by Lily Anton
Chief Steward Krase was not Ezon’s favorite person; the male only doing his job so that he could enjoy the fruits of his labor and gossip with those of self-proclaimed nobility and station. It was also well known that the Debir was an elitist, and had not been in favor of coming to the aid of Earth, suggesting that they merely procure its resources and leave the humans to their fate with the Baza.
Ezon could not deny that he had agreed to an extent with Krase, but had certainly never thought himself better than any other species. He was self-aware enough to realize that his opinion on humans (one in particular) had changed considerably.
If Krase had not been forced upon him to serve as Chief Steward aboard the Tyrrhenian, Ezon would have sent him on his way. Still, Krase was very good at planning out logistics, especially when it came to organizing lavish affairs. It didn’t surprise him that he had been planning ahead. Even if the Debir’s reasoning was to impress visiting dignitaries.
That was also another matter Ezon would need to attend to. The summit would certainly have to be canceled if the situation did not improve.
He followed behind Fenna silently, letting her chatter on as she took them past the center pool, various plant life filling the atrium surrounding it. Looking up, there were five levels above them, all with bannisters that one could simply look over and see the water below.
A large waterfall roared in the background crashing into the separate area.
He was well aware of the stories of intoxicated guests diving from the levels above into the water. It was deep enough for such a thing, and his people jumped from much higher heights in general, but usually it was not done with a glass of fezez wine in hand and formal attire on.
Thoughts of the ridiculous antics of a few of the ship’s previous passengers distracted him long enough to realize that they had stopped in the kitchens, Fenna clearly knowing how to navigate the large space.
“What type of food are you looking for? My access is limited I’m afraid…” she said, her words trailing off as she remembered who she was with. He had access to anything he wished.
Ezon blinked. For the first time in a long while he had absolutely no idea how to answer that question. He needed to quickly think of something.
“Something that is palatable at room temperature and is not particularly heavy.”
He thought it was a good enough answer except Fenna was looking at him as if expecting more information.
“Something that would be enjoyable to eat before resting,” he added.
She gave it some thought, tapping her fingers against the countertop. “That does narrow it down somewhat. If you wouldn’t mind telling me what your prefered dishes are on Debiraan, I could compare-”
Ezon shook his head. “It is not for me.”
“Oh.” Fenna looked curious, but thankfully did not dare question him. “Well, we do have some baked goods. Humans make very good bread! And there are ones filled with sweet creams and fruits! They are best fresh from the oven but they were made today,” she offered as an option.
He nodded, not knowing what else to do. She appeared taken with her own suggestions, and Ezon stepped forward to place his hand on the scanner to allow her access to what he needed.
Fenna didn’t waste any time hurrying about so quickly that he lost sight of her several times.
“Commander, I do not think there is enough for all the humans on board,” she came back, clearly having done a quick assessment.
No wonder she was taking so long. “It is not for all the humans on board. Only one.”
The only one that mattered right now.
Fenna finally stood still. “Oh! Then that’s easy. Shall I have it delivered to-”
“No, I will take it now.”
Whatever she thought of his responses, she kept it to herself.
A few minutes later and Fenna was carrying a small basket. “I have placed an assortment in here. Guests usually enjoy picnicking by the water so we usually have several baskets available.”
He accepted the basket from her, lifting the cloth covering the contents inside. It looked and smelled appetizing, at least to him.
“Thank you Fenna,” he said, walking her back out. She looked proud that she had helped him and had done well. “Even off duty you did not hesitate to assist me.”
Fenna’s eyes widened. “Of course not, Commander. It was my pleasure. Please let me know-”
“Fenni!”
Both of them looked up at the second level, a uniformed Debir leaping over the balcony and falling several feet down. He landed gracefully, immediately heading towards them.
Ezon instantly clocked the male’s young age by that act alone, an action that meant to show off agility and strength. There was no question of who he had meant to show off for.
A single jade shell affixed to his uniform identified him as an officer of the engineering crew.
“Behas?” Fenna looked at the male in confusion before it cleared from her face. “Behas! I’m sorry I’m late.”
“That’s alright,” he said with a warm smile directed at her, only to drop it when he looked over at him.
“Who is this?” the male named Behas was eying Ezon with suspicion, his eyes darting between the pair of them before noticing the basket in his hand. Considering they were just about to pass by the atrium, it was not difficult to see how the tan colored Debir could come to the wrong conclusion.
If it had only been the day before, Ezon would have immediately reprimanded the young Debir for violating ship protocol with his leap down from the second level. But if it had been any other day, then Ezon would not have been standing here in this situation with a basket of human food in his hand. It was also impossible not to notice the other male’s eyes flashing silver when he snuck another glance at Fenna.
“Behas!” She was shocked as her potential bondmate strode forward, immediately looking up at Commander Ezon who simply held up his free hand to indicate to her it was fine.
“You must learn to control your emotions in order to better analyze the situation, Behas,” he instructed.
“What?” Behas looked like he’d been hit in the face. “Who are you to-”
Ezon’s face remained impassive but he did find the situation mildly amusing as he noted the moment Behas spotted the five tridents on his epaulettes.
“Commander…?!” the young man’s voice sounded strangled as he froze on the spot.
“Behas, apologize!” Fenna demanded with such ferocity that Ezon found himself impressed when the man startled into action.
“Apologies Commander Ezon,” he bowed, keeping his back parallel with the ground. “I did not recognize you.”
If he hadn’t been in a hurry to get back, he would have let the male squirm a little while longer. Although, he found himself not wishing to further upset Fenna, who had apparently been late because of his request..
“At ease Behas,” he replied. “Fenna was kind enough to assist me with a request that took more time than expected.”
Normally he would not have bothered explaining his actions, but he did not want the burden to fall to Fenna. “In the future, I would advise you to heed my advice.”
Behas was nodding feverishly. “Of course, Commander Ezon.”
Fenna was still standing there with angry embarrassment written all over her face.
“You may wish to apologize to Fenna as well for jumping to conclusions.”
The officer straightened up, puffing out his chest as he turned towards her, bowing deeply in her direction as a sign of formal respect. “I’m sorry Fenni.”
She looked mollified by his apology but Ezon knew Behas would probably be doing more of it once the two were alone.
“Thank you again Fenna for your assistance. And Behas, please do not break protocol again.”
It took the male a moment to think about what he was referring to, his mouth opening in horror in self-realization. Ezon would have been within his rights to report the incident to his commanding
officer and the fact that Behas was getting a pass this time was not lost on any of them.
“I will not, Commander,” he assured hurriedly, as if Ezon would change his mind. “You have my word.”
“Good. As you were.”
He resisted the urge to smirk as he walked away, hearing the beginnings of a lover’s quarrel when they thought he was far enough away. Then again, ‘quarrel’ may have been the wrong descriptor to use, especially as Behas was begging forgiveness while Fenna scolded him for embarrassing her.
Had he really been that young once? It seemed so long ago. Then again, when most of the Debirs Behas’ age were challenging each other to diving contests or flashing their colors to attract the attention of others, he had been focused on learning everything he could from senior officers aboard the ship.
He had been brazen enough to even catch the former Commander off guard as he handed him a list of suggestions of roles he would be best suited for and the reasons why.
To this day he was still teased about it by General Yera, and even a few times by the former Commander himself…
His random bout of nostalgia found him back in front of the door to his quarters much quicker than he’d expected. If anyone had noticed him carrying the ridiculous looking basket he could only hope they kept it to themselves.
He had dimmed the lights before he left, his eyes adjusting to dark as he placed the basket on the counter. His heart picked up speed as he questioned what to do. Hand her the basket? Set the food on a plate?
Of course his comm unit would chirp right at that moment.
“What,” he bit out quietly, hoping that Leila was still resting comfortably.
“Commander-”
He cut Captain Raillar off. “Can this wait?”
“I’m afraid not, Commander,” the captain replied unphased. “A Baza frigate has been spotted heading this direction.”
The Baza would have been idiots to attack. A single frigate was zero match against the Tyrrhenian: a mere speck of dust in comparison.
“A distraction?”
“One would think,” Raillar agreed. “But there are no indicators of any other Baza ships anywhere in the quadrant. A rogue group perhaps, but it would be suicide for them to attack us.”
He needed to get back to the command deck, that much was clear. It was obvious. No question about it. But being so close to her again…
The soft enchanting melody in his head called him towards who was in his bed chambers…
“Commander?”
He snapped himself out of it, Raillar’s tone indicating this was not the first time he’d tried to get his attention. “I will be there shortly.”
“Would you like me to post a guard in front of your quarters?”
Ezon closed his eyes. Railler was sometimes too observant for his own good. One part of him wanted to say yes, the other part wanted to stubbornly argue that he should be the one guarding her, and a third part -the only rational part of him at this point- argued that there was nothing to guard from.
“That won’t be necessary,” he managed to say calmly, ending the link.
He didn’t want to leave her, but then what would he do if he actually stayed here? Stare at her for hours?
‘Yes.’ It was not a helpful thought.
Taking the basket, he walked towards his room, calling out softly so as to not startle her.
He needn’t have bothered. Buried underneath the covers, Leila lay fast asleep, not even stirring as he approached the side of the bed and set the basket down.
Finding a tablet, he left her instructions on how to use it, along with an extra comm link that he begrudgingly set to directly call Nelo should she need anything. Ezon had a feeling he would not be back before she woke, and he couldn’t leave her stuck in here with nothing.
“I’m sorry.” He whispered the words as he leaned over her, a need to reassure himself she was safe.
His lips pressed a chaste kiss on the crown of her head where it peeked out over the covers, softly scenting her hair and biting back a moan. Ezon couldn’t remember the last time he had been so reckless or foolish as he contemplated getting into bed beside her, pulling her body towards him. She’d be pliant from sleep, turning to curl into his arms, allowing him the gift of her trust and affection.
“Ezon?” she mumbled, still half asleep. Her body shifted underneath the downy blanket.
He froze, his head still inches away from hers. Had she felt him kiss her?
“I apologize for waking you,” he murmured, hoping she’d brush their close proximity off as him having come to wake her. “I’ve brought you some food and left you some things for when you are awake.”
“Thanks,” she hummed, her recollection of events that led her to his bed forgotten. So much so that she burrowed even further underneath the covers and fell back asleep.
Ezon closed his eyes, breathing a sigh of relief before he stood up, making sure everything was in place for her as he left.
“Where are you going?”
He froze. Apparently she had not gone back to sleep just yet. Her voice drew him back in, unable to help himself yet again as he ran his fingers through her hair. She did not flinch away, instead all but purring as they grazed her scalp.
“I must go back to the command deck.” His soft words held a note of regret. “Rest.”
“Can I ask you a question?” Her eyes were half-open as he came back to her side of the bed and knelt down.
‘Ask me anything. Whatever you wish.’
“Of course,” he murmured.
He felt her pause, a sense of vulnerability surrounding her.
“Why does it feel strange when I’m with you?”
Well, that was the question, wasn’t it. How did he even begin to explain…
Ezon wished he had the time or knew the right words to use.
“I…” he started, trying to be careful with his words. “It is mutual.”
“Oh.”
Did it truly surprise her that he felt the same?
“But what is it? I hear...there’s like a song…”
Ezon sucked in a breath, one that she evidently heard as the blankets shifted down revealing a bit more of her face, various emotions flitting across it.
He had no control over his body then, his head leaning forward until it was pressed against hers. “It is the Calling,” he admitted softly. “I know humans do not have such a thing but-”
“I don’t know if I like it…” she whispered the admission.
It hit him like a punch to the gutt.
Of course she would not want such a thing with him. He had let his emotions get the best of him, allowing himself to think foolish thoughts that would never be a reality.
“I am sorry I am not what you wish for.” Ezon leaned away from her, his eyes now a dull yellow. “When it is safe to do so, I will take you back to Earth.”
His heart was heavy with a loss of something it could have had. “Go back to sleep now,” he said softly.
It was selfish of him, but if this was to be the last time he would touch her…
Ezon would not steal another kiss from her. He was barely brave enough as he pressed his lips against her forehead before turning away, ignoring her pleas that he stop.
CHAPTER NINE
Leila
Shit.
“Wait! Ezon, please wait!” She had been struggling to wake the rest of the way up, wrestling with the blankets as she tried to stop him. She just needed to explain…
He was gone, the door already locked behind him by the time she got to it.
“Fuck!” She rested her head against it.
She wished she could take it back. As soon as he had responded and she’d heard the hurt in his voice, it had gutted her.
I am sorry I am not what you wish for…
“That’s not what I meant!” she hissed, slamming her hand against the door before pushing away from it.
Leila paced around the room like a caged animal, rethinking e
verything she had said and done in those precious few minutes he had been there, and all of it just made her feel worse. That had not been the time to speak to him about anything. She should have just gone back to fucking sleep like he’d suggested.
The irony of the situation was not lost on her. At the embassy, she had literally been looking over her shoulder in fear of finding him lurking around every corner. The long walk to the car (which had turned out to be a fucking shuttle) with Nelo being the most stressful.