The moon rose high above the skyscrapers already, bathing the glass and concrete monoliths in pale moonlight. Streets illuminated coldly from above and shining orange lamps at the ground level were lonely and open, only a few stray cars and foot traffic circulated in the veins of the city.
Nilian enjoyed the fresh air, pulling it into contrast with the ventilation in his office and the sterile smell of the hallways. He let out a deep, satisfied sigh.
"Long day?" He was gently nudged in the side and looked to the side, where the dark-scaled viper slithered at head level. She could easily rise above him, she had done so in the past. But currently, she remained at the same height as him.
"You could say that," he replied exasperated. "It feels like an eternity and a few minutes at the same time."
As he thought back to all that he did in the day, going through documents, approving vacations, looking over new medicine his staff wanted to order, city permits that needed refreshing, and applications, one sprung to mind that he had made a copy of. "I'll be interviewed by the newspaper next week," he explained.
He glanced at Amira, whose scaled brow lifted on one side. "Oh? Which one?"
"31 Central," although he tried to play it off, he didn't feel the need to hide that he felt pride at the publicity.
"Wow, quite the prestigious outing, doctor. Here I thought you weren't one for the public eye."
"Yes, that's right. Normally, if someone wanted a look behind the scenes my business partner. But this is gonna be about dealing with extraterrestrial staff and patients. Makes sense they'd want to talk to the–"
"`Extraterrestrial expert´," Amira butted in, obviously satisfied with recalling his official title.
"Huh, yeah." Nilian smiled warmly at his companion.
The viper reached her hand down and found the outside of Nilian's. Her scales were rather cold, as usual, smooth and glassy with a hard texture. Her long digits wound themselves around his and pulled him closer in a tight hold. Neither acknowledged it directly, looking forward and simply enjoying the other's company.
Every step the doctor took, Amira matched with a swaying slither, keeping herself steady to keep their connection. For a while, they simply kept their pace, walking in the general direction of the man's apartment, not even considering taking a taxi.
"What do you say we visit the Inn?" Amira suggested after crossing a street.
"A special occasion or just feeling like having a night out?" Nilian asked.
"They have a theme night today. I think they brought in a musician group."
"Yeah, why not?" Nilian agreed with a content shrug. "It's a bit far, though," he added.
"I'll take care of it," she replied and produced her mobile device. With a few taps of her clawed finger, she sent out a request for a lift at a nearby location.
The two found a bench and took a seat, Amira coiling her tail close to keep more of her body protected from the cold. The tail-covering clothing seemed more aesthetic than insulating, with silver patterns of woven vines running up and down about a third of her length.
While the metal of the bench was cold, the human's body wasn't, which Amira made quick use of by shuffling close to him and pulling her hood tight to her head then leaning against his shoulder. Nilian reciprocated and bent his head down, his cheek against her scaly head. Through the corner of his eyes, he saw her tongue flick out, tasting the air periodically.
"I should get you some perfume," she quietly noted. "Something more… pleasant than your hospital scent."
"What kind would you enjoy?" Nilian asked, thinking of the cheap perfume he had bought literal years ago and never had to replace.
"Something sweet, maybe cinnamon or roses," she mused, her eyes looking up at the skyline, thinking of the advertisements she had seen before.
Nilian murmured some sort of agreement and sighed once more, taking in a deep lungful of cold night air and the viper's earthen smells. She herself wore some fragrance that reminded him of coal, with the undertone of alcohol and spices from her work.
After a few minutes, a bright pair of headlights rounded a corner. Nilian immediately recognized the vehicle and raised his brows in surprise. Through the windshield, he saw the yellow-orange scales of Lissirn. It was then that he remembered that she knew about his viper-fucking exploits and was about to meet the one who put that smell on him.
He glanced at Amira, whose eyes were already locked on the woman.
As she pulled up, the distinct rumble of the combustion engine, alongside the fumes coming out the back brought life to the quiet streets. Nilian opened the door for his partner and got into the other side. Amira slithered into the backseat, taking up the legroom of nearly both. Lissirn was watching from the front, her red eyes reflecting off the mirror.
Finally, as they settled inside, she smiled. "Ah, hello. Nilian, was it?"
"Yes, seems you are doing well," he replied, noting her cheery attitude.
The orange viper didn't answer, instead, her gaze was locked on the mamba in the back. The two women looked at one another, their tongues flicking the air individually without a hint as to their thoughts. The doctor, meanwhile, was more than a little unnerved by the internal conversation the two were potentially having.
"Uhm," he interrupted to at least fight some of the awkwardness, "the Inn again, please."
Still, the silence that followed wasn't broken until a few seconds later. Finally, the viper driver pulled into the road and toward the Old Harbour Inn.
"Sooooo," Lissirn broke the monotony of the engine's rumble. "I have heard some things about you, I was curious when I'd get to meet you. I'm Lissirn." She sounded friendly and interested, addressing the doctor's company.
The green-eyed viper tilted her head toward Nilian, after shortly saying, "Amira," her expression suddenly invested. "Oh? And what have you heard?"
"He was very nervous about talking to you. And a day later he was downright glowing. That's the right expression, correct?" She looked at Nilian, who nodded briefly.
"Hmm, only that?" her beaming bright emerald eyes scanned Nilian's face for his expression and a smile widened on her lips upon finding a deep red glow on his cheeks. The message was clear, she knew that if Nilian interacted with the driver any time close to their encounter, the viper would know with certainty that they had sex.
"Well…" the viper in the front trailed off, unsure if she could reveal such information.
"I'm sure you're well aware. Hell, I'm surprised you can drive right now," Amira's voice took on a low, sultry tone. Nilian's eyes grew wide as he noticed Lissirn's eyes widen in embarrassed shock.
"I, uhm. I apologize, I thought I had…" She stammered out hastily.
"No need, we're all friends here, right, dear?" Amira brought it back to the doctor, who slowly but surely realized what the two aliens had discovered the moment they entered the same space.
"Humans are quite fun, aren't they? A little fragile, but they sure make up for it with enthusiasm." Amira turned back to Lissirn, fangs peeking out from her scaled lips. Nilian felt a shudder run down his spine, remembering the past events where those hypodermic needles pierced him.
The driver stayed silent for a moment too long, the doctor feared that his alien lover had taken it too far perhaps. But the black snake knew better, she smelled what the other viper felt, and noticed her shuffling in her seat. "Though I must say, yours smells a lot nicer than mine."
"T-they are very fun…" The viper in the front quietly said, a hiss accompanying her words.
Nilian felt himself begin to melt into the seat cushions, trying to become invisible, escape this indirect teasing with no luck. Amira's bright eyes shifted for a slight second, the doctor spotting her black pupils linger on him long enough to judge his direction.
"And they're so warm, aren't they? Makes it nice to sleep while coiled around them," as she spoke, her thin, slender tail slithered its way across the foot space and toward the man's leg. He shuddered at the touch as she slipped it inside his pant leg, wrapping around his ankle before spiraling up.
Meanwhile, the encroaching viper still looked forward, as if her tail wasn't already rubbing up against Nilian's thighs. "You know, I never thought he would be such a dear. He took me out on a date, showed me a wonderful view from his apartment, and let me fuck him all night long."
The doctor was unsure what to look at, the window, perhaps? Yes, just look out of the window and appreciate the… He groaned as he felt the tip of her thin appendage slide into his underwear and tickle his balls. The bulge from her tail was quickly accompanied by his own, which the viper wrapped around hastily. She knew the shape so well already that she found the tip and slipped her tip around it, teasingly rubbing his glans.
Nilian could no longer bear to look at their driver, being stroked and massaged inside his pants right in front of some viper. He made a pleading expression toward his lover, trying to ask her to at least slow down silently. But it was of no use, Amira had her pace set and slid her smooth scales feverishly up and down his shaft.
"And best of all, they get warmer once they get close to cumming," Amira practically hissed her words, maintaining straight and unwavering eye contact with Lissirn.
Indeed, the doctor was beginning to feel quite hot, his legs tensed and he felt a spurt of precum emerge from his tip, which was quickly gathered and spread among his length by the furiously pumping tail.
The human did not doubt that even through his clenched teeth, both vipers could hear his panting breath and taste his aroused sweat in the confined space of the cab. He spared a single glance to the car's mirror to see if Lissirn was indicating any signs of discomfort, but what he found instead brought the hue of rising morning sun to his cheeks.
The viper in the front seat had only one hand on the steering wheel, for the other had slipped beneath her skirt. As Nilian looked more closely, he saw flecks of liquid begin to seep into her clothing right where he knew a viper's slit was. Her fingers made bumps each time they exited her body and Nilian could only guess how deep inside herself she was going.
In that small moment in which he watched the viper pleasure herself, he found a wry smile at the corner of his vision – Amira. She had spotted his gaze and was certainly keenly aware of Lissirn's activities.
Nilian would have tried to talk, say something, anything. But it was all caught within his throat in a moan when the cobra unit suddenly shot forward. It was faster than the human could even blink. Before he realized what was happening, he felt the thin scales of her lips press against his, while at the same moment, his tongue was coiled and subdued by the winding organ Amira slid from her maw.
He felt the wiggling rope of flesh, after easily wrapping itself around his inferior tongue, slipping down his throat. He felt a tinge of embarrassment added to the cocktail of emotions and sensations rushing down his spine and tingling in his groin at the fact he didn't even gag upon feeling her rush down his esophagus.
Everything combined into a mix of pleasure his body could simply not endure. So with his mouth locked to the viper's, his mouth filled by her tongue, the sound of moist digits spreading tender walls from the front seat, and the tight tunnel of moving, scaled muscle Amira formed with her tail, the doctor surrendered.
The viper, luckily, avoided the mess Nilian's orgasm would have made on his pants and the car's seat by cupping his tip with the end of her tail. She continued to pump his member through his climax, the pressure from every side and angle causing the man to buck his hips and lean into the intrusive kiss his lover provided.
Lissirn, meanwhile, had to focus to drive straight, as she felt her body tense and spasm, smelling, hearing, and seeing the two in the back reaching the peak of their pleasure. Finally, she found her own edge which she promptly flew over. She was less fortunate than the human, having no one to save her from the mess she made when her juices sprayed out and against her skirt. The sticky substance, so warm and sweet smelling, now stained her clothing and soon would run down her tail.
"Ah, shit…" She cursed quickly and out of breath, realizing she would have to clean it up before picking up the next passenger.
Nilian, meanwhile, felt like he was melting. His mind was filled only with thoughts of Amira, of how possessive she was of him, how easily she took what she wanted whenever she wanted. Was this wrong? They didn't know each other a few weeks ago, after all.
'If this is wrong, I don't want right.'
Slowly, teasingly brushing against him with every inch, the viper withdrew her tongue from Nilian's body. And finally, he felt her retreat back into herself, though the kiss lingered. Not wanting to be completely at her mercy, Nilian suddenly reached up with a hand and cupped the viper's cheek, holding it gently and pulling her toward him, his comparatively soft lips gnawing at her with passionate kisses and suckling signs of affection.
Eventually, however, they had to stop their making out, much to both their dissatisfaction. "Let's… continue this later…" Amira reluctantly said and finally ended the intimate moment. The ropes of the man's semen layered atop her tail, she brought it up while maintaining an unbroken gaze with Nilian, wrapped her lips around her tip, and then slowly withdrew. Upon doing so, her tail was licked clean, leaving no trace of their escapade except the expression of utter satisfaction on the viper's visage.
"We've, uhm, arrived," Lissirn announced from the front, gathering the couple's attention. While Nilian could barely bring himself to look at her, Amira seemed downright cheerful.
"You've been wonderful, Lissirn," when the vipers spoke their names, they sounded even more alien than what Nilian expected. With a quick motion, she produced a piece of paper and handed it to the driver. "For when you want some… tips," although the doctor couldn't see it, he heard the smile in her voice.
Lissirn didn't reply with words but a look at the man instead. It seemed rather curious more than anything.
The cab pulled into the parking lot of the inn. Warm lights and cheerful noises of celebration and merriment came from the inside, although there were only about a dozen cars parked outside.
Nilian stepped outside, first, to quickly walk around the car and opened Amira's door. The serpent alien slid out tail first and for a moment towered over the human before lowering her posture once more. Finally, the human approached the driver's window and held up his payment code to her scanner, adding a 30% tip for good measure.
"I, uhm… Thank you for the ride," he awkwardly stuttered out.
"Hope to see you again, soon. Both of you, that is," Lissirn replied, sneaking a glance past the doctor and to Amira.
The doctor turned away and started walking toward the door, Amira made a waving gesture at the driver and followed closely. She bumped into Nilian's side and the man soon found his hand grasped by the long, slender digits of the viper's. He couldn't help but run his thumb over her smooth, glassy scales, feeling the indents between her scales, remembering their texture and patterns.
"God, I hope we didn't make a mess…"
"We?" Amira raised a scaled brow in feigned surprise.
"Yes, we. I didn't just whip out my cock back there," Nilian replied with the same tone of false offense as the viper employed.
For a moment, she stayed silent. The man thought he had won the argument for a moment, but just as they entered the door, he realized Amira was one step ahead as always.
"Would you fuck her?" Her voice, although contained and quiet enough to be private, sounded like she was announcing their shameless act of debauchery to everyone in the inn to Nilian.
"What?" Nilian practically hissed the exclamation in a sharp second.
"You seemed to enjoy being watched and watching her. Or did I see that wrong?" Her voice, her goddamn tone. Nilian felt like he was playing a chess computer in its own game and blundering every step he took.
"You know I only want you."
"Well, yes, that`s what you say and I trust you in that. But what I am saying is not that you want her as your partner, but perhaps… Hmm, what`s that word again?" She mused for a moment longer, trying to land on the expression.
But just as she tried to finish her sentence, a loud, cheerful, and accented voice broke the constant noise of the inn. "Ey, scalehead, you back already? You know I don't pay overtime this late," Penny said cheerfully before spotting Nilian. "Aahhhh, you brought your boytoy, I see."
The doctor, saved from further questions that would have him dig his hole in which Amira would toss tease after tease given the chance, approached the bar gladly.
He found that the left side was more empty than the rest and sat down atop one of the stools. Amira coiled around the legs of the one next to him and leaned onto the bar, browsing the selection of liquor on the wall.
Penny came bouncing over, two whiskey glasses already in hand. "So, what'll be? Guessing you're cashin' in on the employee discount."
"You don't have work tomorrow, right?" Amira, more serious and concerned sounding than a moment before, turned to Nilian.
"No, why?" The next day was Sunday, the one day that Nilian was not allowed to legally work, not that it really stopped him from doing so from home.
"Cause I've not seen you drunk before and I think I will enjoy it," Amira smirked and flicked her tongue.
"I ain't gonna give you alcohol poisoning, by the way," Penny interjected with a cheerful yet underlying seriousness.
Nilian sighed, already smelling the liquor in the bar, practically tasting it. "Well, that doesn't seem entirely fair." He had an idea that brought a subtle smile onto his face. Amira raised a curious brow and Penny tilted her head. "Your metabolism is almost double mine, plus the difference in size means anything I drink you can just deal with. So, if you're gonna select the drinks, then you double anything that I get down. Deal?" Lastly, he added a confident – although false – challenge.
"Oooooh, told ya I like him," Penny cheered from the other side of the bar.
Amira, meanwhile, had her bright green eyes light up with sudden and renewed excitement. While the doctor had occasionally played along with her games and was even successful at times, it was always an event for the serpent.
"I accept. But, there is a condition that you so gracefully included already. I choose what we drink."
Nilian, deep down, felt a tinge of uncertainty in his choice, but it was too late to back out now. A feeling of warm nostalgia overcame him, remembering his first time meeting her here.
"I'll join you in some of 'em, but can't get too drunk. Yet," she added and walked to the bottles on the wall.
"Then let's start, little human." Amira glanced about for a short moment and finally landed on a sleek bottle, tall and thin, the glass looked like a turquoise crystal, formed and then carved into shape. The outside was adorned with swirling constellations that reminded Nilian of a distant nebula. "Give us a glass of that Stellar Blaze."
Penny grabbed two more glasses and set them down. She filled them quickly and deftly, holding the bottle at an angle to allow for a smooth pour of the strange liquid. It boasted a luminescent crimson hue which glowed softly within the glass. Something within it swirled, reminiscent of stars floating within a galaxy. The bartender filled four glasses in total, though the one in front of herself was only halfway full.
Nilian followed the example of the two women and picked up his glass. He smelled it for a second and found a unique aroma of some exotic fruits he didn't recognize – fermented – which gave them a spiced warmth and sweetness. "C'mon," Amira urged to clank their glasses together.
"This one human gesture I enjoyed more than most." her voice sounded cheerful, openly enjoying herself.
It was something the doctor had to remind himself of every once in a while. Every alien, apart from perhaps sectoids, was practically playing the game of human interaction only from being taught it. But with Amira, it seemed like she was acting on a more natural instinct than pure teachings and rules. Something to talk about later, he noted mentally.
While he had lost himself in thought, his body already poured the fluid into his mouth. The first thing his tongue picked up was an initial burst of sweetness, like honey. But it was overtaken by encroaching heat which soon made Nilian feel like he had just drunk liquid chili.
Just as it entered his stomach and he could no longer feel it, did he manage to cough without spitting on his elbow. The burning continued for a few moments more, though it felt longer in his mind. Amira, meanwhile finished her second glass and closed her eyes.
He felt a lang-clawed hand on his shoulder and looked up, wiping a tear from his eye. "My God. How are you fine after that?" He asked, clearing his throat, and finding his viper woman smiling back at him.
"I like it spicy, you should know that from my cooking."
"Yeah, nah. Never really got into the alien stuff. Too… venomous for me, bites the throat." Penny rubbed her throat with a hand, a small tear in her eye which she blinked away. "You keep goin'; Jeff, give these two some service, will ya?"
Penny waved to her assistant, a human with dark skin and black hair. His physique spoke of someone who paid attention to his health, broad shoulders, a lean stomach, and toned arms. He was tending to other patrons, but quickly walked over upon Penny's request.
"Hey, Jeff," Amira greeted him with a small wave, though she seemed more occupied with choosing their next drink.
The man looked at Nilian, then back at the viper, and back at Nilian. When he eventually settled on the doctor, he raised an eyebrow, curled his lips, and gave him a small nod of… approval? Respect? Nilian couldn't tell, but it wasn't negative, at least.
"Let´s get three of the Nebular," Amira ordered.
Jeff nodded, pulled the bottle off the rack, and placed it on the counter. Nilian looked at the bottle with admiration of the construction, as it was a robust, edgy, and blocky glass. Eventually, it clicked for the doctor that this was a glass-sculpted meteorite, embedded with filaments of blue and red specks. The liquid inside appeared to shimmer with blues and purples.
The bartender produced three glasses, tall, thin, and with a long leg like a wine glass. He dropped a ball of ice from beneath the counter into each, then poured the liquor atop the ice. He filled them about three-quarters then slid them over carefully.
Amira takes two of the glasses at once and Nilian meets them both in a toast. What met his senses was a concoction of a flowery extract mixed with the subtle bitterness of strong alcohol. As he drank, he also smelled the floral fragrance he tasted. Though, unlike the taste which quickly faded, the smell left Nilian with a tranquil sensation like warm tea in winter. He sipped on it a few more times before finishing it.
Amira had poured them both down her comparatively large mouth and stayed still while savoring the taste.
At this point, Nilian had begun to feel the effects of the first and second drinks combined. They, at the same time, rose to his head. He had to shake himself and blink a few times. Upon opening his eyes again, he found the lovely visage of the viper… swimming. Like he had forgotten his contact lenses back before his surgery, a bit blurry in the background.
"Oh, wow. If someone lights a fire in front of my mouth, I'll probably explode. And you're fine?" He turns to Amira, questioning.
She pulled her head back a little, as well as pulling her hood tighter to her neck. "No' a'all." She blinked, paused, and blinked again.
Nilian burst out with laughter. He rarely laughed loudly enough to be heard from afar, but his fun at seeing the serpent seemingly finally losing at something she had been so confident in sounded throughout the inn. A few heads turned, but most didn't pay it any mind, all returned to their own business a few seconds later.
"Whasss ssoo funny?" Nilian paused for a second, seeing the viper lean toward him and squinting her eyes. Perhaps she was trying to put on a serious face but due to her lack of focus, she moved her expression a bit too high or low. All in all, it made her look like a comedic interpretation of a snake with humanoid features.
And once more, the human couldn't hold back his amusement, a chuckle climbing up his throat before that was suddenly filled with something else. Amira had once more darted forward and struck a kiss on him. She was rougher than usual, not probing but simply pushing her tongue into him to the point that Nilian felt it bulge in his cheeks. He now tasted not only her regular, sweet tastes but also the remnants of their drinks. He closed his eyes and let himself be taken, feeling Amira push her body over to him, supporting herself easily with her tail.
Eventually, she pulled back but cupped his cheeks. She gazed into his eyes, the gemstone green eyes of the viper, her pupil narrowed to a slit in which Nilian saw only himself reflected in perfect black.
The night continued to grow darker, the clock did as it must and marched onward. Slowly, the patrons left more and more until it was only about seven others, most sitting in a cubicle and finishing their food.
"... So yeah, that's how I beat a muton in arm wrestlin', Penny finished her story while polishing a glass that had been shining for three minutes already.
Amira was lying on Nilian's shoulder, her hood flanking his head. The doctor was leaning on the counter and looked at the woman with a failed attempt at showing disbelief. His eyelids just felt heavy and wouldn't quite reply to his will.
"Bullsssshit," Amira hissed.
"Ey, it's 'bout the technique, not just muscle," Penny flexed her arms and poked her bicep.
"Ugh, I think I need to lie down," Nilian murmured lazily and reached up to tickle the viper's hood to get her attention. "How much?" He turned to Penny and righted his posture to pay.
"I'll put it on your tab," Penny pushed the doctor's device back down. "Just get home safe, aight?"
"Thankssss, Pen," Amira said and got up, stretching her entire tail, the muscles popping air bubbles between bones like a human would their back or knuckles.
Nilian ordered another cab, which would be at the peak of their business at this hour. The app showed him a driver not far away, meaning they could leave now and get some fresh air.
They waved the bartender goodbye and exited the inn. The air outside certainly helped, if only a little. The doctor found that his steps were not in a straight line and upon checking on the snake woman at his side, he found she was not slitering in an S form, but rather drawing uneven Ps and Qs into the ground.
The car arrived a few minutes later, a muton driver. The design of the car was closer in size to a van, meaning both the human and viper comfortably sat in the back.
The driver, luckily, wasn't asking too many questions that needed more cerebral activity than either could muster without effort and they soon arrived at the front of Nilian's apartment complex.
The man behind the desk greeted them and Nilian waved sloppily. The lovers were leaning on and supporting one another on the way to the elevator, and finally down the hall to the doctor's apartment.
They practically fell inside alongside the door. Amira pushed it closed with her tail and slithered lazily to the couch. Nilian hung his jacket on the coathanger, but not correctly as it fell a second later. He paid it no mind and walked over to Amira.
He plopped himself down next to her and lay down, letting her spoon him from behind. Quickly he felt her tail wrapping around his ankle, her arms crossing over his chest, and her nose nuzzled into his neck.
He felt her tongue flicking out, grazing him a few times. Her breath on his neck, his warmth being shared, slowly but surely being wrapped by her long body.
Pure comfort seeped into his body, the heat of the alcohol in his stomach, the blanket that his love was, her smell, and her slow and loud heartbeat. It was all so… perfect.
"I love you."
Seven months later
Summer arrived quickly and warmly, the sun burned away the cold of winter and spring and the nights became shorter and the days longer. Life in city 31 had grown rather busy, the city expanded with technology improving. The city had become one of the greatest exports of food in the country, even.
The doctor finally allowed himself some holidays after months and months of not taking them. And today was a special day, after all.
He had already ordered the piece a month prior, and after a small chat with Penny about the correct date, now all that was left to do was pick it up.
He decided to take a walk to the store, as it was early and he enjoyed the sights of construction, the sign that humans and aliens were now building together instead of destroying one another. Finally, he saw the shopfront in the distance, the white sign with black and accented writing spelling out 'Kanto's jewelry.'
The doorbell rang as he entered, an elderly man, hair barely clinging to his sides, and the signs of an old scar on his cheek, greeted the doctor with a friendly smile. He had been brushing a piece of crystal within a golden amulet, a lens on his eye providing close inspection.
"How can I help you?" The jeweler greeted.
"Hey, I ordered something over the phone for pickup. For Nilian Arlar," he added.
The man reached for a book, which surprised Nilian for a second before finding it rather endearing.
"Ah, yes. Quite the piece, I am glad to have worked on something like it. Wait here, I will fetch it." He turned and went behind some curtains.
Nilian played with his fingers a little, a tick he had yet to completely overcome. However, at any time, this may be an occasion to be a little nervous.
The jeweler returned with an ornate wood box, engraved with a woodburned name: Amira
He opened it and put it down on the counter. Nilian smiled, seeing all the little details he had discussed executed masterfully. It was a necklace made from polished silver, so smooth were the tiny chain links that it looked like a rope of white from afar. At the bottom hung a silver pendant in the shape of a heart, in the middle of which was a gleaming green emerald, smoothed to perfection and with a slit of obsidian in the middle.
A tiny latch on the side, Nilian reached out and found an empty compartment, large enough for a small note or picture. He closed it again and sighed deeply and contently.
"Perfect."
"I am glad you like it. Is it a gift for someone? I can wrap it for you," the man offered as he prepared payment.
"Someone special, yes. But I think I will just take it like this."
Nilian paid and took the box. He placed it in his bag and waved goodbye.
The walk home took about half an hour, which Nilian spent listening to some of the music Amira had shown him. It seemed like the viper enjoyed string instruments more than modern methods of music. She had found a few artists that she recommended to him, most of whom he grew to like as well.
He stepped into the elevator to his apartment, walked down the hall, and stopped by his door.
The doctor stepped inside after a moment more preparation and was greeted by the sun shining brightly into the windows of his balcony. It painted the entire living room in a bright orange-yellow, the shadows of his new, larger table reaching the door. And a second shadow, the shape of a human torso and long tail sitting on the chair.
Amira was browsing some of the reviews of the inn, which had expanded its facilities last week. In secret, she was looking for people describing the food.
While the human was quiet in his entry, the viper very easily heard him coming and turned her head.
"Oh, Nilian, you're back early?" She rose and slithered to greet him, her blouse hanging loose for a comfortable fit. "You left before I was up this morning."
Nilian smiled broadly and grabbed Amira by the waist, his bag in the other hand. He pulled her close and kissed her on the side of her head. "Come, sit down with me," he motioned to the couch.
Amira seemed a little suspicious, though she gladly went along with his antics. "What's got you so jolly?"
"Well, I decided to take some holidays, had them backed up for a while now. And since today is a special occasion, I figured now would be a great time for some free time."
They arrived at the couch and the doctor pulled the box from his satchel. Amira cocked her head to the side and looked at him curiously. "What's the occasion and what's that?"
"Well, a little chatty bird told me this is the day you chose as your birthday, so this is your present."
Amira blinked a few times, trying to tie together that Penny was the only person she had mentioned it to and how Nilian had sprung this on her. She sat frozen for a second or two, attempting to accept a birthday gift.
"You… I never…" She simply lacked the words. As she stared at the human, trying her hardest to get an explanation of some sort, an expression to grasp on, a joke, perhaps? But all she found was warmth, a warm and genuine smile, his eyes only focused on her and radiating affection like the sun did heat.
Slowly, as if afraid he would pull it away and reveal it was a hoax all along, she put her hand onto the case.
Nilian held it steady and let her open it, observing as she failed again to grasp his complete dedication to making her feel accepted and loved.
She opened the box and found light glimmering from the silver, casting rays of sunshine onto her. She traveled further down with her eyes and found a perfect and pristine reflection of her own eye. At that exact moment, she heard all of the times her lover had talked about the beauty of her eyes. She could now see it as he must see it.
"Here, open it," the man pointed out the latch on the side.
She guided her claws toward it, steady and slowly, each moment feeling like the moment before she woke up, the high point of a dream that would end. But it never did. The pendant remained solid, Nilian's expression didn't shift, and when the locket clicked she felt like her heart would implode.
A picture of the two, sitting on a bench, the light of the sunset within it creating a scene that looked painted. And on the other side of the inside was a note, written in Nilian's handwriting.
To you, always