Parenthood Ch.3
"Rondo, really?"
"Your friends visit often, am I not allowed the same privilege?" Irritation. Of course.
She was also irritated. It was just a fact of the situation.
As soon as they managed to get Kalen to sleep at the center of their bed, Shen had asked her husband about his sangheili friend. She couldn't lie. It bugged her so much how Daen could be friends with someone so cold towards her.
"He acts like I'm a gross insect." Shen argued, gently closing the door behind them as they retreated to argue away from the sleeping child. "He does this noddy tilt-head thing at me, or makes a noise under his breath. It's rude."
Daen paused, leaning against the wall near the kitchen entryway. "He is just that way."
"Not with you." Shen said. "He doesn't act coldly towards you, but me? How can you be alright with that?"
Daen's breath hissed through the points of his teeth slowly. "He just…doesn't like—"
"Humans?"
"Women."
Shen paused, taken aback. That she did not expect. In her own defiance of people's dislike of their own coupling, she was always pulling the 'they hate me because I'm human/you're alien,' card.
It was hard not to feel defensive. If it was not this, it was always something else.
"Why?" She asked, now curious more so than angry. Maybe it was a bad family situation? Now she felt bad for asking, almost. Was there an excuse for rudeness, really?
"He is a swordsman," Daen said. "But from an older family. They like to keep to the old ways. He does not wish to befriend any woman, because he is not allowed to marry."
"I'm taken though." Shen laughed, then looked at him seriously. "Unless you're planning on sharing me."
She smirked as his mandibles parted in surprise at her suggestion. "Of course not, but it is merely a habit for him now. He distances himself from all females, it is for his own sake."
Shen frowned. She couldn't imagine having to obey such a silly rule. Never marry? It was baffling how stupid things from the past could still exist so far into the future.
"Why? That sounds stupid, no offense to long-standing cultural ideas on Sangheilios." Eyes so rolled back into my head I could see my brain…
"I agree." Daen hummed. "But unfortunately for Rondo, he will have to obey this rule or he would be forced from his keep. He is only here for two years, as a response to original treaty of goodwill between our races."
Shen was very young when it was first introduced. To build trust between humans and sangheili, each keep was required to send the occasional member of their household to a human colony. It was an attempt to immerse people in an unfamiliar place, to possibly encourage new cultural participation between races.
Rondo of course, she couldn't figure out how he could fit there. Quite possibly, as Daen said, he was only coldly distant from females, but males? If Daen liked to hang out with the guy, then he was probably pretty vocal at the very least with him…
"Fine." Shen sighed, she tossed her arms up, ready to drop the subject, and moved to take a seat on the sofa. "So, what now?"
Daen took a seat next to her, and she shivered lightly as she felt his large fingers creep over her shoulder. His warm breath tickled her ear, and she couldn't help but giggle as he brushed a mandible against her cheek gently.
"Now." He said huskily. "We can get around to that other thing."
Shen grinned up at him, already scooting closer. "Oh…what thing are you referring to?"
She squeaked as he suddenly tossed her backwards and she went sprawling to the other end of the sofa, a fluffy pillow flying off into the floor. Hopefully she would follow soon enough. She was such a child, but there was something fun about rolling around on the floor…especially with a partner.
She heard his fangs click in his mouth as he tucked in his mandibles. Already knowing what was coming, she lay there on her back, already feeling the tightening coil of arousal as he moved to crawl over her, casting her in the dark shadow of his body.
"Where I make you scream loud enough that you wake our child." Daen purred, dropping down to roll his long hot torso over her belly in teasing strokes.
"Oh please no." Shen laughed, though it came out more as a gasp. His body was very warm, as always, as hot as a stone under a desert sun. She felt her heart pick up pace. He was getting to her easily. As usual. The energy between them was always strong, like this pulse they could just feel in the air. A vibration of sexual intrigue. A constant when they were alone.
One day they would be perverted old people, doing suggestive eye things, running around the house naked—sans junior. She almost looked forward to it.
"Will you play?" Daen asked, his fingers stroking her neck, and she turned her head to allow him to roll his digits down the length of it, sighing softly at the warmth of his touch.
"I love games." Shen said, blinking up at him through her lashes. "I guess you'll have to be surprised though, because I'm not going to tell you all the things I'm going to do to that body." Her fingers pulled at the muscles at his back, her teeth grinning whitely.
"Many things?" He asked, intrigued, his eyes widening slightly with what she knew was primal interest in something only her kind possessed. Well, all woman kind, but Shen was pretty sure she was a champion at the actual action of it. He never complained…
Shen sat up quickly, pulling one arm around his back to bring them together. Soft lips gusted out a heavy breath at his neck, and she felt the thunder of his two hearts as they closed the gap. "Yes. Everything."
00oo00oo00oo00
A week later and it was the dreaded day come at last.
Shen tried not to yell out as Kalen grabbed at her hair again. Damn he really loved doing that.
Currently they were standing in line at the office, the very office that had helped them bring Kalen home and into their lives. As part of the process, they were required to meet at this building once a month, for a year.
It was part of an evaluation process that had Shen anxious. They could easily decide that Kalen was no longer a fit in their home, and take him away forever. She had completely forgotten that part of the documents they had signed. It made sense of course.
"It will be fine." Daen told her again, noticing Shen's nervous nibbling at her bottom lip, eyes looking towards the door at the end of the room.
"Yes." Shen tried to agree, but she didn't feel confident. This was their first time doing this, so that was probably why. After this meeting, it would probably go swimmingly and be less painful than she imagined. Hopefully.
How long would this take exactly? They had been waiting for twenty minutes, yet it felt like forever.
Just your nerves Shen. Chill. Geez.
"Kalen Edoom?"
Shen smiled when she heard the voice. They had officially given Kalen their name at adoption, and she was still giddy when she heard it spoken in full.
She stood up quickly to move towards the now open door with Daen close behind.
The woman who had opened the door was a short round lady with tight red curls held away from her face with bobby pins. "Right this way."
They eventually had followed the woman to a room labelled simply: D24. Shen and Daen shared a glance before pulling open the door and stepping inside, the red haired lady was already retreating back down the hall.
Shen stopped in the doorway, wincing as Kalen gave another short tug at her hair, Daen bumped into her lightly as she stopped halfway through the door. She had hesitated.
This she did not expect.
The woman, the sangheili woman, stood, nodding her neck in a sweeping graceful downturn, looking at them appraisingly from across a round table. "Hello, you must be Kalen's new family." Her voice was soft. Friendly.
Shen relaxed, but was still a bit puzzled. She supposed she shouldn't have been too surprised. As they had been working mostly with humans to adopt Kalen, he was still a sangheili himself.
"Hello." Shen said with a quick smile. She took a seat carefully, positioning Kalen carefully on her lap. "I'm Shen."
"Gree." The sangheili woman replied.
"Gree?"
Daen's voice was loud, almost startled. Shen looked at him as he carefully took a seat next to her, but his eyes were not on her. He was staring at Gree as if he was seeing a ghost.
"You…?" Gree paused, a frown on her mandibles, but then a lightness came over her dark eyes, and she dipped her head in a slight nod. "Daen? It has been long since we've seen one another."
Daen thrummed, a smile turning his mandibles. "It has been many years, hasn't it? How is your brother?"
"Ab'bin is fine." Gree said. "I hadn't realize you settled here. You are the one who married the hu—." The sangheili slack-jawed for a moment, as if realizing herself suddenly. "I apologize." She said to Shen. Her mandibles tucked in shame. "I don't mean to make small news of it."
"It's fine. Been there done that" Shen said. "So you two know each other?"
"Yes." Gree's voice had risen with excitement. "We attended shrine together, during the festival of Turning Sand."
"Turning sand?" Shen frowned, confused.
Gree laughed. "It is a month long celebration of the founding members of my keep, of Hashom. Daen was visiting with his own keep, our lines have crossed a few times throughout history."
Daen tapped a finger under one mandible as he reminisced. "You were fond of stealing me away in the evening to cause trouble."
"Oh really?" Gree's mandibles tucked into a firm smile. "You were the one dragging me around underfoot."
"Either way." Daen said. "It is good to see you again. You are who we were meeting?"
"I am your check-in, to evaluate the child and ensure he is safe and healthy." Gree said. "It is not enough that human doctors perform evaluation, there is still suspicion by sangheili council, unfortunately, but of course, none against you personally." Once again the woman looked to Shen.
"No problem! Well." Shen forced a small smile, hoisting Kalen up in her arms. "Here he is."
"Yes." Gree smiled. "He looks quite healthy, may I?" The sangheili woman was already stepping around the table, arms reaching out.
Shen pushed back her chair carefully. She felt relief in her muscles as the woman collected Kalen in her arms. He was getting so heavy already.
Kalen was already reaching for Gree's mandibles with grasping fingers, her own long fingers brushing a free hand over his long head.
Shen felt a tightness in her chest, a sort of burdening feeling she hadn't felt in a long time. She realized what it was a moment later, when she saw how Gree looked with Kalen. Like she could easily be viewed as his own mother.
Shen drew a quick deep breath, trying to dispel the negative thoughts taking residence in her mind.
"He is lovely." Gree rumbled with a sangheili purr of endearment. "Such a healthy glow in his eyes, and such strong arms!"
Daen was already at her side, looking down at his son, no their son, with a look of pride on his face.
Shen just felt like a wounded puppy. It was silly of course, she knew why she felt the way she did, but they did look like a perfect family. Already Kalen was heavy in her arms, and soon he would be running around much taller than even human men, and maybe he would forget about her entirely.
She crossed her arms across her chest, hating how empty they felt. She just wanted to hurry and get this over with. Surely this Gree could see how healthy and happy everyone was. It was a perfect fit, even if it didn't fit the idealized image of a sangheili family.
A long stream of questions and a short physical later, and she got her wish.
00oo00oo00oo00
The ride home was quiet of conversation, with nothing but the steady drumming of rain on the windshield. It had started just after they left the office of course, and now Shen was cold and tired, even though the day hadn't started out as so.
"You are pale." Daen remarked when he pulled into the drive of their home. "Go up and rest, I will bring Kalen."
"No." Shen insisted, feeling that twisting pain in her heart again. "I have him," she insisted.
She unbuckled him from his seat and already he was pushing forward eagerly, hands grasping a little too hard at her shoulders.
Shen ignored the pain and positioned her hand under his rump and pushed him onto one hip, closing the door of the car with the other. Home at last.
The walk up to the door was a bit slick, but she managed alright, until she felt a slip in her heel and seemed to fall forward in slow motion.
Shen reacted as well as she could in the sudden happening of these events, and quickly bowed forward into Kalen. She pushed him deeper into her arms, trying to fall onto her side than her front.
It didn't happen quite the way she wanted, and she cried out as a sharp pain erupted in her leg. Immediately she felt Daen's arms, and quickly pushed Kalen into them, luckily still calm and safe.
"Dammit." She hissed. "Step was too wet." Of course it was raining harder now too.
"Are you alright?" Daen helped her up with a firm tug upward, Kalen resting in his left arm, seemingly unbothered by the spill.
"Yes." She winced as she landed on both feet. She could already feel the bruise throbbing hotly across her thigh. "Just a bit bruised I think."
They stood there in the rain for only a few seconds before Shen began to laugh. And then cry.
Daen looked back in surprise, having been prepared to open the door for them both. She was just standing there, wet, and creating even more moisture in the tears drawing lines down her face.
"I-I'm sorry." Shen choked. "I'm just a big clumsy idiot."
Daen pulled her close to his chest, right next to Kalen who was looking up at the rain clouds above them. Shen sniffled into his warm chest, feeling like a giant child herself.
If Kalen had been a human baby, he might have been seriously harmed. Even as he was, she could have hurt him. Just after today it was like some kind of sign. That she really was a terrible parent.
"No one plans for these things to happen." Daen explained as they walked down the hallway towards their room. "You reacted as best as you could. And see, Kalen is fine. You are fine."
Shen slumped down onto their sofa, Kalen already walking across the floor to grab at a stack of magazines she had forgotten to put away. Another foggy brain, I'm a-terrible-mother, sign.
"I'm just so mad." Shen swiped furiously at the tears still on her face, hating the itchy feel of them. "I get so addle-brained so often. What if he had been hurt?"
Daen huffed in a way she knew was frustration. "It was an accident. The walk was wet, there was no helping it. I could have easily done the same."
"Yeah right." Shen laughed bitterly. "Sangheili never take spills on the sidewalk. You guys have statues the size of buildings of your species for a reason."
"What?" Daen asked. "I don't understand what you mean."
"The great sangheili warrior." Shen explained. "You guys are like gods of graceful fury or something. You always seem to be nimble on your feet while we humans keep stumbling around like moronic giraffes."
"What long necked animals have to do with this, I will never understand."
"It was the first animal that came to mind. I like giraffes."
"Yet, you call them moronic."
Shen laughed at that. Daen of course, with his blunted way of things. So were most of the sangheili. Many of them still seemed confused about sarcasm. Daen himself had actually been pleased when he finally 'got it.' Like it was some kind of super-secret ability to annoy people.
"Silence you." Shen sighed and rolled onto her side, hissing lightly under her breath at the burning pain at her thigh. Definitely bruised.
Daen pulled her close and she nested against his neck, in-between his strong arms, watching their son began to rip into the magazine pile he had invaded. Whoops.
"There goes the coupons." Shen said, but didn't move. She was much too comfortable. Daen was warm. Of course now her mind was thinking to earlier events and she smiled as he rolled his fingers across the slip of skin bared at the curve of her hip.
"There will be more." Already he was slipping a finger under her blouse, and she giggled as he tickled her with the motion of his intrusion.
Shen sighed as she moved closer, pulling her head back to kiss him lightly under his lower mandibles. "I hope so."
He drew in a sharp breath as her fingernails slipped gently down the shirt of his tunic. "I believe we are talking about something different now."
Shen smiled. "You better believe it."
They both watched Kalen for a moment, the child blissfully tearing the magazines into jagged strips, and quietly but with intent clear on their faces, moved even closer. Daen threw off his shirt, and Shen hurriedly began pulling her own camisole over her head, swearing as it caught against her hairclip, and he chuckled, quickly freeing her from the clip and her shirt.
"You look hungry honey." Shen teased, laying back, bare toes brushing up against his thighs. He was half bent over the couch, and her. She welcomed his hungry graze, it made her feel quite delicious actually.
Maybe this day didn't have to end badly after all.
As her husband moved to nuzzle her neck gentle with his lower mandibles, she tried not to think about how he looked with that other woman. How this whole thing was so strange to other people that maybe perhaps they were out of their minds…
Then of course, he used those hands again, and she laughed into his neck, kissing him lightly at the bend of his sweeping neck, taking in the sweet leathery scent of him, as he whispered teasing compliments in her ears.
The long ripping sound of magazines was only in the background, with just a few glances from the both of them to ensure he was still in one piece, but soon she could only hear the sound of their heavy breathing as they came together as one.
Sorry guys, I've been super busy with other real-life things. But I'm not giving up anything yet. I placed some hotter bits in here because it felt due, and it's also fun to write. XD Hope you enjoyed. Next one updated should be Peerless I think, but we'll see. This is a little shorter than I like, but I'll try and keep more consistent updates later on. Thanks for reading!