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Apex predator

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Six months later

“Veri, look!” Aventurine’s voice was filled with joy as he trotted toward the window display. Ratio used this moment as a chance to look at his jacket once more. He loved this pattern, so irregular and creative. It really fit Aventurine. Especially because – according to him – this pattern was colored so smartly that people who could see all colors would see it as very toned and similar, while for Ratio it was a mix of vibrant yellow and pretty shade of blue. Aventurine upgraded his wardrobe to have clothes that would be visually appealing for Ratio. Even if this “visually appealing” often meant “extravagant”. “Here are these cookies I told you about!” He said as soon as Ratio came near him. The window display was full of neatly arranged boxes of cookies of various flavors and shapes. Every box was decorated not only with an appealing picture of a cookie and ingredients of the flavor, but also with a signature of one of Ten Stonehearts or their manager. Ratio didn’t know Aventurine’s coworkers, but based on the fact that “Aventurine” cookies were with matcha, he assumed it was more about the Cornerstone’s color than the personal preference. To be fair, some of them sounded really good. Ratio would love to taste sandwich cookies with mango and passion fruit filling – Topaz’s signature was meaningless. Unfortunately, the candy store was closed, and they could look closely at the display thanks to the streetlamps. “It’s a pity that the candy stores aren’t open so late.” And Aventurine wasn’t afraid of going anywhere no matter how late it was, because he knew that the biggest danger was walking by his side… ready to protect him at any cost.
“Since when does the Strategic Investment Department sell cookies? Are the Stonehearts so well-known they have their own merch now?” Ratio snickered. Probably in the past he would be afraid of joking about his indirect employer… but he wasn’t a member of the Intelligentsia Guild anymore. After his sudden resignation, doctor Veritas Ratio never returned. He had gotten a few letters and emails with commissions or encouraging him to return, but he hadn’t replied to a single of them. Instead, he started his career as a lecturer at the University of Pier Point. He was mostly teaching mathematics and physics – his first two loves. The students had been reluctant at first – Ratio had his fangs recreated in their original shape, so he really could look scary. Even he had needed some time to get used to having them in his mouth again. He had been wearing a face mask for some time and – once the students had gotten to know him better, he had started removing it for parts of the lectures. It was still a lasting process, but he was on the right lines to start teaching without the face mask on. At the same time, he wasn’t afraid of trying new things, so in the meantime, he was busy studying ninth major with an idea to do a doctorate in the future. His fascination with history started with his research of Sigonia-IV… Aventurine easily inspired him, and Ratio – just by looking into his eyes – felt how his creativity was rising.
“You know it isn’t like this!” Aventurine pouted, and his lips looked so funny that Ratio barely stopped himself from kissing him. He turned his head to look at the window display again. Ratio saw the slight pain in the eyes of Aventurine’s reflection. “These are charity cookies. A month ago, there was a great earthquake at Diamond’s homeplanet and-” Ratio rested his hand on Aventurine’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry. That was insensitive.” He still remembered the day when this earthquake had happened suddenly. Without any warning and without any escape from the earth’s rage. Aventurine had returned home earlier that day, but he hadn’t been happy about it at all. He had been worried about Diamond, who immediately had returned to his homeplanet and stayed there to help. Ratio’s opinion about selling the cookies wasn’t exactly positive: for him, it was just a way to show off and to get money out of ordinary people instead of from the wealthiest members of the IPC. He doubted that the combined profit from selling these cookies would be a significant sum of credits. The damage was counted in billions, if not trillions of credits. At least, he could congratulate the IPC for not deciding to make the situation worse. It was better to invest money into cookies with autographs of corporate executives than another weapon. Yet, he could keep his opinion to himself. “Everything will be alright.”
“I know.” Aventurine sighed and leaned against Ratio’s body. Ratio loosely wrapped his arms around Aventurine. Oh, finally a smile! “The sale is actually going pretty well.”
“Is your department this famous?” Ratio whispered into Aventurine’s ear. In the past, it would result in Aventurine escaping with a pounding heart, but he had gotten used to it. Even when Ratio’s fangs were so big that they were almost touching Aventurine’s neck. That was the power of trust! And Ratio couldn’t feel more honored to have it.
“I don’t know what exactly causes it: if these are our signatures, people’s will to help, or just the taste of the cookies.” Aventurine covered Ratio’s hands with his own. “I’m just happy that we can raise even more money. Maybe some people want to help, but aren’t sure why, or they don’t have enough money. Buying a box of cookies for one thousand credits gives them a cheap box of good cookies and an awareness that they have helped even a little.” Ratio rubbed Aventurine’s waist. Objectively speaking, it would be better to just send this one thousand credits as a donation… but he didn’t want to make Aventurine more upset. This situation had shaken him badly. He needed support and a warm hug, not talking about cost optimization.
“Everything will be alright.” He repeated. In the past, he would never say something like this: something so baseless and trivial. And yet, Aventurine could convince him to do many things… even without being fully aware of it.
“I know.” Aventurine looked up at him. “Because you will be with me.” Ratio smiled. He would never expect to hear such words. Nothing was more satisfying than this. Ratio could give up all of his achievements just for this look full of love and these beautiful words.
“I’ll treat my students with some cookies.”
“But make sure you buy mine!” Aventurine started so vehemently that it surprised Ratio. “We count the sales volume of each flavor. With matcha flavor, I don’t think I can get high, but at least I want to get higher than Sugilite!” Like children! Ratio chuckled. He wouldn’t believe himself that the new KPI of the Ten Stonehearts was the number of sold boxes of cookies. Yet, in the end, he would prefer this IPC.
“Of course, I will buy yours, and I will encourage my students to do the same by giving them five extra points on the next test for bringing the receipt.” Aventurine’s eyes shone with pure joy, and his smile was simply beaming.
“You’re awesome!” Aventurine turned away to face Ratio and gave him a strong hug. Hiding his face in Ratio’s chest was something Ratio had gotten used to and had learned how to delight in it.
“If I’m already this awesome.” He giggled and patted Aventurine’s head. “Would you like to go with me to a basketball match? Next Saturday, but I don’t remember the planet’s name.” Aventurine raised his head and looked at Ratio, a bit confused.
“A basketball match? Why so sudden?”
“My friend is playing, and he sent me two tickets. He told me he would appreciate some familiar faces.”
“Ah, I understand now. Sure, we can go. Is this some league? Or a local tournament? Something amateurish maybe?” … he would be surprised.
“Well, actually, nothing like this. It’s the final match of the galactic championship, and we have the tickets in the VIP section.” Aventurine’s eyes were becoming bigger and bigger every word Ratio spoke until they were so big they barely fit his eyeballs. He looked absolutely adorable! Ratio could munch his eyes forever! Well, he had a right to have various friends, and probably it wasn’t the most common occupation, but Nisos had sent him these tickets without asking if Ratio was interested or not. It was a resume of his career that probably wouldn’t go so smoothly without Ratio’s help.
“Can you ask this friend to promote my cookies?!” … Ratio was the surprised one.
“… I’ll send him an email.”
“You’re twice as awesome as before!” Aventurine chirped and squeezed Ratio’s waist. “I can already see matcha cookies being in the top three best-selling flavors! Oh, the envious look of Sugilite will be my moment of triumph!” He added with a slight giggle. He was making this banter between him and Sugilite more serious on purpose.
“You’re so childish sometimes.”
“But I told mama, you are the wiser one in this relationship.” Aventurine stood on his toes and kissed Ratio’s cheek, only to return to snuggling into his chest a moment later. “So I have a full right of being childish from time to time.”
“I can’t hear you, you are talking to my chest, not to me.” An obvious lie, but Ratio felt how Aventurine’s mouth was twisting… and Aventurine gave up on the discussion. He focused his entire attention on snuggling into Ratio’s chest. Even if it was in public… he didn’t mind at all. The entire world could see how lovely his partner was, and Ratio wouldn’t exchange him for anything.

Notes:

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