Wait, was that my grandma’s jewelry hung up on it?
Delaney did a double take. It was just sitting against the wall, no stand or anything? It was also covered in various things, like kitchen utensils. She heard a clatter from the kitchen and stumbled towards it.
She was greeted to the sight of Maelic growling as he pulled something off the burner—it was flaming.
“Bro, what the fuck!” She darted forward, snagging up the bag of flour off the counter, pouring it on the flaming mess. Both of them were covered in the white dust.
Maelic looked crestfallen and more than a little awkward.
“Were you trying to burn the rest of my farm down?”
The miserable look on his face while the dignified man was covered in flour and wearing her Grandpa’sKiss the Cookapron? She couldn’t bring herself to be mad. She burst into laughter.
“I see… Trying to recreate your food was much more difficult than anticipated.”
“Oh.” She tried to hold the laughter down, but only managed to just nod. “It seems to be so.”
“Have you ever cooked before?”
“Well, I haven’t ever truly had cause to learn,” he admitted sheepishly. “I have been living off my home planet for a long time. I almost exclusively live on slab bars.”
“Oh… Are those like protein bars?” Delaney’s brow quirked. It didn’t sound appetizing.
“No, they are what Collector Plates produce. Those are machines on most spacecraft. They turn stored energy into edible,nutritionally dense food bars.” He considered. “On ports, I do eat attavsand such.”
“Aretavslike restaurants?” She blinked. It was all so very crazy to her that he really was an alien. She was struck by it all over again.
He considered, the word seeming to translate oddly if she had to guess by the look on his face.
“Oh! Yes, I suppose. I think the word would be more like your bars.”
She chuckled. “Oh, are you much of a party guy?”
Maelic shook his head. “No, I mainly attend reconnaissance for my… work at these places.”
She snapped her fingers. “Right! You said you were an Axiom?” she said, remembering the term.
Maelic gave her a sheepish look. “Yes. It is like a bounty hunter job. I am employed by the Galactic Alliance.”
“Oh wow, so not exactly a space cop?”
Maelic laughed and she startled. The sound was rich and velvety. “No. Not like a cop. I do things that your police would likely consider to be… dirty work.”
Her eyes widened.How did he suddenly get more attractive?
She looked him up and down. He was still in the Christmas sweater from yesterday. Also Grandpa’s jeans. She didn’t think those boxy things could look good on anyone, but she was wrong.
“We should probably shower. You said that it is communal on your home planet, right?”
Maelic’s skin flushed that interesting shade of gray again. She was delighted by it. Now that she wasn’t losing her shit, she felt like teasing him. He had the upper hand yesterday? But today, well, it was her turn.
“I… Well, that is bathing. I usually avoid getting my wings wet…”
“Now, now, that isn’t very fair is it? You have seen my birthday suit twice.”
“Is it your birthday?” he asked, his tone curious, and she blinked.
“What, no? My birthday is in May.” She shook her head. “But come on, let me wash you, big guy.”
