Synth

A hot shower and a cool can of that sugar had become the morning routine for DH and TO. Later, after getting Constance, they would go and find some actual food to start their day but the quiet mornings they now had the luxury to enjoy was something that TO came to treasure. The closest thing they had before this was when they were going to Arkane from the Training Centre, but even then they rushed their meals and got to their tasks as soon as they could. Now? TO and DH would wake up, and Constance would get as much sleep as she could until TO gently shook her awake, telling her she had to get up and get ready now or she'd be late.

Quiet, peaceful mornings were the norm now. What did they have to rush for, anyway? DH had plenty of time for their projects, and TO could only work for a few hours a day on their flight mobility.

TO sat at their table, having their drink and looking through the latest reports that had gotten through to Scraprock when the alert told them someone was at the door.

"Probably Lendulin with Constance," TO said as they got up. They watched DH as their mate moved as though to help them, but then forced themself to sit back down.

"Thank you," TO said, their ears flicking up.

"You know I just want to help."

"I know, but I also know I can get the door on my own!" they grinned at DH with a playful ear flick, then opened the door. It wasn't Lendulin with Constance; it was Runala, and they were alone.

"Hello. Or, Good morning." They said as they gave a quick incline of their head, "Could I come in?"

There was something odd about seeing Runala there in the doorway of their little room. Before now, Runala, Pulsar and Mirian had seemed part of a different world, despite them all being on Scraprock. Even so, TO stepped aside and let Runala step into their room.

"Ah, you must be Dee." Runala said as they let their gaze on DH. Their ears perked up. "I've heard a lot about you, and I even saw the emergency broadcast that you sent out." Their ears flicked back briefly, almost as though they were afraid. "You must have been terrified. I know we've all come a long way since-"

"It didn't matter if I was terrified or not, did it?" DH asked, their ears slightly back, not pinned down, but at a cold angle, "It had to be done, so I did it."

"Ah. right." Runala said, their ears dropping, "Of course."

"Ah, DH was worried!" TO said as they put themself between DH and Runala, "But I was really proud of them for doing it. They saved everyone!" TO's own ears dropped in worry, not just because of DH's sudden, uncharacteristic coldness but also because of the way Runala seemed to shrink, how their posture changed, shifting from what TO had viewed as a confidant, commanding posture to one bowed, their shoulders slumped in as their wings hugged their arms.

"I did what I had to do. That's it." DH muttered.

"They're right." Runala said, forcing themselves to stand upright again, willing their wings to drape over their shoulder rather than hug their arms. Still, there was no way they could hide their low ears. "I mean, one does what one must." They cleared their throat and turned to TO, "I admit, I could have waited to see you again, but I did want to meet your mate-"

"Well, I hope I've lived up to expectations." DH said in that same cool voice.

"DH!" TO was at a loss. DH had never been this rude before! Why now!?

"Did I come at a bad time?" Runala asked as their ears further dipped, "I know it's a bit early-"

"No, you're fine." TO said as they went to the table and pulled out a chair, "Please-"

"Oh, no, I won't be long." They said quickly. "I just wanted to apologize to you on behalf of Pulsar and Mirian."

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

"Apologize?" TO leaned forward on the back of the chair they pulled out, "Apologize for what?"

"What they said yesterday, and the assumptions they made." They glanced at DH, then quickly back to TO as their ears flushed a warm blue, "Whatever the situation is, it's none of our business, and it was..." their ears flicked back as they frowned, "Well, at the very least rude to just ask like that."

"It was." DH's ears narrowed further, and they stood up with their arms crossed. "I don't even think most civilians would be so... So brazen about -"

"DH!" TO looked at DH, their eyes wide and their ears down, "Please!"

"No, no, DH is right." Runala said, once more letting their ears drop down. "I suppose for a lot of us... Well, if you're mated like that, and you cycle, it's hard to hide. It's... Well, we got over the embarrassment of that pretty quick, for the most part. That still doesn't excuse the lack of tact that Pulsar showed and absolutely doesn't excuse Mirian pushing the issue." They shook their head again, "I just wanted to make sure you weren't upset."

"Oh, no no, it's fine." TO said. They caught the way DH's ears pinned back as they spoke, and moved so that while Runala focused on them, they wouldn't see DH. "Really, it's not a problem-"

"You looked upset when you left yesterday." Runala said, "I understand entirely, and I wanted to make sure that you were ok, and that you still wanted to come train with us."

"Of course." TO said, their worry over DH's behavior right now overriding any embarrassment, "Of course, I will. I mean, I still have a lot to learn from you!"

"And it's not just for that, I hope!" Runala said. "Mirian really enjoys your company. I mean, I know they act like nothing matters and they don't care about anything, but they actually do care, and they're always happy when they see you coming!" Their ears flicked with slight amusement. "In fact, I think they were more concerned about you never coming back than I was, but they'd never say that."

"Don't worry about that." TO said, stepping forward and gently leading them to the door, attempting to be subtle as they guided them away from DH, "Of course I'll be back! I mean, except when you and Pulsar are busy-"

"Actually, about that." Runala had been letting TO guide them to the door, but suddenly stopped. "Pulsar and I will be busy, but Mirian won't be."

"Oh?" No matter how hard they may try to hide how flustered they were by this conversation, they couldn't, not when their ears were burning.

"It's just us three, honestly." Runala said. "Mirian hasn't found a mate yet-"

"An Ankrya?"

"I don't think so." They said, "Just, it hasn't happened for them yet. So, they're all alone when Pulsar and I are busy, and they get lonely-"

"So, you need a babysitter?" DH said from the back of the room.

"I'm so sorry." TO said, their ears dipping in mortification as they took Runala's arm and led them out of the room more forcefully and obviously than they had wanted to. Once they were outside and the door closed behind them, TO immediately started tripping over their own words in an attempt to apologize.

"I'm so sorry! I have no idea why they were acting like that! DH never acts like that. They're normally so friendly, and -"

Runala held their hands up, gesturing as though they were either telling TO to calm down or slow down, "It's alright." They said, amusement making their ears twitch, "Honestly, if I thought someone had made Pulsar uncomfortable, I'd probably be just as cold. Especially if it was someone I hadn't met."

"But they've never been like that, and you didn't do anything wrong there!"

"I promise, it's fine!" Runala said, seemingly on the verge of laughter, "It's fine. I'm glad you're not upset, and I'm glad you won't be avoiding us."

"Ok, alright, it's fine." TO wrapped their wings around their arms, not feeling as though it was fine "And, as for Mirian, whatever you need!" TO Insisted. They were already going over in their minds the best way they could organize four people in their room. Maybe Runala could offer them a bigger one for the time? It would be a challenge to get DH on board, though.

"Honestly, I was just going to ask if you'd keep going to the flight room around the same time. Mirian goes there at the same time every day, and I know it would cheer them up if they had someone with them that they got along with."

"Are you sure? Won't they be lonely?"

"The only things they'd hate more than being lonely is feeling like they're being babysat, and thinking I've asked someone to keep an eye on them." They forced their lips into a grin, but their ears still flicked with worry, "Just spend a bit of time with them, so I know they're not just sealing themselves away and feeling bad."

That wasn't something they had thought about before. Thankfully, they very much doubted that if they and DH did every cycle like that that it would end up happening at the same time as it did for everyone else, so Avery wouldn't be left out. But, Avery was an Ankrya, and even by their own confession had no interest in romance. How hard was being all alone when the rest of your family was off 'cycling'?

"That won't be a problem." TO said, "And if they mention they're lonely, I'll invite them to stay with us-"

"They won't." Runala said, "But I appreciate the thought." They turned to leave, "See you later today then, for training. Though, I can't guarantee tomorrow-"

"That's fine, I'll be there anyway!" TO said. They watched as Runala waved without looking back, and walked down the hall, turning a corner before disappearing from sight. With that, TO took a deep breath, and went back into the room.

They had to have a talk to DH.