I have to forcefully stop myself from rolling my eyes at his schmooze. Hope looks visibly uncomfortable as she shakes his hand quickly and pulls her own back.
“Uhh, there's no sun here, but thanks.”
“So, Hope, how did you get into flying? Gliding? What do the Silfans call it?” I jut in, determined to save both of my new friends from the growing awkwardness.
“They call it wind riding. Isn’t that the coolest? I live on this division,” she says and glances quickly at Meshi like maybe she regrets sharing that particular tidbit, “and my neighbor invited me along. I hang-glided back at home so once they showed me the ropes it was easy to pick it up.”
"You were a natural up there. The most radiant thing I've seen in an artificial sky," Meshi says. I can literally see the hearts in his eyes.
"You said that one already. I'm not interested, dude," Hope scoffs at him. I can't stand how he deflates like a leaky balloon. His wings curl around him a bit as if to shield him and my heart squeezes.
“Don't mind him. Meshi hasn't been around many humans yet. Maybe we can all get together for a picnic soon. I’m eager to meet more citizens. I haven’t gotten to talk to many Silfans,” I ramble a bit as an idea forms. "Really we could all benefit from mingling with other species."
"Sure," Hope replies, drawing the word out and raising an eyebrows so I knowjustwhat she thinks about that.
Hope and I carry the conversation easily as Khur recovers from his own embarrassment and Meshi—poor guy—tries not to drool all over himself. We agree to meet up next week before the next wind riding event and have coffee. Hope says she can get her hands on some of the caffeinated goodness I've been craving since Earth.
As Khur and I, with Meshi in tow, make our way back to our division, I am beaming with happiness and excitement. I’d spent the last three days moping, and in just a few hours, Khur has reminded me of my true purpose aboard this space station. Experience the galaxy, make new friends and just live life to the fullest.
15
Khur
She’s exquisite, my girl. I’ve spent the day basking in the light of her joy, and I already know, after just five days with her, that I could spend the rest of my life just watching her. I’m already planning the next “date,” as humans call them, where I’ll get to show her how Sanctuary does dancing.
We wave goodbye to Meshi as we enter the main corridor and he flies up to his second-level apartment. Destiny’s face lights up and I can see the questions building up in her mind like snowfall.
“What if they want to have visitors of the non-winged variety? What about Winged-Ones who can’t fly? Are there any like that? I assume the very young and the elderly might struggle to make that flight. I have so many questions!” She turns her bright eyes to me, full of excitement for things I’ve taken for granted for so long.
“You know, I honestly don’t know. I will have to ask for you,” and I will. I mentally file those questions for tomorrow at the office. Admittedly, I am very curious myself, now. How have I never thought to ask these questions before?
“What about Hope? How will she visit him when they fall in love?” she continues dreamily, and I look at her a bit surprised.
“I admit, I don’t know much about human expressions yet, but she did not look interested in his affections today.”
“Well, you’re right about that, but I have a feeling about those two. Sometimes love takes time to bloom between two people.”
I ponder this as we wander through the packed corridor. The market is busy today and Destiny sticks close to me as we make our way through the crowd. She doesn’t take my hand again, though, and I am quiet as I wonder if I should grab hers, or if she would rather keep whatever is blooming between us private. Is it love? For me, it is dangerously close to that already, I think. I have never been in love before and never thought it would happen to me with another Dhugaren. That was before I met Destiny, though, who is different from anyone I’ve ever met, Dhugaren or otherwise.
I want to shout to the entire population of this station: THIS GIRL IS MINE AND I THINK I MIGHT LOVE HER, but I don’t know if she would accept this grand gesture or if it would embarrass her. I think the kiss at the Meadows might have done just that. It doesn’t feel like an appropriate thing to ask, either. So instead I walk with her and watch her as she takes in the sights from my side.
We’re at the door to her subdivision quicker than I’d like and I’m struck by the disappointment that I will have to say goodbye to her soon. I had planned to say goodbye, kissing her at the door like Josep instructed, but suddenly I’m searching for a reason to keep her with me a while longer. Perhaps she would like to go back to my apartment for dinner? I’ll even share her with Urzu and the kids (and, let's face it, probably Furga as well) if it means I get to spend another hour withher. Just as we get to her door and I open my mouth to invite her back to my apartment, she turns to me with a sweet, shy smile.
“Wanna come in and help me figure out dinner on the food machine?”
My heart soars higher than any Silfan windrider ever could.
“I would be delighted to stay with you a little longer,” I reply with sincerity. The blush I am rewarded with is better than any battle victory could ever be.
She waves one hand over the panel to activate the pocket door and grabs my arm with the other, towing me behind her into her apartment. Once inside, though, she turns to me and the sweet, shy smile is gone, replaced with a frown and a deep groove between her brows.
“What’s wrong?” I ask, reaching out to smooth the wrinkle on her brow with my index finger. I trace the bridge of her nose and gently poke the tip, like she did with me earlier.
“It’s… well… this apartment is in my name. Mine alone.”
“Ok…” I say, waiting for her to explain.
“And no one is going to make me feel uncomfortable in my own home.”
