Boner Scrapbook
Cya
“Well,isn’thegonnabe fun,” Gem proclaimed as Toni, Glyma, and Dex disappeared into the kitchen, the doors swinging shut behind them.
“Says you. You won’t have to work with him every day,” Rusty grumbled.
Honestly, Cya agreed with the Pyclon, but they remained silent as they turned their attention back to the espresso machine.
“He seems sweet,” Oliver defended.
Gem smacked Rusty in the biceps. “Yeah, be nice to him, Rus. He’s gonna look up to you.”
Rusty rubbed at his arm and scowled up at the Araknis. “How? He’s huge.”
“You know what I mean.” Gem huffed in exasperation as he stepped back behind the register to take the next customer’s order. “You’re older and cool. You’re gonna be his… sensate or whatever.”
“You mean sensei?” Oliver corrected, and Gem waved a blase hand.
“Same thing.”
“I don’t wanna be anyone’s sensei,” Rusty said with a hint of a whine in his voice.
“Too late,” Gem sing-songed.
“It’s a good thing,” Oliver said, placing a hand on Rusty’s shoulder. “You’ll be a great mentor.”
A mix between a growl and purr vibrated in the Pyclon’s chest, like he couldn’t decide whether to be annoyed or flattered. Oliver grinned down at him, scratching behind his notched ear, and Rusty ducked his head in embarrassment, even as his striped tail whispered over Oliver’s side.
“Whatever,” he muttered, but Cya caught the way he reached out to rub a thumb over Oliver’s wrist as the human made to walk away.
Cheeks pink, Oliver hesitantly reciprocated, swiping two fingers over Rusty’s inner wrist, and the Pyclon’s eyes widened in surprise. They stared at each other for a moment before Rusty purred in earnest, and Oliver’s grin brightened even more. Gem, for his part, simpered obnoxiously, several eyes watering as he pressed two hands to his chest.
“Can I get a smoothie?” a customer asked, and Gem rounded on her, flashing fang.
“For fuck’s sake, Brenda, read the room! We’re clearly having a moment here.”
Perplexed, Cya watched the exchange unfold. The dynamics between everyone at the cafe confused them; they always had. Different species from various classes and cultures, yet there was more affection and connection amongst them than Cya had witnessed in their own blood relations.
Seeing Oliver drag Rusty into a hug while the Pyclon pretended to hate it—even as he curled his tail around the human’s legs—made Cya’s stomach clench. Their skin felt tight and uncomfortable, the back of theirtongue turning bitter. They looked away, swallowing the disconcerting feeling.
With a gentle shove, Rusty escaped Oliver’s embrace and crossed his arms over his chest with a huffed, “Get off me. You’re making things so weird right now.”
“Love you too, Care Bear,” the human said as he strode toward the hallway leading to Quin’s office.
“Dick,” Rusty grumbled without any real heat, backing away with a chitter when Gem released a squeal and made grabby hands at him. “No, Gem, keep that cute-aggression in check.”
“That’s an entirely unfair request!” Gem pouted, but he heeded Rusty’s growled warning.
Nearly half an hour after he’d disappeared into the kitchen, Dex returned, laughing with Toni as the Elas clapped him on the shoulder. Unbidden, a flash of jealousy speared through Cya’s chest, and they couldn’t smother their glower as Dex fist-bumped with Toni, then swaggered back to Gem’s side.
“Everybody’s so nice. Except for Tad. She was kinda scary.”
“She’s absolutely terrifying,” Gem agreed. “It’s why I want to be her when I grow up. I’ve been considering a villain era for myself, and striking fear in the hearts of men feels like a great way to start.”
“Hashtag feminism,” Dex said seriously.
Gem wiggled giddily. “Oh my gods, exactly!”
