The Bigger Picture (To Walk the Path 7), Page 3

eyes sombre.

  “Your secret is safe with me.”

  Ikari's expression softened. “I know love. Don't worry, we trust you.” He crossed the space between them to enfold Timo in a careful embrace, their heads coming to rest on each other's shoulders. Hugging a Nym was definitely an art form, Timo reflected.

  “Hey, are you exaggerating in here?!” the Nym asked, pulling back to gesture up and down his height.

  “Um, no...?” A smile crept across his face. “Grif mentioned it too when I came aboard ship.”

  Ikari nodded, eyeing him thoughtfully. “All that finding yourself after the summer apparently worked. Though I wasn't expecting you to find quite so much...!”

  Timo grinned. “Enrico still bitches about how skinny I am when he thinks I'm not listening.”

  Ikari laughed. “He's just jealous that middle age is finally starting to catch up with him.”

  “That and the new woman he's snagged himself.”

  “Oh? What's this...? The lust king of the seas finally settling down?”

  “Apparently.” Timo grinned. “And she's a chef…”

  “Ah well, that explains it. Where does she work?”

  “Haideko's.”

  “In Ish?!? Down by the harbour…? He's dating Cosima?!”

  “Should I be worried?”

  Ikari shook his head, grinning. “No, but tell him we want table reservations, for New Years.”

  “Okay...” Timo glanced up at the sky, which was darkening towards night. It was Grifarne's signal - he was needed back in the real. “My curtain call I'm afraid.”

  Ikari nodded. “Can I have a copy of...?” he gestured at the sky. Timo, nodded, pulled a marble from behind his ear and handed it across. Ikari captured his hand as he withdrew. “Don't worry about this?”

  Timo shook his head mutely. The Nym smiled, leant in to give him a peck on the cheek.

  “Be seeing you kiddo. Say hi to the wolf for me.”

  Timo lofted a hand after the departing figure, received a wave in return as the world dissolved around them.