Chapter Fifty-One
Aphrodite woke with a gasp. Her throat burned like it was an open wound. The second her lips split open something was sprayed deep in her mouth and she choked on the mist. Blinking rapidly, she went to grab at her mouth only to hear Vivian tsk with irritation. “Eh! Don’t you dare!”
Aphrodite froze, letting the world come into focus once more. They were back in the station, deep in the medical bay. The symbol of the Vroz embellished on the wall made her release a heavy breath. I’m home. She smiled weakly, laying her head to the side. “You made it.”
Vivian tucked her blanket up to her armpits once more, red in the face from fussing over the engineer. “In one piece, I might add, not something I can say for you.”
“Did I lose a leg?” Aphrodite choked on the throat spray some more as it worked its magic on her scratchy esophagus.
“No, but if you weren’t already banged up and bruised like a peach I’d punch you square in the chest. Aphrodite Kerso, don’t you ever scare me like that again?
I was on my way here to party with you and celebrate then we got that distress signal, and then you told us not to come near you?
” Vivian crossed her arms over her lab coat, tapping her heels against the ground.
“It’s a long story,” Aphrodite laughed in painful spurts.
“Well, after you rest for twenty-four hours, you had better clue me in. As the royal physician, I need to know everything…” The two locked eyes for a long moment before they broke into giggles.
That was until Aphrodite wheezed and flinched.
Vivian apologized, rushing to add more cream onto her skin.
Vivian fussed over her for a few more minutes, applying more cream and serums to her flesh before tucking her in again.
“And no moving, gears. I mean it, you have to be on bed rest for a full day.”
“Try telling my mate that, needles.” Aphrodite sank back into the coziest medical bed she’d ever had the pleasure of lying on.
“I tried, he was rather insistent that you can be on bed rest in your bed. To which I called his bluff and he pouted. Like a cute toddler, I might add, but he has since been whisked away by some official-looking people. So, I have you all to myself for a few hours, Muhahahahah!” Vivian cackled like an evil genius, including a little toss of her hair and a small bend backwards to complete the look.
Aphrodite sputtered but laughing hurt too much to give in.
Once Vivian recovered, she sat down on a chair beside Aphrodite’s bed, clicking away on a floating keyboard and screen.
“What cha got there?” Aphrodite gulped down her tongue a little, relieved to feel her throat already completely healed.
“Well, the Vroz need their systems calibrated to human anatomy so I can do actual scans on you. So far we’re doing what we can with what Buddy can scramble together.
I knew you had a few fractures, nothing to sniff at with Vroz technology and balms. Most of your wounds were superficial.
Well, except for the headwound and the massive bite to your neck. ”
“Only…um…only one of those was from the fight,” Aphrodite pressed her lips together firmly, trying not to smile like a mischievous little child as Vivian slowly twisted toward her.
“Which. One?”
“Dead Danny slammed my head into a panel during our scuffle for the command deck.” Aphrodite licked her dry lips.
“And so, the wound on your neck was just, a what? A love nibble?” Vivian quirked a suspicious brow.
“I didn’t know I was into biting so much till I mated with someone really into sinking their teeth into me,” Aphrodite wheezed out all the words in a single breath.
Vivian jerked like she was going to slap Aphrodite on the leg but decided better of it. She huffed, “It’s not fair! I haven’t heard a single juicy detail. I need you to spill. Well, no, I need you to rest first, but then I need you to spill. I wanna know everything!”
“Oh, don’t worry, you’ll get your fair share soon enough,” Aphrodite mumbled to herself as Vivian turned back to the computer.
For a glorious eternity, Aphrodite dozed in and out of consciousness.
Every time she awoke, Vivian was plugging in information into the computer about a different part of the human body.
It was peaceful to lay there, drifting in her own mind to the comforting lullaby of fingers across keys.
The familiar click clack, the soft breeze of medical bay air, and the murmur of people on the other side of the wall near her.
Then the sound of footsteps woke her up as a familiar thud rattled through her ears.
The door to their room hissed open and she forced her eyes open.
Xexis crept closer, a single flower in hand.
He tucked it onto the bedside table, the petals bursting with golden glitter.
It was floral and familiar, like grapefruits and honeysuckle.
Her lips curled as she inhaled the scent deeply.
“What is that?”
“Mangroix flowers, I picked it from the station gardens. Some never bear fruit and stay flowers all season long.” He knelt beside the bed, taking up her palm without moving it away from the blanket.
She could feel Vivian giving him a death stare from across the room.
Xexis bent his head to kiss her knuckles. “My mate, how do you feel?”
“Like I got hit by a spaceship,” she croaked.
“Well, you didn’t, but I understand the sentiment.” He grinned, laying his face against her hand tenderly.
Aphrodite chuckled softly, rolling her eyes. “Vivian’s got me all stitched up, but I still need to rest.”
“I know, and much like when we attached your breathers…I will find the patience and resolve to resist climbing into bed with you.” He moved to press his forehead to her knuckles again.
His body shivered as he took a few shaky breaths.
She didn’t imagine he would ever cry. Xexis her ever stable, steady, durable mate.
Not until he peeked up at her with a weak, soft pinch in his face.
His pincers were softly curled, as if afraid to even touch her.
Several tears trickled out of his eyes and fell onto her knuckles.
Aphrodite blinked, trying not to follow him into a fresh set of her own.
She wasn’t sure she had the hydration to cry at that moment.
Instead, she stroked the side of his face sweetly.
“My mate, don’t cry,” she murmured.
“I can not help it. The relief of seeing you alive is a joyous moment worthy of losing hydration.” He cupped her hand to his cheek harder.
“Xexis,” Aphrodite exhaled, curling a finger against his pincer. His big eyes snapped up to her face again. “Bring your face closer, you massive goofball.”
He beamed, shuffling forward till his face was propped as best it could against her pillow. Aphrodite shifted, grimacing as she did, before pressing a kiss to his cheek.
“I am missing context, my mate,” he chuckled under his breath, “what is a goofball?”
“It’s an affectionate insult. It means you’re silly, but that I love you.”
Xexis let out a soft hum of appreciation as she kissed his cheek again. Aphrodite let the pain subside, getting used to the new position solely so she could have her face close to him. Eventually Vivian cleared her throat and Aphrodite settled back to where she had been.
“I love you too, Aphrodite Kerso. My mate.” He slipped up to his feet, pressing his forehead to hers.
“Xexis,” Aphrodite pouted as he pulled away. “Are all our hunts going to be like that?”
He let out a fully belly bark of a laugh. “No, no they won’t. Not if our new Korzavic has anything to say about it.”
Aphrodite grimaced, watching her mate deflate with a groan of his own. She gave him an apologetic look. “Has Xnasis been yelling at you for our hunt?”
“If yelling means the sound of cannons going on repeatedly, then yes, he’s been yelling.
” Xexis crossed his arms over his chest. The small somber moment was quick livened as he peeked up to Aphrodite with a mischievous smile.
His pincers twirled around his mouth. “Though, I think he’s rather proud.
He tends to get louder when I point out how well you did. ”
“Not bad for the first hunt on my own, huh?” Aphrodite let out a puff of air, all the wind under the sails long gone.
“As if there was any doubt that my mate was the strongest hunter in all of the station,” Xexis winked at her teasingly. “You’re one of the few who can say they hunted the Kannatch and won.”
“Few?” Vivian snorted.
“Well…I was young once,” Xexis chortled, bending over to press his forehead to hers. “But yours is the only one worth note, as I was at my full skill when you bested me.”
Aphrodite flushed, sinking into the bed like a puddle of goo. Xexis took a deep breath, lingering with his forehead to hers before slowly pulling back.
“You have to go?” Aphrodite didn’t want him to leave but knew there was much to do.
“I do not, but as I was not permitted to eat inside the bay,” Xexis shot a glance at Vivian before glancing back at Aphrodite, “I am going to go stuff my face full of food with Grooug, Kiefgr, and Reevar. Then I will be able to return and sit by your side until you can be moved to our chambers for more rest.”
Aphrodite turned her head to give Vivian a side eye. The physician slowly gave Aphrodite her back, typing away on her computer. Aphrodite snorted, rolling her eyes. Returning her attention to her mate, she nodded. “Go, get some food, I’ll still be here.”
He pressed his forehead to hers one last time before slipping away.
Aphrodite immediately broke the rules, jerked her arm up with a hiss, and snatched the flower.
Vivian made a strangled sound as if to stop her, but it was too late.
Aphrodite had her arm back down and the flower against her nose.
She took the biggest whiff before grinning like a fool.
“What even is that?” Vivian huffed, flicking Aphrodite’s finger in vengeance.
“Mangroix flower, wanna sniff?” Aphrodite winked at Vivian. The second her friend’s face was in the petals, she said, “Xexis says that pussy tastes just like Mangroix fruit.”
Vivian choked on petals, hacking up a lung as Aphrodite giggled, then groaned, then giggled some more.
Despite the physical pain, it was really fucking nice to laugh again.
Aphrodite felt at peace, and as she calmed down from her fit of giggles and dozed off once more to the sound of her friend muttering to herself…
she found the stars were also at peace. A small voice filled the back of her head, tickling tendrils licking up the back of her head.
Thank you, Aphrodite Kerso…we are safe.
And she watched dancing jellyfish in an endless, starless oblivion.