When Lee got close enough, Vrayl scooted down the couch so Lee could stand between them. Trenet rubbed Asher’s shoulder comfortingly before easing the Human back from his chest.
“It’s okay, little love,” Trenet said soothingly as Asher immediately started shivering hard. “Your new friendyshainLee is going to help you into a newhumshus. He’s given you one from his own collection. Isn’t that kind?”
Up close like this, Lee could see all of Asher’sjahinbetter now. His mitts weren’t just for his hands, they came up his arms and kept his whole upper body restrained. The blindfold was well fitted and soft looking, shaping the contours of Asher’s face. Lee knew it was for Asher’s comfort, but he wished it could be removed so he could get a better look at Asher. Maybe when he settled in better and they had another play date, Lee would get to see his eyes.
“It’s—it’s my pleasure,” Lee said, feeling shy but wanting Asher to hear him. “I hope Asher likes this one.”
“I’m sure he will,” Vrayl said. Then, “Why don’t you help him take off his old one. Do you know how to do that?”
It wasn’t a test, from his tone Lee could tell he was genuinely asking. It made him feel warm, cared for. These two weren’t his mates and he didn’t want them to be, but it was nice to have an interaction with Dresht where he felt safe. He nodded.
“Go ahead,” Trenet encouraged. He’d eased Asher farther back so Lee could reach him. His own hands were shaking when he reached for the buckle. Asher’s hair was long and beautiful, so he was careful when he undid the buckle so that it wouldn’t snag on any strands. Still, as it released, Asher jolted.
Slowly, so slowly, Lee eased the humshus out of Asher’s mouth and off. Immediately Vrayl’s hand was there to take it, offering the new one in its stead.
“Please!” The word burst out of Asher’s mouth in Universal, so loud and shrill that it made Lee startle. “Please, don’t!”
He was panicking, his breaths coming in huge gasps. It was painfully familiar to Lee, and strange to see it from the other side. He knew just how much Asher must be hurting, how afraid he was of this new life.
“It’s okay,” Lee said softly, trying for a reassuring tone. “It’s okay, Asher, don’t worry, you’re safe.”
Asher’s head snapped in his direction. “You speak–you speak Universal?”
“Yeah?” Lee said, confused. He hadn’t even realized he’d flipped over to Universal. His translation chip was top of the line–necessary for Couriers–and it meant he could shift between languages as the situation demanded without really noticing.
“Oh, thank the stars, I—my translator—it doesn’t work here. I don’t know–I don’t know what they’re saying–! Please tell them I’m Human. I live on Journey-5. I’m–I don’t belong here. I don’t know what’s happening, I just want to go home.”
Understanding dawned on Lee. No wonder Asher was so frightened and confused, if he couldn’t even understand the calm reassurances and gentle praise from his mates.
“Your translator doesn’t work at all?”
“I can only get some of the words, and they can’t seem to understand me at all. They don’t—they don’tlistento me, please—” Asher let out a ragged cry and jerked in Trenet’s hold.
“Shhh,” Lee’s hands twitched, wanted to pet him, to soothe him the way Eral and Ronet had done for him, still continued to do for him. “Shh, it’s okay. I’ll tell them, don’t worry.” Hequickly relayed the information in Dreshtian. Trenet and Vrayl both frowned.
“We had no idea his translator wasn’t working,” Trenet said, stroking Asher’s hair, who trembled. “The Match Agency didn’t say anything about his translator. We can look into getting that fixed. Could you tell him that? Could you tell him we didn’t know, poor thing.”
Lee was happy to assure Asher that his new mates would be getting his translator fixed as soon as they could. Instead of calming Asher though, it only seemed to agitate him.
“No, no, no, no! You’re not listening! No one is listening! I want to gohome, please–”
His cries and pleas got louder, more upset, but Lee had the best way to calm him down right in his own hands. Because yes, the translator was a problem and certainly needed to be fixed so that Asher could understand all the loving words Trenet and Vrayl wanted to lavish on him, but right now with as upset as Asher was, he had to be given when heneeded.What allyshainneeded.
To be properly, lovingly full.
Lee already knew his place as ayshain.He relished it. And he would show Asher. Maybe Asher wouldn’t appreciate it properly now, but eventually he would. Eventually he’d understand just what a blessing it was to have loving, caring mates here.
“I’m listening.” Lee said. He kept his voice low and easy like trying to calm a skittish animal. Asher cut himself off immediately, his chest heaving, his face tilted in Lee’s direction. Lee couldn’t see his eyes, but he thought the expression beneath might look desperate. “I’m Human too,” he said, hoping that would ease some of Asher’s worry, “and I came here just like you. So I know how scary it is in the beginning. But I promise it’sgoing to be okay, Asher. I-I’m giving you this because I know it will help. It’ll make you feel better.”
“You’re Human? Here? How did you–please, I don’t— I just want to go home, please—”
“It’s going to be okay,” Lee said softly. Trying to convince Asher with words would be useless. Lee remembered enough about when he came to know that. Asher needed time, and he needed to process his experiences, and he needed to beshown. All Lee could offer him now in comfort was his presence and thehumshus.
He brought thehumshusto Asher’s lips. The second it touched the rosy petal of his bottom lip, Asher started flailing as much as he could with his limited, restrained mobility. Trenet seemed to expect it, because he had wrapped his arms fully around Asher’s slight body, bracing his torso and head.
“This is going to make you feel better,” Lee coaxed. “All you have to do is open up.”
“No!” Asher hissed through his clenched teeth.
