They were on again, if you could even call it that. Martyn was in Cleo’s house, making tea for the both of them while she organized a chest. This was one of their rare moments of peace, when Cleo and Martyn paused their bickering to rest. They didn’t hate each other, not really. Cleo was annoyed at him on the daily, sure, but her feelings were always reflected back to him, and she didn’t hate him.
“Here we are.” Martyn said, putting a steaming mug on the block of wood Cleo had as an end table. “Can we stop moving- I’m so tired.”
“You’re so tired? Try dealing with your sorry ass every day.” Cleo responded, but came over and sat next to him on the couch. They were both tired- being undead and the soulbound of the undead would do that to you.
“I do deal with my ass every day, thank you very much, and it is quite far from sorry.” Martyn responded with no heat in his voice, kicking up his legs to rest them on Cleo’s lap.
Cleo snorted, and flicked his foot, but didn’t move it. “I will not be commenting on the state of your ass.”
They fell into an agreeable silence, sipping their tea and looking into the flames crackling in the fireplace. Having moments of peace on the life series servers was always an uneasy luxury, especially with red names running around, but a risk worth taking for a few moments of peace. And it was nice to be around another person, especially if that person shared your soul.
“If you could have chosen your soulmate, who would it have been?” Martyn asked suddenly.
Cleo turned to look at him, eyebrow raised. “Bit of an odd question, Martyn. You thinking of cheating on me or something?”
“If I would, I could, but no, it’s just a hypothetical. What if it wasn’t Scar and Grian? What if it wasn’t Pearl and Scott? If you and me were not already linked, who would you want to be linked with?”
Cleo chuckled at the joke, but hummed, thinking. Her fingers played with the hem of Martyn’s pants, rubbing the fabric over and over again, feeling nothing. Dead nerves, Cleo had told him when he’d first noticed it in his own hands, takes a while to get used to.
“Etho, maybe. He’s resourceful, smart, intimidating to those who don’t know him. A good bit like me.”
“The boat boys went yellow like, day one, didn’t they?” Martyn asked.
Cleo chuckled. “True. Maybe Bdubs? He’s an old ally, loyal like a dog. The way he looks at Impulse now… who doesn’t want to be adored? Speaking of dogs, doesn’t take much of a genius to figure out who you’d go for.”
“Is it that obvious?” Martyn replied, a wry smile coming to his face.
“Very much so.” Cleo said. “Can’t blame you, of course. I mean, look at me, entrapped in old alliances too.”
They went quiet again. It was dark out now, and the only light came from the fire in front of them. Martyn thought of Ren, of his own hypothetical question.
“But I don’t mind you as a soulmate, Martyn, not really.” Cleo said. “For your stupidity and recklessness, you are a survivor. Not till the end, perhaps, but till there is nothing left to hold on for. I can appreciate that.”
“We’re too similar, I think, rash and hard-headed and good with our words.” Martyn replied. “But I don’t mind you either, even if I’m a bit dead-er for it.”
“And I’m a bit more alive for it- no, really, you can’t imagine how confused my body has been to have a beating heart. But let’s make one thing clear- you do not make me feel any more alive. I feel years taken off my life, in fact, every time you do something stupid.”
“We were having a moment, Cleo.” Martyn sighed, grinning at her.
“I’d much prefer to bully you- I deserve that much for you pushing me off a cliff and killing us.” Cleo pointed out.
“Oh my god, this again. Listen, it was one time. Ever heard of committing to the bit?”
“I’ll cut off all your bits.”
