Chapter 20

Rane

The teams’ cooperation was at an all-time high today. He didn’t think he could remember when they last worked together this smoothly. Certainly not at any point recently.

But their practices leading up to this game had been flawless, and it was translating into a game that was so one sided, it almost seemed unfair.

The team they were facing were from Holotulle. The center ringworld of the Coalition had no native species. Or, rather more accurately, their native species, the vitulli, were never seen. No one knew what they looked like or even where they lived within Holotulle. However, that didn’t mean there weren’t people from there.

Instead, Holotulle was something like an amalgamation world. Every species in the Coalition had citizens that lived there permanently, that were born and raised there, and some that had never even been to their native homeworld. There were some species there that weren’t part of the Coalition at all but had moved to Holotulle as refugees.

In a similar fashion, the champion team from Holotulle was made of different species, all with their own strengths and abilities. It made facing off against them that much more difficult since it wasn’t a matter of keeping one species’ abilities in mind.

But the teamwork of the Eliviers was so good, it almost didn’t even matter. It was like they were reading each other’s minds rather than their movements.

It had been too long since playing felt this good.

Too long since he had been this… happy.

That’s what it was.

Rane was happy.

It had been so long since he’d genuinely felt that way and not just some chemical facsimile of the real emotion. He’d almost forgotten how nice it was. The lightness in his limbs, the bubbling in his chest, the genuine warmth that pervaded every part of him.

But there it was. He was happy.

He didn’t care that his team was cheered while he was booed. He didn’t care that the gossip forums were saying that his stunt at the arcade was just a belated attempt at cleaning up his image. He didn’t even care that he was still under his mother’s thumb.

He was freer than he’d ever been, the future looked promising, and trikball was a game that he loved once again.

The final buzzer rang out and they absolutely destroyed the other team. They had beaten them seventeen to four. It was honestly an embarrassing gap for them, and with that kind of point difference, it would be hard for them not to be eliminated at the end of this round.

For Rane and the others, it was a joyous thing. They roared their victory in the locker room after their obligatory healing sessions. Even Rane got into it. Roaring, pounding feet and fists, as they celebrated their triumph and promised that the next team would be trounced just as viciously at the next game.

“Hey, Rane,” Sal clapped him on the back as he was applying his arm buckles. “We think we’re going to have a private party today instead of going up to the rooftop club. You in?”

“Private party?”

“Just us and family. Lisra is with Sandy. You coming with us or do you two want to go home?”

“Come on, Sal,” Arus called out, smirking as he shut his locker. “Isn’t it obvious? He’s newly mated. You think he wants to spend time with us?”

“No, he’s not,” Louve cut in, frowning exaggeratedly. “Remember? He’s been mated for tendays now. He just didn’t feel like he should alert us of that fact.”

“True,” Arus said as the three beaters nodded along solemnly. “Such a breach of trust…”

“I think there should be a penalty for that,” Louve smirked wickedly.

Rane smirked. “I already scored all your points for you today, Louve.”

“Those were lucky shots!”

“Luck plus coincidence equals skill,” Rane taunted back as the others laughed.

“Alright,” Sal interjected, chuckling. “Let’s just be happy that Sandy is a good influence.”

“Certainly not on his sense of taste,” Zell hollered, earning more jeers.

“Jealous?” Rane ran his hand over the newly plucked side of his head. Both of them were smooth now. He hadn’t had a chance to tattoo them yet as he planned, but he liked the look. “Sandy says this style on Earth is called a ‘mohawk’. She says that it’s a very popular and punk hairstyle on Earth. She loves it.”

“Only a mate would,” Zell taunted, a wide grin on his face, no heat in his voice.

“Enough,” Sal interrupted again, still chuckling. “Rane, you coming to the party or not?”

“I will if Sandy does.”

At least three of the others groaned exaggeratedly, but the rest laughed as Sal messaged Lisra to ask what Sandy preferred.

In moments, the team was going up to their private box, still chatting and cheering about their victory today. Rane couldn’t remember the last time they’d been this happy either. Even when they won the planetary championship, the mood hadn’t been this good.

Or maybe it had been, and he’d just been so far removed from it, he hadn’t been able to recognize what was going on.

The private box was already deep in their own celebration when they entered. The moment they stepped inside, however, a loud cheer rang out. Their friends and family converged on them, offering drinks and congratulations.

Rane looked over them all, scanning for a little female that stood so much shorter than everyone else. It made it hard to spot her.

But he certainly couldn’t miss it when she broke free, rushing for him.

She looked so damn cute. The shorts she’d picked today were hot pink and tight – she called them hot pants, and he thought it was a rather perfect description. She had a sheer, iridescent mini dress over them and a short, white top underneath that clung to her breasts. Fuzzy boots and bracelets sparkled while a flowered headpiece in front of her ear kept her hair back.

He understood why everyone said she looked wild and tasteless – but he’d honestly never seen anyone more beautiful and desirable in his life. It wasn’t about what craziness she was wearing. It was the bright smile on her face, the confidence in her step, the sheer joy when she threw herself at him, arms around his neck, legs around his waist, kissing him deeply like they weren’t in public.

And he held her back just as enthusiastically. What did he care? It’s not like he had some pristine reputation to maintain. He’d already been shamed in every way possible in the most public way imaginable. Being known for kissing and holding his female whenever the mood struck him was probably the best thing he could think to be known for instead.

“Great game, sweetie!” Sandy declared when she finally broke the kiss, still in his arms, beaming at him brightly. “You were so good!”

He smiled, proud, crest fully up, as he walked her into the room. “Were you watching? Did you have a good time?”

“I had a wonderful time,” she declared, and he had to believe it was the truth, because she looked so happy. She hadn’t seemed this free and unbothered since she landed here.

She was patting his shoulder now, silently urging him to set her down, which he did so she could return to the conversation his entrance had interrupted. She really had made friends with the people here. For as effortless as she was at being aloof and untouchable, she was also really good at being friendly and welcoming to strangers.

They weren’t able to stay long. The game ended after his curfew, however since it was for a professional reason, his curfew was extended to half a mark past the end of a game whenever he played. That was another thing his mother couldn’t prevent. So, they were able to enjoy themselves amongst the others for a short while.

He couldn’t help but notice, however, that she very deliberately didn’t take or give him anything that could be considered intoxicating. They ate some food, danced a bit, and chatted with as many people as possible, but they remained fully sober for it all.

And when they left, Sandy announced that they had to because of his curfew. He wasn’t bothered by how open she was about something that was, actually, extremely shameful, he was just curious about why she was doing it.

When they returned to the hover that Drevor was, again, driving, he asked her about it.

“Oh, I’m sorry. Does it bother you?” She asked, freeing her hair from its pins.

“No. I’m just curious.”

“Ah. Well, that’s more of my evil plans.”

He chuckled. “Evil plans?”

“Yeah. See, we could pretend you don’t have the adult guardianship thing, try to downplay it and everything like I’m sure others do. But why? Everyone knows it’s happening, and everyone knows why. Or they think they do anyway. If it’s not a secret, why pretend it is? Instead, you should accept it. Humility and understanding are very powerful tools. I don’t know how it is with telfay, but with humans, it’s sometimes very hard to get someone to just say ‘I was wrong’. They cling to mistakes and anger because it’s easier than admitting fault. But when you do admit fault, it’s so much easier to change and get people to accept that change. Which is what we want. So, I say, let’s not pretend we’re not adhering to every rule of your guardianship. We’ll tell everyone if they ask, but don’t say it like it’s some great chore or sacrifice. Just say, I have a curfew. Just like that. No blame or anger or anything. It’s a very mature thing.”

He laughed, putting his arm around her, pulling her to his chest. “A very mature thing, but you’re calculating it so coldly.”

“Yeah, that’s because our opponent here is your frigid fish of a mother.”

She surprised him again into laughing loudly. She turned, pressing a kiss to the column of his throat. Which he accepted with a smile, holding onto her tightly.

“Very well. It’s not like I have pride left to harm at this point.”

“You will,” she promised, climbing onto his lap. Kissing along his face eagerly. “You’re going to be able to stand proud and strong soon. I promise.”

“Then, I’ll hold you to that,” he smiled, letting her have her way with him. Enjoying the way she took from him so boldly.

“I am still not paid enough for this,” Drevor announced from the front, making them both laugh.

“Then, look away,” Rane ordered, wrapping his arms around Sandy as she giggled. “I’m going to get nasty with my mate.”

“Do not.”

“Can’t stop me!”

Loudly, exaggeratedly, he began kissing her all over as she laughed and squirmed and Drevor made annoyed sounds of protest and disgust, which only made Rane redouble his efforts. The sound of her laughter, the way she protested and wiggled, was more satisfying than the win, than the party, than being able to spend time with his friends again.

The happiness he felt was coming from her, and he never wanted it to end.