Only when I turn, I see that his cheeks are red, his eyes wide. Quilliyn is laughing softly from the sidelines. My three human friends are talking in hushed tones.
“What the fuck, dude?” Zane finally asks, flipping Quilliyn off as he says this. “You can’t just steal the ball.”
“Balll. Nesssst,” I say, feeling suddenly ashamed. Did I do the wrong thing? Was I not supposed to intervene? I did not want anyone harmed.
Quilliyn approaches, putting a hand on my shoulder. “I was explaining the rules to him before we entered. He did not want to cause you distress, which is why he took the ball from you.”
I nod, and Brody moves up to me, his fist held out, an odd human ritual, but one that signals friendship. I bump mine to his.
“Well, whatever that was, it was so fucking cool. You wanna play a round, and then we can work out?”
Zane huffs, but then nods. “Yeah, fine. You should play a round with us. But I want you on my team.”
Quilliyn reaches out and touches his shoulder gently. I expect Zane to move out of the way eagerly, for he does not likeus, but he only stiffens and does not step aside. His ears are now the color of his cheeks.
“Thank you, Zane,” Quilliyn says, and Zane just rolls his eyes and points to the ball.
“Wait, wait,” Brody says. “Why does C get to be on your team? That’s not fair. He’s like the best of all of us.”
I feel my chest expand at the human compliment. I am much better than them. Humans are very weak and frail. But I do not say this, not that I could. My tongue does not work the way it should.
“How about C and me against you three,” Zane says as he peers over at Quilliyn.
“Fucking not fair, but fine,” Brody says with a grin. He always seems so happy. He will make a good mate for someone one day. “Next time, we each get a turn with him.”
“Alright, deal. Now, Cielo,” Zane says. “Get that ball and let’s get started.”
So I do.
By the time I am done putting the ball through the nest many times, we call it quits, and Brody offers to buy me a latte for being ‘awesome’. I like this word. It makes me feel proud.
I am quite good at basketball.
I am also good at lifting those irons, which I have learned are called weights.
It’s odd to be fitting in so well. It’s odd to want to. But it also makes the pain of missing home a lot less, and it’s harder to think about the last time I was on Erethar, which brings me some measure of comfort.
Zane has disappeared, stating he needs to go to work, but I did not miss the way he looked over at Quilliyn often, as if assessing him. I thought perhaps it was flirting, but the way Zane looks is nothing like the way Dante looks at me.
My hearts beat wildly in my chest at the thought of my human. I think he is still working, but I miss him.
I cannot wait to go home and see him again. Earlier, I felt suffocated by the small abode, but now I just want to go back there and wait for him.
“See you tomorrow?” Brody asks, his skin glowing with sweat.
“Yes.”
Chadwick appears with a latte in his hand and holds it out to me. I take it gladly, nodding in thanks.
He grins, and then I bump each of their fists, moving out of the gym, feeling light on my feet.
The walk home is cold, but I feel warm. Happy even. Perhaps my life here on Earth will not be so bad.
When I get closer to Dante’s abode, I see him across the street, locking up his store. My cock twitches within me at the thought of what he sells there. Will he use those toys on me, too? I would very much like him to play with me.
Something nags at the back of my mind, but it is forgotten when he approaches, a smile on his face.
“Hey, baby,” he says, and my claws appear, shredding the empty latte cup in my hand.
