Page 281 of Light Leech

Naoma nodded.

“Do they have human producers?”

“They have more now, after protesters hit them with a barrage of anti-human allegations. Looks like Boyband’s parents were trying to work the system with those allegations in favor of their son, right Boyband?”

“What did you want?” he asked Naoma.

“What?”

“You paused David.”

“Oh, right. You never said you were into music?”

He shrugged.

She took a step forward and knelt by him. They shared a smile. Hers remained even after seeing David.

She pet David

She zegging pet David. I could see the meaty sweat on her palm as she removed it, but she didn’t break her visage. It has grown firm, kind, all for Boyband. She patted his shoulder.

I didn’t know if I had permission to love her yet, but I did in that moment. My passion burned. Zeg, she was so much more than a beautiful idol. I hated the idolatry the world gave her–despite my secret admiration for her music–but in that moment, I wanted to bow before her like her adoring fans.

Aside from my encumbering admiration, I felt a deepening gratitude. Here she was, comforting one of the vile fiends that surrounded her. If she could see through Boyband’s teenage angst and affection for teeth, maybe the kindness and flirting hints she showed me were genuine. I had always hoped it wasn’t for show, like some manipulative survival instinct, and this pushed my doubts away. They would return–my error, not hers–but that did not mean they were true.

She looked back and smiled at me, confirming my hopes to the point where I could barely contain myself. I knew I let my emotions get the best of me as my face ran warm and she giggled. She winked, then turned back to Boyband. Neither of us had said anything, yet a silent conversation passed and confirmed that what was blooming between us was real.

Her song Let’s Eat played in my head and I wanted nothing more than to be by her side under the lights of the Blue District, away from this corruption.

“Tell me about your music,” she said.

I needed nothing more than to hear her talk about hers. I longed to hear her sing. See her talent shine. See her dance, just to let her lyrics live if by any chance they were meant for someone like me.

Zeg, I really was just as bad as her idolizing fans.

He scoffed. “Why do you care?”

“First, I care about you.”

He scoffed. “Hear that, Pet?”

We all shared a light laugh, lifting the tension in the room.

“He better,” Naoma said.

Levity returned to Boyband’s voice. “Don’t try to butter everyone up like Ralia.”

“Oh, she can keep that position in the group.”

“And second?”

“Second because I think this could be important for finishing off your parents’ business.”

He sighed. “I never was that great at it, which is why they were hoping to have me apprentice under someone so high up, you plug? Look, I don’t mean to talk down to you, but you can’t really help in the production department, can you?”

“No, but–”

“Oh, don’t worry, Idol, I’m not going to discount your worth, but mine. Zeg my part in this. They put me into that zegging school just to have what you do–a connection to Reef. Why worry about me when we are already in with you? You plug?”