Page 5 of Cozy Prisons
“I’m very aware you’re here,” Falkilm responded. “I’m asking Daxus because I know he’ll be more diligent about your health than you will.”
Ouch! True, but still, ouch.
“I won’t leave her side,” Daxus said. Then he looked down at her. “Is that acceptable?”
She liked that he was checking in with her, even if her options were still limited. “I guess I'm your date for the evening.”
Both Talins made a rumble that reminded her of a poorly running engine. It was the sound of confusion.
“How can you be a date?” Daxus asked.
“A date is a moment in time, not a person,” Falkilm added. “If you’re this disoriented, maybe you shouldn’t go.”
“It’s a human expression,” she said, quickly jumping off the table before the healer revoked her pass. Falkilm sounded a startled rattle and grabbed for her, but she was already standing.
Her legs felt a little unsteady, but she was able to hold onto the table until they felt firm under her again. To cover the move, she tossed the pillow back on the bed and pretended to tidy the bedding as she explained.
“When humans are interested in forming an intimate relationship with each other, they’ll spend a specific amount of time together doing pre-planned activities. That time is called a date.”
“Oh, I see,” Falkilm said. “I’ll add that to my notes.”
She stifled a chuckle. “You do that.”
Daxus stepped around the table to stand next to her. “If you are assigning our time together as a date, does that mean you’re interested in me as a potential partner or mate?”
His question made her heartbeat kick up for a whole new reason.
Since Daxus's arrival, Nataly had become aware of how long it’d been since she’d partnered up. Her anxiety hadn’t been as bad before, allowing her to leave her home without issue. She’d spent some time hanging with him during communal meals or projects that needed her programming help.
It didn’t take long for her to realize he was funny—for a Talin—kind, and smart. All qualities she appreciated. She thought about pursuing him further, and then she started having problems. Her world narrowed as her anxiety got worse.
Maybe she could use Daxus as a motivation to get better?
“Let’s see how tonight goes,” she said. Feeling steady enough to walk, she let go of the table and hooked an arm around Daxus’s bigger one.
“If tonight goes well, then what will we do?” Daxus asked.
“Go on another date,” she answered.
“Don’t let her move too much,” Falkilm said as he let her lead Daxus out the main door to the medical building instead of the door to Falkilm’s private quarters.
“I will look after her,” Daxus said over his shoulder.
They both ignored Falkilm’s worried rumble.
Chapter 3
Daxus
Although Daxus would rather Nataly stayed in the medical building until Healer Falkilm finished all his analysis, he understood how much it would disappoint her to miss out on the frivolities.
They’d all been working hard to build the colony and this party unofficially marked the completion of all the basic infrastructure. They had reliable water, power, and enough housing that everyone could live separately if they wanted to.
There was still a lot to be done, but it could be accomplished at a more leisurely pace.
In truth, his assurance to Healer Falkilm to stay at Nataly’s side wasn’t a hardship; it was a blessing from the ancestors. He’d been fascinated by the quietly confident human since the first time he met her.
She’d been cordial to him, but nothing more. Unfortunately she worked mostly in isolation. Every time he’d tried to spendtime with her, something came up. He couldn’t tell if the ancestors were sending him a message to leave her alone or if it was all simply bad timing.
