with an apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry, sweetie, I'm going to have my hands full this afternoon with the vehicles…"
"Don't worry," Tiger, who'd helped with the distribution of the goods, piped up, his even teeth flashing whitely against his dark skin, "we'll find something to keep him occupied." Devon grinned back, welcoming the curl of interest low in his belly at the tall man's direct, almost challenging gaze. Despite the smudges of dirt and grease on his clothes and the ragged look of his wiry black hair, there was definitely something attractive about the cinnamon-skinned traveller.
"I'll leave him in your capable hands then, shall I?" Cloudie had watched the unspoken exchange between the males with twinkling eyes. She grinned and kissed Devon on the cheek. "I'll see you at dinner, okay?"Ernst had disappeared somewhere and while Cloudie spent the rest of the day happily up to her elbows in engine grease, Tiger showed Devon around the camp, ending with a tour of the clan's outer defences.
"Do you have much trouble?" Devon asked the lanky man.
"Not often," Tiger shrugged, "but it pays to be prepared." He flashed another of his disarming grins at the TK. "You any good with firearms?"
"Some."
"Care to stand a watch with me, mate? Can always do with some... stimulating company." Tiger lingered over the word.
"Fine." Devon smirked in reply.
Despite the teasing tone of Tiger's invitation, it was strictly business for the next three hours as the two men patrolled their section of the perimeter. It didn't stop them talking though and Tiger unselfconsciously told Devon about himself. Like far too many other kids the TK had known, Tiger had grown up not knowing any family as such. His earliest memories were of running with a gang of similar kids, scratching out a living in the slums of the urban centre they haunted, and avoiding the other gangs of marginally better off kids that got a kick out of hunting and killing the 'street rats'. Not having known anything else the young Tiger had no idea life could be any different until a traveller clan, the Spirals, pulled into a disused sports ground on the edge of the city. For a few days he watched the strangers from a safe distance, fascinated and intrigued, until he screwed up his courage and snuck close enough to pinch some food they'd carelessly left lying about. At that point in the story Tiger laughed ruefully and shook his head - he'd been so thick as a kid it'd taken two more thieving forays before he realised the food was deliberately being left there for the filth-encrusted shadow lurking outside the encampment. Not used to charity in any form his initial reaction had been one of contempt, but when he heard the whisper that some of the murderous 'rat-hunters' were going to have a go at the travellers he found he couldn't let it happen. Sure these strangers were too soft-hearted for their own good and while the hunters were hassling them they were leaving him alone, but fuckit, it just wasn't right not to repay their kindness by at least warning them. So, Tiger snuck back to the sports ground and nervously prowled the perimeter of the camp, trying to summon the courage to go in. He didn't have long to worry about it though, within a couple of minutes a thin man with long greying hair and a little girl with curls like sunshine ambled out to meet him. Tiger stood tongue-tied in front of the pair, or rather in front of the girl who was dressed so brightly she looked like a flower - he'd seen one once - before he blurted out his warning. Shaking with nerves and relief, he'd been about to dart off when the grown-up spoke, stopping him in his tracks.
'Come and have something to eat, son.'
Immediately suspicious - he'd been tricked like that before - Tiger had been about to scarper anyway when the girl had smiled and held out her hand to him. Without really knowing what he was doing he'd taken her hand and let himself be lead into the camp - and hadn't left again for years..."I've left the Spirals a few times to walk with other clans, do other things," Tiger concluded with another rueful grin, "but I always come back."
Devon had a strong suspicion that Cloud had something to do with that; the wiry man was one big soft-spot where the tinkerer was concerned.
"Good life?" he asked.
"Yeah," Tiger said softly, "yeah, it is."
At that point a couple of other men, hunkered down in motley wet-weather gear, came out to relieve them. Tiger grinned and glanced up at the grey afternoon sky darkening further with rain clouds.
"Looks like the wet will be arriving just in time for your shift, Lonzo!" he smirked at the smaller of the two men, who heaved a melodramatic sigh.
"How come it never rains on your watch, Tiger? Which god did you sell your soul to?"
Tiger laughed uproariously and smacked Lonzo hard on the shoulder.
"Just lucky my friend, just lucky. I'll get someone to bring you out some coffee later, okay?" He grinned at Devon, warm brown eyes twinkling suggestively. "Time to get washed up for dinner."
Tiger had a small, decrepit looking camper-van to himself. It was clean inside though, if not particularly neat, and most of the space seemed to be taken up with a bed. The older male handed the younger a towel and directed him to the shower - a tiny, cramped cubicle jammed in beside the equally cramped kitchenette - with a request not to use too much water if possible. While all of the vehicles had their own supply of water collected from their roofs, plus the clan's large water-truck, water was still a rationed, precious commodity. Devon soaked briefly in the surprisingly hot, solar-heated spray, then turned the water off while he soaped himself thoroughly. A final, quick rinse down and he was done. Devon wound the towel around his waist and stepped out of the cubicle to find Tiger already naked and waiting his turn.
"You don't need to bother getting dressed," the tall man murmured, briefly touching warm fingertips to the ivory skin of Devon's shoulder, "if you don't want to."
The TK eyed Tiger's genitals; even half-erect they showed promise.
"Don't take too fucking long in there." he smirked...Sitting amongst the old familiar sights and smells of her parent's van while listening to the staccato patter of the evening's rain on the flat roof, Cloudie was weary but happy. The tinkerer hadn't seen either of her compatriots since lunchtime. Ernst was probably with Lilah, she concluded, they'd had a thing going on for years now, and Devon was holed up with Tiger, or so Eira had said. She sipped her peppermint tea and smiled to herself: she'd just known Tiger and Dev would get on. She stifled a yawn, transmuting it into a laugh at her mother's solicitous look.
"Tired, love?"
"Yeah, been a long day." Cloudie yawned again. "Sorry."
"You’re allowed to be knackered after the work you put in," Malcolm chuckled, putting a few scraps of meat left over from the evening's meal into the dog's bowl. Gorey, the small terrier-cross, watched avidly from his position curled up beside Rowan, who was fast asleep on his sofa bed; the dog would make no move towards the tidbits until Rowan gave him the signal though…
"So what's been happening?" Cloudie settled back to catch up on the news.
"Ross died last winter," Daisy sighed, then smiled, "we buried him under some wild apples in the Chilterns."
"That would've made him happy," Cloudie chuckled remembering the elderly man's all-encompassing love of the wild spaces.
" - and Aggie's baby died too." Daisy sighed again.
"Oh no! What happened?" Cloudie's friend had been glowingly pregnant the last time she'd visited - she felt guilty she'd not made the effort today to speak to her.
"He came early and he was just too little to survive."
"That's so sad," Cloudie said softly, "How's Aggie?"
"She was devastated, but she's come to terms with it." Daisy's round, expressive face shifted abruptly from sorrow to impish delight. "Flora's pregnant though."
Cloudie blinked, then smirked.
"Let me guess? Tiger?"
"Yes!" her mother's tinkling laugh lightened the atmosphere in the van.
"I don't believe it! Randy little sod…" Cloudie shook her head, grinning, "How many does this make?"
"Eight, I think." Daisy glanced at Malcolm for confirmation, "Two here, a boy with the Ivy's, a daughter with the Pendragons -"
"Another two boys with the Circle -" Malcolm chimed in.
"Another boy with the Harvesters and his first daughter with the Kestrels," Daisy smiled, "Wanda would be almost eight by now."
The tinkerer giggled.
"At the rate he's going, in a hundred years half of the Traveller community will be able to claim descent from him!"
Cloudie yawned again, so hard this time her eyes watered.
"Get some sleep, love." Malcolm smiled.
"Yeah, I'd better - got the rest of the vehicles to check over tomorrow."
"Are you sure you don't want to stay here?" Daisy asked, "It'll be dry at least."
"Nah, thanks anyway, Mum," Cloudie stood up and stretched, "been looking forward to sleeping under canvas again."
"All right, if you're sure…" Daisy didn't look convinced.
"I'm sure," the tinkerer quietly stole over to stroke Rowan's hair. "I'll see you in the morning." she murmured to her parents then stepped out into the cold, wet night with a smile.Despite her mother's concerns, Cloudie had been warm and dry during the night and woke feeling relaxed and refreshed. Within her sleeping bag the tinkerer body-stretched, from toes to fingertips, luxuriating at being outside of the Agency's air-conditioning for a change, and away from London. Cloudie smiled; she could hear, in the near distance, the cheerful sound of the birds' dawn chorus – there were times she really missed the simplicity of this life. She scrambled into her clothes, adding an extra layer to counter the morning's chill, and tugged on her boots before stepping out of the tent. It was just past dawn by the look of it, Cloudie squinted up at the sky, then giggled, wondering if Dev and Tiger were awake yet.
As she approached Tiger's van Cloudie wasn't surprised to see a woman sneaking out and closing the door quietly behind her - she was surprised at who it was though.
"Morning, Aggie," the tinkerer grinned.
The slight woman jumped then laughed, throwing thin arms around her.
"Cloudie!"
"Sorry I didn't come to see you yesterday," Cloudie could swear she could smell Devon on her friend.
"It's okay, I know you're usually busy with the trucks and things when you first arrive." Aggie grinned and shrugged.
She was definitely thinner, Cloudie thought, and the shadow of grief still dulled her eyes but for all that Aggie still shone with some of the vitality the psi remembered.
"You heard about my baby?" Aggie said, saving Cloudie the awkwardness of raising the subject herself.
"I did," Cloudie cuddled the smaller woman, "I was so sorry to hear it."
"Just one of those things I guess," Aggie couldn't disguise the tremor in her voice, "maybe next time..."
"Of course!" Cloudie smiled, "Can't think of anyone else who'd be a better mum!"
Aggie giggled again then stepped back.
"I've got to go, I'm on breakfast this morning."
"Good, at least the coffee will be drinkable!"
"We'll catch up later, yeah?" Aggie gave the tinkerer a last quick, squeezing hug then jogged away to the 'kitchen'. Cloudie watched her go then turned back to Tiger's van with an evil grin.
"Good morning!" she trilled brightly, and loudly, flinging open the battered metal door without warning.
"Oh, fucking hell..." Devon's voice was growlier than usual as he buried his face in the pillow.
"You are such a morning person, Dev." Cloudie sniggered, arms folded over her chest as she lounged against the doorframe.
"Why don't you come inside and help us wake up?" Tiger extended the invitation even as he blinked out of sleep. Cloudie grinned; tempting, very tempting - the two men were sprawled together, both looking deliciously sleep-tousled and very fuckable. She shook her head regretfully.
"Nah, got work to do."
"Shut the fucking door when you leave then," Devon grouched, shivering pathetically. Cloudie laughed and leant forward to swat at a tight little buttock outlined beneath the mis-matched bedding.
"Oh all right, sunshine, I'll leave you in peace."
Devon grunted, prompting her to giggle again, but Tiger flashed her a beautiful, sweet smile.
"'nother time, goldilocks?"
"Count on it, my friend," the tinkerer's voice was soft and throaty with promise. The half-caste beamed, absently snuggling closer to the copper-haired lump in his bed.
"Hurry up and finish with the machines, beautiful," Tiger smirked, "you won't be able to concentrate on your flesh and blood pleasures 'til that's out of the way..."Cloudie had wolfed down several slices of hot, buttered toast and a cup of strong, sweet coffee for breakfast before heading back to work. Ernst's *voice* sounded in her mind as she headed across the encampment.
*Cloudie, you've got to talk to your folks about Rowan. I've been observing him and I think he's close to breaking out.*
The tinkerer sighed inwardly – 'breaking out' was the term used when latent psionics suddenly became active; without proper support and guidance it could be very traumatic.
*I'll be finished around lunchtime, meet me at my parent's van then?*
*Will do. I'll be taking a turn on sentry duty in the meantime.*
*Okay, thanks, Ernst.*
Cloudie grimaced, this made things awkward; it wasn't just a good idea for Rowan to come back to the Agency with them now, it was imperative. Her parents had to agree.Lunchtime, all of the machinery had been seen to and Cloudie had no excuses left. Subdued, she picked up her share of the thick, hot soup and made her way to her parent's van. Ernst fell into step beside her on the way.
*I know this is going to be hard for them, Cloudie -*
*We've no choice, Ernst, Rowan is vulnerable...*"Hello, you two!" Daisy greeted the psis cheerfully as they stepped into the van. Malcolm waved, his mouth too full of soup to speak; Cloudie's brother was nowhere to be seen.
"Hi," Cloudie kissed her mother's round cheek, then pulled back so she could look at both of her parents. "We have to talk to you about Rowan."
"Why?" Daisy stilled.
"He's psionic." Ernst said gently.
"Oh." Malcolm sighed and pushed his half-eaten food away.
"Are you sure?" Daisy was striving to sound reasonable, "I mean, if he is, why didn't we notice something earlier? Like we did with Cloudie."
"Because it's not the same with everyone, Mum," Cloudie cuddled the older woman. "Rowan's probably been latent for most of his life."
"He has to go with you?" Malcolm asked heavily. Ernst nodded.
"'fraid so. It feels like his abilities are about to come active. The best and safest place for him to be is the Agency."
Malcolm sought out his partner's eyes and something passed between them.
"All right, but Rowan has to be given the choice and if he doesn't want to go..."
"Then we'll do our best to convince him." Cloudie was gentle, but firm. "It's important, Dad, there's some right bastards out there who won't hesitate to snatch him, force him to use his abilities the way they want, despite his wishes."
"That happens?" Daisy quavered.
"Too often," Ernst was grim, "It's one of the things the Agency fights against."
Malcolm and Daisy exchanged another long look, then Daisy nodded.
"All right, we'll help," she sniffed back tears, "but I'm going to miss the little sod - and that bloody dog of his."Rowan sat opposite Cloudie and Ernst at the tiny table in the van. There were sparkling droplets of moisture in his fair, shaggy hair – it had been raining again. The boy was curious but not concerned and Gorey curled, relaxed, at his feet. Daisy sat beside her foster-son; Malcolm behind her, a comforting hand on her shoulder.
As simply as she could, Cloudie tried to explain the situation to her brother using sign language. The tinkerer wasn't at all sure how clear she was being, but when Rowan started asking questions she thought he'd got the general gist of it.
I'm like you? he signed.
Not exactly, Ernst thinks you might be able to... speak.. to people with your mind, like he can.
Rowan frowned, confused – this made no sense to him.
"Ernst, do you think you can show him?" Cloudie turned to the 'path.
"Sure," he smiled, then paused, "Would you, and Daisy and Mal like to be in on this?"
"Can we?" Daisy gasped.
"I can include all of you in the link," Ernst replied, "though I can't be sure I'll be able to get through to Rowan. My 'pathic abilities aren't particularly strong, especially against an unfamiliar mind - I'm primarily a seeker."
"Let's give it a shot," Cloudie's blue-grey eyes gleamed and she turned back to her brother to explain as best she could.
Rowan sat up straighter and Gorey wuffed enquiringly, but the boy nodded and waited attentively for.. whatever it was to happen. Ernst concentrated and gathered everyone up, *asking* them all for *silence* for the moment...*Hello, Rowan.*
Rowan started, blue-eyes going very round.
*Hello, Rowan.* Cloudie smiled as she signed what she was *saying*. Her brother's gaze jerked to stare at her hands then back up to stare at her face.
It's in my head. He signed back.
*Yes.* Cloudie grinned encouragingly, continuing to sign and *speak*. *Would you like to try?*
Rowan frowned. Can't. Don't understand.
*You can learn.* Ernst said.
How? The boy's eyes were still wide with wonder.
*Special teachers – at the Agency.* Cloudie answered.
Rowan turned anxiously to his parents – underneath the table Gorey was growling with quiet menace.
Scared.
Nothing to be scared of, Malcolm signed while Daisy cuddled the child to her, Cloudie's friends will look after you.
*I know how frightening this is, Row,* Cloudie was earnest, *but you need to learn how to use your abilities – no one here can teach you that and you might accidentally hurt someone.*
Can I come back? Rowan looked like nothing more now than a fearful little boy.
*Yes.* the tinkerer was quick to reassure him. *While you're learning we can come back together for visits and once you're fully trained -* Cloudie hesitated, hoping she wouldn't have to renege on this in the future, * you can come back to live.*
Rowan chewed his lip then glanced down at his dog.
Can Gorey come too?
*Of course!* Cloudie grinned. *Lots of people have pets in the Agency; dogs and cats and birds and rats and rabbits. All sorts of things. We've even got ducks in the pond.*
The young boy's curiosity got the better of him and he tilted his head inquiringly.
Ducks? Do you eat them?
*No,* his sister chuckled, *they're like pets but they belong to everyone.*
Rowan was quiet while he considered all this. He looked up at his parents.
I have to go and think.
Sure, love. Daisy's smile was a little watery as Rowan propelled himself away from the table and out of the van in a burst of nervous energy, Gorey galloping beside him.
Once her brother was out of sight, Cloudie slumped, head in hands.
"It'll be all right," Ernst rubbed her back soothingly, "He'll decide to come with us."
"You a seer now or something?" the tinkerer smiled weakly at the psi then whispered across the table. "I'm sorry, Mum."
"It's for the best," Daisy said resolutely, "Right, I need a cup of tea, anyone else want one?"Rowan disappeared for the rest of the afternoon and while Cloudie was, at least on the surface, enjoying spending time with Aggie, a small part of her was watching out for her brother's return.
It was late afternoon and the light was failing rapidly when she spotted the slight, dishevelled figure of her younger brother emerging from the gloom. Cloudie felt light-headed with relief, she'd been on the point of sending out a search party...
I'll come with you. Rowan signed then darted away towards his parent's van without waiting for her reply.
"What was that?" Aggie was curious – practically everyone in clan could communicate with the deaf boy, "He's going with you?"
Cloudie smiled wearily.
"Rowan's a latent psi, he's coming to the Agency for training."
Aggie stared then made a peculiar little noise, part sob-part squeak.
"When?"
"Day after tomorrow."
"Oh." the thin woman rallied herself. "That's good, I guess. We'll miss him though –" and she dissolved into tears.
"Shh, it's okay," Cloudie cuddled her friend, gently stroking her back.
"I know, I know," Aggie sniffled, "He'll do brilliantly there I'm sure, but shit we're going to miss him.""What's up?" Devon, looking very relaxed, plopped down beside Cloudie on one of the benches by the kitchen. The tinkerer suddenly realised she'd not seen him all day.
"My brother's coming back with us."
Devon's eyebrows rose.
"That's good, isn't it?"
"Yes."
"So why are you so fucking down about it?"
"Because – " Cloudie stopped; she didn't know why she was so upset, unless she was trying to empathise with her parents? "I don't know," she shrugged.
"If he's a psi he's fucking better off with us anyway," Devon frowned, glancing around the camp site, "'m not saying this isn't a great life for a kid but he'll be safer with the Agency."
"I know." Cloudie leaned into him, sighing as the TK slipped a thin arm around her shoulders. She peeked mischievously up at him through a fall of curls. "So what have you been up to today? Or who...?"
Devon smirked and brushed a kiss over her forehead, his spare hand sneaking up to caress a full breast.
"Spent a lot of it on guard duty with Tiger, then helped shift some gear around."
"Made yourself useful then?"
"A bit." Devon grinned. "You want some company tonight?"
Cloudie shivered: lovely thought, but ...
"No, I want to spend some time with my folks."
The TK chuckled and planted a soft kiss on her lips.
"Come and find me if you change your mind..."It was late when Cloudie finally crawled into her tent. It'd been a good evening, the rain had let up enough the clan could gather to be sociable around the campfire – those that weren't off having sex that is, or on guard-duty – and the tinkerer had happily relaxed back into the welcoming feeling of community. She had no idea what time it was when she finally put herself to bed, she'd not looked at a watch or timepiece for days, and even less an idea of the time when she was woken from a sound sleep by Devon's voice in her ear.
"Can I sleep here?" the TK mumbled sleepily, "too fucking crowded in there."
"Sure, sweetie, hang on..." Cloudie unzipped her sleeping bag, opening it out fully to spread over the pair of them while Devon struggled out of his clothes. He snuggled down beside her on the surprisingly resilient ground mat, closed his eyes with a blissful sigh and dropped almost immediately to sleep. Cloudie smiled fondly down at him then after a moment's thought, opened up the spare sleeping bag and spread it over them for extra warmth. The tinkerer's eyes drifted closed on the thought that it was very nice having Devon beside her again...Devon was still fast asleep when Cloudie woke the next morning. The tinkerer lay beside him, head propped up on her hand, and watched him sleep. Devon really was a sweetie, and at moments like this, when he looked so vulnerable, Cloudie could feel almost maternally protective towards him. Almost. No amount of maternal feelings could override the fact that Devon was sex on legs and the last thing she usually wanted to do was mother him.
Leaving the TK to sleep, Cloudie silently got dressed and left the tent. It was a cold morning and the mist hadn't dispersed yet. She shivered apprehensively, that wouldn't make the guards' jobs any easier. She caught sight of a familiar, tall and thin figure loping towards her.
"You're up early," she smirked as Tiger enfolded her in a hug.
"Early turn for guarding," he stooped down to kiss the psi, "Devon's in there?" Tiger indicated Cloudie's tent.
"Yep. He showed up last night mumbling something about it being 'too crowded'" She arched an enquiring eyebrow at him. Tiger grinned sheepishly.
"Eh, yeah, had a few stopovers."
Cloudie giggled, tempted to ask who, but refrained.
"Are you and Devon –?"
"Together?" Cloudie smirked at her friend's discomfort, "Nah, just friends."
"Oh, right, I shouldn't pry –" Tiger mumbled, giving the impression of being relieved, he regarded her with serious, brown eyes. "My offer still stands, you know."
Cloudie hugged him tightly.
"I know, but this isn't my life any more, Tiger. I like what I'm doing now -" she sighed, "and I feel safe."
"You're safe here."
"I don't feel safe though," Cloudie bit her lip, "I love this life, I love the clan but bad things happened to me here. Nothing bad has happened at the Agency."
"Bullshit! What about that prick who messed you up?" Tiger growled.
"That's different, that's personal; the attacks on the camp, the attack on me – they were impersonal. I hate living in fear, Tiger, I feel like I've got some control of my life now."
The taller man looked sadly down at her.
"I see," he said softly, tucking a curl of blonde behind her ear – then the corner of his mouth twitched up in an impish half-smirk, "But we'd have such pretty kids, Cloudie."
The tinkerer blinked, then laughed and smacked him hard in the shoulder.
"Oh you – you've been talking to my dad! And anyway, it's not like you really need to spawn any more progeny!"
"Can I help it if I'm fertile?" the smirk was fully formed now. Cloudie rolled her eyes.
"And on that subject, I'm not like Rosemary, or Alice, or even Flora; if I get knocked up I'm going to want my kid's father around!"
"I can do that." Tiger was obviously teasing. "I can be around for, oh, days at a time."
Cloudie laughed and hit him again.
"It's hopeless, you're incorrigible!" She groaned feelingly as she realised she'd left herself wide open for a truly awful pun. Tiger happily obliged her expectations.
"No, I don't need any incouraging at all!"
"Right, that's it, I'm leaving." Cloudie grinned and threw her hands in the air, skipping away from him. "Race you to the kitchen!" And laughing, she darted off across the campsite.Devon lay awake, listening to Cloud's laughter trail off into the distance. He hadn't deliberately eavesdropped on the travellers' conversation - they'd been talking loud enough to fucking wake him! - but he wished he hadn't been privy to it.
The TK scowled at the ceiling of the tent. What the fuck was the matter with him? It was one thing to get knotted up over Cloud and James, quite another to feel the same about Cloud and Tiger. It was a completely different situation for fuck's sake; James was a prick and Tiger… Devon liked Tiger. And it was still none of his business who the tinkerer fucked. Too bad-tempered now to think about getting more sleep, Devon dragged himself out of bed, got dressed and slouched off to find some breakfast.
Cloud was nowhere in sight at the kitchen tent, but Tiger was lounging comfortably off to one side with a bowl, taking great slurping spoonfuls of something that steamed in the cold air.
"Morning, mate," the dark man greeted him cheerfully. "Sleep all right?"
"Eventually." Devon half-smirked, then unaccountably blushed as he realised how Tiger might interpret that. He took refuge in his coffee cup.
"Sorry 'bout the invasion last night." the tall man hadn't seemed to notice the rosy glow gracing Devon's cheeks.
"Wasn't a problem 'til I wanted to get some fucking sleep," the TK chuckled. "There was no room!"
"Heh, maybe I need a bigger van?" Tiger and Devon grinned at each other, then the younger man dropped his eyes to the ground.
"Listen, Tiger, I want to ask you something. You can tell me to fuck off and mind my own business if you want."
"Go ahead." Tiger was more curious than alarmed.
"I… overheard you speaking with Cloud this morning - didn't mean to, it just happened."
Tiger shrugged.
"'S ok, not a lot of privacy in a traveller clan - you learn to disregard certain things."
Devon nodded understanding then continued.
"I was wondering what you meant when you said your 'offer' still stood?"
"Ah, that," Tiger put his empty bowl to one side and stretched out long legs in front of him. "In a nutshell, I asked Cloudie to join with me. It's the traveller form of marriage, I guess, a permanent union…" he added at Devon's blank look. "Did it years ago. I don’t think she took me seriously."
"You were serious?"
Tiger stared at the scuffed toes of his boots.
"Yep." One word, gusted out on a breath.
Normally Devon would've left the conversation there, but some deep-based masochism made him want to give the knife in his guts another twist.
"Why did you ask?"
Tiger smiled mirthlessly.
"Why does anyone ask anyone else to marry them? I love her, I want to be with her all the time - I want to have kids with her. I want to protect her."
Devon found himself silent in the face of Tiger's honesty.
"But," Tiger went on, "she won't let me do any of that so I keep it light and friendly when she's around and get used to missing her when she's gone."
"Shit, sorry," Devon felt wretched, "I shouldn't have asked."
The tall man smiled but his eyes were melancholy.
"Don't worry about it, mate," he gave the TK a smouldering look, "I've got plenty of distractions."The clan would be moving on from the campsite in a few days time so the next little while would be spent gathering supplies. A small party headed off into the nearby fields and scrappy wood to see what they could find while another group, including Cloudie and Devon, drove to the closest decent-sized town for supplies.
Cloudie couldn't fail to notice Devon's subdued mood.
"You okay, sweetie?" she asked solicitously. "Looking forward to going home?"
He shrugged.
"Kind of. It's been fun but I want to get back to work."
"Me too," Cloudie squeezed his hand and grinned, "and we could both do with a long, hot soak too. Stephan's going to have a fit over your hair!"
Devon smirked and went so far as to squeak 'Mon Dieu!' in a bad French accent while throwing his hands up in perfect imitation of his Gallic lover's horror.
Cloudie laughed, relieved to see the TK's mood lighten enough that he was joking around.
"Stephan's sweet but he can be so… prissy!"The shopping trip took most of the morning and it was gone midday by the time they returned to the camp where a wonderful smell of roasting meat greeted them as they climbed out of the vehicles. Some of the clan had had a few days labouring work for a friendly farmer in the district; today was their last day and as a bonus to their pay-out, they'd been given an entire sheep's carcass and half a dozen fresh-killed chickens. The sheep was roasting slowly over the coals of the camp fire, the chickens would be set to cook later and it would all be ready for the evening meal in a few hours time. Cloudie sighed happily in anticipation of dinner - sometimes things just didn't get better than this.
The final afternoon with the Spiral clan passed quickly. Tiger claimed Devon's skills after lunch to help them haul a few loads of firewood back to the camp, Ernst had disappeared with Lilah again and Cloudie spent the afternoon with her brother doing her best to answer his questions about the Agency. Rowan had gone past being anxious about leaving to being excited and his sister was having a hard time keeping up with him. He didn't much like the sound of London but he was intrigued by the indoor park. Didn't the ducks try to escape? Were there other birds? How could the plants grow in a room? Was the air different? Did the clouds get in? The questions went on and on and Cloudie's hands were feeling the strain from all the unaccustomed signing. Rowan was also looking forward to seeing these other pets his sister had spoken about. He'd seen very few animals beyond anything but food and while the clan's dogs were companions they earned their keep as guard and hunting dogs. The notion of keeping perfectly edible animals around simply because they were cute was a bizarre notion to the boy.
Evening fell and the entire clan eagerly awaited the carving of the meat. Slow-cooked with wild herbs, both the sheep and the chickens were tender and sweet and soon enough everyone had their platters and plates piled high with fragrant meat and the vegetables that had been roasted in pans set to catch the meat juices. The rain that had threatened all day held off and before long the clan's musicians brought out their fiddles and tambours and flutes and an impromptu celebration ensued. Cloudie ate with Tiger and Devon, laughing and chatting until, once they'd finished their meal, Tiger stood up and swept the tinkerer off into the circle dance around the campfire. They did a couple of energetic circuits then he gently tugged her out of the flow and into the shadows of the kitchen tent.
"I'm staking my claim on you tonight," he said gruffly. Cloudie nodded, eyes shining and stepped into his arms, tilting her face upwards for his kiss. She was breathless with arousal when Tiger released her. Cloudie glanced over to the TK who was watching them while trying to look like he wasn't.
"Can I ask Devon to join us?"
"Sure! The more the merrier!" Tiger grinned exuberantly.
"Ah, no," Cloudie pulled him down for another deep kiss, "just you two, understand?"
Tiger raised his eyebrows but stepped back to sketch a deep, fluid bow.
"As my lady commands."
Cloudie blinked then smirked, grabbing him by the collar and hauling his lanky frame upright to kiss him soundly again.
"God I love it when you're chivalric!"
"I know," Tiger stroked her cheek, smiling into her eyes and Cloudie felt herself melt. She took him by the hand and led him around the outside of the dance to where Devon sat, watching them approach. Without a word Cloudie held out her other hand to the young TK. Devon's gaze flicked between the two of them and he smirked, unfolding languidly from his seat. He took Cloudie's offered hand and she could feel the tiny tremors running through his long fingers. The tinkerer grinned up at her companions and the three of them slipped away from the revelry.
Tiger automatically made for his van but Cloudie, grinning, steered them towards the tent.
"I don't want any interruptions," she chuckled.It was crowded in the tent with the three of them, and dark. Not that the lack of illumination made things awkward but what it did do was allow them an unhurried, sensual start as hands and mouths slid over bodies, exploring and teasing as they helped each other undress.
Cloudie shivered with delight. She was encompassed by warm bare flesh, pressed between Devon and Tiger's lean and slender frames; someone's mouth was on her neck, someone's fingers were stroking between her thighs. Tiger was in front of her, she saw the flash of his teeth in the dark and then she was being pulled down to straddle his hips. She sighed, a sound of deep contentment, as he guided her down onto his rigid shaft. The tinkerer tugged at Devon, pulling him bodily around to stand alongside them and as Tiger pushed rhythmically up into her, she wrapped a hand around the TK's buttocks pulling his groin towards her face. Cloudie gently rolled his balls in her hand, registering his indrawn breath as she sucked him into her mouth. Devon groaned and tangled his fingers in her hair, his penis hardening further when she ran the tip of her tongue just underneath his foreskin. She pulled her head back, letting his cock slide slowly from her mouth so she could speak huskily to him in the darkness.
"By the tent flap, my back-pack, lube in the side-pocket."
As Devon hunted for the tube, Cloudie turned her attention back to Tiger, to the wonderful sensation of him moving within her. Damn it'd been too long!
She felt Devon's heat behind her and tipped her head to one side so he could nibble and suck on her neck. In a moment the pressure of his palm against the top of her spine pushed her body forwards until she was supporting herself with a hand on either side of Tiger's shoulders. Underneath her, Tiger reached up to wrap long fingers in her curls, pulling her down for an urgent kiss while Devon stroked lube-covered fingers into her arse. She didn't black out from pleasure when the TK pushed into her, but it was a near thing. The two men fell into rhythm and she quivered and came, a gentle, rolling climax that merely primed her for the next, stronger one that had her crying out hoarsely…
And so it went, the trio moving in and around each other in a timeless, seamless pleasuring that left them sated and exhausted to fall asleep in a boneless tangle of easy intimacy.It was well past sun-up the next morning when Ernst's deep and cheerful voice sounded outside the tent.
"Are you three still in there? Come and get some breakfast before it all goes!"
Cloudie blinked awake; she was on her side snuggled in to Tiger, one of her arms thrown across his sinewy chest. Devon was lying behind her, spooning comfortably, one of his arms hooked over her waist. The TK nuzzled the back of her shoulder.
"How soon 'til we have to leave?" he murmured, gently rocking his hips against her buttocks to press his cock between her arse cheeks.
"Little while yet," Cloudie grinned, pushing back against him.
"Good." Devon nudged her uppermost thigh out of the way then slid easily into her body, an arm angled low across her hips to pull her tightly to him. Cloudie's deep, sighing groan brought Tiger fully awake. Grinning, he flipped onto his side, the better to watch the pair. While Devon thrust sharply into her, Tiger toyed with her body jewelry, first gently twisting her tit rings before moving down to her groin to tug lightly on the fine silver ring at her clit. The stimulation was too much and the tinkerer came with a sharp cry. Devon didn't though, gritting his teeth and hanging on while Cloudie's cunt spasmed around him. Tiger smirked at the TK over her limp and panting form.
"Do you want me? Or shall I have you?"
In reply, Devon grinned ferally and growled:
"On your stomach."
He pulled slowly out of Cloudie's body making her wriggle and moan, then with engorged penis dangling heavily, Devon crawled over her and positioned himself between Tiger's leanly muscled thighs. The traveller smirked back over his shoulder at the younger man, and canted his hips upwards in invitation. A groan escaped Devon as he pushed into a channel still slick from last night's activities; Tiger's head dropped and he swore softly, clutching at the rumpled sleeping bag. Bright-eyed, Cloudie roused herself enough to snake a hand underneath the taller man's hips to wrap firmly around his erection. Devon roughly pulled the older man back almost to his knees, incidentally making Cloudie's job easier, and soon Tiger was cursing and groaning as the two psis deftly handled him to climax. Devon didn't try holding back this time and as Tiger quivered underneath him, the TK gripped the man's hips tightly, freezing as he pulsed into the slender body. Sighing happily Cloudie cuddled next to Tiger, scratching her fingernails gently through his wiry black hair and planting a loving kiss on his cheek. Devon withdrew and collapsed to the other side of the tall man, chest heaving as he got his breath back. No one spoke for several minutes.
"I supposed we'd better think about getting organised." Cloudie spoke softly to no one in particular.
"'spose so." Devon sat up and rubbed at his face. He glanced at the other two then just as quickly looked away; Cloud and Tiger were gazing at each other in such a way he felt he was intruding on a private moment. Without looking at either of his companions, the TK quickly shoved himself into his clothes then prowled out of the tent mumbling something about 'getting some fucking breakfast'.Still lying on his stomach and still with Cloudie's fingers gently scratching his scalp, Tiger held the tinkerer's gaze.
"Stay," he whispered, wide brown eyes entreating, "please."
"I can't," Cloudie said with soft regret.
"… then come back soon."
"I'll try."
Squeezing her eyes shut against tears, Cloudie wrapped her arms around her old friend and hugged him tightly, burying her face in his shoulder. Tiger shifted onto his side so he could return the embrace and the two clung together for a few moments on the floor of the tent. The tinkerer gently disentangled herself, pushing away from him; in silence they found their clothes and got dressed, and didn't touch again.The whole clan assembled to see them off and there were tears aplenty at Rowan's departure. Cloudie's brother managed to look solemn and excited all at once, accepting all the goodbye hugs with good grace, if not perfect patience. Cloudie did her round of personal good-byes, lingering for a moment with her mother and father.
"I'll look after him, I promise."
"I know you will, love." Daisy's pleasant, round face was splotchy with emotion. "And come back soon, we'll be heading towards Land's End during Summer."
"I'll do my best, mum." Cloudie kissed her mother's cheek then flipped a casual wave to Tiger, who was lounging nonchalantly against the water truck. The tall man waved back, just as casually, giving her a small smile before ambling away from the crowd. The tinkerer watched after him for a second or two but he didn't turn around. Cloudie shook her hair back from her face and grinned at Rowan.
Ready, nuisance? She signed.
Yes. Her brother's face glowed. Let's go now, I don't want to cry.
The tinkerer grabbed him into a rough hug while Gorey whined in nervous agitation at their heels. The little dog wriggled ecstatically when Rowan finally picked him and secured him within his oversize denim jacket.
Are you sure he'll stay still on the bike?
Cloudie asked.
Rowan nodded, smiling as he laid his cheek against the dog's rough-coated head.
"Let's go," the tinkerer settled herself and her brother on the bike as Devon and Ernst got themselves organised in the now much less-burdened car.
Cloudie kicked her bike into life and with a final wave for everyone, the four psis pulled out of the Spiral Clan's encampment to head homewards…
© 2003 August 15th Lutra
Darkside
© 2003 Wordwrights