Chapter 20
Havali
The females were upset.
Atem was upset that the females were upset.
Tuvo was uneasy that everyone was upset, and Havali was pretty sure that Scarlet kept casting strange looks in his direction the entire hover ride back.
They all gathered in Atem and Peony’s room so the latter had access to her nest. A gathering that clearly bothered Atem.
He wasn’t comfortable having so many people near his nest and whelping mate.
Peony, on the other hand, seemed content to be surrounded by her family.
Like she believed that they all belonged in her nest and therefore wasn’t uncomfortable with them around.
That must be the human in her because it certainly wasn’t the domini pup’s influence.
They sat around the low table that had been brought to the foot of the bed so that Peony could join them but be in her nest at the same time, and the holo had been turned on but left quiet so they could see but not hear the news.
To no one’s surprise, the talk of the day was the humans and their arguments with multiple replays of everyone’s speeches and answers.
The females watched it with frowns. Havali had no idea what they heard that disturbed them so, but it was making him and Atem deeply uncomfortable. It was their duty to protect their females, provide for them and see to their comfort, but something had clearly gone wrong with one of those things.
They started mumbling together in their own tongue again, and he had to resist the urge to begin pacing to work off his agitated energy. Atem was making no such efforts. He was moving up and down by the bedside, casting the females odd looks as they exchanged unknown words.
They had never deliberately blocked them from their conversations before. Havali had never even heard their native tongue. It was a pretty, lilting language. Smooth and sweet – exactly what he would expect from the humans.
But he didn't understand them, and it was driving him mad.
Then, the subject on the holo changed. It switched from the arguments that were being made to images of Scarlet and Havali.
Him bringing her water. Touching her arm.
The two of them whispering together today, then replays of their dates.
Their dance, their kiss at the monument.
They had remained the favorite topic of the news despite all the time that had passed.
If anything, the reporters and watchers were more eager for new material since nothing interesting had happened lately.
Seeing them together on the holodisplay, knowing that the entire universe knew that Havali considered Scarlet his, made him feel good.
But the image made Scarlet’s little brow tufts pull down into a furrow. She was not as pleased by what she saw and that made his unease grow.
“Females,” Tuvo finally snapped. “Say what has bothered you so much already.”
All three of them jumped, staring at him with wide eyes. Atem and Havali growled reflexively – angry that he would take that tone with them. Atem’s growl broke almost immediately though as he looked at Havali with surprise, then suspicion.
But Peony smiled sheepishly. “Sorry. You’re right. We were just trying to figure something out.”
“Tell me, vi Seerin,” Atem said, sitting beside her on the bed and putting a hand on her back and rubbing it gently. “Something has really upset you all. Let us help.”
Scarlet was looking between the two of them, her gaze sharp. Peony was just gnawing her lip. Even Alanna, who usually smiled so brightly, had a slight frown on her face.
Havali’s claws emerged. Responding to his female’s displeasure. But without an enemy to attack, he could only stab them into the soft lounge cushion below him.
Despite his encouragement, Peony still didn't speak. Scarlet broke first-
“Do you see us as anything other than fuck toys?”
“What?” Atem and Havali exclaimed, surprised, at the same moment.
“Answer the question,” she growled, glaring up at him like Havali had ever said such a thing. “Do you see us as convenient little fuck buddies and baby machines?”
“Of course, not!”
“Where would you get that idea?”
Atem and Havali spoke at the same time, staring at her in shock. Havali could not even imagine where she had gotten such a terrible notion.
“It’s just… Haviss said…” Peony started, clearly uncomfortable.
Scarlet took over, not at all afraid to speak her mind. “Haviss said that we could be mates to the representatives. Or to their children. That we could potentially give other species offspring. Like, that’s all we’re good for.”
“Scarlet,” Alanna started hesitantly, “I’m sure that’s not… completely accurate. But it is concerning if that’s the main reason you’re trying to help us.”
“Females, no,” Atem looked so distressed. Even Tuvo shifted uncomfortably on his seat. “Of course, you are not just good for being mates or mothers. Scarlet is a healer. Alanna is my personal aid. Peony, you are my everything.”
“Then, why focus on that?” Scarlet asked, hands clenching. “Why is that all people seem to talk about? The news is obsessed with the idea that Havali and I might get together. There are bets being made on if I leave this Coalition pregnant or not!”
“I don’t understand,” Tuvo interjected, frowning. “Why is it bad if you are mates and mothers? Why is our desire for that wrong?”
“It’s not,” Peony said quickly. “We want it too. But…”
She trailed off, looking at Alanna helplessly.
“It’s probably a cultural thing,” she said gently. “It just triggered us because, well, it’s something that our people are trying to leave in the past.”
“What is? Mating and pups?” Tuvo asked, making Havali’s gut clench with fear.
Was that true? Did Scarlet not want to be his mate or to carry his young? He didn't mind lying to her for the rest of his life, hiding his true self and his dark desires, to get what he wanted, but he still wanted those things from her.
“That’s not it,” Peony shook her head. “We just don’t want that to be the only thing we’re good for.”
“Why would you assume that is the only thing you’re good for?
” Havali asked, touching Scarlet’s shoulder.
“Having a mate, having young, is something that most desire with all their beings. There are species that do not have enough females for everyone. There are some who cannot birth easily, if at all. If humans can fill that need, why is that wrong? For us or the humans?”
“Because I’m not a baby factory, Havali,” she said urgently, turning and looking at him with a strange desperation.
Like she needed him to understand this. “We are more than the parts between our legs. We can be healers and scientists and-... and whatever the heck Alanna is. An alien diplomat. We’re not made to just be barefoot and pregnant.
We can contribute more than that. We’re worth more than that. ”
Atem had stiffened at that human phrase – barefoot and pregnant. Havali knew it meant to keep your female whelping as long as possible. And since human females were fertile every twenty-eight days, they could be pregnant nearly as soon as they birthed their last pup.
Havali knew that Atem wanted that from his female. He was eager for her to constantly be giving him pups and Peony, while not fully agreeable, had agreed they could talk about another pup after the birth of the one before it.
Havali wanted that as well. He didn't think, looking at his Scarlet, that she was so eager to constantly be whelping. He would be content with only a single pup from her. But he at least wanted that. The look in her eyes right now, however, promised retribution if he spoke that desire.
Luckily, Tuvo was the one who made that mistake.
“You are females. Birthing pups is what you are designed to do. Why is that wrong?”
He wasn’t incorrect, technically, but the sharp look that all three human females sent him said that they did not at all agree. Scarlet, especially, looked riotously offended. Tuvo’s tail dropped, and he leaned back, clearly not prepared for the anger that would wash over him for that statement.
“Vi Seerin,” Atem started cautiously, catching Peony’s attention again. “Mates are prized, and younglings are great gifts. Why is it wrong for us to want this from you?”
“It’s not wrong,” she promised, smiling sadly. “But we’re more than just baby makers.”
“No one said otherwise,” Havali assured them, especially Scarlet. “Even if you became a mother, I do not expect you would give up working. You like it too much. So, why should you not want to do both if you can? I can be a father and work at the same time. Can you not do the same?”
She stared at him cautiously for a long moment before something in her face started to relax. “Yeah. That’s true. Sorry. I just…”
“It’s a cultural thing,” Alanna said again.
“For a long time, on Earth, females were relegated to the home and making babies and nothing else. We weren’t allowed to have jobs or interests that a man, a male, might consider uncomely.
Our entire purpose was built around making babies and our foremothers went through a lot of trouble to break us free from that. ”
Havali frowned as he considered that information. If his passionate and hardworking Scarlet was forced to never leave the den. He couldn’t imagine such a thing.
Peony was at the mercy of domini instincts that would normally make a female not want to leave her nest at all, and she was constantly trying to get out.
It was like there was part of her that needed to stay and part that wanted to escape.
She soothed one until the urge of the other forced her to alternate.
For females without those domini instincts, to keep them in place, forcing them to remain in a den at all times, just seemed cruel.
“Why would your males do this?” He asked, confused. “If you want to do something, why would he not support your decision? Especially if it makes you happy?”