"No, the bed is big enough for both of us." I gesture at the pillow fort down the middle. "It's not an invitation for sex, of course. Just to sleep."
"Of course," he says, voice flat. "Because I've been so unable to keep my hands off you."
And now he's irritated again. I can deal with irritated, I decide. "I'm just throwing it out there because I've met enough aliens that think a human is free game for any dick that gets hard, all right? Just sleep on the floor if you're so bothered by me. But that half of the bed is going to remain empty, all right?"
He grunts again and disappears back into the lavatory, and I wonder why I even bothered.23JERROKEven though the bed is soft and comfortable, I can't sleep. Across the pillow fort, Sophie tosses and turns, still smelling like soap from the shower. I smell like soap, too, and my body now somehow thinks that because we smell alike, Sophie is mine.
Or maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part. Because even though today was a pain in the ass…I still liked it. I still liked Sophie's company. Having someone to talk to on the long flight out to the station. Having her hold onto me as I walked through the station. It made me feel normal…and not quite so alone. It's not a feeling I can afford to get used to, though.
Sophie shifts in the bed again, restless, and my thoughts turn to her lying there. I try to see this situation through her eyes. All of this has been hard on her. It's clear she's as fond of hiding out as I am. That's probably why she's with the va Sithai brothers. She wants to hide away from the universe.
Of course…the best place to hide away is on a supposedly deserted station on an asteroid…
Nah. She'd never want that. No one wants to be around me for long. I'm too unpleasant, too set in my ways. Too many broken pieces, and no one ever wants to bother cleaning up the mess in my head. That's fine. I rub my prosthetic arm, thinking about how she touched it so gently. She wasn't disgusted by it. Didn't look at me as if I was the worst station trash ever just because my parts are junk. She's got a kind heart, Sophie. If the universe doesn't eat her alive, it'd be nice to be around her for longer.
I eventually drift off to sleep, thinking about what it'd be like to have Sophie at my station for a while. To share meals with her. To dig out those books I tossed into a forgotten corner a long time ago and watch her pretty face light up with enthusiasm…* * *Dark memories swirl. Endless hours, waiting in a cold, damp room with my hand tied above my head. My other one is gone, so I can't free myself even if I want to. Every muscle is screaming in pain, and my back feels like fire from the shock-whips that have hit me over and over again until I passed out. My torturer comes in. He's nameless and faceless, wearing a shroud over his head so he can't be identified, but I know he's threshian. I can hear his mandibles click as he approaches, as if he's smacking his keffing lips at the thought of torturing me. "Where is the rest of your fleet?" he asks in a hissing voice and pulls out a pair of crude pliers.
I swallow hard, because I know where this is going. One. Two. Three.
But the counting doesn't stop him from approaching. He reaches for my good hand, tied high above my head, and the pliers move closer. "Tell me or this could go badly."
Four…five…
"Jerrok."
A soft hand touches my face in a gentle caress. It feels so keffing good that I lean into it, groaning. The threshian torturer pauses before he can do his worst, and the room grows dark.
"Jerrok, wake up. You're having a nightmare." Sophie's voice is sweet and soft, her fingers warm as she strokes my cheek. "You're here with me. Don't panic. I'm here."
The torture chamber fades, along with the pain in my hand. I blink awake, only to realize where I am. I'm in the hotel room on the station, in the soft bed. Sophie's hands are cupping my face and her soft body is pressed to mine, her face inches away.
"I'm here." She strokes my face with her thumbs. "You're not in that bad place. You're with me."
I let out a deep breath, swallowing hard as it sinks in. I'm not on Thresh III. I'm not being tortured. I'm so relieved that I grab her and clutch her against my chest, gulping air.
She lets out a squeak of distress as I grab her, but then she lets out a small, breathless laugh. "I'm glad you're back with me. That sounded…bad."