Levi frowned. “Zebedee?”
Ze’farr raised an eyebrow. Meanwhile, Paz and Jaeyoung both placed firm hands on Levi’s shoulders and gave him matching looks that I was certain translated to “please stoptalking immediately.” He understood the hint and did not make a fourth attempt.
“Oh, Ze’farr,” Jaeyoung said. “Did you end up eating thetteokbokkiwe made?”
“Ah, not yet. We were… occupied,” Ze’farr replied bashfully.
The other man had a knowing glint in his dark eyes. “I see.”
“Hey, Ze’farr, if you’re not gonna eat it, I will,” Paz offered, grinning.
Ze’farr bristled. “Iwilleat it! Don’t steal my food!”
As the humans laughed and chatted among themselves, a warm feeling swelled within me. The storm had passed, everyone was safe, and as the rainbow arced overhead, lighting up the sky with its brilliance, my eyes focused solely on the perfection of my beloved human.
“I don’t know if you noticed back there, but you were staring at me like you were about to eat me,” Ze’farr teased.
The comment came as we walked a loop around the village, soaking up the early morning light and the fresh post-rain air.
“That is how I always look at you, is it not?” I replied. “Would you like me to stare at your feet instead?”
Ze’farr laughed. It was free and uninhibited. “No, that’s worse!”
I did not understand why, but it was enough to hear the musical sound of his laughter.
As we strolled the perimeter, Ze’farr reached for my hand. He entwined them together—one small and pale, the other large and pale purple.
“Thanks. For, like… fixing my brain,” he murmured.
So stunned was I by his comment that I suddenly halted. “Pardon me?”
Ze’farr’s cheeks flushed, and he squirmed where he stood. “I don’t know how else to say it. I’m not as anxious, and I’m not terrified of everything anymore.”
He glanced up at the sky, and its chromatic light reflected in the green of his eyes. “When we first met, I was nervous you’d be likehim.”
In an attempt to respect his boundaries, I had not pressed Ze’farr about this person. Until now.
“Unit 44?” I asked.
“Yeah.” His voice was subdued, but unlike before, there was no lingering pain. “My old coworker. The man who manipulated Kur’tok and got me stranded here on Eukaria.”
The first outcome was terrible. However, selfishly, I could not be too upset about the latter.
“He wasn’t a nice man.” Ze’farr scoffed to himself. “Fuck, what an understatement. He was a total asshole. To everyone, but especially to me.”
My nostrils flared in an instant fury. “I did not know this about him. You said he is dead, yes?”
“Yup. For a long time,” Ze’farr confirmed. His grin implied that my outrage amused him. He squeezed my hand as a signal of his love, then went on. “You two have… similarities. You’re both ruthless about the things you’re passionate about. So in the back of my mind, I had a worm of doubt.”
“That I would be like him. That I would hurt you.”
He grimaced and looked away, as if ashamed of his previous feelings. “Yeah.”
I draped my tentacle along his chin, gently forcing him to meet my gaze again.
“I do not hold that against you. And I am proud of your willingness to be honest with me. That is all I want from you.”
Ze’farr swallowed, his expression wavering with emotion. Then he blinked slowly and leaned into my tentacle’s touch, nuzzling my appendage fondly.