Son of No City

Chapter 65

Before singing the chorus one last time, Leithan saw Teshin. He stood back, next to the pyramid of casks, beside the terrace door. He wore the slim black pants Leithan had bought him, with a Yoxai short-sleeved shirt – a mix of styles. Not that it mattered what Teshin wore, anyway. There was an effortless allure about him. It was in the way he stood up straight with his shoulders back, in the way he angled his head, in his small smile, and the secrets in his eyes. Leithan held his gaze from across the room as he sang the remainder of the song, the melody of words coming out in a seamless flow, like something he wasn't in control of anymore, something bigger than himself.

That last chorus turned out to be their best. The thick crowd pulsed with it, a smile on every face. Leithan was aware that some of them were kissing as they danced. And yet the whole time, he didn't let go of Teshin's gaze.

After that, Rami, in an unspoken agreement, continued playing the same catchy rhythm alongside Koral and Steba. He often did that.

Leaving those three to work the crowd without him, Leithan jumped off the side of the stage. Caught in an odd trance-like state, he trailed over to the other side of the room. On his way, acquaintances and friends congratulated him on the song, and Leithan smiled and thanked them mechanically, without really registering.

He got to Teshin, finally, and paused in front of him. An iron-cast chandelier hung above his head, and the weak lights – more than half its candles had burned out – flickered playfully along the angles and lines of his handsome face. His hands hung in his pockets, casually.

"Let's go outside," Teshin said, raising his voice to be heard.

Which made Leithan realize just how noisy it was inside. For a moment there, his senses had stopped collecting data. Except for his eyes, but they'd had only Tesh as a focal point. The hustle and bustle of the night club rushed back in now, and with it came the urge to be somewhere quieter.

"Yeah," Leithan agreed, and they pushed the swinging door.

The terrace brimmed with people, but many of them were standing. The trestle table in the back was free – the one Leithan and Nix had previously occupied.

So Leithan guided them there, and sat facing the terrace, his back to the trees. A lingering drop of rainwater fell from a leaf, across the back of Leithan's neck. A refreshing shiver trickled down his spine.

Teshin sat facing him, leaning his arms forward on the table. The air around them held a mixture of brisk night wind, damp foliage, voss smoke, and tobacco. Conversations ebbed and flowed like waves of voices, but it was still much easier to talk here than inside.

Leithan's gaze rested for a moment on Teshin's smile, with the canine that jutted from the rest, and the full lips, which he couldn't help but want to kiss.

"It's not fair," Tesh said, and Leithan looked back up to his eyes, which glinted in lantern light. Also, they were somewhat dilated.

"What's not fair?" Leithan asked, amused.

"Your song," Teshin said like it was obvious. "I couldn't understand the words."

Leithan felt a flush flaring across his cheekbones.

"That's for the best," he said.

But Teshin shook his head. "Uh-huh. No. I want to know."

Leithan smiled, teasing. "I'm not telling you."

Teshin leaned back a bit, narrowing his eyes. But a smile played over his lips, still.

"So that's how it's going to be?"

Leithan gave a small shrug. "Looks like it. So what'd you take tonight?"

Teshin stared, mocking. "I'm not telling you," he said in a poor – but okay, kind of funny – imitation of Leithan's voice.