Three days passed and Nikki found herself prancing behind the counter of the Nutmeg Café, humming songs to the cappuccino maker like she was Snow White cleaning house with her animal friends. Happy little bubbles percolated from the coffee machines and she imagined a similar stream of chubby read hearts bubbling from her head.
"Hey, Nikki! Corner booths need cleaning!"
Customers came in foul-faced and surly. It was Wednesday – the dreaded hump-day with its false promise of being halfway through the week – and she made it her mission to serve up the coffee and smiles that would brighten their day!
"Hey, I ordered a double-double, not a grande!"
She couldn't help but waltz dreamily behind the till with a big moony smile over her face. She had so much happiness bubbling up inside her that she had to share it with everyone!
"Um, miss, I gave you a twenty. This is change for a ten."
All these poor souls who hadn't found their Perfect Somebody, the one who completed your life and made every little mundane minute sparkle with promise. She would be their preacher, and the gospel was L-U-
"Um, Helloooo? Like, are you even listening to me?"
"Hmm?" Nikki shook her head and appraised the pig-tailed goth girl. "Oh, right. Here's your drink. One coffee, black."
The tattooed teen inspected the Styrofoam cup and came up wanting. "Like, what the fuck? My name is Lillian. You wrote 'Celeste' on my cup."
"Oh, sorry. Let me fix that." Nikki took back the drink and scribbled down her corrections. The Lillian girl only frowned further.
"It still says Celeste. You just doodled a bunch of hearts around it."
"Oh. Oops." She meant to be sincere but the thought of Celeste and Hearts made her giggle like a schoolgirl. Her customer muttered out a 'whatever' and slid her cash across the counter. Nikki noticed that the girl's pigtails were frazzled and unwashed, and that deep bags – not makeup – lined the underside of her eyelids. "Hey, you look kinda down," Nikki commented. "Wanna talk about it?"
The goth teen narrowed her eyes.
"Everything's shitty," Lillian blurted. "I wished for a boyfriend and instead I almost got eaten by a lizard demon from hell. My best friend got electrocuted 'n kidnapped and now she's in some fairy hospital and I can't even talk to her! And today my mom threw a hissy-fit and totally took away my cellphone! Fuck my li… Hey, are you even listening to me?"
Nikki turned from the specialty tea she'd been brewing. "Oh. Sorry, my shift just ended and I'm clocking out. I heard everything up to 'shitty'. Did you say something else?" Miss Lillian just huffed and crossed her arms so Nikki assumed they were good. Poor thing. "You have pretty eyes, Lillian. You should wear more purple to match."
"The fuck?" The goth girl darted between the moony-eyed barista and the coffee cup adorned with lovey-dovey hearts like a detective piecing together evidence. "Wait … are you bi?"
Then she immediately threw up her hands. "No, wait, just hear me out, 'kay?" A deep breath. "I need a date," Lillian blurted. "Will you go to the Fireworks Festival with me? I'll, like, pay for your ticket, I'll buy you shit – snacks, smokes; you name it. All you have to do is come to my house and meet my parents, kay? Oh, and they have to, like, see me put my tongue down your throat so they'll get super pissed. We good?"
Nikki gave an adorable aww. "That's so sweet of you, Lilly-Anne, but I'm not bisexual." Tea in hand, Nikki trotted to the break room to collect her backpack. "I'm a lesbian," she grinned, "and I'm taken."
"I'm home," Nikki sang as she dashed into the apartment. Her day was half over but Celeste's was just beginning. She found the Norai doing push-ups on the floor, a light sweat to shake off the last cobwebs of sleep.
"Kos kan, Nicole."
Nikki snorted playfully. "Yeah, I'd better be 'welcome' here. I'm paying for the place." She presented the cup of tea and a long stem rose to her house guest. "I brought you breakfast," she smiled sheepishly.
Celeste mopped off her sweat and sauntered over, still messy with bedhead and dressed in borrowed pajamas. Hunting in the Earth's sweltering afternoons had been the equivalent of pulling graveyard shifts for the nocturnal Norai, and after they'd stowed the garduk remains aboard her ship they set about getting Celeste back on a proper sleep cycle. The bed was always occupied: Nikki in the pre-dawn hours; Celeste during the day while her host worked.
"Pajamas fit okay?" Nikki asked, admiring her Legend of Zelda nightgown that only came to Celeste's knees. The alien woman had brought two crates full of clothes and supplies for her stay but somehow she'd neglected to pack any sleepwear.
"They smell wonderful," Celeste winked.
The pair sat at the plastic dining table so Celeste could nibble at her rose petals. "Did you have a pleasant sun cycle?"
"Meh, it was okay. Oh, the mayor's office is holding a big inquest into that collapsed high rise. They say construction crews weren't following proper codes and that's why it crumbled early."
"And the unidentified aircraft that flew through the city?"
"Oh, the newspapers all figure it was a drunken crop-duster pilot." Nikki leaned forward. "But all the conspiracy blogs know it was really a secret black-ops helicopter hunting an escaped psychic. I posted online explaining it was an alien spaceship." She proudly raised her phone. "One thousand tweets and climbing, all telling me what a stupid idiot I am." Wasn't it wonderful how blind and trusting all the sheeple were?
Celeste took a sip of her decaffeinated beverage. "I'm relieved that I've gone unnoticed."
"You know what I've noticed?" Nikki's leg bounced restlessly. "You take way too long to eat. Sometimes I think you like teasing me."
"The blush of your cheeks is delightful," Celeste agreed. With a saucy smile she dangled the plant above her mouth like a carnival sword swallower, wrapping her tongue around the stem in a spiral twirl that made Nikki's heart race. Celeste lowered the rose stem between her lips in tiny swallows, accompanying each slurp with soft and satisfied moans that would put Miss Jessie out of work. "And I enjoy my desserts ripe and red."
Finally! Celeste leaned over her chair and Nikki obediently closed her eyes and parted her mouth. A happy thrill coursed through her chest as Celeste nibbled and sucked on her lips, mopping her tongue over every crevice until she'd licked them clean. She pulled back with a satisfied smack.
"Mm, what do humans call this flavor?"
Nikki fished out the green case of lip balm. "Lemon lime," she read. "Good?"
"It is agreeable, although I still prefer the taste of your cherry."
Nikki was sure her ears were steaming. That was one non-literal expression she hoped she'd never have to explain. "Um, did you ... want seconds?"
Celeste only ruffled her hair. "Perhaps another time. I was hoping to photograph the setting of your star tonight."
Nikki nodded. A romantic sunset. "I know just the place."
With the vespa returned to the rental shop it took a decent walk to reach the scenic overlook, but Nikki decided the view was worth every sore footstep. From up here, even the tallest downtown skyscrapers looked like miniature models, a craftsman's village coming to life with the glow of fireflies. They followed the city as it stretched into the blue ocean, a mirror dazzling with the gold of the setting sun, and they stared into the clear and cloudless sky, mesmerized as its colours shifted from gentle blue to deepest crimson.
Celeste closed her eyes and breathed deeply, committing to memory every fresh scent and lively sound her camera could not capture. "Your planet is truly beautiful," she murmured, and Nikki could only bob her head and agree.
It really is. When was the last time I got out and really checked out the city?
Celeste held up another lava lamp holo-cam and began taking pictures. After a while she set it to hover so they could pose together with the city and the glowing sun at their backs. With Celeste in her cap, make-up and human clothes, they looked like any other couple recording precious memories.
"Nicole, I would like to show you something."
Seeing Celeste's dented projector sphere made Nikki twinge, and the video recording it conjured didn't help the feeling subside. A young Celeste, short-haired on a snowy backdrop, narrating her latest adventure into the ruined cities of Tendricide. Behind Celeste's shoulder, a tiny Norai huddled meekly, her glass camera eyes flicking like fish gills. Celara.
Nikki couldn't understand their language, but she got the gist of the conversation that followed. Celara was afraid, she didn't want to go on. Young Celeste tugged her forward, yanking at her hand but the sickly Norai wailed and rooted herself to the spot. Celeste huffed and stomped off on her own. After a half-minute of the shaky-cam march, a frightened howl made Celeste spin around. Celara was chasing after her, the fear of being alone winning over the fear of unknown dangers.
"Celara was a fearful child," Celeste explained. "My greatest joy was in helping her overcome her anxieties, to see that things were not as dire as she imagined." She flicked off the video. "When I first saw you on that beach, Nicole, I was terrified. I imagined you were some phantasm from my past sent to haunt me. But the more I came to know you, the more I realized how wrong I was.
"You embrace the unknown. You saved me from my injuries, you offered me your aid and your kindness even when I tried to push you away. You ventured into Rondarr's ship to save those humans; kaba, you wore a slave bracer just to find me." Celeste shook her head, overwhelmed. "Celara never could have accomplished your deeds."
Nikki cringed. She didn't deserve these honours. "It's hard being brave on my own. I mean, I don't even leave my room unless Audrey or Tiffany drag me out. But it's like … you make me feel safe. And, I dunno, I guess it's okay to try all these crazy things. Because I know I'll have you there with me."
There was nothing more to say, so they joined hands and shared a kiss under the setting sun.
"Got your pictures?"
"Indeed. Would you escort me into your settlement once more?" Celeste crooked her arm and Nikki latched on in a happy snuggle.
"It's a date."
Nikki hadn't been exaggerating when she'd described her life as 'limited'. Work, the arcade; maybe the mall if she had to buy a new game or replace her dirty underwear. Hell, she could navigate the Internet better than her own city! But that made dates with Celeste all the more delightful: everywhere they visited was a fresh and wonderful new experience for the both of them.
Celeste's meatless digestion meant she had to be creative in selecting restaurants. Her typical burgers 'n fries wouldn't cut it. Tonight was Yuki Sushi Port, a Japanese restaurant dressed up as a marina. Rice rolls of tofu and eggplant came served on platters shaped like sailing boats. Neither of them knew how to use chopsticks so just grabbed the sushi with their hands. The waiter rolled his eyes at their uncouth eating but they stuffed their mouths all the same.
The bill made Nikki's heart lurch. Damn, a full-grown Norai can eat! They'd ordered two of the deluxe royal gala platters and Celeste still ended up eating half of hers. Standing at twice her size and burning all her energy from plants and legumes meant the bounty hunter had to pack on the calories.
"Is everything all right?" Celeste inquired, breaking her staring match with the bill.
"S'nothing," Nikki lied. "C'mon, I've got something fun to try!"
Bowling. Celeste had mentioned wanting to try human sports and Nikki remembered kinda-sorta having fun at the game (or at least not completely sucking) when her parents had taken her out as a little girl. She'd assumed that Roxy Lanes would be a stuffy, dry affair for retired old farts and was shocked to find the underground alleys decorated with dark lights, a roving disco ball and dance music for "glo-bowling" night. Young people her age packed the lanes, fellow teens hanging with friends or out on dates.
Should've thought about shoes, she realized. Even with a ladies size one Celeste's cloven feet left the toe section hollow and floppy, and the polished floors sent her skittering and spread-legged, as uncoordinated as a deer on winter ice. But whenever she fell, Celeste just laughed it off and picked herself up. "Success!" she'd whoop as her ball wobbled a corner pin to the ground. Then she'd raise her hands to collect her "five up high" slaps that the other bowlers exchanged.
"Where to next?" Nikki smiled after three hilarious games. Their date nights kept to a routine and Celeste got to choose their next venue.
The Norai summoned a holographic snapshot of a lounge club from her projector sphere. The Blue Note. "I noticed this establishment while wandering the city last night. They serve alcoholic beverages and feature live musicians."
Nikki had her reservations. Her only experience with clubs had been Audrey's forced excursions to Lusties and she braced herself for another den of thumping dance music and sweaty perverts. Blue Note's swanky atmosphere surprised her. The table area was elegantly lit with candles and wood paneling, the bar was free of booze stains and peanut shells, and the only noise was the quiet murmur of polite conversation. What a novelty - people could actually talk at their tables without shouting.
A trio on bass, piano and saxophone crooned out mellow jazz tunes, the perfect tempo for slow dancing. Several couples had already begun to embrace and sway. Celeste extended her palm. "Would you accompany me to this dance?"
Nikki hesitated before the dance floor of collared shirts and cocktail dresses. Putting aside their jeans and baggy sweaters, they'd still stand out as the only female couple on the floor. "They'll stare at us," she protested.
But Celeste was already leading them forward. "Then look only at me," she smiled.
Dancing sober is definitely nicer, Nikki decided. Celeste kept their movements simple but she knew how to lead, guiding Nikki in circles and even dipping her backwards in a move that stole her breath. Nikki could sense the raised eyebrows and ugly murmurs all around, but an equal number of voices fawned at them or smiled in passing. Go figure, I guess we look cute together. After a while, Nikki found she didn't care about the voices, good or bad. She was having too much fun spinning and twirling with Celeste.
When the musicians packed up for the night, Nikki and Celeste left to find new ventures. "Wanna try the arcade again?"
Celeste wrinkled her nose. "No, I think not. Your firearm simulators are woefully inaccurate. The light guns are improperly weighted and feature no recoil."
"Yeah, yeah; you're just jealous that I beat your score on House of the Dead, Miss Badass Bounty Hunter." An idea. "Hey, I think there's an archery range in town."
"Would you care to try firing a real weapon?" Nikki jumped when Celeste pulled the compact pistol from behind her back.
"Shit, where were you keeping that?" Celeste gave a cheeky grin and made a joke about 'inspecting her body more carefully' but Nikki stuck to her guns. "Seriously, Celeste! What if a cop showed up? Please tell me that's all you're hiding!"
Crestfallen, the Norai revealed the knives strapped to her ankles, the razor hairpin under her cap and vial of alien mace tucked in her bra. "I apologize for alarming you." The alien twirled a finger through her hair like a scolded child. "Those who do not recognize me as the Koru-Shikai often assume I am a runaway slave. I've grown accustomed to arming myself at all times."
Their conversation stalled as Nikki digested that tidbit. Does she ever relax? Does she get to be just Celeste? Guilt hit her like a hunger pang for nearly ruining this one night of freedom.
"Hey, show me how that gun works."
They snuck into Dawnwood Park and Celeste set up a row of aluminum cans atop a bench. "Stun setting," she assured her, pressing the laser pistol into Nikki's hands and positioning her body: arms slightly bent, legs shoulder-width apart. Celeste hugged her from behind to steady her aim.
"Breathe … hold and …"
Pssew! Nikki's shot flew low, hitting the bench. It burst into flame.
"Oh shit, you said it was on stun!"
"Kaba! That was wood?"
"Crap, crap, crap – we're gonna burn the park down!"
"Pa na isho, who builds furnishings from wood?" The flames were small enough that Celeste could beat them down with her cap. They smothered the last ember and had a half-minute to breathe easy. Then the police siren wailed.
Leaving a string of crap and kaba in their wake, they bolted through the park, swearing and laughing their heads off from the combined terror and excitement. When they ducked into an alley to hide, Celeste pulled her close for a steamy make-out, and the adrenaline made her tongue taste all the sweeter.
Nikki popped her lips free with a gasp. "Okay, I think almost getting arrested for arson is a hint to call it a night." She checked her watch. Late! "I should probably head back. You gonna explore on your own again?"
Celeste shook her head. "No," she smiled. "Take me home."
Walking back to the apartment was something new. They'd spent time out on the town together, they'd kissed and held hands, but when the hour grew late Celeste had always taken the spare key and continued exploring the city until dawn. This is the first time we've come home together, Nikki realized.
Where's she gonna sleep?
With her brain busy mapping out logistics like who would shower first, and what am I gonna wear, she turned from the front door and nearly bumped into Celeste. Whoa! Had she been watching her lock the door that whole time? Nikki's stomach tightened.
"So, um, tonight was fun," she gulped.
"Tonight was fun," Celeste agreed. Her fingers reached out to trace along Nikki's shoulders. The gamer swallowed nervously. Had she left the heat on today? It was getting kinda warm in here.
"So… I guess we're calling it a night?"
Celeste's fingers continued drawing along her shoulders. "I'm far from tired," she countered, closing in for a slow lick.
Huh. Nikki's mind detached itself from her body. What could two people do alone and at night? Celeste leaned in for another lap but Nikki broke away.
"Hey, um, do you wanna play some video games?"
Celeste's brow furrowed – just for a second – but then she resumed her calm smile. "Perhaps. First I should remove my make-up and change into more suitable garments."
"Yeah, okay. I'm gonna go check my daily updates." Online auction houses and weekly quests required her attention.
Nikki flicked on her bedside lamp and booted up her gaming computer. A mountain of angry messages filled her MMORPG inboxes, scolding her for missing scheduled raids or guild meetings. Sorry, she typed back. I was out on a date! There, that would shut them up. Celeste seemed to be taking her time in the bathroom. An idle melody drifted through the door. How long's it take to scrub your face and put on PJs? Nikki wondered. She managed to clear two expert dungeons before the Norai made her presence felt.
The bedroom door creaked open and alien footsteps clopped across the hardwood. The musky smell of lavender made Nikki jump and miss her attack. In the reflection of her monitor Nikki caught Celeste resting her chin atop her gaming chair.
"Are you enjoying your game, Nicole?"
"Oh totally. I got some really sweet loot. Lemmie show you."
"Hmm." The Norai didn't quite share her thrill. Blue fingers snaked across her keyboard and hit the pause button. "I have something to show you, Nicole. Turn around."
The siren song in Celeste's voice put her on edge, but Nikki dutifully logged out and removed her headset. An alien weapon, a Tendricide artifact. The gamer girl kept her thoughts steady with likely guesses. What else would Celeste want to show her? Nikki spun her chair.
Her heart skipped a beat.
Celeste stood before her in a black evening dress made of a smooth alien leather. It covered her limbs down to her wrists and ankles but wow, did it ever fit nicely. Celeste gave her a little runway show, strutting across the room to show off every angle. The skirt had a seam running up the side and the flashes of bare, blue calves mesmerized Nikki.
"Oh wow."
"Thank you. I purchased this garment for an assignment on Raxis Delta. I had to infiltrate an evening gala in order to apprehend a wanted business mogul. It is an adjustable gown from the Kajad all-night collection."
"All night?"
"Yes. The garment can be adjusted to suit all night activities."
Celeste's right hand slid up to her shoulder. There was a hiss of compressed air as she hit a hidden locket and detached the sleeve from the main body. Celeste peeled the fabric off like a glove. Her bare, blue arm glowed softly against the dark leather.
Nikki swallowed down a mouthful of butterflies. Whoa.
Celeste's naked fingers roved across her chest and slid up her covered arm, teasingly slow to uncouple her remaining sleeve. This time she brought the fabric to her lips and tugged it off with her teeth, every quick jerk revealing more of her blue skin. Nikki jumped when the leather casing landed in her lap with a saucy wink.
Now Celeste's hands wandered down her sides, tracing the curves of her breasts and hips. Bending over, she unzipped the slit of her skirt and drew the curtain from her long, toned leg, stroking it daringly from cloven foot to meaty thigh. A little click of the belt at her hips sent the skirt tumbling to the floor, and her bare hoof kicked it aside. What remained of her gown was little more than a leather, one-piece swimsuit.
Celeste strutted over to the gaming chair, pinning Nikki's head between her hands and leaning in to moisten her lips with a hot and breathy tongue. Blue hands trailed to the hem of her shirt…
Nikki bolted at the touch on her stomach, shoving back her chair to break the kiss. "Whoa! Wh-where are we going with this?" Her breaths came in panicky gasps.
Celeste stepped back as well, the rejection hitting her like cold water. "I thought you - I thought we -" A look of hurt crossed her eyes. The glamor of her striptease had faded and she hugged her chest, a foolish, half-dressed woman.
"I apologize. I should have made my intentions clear." Her eyes drifted away nervously. With a deep breath she started over.
"I find you desirable," she whispered. "My time here has only confirmed my feelings for you, Nicole. I would very much like to touch you, to bring you pleasure. And –" she kneaded her knuckles, "if you find it agreeable … I would like to mate with you."
To … mate? Nikki followed Celeste eyes towards the bed. "Oh my god…" Why did her body go so cold and stiff? Why was she trembling?
"I understand if you disagree –"
"No!" Nikki interjected. "I mean, I like you. I like you kissing me. It's just …" Her head fell. What am I supposed to do? What does she like? What if I screw up and she hates me? What if it hurts? "I mean … sorry, I'm just … I mean, no one's ever…" Oh god, was she crying? Nikki hid her face in her hands.
She heard Celeste's hooves slowly cross the floor, felt the hand reach tentatively for her shoulder. Celeste opened her arms in offering and Nikki burrowed into the Norai's embrace, letting Celeste stroke her hair reassuringly.
"I don't have a lot of practice with this sorta stuff..."
"I have a confession," Celeste whispered. "I have never coupled with a human. You would be my first."
Nikki squeezed out a small laugh. Celeste giggled along with her, and Nikki drifted back to their first meeting aboard the ship and the adorable, dainty laughter that had first melted her heart. She didn't feel stressed anymore. Well, she still had a cold pit in her stomach but it didn't threaten to swallow her whole. She forgot that she was in a darkened room, alone with a half-naked woman. Instead, she was sharing a joke with a wonderful friend; the woman she admired and adored more than anyone in the world. The woman who wanted to know her more closely in every way.
"So, um… you really want to… I mean…" Unable to finish, Nikki gestured towards the bed. "With me?"
"More than anything," Celeste nodded back.
Nikki took a deep breath. "Me too."
The remainder of this chapter is available on Archive of Our Own. (Search 'AO3 Bounty Hunter's Escort' to find it in the top hits.) Mature content warning.