Page 14 of My Alien Angel
“You fight? Like, with your fists?” Is he an MMA fighter? Or a wrestler? Oh my god, that would totally explain the wings.
“Yes and no.”
I chuckle. “Yes and no, meaning sometimes? Sometimes you fight with your fists?”
“Yes. Sometimes. Manytimes I, uh…” Shaking his head, he trails off, clearly unable to express the right thing.
Putting down the fork, Omni raises his hands as if he’s holding something long. One eye closed, he…takes aim? Then he makes a low-pitched whining sound that sounds nothing like the “pew pew” people usually do when mimicking gunfire, but the message is the same. “You shoot a rifle? Like a real rifle? At real people?”
My voice betrays my alarm, Omni’s excitement fading. “Yes. I shoot at no good people,” he quickly explains. “Many, many no good.”
“Bad,” I correct him absently. “Very bad people.”
“Yes. I fight very bad people.”
He’s not a sweet, if slightly neurodivergent, guy. He’s a soldier. A soldier who has killed people before. Is the cosplay some form of PTSD therapy? For the first time since bringing Omni home, I’m a little worried about my safety. “Are you dangerous?” I ask like an idiot, because what could he possibly say? Dammit, Caleb and Imani were right. I should have called the police.
“Yes,” Omni replies seriously, his eyes never leaving mine. “Dangerous at bad people. No dangerous at good people. No dangerous at you.”
I don’t know how to respond and there must be some pretty alarming emotions showing up in my expression because Omni sighs. “I go. Thank you food. Thank you help. Very thank you, Fin.”
“Wait, what?” Before I realize what’s happening, Omni is halfway to the door. Rushing to stop him, I grab his wrist. “What are you doing?”
“I go,” Omni replies softly, pointing at the door. “You afraid. I go. You no afraid. No call police, please.”
“I…just wait, okay? Give me a second. You can’t just drop a bomb like that on me and not give me a minute to process it!” The azure blue of his eyes seems a few shades lighter now that we’re standing straight under the overhead light. Omni patiently waits while I force my mind to go over his revelation.
He’s a soldier who has killed people. It’s not like he’s the first to return home with his mind a little damaged from it all. I’ve never felt unsafe with him. He’s never done anything remotely threatening, never forced me into anything, so why should I be afraid of him now? I also have to keep reminding myself that despite the odd way Omni speaks and acts, he’s not stupid. Quite the opposite. He’s intelligent and emotionally mature, especially since he sensed his admission made me uncomfortable and was willing to leave just so I would feel safe.
When I really think about it, there’s only one conclusion to make. “I’m not afraid of you, Ka’Omnireth.” His slightly pointed pupils widen at my admission and I can’t help but wonder how his contacts do that. It’s like magic. “I probably should be afraid but I’m not. I was just startled by what you said. Not that there’s anything wrong with fighting for your country or against bad people. Is this why you don’t want me to call anyone? Because those bad people might find you?” Should I be worried that someone is after Omni and will come after me as well?
Omni sighs. “Complicated. No words.” He points at the TV. “Many words, I say.”
“When you’ve learned more words, you’ll tell me what’s going on?” I guess.
“Yes. You big head.”
Laughing, I playfully poke his shoulder. “That better mean you think I’m smart because telling someone they have a big head is not a compliment.”
Omni’s smile is a little shy, but at least he’s no longer somber. “Yes. You smart. I’m sorry.”
“That’s okay. And I’m not that smart. Now, my friend Imani, she’s a genius. She studies black holes and other cool space stuff.” I can’t even say how much I admire that woman.
“You smart also. And good. You very good.”
Damn, how could I have been afraid of this man even for a second? He’s such a sweetheart. “Alright, big guy. Let’s finish dinner and then we can watch something on TV so you can learn more words.”
He still hesitates, gazing into my eyes as if he could find the answers to his many unspoken questions in them. “You no afraid?”
“No, I’m not afraid,” I reply, sure of my answer. “Come on, let’s finish dinner. I know you’re still hungry.”
Omni rumbles a laugh but doesn’t dispute my claim. Damn, this guy has an appetite. I’ll have to order more groceries. Grabbing my phone to do just that, I notice four messages and a missed call from Imani from when I was in the shower earlier. Omni must have heard it ringing, but he probably didn’t know what it meant. It’s funny how I don’t even find that weird anymore. Worried that Imani has already called the police or done something equally stupid, I dial her number.
“Infinity!” she yells at me the second she picks up. “Why are you not answering your phone? I was worried!”
“I’m fine,” I mumble around a mouthful of pasta. Omni raises his brows in a silent question but I just roll my eyes and wave my hand, hopefully conveying that everything is okay and that it’s just my overprotective friend calling to make sure I’m still alive. On second thought, I doubt anyone can convey that in simple hand gestures, so I cover the microphone and whisper, “It’s just my friend, everything is fine.”
“I told you to message me,” Imani chides.
