Chapter Seven: A Second Offer
The ship was flying on autopilot, and Az and Temos were standing opposite each other in the training room. Az's axe was in his hand, and he was eager to match his strength and skill with it against Temos.
And something was bothering him.
It was easier to talk these things out when he had a weapon in his hand and something else to focus on.
Temos raised his sword and saluted him and then fell into a fighting stance, which Az mirrored.
At first, the two of them just circled each other, neither of them making a move.
Temos spoke first. "Something is on your mind."
That was true enough, and Az didn't bother to confirm it. Instead he just lunged with his axe, going for a side strike.
Temos blocked with his sword and the sound of metal on metal was loud in the room.
"You are wondering about me and Natasha," Temos said, lashing out with his own attack.
Az was surprised, by the words, not the attack, and he managed to get his axe up in time to defend himself.
"Is there something to wonder about?" he asked.
"I have wanted to tell you," Temos said. "I was not sure how to do it."
The two of them traded blows back and forth for a bit, blocking and striking in tandem. Temos was a much better warrior than Az, but he could hold his own, especially like this when they were both so clearly distracted by other things.
Well, by one other thing.
"Tell me, then," Az urged.
"I asked Nat to let me court her."
Somehow it was surprising and not at the same time. Temos was by far the one of them who had been the most fascinated with their new companion, and he had bought her that necklace just days before. Temos wasn't usually one for gifts for no reason.
"And she said yes," Az replied, and it was not a question.
"Yes," Temos said. "I wanted to tell you. I think...I feel that you have some feelings for her as well?" He seemed unsure, but Temos was one of the people who knew Az the best in the whole universe. He had never been all that skilled at hiding his feelings, and Az had no idea what they even were to hide them in the first place.
"I might," he said. "I enjoy her company. I...think she's lovely. She makes things different and better, and I am so glad she is with us."
Temos smiled at him. “That's how I felt as well. How I feel.”
“And so you just...asked her.”
“I did.”
It sounded easier said than done, and Temos was always the one who had the easiest time doing things like that.
"And what...what is it like? Being with her?"
Temos stopped to think for a moment. "It's wonderful," he said. "She's easy to talk to, and she's funny. I've told her things I don't think I've told either of you, just because she makes me want to talk about them. When we're lying in bed together, it just feels right."
Before he knew it, Az was seized with longing. That sounded...well, it sounded a little frightening, being that close to someone, but mostly it sounded amazing.
It sounded like something he wanted, but...
Az wasn’t even sure how Natasha felt about him.
He took to watching her, and thinking about their interactions. She had this way of smiling at him that made him warm inside, and when something he said made her laugh, it was like magic was happening. Temos watched him watching her, and he seemed to be encouraging.
But that was how their kind were.
The issue here wasn't going to be with Temos. If Az wanted to try this, and he still wasn't entirely sure that he did, or that he even had a chance, then he was going to need Natasha to understand how things could be.
Which meant he was going to have to talk to her about it.
That proved to be a challenge. When she wasn't with Temos, then she was busy in other ways, and Az didn't want to have this conversation in front of Alaran or even Temos. His feelings were private.
They would need to get off the ship, clearly.
As luck would have it, they were approaching a planet with a refueling station and they needed a break anyway. If Temos was on the ship for too long without getting to stretch his legs, then he got restless and no one wanted that.
He was practically bouncing around the command console as they came in for a landing, and he kept sending significant looks Az’s way. As if he needed reminding that there was something he wanted to do while they were here and could have some privacy.
"How long will we be here, do you think?" Az wanted to know.
"Not long. Enough time for a refuel and a little break," Alaran replied. "Assuming Temos doesn’t start a war or something while we’re here. Why?"
"I just...want to stretch my legs," Az said. "Don't take off without me."
"As if we would," Temos said, and he already had the door open and was on his way out, bounding with all his pent up energy. "You're the only one who can fly us out of here if we get into trouble."
Az laughed at that. "You could consider just not getting into trouble," he said. "Natasha, would you like to come on a walk with me?"
The woman blinked, clearly surprised to be singled out, but she smiled warmly at him. "I'd like that."
The two of them climbed out of the ship and stepped foot onto the planet's surface. It was a standard planet for this corner of the galaxy, and Az was sure that they had been on others in the area, if not this one specifically.
It had an atmosphere similar to Earth's, and when Az looked at her, Natasha didn't seem to be having any trouble breathing or be breaking out in terrible hives or swelling, so clearly it would be fine if they took a little walk.
"The sky is purple," Natasha said, her neck craned back so she could see. "It's beautiful."
"It's an overcast day here," Az told her. "The planets in this system have two suns. If it were bright out, you wouldn't be able to stand it."
"Two suns? That's amazing."
She was looking around, eyes wide, and that made Az take a look as well. She was not wrong. This planet was beautiful.
The sky was purple and the land was a riot of color. Lush grasses and plants burst from the ground around them in brilliant blues, greens, and oranges. All around them was the scent of the flowers and the other flora, and Natasha had never smelled anything like it before.
The trees stretched high overhead, so high that even when he tipped his head all the way back he couldn't see the tops of them. The canopy was nothing more than a colorful smear against the sky.
Insects and animals sang and scurried through the brush, and Az reached a hand out to keep Natasha from wandering off into the thicket of trees. "Stay on the path," he said. "Unless you want something you've never seen or heard of before to eat you. Or discover some new and horrible allergy to a strange plant."
"Noted," she said, and fell into step with him. "So why'd you ask me to walk with you? Not that I'm complaining or anything. I love Bertha, but this place is much nicer to look at than the ship."
"I'm still so amused that you've named our ship," Az said.
"She feels like a Bertha. Big and strong. Don't you think?"
She turned to look up at him, and the soft smile that spread over her lovely face had Az swallowing hard. This. This was the problem.
Azaniston wasn't unobservant by any means. He was smart and clever and knew how to see what was right in front of him. He knew that Natasha must have some feelings for him. Even now that she and Temos were together, she would still sit with him in the command console, laughing and talking while he flew or charted a course. Something was happening there, and Az felt...
Well. He was having a hard time putting into words what he felt.
He had never met anyone like Natasha before in his life, and every moment he spent with her made him want to spend more time with her.
She was beautiful and bright, and when she saw something that excited her, she lit up in a way that drew Az to her helplessly.
His kind had never been the type to quibble over sharing among each other, but she was a human, and Az had no idea what her feelings would be about it.
Was she in love with Temos? Was it just for fun?
"Is something on your mind, Az?" Nat asked. "You seem distracted."
"No," Az said, and then shook his head. "Well, yes, something is on my mind, but I am not distracted. I'm focused. On you. It seems that is all I can focus on these days."
He looked down at her, taking in her startled expression, and then looked away. The trees were easier to look at. "When Temos said we should bring you on board, I was excited for it. Something new, someone new. Thing to see, things to teach. I could tell that you loved to learn and see the same way I do. I could tell that we were going to get along well. And we do, don't we?"
"Of course we do," Nat said, and he didn't need to look at her to know she was smiling. "I love spending time with you, Az. You're great."
"I think you are great," he replied. "I think you are...unlike anyone I've ever known. I think you are the most amazing creature on any of these planets, and I want..." His voice gave out on him there, and Az trailed off. He knew what he wanted. Oh, he knew. Azaniston had spent many an evening in bed, lying there alone with his hand around his length, thinking about what Natasha might be doing in Temos' bed and wishing she was in his instead.
But it wasn't just about physical things. He wanted to walk with her like this, and he wanted to see her first thing in the morning when she was soft from sleep and warm from lying against him all night. He wanted to take care of her in the way that all the Dammen Ka did when they found the one they wanted to take for a mate.
He just didn’t know how to say that.
Natasha was looking at him curiously, and he sighed and just let the words come out however they wanted to. It had to be better than saying nothing.
"I have thought of little else but you for the last little while," he said. "I have thought about the smell of your hair and the curve of your smile and the way you light up when you see something new. I've thought about it and I've wanted you. In the way that my kind want beautiful things that they wish to keep."
"Dragons and their hordes?" Natasha asked with a smile.
"Something like that."
She looked at the ground as they walked, chewing on her lip. "You know that Temos and I are...doing whatever it is that we're doing. He hasn't been super clear about what it is he wants other than just me."
"Is that not enough?"
"I don't know," she said. "I mean. If we're exclusive, then I can't...then I can't tell you that I think about you, too. Because I love spending time with you and watching you fly and figure stuff out. I love how you deal with Temos when he gets too excited about stuff, and I could listen to you explain the way the ship works for hours, which is saying something because my attention span is not that long." Her face flushed when she stopped talking, and Az found it beautiful. "And not to mention you're stupidly attractive," she finished.
Az felt the grin growing on his face when she seemed to have finally run out of words. It was so much more than he had been hoping for. "That seems like a good thing, then. For me."
"But...Temos," Natasha said. "I like him a lot, too. He's...exciting."
"People do say that about Temos," Az agreed. He hesitated, unsure of how to say this delicately, but he knew he'd had to ask. "Would you be opposed to the idea of both of us?"
"What, be with the two of you together?"
"Not together, necessarily," Az said. "Just. With Temos and also with me."
"Is that...allowed?" she asked.
"By who?"
"I don't know. That sort of thing isn't really something that happens where I'm from. People would talk."
"Natasha, we are in space most of the time. Who is around that would talk?"
"Alaran."
He laughed at that. "Fair point. But he would understand. It is common among our kind."
"Dragons that share?"
"When something is precious enough, yes."
Her eyes widened at that, and she blushed and looked away for a moment. "This isn't just because you guys have never seen a human before or you have some kind of fetish, is it?" she asked.
Az couldn't help the way he laughed at that. "No," he said. "I can say with certainty that it isn't because of that. It is simply because of who you are and the fact that you've charmed all of us completely."
"Gosh," she said, and that lovely blush was still on her face. "Who knew dragons had such a way with words?"
"We are better with actions," Az said, stepping closer to her. "It is much easier for us to show how we feel than to say it. I've just had a lot of time to think about what I wanted to say to you. I've been trying to say it for some time now, but you know how hard it is to get a quiet moment on the ship sometimes."
Natasha nodded, still smiling at him. "I understand."
Az wasn't sure if she did. He moved in even closer and leaned down, eyes holding hers. At the first sign of her being uncomfortable or not wanting this, he would back off and give her space and apologize profusely for being presumptuous. But she was tipping her face up to his, and there seemed to be anticipation in her eyes, and when he closed the distance and kissed her, she sighed softly into it.
That was a good sign, he was sure of it. Az wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her in closer, nearly lifting her up so he could kiss her deeply and with all the feelings that he had.
He was probably the one of them that was the best at saying what he meant, but this was still better. Having her here, having her close, pressed against him and eager, kissing him back like she wanted him, too.
It went on for a long moment before he put her back down, but didn't release her.
Natasha looked slightly dazed, which made him puff with pride for a moment. She licked her lips and looked up at him. "Wow."
"Thank you," Az said, unsure if she was joking or not.
"I...wow. Okay. So...you want to court me? Like Temos is doing?"
"If you wouldn't be opposed to that, yes. That is exactly what I would like to do."
She appeared to be thinking it over, and taking it very seriously, so Az gave her a moment. He didn’t want a snap decision anyway. He didn’t want her to say yes now just because he had kissed her and she was attracted to him.
To be courted by a dragon meant there would be feelings there forever, and she was considering being courted by two of them. It was a lot to think over, and Az would not be upset with her if she said no.
He wouldn’t be upset, but he would be sad.
Finally she looked up at him, and she was smiling widely. Az held his breath, trying not to get too excited for what that might mean.
“Okay,” she said. “I’d like that.”
“You would?”
She nodded. “Yeah. It’s going to be weird with it being the two of you, I think. Mostly because it’s been ages since I’ve had one partner let alone two, but. I want to try. I like you too much not to.”
Az couldn’t contain his excitement. He let out a whoop that echoed around them and then grabbed Natasha around the waist, lifting her and spinning her around in his happiness. She laughed along with him, and when he set her down, she leaned up for another kiss.
“You know, I think I’m always going to remember this,” Natasha said as they walked along. “This planet is beautiful, and I’m here with you, and just...it’s such a picturesque sort of moment.”
“It is,” Az agreed. They had been walking for a little while, just looking at everything. Their fingers were threaded together, and they stopped often to look at the flowers and grasses, Natasha asking if he knew what they were. Sometimes he did, but more often he didn’t, so he had pulled out his comm device and looked up most of them.
“This is the most educational date I’ve ever been on,” Natasha said, chuckling.
“Is that a human thing? Dates?”
She nodded. “Mmhmm. When someone likes someone else, they ask them on a date. It’s usually dinner or a movie, or going on a walk like this. Just time to be with that person and get to know them and all.”
"I see," Az said. "I would like to get to know you, then."
When he looked down at her, Natasha was blushing again. "You know me," she said.
"In a sense. But I'm sure there is more that I do not know about you. And I'd like to know all there is."
"Oh god, no you wouldn't," Nat said. "First off, I'm not that interesting, and second...there's just. There's stuff that isn't very pleasant."
"About you? I find that hard to believe."
She sighed. "When I asked you guys if I could come with you, it was because I wanted to see stuff, but also...because I wanted to get away. I...I abandoned my mother to come with you. And I did it without feeling bad. I still don't feel bad, really. She isn't a nice person, but she didn't have anyone else. And I just left, almost without saying anything."
Az took that in, mulling it over. "When you say she isn't a nice person, what do you mean?"
"She's mean," Nat said immediately. "Really mean. She hurt herself and I would go over to her place to help her out and she'd just insult me the whole time. And I took it because...because she didn't have anyone else."
"If she treated everyone else the way she treated you, then it's no wonder she didn't have anyone," Az pointed out. "I do not think that makes you a bad person."
"No?" she asked, looking up at him.
He shook his head. "No. There is only so much anyone can take of being treated badly. One of the reasons I wanted to come along with Temos and Alaran on this trip was because there were people in my life who thought I wouldn't be able to make it. And I wanted to prove them wrong. Every time they said I was too weak, I wanted them to know I wasn't."
"You're not weak at all," Natasha said. "Who would say something like that?"
"My father," Az admitted. "I spent more time in ships and libraries as a child than I did in the training yards and that was...frowned upon to say the least. He wanted me to be a great warrior."
"I think you're a great warrior. And I think you're just great."
Temos and Alaran had reassured him of his place with them time and time again, but hearing it from Natasha, the woman he wanted to be with, helped as well. "Thank you," he said. "And I don't think you did a bad thing in leaving. I think you just finally did something for yourself."
"I guess that's true." She smiled and squeezed his hand.
Az inhaled deeply, taking in the warm scent of the flowers around them and the edge of ozone that heralded a coming storm.
"We should head back," he said. "Before it starts to rain. I'm...not quite sure what the rain will do to your skin."
"And here I was thinking about making this place my vacation home," Natasha teased.
They walked back to the ship together, hand in hand. Temos was already back, and when they walked in, he smiled at them both. He came over and leaned down to kiss Natasha and then clapped Az on the shoulder before wandering off with a basket full of fruits the size of his head.
"I do not want to know what he's going to do with those," Az murmured. "Would you like to come to my quarters? To keep talking?"
Natasha nodded. "I'd like that a lot."
And they went off together to begin something.