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"You don't have to wake me up like this every day," she tells me, gasping when my tongue flicks over a sensitive spot.
I know I don't. I just like to. So I nuzzle her sweetness and keep going.67SOPHIE"Are you sure your quarters are comfortable?" Fran asks me, patting the baby strapped to the front of her tunic. Little Jasmine's fists flail, catching Sleipnir's fascinated attention, but he doesn't move from my bed.
"They're wonderful, thank you. We appreciate you making room for us." I smile at her shyly. "We don't want to be a bother."
Fran just stares at me. "Girl, how long were you in captivity? You're doing us a favor. This isn't a bother. This should be us thanking you guys."
How long was I in captivity? I flinch. "Nine years. Too long."
She makes a sympathetic noise in her throat. "It wasn't long for me and it still felt like forever." She runs a hand over Jasmine's back, rubbing the baby again. "Okay, well, I'm not sure if you're familiar with a skater-class engine, but when we hit the hyperlane, we're going to glide past a lot of galaxies. When we're at full throttle, you might notice a little…sliding." She mock-shuffles her feet on the floor like she's ice-skating. "You get used to it, but just make sure you have everything tied down and watch your food and drink." Fran pats the baby again. "You'll see me wearing this constantly for the next while because of that."
"All right. I'll remember." I move over to Sleipnir and rub his favorite spot behind his ears. "Do you think he'll be okay? Or is it going to be scary for him?"
"I honestly don't know. This is the first time we've transported anything other than people, but I'd say just keep him with you and keep him occupied."
I nod. "I can do that." The flight isn't going to be great, because the Jabberwock is a lovely ship, but it's not made for a carinoux. The biggest place to move around is the cargo bay, but he can't be left unsupervised because of his ability to chew anything and everything. My task during this journey is going to be keeping a close eye on my buddy…which I don't really mind. It's either that or cage him—which I don't like—or put him in stasis. "Is there anything you need from me?"
Fran shakes her head, and then pauses, as if she's just remembered something. "If you talk to Zoey…be gentle. She's a little fragile right now."
"Of course."
Fran bustles toward the door, then snaps her fingers. "And if you come by my quarters after the little one is down for her nap, I want you to go through my old clothes. My hips are a little bigger than they used to be thanks to the baby, and I have some stuff that might fit you."
I try to bite back a smile. The Jabberwock is still in the asteroid belt, maneuvering slowly out of the dangerous orbit of the rocks, and our journey has barely started. Meanwhile, Fran's been doing her best to mother me and be a good hostess. She's showed me all over the ship, got fresh bedding, talked about the noodle supply they're carrying just for Jerrok's particular tastes, asked if the temperature of the quarters agreed with me, offered up scrap for Sleipnir, and basically has fussed over us constantly.
It's very sweet. It's been a long time since I've had anyone fuss over me in a sisterly-slash-motherly way and it makes me want to cry, just a little, because it's so nice. I'm trying not to weep like a baby every time someone is kind to me, though, so I manage a wobbly smile and hug Sleipnir. "Sounds good."
Fran nods at me, heading into the hall. She pauses, and I think for a moment she's going to offer something else—blankets for Sleipnir, perhaps, or to make me a snack. "If you want Jerrok, he's in the armory with Alyvos."
"Thank you. I'm good."
She finally leaves and I'm alone with Sleipnir. I scratch absently at his ears, thinking about Jerrok. He's been tied up with the guys ever since we left. I'd packed a small bag of my things, mostly just a change of clothes or two and my books, and I thought Jerrok would do the same. To my surprise, Jerrok had wheeled out an entire crate full of weaponry and a lockbox that he said was full of credits. I'm still more than a little stunned at the realization that Jerrok had so much money squirreled away. Maybe it's less than it looked like…but it looked like quite a bit. It makes me wonder what he was saving up for.
Kind of ironic that my lover shows up with an absolute shit ton of guns and the only thing I'm concerned about is a box of money. It's just…his prosthetics are so troublesome. Why would he hoard money instead of getting better limbs? It doesn't make sense to me. The guns I understand. How many times have I pulled random things out of engine compartments or ventilation shafts as I helped him out? I've seen food wrappers, noodle containers, a desiccated orange finger, empty weapon cartridges, and there was the one clump of used plas-film that still makes me shudder. It reminds me of driving around in a friend's car when I was a teenager and seeing the random stuff in the glove box. People shove things in their vehicles and forget about them. If humans do it, I imagine aliens do, too. I can only imagine what Jerrok has acquired over the years.
