I think this may be what Llywelyn feels like when he goes an hour wihtout a bath.
Well. Except for how he went much more than that without any bathing whatsoever, and did not die last night.
So perhaps it's not that at all.
I reach out to the side of the bed, fumbling around for a glass of water. I'm pretty sure there was one here last night, but I couldn't actually see it in the dark. I just had to trust it was there. And hope I didn't knock it over while we—
I find it, finally, and groan. I'm sore. And dehydrated. And... I don't know what I am. He definitely—definitely—has some kind of sexual prowess that I cannot understand.
I sit up and drink the water. It's warm and stale and tastes like nectar. I finish the whole glass and put it back on the side table. I glance at the sleeping fish-man next to me and smile.
He's sprawled on his stomach, his long hair covering his face. His skin is still slightly flushed, his veins glowing faintly. He looks so peaceful and innocent like this.
It's hard to believe that just a few hours ago, he was...
I shake my head and blush. I don't want to think about that right now. I don't think my body can handle... even thinking about it. I need a break. A long break.
I slide out of the bed and grab my clothes from the floor. I don't bother to put them on properly, just wrap them around myself. I need to get out of here before he wakes up and decides he wants another round. Because I'm pretty sure he will. And I'm pretty sure I won't be able to say no.
I sneak out of the room and close the door quietly behind me. I lean against it and sigh.
What have I done?
I mean... I know what I've done. And I'd do it again.
But...
I'm pretty sure we're...
Supposed to have figured out what we are. In some more meaningful way. Before that. Or is that just a human thing? Am I putting too much of... human values onto our relationship? I don't know what Akutwasian values are for this.
I mean, he loves me. He said so. Multiple times. And he clearly wants to be with me. And I love him too. And I want to be with him. So... I guess that's all that matters.
Right?
I groan and rub my face. This is too complicated. I'm too human for this.
I need to eat.
And take a shower.
But that one would require going back into the jaws of the enemy. Though I do... wonder what it might be like. To do something like that in a bath with him—
"No, no, no, shut up!" I hiss at myself.
Okay. Maybe. Maybe I need to spend a little more time away from him. Just to... let my brain cool down.
"Is everything alright, Sarah?"
"Ah—" I freeze. That voice behind me. Is definitely Xilukulkas. How a man that gigantic could possibly sneak up I don't know. I swallow, and turn around slowly, forcing a smile on my face. "Oh. Hey, Xilukulkas. Yeah. I'm fine. I just... needed some air." I'm still wrapped up in my clothes. I must look like some kind of weird... sack person. I can't even imagine how awkward and foolish I must look right now.
He raises an eyebrow at me, his irises shifting from silver to pink. "Are you sure? You look... flustered."
Shit.
I can't tell if he's just observant, or if...
Well. No, I mean, I can't imagine anyone not being able to tell. I'm a mess. My hair is probably a disaster, my skin is flushed, my lips are probably swollen. And I smell like...
I smell like sex.
I clear my throat and try to play it cool. "Oh, you know... just... a late night."
He hums and looks past me at the door of my room. His eyes glow a bit brighter. "I see. Well, I'm glad you're enjoying yourselves."
My face turns hot. "W—we?! What—no—I—"
"I must voice my disappointment, however, that you chose Llywelyn." He says, his tone teasing.
I think.
"Wha—excuse me?!" I gasp, completely baffled.
He hums. "Shall we eat?" He asks, gesturing down the hall.
I blink. "No! You can't just—walk up to me and say something like that and then just—change the subject! What do you mean you're disappointed I chose Llywelyn?"
He hesitates and tilts his head. "Is there something confusing? You are quite lovely. But let it not be said I am ungracious. I am perfectly fine with not being chosen. Come. Let us eat."
"Wha—what?!"
Chosen?!
When was I choosing—
When was this gigantic beautiful, infuriatingly strange alien ever an option?!
I can't deal with this. I'm not—
He's already walking away. I scowl after him. "You! Are not! A serious man!"
"Am I not?" He looks back at me with a small smile, the gems of his eyes shifting into pink. "Perhaps I am not. But I am a hungry one. Are you not?"
I press my lips together into a thin line. I mean. I am.
And it's not like I'm going to get him to answer anything anyway. And if he's just joking then I'm just giving him more ammunition.
I let out a long sigh and shake my head. "Fine. Let's eat."
At least if I'm eating with him, I won't end up tempted by a fish into unhealthy life choices.
Probably.
Hopefully.
I'm not sure I trust that. Not after last night.
I glance back at the door behind me and bite my lip.
I swallow. And decide to just not think about it right now. I can... I can deal with it later. Maybe.
I follow Xilukulkas down the hall, trying to ignore the strange fluttering in my stomach. This is fine. This is all fine. I'm a grown woman. I can handle this. I'm not going to let a little bit of amazing sex derail me. Or an alien that may or may not be coming onto me.
I'm fine.
I am.
I am not going to go back to that room and jump into bed with Llywelyn again. I'm not.
But I am going to have a huge breakfast.
Because I'm starving.
And I deserve it.
And...
I just need a lot of hydration.
And coffee.
I need coffee.
***
He's waiting for me when I return to the room. Which I expected.
What I didn't expect was to find him standing in the middle of the room, wearing nothing but a towel around his waist, his hair still wet from the bath.
He's not even looking at me. He's looking at his reflection in the full-length mirror, fixing his hair. He seems completely oblivious to my presence.
Which is good. Because I'm staring at him.
I can't help it. He looks... delicious. His blue skin glistens with water droplets, his muscles flex as he moves his arms, his veins glow faintly under his skin. He's just... so hot. And I want to touch him.
Which is dangerous, because I know the unbreakable sequence that begins if I go touching him.
"Hey." I say, trying to sound casual.
He turns his head and looks at me. His golden eyes widen and his veins flash brighter for a moment. He smiles and drops his hair. "Sarah. You're back." He says, his voice soft. "I missed you."
My heart flutters at his words.
That's... stupid. I was gone maybe an hour. I'm surprised he even had time to wake up and finish one of his baths before I got back. He must have basically just gotten himself wet and then jumped out.
Still. It's nice to hear.
I walk over to him and wrap my arms around his waist from behind. It's a danger, touching him half-naked like this... but I can't resist the urge. he's there. He's visible and not shrinking, and... I think. That I'm allowed.
So how can I not?
He tenses, his veins flare up, and he grabs my hands. But he doesn't pry my hands away or anything like that. He just holds them and looks at me in the mirror. "You're getting bold, hetchki." He says, his tone teasing.
I smile and lean my chin on his shoulder. "Maybe I've always been bold."
"Boldly irritating, yes." He agrees, and then brings my hands up to his lips. He kisses my knuckles and my wrists. "But this is a different kind of bold."
I feel a shiver run down my spine at his touch and his words. "Is it?" I ask, my voice breathy.
He nods and turns around in my arms. He faces me and puts his hands on my hips. He looks me in the eyes and says, "Yes. You're touching me like you have a right to."
I swallow. "Do I not?"
His ears flick, and his veins glow a soft blue. "I—well—I suppose—I'll. Allow it. From you."
I reach up and place a hand over his heart. "Like this?"
His eyes close, his ears flutter, and that glow of his pulses. "Hetchki. You're going to make me drop the towel."
I grin and lean in to kiss his neck. "Maybe I want that."
He groans and his hands slide up to my back, pulling me closer. "Careful. I'll take another day out of you."
I lean up to press my lips against those delicate looking ears of his. "I'll take it right back from you..."
I'm given one moment to appreciate his arms tightening around me, before an almighty clamor comes at the door, making me jump and Llywelyn reflexively drop his arms from around me.
"Mira, you little quenti'so kah!" Llywelyn snaps, rounding on the door. "I will grint you into grit for the gillworg pond!"
"Llywelyn!" The unmistakable, cheerful voice of our... friend, and usual roommate, comes from the other side. "You are in there! Sarah, too? Come! Come! I missed you yesterday!"
I hum and glance over at him. "You could have stayed quiet."
"Perish, woman." He snarls at me, his eyes flashing.
I roll my eyes and turn around. "I'm coming, Mira."
"Oh! Oh, good! Sarah! Sarah! Sarah!"
"She is coming, she can hear you." Llywelyn hisses. "You don't need to... shout like a lunatic. Nishi'an, you're like a demented—"
I glance back at Llywelyn, who looks absolutely done with this interruption. And with my laughing.
I mouth 'towel' at him, pointing to his waist.
He blinks and then looks down, scowling when he realizes he's still half naked.
He really would have just walked out like that. And then had a modesty meltdown.
I walk to the door as Llywelyn retreats deeper into our suite to get decent and crack open the door. I make it about two inches before the sparkling form of Mira shoves the rest of the way open. "Sarah! Sarah, I'm so glad you are well! I was worried when you didn't come rock climbing. I thought you were sick or hurt or fell off the ship!"
"Ah... did you?"
Did... Mira not immediately know? She'd claimed our every interaction so far was somehow mating. How did she not know about this one?
"Yes! But Master said you were fine, and then I was going to go and get you but he forbid it last night for some reason and—"
Xilukulkas knew even then—?!
I flush, cough, and shake my head. "Oh, uh, yeah. I was just... tired. And we—we were busy. With things."
"We? Oh! You mean Llywelyn! That is good! I am glad you spent time together! You know, he's been sulking so much when you two have been spending time apart..."
"Learn to shut your glittering mouth, you insufferable ritzah." Llywelyn growls from behind me, and I glance back to see him exiting his bathroom. He's wearing simple black slacks and one of those ridiculous shirts of his that's basically open at the chest. He's still towel drying his hair, and he looks as if he may try to use it to strangle Mira.
Compared to what I've seen of him in the past... twelve or so hours, it's modest and unremarkable. It's just him.
My chest still flutters in a pleasant way. Though my sore muscles protest that it's too soon for that.
His eyes meet mine and for a moment he pauses. His expression softens, and that glow of his veins flicker. And I feel something warm and gooey in my chest that is extremely uncomfortable when another person is present.
And also something I refuse to ever describe in that manner again.
"Llywelyn!" Mira squeals, and I'm forced to look away from him and towards her. "We should all have breakfast together! I want to spend time with both of you!"
And there's that feeling gone.
Llywelyn just sighs, "What makes you think I haven't eaten—"
"You always sleep in and miss breakfast and then get grumpy and hungry before lunch."
He glares at her.
That isn't even true. I've had breakfasts with him before Mira woke up. That damn bird of his always wants to be fed in the mornings, too. But I suppose...
After that he does tend to sleep in.
Today just happens to be for other reasons.
And I've already had breakfast with Xilukulkas, but it's probably better not to open that can of worms.
I put on a smile. "Sure. Let's have breakfast together."
Mira claps her hands together and the sound is like a windchime. "Yay! I'm so happy! I've missed you both so much! Come on! Let's go!"
She grabs my hand and pulls me out of the room, and Llywelyn follows behind us, grumbling and still drying his hair. "It's only been weeks since the fis'ia galactic center."
"Weeks is a long time!" Mira declares. "Especially when you're my ultimate best friends!"
"Do not call me that," he snarls. "I haven't even decided if you're—"
"My ultimate! Best friends! Llywelyn, Sarah, and Mira! We are an unstoppable trio!" She continues, and it's as if he's not even talking.
Llywelyn's mouth opens and he tries to object, but it's like he knows it's useless. He just huffs and glares at me, as if I have any power to stop this.
I just smile and shrug.
There is no stopping Mira. There's only enduring her.
And... maybe, appreciating her. At times.
But I don't think Llywelyn wants to hear that.