“We used to say that Davix was part mikka because of how much he loves the water,” Krish says, referring to the small, furred animals who live in lakes on our home planet. He starts to take off his clothes and then turns to face Corrina. “Are you not going to swim?”
“I didn’t think to bring anything to wear for swimming,” she says, shaking her head.
“Can you not swim naked?” Zann asks curiously.
Corrina laughs. “Uh, I guess I could in theory. But this is a public place, and humans are not generally naked in front of other humans.”
“There are no humans here now,” Zann says, echoing my own thoughts.
“That’s okay. I’ll just watch from the shore,” Corrina says, settling down beside the pile of clothes that we have discarded.
“Perhaps the next time you can swim with us,” Krish says, dropping the last of his clothes and wading into the water.
“Maybe,” Corrina replies.
Chapter Twenty-Four: Corrina
I can’t help but smile as I watch Davix, Krish, and Zann swim and play in the water. To be honest, this whole day has brought a smile to my face. I can’t remember the last time I spent a day just being myself – Corrina – and not a station commander. Maybe it’s partially because it’s been a long time since I hung out with anyone who isn’t a soldier, or maybe it’s the simple feeling that I feel like there are no expectations of me. This isn’t a date, or a military exercise, or even an official station tour. It’s just me and them doing things that I thought they’d like. And I feel like I nailed it. It’s been a really good day.
It’s interesting to watch the three of them together. I’ll admit I had questions about their relationship with each other, and I still have some that linger. But from what I see and what Wenschel has shared, they are really no different from siblings in a human family except that they were all born at once and have similar genetic parentage. Okay, maybe the fact that they apparently sleep together in a pile is a little different from most human families. But it honestly sounds kind of fun. It’s like never outgrowing the stage of childhood when sleepovers werea big deal. Watching them wrestle in the cold water is a little reminiscent of children playing too.
But then Zann stands up and starts back towards the shore, and I am reminded that there is nothing childlike about his physique. Water streams down his olive green skin in rivulets, highlighting the sculpted muscles of his arms and chest. He moves deliberately towards me, and I am hypnotized by the way his body is revealed as he emerges from the water. The muscles of his abdomen form a vee that would be the envy of many men, and the well-defined muscles of his legs shift and bunch as he moves towards me. If he had a visible cock, this view would be downright pornographic. As it is, I can definitely see why Wenschel was getting questions about anatomical compatibility.
When I first encountered the haleens, they looked essentially the same to me. Their heights vary, but that was about it. But as I’ve spent more time with them and gotten to know them, I’ve learned the differences in their personalities and their physiques. They each have a unique pattern to the dark markings on their skin, something that is even more obvious when they are naked like they are now. Their horns form unique patterns as well. It was odd to see at first, but I’ve gotten more used to it. I can’t help thinking that it reminds me of a crown every time I look at them, and there is certainly something elegant and regal about the way they move.
Zann comes to stand beside me, and I am struck yet again by how very tall he is. I know objectively that he is taller than most humans and much taller than me. But being close to him like this really drives that fact home. Sitting while he standsdoesn’t help either. Like this, I barely come up to Zann’s crotch. I scramble to my feet awkwardly and raise my eyes to meet his. His yellow eyes narrow slightly and he leans forward and inhales slowly through his nose. “Your scent seems a little different,” he says, tilting his head and giving me a curious look.
“Is this your way of telling me that I need to shower?” I ask jokingly.
Zann considers me for a minute. “If this is how you smell when you need to shower, then I would tell you not to shower,” he says finally. “It is a pleasing smell.”
“Oh, um. Okay. Thank you.” I reply. Zann smiles at me and then sits on the shore. I lower myself again until I am sitting beside him.
“I have not talked to Davix or Krish about staying yet,” Zann says softly after a moment.
“It’s only been a day,” I reply. “There’s no rush, at least from my end. I mean, I’ll need to look into options, but I can do that even without a final answer.”
Zann nods. “To be honest, I am afraid that they will want to go home.” He shakes his head. “I do not want to go home, but I would if that is what they both want. We have never really been separated.”
“You’re very close to each other.”
Zann nods again. “Brood brother bonds are very strong. We have always been together. They are like a part of me.”
“That is a special relationship,” I say softly. “I’m sure they feel the same way. And I’m sure you’ll be able to reach an agreement.” I pause. “If Gyria weren’t so far away and if there was an IPC presence there already, I would say you could come back and visit from time to time.”
“But that isn’t a possibility,” Zann says and I nod sadly.
“You will have to choose one or the other, I’m afraid.”
“I will speak to them tonight. I hope I can convince them to stay.”
I hope so too, but I don’t say that part out loud.
Watching Krish emerge from the water is no less of a visual treat than watching Zann, though with Zann beside me I try not to stare. Davix is the last to leave the cold water of the lake. Although he is perhaps even more impressive physically than Zann or Krish with his broad, muscled chest and shoulders, my eyes are drawn again to the scar at his throat. I wonder if he will ever trust me enough to tell me what happened and if, as I suspect, whatever happened is what cost him his voice.
“Ready to head back?” I call.
Davix signs something and Krish translates. “Davix wants to wait a few minutes before putting on clothes again so that he can dry.” As Davix lies down and spreads out on the shore, I can’t help noticing the way the late afternoon sun plays across his skin. But then I am forcing my eyes away from him and back to the waves gently lapping against the stones. I feel momentarily guilty for admiring any of them the way I am. Itfeels unfair somehow to sexualize someone who has made their lack of interest clear, but it is hard not to admire them. At least I can spare all of us some discomfort by keeping my thoughts to myself.
