Unpleasant

Alex lay on Bryce's sofa, peacefully slumbering. The sun's rays struck his pale, nude form as his chest rose and fell. His mouth was spread in a smile as he dreamed about his love. Occasionally, his lips would part in an incoherent mumbling about him. Yep, he was the picture of peace in that lonely apartment...

Until his phone rang. The vibrations across the small of his back gave him a start. He leaped three feet into the air, and tumbled off the side. He grumbled as he got up and punched the answer button. "Speak." He said groggily.

"Ambassador Alex." If there was a list of things Alex wanted to hear that day, that voice would be on the very bottom. "I hope your morning is going well. Did you sleep-"

"What do you want, Minister?" He growled. Hed been done with this harassment over Bryce since the first round. Emera harrumphed on the other end.

"Must it be strictly business with you?" No answer. "Fine. Meet me in my office before noon today. We need to talk."

"If you try anything-"

"I won't as long as you won't. See you soon." Emera said darkly, hanging up. Alex narrowed his eyes at his phone. He didn't trust the minister as far as he could throw her, much less with not setting up a trap. He considered making a call, but...

The political district was as dead as the last time Alex visited. He went in wholly expecting Emera to be sitting inside her office, but no. He began walking up to her, noiseless as his own steady breathing.

"Minister." He muttered into her ear. She jumped out of her seat at the sudden noise and whipped around.

"That was very rude of you, Ambassador! You could've given me a heart attack." Emera shot off as soon as she saw who stood behind her, not that is phased him.

"You're not that weak, Minister. What did you need to talk about?" He walked around the bench and leaned his hip against it. She sat back down, glaring daggers at him.

"You and Bryce." She growled.

"Here we go..." He rolled his eyes.

"Shut up and answer me. I heard from him that you two got together last night. He spared... no detail." Emera cringed at the thought.

"What of it? You don't own him, last I checked. I'm allowed to ask him to be mine." Alex shot back.

"You don't own him either. All I asked for was one thing, and you won't even let me have that."

"You tried to emotionally manipulate me into giving you what you want. Last night was me telling you to go fuck yourself. I'm not stupid, and I'm not losing the best thing to ever happen to me. Not again."

"Then the deal is off. Heck, maybe should I tell the police you're the one who's been leaving those little cards around my house?"

"You know they won't do that. Bryce knows the real suspect. He'll call it off in an instant."

"And how do you know that?"

"Because I was in his office when they attacked. By the way, you said you received cards?" Alex asked.

"I said you've been leaving cards. Don't play like you-"

"Emera, answer the question." Alex cut her off, his icy voice making her balk.

"Yes." Emera tepidly replied.

"Did they say anything?"

"Stop. That was it."

"That's not good." Alex turned back to face forward.

"You wrote it. I know you by now." Emera shot back.

"No." Alex growled. "You don't. You know the man who took away what you wanted. Not the man who's already lost that once. The man who, after four years, finally found love again, only to have that taken away from him again mere seconds after the fact."

" And you don't know the woman who never found it to begin with! Do you think I want people to treat me like I'm some unobtainable object?! For people to be so scared of me that I can't talk to anyone?! Bryce was the only person to not shy away at the very thought of conversation!" Emera exploded, dropping her head in her paws right after. Her back shook with a quiet sob. "I just want to have what everyone else does. I see so many with their families, and I have to keep myself from bursting into tears. Do you know what that's like, Alex? To want something so desperately that you'd kill for it?" She turned to him, teary-eyed. Her makeup streaked down her face in ugly black lines. Snot ran from her nose and fell onto the bench. This was the first time Alex had ever seen her like that. Her state reminded him of when Zoe passed away. A whole month, it felt like someone carved out his heart with a rusted spoon. And for four years after, there was nothing.

It was a terrible state to be in. He hated her, sure, but he didn't quite want this. He only wanted her to stop trying to take Bryce from him.

"Listen..." He began. She eventually brought herself to look at him. "I'm not going to stop with Bryce. He's the only one I want. What I will try and do is help you find someone else. Someone who will treat you with the same respect as him."

"And what if we can't? Everyone here is-"

"I'm not talking about a dragon." Alex interrupted.

"What?" Emera asked, dumbfounded.

"You said it yourself. People are scared of you for your position. But not my people."

"You're suggesting I date a human? Someone who can't give me biological children?"

"I'm trying to compromise with what's possible right now. So unless you want to stay lonely until the end of the world, you're stuck with this." Alex shot back.

"And what makes you think I'd want to work with you?" Emera growled, a new thing for her.

"Do you have any other choice? You should know what happens in a couple of weeks. I suggest not spending your last days bitter and angry." With that, Alex pushed himself off of the bench, taking all of three steps before turning back. "You have a choice. Make it..."