Chapter 20 Fertility Cycle
Chapter twenty
Fertility Cycle
Bryce
When Bryce returned from the store, he had Zef’s medicine and numerous packets of menstruation products.
Since he didn’t know what brand or style or size Zef needed, he had decided to buy one of each, just to be sure.
They resembled human pads, though the adhesive appeared to be on the same side as the absorbent part.
In the family planning aisle of the store, Bryce had been searching for a box that matched the one Zef had given him.
But it had been years since their last cycle, so the branding seemed to have changed.
Before he started to panic, a Mantodea with hunter green skin and platinum silver hair had cleared their throat to get his attention.
Without a word, they had plucked a box off the shelf and handed it to him, one antenna flicking in what could have been discomfort or amusement—Bryce was too worked up to tell. The packaging was different, but the colors were similar and the Hellian symbols appeared the same.
Trusting the stranger to know better than he when it came to Mantodean fertility needs, he had accepted the medicine, thanking them profusely. They had simply bowed, then taken their leave.
Medicine and pads in the basket, he had stopped by the bakery section and panicked again when faced with too many different kinds of cake. Zef hadn’t specified what flavor they wanted, and he did not want to know what would happen if he brought them the wrong cake.
Oh God, they’d probably start crying again, and Bryce didn’t think his heart could take it.
“In for a penny,” he muttered as he grabbed every flavor of cake they had and stacked them in his basket.
Back home, he shucked off his shoes and headed straight for Zef’s room. He knocked on the door, lightly at first, then harder when there was no response.
“Zef, it’s me.”
“Come in,” they called miserably.
He cautiously entered their bedroom for only the third time in seven months. It was a little stale and humid from the steam pouring out of the bathroom. Damn, Mantodeas liked their baths hot.
At the door, Bryce hesitated. “Uh, how do you—”
“You may come in,” they said, and his brain glitched.
Ah hell, if he was about to see Zef naked, he needed way more mental preparation, especially given the circumstances. An erection right now would be the epitome of douchebagery.
Glaring down at his dick, he mentally berated it into submission before he took a fortifying breath and entered the bathroom. Thankfully, his worry was for naught. Zef was nearly impossible to see through the thick, high bubbles overflowing over the side of the tub.
They had slumped as low as possible in the water in an attempt—Bryce assumed—to hide even more of themself from view. Only their large white eyes, antennas, and hair could be seen above the mountain of opaque bubbles.
“Got your medicine.” He brandished it and set it on the sink. “And are these gonna be enough? If not, I’ll go get more.”
He opened his backpack to reveal the plethora of pads. Zef lifted up out of the bubbles just enough to peer inside. Their mouth twitched in amusement.
“Yes, I imagine that will be sufficient. For this cycle, and every other in my life.”
They blinked owlishly at him, and he flushed. “Sassypants,” he accused, and they trilled wordlessly, sinking back into the water. He caught a flash of their bare knee as they repositioned, reminding him they were so very naked right now.
But they were in a vulnerable position, and he had no business noticing or caring or… thinking about that. So he clicked on his veterinarian brain, where body parts became body parts and bodily fluids and functions became just things he had to clean up after the medical side was taken care of.
“I didn’t know what cake you wanted,” he said after shoving the many, many pads under the sink. He then showed Zef his backpack again for them to inspect the cakes. “Are any of these right?”
Another amused smile, this one smaller and softer. “I would like the koca one.”
Hellian chocolate. He should’ve known.
“Coming right up, darlin’,” he said as he heaved himself back to his feet. “One piece?”
Their green cheeks darkened as they shook their head.
“Two pieces?”
They nodded.
“Okay. Sit tight.”
In the kitchen, he portioned two generous slices of cake on a plate and grabbed a fork.
He filled a glass with cold water, then brewed a quick cup of tea for good measure.
His caregiver’s heart was bursting with pride and happiness as he set his offerings on a tray and carried it back into Zef’s room.
“I have your cake,” he said to announce his presence before he peeked around the door jamb to the bathroom.
They were as he’d left them, buried under hills of bubbles. Chunks of hair that had escaped their messy bun stuck to their neck and cheek, and they appeared to be playing with the bubbles closest to them, shaping them into droopy, formless blobs.
Affection rushed through him as he set the tray on the closed toilet. They were so adorable he could barely stand it.
“You sure your bath isn’t too hot?” he asked, concerned at the sheer amount of steam rising from the tub.
Their placid expression hardened to something dangerous. “I am boiling the eggs in my belly until they die. Do you not hear their screams?” Water sloshed as they moved one arm, presumably jabbing themself in the stomach. “Burn, you evil little bastards. Burn!”
“Well, look at you being all dark and murderous,” he commended as he made a makeshift table with the trash can and the edge of the clothes hamper. He centered the tray on it, so Zef could easily reach it. “You need one of your pills now?”
Sitting up higher, revealing sharp collarbones, they shook their head. “No, there is a physical change that must happen first. Then I take the pills.”
“Okay. Do you need anything else?”
Hooking their chin on the edge of the tub, shoulder glistening as suds dripped down their back, they shook their head. “Thank you for my cake.”
“You’re welcome.”
He watched them spear a large bite and shove it gracelessly into their mouth. Their eyes fluttered shut, and they sighed happily, resting their chin on the tub again as they chewed. A dreamy smile curled their mouth, lips smeared brown with koca.
“Let me know if you need anything,” he said, brushing a lock of hair off their forehead. Their antennas captured his hand, curling around his index and middle fingers. The ends pricked against his skin, like insect legs, and he shivered involuntarily.
After only a few seconds, they released him, and he withdrew his hand. “The first few days I will weather alone,” they said, avoiding his gaze as they took another bite of cake. “After, I may require assistance.”
“Keep your phone close by and charged. In case I’m in my room and can’t hear you call.”
They nodded. “I am very grateful, Bryce. You are so kind and helpful.”
“It ain’t no trouble, promise. I like taking care of the people I… care about,” he finished carefully.
“Still,” they said, crests of their cheeks flushing. “Thank you.”
“You are so very welcome. Zef.” His thighs protested as he pushed himself up from his crouch. “If you need anything, just call.”
He left them to their cake.
True to their word, Bryce didn’t see them for two whole days.
He assumed they left their room to eat when he was in class or after he went to bed, but in the mornings and evenings, they stayed in their room.
Every once in a while, he heard them moving around, but for the most part, they endured the ovulation period in silence.
Toni stopped by Tuesday evening, handing a pot of soup over the threshold. “For when they get their appetite back,” he said.
“Thanks. You wanna come in? They haven’t come out of their room but—”
The Elas shook his head. “No, they won’t wanna see me right now. Just tell them we’re all thinking of them and to feel better.”
Before he had reached the last porch step, Bryce called out, “Hey, Toni? You got sisters, right?”
“So many,” he said with a fond smile.
“What do I do?” Bryce asked, and Toni chuckled.
“Make sure they got a hot water bottle or a heating pad, for the cramps. And don’t take anything they say personal if they’re crabby; they don’t mean it.
Tell them they look great, even if they don’t.
And if shit gets messy, don’t be weird about it.
Chances are, they’re more embarrassed than you are. ”
“I don’t mind mess. I’ve been shoulder-deep in a cow’s asshole before, so…” he said with a shrug.
The Elas barked a laugh. “Don’t tell Gem that; he’ll be so jealous.”
Given the porno Zef had stumbled upon, Bryce was genuinely worried about how true that statement was.
“Don’t stress, baby,” Toni said, giving him a mock salute. “You’re gonna do just fine.”
“Thanks, Toni.”
As Bryce shut the door, the Elas stopped at the base of the stairs, and he faltered, catching the door before it closed.
“Maybe it ain’t my place,” Toni said, hands in his pockets, arm fins fluttering, “but be careful with them, Bryce. They ain’t like you and me, you know? There ain’t nothing wrong with them, but they’re still different. Be gentle with them, yeah?”
“I care about them very much,” Bryce said, holding Toni’s black, endless gaze. “I… I think I’m half in love with them already.”
“Then love them hard with everything you got. They deserve it.” Bryce nodded, and so did Toni. “And if you don’t, we’re sic’ing Tad on you. So…”
The Elas splayed his hands as if to say, “What’re you gonna do.”
Genuinely terrified at the threat, Bryce released an awkward, half-hysterical laugh. “Please don’t.”
“I don’t make the rules,” Toni said as he turned and trudged back to the sidewalk.
“Please don’t sic Tad on me,” Bryce called after him.
“Then don’t fuck this up,” Toni called back.
It was not reassuring.