Chapter 7: Confide

Disclaimer: I do not own Alien/Predator series or any characters and may not follow all customs and cultures found in Alien/Predator movies.

After that night with Mia a few weeks ago, I couldn't get the restful sleep I was looking for, but it wasn't due to dread or fear of the unknown. I had some elation that was growing inside my chest, warming me up like Mia's hand did. I felt like I was a young hunter who just came from their Chiva with success. It was something that I didn't think I was able to experience again after so long, especially with all that has happened over the years. I rolled on my bed within the ship, taking a while before the exhaustion of my body took its toll. And even then, dreams of her would invade me, and I would welcome them as if they were real.

It had such an effect on me that even Xen'ork's pestering for information about that night didn't piss me off as it did before. The only things that I did pay attention were when he spoke about his observations of the oomans and the building but as usual . . . Nothing new came up. He kept telling that oomans come in and out, but it was the same, so he complained about being bored. However, I was so caught up with my imaginations that Xen'ork, at one time, had to poke me a little to get my attention.

"My lord!"

I snapped out of myself when we were eating another fresh kill to fill our bellies, but as he called for me, I blinked a few times and looked down to see that I've only eaten half of my meat. I stared down for a moment before turning my head to Xen'ork, who was puzzled at my recent behavior.

"What has gotten into you?"

I tilted my head in confusion. "What do you mean?"

Xen'ork's head pulls back while his eyes widened in shock as if I have offended him somehow. His mandibles even twitched a little too much not to be noticed by anyone. Even a blind Yautja could know that something was up.

"You've been acting weird recently . . . like that ooman female put a spell on you or something."

"What are you saying?"

I growled a bit at the end of my sentence, and Xen'ork got the message a little, raising his hands in the air as to show he didn't mean any insult or anything. But I knew better than that. Xen'ork would have said it as an insult to get me riled up, but he also knows that I'm far more experienced in fighting than he was. If he tried to pull anything with me that might tip me over the edge, his heart would be ripped out of him before he could speak his last words to Paya. Instead, he backs up a little and puts his hands down but keeps his gaze on me.

"I don't know . . . Ever since you met Mia, you've been much more . . ."

I watch him look up to the sky for a moment, rolling his finger in the air to try and find the right words to say.

"I don't know . . . More calm is how I put it. You get ticked off easily before we left and now . . . It's like you've gone numb to it all. You look much happier."

When he said that last part, I opened my mouth to say something, but I closed it back up when I couldn't think of anything to speak out. He was right in some way, although I probably haven't noticed it as much as him. I turned my head to grab another piece of meat to eat and finished it rather quickly. I stopped eating for a moment before I placed in on the floor, standing up to get ready.

"Going back again? To Mia, I presume?"

I didn't answer him right away as I put my mask back on my face, adjusting it to make sure it was on correctly while I played around with the settings so that all vision types were working correctly. I dropped my hands to the side and looked up into the sky for a few moments, enjoying the tranquility of it all. However, it shattered when Xen'ork grumbled a bit due to his impatience in waiting for my answer. I grunted back when I turned around to see him smirk a little, which I knew he already had the answer to that. He just wanted me to confirm his suspicions.

"Yes."

His single eye glowed a bit while his smirk grew even more prominent than before. I didn't think that he would be happy with that, but I had an assumption that he had more to say, which was answered right away as soon as he opened his big, fat mouth.

"I want to hear you speak the ooman language. Can you teach me what Mia has taught you?"

"No."

I said my answer as soon as he finished. He tried asking me for more answers, but I growled a little in a warning. He backs off but then says one more thing that catches my attention.

"I understand that you want to connect with Mia but . . . What about the Clan Leader? And the mission? He's been getting more agitated every time he calls since we have nothing to report and I fear he might find out what we're doing."

My chest began to ache in worry since Xen'ork was right about it. I had been ignoring the mission for quite some time, and my father had been calling more frequently as each week passed. The angry look that he gave on the COM would send small shivers down my spine but I hid them from him well. I did expect something like this since my father wasn't a patient Yautja at all, but I would get the mission done and over with by now. However, I didn't want to go just yet since I was enjoying the time with Mia, so I tried to make excuses for it. One minute, it would be that the oomans were well prepared and that I was waiting for the right moment or other complications that arose up. But it was only a matter of time before everything would fall apart . . . And I had no idea of what to do.

But for now, I just called to Xen'ork with the best answer as I could.

"I will take care of it somehow. Just make sure to keep an eye on the building and let me know if something comes up."

Xen'ork nods as I turned around to head towards the lake in the cover of darkness, hoping to see Mia waiting for me to start another ooman language lesson.

I have gotten better and well enough that I could say full sentences since I

M a fast learner. But to speak it in front of Xen'ork . . . The thought of it would drive me crazy, and there would be no end to his comments about how crazy I was. I can imagine hearing him laugh if he witnessed my first but poor attempt when I tried it in front of Mia. It was embarrassing . . . My mind recalls that the first time I attempted when Mia taught me.

[Few weeks ago . . .]

"Close . . . but that is still wrong."

At that moment, Mia was trying to teach me how oomans greet each other. I was utterly confused by this since they don't cross their arms and bow as Yautja does. Instead, they grab each other's hands and shake it up and down. I thought it was ridiculous, but Mia told me that it is vital to know. I rolled my eyes a bit when I heard about it the first time, but Mia wasn't having any of it. She would start to scold me for acting like a pup, ending with me growling at her but she wasn't fazed anymore by it, and that just made it harder for me not to kill her out of frustration. However, those blue eyes would shine into me, and when that happened, all I could is sit there with my legs crossed while she was in the same position right in front of me.

She shifts her legs a little to get more comfortable until she stops and looks back at me. She had to swipe some of her brown hair behind when a small breeze sweeps it over her face.

"Let's try it again. After the handshake, you say 'Hello' and then your name and then say 'Nice to meet you' with a smile."

The last part she mentioned didn't correctly work for me. I didn't know if I was capable of smiling like Mia or any other ooman. They had lips that could spread out as far as they could. Yautja, on the other hand, didn't have such thing and the closest smile we could do was open our mandibles slightly along with our inner mouth, but that was it. I cleared my throat a bit before interrupting her.

"Do you oomans always have to smile? It's ridiculous."

I grunted in disapproval, but Mia's expression showed that she wasn't pleased with my reaction. The smile she had was gone as she tightened her lips to a thin line while her eyes squinted at me.

"It's to show that you don't mean any hard. The first impression is the most important or else the person won't like you. And in your case, they will probably shoot you."

My eyes widened at her, but only because she suggested that someone would hurt me. In my opinion, it would be the other way around if the oomans tried anything foolish as to challenge me. But I decided not to tell Mia that as I closed my eyes, letting my shoulders slump as the anger inside me fades a bit. I heard her coughing a little, and I gazed quickly back to her. I could tell that she was somewhat relaxed when her eyes softened a bit.

"Alright. So . . . Move your mouth like this and let all the air from your lungs flow into your throat. Like this."

She opens her mouth and inhales deeply until she couldn't anymore. And then, she exhales, and her mouth moves around until a 'hello' comes out of her throat slowly so I could hear it. I studied very carefully to her lips so I can see each of their movements and remember them when it was my turn. But for an instant, I thought about how soft her lips must be, but I mentally slapped myself as soon as I did.

What the pauk (fuck) are you doing?

I closed my eyes tightly and shook my head for a second, opening them back to see a small smile coming back to her. Again, the heat inside my chest grew, and it was becoming more challenging to hide, but I kept my concentration on her.

"See? Now you try it."

At first, I was reluctant because I wasn't too sure that I could say it. Plus, it would be embarrassing for a warrior, such as I, not to get a simple ooman word right. My eyes wandered everywhere, avoiding her gaze in uncertainty until I heard her.

"Daugo. Everything okay?"

I closed my eyes, letting my chaotic mind settle for a moment, but it worried me. I could go on dangerous hunts with the most deadly of prey, and yet here I was . . . Nervous about learning to speak ooman and in front of a female that has some control over me. But I had to try . . .

I slowly moved my head up and forward, letting my eyes open on the way to meet her blue eyes. Her eyebrows pressed together to the center of her forehead in a worried expression. I inhaled deeply into my lungs until I decided to give it a go. I opened my mandibles and inner mouth, and with just one massive breath, I let it out.

"Hewlou . . ."

That didn't sound like it was supposed to.

The word sounded like I was gurgling something out of my throat or was dying right then and there. I might as well have when I saw the shocked look on Mia's face. Her blue eyes were full, then all the times I've seen her before along with her mouth. She froze in place, and I got a little concerned that I might have done something to her. When I tried to reach for her, I jolted back in surprise when she threw her head back in laughter.

"Hahaha! Oh, my God. You sound like a dying dog or something."

My eyes widened in shock. WHAT!?

I couldn't believe that she had compared me to an animal. I've heard of such things from my many hunts but never imagined that an ooman would compare me to that. I was tempted to growl, but when I looked back at her, I froze at what she was doing.

She kept laughing so hard that I believed that the whole forest would hear her, but I didn't stop her. I was too stunned . . . Or angry . . . To say anything to her. All I could do was stare as she bellowed out all the laughter she had in her until she began to huff a little, trying to get air back into her lungs. When she looked up, I wanted to make it clear of my distaste for her earlier comment until I saw some wet stuff falling down her cheeks and realized that she was crying. The anger was gone and replaced with concern as my heart stung a bit, knowing that I might have done something wrong. I reached for her, grabbing on her wrist gently. It was soft but fragile, so I did my best to restrain myself, but the heat from her was making it hard to do so.

"Are you alright?"

She stopped as soon as I touched her. She looks down for a minute at my hand that was holding her before looking back at me in surprise, but it only lasted for a second. She then smiles a little but pulls her hand away. The warmth that came off her was gone, and somehow, I missed it.

"I'm fine. I just laughed so hard, but I'm not hurt."

She looks back at me with a smile, but I wasn't entirely convinced. When she saw it in my face, she began explaining it to me about tears and how they don't mean that a person is sad or mourning. Although she tried to help me understand, it just made things more confusing, but I kept it to myself. After explaining it enough, she straightens her back and sets her eyes back on me.

"Now . . . where were we?"

She continues with the lesson, and my focus went back to learning how to speak the ooman language. The comment that she made was long gone from my mind as I listened in like a dutiful pupil, learning from a teacher and that reminded me of my younger years as an Unblood. I followed her words and repeated them over and over again until I got it right. And then, she would make me say another word, and the torture and boredom of learning started up again, continuing for weeks buy in the end, I began to enjoy it.

[Back to Present]

Another day had passed and night has taken over the forest, but I kept running, reaching for the lake in anticipation to meet Mia again. I started to like going out in the night to our meeting as it gave me something to look forward to. Following the same path I took, I made it to the lake where Mia was sitting down, looking out across the lake that was glowing more brightly with the full moon out. I stared at her for a moment, seeing her brown hair shine with the moon's light as it swayed every time she moved her head from side to side. It was mesmerizing, and I couldn't get enough. However, I decided to make my presence known, so I called out to her using the ooman language.

"Hello, Mia."

Her body jumps a little, not expecting me to call like that, but she turns her head around, smiling when she saw me approaching slowly.

"Hello, Daugo. It looks like you've got it down now."

I removed my mask and hooked it on the side of my hip as I sat next to her, never taking my eyes off of her as she stared back towards the lake.

"I have but . . . still getting used to it."

I paused a little bit between the word as I tried to remember what to use. But then, I heard Mia giggle a bit and hold her hand to her mouth to stifle it. I didn't want her to do that, but I left it alone. It was a beautiful sound that soothed my mind after all the frustration back at the ship with Xen'ork and my father. My mandibles twitched in delight from it as Mia keeps staring out in front of her.

"I can't say the same for me. Not much of a fast learner as you."

Her smile fades a little as her eyes drop a little. I also dropped my eyes a little bit when I saw her do that. Before we started all of this, we made a deal that we would teach each other our languages so that we have an excuse to meet. Although I was getting the hang of the ooman language, Mia was struggling a little harder than I was. Of course, the Yautja language was complicated to learn and would take years for someone to get it right. It was only a few weeks since we started, but she only picked up a few words. I could feel the disappointment coming off of her, but I didn't know what to do to help her. I kept very patient with her throughout this time . . . Something I wasn't able to do before until I met Mia. That was one of the many lessons that I had to be thankful to her. I placed my hand on her shoulders and rubbed gently.

"You will get it . . . Right. I'm sure . . . of it."

She glances into my eyes and smiles a little bit more. I did the same and looked deeply into the sea of blue within her eyes as I dropped my hand from her shoulder. Then, I decided to make an effort in reciprocating the same gesture. I opened my mandibles slightly and tightened my inner mouth to show a smile on my face, hoping it would help her in some way. She stares at my face until she starts to giggle a bit like before, turning back to watch the lake. She didn't say much, but I knew that she liked it, causing my heart to flutter more.

But just as I was about to say something else, she asks me a question and one that I wasn't prepared to answer.

"Why are you here, Daugo?"

The smile that I had was gone entirely, and I could only feel dread inside me. A sharp pain radiates in my chest for just a moment, but my stomach dropped a bit. I should have known that she was going to ask such a question sooner or later. But I knew that if I did, it would go against everything that I was taught to follow. My mission . . . My status . . . And even my life would be at stake if anyone found out. Before, I would have gotten rid of her and be done with it. But after meeting Mia, everything had changed. When she asked the last time, I ran off before I could answer . . . Like a coward. But now, I needed to tell her the truth.

No more running or hiding . . .

I watched as she turned towards me. I froze a little upon seeing her pleading expression, but I kept steady, taking a few breaths before answering her.

"I'm here because . . . I was sent on a mission . . . To find out . . . About. . . Work. . . Being done on Yautja DNA . . . for hybridization. It's something . . . my Clan Leader and others don't want to happen."

I closed my eyes fast after that, not looking forward to what her reaction would be. Now that she knew of my intentions on the ooman planet, I was sure that she would be angry, calling me a monster or something like that. All I could hear was a gasp from her and then silence. I tightened my mandibles together and dropped my head eve lower until my dreadlocks hung over me like curtains. My heart began to beat fast with dread, believing that Mia didn't want to see me anymore and I couldn't take it. I began to move so that I could stand until a small, soft hand grabs ahold of mine. I stopped halfway on my knees and turned to see Mia staring back to me.

The look on her face at that moment wasn't what I expected. Instead of fear and anger, she was showing compassion that was visible in her eyes. It had been a long time since I'd seen that expression, and it was my mate who was the first to do so. Despite being two different beings, Mia showed the same feelings as my mate did so long ago.

We stared at each other for what seemed like forever to me until she gave a gentle smile.

"Thank you for telling me. I can see that it was hard for you, so I'm glad."

I didn't answer her right away. I was too stunned that I had to blink a few times to get my focus back. I couldn't move, but I was able to grip my hand around hers tighter, reassuring her that I was grateful she didn't run away. Her smile got bigger as I managed to speak.

"You're welcome."

Her eyes sparkled a bit as she nods slowly to me. She lets go of my hand as I did the same, keeping her sights on me, but her smile faded a little bit. I noticed it and asked if something was wrong. She shakes her head and lowers her gaze.

"I have a confession to make, as well. Since we're practically connected in a way."

"In . . . what way?"

I tilted my head in confusion as to what she meant by that. I had a little suspicion that it might have something to do with her involvement with everything that was happening. She swallows a bit and looks down for a moment until she looks back up to me.

"What you said . . . It's true. There is a facility in the forest that is secretly working with DNA from your species . . . And I work for them. They are called Stargazer."

She pauses a bit, looking into my face for something but wasn't sure. I could only guess that she's making sure I was alright. I nodded back to her slowly, and she seemed to get my message because she kept going.

"They say that it is to protect ourselves from future threats but . . . I fear that it might be just lies. I think they have something worse planned for all of this."

She turns away from me, and I just kept watching her. I could hear her heart beating fast in distress, but just as I was about to call for her, she lifts her head back up to me and gives a small smile.

"But it will be over soon as I've heard and your mission will end."

I squinted my eyes a bit at her last statement, wondering what she meant. "What . . . do you mean?"

She blinks a few times as my heart began to race a little from anticipation.

"The experiments are proving unsuccessful since the DNA between us is incompatible. At this rate, it's only a matter of time before they shut it down. But I should be grateful in some way. I can return to taking care of my daughter at home while my husband keeps on working."

"Your daughter?"

Her eyes perk up a bit while her smile from before returns as she explains.

"Yes. She's only a couple of months old, but I haven't had time with my job to be with her. After this, I'm thinking of quitting my job and start raising her myself. I miss spending time with her."

Her demeanor changes after she said that. Her body relaxes while her eyes glowed with such happiness when she talked about her daughter, and she made mention of having a mate as well. So she has a mate and pup of her own.

"Do you have any children of your own?"

When she asked that question, it took me a few moments to register the meaning of it. I hesitated for a moment, worried about what will come out of this. But since Mia told me about her own, it was only fair that I should show the same courtesy. I took a deep breath before I answered.

"I did have two . . . sons."

Her eyes lite up with curiosity. "What were their names?"

I opened my mouth to say their names, but it was still difficult to say it in ooman so I changed to the Yautja language but said it slowly so that Mia could hear it.

"Ba'kou and Lar'ja-din"

I looked at Mia, and I could see that she was trying to say it as I did. She was close but missed a few of the small pronunciations in the middle. But it didn't matter to me. She was still learning, and I hope that she'll get the hang of it. After a few moments, Mia smiles at me.

"That's great. You must be proud of them."

I nodded. "I am. Both of them are . . . Special to me. Especially . . . Ba'kou . . . he was my pride and joy."

"Was?"

That is when everything started to go downhill. I froze right in place as the horrible thoughts of my past began to come back. I couldn't move as Mia looks back at me.

"What happened to him?"

In that instant, I felt a stinging pain in my chest when she asked, and the terrible memory of Ba'kou comes back into my mind. I growled a little as I turned around, facing away from Mia. A headache was coming on, and the pain reverberated down my spine. I clawed at my head as the flashbacks began again.

"I can do this, Father! We can't let them escape!"

"Ba'kou!"

"NO!"

I couldn't take it anymore as I stood up fast and rushed over to a nearby tree. Without hesitation, I took my fist and smashed through it, leaving a large crack behind as I pulled my fist back out. But I wasn't done yet . . . I repeated the motion over and over again to the point that I could feel the bones in my knuckles begin to crack. It was only when I felt a hand on my shoulder, and Mia's cry did I stop what I was doing.

"Daugo! What's wrong?!"

I could hear the fear and concern in her voice through my rough panting and frantic heartbeat. My stomach dropped as I just did in front of Mia. I went on a full-blown rampage that must have terrified her. My stomach dropped, just thinking about it, and I worried for Mia. I slowly turned around to see her eyes widened in shock.

Look at what you have done.

I moved to face her fully, but I was stuck on what to do next. She still looked terrified, and guilt ran through every part of my body. I reached out to her but pulled back when she flinched away from me. My fists tightened as I dropped my head to the ground.

"I'm . . . sorry."

That is all I could say to her. It wasn't forthcoming for a Yautja to say sorry like that and in an ooman language no less. It's a sign of weakness to others, and if anyone saw me like this, they would surely make a laughing stock out of me. However, it was Mia who was in front of me, and the Yautja customs don't apply to her, but it didn't change my feelings about this. I closed my eyes tightly as I stood there like a zombie.

But then, I felt arms wrap around my waist that jolted my body awake, and my eyes opened quickly to a sight that I didn't think was possible. Mia was hugging me with her arms only halfway around my waist while her forehead pressed against the lower part of my chest. My armor partially covered it, but even with it, I could feel her heat warming me up. My heart raced faster than anything before, but I kept my hands in the air, not sure what to do until Mia calls to me.

"It's okay. Everything is alright. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

Her voice was soft and faint, but it was clear as day for me. It had an immediate effect as I relaxed against her, grateful she didn't want to push further about it. Before I knew it, I wrapped my arms around her while I purred out of instinct. It had an effect on her as she pressed herself closer to me.

"I'm sorry."

She pressed her face into my chest as I purred more intensely as I relish in her warmth and the feeling of her soft skin on mine. Both of us stood like that for some time until I opened my eyes to watch Mia relax near me.

I would never have imagined that this fragile ooman female would get so close to me in such a way that was deemed impossible. I thought that I was cursed after losing my mate and son in such a wretched way. But now . . . Mia has given me more than just comfort and someone to listen to without judgment. She's given me back the happiness that I once lost, and I didn't want to let her go.

It was that moment when I realized one thing that I tried to deny for so long.

I'm . . . in love with her.

When those words echoed in me, my purr intensified more, and I moved my upper body away from her so I could see her better. Mia moves her face from my chest to look up at me. Her blue eyes glowed intensely, and I could strangely hear her heart racing in sync with mine along with our labored breathing. My body began to burn like I was placed in a fire, but it wasn't hurting. It was like basking in the sun carefree. It was welcoming.

Without hesitation, I moved my hand to cup her cheek in my palm that burned as soon as I touched it. I watched her jump a little from the initial contact, but I didn't pull away. I wanted to see her and know what it is like to to be with her. My gaze goes across her face until I saw her lips, and that is when I decided. Slowly, I leaned my head down to her as my mouth came closer to hers. I wasn't sure how this would work, but I didn't care. I closed my eyes when I felt her breath hitting my mandibles that twitched with joy.

But just as I was about to touch her lips, the pauking (fucking) beeping noise on my gauntlet interrupts us. I pulled my face away from Mia as I grunted in frustration. I let her go and pressed to get the COM system going. I already knew who it was and I began to berate Xen'ork in Yautja language.

"Pauk (fuck) you, Xen'ork! What is it now?!"

I was about to yell at him again when I saw that he was panting a little as if in a hurry. And then I noticed that he didn't call for me on the COM like he used to so something must be up. I waved to him so that he could tell me what was going on. He straightens himself out before bowing his head down with one arm crossed.

"My apologies for interrupting but it's urgent that you come back to the ship. A message from your father about an important manner. Some Yautja are coming to meet us."

"What!?"

Xen'ork nods to confirm that it was no joke. So my father sent some hunters to us. No doubt it might be due to lack of progress. Damn him . . .

I sighed. "Alright. I'll be there as soon as possible. Go ahead of me to greet our 'guests' for now."

Xen'ork agrees, and I cut the COM system off quickly. I rubbed my forehead to calm myself down, trying my best to keep the anger down as not to scare Mia. After a moment, I turned to face Mia filled with disappointment that our time was interrupted. I see the distress in her face but doesn't say anything. I sighed and called to her.

"I need to . . . Return to the ship. Something came up."

I moved to get my mask on fast, making sure I got it secured. I looked back to Mia as she speaks.

"I understand."

Her eyes look down into the ground as she fiddles with her fingers. I didn't want to leave her, but I had to. If my father sent other hunters to us, then it must be something big. But to reassure her that everything was alright, I reached out for her and raised her chin, so her eyes were on me.

"I'll be back . . . Promise."

As soon as I said that, her eyes lit up again and a genuine smile grows on her face. She slowly nods to me. I nodded back and purred once more, which made her smile even bigger. I let her go and turned around to face the direction of the ship. I turned my head around once more, seeing her smile again before taking off into the forest, keeping that precious memory fresh in my mind.

Hi Readers!

A heartwarming moment had occurred between Mia and Daugo, and it took my breath away, and there were some pretty funny moments of Daugo trying to speak the ooman 9human0 language, which I thought was hilarious. Kind of reminds me of Larja and Anya in some ways. Sucks that it has been shattered by an unexpected arrival of Yautja.

But who are the new 'guests' that have come to Earth? And do they pose a threat to the two lovers that could expose them? What obstacles must they now face if the two species finds out about the forbidden love?

Find out when Chapter 8 comes around.

P.S. Much appreciation to Anonymous-E, Maria and Paul for the reviews on Endurance. They help me so much to write my stories and throw in some surprises as well. Trust me . . . I have many secrets planned for you all. ;)

Enjoy! :)))))

Reading notes:

Normal = Human speaking English (ooman language)

Bold = Any Yautja speaking English (ooman language)

Bold and Italic = Any Yautja speaking Yautja language