Serene patted his back. “I know, sweetheart.”
“I hate them all,” said Elliot. “I especially hate Cyril, who became overwhelmed by my, quote, harsh tone, unquote, and began to hyperventilate. But I also hate Daniel, who asks stupid questions, and Miriam, who is a little know-it-all, which would be fine if she knew it all, but let me tell you—she doesn’t!”
“They will be less annoying soon,” Serene soothed, her voice balm. “Children from your world, I have noticed, are often immature and ill-acquainted with the realities of this one. But they grow up fast once transplanted to the Borderlands.”
They did seem about ten years younger than Elliot’s class, rather than two. It made Elliot uneasy to think about.
“I’m pretty sure all children are just awful,” he said. “Cyril also hyperventilated during a reenactment of Star Wars I was doing. And I remember that awful sticky creature whom I fell off a cliff with. I never, ever want any.”
“I’m certain your tale of stellar combat was riveting,” said Serene. “And I’m certain you’ll change your mind. Most men long for children, due to their selfless and nurturing natures.”
“I don’t have one of those,” said Elliot.
“What about Smooth Jazz?” asked Luke meanly.
“What?” asked Serene.
Elliot was about to echo her, but then he recalled his conversation with Luke about the hypothetical names for his and Serene’s hypothetical children that he’d had before he was acquainted with any actual children and their horrors. He did not think Luke bringing up this evidence of Elliot being absurd in front of Serene was playing fair.
“Ix-nay on the abotaging-say of my elationship-ray,” said Elliot, kicking him, but that just made Serene and Luke both look at him as if he was speaking in tongues. He had so much to teach them about the other world: he’d forgotten the crucial aspect of pig Latin. “Anyway,” he said hastily. “Do you two have selfless and nurturing natures? I mean, hypothetically: Kids, yes or no?”
“Women have so many other things on their minds,” said Serene. “I’ll decide when I’m older.”
Elliot hoped she decided no. He really had not enjoyed Cyril’s hyperventilating.
“I obviously can’t,” Luke snapped.
“Uh, you obviously can, loser,” said Elliot. “We live in a military society frequently torn by conflicts and all. You’re telling me that somebody wouldn’t hand over a war orphan to a Sunborn and their life partner whose name might rhyme with Sail Cravefacer?”
Luke had looked thoughtful when Elliot started speaking, but by the time Elliot was done he looked only flushed and embarrassed.
“Shut up!” he said. “What if he heard you!”
He got up and stormed away to whatever physical activity he’d decided he simply had to practice at lunchtime that day. He might be on to the javelin by now. Elliot suspected the system was alphabetical.
As if Elliot had not already checked that Dale was nowhere in earshot. Elliot was sneaky and on the diplomatic track. He made a mental note to ask Dale about his opinion on children some time.
“You embarrassed me a little in the commander’s office,” Serene said, and her voice was soft: loving but chiding, and Elliot truly did appreciate how hard she was trying not to overstep the boundaries of their new relationship, but he actually liked it better when she was being brash and open about her attitude toward men.
It was difficult, this way, to separate out affection and condescension, and he didn’t want to reject the affection.
“You know me, Serene,” he said, and pulled her hand away from his face, linked his fingers with hers instead. “I’ll be embarrassing you a lot soon enough.”
She took it well. “Probably,” she murmured, and kissed him. “I don’t mind it too much.”
They had a lovely ten minutes together, until Elliot sent Serene off to practise with Luke.
He found something to occupy himself with while they were being bros. For the times when Elliot was not teaching, there was the library and, surprisingly enough, Myra. The first time he went there outside his usual study hours and found her there, he thought it was a happy coincidence. The third time, he was fairly sure there was something going on.
“Never a bad time to get ahead on your studies,” she said when he asked, shrugging it off.
Elliot raised his eyebrows. “And yet.”
“Oh, fine,” said Myra. “If you must know—”
“I must!” said Elliot. “Because I’m nosy and have no consideration for the feelings of others.”
“I’m trying to avoid spending so much time with Peter,” Myra told him, a light flush creeping into her cheeks. “I think—he has feelings for me, and I don’t feel the same way.”
“Why, Myra!” Elliot was delighted, though sorry for Peter. “You heartbreaker.”
“I like someone else,” Myra continued, her blush deepening. “So it isn’t fair to lead Peter on. I’m hoping that if I put a little distance between us, he’ll get the message without me having to say anything.”
Elliot wanted to know whom Myra liked, but the shadow of her mustache did nothing to hide the firm set of her mouth. He could tell when someone was not going to talk.
“Well, I’m happy to keep you company,” he said. “Serene’s spending time with Luke, and I don’t want to get in the way of that.”
Myra frowned. “I thought you were all friends.”
“Not technically,” said Elliot. “I mean, not reciprocally.”
Myra looked even more confused. Elliot gave it up, even though he felt personally that it was perfectly clear.
“Anyway,” he continued. “Serene doesn’t want Luke to feel left out now that she and I are dating, so I am giving them space.”
“Aw,” said Myra. “I think that’s really nice of you.” She paused. “So, you’re really serious about Serene?”
“Why does everyone keep asking me that?”
Elliot’s tone was more snappish than he’d intended, but Myra didn’t seem to take offence.
“You know, you’re kind of a dramatic person, Elliot,” she said mildly.
“I am not. How dare you!”
“It’s not a bad thing,” Myra said. “But when a guy calls a girl the nightlight of his soul, other people might be forgiven for thinking he’s being intentionally over the top.”
“I wasn’t being over the top,” Elliot argued. “I was way under the top.”
Myra giggled. “Whatever you say, Elliot. And hey, it all worked out, didn’t it? You’re with her.”
Elliot looked out the window. “Yeah,” he said softly. “Yeah, I am.”
“And you were serious about her the whole time,” Myra said.
“Yeah,” Elliot said, even more softly. “Yeah, I was.”
“And she knew,” said Myra. “That’s what counts. It doesn’t matter what anybody else thought.”