It was not as if Khar had become gentler. If anything, he seemed exhausted and irritable, like he was not quite at ease in his own body. Combined with his usual severity and mood-dependent silence, this should not have been attractive.
Yet Lily found herself quietly relieved just to have him back.
He also ate constantly.
Not proper meals, since that would have been impractical during work, but he kept tossing calorie spheres into his mouth. Lily used them too. They were individually calibrated to contain all necessary nutrients and were practically free on most stations. No one went hungry in space because of them, though real food was far more expensive.
“Lily. Let’s go eat lunch in the central plaza.”
She snapped her head up at the unexpected suggestion. Not because Khar wanting food was surprising. Lately, that seemed to be all he thought about. But because it had not occurred to her that they could leave the ship during work hours.
“I would love to!” she said. “But is that allowed?”
“Of course. Come on. I cannot eat another calorie sphere.”
She nearly bounced as she walked beside him, so pleased by the idea. Their work rations included Vitro’s generated standard menu, but it had grown monotonous. For Khar, who had been on the ship much longer, it must have been unbearable by now.
The central plaza was one of Lily’s favorite places on the station. Artificial weather patterns were generated there, and she loved feeling them on her skin. Vendors lined the space, and in the center stood tables and seating adapted for different species, making it easy for them to eat together.
They quickly agreed on a vendor that sold non-spicy food and joined the long but fast-moving line.
As they made their way through the plaza, Lily noticed far more attention than usual. She was used to drawing stares, but this felt different. It did not take long to realize why.
They were not looking at her.
They were looking at Khar.
Her face burned when she overheard two feathered aliens, likely female, whispering nearby.
“Do you see that Divani stallion?”
“Incredible. That black coloration.”
“I wish he’d mount me.”
“You? Dream on.”
Lily almost spun around to give them a piece of her mind, but Khar seemed so utterly indifferent that she decided against escalating things. When they finally got their food, Khar carrying triple her portion, she could not hold it in anymore.
“Those beings are so rude.”
Khar looked at her with those glowing eyes that increasingly felt like they could see straight through her, his expression blank.
“What beings?”
“The two feathery ones who were talking about you like you were a sex object.”
His brow furrowed between his horns as he replayed the last few minutes.
“Oh. That.”
He chewed thoughtfully before responding.
“For Divani, that kind of attention is not insulting. We consider it appreciation. Acknowledgment of potential.”
Her anger evaporated, replaced by confusion.
“You enjoy being sexualized?”
