A/N: Got enough reviews and memos about being added to readers' alert lists to feel inspired to post another chapter early. I realized though, I neglected to mention in the first author's notes the time setting for this piece. This is set a decade or so pre-television series, before the V's made an official appearance to the human race. Hope that alleviated any potential for confusion!
Humanization
Part 1: You Don't Know the First Thing
three
Joshua exited the bathroom toweling the remaining water from his hair, dressed in lose sweats and a t-shirt instead of slacks and his lab coat.
She was asleep with her knees curled to her chest and her hands tucked under her chin. The cord, still binding them, trailed off the mattress and onto the floor. The braided metal cables must have chafed her wrists horribly by now, and Joshua felt a brief pang of guilt for not untying her then decided there was no telling what damage she would have done the room if left fully mobile and unsupervised.
Currently, she was hardly threatening. Joshua sat behind her, hesitating once before taking a lock of her hair between his thumb and first finger, rubbing back and forth until all the strands fell away.
"What is your fascination with my hair?" a sleep muddled voice asked.
It was soft, certainly softer than his own and probably the softest he'd ever ran his fingers through, not synthetic. "Do I have to have one?" he carefully answered, "You are my pet. I can touch you how I want, when I want."
She sighed. "Pet, huh? That's cute I suppose. Is this another attempt at seduction then?"
"No."
"No?"
Joshua grit his teeth and hissed out between them. "Stop doing that!" he snarled.
"Doing what?"
"That! Echoing back everything I say like it amuses you or you find it curious!" He threw his arms and head up, as though hoping a manual for the unnerving creature on the bed would drop from the ceiling. "It… it's not what you're supposed to do!"
When he looked back at her, she had rolled over and was glaring at him through narrowed eyes. "Tell me what I'm supposed to do, then, what earth girls do and don't do. Tell me so I can prove you wrong."
Joshua was silent.
"That's right," she bit out, "You don't know a damn thing about humanity, lizard." She turned away from him.
Joshua's mouth gaped. He eased himself off the bed without taking his eyes off her.
"If you're going to go running away again, at least bring food back this time."