Characters: Tung and Bream

Summary: They shared an appetite and an appreciation for the culinary arts. Their love was strong. However one was returning back to Earth, and the other was left behind.


Appetite

Tung was sitting on a constructed metal jetty, dipping his feet into the now safe waters of Deucalion, an industrialised city build upon a planet with no surface land. He was happy they saved the locals from the Imperial Water Scorpions but was sad to leave the only girl he had ever liked behind.

Bream, a daughter of one of the cities fisherman, was a sweet girl beloved by the children for her gifts and selflessness. She was a frog humanoid, her species having long ago adapted to the difficult conditions of a water planet, and was absolutely beautiful to Tung. Her smile was dazzling and her laughter never failed to make his skin tingle with happiness. He was absolutely infatuated with her.

The problem was that he had no way to stay in contact, as her planet was basic and the technology inferior. With no communication she was bound to forget about him, and he couldn't bear the idea. He had thought about staying behind to live with her but he was a part of the Hamilton Habitat and couldn't leave his team behind. They were more like a family to him, then his real one! He thought about asking Bream to leave her planet with him, but she was needed here and he couldn't ask for such a selfish thing.

Now he was stuck in an endless circle of misery, unable to think of any solution to their communication issue. Tung sighed again and splashed his feet into the water. Another body sat down next to him and placed her webbed hand over his. Gulping down the nervousness he felt, he turned to Bream and smiled sadly.

"I'm going to miss my frog boy." Bream sighed.

"Yeah me too...I mean frog girl...wait I mean, you know what I mean." Tung blushed a deep red. Bream laughed at his awkwardness, finding his stumbling endearing.

"Thank you so much for saving my people. You're a real hero... my hero." This time it was Bream who blushed.

"I couldn't let anything happen to you." Tung whispered back.

"And the fishes of course," Bream chuckled.

"And the fishes," Tung smiled.

Both were blushing hard; their fingers tangled together and shoulders touching softly.

"I have to leave soon." Tung stated.

"I know." Bream looked at the ocean sunset.

"We won't be able to keep in contact and I'll only be able to make monthly visits. I hope...I hope you don't..."

Bream interrupted.

"I won't ever forget you, Tung. I'll always be here waiting for your return."

Bream slowly leaned in and placed her hand on Tung's face. Tung leant into the unfamiliar contact and turned his face towards hers. Both were only a few inches away but never lost eye contact. They parted their lips and took the final plunge. Lips mashed in a sweet embrace. Tung's hands ran down her back, while Bream placed her hands around his neck.

When they finally parted they were out of breath and panting hard, exhilarated from the new experience. They held hands again and looked deeply into the other's eyes. The setting sun gleamed on the two lovers and their eyes lit up like sparkling gems.

"TUNG! TUNG, WHERE ARE YOU?!" A voice called from behind.

Tung sighed and stood up, offering a hand to Bream.

"I can't stay any longer."

A small tear trailed down Bream's cheek.

"Promise me that you'll visit soon." Bream whispered.

"I promise."

Tung squeezed her hand for the last time then ran off to the impatient voice. He turned around at the end of the jetty and waved to the girl of his dreams. He would make sure that they returned again, even if it meant another trip involving seaweed collection.