“Sorry for making you wait,” the doctor says as she enters. “I just wanted to confirm that I’ve got all the data. Let me read through the latest results.”

Dr. Igüeni takes a seat and reads through what seems a lengthy report.

I strengthen my grip on Aia’s trembling hand. I can’t hide my nervousness either…

The good doctor sighs deeply as she lies her tablet down. She closes her eyes and seems to process all the data.

“The news are good,” she says, opening her eyes. “However, there are details still to consider…” She takes a deep breath while Aia and I already look at each other with wide eyes, and happiness starts to draw on our faces. “Congratulations, you are compatible,” Dr. Igüeni says with much joy.

“We… we are…” Aia stutters, unable to hold back tears of happiness.

“Yeah… we are…” I stutter too and embrace Aia filled with joy.

We hug while tears flood our faces.

“Congratulations,” Ehhnah sings from our right.

·

Finally calmed down and tears dried, we let doctor Igüeni explain the details. “Is it okay now? Or do you need more time?” she asks. We ask her to go on, and she nods. “Okay… According to the many tests, you are eighty-nine percent compatible. Above seventy-five percent, you’re able to have healthy children. Keep in mind that even one-hundred percent does not mean you are guaranteed to have children. This percentage only accounts the genetic compatibility. A full score does not guarantee that a healthy child would be born on the first try.

“This result only tells us that if everything goes okay and a fetus matures, and survives up to birth, the child will have no genetic defect out of your union.”

“Meaning, if pregnancy goes well, the child will be healthy,” Aia sums up.

“Exactly,” Dr. Igüeni confirms. “Now… there are many other conditions to meet. That, however, is the natural flow, and we can’t alter it. We may aide, but not change it.

“First, the obvious, your reproductive cells have to meet during your fertility window. Then, the DNA of both have to fuse the right way, without damaging itself. The resulting DNA strains have to meet certain conditions to evolve. There are several other criteria the developing fetus has to fulfill.”

“I understand…” Aia sighs. “It’s not like that we might have a child on our first try, isn’t it?”

“Sadly, it is so,” the doctor confirms. “That, however, is also true inside the same species. We can, however, thanks to modern medicine, evaluate if an early fetus will be able to survive or not. It is, sadly, preferable to abort early ill fetuses before they could adversely affect the mother.

“Regarding your question about blood…” the doc sighs. “I omitted the full answer in an attempt to not making you more nervous. There is one possible major issue about blood, the blood type.” Aia looks down, sighs, and looks at the doc again. “We cannot determine your blood type…”

“Huh?” Aia and I jolt, shocked by the statement.

“A simple analysis shows a similar blood type to the human A- group. However, the deep analysis revealed it to be not the slightest similarity… Good thing you never needed a blood transfusion, Aia. It could have killed you.”

“No way…” I gasp while Aia shudders.

“We need to take more blood samples of you, Aia. We absolutely need to synthesize your blood. If you’re in danger, we might need it,” Dr. Igüeni states.

“I understand,” Aia nods and confirms. “Best we’ll do so.”

“Synthesize?” I ask, baffled.

“Yes,” the doc confirms. “We are able to grow blood cells from samples, but we’ll need much of it. It might be too much for the body in case of an emergency.”

“Meaning,” Aia sighs, “this could be a problem with a child having Kira’s B+ blood, right?”

“Yes…” Dr. Igüeni sighs too. “We have no Immune Globulin for you, which could be lethal for either you or your baby.”

“What can be done?” I ask nervously.

“The best outcome would be that the baby has Aia’s blood,” the doctor explains. “In the worst case…” she takes a deep breath and goes on with sorrow, “aborting at the earliest stage possible would be the safest choice…”

“No way…” I sigh.

Aia’s hand grips mine tighter. “What are the chances?” she asks.

“Fifty-fifty…” Dr. Igüeni stats after a long sight. “However, when the time comes that we can determine the fetus’ blood type, we would already know if it would be healthy in genetic terms.”

“Meaning, it would already be advanced…” Aia sighs. “Unless we would find a way to keep both of us out of harm…” she sighs again, way deeper.

“I fear so, I’m sorry…” Igüeni sighs again. “In most cases, we’re able to do something, even altering the DNA to force the baby’s blood to be the mother’s. But being of an unknown species… I’m afraid I can’t offer you any real option other than waiting and hoping for the best…”

“Why?” Aia sighs, “Why am I the way I am?”

“Aia… Don’t… You are all right the way you are,” I say and embrace her. “Don’t blame yourself on something you can’t control, dear. I don’t understand half of it, but I understand that you are the most important person to me. If…” I sigh deeply, “letting the child go saves you, I would prefer it. It would hurt…” I swallow empty. “But there will be more opportunities, isn’t it?”

“Kira…” Aia sighs deeply. “Yes… You’re right…”

“Aia, Kira…” Dr. Igüeni and Ehhanh sigh. The former goes on, “We will assist you in any way possible. If the worst happens, we’re here for you to help you through psychological assistance too.”

“Thanks…” Aia sighs again.

“But doesn’t the good news outweighs the bad ones?” I ask, trying to sound convincing.

“You’re right, love,” Aia says and smiles.

“And, who knows… Maybe we’ll find a way till the moment comes?” I try to reassure both of us.

“Of course!” Ehhanh exclaims. “We surely find a way. That’s our job. We won’t let you down,” she assures. Thank you, Ehhnah. That’s what we need to hear.

“Right,” the doc confirms. “Other than the blood type, there are many other variables.

“We can confirm that Kira’s DNA is on some middle ground, not new nor old. However, it won’t affect a child of yours negatively. Nor does his bionic limbs nor anything related to his hospitalization. We also ruled out any possible problem arising from his cryopreservation,” she adds.

Aia and I sigh in relief.

“We found something interesting, though…” Dr. Igüeni states. Aia and I blink and stare at the doctor. “His high resistance to pain might have come from the drugs he was injected with for his cryo. We found some faint traces of nervous damages which cannot be explained otherwise.”

“For real?” I ask, baffled.

“Indeed…” the doc nods. “Combining the data we gathered and the ones we have from your hospitalization, reveals that it is the only possibility. However, we are not one hundred percent sure. We reached a similar conclusion in regards to your higher than usual stamina…”

“But wouldn’t that be contradictory?” Aia asks. “If nerves are damaged… wouldn’t that mean he would have a lower stimulus for pleasure too?”

“That’s the interesting part,” Dr. Igüeni states. “We should investigate it further with various tests, if you want to find out. We can only assure that it won’t have a negative impact on a child of yours.”

“As long as neither our children, Aia, nor I, are negatively affected by it, I can live with not knowing the reason,” I say.

“You’re right, darling,” Aia agrees. “If you want, at some point, find out more, I’m with you.”

“Thanks, Aia, love.”

“That’s okay, you two. I’m simply stating all the results we have found,” the doc explains. “In the case of Aia, we found many things, but most are still a mystery for us…”

Aia and I look at each other and nod.

Noticing her cue, Igüeni goes on, “We need much more data, but most will likely have to come from test, experiments, and research…” she sighs. “What we have now are only indicators and not clear confirmations. I understand that you want to know it anyways, I am right?”

“Yes, doc,” Aia confirms firmly. “Please, tell us what you know, even if they are hypotheses.”

“Very well,” the good doctor confirms. “Our preliminary results hint towards the possibility that Aia is a mestizo…”

“No way…” Aia sighs.

“However, we are unable to match your DNA to any known species…” Dr. Igüeni laments. “Either nobody has made contact with any of your ancestors, or…” she halts her words and sighs deeply, “their species do not exist anymore…”

“No way!” I exclaim. “How could that be?”

“That, I don’t know…” Dr. Igüeni sighs. “You are a foundling, Aia. Has it ever been determined from where your capsule came from?”

“No…” Aia sighs. “That’s not known…”

“This is a speculative hypothesis of my own fabrication…” Igüeni says. “Your capsule might have traveled for a long time…”

“You… you mean… I was cryopreserved too? Not just put into suspended animation?” Aia gasps.

“We can’t rule it out…” the doctor sighs. “However, we’re unable to determine any traces of any known drug or their effect on you from a possible cryo.”

“Because you don’t know my species…” Aia says and sighs.

“I’m afraid so…” the doc confirms.

“What else?” Aia urges for more data.

“Yes… This is also quite intriguing…” Igüeni confirms. “The ova samples we took, indicate us that you are fertile for at most two Gaian-years…”

“Huh?” Aia blinks. “What do you mean? I’ve got the period since fourteen…”

“In some species, it does not indicate fertility… in most, it does. It seems you are one of these exceptions…” Dr. Igüeni explains. “It is rare in mammals as the menstruation’s function is, among others, to clear out the unfertilized ova. In the exceptions, it has more functions.

“The Reaf are an interesting exception,” the doc explains. “All their genders have fertility periods. Males, for example, only have around six days of fertile spermatozoa in a period of twenty days. The females, have a similar timing.

“Now, these periods are flexible, so to speak, and mates usually end up synching their fertility periods over time…”

“Wow!” I exclaim, surprised that something the like even exists.

“Yes…” Dr. Igüeni nods to my surprise. “It’s really complex. But what I want to explain is that they also have early discharges, albeit not being fertile yet. That happens to any of their genders. It is thought that the sync might happen even before fertility is confirmed. It might be similar to what happened to Aia…”

“Meaning,” Aia sighs, “I had no interest in procreating until I was fertile?”

“That is a possibility,” Igüeni assesses. “You expressed having an interest in sex, but you never felt really compelled to it…”

“Yeah… Self-pleasure was way more… pleasuring,” Aia confirms. “Until I met Kira, I never enjoyed what others did to me…”

“Perhaps, your interaction with him had awakened your fertility, or… it is just because you met him shortly after…” the doctor speculates. “As I said, we don’t have proof of it. It’s just that the data hints towards it.”

“But would make sense…” Aia says. “In the last two years, I wasn’t with any other man than Kira… My insecurities didn’t let me… But I still don’t get the time disparity between my first menses and my fertility…”

“That, I cannot explain…” Dr. Igüeni sighs.

“Anyways…” Aia sighs too. “Is there more stuff you found out?”

“Yes,” the doc confirms. “In physical aspects, you are almost a human.”

“What do you mean?” Aia asks, baffled.

“Your organs, your body, is almost identical… However, your chemical composition is slightly different. You are still a carbon-based being, and a mammal. But many details are more extraordinary…”

“What do you mean?” I ask, repeating Aia’s question.

“It’s hard to tell,” Dr. Igüeni sighs. “Aia’s DNA has the same basic building blocks. That’s why you are compatible. Your skin, for example, is slightly more elastic. Not as much as the Reaf’s skin. Its composition is slightly different, but still compatible with the humans. Your digestive system also works slightly differently. You surely have noticed that you have a shorter digestive tract…”

“Yeah,” Aia confirms. “I always thought that it might be because of a more aggressive digestive fluids in my stomach.”

“Exactly,” the doc confirms. “But that also means, that your stomach has a different composition. What’s your average secretion of solids?”

“Huh?” Aia blinks and seems to go through her mind. “Fuck… At most, once every four days, or so…”

“Similar to us Ïiha…” Igüeni confirms. “That means, you digest more efficiently than the average human, despite a shorter tract…”

“But… could all this affect our offspring,” I ask, nervously.

“No…” the doc negates to my relief. “At least, not negatively. In interspecies’ mestizos, the children would inherit most aspects of one parent, and a few from the other.

“In your case, a child would inherit either’s body composition. Meaning, they would be mostly human, or mostly Aia’s species. It would never have mixed organ types, as it would not be advantageous for evolution.

“Keep in mind that we still have to follow the rules of evolution,” Igüeni asserts. “DNA isn’t intelligent, nor perfect, it’s aleatory. However, it won’t match incompatible features. If it does, the cells simply won’t form nor grow into a fetus. Only when the right combination occurs, it evolves.”

“Meaning, a kid of ours could have a human body with my aesthetics,” Aia recaps.

“Exactly,” Igüeni confirms. “Either Aia’s or Kira’s body structure. The looks are mostly a mixture of both. That’s why, for example, smaller built Knoreliaz with Felii features exist.” Waqniz’s mate comes to my mind. “They would have a Knoreliaz body. Their insides, so to speak, would be fully Knoreliaz. The rest of their appearance would be a mixture, as it would happen with any child inside the same species.”

“Wow…” I sigh. Is that complex… I just want to have a healthy child with Aia…

“Taking into consideration that we know very little about your species, Aia, I suggest that you’d have, at least, a monthly check-up with us. At least, for the time you are trying to have a child and during your pregnancy,” Dr. Igüeni suggests.

“That would be the best,” Aia accepts, and I confirm.

“Then… Correct me, if I’m wrong…” I say after a long sigh. “The best outcome would be that our child would have Aia’s body, right?”

“Indeed,” the doc confirms. “In the case of inheriting Aia’s body, the chances they have to have her blood type is about four out of five. In case the blood type does not match, it won’t survive.

“In most known mammal species, we have medical aides which can prevent harm to both child and mother. But in Aia’s case, we have no way to help in such case.

“For example, if a Felii mother has twins with a Human partner, she could have twins, one of each species’ body type. We have the medical know-how to assure the three’s survival and health.”

“That wouldn’t be an option for us,” Aia sighs. “All our children would have to be of my species…”

“Exactly,” Igüeni sighs too. “Suspecting you are a mestizo, finding a medical solution is essentially naught…” She sighs again. “Without a full report of your birth parents’ medical details, we can’t even start…”

“That would be too costly…” Aia sighs again. “The only thing we can do is to hope for the best…”

“And the best will happen,” I assure, trying to convince myself.

“Right,” Aia giggles. “With our love that strong, we surely will succeed.” She smiles brightly. Yes, we will.

“There are other interesting details about Aia’s body,” the doc says. “But most of them won’t affect your compatibility nor your offspring.

“As I mentioned, your body is similar but at the same time different to the Human species’. I would recommend you do a full medical study on you, just to be safe.”

“What would that include? And how much would it cost?” Aia asks.

“I can’t figure the costs right now,” Dr. Igüeni sighs. “It won’t be cheap, even if we manage to get you a significant discount. And such study won’t be accepted by any insurance, as it wouldn’t be deemed as essential.”

“I don’t care about the costs,” I say while the three women look at me. Aia smiles broadly. “We’ll manage. It’s more important that we find out things which could keep Aia out of harm.”

“Kira~” Aia sighs happily.

“If Aia can’t go to a doctor without being sure that the drugs they prescribe are harmful to her or not, it’s not safe for her. Who knows what could have happened…” I state. “Don’t you have some analyses from when you were a child, dear?”

“I don’t have access to ’em…” Aia sighs.

“Why?” I ask, surprised.

“When I was found by my parents, I was subjected to many medical tests. My parents didn’t want me to be a guinea pig for the scientific community and went to court. They managed to win full custody and formally adopted me.

“However, they would lose all access to the data gathered. Mom and dad preferred to raise me as a normal child without that data than abandoning me to live in a lab…” Aia sighs again.

“The doctors didn’t hand over your data to your parents?” Dr. Igüeni exclaims, shocked. Aia shakes her head. “That’s horrible…”

“Just that I passed all the obligatory health and pathogens checks,” Aia says after a long sigh. “All the other data was buried, to my knowledge. The only data I could gather was from my own studies, and from some doctors’ reports. All that data is in my health report you have access to. I really want to know more bout myself.”

“And we’ll find out,” I say, strengthening my grip on her hand.

“Hm~” Aia confirms with a hum and beautiful smile.

“What tests would you recommend?” I ask Dr. Igüeni.

“We already gathered some important data today,” she says. “But we would need to gather hormone samples in your different states, mostly during your period. This data could be useful not only for your quest for a child, but for other medical reasons.

“Some experiments would be useful to figure if you have some sorts of allergies which were never documented.

“A brain scan in different scenarios would also be beneficial as we don’t know your brain patterns. I mean, we don’t know how some drugs could affect you—”

“Ah!” Aia interrupts the doctor with a sudden outcry. “My depression… I was diagnosed with deep depression some years ago and prescribed several drugs… None really helped. Some even worsened my overall health…”

“That’s unfortunate…” Igüeni sighs deeply. “Let me check the drugs…” She goes through Aia’s clinical reports until she sighs again. “These drugs are meant for several different species… It seems that those doctors just threw anything at you without knowing how you’d react…”

“No way…” Aia sighs.

“From the diagnostics, I understand that you went through is a depressive episode. It truly looks that way. However, the prescriptions make no sense, given your species. At first, you were given different drugs meant for Humans. As they did not work, you were prescribed with those of other species… None worked… More likely, they intensified your depressive state…” the doc sighs yet again.

“Yeah… It was not until I ditched all the drugs and went on working at the cryogenic lab where I met Kira later on,” Aia explains.

“I’m no specialist on psychology,” Dr. Igüeni says. “But I can guess from your data, that caring for others might have lifted your spirit. Ditching the wrongly described drugs surely helped too.”

“I’m sure that Kira helped the most,” Aia giggles and returns my caresses on my hand. “Right now, I’m completely the opposite, almost euphoric.”

“That could be related to your species’ inherent mindset,” the doctor speculates. “I—Oh!” She interrupts herself while scanning over Aia’s medical report. “Your depression was diagnosed around the time we infer you started to ovulate…”

“Really?” Aia and I cry out.

“This is, again, just a hypothesis and requires further studies,” Igüeni says as she brushes through her dark silvery hair. “You might have gotten depressed because you’re supposed to have a soulmate by the moment you become fertile.

“I can’t give you an example, as I haven’t heard of another species to react that way. That could explain why your interaction as a nurse with patients, which is similar to a mother’s care, could have helped you. It also would explain your full recovery at Kira’s side, who is your soulmate.”

“But how is that possible?” I ask.

“Again, I am not a psychologist nor a brain specialist,” Dr. Igüeni says. “I can only postulate hypotheses that require further analyses. I can only think of an interrelation between the physical needs to procreate and the mental state of being with one’s soulmate. In some species, the start of the females’ fertility also activates a need to find a suitable soulmate. It’s a complex correlation which involves physical and mental needs, and hormones.”

“That could make some sense…” Aia assesses.

“But doesn’t that mean that her soulmate has to be a man?” I ask with suspicion. “I can’t believe that it has to be tied with procreation.”

“You’re right, Kira,” the doctor says and nods. “I might be completely wrong in that aspect. However, the evolutional nature of any species is to leave offspring. This is hardwired. But even if that is the case, our brains have evolved to the point that emotional bonding has become more important than reproduction. However, both work together as for readiness…”

“That means, the moment we are ready for commitment, we are bound to be fertile? And vice versa?” Aia ponders aloud.

“At least on basic levels,” Dr. Igüeni says. “If your mental health and maturity aren’t interfering, that is.

“In your case, your mental insecurities might have affected your overall maturity…” she sighs. “That, again, is just a hypothesis.

“However, as Kira mentioned, your soulmate does not have to be a male. They can be of any gender you feel attracted to. Your fertility is not related in any way to your sexual orientation. It is only the physical sign that you might be ready for a relationship.”

I sigh and close my eyes. My mind wanders through my life. Damn… Sounds right. And from what happened to Aia since the day we’ve met, she… Wait…

“Aia?”

“Hm?” She looks at me with interest.

“Have you ever noticed how others were affected by your hormones before we met?” I ask her.

“Yeah… A lot over the last two…” her voice trails off. “Wait! You’re right, love! It intensified a lot bout two years ago. Before, I just got horny… And now, it’s like being in heat… Like a force pushing me to mate…”

“Interesting…” Dr. Igüeni nods. “Kira’s hunch might be right. It would make much sense as hormones are related to your body.”

“Has ever a woman mentioned your smell in that period?” I ask Aia.

“Enya…” Aia sighs while I blink. “When I told her bout what happened to us in the Thunderbird that time, she said that would explain my smell on certain days every seventy to eighty days…

“Dunno if she just smells it or it affects her too…” Aia shrugs and sighs. “She just told me that she noticed it.”

“Have you ever noticed her to change behavior in that period?” Dr. Igüeni asks Aia.

“Now that you mention it…” Aia sighs deeply. “She kinda flirted with me, every time. But it rather confused me…”

“This might mean that not only males notice it,” the doctor concludes. “Ehhanh? Better you explain it…”

“Yeah…” the nurse giggles. “We Felii are bisexual or omnisexual and polyamorous by default. We usually don’t care about gender. Our sense of smell is also quite acute. I might smell Aia’s hormones too, if I happen to be near.

“Smelling other’s hormones usually indicates a certain compatibility between possible partners.”

“Even if they are of the same gender?” I ask stupefied.

“Yes,” Ehhnah confirms. “This is not just about the ability to procreate. It’s something deeper. However, more things have to line up. Your gender preferences, your mental state, your partners’ looks and feelings, your own feelings towards them… It’s just a part of it.

“In my case, Carlos has no hormones in this sense, but he is my soulmate. I am bisexual, but monogamous, as long as I am with Carlos. I don’t feel the need to seek other partners other than him. It’s… Hmm… Just my feeling that he is the only partner for me. When I look at others, of any gender, I can appreciate their looks and hormones, but neither of them affects me nor changes my mind. I only need Carlos and Reki.”

“Ehhnah…” Aia sighs.

“What I mean to say is that hormones are just one part of everything,” the nurse says and smiles heartily. “True it is that hormones play a big role in relationships. However, the smell of them isn’t the biggest role. Of course, it gives you many hints. More so on how your partner might be depending on their reactions to them.”

“Ehhnah…” Aia sighs again. “That makes sense…” she giggles. “Kira was able to resist ’em thanks to his own will despite I almost lost control of myself…”

“That means, he is a keeper,” Ehhnah says, wearing a warm smile. “For us Felii, a partner who can resist this kind of temptation means a world for us. However, that does not mean that they are our ideal mates or soulmates. That indicates that they are the best friends you could have. Being a best friend is just the first stage of becoming a true mate or even a soulmate, if both want it and are ready for it. This resistance shows how much they really care about you.”

“Wow…” I sigh too.

“That’s beautiful…” Aia charms. “Now I understand…” she giggles, “why I was so moved when you stopped me…” She hugs me tightly and kisses me on my right cheek. “I had a crush on you for the longest time. Later, I knew I fell in love with you. But after that moment…” she sighs happily, “I knew you were my soulmate, my love…”

“Aia… Yeah… That moment defined our true feelings,” I say and kiss her back.

“That’s beautiful,” Dr. Igüeni giggles. “Have you smelled others’ hormones too, Aia?”

“Hmmm… I’m not sure…” Aia stops to think. “Perhaps… But in any case, it was really subtle.”

“I mistook Enya’s smell with a perfume,” I remember.

“That could be…” Aia confirms. “But… Dunno…” she shrugs. “However, I somehow only got pleasant body smells from a very few guys. Kira, of course, is one of them. But from women… many…”

“You wrote that you are heterosexual,” the doctor points out.

“I’m unsure, actually…” Aia drops her head. “It’s not that I didn’t notice women and other genders other than guys… It’s just… I dunno…” she sighs. “I don’t even know if I’m monogamous… I only know that Kira is my soulmate and that I want to be with him till my end.”

“Aia…” I hug her tightly. “We’ll see when the moment is right. I told you, I’m with you. And if you need to experiment on your feelings, I’ll be supporting you.”

“Kira~”

“Don’t worry, everything comes at the right moment,” Dr. Igüeni assures. “As a teen, I thought I might be just a lesbian, with no interest in men. Then I met Grhiedak before his transitioning. We fell in love when he still was a woman. I was with him and supported him through the whole transition. I love him as my soulmate, no matter what. Thanks to him, I found that gender doesn’t matter in love. It’s the person behind and beyond the gender that matters.

“You don’t have to conform to any label, Aia. You’ll find your way, I’m sure about it. Labels are just categories which give us some hold in these confusing aspects of our life. They are just an abstract to avoid deeper and longer explanations.

“For example, for Ehhnah, it’s easier to say she’s hetero and monogamous than explaining that she is bisexual with a male partner. The follow-up questions and answers would be long and convoluted, without a satisfying end.”

“Right, that’s what I do,” the nurse confirms.

“That applies to my species too…” Aia sighs deeply. “If I simply could say the given name… I wouldn’t have to explain continuously that I’m a foundling and that I don’t know my own species…”

“Yeah…” I sigh too. “The Awakened label is easy to explain. A few inquire about my reasons to be cryopreserved. Most, are simply surprised, but keep on with the conversation.”

“Yeah…” Aia sighs again but smiles warmly. “I know that I don’t have to comply with any given label, but it’s not easy when you don’t know what label to use…”

“It is…” Dr. Igüeni nods. “But remember, labels can be switched, at any time. I labeled myself as a lesbian. Now, I label myself as a bisexual, even if I’m in a relationship with two men. I could label myself as heterosexual or straight, but I don’t feel comfortable with that label.”

“Thanks,” Aia says and smiles. “I’ll figure out what I am, together with Kira. Right, darling?” She hugs me again.

“Of course, love,” I confirm and return the hug.

“Back to your noticing the hormones of other women, Aia,” Dr. Igüeni presses on. “It does not mean that you’re sexually interested in them. As Ehhnah explained before, she might notice yours and be not interested in you, at least, not this way.”

“Exactly,” the Felii nurse confirms. “For us Felii, it’s a possible indicator of our sexual orientation, but it isn’t for other species such as the Wigmez. For them, it’s normal to notice others’ hormones or pheromones. It’s just that their sense of smell is really sharp.”

“We don’t know if my species’ either…” Aia sums up.

“Right…” the doc confirms. “Anyway, for now, just take in the best of our analyses…” she adds with a broad smile.

“True…” Aia giggles, and I chuckle.

“We’re compatible, Aia,” I say and kiss her. She reciprocates, and we kiss while tears of happiness flow down her cheeks.

·

“Come to the waiting room,” Ehhnah instructs us after we finished the lengthy talk about our test results.

We’re surprised by many people, including staff and patients awaiting us.

“Congratulations!” they shout.

“Wow!” Aia and I look at each other and smile.

Dr. Igüeni, together with doctors Grhiedak and Cehreh shake our hands and present us with a paper certificate.

“Congratulations on your compatibility,” Dr. Cehreh says, clearly moved.

“Say compatible,” Ehhanh giggles, pointing a camera at us.

“Compatible!” Aia and I shout while the Felii nurse takes several pics.

·

“Your photos are great,” Aia giggles while inspecting them. “Can we share ’em?”

“Of course,” Dr. Igüeni confirms while Dr. Cehreh and Dr. Grhiedak nod.

“Tomorrow, we have an interview with Nehriah,” I explain. “We could share these with her.”

“Beautiful idea,” Aia confirms.

“Nehriah?” Ehhanah charms. “The famous Interspecies’ journalist?” Her ears twitch, and her tail moves in excitement. “I wanna meet her…”

Everyone giggles and chuckles at her excitement.

“Dunno if it might help, but we’ll hand her your clinic’s business card,” Aia offers. “She’s in an interspecies relationship, as she told. We’ll try to recommend you to ’em. But that’s not a guarantee—”

“Yay!” Ehhnah exclaims and hugs us. “That would be great!”

This time, everyone burst into laughter.

·

After more congratulations from the staff and the patients, and paying the fee, we leave the IGC Clinic.

Hand in hand, we walk through the park nearby. Our emotions are stirred with happiness. Silently, we walk without a destination until we find an ice-cream stall.

I look at Aia. She smiles beautifully. I nod, and we step towards the stall. I buy two cones of each’s favorite flavors, and we keep on walking hand in hand.

“Do you believe it now?” I ask Aia after finishing our ice-creams.

“Yeah…” Aia giggles. “So wonderful…” She sighs happily. “I’m so happy that everything’s working out so nicely for us.”

“Yeah,” I confirm. “We should call your parents. We promised it, didn’t we?”

“Right,” Aia giggles again. “Let’s call ’em from there…” She points at some terminal privacy booths. They are similar to the old-fashioned phone booths but without a proper phone. These contraptions are sound-proof and destined for making private calls without fear of being listened in. Such a great idea.

We step into the nearest booth after pre-paying the minimum fee.

Aia lies her terminal on the destined terminal stand and selects her parents’ contact.

«Aia, pumpkin! Kira, son!» Irina cries out happily. It seems that we caught her at home. She clearly stands in front of the main video-wall of their living room. «Jack, darling! Aia and Kira, on video!» she shouts.

«Coming, coming!» we hear him shouting and huffing. Still outside of the camera’s angle, we hear him drop several things, then him stumbling.

“Don’t rush, dad!” Aia exclaims. “Don’t get hurt!”

«Here I am!» Jack huffs. He enters the picture barefoot and wearing something similar to a raincoat. «Was comin’ back from the pigsty…» he still huffs.

«Now we’re both here,» Irina giggles.

«How’s it?» Jack asks, clearly intrigued.

Aia and I look at each other, nod, smile, take our hands, and show them to her parents. “Compatible!” we shout in unison.

«Yahoo!» Jack and Irina jump up and hug each other. «Congratulations, ya two!» both shout.

“Thanks,” Aia giggles.

«Come by whenever ya wanna,» Jack offers, irradiating happiness.

«Yeah,» Irina confirms. «We hafta celebrate.»

«Perhaps, on yer birthday, Aia,» Jack suggests.

«But ya might wanna be alone, together,» Irina interjects.

«Right…» Jack sighs. «Or have a big party…»

“Dunno,” Aia giggles. “But we’ll come to visit you again soon.”

“Yeah, we will,” I confirm too. I really like them.

“We’ll inform you whenever we have more news,” Aia tells her parents. “Next Sunday, the Interspecies magazine will publish an interview with us.”

«We’ll buy it,» Jack states while he hugs Irina.

«Yah,» Irina laughs. «Be happy, ya’ll surely wanna celebrate now, am I right?» she adds and giggles.

“Yeah,” I chuckle.

«Then see ya,» Jack also chuckles and waves at us.

«Talk ya later,» Irina laughs and also waves at us.

“Bye~” Aia sings as we both wave back.

·

“Call Kim and Kite,” Aia instructs her terminal.

Some ring tones later, «Aia! Kira! Long time, no see,» Kite laughs.

“Long time, no see,” Aia giggles. “Is Kim around too?”

«Kim! Aia and Kira on terminal!» Kite shouts to her left.

«Coming, coming!» Kim shouts back. «Out with it!» she exclaims as she enters the picture.

“Compatible!” we shout back as we laugh.

«Congratulations!» they shout excitedly.

«We have to celebrate!» Kite exclaims.

“We will,” Aia giggles.

«In one hour in the MaryQueens?» Kim suggests.

“Better in two,” I assess. “We still want to make some calls more and have to go home first.”

“Good call,” Aia confirms.

«Right, we’ll be there!» Kite also confirms.

«See you in two hours,» Kim giggles.

·

«Aia, Kira!» Enya exclaims happily while her ears twitch. «And? Good news?»

“Speed to the MaryQueens, we’re celebrating in two hours,” I say and laugh.

«No way! Congratulations! I’m so happy for you two. I’ll be there!» Enya shouts excitedly and would have jumped up if she weren’t strapped down by her seatbelts. «I’ll make it on time!»

“After all, you’re called the SpeedKitty,” I joke, and Aia laughs.

«Yup! You haven’t seen it all yet,» Enya giggles. «See you soon.»

“Byebye~” Aia sings, happily.

·

»The client you are trying to reach is outside of coverage. Please, leave a message,« the automated response tells us.

“Jim! Motherfucker! Be in the MaryQueens in less than two hours, or you’re dead!” I shout into Aia’s terminal.

“Kira~” Aia giggles. “Jimmy! We won’t forgive you if you don’t make it!” she also shouts into her terminal. “Don’t miss our compatibility party!”

·

«MaryQueens—Oh! Aia, Kira! How do you do?» Buz greets us happily.

«Is it them?» Sue’s voice comes from afar, and she enters the picture shortly after. «Good news?» she asks, clasping her hands, hoping for a positive answer.

Aia lies her index finger on her lips, indicating they should not let their patrons know. Sue and Buz’s faces brighten, and they smile broadly as we nod and smile. We see them hugging while Sue dries up a tear of happiness.

“We’re coming in less than two hours. We invited some friends,” I simply state.

«Ya’ll be welcome,» Sue giggles.

«Yeah, we’ll prepare a fine dinner for ya’ll,» Buz laughs.

“See ya till then,” Aia giggles too.

“Bye…”

·

“Call Mitsubishi-san, private,” Aia instructs. What? She has the private contact of our boss?

«Moshi, moshi? Oh! Aia-chan, Kira-kun! Such a wonderful surprise!» he jumps up. Wow! Is that his home? A huge space opens up at his back. Expensive-looking furniture and art pieces fill the room behind the luxurious sofa he’s sitting on. «Good news, I hope,» he says, clearly anticipating a positive answer.

Aia and I just smile and show our boss our taken hands.

«Omedetō gozaimasu! Such wonderful news!» he exclaims. «We have to celebrate!»

“We will, in bout two hours, in the MaryQueens,” Aia states happily.

«Yuuki!» the old man shouts over his shoulder. «Aia-chan and Kira-kun are compatible!»

«Omedetō gozaimasu!» Yuuki enters the picture in a hurry, wearing just a bathrobe. «Congratulations!» she giggles.

«Get ready, Yuuki,» Mitsubishi-san instructs her. «We will party at the MaryQueens.»

«Wakarimashita, otousama,» she says, filled with happiness while bowing slightly to him. I twitch at her words while my eyes widen. «Congratulations, again, you two,» she says and turns around.

«We will see you soon,» the old man laughs.

“See you~” Aia giggles.

“Matane,” I say pensively.

“Wow…” Aia sighs after closing the call. “Yuuki seems to be really comfortable around the old man. We suspected that she lives with him. Now it’s confirmed. What do you think, darling? She said something you reacted to, isn’t it?”

“Yeah…” I sigh too and lean against the booth’s glass wall. “She called Mitsubishi-san otousama. That’s the honorific form of father.”

“Really?” Aia exclaims, flabbergasted. “In what context would you use it?”

“Hmm… In rich and noble families, it’s the way to address the head of the family. His children and in-laws would use it. Rarely, wives and lovers would use it. Under informal circumstances, it would be otousan, or papa. But the honorific suffix sama indicates that the first option is more likely.”

“That means, Yuuki is either his daughter or his daughter-in-law…” Aia ponders aloud. I nod in affirmation. “But it would be strange to hang around your father-in-law in a bathrobe. Would a daughter do that?”

“I don’t know…” I sigh. “Would you?”

“Well… Yeah…” Aia giggles. “I did, and still do that at my parents’ home. Would a lover say it that way?”

“Rarely…” I shrug.

“A sugar-daddy?”

“Would be papa…”

“So… the best guess would be that she’s his daughter?”

“Yeah… Now that I think of… There were times she corrected herself when she was emotional and referred to Mitsubishi-san…” I say.

“Right… Sometimes, I had the feeling like she was trying to say father or dad… isn’t it?” Aia affirms.

“Yeah…” I sigh. “The only thing that is clear, is that they keep whatever their real relationship is, secret.”

“Then we should ignore our suspicions,” Aia suggests.

“Right. It’s not ours to decide what’s right for them. They surely have their reasons for hiding it,” I say.

“Exactly,” Aia confirms. “If they feel like it, they’ll surely tell us.”

·

Leaving Gaia behind us after returning home in a taxi, we already are in the Alpha’s navigation control area. We’re directed to a parking space by a new controller who can’t hide his nervousness.

·

“Congratulations, Aia, Kira,” Brown says, bowing to us in his metallic body as we step through the parking pod’s airlock. “I’ll be your bodyguard again. We hope we can keep you out of the journalists’ sight.”

“Brown…” I say awestruck.

“Thank you~” Aia sings, happily.

Reaching the MaryQueens, we find it closed. A crudely written sign taped on the door states that the diner is closed for a private party. Really? Did Sue and Buz really close their place just for us?

“Congratulations!” Sue, Enya, Kim, Kite, Yuuki, Buz, and Mitsubishi-san shout. Only Jim is missing.

“No probs with booze, right?” Buz asks us, wearing a grin.

“Bring it on,” Aia laughs. “Kira pilots.”

“Ouch…” Kim laughs.

“You’re in trouble, Kira,” Kite giggles.

“Just kidding,” Aia laughs. “I won’t have that much. Tomorrow we have an interview with Nehriah from the Interspecies magazine. Wanna be sober and without a hangover for that.”

“Cool!” Enya giggles. “But we have the full afternoon to party. Let’s get drunk!”

“Congratulations!” everyone shouts again as we lift our cups and jugs.

“Wonderful~” Yuuki sighs after her first sip of champagne. “One best piece of news after another, this week…”

“It truly is,” Mitsubishi-san confirms and nods. “This week is truly exceptional.”

“A week of many parties,” Sue giggles.

“Then wait till Aia’s birthday party!” Enya laughs loudly.

“Oh! Right! Aia’s birthday is next Wednesday!” Kite exclaims. “This will be a big one!”

“Most likely, a wild, two people’s party,” Kim giggles.

“Oh, you…” Aia also giggles and blushes deeply.

“Congratulations!” a huffing shout reaches us from the door. Jim holds himself up against the door’s frame.

“Finally!” I shout back at him.

“You’re late!” Enya also shouts and laughs.

“Fuck ya! Ya called me in the only dead zone o’ da Sol System,” Jim huffs. “Had to take da express Jumps. Damn! Why ya only gotta good news when I hafta work?”

“Shut up and have a draft,” Buz laughs and hands him a big jug.

Thirsty, Jim grabs the jug and gulps the beer down. “Phew! Dat hit well!” he exclaims with the empty jug in his hand.

“Thanks for coming,” Aia giggles.

“Heh! Told ya I woulda rush for ya two,” Jim proudly says. “Yer two o’ ma best friends.”

I lay my hand on his shoulder. “Thanks, Jim,” I say. “It means a lot to us.”

“Heh! Heheh…” he starts to laugh happily.

·

“Early dinner’s ready!” Sue shouts, carrying a huge platter. One of the two servers carries an identical one, while the other one brings a big cauldron.

“C’mon! Have a seat!” a young, slightly plump, black woman shouts too. Who’s that? She looks familiar, but I can’t figure it out.

“Ah! This missy’s Taisha, Buz’s first cousin once removed,” Sue introduces the young adult.

“That means…” Enya thinks aloud, “Buz’s cousin’s daughter?”

“Liz’s daughter?” Aia asks. Ah! That’s why! She really looks like her mother.

“Righto,” Sue giggles.

“Na—Nice to meetcha…” Taisha stutters.

Each of us introduces themselves to Taisha. Shyly, she greets everyone.

“She’s studying on Gaia and is part-timing with us,” Buz explains.

“Yah,” Sue confirms. “Studying restaurant management and public relations, isn’t it, missy?”

“Ye—yeah,” the shy woman stutters. “Wanna manage a restaurant, but imma too shy… That’s why I asked auntie and uncle to part-time here…”

“Nothin’ better than real-life experience, right?” Jim laughs.

Taisha only nods bashfully at Jim’s remark.

While sitting down, Aia asks Sue and Buz, “But your place is quite small. Can you hire that many servers?”

“Ah! That’s right,” Sue laughs.

“We’re moving in two months!” Buz exclaims, wearing a bright smile.

“Moving?” everyone at the table asks, surprised.

“Yah,” Sue confirms. “We already found a new place. A better place.”

“Yeah, right next to the main port facilities with views over part of it,” Buz proudly announces.

“Wow…” Aia sighs emotionally. “That’s cool.”

“Yeah,” Sue confirms again. “Even the special airlocks are in view, yours…” she giggles.

“The Aces’ ports?” Yuuki asks.

“Yup! And many more!” Buz confirms ecstatically. “We’ve already signed the papers. The premises will be empty by the end of next month. Then we’ll have a month to renovate the place to our liking.”

“Cool!” Jim jumps up. “We’ll help wherever possible, innit?” He looks at each of us.

“Yeah,” Enya also jumps up. “What style are you thinking of?”

“Trucking, obviously,” Sue laughs. “But way bigger than this place.”

“It’s getting way too small, and we can’t cope with that many patrons,” Buz explains, starting to serve Aia a full plate of ribs and potatoes while Sue serves mine. “It will be huge with many facilities.”

“Will it be profitable to expand that much?” Kim asks, clearly worried. “It took us ten years to really be recognized and known. Only from then on we could expand and hire more workers.”

“True,” Sue says and nods while filling Kim’s plate. “But right now, we’re already overwhelmed. We can’t keep on in this small place. You have seen it, haven’t you?”

“Yeah, lately, this place is full…” Enya sighs. “Even when we aren’t partying…”

“True,” I confirm. “Many times, we were glad you keep us a table reserved for us.”

“It’s actually thanks to you four, Aces of Aces,” Buz proclaims. Everyone looks at him surprised. “Many come here, hoping they may meet you here.”

“Really? Heh!” Jim laughs.

“Yah,” Sue confirms. “Even if just seeing any of you. We’re becoming famous because you are regulars. You always stop here before and after a haul.”

“Rumors run that any trucker meeting any of you here will have a good haul after,” Buz laughs.

“No way…” Enya giggles. “Now we’re lucky charms?”

“Seems so,” Sue giggles as she serves Enya. “Haven’t you noticed that when you come in that, suddenly, more patrons arrive?”

“Now that you mention it, yeah,” I confirm and nod. “But I thought that’s just a coincidence.”

“Naw,” Sue shakes her head. “There’s an unofficial group chat that notifies when any Ace is spotted in the Alpha.”

“Really?” Kite asks, stupefied.

“Yup,” Buz laughs. “Other Aces started to become regulars too. They really like Sue’s food.”

“No wonder… These chops smell delicious,” I assess.

“That means that the merit is yours, not ours,” Aia says and smiles broadly.

Everyone at the big table confirms while Sue and Buz try to give us more credit than to their own accomplishment.

“Yummy!” Enya laughs childishly after her first bite. “No way we’re the culprits of your rise to fame! These are the best ribs ever!”

We all confirm Enya’s outcry. Sue’s food is absolutely delicious.

·

Taisha and the two servers make coffee for everyone after they cleaned the tables. Sue and Buz went into the kitchen for the dessert.

“Cake time!” Sue laughs as she and Buz bring two huge cakes to the tables.

We’re enjoying the delicious cakes and the coffees in excitement.

“Aia, what did you find out, beyond being compatible?” Kite asks with evident curiosity.

“Many things…” Aia sighs. “It looks like that I’m a mestizo…”

“Really?” everyone cries out in surprise.

“Yeah,” Aia nods, “even if not proven, the results hint towards it.”

“Wow… That makes it even more difficult to find your origins…” Kim sighs too.

“Yeah… But right now, that’s not the most important thing…” Aia declares and smiles.

“Right,” Enya giggles. “What else?”

Aia goes on and sums up briefly what we found out this morning.

“Amazing…” Mitsubishi-san murmurs. “Then, your depression was misdiagnosed and mishandled… Damn…” When was it the last time I heard Mitsubishi-san swear?

“Yeah…” Aia sighs. “I should have gone earlier to an expert to find more about my body and mind…”

“But dat means dat yer really strong,” Jim assesses. “Even without knowin’ whatcha are, yer still da Queen. Da only illness ya had was dis depression… An’ ya canna blame yerself fo’ that. Not da slightest.”

“Jimmy…” Aia giggles while the rest of us chuckle. “Sometimes, you can really say sweet things.”

“Jus sometimes? Heh!” Jim laughs.

I look over at Enya. She suddenly became pensive. “Enya? Is something?”

“Yeah… sorry… Aia, you just said that your period started just a few years back, isn’t it?”

“Yeah…” Aia sighs yet again and lies her hand on mine.

“That’s why I suddenly noticed this smell of yours from then on, and not before…” Enya states. “Every six, seven weeks… isn’t it?”

“Yeah, Aia had that strange regularity of her period even at the uni…” Kite confirms.

“Ewww! Stop it!” Jim exclaims. “Donna talk bout that stuff over da table!”

“Your reaction is why you’re still single,” I laugh.

“Shuddup, man! How can ya stay calm?”

“Because it’s natural, Jim. Be more open-minded, then you’ll see it differently.”

“Shuddup…” the cowboy murmurs under his breath and reaches for his pint.

“Then, you’re not sure when your fertility window is?” Kim asks Aia.

Aia just negates, shaking her head.

“No big deal!” Kite laughs. “Just do it every day! One surely hits the target!”

Everyone, including Mitsubishi-san and Yuuki, roars in laugher.

Enya, Sue, and Buz roll several Ïhål joints and pass them to everyone. For the first time, I see both the old Mitsubishi and Yuuki accept a joint.

After her first drag, Yuuki starts to giggle. “Sorry, sorry… I just imagined Aia-chan sitting here with us with a huge belly…”

“That would be marvelous…” Aia sighs while she lies her hand on her abdomen.

I lay my hand on hers. “Yeah…” I add and smile.

·

After a long day, we reach our home.

Aia turns around after we cross the door and embraces me. “I wanna you…” she purrs seductively.

“Me too…” I say as I take her into my arms.

We kiss passionately while we undress each other.

“But a quick shower first, right?” Aia giggles sultry, takes my hand, and drags me into the bathroom while I just smirk.

Getting frisky while washing each other, Aia suggests that she wants to try the penis ring we bought on Mars. Of course, I accept.

︙

“That was…” Aia still gasps for air, “incredible…”

“Yeah,” I also gasp for air. “I love you, Aia.”

“Love you too,” she purrs. “More?” she adds in her sultry voice.

“Yeah…”

The post B11 ~ The Compatibility Results appeared first on Space Highways.

I slowly open my eyes at Aia’s greeting. One of her arms lies on my belly, and her hand caresses my chest. She holds her head up with her other arm.

“Morning, love,” I say after a long yawn. “How’s your hangover?”

“Better than ever,” Aia giggles. “You?”

“Quite fine. I haven’t had that much.”

“What time is it?” she asks me. “We’ve got the appointment at eleven…”

“Just past nine…”

“Enough time for something sexy,” Aia purrs while she caresses me seductively. “Ah!” she exclaims and let herself fall onto her back. “We can’t… I’ve got a gyn examination…”

“Right… Some hugs?” I offer.

“Some hugs are nice,” Aia giggles and rolls into my arm. We embrace and kiss.

We make out and pet each other for the longest time.

︙

Enjoying our rich breakfast, Aia goes through the email the clinic sent us.

“Damn… I didn’t think this through…” Aia sighs. “I had way too many drinks yesternight… We will have a full blood analysis, among many others. I hope this won’t affect the compatibility test…”

“Would alcohol alter our compatibility?” I ask.

“Nope…” She shakes her head. “But could alter the results in other ways…” she sighs. “We were right in not having sex this morning. It could have made it quite awkward…”

“I bet,” I chuckle.

“I’m not keen to go to the gyn… Never been…”

“Too many awkward questions?”

“Yeah… All related to my species and my origin… But I can’t take it wrong…” she sighs again. “I mean, I’m, technically, a doctor too… I would have to make such questions too if I’m unfamiliar with my patient’s species. But…”

“Sorry, darling…” I say as I take her hand and caress her.

“Thanks, love,” she sighs happily. “I’m just nervous about today…”

“Me too. But remember, my feelings for you won’t change the slightest, whatever the results,” I reassure her.

“Thanks, love. I know…” she says, wearing a soft smile. “But I can’t stop being nervous… Not because of the tests ’emselves, but the results…” she sighs.

“Yeah… Let’s try to calm down. We don’t know if our nervousness could affect the results too…” I say, trying to convince myself to calm down.

“Oh, you~” Aia giggles. “Right. Back to the email… Hmm… Yeah, nothing else, really. We just have to have a good shower with neutral soap. No problem. We’ve got that. But the two days ban of sex… Damn…”

“Two days?” I ask, a bit surprised. “And we thought we averted a problem this morning…” I sigh. “How much could that influence?”

“It shouldn’t much…” Aia says and shrugs. “It basically is to keep the proper hygiene as intercourse could affect the vagina’s pH levels, among other things. And the timing depends on the doctor recommending it. It can also depend on the species… And it doesn’t help that we know a damn thing about my own species…” she sighs.

“Aia…”

“It’s okay, darling,” she sighs again. “Let’s make the best out of it.”

“You’re right. Let’s have a good shower after breakfast.”

“Yeah. We could leave early and go there walking. I think it could calm us a bit.”

“Good idea, let’s.”

·

After a calming stroll, we reach the building where the IGC Interspecies Clinic occupies the whole second floor.

Nervousness comes back as we enter the clinic and reach the front desk.

“Good morning, how can I help you?” a friendly Knoreliaz asks us.

“We have an appointment for a compatibility test at eleven,” Aia states.

“We’re Aia Asdiekx and Kira Matsumoto,” I add.

“Seems right,” the receptionist confirms. “You’re a bit early. But that’s not a problem at all.”

“Oh! Aia, Kira, you’ve come,” we’re interrupted. We look over and see Ehhnah leaving an office. “You’re early, I see. Cel’nï, we’re finishing with miss Madison in a bit. We might accept them a bit earlier.”

“Very well, Ehhnah,” the Knoreliaz confirms. She then turns to us, “Have these DigiForms and please fill them out. We appreciate it if you could fill all fields out as it’s your first time with us.”

We take the forms and thank her.

“See you in a bit,” Ehhnah says. “No need to be nervous, we’ll take good care of you,” she adds and leaves.

We are ushered to the waiting room, where we take a seat on one of the benches.

“Let’s see…” Aia whispers. “First, our generic personal data.” We both authorize the insertion of our personal data with our fingerprints, and the corresponding fields are filled automatically. “Ugg~ My species field didn’t got filled out… And I can’t fill it in manually…” she sighs.

“It seems that these fields aren’t prepared for unknown species…” I sigh too.

“Yeah… Whatever… Let’s go on… Sexual orientation… Damn… I don’t know? Hmm… Let’s say hetero. Sexually active, yes. Number of partners, one. Species of your partner, Gaian-Human. Gender of your partner, male. Damn… so many questions. Want to have children, yes. How many? Undecided, right?” she asks me, wearing a smile.

“Yeah,” I confirm.

Finally, we finished with the form…

“So many questions…” Aia repeats and sighs.

“Sorry to interrupt,” a voice from a Knoreliaz comes from our left. “And sorry for overhearing… You don’t know your species?” she asks with a hint of sympathy.

“No…” Aia sighs. “But I have a loving boyfriend.”

“Aww… I’m sorry, dear. It’s wonderful to have loving partners, isn’t it?” the woman states.

“It truly is,” Aia giggles. “Ah, when are you expecting?”

“Still five more months,” the Knoreliaz giggles. “Our species’ pregnancy is eleven Gaian months. I’m here for a routine check. I want to know how well they are.”

“They?” Aia asks carefully. I get it. She isn’t sure if the woman used a gender-neutral singular or a plural they.

“Twins,” the pregnant woman states, wearing a bright smile. “Both mestizos. One with characteristics from my Human partner. And the other one with mine.”

“Mestizo twins…” Aia marvels. “Kira, darling, could you imagine me with such a huge belly?”

“It would be wonderful, love,” I confirm and take her hand.

“Yeah… Ah… May I?” Aia asks the Knoreliaz.

“Sure…” she giggles and takes Aia’s free hand to lie on her huge belly.

“Ah! I just felt a kick!” Aia exclaims.

“They’re really lively,” the woman giggles. Just then, a nurse enters the waiting room and calls a name. “Oh, that’s me…” the Knoreliaz says and prepares to stand up. “Good luck on your test,” she adds and wishes us well.

“I wanna…” Aia sighs as her eyes follow the pregnant woman leaving the room.

“Me too…” I sigh too. “I’d pray to any deity for it to be possible…”

“Yeah… me too… By the way, darling…”

“Yeah?”

“Do you follow any religious belief? You never talk bout religion… I mean, I don’t really care, as I’m agnostic and open-minded…”

“Hmm… I’m not really religious,” I say. “But I was raised in Japanese traditions which follow Shintoism and certain Buddhist customs. In my family, at least, the traditions mix between the two, participating in both rituals. Usually, praying to local gods and weddings in Shintos, while praying for ancestors and funerals are on the Buddhist side.”

“Really interesting. How’s a Shinto wedding?” she asks me quite excited.

Just as I want to answer, Ehhnah enters and calls for us.

“We’ll look it up later,” Aia giggles and stands up.

·

“Good morning,” doctor Igüeni welcomes us, and we greet her. “Please take a seat.”

We take a seat at the doctor’s desk, while Ehhnah takes a seat at one of the computers.

The doctor goes on, “Ehhnah will take notes of everything we discuss, okay?” We confirm that it’s not a problem. “Good. I’ll ask some further questions which are more personalized for you two. I see that you haven’t filled out Aia’s species…”

“Yeah, it won’t let us fill in unknown,” I explain.

“That’s a problem…” doctor Igüeni confirms. “Ehhnah, please inform our provider about this.” The doctor’s assistant confirms and takes note. “Now, I’ll ask some questions I prefer to make in person. I’m interested in your reactions and openness to discuss your sex-life. You are free to avoid answering any of my questions, but I’d prefer you could answer all of them.”

“Okay,” Aia confirms, and I nod. “We’ll be as frank as possible.”

“Don’t worry,” the good doctor says. “I understand that some questions might be a bit intrusive, but we strive for finding the answer to your most important question, if you’re compatible. Everything you tell us is kept secret and only accessible to the specialists assigned to you. Any questions before we start?”

“Yes,” I interject. “What’s the procedure?”

“Good question,” Dr. Igüeni confirms. “First, I’ll ask you questions about your love and sex-life and other health-related topics. After that, Aia will have a complete gyn examination while Kira will have an andro examination. Do not worry, my soulmates are absolute specialists in their fields and care a lot about our patients. Blood and DNA samples will be taken from both. We’ll also need to extract an ovum from Aia, and some sperm samples from Kira. That’s roughly the procedure. Any other question or something to add?”

“Yeah,” Aia sighs. “We had sex yesterday around early afternoon… We didn’t think it through… It was something we did on impulse…”

“Oh… Don’t worry,” Dr. Igüeni says. “We would have preferred you to not have, but we’ll take it into account. And don’t be ashamed about that. It can happen. More so, if you just started dating,” she adds with a giggle.

“Let’s start with a DNA swab and take some blood.” Ehhanh is already preparing everything she’ll need as the doctor goes on, “Aia’s species is unknown, while Kira is an Awakened with full bionic implants. We have< already studied your full clinical files you have sent us. What most concerns us are Kira’s mutation and Aia’s unknown status. But these will be taken into account in the deep DNA analysis we’ll be doing. We’ll take your samples now, so that the lab can start working on their analyses.”

Ehhanh starts with a swab and then proceeds to take our blood.

“Wow! Aia’s blood is purple!” the nurse exclaims in surprise.

“Interesting…” Igüeni states. “It’s dark blue to purplish… That makes sense, given your skin color. We tend to find variations in blood colors in certain species. In most cases, they are related to the enzymes and cells responsible for the skin’s base color. Many species share a reddish tinted blood color but is not the only one.”

“Could that be a problem regarding our compatibility?” Aia asks nervously.

“Not necessarily,” the doctor says. “We Ïiha have a sliver tinted blood, while the Reaf have a whiteish blood. Our species are both compatible with each other and with Humans. Meaning, blood color does not determine compatibility. Compatibility is determined primarily by your DNA and secondarily on your reproductive systems. There are other important details to consider, like blood types and blood cells, but the color in itself is never the issue. The reproduction system is color blind,” she states.

Both Aia and I exhale in relief while Ehhnah leaves the office to take our samples to the lab.

“Now to the questions,” Dr. Igüeni says after Ehhnah returned. “As you indicated in the form, you started dating and having sex just a few days ago… Why are you already taking a compatibility examination?”

“Because we want to have children,” Aia states.

“Not right now, but we want to be prepared for the moment we decide to,” I add.

“What would happen if the results are negative?” Igüeni asks.

“Dunno…” Aia sighs. “We’ll surely research any other possibility, like adoption or a surrogate mother.”

“The only thing we do have clear is that our love for each other won’t change at all,” I state.

“Yeah,” Aia confirms. “I mean, our initial happiness might gloom… but we would find a way. My mom is sterile, and I’m adopted. My parents are the happiest couple I’ve ever known, despite not being able to have children. And they really wanted to have some.”

“And having found Aia, made them even happier,” I add and caress Aia’s hand lying on the table.

“Exactly,” she confirms with a bright smile.

“Good answer,” Dr. Igüeni says, wearing a bright smile. “It’s a hard question for any young family. You two are really mature around this issue. Now I know that I don’t have to water down any possible result. Have you been sexually active before your relationship? How many partners? I just need an overview, not a detailed answer.”

“I had several failed relationships with men,” Aia sighs. “I never had vaginal or anal intercourse before sleeping with Kira. I was a bit obsessed with self-pleasure while unable to feel pleasure with a partner,” she confesses.

“I had many sexual partners, and lost the count,” I confess. “I had…” A lump in my throat stops me from going on.

“Darling…” Aia caresses my hand. “Kira had a son before being cryopreserved,” she finally says, noticing I’m unable to say it. “He’s still being haunted by the thought of having him abandoned…” she sighs with sorrow.

“I… I only found it out several months ago…” I finally say.

“Oh, my… I’m sorry, Kira,” Igüeni apologizes. “It wasn’t my intention to agitate you.”

“I know,” I sigh. “It’s just something I haven’t been able to overcome yet. I had many lovers before my cryo, but only three one-nighters since I’ve awakened. I also had a deep skinship relationship with a Felii woman for several months.”

“That was before we started dating,” Aia informs. “Although we felt attracted to each other, we weren’t ready for a relationship. We agreed that we would have absolute freedom until we could work our problems out.”

“That’s really mature of you two,” the doctor states. “Meaning, Kira has extensive experiences, while Aia had little…”

“Yeah,” Aia confirms. “I hadn’t gone further than oral sex with any partner other than Kira. With him, I had my firsts in many ways,” she adds, giggling.

“Good…” Dr. Igüeni nods while Ehhnah keeps on taking notes. “Now, Aia, your period… Timing, quantities, and irregularities…”

“Quite strange compared to the Human one…” Aia sighs. “The whole cycle is bout eighty days. I have the menses for bout six days. Quite thick and substantial the first two days, then it slows down till halt. I had it as short for three days and as long for eight. I’m quite punctual, with little variations.

“One thing, though, I don’t know exactly when I’m supposedly fertile and ovulate. Bout two weeks before my menses, I’m incredibly horny for a week. At first, it’s intense, then slowly recedes… I can only speculate that it could be my heat-season…”

“That’s very likely as many species have such periods,” the doc asses. “But there are also some species in which the so-called heat appears outside the fertility window. It’s not yet understood on why this happens, though. In your case, I would recommend you having some tests in your different phases, once we understand your body a bit better.”

“That would be great,” Aia affirms. “I really wanna know more bout myself. More so now, together with Kira.

“Actually, during these phases of arousal, I appear to emit a kind of hormone…”

“Interesting…” The doctor leans a bit forward, clearly wanting more data. “How do people around you react when in that phase?”

“Mostly, no reaction whatsoever…” Aia shrugs. “I’ve noticed that some guys are a bit more persistent at flirting with me, that’s all. The only exception is Kira…” she adds, giggling.

“How so?” Igüeni asks, clearly intrigued.

“She drives me crazy,” I joke and laugh. “No, seriously, she emanates a kind of sweet, sensual scent. It arouses me extremely. I don’t know why I’m the exception. I mean, yeah, I’ve got a good sense of smell, but nothing out of the norm.

“However, I’ve noticed something similar happening with a Felii friend of ours. Talking to her, she confirmed that she was in her heat-season. I’ve noticed with others before, but in her case, it was also quite strong.”

“Really interesting…” the doc nods. “Usually, depending on the species, that denotes some compatibility. How is that arousal for both of you?”

“I’m so horny that I almost assaulted Kira,” Aia confesses and blushes. “We were together in my truck, and the filtering system couldn’t filter out my scent… I was continuously excited and fantasizing about having sex with him.”

“I had an erection for the whole time,” I sigh. “Even masturbating didn’t help… The moment I thought that I was able to calm down, her scent aroused me again.”

“And I had the feeling that Kira also emanated a sexy smell… I dunno if it was just my brain going oversexed, or it was real…” Aia sighs. “We only could avoid a disaster by Kira using a separate respirator mask. We weren’t dating yet, and we believe that we could have damaged our future relationship at that point if we had given in to our arousal.”

“Intriguing…” Igüeni takes some notes herself. “We clearly should do some tests when you’re in that phase. We could determine why Kira is the only one till now who noticed it so extremely.”

“That would be great,” Aia confirms while I nod.

“Now to Kira, I need to know more about you,” Dr. Igüeni states. “Anything unusual about your erections or sperm production you have noticed?”

“Actually, I’ve noticed something since I’ve awakened,” I start. “Before, I would say I’ve been quite average… But since awakening, I noticed that I’m able to keep on for longer. I mean, more time between ejaculations, and I need either no or little rest to recover.”

“You mean, recover between an ejaculation and the next erection?” Igüeni asks me.

“Yes,” I confirm. “On our first time together, it was quite extreme. I could keep on for the longest time. I mean, yeah, some rest while making out or petting. But we noticed the next morning that some condoms were practically empty…”

“Meaning, you had ejaculation-less orgasms?”

“That, I can’t remember…” I sigh. “Our first night together is a bit hazy… I can’t remember how many times we did it…” I sigh again.

“Yeah, it’s the same for me,” Aia giggles. “I was also surprised. But anytime we do it, he could keep on for more than I expected. I don’t have much experience with guys other than him, but he clearly is above ’em.”

“And with your one night partners? And your Felii skinship partner?” the doctor asks.

“The same…” I sigh. “With my first partner since awakening, it was similar as with Aia. With my other two one-nighters, the same. And with En—my Felii partner, exactly the same… I can’t figure out why this is happening. I don’t really feel different. I work out the same, eat about the same, just better. Aia is an excellent cook,” I laugh while Aia giggles and blushes. “I can’t believe that my cryo could have had a clear influence… Nor that mutation or non-mutation I allegedly have… It’s just that my endurance is higher than I’m used to be…”

“Just…” Aia giggles. “From my point of view, it isn’t a problem. I enjoy it.”

“Okay,” Dr. Igüeni chuckles at Aia’s remark. “We will have you have some extra examinations, just to be sure it has no negative effect. I don’t think, a priori, that having a bit of extra stamina could be negative.” A bit?

Dr. Igüeni goes on with her questions. Some are quite intrusive, and I wouldn’t answer them if it wasn’t for her being a specialized doctor in interspecies maternity, and we have a clear goal in mind. She even asks us about how far I’m able to reach during penetration. Where Aia’s G-spot lies, and how much we enjoy different positions…

“Perfect,” Igüeni finally says. “I’m sorry for the many intimate questions, but we need to have a clear picture of your possibilities. Next, is the gynecological examination. Ehhnah, is Grhiedak now free?”

Ehhnah checks her tablet. “Yes, he just had a short break as he finished earlier with his patient.”

“Good. Please, accompany them,” the doctor says to the Felii nurse.

“Of course, doc,” Ehhanh confirms and stands up.

“Ehhanh is your assigned personal nurse,” Dr. Igüeni informs us. “We assign a nurse to every family. This way, you have a contact person, and we have someone who knows your complete file. She will be with you the whole time, so you won’t feel too displaced visiting the other doctors.” Wow…

“Thank you~” Aia sings and stands up. I follow suit.

·

“Ehhanh?” Aia asks the Felii carrying a tablet. “Do you have many families under your wing as a nurse?”

“Just three others,” Ehhanh confirms. “I’m Dr. Igüeni’s assistant and the head nurse of this clinic. Thus, I just have a few families assigned. You two are special, that’s why I’m entrusted with your case.”

“Wow… Special?” I ask.

“Sure,” the Felii nurse giggles. “You are famous. We, the interspecies community, already see you as our representatives.”

“Really?” Aia asks, dumbfounded. “Did you know who we are when we met?”

“Of course,” Ehhanh confirms. “You aren’t exactly anonymous and easy to hide,” she adds with a giggle. “But it’s our nature as health workers to pry on other’s lives and remain silent about it. And, frankly, I don’t care about your fame as long as you are nice people, and you are.” She smiles brightly and giggles. “Anyway, after yesterday’s press conference, you already have become the heroes of the Gaian interspecies community.”

“For real?” I ask, astonished.

“Sure,” Ehhanh confirms and nods. “There are many interspecies couples and polys living on Gaia, but very few universe-wide celebrities such as yourself.”

Universe-wide celebrities… Who has thought I would be called a celebrity…

“Your decelerations about interspecies matters have resonated with each and every one of us living in an interspecies relationship,” Ehhnah goes on. “Just you two being an interspecies couple, already gives our community here on Gaia quite a boost. But your declarations around the topic are simply awesome!” she exclaims and laughs. “Ah! We’re here… Let me check for a sec…”

Ehhnah asks us to stay outside as she enters an office.

“Interspecies celebrities?” I ask Aia with a smirk. She just giggles and blushes. However, she can’t hide her nervousness.

·

“You can come in,” Ehhnah ushers us into the gynecologist’s office.

“Good morning, Aia, Kira,” doctor Grhiedak receives us with much joy. “How do you do? Ah, have a seat, please.” We do as told and sit in front of him. “This is Veh’reh, my assistant,” he introduces a Reaf woman standing at his right. After greeting each other, he goes on, “Veh’reh will be the one physically interacting with you, Aia. I hope you’d be more comfortable with it.”

“Oh… yeah…” Aia sighs in relief.

“Don’t worry. I’m aware that not many women are conformable with a male gynecologist. I will do the interpretation and analysis. I’m well versed in both genders’ issues, as I was born a woman.”

“Oh!” Aia and I exclaim and look at each other. She completely relaxes after hearing Dr. Grhiedak’s explanation.

“Now, Ehhnah and Kira can always be at your side if you’d wish so,” he offers.

“That would be awesome,” Aia says. “I need him nearby.”

“Most understandable,” the good doctor says. “More so because I need to make many questions and many tests, given that we know nothing about your species. I’ve read through your medical history and still feel lost,” he confesses.

“I understand,” Aia confirms. “I’ll try to answer anything. But I don’t know much bout myself either.”

“Then let’s find out, together with your partner,” Grhiedak offers. “We will do the following: first, I’ll read through Dr. Igüeni’s report. Meanwhile, Veh’reh prepares you for the gynecology examination. We will need to have some samples of your lining, mucus, muscle cells, and take some measurements. Perhaps, we’ll need to take other samples on the go as we see it fit. Later, Veh’reh will take a mammogram as well as a palpation of your breasts to detect any possible issue. I already got your full body x-ray scans. I just need some more specific ones. We’ll also take one of your vagina, uterus, and ovaries. This will happen at the same moment we’ll be taking one sample ovum. A machine designed for that task will be doing so, and you’ll be completely safe. Any questions?”

“Yeah…” Aia sighs. “While we’re at it, could you check my hormones? I’ve got the feeling that something isn’t quite right…”

“Oh, how so?” he asks. “Have you noticed something out of the norm?”

“We’ll…” Aia blushes deeply. “Since we started dating, I’ve become something like a nymphomaniac…” The doc, his assistant, and Ehhnah blink surprised. He nods, urging Aia to go on. “I mean… I haven’t had real sexual experiences before. I mean, not with a guy, nor a girl… However, I explored… masturbation a lot. But not that much as I like sex now…” she confesses, still blushing.

“If you feel the need for it, we’ll do some test,” Dr. Grhiedak offers. “However, I don’t think that your newly discovered sexual urges have something to do with your hormones. Nor that it is something to be worried about.

“You just started dating, and you discovered the pleasure associated with being with someone you really love. Most of us have gone through such a period in our life. We can’t get enough pleasure from being together with our partner at such moments. Those feelings can be really addictive,” he adds and chuckles. “It could also be something about your species, Aia. Perhaps, you’re prone to have such strong sexual urges when you found your soulmate.”

“Oh… I haven’t thought of that…” Aia sighs. “Perhaps, it’s just me having studied human medicine, I’m trying to make sense about it…”

“Right, could be,” the doc says and nods. “The Human anatomy can’t be your guide here, Aia. Even if similar, your body does not need to follow any of the things you’ve studied. We will help you and try to make sense of it, okay?”

“Yeah, thanks,” Aia sighs, this time relaxed.

·

Ehhnah is helping Aia to change her summer dress for a patient gown behind some heavy curtains. Veh’reh is prepping what looks like a modern version of a gyn chair.

“Are you familiar with the procedures?” Veh’reh asks me.

“Not much,” I negate. “I dated a gynecologist student once, but I can’t say I’ve learned how such a chair works in its designed sense…”

“Oh, Kira!” Aia laughs loudly from behind the curtains. The other two women also laugh at my comment.

“That’s certainly not the way you two will be using it,” Veh’reh laughs. “But…” she whispers into my ear, “nice way to make your girl laugh and relax. Anyway,” she goes on in her normal voice, “your girlfriend will be sitting on this comfy chair while you’ll be taking her hand. Nothing more. Not too sexy at all, right?” she giggles.

Still giggling, Aia steps out from behind the curtains. “What do I need to do?” she asks the gynecologist assistant.

“Just make yourself conformable on this comfy love seat…” Veh’reh giggles. “No… wait… gyn chair… It’s a gyn chair,” she laughs.

Giggling and gasping for breath, Aia gets into the chair with our help. Ehhnah is already looking for Dr. Grhiedak.

“Good, are you ready, Aia?” the doc asks her.

“Yeah…” she giggles.

He nods and turns several monitors on while his assistant produces a strange, phallic gadget from a sealed bag.

“This is a computer-assisted speculum,” Veh’reh explains. “It measures the maximum pressure to exerted without hurting Aia. This means, we’ll get the best view without tearing,” she adds, giggling. This speculum looks like a partially translucent dildo… “This opaque part houses a high res cam and many other sensors. We’ll be able to see the pics on that screen,” she points at one just in front of Dr. Grhiedak.

“Now, I’ll smear it with some lube first. And, here you go… Hold it, darling,” Veh’reh hands Aia the speculum. Aia inspects it with interest. “Put it inside your vagina by yourself, Aia,” the assistant instructs. “Just like you’d do with any of your toys. You surely know how by now, right?” she giggles.

Chuckling, Aia brings the speculum under her gown with one hand. Her other searches for mine.

“Are you okay?” I ask her.

“Yeah, just a bit nervous. Wanna help?” she asks, wearing a smirk.

·

“Wow!” Veh’reh exclaims as we watch the monitor. “Aia, are you bisexual?”

“Huh?” Aia blinks, disoriented by the sudden question. “I… dunno…” she sighs. “Why?”

“Your vagina has the bi flag colors,” Veh’reh laughs.

“Intriguing…” Dr. Grhiedak mutters. “I’ve never seen such an interesting coloring. Going from blue over to purple and pinkish…”

“Hey! Can I take a picture and put it as my terminal wallpaper? A real bi-pussy for my bi ass!” Veh’reh laughs.

“Veh’reh…” the doctor sternly says.

“Eep! Sorry, sorry! Just kidding, just kidding…” his assistant apologizes, but still giggles.

“Seriously…” the doc sighs. “Now… Apart from the coloring, I don’t notice anything out of the norm any mammalian species should have. Let’s get the samples and the data we need.”

Keeping on with her corny jokes, Veh’reh takes her utmost care in taking all the samples they need. At some point, I had the impression that her jokes are going over the top, but Aia giggles and laughs the whole time… Either it’s Veh’reh’s personality, or she does it on purpose to put Aia at ease…

“Perfect, we have all the samples we need bar the ovum,” Grhiedak concludes.

“Just a sec, Aia. I’ll deactivate the speculum so you can take it out by yourself,” his assistant informs as she inputs some commands on her tablet.

“Now, the next part, the mammogram,” the doc explains. “Veh’reh will take care of it.”

“Sure,” his assistant confirms. “Keep this gown on, Aia. When you removed the speculum and are ready, we head over to the tit-press.”

“Okay…” Aia giggles at the gestures Veh’reh is making.

After a short while of corny jokes from Veh’reh, Aia had her mammogram taken.

“Perfect, now you’re done here. The next part will be the ovum extraction and the 3D scan of your reproductive organs,” the doc explains. “Ehhnah will accompany you to the lab.”

“Yup!” the Felii nurse giggles. “Keep the gown on, Aia. I bring your stuff with us. You can change after the next part back into your lovely summer dress.”

·

“This ugly-looking machine is, in fact, lovely,” the machine’s operator tells us while she laughs. “You, my dear, you have to sit into this seat fully naked. First, it will take several ultrasound and x-ray images of your lower abdomen and your genitalia. With these, it creates an accurate three-dimensional image.

“After we have the 3D scan, the machine will extract two to four ova. This will be done by two hair-thin needles. You’ll be administered a small dose of sedative that only affects the required areas. You’ll keep conscious the whole time.

“You can’t see your partner, but he will be sitting at my side. You two can talk to each other without a problem, so you won’t feel alone.”

“Ugh… thanks…” Aia says, a bit uneasy.

“Don’t worry, my dear,” the Knoreliaz giggles. “It’s safe. I have used it myself to check my compatibility with my partners. And it confirmed that I am. You’ll just have a similar feeling as when your foot got numb.”

Aia sighs in relief and relaxes.

“Help me out, then in?” Aia asks me, giggling.

“Of course, darling,” I confirm, and help her out of her gown after Ehhnah closed the curtains. “Still nervous?” I ask the blueish alien.

“Yeah… But more at ease…” she confirms while I help her step into the machine.

“I’ll be right outside,” I reassure her.

“Thanks, darling.”

We peck, and I step out of the machine’s dressing room.

«Kira? Darling?» I already hear Aia’s voice through a loudspeaker.

“He’s right here,” Ehhnah reassures.

“Hi, love,” I greet Aia.

«Hi~» Aia sighs, relieved. «I just needed to hear your voice. It’s kinda claustrophobic in here…»

“Sorry, it is…” the Knoreliaz confirms. “But don’t worry, you can chat with us the whole time. Do you want me to tell you what’s happening at the moment, or do you just want to know when’s finished?”

«Ugh… When finished… Does it take long?»

“No, no… just about ten minutes.”

«Okay…» Aia sighs. «I’m ready…»

“Good, we’ll start now.”

«You used this too, Ehhnah?» Aia asks.

“Yeah. I know it’s a bit intimidating, but really safe. The old procedures would have taken up to an hour and required way more anesthetics, and quite a lot of preparations,” the Felii explains. “This machine does everything.”

“Yes, indeed,” the operator confirms. “I basically have to check that the 3D scan is okay and to oversee the retrieval. During the scan, I identify the most mature ova and target them for extraction. Which, by the way, just finished.

«Wait… The whole thing? Wasn’t it ten minutes?»

“Yup,” the Knoreliaz giggles. “The extraction just finished. And it’s ten minutes from the moment you close the doors until it finishes cleaning you.”

«I haven’t felt anything…» Aia marvels. «Just this slight stinging and numbness around my left abdomen.»

“That’s where we took the samples from,” the Knoreliaz confirms. “Don’t worry, my dear, the machine will clean you now. You’ll feel like having had a fresh shower.”

«A shower without Kira? A first in… four days? Yeah, four days,» Aia giggles.

Ehhnah, the operator, and I explode into laughter.

·

Aia shivers as she steps out of the machine. I fetch her a hot coffee from a vending machine just outside the office.

“Sorry, that’s the only thing I think this machine could be improved on,” Ehhnah apologizes. “It’s getting way too cold inside…

“By the way, Kira, it’s your turn after Aia dresses herself.”

“Okay…” I sigh. I was never a fan of the urologist. Let’s hope I don’t have to undergo too many strange examinations… Hey, why I’m saying that? It’s for our’s sake. I’ll do whatever it takes.

·

“Good day, Aia, Kira,” Dr. Cehreh greets us. “How do you feel?”

“Nervous,” I confess.

“I bet,” he chuckles. “Hetero men aren’t usually too happy that another man checks their privates. But rest assured, I won’t do anything we haven’t discussed beforehand. You set the limits. However, the more tests we’re able to do, the better for your compatibility test.

“The first thing is the easiest part. We’ll just need a sperm sample. Then I’ll need to make some ultrasonic photographs of your genitalia, both in its flaccid and erect form. These photographs will be constructed into a three-dimensional image, which lets me have an exhaustive insight. More than touching you.

“For the compatibility test, I won’t need more data. Unless, you have something you want to have checked, given the opportunity.”

I sigh, relaxed. That’s way better than feared after Aia’s many invasive tests.

“Actually… I only have this strange stamina…” I say.

“Yes… that’s really interesting…” he says as he reads, seemingly, our file on his computer. “But I can’t think of a test I could perform just once. It would have to be a full study.

“Then, I assume, that you don’t have any discomfort you need to discuss with me,” he points out, and I confirm. “Your full body scan of your medial file reveals that you’re in excellent health. Meaning, there’s no need to do further tests.”

“Ah… Would my bionic limbs have some influence on our compatibility?” I ask worried.

“No, no, don’t worry. And your other worries, about your mutation, or non-mutation, that is outside of my expertise. That’s something only the lab can answer.”

Ehhnah hands me the typical plastic jar and points at a door. “In that room, you’ll find some porn flicks and intimacy.”

“Let me help,” Aia giggles. “I’m an expert in making my boyfriend cum by now.”

“Huh?” The nurse first blinks, then bursts into laughter. “Just be sure all of it ends directly into the jar.”

“Of course,” Aia giggles.

︙

“This is more than enough for the tests,” Dr. Cehreh laughs.

“You can always give back what’s left over,” Aia jokes, and we all burst into another laughter.

“Now, for the pictures to take… Perhaps, you’d be more comfortable if your soulmate helps you, isn’t it?”

“What do I have to do?” Aia asks, already intrigued.

“Just help him getting excited when we take the images of his erection. I would surely have the opposite effect,” he jokes.

Even if I’m a bit uncomfortable about this, Dr. Cehreh makes it acceptable. He calmly explains what I have to do and what he will do. His good nature and lightweight jokes help me relax.

I have to stand naked inside a contraption which ports a similar gadget to those small x-rays found in dentists, just pointing at the lower areas.

Once done the first pass, he asks Aia for help.

“Wha!” I exclaim as she simply pushes down the top of her dress and removes her bra. But her sudden exposure had the desired effect…

Both the doc and Ehhnah chuckle and giggle at the scene we’re offering.

As long as the second scan lasts, Aia dances around topless. She doesn’t stop singing corny words and insinuations…

“And done,” Dr. Cehreh laughs. “You can cover yourself, Aia. Great job, by the way. I usually have to resort to Erectol for most patients. It seems that in your case, Kira, Aia is the only erection aid you need…”

“So true…” I sigh as I put my boxers on. “In her presence, erectile dysfunction is cured in seconds,” I add joking.

“Oh, you~” Aia giggles and gives me a peck. “Tonight will be very special,” she adds with a luscious smirk.

“Get a room, you two,” Ehhnah laughs. “Oh, wait! Not now, we have to do more tests.”

Yet again, we start laughing.

“That would it be…” Cehreh says. “Now, I’ll study what I have and send your sperm sample to the lab. But from the few things I’ve gathered and your overall health report, I can only say that you’re really healthy, given that you are a heavy smoker. The rest will have to do the lab.”

“Thanks a lot, for making everything light-hearted,” I say. “It’s the first time I didn’t feel too intimidated by a urologist.”

“That’s mostly thanks to Aia,” he retorts. “But I would try to make it agreeable in any case. And if you need to consult me for any male-related matters, please do so. We’re not just a maternity clinic, we offer our services for any member of interspecies families. Meaning, you can visit me if you need anything.”

“Thank you, I will,” I confirm. I really mean it. This guy was so open and nice, taking all the time we needed… If I really have something to sort out, I’ll visit him.

·

After stepping out of doctor Cehreh’s office, Ehhnah turns to us. “The next step is actually to wait…” she explains. “The lab has everything. We’ll visit doctor Igüeni again, and she’ll tell you more.”

“Great, thanks,” I say.

“Yeah… It actually has been more fun than anticipated,” Aia giggles.

·

“Ah, you’re back. Welcome,” Dr. Igüeni greets us as we enter her office. “Let’s see… Dr. Grhiedak already shared his analysis with me. And Dr. Cehreh just confirmed that he’ll have his report ready in about twenty minutes. I can also confirm that all the samples are in the lab and… Oh! That’s great!” We jolt as the doc exclaims. “The lab is already working on your analysis. That means…” she looks over at the wall clock, “in about two hours, you’ll have your results.”

“Really? That fast?” Aia exclaims excited.

“Indeed…” doctor Igüeni confirms. “Why don’t you have lunch nearby? We can give you the results in person.”

“That would be great,” I confirm. “Is there a nice place nearby?”

“Ehhnah?” Dr. Igüeni asks the nurse, and the Felii stands up. “You know many places around, don’t you? Why don’t you accompany them? Your break starts in twenty minutes anyway.”

“Oh, good idea,” Ehhnah confirms with a bright smile while her ears and tail flick.

·

Happily, Ehhnah guides us towards the nearby park while we calm our nerves with some smokes. “How do you feel after the tests?” she asks.

“Better than anticipated,” Aia says. “I mean, all of you took all your time for us and made it bearable, even enjoyable.”

“True,” I confirm. “I like your dedication.”

“Thank you~” Ehhnah sings. “It’s our passion. We want every interspecies family to be healthy and happy.”

“It shows,” Aia giggles. “It’s actually the first time I didn’t feel displaced going to the gyn. I really should have found you earlier.”

“It’s not easy, I know,” the Felii sighs. “Meeting doctors Igüeni, Grhiedak, and Cehreh was the best thing that happened to me, after meeting Carlos. When I was looking for an internship after finishing my studies, I found their recently founded clinic. My peers advised against applying to a yet unknown clinic. But it was the right decision. When I finished my internship, they offered me a full-time job, and I obviously accepted.” Ehhnah smiles brightly.

“That’s really great,” I assess. “It shows that you love your job.”

“I certainly do,” she giggles. “By the way, you’re Japanese, right, Kira?”

“Yeah,” I confirm, wondering about her question.

“Then, I might know the best place to eat something tasty.”

“Lead the way,” Aia giggles.

Suddenly, I discern a flash from the distance…

“Damn paparazzi…” I grumble.

“Huh?” Ehhnah turns around and looks at us.

“Yeah…” Aia sighs. “We’re being followed by the press again…”

“For real?” the Felii freaks out.

“Yeah…” I sigh too. “The best thing is to ignore them. But they’re getting on my nerves. Who knows the idiotic reports they’ll publish.”

“Sorry, Ehhnah,” Aia sighs again. “Most likely, they’ll say some stupid things bout you too…”

“How? Why?” the nurse asks, taken aback.

“Simply for having a stroll together and talking to us…” I say and sigh.

“No way… Is being famous always so… stressful?”

“Yeah…” Aia confirms. “It’s irritating, to say the least.”

“Let’s try to ignore them…” I say, already noticing my anger creeping up. Damn…

·

“A ramen shop?” I exclaim, surprised.

“Yup!” Ehhnah giggles. “My favorite restaurant around here.”

“Cool! Let’s try it,” Aia says, excited.

We step into the ramen shop. It looks like the typical family-owned restaurant from your favorite anime or manga… The long bar, the tables, the decor, even the workers look like those. I definitely know where the inspiration comes from.

“Irasshai mase^[1]!” a Japanese guy shouts from behind the busy bar.

“Hi~” Ehhnah greets. “Ouch… The bar is full. I prefer to eat there. Well, a table will be okay, right?”

“Yeah, it’s perfect,” Aia states while looking around in wonder.

A young waitress hurries towards us, bows, and greets us, “Irasshai mase, table for three?” she asks in a lovely Japanese accent.

“Hai, sannin desu^[2],” I confirm.

With a bright smile, the waitress replies, “Kochira e douzo^[3]…” and offers us a neat low table on the tatami. “Menyuu ni narimasu^[4],” she says as she hands us the bamboo-like paper menus on which each plate is pictured.

“Arigatou gozaimasu^[5],” I thank her while taking my menu.

“Huh… Arriga…tō?” Aia looks over at me and blushes. I nod, and both the waitress and she smile broadly.

“Arigatou!” Ehhnah exclaims euphorically as her ears twitch, and her tail sways.

The waitress tries to hide a giggle as she bows to us and asks, “Onomi mono wa ika ga itashimasu ka?” Aia and Ehhnah just blink confused… The waitress notices and asks again, “What would you have to drink?”

“Oh! The usual tea, ocha, onegai shimasu,” Ehhnah says.

I look over to the hanging menu and notice the different alcoholic beverages. Oh!

“Ocha< to ginjo nihonshu o sanbai, kudasai,” I order.

“Wakarimashita,” the server replies, bows deeply, and turns around.

“Japanese sounds beautiful, doesn’t it?” Ehhnah says dreamily. “Shame I still can’t form a proper sentence… Ah, yeah… What did you order, Kira?”

“I asked for some sake,” I say. “Three glasses, plus the three cups of tea.”

“Oh! I’ve never tried sake,” Aia says. “By the way, why didn’t you ask for sake? I didn’t hear that word when you ordered…”

“Ah… That’s because in Japanese, sake means alcohol, as in any alcoholic beverage. In Japan, the rice wine is called nihonshu,” I explain.

“Wow… I didn’t know that…” Ehhnah says, marveled.

We are briefly interrupted by the waitress bringing three wet towels.

“Oh, and this?” Aia asks.

“These are oshibori, wet towels to clean our hands before eating. I haven’t been in many ramen places offering them,” I explain.

“Cool!” Aia exclaims, excited. “Ah… Let’s have a look at the menu…”

Ramen, ramen, ramen… Many different ramen from all over Japan… Who has thought that in a ramen shop, there is only ramen, I laugh to myself. Then, I noticed the last entry, “Oh!”

“Found something interesting?” Ehhnah asks, intrigued.

“Soki Soba… That’s a variety of soba very similar to ramen. This one has pork in it. A local dish from Okinawa… my parents’ birthplace…” I say emotionally.

“Oh, Kira… Why don’t you try it, then?” Aia suggests. “What would you recommend? Is this Onomichi Ramen good?”

“For seafood-lovers as yourself, ideal,” I recommend. “It’s from the Hiroshima prefecture.

“I’m not too used to these specialty ramen…” Ehhanh sighs. “I think I’ll go with my usual Tonkotsu.”

“Also a good choice,” I assess. “From what I see from here, they make everything fresh. In that case, I would try each and every one.”

“Oh, you~” Aia giggles.

“Gochuumon wa okimari desu ka? Ah—Have you decided what you want to order?” the waitress asks as she brings the tea and the rice wine.

“Hai,” I confirm, “Soki Soba wo hitotsu onegai shimasu^[6].”

“Ah… Onomichi Ramen wo… hiitotsuu ohneguyshiimaass?” Aia tries to copy my order for herself to the enjoyment of the waitress.

“Very good, darling,” I praise Aia’s attempt. She smiles radiantly. I don’t get why she thinks she can’t learn languages. It should be obvious that just by reading a grammar book and learning it by heart, won’t you magically make speak a language. I have to support her more in her attempt to learn languages.

“Tonkotsu Ramen wo hitotsu onegai shimasu,” Ehhnah orders.

The waitress repeated the order, and we confirm. “Hai, shoushou omachi kudasai^[7],” she says and bows again.

“So this is sake… No… How did you call it, darling?” Aia asks.

“Nihonshu.”

“Niihonshoo…” Aia repeats. “Is it strong?”

“This one might be a bit, as it’s a Jizake, a locally brewed sake. They usually don’t water it down to lower its alcohol content. Be careful, just in case,” I recommend.

“Then, kampai!” Ehhnah exclaims.

“Kampai!” I also cheer, lifting my glass.

“Kampaiii!” Aia cheers, giggling.

“Wow! Strooong…” Ehhnah shudders while her fur bristles, her ears jerk, and her tail stiffens.

“Soo good!” Aia exclaims happily.

“Really tasty. No watering down, as suspected,” I conclude.

Aia giggles at Ehhnah’s still bristling fur. “Not used to strong drinks, Ehhnah?” she asks the Felii.

“Not that much…” the nurse gasps and reaches for her teacup.

Aia giggles while Ehhnah brushes her fur back into form with her palm.

“You really look like an anime character…” Aia giggles, but halts suddenly. “Sorry! I didn’t mean to insult you in any way.”

Ehhnah just laughs in return. “It’s okay, don’t worry. Do you watch anime?” she asks overjoyed.

“Huh? Well… Kira showed me some…” Aia explains.

“Cool! I’m definitely an otaku. I absolutely love anime and manga,” the Felii says excited and laughs while Aia visibly relaxes. “Actually, Carlos and I met at the AnimeCon in our early teens. He thought that I was cosplaying a feline warrior from the series Warriors, the hit show of that time. Of course, I was. But not how he thought,” she laughs. “He was absolutely thrilled when he found out that I am a Felii.”

“So cute…” Aia sighs. “Ugh… Was it because of being a feline-like species?”

“At first… yeah…” Ehhnah sighs. “But that changed almost immediately. We got to know each other better until we started dating. Now we’re happily married,” she adds with a bright smile.

“I suppose many people will tell you that…” I sigh.

“Yeah, but I don’t care. I find it funny as I love to cosplay nekos,” Ehhnah giggles again.

“And Reki?” Aia asks worried. “She looks even more like those characters… Won’t she be bullied because of that? I mean… I’ve been bullied a lot…”

“We’ll teach Reki that looking like a beloved fantasy character isn’t necessarily a bad thing,” Ehhnah explains. “She surely will love anime and manga as much as we do.”

“Surely,” I chuckle. “If both parents are into it, most likely, the kid will be too.”

“How would your kid be, then?” Ehhnah asks, intrigued.

“Hmm… Dunno…” Aia shrugs. “I haven’t thought of that yet… But… A trucker too? Don’t think so. Multilingual for sure, at least bilingual.”

“And highly intelligent,” I add. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the kid would inherit Aia’s intelligence.”

“Kira~” Aia giggles.

We’re interrupted by the waitresses’ arrival with three huge bowls of ramen.

“Arigatou,” I thank and break the chopsticks. “Itadakimasu^[8]!”

“Itadakimasu!” Ehhnah exclaims.

“Iitadackimāss!” Aia imitates.

I dig in… “Oishii^[9]!” I cry out as a tear rolls down my cheek.

“Darling…” Aia blinks surprised, then smiles wholeheartedly.

Both women express their delight for their food while I devour the whole bowl in seconds.

“Mouhitotsu!” I shout, holding the empty bowl over the table.

“Hai! Shoushou omachi kudasai!” the cook behind the bar shouts back and laughs.

“Darling…” Aia looks at me preoccupied.

“Huh? Oh! Damn… Sorry…” I sigh.

“It’s okay, darling,” Aia says as she cleans some spots from my chin. “But you’re eating too fast… You could upset your stomach.”

“Right… Sorry…”

“It’s okay,” she giggles. “Seems that this ramen awakened some good memories…”

“Yeah… It tastes like my mother’s Soba…” I sigh.

“Oh, wow…” Ehhnah sighs too. “Then it must be really tasty. Next time, I’ll have one too.”

“Haaaii~” the waitress brings me another bowl with a bright smile.

“Doumo,” I thank her.

I enjoy this second bowl at a calmer pace.

“By the way, Ehhnah, how do you do it with Reki? I mean, you’re working right now,” Aia asks the happy Felii.

“Oh, right!” she answers, swaying her tail. “We’ve got the shared parental leave.”

“Shared? How does this work?” I ask between two slurps of Soba.

“It’s a bit complicated, in the sense of calculating it,” Ehhnah explains. “The mother has a total of six months of paid maternal leave. The first three months are obligatory. You can’t renounce them, and they include two weeks pre-partum. The father has a total of three months of paid paternal leave. How you combine it, it’s yours to decide. Of course, your companies have to agree with the distribution. Then, you have the additional shared one. This is something you have to negotiate with your companies, and is unpaid leave.

“For example, I have got my three months while Carlos only took one after Reki’s birth. He worked the following two months. Then, he took one month of leave to be with us. From then on, he worked a month alternatively.

“Now, on the shared paternity leave, we take turns. He works a month, and I take care of Reki full-time. Then we switch. I work for a month, and he takes care of her. The shared paternity leave can be as long as a year. However, each spouses’ company has to agree and, if possible, to coordinate. Carlos works at the Geo Net Consulting firm, which is very open-minded and gave no problem as long as he is on standby for emergencies. Of course, the clinic had absolutely no problem with it. And for you two working in the same company, it should be really easy to get the shared paternity leave.”

“Wow! Amazing!” I almost spit my last bite out. “So many changes! In my old times, getting a paid leave was practically impossible… Awesome.”

“Truly…” Aia giggles. “We have to look into it, don’t we, love?”

“Quite right, dear,” I confirm.

·

“Gochisousama deshita^[10],” I say as I pay for the cheap but absolutely delicious food.

“It has been a pleasure,” the elderly woman behind the bar says. “Nice to meet enthusiastic guests as you,” she giggles. “Ehhnah-chan, you have lovely friends,” she says to the Felii. “Maido, mata irasshai^[11].”

“Thank you~ We surely come again,” Aia giggles, and we bid goodbye.

·

“Let’s have a stroll?” Ehhnah suggests.

“Good idea,” Aia assesses, and I agree.

We walk a bit through the park until we reach a children’s playground. Aia, Ehhanah, and I observe a bit the playing kids. Aia sighs, wraps her left arm around my hips, and pulls me towards her. I do the same.

“Aww~” Ehhnah sighs and looks at us happily. “Already imagining a kid of yours playing with them?”

“Yeah…” Aia sighs emotionally. “I’d love to see ’em play.”

“That would be wonderful,” I confirm.

“How would a mestizo of yours look like?” Ehhnah asks while her ears flip.

“Black skin like Kira’s?” Aia suggests.

“With blue eyes and blue hair…” I add.

“Or blue skin and black hair…” Ehhnah says.

“Dark blue skin?”

“Dark blue hair?”

We keep throwing possibilities into the air until we notice several kids observing us with evident curiosity.

“Lady, lady… is your hair real?” a girl asks Aia.

“Oh, hm. It’s my natural color,” Aia confirms. “Wanna see?”

“Yeah!” several of the kids exclaim.

Giggling happily, Aia kneels down and takes her scrunchy off. Her beautiful long hair falls like a gentle waterfall of different hues of blue.

“Wow!” “Beautiful!” “Cool!” the kids exclaim.

“Canna touch?” the first girl asks excitedly.

“Sure…” Aia replies, giggling.

“Skin blue too…” a boy observes. “Real too?”

“Hm, it’s real too,” Aia confirms.

“Lady, what spec’is are you?” a Felii girl asks.

“Dunno…” Aia replies.

“Dunno? How? Daddy’s Reafff… Mommies’ ’uman,” a boy says.

“I don’t know where I’m from… I got found by my mom and dad,” Aia explains with a soft smile on her face.

“Woooh… Mommy an’ daddy no blue?” the Reaf mestizo boy asks.

“No…” Aia shakes her head gently. “Both are Humans.”

“But mate black… you blue… and happy!” the first girl exclaims.

“I am,” Aia giggles.

“Daddies an’ mommy happy too!” another boy exclaims and laughs.

Aia’s terminal begins to ring. She just hands it to me.

“Moshi, moshi? Hello? Kira speaking,” I greet after confirming it comes from the IGC Interspecies Clinic.

«Oh, hello, Kira. I’m Dr. Igüeni. I just wanted to notify you that the lab is finishing all their tests and predict I’ll have their results in fifteen minutes.»

“Oh, thanks. We’re just by the park’s playground. Yeah, Ehhnah is with us. Okay, see you soon.” I hang up a tell Aia, “Dr. Igüeni just told me that she’ll have the results in about fifteen minutes.”

“Oh! Then we should be heading back…” Aia says nervously.

“Already gonna go?” the Felii girl says with a sad face.

“Sorry, darling,” Aia pats her head. “But, I need to see my doctor…”

“You sick?” the Reaf boy exclaims, clearly worried.

“No, no…” Aia calms the kids. “She’ll just gonna tell me if my boyfriend and I can have kids.”

“Ooooh… You will!” the first girl exclaims. “Beauty woman an’ cool boy will!”

“Yeah! Black an’ blue rock!” a boy exclaims.

All the kids tell Aia and me that we’ll surely have kids. I’m so moved…

“Thanks, dearies,” Aia says, cleaning a tear rolling down her cheek.

“Thanks,” I also tell the kids filled with emotions.

“Bye~ bye~” the kids wave at us as we leave.

“So cute…” Aia sighs happily while binding her low ponytail together.

“Yeah, and so open…” I sigh too.

“Truly the future of this planet and the universe,” Ehhnah also sighs.

“This shows that kids don’t know what xenophobia is,” I assess.

“Yeah, so true… I wanna…” Aia sighs.

“Me too, dear, me too…”

[1] いらっしゃいませ！Japanese: “Welcome!”

[2] 三人 Japanese: “We are three people.”

[3] こちらへどうぞ Japanese: “Please, have a seat (here).”

[4] メニューになります Japanese: “Here is the menu.”

[5] ありがとうございます Japanese: “Thank you.”

[6] ソーキそばを一つお願いします Japanese: “Could I have one Soki Soba, please?”

[7] はい、少々お待ち下さい Japanese: “Okay, please wait.”

[8] 頂きます Japanese: “Thank you for the food!” “Enjoy!”

[9] 美味しい Japanese: “Delicious!”

[10] ごちそうさまでした Japanese: “Thanks for the food.”

[11] 毎度、またいらっしゃい Japanese: “Thanks, please come again.”

The post B10 ~ The Compatibility Test appeared first on Space Highways.

That’s strange… All the blinds are pulled down… We can’t see inside.

With our hands taken, Aia and I enter the diner first.

“Congratulations!” We jolt as we are greeted by a mass of people. The MaryQueens is up to the brim with people!

“Your Highnesses, I humbly welcome you to my humble place,” Buz says and bows as he exaggeratedly gesticulates pleasantries.

“You’ve got the grace of a rhino!” one shouts and laughs.

“With this, ya can’t eva own a high place!” laughs another.

Just as Buz wants to counter them, he is interrupted by another shout…

“Aia! Kira! Congratulations!” Enya shouts and runs into our arms. “Là·êj`ah!” she repeats in Feliiti as she hugs us tightly.

“Enya… Thank you,” Aia says moved, as she returns the kitten’s hug.

“Thanks, Enya. For everything,” I say as I hug her.

“You’re welcome…” she purrs, then whispers into my ear, “Ahï·lêh, Kira.” I blink as she frees herself from the hug. “Let’s party!” she shouts, and everyone joins in.

Buz turns back to us after shouting some commands to his servers. Wait… he got servers now? He and Sue did everything alone until now… Right… He told me the other day that they are getting overwhelmed and got some part-timers.

“Your table, your Highnesses…” He bows deeply again while everyone bursts into laughter.

We take our imposed seats at an interestingly decorated table. Two electric candles inserted into beer bottles sparsely illuminate the table cloth. Oh, shit… the table cloth is one of Sue’s elegant shawls… Some plastic flowers give it a pseudo-romantic flair, at least it tries… Both really tried their best to make it special, despite the short notice.

“Congratulations~” Sue sings as she reaches us with two pints of beers. “T’was beautiful. Ya two’re a match,” she giggles. “Here, a special brew for a special couple.”

“Thank you~” Aia sings happily.

“Thanks, Sue,” I also thank her.

“A toast!” one shouts.

“Ahem…” Mitsubishi-san clears his throat with a glass of champagne in his hand, and the bar goes silent. “It is a great pleasure of mine to witness two of the best members of our community to come together. The news that Aia-chan and Kira-kun are starting a new life together, brought me much joy. I heartily welcome them as a couple into our family of the ISTM. Aces of Aces, Aia-chan, Kira-kun, I wish you the best life together, and may all your wishes come true. To the Queen and the King of the Space Highways!”

“To the royal couple!” Buz shouts.

“To Aia and Kira!” Sue shouts.

“To many royal fucks!” Enya shouts, and everyone explodes into laughter.

Everyone cheers and chugs down their drinks while Aia blushes and smirks at me.

“Congratulations!” someone screams breathless from the doors.

“Jimmy! About time!” I shout and laugh.

“Fuck you!” he shouts back. “Coulda’ve waited fo’ this till I’d back! Ain’t not rushing from Saturn jus’ fo’ fun! Thanks, pal…” Jim greedily takes a pint from Buz and guzzles it down. “Ah… That hit da spot!”

“Thanks for coming,” Aia giggles.

“Heh! Fo’ ya two, I cross da asteroid belt at light speed,” the happy cowboy laughs.

“Oh, Jimmy,” Aia giggles again.

“Now seriously, bout fuckin’ time ya two make yer minds up!” Jim laughs. “Was tired of yer shit babblin’ bout not makin’ progress…”

“You too?” Enya also laughs.

“Heh! Ya too, kitty?”

“Yup!”

“Shut the fuck off and get drunk, you two,” I interrupt them.

“On it!” Jim retorts and grabs a fresh pint.

The MaryQueens was never so rowdy as today.

·

“Aia, dear, you were really daring to tell them that ‘Yes! We! Fuck!’ thing,” Enya imitates Aia’s voice and laughs.

“She really was,” Yuuki giggles. “I was really taken by surprise. I was about to interrupt the questions but could not go on…”

“I mean…” Aia says, blushing deeply, “it’s the truth, after all…”

“Way to go, girl,” Sue laughs loudly.

More women, mostly truckers, near Aia’s side of the table.

“Say, Aia, is it really true? It was your first time?” a Knoreliaz asks. Aia nods, blushing deeply. “Awww… How was it?”

“How was Kira?” Enya asks, wearing a smirk of mischief.

“Yeah, tell, girl, tell…” another pressures Aia.

“Girls, girls…” Aia giggles but can’t hide her purple cheeks. “I need another draft for that.”

“Here ya go…” Sue laughs as she hands Aia a fresh pint of beer.

“Ahh~ That’s better… Okay, okay… I’ll tell…” Aia cedes from the women’s pressure. “Yeah, it’s true. Kira was my first. I never had sex with anyone else.”

“Nothing?” a Human trucker asks.

“Not that much…” Aia shrugs. “Some oral, some petting and such stuff… but my first real sex was with Kira after the dinner.” Wow! Is she really telling this in front of everyone? “It came naturally… We both wanted it. And Kira… he made it really special. He was so attentive, always seeking my pleasure. I was on cloud nine the whole time. It was the best moment of my life…” She sighs heavenly. “I loved every bit of it. After that first time… well… we kept on fucking like rabbits,” Aia adds, laughing loudly.

“Awww…” Enya sighs dreamily.

“I even lost the counts of my orgasms after the fifth or so…” Aia says, still giggling.

“No fuck?” another Felii asks.

“We did fuck,” Aia retorts, laughing loudly, and everyone around us chimes in.

“Heh! And ya, Kira? How’s yer bride-to-be?” Jim asks me with much mischief.

“Hmm…” I stall my answer for a moment. I don’t really want to tell much about our intimacy. At least, not publicly. “Surprising,” I finally say, imitating his smirk.

Everyone around us explodes, yet again, into laughter.

“No more details?” another trucker asks, wearing a grin.

“Well—Ouch!” Aia just pinched me.

“You can tell,” she says coquettishly.

“Insatiable…” I finally say.

“As you are, darling,” Aia adds and kisses me.

Everyone around us explodes, once again, into laughter.

·

“Hey, hey! Congratulations!” Aia and I turn around and find Charlie nearing us with a fresh pint. “To your health, together,” he laughs, and we clink our pints.

“Thanks for coming, Charlie,” Aia says and giggles.

“I got a short break, just for you two,” he laughs. “Don’t worry, this thing is alcohol-free.”

“Thanks, man. That means a lot to us,” I say.

We keep chatting for a while until he has to return to his post.

·

Enya embraces us two from behind and pushes her head between us. “I’m really happy for you two,” she purrs. “About time…” she adds, giggling.

“Yeah,” Jim confirms, wearing one of his mischievous smirks, “I’m really happy ya two finally worked it out. Was fucking tired o’ listening to yer shit… ‘Damn, Jimmy, she not wanna love me back.’ Heh!” he imitates my voice.

“Oh, shut up, Jim. You’re the same with En—Humph…” Jim hastily covers my mouth while Enya looks at us and blinks. Then her ears flip, and a grin draws on her face.

“Say, Jimmy~” she purrs faking innocence with a hint of mischief, “what was Kira about to say?”

“Nothin’, nothin’!” Jim desperately gesticulates a negation. Dude, you’re too obvious.

“C’mon, Jimmy, we’re under friends, you can tell,” Enya goes on, pressing him for an answer.

“Needa beer!” the cowboy shouts and turns around.

“Wait! Jimmy-boy!” Enya shouts and playfully runs after him.

Aia sheds tears from laughing as we watch Enya aggressively trying to get an answer from Jim, and he evading her at any cost.

“It’s Enya, right?” she asks me.

“Yeah,” I confirm, still laughing.

“Poor Jimmy…” Aia sighs. “He’s a great guy. But he’s chasing the wrong girl… It should be clear by now that she doesn’t want anything more than a friendship with him.”

“True,” I affirm and sigh too. “I tease him about it the whole time while trying to tell him that.”

“Damn… This Jim is dense… There are so many nice women who really are into him, but he ignores ’em completely.”

“Yeah, he is too obsessed with Enya.”

“And his awkward way of treating her is not helping in any way…” Aia sighs.

“Nope… And Enya just loves to tease him because of that.”

“Yeah…” Aia nods while taking my hand. “Is he always that way with one-nighters?”

“No…” I negate. “He’s really nice to the girls who catch his eyes. And he is an avid entertainment joints patron… Every time we met on the roads and went to such a place, he ended hooking up with a girl. But for him, it’s just a hookup…”

“He clearly wants a more steady partner…” Aia sighs.

“Yeah… But Enya?”

“Right now, she doesn’t want a steady partner…” Aia sighs. “And less a monogamous type like Jim…”

“True… And given her decision to not to sleep with people from the ISTM—”

“Yeah…” she interrupts me. “Although she makes some exceptions…” she says, wearing a mischievous smirk while looking at me.

“Aia…” I sigh.

“Hey, you started it,” she giggles. At that moment, Enya runs by our table. “Don’t worry… Ah! Enya!” The kitten stops following and pestering Jim.

“Yeah, sweethearts?” Enya laughs.

“We wanna have a chat with you…” Aia states. What? Already?

“Really? How nice,” she muses and giggles.

“But not here… too noisy,” Aia says. “How bout on Sunday? Are you free?”

“Let me check…” Enya produces her terminal. “Yeah, no prob. I have this Sunday free.”

“Cool, then let’s meet on Sunday, for lunch?”

“Okay,” Enya conforms, “My place?”

“Sure,” I confirm. “It’s a long time since I visited Las Vegas…” I play along. I hope this will work out as well as Aia thinks it will.

“Namely, a few hundred years, right?” Aia asks and giggles.

“Yeah…” I affirm and laugh too.

“Cool! I’ll text you two my location and time,” Enya says and giggles. “I really love you two to come by,” Enya charms. I just hope she doesn’t imply something too explicit.

·

Many are already drunk… I try to keep it down, I’ll still have to pilot us home, and the travel down to Gaia only intensifies the booze’s effects.

“Kira, darling~” Aia giggles as she caresses my hand. “Are they really so happy for us, or for getting drunk?”

We look at the drunken mass, barely dancing arrhythmically along the blaring song. Most have forgotten us two and are drinking non-stop…

“Whatever floats their boat,” I say and laugh. “Hey, wanna dance too?”

“Sure,” she giggles and stands up.

As we start to dance together, we’re noticed by some who cheer. We dance through the mass of people moving erratically. Wildly, during the heavy beat songs; gently and pressed together, during the soft songs.

“Darling~” Aia purrs sultry. “Wanna do something daring?”

“Huh?” I look at her dumbfounded. She smirks, and her eyes point at my left side. I look over… The bathrooms?

“I’m horny as fuck~” she purrs, even sultrier…

“Aia, darling, are you sure?” I ask her.

“You’re too…” she giggles and brings her palm to my groin . “I wanna fuck in here… You know, a fantasy of mine…” she whispers seductively.

“Damn, Aia… Are you a horny woman…” I say jokingly.

“I am… and sexy…” she purrs as she pulls me into the bathroom with the only toilet.

Luckily, Buz and Sue are clean-freaks and are really strict about the cleanliness of their bathrooms. Both bathrooms are non-gendered. One has a toilet just for sitting businesses, the other has urinals.

Aia turns around, embraces me, and starts kissing me filled with passion…

︙

While I help Aia to fix her dress, she does the same with her hair. Then, she helps with fixing my clothes.

“That was really exciting,” she giggles and gives me a peck.

“Yeah… If we just had thought of locking the door…” I chuckle.

“Damn that Enya,” Aia giggles again. “Now, we have to tease her about it.”

“She surely will tease us now…”

“Yeah,” she laughs. “But she came in knowing what we’re doing. So, she is the voyeur…”

“I don’t think she’ll see it that way,” I say and sigh. “Most likely, she’ll tease us now for being exhibitionists…”

“I have more leverage on her,” Aia firms, wearing an impish smirk.

We kiss again and open the door.

“Yahoo!” “Long live da royal couple!” “Yer fuckin’ crazy! Cool!” We’re received by a raving mass of people shouting and celebrating our escapade!

“What?” Aia states in awe. She looks at Enya with a stern face. Enya just shrugs and grins.

“Here, some beers!” Sue laughs as she hands us a pint each. “Needa replenish yer fluids,” she adds, laughing even louder, and the rest explodes into another laughter.

“Way to go!” Buz also laughs. “You two disappeared, and suddenly some heavy moaning came from the bathroom. You couldn’t have timed it better!” He laughs again. “Just when the song died down…”

“Fuck…” I sigh and sit down at our table.

“Yeah, ya took yer long lovin’ time ya two,” Jim laughs and pats my back with force.

“Jimmy…” I grunt and elbow him.

“Ugh! Heh! Yer welcome!” he laughs again.

“Long?” Aia asks innocently. “It was just a quickie…”

“Hell of a quickie,” one of the women states.

“Yeah, half an hour? No much quick…” another laughs.

“Huh?” Aia looks at them, questioning. “That was the quickest yet… Almost no foreplay…” she says, clearly wondering if she got something wrong.

“Oh, you two…” Enya giggles. “That was a royal fuck, not a quickie. A daring one, but nonetheless, a full fuck. Ah…” Enya halts her words at the puzzled face Aia makes. “But no one can tell you otherwise if consider that a quickie,” she adds and giggles.

“Another round for the royal fuck!” someone shouts, and everyone laughs, getting their hands on another glass.

Finally, they leave us in peace… Or so I thought…

“Next time, just lock the door,” Enya giggles as she sits at our table.

“You really should,” Yuuki states but cannot avoid blushing.

“Yah… Ya should,” Sue adds and laughs.

“And, perhaps, wear a condom…” Enya confirms having seen way too much…

“Ya did it without?” Jim asks, baffled.

“So much for wanting children,” Yuuki giggles. “But wanting a bathroom kid?”

“That woulda be funny!” Sue laughs. “A queen’s child called Mary conceived in here!”

Everyone around our table explodes into laughter.

“Anyways…” Aia sighs. “We dunno if we can have…”

“Aia…” Enya sighs too. She stands up and behind Aia. The Felii embraces the blueish alien tenderly from behind. “I’m sure you will,” she tells Aia in her most caring voice. “You two are such a match, no doubt you will,” she reassures.

“Enya… Thank you,” Aia says, and sighs moved.

·

Only a few are left in the MaryQueens. Enya, Yuuki, Mitsubishi-san, Jim, and obviously our hosts are of the few still inside. The rest has left, unsteadily, after congratulating us again and bidding us a wonderful life together.

“Just a coffee…” I tell Buz after asking if I wanted another beer. “I have to pilot us safely home.”

“Wait…” Enya interrupts us. “You mean, Aia’s letting you pilot her most precious baby?”

“Yup,” Aia giggles. “We share everything now. He pilots my Ferrari…”

“And she the Harley…” I add.

“Ya pillion on her bike?” Sue asks, impressed. “There ain’t nobody with guts to…”

“Oh, but she’s a terrific driver,” I retort. “And it’s fun…”

“Heh! Aren’t ya two a danger…” Jim laughs. “Anyways…” he stands up, “Gotta go… Needa brief nap before another haul…”

“You already drunk too much,” I tell him.

“Yeah…” Jim laughs. “Ma haul’s tomorrow early. But got da afternoon free. Shoulda be possible.”

“Then good haul tomorrow,” Aia says. “And thanks again, for coming, Jimmy.”

“Already told ya… Fo’ ya two, I’m always ’ere.”

“Jimmy… There’s time you really say something cute…” Enya purrs and flirts exaggeratedly.

“Heh! Only sometime?”

“Yeah…” Enya giggles. “Now you just have to make it something regular.”

“Ain’t ya cute, Cutie Kitten?”

“Aaaand… Nope… Already blew it again,” Enya laughs and teasingly hits him.

“Ouch…” Jim slumps down on his chair. He jolts up again and stands up. “Kay… hafta go! See y’all tomorrow! Or wheneva!”

Jim pays and leaves the diner.

“Dummy…” Enya sighs. “How can I even consider it when you flee the moment I start to show some interest?”

“Have you considered dating Jim-kun?” Yuuki asks quite innocently.

“Yeah…” Enya confirms with a shrug. “I mean, he is cute and handsome. He’s also great at his job and really funny. But… the clumsy way of flirting with me—Actually, that’s cute too… But his way of trying to win me over… it’s just… naw… You’ve seen it, right?”

“Yeah…” I sigh. “I honestly don’t know why he does that… He flirts quite normal with other women…”

“Exactly,” Enya confirms. “And, honestly, I’m not into what he’s looking for… He wants a stable, hetero, and monogamous relationship… That’s absolutely not my preference. A stable one, sure. But monogamous? No way! Even if he’d be the god of sex, there’s no way he can keep me satisfied!” We all explode into laughter at her impish face she made. “There’s, perhaps, only one guy in the whole universe I would ever consider that, but’s not him…”

“Oh? And who’s that guy?” Aia asks, wearing a smirk.

“That’s a secret…” Enya answers, waring the same kind of smirk. “Anyway… he’s engaged…”

“Since when was that a problem for ya?” Sue asks Enya.

“Dunno,” Enya says, shrugs, and laughs it off.

“I think I know him…” Aia says and giggles.

“Don’t tell anyone…” Enya sighs. “It’s not something I want to spread… After all, I’ve got that horny kitten image I want to keep,” she adds, laughing. Damn you, Enya… “Anyway… Time to leave. We’ll meet on Sunday, right?” Aia and I confirm. “Ah, and keep me posted about your tests tomorrow, okay?”

“We will, Enya. Right after telling my parents,” Aia affirms.

“Great! Now, bye-bye~ Fuck well and much,” Enya adds, giggling.

“Never I had thought you two are so adventurous…” the old Mitsubishi laughs a bit tipsy. Wondering where this will go, we look at him. I’ve never seen him tipsy, and less that much as he’s now… “Interrupting your own party with an escapade to the bathroom… So good to be young!” he laughs loudly.

“Moh~ Mitsubishi-sama…” Yuuki sighs. “Don’t say that…”

“Yeah…” Buz laughs. “We still have to keep the bathroom door open to disperse your heat…” he jokes.

“Yah…” Sue also laughs. “Don’t worry. Ya two ain’t not the first. We do that too…”

“But not in the midst of a party…” Buz affirms.

“Naw… couldn’t… not with patrons around,” Sue adds.

“Don’t worry, Kira, about piloting. You surely sweat out most of the booze in the bathroom….” Buz laughs, and we all explode into another laughter.

Mitsubishi-san laughs non-stop, barely holding himself upright on the chair… “You young people! I’d wish I still—” he slumps down. “I miss Ichika…” he sighs with grief.

“Hia—Mitsubishi-sama…” Yuuki sighs deeply with a hint of sorrow. “I truly think you have drunken enough…”

“Right…” the old man says with a sorrowful voice. He tries to stand up but fails… Yuuki is at his side before I’m able to help him. “Sorry for the sour note…” he sighs. “I wish you two the best. And please, keep us posted…”

“We will. Thank you, Mitsubishi-san,” I confirm, and Aia thanks him too.

Left only with Sue, Buz, and the part-timers cleaning the mess up, we decide that it is the right  moment to leave.

“Nope, I won’t accept your money today, Kira,” Buz says and smiles broadly as I want to pay. “Today’s on the house. May be not much, but it’s our small gift for you.”

“Yah!” Sue giggles. “Ya two brought us much joy. And ya are regulars and friends.”

“Thanks… but it isn’t necessary,” I retort without success. They insist, and I concede.

·

“Aia… why don’t we visit Kim and Kite? We still have some hours left of the day…” I suggest as we leave the Alpha behind.

“A wonderful thought,” she confirms with sparkling eyes. “They surely know it by now. But I wanna tell ’em personally.”

“Setting course to the CreativeTruck!” I laugh and input the corresponding vectors. Aia giggles in return.

·

As soon as we enter the huge central unit of the CreativeTruck, several shouts call for Kim and Kite. The personnel already knows that we are friends and only want to talk with them personally, even about our trucks.

As both women near us with broad smiles, we just take our hands, and Aia shows them her engagement band.

“What? For real?” Kim asks, marveled.

“No way! That’s wonderful!” Kite exclaims delightedly.

“You didn’t hear the news, bosses?” a mechanic asks the pair. “It’s all over the news!” she tells and returns to her job.

“Damn…” Kim laughs. “I don’t have the time for news on the job… Congratulations!” she exclaims.

“We have to celebrate!” Kite laughs loudly. “I’ll tell the supervisors to shut when they’re finished.”

“Thanks, love.” Kim turns to us. “Come you two. Had dinner already? No? Then we’ll fix something for you,” she laughs.

·

We exit the huge unit through a door marked as private and find another, quite smaller building. The short distance between the buildings is covered by a veranda.

Kim opens the door with a wave of her hand over a touch-panel.

“Welcome to our home,” she says as we enter.

“Wow!” I’m completely taken by surprise. Kim and Kite’s home is a huge loft. The only enclosed area must be the bathroom. The furthest part has a second floor, which serves as the bedroom. Underneath it, there is a small art studio and a home gym. A big open kitchen is to our right and a huge lounge to the left. Everything is bright thanks to massive windows everywhere. Behind the kitchen, I espy a dense foliage keeping excellent privacy. The lounge opens to a porch and a garden. An ample pool invites to have a swim. “What a home! It’s awesome!”

“Right… sorry… we never invited you in… right?” Kim apologizes.

“Don’t worry. We never had the right occasion for it,” I say, accepting her apology.

“Yeah, thanks. We actually think of you as a friend. And we usually invite friends home after work or weekends…”

“No harm done, Kim. We haven’t invited you two over since I’ve awakened…”

“Kira’s right, Kim,” Aia intervenes. “I haven’t invited you over for months… Next time, you have to come to visit us.”

“Right… Thanks, you two,” Kim laughs. “Make yourself comfortable. I’ll go to have a shower and a change. Aia dear, you know where the beers are. Take two for you. Be right back…”

Kim disappears into the room I guessed is the bathroom while Aia opens the fridge.

“Oh… They’ve got my parents’ beer… Want some?”

“Great. Yeah, thanks.”

We take a seat and look out into the vast garden.

“I wouldn’t mind having something the like…” I say after taking the first sip from the bottle.

“Yeah…” Aia says and snuggles against me. “I still love my place…”

“Of course… It’s really cozy. Perfect for us two.”

“If… we get a child…” Aia whispers.

“We’ll look for something bigger. Perhaps, with a big garden,” I reassure.

“Yeah… would be great…”

“Oh? Already getting comfy?” Kite laughs as she steps into the loft. “Is Kim having a shower?”

“Yeah,” Aia confirms.

“Kay, be right back. I’ll have one too,” Kite says and also disappears into the bathroom.

“They usually have a shower outside when the weather is warm or on the enclosed porch, if not,” Aia explains and giggles. “But being you here… they’re using the bathroom…”

“Damn… now I feel like I’m imposing on them…” I sigh.

“Don’t worry, darling. They simply don’t want to offer you a show…” she giggles.

·

The bathroom door opens, and a happy chatter reaches us from there.

“Sorry darling, I’m closing the door again…” Kim giggles.

“Don’t leave me alone in here~” Kite sings and laughs.

“Sorry, sorry~ I’ll keep you company the night.”

“You’d better do, or I’d feel lonely~”

Wearing just a long white teeshirt, Kim wanders over to the kitchen. “You already got your beers, right? I’ll take some stuff out for Kite. She’ll make some of her famous canapés for dinner.”

“Cool! Thanks, Kim!” Aia turns to me, “You’ll love Kite’s canapés, they’re absolutely delicious.”

“I’m dying to try them,” I say.

Kite comes out of the bathroom, and, like Kim, she only wears a long white teeshirt reaching the middle of her thighs.

“Oh, thanks, darling~” Kite says as she reaches the kitchen and pecks Kim. “Why don’t you keep our guests some company? I’ll be alright in preparing these alone.”

After another kiss and some flirtatious touches, Kim brings a small cooler filled with beer bottles to the tea table.

“Cheers,” she says and laughs. “Let’s wait for Kite before you unpack the news, shall we?”

“Of course,” Aia giggles. “I don’t want to let her in the dark.”

·

“Delicious!” I almost cry out after tasting one of the many tidbits.

“Told you,” Aia giggles.

“Okay… now we’re here…” Kite says as she takes Kim’s had. “Out with it…”

Aia giggles. “Sure… It was last Saturday when…” Aia goes on and tells, quite detailed, our first night out. From the invitation, the make-out session, to our proposals, even to our first intimacy, she tells everything…

·

“Wow! That’s so beautiful,” Kim sighs.

“So romantic…” Kite also sighs happily. “It truly reminds me of our first date, right darling?”

“Yeah…” Kim giggles.

“And… Kira? You just maxed out your respect points,” Kite adds.

“Respect points?” I ask, intrigued.

“Ah, yeah… It’s something like a table me made up to determine how much we respect men around us,” Kim explains.

“Huh? Is that really necessary nowadays?” I ask back, astonished.

“Yeah…” Kim sighs.

“Mostly because of our job… We are the best-known workshop for space trucks of Gaia. And it’s no secret that we’re a lesbian couple,” Kite tells me. “And this industry is still mainly male dominant…” she sighs. “There are too many unrequested sexual advances from guys…”

“What the hell?” I exclaim. “Still? Haven’t we evolved in this matter in more than a thousand years? To hell with these idiots! Haven’t they learned by now that no matter what they do, they won’t be able to turn a lesbian into a dick-loving slut? Send them to the Sun! Such homophobic people are only good if crisp. Assholes… Fucking porn has ruined everything…” I ramble on until I need to take air.

The three women look at me with bright smiles. Kite thumbs up and laughs.

“Now you’ve really maxed your points out,” Kim laughs.

“Yeah,” Kite giggles. “You’re right. We got sick of that behavior. That’s why we made a point system. Under twenty-five, we tolerate them in a professional matter. If they go zero, we boot them out and won’t do business with them…” she explains.

“Exactly,” Kim confirms. “If they start with such idiotic comments, even before having a professional chat, we keep the right to not work with them. However, if you climb up, as you did, we consider you a friend.”

“Yeah,” Kite goes on, “you already started a bit higher because you’re the Phoenix and were absolutely professional when you came to us for a truck. Being Aia’s friend also gave you a boost.”

“However,” Kim says after swallowing another canapé, “you can always fall. Depending on your comments and actions. You, actually, never lost points… You always were cool around us. You never made sly comments about us, not even the slightest comment about our sexual orientation…”

“Ah… That’s because I simply wanted to keep it professional,” I state.

“That, and when you came and intended on working on your own truck… That was really a huge boost for you…” Kite says.

“Exactly… At first, we were reluctant, of course. Nobody would have someone unprepared to work on something as complex as a space truck. But you, at least, had the right attitude. That chat about mechanics was really a great moment,” Kim laughs.

“When we observed your positive influence on Aia, you climbed up really fast,” Kite confirms. “And today…”

“You maxed it out…” Kim ends Kite’s sentence.

“Wow, I’m honored,” I say. “It’s just a shame that you need to do this…” I sigh. “I mean, it was quite obvious for me that you are a couple, from the moment on I’ve met you. Why would I meddle with your affairs? And it was so obvious that you are deeply in love with each other. Even if you weren’t lesbians, I wouldn’t possibly have a chance…”

The three women laugh, and Aia gives me a peck.

“Actually, if you were a woman, perhaps, you had a chance…” Kite says.

“Yeah, we have an open relationship, but only with other women,” Kim explains.

“Oh… The last part should be obvious, isn’t it?” I say and smirk. “It’s in the definition of lesbian…”

We keep on chatting about issues about sexual orientation and gender issues. Damn… I really have hoped that such things are better nowadays. Sure, a lot of things have changed. But not enough. Obviously, they ask me about my view and on why I see things that way.

“Most likely, because of my parents…” I answer. “They were quite progressive, something rare from the place they came from. My father was quite the feminist, although he would never have called himself one. He always shared the home duties with my mother. And she, she was a hardworking woman with many ambitions. Of course, they had, as all parents have, some absurd views on some issues. Like, they always wanted me to have a Japanese-American girlfriend, and disliked my passion of being a trucker. Nevertheless, they always supported me.

“They taught me early on to be respecting, accepting, and that there are many views I won’t necessarily share. They also introduced me to the LGBT’s existence. Mainly because one of my uncles, from my father’s side, was gay. He was my favorite uncle, always funny and happy…

“When I was about fifteen, he told me that I asked him once why he doesn’t have a wife. He told me that he loves men, not women. And I, supposedly, asked him back, ‘Then why don’t you have a husband?’”

We laugh and giggle at my remembrance of my childhood.

·

“By the way… How many points do I have now?” I ask jokingly.

“Hmm…” Kim and Kite look at each other. “On a scale of a hundred…”

“Two hundred,” Kite says.

Aia and I start to laugh. After we recovered our breaths, Aia tells them that we used the same numbers on our first date.

After another round of laughter, Kim explains, “Over a hundred, we usually only include exceptional men, such as our family members who supported us from the beginning.”

“And, well, Aia is like part of our family,” Kite goes on. “She’s like a sister to us.”

“May I ask?” I carefully say.

“Sure, ask us anything, we’re under friends,” Kim offers.

“Just out of curiosity… Who influenced whom in walking around home barely clothed?” I ask, trying to keep it as a joke. “Aia always wanders around topless even before starting to date…”

“Kira~” Aia giggles while Kim and Kite laugh.

“Not sure…” Kim states. “When we shared a flat in Mars City, we always were dressed lightly. Perhaps from then on…” she shrugs.

“You shared a flat?” I ask.

“Yeah,” Aia confirms. “Remember when I said I left the dorms to share a flat?” I confirm with a nod. “I shared a room with Kim in the dorms. We got a bit upset about how things were run there, and we opted to move out.”

“About that time, I met Kim and Aia,” Kite goes on. “Kim and I shared an optional course in industrial design. Kim studied astromechanics while I studied arts and design. We became hooked with the miniature spaceships called space trucks and started to study together.”

“From there on, we started to have feelings for each other,” Kim tells us. “But I didn’t understand it at that time… I thought I was hetero. But I never had a satisfying relationship with a guy. Kite seduced me like only she can, and here we are now…”

“Not married, but as if,” Kite adds, and both women kiss.

“Right… We went off course… The thing is that I always dressed lightly when home. Aia did it too, and when Kite came to visit, she did too…” Kim concludes.

“Lucky me, you don’t keep on with the trend Aia set to wander around topless when I’m around. It would be too distracting…” I joke and laugh.

Again, the three women laugh loudly.

“True… We’re giving you quite the show…” Kite laughs.

“Well… Your piercings clearly showing through the teeshirt are a show on themselves…” I blurt out. Shit… I haven’t thought this through…

To my relief, she just laughs. “And you haven’t made a fuss about it. I love it. You’re great, Kira.”

“Yeah…” Kim giggles. “Passed the last test…”

“What?” I’m dumbfounded. “Test?”

“Just kidding, Kira,” Kite laughs. “Your face is priceless.”

“Yeah… Just for not asking us how we do it, you already are in the clear,” Kim adds, laughing.

“That’s only acceptable if you want to tell it or alcohol is involved,” I say and laugh too.

“Quite right,” Aia laughs. “Actually… They usually are topless at home when I come by…”

“Yup,” Kim laughs. “And not shy about it.”

“But we’re not yet comfortable enough with you around,” Kite says.

“Understandable,” I say and nod. “I don’t mind. I mean, yeah, you two are really good looking, beautiful women. And I can’t deny that I would enjoy seeing you… As long as everyone knows where the limits are, of course. I mean, you two are a couple, and Aia and I are one…”

“Oh, Kira~” Aia giggles. “That would be fun… When the weather allows it, we should all skinny-dip in your pool.”

“Good idea,” Kim laughs.

“Yeah, I’m in for it,” Kite also laughs.

Really?

“That would be the ultimate test for Kira,” Kim declares, and we all explode into another laughter.

·

As time went by, Aia starts to feel dizzy. She reached her limit. I kept it down to drive, but she drunk as much as usual…

“Lemme lie down a bit…” she mumbles and curls up on the sofa, using my lap as a pillow.

“Sure, darling,” Kite says.

“Need something, Aia?” Kim asks, but Aia doesn’t respond. She already fell asleep.

“Much happened today,” I say as I stroke Aia’s long hair. “And we had a lot of booze.”

“Better you let your angel sleep,” Kite giggles.

“I’m really happy that you entered into Aia’s life,” Kim suddenly changes the subject. “The changes she went through since you’ve awakened, are immense.”

“Truly,” Kite confirms. “We’ve known her for a long time by now, but were unable to help her.”

“It truly hurt us to see her fall so deeply into depression…” Kim sighs. “Everything we did to help her, didn’t do a damn bit…”

“And even looked like we worsened her condition…” Kite sighs too. “She even got depressed when she walked in on us making out…”

“Yeah… We took her to a spa in New Zealand in the hopes of lifting her spirits. She only got more depressed… Damn… I still blame myself for it…” Kim says, downcast.

“Don’t blame yourself,” I say. “It wasn’t your fault. Most likely, she got more depressed because she envied you two for having a great relationship.”

“You think?” Kim asks.

“Yeah, I believe so,” I confirm. “From what she told me, she couldn’t watch others in a happy relationship without feeling down. I don’t know if you are aware, she also was doubting her sexual orientation at that time…”

“She was? Damn… and we didn’t even notice…” Kite sighs. “And there we were, making out in front of her…”

“But she always declared herself hetero…” Kim points out.

“We already talked about it,” I say. “She isn’t so sure about it. She reaffirmed herself that she likes men when she fell for me. But now that we’re dating, those insecurities are coming back. Whatever conclusion she reaches, she’ll always have my support.”

“You truly are the best what happened to her, Kira,” Kite states. “It seems that she couldn’t talk with us about such things… She never told us that she had doubts about her sexual orientation.”

“Yeah… It could be that she felt uncomfortable telling us… As if we would try something with her… That would be bullshit. We love her. She’s the best friend we ever had. We wouldn’t do such thing…” Kim says and sighs.

“I know that, Kim, Kite,” I assure. “It’s just that’s the way her mind told her in her depression… I’m absolutely sure that she wouldn’t ever want to insult you or anything.”

“Thanks, Kira,” both Kim and Kite say in unison.

“Kira~ Love you~” Aia whispers in her sleep and turns around.

“So beautiful,” Kim charms. “She even dreams of you…”

“Well, darling, you too speak in your dreams…” Kite states, wearing a smirk.

“Really? What do I say?” Kim asks.

“More! Harder! Do me more!” Kite moans, imitating Kim’s voice.

“What? No! I don’t do that!” Kim jumps up. She then sits on Kite’s lap and grabs her boob. “You moan that, every fucking night…” she says, jokingly, and kisses Kite.

“Damn… Sorry girls,” I interrupt them. “Do you have some napkins or a cloth? Aia just stained your sofa…”

“Huh? Did she pee herself?” Kim jumps from Kite’s lap and runs for some napkins.

“No, no…” I sigh. “Her thong moved… I… We fucked in the bathroom of the MaryQueens and—”

“Oh… That explains…” Kite giggles.

“Sorry… I didn’t think it would still leak somehow…”

“No worries, here…” Kim hands me several napkins.

“Thanks…” I start cleaning the faint stain from the sofa and try to clean Aia. Damn… it isn’t much, but we should be more careful… “Come, darling,” I say to Aia. “Let’s get home. We shouldn’t dirty our friends’ sofa…”

“Hmm…”

“She’s complete out…” Kite observers. “When that happens, nothing nor nobody can wake her up now…”

“You can sleep here,” Kim offers. “These sofas are really comfy to sleep on.”

“Thanks, girls. But I think it’s better to go home. She would be really disoriented when she wakes up,” I decline their offer to stay.

“I understand,” Kite says and nods. “Just be careful on your way home.”

“I will,” I confirm and gather all our stuff.

Kim and Kite accompany us to the car.

“Ah, and please, tell us tomorrow about your test results,” Kite says.

“Sure, we will.”

“And tell her we said goodbye and good night,” Kim adds.

“Of course, I will.”

·

“Hmm… Where are we?” Aia asks in a slur.

“Home, in our bed… Come here…” I gently pull her against me and hug her.

“So nice…” she purrs. “I’m completely drunk, and my boyfriend hugs me. I’d love to fuck… but…”

“No need. Let’s keep it for tomorrow, darling,” I tell her.

“Yeah… I don’t wanna fall asleep while doing it…”

“Me neither. Sleep well, darling.”

“You too, love…”

The post B09 ~ Party! appeared first on Space Highways.

Astonished, Aia and I look at one of the monitors covering the five-thousand seats. There are even people standing! The first rows are packed with journalists.

Are we really going to do this?

I look at Aia’s smiling face. Yes, we’re going to do it.

“Nervous?” she asks me.

“Yeah,” I confess.

“Me too,” she confirms, giggling shyly. “But—”

“We have to do it,” I interrupt her and sigh. “It’s the best way to get peace.”

“Yeah…” Aia sighs too. “Let’s make it fun, at least, shall we?”

“Right,” I chuckle.

·

As planned, Mitsubishi-san and Yuuki take the stage first. The noisy hall goes silent. The old man wanders calmly towards the podium, while Yuuki stands to his right.

“Dear friends,” the boss addresses the audience, “thank you for coming on such a short notice. We, the ISTM and I, have a fabulous announcement to make today. Even I got moved by the news…” The crowd starts to whisper among themselves. “However…” The crowd goes silent again as Mitsubishi-san goes on, “I will not be the one who will make the announcement, but two of our Aces of Aces! Please, welcome The Queen and the Phoenix!”

A roaring applause fills the vast hall as we step onto the stage.

Aia smiles radiantly and waves at the cheering crowd, while I simply lift my left hand and try to smile despite my nervousness. Her metallic blue cocktail dress glitters from the many camera flashes flooding us.

We sit on our designated chairs while the old Mitsubishi and Yuuki take theirs behind a long desk.

The camera flashes blind me, and the noise is deafening until the boss lifts his hand.

“Please, when you want,” Mitsubishi-san asks us to speak.

I look at Aia, she nods and smiles.

Okay…. I take a deep breath.

“Thank you for coming,” I start. “Thank you, Mitsubishi-san, for having us.

“The announcement we want to share with you today, concerns Aia—The Queen—and me…”

“Yes,” Aia goes on while she takes my trembling hand lying on the table, “today, we are making it official, we are dating.”

The hall erupts in cheers, and we’re blinded, once again, with flashes. The deafening cheers die down as the boss lifts his hand again.

“Last Saturday, Kira proposed to me, and I obviously accepted,” Aia declares joyfully and shows the crowd her engagement ring.

More cheers deafen our ears until they are silenced by Mitsubishi-san.

“And Aia proposed to me shortly afterward,” I add, showing the crowd my engagement ring.

Aia smiles at me lovely, and we kiss in front of the audience. The noise level from the crowd just went overboard. Aia’s ‘I love you’ whisper is almost drowned under the cheers.

·

“Congratulations, Aia-chan, Kira-kun,” Yuuki says after the noise has finally calmed down, “Could you, please, tell us a bit about your relationship, to answer most possible questions?”

“Sure,” Aia giggles. “As most of you know, Kira awakened on January the seventh of this year. I met him that day. We became friends in no-time, and our love flourished.”

“We shared an apartment while I got used to nowadays’ way of life,” I say, taking over. “During our time sharing home, we got to learn a lot about each other. We started to discuss our feelings after a time, but couldn’t go further…”

“Mainly, because that horrible event Kira was involved in…” Aia continues, “Crushmont…” she sighs.

“Yeah…” I confirm.

“From there on, we struggled about our relationship…” Aia sighs again. “We knew what we wanted, but were still very much affected by that. However, we were able to break that spell on Saturday night.

“Kira organized a beautiful dinner at the Dutchess, but he didn’t have to, our feelings flourished the moment he came home from a long haul. There was no need for words, our bodies and emotions expressed ’emselves by ’em alone,” she ends giggling.

“True…” I laugh, “however, that dinner was the real starting point for our new life together, as a couple.”

“Yeah,” Aia giggles again. “It truly was…”

As the crowd cheers again, we look over at Yuuki. She takes her cue, stands up, and moves towards the podium.

Meanwhile, Mitsubishi-san addresses the audience, “I know the presentation has been short, but I doubt that more has to be said,” he laughs. “I believe, it is time to answer questions from the eager journalists.”

The whole hall roars in laughter until Yuuki silences them from the podium.

“I will handle the turns. As many journalist want to ask questions, keep in mind that a maximum of two directly related questions shall be asked. And to the tabloid reporters, please, refrain from asking too personal questions. A reminder to add, The Queen and the Phoenix have full right to not answer a question they feel too personal.

“If your publication wants to have a full interview, please, contact the ISTM’s press department. We will study the interview questions and schedule a private interview with The Queen and the Phoenix if they agree with the topic to discuss. Please, refrain from asking for a direct interview on the spot.” Wow! Now I get why she is in charge of the ISTM’s public relations, she knows the journalist well. “First… sir Lengreth from Gaia News, please…”

The named Human stands up and addresses us.

“First, congratulations!” he joyfully exclaims. After we thank him, he goes on, “You have just said that you proposed to each other in the famous Dutchess restaurant. Could each of you tell us about the moment?”

“Oh, sure…” Aia giggles. “I actually proposed after Kira, already on our way back home. I was so moved by his proposal, that I actually forgot mine,” she laughs. “His was simply beautiful, just like in the movies…” She sighs happily. “It was the perfect place, with beautiful roses, a small string orchestra, incredible food, and…” Aia halts her words in suspension. “At the most romantic moment, just as the fireworks went off, he kneeled before me… asking me the question!”

“Truly a memorable moment,” the journalist interjects. “And you accepted, as we know now.”

“Oh, yeah! I shouted the ‘Yes, I do,’ and anyone in the restaurant heard it,” Aia confirms with a short buster of laughter. Everyone laughs with her.

“I was so moved when Aia also proposed to me, I almost forgot that I did the same thing just a mere thirty minutes prior,” I say and laugh.

·

“Phoenix, how did you get the idea of proposing in the Dutchess? I mean, it’s difficult to get a table, and there are many other cheaper alternatives…” another journalist asks me.

“Actually, the only thing planned was the dinner,” I answer.

“Kira promised me a dinner after a month-long haul, before he went,” Aia interjects and giggles.

“Exactly,” I confirm. “During that haul, I planned to propose. But I didn’t know a good place. I got the recommendation for the Dutchess from Yuuki…” I point at her with open palm. “And SpeedKitty helped me to hatch the plan… Thanks, Enya!” I shout. “It worked!” I add, laughing.

“You’re welcome!” Enya shouts from far away, and everyone bursts into laughter.

“Unbeknownst to me,” I go on after the laughter died down, “Yuuki reserved for us Mitsubishi-san’s table at the Dutchess under my name… So, huge thanks to both of them.” I bow to them.

“You are welcome, Kira-kun. It was worth it,” the old man laughs.

“It was beautiful,” Aia giggles. “From the limousine to the proposal, it has been the best night of my life.”

·

“Congratulations, again,” says another journalist. “Queen, you mentioned you also proposed to the Phoenix, this means, you also had a plan… I am right?”

“Oh, yes…” Aia giggles. “I made many plans during that month alone… I got me a new cocktail dress, just for the occasion. I also got the engagement ring. But most of my plans just burst the moment Kira entered our apartment… I was so happy he came back,” she giggles, “that I completely forgot ’em… My emotions went mayhem the moment I saw him…

“I actually had planned to propose to him on that promised dinner. He was just faster than me,” she giggles again. “I was taken by surprise… Actually, I hoped for it… At least, I anticipated it thanks to the ambiance. It was the perfect setting. Just as I took the decision to propose, Kira stood up to kneel before me…” Aia says, drying a tear of happiness. “I was so happy, that I forgot my own proposal…”

·

“Would you have accepted The Queen’s proposal, Phoenix?”

“Of course,” I confirm.

“Sorry for asking such a strange question, sir,” the journalist apologizes. “I presupposed that it was not usual for women to propose to men in your times before your cryopreservation…”

“No offense taken,” I say. “You’re right, it wasn’t the usual thing. However, I live in this era now, and I think I have learned to adapt,” I laugh. “In Aia’s case, no doubt, I would have reacted the same as she did. I actually did, just a bit later…”

·

“I hope my question isn’t offensive…” Everyone laughs at the tabloid reporter’s introduction. “But you know what our readers wanna know… Have you done it?”

“Is that a question or an affirmation?” Aia asks, wearing a suggestive smirk.

The whole hall explodes in laughter again.

“Write whatever you want, as usual,” I add, laughing.

“Then…” the reporter laughs, “do you have plans for children?”

“Oh, yes…” Aia confirms. “It’s still early, but already discussed it.”

·

“Do you already have a date for your wedding? What kind of wedding?” asks a Reaf.

“Still too early to worry about that,” I laugh.

“Yeah, we’re engaged for barley five days now… We hadn’t had time to discuss it yet…” Aia confirms.

“But rest assured, we’ll tell you the day after,” I add, laughing.

“Or after the honeymoon,” Aia says, giggling.

Yet again, the crowd laughs with us.

·

“You’ve confirmed that you have been dating for the last five days. That means, that most recent reports about your relationship are true…” another reporter starts her question.

“Or rather utterly false,” Aia interjects with a burst of laughter.

“You have quite the imagination,” I add, also laughing.

“True…” the reporter sighs, “would you give us a small insight about your last few days?”

“So you can crosscheck your hits and misses?” I laugh.

“Not much to tell,” Aia says and giggles. “We’re taking this week—Actually, we got the week off. By the way, thank you for the nice proposal honeymoon vacations, Mitsubishi-san,” she tells the old man.

“You are welcome, Aia-chan, Kira-kun. I am just hoping I will get an invitation to your wedding,” he laughs joyfully.

“You will be the first one to get one,” I confirm, laughing.

“That would be nice,” he laughs again.

“Ah, yeah… So… Over the last few days, since we’re dating, we went to my parent’s home. Kira wanted to meet ’em. We also went to a nice beach on Venus and had, overall, a nice time together,” Aia informs.

“Meaning, we have been molested by reporters in New Angeles, on Mars, and on Venus… that’s already three planets,” I add and laugh.

“Yup, from our night out till today… We would really appreciate your peers could leave us alone for a while.” Aia giggles and adds, suggestively, “We need a lot of time alone now…”

As the whole hall erupts into another laughter, Aia looks at me with a seductive smirk. She is clearly enjoying teasing the press. I smirk back and slightly strengthen my grip on her hand in mine.

·

“Congratulations, Queen, Phoenix,” a young Felii woman congratulates us, again. “I am Nehriah, from Interspecies. You are now, without the slightest doubt, the most famous interspecies couple. Have you had some inconveniences due to your different species?”

“Oh…” I’m actually surprised by her question. Interspecies, intriguing name for a magazine.

“Yeah…” Aia sighs. “I had some strange encounters because of my species alone. However, since we’re dating, we already had two altercations because of some anti-IE people…”

“Yes…” I also confirm. “One happened on the seaside avenues of NA, the other on Mars…”

“The first one was horrible… An old woman almost went berserk just because we were kissing…” Aia relates.

“Actually, it was just a peck…” I add. “That woman started insulting us vocally in front of everyone, on a terrace café.”

“Fortunately, all patrons defended us and forced her to leave,” Aia says, wearing a broad smile.

“For the rest, we had either great feedback or went unnoticed,” I comment.

“True…” Aia confirms. “We’ve met some really nice people.”

“That’s wonderful,” Nehriah says, smiling broadly. “I know how it feels. I am in an interspecies relationship too… I’d really wish to have a conversation with you—Ah! Sorry! Sorry!” she exclaims. “I shouldn’t ask for an interview now…” she says downcast and blushing while some other reporters laugh around her.

“Aia, dear?” I whisper while muting my mic.

“Yeah, darling?” she whispers back.

“Should we grant her that interview? I have the feeling that we should…”

“Me too…” she whispers as we both nod. Aia gesticulates at Yuuki while Nehriah recomposes herself. “We want that interview with Nehriah.”

“Understood,” Yuuki confirms. “I’ll ask her backstage after the conference.”

“Thanks, Yuuki-san,” I tell her.

“Dōitashimashite^[1], Aia-chan, Kira-san,” Yuuki says, slightly bowing to us.

“I’m so sorry, again…” Nehriah finally says. “What message would you love to send to other interspecies couples and polys?”

“Don’t let others tell you what to do,” Aia says with a bright smile.

“Nor whom you should or shouldn’t love,” I add.

“Nobody can tell you what species you can or can’t date.”

“Nor what gender or sexual orientation your partners should have.”

“You alone, you and your partners can decide that.”

“In love, there is no place for racism, speciesism, LGBTQ-phobia, nor any other phobia. Love traverses genders, species, sexual orientations, anything. Whatever and whoever you are, you are valid and deserve to love and to be loved,” I blurt out while Aia caresses my hand in hers. “Want to marry? Do it. Do you love someone who has no place in your family? Your family has no right to hold you back. Want to have children? Have them as long as you know you can support them and give them a wonderful life. Are you LGBTQ? Ignore the haters and embrace the community and its allies. Do you love someone from another species? Embrace them. I support you.” Aia squeezes my hand firmly, smiles warmly, and nods. “We support you,” I conclude.

My short soliloquy ends with a roaring applause from the crowd.

Nehriah dries a tear and says, “Thank you, for your wonderful words.”

·

“What are your future plans now? Short and long term?” asks another journalist.

“Short term… enjoy our new relationship,” Aia says, giggling.

“In the long term… the same,” I add, laughing.

“Exactly,” Aia giggles. “We haven’t planned anything. For now, we will do everything as before…”

“Just together,” I end her sentence.

“Yup!” Aia laughs.

·

“You expressed wanting to have children… Being an interspecies couple, is your compatibility confirmed? Sorry to ask a possibly depressing question…” a further journalist asks and apologizes.

“Well… We don’t know yet…” Aia sighs. “We’ll see an interspecies specialist over the next days. We wanna know if it’s possible for us to have children.”

“Yeah,” I confirm. “We want to know our possibilities as soon as possible, to be prepared.”

“Yes… I don’t wanna learn that we can’t, the moment we decide to have a kid…” Aia sighs again.

“Our feelings for each other won’t change. Whatever the results of that test,” I assert.

“Exactly,” Aia confirms. “But we wanna know. If we can’t, there will always be a way. I’m adopted. My wonderful parents found me and adopted me. They are my real parents, and I love ’em.”

“This is another message we want to convey,” I say, caressing Aia’s hand with my thumb. “Don’t let the fact that you can’t have children because of your partner’s species ruin your feelings. Don’t lose your hopes. There’s always a way. Adoption is one of many possibilities. Unable to have children does not render your love invalid.”

“Exactly,” Aia confirms with a radiant smile. “I, we already know that our feelings won’t be affected. It will, of course, affect our immediate happiness, but not our long term happiness.

“So, please, don’t feel broken if you are not compatible with your partners, you aren’t. You are still valid and loved.”

“Thank you…” the journalist says, drying a tear and blowing his nose.

·

“Regarding family,” another reporter begins, “you’ve mentioned that the Phoenix already met your parents, Queen… Are you willing to share any comments about their reactions?”

“They love him and accept him. We both are always welcome in their home,” Aia says, wearing a bright smile. “That’s all I’ll share.”

“Thank you. I understand. Phoenix, would your parents have accepted the Queen as—?

“I don’t know,” I interrupt the journalist. “We will never know. But I know that my love for her will always be above my parents.”

“My apologies…” the journalist ends apologizing after my harsh tone in my voice.

I loved my parents very much, even if they were, sometimes, quite strict in their belief. They always preferred me to have a Japanese girlfriend over any other. I really don’t want to speculate how they would have received Aia. Surely, an ‘another non-Japanese girlfriend?’ stare… Shit…

·

“How do you see your work from now on? Forming a family in such a difficult and dangerous job environment could be a challenge…” a further reporter asks.

“Isn’t being a parent a challenge anyway?” I ask him back and laugh.

“Yeah…” Aia giggles. “That’s too early to think about right now. We don’t see it a problem, and we know we’ll manage. I’m absolutely sure that Kira will be a wonderful father…”

“And Aia, a wonderful mother,” I add while hugging her waist.

“Oh, you~” Aia charms. “That’s something we’ll see when the time comes.”

“Meanwhile, we’ll keep on with our job as good as we can. I don’t see that our relationship will affect our performance,” I explain.

“Yeah,” Aia nods, “we shared an apartment for a while now, and we haven’t found it a problem.”

“However, that is not the same…” the journalist interjects.

“Sure it is,” Aia laughs. “Or are you saying that certain new activities between us two might affect our job’s performance?”

“It will,” I laugh loudly. “At least, we’ll be motivated to finish fast and early to reach home as soon as possible.”

“Oh, yeah!” Aia also laughs. “That’s for sure.”

·

As the crowd’s laughter dies down, another reporter asks his question, this time, to Mitsubishi-san.

“Sir Mitsubishi, what are your views about having a couple in your Aces team?”

“I am absolutely thrilled,” the old man says, beaming in happiness. “As you know, the ISTM does not limit nor imposes anything on their workers outside their job’s responsibilities. The ISTM is an all-inclusive enterprise. Everyone is welcome as long as they share our ethics. No one is judged, disrespected, or discriminated against for their gender, sexual orientation, relationships, and beliefs.

“Interfering into personal matters such as relationships between our workers would only increase discontent and productivity would falter. We don’t care about our relationships are in as long as it does not interfere with their job. In such cases, we discuss it with affected people and search for adequate options and solutions.

“And in the case of Aces, they are Aces because of their higher productivity than the top median anyway. As you might know, Aces might lose their status if their productivity falls below a threshold.

“In Aia-chan and Kira-kun’s cases, they are, together with Enya-chan and Jim-kun, way over any productivity threshold. Even despite Kira-kun’s hospitalization some months ago, he still is way above the top threshold set for Aces.”

“However,” the journalist says after Mitsubishi-san’s brief pause, “such relationships imply time off such as maternity and paternity leaves, honeymoons, anniversaries, and such… I’m sorry to put this on the table, but really might affect the company’s profits.

“That’s easy, youngster,” the old man replies. “If I, or the ISTM, would meddle with or even forbid such relationships, their productivity would suffer, eventually leading to them leaving the company. That would be a bigger loss, way bigger, than every lost day for your mentioned reasons.

“More so, if they are high-profile employees, such as any of the Aces, and, especially, if they are Aces of Aces.

“From a business perspective, the ISTM cannot risk losing any of its high-profile truckers. That would hurt us not only economically, but also in confidence. Truckers are a tight-knit community. If one high-profile trucker leaves a company for whatever reason, many others will doubt the company, and more so if it is about such a trivial reason. This could mean a massive exodus of highly qualified personnel.

“And personally, I cannot stay in the way of a happy couple. I’d rather gift them some free time as long as they keep fulfilling their contract and established quota.

“In Aia-chan and Kira-kun’s case, it is obvious. Both of them are exceeding their quotas vastly. If they are able to fulfill a six-week job in less than five, I gladly reward them an extra free week. Which is the case.

“I am absolutely sure that both of them will still keep their excellent quotas. I am confident to even claim that they will further exceed their quotas from now on. A happy worker excels in their job.

“Frankly, I am glad that you mentioned this issue. Now it is public. The ISTM will never meddle with any relationship of any of its employees. We do not care, as long as productivity is kept inside the established thresholds.”

The humongous hall erupts into a standing ovation from our co-workers.

We already knew that the ISTM does not discourage relationships between its employees. It was already known to us. In fact, there are many relationships inside the huge company. The ISTM is simply too big to meddle with its employees’ happiness.

That Enya doesn’t want to sleep with other ISTM employees is her own decision and, actually, a quite rare one. Okay… I am the exception she would make…

I sigh thinking of Enya, about what might happen from now on.

Aia notices and whispers, muting our mics, “Don’t worry darling, everything will work out.”

“Yeah…” I sigh again. Did she really just read my mind, or am I a bit paranoid about it?

·

“Sir Mitsubishi,” another journalist addresses the boss, “the ISTM is renown for their policies of openness about LGBTQIA-plus people and inclusion of different species. You employ any species and any open-minded person. Can we take that you, from now on, also support publicly interspecies couples and polys?”

“Of course,” the old man says and nods. “In fact, I am organizing a new foundation for that purpose. You might know it, as I am working on it for several months now. The organization is called the Interspecies Foundation Mitsubishi, or IFM for short. This foundation’s objective is to normalize the perception of interspecies relationships. Of course, its core values include any sexual orientation, gender combination, and species.

“The foundation’s objectives include education, defense, legal counseling, medical counseling, and many other ways of assistance for interspecies couples and polys.

“Despite not yet formalized, the foundation is already working together with several specialized publications, specialists, clinics, and governments. If everything goes as planned, the IFM will go public in about a month.

“That leaves me to…” Mitsubishi-san interrupts himself and looks over at us. “Aia-chan, Kira-kun, we still need honorary members and representatives… Would you accept to become part, even if just as honorary members, of the future IFM?”

Wow…

Aia and I, we look at each other. First, dumbfounded. Then, we smile and nod.

“It would be an honor,” Aia says. The boss’ face visibly illuminates.

“We would love to be part of the IFM and help spread mutual interspecies understanding,” I add.

“We will be an example that we are two people in love, not just two species,” Aia confirms as I nod.

“That is wonderful,” Mitsubishi-san says with the brightest smile I have seen yet. “Hereby, I name you two the first honorary members of the IFM,” he declares with pride.

Another standing ovation follows and many more questions…

·

“Queen, Phoenix, can you, please, confirm the burning question—”

“Yes friend,” Aia interrupts him irritated, “we did it. Yes, we had sex, we fucked. Non-stop. Yes, it was my first time. Yes, Kira is awesome. Yes, we experiment. Yes, we have fun. Yes, we’re wild. Yes, we’re tender. Yes! We! Fuck! Now stop asking stupid questions you already know the answer!”

Once again, the whole hall erupts into laughter and a standing ovation.

Meanwhile, Aia blushes and playfully sticks her tongue out. “Sorry, Kira,” she whispers.

“It’s okay, Aia,” I whisper back and pull her towards me.

Our lips meet, and we start to make out in front of everyone. The roaring hall just stepped a notch up and became a living pandemonium…

·

“Okay, with this, the official press conference is finished,” Yuuki declares. “Remember, any publication wanting a private interview with The Queen and the Phoenix, has to send a proposal of the topics to discuss to the ISTM’s press department. We will screen the interviews before contacting the couple. They will have the saying if they are interested or not.”

I grab the mic and shout into it, “Buz! Prepare your place! You have the guest list! Let’s party!”

Another shout comes back, “On it!” And more cheers follow. We see many truckers leave hastily following the hefty bartender.

·

Backstage, we find a nervous Nehirah.

“For real?” she stutters. “I thought, I blew it…”

“No, no…” Aia calms the Felii.

“Quite the contrary,” I say.

“We’re really interested in an interview with you,” Aia confirms.

“Wow! Cool!” The Felii jumps up full of energy and happiness. “Ah… Sorry… I’m in this job for some years now, but I’m still getting nervous in front of important people like you…” she confesses.

“Don’t be,” I say. “We’re not important. We’re just two people in love.”

“Exactly,” Aia confirms. “We want that interview with you because your questions came from your heart. These were your questions, not some prepared standard questions like those from the tabloids. I hate ’em.”

“And I am curious about your magazine’s name. I haven’t heard about nor read it before,” I confess, “but your questions gave me a hint…”

“Oh, I actually read it,” Aia declares. “It’s what you surely are guessing, love. It’s about interspecies relationships tips, healthcare, interviews, and a lot more…”

“Then, confirmed, I’m in for anything supporting interspecies relationships,” I assess.

“Kira~” Aia muses and hugs me. “Yeah… We will.”

“You’ll have to show me one of those magazines,” I tell her playfully.

“Yup! Now…” we turn to Nehriah, “what day and time would be good for you? Tomorrow we can’t because we’ll visit the maternity clinic for our compatibility tests.”

“I wouldn’t want to interrupt your engagement honeymoon…” Nehriah says. “But… the next issue will be published on Sunday.”

“When do you need the interview transcribed and edited?” I ask her.

“On Friday night, New Angeles time… at the latest…” the journalist says.

“Okay, my suggestion, why don’t we have lunch on Friday? You could bring your partner, or partners, and we’ll have a double date. What do you think?”

“That’s a wonderful idea,” Aia confirms happily.

“Wonderful,” Nehriah also confirms. “My boyfriend is an absolute fan of yours. He surely will make time for it. We also live in New Angeles. Would the SkyPod restaurant be fine? I’ll reserve a table in one of the private boots they have. Around one pm?”

“Great,” Aia confirms again, and I nod. “We’ll be there.”

“Perfect! I’ll reserve under my name, so nobody could infer your presence,” Nehriah happily informs.

Filled with excitement, the Felii leaves the backstage, and we decide that it is time to leave for the MaryQueens.

[1] どういたしまして: Japanese: “You are welcome.”

The post B08 ~ Press Conference appeared first on Space Highways.

“Morning, slept well?” I ask her after a long yawn.

“With you, always,” Aia giggles. Déjà vu… “And now, even better…”

A kindling kiss follows…

Passion awakens, and we already are making out filled with lust.

Suddenly, Aia jumps up. “Catch me, if you can!” she laughs and runs into the living room.

Laughing loudly, I also jump up and follow her.

Giggling and laughing, we run through the small apartment. Aia is an expert in dodging my attempts to catch her.

The chase ends when I finally manage to grab her arm in front of the fridge…

Giggling and panting, Aia turns around and gleams at me.

“Got me~” she giggles. “What are you gonna do with me now?” she asks with a sultry tone in her voice.

“Eat you,” I chuckle and start to nibble her neck. She answers with seductive giggles…

︙

“I never thought that sex in the kitchen could be so exciting,” Aia sighs happily as she exhales the smoke of her fag.

“Yeah…” I do the same as I stretch myself out on the sofa. “More so if a super sexy woman like you runs around naked…”

“Oh, you~” Aia giggles. “Breakfast after a shower?” she suggests.

“Sure…”

·

“What should we do today?” Aia asks over the richly prepared breakfast table. “Right, we talked about making our relationship public…” she adds with a long sigh.

“Yeah…” I sigh too. “This is getting out of hand… Look…” I hand her my terminal. “Jim just sent me this…”

“Fuck… Journalists are besieging our apartment block? And our job place? Are they nuts?”

“It seems like they want to get evidence… Aren’t there laws against this?”

“Yeah, some… But—” she takes a deep breath, “yeah… We have to make it public.”

“Let’s call Yuuki… She surely knows how to deal with this stuff…”

“Good idea, love.” Aia grabs her terminal and selects Yuuki’s contact. “Hi, Yuuki~ Yeah, we’re fine,” Aia giggles. “Look, we’re in a pinch. Yeah, exactly. And… well, Mitsubishi-san invited us to chat too… so… Oh, okay, good idea. Just a sec…” Aia looks at me and says, “Yuuki suggests that we visit ’em and talk about what to do…”

“Sure, good idea,” I confirm.

“Okay, at what time? Around early afternoon? Perfect. Bye, thank you, Yuuki.”

We both sigh in relief. Yuuki is the most adequate person we know who has the knowledge on how to make this public in an orderly manner.

“Until then…” Aia sighs. “I wanted to go to the bank and open our joint bank account… I know it might look childish, but I wanna do it.”

“Let’s see if we can lose these losers…” I say with a smirk.

“Kira~” Aia charms. “You’re right.”

·

“Darling, do you think this dress is a bit too much?” Aia asks me while covering herself with the blue cocktail dress I bought her on the Yamato station.

“It’s perfect, love,” I assess.

“Ugh~ My tan… you can see the tan lines with this dress…” she sighs.

“It’s beautiful. It adds something unique and sexy to you,” I tell her.

“If you like it~ Then I’ll wear it,” she purrs.

We finish dressing and prepare us to leave.

Just as I want to look down from our balcony to check for those journalists, a drone appears in my face. It’s taking pictures of me! Behind me, Aia cries out, startled by the sudden appearance.  

I manage to grab the pesky machine and crash it against the floor. After stomping it to pieces, I throw it at a group of journalists looking up from the sidewalk.

Aia is already on her terminal. She is calling the police… I hear her explaining what just happened and telling them that she just recorded it. Good reflexes, dear.

Less than fifteen minutes later, two patrol cars appear on the streets below and disperse the annoying journalists.

“Finally…” Aia sighs.

“Assholes…” I grumble. “Fucking our privacy up.”

“Fortunately for us, they crossed the line with that drone,” she says. “It’s illegal to use ’em to invade one’s privacy.”

“Yeah… Let’s go as long the coast is clear…”

“Sure.”

·

Thanks to Aia’s trusty sportster and its tinted windscreen and windows, we reach the bank’s building.

Without much fuss, we are received by our financial consultant, an elderly Knoreliaz. Without questions about our relationship, she advises us on our decision to create a joint account. In the end, we opt for creating a joint account while each of us keeps their own individual accounts. Each month, a fixed amount of money will be transferred automatically from our accounts into the joint one. All bills will, from the next month on, be collected from this new account. We get our chips updated with the new bank account, and now we have both access to it for cash payment.

We do not forget our promise to Irina and Jack, and we transfer them our investment. The friendly Knoreliaz handles it swiftly, requesting confirmation about the transfers, and we are set.

After we signed the last documents, she only tells us to be careful with the journalists who might be outside and wishes us a good day.

·

After nearly running over some journalists on our way out of the bank, we opt to ask Yuuki if we could come earlier than suggested. She immediately confirms that it wouldn’t be a problem, even tells us that she already instructed Charlie to send us to a special set of parking spaces. Wow!

·

“Good morning, Queen, Phoenix,” Charlie greets us. “You’ve got special airlock number A1 for as long as you need. The boss himself requested it.”

“Wow! Thank you, Charlie,” Aia says, amazed.

“My lips are sealed,” he laughs. “But…”

“We’ll tell you later,” I laugh.

“Damn… Okay, your decision,” he laughs again. “But you owe me a beer for this,” he adds with snorting laughter.

“Sure, a six-pack,” Aia confirms.

“Deal!” Charlie laughs, then gives us the vectors and closes communication.

·

“Brown?” I ask astonished as we step out of the airlock.

“Good morning, Aia, Kira,” he greets us. “Given the circumstances, I’ll be your bodyguard for today.”

“Wow, really?” Aia asks.

“Indeed…” He nods as good as he can with his cyborg body. “The press is pestering every department by now…”

“Fuck… That’s why we want to talk to the boss,” I say.

“Then please, follow me,” Brown says and turns around. “The boss is awaiting you.”

On our way, we barely meet people, and those we meet are from the security department. 

“I’ve never been in this part of the Alpha…” I say overwhelmed by the excessive security.

“It’s the ISTM’s main office,” Aia explains as we walk through several corridors.

“The core of the ISTM is managed from here,” Brown confirms too.

·

Still amazed by the many corridors and closed doors, we reach a section after passing a security door. Now, this is becoming more familiar…

“I’ll wait here. Please…” Brown says and opens us the door to Yuuki’s office.

We both thank him and cross the threshold.

“Ah! Welcome, welcome!” Yuuki shouts from her desk as she hurriedly stands up and approaches us. “Really excited, I am! Omedetō! Congratulations! This is wonderful!”

Frankly, I am shocked to see the always composed and serene Yuuki express so many emotions at one time.

We can’t even answer as the door to Mitsubishi-san’s office springs open, and our boss meets us in a hurry.

“Omedetō gozaimasu!” he shouts as he approaches us too. “Aia-chan, Kira-kun, congratulations!”

“Marvelous…” Yuuki adds dreamily.

Overrun be their best wishes, we are only able to thank them. They shake our hands lively and heartily.

“Come in, come in,” our boss offers, pointing at his office. “We have to celebrate! Yuuki…” He doesn’t have to finish his sentence, as she already brings a bottle of champagne and four glasses.

Aia and I sit on the couch while Mitsubishi-san and Yuuki take an armchair each. This must be the place where our boss has his usual business meetings, I guess…

“Omedetō gozaimasu!” the old man repeats as he lifts his filled glass. “Kanpai!”

“Omedetō, Aia-chan, Kira-kun,” Yuuki also adds after clinking our glasses.

This champagne is delicious. Tastes familiar… Venus Blue… Even our boss enjoys it?

“Excuse me, youngsters,” Mitsubishi-san says, “for being so emotional. I am still moved…”

“Since Saturday night,” Yuuki adds, giggling. Aia and I look at each other in astonishment.

“Oh, yes… “ our boss confesses. “I was contacted by Eloise, the owner of the place and a good friend of mine, after you had left the Dutchess. Needless to say, I was not prepared for such a big event.”

“Hai,” Yuuki confirms. “I had big hopes after Kira-kun asked me for the venue, but not so huge…” she adds with a short giggle.

“Ah… ye—yeah…” I stutter, overwhelmed by the emotions these two overflow with. “Thanks for the orchestra, by the way…” I add, slightly bowing to him.

“Oh… You figured it out,” Mitsubishi-san laughs. “Yes, it was me. And Yuuki called the Dutchess and reserved my usual table under your name.”

“So that’s why…” I sigh, then laugh. “Aia, dear… The Dutchess was booked up until I told my name…” I tell her.

“Oh! Then thank you, Mitsubishi-san,” Aia says with a bright smile. “It was the best evening of my life.”

“No need for thanks, youngsters,” the old man says with a short chuckle. His pleased face tells us everything… He is glowing for having played a small part in our night out. “When Yuuki told me in confidence that Kira-kun asked her about a romantic venue, and she recommended the Dutchess, I knew you two would take the first steps towards a partnership. But to the point of engagement… I did not expect that…”

“How was it, Aia-chan?” Yuuki asks dreamily.

“Wonderful,” Aia replies. “The ambiance couldn’t have been better. But everything was blown away the moment Kira kneeled down in front of me and asked me…” she sighs happily while showing Yuuki and the boss her engagement band.

“Beautiful…” Yuuki muses.

“Indeed…” the old Mitsubishi confirms and nods.

“And Aia proposed to me afterward,” I add and show them my engagement ring.

“So wonderful…” Yuuki sighs dreamily.

“Aah…” Mitsubishi-san also sighs happily. “I knew that you two were made for each other.”

“You did?” I ask him.

“Indeed… The same day I have met you. And I knew that you would have a positive influence on poor Aia-chan’s health.”

“Boss…” Aia sighs.

“Do not worry about it now, Aia-chan. I agree with Mitsubishi-sama, your health came back as soon as you have met Kira-kun. We actually rooted for you two so much,” Yuuki confesses.

“Indeed…” the boss nods, “I saw that you two would be happy together, and hoped that you two can work it out.”

“Tha—tanks, Mitsubishi-san,” I stutter. “I—We’re moved…”

“But is it really okay? I mean, work-related…” Aia asks with a hint of preoccupation.

“No problem, no problem,” the old man laughs, “you two are already two of my best employees. I could not be your way, not the slightest. I am happy for you two.”

“Boss…”

“Do not worry about work,” Yuuki says. “Right now, you are on vacation,” she adds, giggling. “But, you said that you are having problems…”

“Yeah…” I sigh.

“The press…” Aia adds with another sigh.

“I see…” Mitsubishi-san says and brushes his hand through his long beard. “Do you want to make it public?”

“Yes,” Aia confirms.

“We just don’t know how. Maybe a public statement or…” I shrug as my voice trails off.

“Why not a press conference? Where you can answer some questions to the press,” Yuuki suggests.

“Good idea,” our boss assesses.

“What do you think, dear?” I ask Aia.

“Yeah… Better now than running… I already hated the stupidities they wrote about me, but now it’s ludicrous.” Aia sighs and takes my hand. “I think we should.”

“Right,” I nod, “let’s do it.”

“Yuuki, call everyone for a press conference. Is press hall One free today?” Mitsubishi-san asks.

Yuuki checks her tablet computer. “In one hour. It is free in one hour as it is being cleaned,” she confirms. “I will call every stationed journalist. Shall I call some others?”

“Good. Yes, make it public. Let us fill that hall to the brim,” our boss laughs. “Then make it in two hours, so those on Gaia can come too. Ah, do not state the exact reason. It will be a surprise,” he adds.

“Wakarimashita, Mitsubishi-san,” Yuuki says, stands up and leaves for her office.

“Now, youngsters,” he says, “would you have a light meal before the press conference?”

Aia and I look at each other, giggle and chuckle, and confirm.

·

After Yuuki finished her calls, she orders some food for us four.

We enjoy a rich meal together with our boss and his secretary in his office.

With another glass of champagne, we keep on talking until it is time for the press conference.

“Such a beautiful dress,” Yuuki observes as we walk towards the hall.

“A gift from Kira, on our first haul together after his hospitalization,” Aia says.

“Such a great gift,” Yuuki muses. “And these new earrings?”

“Another gift,” Aia giggles. “From yesterday, on Venus.”

“Aww~ He truly pampers you, doesn’t he?”

“Yeah~”

Both women giggle while Mitsubishi-san looks proudly at me and smiles broadly while Brown leads us.

The post B07 ~ Visiting the Alpha appeared first on Space Highways.

My eyes slowly focus on Aia’s gentle smile.

“Good morning, dear,” I say after a long yawn.

“Morning, love,” Aia giggles and moves to lie on me.

We kiss gently, a loving kiss that grows into a passionate one…

︙

“Ahh~” Aia sighs emotionally, “that felt good…”

“Yeah,” I chuckle.

“Seems like we can’t stop fucking like rabbits,” Aia giggles sultry.

“Seems so,” I chuckle again.

“Ugh~ Is it really okay? I mean… Me being so—”

“Sexy? Sure, it’s okay,” I say, wearing a smirk.

“Dummy~” she giggles and punches me teasingly.

“Ouch!” I playfully retort.

Aia snuggles against my right and lets her fingers brush over my chest.

“I mean…” she sighs. “Yeah, you’ve told me the other day that’s okay, but…” I look at her and brush some locks of hair off her face. “Thanks, darling,” she purrs. “I mean… I’m always horny as fuck now that we finally had sex…”

“Aia…” I sigh a bit moved but wear a gentle smile, “it’s okay. Being sexually active isn’t really a catastrophe, right?”

“Oh, you~” Aia giggles. “Even so… Is it normal? I mean, us having so much sex right after starting to date?”

“Oh, actually, it is…” I confirm. “At least, in my experience.”

“Oh? How so?”

“Let’s see… We had quite some sexual tension between us for a time, right?” She nods while we keep exchanging caresses. “Now that we finally took the step to have sex, we are bound to recover all that tension…”

“Hmm…”

“That’s my impression in our case. True it is, that I’ve always had such experiences with lovers before, a lot of sex just after starting dating.”

“But that much?”

“Well… You’re quite unique after all,” I say, smiling and caressing her scalp.

“Oh, you~” she giggles again. “Will it go away? Will we get bored of this?”

“I don’t believe so, Aia. We’ll always find something new before we get bored.”

“You think so?” she asks, wearing a smirk. “Did it ever happened to you? I mean, to get bored from sex?” she adds.

“No…” I sigh. She looks at me, questioning. “I’ve never had a relationship lasting long enough that I could get bored…”

“Oh, Kira… Sorry.”

“Don’t worry, love. And… being with you, I doubt that I’d ever get bored,” I chuckle and play with her beautiful hair.

“Oh, you~” She punches me playfully. “Hmm… What do you want to do today? As much I’d love to stay in bed all day and fuck, I want to do something together with you, outside.”

“Living a couple’s daily life?” I ask chuckling. She nods. “Hmm… Now that you mention it… I haven’t been to a beach in ages, and never since I’ve awakened…”

“Wanna see me in a bikini?” she purrs sultry.

“Yeah…” I laugh. “Ah… shit… I forgot… We’re already in autumn… The beach nearby could be cold…”

“And too crowded…” Aia sighs. “We wouldn’t have a chance to enjoy ourselves.”

“Damn… What options do we have?”

“Venus?” Aia suggests with a bright smile.

“Venus?” I ask back.

“Yeah, there’s a huge beach resort and a smaller but public beach open right now.”

“Sounds great!” I almost jump up. “I’ve never been to Venus. Ah… But I don’t own a swimsuit…”

“Then let’s buy some after breakfast, shall we? I wanna have some new ones, too.”

“Perfect!” I laugh.

·

Occupying the pillion of Aia’s nifty bike, and holding on her, we flit towards the nearest mall.

“Wow…”

“Huge, right?” Aia giggles.

“I really can’t get used to these huge thematic malls of nowadays…”

“I believe you. I don’t like ’em either, but they do their job.” Aia sighs as she reads the map of the vast apparel mall. “There… Sea & Sun. A fitting name,” she giggles. “Let’s go.”

·

“So many swimsuits…” I blurt out in awe.

“Right?” Aia giggles. “Hmm… Me first?” she ask wearing a sultry smirk. I nod and laugh. “Okay, help me to find some, will you?”

I confirm and put myself to the task to select some nice swimsuits for Aia to try on. Too many… But thanks to Aia’s favorite color, blue, I can rule out a vast quantity of options. Fuck me… Each is sexier than the other…

Aia has implied that I should find some sexy ones, but I’ll get some more conservatives too, just in case. Hmm… How do I feel about watching her showing off to others? Our conversation from last night comes back… I don’t know… Would I really want to open up our relationship? In other times, I would have accepted without a doubt. How is it that I finally found a partner I fully trust, I start having these doubts? I sigh deeply while looking for blue swimsuits.

·

“This fitting room is great…” Aia points at one, which clearly states that it is for couples. Really? A fitting room for two? A sign reminds us that sex is not allowed in these rooms… Fuck me… “Coming or going?” Aia giggles at my hesitation.

“Coming, coming…” I laugh.

“Okay…” she giggles again and starts to undress. “Oh… I forgot to bring my try-on set… Could you buy me one?”

“Try-on set?” I ask her stupefied.

“Hm~ A special, transparent bra and pantie set, just for trying on underwear and swimsuits…”

“Oh! Okay, I’ll get you one.”

“Get one for you, too,” she giggles. “They are usually near the checkouts.”

“Okay. Be right back.”

I give Aia a peck before leaving the fitting room.

Just as Aia instructed, I find a big rack labeled with ‘fitting sets’ standing tall near the checkouts.

Fuck me… there are so many. And all are really transparent! Hmm… it seems they are arranged by species-type and gender, then sizes. Okay… I know her sizes by now and find her a fitting set. I find one for me too… are these things strange

·

I knock on the fitting room’s door.

“It’s me, Kira…” I say.

“Come in,” I hear through the door. “Ah! Wait! Gotta unlock the door first…” The door opens, and Aia’s happy face emerges. “Missed me much?”

I give her a peck while she pulls me into the fitting room.

“Yeah…” I chuckle. “Here… I was told that they are already sterilized and clean to use.”

“Yup! Thank you~” she sings happily and gives me another peck. “It’s done so we can use ’em right away. Let me put it on.” Aia opens the pack and starts to giggle. “Oh, Kira~”

“What? Did I buy something else?”

“No… But you got the sexiest one…” she keeps on laughing. “These are pasties instead of a bra…”

“Shit… I’ll get you another one…”

“No, no…” Aia giggles. “It’s okay. These will work quite fine.”

We try a myriad of sexy and strange swimsuits until we find some we both like. Aia ends up with several bikinis and a sporty one-piece. She will wear this one-piece today. It’s actually quite revealing… The front is open from beneath her navel up to her breasts. The sides are also open, as is part of her back. According to her, it hides enough.

For me, I ended up buying some briefs which look similar to the traditional Japanese fundoshi.

·

Giggling and laughing, we leave the changing booth. Aia drops our discarded suits into a designated basket, and we look around.

“Sunscreen…” I say pensively.

“Yeah… Well… I don’t really need some…” Aia sighs.

“Really?” I ask astonished.

“Dunno why, but I can’t get a tan…” she sighs again.

“Me neither, Aia,” I say, trying to reassure her while laying my hand on her shoulder and gently caressing her. “But be better safe than sorry, right?”

“Right,” Aia giggles. “Plus, you can oil me up,” she adds with a sultry smirk.

“Yeah,” I chuckle. “You too…”

“Oh, yeah,” she giggles again. “You’re right, Venus is quite near the Sun, better safe than sorry.”

We look through the myriad of sunscreens, creams, oils, and lotions until Aia finds one she thinks is the best for us two.

·

“Beach towels…” I say pensively again after we got our sunscreen.

“Hm~” Aia hums in affirmation. “Better get some nice ones. I don’t mind using those from home, but it’s a pain to clean ’em afterwards. They’re not thought to be used on a beach.”

“Okay.” I shrug at her comment. It shouldn’t be a problem at all. But I won’t go against her. After all, I suggested it.

“Kira, darling, look…” Aia points at a huge towel for two. It’s two by two meters. “Would be nice to lie down on it, right?”

“True, love,” I confirm and look through the many on display. “Oh! Aia, look…”

“Cool! A black to blue gradient… Our colors…” She smiles radiantly.

“Dibs on the blue side,” I call out childishly.

“Oh, you, Kira~” Aia giggles. “Hm~ let’s take the other’s color.” She laughs charmingly. “Then, have this one too…” She points at a big blue towel.

“And you, this one…” I show her a black one.

“Sure,” she giggles again.

“Now we should have everything, right?” I ask Aia.

“We got our swimwear, towels, and sunscreen… The beers and the mini-fridge are ready at home… Hmm…”

“A shower kit?”

“Good idea, have you seen some?”

“Right in front of you…” I point at some shelves filled with shower kits similar to those we use on route after running out of our stuff.

“Oh! Right!” Aia laughs.

·

We flit back to our home on Aia’s bike while I carry the backpack filled with our recent acquisitions.

As the door to the apartment closes, Aia already undresses her biker one-piece.

“Aia, dear, you forgot to take your try-out pasties off…” I observe.

“Ouch… Right… the thong too…” She peeks her tongue out. “I’ll wear the swimsuit under my clothes. I suggest you do too.”

“Okay. I suppose it will be hot there, right?”

“Yeah… Wear something light.”

“Great.”

·

“How do we get to Venus?” I ask Aia while strapping myself into her Ferrari’s pilot’s seat.

“Per Gate. There’s a new one to Venus,” she explains.

“Right… I read about it the other day, it happened while I was in hospital…” I confirm.

“Yeah, it will save us several hours.”

“Neat…”

·

After a two hours ride through the Jump, I’m rendered speechless by the sight of Venus. It definitely does not look like the pictures I’ve seen in my old times. It looks similar to Gaia… A blue and green planet. Well… more in different aquamarine hues…

The AR shows a vector to our destination on Venus. It’s clearly on the sunny side of the planet.

“Will we be able to see a sunset?” I ask Aia.

“Hmm… I’m afraid not… We would have to spend about forty Gaian days for it to happen…” Aia explains.

“Wow… Right… If I remember well, Venus has a shorter year than Gaia. And… its days are about a Venusian year, right?”

“Almost right, Kira,” Aia giggles. “You’re right in the year part. But the days are about fifty Gaian days nowadays.”

“How’s that possible?” I ask dumbfounded.

“It had to do with its terraformation… Dunno exactly how the process works, but it was needed to maintain life on the planet. Anyways, it seems that all the substances injected into the core to reinforce its magnetic field also accelerated the planet’s rotation…” Aia explains after a shrug.

“Wow… Incredible…”

“Also, it’s always slightly clouded, more like mist in the higher atmosphere. That gives the planet a refreshing air about it.” Aia giggles at my visible state of awe. “In a strange combination of Venus’ natural soil, endemic vegetation, and this mist, everything has a light aquamarine shade on it.”

“That’s…”

“Incredible, right?” Aia giggles while I nod.

·

I land on a designated parking lot Aia directed me to.

Opening the door, I’m welcomed by a pleasant warmth.

“Wow…”

“Lovely weather, isn’t it?” Aia asks happily.

“It is,” I confirm.

I fetch the fridge-backpack and one of our beach bags, while Aia takes the other bag.

With taken hands, we wander along a nice promenade. It’s quite empty…

“Most people are at the beach right now,” Aia explains. “This walkway is only thought for this public parking. I’ve read that the original intention was to make a mall along this place, but never materialized…”

“The views are clearly nicer,” I observe.

“True…” Aia giggles, then sighs. I look at her questioning as I try to interpret her sigh. “Ah… Just thinking…” she giggles. “Why is it that ever since we met, we had such stupid confrontations with some people?”

“Which one do you mean, honey?” I ask. “The truckers? The racists? The anti-IE? The—”

“All of them…” Aia interrupts me and sighs. “Since we’re dating… The anti-IE, like the old woman the other day. Carles, the whole of my life… Then all those we met on our hauls… And some truckers…”

“Right…” I also sigh. “Remember the day I admitted being the Phoenix?”

“As it was yesterday,” Aia giggles and smiles brightly. “Right… there was the Younger Cole…”

“In the case of some of the truckers and other workers related to our job, I think I get it…”

“What do you mean, Kira?”

“You are the best trucker in the Gaian sector, if not ever. You are beautiful, no doubt. And, you are the most famous one around. Almost everybody fawns over you, you are their goddess, their queen. But you didn’t accept those advances… And… suddenly, I appear…” I sigh.

“Hmm… Makes sense… Since you came into my life, I threw myself onto you…” Aia giggles. “Right… You mean, that many got jealous of you?”

“That’s one reason I can think of…” I let her hand free and hug her waist. She does the same with me. “At least, in regard to those who attacked me specifically when we were together.”

“Right… You mean that those who were frustrated by my lack of interest in them, attacked you to free their frustration? Even if they ended as a punching bag?”

“Yeah, the like.”

“I get that the anti-IE attack us… Even if I don’t understand these sentiments.”

“Neither do I…”

“Yeah… Thanks, darling,” Aia giggles. “Ah… we’re almost here…”

“Wow!” I’m speechless… A long promenade along a vast beach opens up in front of us.

“This is the quieter part of the beach,” Aia explains. “The other end of the public beach is adjoined to a beach resort which shares some facilities to the public. Most people go there, to mingle.”

“This part is the best,” I laugh.

“Right?” she giggles. “Thought you’d like this better. Let’s find a nice spot, shall we, love?”

“Of course, darling.”

·

The beach is terrific. Its sand has a pale aquamarine hue that fuses into a darker aquamarine color where wet. The water has a deep cobalt blue hint, while the rock formations are turquoise. Everything has a similar hue… It’s mesmerizing.

Along the promenade, there are street vendors and some facilities. Further down, it looks like more and more structures appear, but we aren’t interested in them.

Aia guides me to a beach umbrella rental stall, and we get one for a fair price. We follow the promenade towards the empty end of the beach until we have to walk on sand.

After taking our shoes off, we keep walking towards a rock formation where absolutely no people are. Nice feeling… I missed walking barefoot on sand so much…

“I take you’ve been here before, right?” I ask Aia.

“Yeah, several times, with my parents. They brought me here for the first time when I was about ten. I love this beach since then. Ah… there’s my favorite spot,” she adds, gigging.

Aia sticks the parasol into the sand and… presses a button… To my amazement, the shade opens up, and the stick rushes deeper into the sand.

Aia giggles at my awe. “Never seen an automatic beach umbrella? Oh, right… Sorry…” She smiles and explains, “These umbrellas anchor themselves into the sand and won’t fly away, not even in a strong wind.”

“Amazing…”

Still taken aback, I spread out the big beach towel we bought earlier under the shade. Meanwhile, Aia puts our bags in order under the parasol.

“Finally!” Aia exclaims and takes her summer dress off. I follow suit and undress bar the swim-fundoshi. “Those thunderbolts near your package surely indicate well what’s hidden,” Aia laughs.

“Oh, yeah? Then your swimsuit should have sparks and bolts around your tits and pussy,” I joke back.

“Oh~ Aren’t we fierily passionate?” Aia giggles lusciously.

“We are, honey,” I laugh.

“And we love it,” she adds sultry.

Everything is ready to enjoy ourselves.

Aia lies down on her belly and throws me the bottle of sun oil we bought.

“Oil me up, darling?” she coos.

“Sure,” I chuckle.

·

“Let’s swim,” Aia suggests while standing up.

“And the sunscreen?” I ask.

“It’s waterproof for three hours. C’mon, Kira…” she explains and pulls me up.

“Cool,” I say and stand up too.

“Last one makes dinner!” Aia shouts and runs towards the water while giggling.

“Hey! Not fair!” I laugh and run after her.

Aia runs into the water way before me.

“I won!” she shouts but stumbles into the water and falls.

I laugh while she emerges from the water, wearing a grin.

“Wow! The water is warm!” I exclaim surprised.

“Yup!” Aia giggles and moves her wet hair from her face. “Nice, isn’t it?”

“Incredible!”

“Let’s swim a bit further,” Aia suggests.

“Ah! And our stuff?” I look back at our towels where our things are.

“There’s a lifeguard tower nearby. They have it controlled,” Aia says, pointing back at the beach.

“Cool. Wait! Do you mean they could have seen us?”

“Most likely… not,” Aia says, wearing a smirk and giggles.

“Aia…”

“We were behind our sunshade. Just out of the line of sight. Don’t worry, dear. I made sure of it.”

“Aren’t you prepared…” I joke.

“Yup! Now let’s swim,” Aia laughs and dives into the water again.

I follow her as she swims out into the deeper water. Once we reach the point where we can’t find the ground beneath our feet, we swim following the coastline.

“That feels great…” I say after a gratifying sigh.

“Hmm?” Aia asks me with a simple hum.

“I haven’t swum for ages…”

Aia explodes into laughter and stops moving on.

“What?” I ask perplexed.

“Oh, darling…” Aia giggles. “You shouldn’t use this expression so lightly.”

“Ah!” I also start to laugh. “Right… it’s too literal…”

“Yeah… You haven’t gone swimming for centuries, more than a thousand years now, don’t you?”

“Right…” I chuckle.

We keep on swimming for a while.

“Kira?”

“Yeah?”

“Why did you fall for me?” Aia suddenly asks.

I stop and turn towards her. “Why?” I ask her dumbfounded. “Why should there be a reason?” I ask back.

“I… I’m a strange alien…”

“You are a strong woman.”

“A freak…”

“A lovely woman.”

“A—”

“Aia, darling…” I embrace her as well as I can. “I fell for you because of all of you.”

“Kira…” she sighs happily.

“If I really had to enumerate all possible reasons for loving you, I’d never find the right words for it, or I would fill volumes of books.”

“Love~” she smiles brightly.

We kiss as good as we can while keeping ourselves afloat.

“So difficult…” Aia giggles, breaking our challenging kiss.

“Yeah,” I also laugh.

Aia turns around to swim back towards our place.

“I can’t think of an exact reason either,” Aia says. “I simply fell in love with you. Well, it’s more complex than that…”

“I know,” I chuckle.

“You’ve shown me so many new things I’ve never imagined to see…”

“Like?”

“How a real gentleman acts,” Aia giggles. “I mean, how you act around me. The way you treated me ever since we’ve met. Your caring way to help me with my problems. Your gentle way to introduce me to sex. Really… everything.” Aia smiles brightly as she stops swimming forward for a moment. “You’ve shown me things from the past. Like all those great movies and books. You confide in me with your own problems. You know when to intervene and when to let me handle difficulties… I could go on for an eternity…”

“Aia, my love…” I say, moved. “Yeah… You’ve also shown me a lot of stuff. In fact, everything about nowadays. How to live in nowadays’ society. You’ve shown me to reach the outer space, to reach the stars. You were there, when I’d awaken… Aia, you’ve always been there to show me new stuff.”

“And Enya, Jim, and your other friends.”

“Right… But you’ve shown me more intimate things.”

“Oh, Kira…” she giggles.

We’re reaching the rock formation bordering this side of the beach. Aia keeps swimming towards it.

“There…” she suddenly says.

“Huh? What?” I ask.

“Take a deep breath and follow me,” she simply says and disappears below the surface.

I do as said and also dive into the warm water.

Where is Aia? I spot the blueish alien diving towards a fissure in the rocks. I follow her. To my amazement, Aia enters the small cave, and I follow suit. Right after entering the cave, I see light from above, and Aia swims up.

I gasp for air as I emerge from the water.

“Wow!” I exclaim, mesmerized.

“Incredible, right?” Aia smiles brightly. “It’s my little secret…”

We’re inside an ample cave with a wide hole in its top, which lets the sun’s light flood it. Plants similar to fern and moss cover the walls of the cavern. A small beach lies nearby.

Aia giggles at my amazement and takes my hand and pulls me towards her. I notice that my feet have found solid ground. She climbs a small rock and reaches the small beach. I follow her, still in awe.

“Where was it? Right…” Aia chuckles.

“What are you doing?” I ask her as she starts to dig at a specific spot of the beach.

“I should have buried it around here…” she simply states.

“What?”

“Found it!” Aia exclaims, making me jolt in surprise.

I look perplexed at the small box she holds in her hands.

“What is it?” I ask, intrigued.

“A time capsule,” she explains. “I’ve buried this the last time I came here with my parents.”

“Wow! But why do you take it out now? Shouldn’t a time capsule stay buried for the longest time?”

“Because I’ve timed it,” she says, wearing a bright smile. “To the day I bring the guy I want to share my life with…” she declares, blushing deeply.

“Aia…” I say, moved.

She opens the small metallic box, and several neatly folded letters appear.

“I wrote these letters during different moments of my childhood and teens, even adulthood,” Aia explains. “They are meant to remind me of my dreams. I’ve buried or hidden these letters for every dream I had. When one of ’em materialized, I recovered ’em and added a new one. Then, I hid ’em again.”

“Aia, dear…” I embrace her. “Then, your last dream…”

“Was meeting someone like you, darling,” she confirms, beaming in happiness and hugging me tightly.

We kiss passionately inside the small cave.

︙

“What will you do with your time capsule now?” I ask Aia.

“I’ll write my next dream up and hide the capsule again,” she explains happily.

“I think I know what your next dream is, darling.”

“Yeah…” Aia gives me a beautiful smile. “A child… Having a child with you.”

“We share this dream, darling,” I kiss her cheek while she sighs emotionally.

“I’ll let you read ’em first.”

“Aia…”

“I always read the old dreams before writing new ones down. This time, I’ll let you read ’em. In fact, this week, several of my dreams, including old ones, became true. All thanks to you, love. Of course, I let you read ’em.” She hugs me tightly.

“Aia…”

“I want you to read ’em. I want you to have a glimpse into my past. I know there are some embarrassing dreams in there, but you are the only one who can read ‘em.”

“Love…” I lie her hand on hers. “I’ll share my old dreams with you too.”

We kiss briefly before deciding it’s a good time to go back to our towels and to tan a bit.

·

Lying under the sun, we toast our bodies for a good while.

“A beer?” I ask Aia while I crawl towards the mini-fridge backpack.

“Yeah, thanks, love.”

We open the cans of Martian beers while we sit together.

“I always longed for this…” Aia sighs.

“A beer?” I joke.

“Dummy…” she giggles. “Being together with someone who understands me. Someone to whom I can confide in my deepest desires and problems. With whom I can simply sit together and enjoy a beer without having to be careful what I say or do…”

“What do you mean? The last part…”

“Ah, yeah… I mean that you won’t misread my actions or words and infer that I want something from you.”

“I think I get it. However, I’ve to confess, I always have been confused by your signals… That’s perhaps why I didn’t infer too much…”

“Yeah… most likely…” Aia sighs. “That’s surely because I lied my defenses down around you. I mean, I never hid my feelings nor…” she sighs, “Well… I did some strange things, I’ve told you, haven’t I?” I confirm with a nod. “Now I can truly be myself, even in public.”

“Aia, you can always be yourself. I’d hate you’d have to hide your being. In fact, I’m really happy to find new things about you every day.”

“Kira~” Aia sighs happily.

We empty the cans and light a fag each.

·

“Wanna lie under the sun for a while more, or wanna wander around a bit?” Aia asks.

“I think I’ve been lying around enough… But what do we do with our stuff?” I ask back.

“There are some lockers near the avenue towards the parking ground…” she suggests.

“Then’s set,” I laugh.

We gather our stuff and the reliable automatic sunshade. After returning the parasol, we walk towards the lockers.

There, we decide to carry only a small bag with our terminals and Aia’s personal toiletries, just in case. We opt to continue wearing our swimsuits and go barefoot as the weather is absolutely lovely.

Around five minutes later, we find a small stall selling about everything you could need for the beach. We opt to buy some cheap flip-flops. The floor is getting too hot for us to keep on barefoot.

·

Hugging each others’ waist, we wander along the promenade until we find an ice-cream stall. Knowing Aia, I guide us there, and we buy a cone each.

Happily, Aia enjoys her ice-cream while we go on with joined hands.

“Is there something you miss from your times?” she suddenly asks.

“I suppose…” I sigh, “my parents…”

“Darling…” She strengthens her grip on my hand.

“They had died in a car accident two years before I got cryopreserved…”

“I’m so sorry… I shouldn’t—”

“Don’t worry, love. You didn’t know. It’s something I’ve never told you…” I sigh again. “I suppose… they were part of my reasons to accept that experiment too… Their sudden loss…”

“Darling…” Aia wraps her arm around my waist. “But…”

“If I didn’t accept that experiment, I wouldn’t have met you…” I confirm.

“Yeah… True. But… about your parents… Wanna talk about ’em?”

“Not now… But thanks.”

“You’re right. Perhaps, we should try to find out if their graves are still there… We could meet ’em, together.”

“That… that would be nice…” I sigh, somehow relieved.

“Hm~ Anything for you,” she giggles gently.

“Other things I miss…” I think aloud. “Kathy…”

“Love…”

“However… I don’t know if Kathy is from then or from now…” I sigh.

“What do you mean, love?” Aia asks, astonished.

“I only got to know about her true feelings after I have awakened… Is this something from my past, or from my present? I don’t know…”

“Kira…” She takes a deep breath. “I think she is both. She’s from your past and your present. You still love her, don’t you?”

“Ye—yeah…” I stutter.

“Then she’s from your present too. So are your parents. As long as you are alive, they are alive in your memories.”

“Aia… You’re right…” I sigh emotionally.

“And about Kathy, yeah… she’s more than alive in your memories. I was there when you’ve met her again, after all. I know that you love her, and it’s okay.”

“It is?”

“I would be disappointed if you weren’t, Kira. Even if it took you a thousand years to realize it. If you’d run away from it, I would be bitterly disappointed. More so after reading her letter addressed to you. Her love for you was… as deep as mine is for you, I think.”

“Aia…”

“I have this feeling… She forgave you for not being with her because she loved you so much.”

“Do you think so?”

“Yeah. And I believe that you should forgive yourself too, for not being with her.”

“It will take more time, I fear…” I sigh deeply.

“I know that you will. I know that I won’t forget her. I’d wish I could meet her somehow… But rest assured, her memories are still kept well alive in Perth.”

“Right… you’re so right, Aia.” I take a deep breath.

We stop before a group of buskers playing a mix of Somewhere Over the Rainbow and Simple Gifts on a piano and two cellos. I sing along the song while a tear runs down my cheek. Aia hugs me tightly and dries my tear with her slender fingers.

As the song ends, the only girl of the buskers asks me if I know the song. Of course, I do. One of the guys asks me if I could sing it with them.

Aia gently nudges me and hints I should do it. I accept the offer and take the guitar standing against the balustrade.

Sitting with them, I start playing, trying to remember the notes. Emotions begin to flow as I begin to sing first with a hoarse voice, then trying to reach the higher notes of Israel Kamakawiwoʻole. I remember his medley with What a Wonderful World fondly. For some reason, I want to sing it too… I hope the busker guys won’t freak out if I do… They don’t, but play marvelously with me.

Aia claps her hands in rhythm at my side. Yes, what a wonderful world…

I only notice the gathered crowd as we receive an ovation after finishing the medley.

“Wonderful~” Aia charms and hugs me tightly. “I didn’t know you play the guitar.”

“Truly wonderful,” the other busker guy confirms.

The buskers thank me for playing and singing with them. They even ask me to join their band. Sadly, I have to tell them that I’m not interested in a musical career. Downcast, they say not to worry, but that they loved my singing and playing.

·

Leaving the musicians behind, I sigh again from all the emotions the song has evoked in me.

“Kira~” Aia purrs. “That was wonderful. Why don’t we buy a guitar? You could teach me, and we could sing together, as a hobby.”

“Yeah… Why not?” I smile, but close my eyes for a moment. “These songs brought so much back…”

“Good ones, I hope.” She shakes her head. “Surely good ones. You couldn’t have sung ’em so beautifully if they were bad memories.”

“You’re right, Aia,” I confirm and hug her back.

“Something still weights on you…” she says. “You wanted to say something before we met the buskers.”

“Right…” I sigh. “It’s something that happened just the day before Crushmont…”

Aia looks at me intrigued, even if her face distorted briefly by hearing that dreaded name. I tell her about the conversation I’ve had with Uordah.

“That old man… has moved me a lot…” I conclude.

“I see… And agree with him. Have you ever met him again?”

“No… And I’d love to meet him again to thank him. Do you agree with everything he said?”

“Yeah. Why? Ah! Because of Enya?”

“Yeah…”

“Sure. I fully agree with what he said. About her with you… well, we still have to chat with her about it, right? So, that’s for then.”

How can she take Enya’s involvement with me so easily? Every time I try to figure out how we could make it work, I freak out…

“Right…” I sigh.

“Darling… Please, don’t let stuff that you can’t solve by yourself torment you. We said the other day that we will talk it through, the three of us. Until then, don’t try to find hypothetical solutions to problems that might not even exist.”

“You’re right, Aia…” I sigh yet again.

·

We keep walking the beautiful promenade hugging each other’s waist.

“Oh! Earrings…” Aia notices a street vendor selling jewelry. “Are they beautiful!”

“All hand-made,” the Ïiha vendor proudly declares.

“Impressive…” I also confirm. “Oh… Aia, darling….”

“Beautiful!” Aia exclaims excitedly at the earring ensemble I point at.

The earring ensemble is formed by five silvery rings, which are joined by a delicately crafted chain from which small planets and stars hang. It would look marvelous on her.

“How much are they?” I ask the Ïiha guy. He gives me a quite low price. “Okay, then we’ll have them, right, Aia?”

“I’d love to,” she confirms.

“I have disinfectant and a small box for your earrings, if you want to wear these right now,” the vendor offers.

“That would be perfect,” Aia says, wearing a bright smile. “What are they made of?”

“Gynkx, it’s a hypoallergenic metal. It has the same look as silver, but does not discolor nor fade,” he explains.

I pay the good artisan while Aia already takes her five earrings and studs off her left pointy earlobe. Afterward, I help her putting the new ensemble on, once I have carefully disinfected them.

“They look marvelous on you,” the Ïiha exclaims.

“Truly, they are a masterpiece,” I confirm.

“Wow… they are…” Aia marvels as she inspects herself in the hand-mirror he handed her. “Thank you, darling!” she exclaims, hugging, and kissing me.

We thank the artisan and leave his stall behind.

“You don’t stop giving me gifts,” Aia observes and giggles. “The dresses, the jewelry, the movies, books…”

“Perhaps, I’m overdoing it a bit…” I sigh while she hugs me again by the waist. “Perhaps, it’s my way of trying to compensate for all you’ve been doing for me since we’ve met.”

“No, no…” Aia shakes her head. “Each and every one of your gifts were given by heart. I know it, I feel it,” she says, lying her free hand on her heart. “I treasure each of ’em. And you’ve given me way more… appreciation, care, friendship, and love… I treasure ’em, by heart.

“I can’t disregard any of your wonderful gifts. You never had an ulterior motive while giving ’em. Even if they are a simple way of yours to say thank you, without uttering it. So, don’t brood over it, okay?”

“Yeah… You’re right, as usual,” I chuckle and hug her back.

Aia takes my hand on her waist and places it on her bare left ass cheek…

“You can hold me here too…” she giggles sultry. “Most couples do it…” She points forward.

“This doesn’t mean we have to do it too…” I sigh. “I don’t have the need to show you off, nor that I consider you my troph—”

“I know, dummy…” she interrupts me and giggles again. “I know that you don’t see me as your trophy girl, nor that I am one. That’s why I don’t mind. Uh…” she looks at me shyly and blushing, “I actually like it. I mean, you holding me there… But only you.”

“Aia… If you wish…” I say as grab her ass cheek.

“Yup!” she purrs sultry. “Just you~”

·

“I’m getting hungry… Why don’t we have a nice meal nearby?” Aia suggests.

“Good idea. I’m feeling hungry too. How about that terrace restaurant?” I point at one which stands right above the waterfront.

“Looks good. Let’s.”

We take the escalator to reach the upper floor, which seems to have splendid sight over the Venusian ocean.

“Nobody at the reception…” I observe.

“Must be free to choose your table…” She shrugs.

We find a free table for two right in the first line of sight. Great! The few patrons look at us either with disregard or disdain… Whatever… They also wear swimsuits, just like us.

Just as we sat down, a young-looking waiter rushes towards us.

“Excuse me, ma’am, sir… but this terraces is for VIPs only,” he hastily explains.

“And? We are VIPs,” I retort cooly.

“Bu—”

“Indeed, they are…” the waiter is interrupted by an elderly Felii.

“Ma—Master…” the server stutters.

“Welcome to the Venus Beach Terrace, ma’am Asdiekx, mister Matsumoto; the Queen and the King of the Space Highways,” he greets and bows to us. “It is a great honor and pleasure for us to delight you with the finest cuisine from Venus.”

“Ups…” Aia giggles. “We’ve been found out…”

“Do not worry, most of our patrons wish to enjoy their meals and time in anonymity. We praise ourselves for providing it. I am Waqniz, proud co-owner of the Venus Beach Terrace, the most exclusive VIP restaurant on Venus, and one of the few restaurants having received de Nova Seal of Quality in the Sol System.” He snips his fingers and addresses the stunned waiter, “Please fetch the VVIP menus for ma’am Asdiekx and mister Matsumoto.”

“At once, Master!” The waiter jolts and hurries away.

“Do you wish to enjoy a meal or just have some drinks?” the elderly Felii asks.

“A full meal,” Aia confirms.

“Then you may choose your main beverage. I would recom—” Waqniz suddenly halts his words, “I am truly sorry for sticking my nose into—” he interrupts himself again, “But, do my eyes deceive me? Ma’am, sir… are those engagement bands?” His emotions flourish visibly, and his tail dances wildly in excitement.

“Figured out again…” Aia giggles.

“But is still a secret,” I add.

“Oh, oh~ Marvelous!” he joyfully sings. “Congratulations! Then I certainly know what beverage I should offer you. Would you love to try the one and only Venus Blue? It is the finest champagne from the Sol System.”

“We would love to try it,” Aia says with a bright smile.

“If you don’t mind to wait a moment, I will be right back,” the Felii gleams in happiness.

“Weren’t you brave,” Aia giggles. “For saying we’re VIP.”

“It’s correct, isn’t it?” I chuckle. “Being famous should have some perks, after all.”

“Right…” she laughs.

The server arrives. He is still uncomfortable… “I am truly sorry, ma’am, sir, for not having recognized you…” he says, bowing deeply towards us. An inch more, and he would have hit his forehead against the table’s edge…

“Don’t worry,” I say.

“Yeah, that happens…” Aia adds. “Why don’t you recommend us a nice meal?”

“Oh!” He straightens himself again, clearly relieved. “I would recommend you heartily a K’qwied’hs, it’s a local fish to share.”

“Sounds marvelous…” Aia confirms.

“Does it go well with the Venus Blue champagne?” I ask him.

“It’s the ideal complement,” he affirms.

“My young helper is right,” Waqniz confirms as he reaches our table with a huge bottle and a cooler. “And without wanting to vaunt, my soulmates make the best in the Sol System.”

“Master, thank you,” the server happily receives the compliment. Returning to us, he suggests, “The preparation of the K’qwied’hs is quite laborious and will take about an hour. Would you like a platter of local appetizers? It is a selection of only the best, two of each.”

“That would be great,” I say and nod.

“Truly,” Aia gleams and adds, “We’d love to try ’em.”

“My thanks, I will get your order at once,” the server says, bows to us again, and swiftly disappears.

“Tsk-tsk…” the Felii shakes his head while following his eyes after the waiter. “He is a good and hardworking lad,” he returns to us, “but I am afraid that he has a bad photographic memory… I am sorry for the inconvenience, ma’am, sir.”

“Don’t worry, he hasn’t treated us wrongly,” I say.

“Anyway,” he says, “I can assure you that no one from my staff will release your secret.” He smiles broadly. “Most of our guests want to leave the inconveniences of celebrity behind for a brief time.”

“That’s really nice,” Aia gleams.

The elderly Felii opens the bottle carefully… Pam! The cork flies upwards until the attraction of gravity is stronger, and falls down, right into Waqniz’s open chest pocket! Aia and I applaud his feat while he smiles brightly. He decants the golden liquid into our glasses with the precision of any Felii.

“Would you like a commemorative picture?” he asks us. “The scenery surely would provide a delightful background.”

“That would be marvelous,” Aia exclaims and rummages in our bag.

She hands him her terminal already in camera mode.

Waqniz starts shooting some pictures as we clink our champagne glasses and look at each other. Then, another one in which we look at the camera.

“They are splendid!” Aia confirms.

“Would you honor us in sending a copy?” Waqniz asks cordially.

“Of course,” I confirm. “But only after we make it public.”

“That would be the greatest honor!” The Felii jumps up in joy. “Ah, I will leave you now to your enjoyment.” He bows to us and disappears too.

·

“Cheers!”

We clink the glasses again and take a sip from the golden liquid.

“It’s delicious!” Aia marvels, and I confirm.

The server brings us swiftly a large platter of cold appetizers. Albeit small, they look impressive! Aia fetches her terminal again, and takes some pictures of the platter before we dig in.

We enjoy the many delicious appetizers while we feed each other while giggling and chuckling.

“Why do you think that the other patrons look at us with disdain?” Aia suddenly asks. “Why don’t they have a little bit of fun while eating? I’m enjoying it…”

“Who knows?” I shrug. “Oh, right… They aren’t in such a unique company,” I blurt out and wink at her.

“Oh, Kira~” she muses. “Perhaps… We both are unique, after all,” she adds and giggles.

·

The huge fish arrives… It is immense!

“I hope you will enjoy it, my soulmates put all their love into it,” Waqniz declares with pride.

“We surely will,” I say, still astonished by this incredible looking dish.

“Their love is surely noticeable,” Aia says.

And do we enjoy it! It is the most delicious fish I’ve ever have tasted. We cannot stop extolling our delight.

·

“Ugh… I’m full…” Aia sighs and waves her hand in defeat…

“Me too…” I also sigh.

Even so, we managed to eat most of the delicious fish. Just the bones and some more laborious pieces are left.

“Have you enjoyed it?” Waqniz asks us as he retrieves our plates.

“It was superb,” I say.

“Truly, the best fish ever…” Aia confirms.

“Our compliments to the chefs,” I add while Aia also expresses her compliments.

“They will be delighted,” the Felii says, glowing in happiness. “Would you like dessert? I confided to my soulmates about your engagement. They want to offer you a small present.”

“Then we surely find a place in our stomachs for it,” I blurt out.

“Truly,” Aia adds and giggles.

Seems we have given the right answer… The Felii’s body language expresses his happiness and delight exaggeratedly.

“Then, why not have another, small bottle of Venus Blue?” he offers, already opening one. “This one is curtesy from us.”

Unable to refuse his offer, we enjoy another glass of champagne while we wait for the dessert.

“Are you sure you can manage more food?” Aia asks me.

“I honestly doubt it…” I sigh. “But we would have disappointed our hosts…”

“As selfless as always,” she giggles. “But you’re right. At least, I’ll manage a bit… And if we put on some weight, I know the perfect activity to bring us back in form, together.”

“And that is?” I ask with a smirk, knowing where it will lead.

“By fucking,” she confirms my suspicion and laughs. I also burst into laughter.

·

We are shocked by the huge platter Waqniz is carrying to our table. However, we sigh in relief as we find that the dessert is razor-thin.

“My soulmates have out all their hearts into this dish,” Waqniz declares with pride. “Please, enjoy.”

I simply have to take a picture of it, and search for my terminal.

“Such a shame to destroy it…” Aia marvels.

“Yeah…”

The huge platter is covered with chocolates, fruits, berries, and other sweets, drawing a picture of us two inside a heart. The cooks managed to portray our likeliness with stunning accuracy. It could be a painting crafted by the most gifted artists.

Aia takes the lead after I’ve taken many pictures, and offers me a spoon filled with a blueish mousse from her face.

“Yum! You are delicious,” I marvel and joke.

I do the same, I take a spoonful of my face and offer it to Aia.

“Yummy!” Aia giggles. “You’re delicious too…”

I don’t know how, but we managed to finish off the delicious dessert. Now I’m bloated…

·

“I hope you have enjoyed your meal,” Waqniz says as we pay him.

“It was truly delicious,” Aia states, and I confirm.

“Could we express our delight to your marvelous soulmates?” I ask him.

The Felii expresses his happiness again with exaggerated body language.

We reach the kitchen of the restaurant.

“Darlings!” Waqniz shouts into the kitchen. “You have visits!”

“What is it, dear?”

A petite Knoreliaz-Felii mestizo woman with four arms, and a quite tall Felii guy near us.

“Oh, my…” both gasp in surprise.

“Hello,” I greet. “We won’t hold you up for long.”

“We just want to congratulate you for your delicious dishes,” Aia adds.

“Oh…” Both cooks blush deeply.

“No need,” she finally says. “We just love to cook.”

“And your enjoyment is ours,” he adds.

“By the way, congratulations for your engagement,” she sings happily.

“It’s still a secret, honey,” Waqniz tells her.

“Oh! Sorry…”

“It’s okay,” Aia giggles.

“We hope that we can, someday, sit all together and enjoy a conversation and a glass,” I offer.

“That would be marvelous!” the Felii cook exclaims.

“Chef! A new order’s in!” someone shouts.

“We won’t hold you back further,” Aia says, wearing a bright smile.

“But hopefully, we can come again for dinner, someday,” I add.

We say goodbye to both magnificent cooks and leave the kitchen. Outside, we swap contacts with Waqniz, and we promise him to send them an autographed copy of the picture he took from us.

“I will put it on the VVIP display, right there!” he exclaims in joy as he points at a corkboard where many other pictures hang. Oh! There is a photo of a famous actor I recognize…

·

“So nice…” Aia sighs as we wander along the promenade again. “I need a bit of movement…”

“Yeah… By the way, what time is it?” I ask her. “I have the feeling that it’s late… But the sun’s position doesn’t help a bit…”

“Right…” she giggles. “Ouch… We should be thinking of returning home. We still need an hour and a half to reach our car, then some more to reach our home…”

“Our?” I ask, emphasizing her words wearing a smirk.

“Of course,” Aia giggles. “It’s our home, and our car. You’re paying rent, and half of the expenses already. Of course, it’s yours, too,” she happily declares while intensifying her grip on my hand.

“But your precious ride…”

“It’s yours too now. I wanna share everything with you now. Ah… I know it looks childish… but I wanna share it with you.”

“Sadly, I don’t own anything I can really share with you,” I say after a sigh. “I just own my truck and my bike… The rest, the movies I bought, and such, we already share it…”

“Don’t worry…” she says, smiling brightly. “You don’t need to. From now on, we can always acquire new things together.”

“Right. Should we open a joint bank account?” I offer.

“For common expenses and acquisitions?” she asks back, and I nod. “That would be great. It would be easier to oversee. Each of us transfers a fixed amount a month?”

“That’s the idea,” I confirm and nod. “We could also fuse our accounts…”

“Oh, Kira~ Would you?” she charms, and I nod again. “I think it’s more practical to each have its own account plus one common one. We can still invite and give gifts to each other,” she adds with a bright smile.

“True,” I confirm.

·

We reach our car after a two-hour walk. We retrieved our stuff from the lockers and are already reaching the exit gate to Gaia.

“Fufu~ These old silent films are hilarious,” Aia giggles. “This Charlie Chaplin was a great actor.”

“It’s even old for me, this movie, The Gold Rush, was premiered in 1925,” I read from the synopsis.

“But you knew about ’em, and showed me such wonderful films. See, you still bring old things that are new to me each and every day,” she muses.

·

“I need a good shower…” Aia sighs as she drops her bag beneath the huge mirror at the door.

“Me too… I feel salty,” I chuckle.

We enter the bathroom and start to undress. As Aia loses her swimsuit, I blink thrice…

“Aia… Your skin…” I say, astonished. “You—”

“What?” she screams frightened as she looks at herself in the mirror.

“You’ve got a tan…” I confirm.

“How can that be?” Aia wavers. “This shouldn’t be possible!”

I hastily embrace her, she’s shivering.

“It’s okay, darling,” I tell her. “It’s beautiful.”

“Why?” she asks.

“I don’t know, love. But your tan is cute,” I try to reassure her.

“It is?” Aia turns around and looks into my eyes. She is clearly distressed.

“Of course, Aia. Everything about you is beautiful.”

“But—”

“Let’s calm down first,” I say. “There’s surely a rational explanation for this to happen.”

“I’ve never…”

“Think about what else you never experienced until now,” I try to make her think about something else.

“Sex… Hmm… Anal sex… Ugh… Love? Ah… happiness! And…” she blurts out in drips and drabs while she still shivers in my arms.

“See? Perhaps, your tan is also part of these new experiences,” I try to infuse calmness into her while I caress her.

“But… this is physical…”

“Let’s ask the doctors on Thursday, when we take the tests,” I suggest.

“Right…” she sighs in relief. “Then… does my tan really look good?”

“It truly does,” I say and kiss the darkened violetish area of her skin. “You’re salty…” I chuckle.

Aia giggles in return.

“Shower?” she asks sultry.

Phew! It seems her tan-crisis is over.

︙

“Are you hungry?” Aia asks as we leave the bathroom.

“Actually… no… I’m still full…” I observe.

“Me too… Shall we go to bed? It’s a bit early, but I’m exhausted…”

“Yeah, good idea…”

Just as we turn the bed down, a harmonious tone from both our terminals interrupts us.

“Huh? It’s from Enya…” Aia says. “She sent it to both of us.”

“What does it say?” I ask.

“Hey, lovebirds!” Aia giggles as she reads Enya’s text aloud. “Had a nice beach day on Venus?”

“What? She already knows?” I freak out.

Aia reads on, “Kira would make a great busker, heart emoji. The shitty-press is littered with your escapade to Venus! Angry emoji. Hope we can meet soon. Love you two. E. Many heart emojis…”

“Damn…” I sigh. I produce my DigiBook and open it. “Look at that…”

“Wow… There are many videos of you playing that song with those buskers…”

“And hundreds of pictures of us walking the promenade…”

“There you bought me the earrings…”

“Entering the Venus Beach Terrace…”

“And leaving…”

“Fuck…”

“The press is going absolutely wild…” Aia sighs. “Most are assuring that we’re dating now.”

“And wild speculations about how we started to date follow up…” I also sigh.

“Some, still debate if it’s true… That we might be playing a game with ’em…”

“Idiots…” I sigh again.

“We have to make it official…” she also sighs again.

“Damn… And fast… Or in no time we’ll be overrun and even followed at work…”

“Tomorrow?” she suggests.

“Yeah… I hate it, but better early than late…”

“Then, tomorrow. In the morning, we’ll contact Mitsubishi’s office,” Aia proposes.

“Good idea.”

“Let’s watch a movie? I’m angry now about ’em, but too tired to do anything else…”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

We snuggle together and select a classic movie on my DigiBook and watch it until drowsiness overcomes us.

The post B06 ~ Venus Beach appeared first on Space Highways.

“Shouldn’t you—”

“It’s okay, Kira,” Aia interrupts me while smirking. “It’s sexy… Just let me take a breath before meeting my parents.”

“If you’re okay with it…”

“Yup!” she giggles. She is still wearing the vibrator while the remote is in my pants’ pocket. She insisted on wearing it even if we’ll be with her parents for some long hours more…

“There ya are!” Jack laughs as we approach them.

“Sucha nice dress, darling!” Irina exclaims.

“Thank you~” Aia giggles and twirls around, showing her parents the new dress off.

“Marvelous! It fits ya perfectly,” Jack confirms.

“It’s from Jani,” Aia says.

“Ah~ The red girl’s?” Irina asks. “She’s so nice. Bought some dresses from her too.”

“Yeah, she is,” I confirm.

“But so shy… Poor girl…” Irina sighs.

“She’s our friend now,” Aia says, and I confirm.

“Ma~ma~ That’s wonderful,” Irina giggles.

“Found something else?” Jack asks.

“Yeah…” Aia giggles and blushes. “Something intimate…”

“That’s nice.” Jack nods but then sighs. “We haven’t found anything useful… But something way more important happened! The dictator’s out!” He starts laughing loudly.

“Yeah! Finally!” Irina accompanies Jack’s laughter.

Aia and I look at each other and smirk.

Jack interrupts his laughter. “Ah, yes! This’ to be a fun family day, right?”

“True… Where’d we go first? Oh, yeah… Why not the Red Tower’s panorama floor?” Irina suggests.

“That would be great,” Aia giggles.

·

At a few minutes’ walking distance away, a huge red building towers over the rest. We enter its hall at the ground level.

Jack and Irina guide us straight to one of the many elevators.

“This building’s observation platform lets us look over almost all Mars City,” Aia explains as we flit upwards.

“Interesting.” I nod.

·

“Impressive…” I say awestruck at the view.

“Isn’t it?” Aia giggles.

We step to the huge windows while Irina and Jack have a seat at one of the café’s tables.

“Let’s see…” Aia thinks aloud. “Ah, yeah… See that greenish dome far to the left?” I confirm with a nod. “That’s the university where I studied. Actually, you only see the tower’s dome and the University Hospital to its right. The university is quite low built, in comparison to the rest. But the campus is huge. I did the internship at the University Hospital once I finished the degree.”

“Impressive…”

“Right? Although I haven’t set foot on the campus again since I’ve fetched the diploma…” Aia giggles again and goes on, giving me an hour-long sight-tour over Mars City.

“And your parents’ home?”

“Ah, yeah… See that yellow building?” Aia points to the left, and I nod. “It’s almost straight ahead from there.”

“It’s actually quite near…” I confirm.

“Yeah. But we don’t have a reliable public transport system going so far out…” Aia sighs. “Thanks to some grants for my excellent grades, it was cheaper for me to share a flat or stay in the dorms rather than commuting.”

“It took us less than an hour and a half to reach the city…” I observe. “But would be a lot of time lost if you’d commute every day.”

“Exactly. Using public transport, it would have taken me about three hours, per way.”

“That’s crazy…”

“You say it.” Aia sighs, then giggles. “Student housing was actually quite cheap at that time. That’s because the former governor—Ah… the former of the former…” she giggles. “That governor had visions of making Mars City the best university city of the Gaian sector.”

“That’s a good investment for the future.”

“Truly. There were many grants for excellent students coming from a low-income background such as me. But there were also special grants for students wanting to study here despite residing on another planet.”

“Wow… So… If we had a kid who wants to study here…”

“Yeah, the kid would have a scholarship for lodging. That is, if the new government reactivates the scholarships…”

“You mean…”

“Yeah…” she sighs. “That Lackester canceled any scholarship coming from the Mars government. Only private grants or from NGOs were provided since then.”

“That must have been hard on the students and their families…”

“You say it…” Aia sighs. “Fortunately, I still got the scholarships I needed at that time. I was finishing the degree while he took over. Actually, he canceled any public scholarship as a retaliation against the university… At least, that’s the widespread rumor.”

“No fuck?”

“No…” Aia sighs while shaking her head. “Carles also studied there, but could barely pass easy subjects. He repeated many subjects while harassing everyone, including professors.

“Allegedly, Lackester went to the university board to bribe some stellar grades for Carles out. The board rejected it, so he abolished any new scholarships. Fortunately, he couldn’t bar those who already had one granted…”

“That’s wicked… What was the official version? It couldn’t be that easy, right?”

“Yeah… He justified it with the low governance budget he had set after he vowed to reduce the high public spendings. According to him, the government was on the verge of bankruptcy when he took power. But his new public spending policy was so low that private companies sprung up to fill the void left.”

“And most of them were surely linked to him, right?”

“That could never be confirmed, but looked quite so…” Aia sighs. “These private companies collected huge paychecks for their services…”

“Typical corruption scheme…” I sigh. “What will happen now?”

“I don’t know,” she sighs again. “Let’s hope the future government will do better…”

“Yeah…” I sigh too.

“Better let’s change topic, it’s getting depressing…”

“True… Ah, yeah… Didn’t we want to call that clinic today for an appointment?”

“Oh, yes… Let’s call ’em.” Aia produces her terminal from her purse and finds the clinic’s contact. “Hello? Yes, my name is Aia Asdiekx. Oh? Ehhnah? Is that you? Yeah, for an appointment. On Thursday? Ah, Kira is nodding. Yes, that’s perfect. Where’s the clinic? Hmm… Oh, yeah, I know that park. Sure. At eleven o’clock? Perfect. We’ll be there. Ah… How’s your baby? Reki, right… Fufu~ Nice. See you on Thursday. Thanks, bye~bye~”

“Thursday, at eleven o’clock. That’s perfect,” I assess.

“I want it to be possible…” Aia sighs and hugs me.

“Me too, darling. Me too…” I also sigh and hug her.

After a while hugging her, I glance over at her parents. They started to wave at us.

“Your parents seem to call us, darling.”

“Oh… let’s see what they want,” Aia giggles.

We approach them holding our hands.

“Ma~ma~ Sucha cute couple,” Irina giggles.

“Yeah…” Jack chuckles.

“Wanna coffee? They make great one here…”

“We shoulda have one at Ricky’s though…” Jack says.

“Right…” Irina giggles.

“Yeah… I miss that coffee,” Aia giggles. “Not as excellent as John’s, it’s the best coffee you can get on Mars,” Aia explains.

“Sounds great,” I confirm.

·

After taking a groundbus and walking some minutes, we reach a coffeehouse at ground level.

“Not the best views, but the best coffee,” Jack remarks.

We enter the modern styled café. It’s quite cozy. Each table has sofas or armchairs instead of the usual benches and chairs.

Irina picks a table near the ample windows with a sofa on both sides. It’s absolutely perfect for two couples.

An Ïiha server takes note after Jack orders a coffee named Black Mars for each of us.

“It’s the best coffee you can get,” Aia informs me. “It’s a special kind of coffee that only grows here, on Mars.”

“Yup~” Irina giggles. “One of my childhood friends has the second biggest coffee farm from the northern hemisphere.”

“Yeah, I remember him…” Jack chuckles. “He was wooing ya for the longest time…”

“Yeah~” Irina giggles. “Even before I’ve meetcha. But was neva interested in him. Too dependent on his father’s money. Always preferred self-sufficient guys, such as Jack.” She gives him a peck. “Still a good friend, but I prefer a modest life with the guy I really love,” she adds giggling.

“Darling…” Jack sighs happily.

“Although, not that modest anymore,” Aia giggles. “Not if the big beer manufacturers are feeling threatened by your beer.”

“True…” Irina giggles. “But our life is still humble. Even if we make a real profit nowadays.”

“Exactly.” Jack nods. He opens his mouth to go on, but is interrupted by the arrival of the waiter.

The waiter serves us the freshly brewed coffee with a smile.

“Thank you~” Aia sings happily.

“Delicious…” I marvel after the first sip.

“Truly~” Aia giggles.

“Yeah~” Irina sighs happily.

“Ah, yeah…” Jack says after his first sip on the coffee. “Ever since adopting Aia, we got to break even with the expenses. Even more, after she started to part-time and sending us money home—”

“Even if we initially refused,” interjects Irina and giggles.

“Yeah…” Jack chuckles. “From then on we had a steady increase in profits. But we grew too large over that time…”

“Yeah…” Irina nods. “We never thought that in the future we won’t be able to tend the fields. That’s when we began to experiment with beer brewing.”

“And after telling Aia bout it, she invested into our nascent business,” adds Jack.

“Yeah~” Aia giggles. “I tasted the beer, and it took my breath away.”

“It truly is one of the best, if not the best I’ve tasted yet,” I confirm.

“Kira~” Aia sighs happily. “Exactly. I liked it that much that I simply had to help mom and dad to fund and found their brewery.”

“Yeah… Aia invested a lot of money,” Jack confirms, “and is still our main investor. But we’re still looking for more investment without losing control of the company.”

“It’s so difficult…” Irina sighs. “We already have some good profits, but that’s because we still have a lot of fields of other produce and the large livestock. Most profits go into the brewery and its growth.”

“How much do you need?” I ask as they blink. “I’m interested in investing.”

“Oh, Kira~” Aia charms.

“I’ve already got some savings waiting to be invested,” I confirm.

Irina and Jack look at each other for a brief while.

“It’s quite much…” Jack finally says. “To really expand production, we’d need bout half a million…”

Fuck… I never thought it would be that much…

“Ugh…” I sigh. “Right now, I could invest two hundred grand. Would that be enough?”

“Wow… Kira…” Irina gasps. “That much? Yeah, it would help a lot.”

“Kira~” Aia hugs me tightly. “Then I’ll invest the remaining three hundred grand too.”

“Aia…” Jack says moved. “Will ya really? Ya’ve already got the majority of the investment funds.”

“Sure!” Aia laughs. “As long as your venture stays yours, I’ll keep investing in it. You already did so much for me. Mom, Dad, thanks to you, I’ve got the happy life I have, got a job I love, and… I’ve met Kira,” she declares happily. “Just cut back on the farm and don’t overwork yourselves, okay?”

“Aia…” both her parents sigh emotionally.

“Then’s set,” I laugh. “I prefer to invest my money where I know it’s in good hands. I just hope I get a discount for ordering your beer straight home.”

Aia, Irina, and Jack laugh loudly.

“Deal!” Irina laughs and offers me her hand to close the deal.

I shake her and Jack’s hand in agreement. Aia sizes the moment to hug and kiss me ecstatically.

“Now we’re sure yer the best match,” giggles Irina.

“Yeah,” Jack chuckles. “Sucha beautiful couple ya make.”

“Mom, Dad~” Aia giggles sheepishly and blushes slightly. “Yeah~” she adds. “Oh, yeah… What will you do with that money? I mean, we already agreed to invest it, and I know you’ll use it wisely. But I’m intrigued now…”

“Ah, yeah…” Jack chuckles. “With this money, we’ll turn the old barn into a second brewery for the new brand we’ve created.”

“The other beer you had us to taste? The stronger one?” I ask.

“That one,” confirms Irina.

“It’s really great,” Aia declares, and I nod.

“We’ll be able to mass-produce it while still producing our first flavor,” explains Jack. “We could only produce samples to convince investors till now.”

“And the animals you’re keeping there?” Aia asks.

“We’re selling ’em. But waited till we got the funds secured,” Irina says. “We couldn’t simply sell ’em off because we still depend on ’em for income.”

“Now that ya two have confirmed yer investment, we’ll be able to sell ’em,” Jack adds.

“Then we’ll transfer the funds over the next days,” Aia states, and I confirm.

“That would be wonderful,” Irina happily says.

“Then we can start converting the old barn the day after we’ve sold the livestock housed there,” Jack joyfully declares.

“Great,” I confirm, and Aia giggles, still hugging my waist.

“By the way, why dontcha have a li’l stroll and sight-see some more before having lunch?” Irina suggests.

“Yeah, that’s perfect,” Aia giggles, and I nod.

·

We keep wandering around Mars City for two hours. Aia, Irina, and Jack show me the most important places.

Sadly, we can’t see much, as everywhere we go, we find protesters who chant for Mars’ freedom, and those who celebrate the new coming age. We were lucky that the places we’ve visited so far are not related to the former governor nor his governance.

“Aintcha getting hungry too?” asks Irina after yet another disappointment to find a public building closed.

“Now that you mention it, yeah,” Aia giggles, and I nod as I’m starting to feel hungry.

“Great, why don’t we have lunch at Lilly’s?” suggests Irina.

“Mom… We only went there on Sundays…” Aia points out, quite surprised.

“Issa Sunday for us, pumpkin,” Jack laughs. “More so after ya two coming here, and our deal.”

“Exactly,” Irina giggles.

·

We reach a small greasy spoon diner near the square where all the ruckus unfolded some hours ago.

It’s actually bigger than expected. Obviously, just a few patrons are here. Most are likely to be on the streets celebrating the governor’s detention.

We quickly find a nice table and sit on the benches. This time, I sit at Jack’s side with Aia in front of me.

“Good evening, family,” a cute Reaf waitress greets us. “Today we have a really special blue-plate special,” she giggles at the redundancy. “We call it Mars Freedom Special.” She peeks her tongue out at the stupid name. “You’ll get an extra dish for free to celebrate.”

“Sounds great,” Irina laughs. “Four, then.”

“Okay~” the waitress sings. “Four freedom specials!” she shouts excitedly towards the counter. “What do you want to drink?”

Just as I want to order a beer, Aia hints that only alcohol-free drinks are served here. Right…

“A coke…” I say, and the server nods.

“Another one for me,” Aia adds.

“Make it three,” Irina giggle.

“Then four,” Jack laughs.

“Perfect! Be right back with them,” the server giggles.

·

Shortly after our cokes were served, the waitress brings us the starters of the special.

It’s actually quite better than I anticipated to be. Now I get why Aia’s family eats here regularly. It’s cheap and really tasty. And filling…

“Some desserts?” the waitress asks as she retrieves the empty plates.

“Just a coffee, espresso,” Aia says.

Irina and Jack also ask for a coffee, while I want to try one of these Martian rice puddings whose ads are plastered all over the place.

I came to the conclusion that it is absolutely “Delicious~”

“What are yer plans now?” Jack asks. “I mean, in the coming days.”

“Oh… We haven’t thought it through…” Aia says.

“Yeah… Even coming to visit you was an impromptu decision,” I confirm.

“Hm~” Aia nods. “We have a week-long holiday. We only know that over the next days, we’ll make our relationship public.”

“Oh?” Irina and Jack blink.

“Yeah,” I also nod, “we’re public figures. At least, we’re famous. We have the feeling that if we don’t make it public, it will be only worse for us in the future.”

“Yes…” Aia sighs. “We will be pestered anyways. But it could be worse if we don’t do it now. We want to be a normal couple anywhere and not to have to hide from public eyes.”

“That would be the worst. It will spread anyway. There are already so many rumors about us two, that it could easily spin out of control,” I add.

“Yeah…” Aia sighs again. “That’s why we have to make it public. I’d rather tell ’em from the beginning rather than ’em finding out.”

“Exactly,” I confirm and take her hand lying on the table.

“Damn…” Jack sighs. “That idiot press…”

“If ya think it’s the best, then ya should do it,” assesses Irina. “Canna tell ya what to do or what not… Ain’t got no idea bout being famous…”

“Yeah…” Jack nods. “This’ be yer decision on how to do it. But ya shouldna need to do such thing. This kinda press’ only’s depressing. Canna read nor watch such trash.”

“But we support ya in any way,” Irina says.

“Yeah, no matter what happens,” Jack confirms.

“Mom, Dad, thanks…” Aia sighs happily.

“Thanks, Irina, Jack,” I say moved.

“Anyways, ya two are always welcome to visit us and stay over,” Irina happily declares.

“Of course,” Jack nods, “it’s yer home too.”

Aia and I thank them once again, while we strengthen our grip on our taken hands, and Aia smiles radiantly.

“Whatcha wanna do now?” Irina asks us. “Stay more or going home?”

“Doubt ya’ll see anything interesting while Mars’ in uproar,” Jack points out and points at the videowall where a newsreel follows what is already dubbed as the Martian Revolution.

“Right…” Aia sighs.

“I think we should go home,” I assess. “We aren’t prepared to stay longer as we didn’t even think of staying over.”

“True~” Aia giggles charmingly.

“A shame that ya already have to go,” Jack says.

“But we understand that ya two wanna be together alone,” Irina giggles.

“Right,” Jack laughs.

·

“Ah, Kira?” Jack suddenly says while he pilots the family car back to their farm.

“Yeah?”

“T’was cool how ya confronted Carles,” he laughs loudly.

“True…” Irina giggles. “T’was yer bionic limbs, right?”

“Oh… Yeah,” I confirm.

“Had a great effect on ’em…” Jack laughs.

“Is difficult to control ’em, right?” Irina asks.

“Actually, no…” I negate. “After some months of rehab, I’ve learned to control my bionic limbs. Now I have full control over them.”

“That’s great!” Irina laughs.

“Sure, from time to time, I still have to think about it… I mean on how to control them on certain occasions. Like this one…” I confirm. “But in most cases, I don’t even think about it anymore.”

“Cool…” Jack nods at the controls. “Ah… We’re arriving home…”

·

Aia and I say goodbye to her parents with emotional hugs and kisses.

“Yer always welcome, kids,” Jack says, shaking my hand again.

“Yeah~” Irina giggles. “Jus’ call us before, in case we’re not here…”

“We will,” I assert.

“Yeah.” Aia also confirms. “We’ll be in touch. Bye~”

“Ah!” Irina stops us from turning towards Aia’s car. “Please, keep us posted bout the tests…”

“Sure, Mom,” Aia giggles. “You’ll be the first ones. We’ll call when we have the news.”

“Be it good or bad, call us, will ya?” Jack also insists.

“Yeah, we will,” I confirm again.

“We wish ya all the best.”

“And that yer wishes become true.”

“Thanks,” Aia and I say again.

Aia looks at me with a gentle smile. We say goodbye again and climb into her sportster. The trunk is already laden with beer from Irina and Jack’s brewery.

·

Aia smirks at me coquettishly after entering the Mars-Gaia Jump. Her hand lies on my thigh with her fingers gently, yet seductively twisting and caressing me through my jeans.

I remember her vibrator’s remote in my pocket. It seems like it’s the perfect time to play a bit…

︙

Giggling and laughing after our newly discovered sexy game, we exit the Jump.

“I never thought that zero-grav sex would be so fun,” Aia giggles.

“Yeah…” I chuckle. “And we found something new too.”

“True… But…” she sighs, “I don’t get it… How’s that I felt it anally? I’m supposed not even to notice it, let alone feeling good…”

“Hmm…” I think while Aia looks at me intrigued. “Perhaps…”

“What is it? Found something?”

“We would have to test it, at home.”

“Didn’t you say it doesn’t matter?” she jokes and smirks.

“And it doesn’t,” I reassure her. “It’s just a hunch. You don’t have to, if you don’t want to.”

“Kira~” Aia giggles. “Okay, after a good, long shower.”

“Sure.”

·

“Home, sweet home…” Aia giggles as the door of our apartment opens to her command.

As the door closes, she begins to undress. Smirking, I imitate her after putting the beer cases down.

“I’ll put on a wash. We were wearing the same clothes for two days straight. What do you need to have washed?” I ask Aia.

“Right…” she giggles. “Here, my new dress.”

“That’s better in another wash…”

“Yeah, you’re right. Thanks, dear,” Aia says.

I take the other dress from its bag and gather everything. Under the threshold of the bathroom, Aia throws me a thong. I catch it on the fly. It’s humid…

“It’s in great need to be washed,” Aia laughs.

“A bit overexposed?” I laugh too.

“Just to extreme heat and moisture,” she giggles.

Laughing, I stuff the clothes into the washer. I drop the new dress into the clothing basket at the washer’s side.

·

“Ahh~ I missed this shower…” Aia sighs as we stand together under the steaming artificial rain.

“We were just one night out…” I observe.

“True~” Aia giggles. “But we had to shower separately…”

“Oh… Right…” I laugh. “Missed a shower together that much?”

“Yeah~”

Aia turns around and kisses me passionately.

·

Clean and relaxed, we step out of the bathroom.

“Ahh~ So nice~” Aia giggles. “I could get used to having hot shower sex every day.”

“Truly,” I laugh.

“Right… You wanted to check my ass out, right?” she purrs.

“Yeah, if you’re up to…”

“Yup! On the bed?”

“Perfect.”

I bring one of the massage oils we’ve bought. It’s the one which doubles as lube.

︙

“It’s strange…” Aia sighs. “Even if it was just your fingers, I felt nothing remotely similar to when we did it in the car…”

“In zero-grav,” I add.

“Huh?” Aia sits up and looks at me perplexed. “You mean that I feel it only in low-grav?”

“Most likely. I mean, you only felt it while we were in the Jump, right?”

“Yeah… And it even felt awesome… But… I’m not sure if the excitement of the moment, and if the vibrator had any influence.”

“Don’t worry, Aia. We’ll find out, if you want.”

“Yeah… But…”

“Yes?”

“I still prefer a normal fuck… It was way better in the shower. Perhaps, I really don’t feel it up the butt…”

“Or your species simply isn’t built that way,” I say reassuringly. “Don’t brood over it. While I like anal sex from time to time, I won’t push you in any way. And if you don’t feel good from it, I don’t want it.”

“No?” Aia asks with a smirk.

“Aia, pleasuring you is a pleasure in itself,” I say and brush my hand along her thigh.

“Kira~” Aia giggles sultry. “I love you.”

Our lips meet for a long, lovingly kiss.

“How do I look?” Aia asks in a seductive whisper.

“Hot,” I simply answer.

“Dummy~” she giggles sensually. “I mean… when we’re doing it.”

“Oh? Hot…” I repeat, caressing her ass cheek.

“Kira~” she giggles again. Her face turns serious. “Now, really… Do I look strange or even… ugly?” she asks, looking away.

“Ugly? Strange?” I ask perplexed. My free hand finds her burning cheek and gently guide her face to look at me. “You’re the most beautiful creature I’ve ever met. Your passionate face is the most erotic, sexiest, and charming face ever.”

“You sure?” she asks wearing a seductive smirk.

“Absolutely, love,” I assure while stroking the smooth skin of her hips. “Perhaps, we should do it in front of the huge mirror at the entrance,” I suggest while smirking.

“And watching my own o-face?” Aia giggles. “Could be fun… But…”

“Yeah?”

“I still prefer a comfortable place… Doing it while standing is exciting, but exhausting,” she adds giggling with a beautifully erotic undertone.

“Oh, Aia…” I chuckle.

“Have you finished with my ass?” she purrs.

“Oh, yeah. It’s just mesmerizing…” I chuckle.

“I’m horny…” she purrs sultry.

“From touching your ass?” I smirk.

“From you looking at my precious places so intensely…”

Aia pulls me to another, kindling kiss. Sitting on the bed, our kisses intensity while our hands roam each other’s skin in reach.

“I love you,” Aia moans between kisses.

“I love you, Aia,” I also moan when our lips part briefly.

︙

Cuddling together, with sweat pearls on our skin, we are basking in the afterglow.

“Definitely…” Aia sighs. “I still prefer a gentle fuck on our bed.”

“Aia,” I chuckle. “Yeah… true…” I also sigh.

“Kira?”

“Hmm?”

“I love you…” she whispers sleepily.

“I love you too…” I whisper equally sleepily.

·

“Hi~” Aia whispers as I awake.

“Hi… We fell asleep?” I ask drowsy.

“We did…” she giggles.

“I feel jet-lagged…”

“Me too… That happens often when having a short hop to Mars.”

“Noted…” I chuckle.

“Care for a light dinner?”

“Already night?”

“Almost…”

“Sure, I feel a bit hungry.”

After a peck, we stand up and walk to the open kitchen.

“Are sandwiches okay?” Aia asks.

“Sounds great,” I confirm and find the sliced bread in the larder.

In a great mood, we start making several sandwiches. Some pecks and flirtatious caresses interrupt our preparations from time to time until we’re finished.

·

With several sandwiches and bottled Martian beers prepared, we make ourselves comfortable on the sofa.

Aia instructs the videowall to switch to the Gaia News channel.

“Wow…”

We are flabbergasted by the news about Mars.

The Martian Revolution is already considered the biggest peaceful revolution in the Sol System’s history. The only registered violence was from some of those people who benefitted from the former governor’s regime. Those spotty violent acts were subdued by the police and security forces.

“Did we really set all this in motion?” I ask flabbergasted.

“Dunno…” Aia sighs. “But the sentiments were already ripe for this to happen sooner or later.”

True… The news anchor starts citing many of the former government’s ill decisions. Among many others, she cites corruption on every level of the government, embezzlement of public money, creating unneeded positions for family members and friends in public offices, appropriation of public resources, and manipulation of the press.

«It is not quite clear what caused the sudden uproar,» the anchor goes on. «Only rumors hint towards a plausible reason. It is said that one of the henchmen of former governor Lackester attacked an interspecies couple who managed to defend themselves. Further rumors indicate that governor Lackester himself attacked an interspecies couple. Several other rumors run, citing a combination of the aforementioned rumors. The only statement which correlates, is the place where it happened, Lackester Square. This fact has been corroborated by the Mars City police department.»

“Wow… just wow…” Aia gasps, almost choking on her sandwich.

«I just got notified that our correspondent on Mars has managed to interview Chief Officer Itrean, leading police agent overseeing the peaceful transition…»

“Mark…” I say baffled as the officer appears on screen.

“Don’t say…” Aia seems equally baffled.

«Yes, I can confirm that Mars City is under control of the public security services,» Mark tells the reporter. «We have requested assistance from the IPS to keep order and oversee a true transition all over Mars.

«We need their assistance to rebuild the government and to oversee the new elections as a neutral party.»

«Can you confirm that the IPS has accepted this role in the transition?» the reporter asks.

«Yes. I can confirm.»

«What will happen from now on?»

«We are still searching for many members of the former corrupt government. These people will have to wait for a proper trial once the government has been rebuilt, as many judges were part of the corrupt system.

«The Mars Security forces will step in as an interim government with the help of the IPS until the elections are over and a new government is formed.

«Our intentions are to give back to the Martian people what is rightfully theirs. We will work with other governments such as the Gaia Global Government and the Venusian Government to bring back Mars’ former glory.»

«Can you, please, confirm what the straw that broke the camel’s back was? Mars was under Lackester’s rule for over a decade now, and discontent was rising sharply.»

“No… Please… Don’t mention us,” Aia pleads while I take her into my arms.

«The last straw was after Lackester demanded the apprehension of an interspecies couple,» Mark says in a tone that does not hide his anger.

“No…” Aia sighs as our eyes are glued to the video-wall.

I move behind Aia and wrap her into my arms.

«This couple was harassed by Carles, one of Lackester’s sons and henchmen. Instead of meekly accepting the harassment as many others did out of fear, they defended themselves against Carles and his harassment-buddy.

«Once utterly defeated by that couple, Lackester in person came by and demanded their arrests without trial. Mind you, this was happening in the midst of the former Lackester Square, which already has been renamed to its old name, Freedom Square. Hundreds of people witnessed the brutal attacks against an ordinary couple and their fight back.

«I was there with a small squad in search of the former governor to officially detain him as we already had enough proof to do so. As the Martian people exploded into rage about what they’ve witnessed, I proceeded to apprehend the former governor and two of his henchmen.

«The Martian Revolution gained momentum from that moment on,» Mark concludes while we sigh in relief.

«Who is this couple?» the reporter asks while we jolt.

«Who knows?» Mark shrugs to our relief. «What is sure is that they are our heroes. Without them, the Martian Revolution wouldn’t have been as explosive as it was, nor as peaceful. I am absolutely sure about this.»

Aia sighs in my arms.

“That was really cool from him,” I say.

“Yeah…” Aia sighs. “Although, it will come out anyways…”

“True…” I also sigh.

“Many filmed our fight with their terminals… Sooner or later, they will post it online, if not already.”

“And we aren’t exactly anonymous…”

“Nope…” Aia sighs again.

“And easy to identify…”

“Yeah… Mostly me… It’s already a miracle that we could walk around that easily without being identified.”

“True… By the way, Aia…”

“Yes?”

“I’ve noticed… Not many look surprised by your skin color. Nor do they come and inquire…”

“True… I don’t know why. I mean, as a kid and a teen, I was questioned bout it all the time…”

“Either they don’t care anymore, or they don’t want to bother you.”

“You mean they don’t recognize me?”

“Or precisely because they recognize you.”

“Hmm… That’s odd, then.”

“I prefer to think that even unknown species’ aliens have become a certain norm so that the people do not care, not anymore.”

“That’s a nice thinking. I’d wish that everyone would think that way.”

“Yeah… Like when we met Jani… My first impression of her red skin was like ‘if there are blue aliens, why not red ones?’ That was my reasoning, and I didn’t give it another thought.”

“Oh, Kira~” Aia giggles happily and caresses my arms around her stomach.

“I hope she won’t have problems now as all this stuff happened right in front of her stall.”

“I think she will be alright,” Aia declares. “I’ve got the feeling that she’s way stronger as she looks.”

“That definitely. But her uneasiness around men doesn’t help her.”

“No…” Aia sighs. “It’s a shame. She clearly is easy around me.”

“Yeah, and was eyeing you up,” I say and chuckle.

“She did?”

“Yeah. She’s clearly into women.”

“Poor girl…” Aia sighs while I blink, unsure about what she is thinking. “I’m not interested in girls… If not… hmm… She’s cute, right?” Aia asks me.

“She is,” I confirm.

“What would you think if I was bisexual or omnisexual, like Enya?”

“That it is your own choice, Aia, dear. I don’t mind your sexual orientation. That’s certainly not the reason why I fell for you.” Aia holds my hands firmly in hers while gently caressing them. “Of course, I would have been utterly disappointed if you were a lesbian. I wouldn’t have a chance with you.”

“Ooh, Kira~ That’s sweet…”

“Are you concerned about it? I mean, your sexual orientation…”

“Somewhat…” she confesses. “Mostly because I don’t know what I am…”

“I know that you are into guys,” I say jokingly.

“Kira~” Aia giggles. “Yeah… That’s quite clear. At least, I’m into you.”

“Oh?”

“That sounds strange, doesn’t it?”

“At least, I can’t relate to what you mean, Aia.”

“Right…” she sighs. “That has to do with all my uncertainties… I don’t know if I pushed myself into a sexual orientation or if I really am hetero. I am not even sure if I really am monogamous…” she sighs again.

“We don’t know anything about your species…” I also sigh.

“No… So I don’t know what would be the norm…”

“You don’t have to comply with any norm.”

“I know…” she sighs yet again. “But in many species, there are certain things which are hardwired…”

“Such as?”

“Like the Felii… They are polyamorous and omnisexual by default, if you want to call it that way. Monogamy, heterosexuality, and homosexuality are quite rare. I mean, the latter two alone.”

“Meaning, Gweraz is an exception…”

“Exactly. Enya, despite being a mestizo, is what you would expect from your typical Felii. The Humans are on the other side of the spectrum. Traditionally, they are heterosexual and monogamous. That tradition, however, is slowly dissolving, and more variety has sprung up.”

“But that gradual change happed even before I was born,” I observe.

“Hm~ But Humans are still far behind in that matter, mostly in regards to polyamory. At least, openly.”

“Right…”

“Most alien species are somewhat in between both extremes. Wigmez tend to be more on the heterosexual end, while still being polyamorous. Knoreliaz have a similar tendency, however different. There are many bisexual women, but only a few gay men, statistically. Mainly because fewer males tend to be born than females. The female population roughly doubles the male one.”

“Really?”

“Yeah…” Aia nods. “However, that is not really a problem for them, at least sentimentally. Their traditional family consists of two women and one man.”

“Wow…”

“It actually helps that the Knoreliaz men port two penises,” Aia giggles while I freak out.

“Two? No fuck?”

“No fuck,” Aia giggles again. “The women of the traditional Knoreliaz family are usually bisexual and in love with each other and their male partner. The guy of the family is usually in love with both women.”

“Wow… Then their reproduction…”

“Yup, you guessed it, only in threesomes,” Aia giggles. “I don’t know if this is true or not, but the traditional guide of love and reproduction of the Knoreliaz mentions that only two women and one man in love are able to have children. The three of them have to get into synch—”

“Synch?”

“Ah, yeah… There are species in which males have a similar phase of fertility as us women.”

“Wow… Knoreliaz have this?”

“Yeah, the Reaf as well.”

“That means, according to this love manual, the three of them have to be in their fertile stage to procreate?”

“Exactly,” Aia confirms. “Now, there it becomes mystical… It is said that only two women in love can really synch their fertility. And only a guy deeply in love with both women is able to synch with ’em.”

“Wow… That means, according to their beliefs, only true love can conceive children?”

“Hm~ And both women will conceive, at the same time.”

“Almost crazy… But I like that part of only true love…”

“Yeah… It’s lovely. However, reality is a bit different… We had a class related to this. It was about the different procreation methods in different species… But would be nice… Ah… Kira?”

“Yeah…”

“Do you think that if our love is deep enough, we could have children?”

“Definitely, Aia,” I assure her.

“Yeah… Still… I’m a doctor, and I know that it’s not possible… But I might get a bit into mysticism just for this.”

I hug her tighter. I understand. I feel the same.

“Just don’t doubt our love if it’s not—”

“I won’t,” she interrupts me. “I know it’s far fetched, but I’d like to believe it’s true.”

“Very true, love.”

Aia sighs deeply.

“Right… this moved a bit far away…” she giggles.

“Yeah, you were talking about your insecurities… Sorry for coming back to it. But I want to know and to help you.”

“Yeah…” she sighs. “Thanks, dear. Yeah… I know I don’t have to comply with any suggest tradition, but having none, it just feels more difficult.”

“Sadly, I can’t relate directly,” I also sigh. “But I might understand it a bit. On my side, I’m heterosexual, I have it clear. But… I’m kind of a switch in matters of poly and monogamy…”

“How so?”

“When I’m not in a love relationship, I’m kind of polyamorous. But when I’m in a relationship, I’m monogamous. At least, it was so for the longest time…”

“Then, right now?”

“I’m monogamous and will be faithful to you, Aia.”

“And before we started dating, you were polyamorous?” she asks surprised.

“Somewhat. At least, in my old times. That was something I wanted to change. You see, I always had many lovers, even at once. But when I found someone I really fell in love with, I cut all other relationships. I broke so many hearts…” I sigh. “I vowed to change this for good.”

“And if I were polyamorous?”

“I don’t know, Aia… I don’t think I’m possessive… I mean, I’ve been with many women who had other men or women, or both. However…” I sigh, “I’ve never been in deep love with a woman who had others. So, I don’t really know…”

“Kira…” Aia sighs. “And Enya?” I twitch at her words. “Does it matter that she sleeps around?”

“Actually… I haven’t thought of it…” I confess. “It never mattered…”

“And I’m sure it wouldn’t matter if I were poly,” Aia states confidently.

“You sure?” I ask her.

“Hm~ We love each other so much… that it wouldn’t matter. At least, that’s my feeling.”

“I don’t know, Aia…”

“Then, what would you say if, theoretically, I would offer to have an open relationship?”

“Aia…”

“What do you feel, Kira dear? Jealousy? Fear of losing me? Or rather excitement? Or…”

“Right now, I don’t know, Aia… It’s hard to think about it…”

“I know… But that’s what I’m thinking about, but from my perspective. Do I really want to share you? What would I feel if you’re with another woman? Would I be jealous? Or, rather, excited? I can’t really find an answer right now.”

“You can’t?” I ask her more intrigued than bothered.

“The same goes for my sexual orientation… I am really just into guys, or is there more?”

“Aia…”

“Do I really love just one person, you, or might I be able to love others as much?” Aia sighs. “There are so many insecurities still floating around in my mind. The only thing I truly have clear is my love for you, dear.”

“Aia… Yeah, that’s absolutely clear. I love you so much.”

“And Enya?”

“Damn…” My shoulders slump down.

“Sorry, dear…” Aia sighs again. “But that’s what I feel too… I can’t negate that I’m kinda curious. But I don’t have the courage to go ahead. Over the last few months—actually, since you’ve awakened, I have tried to get over my insecurities around love and guys. And now…” she sighs yet again.

“Now, doubts about other matters arise?” I ask her stroking her belly.

“Yeah…” Another sigh leaves her lungs. “I kinda float from one insecurity into another…”

“I’m here to help you, even if I still have uncertainties.”

“You’re a dear, Kira. And I’ll help you, don’t worry. I’m not saying that I’ll turn poly and omni from one day to another. I just want you to know that these are thoughts I’m concerned about. Whatever happens, you are still my beloved Kira,” she reaffirms, caressing my hands on her tummy.

“Yeah. As long we can talk anything through.”

“Exactly. But…”

“Yeah?”

“I know this is premature… But if, someday, I want to experiment on those feelings… would you accept opening up our relationship? Ah! Of course, you would have the same liberties as I would have.”

“Aia…” I take a long breath. Does she trust me that much? Will I be able to do it? I already feel my being thrown around again. But… I trust her. She’s the one who has done so much for me and the one I absolutely love.

Aia turns around and sits on my lap, clearly trying to interpret my silence.

“Yeah,” I finally say. “I think we can talk it through when the moment arises.”

“Does it worry you so much I suggested such possibility?” she asks concerned.

“That’s not it, Aia,” I tell her while brushing my hand through her long, beautiful hair. “I trust you. It’s just that part of me from the past I still fear. I don’t want to hurt you in any way.”

“Kira~ I know you won’t hurt me. It’s just…” she sighs.

“I understand, love. You want to test those feelings. I believe that when the occasion arises, I’ll be maturer by then.”

“Maturer? But Kira, you are way maturer than me…”

“In some things, maybe… But…” I sigh. “You’re right.” She looks at me and blinks, unsure what goes through my head. I’m worrying too much about myself. I have to support her way more.

“Dear, if it does—”

“Aia, my love… No, you should experiment on those feelings when you’re ready for it. Perhaps, I have too…”

“That would be the idea,” she says, also stroking her hand through my hair. “If anything, I want to experiment with you, together. There’s still so much I don’t get bout myself and my sexuality… And now… suddenly, I have the feeling that I can start exploring it. With you at my side.”

“Aia…” My resolution to stand at her side is clear. Yes, we have to do it. “Right… I still don’t know how I’d feel.”

“We will do it talking clearly, Kira. And if you feel even the slightest discontent about this arrangement, you stop it. The same goes for me. And it won’t be from tomorrow on, nor anytime soon. I just wanted to have it talked through, before I even consider it.”

“Thanks, Aia. I love you.”

“I love you so much, Kira. I don’t want to hurt you nor our relationship. I just want to have everything clear.”

“You’re right. Better have our cards out now.”

“Hm~ That’s what I mean.”

“Do you know already what you want to experiment with?”

“Not really… Perhaps try it with a girl to check if I’m really hetero or not… Dunno… But right now, I can assure you that I won’t sleep with another guy.”

Strangely, her reassuring of not wanting to sleep with other guys doesn’t even lift the slightest weight from me… But… what would she feel if it were reversed? I suggesting an open relationship while wanting to fuck around? Shit…

Aia snuggles against me.

“Finally… I could get it out…” she sighs. “That weighted so much on me…”

I embrace her again and caress her skin in reach.

“That’s actually quite brave, Aia. I still don’t know how I’d feel, but thank you for telling me.”

“Thank you for listening,” she giggles. “And don’t worry, I won’t do anything of that without discussing it with you first.”

“That’s the only reassurance I need.” I don’t know exactly why I blurted that out, but I have the feeling that it is right.

“I think… we should sleep over it,” Aia suggests. “I’m still a bit drowsy, and my parent’s beers we brought don’t help…” she giggles again.

“Right…”

·

After cleaning the kitchen, we take our turns in the bathroom.

When I reach our bedroom, Aia already sits on the bed. She pats the mattress at her left side, indicating that this is my place.

Wearing a smile, I accept and lie down at her side.

We cover ourselves while giggling and chuckling.

“I love you, Kira~” Aia purrs.

“I love you, Aia.”

We kiss and bid a good night while she curls up and pushes against me. I turn towards her and embrace her.

Slumber overcomes us again while I spoon her…

The post B05 ~ Home, Sweet Home appeared first on Space Highways.

“Good morning~” Irina sings poking her head through the ajar door.

“Wah—” Aia and I startle, and try to cover ourselves as much as we can, but fail miserably as the bedsheets get tangled…

“Ma~ma~” Irina giggles stepping into Aia’s room. “We already knew this would happen,” she says lying fresh bathrobes over one of the two chairs. She gathers the two bathrobes we wore yesterday and says, “Breakfast will be ready in half an hour. Get freshened up, will ya?” Reaching the door, she adds, “By the way, we’ll hafta oil yer bed, pumpkin. We heard it from downstairs…”

“Mom!” Aia lets the sheet she’s holding fall.

“It’s okay, pumpkin. It’s natural to have a healthy sex-drive,” Irina giggles and closes the door again.

Aia and I look at each other in awe. What the hell did just happen? I sit halfway on the bed while she kneels on it.

“Fuck… Mom…” Aia sighs, then begins to giggle sheepishly. “The first time I bring a guy home, and my mom just walked onto us…”

“Yeah…” I also chuckle.

“Can’t cry over spilled—What analogy should we use?” Aia grins as she brings her hand to her nether lips .

“Oh, Aia, love…” I chuckle and give her a peck. “Good morning.”

“Yeah,” she giggles. “Good morning, darling.”

“Let’s freshen up.”

“Right.”

We stand up and put the fresh bathrobes on.

“Why did your mom bring us fresh bathrobes? We barely use the other ones,” I ask Aia while she brushes her long, beautiful hair.

“That’s Mom for you…” she sighs. “She’s almost a maniac of cleanliness.”

“How does that mix with being a framer? I mean, most work implies getting dirty in a way or another…”

She hands me her brush, and I also untangle my disheveled hair.

“Don’t ask…” Aia giggles as she opens the door of her room. “She always insisted on keeping everything clean. But…” she halts her words while opening the bathroom door, “this was actually unusual… I mean, she always insists on keeping everything clean. But… fresh bathrobes right after having used some for the first time? It’s a first…”

“Perhaps she just wanted to surprise us…” I say closing the bathroom door behind me and laugh.

“Do you think?” Aia asks me while hanging her bathrobe on the designated hanger. I follow suit. “But… how was it even possible to hear us? I don’t get it…”

“Don’t brood over it, darling. What happened, happened. We can’t—”

“Yeah, right,” she giggles. “Wanna shower first?”

“Sure.”

I step into the shower and wash myself. Once finished and opening the glass door, I find Aia puckering her lips. I accept her cute invitation, and we kiss.

“My turn in the shower,” she giggles and swaps with me.

Aia hums a song under the shower while I do the usual stuff…

·

Sparkling fresh and clothed, we reach the ground floor, where a rich smell of sizzling bacon welcomes us.

“Morning ya two~” sings Irina in an excellent mood while she is preparing the table.

“Good morning, Mom.”

“Good morning, Irina.”

“Jack’s almost finished with his special breakfast. So, take a seat, you two,” Irina invites us.

“Can’t we help?” asks Aia.

“Nope,” Irina giggles. “Everything’s already set,” she adds and dances into the kitchen where Jack is working the bacon.

I look at Aia, who simply shrugs.

“Morning, ya two,” Jack greets us from the kitchen.

“Morning,” we both greet back in unison.

Not letting us help, Irina ushers us to have a seat at the already richly prepared table.

“Aaaand’s done,” laughs Jack bringing a huge platter filled with several types of meat. I can’t find the bacon, as everything looks different from what I am used to.

Irina sits at the table as Jack begins to fill the first plate. First, comes something vaguely looking like scrambled eggs. Then, several pieces of meat, one to two of each kind. And lastly, a heap of what looks similar to beans… Fuck me, is that a huge portion.

“Here, Kira.” Jack smiles broadly and hands me the overfilled plate. “Ya need to recover quite a bit of energy after last night,” he adds laughing.

“Dad!” Aia cries out. “Not you too…”

“Huh?” Jack blinks. “Ah! Right! Ya also need a huge portion. Ya have burnt a lot too,” he adds laughing again.

“Dad…” Aia sighs blushing deeply.

“Why so much blushing, pumpkin?” Irina asks. “It’s only natural, more so just at the beginning of dating.”

“Yup! Yer mom and I didn’t stop for more than a week,” Jack laughs while Irina giggles.

“Dad! Stop it, please,” Aia pleads blushing even deeper.

Her parents just laugh while he hands Aia an equally overladen plate.

“Ah, yeah…” Irina giggles. “Ya don’t know it yet… We moved our bedroom to the room beneath yers…”

“Oh, no!” Aia jumps up and hides her deeply blushing face behind her hands while I am unsure how to react. That means… that our nightly activities were clearly heard by her parents… Fuck…

“Ma~ma~” Irina giggles. “Don’t be ashamed, ya two. We’re happy that ya have a healthy sex drive.”

“Yeah.” Jack chuckles. “Remember, darling, we never have seen ya have any kind of sexual interest in a guy, or girl, for the matter. Now, we’re happy that ya aren’t what so many of yer peers said ya are.”

“Yeah, we—” Irina nods while receiving her plate from Jack, “Thanks, darling. We’re just happy that ya have found someone ya really want to be with.”

“And that this person is Kira. He’s really a nice guy,” adds Jack.

“Yup! Jack already told me about everything ya two were talking yesternight.”

“As much as Irina told me about yer chats with her, Aia.”

“So don’t rack yer brains over it, and enjoy the splendid breakfast yer dad made.”

“Yup! So… enjoy!” Jack laughs sitting down after having filled himself an equally gigantic, overladen plate.

“En—Enjoy…” Aia stutters while I do the same.

We enjoy the delicious breakfast almost in silence. While Aia and I are clearly embarrassed, Irina and Jack are in an excellent mood.

·

“What ya wanna do today?” Irina asks over the finished breakfast table. “Wanna visit the center of Mars City a bit, together as a family?”

“Or perhaps ya wanna be alone?” asks Jack.

“I—” Aia stutters and looks at me.

“I’d love to see a bit more about the places you grew up, darling,” I tell her while her face blooms into a beautiful smile. “I mean, we’ll be together for a good while.” I smirk. “You won’t be able to see your parents much, right?”

“I love you, Kira~” she purrs. “Thank you~”

“Then’s set,” Irina giggles. “We just hafta give some instructions to the workers, and we can go.”

“Yup,” Jack laughs. “We’ll have a nice day out.”

“Then—”

“We’ll fix the kitchen meanwhile,” I interrupt Aia, who giggles and nods.

“Yeah, we will,” she adds giggling.

“Okay, today we’ll let you,” Jack laughs while standing up.

“Thank you, kids,” Irina also laughs.

“Thanks, darling,” Aia says again and sighs happily.

“Huh? What for?” I ask her while carrying several plates into the kitchen.

“Just for being you, dear,” she giggles. “For wanting to come and visit my parents, for—” she interrupts herself and giggles, “for being simply you.”

She embraces me from behind once I put the plates down on the kitchen counter.

“I love you so much, Kira~” she purrs and kisses my cheek.

“I love you too, Aia,” I say and turn around.

We kiss and make out for a brief moment before returning to our task of cleaning up.

·

“Ready?” Irina asks as she steps into the living room from the side door.

“Yeah,” Aia confirms, and I nod.

“Perfect. Jack’s already starting the car. We can leave on the spot,” Irina informs us.

·

Flitting towards Mars City, the four of us are sitting in the Nigare family car, Jack at the controls, Irina in the copilot seat, and Aia and I on the rear seat. We are enjoying one of these Martian cigarillos Jack handed out just before leaving their farm.

While Irina comments from time to time on what happened years ago to Aia at some specific points seeable from the road, Aia holds my hand quite happily. Irina’s stories cover simple to hilarious stuff that happened to Aia. Like the day she climbed that tree over there but couldn’t get down, or the day she fell into a puddle of mud right next to that field…

During a moment of silence, Aia shudders.

“Is something wrong, darling?” I ask her.

“Ah, yeah…” she sighs. “It’s just that some of these stories evoked some bad memories from my past…”

“Aia… Tell me if you need, okay? I’ll be at your side to help you go through it if you need,” I tell her trying to assure her while slightly strengthening my grip on her hand.

“Thanks, love,” Aia sighs happily. “I’ve told you that I’ve had a great childhood thanks to my parents, but others…” she sighs downcast.

“I know, darling. I’m here when you need me.”

“Yeah, thanks. Me too,” she adds with a smile.

·

Slowly yet steadily, the landscape alongside the road changes. From long fields, to sparse houses, and finally, to buildings which grow in height until we reach Mars City.

“We’ll park in the main square’s parking,” informs us Irina. “From there, we’ll have easy access to the main attractions.”

“Great,” I say while Aia giggles and snuggles at my side.

·

After parking in the deep underground parking facilities, we step into the main square. It is littered with hundreds of stalls…

“Oh! A flea market?” I ask.

“No! A real market!” laughs Jack and begins to walk at a steady pace towards it. “Surely we’ll get a steal!”

“Meetcha in three hours under the peace statue!” shouts Irina as she matches Jack’s steady advance into the alleys of stalls.

“There they go…” Aia sighs. “They always do that when there’s market day… And here I thought we would have a nice family day…”

“Then,” I say laughing while hugging her with my right arm and pulling her towards me, “let’s form a family, together.” 

“Oh, you, Kira~” Aia giggles and gives me a kiss. “You always know how to cheer me up.”

“Let’s have a look too?”

“Sure. Perhaps we’ll find something for our home, or bedroom…” she giggles.

“Our bedroom?” I ask wearing a smirk.

“Our bed,” she adds with a coquettish giggle. “I won’t let you sleep on the couch anymore.”

“Oh? Then for what do we need the couch then?” I joke.

“Huh? For watching TV, fuc—Oh! You!” she giggles. “Stop joking around~”

“What did you mean?” I keep on. “The word you didn’t finish?” I ask her with my arm around her waist.

“Oh, you, Kira~” she giggles again. “You know, the thing I do only with you… fucking…” she adds sultry and pinching me.

“Ouch!” I exclaim exaggeratedly. “Oh~ That thing… Right. Then we absolutely need to keep it.”

We keep laughing while we also enter the busy alleys filled with stalls.

·

Strolling around, we look at the many stalls’ offerings, but we don’t seem to find anything great so far…

Suddenly, Aia stops, bringing me out of balance…

We stand in front of a clothing stall. The stall is quite huge. We could even enter the stall and find more stuff… At first sight, only women’s clothing is on display.

The piece Aia’s eyes have caught, is, obviously, blue. But it’s different from what she usually wears. It has a slightly higher neckline and is a bit shorter on the lower end than the one she wears now. The color is a dark to light blue gradient similar to her hair. The color plays nicely with the pleats of the fabric. It’s truly a unique and beautiful summer dress.

“Looks nice…” I say at Aia’s side.

She already takes it down to have a closer look.

“Hm~ Looks like it’s my size… But there’s no label… Do you think they would let me try it on?”

“I’ll look for the seller.”

“Thanks, darling~”

I look around the big stall until I find a red-haired woman working with fabric. Wait… It’s not just her hair that is red… even her skin es reddish. Not even the terribly wrong depiction of Native Americans in comics did represent their skin so red. Well, if there are blue aliens, there surely are red ones, right?

“Excuse me, my fiancé wants to try on a dress. Is it possible?” I ask de reddish woman.

“Oh, sure. Just a moment…” she says with a strange, weary, and wavering tone.

The young-looking woman stands up after finishing a cut on the fabric she was trimming.

“Do you make the clothes yourself?” I ask her.

“Ye—yes,” she stammers while her already reddish face turns even redder.

She doesn’t seem too comfortable around people. Or, perhaps, around men. Most likely, the latter, as every piece in the stall is oriented to women. 

The reddish woman follows me meekly… Poor girl, what might have happened to you?

Just as we step out of the stall, I hear some deeper male voices… The reddish woman jolts and hides behind me…

“Oh! Hey! Lookie’s here! The Smurfette in the flesh! Long time no see! How have ya been, Aiette? Whaaat? Another blue dress?” I find Aia with two bulky guys. One of them stands right in front of her. Aia is clearly uncomfortable by their presence. The brutish guy tears an exquisitely tailored black lingerie set from the hanger. “This’ what ya should wear!” he laughs and tries to push it against Aia’s chest.

I am faster than him and grab his wrist tightly.

“Sorry, but the lady is with me,” I tell him harshly while I push his hand away.

“Huh? Who’s this niggie-clown?” the guy screams and begins to hurl one racial slur after another at me.

“I’m also delighted to meet you, Carles,” Aia says coldly while her hand searches for mine. Her hand trembles…  These guys must be some of the bullies she mentioned yesterday. I take her hand firmly and try to infuse her confidence. I will let her confront them, but will interfere if needed. “Hi, Frigg,” she goes on addressing the other guy, “still the lap-doggie of this guy?”

“You!” the latter shouts making a fist, but is interrupted by this Carles.

“Who’s this guy? Explain!” Carles shouts with a stern, angry voice.

“Why should I explain anything to you?” Aia asks coldly. She still shivers, but only I can discern it. “But I’ll calm your curiosity. This is Kira, my fiancé.”

“Fi—fiancé?” Carles shouts even angrier while his blood shoots into his head. “How?” he howls while he throws the lingerie set to the ground and stamps on it. “Yer mine! Ya just disappeared without telling me! I own ya, ya slutty cheater!”

What the hell is this guy babbling? I don’t get him. What I am sure of, is that I’m getting angrier by the minute this guy is uttering nonsense.

“What the fuck, Carles?” Aia counters. “When did such a thing even happen? You, owning me?” she laughs sarcastically. “Not in my lifetime! You are an idiot for even thinking you could—”

“Yer mine!” he screams interrupting her. “I told ya yer mine, and that’s it! Ya can’t stop me!”

“Not me, perhaps…” Aia retorts cooly, “then Kira will.” Ouch… I follow her game and let my anger surface.

My angry face must be intimidating, as both guys take a step back.

“He?” Carles laughs while Frigg imitates him. “This wimp? Aiette, aren’t ya a bit deluded? This guy is not even worthy of looking at ya!”

“And you are?” I grunt.

“Hah!” Carles laughs again. “I’m the great Carles! Everyone follows me! What I say, is law! Aia’s mine, and ya can’t do a thing bout it!”

“That’s enough!” I shout angrily. Aia strengthens her grip on my hand before letting go. “You’re just trash!” I growl at him while I step towards him. “How can you even live with yourself?”

“Hah!” Carles laughs yet again. “Ya? Ya weakling? Tryna hit me…” he provokes.

“Fine…” I grunt. “Here and now?”

“Sure!” he laughs. “The winner keeps Aiette.”

“She is no good!” I shout and push him back towards the open space.

“Whaaat?” he screams. “How dare ya pushing ma? Aiette is ma good!”

“Shut the fuck up!” I shout and punch him in his stomach, making him step back.

“Ugh… hah! Ain’t not hurt! Yer weak…” he clearly huffs but plays it down.

“Yeah, I know. That’s my weak, right arm,” I laugh sarcastically.

“Keep on playing!” he shouts. “And I’ll kill ya!”

I make space backtracking a bit and stand relaxed some meters from him. A wide circle of onlookers formed around us. Many look like they want to interfere, but stay back. This Carles must be known for his shenanigans.

Meanwhile, Aia regained her coolness and stands confidently at the side wearing an impish smirk. The reddish woman, however, is hiding in her stall, only peeking her head out. 

Frigg, on the other hand, shouts pleasantries towards Carles and hurls any imaginable insults at me.

“Huh? Not even taking me serious?” Carles screams.

“Nope,” I retort coolly. “You don’t deserve to be taken seriously.”

“You!” he bellows and takes a run-up readying his fist. Moron… if you stretch your arm out so soon, you’ve already lost your momentum…

I opt to receive his fist with mine from my left, bionic arm. He’ll be in for a surprise…

Crock…

“Ouuuuu!” Carles screams holding his fist.

I laugh wickedly while everyone around us looks at me bewildered. They can’t believe what just happened. 

In a fraction of a second, I disconnected the nervous system of my artificial arm while I prepared both arm and leg to fully absorb the impact. These additions really came handy. Obviously, my artificial skeleton in my arm was robust enough to hurt Carles quite a lot. He must have felt as if hitting a piece of wood…

I notice Aia’s parents in the masses. Both are clearly rooting for me and shouting words of encouragement.

“What was that?” he screams.

“What? My fist?” I ask him grinning. “I can’t even fist-bump you without you whining? So much for the oh-so-great Carles…” I laugh.

“You! Son of a bitch! I’ll kill ya now!” he howls.

“Nope!” Aia laughs. “Time for you to fly…”

“Ya bitch!” Carles screams at her. “I’ll kill him and rape ya afterwards!”

“You dare to say that in my presence?” I grunt even angrier.

“What? Bout killing ya?”

“You are the biggest asshole of this universe…” I sigh and change my stance.

“Oh! Finally!” he laughs. “Yer getting serious!”

I kick the ground and reach Carles in less than a second. His face first distorts into surprise, then into pain while I drive my left fist into his stomach.

Thanks to the lower gravity and the bionic strength of my arm and leg, Carles is lifted into the air for several inches. I twirl around and use my right leg to kick him several meters away onto the ground, barely avoiding a stall. 

Despite being stunned, Carles tries to stand up. I’m faster and knock him unconscious.

A scream comes from Aia’s side, but not hers… Frigg lies on the ground. Aia tries to lift him up, but he is too bulky…

“Need some help?” I laugh.

“Would be nice, darling,” she giggles.

I step towards the frightened guy and lift him up by his collar.

Aia looks at me with an impish smirk and nods. We both punch him and make him fly towards Carles’ side.

The masses around us are stunned by what they have witnessed. They slowly regain their faculties and are babbling about “Have you seen that?” “They downed Carles and Frigg so easily…” “Are they from the secret police?” and other nonsense…

“Are you okay, darling?” I ask Aia while hugging her.

“Yeah~” she giggles. “Was just that asshole of Frigg… He tried to take me as a hostage when he saw you were beating Carles to pulp.”

“Ouch… Not the brightest idea…” I laugh.

“Yeah,” she giggles.

“What the hell’s going on here?” a sudden yell makes us look back. “Carles, Carles!” A fat man runs as good as he can towards Carles and tries to reanimate him, by slapping his face! “Who did that?”

“I did!” I raise my voice.

“You almost killed my son!” he shrieks.

“Oh? Your son? You must have failed to bind his leash and muzzle. Such wild animals shouldn’t wander around without them…” I say coldly.

“Whaaat? How dare you?” the fat man screams. “Do you know who I am? I’m the governor of Mars!”

“More reasons to keep such an animal at bay,” I retort.

“Police! Police!” he shouts. “Detain this murderer! And that skanky blue whore of an alien!” He points at Aia. “I should have finished you the moment Carles put his eyes on you, you filthy alien!”

“Shut the fuck off!” I shout back at him. “If not, you’ll end like that disgrace of a human.” I point at the still unconscious Carles.

Shit… an antiriot squad is arriving…

“Finally! Detain these criminals! These two shall be executed for their crimes!” the governor shouts.

“What crimes?” asks Aia angrily. “This was self-defense!”

“How can this be self-defense?” the fat man screams.

“Well…” I shrug, “if I can’t defend myself from a guy attacking my fiancé and me after I stopped him for sexually harassing her, then this planet is doomed…”

“What? That’s a premeditated aggression against Carles! Officer! Detain them at once! Throw them into the deepest cell possible and let them rot there! My sentence is firm!”

“No!” the leading officer of the squad says firmly.

“Huh?”

“That’s enough!” the officer says sternly. “Everyone here is testifying that Carles indeed attacked these people.”

“Whaaat? Are you nuts? Listening to the plebs? What’s next? An uprising?” the governor laughs sarcastically.

Suddenly, all the people uproar around us and begin to hurl anything possible against the governor. Many objects are thrown at him, accompanied by revolutionary chants and shouts.

“You can’t do this! This planet is mine! I own you!” the governor keeps shouting while trying to protect himself from the impacting objects.

The officer makes some hand gestures, and the squad surrounds the governor.

“That’s it! You protect me! That’s your job! The rabble can’t harm me!” he shouts and laughs wickedly. “What? Hey! What are you doing? Stop it!”

“Hereby, you are detained, governor Lackester,” the officer says calmly. “Your actions against the people of Mars have ended here.”

“You can’t do this! I am god here!” the governor keeps raging while the squad moves him and the knocked down Carles and Frigg away.

Many onlookers follow them shouting and chanting freedom slogans. “Out with him!” “Real elections, now!” “Down with the despot!” “Free Mars!” “No more corruption!” “¡Viva la revolución!”

Only a few still stand with us, including the officer. He takes his helmet off.

“Mark?” Aia suddenly asks. “Mark from district nine?”

“The same,” the Human-Ïiha mestizo laughs. “Nice to meet you again, Aia. And you must be Kira Matsumoto, right?” he asks me and offers me his hand.

“I am,” I say and shake his hand.

“Nice to meet you,” he says wearing a smile. “I’m sorry that you had to encounter this…” he sighs. “We were after him for the longest time… We just gathered the evidence needed to oust him and his family. Embezzlement, bribes, physical and sexual harassment and intimidations, money laundering, radical xenophobia against other species… you name it…” he sighs. “But you just brought out his worst right in front of a lot of people…” he adds grinning. “That was the last straw that broke the camel’s back. I have to thank you.”

“But…” I say stunned.

“No, no…” Mark shakes his head. “You did right, Kira. He usually keeps calm in public, so no one can see this face of him. Beating up his beloved son, who also is one of his henchmen, made him lose his calm and lash out against you. And a lot of people witnessed it… So thanks again.”

“It’s okay,” giggles Aia. “By the way, Mark. I thought you wanted to be a rugby player and disliked the police…”

“You remember?” he laughs. “Yeah, as a teen… Things changed a lot since then.” He laughs again. “You too, Aia. You also changed a lot. From wanting to be a doctor to become one of the best truckers…”

“True…” Aia giggles.

“Anyway, was nice to meet you again, Aia. A pleasure to meet you, Phoenix. But I have to proceed with the detainment of the ex-governor and oversee a peaceful transition. And thanks again.”

Mark bids us goodbye and follows the roaring masses already on the streets near the square. I see Irina and Jack following them. They briefly look back, thumb up, and keep on shouting with the masses.

Aia sighs deeply and almost slumps down.

“Shit! Aia! Are you okay?” I scream.

“Yeah… just… I just need to sit down…”

The reddish woman comes out of her stall with a folding chair and offers it to Aia.

“Thanks…” Aia says in a long sigh while sitting down.

“Are you okay? Need something?” I ask her preoccupied.

“No, no… It’s just… It was too much for me…”

“But you confronted your past straight heads on,” I say laying my hand on her shoulder. “That makes you even stronger.”

“You noticed…” Aia sighs wearing a smile. “Yeah… These two were some of them. But today, it was worse than ever…”

“Would you like some juice?” The reddish woman offers Aia a bottle filled with a greenish juice.

“Thanks a lot,” Aia sighs and accepts the bottle. She takes a long sip from it. “Aah~ That hit the spot. Thanks—Ah…”

“Jani… Jani is my name,” the reddish girl says shyly.

“Are you—”

“I am a biogynoid class zero, type zero,” Jani says wavering. “As you might know we have the same rights as—”

“Oh, no, no…” Aia hastily negates interrupting Jani. “It wasn’t meant as demeaning… I was just pointing it out… Shit… That doesn’t sound better, right?” Aia sighs.

“Yes, we’re sorry if we sounded like that, Jani,” I say. “It’s just that you look a bit special, like my fiancé Aia.”

Jani sighs deeply in relief while Aia nods.

“By the way,” Aia giggles, “we are Aia and Kira, nice to meet you.”

“Ah… Ye—yeah… Na—Nice to meet you too…” Jani stutters. “Thank you, a lot. You—you see… these two, Carles and Frigg… they extorted me for money. If I didn’t pay, they would trash my stall… As you might know, we bioandroids need food to survive. That requires money… And I…” she sighs and slumps her shoulders down. “I’m not human enough, they say…”

“You are as much human as Aia or I,” I say. “You are a strong woman. And you have a big heart.”

“B—but… I have no heart…

“You have,” I confirm and, without thinking it through, I lay my palm on her heart, or where it usually beats. Jani jolts, her face first turns roseate then deep red, and her whole body stiffens. “It’s not an organ. You don’t need a physical heart to be human, Jani. Your heart is strong. That’s why you are able to stand up again and again when you fall…”

“It’s okay,” Aia says lying her hand gently on mine. “Don’t worry, Kira isn’t molesting you.” Although it would exactly look as such… “Can you feel him? His warmth? His pulse?”

Jani sighs deeply and closes her eyes.

“Yeah…” she sighs relaxed. “So warm… I feel his pulse and… Huh?” Her eyes open wide. “Bionic impulses? How?”

“Kira lost his left arm and right leg in an accident and has now bionic substitutes. However, he is still the same man I fell for. He hasn’t lost his gentle touch, nor his caresses. Having artificial limbs hasn’t changed what I feel for him, nor has he changed his affections,” Aia says in a gentle, warm tone. “It doesn’t matter how or what a person is, they have the same right to love and to be loved.”

“Yes,” I confirm. “It obviously has affected us. But we don’t brood over it. Having recovered my faculties only has strengthened my resolution to live. It doesn’t matter what you are, how you were born, your gender, nor your sexual orientation, you are alive, Jani. Beautifully alive. I don’t know your past, but it seems that you just haven’t found the people you can rely upon.”

“Hm~” Aia hums in affirmation and nods. “Being able to rely on others is not a weakness but a strength. I’m sure you will become even stronger if you find such people.”

We take our hands from her heart, and Jani lies her hands on it and closes her eyes. It looks as if she is trying to keep the sensations we have transmitted in her heart.

She sighs deeply and blushes deep red as she folds her hands.

“Ah… Aia… Kira…” she stutters. “Ugh… Would—Would you—Ugh—Want to be—” she takes a deep breath, “want to be my friends?” she finally asks.

“Sure,” both Aia and I answer smiling.

“Re—really?” Jani asks joyfully. “Like, real friends?”

“Of course,” Aia says giggling. She steps forward to hug the reddish biogynoid. Jani shivers filled with emotions. “You are a beautiful person.”

“Yes, Jani,” I also confirm and gently lay my hand on her shoulder. I have the feeling that if I embrace her, she will freak out… “You can count on us in needs. And if such idiots molest you again, just call us, we come and beat them to pulp.”

“Aia… Kira…” Jani stutters and begins to cry. “I’m so happy,” she declares between sobs. “The first time I make friends…”

We let her express her emotions while Aia gently hugs her, and I stroke through her short, red hair.

Finally calmed down, Jani steps back, irradiating happiness. Has she changed in less than a half an hour… From meek to really excited. 

I am unsure why we, Aia and I, orbited towards her, but I have the feeling that Jani is way more than she looks. Even if it is the strangest encounter I’d have yet in meeting a possible friend, she seems to be a keeper. I just hope she will be able to open up to me enough to be able to have a conversation. Now I truly want to help her. Aia seems to have a similar feeling.

“Tha—Thanks again,” Jani says emotionally. “Ah! Yes!” she jumps up. “A gift! A friendship gift!” she shouts.

“No need, Jani,” Aia says giggling.

“No! I wanna!” Jani says overly emotional. “Ah, yes! The dress you were looking at. That one. I want to gift it to you. Please, take it. It’s your size.”

“Then I can’t say no,” Aia giggles.

“I have a changing room back inside,” Jani says pointing into her stall.

“Then I’ll wear it,” Aia giggles and goes into the stall with the dress.

“Ugh~” Jani looks at me awkwardly.

“I don’t need anything, Jani,” I say wearing a smile. “Your friendship is enough for me.”

“Ugh~ But… I… Ugh~”

“You don’t feel at ease around me?” I ask her in a warm, gentle tone.

She shakes her head slowly.

“Then don’t force yourself, Jani. I don’t know what could have happened to you, but rest assured that I won’t force you to anything you wouldn’t want to.”

“Tha—thanks…”

“Take your time, Jani. If you want, I’ll help you to overcome whatever trauma you have regarding men.”

“You—You noticed…” she sighs. I nod. “I’m really bad with guys…” she stutters. “B—But I want to be friends we—with you.”

“We already are friends, Jani,” I assert in a warm tone. I refrain from touching her. She seems to have a deep distrust in men.

“Ye—yeah…” she giggles shyly. “But… I… Don’t know how to make clothes for… men…”

“Don’t worry,” I say reassuringly. “Do you make clothes on order?”

“Ye—yeah… but only for women…” she stutters bashfully.

“That’s great,” I reassure her. “Then I’d like some things for Aia.” Jani’s face brightens. “I see that you also make lingerie…”

“Ooh!” Jani’s face brightens even more. “Wa—want something sexy?”

“So we enjoy both,” I say with a smirk. 

Jani finally giggles and smirks back.

“The—then… Something like this?” 

Jani begins to show me some absolutely exquisite lingerie sets. Damn! I can’t even choose one… They are too sexy…

“Then…” I say after considering for a while, “I’d like this one, this one, and this one, for now.”

“Cool…” Jani’s eyes sparkle. It seems I finally got a bit through.

“What’s so cool?” Aia asks stepping out of the changing booth.

“Wow! This dress is absolutely gorgeous,” I asses.

“Yeah!” Jani claims happily. She clearly has no problem talking to Aia. “As if I designed this dress with you in mind,” she declares cheerfully.

Aia twirls around to show off her new dress. It’s spectacular. The upper cut of the dress hugs Aia’s body gently, there is no excessive nor too little fabric. The skirt falls beautifully, and the colors play lovely with Aia’s skin color. It’s a masterpiece. No doubt that Jani is a master seamstress. A shame that she does not make stuff for guys. I would order all my clothes from her. Perhaps, over time, I may help her with her fear of men and convince her of making something for me.

“What were you talking about?” Aia asks after having received Jani and my praises.

“It’s~ a~ secret~” Jani giggles then shyly looks at me but produces a cute smirk. I smirk back.

“Uh-oh~” Aia giggles, “by your smirks, it’s something really special.”

“Ye—yeah,” Jani giggles after stuttering a bit. “Ki—Kira made a special order…”

“That’s really nice~” Aia purrs. “Need to measure me?”

“Ah, no… No need. I just measured you while spinning around…”

“Really?”

“Ye—yeah… It’s my gift, it seems. I can measure, at least women, just by looking at them…” Jani says sheepishly.

“Such a great gift for a seamstress,” I confirm.

“True…” Aia nods. “Then’s set. I’ll look around a bit and let you discuss whatever you need.” Giggling, she turns around and leaves the stall.

“How much will it be?” I ask Jani.

“Ah… no… no… It’s a gift…” Jani stutters again.

“Let me at least pay the fabrics…” I insist.

“Oh—Okay…” she finally accepts.

“Just one thing,” I say, “even if sexy, I want Aia to feel comfortable. I know most of this stuff is everything but that…”

“No—no worries…” Jani stutters. “I—I always design we—with comfort in mind.”

“That’s marvelous, Jani. When would you have them finished?”

“Uh… About three days… I—I’ve got business on Gaia on Saturday… I—I could bring it…”

“That would be absolutely fabulous. Where? We can meet anywhere.”

“Ugh… New Angeles…” she stutters a bit overwhelmed, surely by my enthusiasm.

“Even better,” I laugh, “we live there. We should swap contacts, so you can text me where and when. Is it okay for you?”

“Ye—yeah…” she stutters and blushes deeply. Her face turns as red as a tomato…

We swap our contacts while she keeps blushing. 

Aia glances into the stall and sees us performing the swapping ritual.

“Oh? Finished? Right,” Aia giggles, “I wanna have your contact too, Jani. Huh? Why are you blushing?” she asks.

“It—it’s the first time… I’ve got a contact… from a guy…” Jani stutters emotionally.

“That’s great,” Aia giggles. “Now you need mine too, right?”

“Sh—sure!” Jani jumps up and rushes towards Aia.

I have to smile at Jani’s enthusiasm to get Aia’s contact. What happened to you, Jani? To be so fearful and uncomfortable around men… The more I observe her, the more I want to help her, if she lets me.

Aia hugs Jani goodbye while Jani awkwardly stretches her hand out to me. I take her shivering hand and shake it softly.

“It was really nice to meet you, Jani,” I say reassuringly. “I am eager to see what you can make for us.”

“Tha—thanks…” Jani stutters but draws a smile on her face. “Thanks again…”

“Don’t mention it, of course we help you out. We are friends, after all.”

“Ye—yeah…” Jani’s smile becomes genuinely radiant.

·

After leaving Jani’s stall behind, Aia strengthens her grip on my hand. In my other hand, I carry a large bag with Aia’s other dress.

“Isn’t she wonderful?” Aia sighs.

“Yeah, a wonderful person,” I confirm.

“But it’s sad to see her so distraught and uneasy around you…”

“Yeah, I want to help her…” I sigh.

“Me too…” She also sighs. “I have this feeling… that she will be an excellent friend.”

“Yeah, me too, Aia.”

“Oh, you…” Aia giggles. “I took extra long while changing in hope she would talk to you a bit…”

“So much thought…” I chuckle. “I noticed. But it’s not easy for her to open up.”

“I figured…” she sighs. “She’s kinda like us, right?”

“True… Unique and lost…” I sigh. “But we aren’t so much lost anymore, right?”

“Yeah~” Aia giggles and wraps her arm around my hip. I do the same. “But… I can’t really describe it… I really want to help her and become good friends with her.”

“Yeah, I can relate. It’s possible that we are kind of attracted to such people, more now that we are together…”

“Could be…” Aia giggles. “I don’t mind. She is nice after all. And quite cute…”

“Yeah… But you are cuter…” I smirk and pull her to a kiss.

“Oh, you!” Aia giggles and accepts my lips.

·

“Let’s wander around a bit more? Mom just texted that they will be a bit late…”

“Sure…”

We stroll around the nearly empty market. Most people followed the detained ex-governor in masses. Only the stall owners and sellers, and just a few buyers are staying. It may be a good day for Mars, but a bad day for sales…

Suddenly, we reach a kind of a dead-end alley.

“That’s strange…” Aia says. “There is only a huge black tent at the end…”

“Yeah… Let’s have a look?”

“Why not?” Aia giggles.

We enter the strange tent and begin to giggle and chuckle.

“It’s a sex-shop,” I laugh. “Who has thought…”

“Let’s have a look?” Aia says wearing a sultry smirk.

“Sure,” I chuckle.

How is it even possible to have a sex shop in the midst of a market? Nowadays’ conceptions around sex are clearly way more open.

We follow the narrow aisle and inspect the exposed ware…

“The Man with a Thousand Dicks?” Aia giggles. “Such an absurd name for a porn flick…”

“Yeah,” I also laugh as we look over the VCs, the VideoChips. “Ouch… The Man Devourer… Sounds so wrong…”

“Look, they have an exclusive section for interspecies porn…”

We read over some of the strange synopses of the interspecies porn flicks.

“This one sounds great… Summer Love: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love all Species,” Aia assesses. “It’s a romantic porn comedy.”

“Romantic porn comedy?” I ask surprised.

“Yeah, it’s like a romantic comedy, but with explicit sex scenes. Well, lots of ’em,” Aia explains giggling. “Wanna watch it together?”

“Why not,” I confirm smirking.

Aia grabs a shopping basket and tosses the VC into it. It seems she wants to buy more stuff. I surely want something for us too.

“Woow… So realistic…” Aia inspects astonished the six exhibited sex dolls.

“Truly…” I am also quite impressed.

“Even the guys…” Aia giggles, “are so real. But… Kira, do you know why someone wants a sex doll nowadays? It’s really easy to get laid…”

“Who knows…” I shrug. “Perhaps it’s a fantasy…”

“To fuck a lifeless doll?” Aia blinks. “That’s quite a strange fetish…”

“There are so many fetishes… so why not a doll?”

“Yeah… but… I’ve never thought of trying one, even if I was  unable to get emotionally attached to a guy…”

“Perhaps, it’s to make some extreme fetishes true…” I shrug again.

“Ah… That makes sense… Like extreme sadism?”

“Maybe… At least, I don’t see them inside a healthy relationship…”

“True… Me neither. Even so, they are so real… Even their penises are able to shrink and get erect… So much technology for a fetish…”

“Yeah…” I chuckle as I browse the catalog filled with sex dolls of any possible species. “Hmm… Perhaps they are used by exoticism fetishists…”

“What’s that?”

“Ah, yeah… There is, or was at least, a theory about the charm of the unfamiliar. I’m not so sure about it… I’ve read a book about the Other once…”

“The other?”

“Yeah, about how a culture sees another culture. Obviously, in my times, it was about the white men versus the rest of the world. White men assigned themselves to be superior while the rest its inferior…”

“No way… And the women?”

“They were thrown into the same sack. But not so deep… Other races were called inferior. However, there was some kind of fetishization of this otherness. It’s the attraction, the sexual attraction, towards the other races despite their inferiority. Obviously, at that time, this attraction would only be allowed to be heterosexual…” I sigh.

“Such bullshit…” Aia sighs.

“Yeah…”

“Then you mean that some people use these dolls to satisfy a fetish of having sex with species they won’t be able to meet for real?”

“The like. At least, that is my reasoning…”

“Could be. Sounds plausible. Anyways… these dolls are a bit depressing…”

“Yeah, let’s find something happier,” I laugh.

“Oh, you~” Aia giggles. “Sure. Oh! Pussies?” She giggles.

“Pocket pussies…” I chuckle.

“I’ve never seen a real one… They never looked good on the netpages I’ve visited…” Aia blurts out. She notices my smirk and pouts. “Yeah, I searched for sex toys online. Doesn’t everyone do it?”

“Sure. Anyway, these look really realistic. Not like the ones we had in my times…” I take one on display and draw a finger over it. “Even the touch… Impressive…”

“Truly…” Aia does the same. “This one even gets wet…”

“Really?”

“Yeah…” Aia giggles. “But… we surely don’t need one of these, right?”

“No way…” I laugh.

“Mine is way better, isn’t it?” she asks wearing an impish smirk.

“I don’t even have to try one of these to confirm it.” 

“Kira~” Aia giggles sultry. “Let’s see what else they have.”

“Right. Oh, dildos. Need one?” I ask Aia while wearing a smirk.

“Hmm… Nope…” she giggles lusciously. “I already have two…”

“Two?” I ask impishly.

“Yeah, a blue one…” she purrs and grasps my package in my pants, “and a black one…”

“Oh… Then they should be enough…” I laugh while holding a moan back.

“Yup!” she giggles sensually. “Oh! I haven’t tried these ones… Ugh… How would you use these… eggs?” Aia asks me with interest.

“Oh… The eggs… Well, there are so many possibilities… You can use the vibrating ones externally as small vibrators or internally…”

“Do they feel good?”

“I don’t have personal experiences with them…” I laugh.

“Dummy… I mean with girls you’ve met…”

“Ah, yeah… Most found them fun to play with. Mostly these wireless ones…”

“Like this one? What game would you play? As a couple?”

“Yeah… The most exciting play I’ve played is where the girl put the vibrator inside her and gave me the remote…”

“Ooh~ Sounds interesting. You would turn it on and off when she doesn’t expect it? Even in daytime?”

“Yeah, while strolling through the city…”

Aia takes a blue one from the shelf and inspects it.

“The battery holds for a whole day… Hmm… Yup! Seems fun,” she giggles and drops the wireless vibrating egg into the basket. I look at her while she smirks. “Now that I’ve finally found how fun sex with a partner is, I want to experiment…” she adds wearing a sexy smile.

“I’m up to experimenting, you know it,” I say embracing her from behind. “As long both of us are comfortable with it. Stop me if I go overboard, will you?”

“Darling~” Aia sighs happily. “Thanks. I will. But, somehow, I like it when you get a bit hands-on in public.”

“Really?” I ask her while playfully cupping her left tit.

“Yeah~” she sighs. “At least when no-one is looking…”

“That’s just for us,” I confirm letting her free .

“Kira~” she giggles lusciously. “Yeah, exactly.”

She turns around and gives me a peck.

“Oh… And these are…” Aia looks at another dildo-shaped toy.

“Anal dildos…” I confirm.

“Not for me…” Aia sighs and lets her head drop.

“Huh? What do you mean? It’s normal that you don’t like it.”

“Ugh… It’s not that I don’t like anal…” Aia sighs deeply. “I don’t feel the slightest from it… I feel like broken back there…”

“No, Aia.” I embrace her from behind again, this time, I wrap my arms around her stomach. “I don’t care about such things. If you don’t feel it, I don’t want it.”

“Kira~” she sighs relieved.

“Aia, the most pleasing thing for me, is to pleasure you. If you don’t feel it, I’m not interested. And you are not broken for not feeling it. I have never met someone not feeling it, but I met many who disliked, even hated it. Please, don’t brood over it. I love you how you are.”

“Love~ Thank you,” Aia says and sighs.

She turns around and kisses me gently. I accept her kiss and embrace her.

“I felt a bit bad not telling you till now…” Aia sighs. “Not feeling it up my ass became a bit of an obsession. What would happen if you wanted it?”

“Not much, Aia,” I reassure her. “I would be surprised, but nevertheless accept it.”

“But I don’t get it…” she sighs again. “Some of my friends told me how good it feels…”

“Perhaps your species simply does not see the ass as a sexual organ. So don’t worry. I only want to do things we both enjoy.”

“Thanks, Kira~” she purrs. We end our hug, and Aia smiles at me heartily. Then she looks around again. “There are so many interesting toys… But…” she sighs.

“Let’s go with this for now. We can buy more sexy stuff whenever we are up to it,” I say.

“Yeah… And…” she giggles, “it’s still just the third day we’re dating…”

“We have enough time to experiment,” I confirm.

“Exactly,” she giggles happily.

Near the checkout, we find a big rack of miscellaneous stuff.

“Oh, massage oils…” I find a great variety of them. “Want some?” I ask Aia who stands at my side.

“Sure. You are good at giving massages, now I want a full-body one,” she giggles.

“Then, which ones? There are so many…”

“Hmm…” Aia takes a sniff from each of the samples and decides, “This one smells wonderful, don’t you think?” I confirm. “And this one… hmm… it smells great, but I’m more interested in its properties…”

“Properties?”

“Yeah… it’s made to be used anywhere on the body, even doubles as lube. But I’m obviously more interested in the everywhere,” she giggles.

“Then let’s buy it too. Anything else?”

“If my intuition is right, I won’t need more lingerie…” Aia giggles again.

“Right…”

“Then, it’s all for now.”

We step to the cashier, who wears a skimpy sheer bustier. Something similar would look great on Aia. I take a mental note to order something the like from Jani in the near future.

“Nice toy,” the sexy cashier muses. “And a great movie. Good oils. Anything else?”

“Huh? Ah, yeah…” Aia looks around again. “Anything you would recommend for a new couple?”

“Oh? Started dating recently?” the cashier asks happily.

“Yeah, for two days…” Aia confirms.

“Oh, nice~ Not too much right now, then. But if you are up to it, we have cock rings on sale today. Like these ones, which include clitoral vibrators.”

“Ohh~ I’ve never seen one…” Aia inspects the exhibited rings with interests. “Then, this part vibrates?” she asks the vendor.

“Indeed. And is quite pleasurable for both of you.”

“Kira? Wanna try it?”

“Sure, love. Could be fun,” I confirm. Yeah, they can be really fun. Although, I don’t think we really need one. Aia is way too luscious. Well… Perhaps, I need it… They should help to last longer, it’s said…

“Neat,” the sexy cashier giggles. “You can charge the batteries with any wireless charger you already have at home. They are already charged to use.”

“Cool! Thanks,” Aia giggles and pays.

Just as we step out of the sex shop tent, Aia stops.

“Wait a second, darling… Hmm… I’ll ask them if they have a bathroom…” she says and goes back in.

I don’t think they have one…

Anyway, I light a fag and wait for her. Wait a second… she didn’t hand me the shopping bag…

·

A brief time later, Aia steps out while blushing.

She stretches her hand out. I figure she wants to hold mine. But to my surprise, she lets a small, oval gadget drop into my hand.

“Don’t say…” I’m baffled. The remote of the vibrator… “Are you sure?”

“It turned me on thinking of it…” she says wearing an impish smirk but still blushing.

I turn the gadget on to the lowest level…

“Oh-hmm~” Aia gasps and swallows a soft moan. “Meanie~” she giggles coyly.

“Aren’t you a bold one…” I smirk but turn it off again.

“Just don’t use it in front of my parents…” she adds sultry. “Wait! My parents! What time is it?”

“Just past noon…” I confirm after checking my vintage wristwatch.

“That won’t work… We have a different time here,” she giggles and produces her terminal from her purse. “Shit! Mom already texted me that they are waiting for us! We have to hurry!”

“Wait… The vibrator… Don’t want to take it out?”

“No time…” She grabs my hand and starts walking at a fast pace. But… “Fuck… I can’t run with this… thing inside me…”

“Then…”

She smirks at me.

“It’s kinky… I love it. But I can’t go fast…”

“Pervy…” I chuckle.

“Yup! Just don’t use it—”

“I know, darling,” I confirm. “It’s just a game for us two.”

“Yeah, thanks. But we still must hurry…”

The post B04 ~ A Day on Mars appeared first on Space Highways.

Aia is in an excellent mood and sings along the pop song blaring from her car’s media system.

Halfway through, my terminal comes alive… a message.

“Again…” I sigh.

“Huh? What is it?”

“Enya… she’s informing us that the gossip press is going wild about us…”

“No shit…” she sighs. “Let me see…” She pulls up the net browser over her side of the windscreen. “Fuck me…” she gasps.

“So bad it is?” I ask concerned.

“Yeah…” she sighs again. “We have been photographed while walking to Eva’s grandparent’s restaurant. Although blurry, it’s obvious that we’re holding hands… And the shitty press is making a huge fuss about it.”

“Just for holding hands?” I ask astonished.

“Yeah… I don’t get it either. They could easily have caught us hugging, even kissing…”

“True…” I sigh. “At least, it would have been obvious…”

“Yeah…” Aia giggles. “But all these wild guesses and assumptions are nuts… I’ve just found a forum where these specialists are discussing our date…”

“From last night?”

“Nope,” she giggles again. “Today’s…”

“What?”

“Yeah… They’re assuming we’re having a date right now…”

“No fuck…”

“And are discussing what it means… us holding hands…” Aia says unable to hold her laughter back. “Some say that’s obvious that we’re dating. Others, the contrary. Yet others refer to last night’s date and try to figure out the relationship we have. And, obviously, some assert that we’re now dating, after last night’s date.”

“Heh… At least the last ones hit the mark.”

“Yeah, but not everybody agrees to that. Yet others say that we’re dating since long ago, but were hiding it till now. And that we have been found out is a coincidence, or we have become lax in hiding it.”

“Such absurd ideas…” I say between bursts of laughter.

Aia is already crying with laughter.

Ding! »Leaving the jump. Please take control,« the sportster’s nav system informs me.

·

Aia guides me through Mars’ atmospherical roads until we reach ground level. From there on, towards her parents’ home.

Such impressive views… If I didn’t know better, I could swear we’re somewhere in the Northern Plains… Long roads between farmlands.

“What’s the matter, Kira?” Aia suddenly asks. “You look tense…”

“Oh, yeah…” I sigh. “I can’t avoid it…”

“What do you mean? It was your idea… I something not okay? Want to postpone it?” she asks concerned.

“No, no…” I shake my head. “I want to do it. It’s just some shit from my past…”

“Tell me, please, darling,” Aia says in her most caring voice while taking my hand.

“It’s just…” I sigh. “Many times I went to visit a girlfriend’s parents for the first time, I was received with resistance. You know, being a black Japanese guy…”

“Oh, Kira, dear…” Aia sighs. “Don’t worry. My parents are really open-minded. Proof is that they adopted me, an alien from an unknown species… And, yeah, Mom is actually black, and Dad is somewhat pale-skinned. That should be proof enough, don’t you think?” She giggles and caresses my hand.

“You’re right…” I sigh in relief.

“I know how much past experiences can influence us, too well…” she sighs. “But don’t worry. I’m sure they will accept our relationship. More so for coming to visit them.”

“Thanks, darling.” I sigh again. 

Finally I’ve met someone who can relate… True, Aia was exposed to the same shit as me. Stupid racism, how much damage have you done for centuries?

·

“Right there… that’s my parents’ farmhouse…” Aia says pointing at several structures appearing at the right side of the road.

Slowly, I drive Aia’s sportster into the private road.

This farm is a strange mixture of top modern machinery and a retro look, which reminds me of the typical American farmhouse of the mid-twentieth century…

I park Aia’s Ferrari at the family car’s side stationed at the left of the main building.

Aia already steps out of her car. There goes my intention to be the perfect gentleman and help her out… I snicker at my thought. She is way too independent to allow me to do so, and I actually love it that way.

An elderly woman steps out of the house and onto the porch.

“Mom!” Aia shouts and runs into the woman’s open arms.

“Aia, darling!” she shouts back and receives her daughter in a warm hug.

Aia’s mother is shorter than her, but looks quite strong for her age, surely fruit of her daily work on the farm. I can’t possibly guess her age, but she must be, at least, in her seventies…

“Welcome home, darling,” a rougher voice comes from behind Aia’s mother.

“Dad! I’m home~” 

Aia jumps into her father’s arms. He is quite bulky and about my hight. He too seems hardened from the strenuous work on a farm.

Unsure what to do and say, I just walk closer to them.

Aia steps back from her parents’ embrace and signals me to come closer.

“Mom, Dad, this is Kira…” she says taking my hand.

“Nice to meetcha, lad. I’m Jack. Aia’s father,” the man says offering me his hand.

“Likewise, sir,” I say and match his firm grip while he laughs.

“And I’m Irina, Aia’s mom. Nice to meetcha,” the woman says, steps forward, and kisses me on both my cheeks.

“Nice to meet you, ma’am.” I reciprocate with the kisses. I’m used to it. In the Latino community, I was quite acquainted with, thanks to Kitty, it was usual to give kisses at greetings.

“Kira’s—”

“Let’s talk inside with a beer,” Irina laughs interrupting Aia. “Come in, ya two.”

“Yeah, I’ll fetch some pints,” Jack laughs too and goes back in while Irina ushers us into the cozy living room.

Irina offers us to sit down on one of the ample sofas while she sits onto the opposite one.

“Hope ya like the Martian beer, lad,” Jack laughs as he offers Aia and me a pint each.

“Thank you,” I say a bit overwhelmed. I’m absolutely not used to be invited into my girlfriend’s parents’ home without being properly introduced as her boyfriend.

Only after Jack handed Irina her pint and he sat down, she looks at us, clearly expecting Aia to introduce me properly.

Aia obviously gets her cue.

“Mom, Dad…” Aia takes a deep breath and takes my hand firmly. “Kira is my boyfriend.”

“Ma~ma~ That’s wonderful~” Irina charms while I blink.

“Nice…” Jack simply says with a broad smile.

“It—we…” Aia stutters emotionally, “Kira… proposed to me yesternight.”

“Marvelous!” Jack jumps up, nearly tipping his pint over.

“Ma~ma~ Jack, darling, calm down,” Irina giggles and pulls him down again. “Kira, innit, right?” she asks me.

“Yes, ma’am,” I confirm and nod. “I’m an Awakened and was born in 1982, in the ancient USA, as a nisei, a second-generation Japanese immigrant. I awakened on January the seventh of this year. And I—”

“Tsk~tsk~” Irina interrupts me. “Ain’t not ma’am, it’s Irina.”

“Yup, and ya call me Jack, no sir-bullshits,” laughs Jack loudly.

“Ah… Sorry… Irina, Jack,” I say embarrassed.

“It’s okay, Kira,” Irina laughs. “Ya don’t have to give yer bio now…”

“Yeah,” Jack also laughs. “Sure, we wanna know bout the guy dating our darling daughter, but all in its due time.”

“Yup,” Irina confirms. “Now… Aia, darling, ya said Kira proposed to ya, right?”

“Yes, Mom,” Aia confirms wearing a broad simile. “We actually met the day he awakened…”

“Where ya dating since then?” asks Jack in a calm, warm tone. Not the harsh tone I am used to.

“No…” Aia shakes her head. “But we were homies. We shared my apartment. He slept on the sofa bed the whole time…” she giggles.

“Ya’ve never told us bout that…” Irina points out. Again, the same warm tone.

“I wasn’t sure how you would react,” Aia confesses. “I’m sorry…”

“Ma~ma~ Sorry, Aia, darling,” Irina apologizes. “Ain’t mean to sound harsh…” Harsh? She’s as calm as an undisturbed pond… “Was just pointing it out. Yer right. Coulda inferred something else,” she adds giggling.

“Thanks, Mom,” Aia also giggles. “Right… Kira was a trucker in his times, and now one of the Aces of the ISTM.”

“Oho!” Jack laughs while Irina clasps her hands happily.

“Summing up, I fell for him,” Aia says blushing. “It was love at first sight…” she adds giggling. “But…” she sighs, “I was still battered with all that stuff… you know, my depression and that shit…”

“But ya look great now,” Jack says with a broad smile.

“Truly,” Irina giggles. “Ya look like a beautiful gal in love…”

“Oh, Mom, Dad…” Aia also giggles while I follow their conversation in amazement. 

This family is nothing to compare with those I’ve met before, not at all… Usually, right now, I would have been questioned about my past, and my intentions, or a fight between the girl and her parents would break out…

“Then, when did ya finally started to date?” Jack asks. “Right from there on?”

“No, no…” Aia shakes her head. “I actually confessed my feeling towards him a week or so after meeting him, but told him that I wasn’t ready yet… And he…” she smiles radiantly, looks at me, and grasps my hand firmly, “he waited patiently for me to figure out and fix my stuff, till I was ready…”

“Wow… Ya sure are patient…” laughs Jack.

“We actually began dating yesterday…” Aia says just before I could interject.

“Ma~ma~ So wonderful…” Irina clasps her hands again. “Then…” she looks at me, “ya held back over half a year…”

“Ye—yeah…” I stutter at first, but then I go on at a fast pace, “I also developed feelings towards her. Her kindness and strengths helped me a lot during the first weeks in this era. But when she told me her feelings, I held back. I mean… Despite being so strong—No… I could, somewhat, relate to what she was going through at that time, that I couldn’t do otherwise. I tried to help her. After all, she took me in when I was helpless, and she helped me to adapt to this era and—”

“Do ya love her?” Jack interrupts me with the blunt question.

“Yes, for life,” I blurt out.

“That’s all I needa know,” he laughs.

“Yeah,” Irina also laughs. “Then, ya said Kira proposed to ya?” she asks Aia not without a hint of excitement.

“Yeah,” Aia giggles. “And I obviously accepted…” she says radiantly while showing her parents the engagement ring. “And I… actually…” she blushes deeply, “proposed to him the same night… It was my intention, but was blown away by Kira’s invitation,” she adds giggling.

“Wonderful…” Jack sighs and takes Irina’s hand.

“How was it?” asks Irina rather intrigued.

“Well…” Aia giggles, “we were apart for about a month, you know, our job… When he came back, I knew I was ready for a relationship with him.”

“Me too…” I confirm.

“Yeah,” she giggles. “Basically, we started to make out when he came home… Then it was clear, no need to tell each other our feelings…” she giggles again. Wow! Did she really just say that openly to her parents? “But we already planned for a dinner outing that night, so our first make-out session got interrupted…”

Both she and her parents giggle and laugh while I sit a bit uncomfortable at Aia’s side.

“T’was during that dinner when…” Irina asks filled with enthusiasm.

“Yeah,” Aia smiles radiantly, “after dinner. It was just like in the movies…” She takes a deep breath while her parents look at us emotionally. “Kira knelt down before me and asked me to marry him…” A tear of happiness rolls down her cheek.

“Ma~ma~ So beautiful…” Irina charms.

“Just as yer mother did to me…” Jack chuckles. “T’was the best day in my life…” he sighs emotionally. Wow…

“Then…” Irina looks at me, “ya’ve just got engaged yesterday and already coming to see us…”

“Yes…” I lean a bit forwards and gather my courage, “I wanted to meet you, and…” I take a deep breath, “to ask you for your daughter’s hand.”

“Ma~ma~” Irina giggles.

“Son,” Jack says emotionally, “ya love her so much that yer willing go to such lengths? My respects.”

“Yeah~” Irina sighs. “Just after what surely had to be yer best day in yer life…”

Both parents look at each other and giggle and chuckle.

“Ain’t no need for asking for her hand,” he finally goes on.

“It’s Aia’s wish and decision. We won’t meddle in our darling’s life,” Irina states. “If she wishes to form a family with ya, it’s her decision to take, not ours.”

“So true…” Jack nods. “And yer decision. We only ask ya for one thing, make our darling daughter happy.”

“For life,” I state. “Aia is the most important person in my life.”

“Oh, Kira~” Aia giggles and kisses my cheek.

“Then it’s set,” laughs Irina. “Now ya gotta tell us more bout yer relationship.”

“And wanna know bout yer past, Kira,” Jack says and takes a long sip of his pint.

Happily, Aia begins to tell her parents how we met, her decision to take me to her apartment, and how our strange relationship developed from there on.

She goes on telling them how she began to face her fears and her traumas.

To my shock, Aia does tell them, quite detailed, how our relationship flourished. From the moment on she decided to be topless at home to my reactions…

Ais sighs deeply when she comes to the moment I was involved in the Crushmont terrorist attack. Then she continues telling them all about my hospitalization.

“Oh… T’was bout two, three months ago, right?” Irina asks.

“Yeah,” Aia confirms, and I nod.

“Ya were barely available for calls, and when ya were, ya sounded tired…” Jack says.

“T’was cause yer caring for Kira, right?” Irina asks again.

“Yeah… Sorry for not telling…” Aia sighs and looks down at the floor.

“Ah! Don’t be sorry, darling,” Jack jumps up.

“Don’t be, darling,” Irina also says. “Ya didn’t have the mind for it.”

“Yeah,” confirms Jack sitting down again. “What happened, happened.”

“Thanks, Mom, Dad…” Aia sighs in relief.

“Then, ya have bionic members, innit, Kira?” Irina asks me.

“Yes,” I confirm. “My left arm and my right leg above my knee…” I point at the affected areas of my body. “At that time, I was sure that Aia was almost ready for a relationship. But…”

“Ostis…” Aia sighs while I nod.

“Ostis?” both Irina and Jack ask quite intrigued.

Aia nods and goes on telling them everything about the Ostis incident, absolutely everything… Even our arousal and our discussions… While Aia tells the story, I sit quite awkwardly at her side. I never would have told my parents such things.

After Aia finished telling them about the Ostis incident, Irina and Jack ask me about my story. 

I tell them roughly about what happened to me since I awakened. Obviously, I am not so open as Aia telling them my life… I’m simply not used to it. I hide my relationship with Enya for now, but tell them anything I feel fit for the moment. Aia comments from time to time.

Time goes by quickly while we tell our stories and chat.

·

“Oh! So late already!” Aia shouts jumping up after looking at her terminal. True… the afternoon went by flying…

“Why dontcha stay overnight?” asks Irina.

“Huh?” Aia and I look at each other in surprise.

“Yeah, don’t wanna?” asks Jack.

“If… Kira…” Aia stutters emotionally.

“Why not?” I ask her. “It has been a long day—”

“I love you, Kira!” Aia shouts and hugs me tightly. It was the right decision.

“Then’s set,” Jack laughs.

“Yeah,” Irina giggles. “Yer bedroom is where always. But ya two hafta settle for a small bed together, t’will be a tight fit. Ain’t not a problem, right?”

Wow! They even let us sleep together?

“Wonderful,” Aia beams in happiness.

“Aia darling, why don’t we prepare yer room?” Irina asks her daughter. “Surely Jack wants to chat with Kira bout some guy stuff,” she laughs.

“Sure!” Aia jumps up but does not forget to give me a peck. “Thanks, darling. It means a lot to me,” she adds giggling.

·

Jack and I look after Irina and Aia who climb the stairs.

“Another brew?” he asks while standing up.

“Can’t say no to another one,” I laugh.

“Good answer,” he laughs. “Be right back.”

I sit alone for a brief moment in the cozy living room. 

The whole home feels cozy, even if it is quite ample. Everything has a rustic feel on it, despite the obvious modern features like the videowall and the other gadgets. It’s really homy.

“Seems ya like the Martian beer,” Jack laughs bringing two fresh pints.

“Yeah, tastes great. Thanks.” I take mine from Jack.

“This actually is our own brand.”

“Really?”

“Yup,” Jack says proudly. “Cheers!”

“Cheers!”

“Five years ago, we started in the brewing business. Now we’re the third best-known brand of Mars,” Jack proudly says.

“Oh, congratulations. It truly is great.”

“Thanks,” Jack laughs. “It’s thanks to Aia. She got us the starting capital. Now we’re slowly cutting down with the cattle and the rest of the livestock. In bout six years, we wanna only have barley and wheat plantations, and grow the brewery.”

“Wow! Sounds great,” I say and take another sip from the beer. “Is the grain special?”

“Yeah. Grows only here, on Mars.”

“An endemic plant, then?”

“Yup,” he laughs. “This brew’s made one-hundred percent here, only with Martian endemic grain. That’s why we sell it as the only true Martian beer.”

“Cool. Was the idea yours?”

“Yeah, Irina’s and mine. We wanted to reduce our livestock, too much work. And find something less demanding. We began experimenting with home-brew kits until we created this recipe. Inviting friends, we got the feedback.”

“Impressive. And Aia put in the money?”

“Yeah. Such a nice girl,” he sighs.

“Yeah… she is…” I sigh too.

“Thanks, Kira,” he suddenly says.

“What for?” I ask him dumbfounded.

“For bringing our darling daughter’s smile back,” he says with a bright simile. 

“I—”

“Her being an alien of an unknown origin is such a big strain for her… We tried to prepare her to overcome all the possible shit coming at her…”

“She is really strong…”

“She is. But…” he sighs and takes another sip from his pint, “all the damn social norms and its pressure nearly broke her… I can’t blame any of her own decisions, like her studies or her change of mind to become a trucker. It’s the life she wanna live. But I can’t condone the effects it took on her.” He sighs. “She became famous, and is constantly exposed to all those shitty racist comments and attacks. That’s not what I ever wished for her.”

“I understand, Jack.” I nod. “My name isn’t clean either…” I sigh.

“Yer the Phoenix, the legend, the Casanova of the trucking world…” Jack says with a dark tone. I shudder from his sudden change. His smile, however, comes back. “We know.” He grins. “We recognized ya the moment we saw ya.”

“Then, why did you welcome me so easily?” I ask back astonished.

“Just seeing our darling’s happiness at yer side was enough,” he says wearing a warm smile. “She’s proof enough that these legends are just scuttlebutt.”

“I’ll be frank, Jack. In my past, I really was such a womanizer…” I confess while he blinks. “It was only thanks to Aia and, perhaps, to my cryo, that I could settle down. I can’t deny my past, nor that Aia marked my life, for the better. I consider my life with her up to now as a therapy to get rid of the old me…”

“Thanks, Kira,” Jack says with a broad smile, “for being frank with me. Now I know that yer really the best partner I could wish for Aia.”

“I…”

“No need for telling all yer past. Ya just told yer bride’s father yer darker past. If ya’d have bad intentions with Aia, ya wouldn’t go to such length. Tell Irina too, will ya?”

“I will,” I confirm firmly. 

It seems that in this family, I have to be quite blunt and honest. But somehow, I feel at ease telling Jack all this. His calmness is contagious.

“Neato,” he laughs. “Then—”

Jack is interrupted by happy chatter and giggling coming down the stairs. Irina and Aia are coming down.

“Right,” Jack laughs, “time for making dinner.” He stands up as both women come towards us.

“I’ll make dinner with Aia tonight,” Irina says to Jack.

“Oh? T’was my turn today…” Jack says.

“Yeah,” Irina giggles, “I know, love…” She gives him a peck. “But wanna make my special family dinner for tonight, and Aia wants to help, right pumpkin?”

“Yeah,” Aia giggles. “I want to learn how to make it.”

“Then tomorrow I’ll make my special family breakfast,” he laughs.

“Oh you,” giggles Irina. “That’s marvelous. Then keep our special guest some more company, will ya, darling?”

“Of course, love,” he chuckles and gives her another peck.

Aia smiles radiantly and bows down to me. She also gives me a peck.

“Our room is ready for tonight, darling. I’ll be helping Mom with the dinner,” Aia giggles.

“Can I help somehow?” I ask.

“Oh, darling~” she giggles. “Not tonight. You’re our guest. I’m so happy that we have come home. I know you can’t stay put.”

“Yer nice, Kira,” giggles Irina. “Aia already told me that ya take turns in the kitchen and in doing the chores. But as she just said, yer our guest, we can’t make you work…”

“Right,” adds Jack. “And for the sake of keeping ya out of the kitchen, I’ll get ya another brew,” he laughs.

“Oh—okay…” I stutter overwhelmed by this family’s way.

·

With a fresh pint in hand, I keep talking with Jack while Irina and Aia are chatting happily in the kitchen.

“I missed that…” Jack sighs looking towards the kitchen. “Both my girls chatting happily about stuff that matters…”

“Huh?”

“Aia wasn’t up to it lately…” he sighs. “Even if she was quite happy visiting us, sometimes it seemed she forced it… But now, it’s genuine. So beautiful…” A tear rolls down his cheek. “I can’t tell ya how happy I’m right now. Thanks again, Kira.”

“I—I haven’t done anything…” I say overwhelmed.

“Ya did more than ya think, Kira,” Jack asserts with a smile. “Last time she came by—No… the time before, bout a year ago, Aia looked completely defeated…” he sighs. “She surely didn’t show it, but as parents, we knew. She was bout to hit rock bottom… And just then, ya entered her life. I don’t care how ya did it, I just know that ya did it. My darling daughter’s happiness is back.”

“Jack…”

“Last time she came by, bout half a year ago, she was slowly coming out of her depression, a good sign. But she was still meek… I missed my assertive and active daughter so much… and ya brought her back.”

“How bad was it?” I ask him. “From your perspective, I mean. She already told me a lot.”

Jack smiles warmly and takes a long sip from his pint.

“Bad…” he sighs deeply. “Being unable to have steady partners haunted her. Obviously, it’s linked with her origins. She was exposed to heavy mental stress because of the social pressures. A famous woman like her, should have a partner or more, at least temporal ones, according the idiotic social norms. She began to doubt herself, and her self-image crumbled…

“As a father, I only wanna have the best for her. But I felt powerless…” he sighs deeply. “The only thing I could do is to advise her and offer my shoulder for her tears…” he sighs again. “When she finally began dating guys, a strange cycle began… Overly happiness and childish behavior at first, days later, just tears and anger… Irina and I didn’t know how to handle her…” he sighs yet again. “Slowly, yet steadily, Aia became more and more depressed… until she collapsed…”

“Aia…” I sigh. “Through how much shit have you gone through?” I look towards the kitchen.

“Too much…” Jack sighs. “Her life wasn’t an easy one… even if we tried to prepare her for it. Interspecies adoption wasn’t the norm then and is still unusual… We love our little girl—she ain’t so little anymore, ain’t she?” He laughs. “She’s the best happing in our life. Aia is and will always be our darling daughter.”

“Jack…” I take a breath.

“Ya smoke?” he suddenly asks me.

“Yeah…”

“I’ll ask the girls how much time they’ll still need…” he says and stands up.

After yet another brief moment alone in the living room, Jack comes back

“Still fifteen minutes… Let’s have a smoke outside…” he says.

“Sure…” I say wondering what’s happening.

We sit on the bench of the porch, and Jack offers me a metallic pack of cigarillos. I take one and light it.

“Wow… Great flavor…” I say after the first puff.

“Martian tobacco…” Jack says laughing. “One of my school buds has now the biggest endemic tobacco plantations in the southern hemisphere.”

“Impressive…”

“Irina doesn’t like the smell of tobacco just before dinner,” he explains laughing.

“Aia is the same,” I chuckle.

“A chip off the old block,” Jack laughs. “I like ya, Kira…” he suddenly says. “I haven’t met many supposed boyfriends of Aia, but ya surely are the most authentic one. Ya don’t care bout her fame nor her origins…”

“I couldn’t…” I simply say exhaling the smoke of a puff.

“Whatcha mean?” he asks.

“Right now, I’m famous too, although I’m still trying to accept it. Reluctantly, I must add. But I could relate, at least a bit, to what she must have gone through.

“I was raised as a second generation immigrant in the old USA. As an Asian guy, I was always exposed to racist attacks, more so because I’m a kind of mestizo… I’m too dark-skinned for the usual archetype of Asians. That brought me even more problems…” I sigh.

“I must confess, I was really nervous coming here, to visit you. Most of the times meeting my girlfriend’s parents ended either in an interrogation from her parents, or a fight between the woman and her parents would break out.”

“Just because of yer origins?” he asks me astonished. “Because ya weren’t of the same ethnic group?”

“Yeah…” I sigh. “At that time, racism was focused against other ethnic groups instead of other species…”

“No fuck…” he sighs. “Now I get it…” he chuckles, “why ya two get along so well. Yup!” He laughs, leans back and looks at the pale blue dot in the sky. “Yer the best guy for Aia,” he adds.

“Dad… Darling…” Aia’s voice nears us, “dinner’s ready.”

“Oh! Coming!” we both say and stand up while Aia giggles.

She gives me a peck before entering the house again.

·

“Wow…” I’m amazed by the splendid dinner on the table.

“Something’s missing,” chuckles Jack. “The wine…”

“Right, darling…” Irina giggles and pecks him before he leaves the dining room.

Irina offers me a seat, and Aia sits just opposite of me.

Jack comes back with four glasses and a bottle of wine. He serves each of us a glass after Irina sat down.

“A toast!” Jack says still standing. Hovering his glass of white wine over the table, he adds, “To our happy daughter, and our new son!”

“To a long loving life,” adds Irina laughing while Aia and I look at each other quite embarrassed.

“To us…” Aia finally whispers blushing deeply.

“To us,” I reciprocate as we clink our glasses together.

We take a sip from the white wine. It’s quite good.

“May I?” Aia suddenly asks blushing.

“Sure,” Irina giggles.

“Your plate, darling…” Aia says.

“Oh… yeah…”

“Thank you~”

Aia starts to fill my plate with mashed potatoes, a kind of meat patty, a lot of unrecognizable vegetables, and ends topping it with a rich sauce. 

“Thanks, dear,” I say once she hands me the now filled plate back.

She repeats the ritual with her parents’ and her own plate.

“Enjoy!” Jack laughs heartily, and Irina repeats.

“Enjoy, Kira,” Aia giggles.

“You too, Aia.”

The four of us happily begin to eat the plentiful dinner.

“Delicious…” is the only thing I can say while Aia and Irina giggle.

A serene tranquility floats over the table as we enjoy the delicious food. No need for talk. Only the occasional “pass me something, please” can be heard.

·

“Want some more, Kira?” Irina asks.

“I’d love to, but I’m full…” I admit my defeat.

“You ate more than usually,” Aia observes and giggles.

“Everything’s from our farm,” Jack says with pride. “We’ll surely keep some livestock and a small garden for ourselves.”

“Yes,” Irina confirms. “The rest is simply too much work for us now…” she sighs.

“Shall we call the dinner finished?” Jack asks, and we all confirm. “Righto…” he says as he stands up.

Jack begins to pick up the plates. I follow suit, and as I want to help him with the dishes, he stops me…

“No, no… Thanks, but yer our guest,” he tells me.

“Yah, ya don’t need to help us,” confirms Irina. “Ya too, pumpkin.”

“Huh?” Aia looks dumbfounded at her mother while holding an empty salad bowl.

“Yeah,” Jack laughs. “To the living with ya two. We’ll clean up the rest.”

Aia wants to protest, but Irina just tells her to take the four wine glasses with her. Jack instructs me to do the same with the open wine bottle.

·

Aia and I sit on the sofa. She smiles radiantly and gives me a peck before leaning against my side.

“Thanks, darling~” she sighs happily.

“Hmm?”

“For coming here, with me. I love you so much.”

“I love you too, Aia. Yeah, it’s—”

“Ma~ma~ Already getting lovey-dovey?” Irina giggles as she enters the living room laden with firewood.

“Mom…” Aia sighs then giggles.

“Just kidding,” Irina laughs as she lets the chopped firewood fall into an iron basket at the chimney’s side.

Jack also arrives carrying some woolen blankets and hands us one. After he left the other one on the other sofa, he starts a fire. 

I’m noticing it… it’s getting quite cold… I ask Aia about it.

“Nights are quite cold in this Martian season, even if the days are nice because we’re quite far away from the sun,” she explains while she covers us with the blanket and cuddles against me. Jack and Irina do the same.

“Ain’t it nice?” Irina giggles. “Jack and me enjoying a warm fire and a good wine together with our daughter and her boyfriend, cuddling…”

“Yeah…” Aia sighs. “I’ve never dreamt of this… it gives me so much peace…”

“Yeah, this truly is a dream come true…” sighs Jack as he lights a cigarillo.

“Yeah…” Irina also sighs and lights one too.

Aia hands me one while she is already lighting hers.

Irina takes a deep drag and exhales, drawing smoke rings into the air.

“T’was already a miracle finding Aia…” she says dreamily. “Ya see, Kira, I never could have children… At that time, Jack and I were dating and thinking of marrying and adopting a child.

“Finding her on one of our daily morning strolls not far from here, had made my dreams of becoming a mother true. She’s our little miracle.”

“Yes,” Jack also says dreamily, “t’was as if she was some mystical gift. We saw the capsule falling and ran towards it. We feared that some pilot was in danger, only to find a really tiny capsule.

“After some hours, when the capsule was finally cold, we could touch it. The metal suddenly split and opened up. There she was, our little angel, sleeping in a tiny stasis chamber…”

“The chamber opened the moment I touched the clear glass, and the baby inside slowly regained its life…” Irina says emotionally. “We took her in.”

“As we cared for the little girl after she fully awoke, we searched for her parents…” Jack goes on. “But after some months, we gave up.”

“Yeah…” Irina sighs deeply. “We already grew close to the little girl.”

“Yeah…” Jack sighs too. “So we adopted her. That way, she would be a legal citizen, and form part of our family.”

“Exactly…” Irina nods. “A month later, we married…” she says wearing a beautiful smile.

“Aia’s literally our starchild,” he adds emotionally.

“Mom… Dad…” Aia sighs touched while I caress her thigh.

A moment of silence fills the room. Only the gentle cracking of the fire can be heard.

·

“Ya already know yer wedding date?” Irina suddenly asks.

“Mom~” Aia giggles. “We’re dating since yesterday…”

“Right…” Irina giggles, and Jack chuckles.

“No need for rushing things,” Jack adds.

“Yeah,” Irina giggles again. “By the way… ain’t ya thinking of having children?”

“Yeah,” I answer holding Aia’s hand.

“Marvelous!” both Irina and Jack sigh.

“But…” Aia sighs, “we don’t know if we can…”

“Oh…” Aia’s parents look downcast.

“This week, we will try to find it out,” I say. Aia nods shyly. “We got the contact of a specialized interspecies maternity clinic, which will do all the required tests.”

“Right…” Irina sighs. “We don’t know much about yer species…”

“Yeah…” Jack also sighs. “Please, keep us posted.”

“We will,” Aia says nodding. “I wanna…” she sighs and lies her head on my shoulder.

“Me too, darling,” I affirm holding her hand and caressing her.

“We wish ya the best,” says Jack.

“Yeah,” confirms Irina. “But dontcha feel pressured. We don’t wanna make ya feel like we’re pushing for it. But,” she sighs, “I truly wanna be a grandma,” she ends giggling.

“Mom, Dad…” Aia sighs. “Thanks.”

“Yeah, we’ll keep you updated,” I say. “And thanks. I don’t want to push it either, but I have the feeling that the earlier we know, the better we will be able to be prepared.”

“Yes…” Aia sighs. “I don’t want to postpone it too much. What if we test it the moment we really want to have kids, and find out that we can’t? It would kill me…” she sighs again.

“Aia…” both her parents sigh deeply.

“That’s why we want to check it as soon as possible,” I say. “Of course, it won’t change what I feel for Aia, but knowing it right at the beginning of our relationship may ease our acceptance to the fact… if we can’t…” I also sigh.

“Hm~” Aia hums in affirmation and nods. “We’re not in a hurry to have kids yet. But I will feel better to know it, whatever the results are.”

“You’re really mature, both of ya,” sighs Irina. “T’was horrifying for me finding out that I’m sterile…” she sighs again while Jack takes her hand over the blanket and caresses her lovingly. “Thanks, darling,” she giggles and gives him a peck. “Not cos I think that as a woman I hafta have children, cos I always wanted one with Jack.”

“Darling,” Jack chuckles and gives her a peck in return.

“I can relate,” Aia sighs. “This thing of wanting to have children, only arose since I was falling more and more for Kira… And now that we’re engaged, this wish only deepened…”

“Me too, love, me too…” I sigh.

“I think we need another bottle…” Jack says in a long sigh and stands up.

After Jack came back with a fresh bottle, we keep on talking while we enjoy the wine, the cigarillos, and the company.

·

“It’s late…” Irina yawns.

“Yeah, time to hit the hay…” Jack confirms.

“Ya two can stay for longer if ya wish,” Irina offers. “We old people need to hit the sack earlier than ya…” she giggles. “Goodnight, ya two.”

“Thanks. Goodnight, Mom. Goodnight, Dad,” Aia giggles.

“Yeah,” I add. “Goodnight, Irina, Jack.”

“Night,” Jack says already sleepily.

“Darling?” Aia sighs while cuddling against me.

“Yes, Aia?” I ask caressing her.

“This is the best afternoon at home, by far. Thanks again,” she purrs.

“Aia… I didn’t do anything…”

“Not true… You did a lot. Way more than you ever might think…”

“I did?” I ask wearing a smirk.

“Yeah…” she giggles. “Just for suggesting coming to visit my parents… you’re the best.”

“You’re the best, Aia,” I retort jokingly.

“Oh, you~”

“Should we go to bed too? The fire is already burnt out…”

“Yeah, good idea.” Aia nods and begins to remove the woolen blanket. It’s getting really cold…

·

We climb the stairs. We’re just under the gabled roof. It looks like the upper floor does cover only a section of the ground floor.

Just a small corridor with four doors appears at the end of the stairs.

“This is my room,” says Aia pointing at the only door at the right. “But first, a shower, right?” she giggles.

“Sure.”

She opens the door at the end of the corridor. We find ourselves in a small bathroom, complete with a shower cabin.

“Mom already got us some bathrobes,” Aia giggles and points at them.

“How thoughtful.”

“Yup, that’s mom,” she giggles again as she begins to undress. “And I got us some toothbrushes.”

“Great. Ah…”

“Yeah?”

“These are those modern toothbrushes… I still don’t get them…”

“Huh? You still don’t know how to use ’em?” Aia asks astonished while folding her dress.

“No…” I confess. “I’m still buying those retro toothbrushes…”

“Oh, Kira~” Aia giggles. “Then it’s a good moment to show you.”

“Yeah, thanks.”

Patiently, Aia explains to me how to use these sonic-toothbrushes I avoided so far.

“Hey! It wasn’t so difficult,” I laugh.

“See?” Aia giggles. “Wanna shower first? I need to use the toilet…”

“Sure, we don’t fit together anyway,” I say nodding and finally shedding all my clothes.

Aia just giggles as she does the same with her underwear.

A brief shower later, I switch with Aia. She showers while I use the toilet.

·

“Quite cute… and girly…” I observe as we step into Aia’s room.

There are plush toys everywhere… Although neatly arranged on shelves and on the bed. A large bookshelf filled with books towers at the study desk’s side. It looks like they are ordered from children’s books at the bottom up to medical manuals on the top. A bulky gadget, for nowadays’ standard, stands on the desk. I guess it’s an older model of a modern-day computer.

The room is quite big, with several distinct areas. One area is for studying, one for playing, the dressing area with a huge dresser, and the resting area. Everything is perfectly organized and tidy. Clearly, one of Aia’s traits.

“Yeah… it doesn’t fit me much… not anymore, right?” Aia giggles.

“Well, it’s still yours. And a nice window into your past. I like it.”

“Oh, Kira~” Aia purrs. “Thanks. After I left for university, I only used this room when on vacation or visiting my parents on other occasions. I figured I’ll leave it as it is. I’m terrible at throwing stuff out…”

“So everything you got attached to but couldn’t take with you, you stowed it here, right?”

“Yeah…” Aia confirms blushing while putting the plush toys occupying the bed on the floor.

“I did the same…” I laugh.

“Really?” she asks stepping back from the bed.

“Yeah…”

“Anyways…” Aia giggles and lets her bathrobe fall, “time for some snuggling…” she adds purring lusciously as she undoes the bed and lies into it.

Aia pats her hand on the mattress, indicating it’s my place. Grinning, I also let my bathrobe fall and lie at Aia’s side.

“A bit narrow…” I sigh.

“Yeah…” Aia giggles. “But also nice for once.”

“True,” I snicker and embrace her. 

She begins to kiss me quite amorously. In no time, the kisses grow passionately.

It’s obvious what Aia wants, but I don’t feel at ease knowing her parents are somewhere downstairs…

“Don’t worry, dear~” Aia says seemingly having noticed my hesitance. “My parents’ room is far away… I wanna do it. Here, in my childhood room… I wanna feel you, make love to you where I grew up.”

“Aia…”

“I love so much, Kira~ I want you…” she purrs lusciously .

︙

Sweaty, we cuddle together while I cover us with the warm blanket. The hot, steamy air from our love is slowly displaced by the cold air of the Martian night.

“I love you, Aia. Goodnight,” I say giving her a peck.

“Goodnight, Kira. Love you too,” she says after the peck and lies her head on my shoulder. 

The lights turn off after giving the voice command, and we drift into a peaceful sleep.

The post B03 ~ The Parents of the Bride appeared first on Space Highways.

Aia is hugging me in her sleep.

I look at her relaxed, calm, sleeping face. Such a beautiful awakening. Our legs are intertwined, and our chests press against each other.

My free hand brushes through her beautiful, disheveled hair.

“Aia, my love,” I whisper.

She sighs in her sleep as if she’s hearing me and answering.

I let her sleep. I don’t want to awake the beautiful blueish angel yet.

Light is flooding the bedroom. It must be mid-morning by now… I try to look over her and find her or my terminal. Right… They must still be in the living room.

I sigh deeply in happiness as I look at the onyx ring Aia gave me. Last night was not a dream. I gathered all my courage and proposed to her. And she said yes! And she proposed to me afterward. This warmth… I sigh again. This is what I longed for.

Even if being embraced by her, the two of us lying on the bed, together, naked, I still can’t believe it. Much happened yesterday… We began to make out when I came home. I took her out, and we had our best date ever. We even proposed to each other. And, back at home, we had a long loving night together.

I’ve never dreamt that the usually shy Aia, at least in matters of love and sex, would be so assertive, luscious, and insatiable.

“Hmmm~” Aia sighs while I keep brushing through her beautiful hair. I chuckle, in our lustful, late-night play, she forgot to remove her makeup and still has some smears left around her lips and eyes. The blusher and most of the makeup seem to have been lost in our insatiable pleasure of our first night together…

Aia’s face changes factions, and her eyelids begin to lift.

“Morning, Aia, dear,” I whisper with a smile.

“Morning, love,” she says, and her lips curl up into a radiant smile. “No dream…” she sighs happily.

“No dream,” I chuckle and give her a peck.

Her free hand finds the back of my head and pulls me to a deep kiss, which lasts many joyful minutes.

We break our kiss, and she caresses my cheek with her slender fingers.

“Such a wonderful awakening,” she whispers. “For how long have you been awake already?”

“Half an hour, I suppose,” I calculate.

“You could have wakened me up.”

“I wanted to observe your sleeping face for a bit longer,” I say brushing over her burning cheek.

“Oh, you…” she giggles. “You can always wake me up, just to be able to see you~”

“Yeah~”

“Ahh~” she sighs. “I feel alive…”

“No hangover? Nor weariness?” I joke.

“Nope,” she giggles. “You?”

“Nope,” I imitate her.

We keep caressing each other.

“Kira?”

“Yeah?”

“This is real, right? I’m not dreaming, right?”

“This is real,” I confirm.

She sighs deeply.

“You took me out to a fabulous dinner…”

“I did.”

“Before that, we began making out together.”

“We did.”

“You proposed to me.”

“I did.”

“I proposed to you.”

“You did.”

“We fucked for hours…”

“We did.”

“And now we’re talking nonsense, hugging and petting each other…” she giggles.

“We do,” I confirm chuckling.

My terminal still somewhere in the living room calls for attention. We look at each other and chuckle. A moment later, Aia’s terminal sounds.

“Let’s stay a bit long—” Aia’s sentence is interrupted by a light growl from her stomach.

We burst into laughter.

“Perhaps, we should make us some breakfast,” I chuckle.

“Yeah~” Aia giggles. “But I don’t want to see how we left the bedroom nor the living room.”

“Me neither…” I sigh. “Let’s share the work.”

“I’ll make breakfast while you tidy up?” she asks with an impish smirk.

“Deal.” I laugh. “But you should clean your face first. You still have some red smears—”

“Shit…” Aia interrupts me, “really?”

“Yeah, but don’t worry. You’re beautiful even with smeared makeup.”

“Dummy~” she giggles.

We untangle our legs and sit up.

“Wow…” I sigh at the scene.

“Oh, my…” Aia giggles. “Bedsheets and blankets scattered on the floor around the bed… Retro-condoms scattering the whole landscape… What the fuck happened here?” she giggles.

“Look at your vanity’s mirror, at the top…” I laugh.

“So there was where my panties landed…” Aia giggles.

Laughing and giggling, we gather the bedsheets and covers.

Laden with laundry, I step into the living room while Aia tries to get rid of some of the smeared makeup and brushes her hair.

“Aia, dear, you have to see the living room,” I laugh.

“Now I don’t want to see it…” she giggles. “Oh, my… what happened here?” she asks giggling as she comes out of the bedroom. “Top hat under the threshold of the bathroom door, my red dress in front of the apartment’s door, your shirt hanging from the plant, the coat lying in the midst of the floor, my purse’s at the door’s step, your pants lying on the kitchen table, and…” she giggles again, “my bra hanging from the ceiling lamp… What the fuck happened here?”

“Don’t ask me…” I shrug. “I was the whole night with my girlfriend…”

“Well, I was the whole night with my boyfriend…” she giggles. “Then, who was it?”

We keep laughing as I enter the bathroom and stuff the sheets into the washer. Afterward, I also brush my hair and get rid of the knots formed during the wild night.

“Oh, no… the beautiful bouquet…” I hear Aia lamenting.

Back in the living room, I find Aia putting the rescued bouquet into a vase. I notice the clock displayed on the video-wall… Wow! It’s still early morning! And I thought it was late already. But we both are full of energy… I shrug it off and go back to the tasks at hand.

While I gather the rest of the clothes, Aia goes to the bathroom to clean her face and to do other things.

“Ah, my dress and my lingerie have to be washed cold…” she informs me sitting on the toilet. “Put your and my clothes together in another wash.”

“Sure,” I confirm and do as told.

·

Once the living room is clear, I head back into our bedroom.

What the fuck? How many of these retro condoms have we used? I can’t remember… but there are certainly too many… Most of them are completely empty…

I gather them all and go to the kitchen, where Aia started to take food out of the fridge.

“Aia, into which trash should I drop these?” I ask her.

“Huh? Ah, the retro condoms?” She looks at me and blinks. “Dunno…” She shrugs. “Those from nowadays are biodegradable and thrown into the organic trash. But these… better into the generic one.”

“Okay.” I step towards the trash tubes which connect directly into the city’s waste disposal system. “Oh…”

“Yeah?” Aia asks, having noticed my sudden doubt.

I turn around and face her.

“By the way… I know it’s not the right moment, sorry… But… is it possible for us to have children?” I ask her a bit moved.

“Ugh~” she clearly swallows empty. “I… I don’t know…” She looks down.

Hastily, I near her and embrace her, letting the condoms fall.

“I’m sorry, Aia, dear. It was just—”

“We’re from different species…” she sighs a bit shaken.

“It won’t change what I feel for you, Aia, my love,” I reassure.

“But I want to…” she sighs again, “to have children with you.”

“Me too, Aia, dear, me too,” I tell her while I caress her back in our embrace.

“It came to my mind before… but I dismissed it… My blood, at least, is over ninety percent similar to yours. But now…” she sighs.

“Don’t brood over it, darling. It isn’t so import—”

“For me it is…” she sighs again.

“Then let’s find a specialist and check it, okay?”

“Hm.”

“Don’t worry, my love. Even if it isn’t possible, I’ll still love you.”

“Thanks, darling,” Aia sighs in relief. “You’re such a dear.”

She steps back and gives me a peck.

“Don’t brood over it now. It’s just our second day as a couple.”

“Yeah, true…” she giggles. Phew… She’s back to her usual self. All this stuff of being unique must have a heavy toll on her, in every detail.

She giggles again as I gather the tied condoms from the floor.

As I throw them down the generic trash tube, I notice Aia behind me. I turn around.

“Hmm~ How’s that it was that many?” she asks with an intrigued look on her face.

“I’m not sure…”

“I mean, is it unusual for guys to last for so long and so many times. Isn’t it normal to have just two or three erections during sex without stimulants?” she asks. “That’s what I’ve read in medical school and magazines… at least for Humans.”

“I’m puzzled myself,” I confess. “It must have something to do with my cryo or the many drugs I was infused with from the bionic members…” I sigh. “These are the only possibilities I can think of.”

“True… But still too much… And…” she begins to giggle coyly, “I can’t remember how many times we did it anyways… I was way too horny to count ’em.”

“Me neither…” I chuckle.

“Anyways, I still have to prepare breakfast,” she giggles. “We’ll find out if it was just because it was our first time together or it’s permanent…” She smirks impishly and turns around.

Fuck me… has this woman changed… in one night.

I go to the toilet while Aia is busy in the kitchen. With my bladder relieved, I step back into the living room.

Aia is standing in the kitchen with just her apron on. So sexy. Both of us are still stark naked…

I step behind her with the intention of embracing her.

“Kira…”

“Yeah?” I whisper into her ear, and she shudders.

“While you’re there, hug me…” she coos.

“Sure.”

I do what I wanted to do anyway. My arms embrace her around her stomach .

“Hmmm~” she sighs. “So good~ You can do this anytime. Just don’t startle me while I’m handling knives,” she giggles.

“Yeah, I just wanted to hug you.”

“Oh, Kira~” she purrs. “Anytime, anytime…”

“Need help?”

“If you could prepare the sofa and the tea table… I’d prefer to have our first breakfast together there.”

“As you wish, my queen,” I say tensing my arms a bit, then let her go and step back.

“Oh, you…” she giggles.

I prepare the sofa and put a fresh table cloth on the tea table and put our terminals on the small side table.

Aia brings the rich breakfast to the tea table.

“Breakfast is ready,” Aia giggles as she takes her apron off .

“Smells good,” I say hungry.

“Then dig in,” she giggles. “Ah, right… the messages… Have you checked your terminal yet?”

“No…” I sigh and grab mine. “Fuck…” I sigh, “so many messages… And most are from… Enya?”

“Huh? Is something about her? Is she okay?”

“Yeah,” I laugh as I read through her messages. “I must confess, she helped me to plan yesterday’s date.”

“Oh…” She looks at me intrigued.

“Here is one of her last texts: ‘have you done it? Have you done it? Tell, tell…’ and the next one is like, ‘c’mon, man, tell… How was it?’ While in the first ones, she asked if our date was going okay…”

“Oh, Enya…” Aia giggles. “She texted me too… Asking roughly the same thing. That you’ve told her that you would have a date with me, and she asks how it was…”

“This Enya…” I sigh, then chuckle.

“So… she helped you?” Aia asks impishly.

“Yeah, I asked her for help to plan this date. She told me about the Dutchess, and gave me some pointers…”

“And now she wants to know if the plan worked,” Aia giggles.

“Yeah…”

“Then let’s send her a pic.”

“Huh?”

Aia extended her arm to take a selfie while her other arm pulls me into a hug. We look into the camera.

“Better a kiss…” giggles Aia.

We kiss in front of the camera. Several times… until Aia got the shot she likes. It is quite evident that we two are naked and French kissing…

“That should do it,” Aia says giggling and hits the send button.

A second later, a notification sounds from Aia’s terminal.

“She already answered,” Aia giggles.

“Really? That’s SpeedKitty for you,” I laugh.

“Yeah,” she giggles. “Her text says, ‘no way! Really? Congrats! Enjoy your time! A round is on me when we meet again.’ I’ll just answer with a heart emoji. Should be enough,” Aia giggles again.

“Yeah, but your splendid breakfast is getting cold…”

“Oh, right…”

“Delicious,” I say between bites.

Aia just giggles happily and blushes.

·

We finish the delicious breakfast Aia prepared, and we both light a fag each.

“Ah, Kira?”

“Yeah?”

“How many free days do you have now? I mean, to be together.” Aia giggles and smirks.

Just as I want to answer, a harmonious notification from both our terminals sound.

“Huh?” we both look at each other, then at the terminals.

“No way…” I say stupefied.

“That’s our boss…” Aia giggles.

“Did you receive the same message?”

“Informing us that we have a week-long holiday?”

“Yeah…”

“Yup… He also congratulates us for our engagement.”

“And hopes we would meet him this week, without talking about work. This guy is freaking awesome! He’s already informed…”

“Yeah…” Aia giggles. “Then…” she smirks, “what do you want to do for our engagement honeymoon?” she asks giggling.

“Good question… Something calming. Without a lot of people.”

“Yeah… And…” she purrs sultry, “a lot of hot, steamy sex.”

“Oh, you, Aia, my love,” I chuckle. “Sure,” I add.

“At least, we’re already comfortable enough to hang out in the buff,” she giggles again. “Finally…” she sighs and stretches herself out, “I can be fully bare again at home.”

“What do you mean?” I ask cuddling her.

“I always loved to be naked at home…” she giggles.

“Really? Thankfully you didn’t do that before…” I sigh.

“Yeah… But it’s hard to get used to being clothed at home… ” she sighs in relief.

“Aia…” I chuckle.

“Let’s shower? Together?” Aia asks wearing an impish smirk.

“Sure,” I chuckle.

︙

A long, refreshing, and sexy shower later…

Giggling and laughing, we let us fall on the sofa wearing our bathrobes. This time, the bathrobes are just loosely tied together and do not hide anything.

“Aaahh~” Aia sighs happily. “That felt good…”

“The shower or the fuck?” I ask wearing a smirk.

“Both,” giggles Aia.

“By the way…”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t want to sound insensible, but—”

“We’re a couple now. You can ask me anything,” Aia says snuggling against my side.

“I’ve noticed… You’re more assertive… since—”

“Yeah,” she interrupts me giggling, “I’ve noticed it too… Is it not—”

“I love it, Aia,” I assure her. “It’s just—”

“Different?” I nod at her question. “At least together, right?”

“Of course, Aia. You’ve always been assertive, but not so much—”

“Related to love and sex, right?” she interrupts me again, and I nod again. “I don’t know why…” she sighs cuddling against me, “but I feel that I finally can be myself at your side. Ah… I don’t mean to say that I couldn’t be myself while we were together. I mean, just related to those topics…

“I always felt insecure in those matters, more so at your side. You know, being a legend for being a womanizer…” She giggles. Just as I wanted to say something, she goes on, “I know you don’t see it that way, darling. I also felt that insecurity when talking with my girlfriends, not that much, but enough to feel a bit out of place…”

“But now…” I smile at her, “now that we tore this wall between us down… you can be yourself even like this…” Playfully, I grab her tit.

“Yeah~” she giggles lusciously. “More so after a steamy hot bareback shower-fuck,” she adds wearing an impish smirk.

I chuckle and laugh at her remark.

We reach for our tobacco and cuddle a bit without a word.

“Ah, yeah…” Aia whispers after a happy sigh, “what I’ve told you in the shower, that I love you filling me… it’s true, not just because I was excited. I know from girlfriends and what I’ve read in magazines, that there are women who don’t like it, even hate it. I actually never thought that I could love such a thing… Well… what I want to say is that I want to do it, from now on, without a rubber. It felt even better than yesternight.”

“Aia, dear…” I sigh moved, “yeah, it felt way better. Regarding rubbers and other kinds of protection, I want you to have full control over it, I follow suit. I mean, I take the responsibility, but I want you—”

“Kira~” Aia purrs. “Thanks. But we share the responsibility. I really want to have a child with you.”

“And I with you, darling,” I confirm. I truly want it.

“Kira~” she purrs again happily. “Then… no more rubbers from now on,” she adds with a sultry giggle.

“But we have to make one exception…” Aia looks at me intrigued while I smirk, “in zero-grav…”

“Oh, you…” Aia laughs loudly. “Right… it would be a terrible disaster…”

“Yeah…” I also laugh.

“That brings me to… we have to try it in zero-grav…” she says wearing an impish smirk.

“You are insatiable…” I chuckle.

“Yeah…” she says bashfully. “Is it wrong?”

“No, Aia,” I assure caressing her. “I love you, how could it be wrong?”

“Then I want to experiment. We should get a sex position guide and try everything out…” she giggles lusciously.

“Oh, Aia, dear…” I laugh. “Then we should buy a Kama Sutra.”

“Is that a book or the like from your times?” she asks intrigued.

“Oh, it’s actually quite older… If I remember well, it was composed at the beginning of the Gaian Common Era… It’s well over three thousand years old…”

“Wooow… Such thing really exists?” Aia asks flabbergasted.

“Yeah. It’s actually more than just a sex guide. It is an ancient Hindu guide of love, family, and pleasure, if I remember well.”

“Wow, now I want to read it,” Aia giggles.

“Then let’s see if we find one…”

“Yeah.”

A message on my terminal interrupts our conversation.

“Enya, again?” I sigh.

“What does she want?” Aia asks intrigued.

“Hey Kira, hope I don’t interrupt some new horizontal dance moves with Aia…” I read aloud chuckling while Aia giggles. “The shitty press is littered with your date… here, a link…”

“Oh… fuck…” Aia sighs. “What do they spit out about us now?”

I tap the link, and the Gaia News aggregator opens…

“There are hundreds of rumors…” I sigh.

“Already?” Aia sighs too.

“Yeah… but it’s just about the date… That we’ve been seen taking a limo together. And that the journalists lost us in traffic. The rest is just speculations…”

“We have to make it somehow official…” she finally says with a long sigh.

“Yeah…” I sigh too.

“But how?”

“How about through the ISTM?” I suggest.

“You mean like a press note? Or even a press conference?”

“Yeah… I don’t like it. But… I doubt that we could hide it…”

“True… I want to be able to hold your hand, even kiss you in public without making a huge fuss.”

“Yeah… And the wedding? That is something we can’t possibly hide…”

“Right,” Aia giggles, “I forgot the wedding… I was so happy that we’re finally dating, that I forgot that after an engagement, we would marry…”

“I actually too…” I chuckle. “But what I mean is that if we publish it just before the wedding, it could easily ruin it…”

“True… Better go through it now, not when we marry or even when I get pregnant…”

“Yeah, it will be newsworthy anyway… I just hope we can, somehow, dilute it a bit…” I sigh.

“Good idea. Then, should we do it this week?”

“Yeah, I believe so.” I nod.

“Around mid-week…” Aia says. “I want to enjoy our time together first.”

“I agree. Then, do you have a wish to go somewhere? The weather is great…”

“True… Although I want to stay with you alone, I’d love to stroll the promenades of Long Beach together with you.”

“Nice idea. Should we leave now?” I ask.

“Yeah. Perhaps, we can eat a late lunch at a place I know.”

“Sounds good.”

·

The weather is quite nice for being early Autumn. These season changes don’t really help… Who’d have thought that early Autumn could begin in late August…

Aia chooses a beautiful blue summer dress and fancy underwear while I grab a pair of jeans and a Rolling Stones teeshirt, the one with the tongue logo.

“Ready~” Aia sings twirling around, showing off her dress.

“Beautiful, darling,” I say and receive her in my arms. She gives me a peck.

“Thanks~” she giggles. “Ah, honey… Why don’t you leave your hair open? I’d love to see it floating in the wind.”

“Oh… Sure.”

I take the scrunchy which holds my hair into a ponytail off.

“Such beautiful hair…” Aia muses and brushes it.

·

We wander down the streets with our hands taken towards the ample promenade along Long Beach.

“Such great weather…” Aia sighs happily. “Oh! An ice cream cart! Let’s have some.”

“Sure,” I chuckle while she drags me to the stall.

We choose a two-flavors cone each and enjoy the icy sweet walking along the promenade.

“What are you thinking, dear?” asks Aia, “Now that we are together?”

“That I’m the luckiest guy of the whole universe,” I say, grabbing her hand firmly. “You?”

“The same, actually,” she giggles. “Anything else?” she adds with a smirk.

“Too many things go through my mind right now,” I sigh. “I’m really moved about what happened yesterday and today. At least, some of my confusions seem to have decreased.”

“That’s a good sign, right?”

“Yeah…” I sigh. “I even can assure that some things are quite clear now, and that I am sure, at least, about some things.”

“Such as?”

“Us. Our relationship. That I love you deeply. That I want to form a family with you. These are absolutely clear and reassuring.”

“Oh, Kira~” Aia giggles happily, then she sighs. I look at her questioning, she shows me a weary smile. “Sorry if I was partially the reason for your confusion.”

“Don’t be, Aia,” I say and gently grip her hand in mine. “Perhaps, I needed it.”

“You needed it? But Kira, love, I basically tortured you by avoiding your advances while seducing you continuously.”

“Yeah…” I sigh, “I truly was…”

“I’m so sorry, darling…” Aia sighs and looks away.

“It was good…”

“How could it be good?”

“Perhaps, I needed to go through your emotional therapy.”

“Therapy?” Aia asks looking at me astonished.

“Yeah.” I nod. “Your way of being, your way of enticing yet avoiding me, had a strong effect on me. At first, I was excited, weeks later, confused, but not just because of your seemingly erratic behavior. I mean, flirting with me, then pushing me off and such. My main confusion was about my own reactions.

“I was unsure why I was so entranced by you. There was obviously the physical attraction but—” I sigh, “I was battling against my old habits. You had me so mesmerized that I had to fight my instincts, my—” I sigh again, “old Casanova habits… I wanted to get rid of my past womanizer image, at least partially. I got into too many troubles in the past because of it. I wanted to change that, and more regarding you.

“You took me in, without questioning my past nor my possible behavior. Your caring way of helping me out without any second thought, was the first trigger of my decision to change myself.”

“Wow… Kira…” Aia sighs interrupting my long speech. “Then, my strange behavior made you go through so much?”

“Yeah.” I nod. “Actually, right now, I feel like I’ve gone through a long process. I needed it. I doubt that we could have become a couple if I hadn’t gone through it.”

“Such a strange therapy…” Aia giggles.

“Yeah, but worth it,” I chuckle and give her a peck.

“Then…” Aia sigh, “I went through a smilier therapy…”

“You did?”

“Yeah.” She nods. “Regarding guys, love, and sex. I’ve told you that I always had bad experiences…”

“You did,” I confirm. “Has it to do with your origin or upbringing?” I ask her.

“Yeah… You’re right, darling,” she sighs. “In particular the way I was, and still am, seen by others…

“My childhood was actually really good. My loving parents, even if they are my foster parents, always cared for me as if I’m—No…” she smiles heartily, “I am their true daughter, and they are my true parents, even if we don’t share genes.

“My parents found me in a small rescue capsule on the outskirts of Mars City, near their home. They took me in and adopted me. Once I was old enough to question them about our obvious differences, mostly our skin and hair colors, and my ears, they told me the whole story.” I gently strengthen the grip on her hand. “Despite being humble farmers, they gave me everything I could have wished for. A nice home, a good education, a loving family…” Aia sighs emotionally.

“I grew up fast, not only physically, but mentally. I learned to read thanks to Mom at the age of four and a half. Dad taught me the basics of nursing while caring for the farm’s animals. That was the inspiration of me wanting to become a doctor.

“At first, it wasn’t a big fuss about being so different, I mean with other kids. It was the adults, their parents who made a fuss about them playing with me, an alien of an unknown species…” she sighs deeply.

“Aia…” I sigh. “I can relate. At some point, I also was the sole Asian boy in a class. Some parents can really be some huge assholes…”

“Yeah… Thanks, Kira.” She produces her pack of tobacco and offers me a fag. Obviously, I accept, and we light one each. “To bigger challenges for me came during early puberty. Well… the usual age of puberty…” she sighs.

“What do you mean, dear?” I ask her.

“At that time, when every girl of my age began to look at boys, or other girls, I had absolutely no interest…” She shrugs. “But that was not the problem. The problem was the boys, and some girls, who began to have interests in me… romantic and sexual interests, I mean. Soon, I was known as the frigid Smurfette…” she sighs deeply.

“No way, Aia. I’m sorry…”

“Thanks, dear,” Aia says smiling. “Meanwhile, I skipped several years of school because I learned just by reading…”

“You’ve told me.”

“On our first haul together, wasn’t it?”

“Yeah. So, you managed to skip whole years just by reading all the school books?”

“Yup…” she giggles. “My parents taught me to love reading and always let me borrow books from the library. At least, most teachers loved my dedication to the studies, as I wasn’t too absorbed by chasing guys or girls like to others did. Obviously, I was always named the nerd of the class.”

“Were you bullied?” I ask concerned.

“Yeah… At first, I was… Be it because of my origins or for being a so-called nerd…” she sighs. “But soon enough, I found a good hobby which helped me defend myself… I’ve had a Reaf phys ed teacher who introduced me to the reth’the martial art. I fell in love with the elegant but powerful movements of this art. She was a master in these ancient traditional Reaf martial arts and started instructing me after my parents gave me their blessing.”

“Wow… Then your fighting style I’ve always admired, is this ri-eth-ck-thee…”

“Yup,” Aia giggles. “But it’s pronounced reth’the…” she says slowly.

I try it several times until I get the correct pronunciation.

“Good…” she giggles again. “Anyways, yes… I’ve kept on practicing reth’the till nowadays. Being able to beat the bullies to pulp was a powerful message. Although, I didn’t use it too much. Only when things became physical, in self-defense. That’s mostly because of the martial art’s philosophy. It’s thought to be only for self-defense and never meant to attack others.”

“I understand.” I nod. “That’s also part of Nippon Kempo’s philosophy, the martial art I practice. It’s actually both, a philosophy of life and the art.”

“Cool, then it’s similar…” Aia giggles. “But your movements are straight to the point, without excess motions…”

“Yeah, exactly. It’s to keep the stance and avoid any loss of power.”

“In case of the reth’the, the extra fluid movements are used as a distraction.”

“Oh… But it helps you to keep the flow and is even more powerful as it looks…”

“Exactly.”

“Then… your elasticity…”

“Yup, is because of practicing reth’the. Not only, I was already quite elastic as a kid, not so much as any Reaf, but enough to be introduced into the art. That’s why my teacher showed me.”

“Impressive. And it did help you a lot.”

“Of course. But the harassments kept on anyways…” she sighs. “At least the verbal ones…

“Anyways, I’ve entered university at the age of sixteen Gaian years. I was a bit overrun by all the stuff that happened there. But summing up, I advanced rapidly through the degree of medicine. Despite having a great scholarship, I part-timed for a delivery firm. You know, those rushing around on hoverbikes hauling about anything, most obviously food. There I started to love piloting. I always sent most of the earnings back home, to help my parents, even if they insisted on not to…

“With relationships, however, things weren’t going so smoothly…” she sighs deeply. “At one point, I began to force myself to try it, you know, dating…” she sighs again. “But it was a disaster. I’ve only started to develop crushes at the age of twenty, twenty-one…”

“Aia…”

“But not even then, things were good… I’ve already started to work for the ISTM because I loved piloting more than practicing medicine. I started dating, really dating around that time…

“I can only think of the possibility that until then, I was not sexually developed, because of my species. But…” she sighs, “that can’t be really true either… I started to have interests in sex and self-pleasure quite early on, but not to the emotional attachments you would develop at the same time… I dunno…” she sighs again.

Baffled by her story, I’m unable to interject but only to nod and hold her hand firmly…

“Once I started to date, I never liked what the guys did to me, I mean in intimacy… Nor how they behaved once we became more than friends and went further. I did like the flirting, the crushes… all that stuff. But once it became more intimate, I hated everything they did…”

“What did they do to you?” I ask angrily.

“Ah, no… darling… they never hurt me physically.” I sigh in relief. “Thanks, Kira, dear,” she giggles. “I had several types of bad experiences. Some were obviously their fault. Like those who just wanted me to be their trophy girl—”

“Such assholes!” I grunt angrily. “If I meet them I’ll—”

“Don’t worry, dear,” Aia giggles. “I myself beat them up once I found out. Thanks for caring…” she adds with a beautiful smile. “Other guys were just attracted to the obvious, my appearance. I’m aware that most guys, even girls, feel attracted to my looks and my species. I’m quite unique, after all…” she giggles.

“You are, Aia, dear,” I say wrapping my arm around her waist.

“Oh, you~” she giggles again. “Yeah. But omitting the jerks, the perverts, and the creeps, the nice guys’ advances somehow didn’t feel good to me…”

“How so?”

“Dunno…” she shrugs and also wraps her arm around my hip. “Everything went okay till we started to make out…” She sighs. “I didn’t like their caresses, nor their kisses… It didn’t even turn me on… In fact, it turned me off…”

“Really? But with me—”

“You are the first one,” she giggles and smirks coyly. “But with the others… More often than not, I forced myself to fake pleasure and to reciprocate, even if I didn’t enjoy it.”

“No way, Aia…”

“Yeah…” she takes a deep breath and sighs. “That’s why I’ve never had a real boyfriend, and why I’ve never had sex with anyone before you.” She tenses her arm around my hip.

“Actually…” she goes on, “I never slept well sharing the bed with a guy. I didn’t have that problem with most of my girlfriends, as I always identified myself as heterosexual. I almost freaked out the first day we fell asleep on the sofa together. I’ve never slept that well with someone at my side,” she giggles. “From then on, I wanted to see if it was just a one-time thing, and started to confront my fears and uncertainties.”

“When you began to hang out topless at home…”

“Yeah…” she giggles, “exactly. I nearly freaked out again… Not only did I like to show myself to you, but it turned me on. I decided to experiment with this feeling. I’m sorry for having used you…” she sighs, but ends giggling.

“Aia…” I chuckle. “That was actually the real start of our therapy.”

“Seeing it that way, true…” She also giggles. “But back to the things I didn’t like or didn’t give me pleasure…” I hug her hips a bit tighter. “The strange thing was that I never had problems with self-pleasuring. As I said, I started masturbating quite early on. But even if the guys went down on me, neither by tongue nor fingers, they were able to make me cum…”

“Really? Aia… But yesterday and today in the shower…”

“Yeah~” she giggles lusciously. “With you… I simply enjoy it to the fullest. But I don’t know why…”

“I doubt that I am that good,” I say convinced. “Even if having a lot of experience, I don’t believe that my technique is better than anyone else’s.”

“Oh, Kira…” Aia giggles again. “No, you’re right. There must be another explanation. But anyways, the most I did with a guy was oral sex. I actually disliked it, no matter if I was the receiving or the giving one. Giving head was the worst for me. And swallowing? Yuck! Even the smell grossed me out…”

“Aia… But you did it to me, twice already.”

“And I love it…” she giggles sultry.

“But—”

“I don’t know, Kira,” she sighs. “At first, I never thought I would do it. But in the heat of the moment, I was so turned on, I just wanted to do something sexy for you. I was astonished that I didn’t feel grossed out, not even slightly. In fact, I loved it. I wanted to try it. Even when giving you head , I got hornier. That was when I wanted to try it… I mean, swallowing . You even warned me… I know you did it so I could decide what to do. I was so turned on by the thought, that I only could try it. My biggest surprise was that not only I didn’t like it, but that I love it…”

“Aia…” I say overwhelmed by her frankness.

“So~” she purrs lusciously, “I like to do it when you’re up to it~”

“Oh, Aia,” I chuckle. “Then, of course, I’ll reciprocate. I have to say that you have the most delicious pussy I’ve ever tasted.” I smirk.

“Oh, darling~” Aia giggles coyly. “Oh! Why don’t we have a beer in that place over there? We have to toast to it,” Aia says giggling and pointing at a terrace.

“Good idea,” I laugh.

·

We find a nice table and order a beer each.

“Cheers, Kira!”

“Cheers, Aia!”

“By the way, Kira, love?”

“Yes, darling?”

“Did you sleep with any other woman these past months?” she asks smirking.

Oh, shit… I knew this would come sooner or later. Now that she is totally into it, she wants to know everything. Obviously, I’ll come clean and tell her everything.

“Yeah…” I say and sigh.

“Tell me…” she purrs sultry.

“I had a one-nighter with three women,” I confess. “Xivaz, a Wigmez, a stewardess for the IR; Visayic, a Reaf, working as a port manager; and Bea, a Human girl, working as an acrobat for a traveling circus.” Aia nods wearing an impish smirk. “I met the first two in entertainment joints during hauls. It was, I think, during the first months or two. I was so backed up from your flirting, that I needed release…”

“Fufu~” Aia giggles lusciously. “No need for apologies, Kira. We weren’t dating at that time. I told you, didn’t I? That you could have your playmates meanwhile.”

“Yeah, you did, Aia. However, I always felt guilty afterward.”

“You did? Why? You weren’t cheating on me, we weren’t dating at that time.”

“Not because I slept with them…” I sigh. “The sex was great, the girls stunning. But…” I sigh again, “more often than not, you came to my mind while having sex with them.”

“You did?” Aia asks wearing an impish smile.

“Yeah… I felt bad, both for them as for you. For them, because I wasn’t completely with them. For you, because I saw you this sexualized way. I didn’t want to see you that way at that time, mostly because of your feelings… I didn’t want to hurt you.”

“But you never hurt me. Quite the contrary, you healed me,” Aia says taking my hand lying on the table.

“Aia…”

“And the human girl?” she asks.

“That happened just after the black hole incident…”

“Oh! There I entered my phase…”

“Yeah… exactly.” I nod and sigh. “I was so turned on, that I needed to fuck it out. I met Bea in the lobby of a hotel where I stayed over for the night. Being from the few humans around, we felt attracted to each other, and we ended in my room for the night. There…” I sigh, “it was worse…”

“Worse? How so?”

“I came thinking of you, instead of her…” I sigh again.

“Oh, Kira~” she giggles.

“After that, there were no more one-nighters. Other girls didn’t turn me on. But just by seeing you, at home, or anywhere else, I got helplessly horny.” Aia giggles again. “And…” I sigh and look down.

“Enya, right?” Aia suddenly asks.

“Eh…” I hesitated for a second, I know I have to tell her. But this is more difficult than I hoped for.

“You can tell me, Kira. I know she loves you deeply and that you have a Felii skinship with her.”

“A deep skinship,” I confess.

“A deep one?” she asks. Her factions, however, are not the ones I dreaded. Her face hints more to curiosity, rather than disgust.

“Yeah,” I confirm. “You know—”

“You have had barely sex, right?”

“Yes.”

“As in petting and oral sex, but no penetration.”

“Yes.”

“Do you love her?”

“I…” I stammer, “I don’t know…” I end saying followed by a long sigh. Right now, I am genuinely unsure. I love Aia so much…

“But enough to spend intimate time with her, right?”

“Yeah…” I sigh looking down.

“Kira…” she says lovingly. “It’s okay.”

“It is?” I look up dumbfounded.

“Yeah.” She nods, still caressing my hand. “I mean, we weren’t dating after all.”

“I feared to tell you about it…” I confess.

“You did?” she asks shocked. “Why?”

“Because…” a lump in my throat forms, “we feared you would try to get us together, and you would step away…”

“Oh, Kira~” she sighs relieved.

“We didn’t want to hurt you.”

“Kira, that’s so sweet of both of you. I, honestly, suspected it.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, it was kinda obvious. At least, that both of you had feelings for each other.”

“Aia…”

“But you’re right…” she sighs and tenses her grip on my hand. “At that time, I would have done that. But now… now that we’re engaged, I know that you wouldn’t hurt me in any way.”

“Aia…” I sigh relieved. “We’ve talked it through many times, that you have to know it. But it was difficult for me to tell you.”

“I believe you, darling,” she says with a charming smile.

“And… we couldn’t tell you, not before you and I had sorted our relationship out.”

“So much thought… Thank you, by heart.”

“But…” I swallow empty.

“You want to keep your relationship?” Aia asks with a smile.

“Ye—yeah…” I stutter. I haven’t thought she would bring it up. “At least, the three of us talk it through…”

“That would be nice. We should meet these days, she owes us a beer, after all,” Aia giggles. I sigh relieved. “Don’t worry, Kira. From now on, we’ll talk everything that matters through. I prefer to know that you have a certain relationship with Enya rather than being left in the dark.”

“But… Yeah, you’re right. We wanted to have it cleared.”

“That means, that both of you care for me.”

“Of course we do. Enya said that she would give us a time alone together, and then she wants to talk it over, the three, together.”

Aia sighs happily. “Thank you, Kira, for being frank with me.”

“I don’t want to hide anything from you, Aia. You are too dear to me.”

“Oh, Kira, darling~” she giggles. “Right… my part…”

“Your part?” I ask her.

“Sure, you’ve told me, now’s my turn,” she giggles again. “Obviously, I didn’t date anyone, let alone sleep with another guy.” She smirks. “As I began to regain my confidence—Right…” she interrupts herself, “I haven’t told you that part yet…

“This goes back to the things I didn’t like about what the guys did to me. Mostly to those who saw me only as the sexy trophy girl… My walk to become the Queen of the space-highways wasn’t a rosy one… I was always exposed to male chauvinism and racism. Even in the open-minded space-trucking community. Actually, not so much by truckers, but by dispatchers, cargo managers, and those I’ve met in the entrainment joints and hotels.

“These guys still saw it strange that women would be truckers. That happens to all women working in this industry. Although there aren’t many thinking that way, in my case, it was worse because of my unknown origins…” Aia sighs. “Those guys are the worst…

“Slowly, yet steadily, I began to crumble under the pressure of being famous and the exposure to such behavior. Obviously, my own strange reactions towards guys’ advances and intimacy only worsened it…” she sighs again. “Plus, there was the gossip press always discussing my possible love-life.

“I needed a break. A long one…” Aia says looking over at the beach, then back at me. “I was diagnosed with depression and got a health-related leave from the ISTM. I broke all communications down with the exception of some really good friends like Enya, Jim, Kim, and Kite, and, obviously, my family.

“But I couldn’t stay put… I needed to do something… different. Or I would fall deeper into depression. I found a job opportunity ad for a nurse at the cryogenics lab in the New Angeles Scientific Complex. I took it at once as my doctor’s diploma was enough, even if I never had practiced medicine. It was a quiet job, without too many people, and I only had to care for the awakened and keep track of the health of those inside the cryogenic capsules.

“Thanks to the kind staff working there, I slowly come out of my depression. After roughly a month, I was advised that a cryogenic capsule was about to open in the coming days. A really old one which had no emergency opening system.

“Curious about that special capsule, I looked it up. But there was no detailed report as usual. Just some initials and many years of maintenance records. But even these records became spotty after going a few scores of years back.

“Intrigued, I went to the capsule to have a look at the cryogenic patient. I looked at him for a long time… He looked strangely familiar…” Aia smiles heartily. “If… If I didn’t know better… I could swear I fell in love with that dark-skinned Asian guy sleeping there…” she giggles gently stroking my hand.

“Aia… dear…” I say moved.

“Yeah…” she giggles. “It was you, darling. When you awoke, I was torn between my feelings and the bad experiences I had with guys. I acted rashly, without thinking when Ralph told me to take you home. I already developed a huge crush on you by the time…”

“You did? I haven’t noticed it then.”

“Because I tried to hide it. It was about professionalism. At that time, I was your nurse; you, my patient.”

“Right.”

“But the way you acted around me began to give me hope. Perhaps, there was a chance that I could develop a relationship with that mysterious awakened American-Japanese I took home…” she giggles and blushes. “But the greatest impact came…”

“When I admitted that I was the Phoenix…” I say.

“Exactly,” she giggles again. “But what moved me the most was not actually that you were a living legend… But that you were as lost as I was, even if you didn’t show it openly.”

“Yeah, I was,” I admit.

“I held on you hoping it would change myself too…” she sighs. “And then…”

“You started going topless at home, and later told me that you have feelings for me, but you weren’t ready for any kind of romantic relationship…”

“Exactly…” she giggles. “Now, as my confidence rose, thanks to you,” she smiles heartily, “I’ve begun to evaluate the male offering again,” she giggles lusciously. “But in no time, I began to compare them with you. Too tall, too skinny, too ugly, too lazy, too… anything but you,” she giggles yet again.

“I never went further than flirting with guys only to shatter all their hopes in the last moment by turning them down.” She smirks impishly. “Actually, I did it with you too…”

“But you never shattered my hopes completely,” I say imitating her smirk.

“Of course not,” Aia giggles. “I never intended to push you away from me. As you always kept your promise to not hurt me, I kept on flirting with you.”

“You can always keep flirting,” I say wearing a smirk.

“Huh?” Aia blinks unsure.

“Now you have the perfect weapon to shatter other guys’ dreams…” I say brushing over her engagement ring.

“Oh, you~” Aia giggles coyly. “Perhaps, I will. It was fun, after all.”

She giggles again and leans over the table, puckering her lips. I reciprocate, and we peck.

“Disgusting!”

We jerk and look around at the sudden shout.

An elderly human woman looks over at us from the promenade.

“A human and an alien! Kissing! In public! That’s sickening!” she goes on shouting at us. “Such nauseating behavior should be forbidden at once!”

“Shut up!” I shout while the rest of the patrons enjoying their drinks on the terrace look at the old woman with disgust.

“Whaaat?” she screams. “How do you dare? This revoltin—”

“Lady, I said, shut up!” I interrupt her shouting quite angrily. “What we do is not of your concern!”

“Such repulsive, unnatural behavior should be outlawed!”

“We don’t care!” Aia shouts back. “We are in love, and don’t care what you say.”

“You should be incarcerated for this! Even for refuting it!”

“We! Don’t! Care!” I shout again. “In love, there’s no place for bigotry, racism, sexism, nor any other phobia. Go home! And leave us in peace, or we call the police!”

“How dare you?” she screams.

Just as Aia and I jolt up to tell her once and for all to leave, several couples and polys appear at our sides.

“The lad is right!” shouts a huge Knoreliaz while he firmly holds the hand of a human woman.

“Yeah!” the woman shouts at the lady. “We’re married for nine years now and have a wonderful boy.”

Even the young Human-Knoreliaz mestizo shouts at the old woman, “Yeah! My daddy is an alien! And the best daddy of the universe!”

“You wouldn’t dare to say our mestizo baby is not cute, wouldn’t you?” a Felii woman asks the lady while showing her the adorable Felii-Human mestizo she carries in her arms.

“Cute?” the old woman shrieks. “It’s an aberration!”

“Enough!” I shout again.

“Yeah! Enough!” a woman behind me shouts.

“Leave them in peace!” a man shouts.

“I’m calling the police!” another shouts.

The whole café is in an uproar and shouts any possible slur at her. Everything from “No xenophobia,” and “Yes to mixin,” to “Such bitches should be in a nuthouse,” and “Better dead as a racist,” can be heard throughout the premise.

“This will end badly!” she shouts at us as she leaves under the pressure of the patrons. “Mark my words! Badly!”

The five interspecies couples and poly families defending us turn sighing.

“Damn old bitch!” the Human-Knoreliaz boy grumbles. “Just wait till I’m a lawyer, I’ll throw you into the deepest cell possible.”

“A lawyer?” Aia giggles, messing his hair up. “Great to have your future so clear. Already know your specialization?”

“Sure!” The boy laughs, straightening his hair again. “Interspecies relations. Wanna defend interspecies couples and polys against such bigots. Wanna see happy people, just like my parents,” he laughs.

“Wow, so mature…” a male Reaf says, and everyone nods.

“Truly…” I laugh.

“What species are you, lady?” the boy asks Aia intrigued.

Aia kneels down to him and lies her hand on his shoulder.

“I don’t know…” Aia sighs while I lay my hand on her shoulder. “But it doesn’t matter. I cross the universe together with my beloved boyfriend, that’s all that matters.” She looks up at me and holds my hand with her free one. I can only smile at her.

“Oh! So happy! You’re as happy as mommy and daddy,” the boy giggles.

“Why don’t we sit a bit together and chat?” an Ïiha woman suggests.

“Good idea.” “Yeah.” “Wanna ice cream!”

·

After pushing several tables together, we sit with the five families and ask for another beer.

“What? You’ve just got engaged? Congratulations!” the boy’s mother euphorically exclaims.

“Congratulations~” everyone sings.

“I’m pregnant by two months…” one of the Ïiha women happily says.

Another round of congratulations follows.

“Are you thinking of having children too?” asks us the boy’s mother.

Aia nods slowly while our new friends try to interpret her gesture.

“We don’t know if we can…” Aia finally whispers.

“Oh…” everyone looks at us with a hint of sorrow.

“Then why don’t you come and visit us?” the other Ïiha woman asks and hands us a business card.

“IGC Interspecies Clinic, specialized in interspecies maternity, all mammal species,” Aia reads.

“That’s us,” giggles the woman. “I am Dr. Igüeni, and own, together with my partners here,” she points at two guys, a Reaf and an Ïiha-Human mestizo, “the IGC Clinic.”

“Indeed,” nods the Reaf, “my name is Grhiedak and a gynecologist, nice to meet you.

“And I am Cehreh, urologist and andrologist. Also nice to meet you,” the Ïiha mestizo says.

“If you want to have a full compatibility test, you can call this contact,” Dr. Igüeni says pointing at the business card, “and ask for an appointment to my assistant.”

“That would be me,” giggles the Felii woman holding the mestizo baby. “I am Ehhnah, head nurse at the same clinic. Carlos is my partner, and our little girl is Reki.”

“Nice to meet you,” Aia and I say at the same time.

“We are having a double date,” Dr. Igüeni says giggling. “You can call us tomorrow if you want. We offer assistance to anything related to interspecies reproduction, and couples’ and polys’ health.”

“We surely will,” I say taking Aia’s hand.

“Hm~” she hums and nods. “I want to know…”

“Me too, darling.”

“Even if it’s not—” she bites her lips.

“Don’t worry, darling. If not, we’ll find a way.”

“Hm…”

Every one of the adults sitting with us smiles and wishes us good luck.

We keep on chatting for a while until some of them have to leave. We decide it’s time for us too.

We say goodbye to everyone after swapping our contacts.

·

“Are they nice…” Aia sighs as we leave the café behind.

“Yeah. Oh… It’s kind of strange that they haven’t recognized us…” I observe.

“Perhaps they did, but understood that we are just a normal couple…” Aia says.

“Could be…” I shrug. “Ah, yeah… Didn’t you mention a nice place to eat? I’ve gotten hungry with the many beers we had…”

“True~” Aia giggles. “Yeah, it’s just a bit further down the promenade.”

“Perfect.”

·

We find a small, charming fish restaurant at the side of the promenade. Sadly, the few outdoor tables are occupied.

Inside, we easily find a free table as the four of them are empty.

Just as we have a seat, the waitress arrives…

“Aia? Aia Asdiekx, is that you?” the waitress suddenly asks.

“Eva? Eva Enderto?”

“The very same! I haven’t seen you since we graduated. How do you do? I’ve read that you’ve become one of the most famous space-truckers.”

“Yeah…” Aia nods blushing. “And you? Do you work here?”

“Only on some weekends. It’s my grandparents’ place. I help them out when my cousin isn’t able to. I usually work as the head nurse at the North Hospital. And your companion?” Eva looks over at me with interest.

“He’s Kira, one of the best space-truckers, and my boyfriend.”

“Really? Finally!” Eva giggles. “Nice to meet you, Kira.” She offers me her hand.

“Nice to meet you, Eva,” I say and shake her hand.

“Since when?” Eva asks.

“Yesterday,” Aia giggles. “We were homies till yesterday. And now we’re engaged…”

“No way~ So cute~ Two homies falling in love…” Eva charms.

“Yeah,” Aia giggles. “Not only that, listen…”

Aia goes on telling her old friend about our first date…

“No way… So romantic~” Eva charms again. “I’d wish my boyfriend would propose to me in such a perfect way…” A brief call from the kitchen makes Eva jolt up. “Oh! Sorry! Here, our menu. Today, we also have outside of the menu…” Eva goes on reciting several dishes.

Aia chooses a fish to share, to which I agree.

Eva swiftly comes with the ordered drinks.

“By the way, Aia, cutie, do your parents know the news?” Eva asks Aia.

“Oh, no! I forgot!” Aia almost jumps up.

“You haven’t changed much, girl,” Eva laughs. “When too happy, you forget to inform your parents. Remember? It always happened to you when you’ve got top marks…”

“Oh, no… Don’t remind me…” Aia sighs and blushes deeply.

Eva leaves us giggling while Aia searches for her terminal in her purse.

Just as she’s about to call her parents, I lay my hand on hers.

“Tell them we’re coming, if it’s okay,” I say smiling gently.

“Huh? You want to meet my parents, Kira?” Aia asks flabbergasted.

“Yeah… It may sound old-fashioned, even too patriarchal… but I want to meet your parents and ask them for your hand.”

“Oh~ Darling~” Aia sighs deeply and cleans a tear rolling down her cheek. “I will.” She takes the terminal again and says, “Call Mom.” A moment later… “Mom? It’s Aia. Yeah. How do you do? Yeah, I’m fine. Actually, more than fine…” she giggles. “Ah, yeah… I was wondering… Are you home today? I wanna come over and visit you. Yeah, in about three hours. And Dad? Will he be home by then? Cool. Ah, yeah, I’ll bring a guest. Yeah. Thanks. Well… We will be there in about three hours. Thank you. Kisses. Love you too.”

Aia smiles radiantly while taking my hand lying on the table.

“We’ve got enough time to enjoy the meal and reach my parents’ home,” Aia informs me happily.

Eva serves us a considerable fish accompanied by a lot of vegetables to share and bids us a bon appétit.

·

We enjoy the delicious meal and, once finished, we decide to go home to fetch Aia’s Ferrari.

Aia insists on paying… “You’ve already paid for last night’s date, dear. Let me pay for this.”

I accept the gesture, and after complimenting Eva’s grandfather for the delicious dish and saying goodbye to them, we walk towards our home.

Entering the garage directly, we reach her car. Aia suddenly throws me a small, sleek stick with a visible chip embedded inside. Don’t say…

“Aia…” I’m overwhelmed by her trust.

“Sure,” she smiles broadly, “now we share it.”

I sit into the pilot’s seat and regulate it to my size while Aia takes the passenger seat.

“Feels nice…” I stay still moved after I started the engine, and the AR comes on.

“Should be,” Aia giggles. “Destination: Mars…” she laughs.

“As you wish, milady,” I chuckle.

The post B02 ~ The Queen and the Phoenix, The Couple appeared first on Space Highways.