Chapter 30: Steady to the Shore — Part 9

The first surprise to her is that ChoCho doesn’t come first. The second unexpected turn has a subtle flavor to it, as it has never happened before. She had always thought that ChoCho’s tears were a product of some unique reflex, like yawning. Jynx pulls back from kissing him, expecting to have to dry his face with her thumbs, but ChoCho’s face, while not overly expressive of his base emotions, lacks the usual fear or sorrow that seems to be barely kept in check once he has finished. He isn’t smiling, but he isn’t crying, either.

One hand is still stroking her left nipple: The other is set gently against her cheek, thumb under her chin, and he puts his head to hers, breathing deeply of her scent. Only when he settles out of her completely does Jynx slide from his hips, lying down next to him, throwing her leg over him, spooning him from behind. She knows she will have to be the first to talk. ChoCho curls tightly against her and smiles gently, feeling tired and spoiled by all the attention he has had over the last couple of days.

Talking doesn’t happen immediately. The two nap quietly at first, cuddling on the layers of quilt and woven reed mats that make up their bed. Neither wake up until the their bodies recover from the powerful chemical ecstasy. It proves the kind of nap that takes twenty minutes and feels like hours, but the two wake up to full consciousness almost simultaneously. When they do recover their thoughts, ChoCho and Jynx quietly discuss his liaison with Paige. ChoCho knows Paige will say little to Daria, but ChoCho’s relationship with Jynx demands a certain discomforting level of honesty.

ChoCho doesn’t say much, covers the barest details, when probed for them, and makes it clear that he isn’t going to hide anything. He isn’t trying to be secretive or difficult, but he is attempting to be discreet, and Jynx is almost startled with herself at how his description and experiences are neither upsetting to her, nor disappointing. She feels a certain amount of respect for him.

“Paige has made you stronger.” Jynx says, and as usual it is hard to tell if she approves, even though she does find his newfound confidence assuring.

His candor on the subject is the first influence. He is being honest with her, but there is something deeper within her, an instinct unlike any she has felt before. It is as if some nonverbal sense of self and other, a force set so deep within her that she cannot rationalize or define it, has stepped into her mind, and created a new perception of ChoCho, adding depth and complexity to his actions and his words, in turn giving Jynx greater insight into his thoughts.

Though ChoCho can’t see it, a quiet smile flickers to her lips. Normally Jynx is the jealous type, but she finds she can’t be jealous with Paige. Though it isn’t in her nature, this lack of possessiveness, it isn’t entirely unexpected, either. Paige did ask Jynx permission, and Jynx has been sharing a bed with Paige ever since Paige was only Kevin. She has grown comfortable with and trusting of Paige, and neither Paige nor ChoCho has tried to stop her from being intimate with Daria. Kevin and Paige have been in many ways more faithful to ChoCho than either Jynx or Daria — though to compare methods of faith between Daria and Kevin, or even Paige, might be seriously unfair.

“So was she as good as me?” Jynx asks gently, surprised that this question isn’t said in earnest, and also at the realization that she doesn’t care.

“Sort of.” ChoCho answers uncomfortably, sounding momentarily like he might have said words that he didn’t intend to.

“Good for you.” Jynx sounds a little relieved. “Wait, what do you mean by ’sort of’?” Jynx asks quickly, a little flare of anger trickling in.

“It’s different is all.” ChoCho says.

“How different?” Jynx asks, the tone in her voice letting ChoCho know that she won’t settle for less than an honest answer.

ChoCho is quiet, careful, and considerate. It takes him a few thoughtful seconds to develop his words into a tactful reply, so it doesn’t sound like an expectation or standard.