I found his hand beneath the water and laced my fingers with his. Despite his claws, it was easy and comfortable. His large, scaly hand enveloped mine in a protective layer. I was never a dependent person, or someone who relied on others. But Linn’ar opened up my vulnerable side. For the first time in my life, I felt content to unfurl my soul and rely on someone else—and I liked it.
“Tilt your head back,” Linn’ar instructed.
I followed his command. Linn’ar cupped water with his free hand and doused my hair with it. It was nice and cool against my scalp. I didn’t realize how badly I needed a cleansing bath.
He continued pouring water over my hair until it was soaked, then gently carded his fingers through it. The feeling of his claw-tips skimming my skin made me shiver. He was always so careful with them, and the light grazing sensation felt strangely good.
“Do you enjoy this?” Linn’ar asked.
“Yeah. Quite a bit.”
I nuzzled his shoulder, then caught myself. I wasn’t a nuzzler. I’d nevernuzzledin my life. Yet here I was, cuddling up to an alien like a kitten in an electric blanket.
Well, I guess Iwasa nuzzler now.
10 /Linn’ar
“Greetings! Hello! Trick or treat!”
The sound of Zat’tor’s voice at the door woke me. I roused to discover I was in Jaeyoung’s den, with him curled up in my arms. I remembered that we stumbled back here after our relaxing night at the pool.
Jaeyoung’s reflexes were slower than mine and he got up slower than I did. “What is he talking about?” he grumbled, rubbing his eyes. “Trick or treat? It’s not even Halloween...”
Levi’s muffled voice came next. “No, no. The first two are fine, but the last one isn’t relevant right now.”
Jaeyoung huffed as he sat upright. “Why are those two—” Realization struck him and his eyes widened. “Oh, right.” He quickly got up and shimmied into the onesie. “Be there in a sec!” he called to our visitors.
Watching him put on the covering filled me with joy. I was happy to see him wearing the garment we created together. It looked adorable on him, and it fit perfectly.
Jaeyoung rushed to the door with uncharacteristic enthusiasm and threw it open. Zat’tor and Levi stood on the other side—but they weren’t alone. Little Dai’zee was with them.
I joined Jaeyoung, who I noticed was fidgeting more than usual. Was he nervous about babysitting?
“I see you’re dressed today,” Levi said with a grin. He wore a pink onesie, too, the one I gifted him a while ago.
“Yeah, well, it’s a big day,” Jaeyoung said.
While the humans chatted, I greeted Zat’tor with a clicking trill and a wave of my tentacles. My sibling returned the gesture. Dai’zee was propped up in his arms, and she wriggled in his grip, reaching out curiously. She looked like a Maeleon, her body a bright leaf-green, but she had Levi’s human eyes.
Zat’tor offered her to me. I knew he trusted me intrinsically to watch his offspring because that’s what Maeleons did. Whenever there were young ones in the village, we shared responsibility for their care.
But Jaeyoung seemed unsure of himself. He looked at Dai’zee like he was afraid of hurting her by accident. He just needed practice.
“You gonna be okay?” Levi asked. “You look like you’re going to pass out.”
Jaeyoung huffed. “I do not. And we’ll be fine.”
“I know you will, otherwise I wouldn’t leave my kid with you,” Levi assured him, smiling. “Besides, Linn’ar knows what he’s doing. Right?”
“Oh, yes,” I chirped. “We will have lots of fun today. Do not fret.”
Zat’tor pointed at his offspring’s mouth. “Her sharp baby fangs are coming in. Do be careful she doesn’t bite your fingers off.”
Jaeyoung’s brows rose, his scientific curiosity reignited. “Born without teeth and they grow in later...”
“Hey, donotstudy my infant,” Levi ordered. “You’re babysitting, not conducting research.”
“Not even casual observations?”
