26. Chapter 26

Ihold Zil's hand as we walk down the corridor. We wake up a bit too close to the roll calling time for the unloading. Only he has to be there, but I don't want to stay in the room alone, so I'm here with him.

He has been quiet since we woke up. My heart has been racing with the tension between us. Maybe he doesn't want to give me any pressure and doesn't want to keep asking me.

We turn another corner, running into the captain and another few uzains, who are probably also heading to the storage area.

The captain scowls at us, not saying a thing.

Zil bows his head, so I follow suit.

The captain ignores him and keeps walking. The other uzains bow their heads to Zil. He shrugs and nudges me to start walking. Apparently, we are supposed to walk behind the captain, but before the rest of the uzains.

I want to talk to Zil, but I should wait. We are with others.

I like him, but I'm not sure whether I want to travel with him. I... I still want to head back, but I'm not sure whether... I suppose a lot has changed since I was there. Maybe I no longer have the stall. I don't even want to think about it.

It doesn't take long before we arrive at the storage area. Uzains are already moving big cartons. All of those are almost taller than me. There are words on them, but I don't know the language.

Zil and I head to the side, leaning against the wall as we watch the uzains move stuff around with the robots. I think only those uzains have to work, not the captain and Zil. And since I'm the tiny human here and I'm supposed to be Zil's mate, I also don't have to work.

There are humming noises and occasional low thuds as the robots move the cartons to a transport ship. Looks like these are the ones we will be unloading soon.

I ask, "So, we arrived."

"Yes, a bit earlier in the day." He checks his watch. "It is almost time to get everything to the buyer."

"What's in the crates?"

"Weapons. These are taken from the Empire."

I suck in a breath. "So... You guys..."

"Yes, before we went to your space station and your stall, we were just done kicking the Empire's ass. We attacked their transport ships. You can bet they are mad at us."

"Yeah..." I stare at the floor, not knowing what to think about that.

Zil already told me they fight the Empire, so I shouldn't be surprised, but... That sounds scary. I'm not the timid one, but that seems a bit too scary.

He shrugs and pats my shoulder. "Don't worry, we are far away from their area. This is a space station in the Alliance's region."

I nod. That sounds a bit better, but still... "So, you do that a lot."

"Kind of. Depends on what we are paid to do."

"You'll do anything?"

"Only what the captain agrees to, which always aligns with our goals and values."

I suck in a breath. If I become his mate, this will be my life. I'm not sure whether I want that or not.

A uzain heads to the captain, who is standing on the other side of the room. The captain nods and straightens, instructing the uzains to start the transport ship. He gets into the transport ship, not without glaring at Zil.

A door at the side opens and the transport ship takes off. It is a small ship, seems like it is barely large enough to take all the crates.

I ask, "What are we doing now? He seems to be mad at you."

"I suppose. I kicked his ass right in front of at least a dozen uzains. You bet he is mad."

I sigh. "I've never wanted to cause you trouble."

He squeezes my hand. "Don't worry about that. You're never trouble."

I lean onto him, taking in his warmth. The swirls and marks on his body move as he breathes. I run my finger over the ones on his chest.

"The captain will meet whoever commissioned us, then give them the crates and call it a day."

"The way he glared at you... Were you supposed to go with him?"

"Yes, but it is clear he doesn't want to see me."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's not your fault. He'll get over it."

"I hope."

The uzains in the room are leaving toward the space station. I ask, "Are we supposed to have free time now?"

He flinches and the tension in his body spikes. "Yes. Do you want to come with me?" He winks at me with a sad smile. "Let's go."

I hold his hand and follow him. Maybe this is when he will bring me out of the spaceship and when we are far away, I'll take off into my own freedom.

But...

Then I'll never see him again.

He has long legs, but he is walking so slowly that a snail may be faster. But I'm not any faster than him.

The path to the space station is shorter than I expected. I wish it would take my whole life to finish.

He says, "Made up your mind?"

"Huh?"

"Like... Never mind."

The spaceship is in a parking lot. There are a few other spaceships around, but none is as huge. Maybe one of these beings will let me join them and send me home.

I glance at Zil. He is a handsome uzain with coal-gray skin and nice horns.

He also treats me well.

And... I want to give us a chance too, but...

He takes a turn and we are facing the huge marketplace here. This space station is even larger than the one I used to be in. There are a lot of beings walking around. If I want to, I can merge into the crowd at once. There are a lot of species around, though there isn't a single human. There are a bit too few of us, after all.

We join the crowd, walking past the stalls. There are beings selling all kinds of stuff.

My heart skips a beat when it feels like someone is watching me. I turn around to look, but everyone is walking and seems to be minding their own business.

"Hazel, what's up?"

I shake my head. "Nothing, maybe I'm a bit too sensitive. There's no way someone is looking at us, right?"

Zil scowls and looks around, but he doesn't find anything suspicious either. He pats the battleaxe on his back. "Don't worry about that."

"I know I'm safe with you."

He smiles, but that doesn't last. "Let's keep going."

"Where are we going?"

He halts. I stumble to a stop.

Someone grunts at us, walking past us and glaring. I don't blame him at all.

Zil shrugs. "I'm not sure. Do you have anything in mind?"

"Um... Somewhere with fewer beings around?" I want to talk to him before I make up my mind. Even though there won't be anyone interested in our conversation, I'd still want a bit more privacy.

He nods. "Sure."

We arrive at a corner, walking by a stall that sells jewelry. There are interesting shiny stones that I can't even name. The other side is selling dried fruit, which I used to spend so much on.

Even the air here seems familiar, though I know I'm on another space station. Trading, selling things, and cooking are what I like and enjoy, so...

The space station is like a city, only indoors. There are tall buildings, which make for plenty of alleys.

We arrive at one, getting out of the stream of beings. I almost step on a foot when I get out.

Now, there are only the two of us. I ignore all the others walking outside.

Zil has me backed up against the wall, which I like. It feels safe when he is right here with me. He lifts my chin. "Hazel... It is the time."

I swallow. Maybe there's no escaping that. "Zil... I—"

Someone flashes at the side, dashing right toward us. I flinch when Zil spins around, drawing his battle axe at whoever that is.

"Here!" Someone grabs my wrist, pulling me to the side.

"What?" I stumble when the woman grabbing me hisses again.

"Here, come with me."

What is happening? Is she trying to kidnap me? Like what the captain did?

She scowls at me. "Quick, before that guy catches you again!"

I'm about to say something when Zil lets out a pained moan. I yank my wrist off the woman's hand, running to Zil.

He is slashing with his battle axe at a golden scale male with horns. There is another who is made up of stone, ramming at Zil.

I insert myself between the stone male and Zil. "Stop it!"

I close my eyes when the guy can't seem to halt himself.

This guy is larger than me and with rough stone for his body. It is probably like ramming into a transport ship or transport robot. I'll be crushed and I may die...

Fuck... Maybe I shouldn't do this.

"What the fuck are you doing?" It is an angry growl, but it isn't Zil's. Maybe it is the golden-scaled male.

Someone yanks me and I end up slamming into something soft. When I open my eyes, all I can see is Zil's chest.

Zil hisses and soon puts me behind him, against a wall. Maybe he saved me and ended up slamming onto the wall himself.

I rub my cheek, only to find blood on my hand. Is that my blood? Or...

Zil...

He is panting with blood dripping down his arm. His battleaxe is on the ground, a few steps too far away from him. "Who are you? Why?"

The golden-scaled male points at Zil with a laser gun. "Let her go."

Zil turns around with a scowl. "So... You brought them here?"

I shake my head. "Hell no! I don't know them."

The golden-scaled male says, "You kidnapper."

Wait... The way he talks... "Now I know you! You are the one getting into an argument about lining up for fishballs."

He nods. "Yes. Kidnapped you. Sorry, couldn't help."

"So..." I ask, "You guys followed the spaceship to help me?"

There are four of them now, and Zil is on his own.

The woman who tried to grab me nods. "Yes, we would have tried to save you from the ship, but the few of us can't fight all those uzains."

Zil hisses. "Now, you think you can win against me."

I lift my hands to the side, trying to stop them. "No, that's not the point. Don't hurt each other. Zil isn't the one kidnapping me. He is trying to help."

The golden-scaled male tilts his head to the side. "You, sick?"

The woman says, "He means to ask, are you sure about that?"

I nod. "Thank you for trying to help, but... I think there's a misunderstanding here."

Zil growls. "I don't care. No one gets to hurt you."

The woman shakes her head. "We aren't going to hurt her. We thought you kidnapped her, but apparently, she doesn't think that way."

This is a bit too crazy. I can't imagine there are beings who cared so much and have been trying to rescue me. "Everyone... I think..."

"What is happening here?" A group of guards are here with their green guard uniforms. These armors cover their whole bodies, including their faces, so there's no telling what species they are. All I know is, they are still taller and stronger than me.

One of them says, "Who is causing trouble here?"

The woman goes over to them. "Nothing. We have things under control. We had some argument, but nothing major."

The one, who is probably the leader, tilts his head to the side. "He is bleeding."

Zil...

Zil takes a breath. "I'm fine."

The guards look at each other. "Well, if you insist."

As far as I know, the guards don't really care as long as no one complains. Most of the time, it is beings solving their own issues, with whatever means both parties deem appropriate. So...

But for the situation we're in, maybe that's better.

The guards leave, and the woman lets out a breath. "Well, they are gone now. I'm Nataly. Nice to meet you. If you think this uzain isn't an enemy, then we owe you an apology."

Zil grunts. "You are lucky I didn't smash your tiny human skull."

"What?" The golden scale male growls and lifts his laser gun again.

Nataly sighs. "Stop it. This is Nelutho. The rock over there is Jurenton. The one with tentacle hands is Zennolair. We thought you were in trouble."

Zil holds his arm with blood on it, the tension is still high in him. He is about to say something when I cut in. "I understand and I'm very grateful. I've never imagined someone would know and care this much. I'm Hazel, this is Zil. I think we should get help with this first."

Zil hisses. "I'm fine and don't need their help. They tried to take you away from me."

I hug Zil, whispering to him, "Don't be silly. I think they mistook you for the captain. It's okay. They won't hurt us."

He sighs. "I can get help on my spaceship."

Nelutho says, "Healing gun."

Zennolair, who has a gun in her tentacle hand comes over. "We are sorry. We thought... We are just trying to help."

Zil grunts when she uses the ray gun on him. He gasps when the ray fires at his injury. It must hurt...

I hug him. The tension in him seems to ease a bit, but not enough for me to relax.

Nataly says, "Maybe we should talk somewhere else, if you want to."

Zil hisses. "Why will I want to talk to you crazy ones who attacked me? Maybe you should go away before we come after you. So honorable for all of you to corner me."

Nelutho growls and opens his mouth, but Nataly stands between the two males. She says, "No fighting. I'm sorry about that. I..." She sighs. "I told you to stop jumping into things." Or so she seems to be talking to Nelutho.

Nelutho grunts, but says nothing to argue.

Nataly folds her arms and sighs. "Apparently, every time you run into humans you want to save, when we find them, they are mates and don't want to leave each other."

Oh... Is that a thing?

More importantly...

Does she think Zil and I are mates?

I glance at Zil. He is also watching me. His arm has stopped bleeding, and the tension in him fades, but at the same time, the intensity in his eyes sends warmth to me. He can hear Nataly too. Is he thinking about the same thing as me?

Nataly says, "We are very sorry. We thought you were in trouble."

I nod. "I understand. Thanks a lot for trying to help."

Nelutho asks, "Sure? Are you safe?"

"I'm safe with Zil. Thanks."

Zennolair gives me tissues. I use those to wipe off the blood remaining on Zil's arm. If we walk around with blood, it is going to raise eyebrows and catch attention, which we don't want.

"Now, you look like new." I smile at Zil. He doesn't seem too happy, which I understand.

Zil says, "Don't let me see you again. Otherwise..."

Nelutho huffs and leaves, and the rest of his fleet follows him.

I ask Zil, "Do you remember him?"

"I think I do. Nosy one who pointed his gun at the captain when we stopped by your stall. Could never imagine they would follow along the way."

"They don't seem to be bad beings, other than being reckless."

"They just want to help you. Saving you away from evil uzains."

I chuckle and hug him, burying my face into his strong chest. "But I... Well..."

"Maybe you should leave with them. They will bring you home."

I shake my head. He stares at me.

Maybe it is time, finally.