17. Dex’s Big, Fat Mouth #2
They were signing haltingly with Jasmyn, their hands slow and awkward. “Still learning,” they were saying. “Slow. Sorry.”
“That’s okay,” Jasmyn replied, signing slower herself so Cya could keep up. “You should come over more so we can practice.”
When it was clear Cya didn’t understand, Dex translated, and they briefly met his gaze before they spelled out, “O.K.”
With a happy rumble, Jasmyn threw her arms around Cya’s middle, cheek pressed to their chest. The Sypent froze at the embrace, eyes wide, mouth parted in a soft, “Oh.” Slowly, hesitantly, they hugged Jasmyn back, panicked gaze turning to Dex, as if seeking permission or approval.
He smiled softly at them, offering a thumbs-up, and their shoulders slumped in relief. They patted Jasmyn’s back, and her tail wagged in response.
“Pool?” Cya signed, then pointed down a hallway leading to the back of the house, and Jasmyn nodded.
She took Cya’s hand, bringing another surprised, “Oh,” from the Sypent, then she held out her other to Dex. When he took the offered hand, Jasmyn led them both down the hall, like she’d been in this house a thousand times before.
The back of the house was just as fancy as the front.
Pink-marbled stones paved the patio and lined the edges of the long, rectangular pool.
Gem, Oliver, Liel, and Toni were already in the water.
Rusty sat on the edge, feet dangling as he reclined back on his hands.
Enfys lay on her back with her head on Rusty’s thigh, saying something that was making Rusty laugh.
Glyma was helping Quin into the pool, even as the Daemon complained, “I’m not that big, yet, Glym. I can still walk!”
Krul and Willow were chatting with Dex’s mom as Hemersyn flitted about in full hosting mode, fetching people drinks.
Yve had already claimed a lounge chair, big sunglasses perched on her beaked nose, and Abi stood in the shade of the overhead balcony, still wearing long sleeves and pants, even with the summer heat.
With a squeal of excitement, Jasmyn dragged Cya toward the pool, ignoring their protests of, “Oh, Sypents aren’t strong swimmers, and I just washed my hair. I should probably—okay, fine, just in the shallow end, then.”
Drink in hand, Toni’s human boyfriend, Jude, sidled up next to Dex. “Hey, Dex.”
“Jude the Dude,” Dex said, flashing finger-guns.
Jude chuckled, flat teeth stark against his brown complexion. His dark curls were windswept and messy, and he was so small, even shorter than Rusty. Perfect height for Dex to prop his arm on his head.
He didn’t though, because Rusty had told him that most people of the short variety didn’t appreciate it.
“You don’t wanna swim?” Dex asked, and Jude shrugged.
“Maybe later. Still getting over a stomach bug, so I don’t want to tempt fate.”
“That sucks. I hate throwing up.”
“Same,” Jude said as he took a sip of bubbly water.
Dex inhaled deeply, smelling pool chemicals, freshly cut grass, and whatever meat was slow-cooking on the grill. He smelled his mom and sister, of course, their scents so familiar he could pick them up anywhere, and the weird combination of his coworkers and their partners.
Jude smelled the way he had when they’d first met, like sandalwood and something Dex didn’t know the name for, a bit citrusy, a bit floral, but with a sharp bite of earthiness. But woven through it was a different scent. It made Dex’s nose twitch in curiosity.
As subtly as he could, he leaned in closer and sniffed at him again, and Jude shot him a suspicious frown. “Uh, what’cha doing, Dex?”
“Nothing,” Dex lied as he sniffed a third time.
“Dude, are you sniffing me?”
“No,” he lied again, then he nodded. “Actually, yes. You smell different.”
“Uh, okay? I borrowed Toni’s deodorant this morning.”
“No, it’s not that.” Dex scrutinized the smaller man in confusion.
Because the hormonal cocktail he was smelling didn’t make any sense.
Jude was a guy, and even though Dex wasn’t a human expert, he was pretty sure that the guys weren’t the ones to bake the buns.
But… Well, there really was no other explanation.
Unless—numerous things clicked into place all at once, and Dex smacked himself in the forehead. “Oh my gods, I’m so dumb. I missed, like, all the clues.”
Thoroughly lost, Jude faced him, a bemused smile playing at his mouth. “About?”
“You,” he said seriously, “and you’re transness.”
Jude’s brows shot up.
“Because I was telling Toni about how I ruined Jasmyn’s bra because I put it in the dryer, and apparently, that’s a big no-no.
And Toni was like, ‘Yeah, you can’t do that.
I’m pretty sure they gotta air dry, but I can ask Jude to be sure.
’ And I figured that meant you had sisters or something.
But it’s because you had tits,” Dex grinned victoriously, immensely proud for putting it together. “Right?”
Chuckling quietly, Jude nodded. “Yeah, Dex, I did. A long time ago. I thought you knew.”
“No, I did not pick up on that, like, at all. Not until right this second, but it explains so much.” He leaned down to eliminate the height difference and whispered, “Congrats, by the way.”
Matching Dex’s volume and conspiratorial tone, he said, “For being trans?”
“Sure, that too. But also… you know.” Dex winked.
Jude frowned. “My new job?”
“I didn’t know you had a new job.” Dex clapped him on the shoulder. “Congrats on that too. Man, you’re just popping off in life, right now.”
“Thanks, I think?” The human studied him a moment, and Dex started to get a sinking feeling. “But what were you congratulating me on the first time?”
“Oh, I jumped the gun, didn’t I? Sorry. I know better, but I just got excited.” Kicking at the ground, Dex ducked his head, ears flattening. “I won’t say anything to anybody until you do, promise.”
Concerned now, Jude looked around, then stepped even closer. “What are you talking about, Dex?”
Then another realization.
“Oh fuckballs, you don’t know either,” he said, and Jude’s eyes widened.
“Know what?”
“Nothing.” Dex backed away, but Jude followed.
“Um, I don’t think so. You can’t just say something ominous like that and then take it back,” he hissed.
“I’m probably wrong anyway.”
Dex’s back met the patio door, and he cowered away from the small human’s intensity as he said, “Wrong about what?”
“Uh…” Dex glanced up over Jude’s shoulder. “I think I need back-up. Rusty!”
The Pyclon’s head turned in his direction, and he lifted a mauve hand and shielded his eyes from the sun as he barked back, “What?”
“Can you come here for a sec?”
“Why?”
“Just—” Dex motioned violently. “Just come here a sec!”
With a groan, Rusty stood, water soaking the pink fur of his calves and leaving paw prints as he crossed the veranda. A few people watched them, but by the time Rusty closed the distance, they’d all returned their attention to what they’d been doing before.
Pyclons didn’t have as sharp a sense of smell as Lupyns, but Dex hoped Rusty would be able to bring some clarity. Or, at least, tell Dex that he might be wrong.
Hands on his hips above his black board shorts, Rusty said, “What?”
“I may have gotten myself into a bit of a pickle,” Dex admitted, jerking his head at Jude. The Pyclon blinked, long and slow. Dex nodded at Jude again and inhaled significantly.
Rusty looked from Dex to Jude, then back again, and understanding dawned. “Dude!”
Dex cringed. “I know.”
“You’re not supposed to say anything until they do,” he growled, and Dex nodded.
“I know. I wasn’t thinking.”
“Yeah, I’ll say.”
“But it’s worse than that,” Dex whispered even quieter. “I don’t think he knows.”
Rusty’s eyes got so wide Dex could see all the white surrounding his pink irises. “What?”
“What don’t I know?” Jude asked, and he sounded terrified. “Rusty, what don’t I know?”
“Oh fuck.” Rusty grabbed Jude’s arm and dragged him back into the house. “Get your furry ass in here,” he snarled at Dex. “You made this mess. Come clean it up.”
Tail between his legs, Dex scurried after them. “Yeah, okay.”
They barely made it to the entry before Jude yanked Rusty to a stop at the bottom of the ramp, breathing unsteady. “Rusty, what the hell? You’re freaking me out, right now. What’s going on?”
“When was your last shot?” he asked, and Jude reared back.
“Why—”
“When was it?” Rusty pressed.
The human shook his head. “I dunno. Eight weeks, give or take.”
“Shit.” Rusty rubbed the back of his neck.
“Why?” Jude repeated.
The Pyclon worked his jaw, shooting Dex a glare, and he withered further. He hadn’t meant to mess everything up, and he wasn’t even sure he fully understood what was happening right now. But it was still his fault.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“I’ll deal with you in a sec,” Rusty said, and Dex flinched.
“Rusty?” Jude asked, voice small and trembling. “Please tell me what’s going on. Why does it matter when my last T-shot was?”
Looking like a man on death-row, Rusty closed his eyes and sighed. “I thought—I hoped that it was the reason. If you just took your shot, it could explain…”
“Explain what?” Jude asked, but judging from the growing horror on his face, Dex thought maybe he already knew the answer.
Rusty’s face crumpled as he said, so gently, like an apology, “For the hormone change.”
Jude blinked. Then he frowned. Then his dark complexion paled to something ashy, and he shook his head. “No. No, that’s—no.”
“We might be wrong, okay? Humans are different. You might not be—” Clasping Jude’s shoulders, Rusty whined deep in his throat as the human’s breathing grew hollow and choppy. “Hey, easy. C’mon, Jude, breathe. It’s okay. It’s gonna be okay.”
“Should I get Toni?” Dex asked carefully.
Both Rusty and Jude barked, “No!”
As Jude struggled to catch his breath, he fisted Rusty’s chest fur hard enough the Pyclon winced. “I need to get to a pharmacy.”
“Now?” Dex asked.
“Yes, now!” Jude snapped, and Dex cringed away.
“Okay.” Rusty nodded, fingers flexing on Jude’s shoulders. “Okay. Let’s go.”