Chapter 62 Baths and Work 1 (Jason)

Sorry about the delay, guys. I got really busy yesterday, so I couldn't finish on time. Also, my graduation project for what I am studying has started, and it's taking a lot of time, so you guys will be getting half chapters until Christmas. So, one part a week. Sorry about that.

(Pov Jason)

It had been a terrible idea. Utterly and completely idiotic. How he thought it would be fine; he just didn't know. Oh, to be able to interrogate his past self. To ask why he had made the choice he did. Maybe even lightly punishing himself in the shoulder, or maybe not so lightly.

Jason's legs shook as he tried to lean into the wall for support. The extra support offered his legs some much-needed reprieve from the arduous task of supporting his weight. The muscles in his right arm and thighs screamed in protest at their harsh treatment. His core burned with an intensity that told him it wasn't far from joining them in their subtle rebellion.

Hubris, that was the term for it. An act of arrogance beyond anything he had ever heard of. He had managed one assisted short trip with his cane, and now he thought he would be fine walking around the compound looking for Richard. Idiot.

“Jason, are you ok?” A deep, feminine voice said from behind him. It was a voice he recognized.

He looked over his shoulder, locking eyes with Rhea's deep brown eyes. Her eyebrows furrowed, as if she was asking out of courtesy and had already drawn her own conclusion.

“Yeah, I am fine.” He said, red spreading across his cheeks. He hadn't noticed anyone else in this hallway earlier, nor had he heard any door. This was… embarrassing. He might just have pushed through to anywhere he could have sat down. Not just pathetically slump against a wall. His leg shook as he tried to push off from the wall to stand up properly again. 

“I am sure you are.” She said, drawing the sentence out carefully. “However, I am free right now. I am sure you could do just fine on your own. I would be more than happy to help you. And I at least would appreciate the company.” A small, inviting smile spread across her face. 

Jason glanced down at the offered arm. A small pit formed in his stomach. He really didn't want to take it. He had gotten himself into this mess, and he should get himself out of it. He also doubted one of the few actual witches in North America had nothing better to do than escort the idiot cripple around. Now he should handle this himself.

A brief pinching pain shot through one of his calves.

Jason sighed nearly inaudibly. What was it his mother had always said when he was sick and insisted on doing things himself? Pride goes before destruction. Whether or not he should get himself out of this mess wasn't the question. Not really. The question was whether or not he could. He had no doubt he would be able to drag himself back home eventually, but… It simply wasn't worth it. 

Swallow your pride, Jason, swallow your pride.

It wasn't like he had anything to be concerned about from Rhea either. Jasmine trusted her enough to consider her a possible addition to their family? marriage? To his harem? Whatever the terminology, Jasmine did seriously think she would be a good addition. And it wasn't like he didn't like her. Sure, he didn't like her, but she had been good company. 

“Yeah, I think I am going to take you up on that.” He said, hooking his arm in hers and taking his cane with his other hand. “Thanks.”

Being able to put some of his weight and balance on Rhea was a godsend. He would need to sit down soon, but he had no doubt he could make it home with her help.

“Don't mention it. It's my pleasure.” She said cheerfully, with an almost self-satisfied smirk playing at her lips. 

As they walked, Jason started leaning into her more and more, the warmth of her shoulder seeping into his. It didn't feel all too bad. It didn't seem like she minded either, given the smirk; she looked like she was actively suppressing. 

Jason's eyebrows furrowed as they approached the end of the hallway. In fact, Jasmine had mentioned that there weren't all that many men in the clans, or in Scandinavia in general. She had also mentioned that Rhea found him attractive.

Was she… Was she preening like a guy walking with a pretty girl on his arm? Was he the damsel in distress being rescued by a knight in shining armor? 

Jason's heart sped up, and the warmth on his face spread toward the tips of his ears. Glancing over, he cursed himself. He had thought Rhea was around six foot four; she was probably closer to six foot five. An inch wasn't all that much, and it hadn't been noticeable when they first met. Now, however, it was very noticeable.

His gaze locked onto the drop of perspiration as it rolled down her exposed chest, down into the bottomless depths between her… Stop it. He managed to rip his gaze from her chest, or what of it was exposed and framed by her corset. Why are corsets so popular here?

“So Jason, what were you doing out and about anyway?” Rhea said, her tone filled with what could have only been barely hidden self-satisfaction that made his stomach do backflips.

The question shook him from his reverie. He took the chance to think, slowing his breathing and clearing his throat before he answered. “I was looking for Richard, actually. I tried calling him and didn't get a response, so I figured I might as well have a look. It didn't turn out as planned.” He hesitated. “ I should probably just have waited, hes probably at work.”

The tapping of Rhea's legs reached his ears as they turned down the next hallway, the sound no longer muffled by the now uncarpeted floor. 

“Ohh, Richard doesn't work,” Rhea said matter-of-factly. “He's more a freelancer, and a… I guess househusband is the best term. Not that many places outside the clan would take him. He never finished middle school.”

“My, my, look at who's spilling all my tea.” A man's voice said from just down a hall to their left as they passed—a recognizable one at that. 

“Speak of the devil, and he shall appear,” Rhea said ceremoniously.

Richard walked towards them, hair tied in a bun at the back of his head, and in the same outfit as the first time he had seen him. Just now, with a bright red sash tied around his waist. 

“And why, may I ask, have I become the main topic of your conversation?” He said as he quickly covered the short distance over to them. Casting a concerned glance toward Jason.

“Ahh, well, you see, Jason here had been trying to reach out to you. Unfortunately, it seems you have made yourself rather difficult to find.” Rhea said, chiding him jokingly.

Richard's eyebrow lifted as his hand flew to his sash, fishing out a phone. “Have I?” His fingers flew across the device for a few seconds before his eyes looked over at Jason. Richard's mouth opened, then closed again. “I am so sorry, I must have had the vibration off or something.” 

“Don't worry about it.” Jason said, giving Richard a small smile.

The boy's eyes scanned him, his jaw tightening nearly imperceptibly. His eyes quickly returned to his phone, moving left to right as if reading. “Do you still have the same question? Because if you're up for it, I was headed for the baths, and I am sure the others would love to meet you.” He leaned a little closer, holding a hand to the side of his mouth toward Rhea, before whispering loudly enough that anyone nearby would hear. “And it kinda looks like sitting down to soak in some hot water would do you some good.”

Jason chuckled. A bath might actually do him some good. And it wouldn't hurt to get to know some more people here. His social life hadn't been horrible since he got here, but if he was going to be part of all this, he needed to know people. Right? 

The only question then was if…

“Will you be able to get back home. I can wait outside for you if it's a short stop, but I can't wait too long.” Rhea asked, looking over at him.

“I should be able to get back home after a break, yeah.” Jason said reassuringly, though mostly to himself.

“Don't worry, Rhea, Linda and I will get him home. And if Linda can't drop by, I'll just recruit one of the other guys to help.”

“Wait, I don't have a towel with me. I am not sure.” He trailed off as Richard waved at him dismissively.

“I have a few clean extra ones; you can use one of those.” 

“Thanks.” He said.

Rhea remained with them as they crossed the courtyard and approached one of the other buildings in the complex. A stout thing, covered in more ornamental stonework than anything else. They walked towards the smaller of the two entrances, with Rhea stopping just outside. 

“Well, I hope you two have fun.” She said as she waved back at them. “And remember not to stare, Jason.”

Richard helped him through the door and over towards the lockers and the showers. His arms and legs protested vehemently as he worked to get out of his clothing. After showering, they walked into the bath proper. It was empty of people and surprisingly small, though, for a place where they were supposed to be nude; that was probably for the best. The floor was covered in teal tiles, and the walls were covered in nature imagery mosaics that must have cost a fortune. The nudity was a bullet he would just have to bite, unfortunately. Luckily, it seemed to be guys only. After all, why else would you make separate baths?

“Here, take my hand; I'll help you in.” Richard said, holding his hand out toward Jason.

“Thanks.” There wasn't any reason to fight it. He had already had to swallow his pride, and that was when there wasn't a high risk of him slipping and cracking his skull open on the tiled floor. 

The warmth of the water quickly worked its way into his body, relaxing his aching muscles. The water smelled faintly of roses and lavender. He hadn't expected to walk out smelling faintly of perfume, but that's how things were going to turn out. It wasn't bad, though he wasn't sure he was too fond of the idea.

Richard let out a deeply satisfied sigh as he sat down in the pool next to Jason.

“So you wanted to talk,” Richard said, his head cocking to one side as he looked at Jason.

Jason rubbed the back of his neck, chuckling embarrassedly. “Yeah, I did.” He hesitated. “So, anyway, the other day I was on a date with Jasmine and Chloe. And we got to how the entire thing was going to work. Specifically, how I am supposed to, you know…” 

Richard just nodded, seemingly knowing exactly what he meant. “And you want to know how to manage multiple partners.”

“Yeah, and since you grew up with this stuff, Jasmine figured you would be a good person to ask.”

Richard laughed, the sound echoing throughout the steam-filled bath. “Well, I didn't grow up with this stuff, but she is right; I can help. If I can't, then you'll soon meet people who can.”

“You… Didn't?” Jason asked, letting out a low sigh as the warmth finally managed to soothe more of his aching muscles.

Richard chewed on his lower lip as he held Jason's gaze for a few seconds. “Fuck it, you'll find out eventually anyways.” He drew a deep breath and let it out with a heavy sigh. “I didn't grow up in the clan, well, mostly. My parents weren't great to any of us. They weren't kiddy diddlers or anything. They never did anything like that to me.” He chuckled lightly, but the sound was forced in a way that made Jason's stomach twist. He got the sinking feeling there was more behind that they then Richard wanted to tell.

“So when I was twelve, I ran away from home. Then I lived on the streets all over the place for a few years. Until about three years ago. Let me tell you, living in an abandoned warehouse in Portland during winter isn't exactly fun.” 

“How old are you now?” Jason asked, not daring to say anything else.

Richard winked at him. “I am eighteen, just like you are.” He drew an audible breath. “Anyway, that's when I found this place, and one thing led to another. I ended up finding out a lot and getting caught. They heard the details about why I ran, and the elders, especially Solveig, agreed that sending me home or giving me to CPS wasn't an option. So they wanted to take me in.” 

Jason's eyes flicked to Richard's arms, noticing the tiny scars that etched their way up his forearms; the fading burn scars blemished his wrists. All of them were faded, probably by time. Though he had no doubt that Linda had helped make them fade quicker. At least if his own experience with noctians was anything to rely on, he would be surprised if she hadn't.

He looked down at his hands. “Trust isn't easy when you live on the street like that; most people are decent. But there are just many enough that you can never fully trust anyone. I didn't trust them not to throw me out. So I made an ultimatum: either I would become a thrall, or I would find a way to run away again. For whatever reason, the elders allowed it. So I ended up married to Linda at fifteen. Though, if I am being honest, she was more or less just a big sister until about a year ago. God, they watched us like hawks for the first two years.” A smile spread across the boy's face. “She is the best thing to have ever happened to me. But yeah, that's the story. I didn't grow up with this stuff, but I have done everything in my power to adapt to it. So what do you want to know?”

Jason's mouth opened and closed; his mind reeled from the slew of information. He wasn't entirely sure whether to ask more about the boy's life. After all, what fifteen-year-old outside a cult got married. 

He shifted where he sat. I barely know the guy. It's probably best not to ask too much. 

Jason cleared his throat. “So, other than not showing too much favoritism, I was just wondering how to go about it? I don't really think I know enough to ask anything more specific yet.”

Richard winked at him, snapped his fingers, and gave him the finger guns. “Well, that I can tell you. A long conversation about polygyny it is then.”

The sound of the door to the showers opening echoed through the bath. Richard turned before Jason managed to and started waving.

“Hey guys, good to see you,” Richard said cheerfully.

Jason blinked. Three people had walked in: two men, one in his twenties and the other in his fifties or sixties. The third, however… The woman was clearly a homunculus. He didn't see any human ears; instead, she had what looked like large fox ears, and behind her he could see three white fox tails. All three wore bat-shaped earwraps around one of their ears.

“Richard?”

“Hmm.” Richard looked at him questioningly before his eyebrows rose and he started laughing. “Did you think this was the men's bath?”

Jason's chest tightened. “Isn't it?”

Richard shook his head, grinning from ear to ear. “No, darling, this is the thralls' bath.”