14. Upside Down

CHAPTER 14

Max

Moss smirked as xe uncorked the artisan bottle of wine. The bottle itself should have been in a museum. It looked like a mix of crystals and blown glass, truly stunning.

"Am I just going to drink it while you carry me?" I teased.

"Yes. Why not? Open your mouth."

I smiled as I opened my mouth for xem. Moss stepped closer and tipped the bottle slightly, giving me just a taste.

Arborian wine was in a league of its own. My brows shot up as the flavors burst over my tongue. It wasn't too sweet and was perfectly balanced, not that I knew anything about wine. Not really.

"Wow," I said. "This is glorious."

Xe chuckled and handed me the entire bottle. "And potent."

Moss turned around and lowered xyrself expectantly. I glanced around, blushing as a couple of other people passing by gave us strange looks. I didn't care though. I climbed onto xyr back and held onto the bottle, taking another sip with a snicker.

Moss carried me down a path and then scaled a tree, drawing a squeak from me by how fast xe moved. I held on for dear life as xe came to a massive branch, walking down it and then across a path I couldn't see.

I was starting to get used to feeling like Moss was magical. And it was wonderful.

I held onto xem as I looked out over the massive trees and the crystals below. The glow splashed over the roots, creating an illuminated tangle at the base of the forest.

This was my favorite planet. Of that, I was certain. I'd never get over how beautiful it was. It was truly otherworldly.

Moss crossed another invisible path with a chuckle. "Doing okay back there?"

"Yes," I said. "More than okay. I'm enjoying the view."

"I take it for granted now, I fear," Moss sighed. "But I like hearing you talk about it. What's your favorite thing?"

"Probably the invisible paths," I said, staring down. My stomach did a nervous flip right as Moss stepped onto a branch. "I can't even see them, but it feels like you're a wizard."

"Perhaps I am," Moss teased.

"The wine is delicious," I said, sipping more.

"Our wines are lovely, I have to admit. Save some for me."

I agreed and then fought the urge to ask Moss about our conversations earlier. Our date had been perfect, but the food had interrupted what felt like a pretty important conversation.

I took another sip of wine as Moss came to the entrance of xyr home. The door slid open and xe stepped inside.

And froze.

My stomach dropped as I took in the destruction.

Moss's home was completely turned upside down. Items were strewn across the floor, furniture broken. Moss let out a low growl and let me off xyr back.

"Stay here," xe demanded.

"What?" I hissed.

Before I could get another word in, Moss moved in a blur. I always forgot how fast xe was until moments like this. My mouth fell open as xe disappeared. I heard a shout and my stomach flipped as I took off after xem.

I came to Moss's destroyed office where the window was open. Moss was leaning against it, xyr shoulders stiff.

"They escaped," he said.

"Who would have done this?" I asked, looking around, horrified. "Who was it?"

Moss didn't answer.

Everything was destroyed.

"Moss," I whispered, looking around. "We need to call someone. I'm so sorry."

Moss let out a frustrated breath and turned around, xyr shoulders sinking as they took in the mess. "I'm sorry, Max. I'm going to have to attend to some things. I wanted us to enjoy the rest of the evening, but this is horrifying."

"It is. Can I stay with you?"

Xe was quiet for a moment and then nodded. "Yes. Please."

I nodded, trying to keep my temper at bay because I wanted to punch whoever had hurt Moss this way. The thought of someone breaking in and destroying everything enraged me.

I followed Moss back to the living room where xe pulled up xyr communications system and started a call.

Xe was speaking so fast, I was unable to understand everything xe said, my communication piece struggling to keep up. Within a few minutes, several official looking Arborians arrived.

Moss crossed over to me as the others inspected xyr home. "They'll be here for a while," xe sighed. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I said. "Are you? I'm angry that someone did this to you. Do you know who?"

"I suspect that it was Dio," Moss said. "Given that he sent me a lot of angry messages and today he was reprimanded at work. I think this is a sort of retaliation."

I winced. That meant that all of this had started just because of some damaged equipment.

"Don't make that face, little tarax," Moss said gently. "This isn't your fault. I'll handle this and then we won't have to worry about anything else."

I nodded, although I remained unconvinced. I was worried about something else happening. I didn't know Dio or why they were taking everything so personally, but clearly something was there.

All I could do was hope that the authorities found him and kept him from doing this sort of thing again.

Moss tipped my face up, planting a gentle kiss on my lips. "I'm going to take you back home."

But this is my home too.

The thought was like a sharp little blade. This wasn't my home, but it was xyrs, and I didn't want them to be alone.

"I want to stay," I breathed out.

"I don't know how long they'll be around."

"I don't care. I want to stay with you," I said.

Xe was quiet for a moment and then nodded, kissing me again. "Okay. If you're sure."

I nodded, very sure. Moss turned as one of the officials called xem over. I sighed as xe went, chewing on my bottom lip, watching them talk. Occasionally, one of them would study me, but they never asked me anything.

After an hour or so, I found a couple of glasses that weren't broken. I poured each of us a full glass of wine as the last of the officials left. Moss locked the front door and sighed, xyr shoulders deflating.

"Come have wine," I said. "Come have a moment. And then we can start cleaning up."

Moss turned and looked around, xyr eyes flashing with a mix of anger, sadness, and strength. I could tell xe was doing everything xe could to hold it together.

Xe crossed through the mess and came around the counter to me, sliding xyr arms around me. I leaned against xem and closed my eyes.

"I wish there was more I could do," I whispered.

Moss snorted. "You are doing far more for me than you might realize. I'm going to hold you for some time."

"As long as you want," I whispered. I turned in xyr grip, wrapping my arms around xyr waist and pressed my face to xyr chest.

I didn't count the seconds or minutes. Instead, I just stood there, being held and holding xem too.

I want this forever.

I couldn't bring myself to say that though. I couldn't bring myself to tell Moss just how much I wanted xem to come with me while I was performing. Between tours, we could come back here, right?

My lips pressed together and I tried not to think about the future or how in just a few weeks, I would be leaving this place.

And potentially Moss too.

Moss kissed the top of my head and then released me. "Wine and…"

"Cleaning up as much as we can," I said. "And then maybe we can do something more enjoyable."

"Always such a thirsty boy," Moss teased.

"Always," I said as I reached for my wine. I took a sip and groaned. It really was some of the best I'd ever had.

"The council has agreed to repay me for the damages, and as far as Dio, he's being searched for," Moss sighed. Xe picked up xyr glass and took a sip, letting out a soft hum. "He won't get very far. Our world might be large and we might not be as modern as other places, but he will not escape for very long."

"What will happen then?"

"He'll be charged with breaking and entering. He wasn't very smart about how he did this. His fingerprints are over everything…" Moss swallowed hard. "I am concerned because he doesn't seem to care about himself. And that makes him more dangerous."

"We can talk to Madam," I said. "Increase security."

"Yes."

"I can't help but wonder why he hates humans so much," I said. "Or maybe it's just burlesque performers? Or maybe it's just us."

"I don't know," Moss sighed. "I cannot imagine hating humans just because, but there are some aliens that don't like how connected all of our worlds have become. If he's one of them, then that could very much be it. And then how I supported humans over him…"

I nodded, thinking about it.

"We can't assume everything though. I'm leaving everything else to the others. My main goal is to keep you and the rest of the troupe safe from anything else."

"I hate that this happened to you," I whispered.

"Me too. But I would rather it happen to me than you."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I didn't agree, but I understood what xe meant. If we were in opposite positions, I'd say the same thing.

"Let's start cleaning up," I said. "We'll get everything as organized as possible."

"We still have a bed at least," Moss mumbled.

"That's all we really need, right?"

Moss smiled despite everything. "I think so, huh?"

I leaned up and kissed xem, lingering there for a moment before looking back at the living room.

I pushed up my sleeves. "Let's get started."