Chapter Two
Wikus moved a hand forward to one of the cat food tins and Tania stood back with a small smile. She didn't know what it was about the appetite of a Prawn which made them appreciate the pet food so much but she was glad that she got a selection ready for him. She was happy when he reached forward, studying the can as if it were some fine caviar. She reached forward to him.
"Do you need me to get that for y-" Tania said but saw Wikus open it easily with his claw. He sniffed the food inside before slipping a claw into it and brought it up to his 'lips' before stopping. He turned to her and nervously put the can down realizing he had never eaten in front of her before. His tentacles moved with his hunger as he made a kind of slurping sound unwillingly.
"Is it the wrong kind? There's a lot of different ones?" she asked uneasily as she picked up the can he had just opened. It was some kind of chicken pate. Maybe he preferred the fish ones? She tried to hand it to him and he very nervously took it. "I'm sorry. I'll re-"
This one is deli—Wikus began before feeling self-conscious, he stared in front of him at the pile and pulled the can he was holding to his chest. If she understood those words then she would see that he had changed so much from when he was human. It's good. It's a good choice, he told her, embarrassed by the way he was acting.
Tania stepped forward and kissed his cheek again hoping to bring him confidence. "It's okay," she tried to assure him, "I understand."
Wikus nervously put his claw in before taking a small taste of the cat food, Tania watching him with anticipation. His tentacles went over his claw as he licked it up. Tania continued to smile to him and so Wikus lifted the can to his version of a mouth before finishing the pet food. He lowered it as he saw the empty can and his claw tapped it nervously. He looked at her again, the pain and sorrow in his eyes for her seeing that, for him showing that to her.
"Did you want ano-" Tania began as she picked up another can and he took a step back. Wikus shook his head nervously, his middle claw tapping the can. One was enough. One can of cat food was considered a delicacy. He didn't need to have another one right now. He continued to stare at her, watching her in fear as if she would suddenly change, as if she could possibly hurt him for becoming this creature.
"Sweetheart," Tania said as she placed a hand on his arm and saw him flinch. She very slowly and carefully removed the tin from his hand, seeing him watching it go. Was it wrong to take it from him? Had it been bringing him comfort? She had a lot to learn about Prawn culture. "Please don't be scared," she said as she embraced him and felt him attempt to embrace her as well. She kissed where his mouth was again and let her fingers slide down his cheek. "You're okay. You're safe now. You can stay here with us, you don't need to go back to that horrible place."
Stay here wi- Wikus began and Tanya gently touched the metal around his neck, she pulled back as soon as she saw him flinch. She didn't want to see him in pain. She would have to keep a mental record of how she could touch him.
"As long as you have this on, they're not allowed to hurt you," she told him and saw his claw tapping against the metal. "They can't take you away either. This means that you are the," she closed her eyes hating to say this word to him, "property of a human. There are some bad consequences if anyone but that human does anything to you."
I understand, Wikus asked before looking around. Was she living with somebody else now? Was she just taking pity on him? Would she tell whoever this new man in her life was who he really was or was he just supposed to pretend that his former life didn't exist. I'm willing to be the Prawn I look like. I wouldn't want you to get in trouble with hi-
"I haven't spoken to him in over a year," Tania argued, believing Wikus to be referring to her father. She couldn't do that after how he had mistreated the man she loved. "I want you to be you," she said as she tried to make sure that he was calm and he understood the way that she still adored him.
You said, us, Wikus clicked as he looked at her, feeling ashamed at being this way around her. This new man in you- he shook his head, I never expected you to want to stay with me this way. I'm glad that you're happy.
"You're the only one I want to be with," Tania replied before looking down. "I'm sorry for not telling you about him, about our son," she said and Wikus's eyes widened and he lifted his head. From when did he have a son? He felt his antenna click as he watched her in disbelief. "You'll meet him when he's back here. He's with one of my friends, you don't need to see her," she told him and saw a happiness in Wikus's expression along with a disbelief.
She hugged him again, "I'm happy that you're home," she told him.
…..
…..
It had taken a lot of coaxing and convincing but finally Tania had helped Wikus into their bed. She felt happy that she would be able to share it with him again even in this form. She heard the sound of his breaths as he slept and went to kneel in front of him. She gently tucked the blanket around his exoskeleton and took comfort in his peaceful expression as he slept. Despite his status as 'Prawn' he looked happy. After watching him a few moments longer, Tania stood and took the vase he had made for her and starting slipping the metal flowers into it, proudly displaying the objects which showed his love for her despite them being formed from trash.
Hearing a knock on the door, Tania gently let her hand run over Wikus's head as he slept, careful around his antenna. She stepped out of their bedroom and locked the door behind her. She wasn't going to let anything or anyone take him away from her.
As she went to the bottom of the stairs, she saw one of her friends with Kiva, her and Wikus's son, in her arms. Tania held out her arms for the baby who reached for her. Tania was both scared and excited in showing Wikus his son. Kiva was a good boy, a very well behaved baby but even the most well behaved children could get scared. She didn't want him scared of his kind and loving father.
"Thank you for taking care of him for me," Tania said quickly as she kissed Kiva's forehead. He looked so much like his father…well, his father before all of this happened. "What do I owe you?"
"Just consider it helping a friend during a time of need," the other woman smiled and Tania nodded, her gratitude showing in her expression. "Did you get all the paperwork sorted?"
"Yes, thank you," Tania said before saying her farewell to her friend. Once she was gone, Tania turned to Kiva and watched him yawn. "I've got someone very important for you to meet," she said as she kissed him on the forehead. Kiva blinked up at her, curious what his mother was saying. Tania made sure that nobody was near the house before carrying the little boy to the bedroom where Wikus was sleeping.
As she unlocked the door, she felt Kiva grow tense in her arms. She hoped that he wouldn't start screaming and panicking over the Prawn in the bed. That was his daddy. That was Wikus, no matter how he appeared. Kiva's eyes went over the Prawn before he reached out his hands and Tania gently knelt down opposite Wikus. She didn't know what their son thought he was but at least he was interested rather than afraid.
As Kiva put his hand on Wikus's cheek, unintentionally slapping it. Tania pulled back as she saw Wikus flinch, he sat up immediately and looked around, his eyes widening in disbelief.
Where am I? he clicked, No. No. No. Why am I here!? I'm putting her in danger. She's in danger. Wikus continued to panic and Tania felt terrible at seeing him in such fear. She touched his arm and saw him shake in fear before turning to her, both of his eyes wide open.
Tania? My sweet angel? He clicked as he took her in and then touched to his collar, sighing in relief. So it hadn't all been a dream.
"You're safe now," Tania said lovingly, "I'm so sorry that I scared you, Wikus." She said as the Prawn attempted to maintain composure. She saw his exoskeleton fall into a more relaxed pose, his antenna stopped twitching so rapidly, his breaths became much more even. "Are you okay, sweetheart?" she asked as she looked at him, treating him as if he were still human. He was very grateful for that.
Wikus managed to gain his composure and pressed his Prawn body against the wall, his eyes then went to the small child which Tania was holding. He nervously reached out his claws for the baby but then pulled back once he realized the contrast between the flesh of the baby and the sharp exoskeleton of his own body. Kiva laughed loudly and grabbed onto one of his claws causing Wikus's eyes to widen.
How is this - possible? He asked in shock. Tania smiled as she saw the way Kiva was holding onto his claw. Wikus was purposefully staying incredibly still. It would take a lot of coaxing until he was able to truly act like a father to the little boy. Afterall, if anyone saw that there might be further questions and she couldn't bear for them to take Wikus away for punishment.
"It happened the very last time we were…together," she said as she kissed the top of Kiva's head. "With all that you were going through, with all that happened, I didn't think it was right to tell you the truth. I'm sorry that I didn't…but…"
It was the right thing to do, Wikus said, his eyes not leaving Kiva even for a moment. Kiva looked so much like himself but there were features that were definitely Tania's. Nervously, Wikus moved his other hand and let the smooth side of his middle claw gently and barely go over Kiva's forehead as he watched him in wonder. Inside Wikus was feeling himself acting like a father interacting with his son. On the outside it most likely looked very different. He had to try to keep grounded on his own emotions, how he would have felt as a human.
"Here," Tania said as she picked Kiva up and pulled him away from Wikus who stared at him in shock. Tania stood and Wikus's eyes followed her, his tentacles waving a little as he turned his head. What was she doing? Tania finally sat down next to him on her side of the bed.
"Would you like to hold your son?" she asked and Wikus nodded nervously. Wikus held his arms out and let Tania place Kiva on his lap, Wikus very carefully held onto the tiny boy. He studied him carefully, hoping that he wasn't terrifying his own child.
"Wikus," Tania said as she let her forehead rest against his shoulder. "You're a father."
End of Chapter Two
Thank you for reading, reviews are appreciated
Thank you to furrywing for their review on Chapter One
