Domik
He watched as CJ entered the medical tent. Feeling like he was letting something precious slip through his fingers.
Not for long. Stick to the plan.
Domik turned and headed toward the command tent.
It had taken being separated from her to realize what he needed to do. And he would let nothing get in his way.
I’ve been such a fool.
He shook his head, a scowl giving him a fierce expression so that anyone in his way avoided meeting his eyes, and quickly stepped to one side.
In the past, that would have made Domik happy. Having people move away from him meant they wouldn’t engage in conversation with him. They wouldn’t get to know him and be able to hurt him.
Over time, the habits of his childhood had become so ingrained that he had become to think that he was unlikeable. That people, when they didn’t want to use him for his brain or his size, really were just scared of him, women especially.
Until she had seen right through me.
A warmth filled his chest as he thought of all the times she had questioned him. Pushed back. Refused to let his superficial answers to her questions go.
Bit by bit, she had eroded the walls he had built to protect his heart, so slowly that he hadn’t realized it was happening until he felt exposed. Raw.
And it had begun with one smile.
He had spent his life maintaining barriers, making sure people stayed away, kept their distance.
Then he had walked onto that sports court back on the space station base orbiting Taurus those many months ago and he’d taken one look at her and everything had changed.
He didn’t want her to be afraid of him, or to keep her away.
Instead, he stuck close, learnt that she had her own demons, and wanted to help her defeat them.
Now he was ready to begin anew, and he wanted her by his side, but only if she wanted to go willingly.
So he had a proposal.
Before he spoke to CJ—Clodagh—he needed to see Zac.
He approached the command tent and, pushing aside the flap of canvas, stepped inside. The room had lost its frantic tone, many of the Space Force marines nowhere to be seen. The view screens were black, except for a section on one side of the tent where a Taurean was directing personnel of both species, coordinating the movement of wounded to orbiting starships for treatment.
Domik looked around the room, spying Zac standing to one side talking with the human general. Domik approached and stood a short distance away, patiently waiting his turn to speak with his commander.
Not for much longer.
Zac turned and gave Domik a warm smile, the scars on the left side of his face pulling slightly as he did so. He nodded to the general, who turned and moved away, before sliding his arm around Domik’s shoulders.
“It’s good to see you, my friend,” Zac said, and Domik realized he was right. Zac was a friend.
It was good to have friends again.
Again? Had he ever had friends before?
Domik shook away the thought.
“Thank you.” He gave a small smile in return.
Zac gestured for them to sit, pushing away papers and tablets to one side of the table. “What can I do for you, Domik?”
