She glanced at her watch, clicking her tongue. Taking a sip of her tea, she crossed her legs pensively while watching the minute hand on the old clock tower edge forward. There was only fourteen minutes left of her lunch break and she began to wonder why she felt so disappointed.
Certainly, she enjoyed her breaks from work. She was bad for counting the minutes, it never made them last longer.
Deep down, but not really that deep, she knew her disappointment stemmed from the steadily blooming feelings of affection she felt for her nightly visitor. He always made her nights better when he showed up.
She had never anticipated in a million years that she would have been tagged by one of them. Every moment she had spent in his presence was surreal. He, himself, was unbelievable.
Twelve minutes left. She took another drag from her mug.
A soft rattling that echoed in the small courtyard made the corners of her lips curl upwards.
"You're late," she hummed, wrapping both hands around the hot cup.
"Have you come to miss me so greatly?" He chuckled and sat next to her on the wooden bench. It groaned beneath his weight.
She scoffed, "Someone thinks highly of himself."
He straightened his shoulders and shook his mane out, "I have no reason not to."
She laughed softly, hearing the smile in his voice. "Oh, I'm sure you don't."
He looked down at her face, and upon seeing her teeth bared in a smile he felt a warmth in his heart. This human woman was extraordinary.
They lapsed into a companionable quiet. She finished the last of her cooling tea and he stretched out his long legs. The night air was cool, but not cold. The moon cast a beautiful iridescence on the small courtyard, the chirping of crickets and frogs a constant symphony.
She was content, sitting next to her friend.
"I have news," he said, breaking the quiet.
She set her mug on the bench and turned to face him. She tipped her head back to better see his face and asked, "What kind of news?"
He hummed quietly in his chest, "Good or bad, depending on your response."
She pursed her lips apprehensively, "All right, give it to me."
It took him several moments to put the words together. He did not want her to interpret his request poorly.
"My clan prepares for another assignment. The journey is long, so they wish to leave at the end of this week—"
Her heart thudded painfully in her chest. She knew this day would come, but she had selfishly hoped for more time with him before he was called back to his duties.
"—I am unable to remain here to continue this stage of our courtship."
It was clear that he felt a certain amount of anxiety, in the way his forefinger twitched restlessly and how stiff he held himself.
Her heart skipped a beat at the word 'courtship'.
She frowned, "So you've come to tell me you're leaving and I won't see you for a while."
He seemed to freeze for a moment before exhaling a sharp gust of air from his mouth. "If I were any other Yautja, I would simply steal you away. But I am not. I value your trust and affection far too strongly—" he held up his hand to quiet her as she drew in a breath to speak, "please, allow me to finish."
She nodded, closing her mouth.
"I stated my intentions towards you on the day we met. They have not changed. I desire you to be my mate, the mother of my young, my companion and my friend. I am ill-equipped to leave you here, but if you wish it I will. But I ask you now, dey'a, come with me. Come join me in the stars and I will make certain you want for nothing the rest of your life," he murmured quietly while grazing his knuckles along the side of her face, relishing in the softness of her delicate skin.
She leaned into his warm touch, captivated by the golden fire in his eyes. He seldom initiated contact with her which made that moment all the more serious to her.
"I do not like the thought of leaving you behind," he said softly.
Her heart raced like thunder, all but deafening in her ears. She took in the heat of his gaze, relished in the tingling it caused in her spine. His contrasting colours of maroon and cream were so striking, especially vibrant then. She knew his heart also raced with excitement because of it.
How she had come to know this creature so well was mildly startling, but at the same time exhilarating. Not every woman on Earth had the opportunity to travel the universe with a person that would literally die for them.
She knew he would absolutely lay down his life to save hers. She, in turn, was quite certain that she would do the same. Somehow this man not from Earth had captured her heart.
She consciously took a breath and released it slowly to restart her wild heart. "I have family here, I can't cut all my ties to them."
He clicked his tusks together sharply, "I would never ask you to abandon your family. My clan regularly visits this planet."
She chewed on her lip anxiously as her eyes wandered to the clock tower. One minute until her break was over. What was holding her back? What fears did she have that prevented her from jumping head-first into a life of adventure she would never have on Earth?
The only close friend she had would metaphorically kill her if she didn't take this chance.
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained," Helena would say.
She turned sharply to him, noticing that he had never taken his eyes off her. His mane ruffled up at her quick movement.
"Do you have access to a twelve-volt adaptor for my electronics?"
"Twelve-volt adaptor?" He parroted, uncertainty in his tone.
"Yes, a way to charge my devices so I may continue to use them," she pulled her phone from her pocket to show him.
He chittered brightly, "I do."
She grinned brightly as him.
"Then show me the stars."