Chapter 9
"Love is a weakness which converts even the strongest minds as its slave and makes them sing its tune."
― Auliq Ice
"I don't know what you were expecting. I heard what you said to her," Radaha walks over to Kikara, holding out a cup of Narculli."You basically called her a whore."
Kikara sits, dried trails of tears down her cheeks. "I didn't. I just-"
"You did," Radaha retorts, still offering the beverage. "Not to mention, everything else you said. Calling her dumb in so many words."
Kikara makes a declining hand gesture. "I didn't mean it that way." She wipes her face, sniffling. Gabriel gives her a comforting back rub, quickly retracting it when he saw the look Radaha is giving him.
"That was entertaining though." Teora cuts in.
Kikara sneers at her. "Oh, shut up, you're no help," before she continues. "I'm just worried. She just..wants to spend all her time with this man. And you haven't even seen him. He's...strange."
"So?" Radaha shrugs. "She likes him, clearly. And you know, we can be considered strange-to the humans anyway. Doesn't mean anything," she takes a sip of the offered drink herself. "I don't see the problem," she pulls a chair up to Kikara's side, lightly slapping her knee. "But clearly you do."
"Yes, I do. That man," Kikara wipes stray tears that are forming, dampening the dried tracks already present. "I saw him watching her earlier. It just seems like he wants to take advantage. And I think she's just really lonely. He's using this guise of wanting her to teach him. He's only wanting something. You know about her right?"
"Yes I know, and I know she can take care of herself," Radaha states coolly, taking another sip. "She's a grown woman. And you're treating her like-"
"I'm not treating her like anything! I'm just trying to look out for her. Why am I being attacked?"
"Well she clearly doesn't want it," Radaha replies, saying the last few words more forcefully. "And nobody is a 'attacking' you. I just don't see why you're having such a hard time believing that maybe he just wants her to teach him? And maybe he genuinely enjoys her company? Have you thought about that?" she sits her cup down. "You don't even trust her to talk to anyone?"
"It's not just anyone. It's that man. I said I saw how he was looked at her. That's all. I don't think he'd be good for her," Kikara lets out a sigh, tapping her foot. "I just don't trust him." There was something about that man she didn't like. That look he'd given her, it was vaguely threatening. He has this menacing air about him.
Something wasn't right with him. How he'd known about her was even more alarming. Of course, Mirasal could've told him, but that wasn't likely.
"Well," Teora begins through a yawn, arms stretched above her head. "What did he say to you anyhow? You said he insulted you…so," she lowers her arms, eyes anticipating. "Out with it."
Kikara glowers at the memory. "Never mind-"
"Faca! Come quick!" Tomah shouts through the kitchen entrance. Bewildered glances are exchanged before everyone runs out. There, Tomah stands, a light grasped in both hands, a look of horror as he shines it outside the door frame.
On the right are a set of claw marks, embedded deep within the wall, the pattern of the wallpaper slashed apart, strips dangling down.
"We got something loose in here," Tomah looks around at everyone. "And it's big."
Robert and Mirasal are seated on either side of the chest on her bed, examining the items inside. The lights placed around the room are very slowly dimming, clearly in need of a battery change. She'd have to head downstairs to get some soon, which would mean most likely facing everyone. Given the humiliating scene earlier, she wasn't about to head down anytime soon.
"Don't worry about it, the lights. Don't worry." Robert says as he keeps his eyes on the box of junk. Just then they seem to brighten, almost as if rejuvenated somehow.
"Alright, I won't. They seem to be fine now," she says with more than a touch of puzzlement. She watches him a moment before she picks up the strange doll again. "So this is a clawn?' She holds it up next to her head before lowering it to gaze at the crystal blue eyes. The porcelain tinged yellow, the painted smile cut-off by a fairly large crack down the cheek. The ruffles of its off-white outfit obscure its tiny neck.
"No. A clown," he holds back a snicker. "Clown. You've heard of those right?" He continues to smile as he rummages through the chest.
"I don't laugh at you when you get words wrong," It was her turn to pout, still staring at the dolls features, the pupils seeming to follow her when she turned it in her hands. The chest itself looked worn; holes and pieces warped away. "And no. I've never heard of these clowns." Seems a human custom, a strange one at that.
He reached over to gently brush her mane off her shoulders. "I like your accent."
It was subtle, she'd been speaking Easna, the language of humans, fluently for some years now. But she occasionally struggled with certain words. His eyes lingered on her, hand still hovering near her shoulder. It was at this moment that she noticed how large they were; bigger than hers. And her kind generally had large hands and feet.
She smiled softly. "What's this?' She lifts up a small blue object with two lenses.
"Its called a 'view master,'" he gently takes it from her to turn it around. "You look in it. It displays different pictures. I acquired it on Earth. All these items," he spreads his hand out. "I got from Earth. Just junk left piled in someone's home." he hands her back the view master. "Look in it."
She sees a series of strange, painted animals. Not anything she was familiar with.
"Oh, so its like one of these?" she jumps over the bed to snatch up Kikara's heirloom off the desk. "I forgot to give it back to her," she turns it in her hands, a frown tugging at her lips. "She acted like such a brat."
She pauses and looks at Robert, whose watching her closely.
"When you said she's not my friend, did you see that in her mind?" He gives a small nod in response, moving the chest aside to close the space between them, the mattress squeaks as he settles by her.
"You shouldn't have said those things to her…" she says, frown deepening.
"Well, she shouldn't have said those things to you." he counters, before adding. "And she's a thief."
"You know?" Of course he would.
"Yes, and I know you didn't tell your grandparents. She doesn't deserve your protection. Why did you not say anything?"
Mirasal rubs her face with her good hand, drawing a deep inhale. "She needs the job. She would've been terminated. She has a family-younger siblings-to support after her masare died. And her fasare, I don't know about him, or where he is."
Robert listens, his gaze on the floor.
She shrugs, staring off, still turning the gold object in her hands. "Hearing what she thought of me. What she really thought. She pities me," she tosses the heirloom to the ground, it rolls, stopping near the dresser. One of it's lenses cracking at the abuse. "I don't want to be pitied."
"I don't pity you." he's beside her now, she tips her head, eyeing him skeptically.
"I don't. Why would I? I mean look at you. You're a soldier. You're a pilot. You're responsible for others lives and safety. You do some interesting creations."
He stands up, walking over to her desk. "I saw this before, I'm not sure what this is...but it looks complicated." his eyes trail over the clutter of devices and tools.
"That stuff...is various projects," she moves to stand by him. "Things I work on. That I find on missions. Just junk really."
"See? I mean you are clearly very smart." He playfully gives her chin a light fist bump. She giggles, gently pushing his hand away.
"And this," he points to her ancient radio. "You really like that thing, huh?"
"Yes, I do. We can listen, since I have a charger plugged into it." she turns it on. "Some of the things I hear."
A male singer starts to warble over the airway. 'Put your head on my shoulder, hold me in your arms, baby. squeeze me oh so tight,show me that you love me too.'
They exchange smiles as she adjusts the volume. Clandestinely, he brings his left hand up behind her to lightly brush it along her mane with his fingertips.
"That's Paul Anka," he says. "I notice you like that kind of music."
"Is that his name?" she asks turning to face him as he quickly retreats his fingers."I couldn't find out what it was."
"I know a lot of the 'oldies' as it's called. Have you heard of the Big Bopper?"
She shakes her head. "I know of a Buddy Holly."
"They actually were killed together-in a crash. Along with another singer, Ritchie Valens. It was a famous incident on Earth."
"That's terrible." she says, wondering how many of the singers whose music she is so fond of are no longer around given how old the songs were. A little depressing to think about. Robert clearly senses this.
"Don't be sad about it. It was a long time ago."
They gaze at each other in silence for a moment, before she clears her throat. "So, you're a mentay. The things you must hear. Whatever people really think of you, you'd know it right away." If she'd possessed that ability, she would have known the truth about Kikara early on. How useful that would have been.
An unpleasant realization then came on; it also meant he knew what she'd thought of him. Earlier in the day. Really thought. All the negative feelings she'd felt towards him. He knew her displeasure in regards to the dish, but after that…
"Actually, I can just...detect emotions and memories,not so much read thoughts." he clarifies.
"Oh…" she hesitates. "What do you know about me? I know you've been reading my mind."
He rubs his ear with his finger. "You know, if you're not comfortable with me doing it…"
"It's fine," she urges."It's alright." She switches off the radio.
"Your mother is a prostitute. The man you call father is not a blood relative. Have two sisters. You're a widow. You have two daughters," he stops, scratching his head, auburn hairs falling to the sides of his face. "You hate change...but I wouldn't need to read your mind to know that," he ends that last sentence with a slight smile."I don't like change, either."
As he talked, her mouth fell open. At least it's all out there though, no explaining certain subjects. Uncomfortable ones. She chews her lip, bringing her hand up to run it down her the side of her mane.
"And you do that when you're anxious." he points to her hand atop her head.
She looks at it before dropping it back to her side."So when you asked me to tell you about myself earlier, you already knew certain things. Including this." she says, running her hand along the sheen of her metal shoulder.
"I did, but I just wanted to talk to you. For you to tell me about it yourself," he smiles again. "And you did want to run off on me earlier. And-" he pulls an exaggerated pout. "I'm not a whiner."
She gives a sheepish smile, obscuring her embarrassment in her hands. "I just...it's just you were complaining a lot." she replies as his fingers come up to pry her hands away from her face as his smile drops to a scowl-more playful than angry.
"Hey, I don't whine alright?" he insists.
"Alright." she gives him a unconvinced smile, before sighing. "You should have told me. But I usually know."
"You say it gives you a pain in your head when I do it?" he asks.
"Yes. The same thing happens when I communicate patet." she replies.
"What is that?"
"It's 'by thought.' It only gives a little ache, not as bad as mentay,"
"So you can communicate telepathically?"
"Yes…can you?"
He gives a single nod. "You think we could communicate?" he steps closer.
"I suppose it's possible." she says, not sure if it could work with another species. She then feels a minor pain shoot through her forehead.
Do you hear me?
Yes
So it works?
Yes, it does. She smiles wide.
Now we can speak, even when we are not in the same room, if you aren't too uncomfortable doing it.
I'm not.
There's a pause.
Do you want me to spend the night?
She looks away, giving a nervous laugh. "You should head back to your room and get some sleep. For tomorrow. There's a lot for you to learn."
He gently encircles a palm around her right wrist. "I'll behave. I promise."
"It's alright," she says. "It's just...you're just so forward."
"You don't like that?" he asks.
"Actually I do," she always appreciated directness. "It's just-"
"Do you want me to?" Still holding her arm, he pulls her to him, feeling the warmth of his body against the thin fabric of her dress. His other hand comes up to touch her cheek. Before she can say anything, he's lowering his thick lips down and brushing them against hers. She closes her eyes. "But I already know the answer to that," he smiles against her mouth. "You do, don't you?"
A flutter started in the pit of her stomach and her body was trembling. She brought her hands up to place them over his. She nods.
"Don't be nervous." he whispers as his mouth presses against hers. She brings her right hand up to grip his neck, pulling him closer as her shaking ceases. His mouth had a sweet taste to it, tangy almost. The kiss becomes more rough as he coaxes her lips apart, growling softly. She brings her hands up to quickly unbutton his shirt,running them along his smooth chest, their heavy breathing growing louder. His own hands caress along the curves of her back, trying to find a way to free her from her own garb. Breaking the kiss, she unfastens her thick metal collar, letting it fall to the ground before reaching up to slide down her straps, when he stops her.
"I want to do that," he pulls down the straps, peeling her dress off, his eyes never breaking contact with hers. "I want to look at you." He slides his long fingers up along her ample hips, slender waist and firm stomach. He gives another growl as their lips meet again, snaking his arms around her, roughly tossing her onto the bed.
She continues helping him discard his clothing, pulling off his shirt and letting out her own faint growl against his lips as she struggled with the zipper to his trousers. Finally helping him shake them off and throwing them across the room.
She trails her fingertips along his lanky frame, hips and up his muscular torso, feeling the muscles of his abdomen quiver under her touch. Desire and curiosity meld across his visage as he went in for another fevered kiss, pushing her back onto the mattress. Eagerly climbing on top of her, he strokes her face.
A deeper, more guttural sound emits from the base of his throat as he runs his hand along her thigh. She wraps her legs around him, placing light kisses along his jawline. He tightens his grasp on her right thigh, pushing it up as he thrusts into her. His free hand grips the wooden headboard as it bumps against the wall
She buries her head into the crook of his neck, biting it, painfully digging her claws into his shoulder, the sensation of her metal nails piercing his skin causes his thrusting to become more violent. He grabs her wrists and pins them down, burrowing his face in her neck, his own claws protracting. His eyes start to flicker, his groans are turning into snarls as strings of drool trickle down from his lips as the edges of his teeth become razor sharp.
He let's out a loud roar as they both fall over the edge. She tightly grips his hair and pulls him to her, pushing the back of her head against the pillow as she cries out, arching her back.
He collapses on top of her, still for a moment, trying to avoid looking at her as his teeth return to their usual appearance. He finally meets her gaze, staring down, her eyes like two pools of cerulean as he moves a stray moist hair away from her face. He brings his lips in for a light kiss, keeping his forehead pressed against hers, their panting slowing down. She gently flips his dampened hair aside, before she pushes him onto his back. Resting on her side facing him, she has her hands tucked under the pillow. As their ragged breaths subside, he sees she's watching him, bringing a metallic finger up to trace it along his bottom lip.
He reaches over, pulling her to him. She nuzzles his neck, running her hand up his flushed chest, feeling a rumble form within it. She smiles as she rests her head against him, feeling it vibrate against her cheek, closing her eyes. Before long, he lowers his lips down for another kiss.
The lights now die out completely as he climbs back on top of her. The two continue to explore each other's bodies, the moonlight reflecting off the sheen of sweat on his back.