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Retsarra hadn't been seen or heard from in days. Back when he'd been training, that had been nothing unusual, the hhetsarro pushing himself into his art, into fighting better, into putting on a good show as the president wanted. But now, with the fights more of a physical spectacle, he wasn't busy training. Eutrope knew that for a fact, because he usually visited Tritails for his training, as did a lot of the fighters these days, and now, she hadn't seen hide nor hair of him. Not even the tiniest bit of fur. It would have been worrying, if Eutrope didn't have a very good idea of why he might be avoiding them.
Well, okay, he was definitely avoiding one of them because he felt betrayed, and maybe he felt a little betrayed over her disappearance too, but dealing with that by disappearing himself was... was... it just wasn't fair!
"He's not here, Hec," Eutrope called as she heard his distinct heavier footfalls descending the stairs to the gym. The doors slid open, admitting both him and his sigh, a hand raking roughly through messy, thick red hair.
"Shove over," said Hector, and Eutrope rolled her eyes but did, making room for him on the bench. His kittens, as ever, had followed him, the ginger hopping up into Eutrope's lap and already purring up a storm. Three kittens for them, one for each, Hector had said when he'd introduced his partners to them.
"You haven't heard from him either, then?" Eutrope asked. Hector shook his head, holding a hand out for Pomb, the faithful kitten who had never given up on him.
"Nope," said Hector. "'s weird, 'cause after you up and vanished on us, he was over at mine near every day, begging for a hold of a kitten since his pussy was- oof." She'd elbowed him in the gut, eyes narrowed at him, tailtip flicking in anger. "Sorry. Bad joke."
"Yes, it was," said Eutrope. She sighed. "It's my fault."
"Hey, you may've been the one who vanished, but you're not the one who died in his arms but not really and then didn't even tell him that you were actually fine and recovering in hospital the whole time," said Hector. "That was me."
"Yes, it was," said Eutrope. "You were supposed to look after him, Hector, not- go and get yourself killed too."
"Look, the president told me it'd be fine," said Hector. "I thought I was doin' the right thing, okay?"
"Yeah, well, you thought wrong," said Eutrope. "You and that bloody president." The ginger kitten hopped off her lap, likely annoyed at her raised voice.
"You an' your bloody secrets," Hector shot back. "You could've told us, any one of us, even, especially your sisters, what you were up to, but no, y'just had to go and do it all yerself because you're strong, because you don't need anyone, and how was that s'posed to make us feel, huh? Like ye didn't trust us enough with yer life."
"I know, levin take me, I know!" said Eutrope, eyes gleaming with tears now. "You don't have to point it out!"
"The only reason we weren't more worried was 'cause we still remembered you!" said Hector. "Which I thought would've made him realise that I wasn't dead, too, but I guess not."
"Well, maybe he just wasn't thinking straight because he'd just lost one of his partners, then another one," said Eutrope. She paused for several deep breaths. "Fuck, we're terrible partners."
"Yeah," a new voice said, causing both heads to look up at the hhetsarro who stood with the ginger kitten in his arms, fingers stroking over its head. "You are terrible. Both of you."
"Rets-" "Sarra-" the words stumbled over each other, not quite making his name as both partners scrambled to their feet, beginning across the room to him.
"I'm sorry," said Eutrope, tears flowing freely as she embraced him. He didn't return it, standing stiff, though neither did he react to Hector's embrace. The kitten did, mewing and pawing at his rugged face, eliciting a tiny smile from the Tonawawtan.
"I'm sorry too," said Hector, stepping away from Retsarra, who still didn't move except to set the squirming kitten on the ground and fold his arms in front of his chest.
"Y'know, it really would've helped if, at any point, either of you had decided to, oh I don't know, talk to me?" said Retsarra.
"We tried but we couldn't find you," said Hector.
"Unless you wanted us to look for you like a sulky teenager," said Eutrope. Retsarra's ears flicked back, tail lashing. "Oh, come on, Sarra, you're better than that."
"Okay, no, I didn't seriously expect you guys to look for me this time," said Retsarra. "But before. Why didn't either of you think to come find me, tell me what was happening? We all have phones, don't we?"
"Because I was afraid of what might happen if anyone got wind of what I was doing," said Eutrope. "Or trying to do. Mending souls, spreading the Arcadion secrets."
"Hector could've set you straight on that," said Retsarra. Eutrope looked to Hector, who nodded, and she sighed.
"Yeah, I guess, but would he have believed me?" said Eutrope. "Would you, Hec?"
"No," said Hector after a pause. "The president may've looked dubious, but he had good intentions."
"Yeah, I know that now," said Eutrope. Her shoulders sagged. "I'm sorry I didn't trust either of you. That I just... disappeared, the way I did." Now, Retsarra shook his head.
"Thank you," said Retsarra. "I understand, but... my feelings are hurt, you know? That you guys didn't trust me, that we don't trust each other, that this became one whole, big..." He gestured with his hands.
"Mess," Hector finished. "It's a fuckin' mess, an' I'm so sorry it turned out this way."
"Me too," said Eutrope. Retsarra sagged.
"You guys just got back, you both almost died, and here I am, mad that... that you didn't tell me," said Retsarra. "It's stupid and fucked up but I'm still upset, that's the problem. Hurt. Betrayed."
"Will space help?" Eutrope asked.
"I don't know," said Retsarra. "I don't know if I need time or space. I need to know that this won't happen again, I guess. And it won't, not exactly, not with the president gone and the Arcadion changed. But..." He shook his head. A wet laugh left him. "I just got you guys back, and here I am, asking for a break."
"I understand," said Eutrope. "I'll miss you, though."
"Yeah, me too," said Retsarra. "But just... a break. I swear." He stepped toward Hector, sad pink eyes meeting sad golden ones. He reached out, gripping his forearm. "Don't worry, I'm not going far. You'll still see me around, I'm not going out to explore the world beyond the dome yet."
"You'd better not," said Eutrope. "Not without us."
"Oh, trust me, I'm not going that alone," said Retsarra. Hector pulled him into a hug, witch Retsarra actually returned this time. The other man was trembling, which had Retsarra's ears folding back, his hand rubbing Hector's back.
"Don't-" said Hector as Retsarra stepped away, holding an arm out towards the hhetsarro.
"Give him time, Hec," said Eutrope. Retsarra cleared his throat.
"And please," said Retsarra. "Don't blame each other for this. I feel bad enough as it is without worrying about you two tearing strips off each other over everything that happened. If you want to blame anyone, blame the president for his damn secrets."
And, just like that, he was gone, walking out of the gym, out of their lives. But just for a time, they knew. Their third, their missing piece, would return in time. Because all things healed in time... didn't they?
He just had to find himself, that was all. They all did, their lives rerouted, altered by the lies of a man turned beast coming undone by the hands of the warrior, the champion, who would have come so much sooner if they had but asked.