Page 14 of Alien's Love Child

"Maybe I don't need training."

"Maybe I'd just like the excuse to spend more time with you."

The words hang in the air between us, heavy with possibility. My heart thunders against my ribs, and I struggle to remember all the reasons why this is a terrible idea.

"Careful there, soldier." I tap his chest with my finger. "That almost sounded like flirting."

"Almost?" His hand catches mine before I can pull it away. "Then I must be doing it wrong."

The ship's intercom crackles to life, Paraxan's voice breaking the moment. "Captain, need you in engineering."

I extract my hand from Davin's grip, ignoring the way my skin tingles where he touched me. "Duty calls."

"Rain check on that hull inspection?"

"We'll see." I start walking backward down the corridor, considering everything 'hull' could be a euphemism for. "Maybe if you ask nicely."

His laugh follows me all the way down the hall, and I try not to think about how much I like the sound.

I enter engineering, the smell of metal and ozone stronger here than anywhere else on the ship. "Everything okay, Par?"

His whiskers twitch as he tinkers with a coupling. "Thought you might need an escape route from your... conversation."

"My what? How did you?—?"

"These ears aren't just for show." He doesn't look up from his work, but I swear his whiskers are curled in amusement.

"That's impossible. You couldn't have heard us from down here. The engine noise alone would?—"

"Not that old yet, Captain." His fur coat bristles as he works. "Though some days it feels like it."

I stop near the bulkhead, crossing my arms. "Right. Well... thanks, I guess?"

"One more thing." He finally looks up, his dark eyes serious. "Taluk's been acting strange lately."

"Strange how?"

"Talking to himself. Real angry like." He scratches behind his ear with a clawed hand. "More than usual, I mean."

"He's young." I wave it off, though something niggles at the back of my mind. "Probably just teenage angst or whatever passes for it with Vakutans."

"Probably." He turns back to his work, effectively dismissing me. "Just thought you should know."

The sound of his tools against metal follows me out of engineering. Sure, Taluk is being more angsty than normal, but Par is also being more chatty. I think we've shared more words today than the entire last month combined.

Things have really shaken up, and I can't help feeling it's my fault.

The crew quarters' hallway stretches before me, its metal walls reflecting the soft overhead lighting. Taluk stands at his locker, muttering under his breath as he rifles through its contents. His scales catch the light, shifting from deep crimson to burgundy with each movement.

"Hey, hotshot." I lean against the adjacent locker. "Saw you working with Davin earlier. Those were some impressive moves."

He jumps at my first words, slamming something into the back of his locker. "Captain! I didn't—I mean—" His throat pouch flutters, a sure sign of anxiety in Vakutans. "Thanks."

"You've been holding out on us. Where'd you learn to move like that?"

"Around." He shifts his weight, blocking my view of his locker's contents. "Just picked things up, you know?"

"Well, keep it up. It's good to see you?—"

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