Chapter 1 #6
“Very interested,” Eral said with approval. “Do you want to help Asher with his new humshus, sweetling? You want to help him into his new toy?”
Lee let out a whine that had all of the Dresht in the room shifting in their seats. He made another sound, just from the arousal that zipped through him knowing he was having such an effect on them.
“We would be happy with that, if he wants to help.” Trenet said quickly, voice hoarse. “If that’s alright.”
Lee wanted it so badly that all he could think to do was turn to Eral and tap at his own humshus.
He did it urgently, indicating he wanted to speak.
Lee didn’t do the sign often these days, there was hardly anything he needed to say to them, but this felt like one of those times where his words would matter.
Eral chuckled softly, and then reached over to take off the humshus for him. “Is there something you’d like to say, Lee?”
Without the humshus, he felt shyer turning back to the two other Dresht. Still, being in Ronet’s lap helped, as did his hands possessive and firm on Lee’s bare thighs.
“I—” he stuttered out, before licking his lips and trying again. “I would like to help. If that’s–if that’s okay.” He tried to give them a smile, even though he was nervous.
Something about the two Dresht softened then. Their smiles at him told him they thought his desire was adorable.
“That would be very okay, Lee,” Vrayl said warmly. “I’m sure Asher would love help with his new toy.” He looked to Eral and Ronet. “Is that alright with you two? If he comes over?”
“Of course,” Eral said. He sounded proud, and Lee beamed. “Go ahead sweetling, go on over and help Asher.”
Lee’s heart was pounding with nerves, but he was also excited, eager that he was being given this opportunity.
Ronet’s hands shifted to take off his mitts, and then Lee was being levered up and off his lap.
He had completely forgotten about his seated position, and having Ronet’s cock slide out of him sent a new rush of heat through him.
He was grateful Ronet was still holding his arm because suddenly felt unsteady on his feet.
Wetness dripped from his hole. His shift was so short he knew that none of the Dresht in the room missed it.
“It’s okay yshain Lee,” Vrayl said. “There’s no need to be afraid.”
Still, Lee glanced back at Eral and Ronet. Both of them were looking at him with soft smiles on their faces. He nodded at them, squaring his bravery up.
There wasn’t a huge amount of space between the two couches, but covering the gap still felt like it took a mammoth amount of effort. Neither Dresht moved, it was clear they were doing their best to keep everything calm for him, to give him the opportunity to do this without getting too scared.
Lee obviously had plenty of first-hand experiences with Dreshtians who had been cruel and mean to him.
Who’d lied to him, stolen him, and abused him.
But meeting these two was like seeing the flip side of that.
Just like there were good and bad Humans, there were good and bad Dresht.
These two were just like Eral and Ronet.
They cared so much about Asher, and were in turn trying to make Lee comfortable too.
When Lee got close enough, Vrayl scooted down the couch so Lee could stand between them. Trenet rubbed Asher’s shoulder comfortingly before easing the Human back from his chest.
“It’s okay, little love,” Trenet said soothingly as Asher immediately started shivering hard. “Your new friend yshain Lee is going to help you into a new humshus. He’s given you one from his own collection. Isn’t that kind?”
Up close like this, Lee could see all of Asher’s jahin better now.
His mitts weren’t just for his hands, they came up his arms and kept his whole upper body restrained.
The blindfold was well fitted and soft looking, shaping the contours of Asher’s face.
Lee knew it was for Asher’s comfort, but he wished it could be removed so he could get a better look at Asher.
Maybe when he settled in better and they had another play date, Lee would get to see his eyes.
“It’s—it’s my pleasure,” Lee said, feeling shy but wanting Asher to hear him. “I hope Asher likes this one.”
“I’m sure he will,” Vrayl said. Then, “Why don’t you help him take off his old one. Do you know how to do that?”
It wasn’t a test, from his tone Lee could tell he was genuinely asking. It made him feel warm, cared for. These two weren’t his mates and he didn’t want them to be, but it was nice to have an interaction with Dresht where he felt safe. He nodded.
“Go ahead,” Trenet encouraged. He’d eased Asher farther back so Lee could reach him.
His own hands were shaking when he reached for the buckle.
Asher’s hair was long and beautiful, so he was careful when he undid the buckle so that it wouldn’t snag on any strands. Still, as it released, Asher jolted.
Slowly, so slowly, Lee eased the humshus out of Asher’s mouth and off. Immediately Vrayl’s hand was there to take it, offering the new one in its stead.
“Please!” The word burst out of Asher’s mouth in Universal, so loud and shrill that it made Lee startle. “Please, don’t!”
He was panicking, his breaths coming in huge gasps. It was painfully familiar to Lee, and strange to see it from the other side. He knew just how much Asher must be hurting, how afraid he was of this new life.
“It’s okay,” Lee said softly, trying for a reassuring tone. “It’s okay, Asher, don’t worry, you’re safe.”
Asher’s head snapped in his direction. “You speak–you speak Universal?”
“Yeah?” Lee said, confused. He hadn’t even realized he’d flipped over to Universal. His translation chip was top of the line–necessary for Couriers–and it meant he could shift between languages as the situation demanded without really noticing.
“Oh, thank the stars, I—my translator—it doesn’t work here. I don’t know–I don’t know what they’re saying–! Please tell them I’m Human. I live on Journey-5. I’m–I don’t belong here. I don’t know what’s happening, I just want to go home.”
Understanding dawned on Lee. No wonder Asher was so frightened and confused, if he couldn’t even understand the calm reassurances and gentle praise from his mates.
“Your translator doesn’t work at all?”
“I can only get some of the words, and they can’t seem to understand me at all. They don’t—they don’t listen to me, please—” Asher let out a ragged cry and jerked in Trenet’s hold.
“Shhh,” Lee’s hands twitched, wanted to pet him, to soothe him the way Eral and Ronet had done for him, still continued to do for him. “Shh, it’s okay. I’ll tell them, don’t worry.” He quickly relayed the information in Dreshtian. Trenet and Vrayl both frowned.
“We had no idea his translator wasn’t working,” Trenet said, stroking Asher’s hair, who trembled. “The Match Agency didn’t say anything about his translator. We can look into getting that fixed. Could you tell him that? Could you tell him we didn’t know, poor thing.”
Lee was happy to assure Asher that his new mates would be getting his translator fixed as soon as they could. Instead of calming Asher though, it only seemed to agitate him.
“No, no, no, no! You’re not listening! No one is listening! I want to go home, please–”
His cries and pleas got louder, more upset, but Lee had the best way to calm him down right in his own hands.
Because yes, the translator was a problem and certainly needed to be fixed so that Asher could understand all the loving words Trenet and Vrayl wanted to lavish on him, but right now with as upset as Asher was, he had to be given when he needed. What all yshain needed.
To be properly, lovingly full.
Lee already knew his place as a yshain. He relished it. And he would show Asher. Maybe Asher wouldn’t appreciate it properly now, but eventually he would. Eventually he’d understand just what a blessing it was to have loving, caring mates here.
“I’m listening.” Lee said. He kept his voice low and easy like trying to calm a skittish animal.
Asher cut himself off immediately, his chest heaving, his face tilted in Lee’s direction.
Lee couldn’t see his eyes, but he thought the expression beneath might look desperate.
“I’m Human too,” he said, hoping that would ease some of Asher’s worry, “and I came here just like you. So I know how scary it is in the beginning. But I promise it’s going to be okay, Asher.
I-I’m giving you this because I know it will help. It’ll make you feel better.”
“You’re Human? Here? How did you–please, I don’t— I just want to go home, please—”
“It’s going to be okay,” Lee said softly.
Trying to convince Asher with words would be useless.
Lee remembered enough about when he came to know that.
Asher needed time, and he needed to process his experiences, and he needed to be shown.
All Lee could offer him now in comfort was his presence and the humshus.
He brought the humshus to Asher’s lips. The second it touched the rosy petal of his bottom lip, Asher started flailing as much as he could with his limited, restrained mobility. Trenet seemed to expect it, because he had wrapped his arms fully around Asher’s slight body, bracing his torso and head.
“This is going to make you feel better,” Lee coaxed. “All you have to do is open up.”
“No!” Asher hissed through his clenched teeth.
But Lee remembered how they’d gotten the humshus into his own mouth. He remembered this one had the buzzer that had unlocked his own tight jaw. He swallowed his eagerness, and felt for the button on the humshus. It took just a second to turn on, and then Asher was crying out, his teeth parting.