A Forbidden Kiss (3/6)

Writers: Devin, Yvonne
Date Posted: 11th February 2025
Series: Bronze and Blue Entwined

Characters: K'mai, H'run
Description: K'mai panics and H'run has a heartrending realization.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 5, day 10 of Turn 12
Notes: Mentioned: I'serin

K'mai

H'run

The hot peak of pleasure had barely faded when the memory of what had
happened came rushing back in. That, and the realization that the name
he'd called out in passion had definitely _not_ been H'run's. K'mai
stumbled out of bed. "Oh shards, oh shards! I have to . . . I have to
apologize." Remembering that look of betrayal on I'serin's face was
like a knife to his heart.

}:What is happening?:{ Sebeth was confused at the sudden shift in his
rider's emotions. }:Calcifeth's made you feel good and now you feel
terrible.:{

H'run lay still as he sorted through broken-edged memories of the last
candlemark. The silence dragged. Even dragonlust couldn't erase what
had happened after the flight was lost or what had happened afterward.
He sighed and rolled over, propping his chin on his hand so that he
could stare at K'mai. "To whom, darling? Do tell."

"The _Weyrleader_." K'mai almost went for the door but he couldn't
just walk out naked. "Shards, where are my pants." The flight room
wasn't even that _big_, where were his _clothes_, I'serin was going to
_hate him_. . .

It was tempting to let him go and watch the fallout, but K'mai was
_here_ and jealousy flared. "Nothing for _me_ then? Or even a thank
you before you go and make things so much worse for yourself?"

K'mai froze and grimaced. He had maybe sort of . . . used H'run.
"H'run, I . . . I scorched this whole thing up. I'm sorry."

The other bluerider raised an eyebrow. "Scorched up what, exactly?"

K'mai burned with the need to go and _fix_ this, but he'd hurt H'run
too. "Our friendship -- yours and mine. Things with I'serin . . ."
Even in his panicked state he knew that was a bad way to phrase it.
"My friendship with I'serin." **Yes, excellent recovery, K'mai. No way
is he going to suspect anything. How do I keep making this _worse_?**
"If it was another bronzerider I'd laugh it off but he hates attention
and I _know_ that, and I . . . I . . ." Oh, no. No, he could _not_ cry
about this in front of H'run. "I crossed a line."

H'run's eyes narrowed as he sat up, clutching the blanket's edge like
a lifeline. K'mai was abandoning him again. "I saved you from your own
stupidity in the flight room, K'mai. Don't throw it away now just
because you've now come to your senses. Chances are the Weyrleader
will take his humiliation out on you publically to save his own
sharding face. I don't care how good a friend you think he is, he
can't be as good a 'friend' as you want him to be."

"I _have_ to apologize," K'mai said. "I don't care if he punishes me.
I don't care if I'm on nightwatches forever, as long as he doesn't . .
." **Hate me. End things.**

**Sebeth, where is he?** If I'serin was in his weyr K'mai would have
to ask for them to meet somewhere else. No way would the bronzerider
want K'mai going straight from the flight room to his weyr.

H'run shook his head, then started to laugh. A tear leaked from the
corner of his eye and he brushed it away with an angry gesture. Every
word K'mai said felt like a knife between his ribs because it all
_fit_, and how blind he'd been to not see it earlier. "You are such a
sharding _liar_. Go run to your precious bronzerider."

}:They have left the Weyr,:{ Sebeth said.

K'mai finally found his pants. "I'm not lying." His cheeks heated with
guilt because he definitely was. He was _trying_ to tell as much of
the truth as he could but he _had_ to protect I'serin's secret.

}:Aluneth's rider says he will not see you today.:{

K'mai's heart turned to ice. **What? Where is he? I just need to see
him, to apologize--**

}:K'mai . . .:{ Sebeth's voice was tender. }:I know you are hurting
but I cannot take you. We must obey the Weyrleader.:{

"Oh shards." K'mai covered his face. He'd ruined it. It was an
accident. An _accident_! But he'd still gone too far and hurt I'serin.

"Is that supposed to fool me?" H'run asked coldly. He wanted to hurt
K'mai like he'd been hurt, so he laughed again. "Because you have to
do better than that. Unless you truly don't know..."

That got K'mai's attention. "What?" he asked as he rubbed tears from
his eyes. Did H'run know something? Were there already rumors?

"Are you really going to try that again?" H'run rolled his eyes,
theatre a convenient excuse to ignore the way his insides felt ripped
to shreds. "I'm a _Harper_. Come now."

K'mai finished fastening his pants with shaking fingers. While he
couldn't go to I'serin he certainly couldn't stay in here either. He
felt like he was falling apart. Maybe I'serin just needed a candlemark
or two to calm down. "I'm not in the mood for games, H'run, just tell
me." If there were whispers about them, maybe he could do some damage
control . . .

"Don't you _dare_ accuse me of playing games when you're the only one
here playing them. Let's see." H'run started ticking points off on his
fingers. "There was the time you ran to I'serin's ledge after what
happened at Barrier Lake. Odd that you'd go to someone that you
claimed to barely know, but easy enough to overlook. Then you started
disappearing all the time, spent your birthingday _drooling_ all over
the Weyrleader, shoved your tongue down his throat after a lost
flight, and then _panted_ his name at me throughout this entire
blighted encounter. I'serin! Oh, I'serin! The man who famously claimed
to not be able to fall in love, is so _obviously_ in love."

K'mai went pale, fear running hot and cold through him. "_What_?" he
managed. If H'run had guessed they were sleeping together, the entire
_Weyr_ was going to know by tomorrow. "I . . . that . . . it's . . .
that's _ridiculous_! He's a _bronzerider_." Faranth, this had spiraled
so far out of control.

K'mai's reaction was proof enough. H'run blinked back tears and stared
at the door so that he didn't have to look at the other bluerider.
"Which you've apparently forgotten. Whatever you think is going to
happen between you two, it's not."

Blinking, K'mai repeated the words in his head. Did that mean . . .
H'run didn't know and just thought K'mai was hopelessly lusting after
the Weyrleader? That was . . . not great but a lot better. He found
his shirt and yanked it on. "I just want to fix our friendship, that's
all." His throat closed up as he wondered if _that_ was hopeless.
Because he didn't want to ruin two friendships in the same day, K'mai
swallowed and said, "And I am sorry for . . . what just happened and
for walking out now, but I need to be alone." Clearly, talking to
anyone right now was a terrible idea.

H'run pressed his hands against his eyes to stop himself from crying.
K'mai had lied and used him, and Faranth help him, H'run ached with
wanting the other bluerider to stay. "Fine. Go throw yourself at
I'serin, for all the good it will do you. And take your so-called
apology with you."

After shoving his feet into his boots, K'mai stood there for a moment.
He'd hurt I'serin and he'd hurt H'run and it was all such mess.
I'serin didn't even want to see him, but H'run was right there. K'mai
could hold him, try to soothe him . . . while everything inside K'mai
felt brittle and H'run would just hurl more accusations. K'mai opened
the door. "I'm sorry," he repeated before stepping out.

And H'run was left alone and in silence while his heart crumbled into
a million bleeding pieces.

Last updated on the February 18th 2025

[Prev: A Forbidden Kiss (2/6)] Series: Bronze and Blue Entwined [Next: A Forbidden Kiss (4/6)]

Welcome to Triad Weyrs!

A Forbidden Kiss (3/6)