She lifted her eyes cautiously from the diagnostic papers. He was still
standing there, only a few meters away, discussing metabolic transfusion
with Phi, one of the other scholars. He, who radiated peace and gentleness
from every pore of his olive green skin.
Her stomach twisted, curling around the dozen tiny razor blades that grew whenever she saw him. She lowered her head, antennae twitching. Those soft red eyes, so warm and fearless. The inviting smile that made her feel like on one else was in the room. The way his words just tumbled out, tripping over each other like they each wanted to touch her ears first.
A familiar sound interrupted her thoughts. Lifting her head again, she saw him laughing with Phi. Damn flirt, she thought at both of them. He couldn't really help it. There was a flirtatious air about him. But that girl needed to keep her distance.
She absently rubbed her arms together, brushing off the cold. She couldn't help but be jealous of her. Phi was beautiful. Phi spent time with him outside of the laboratory. Phi got to talk to him.
A wistful sigh escaped her lips. If only she could tell him. What? That you're hopelessly in love with him and have dreamed about being his mate? Her inner voice was so scornful sometimes. But it was right, unfortunately. What was she supposed to do, throw herself at his feet and beg for his love? Even in the remote chance that he would go on a date with her, why should she hope that it could be anything more? He was gone so often, always for some strange reason. She had been bold enough once to ask where he was going, and he'd only said that he couldn't tell her.
Oh, to be part of his world.
"Hello? Are you awake?"
She jumped, realizing that someone had been saying her name. "Oh, sorry."
He smiled down at her. She was so much shorter than him when sitting. His height was another amazing thing. Being Tallest was actually a possibility for him.
"How's it going?" he asked. "Any closer to the cure?"
She stood to report, coming up to his shoulder. Her eyes avoided his face. "Symptoms are eliminated by a type III Figloid injection," she began quietly. "The source, however, remains stable. A delta-wave treatment comes close to the cure, but the specific treatment needed is still unknown."
He was silent. She kept her head down, waiting to hear his voice again.
"Look at me." She started. This was not what she had expected. Her head slowly rose up to see him staring at her. His eyes caught hers, and she could not break free.
He spoke again. "Your eyes are so beautiful." She couldn't help but smile. HE was complimenting her!
He returned her smile. "And you should smile more often. It makes your eyes sparkle."
This was beyond anything she had ever hoped for. After all this time, he was noticing her, complimenting her, standing mere centimeters away from her. What could she say to all this? Only one thing came to mind.
"Thank you, Zim."
"You're welcome, Tak."
Her stomach twisted, curling around the dozen tiny razor blades that grew whenever she saw him. She lowered her head, antennae twitching. Those soft red eyes, so warm and fearless. The inviting smile that made her feel like on one else was in the room. The way his words just tumbled out, tripping over each other like they each wanted to touch her ears first.
A familiar sound interrupted her thoughts. Lifting her head again, she saw him laughing with Phi. Damn flirt, she thought at both of them. He couldn't really help it. There was a flirtatious air about him. But that girl needed to keep her distance.
She absently rubbed her arms together, brushing off the cold. She couldn't help but be jealous of her. Phi was beautiful. Phi spent time with him outside of the laboratory. Phi got to talk to him.
A wistful sigh escaped her lips. If only she could tell him. What? That you're hopelessly in love with him and have dreamed about being his mate? Her inner voice was so scornful sometimes. But it was right, unfortunately. What was she supposed to do, throw herself at his feet and beg for his love? Even in the remote chance that he would go on a date with her, why should she hope that it could be anything more? He was gone so often, always for some strange reason. She had been bold enough once to ask where he was going, and he'd only said that he couldn't tell her.
Oh, to be part of his world.
"Hello? Are you awake?"
She jumped, realizing that someone had been saying her name. "Oh, sorry."
He smiled down at her. She was so much shorter than him when sitting. His height was another amazing thing. Being Tallest was actually a possibility for him.
"How's it going?" he asked. "Any closer to the cure?"
She stood to report, coming up to his shoulder. Her eyes avoided his face. "Symptoms are eliminated by a type III Figloid injection," she began quietly. "The source, however, remains stable. A delta-wave treatment comes close to the cure, but the specific treatment needed is still unknown."
He was silent. She kept her head down, waiting to hear his voice again.
"Look at me." She started. This was not what she had expected. Her head slowly rose up to see him staring at her. His eyes caught hers, and she could not break free.
He spoke again. "Your eyes are so beautiful." She couldn't help but smile. HE was complimenting her!
He returned her smile. "And you should smile more often. It makes your eyes sparkle."
This was beyond anything she had ever hoped for. After all this time, he was noticing her, complimenting her, standing mere centimeters away from her. What could she say to all this? Only one thing came to mind.
"Thank you, Zim."
"You're welcome, Tak."