Chapter 4 #2
He said something, his growling voice low but soft.
“It's okay. You can have it,” Peony said, offering the bowl again.
He took it, surprising her. He didn't seem like he could move his arm even a moment ago. He picked it up easily now, reaching over his head and pressing it against her lips instead.
Peony took it from him but didn't drink.
He frowned and, with a soft grunt, pushed himself up so he wasn't leaning against her.
She was surprised by how much she missed his weight already but said nothing as he instead shifted to the side so he could lean against the wall.
It put his head above theirs as they all sat around him.
Since he hadn't immediately attacked, the others had all calmed down. He was one of them.
Peony remained closest to him, legs curled around as she sat at his right side.
His third eye remained on her even as he looked at the others with the other two.
It was strange to see his eyes moving in different directions, but he had three of them and was not human, so who was she to judge what direction they were moving?
He said something again, lifting one of his hands to cover his heart. They all just stared back, unable to understand. He gave them a pained half grin as he gestured again to the bowl in Peony's hand. She couldn't understand what he said, but she got the gist.
They split the last three bowls and bars between the five of them. They tried to break it into six, to include him, but he refused to take more. That simple refusal, showing an understanding of their needs, even if it meant he went without, calmed even Holly.
Prisoners got to stick together, after all.
Peony's belly ached around the meager offerings. It wasn't nearly enough to keep her from being hungry, it only served to whet her appetite. The water was welcome, however, and the hunger pains were something she could push to the back of her mind as she stared at the alien.
And he stared right back at her. It made her self-conscious, but she couldn't take her eyes off him either, so it wasn't like she could hold it against him. She offered him a weak smile. He cocked his head, three eyes roaming over her body.
Would he be willing to go along with their plans?
He was obviously in bad shape, so he was going to be weighing them down.
He didn't speak their language, so he couldn't even join in on votes to help determine his fate.
She didn't regret letting him out of the cage, but it did make things just a bit more complicated.
“Atem,” he said suddenly, surprising her.
“Huh?” She stared back.
He put a hand over his heart and repeated, deliberately, “Ah-tem.”
“Ah-tem?” She parroted his words and movements, hoping that wasn't an insult or something.
“Tor,” he grunted then did it again. Patted his chest and said, “Atem.”
Peony frowned, confused. “Does your chest hurt?”
“Atem.” He did it again.
“I think it's his name,” Scarlet said, staring at him from the other side.
“Oh!” Peony brightened, reaching out. She touched his shoulder. “Atem?”
He grunted eagerly, “Vas. Atem.”
Peony giggled, excited, pressing a hand to her own chest. “Peony. Pee-ah-nee.”
“Pee-nee,” he repeated slowly, incorrectly. She chuckled and said it again, even slower. He reached out and put a hand on her chest, right between her breasts, over her heart, surprising her.
“Peony,” he said, growling just a bit. It wasn’t a threatening sound. It almost sounded like a purr, and it made her belly clench with excitement.
“Er, yeah,” she mumbled, quickly taking his hand and pushing it away. But she didn't let it go. She kept it in her hands, surprised by how warm his rough palm and calloused fingers were. Even only a couple minutes after eating, he was already getting better. “Nice to meet you.”
“Peony,” he whispered her name, growling over it like it was a delicious treat. Her heart pounded hard against her ribs. He continued speaking, but she didn't understand a word he said.
“I think he likes you, Peony,” Hattie giggled brightly.
Peony jumped, dropping his hand, her spine jolting straight. “What? I don't know what you mean.”
“Didn't ask our names,” Holly agreed, wrapping her arms around her knees.
“He didn't ask mine either,” Peony chuckled, trying to hide her burning face. “I offered it. Maybe you should do the same.”
Scarlet cleared her throat, getting Atem's attention. Or, at least, the attention of his two lower eyes. The top one was resolute in its determination to stare only at Peony.
“Scarlet,” she said, putting a hand to her own chest. “Scar-let.”
“Scarlet,” he repeated. Peony couldn't help but notice that he didn't use the same deep, growly voice on that name as he had on hers. She tried not to be too happy about that. It might be nothing. Maybe his species just said 'Peony' weird.
But as they went around the circle, each girl putting a hand to her chest and identifying herself, Alanna having to repeat herself a couple times before her said her name right – 'L's were apparently difficult for him, they tended to turn into faintly growled ‘N's – he never once said their names like he had hers.
Peony was not crushing on the weird, gray alien guy with a tail and long, straight black hair and sexy elf ears. She was not.
But she couldn't help but feel flattered that his third eye remained on her the entire time.