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Lying on his bed, tired and miserable from an ache that would take weeks to fade, Vaahn reflected on the events following his arrest. He'd spent the night in a prison cell, which was an unpleasant experience for a full-grown adult, let alone a seven year old. His return home was on the condition that he be kept grounded in his room until his day in court; another undesirable prospect. That day had come soon enough, thanks to the Judicial AI reviewing the case. After two long days it was time to face the music. His court-appointed defence had pleaded insanity, and did so with an unsettling amount of determination. The judge was sceptical, as it was his job to be, but conceded that it was believable that long-term abuse could have repercussions that would take a long time to resolve. When he made a point of apologising to Vaahn on behalf of the Correction's Council and the judicial system, the Kyyreni boy was left speechless. The tone quickly changed, however. The judge felt it was important that, despite his obvious hurt, that Vaahn be given a very stern reminder of right and wrong.

So the boy was given a Judicial Paddling. It was an ordeal that was designed to be beyond the limits of endurance for even the toughest Penitatas. A Defolicator had stripped away the fur protecting Vaahn's rump, and the bare white flesh had been thoroughly blistered with a paddle that would normally be outright unlawful to use on any child, irrespective of age. That, of course, was the entire point; you had to be really bad to earn a Judicial Paddling, so they made it something so terrible no-one would ever dare earn a second! As it happened, this was Vaahn's second. The first had been earned long ago in his first cycle, back when he'd beaten a Medicalos Starfleet officer so severely the child had been hospitalised. That made him a notable child, albeit for all the wrong reasons.

Unlike last time there wasn't much of a follow-up. He'd been paddled by his mother the next morning, which was hell made manifest on a heavily blistered backside, but that was the only punishment the court had mandated. It was felt that now, priority should be given to recovery; physical, mental and emotional. The soft diaper he'd been forced to wear was just another source of discomfort for the boy. It had been put on because his blisters leaked and, as his parents were quick to point out, it was a lot more comfortable than bandages. Vaahn would have preferred pain to embarrassment, but he wasn't given a choice either way; it was a diaper, or a diaper and a fresh spanking, so he picked the former.

Muffled by the pillow he'd buried his head in, Vaahn recounted a passage he'd committed to memory a lifetime ago. "[A man cannot change. In times of plenty he is gluttonous; in times of little he is frugal. He is rough and rude in the company of crude men, yet chivalrous and courteous when presented to the high-born. For every new situation a man shall find a new mask to wear, yet always shall he return to his true nature when the opportunity presents itself. The masks can be changed, but the wearer cannot.]" "Tharkys - Letters to the Imperial Court." Jas said from the doorway, guessing that his entrance had prompted the quotation. For the first time in what seemed an eternity, Vaahn smiled. Jas had been kept away since his arrest; he'd been sent to stay with friends until now. The Kyyreni boy would find later he'd chosen to stay with Rebecca, though he suspected as much already. "I didn't expect you to know that by heart, Jas." Jas shrugged and answered, "You read his books cover to cover; did you honestly think I would forget about them?" Vaahn's own smile froze on his face. "Who's outside the door, a parent or a guard?" "A parent," Matt said. He entered the room and sat down at the desk. Jas settled on the end of the bed. Vaahn didn't sit up; he just moved his feet out of the way. "Who is this 'Tharkys'?" "A warrior-scholar," Vaahn explained. "He lived to see the end of the Five Empires - born in Go'norav, he fled to Niirgol when the war began and became an advisor to their king. His writings are... well, it's hard to do them justice; they're over a thousand years old, yet they form the cornerstone of the modern Dawn Kingdom's political and social ideologies." Matt nodded the way people do when they want to show they're paying attention, but their mind is on something else. "That quote sounds a little... pessimistic to me." Vaahn shrugged. "Is that how you feel though, Vaahn? Do you feel as though you can't reform?" "There's nothing to reform," the boy replied, sinking back into a sulk he'd spent many years perfecting. "Is that how you feel? If it is, then it's not true. I know you can change, Vaahn, and a lot of other people do too." Jas cut in quickly. "That's not what it means, dad. You're not even close." The conviction in Jas' voice caught Vaahn's attention. Both he and Matt focused on the Aspatrian as he continued, "it means Vaahn was born to be a warrior, and as a warrior he will always view the world in a warrior's terms. It means the world is divided into things he must protect and things he must destroy, and it cannot be any other way... even if he wants it too." Vaahn was the first to recover from his speechlessness. "For someone who hates my ways, Jas, you sure do know them well." "You aren't the only one who has had things to learn, Vaahn." Jas replied. "I've wanted to change things between us for a long time, since before the war even began. I used to think that I could make you see things my way, and the things you said to me in confidence... they made me believe that you really did want the kind of life I did." Vaahn shifted position, allowing Jas to sidle along the bed a little. "What kind of life was that?" "Doesn't matter," Jas answered, shaking the notion away. "In the end I realised that I could never change you. I loved you, Vaahn, and I still do..." "There's a 'but', isn't there?" The Aspatrian shook his head. "Not this time. I do love you, Vaahn. I love you because I know, deep down, you want to change. You want to be the man I wish you were, and I know the reason you're mad right now isn't because you're facing harsh spankings or more Hard Time cycles, or even that you might never get revenge on Essie. You're angry because you let me down; because you didn't do what I would have wanted you to do."

Tears welled up in Vaahn's eyes. It was all Matt needed to excuse himself and give the boys some privacy. Vaahn kneeled on the bed (sitting hurt too much) and gave Jas a tight, much-needed hug. "You must hate me right now..." "Of course I do! I hate you for doing this, for jeopardising your future and my ability to live with you! I hate you for taking the law into your hands... even if the bitch deserved it." Both boys smirked at Jas' sudden swear. They broke apart, and the Aspatrian boy's face softened. "Sometimes I hate you, Vaahn, but that's nothing new. I've hated you before, and you've hated me; I think we're both old enough, in a manner of speaking, to know that we're not going to be happy all the time. I honestly didn't want to talk to you today, Vaahn, but I did because I know you need me right now... and because I know that, in time, I'll forgive you like I always do." "I don't deserve to be forgiven," the Penny replied, wiping his eyes. Jas gave a genuine smile of affection. "And that is why I will." The Aspatrian stood up, letting Vaahn settle back down into a more comfortable position. "Promise me the next time you get the urge to hurt someone, you'll think about what you're doing first? You know as well as I do that if you mess this up, we don't have a future together." Vaahn said nothing, but nodded in understanding. Jas leaned down and kissed his forehead gently. "We'll talk more later." Then he let Vaahn rest.

* * *

The new Headmaster was in his early to mid thirties, and built like someone who left his house every morning by punching a hole through the wall. Every student who'd seen him arrive on his first day were on their best behaviour for a week. After word spread from two unlucky Pennys as to just how talented he was at corporal punishment, they tried extra hard for another fortnight. His name was Mister Davenport. Vaahn was not one of those Penitatas, though he felt sure he was going to be as he was ushered into the man's office. Despite his size and build he was softly spoken, and radiated patience and understanding as he asked Vaahn to sit. "I... I'd rather not," Vaahn answered weakly, and to his surprise he was allowed to stand without further comment. The new Headmaster gave his terminal screen a quick glance. "First, Vaahn, I'd like to apologise on behalf of the school for what happened to you. I can assure you that if anyone had suspected my predecessor was guilty of wrongdoing before now, we would have acted." Vaahn's lips curled up into a sneer, but he checked himself. "I heard... something like 90% of claims of mistreatment made by Penitatas are found to be false." "It's actually closer to 99%, if not higher." The man corrected. "Unfortunately, that sort of dismissal rate breeds complacency; I suspect people believed you were lying because the odds were against you telling the truth. That and nobody likes to think anyone involved in caring for Penitatas would abuse their position." Vaahn let 'caring for' slide. "Why am I here, sir?" "Because I hear tell you have a problem with authority," Mister Davenport replied. "Be honest, do you think I have a right to tell you what to do?" His body language said "No", but his voice didn't quite manage it. "What if I told you I didn't get this job just by getting good marks on a test?" The teacher asked. "What if I told you I graduated from the school of hard knocks?" "The what?" The man paused, rethinking his statement. "You're an ex-soldier, right? One of your parents was too, according to your file. Well, I am as well. It's quite common actually; it seems people who take lives for a living often have a desire to help others rebuild their own. Have you ever felt that way?" Vaahn shook his head, "I haven't always wanted to take the lives I did, but I've never lost sleep over it; I killed because I had to." The man smiled humourlessly. "Ah, the unrepentant streak. That's in your file too." The comment made Vaahn squirm. He desperately wanted a way out of the room. Right now, he'd happily go back to being grounded if it meant he didn't have to be here.

After another quick review of Vaahn's file the headmaster asked, "Do you hate Humans, Vaahn?" The question caught him off guard, but he answered honestly. "No, sir." "You have reason to though, don't you?" "I have reason to hate specific Humans," Vaahn corrected. "I don't want to be here, and if I had the choice I certainly wouldn't have spent nigh on thirty years as a Penitatas... all I want is my old life back." "Now you must understand why that puts me in a difficult position..." "Everything I did, I did under a flag of war," the boy answered. "Just because your government doesn't recognise a raid on shipping as an act of war doesn't change anything. I'm not a criminal; I'm a prisoner of war." "Have you made this known?" The man noted how Vaahn squirmed at the question. "I... that would make things... political. Please don't make me go into it." "I might have to," he replied. "What do you mean political?" "I... I am Vaahn T'Rol of Tu'ri; the father of Jasat T'Rol, current ruler of Yvenik." "Fuck me..." The colour drained from Davenport's face. "You're the Rising Sun!" Vaahn gave the man a puzzled look. "That is an old translation of 'Vaahn', so technically-" "I don't believe it!" the man went on, oblivious to the boy's words. "How has nobody else spotted this by now? I suppose it's a common enough name, but by God how does the Council-" Davenport halted his monolog and returned his attention to Vaahn, laughing to ease his own shock. "I think I know now why you didn't want it getting out who you are!" Vaahn smiled weakly. "Plenty of people here know what I did during the war; I don't hide that. I'm thinking more about back home, and what it might mean for my House if they found I was still alive. I've had contact over the last few years, but for a long time I was scared it might... cause complications." The new Headmaster took a moment to compose himself. "I am very sorry about my outburst just now. I've never met a war veteran from the other side before, and certainly not a high ranking one like you. I should not have sworn in front of you, and certainly not used that word!" "Fuck's just a word, sir; it's what you do with it that counts." A little cheekiness showed he was starting to relax a little more. "Let that be the last time I or anyone else hear you use that word," the man answered sternly before relaxing himself. "Vaahn, I know that you would very much like to never set foot inside my office ever again, but I just want you to know I am not just here to tan your backside. If you ever need someone to talk to, or you need help in any way, you can always turn to me. One of the reasons ex-soldiers become teachers so often is that we've seen things normal people should never see; that makes it much easier for us to deal with Penitatas who've got dark secrets of their own." "I'll keep that in mind, sir." Vaahn answered. "If you don't mind me asking, where did you serve?" "Aboard the Carlisle, defending the docks when that surprise attack you took part in happened. She suffered catastrophic damage to her drive unit and most of the survivors got a dose of Chronostatic radiation. I was one of a hundred and eight Medicalos from that ship alone." "Ship action, huh? You'll have to tell me about that sometime." "Maybe," Davenport replied. "You're free to go now, Vaahn."

The Kyyreni boy was escorted not to his usual classroom, but to detention. There was always a security guard in that room, watching over those Penitatas deemed too dangerous to be put in with their classmates. He didn't put up resistance as he sat down at the desk appointed to him. The teacher and guard fitted a loose set of Kidd-Cuffs to his wrists and ankles, which in turn had a secure cable threaded through them. The result was a set of restraints that allowed Vaahn an acceptable degree of movement, provided he didn't intend to ever leave the desk. He let his head slump down on the desk and watched the images drift through his inner vision. He found himself thinking about what it must have been like on the Carlisle. That, in turn, left him thinking of the many times he'd seen void combat. How did Jaahl die? The question pushed itself into the forefront of his mind. Was he shot when the Icaran Marines stormed the reactor chambers of Maribahl's main orbital weapon platform? Was he incinerated when the reactors went critical, or was he one of the unlucky bastards whose lungs burst when they were sucked out into the void? "Vaahn?" The boy looked up at the teacher, who was hovering next to his desk. "Do you have a problem with your assignments?" Vaahn shook his head, and the man before him leaned down a little closer. "Do you need changing?" "No!" the boy hissed, "I just want to be left alone..." The man shrugged. "Alright, but get on with your work." The assignment in question was soul crushing; an essay on why his conduct was unacceptable, and what he intended to do to correct it. The knowledge he'd be spending a whole fortnight on work like this did nothing to lift his mood.

Lunch came and went too quickly. The class was taken one at a time to use the toilets and collect their lunch, which they ate at their desk, still shackled. While their classmates played outside, they were allowed to sit and talk quietly to each other. Vaahn didn't know the other five in the class, though the fact they were all female was a hint at why they were here. He learned, through quiet conversation, that only one of them was older than six. She was also the only one who wasn't a convicted paedophile; she'd gone with torture, rape and murder instead.

When it was finally time to go home, Chloe was unusually attentive to the boy; a fact he did not appreciate. He walked with his head low and ears folded flat, looking as tired and melancholic as a Penny could be. As they stepped through the front door she said, "Don't disappear, Vaahn. Come into the living room." Vaahn gave a weary sigh and glanced at Jas, who saw the frustration painted on his face. Despite that, he followed his mother. She sat down on the sofa and patted her lap for him to approach. "You're not in trouble," she said, catching his eye. "Come and sit with me; you look like you could use a cuddle." "I could use a drink," he mumbled. "I have had a bad day, and I have plenty more to look forward to." "I'm sorry, but you know I can't do anything about that." She gave the lad a gentle squeeze. "Got much homework?" "Yeah; just about everything I should have done in a normal lesson, in fact." Chloe considered that carefully. "How does this sound; leave it until after dinner, then you'll be fresh and rested to work on it until your bath. Don't worry about getting it all done, I'll write a note to your teacher to excuse you." "Thanks," he said, closing his eyes and resting his head on her shoulder.

Friday was a blessing when it finally came. After a short post-school nap, Vaahn was able to spend time with his friends for the first time since his arrest. "Wow, Vaahn, I'm impressed! Even our own Little Miss Tantrum hasn't managed to land herself in Detention!" Becky did her best to keep things jovial, even if Jackie clearly disapproved of having her unwanted nickname used. "What was it like?" Simon asked, without any of his friend's humour. Vaahn sighed. "It was like being shackled to a desk all day, every day for a whole week." "They shouldn't be allowed to do that! It's inhuman!" "So am I," he countered. "I'm only there as part of my court punishment - the people there all the time are the sort that disgust even me, and that's a hell of a feat." "Guys, I don't think Vaahn wants to talk about this. Maybe we should get on with the game?" "Okay okay, let's get on then," Jackie said. The sense of fun was lacking, but the group wanted to make the effort for their friend. It didn't take long for them to settle back into their routine and lose themselves in their latest adventure. Even Matt managed to get in on the fun on his way through the dining room. "So, how are the heroes of Tolanholm?" "We think Vaahn's turning into a vampire!" Becci replied. Matt gave his son a very stern look. "Now Vaahn, what have I told you boys about turning into evil creatures of the night? You march right to the nearest healing shrine and un-vampire yourself this instant!" Everyone, including Vaahn, laughed at that. Jas' beaming grin told everyone just how glad he was to see Vaahn genuinely having fun again.

During a break in the adventure, whilst the Dungeon Master was upstairs in the bathroom, Vaahn decided to take up the much-enjoyed past-time of making Jas squirm. "Hey Becci, Jas has been staying with you while I've been in trouble, right?" "Yup!" Becci replied. Everyone agreed she seemed much more excitable and fun-loving lately. "Get up to anything fun?" "We didn't 'get up' to anything!" Jas protested. Becci, on the other hand, kept quiet and blushed. "Are you two boyfriend and girlfriend now?" Simon asked. There was something about the way he said it that made Rebecca pause. "No, Si... we've just been hanging out more lately." Unconvinced, he probed further. "But Vaahn says that you two-" "Nevermind what Vaahn says," Jas cut in. "He's just trying to upset me." There was no way to miss the tone in that statement. "Jas... I didn't mean... I was just having a little fun." "I know," Jas replied with a smile. "But please stop it now." "I promise," the boy answered. "Me too, Jas." Becci added. "I'm sorry we've been picking on you."

The game lasted until dinner. Once all the boys and girls had been fed it was time to send them on their way. Chloe assured them all their little group would get plenty of time to play together over the weekend to make up for lost time. To Vaahn, that 'lost time' meant the week in detention he had ahead of him. Before long he and Jas were tucked into bed - the same bed, Vaahn noted - and they were settling in for a good night's sleep. "Jas, about Rebecca," Vaahn said softly to his Aspatrian companion. "If you really care for her... you should pursue her." Jas shifted a little, but didn't reply right away. "She's a Penitatas," he said at last. "Even if we were allowed to, she'll be Rejuved in a few years. How can I have a relationship with someone who is still going to be pre-teen when I'm bordering on twenty?" "Find a way. If you really want it, find a way." There was an uncomfortable pause. "I don't... I'm not sure I want to be with her. What we did together was fun-" he took a deep breath, "-and we did have something sexual whilst I was living with her. I'm sorry, Vaahn, but-" "Don't apologise," Vaahn said. "I know you like her, and I've told you plenty of times I don't mind at all." His hand ran across Jas' fur, gently stroking the boy's head and shoulders to soothe his conscience. "All I want is for you to be happy. If you can't be happy with me, then you should find someone else." "You know damn well I love you," Jas snapped. "Honestly, why do you keep trying to push me away? Do you not want me anymore?" Vaahn pressed his cheek against Jas'. "I don't deserve you. All I do is make you unhappy. I make your life miserable, and you don't deserve that... not after all my family put you through."

Jas gently pushed Vaahn away. "You always say that if you had your time again you wouldn't change a day. Is that still true?" Vaahn nodded. "Well it's true for me as well. I would not want to change a single day of my life, Vaahn; I want to stay with you, but I feel like it's wrong to be playing doctor with Becci behind your back. I know you don't care, but I care, and that's the problem." The Kyyreni boy placed a gentle kiss on his lover's lips. "We'll work it out. I promise that, somehow, I'll make it all right." "Hell of a promise," Jas smirked, settling down to sleep. Vaahn shut his own eyes and cuddled up to Jas. "I keep my promises, Jas. Wait and see..."

* * *

Come Monday morning, Vaahn was in the headmaster's office again. "What's troubling you?" Davenport asked, turning from the paperwork that had held his attention until Vaahn appeared. "I wanted to talk about my future," Vaahn said. "What do you mean?" The Penny boy took a moment to compose his thoughts. "To be blunt, I'm getting really pissed off at this life. I feel like I'm living the same day over and over, and if it carries on I'm going to kill someone." That certainly got the man's attention. "And you have some idea as to what will stop you feeling that way?" "Yes," Vaahn answered. "I want my freedom now. It doesn't have to be parole, but I've got three years left on my sentence and I want to spent them preparing for the future. Wodka, a friend of mine, is willing to teach me engineering and mechanics. He also has contacts that can help me with business, but I'm looking at military work as well. I was hoping you could put a good word in for me and help me get some kind of position once I'm Completas. Maybe the Marines?" "It's good that you want to further yourself, but-" "I'm not stupid!" Vaahn cut in. "I should have been sent right back to Hard Time for what I did, and probably given at least one extra cycle! Instead, all I've had is a Judicial Paddling and two weeks of detention! To top it all off, my new headmaster just happens, by sheer coincidence, to be an ex-soldier who wants to be on best friend terms? I don't think so. I'm being shielded, sir, and that means someone high up is so scared of me and my family that they won't dare do anything to stand in my way." He let that sink in before delivering the ultimatum. "I get my way, or I murder a classmate. Don't think you can keep me locked up at home either; I've made arrangements. You've got two weeks to act, or I'll force your hand." It was a hell of a bluff, but Vaahn had learned the hard way how to play with a bad hand. Davenport chewed his lip for some time before grumbling, "I'll see what I can do." "Thank you, sir." As an afterthought he added, "I'm sorry for doing this. I really don't want to cause you or anyone else any trouble... I just have to do what I think is right, and letting myself rot here isn't right at all." "I think you should leave now, Vaahn," Davenport answered coldly. The boy took the hint and went back to Detention.

Not three days later, a letter from the Corrections Council arrived. It was addressed to Chloe and Matt, stating that, on the advice of counsellors and teaching staff, they were permitting Vaahn to be enrolled in 'apprenticeships and similar projects to help post-sentence integration.' Being told of this filled Vaahn with a warm confidence; his gamble had paid off. Someone in the Council was on his side, through fear or empathy, and most important of all they had shown a critical weakness - they'd shown he was able to call the shots. That night, Vaahn celebrated by making love to Jas. It was his first night with the boy as a free man.

* * *

The weather on Friday was God-awful, but Vaahn didn't care. Protected by his raincoat, he found himself being walked home by Frost. "Ban wanted to talk to you about Her," he explained. "What did you do to her anyway?" The younger Kyyreni Penitatas was quick to ask. "I broke her nose," Vaahn answered, opting for honesty. "Nice!" Both boys looked up in shock at Frost, who looked at them and added, "What do you expect? I can't honestly say I wouldn't have done the same, or worse, to that woman." After his confession, Frost feel silent, his face contorted into an uncomfortable grimace as his sense of duty to the Penitatas system, and his own baser lusts for vengeance, clashed inside his head. "I'm sorry, boys. I was wrong to encourage that kind of behaviour." "I'm not eager to try again," Vaahn said. "I want that bitch dead, but she'll never have power over me again, whereas I could, in a few years, have her totally at my mercy... no, I'll let the Corrections Council make her suffer for betraying them. I'll get my vengeance by making something of myself again." "That's a good idea," the Nightsider's tone was one of honest approval. "I hope you feel the same way, Ban." "I would have liked a chance to tan her hide," he replied. "I'd have liked to take that new tawse you got and worn it out over her rear!" "Maybe another time," his father said.

Vaahn came home to find Wodka visiting again. "Aha, the little Noble is here!" he boomed as Vaahn and Jas came through the door. They could smell the alcohol from the other side of the room; it was quite possible the heavily-scarred Kyyreni was never actually sober. Matt beckoned his son to join him. "Vaahn, Wodka was contacted by your headmaster in relation to the letter from Corrections. He said you'd mentioned you'd like to learn some mechanical skills?" "Yes dad," Vaahn answered. "Wodka makes his own bikes, and I've always wanted to do that myself." Chloe glanced at the ramshackle parked outside their house. "Yes, it certainly looks like something he would make." Ignoring the backhand comment Wodka said, "I would be honoured to teach you, Noble Vaahn! Your Mr Davenport thought that you should take one day a week - say, Friday - and spend it working with me instead of going to school. I'll teach you how to build and maintain vehicles, and I'll even throw in lessons on how I run my business. Sound good?" "It's not what I had in mind, but it sure sounds better than school." Wodka gave a big, heartfelt laugh. "Wonderful! See, Johansson? I knew he'd approve!" "It's a little unorthodox..." Matt tried to say, but Wodka was in far too good a mood to hear any doubts. "Next week then," he said. "As ever, I thank you for your hospitality. I will pay for a taxi to collect Vaahn next Friday morning so you won't have to make a special effort. Trust me, Johansson, Vaahn will be in good hands."

After Wodka had left, Vaahn settled onto his bed and stared at the picture hanging on the wall. He thought about them all to this day; dear brothers now long lost. "[Still alive?]" Jas asked from the doorway. Vaahn smiled at the old Ruljic greeting. "Very much so. For the first time in as long as I can remember, I feel like there's a way forward." He looked into the faces of the dead; five men who had each given him something precious. Taryyk embodied duty; the wisdom and humility to do what was asked without thought of personal gain. Uikke, ever the warrior, had always seen battle as the answer to every problem. Jaahl... they hadn't always agreed, but he had died for Vaahn without a moment's hesitation. Poys, who died on Icaran soil, had always been quietly faithful to whatever his brothers desired. Vaahn hated to call his brother 'simple', but it certainly stuck. Eskal... some would have called him a coward. Uikke certainly had. He wasn't a warrior, but a man of peace who'd just wanted to dedicate his life to music. Now, whenever Vaahn thought of him, he was reminded of the life Jas so dearly sought. Perhaps Eskal had been the wisest of them all; he alone had seen that battle brought no peace. "I'll be a free man soon," Vaahn said with absolute certainty. "When I am, I'm going to make something of myself. I'm going to make you proud, Jas; I'll make them all proud." Jas looked at the picture, focusing on the smile of the Vaahn from decades past. He returned the smile with one of his own. "I look forward to that."

The boys turned their thoughts back to the present. Jas picked up his instrument and began to play a little tune he'd spent the past month perfecting, whilst Vaahn sat and listened with his eyes closed. The future could wait a little longer; for now, all that mattered was that they had each other