Tropical - Chapter Thirteen
#13 of Tropical
Cloud is bothered by something and Rye doesn't want to talk about it but it is inevitable that the topic is brought up.
The months went by, and the otters' troubled minds didn't lighten up, but only worsened. Their relationship started to fall silent because neither of them wanted to talk about it, no matter how inventible it was. Their friends recognized that Rye and Cloud's relationship fell silent, and they started to worry that the relationship was failing. But both the otters knew that wasn't the problem.
Weeks continued to drift by until it was the night before the winter party, when Cloud decided to confront the issue with Rye.
"Rye?" Cloud walked out of the bedroom and said without looking up from the ground.
"Yes Hun?" Rye looked away from the television screen and looked at Cloud. Rye was simply sitting on the couch watching the Canideran news report.
Cloud's eyes were red as if he was about to cry, he stared at the floor and held his own paws tightly in front of him; the sight was heartbreaking to Rye. Cloud's eyes started to glaze over and he fought to keep his voice from breaking. "I don't want you to go to Boot Camp on Monday." Cloud said quickly and quietly.
"Aw," Rye sympathized, realizing how serious this discussion would be. Rye frowned as he felt his heart sink. He didn't want to talk about this but he knew he had to now or it'd never be discussed. "Come sit next to me."
Fighting back the tears, Cloud sat on the couch next to Rye. Instantly Rye put his arm around Cloud's shoulder and a paw on Cloud's knee. The white otter leaned against Rye. "I just don't want you to go." Cloud's voice broke once.
"I know," Rye said trying to comfort Cloud. "I don't want to go either. I have to go though."
"No you don't," Cloud started to sob and buried his face in Rye's shirt. "Just stay with me. You don't have to go."
"Cloud. You know that if I don't follow through with this commitment I've made, they'll arrest me and I won't be able to see you for a much longer time."
"What about your commitment to me?"
"My loyalty lies with you more than anyone or anything else Cloud. When I signed up for the military, I was just doing it because I thought I'd be good at it, but now I'll be fighting just to keep you safe. You're all I care about. I gave my heart to you."
"But you won't be safe, what if you get hurt or worst. . ."
Rye put his hand gently on Cloud's jaw and very carefully forced Cloud to look at Rye directly in the eyes. Rye noticed Cloud's eyes were still glazed over and slightly red, with his cheeks damp with tears. "Cloud, I promise you that I will come back for you."
"You can't pro--"
"I will come back Cloud. I keep all my promises, don't I?"
Cloud looked away from Rye's eyes but Rye didn't let go of his jaw. Cloud remained silent for a few seconds before he answered almost silently. "Yes."
"I'll be fine," Rye said as he let go of Cloud. "I'm a careful otter."
"I still don't want you to go," Cloud said still nearly inaudible.
"Look. Whenever I can come home, we'll spend every second together and we'll do whatever you want to do Cloud. I'll send you my paychecks from the military and you can go out and have fun with our friends while I'm away."
"Really? Every second together?" Cloud looked back at Rye's eyes with a bit more cheerfulness in them, ignoring the second part of Rye's promise.
Rye nodded smiling, although his eyes were red with tears also.
"Rye," Cloud said regaining his voice and he tried to clear the tears out of the corners of his eyes. "I don't care what the military standards are, but you get yourself home to me no matter what happens. I'll remember your promise so don't you dare break it."
"I'll come back to you, no matter what happens," Rye repeated.
Cloud hugged Rye tightly around his waist, while still leaning against him, as if he had no intention to ever let go or loosen his grip. Rye kept his arm around Cloud's shoulders to keep him comforted with his other paw on Cloud's thigh.
Rye could hear silent sobs from Cloud occasionally, which he tried to comfort away by rubbing Cloud's arm or thigh. Even with the television on, Rye and Cloud only noticed each other that night. Nothing else in existence mattered to them. Eventually Cloud fell asleep against Rye, without loosening his grip any. Growing more and more tired, Rye carefully lied down with Cloud still clinging on to him so now Cloud was lying on Rye with his head over Rye's heart. Rye soon fell asleep also.