Chapter 19 Khur
Khur
Before today, I hadn't been to the aquatic level. I couldn’t remember why I avoided it, until I stepped out of the elevator bay.
It is so fucking hot. I resist the urge to pant to cool myself, not wanting to show Destiny how uncomfortable I really am.
She is radiant as she sits on our chartered sailboat and takes in all the sights the aquatic level has to offer.
Her cheeks are pink but she doesn’t seem embarrassed.
I think they are probably sore from the huge smile she’s worn since we stepped into this steam bath.
When she catches me staring at her beautiful face a little too long she pokes me in the belly and says, “I believe the show’s up there, big guy.”
Turning my face to where the Mercasians are beginning to rise out of the water, I smile a little too wide, myself.
I love the nickname she’s given me. I am quite bigger than her, but she seems to relish in it, even now tucking herself into my side and snuggling under my arm.
It makes me even hotter and I am threatening to spontaneously combust, but I can’t bring myself to remove her.
Josep is actually the one who suggested taking Destiny to see the water dancers for our second date. He even recommended Mojo’s charter. I haven’t run into many Mercasian during my time on Sanctuary. They can breathe oxygen for short periods of time, but most prefer to stay under water.
As I watch them perform their aquatic dance routines, I’m so grateful to my Originem friend for recommending this, no matter how hot it is.
Mercasian are tall, almost as tall as Dhugarens, but much thinner and lither.
They have finned ears and forearms and long, graceful legs that lift them out of the water in powerful flips and spirals.
Their feet are shaped like flippers and walking doesn't seem to come as naturally as the insane acrobatics they're currently performing.
The crowd oohs and ahhs as they work through complicated, synchronized routines.
Then, without fanfare, it is over, and the Mercasians seem to transform from acrobatic artists to everyday citizens as they swim towards the island or nearby boats, waving at friends.
One Mercasian, a bright pink female, swims in our direction.
Mojo grins, leaning towards us as if to share a secret, “this is Cambria. She wrote the choreography for today's show.”
Soon he’s helping the woman aboard and Destiny has moved away from me to sit closer and bombard her with questions.
My stomach is roiling with nausea, the heat starting to make me dizzy.
Destiny looks so happy, though. I don’t want to cut short her fun, so I rest my head against the plush seat and close my eyes.
I’m so hot and it’s making me exhausted. I think a quick rest will help.
“Khur! Wake up!! What’s wrong with him?”
I’m roused by Destiny’s concerned voice and her soft hands, trying to shake me but failing to move my mass very much. My head is pounding and I have the overwhelming urge to vomit. As I open my eyes and the bright artificial sunlight invades my vision, I lean forward and do just that.
“Ah, crud. I think your boyfriend is having a heat stroke. Hold on, I’ll hoist some water up to cool him down.
Mojo, you might wanna speed up a bit, I don’t think Dhugarens do good in this climate,” a no-nonsense female voice says and then dumps a bucket of cool water on my head.
It is instant relief that trickles down my nose and covers my entire head and shoulders, but the relief is short lived as the cool water slicks right off my water resistant fur.
Keeping my head between my legs, I groan as my heads seems to pound ever harder.
“I have an idea. Cambria, pull up another bucket.”
Then Destiny’s soft fingers are parting the fur at the back of my neck and separating the thick tresses and I’m groaning for another reason. Her hands on my bare skin are lighting me up and even through my headache, I yearn for her.
“Pour it here. The water needs to penetrate the water-repellant outside layer.”
Coolness splashes onto my skin, and this time it seems to stay as it seeps into the downy underlayers. It’s going to be a real pain to clean and comb later, but it offers such a relief for now.
“I’m going to penetrate you one day,” I moan nonsensically as Destiny orders the Mercasian to grab another bucket.
“If you promise not to die on me here, we can practice when we get back to Division Five,” she says, patting my back.
After what feels like hours of Destiny parting my fur and having water poured on my scorching skin we finally arrive back at the docks.
I’ve cooled down considerably thanks to the hard work of the two females tending to me, and I'm able to walk back to the elevator on my own two feet. Thank goodness, because I don’t think anyone here would have been able to carry me.
Mojo hands me a bottle of cold water and I down it in one long gulp while Destiny thanks him and Cambria profusely.
Once we’re in the air conditioned elevator I feel immensely better and look over at my tiny human. She looks both terrified and furious for some reason.
“Khur, I am about two seconds from throttling the hell out of you. Why didn’t you tell me you were getting so hot?”
“I didn’t want to ruin our date. You were enjoying yourself so much.”
“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. You know what would have ruined our date? You fucking dying on it!” Her eyebrows are furrowed, her mouth scrunched into an adorable frown and now that I’m starting to feel like myself again I can’t resist reaching out and tracing her pout with my thumb.
“Don’t,” she snaps, jerking her head away, “I’m furious with you.”
“Your happiness is the most important thing in the world to me.”
“You don’t even need a shovel, do you?” she asks incredulously.
“What?”
“To keep digging your hole deeper and deeper. You need to get something through that thick, horned skull of yours. You make me happy. And you can’t do that if you’re not around.
Your wellbeing is important to me, so it better be important to you, too.
What if I put myself at risk to make you happy? Wouldn’t that piss you off?”
"It seems like you put yourself at risk all the time," I point out. "I did rescue you from a frozen lake, where you didn't even have a coat!"
"Yeah, and remember how scared you were? Well imagine how it might feel now… Now that we've gotten to know each other," she says. "I was really worried about you, Khur."
I hang my head, ashamed. I had not thought of it that way.
“I’m sorry. I never meant to upset you. I just really want these dates to go well, so that you will choose to stay with me.”
“What? Is that what you think these dates are? Tests or trials or something? That’s not how courting works, Khur. We’re dating because we enjoy each other’s company.”
“Then how do I win you over? How do I make your soul the mate of my own?”
“Oh, Khur,” her expression softens and she steps towards me again.
The elevator feels like our own private world as she reaches up and cups my jaw, “you don’t have to do anything.
I’ve already fallen in love with you. I love you, Khur, and I want you to promise me you’ll never do anything that will put yourself at risk again. ”
“I love you, too, Destiny. I promise.” Then I lean down and capture a kiss from her welcome lips.
“Now let’s get back home and we can practice that penetration thing you mentioned.” She gives me a saucy wink and all I can do is groan.