Writer: In my NLA, Wolf the scary trainer by the Missions Board is now happily married to an alien, with two kids (and more to come). He can still fight, although he prefers to be home for bedtime stories.
Who edits when there's camping to be done?
All the good things belong to Monolithsoft, and Wolf/Duna Valdileo is my OTP.
Wolf pitched his voice to a gruff whisper. "While the knight was fighting the army of ugly giants, the beautiful queen snuck into the camp to rescue the hostages." His little boy was already dozing, his head resting on Wolf's knee long before any imaginary battle had begun, but Wolf hadn't stopped the tale. The infant in Wolf's arms was still looking up at him with intensity. Even her four minor eyes shone, eager for more story. His wife assured him that Baby 'illa couldn't understand his words, but Wolf wasn't convinced. "And then..."
"Hey, Wolf, got a minute?"
The boy beside him jumped up, trembling. Wolf shifted the newborn to one arm, and wrapped his other arm protectively around the toddler's skinny shoulder. "Frye," he said with performative friendliness, "good to see you." He nodded at them, checked the frightened boy at his side, and nodded again, smiling pointedly. "Always good to see old friends. Lowes, you too. Long time."
Lowes made a dismissive snort and turned away from the family scene. Frye looked from one Harrier to the other, both immaculately bald and built like trucks, and shrugged. "I heard you know about aquatic monsters," Frye said.
Wolf's grip on his son tightened slightly. Then he dropped a kiss on the top of the child's blue head. "Not exactly. I've seen one, but not the one you mean. I'm sorry about your team."
Lowes, still looking away, said, "So you hear the news, even if you've abandoned your station."
Wolf stood, scooping the toddler to his shoulder, infant still securely tucked in his elbow. "My station is training our xeno allies, Lowes. Has been for a year. I also get to raise these munchkins, absolute bonus." He bounced both gently and turned to Frye. "Look, Frye, my wife's relatives have special feelings about the indigenous animals on this planet. Some of them, the largest indigens, protect the Prones' dearly departed."
"More fairy tales," drawled Boze.
"Not to them. They believe it, and I've seen enough to believe something like it." A woman came striding towards them then, her mouth tentacles flicking gracefully. Wolf passed the children to her. They shared a wordless exchange, a brush of hands, a dipping of foreheads, and she and the children left the men in peace.
Wolf tugged his body armor into place. "I'll help you, but I'm not as eager for a fight as you might want."
Next up: Runaway.