A Crash Course

by Agrimar

Summary:

Meta-human and "wanted" criminal Ash finds their way to a sleepy college town populated by bird-like aliens, the Orno. Is forced to make some choices on what's worth leaving.

Stressed med-student Malkut has been having issues maintaining xeir relationship with xeir lover, Ketier. Things start to change when a mysterious newcomer starts showing up wherever xe is.

Chapter 1: Long day, huh?

The moon hung heavy in the sky; the only witness to a cargo train’s slow, controlled stop. The hiss of steam and the clank of hydraulic locks engaging covered the noise as first a bag, then a figure slipped out of a car and landed on the packed gravel. Ash grabbed their bag and stretched, their back popping from being crowded in with the arriving shipment. They looked around for cameras, didn’t see any, and ran over to the fence that wrapped around the train yard. Ash smirked when they saw the barbed wire, and gently traced their fingers across the chain links as vegetation, green and vibrant, enveloped the fence completely. They scrambled over the fence, feet touching down, just as someone from the other side began to shout.

“What the hell?”

Ash grinned a full and wild grin as they gestured and the vines wrapping the fence began to bloom into an enormous, multicolored, middle finger. They sprinted down the road away from the train yard, grabbing a tattered notebook out of their bag as they went. Ash mumbled as they flipped through the pages.

“Fuckin third stop after the red cars get picked up is… Bells’ Hollow. Huh, sounds like a hellhole, might be able to post up for a while. What's all here though...”

Ash rummaged through their bag, grabbing out a battered smartphone, years out of date. They unlocked the screen and a text they’ve read a thousand times stands in stark blue and white. ‘Gotta go, don’t wait up. - Gman’

Ash ignored the text and the familiar pain it brought with it, launched the browser and gave the town’s name a quick search; it was dangerous to use this phone at all but it wasn’t like they had a lot of options. Honestly, fuck it. The feds might show up and Ash would run again, it wasn’t that hard. Ads for the local college flooded the screen, and Ash almost scrolled past of all of them, but the last caught their eye.

“The Ethics of Vigilantism? Advanced Flames; Elementalism in The Modern Age? The fuck kind of school is this?”

Ash knew college kids were easy to make some quick cash off of, so it seemed to them that it was at least a stop before bugging out and ditching town. They could see their breath frosting in the air as they started walking down the road toward Bell's Hollow— it was going to be a long walk.

 

Malkut set the coffee down on xeir desk next to the seven other styrofoam cups xe has yet to clear away; reaches for a pack of cigarettes xe hadn’t had time to replace. Xe knew how to handle stress, how to thrive under pressure; xe shouldn’t be falling apart like this. It was too much all the fucking time and it was no surprise to them when the pager clipped to xeir pocket buzzed out. Malkut brushed one hand back through xeir feathers, heaving one last sob. Malkut wiped the tears from xeir cheeks, straightened xeir scrubs, schooled their face into a scowl and walked determinedly out of the small room. People who saw Malkut walking hurried to get out of xeir path, they knew that Malkut's incredible wit and bad moods usually expressed themselves at the cost of others’ dignity.

Xe made it to the room the idiot human ‘doctors’ had called xem to, sanitizing and pulling gloves on. The doctors had laid out the patient's consent forms on the table, knowing that Malkut would refuse to treat someone before seeing them. The patient's heart wasn't responding to defibrillation; or rather, as Malkut laid xeir hand on the patient's leg, xe realized that it was but not returning to a regular sinus rhythm. Xe let the world fade away, focusing xeir mind on xeir power and reached out, spending some of xeir own energy, pushing the heart to begin healing the damage the machine had caused and encouraging the body back to stability. Malkut opened xeir eyes, listening to the surgeon's usual praise with only faint contempt showing. Xe understood that humanity was new to its powers, that those with biological abilities were still yet untrained, but was it really too much to ask that one other competent medic be kept in house?

“If you need me,” Malkut began in the tone of voice burly individuals in black suits used to say ‘shame if something happened to your family,’ “I shall be in my office, doing coursework. Thank you.”

“Malkut, as always we appreci—”

“Do try,” Malkut interrupted, “Not to need me for the next hour or so. Please.”

Malkut stalked back to xeir office, slammed the door shut and slouched back down in xeir chair. Xe set xeir cellphone on the table and regarded it with a mournful stare.

“Listen, Phone, I know that it is Tuesday and Chised will soon call to invite me to xeir weekly get together, but I do wish that just this once xe will forget.”

Xe signed deeply, picked up xeir pen and began to work at one of the sheets of work xe had been assigned. Xe had to admit that although unskilled workers on the whole, any given human’s education exposed them to an incredible breadth of information that the mentorship and apprenticeship programs of the Orno lacked. Xe was not going to allow that to be the case for xem, however. If humans could be expected to be generalists, xe would become the best at that as well; show the humand how it was truly done and what an opportunity they were wasting. Malkut wrote perfectly and precisely, each answer double or triple-checked before pen touched paper, the sun slowly setting in the window.

Malkut inspired, xe found, a kind of absolute silence when xe worked on something that drew xeir full attention. Xe would focus and others would stop talking or get out of xeir way; it was a useful skill for a person who found xeir coworkers as useless as xey did. The silence carved its way into the world using Malkut’s intense focus as its chisel, and at the moment that it seemed that sound itself had vacated the world in fear of xeir glare, a bright chirping filled the room.

“I had thought we had reached an agreement, you— Hello, Chised. It is lovely to hear from you, but unfortunat—” Malkut stilled as Chised’s voice came across the line.

“Malkut you are making the mistake of giving to me a promise and now giving to me an excuse. You will be there because I made the party for a day you are less busy, and you will be there because it has been one month almost since we have been with the group.”

“I am aware of that; you should be aware of how often your plans and my obligations stand at an impa—”

“You could clear that hospital in days if you chose; if you do not want to see us do not use the sick as your reason.”

“Fine, Chised. I will be at your gathering. I will likely be exhausted, so if I do show up, drink, and pass out in a chair I do apologize.”

“Votakh will call you a… ‘Scrub’ if you do!”

Malkut ended the call and sent the phone skidding across xeir desk. Xe had a party to go to tonight, and that meant xe wasn’t going to leave a single at-risk patient untreated before xe left. Malkut sighed dramatically; it was going to be a long night.

Chapter 2: Fascinating

Summary:

It's easy to forget how tired you are, until you're forced to confront something new.

Ash’s hands flew out, waving wildly in the air as another car barreled past them walking the dirt path toward town. The Subaru what-the-hell ever didn’t even have the fuckin decency to wave as it passed.

“Just my fuckin luck, isn’t it? Eh, whatever, it’s cold but not the worst I’ve been through.”

Ash chuckled as they said that, a kind of self-deprecating tone obvious in their speech.

“Wait, no way!”

Red brake lights kicked on down the road, the car pulling over to the side as Ash jogged up to it. A couple of college students were obviously arguing in the front, and the passenger side window opened up as Ash walked forward.

“Hey there, green dude, I’m Shay. You’re not gonna like stab us or whatever right? Tell Jon he’s being an idiot, okay?”

“Well, green dude, since I guess that’s how we greet strangers now, tell Shay that it’s my car and I’m cool givin you a ride into town unless you call me an idiot. They sometimes need to be reminded to be fuckin polite,” Jon said while he pointed his thumb at the passenger side. “Get in back there, keep your backpack in your lap and like just be cool?”

“Yeah man I appreciate it; I’ll keep stabbing to myself unless you really ask nice,” Ash said as they popped the door and slid in.

Jon started the car up; a small cloud of dust trailing up behind it as it progressed down the road. Ash sat there, quietly happy at the way their luck seemed to be improving.

“So what the hell has someone walking alone in the dark?”

“Oh, fuck off dude. If….”

“Ashwyn, ” Ash said, panicking.

“Ashwyn wanted to talk they would. They’re just chillin in the back, like you asked, let them chill. You’ve been real high strung lately, Malkut getting to you again?”

“Yeah man. Xe’s always intense but today xe had me running tests nonstop. I get that Xe’s some kind of super-doctor but god xe needs to just chill and get fuckin stoned sometimes,” Jon said, shaking his head, “Like I get it, I totally fucking understand that that must be a lot of pressure but it’s like, lately, xe keeps letting work pile up to the point xe has to spend all of xeir free time there! Fuckin… Fuck. Hey, Ashwyn, is it cool if I smoke?”

“I mean it’s your car, man. To like get back to your question I’m new here to town? I’m like fuckin meta or whatever; thought it’d be cool to come visit and see what a school built for someone like me would look like. Maybe pop in, get the lay of the land, try and enroll next semester or what the fuck ever.” Ash motioned with their hands as they spoke, but almost listlessly.

“Oh yeah, dude, nice! Well if you’re looking to socialize with some students and kind of get the lay of the land, we’re on our way to a party and the RA of the meta dorms will be there so we could, um, Shay why are you staring at me like that?”

“OHHH we shouldn’t pull over, OHHH we’re gonna get stabbed, Shay! I know we are! OHHHH WOE IS ME WHY MY DEAR PARTNER DO YOU MAKE ME SACRIFICE LIKE THIS? Oh wait the stranger’s cute and wants to go to my school let’s invite them to a party? Man I’m cool with it but like… I’m gonna give you a hard fuckin time about it. ”

Jon laughed, grabbed a lighter and lit his joint, about to puff on it.
“Hey man, you shouldn’t smoke that. It smells like Diazinon or some kind of organophosphate, whoever was growing that didn’t clean the insecticides off of it before they dried it out. Won't kill you probably? Might make you sick.” Shay turned around, one eyebrow raised as Ash continued; “I’ve… got a lot of experience with plants.”

“Fuck it, man” Jon said, tossing the smoke out the window, “I’ll just smoke at the party”

“Oh no, dude, I've got ya. Consider it payment for the ride.”

Ash reached into their bag using the fabric to obscure their hand as they grew a bud and pulled the water back out of it. They pinched it off, ignoring the sharp instant of pain it always brought with it, and started to break the pot down.

“Homegrown, organic, I know someone who grows it all themself, man. Keeps it local, keeps it fresh, keeps it clean. I’ve got you this time, but if you know any like good leads this is kind of how I’m bankrolling this visit so like point me there. Not that I'm like a dealer or anything… To answer your question I’m not opposed to hanging? Is this a like everyone gets messed up and crashes the night kind of place or?”

“Oh yeah that should be fine.” Shay answered, cutting Jon off, “I will warn you against pocketing anything though. Chised tends to have an eye for that kind of thing and can ruin your rep around here faster than anyone else. Everyone knows, and owes, that canny Orno.”

The three drove along the old dirt road into town, chatting companionably while getting pleasantly high. Ash’s green hair blew in the wind as the smoke coiled around them, and before too long Jon told them that they were getting close to campus. He pointed out the buildings across the quad, newly and well constructed, explaining where the various departments were located.

Ash caught themself before they could make comments about how pretentious and expensive it all seemed. They tried to keep in mind that they had to try to blend in for a bit because their funds were bone fuckin dry after dropping them on a fake ID they had to toss after only a few weeks. The car turned down a well-lit street, close enough to the campus that the sign for the Bell’s University of Meta Development turn off was still visible from the driveway.

“Hey Ashwyn, I’m gonna go ask Chised if it’s cool that we invited someone. Be right back,” he said, before stepping out of the car and immediately bro hugging someone and walking to the door.

“I mean this is really KT’s place but so is like half of campus so like… Yeah it’s close enough to say Chised’s,” Shay explained, shrugging when Ash turned a sharp gaze on them.

Ash could feel a kind of red-hot spark in their chest as they considered, for a brief moment, how much all that land and property would cost. They got a hold on their emotions and smiled as Jon came back, nodding.

“Xe says you’re cool! Come on! We’ll introduce you!”

Ash scrambled out of the car before they tripped, slamming fairly hard into the ground before groaning and getting up. Shay and Jon looked on, torn somewhere between sympathetic and laughing, as Ash got up off the ground. They could already feel the bruise spreading across their ribs.

Malkut groaned as xe saw one of the students xe managed walk in the front door. Xe set xeir drink on a short table in the entryway.

“Come now, Chised. Really? I see them all day and you want me to spend my free time with them too?”

“Maybe now you will stop doing the hiding from the rest of us, retreating to whatever balcony you can find and shoving your face with food if you know I will be sending those ones after you!”

Chised smirked a bit as Malkut’s face dropped. Xe didn’t want to upset xem, but knew malkut needed some time to decompress around xeir friends, and would refuse to take that time unprompted. The door opened and Malkut had to do a double-take. Past the fools that xe had to waste time monitoring constantly, there was an exceptionally colorful human. Xe knew the beings were diverse in coloration, but had never seen one so vividly green before. Xe also saw that they were limping.

Malkut looked around the room, spotting Ketier being flirted with by a man in a colorful suit, basking in his compliments. Xe decided that talking to the two… students would be less painful than trying to deal with that. Xe stood from xeir chair, darkness creeping in a bit at the edges of xeir vision.

“Ah, you two. Unable to treat your friend? I thought I’d taught you at least enough for that.”

Malkut didn’t necessarily mean for the question to come out so caustic and accusative, but xe wasn’t trying to hold it back, either. Xe had been healing all day and was exhausted. Chised stood behind xem as xe walked forward, a more serious grin on xeir face now. The green human had a strange expression on their face, one that got stranger as xe got closer. If xe wasn’t so focused on them, xe might have missed them say ‘ oh wow. Tall.’ in a quiet voice as xe approached.

“My name is Malkut. I am a healer. I see that you are injured, may I offer my assistance?”

“Ash; and I mean… if you want to play doctor I’ve got to get to know you a little better than this, dude. If you can do anything that involves me staying here and staying dressed though, knock yourself out. This hurts like a motherfucker.”

Shay and Jon shook their heads; simultaneously paling as Ash continued to speak. Their discomfort made xem smile as xe extended xeir hand to take Ash’s hand and sent xeir power through it.

Ash gasped as a what felt like a wave of warmth pulsed down their arm, spreading into their chest and relaxing them, if not fixing them outright.

Malkut’s eyes were closed, xe was using xeir power to explore the damaged skin, the muscle with bruised blood vessels. But there was a kind of fuzzing xe had never experienced before, and although xe could lessen the damage and speed the healing, xe couldn’t actually encourage the flesh to be completely restored.

“You’re… fascinating.” Malkut exclaimed, opening xeir eyes and staring at Ash, who turned a deeper shade of green. Malkut closed xeir eyes again, intending to make a second attempt before collapsing to the ground, asleep. Chised laughed, extremely hard, before scooping malkut up with one arm and carrying xem back to a chair. The music pumping through the massive building and the dense crowd of people beyond the entryway gave xem a bit of breathing room as Chised tucked Malkut into a side room to nap.

Chapter 3: Easy

Summary:

5am conversations, dreams and nightmares.

Ash watched the tall, angular orno get scooped up and could almost feel the night get less interesting. Chised smirked at them, and with a quiet be right back ducked off into a side room. That bird was.. well xe seemed… stressed. Well at least they could probably sell some pot to xem. They tried to calm the blush on their cheeks as they turned back to ask their new acquaintances who else they should be introduced to.

“Alright so that was weird, right? Where to next?”

Ash turned to face Jon and Shay, only to pause at the twin, shocked expressions on their faces.

“You… did you knock xem out?”

“Dude; xe said you were interesting, Malkut isn't interested in things, what the fuck,”

“Are you…” Jon asked, pointing a trembling finger.

Fuck. Ash could feel themself paling, feel the blood rushing from their face. They must have seen a poster or heard an alert and they were putting it together now. Fuck, man they hadn't even been in town long enough to ditch, no money and surrounded by-

“You're some kind of fucking cryptid, dude!” Shay laughed out, reaching out a hand to grab Ash's and lead them deeper into the crowd.

“Never thought I'd see the day Malkut expressed an emotion other than annoyance. I'm honestly not sure what to do right now.”

As the white-lightning jolt of panic and adrenaline ebbed, Ash followed quickly.

"Oh yeah, dude, I'm a cryptid for sure. I mean have your ever seen a picture of me before? Legends of the mighty Ashwyn appearing at parties and getting shitfaced have spread across every campus in the world, haven't you heard?"

"You can't just spread your own cryptid legend. I'm pretty sure that's not how it works?"

Shay looked at Jon for confirmation, but he just shook his head and shrugged.

Ash's hands were still shaking from when they thought they were getting called out, but they soon found their stride. Wheeling and dealing, handing out samples and establishing a base of customers; it wasn't long before everyone who was interested in smoke had some, and Ash had a little bit of spending cash. This part, at least, was familiar. Jon and Shay were dragging them along, introducing them to people whose names Ash knew they wouldn't remember; telling people that their phone had just broken and they were working on getting a new one. They eventually managed to peel themself away from the two to grab a drink. Ash almost hesitated at seeing a fully stocked bar, but then decided they might as well take advantage of this rich fucks here with a drink. Or three. Okay, Ash thought, well, they're free. Hell; this bartender seems nice enough even if xeir really quiet. They read the sign on the bar, more a piece of paper really, that declared that xeir name was Chokma, that xe didn't speak much, and that xe would be happy to get your drink. Ash blew through drinks, seeing another orno down the bar getting flirted with and felt a flash of bitter jealousy, scanning the crowd for someone they knew wouldn't be there as they taped the blank, powered down screen of their phone.

By the time Chokma cut them off with a quick shake of the head at a perfectly reasonable request to just hand them the bottle, Ash had gotten totally and quite hilariously drunk. It had been a rough few weeks since they'd gotten left, and this was the first time they really felt ahead of the feds tracking them, so of course it was okay to cut a bit loose, right?

They felt like shit; too warm and their joints starting to ache. Drinking played hell on their body, it made their powers less responsive; made them weaker. They weren’t here to show off though so it wasn’t like it really mattered. Wasn't like anything really mattered any-fucking-way.

The rest of their night passed in mostly a blur; a few party tricks helped to pass the time. They graffitied "fuck cops" in moss on the bathroom mirror, grew some flowers for some pretty people, and wondered where that orno from earlier had gotten to. Xe looked like xe would be fun to mess with. They eventually asked Chised where they should crash and xe lead them to a room where every available square foot was covered in cushions, couches, hammocks, and sleeping bags. Chised laughed at them as Ash threw a blanket over someone's uncovered sleeping form. Ash crashed, hard, and Chised heard them mumble that they didn't want em to be cold.

Malkut usually had enough energy left to prevent dreams. Manipulation of xeir own brain was complex, but it was xeirs and not exceptionally taxing. It just required intense concentration to not make a costly mistake. Xe couldn't even muster the amount of energy necessary to seize control of those processes, and so xe dreamt. It was odd, xe thought, to be aware of being asleep.
In the odd way of dreams, xe began to move. Landscapes and colors blurred around xem, faster and faster. Nothing more than brief impressions, details imagined or altogether nonexistent.

Xe stands in xeir childhood home, sibling smiling brightly.

A patient lies on an operating table and xeir power slid off of them like it did off of that strange green human from earlier.

Netza smiling wickedly as xe orders Ketier's execution

A flash of bright magenta feathers, of Ketier's feathers and xe felt something in xeir stomach drop. Xe wasn't going to watch an execution; after all of the work it took to get Ketier to Earth in the first place.

Xe felt a weight around them, and heard a heavily slurred voice whisper

“Well they could have tucked you in and at least made you comfortable; I'm gonna tell Chised xe needs to make sure to tuck everyone in,”

Malkut smirked as xe felt xeir focus return and, with a moment’s concentration, dropped xeirself into black oblivion. Xe knew that waking now would tax xeir already strained reserves, and so xe slept. In the yawning nothing xe was reminded of Votakh, as xe often was, preaching of peace in nonexistence. As always, it was just out of Malkut's reach.

A few hours later, xe snapped xeir eyes open. Malkut stood, ready to throw off the ridiculous blanket and snap at someone. As xe looked around the room, the only figure xe spotted was the human who had introduced themself as Ash the previous evening. Malkut took the blanket xe was holding and considered for a moment. It wasn't their fault that Ash hadn't known Malkut didn't enjoy the feeling of blankets, and they seemed to be deeply asleep. Sighing xeir most put upon sigh, xe flicked the cover up so it caught the air and gently covered Ash's sleeping form.

Malkut could almost hear Chised laughing at xem as xe started to walk toward the kitchen. Xe shook xeir head, ignoring the feeling as xe went. Xe had to step over the unconscious forms of several partygoers. Odd, Chised almost always directed people to what xe calls the crash room, but Malkut had only seen xeirself and Ashwynn there.xe puzzled on that for a moment as xe arrived at the kitchen. Perhaps, Malkut thought as xe pulled open the fridge, perhaps Chised found someone to spend the evening with. Xeir thoughts turned then, to Ketier. Xe idly wondered, as xe looked in the fridge and saw rows and rows of prepared foods, if Ketier had even checked on xem when xe collapsed earlier, or if xe had been too caught up in whoever was hoping to use them this time to notice. Xe wished… but it didn't matter, of course. Malkut stood, outlined by the light of the fridge and lost in thought. Xe pulled dish after dish out of the fridge, snacking as xe went and feeling the energy xe had expended using xeir powers slowly seep back into xeir muscles. It was routine for xem to mechanically shovel the food into xeir mouth, and so xe was completely zoned out when xe clipped the plate and it shattered on the tile floor. Xe sighed as xe knelt to pick the pieces up.

“Hey, uh, magic-goth-doctor-Malkut. You’re not gonna like… faint again? If I try and help you with that?”

Mortified, Malkut looked at the doorway into the kitchen where Ash stood. They pulled what looked to be a grocery bag out of a pocket and held it open.

"I don't usually faint, I'll have you know."

"Yeah; I get that I'm hot as hell. Do you want my help or not?"

Malkut grimaced and dumped the shards into the proffered bag, shaking xeir head.

"No, I promise I was just… tired from work. I'd been awake for a few days at the teaching hospital, and came straight here. I shouldn't have used my abilities like that; it was a mistake I thought myself long past."

"Ah shit dude, yeah. We all fuck up sometimes, right?"

"Hm. No. I can not allow myself that. Not while I’m at this school."

Ash laughed and shook their head, tying the bag closed and setting it on the counter.

"It sounds like you're gonna do it anyway, then. Malkut, right? Is all that food… was that just… sitting in the fridge? Already made?"

Malkut chuckles bitterly and gestures toward the counter, and pressed a glass panel, revealing a number of tablets, stacked and charging.

“If the guest kitchen bothers you, wait until you learn about the guest tablets and how often they’re stolen.”

Ash valiantly resisted the urge to slip a few of them in their bag, but Malkut saw how their eyes lingered.

"Ash, I'm going to go out to smoke. I'll be out on the porch, just down the hall. If you'd like to join me, that is."

Xe grabbed one last plate, this one loaded with heavily decorated pastries. Xe gestured at the kitchen, the memory of Ketier and that human flirting at the party still hot in xeir mind. Ash handed xem something hand-rolled and malkut accepted it with a grin and a nod.

"Feel free to grab something for yourself first, though."

Malkut stepped out to the porch and stood in the darkness, a cherry-red glow greeting the dawn. It wasn't long before Ash joined xem.

"What do you want, dude?"

"Honestly? Right now? I want to stand here, with someone who knows nothing about me; who expects nothing from me. To share an experience that isn't my job or my skills. For a brief moment, until everyone wakes up and life is hectic and stressful, I want things to be easy."

Ash reached out and took the proffered joint from Malkut's hand, and took a deep drag. They patted their new tablet, tucked safely away in their bag.

"Yeah, Malkut. I can do easy."

Chapter 4: Coming to a head.

Easy, as it turned out, was just smoking Malkut out. It didn't sit right with Ash, and it probably wouldn't until they had something over xem to balance it out. They watched the sun rise with xem, and knew both of them were beyond high. When the light caught Malkut's feathers and the shadows they cast made xem somehow sharper, Ash is almost sure that instead of thinking that it was pretty, they said it. That would explain Malkut's cleared throat and mumbled thank you, at least. It didn't help that as they basked in the sun Ash was pretty sure they started blooming.

Ash was fiddling with another joint, debating about asking for a light, when Malkut decided to speak.

“I know that you’re new in town. Thank you for letting me vent and mope. The next time Chised throws a party like this, will you be here?”

Ash locked up when xe asked. They owed Malkut, but they’d stayed free this long by being unpredictable. It would have been easy to say yes, but somehow it was terrifying enough to be here with this person they barely knew. They had to get out of there, and soon.

“I’m not super sure! I’m a busy person, you know how it is!”

They could see Malkut sag a bit at that answer, and something in their chest twisted. Xe was already stressed enough that xe was stress-venting because xe thought Ash was fuckable or something. They couldn’t help but wonder if they really had to make it worse.

“Add me on burnr. It’s an end to end encrypted texting app so like… it doesn’t matter really what that means, but I’m on there. GenderlessGreen. I might not come here but… I might.”

Malkut’s mouth pulled up into something approaching a real smile at that, what a shock. Ash watched as xe started to download the app, and decided, again, that it was time to leave. They’d snagged a few things from the kitchen, they’d made a little cash off the rich kids. It was a better haul than most pit stops. But… they’d never had a chance to be around so many people with powers before. And sure the longer they stayed the bigger the risk, but they hadn’t been caught so far, right? A week and they’d decide how they felt about longer then.

“Listen here sharp, dark, and cute. I’ve gotta bolt. Find a place to hole up and crash there. I know that I still owe you and I’ll do my best to get even. I know you find me fascinating, so if you want something… well, you have a way to get a hold of me. And to text me.”

They shrugged their backpack on, and were about to start to get going when malkut surprised them yet again.

“Chised has rooms that xe rents out for people. I don’t know where they are located or what condition they’re in, I just remember that xe said something about getting me one that nobody knew about the last time we spoke concerning… a mutual friend. If you wait here until xe awakens, you could probably secure a location to sleep without having to put into motion whatever plan you were going to try.”

“I appreciate the offer, dude. You do know I can take care of myself though, right?”

“Yes. I have no doubt you can. I’m simply concerned that my lab assistant will end up sleeping outside when you take over his bed if I allow you to. I do understand that we just met, and that you might be reserved or hesitant to take anything I offer you. Perhaps you’re right, but I do find you incredibly interesting, Ash.”

Ash could feel their face flush a bit at that, but rolled their eyes instead.

“So far you haven’t even shown that you can touch me without fainting, doc, so I’m not too worried about you. Also? You don’t have to keep flattering me. I know exactly what I am, and if you’re that interested? Make a move.”

Ash was fuckin’ tired of dancing around it. Xe obviously knew Ash was cool as hell, and had people want to fuck them for less. Xe wasn’t bad looking at all, and with those powers Malkut was packing Ash was sure they’d get off. For a second Malkut’s eyes seem to take Ash in, lingering on their hips and their neck before xe opens xeir mouth. Ash was surprised at what xe said.

“You’re absolutely correct. My apologies; I never ended up treating that injury of yours. Your hand again, if you would?”

Okay; maybe Malkut isn’t being deliberately obtuse. Maybe xe doesn’t want to fuck? Or maybe xe doesn’t want to feel like xe’s pressuring Ash. That’s kind of cute, actually. Fine. They’d take it slow for now, and see how things went from here. It wasn’t like they had a place to be, and Malkut had been a life-saver up until this point.

Ash reached out one hand and Malkut took it. In a moment, that same warmth from last night flowed through them, relaxing tense muscles and smoothing old breaks. Ash could feel Malkut’s power much more powerfully than the last time that xe used it. With the bright light bathing their skin and the warmth of Malkut’s ability flowing through them, they turned their focus inward too. Somehow, they could almost see the pattern of Malkut’s awareness in their body, pulsing and mapping and then retreating before pulsing a bit deeper. It was highlighting some pieces and leaving others dark. Ash used just a touch of power to make something dark grow.

“Malkut, can you see when I do that?”

“Mostly. It’s a bit muted; almost like when I first started working on humans. Allow me to try something and see if that brings you into greater clarity. Is that okay?”

“Yeah, it’s cool.”

Ash felt xem take xeir hand out of theirs, felt it trail up their arm and leave goosebumps along the way. God, maybe xe did want to fuck?

“Ash? There is something here that I can’t quite make out clearly. Can you help?”

Malkut laid xeir other hand on Ash’s lower back, sending another pulse of warmth through them. Ash concentrated, and realized that at some point they’d reinforced themself there to help support their backpack’s weight one day a long time ago when it started to pull real bad after they rolled from a moving car. They took a deep breath and began to undo the work, the process requiring every ounce of their focus. It was almost enough to keep from hearing Malkut’s sharply indrawn breath.

“Damage to the sacrospinalis, I’m pretty sure a slipped disc, and… something else. Can you work with me to help you out here? I can take care of the organic materials, but how fine is your control? Could you make an internal brace and then dissolve it in a few days when it was no longer needed?”

Ash opened their eyes and saw malkut looking at them, golden eyes lit up with excitement.

“Um, maybe? Can you get the alcohol out of my system? It’d help with that, a whole bunch.”

“Yes, that makes sense. I can accelerate your body’s natural purification processes, you’ll likely sweat a lot. Water?”

Ash pulled a bottle from their bag and began to chug. Malkut was right, it was sweaty, but as the lingering alcohol cleared their system and the full awareness of their body returned, they kind of got what malkut was asking them to do.

“Yeah, I can.”

Ash opened themself up to the sun, skin deepening in its green color and leaves beginning to sprout from their body. A sudden rush of energy hit them, and they smiled. The fuckin sun, man.

“What did you just do? Your blood sugar levels spiked and. I see. Hm. Ash you are absolutely fascinating!”

Ash was about to ask xem to just drop the flattery and fuck them, and then heard a small pop as their back shifted and an ache they had been trying to ignore for years spiked and then faded away. A thought and a small group of vines grew around the newly re-aligned injury, holding it in place and then growing outward as the hot goth did whatever xe was doing and the muscle grew back in place. Another quick thought and the vines pierced their skin and fell to the ground as the skin and muscle kind of pinched it closed. That was a neat move, and one they would have to try and remember for next time.

"Maybe not a few days, then."

It was at this moment that Chised stepped out. Of course it was, xe always knew when to arrive to make the greatest fool of Malkut. Hand inappropriately placed on a human’s lower back, golden eyes shining in the dawn, crumbs and fillings from a bunch of pastries still dusting xeir feathers. Malkut thought xe looked like the party had never stopped. Malkut jerked xeir hand back from Ash, and turned to face xeir friend.

“Hello! I was seeing that the two of you were getting along!"

"Hello, Chised. We were actually just recently discussing you."

Malkut began asking Chised about prices, and when xe turned around Ash was halfway across the lawn,bag hoisted, looking like they had no intention of stopping. Malkut looked perturbed, but when xe called out Ash simply responded that they'd text xem.

"Malkut," Chised began, "it seems you are going out of your way to be helpful for this new person, but did you ask if they wanted your help?"

Xeir pride caught in xeir throat, xe responded.

"No."

This far away from the house it was cold enough that Ash could see their breath in the air. There were always places in towns that someone could knock in and hide out in, but with the money they'd made off the rich kids last night they could at least grab a motel room for a night while they explored. It was a matter of a few minutes for them to find a bus schedule and hop onto one into whatever qualified as the downtown to this place. They couldn't stop thinking about Malkut's hands on them, and how warm xe was.

They checked in to a room at a place that looked like it should have been shut down years ago. They pulled a hot plate from their bag and started some water going for tea, set their bag against the foot of the bed, laid back and relaxed for a second. They connected to the wifi on their newly stolen tablet, found a VPN and started searching their name. A list of petty crimes and thousand-dollar rewards for information leading to their capture flashed across the screen, with a "last seen" far enough away that they could finally relax.

Ash smiled, thinking of Malkut and how sweet xe was, trying to help. If they were going to lay low for a while, it might be a good plan to get a sucker with rich friends and a crush, just for an emergency place to crash. It's weird; they almost feel bad about it for a second until they tell themself it's just doing what they need to survive.

Chapter 5: Echoes

Summary:

Sometimes you expect a grocery run to just be a grocery run.

It was a couple of hours later that Ash stood under the warm water that disappointed in the strange and unique way that a motel shower manages to be disappointing. Their thoughts bled into each other as they set about the mechanical task of cleaning themself; it had been weeks since they didn’t feel like they were going to get snatched by the Agents. They couldn’t remember the last time they’d had time to shower.

They turned around so the lukewarm water was running down their back, reaching toward the ground. They marveled at the lack of pain in their back, twisting and turning and exploring their restored range of movement. The water steamed and sputtered and Ash could feel the knot that had been in their back for years now loosening.

They considered the tablet they’d stolen and considered messaging Malkut, but the thought of texting someone brought their mind back to the lingering bubble on their old phone’s screen. They remembered waking up in one of their safe spots, the bed empty like usual. They’d gone to check their phone in the pre-dawn grey, and that stupid fuckin text had been waiting for them.

‘Gotta go, don’t wait up. - Gman’

It wasn’t any different than a number of other texts they’d gotten over the years. Ash wasn’t good enough to keep people around, so they took what they wanted and left. Coming from Gman though, it hurt. They’d been good at what they did together.

“It never fucking matters how good I work with someone though,” Ash muttered as they splashed their face with shockingly cool water to wash away the tears, “fucking bye then asshole.”

Ash realized that too much time had passed when they looked at their hands and realized that they were shaking, that the water was running ice-cold. They kicked out to slam the knob in and shut the shower off, shivering as they stepped out and grabbed a towel. It's been too long since they got up and did something, and the convenience store down the road looked like as good a place as any to grab some snacks.

They weren’t expecting any trouble; they’d lifted a bunch of shit from a bunch of corner stores over the years. They knew how to find blind spots in camera layouts, what was worth watching and what wasn’t, and they put that to good use as they took the kind of stuff no one would notice going missing. It wasn’t until they were leaving that they ran into their issue; the bartender from the other night had some kind of weird beetle vehicle rigged up to the electric car charging station, and was just kind of… staring at them. Xe seemed friendly enough the other night, but Ash had no fucking clue what kind of attitude xe had, so they decided to play it cool and ask if xe was looking to get high.

Ash smiled and gave the universal “bruh” head tilt. They were a little gratified when xe nodded in response, but the look on Chokma’s face was a little too serious to be totally comfortable with. Ash strolled up to the beehicle, but before they could open their mouth they were cut off.

“Which of them sent you?”

“Sorry, what?”

“I saw you, and I did some searching. You’re wanted. You scouted Keiter’s defences, grabbed a piece of xeir earth technology network, and ran. It’s really not hard to put two and two together. I wasn’t sure before, but I think I’m right. Especially after you grabbed those.”

Chokma gestured at the bag full of Cheeto and Funyun knockoffs, almost dismissively.

“Piece of advice, Ash. If you’re going to run an heir’s errands, you should try to be more surreptitious about it, unless you’re trying to give xem away.”

Chokma closed the short distance and put xeir hand on Ash’s shoulder. It was at about that moment that Ash realized that Chokma also knew how to skirt around cameras, and that the positioning of the Beetlebus blocked easy vision from the cars on the road. Ash was hyper-aware of Chokma’s arm and how it didn’t even twitch as they tried to pull back.

“I’m going to ask you some questions, and the way things go really depend on how you answer. Which of Ketier’s siblings is here, how long has xe been on Earth, and what did xe say xe’d give you to work for them?”

“Uh, I have no fucking clue what you’re talking about. I,” Ash leans in at this point, trying to keep things as quiet as possible, “stole that shit because I’m dirt broke and needed food. I wouldn’t keep Pince Ditz’s family away from xem! I’d even go to the fuckin’ welcome party; but if you keep trying to shake me down I will kick your ass. I’d rather not because you seem both nice enough and very scary,”

Ash looks down and nods towards the grass wrapping itself around Chokma’s leg, tightens it just enough to let xem know that Ash could crush it. Ash’s pulse is thundering in their ears, they’ve always hated the violence pissing contests. Doesn’t mean they lose them.

“But I’m scary too. Hand off my shoulder, please.”

Chokma looks into Ash’s eyes and whatever they see there makes the cold, uncomfortable mask slide off into something Ash hopes is embarrassment. Xe lets go, and the plants around xeir leg fall to the ground. Ash almost sprints away, but Chokma looks like they want to say something, and Ash doesn’t get many apologies.

“Hey, sorry. Xeir family is important and… Only one of them can inherit. Makes siblings a little fratricidal. There’s supposed to be a truce while the flock is on Earth; that kind of thing is illegal here and we’re under your laws while we’re on your planet. Wouldn’t be the first time someone ‘safe’ had a tragic accident though. I’m kind of like a bodyguard, my job’s to watch out for threats.”

Ash can’t help the skeptical expression on their face as they hear Chokma talk. They’re still wound up, still in fight or flight mode and they can’t stop wondering how many alerts Chokma’s searching set off, how many agents are on the way.

“Honestly I thought you didn’t talk. And the Cheetos? Want to tell me how puffed corn snacks fit the ‘killer for hire’ role?”

“Don’t know what it is about those things, but they’re damn near the best food I’ve ever tasted. Something we don’t have back home. All of us go wild for them. Saw you making complex organic compounds at the party, you dust them with something toxic, offer a snack, walk away. Easy gig, especially if it takes a while before symptoms set in, especially if xeir medic is distracted. Also, yeah. Not ‘supposed’ to talk. Got permission for the grocery run though, otherwise it can be a bit difficult.”

Chokma smiles, tight, like it’s not something xe’s used to, and the expression on xeir face finally eases Ash back out of run mode.

“I didn’t tell anyone else what I found out. Chised seems to like you, and Malkut makes few enough friends that I thought it might be easier to avoid that wasp’s nest of a conversation. Had some kind of tech genius make sure the searching we did was completely undetected, same one that helped set up the tablet you jacked. I wanted blackmail so I could get you to skip town, not to corner you here. You looking for a gig? I could use someone else who knows how to hit looking out for Ketier.” Xe kicked the limp grass as xe said the last bit. Ash couldn’t really read people well, but they think that xe might be impressed.

Ash leaned back against the beetle, popped open a bag of knock off cheese puffs, and offered some to Chokma. Chokma grabs a couple.

“Deadass, I do not want to be here. My ex stole my funds, I’m being chased by cops, and getting dropped in the middle of some kind of bird assassination inheritance thing doesn’t sound like it’d be good for my heart. I figure I sell some pot, make some cash, and get the fuck out. Get to some mountain somewhere where nobody goes and make a like fuckin… Plant yurt. Grow my own food, hide out until the world gets tired of looking for me.”

Chokma dusted xier hands off and started to walk to the corner store after the bag was gone.

“If you want to wait like five minutes, I can give you a lift. We can talk about ‘plan yurt’ more, see if there’s any way to get you out of town faster. No offense, Ashwynn, but you’re kind of obvious and I want as little chaos as possible around here and if I can’t hire you… yeah. You get it, right?”

Ash managed to keep a completely straight face as the birdyguard managed to drag up echoes of people their whole life telling them to get lost. They smiled and gave a big thumbs up.

“Yeah. I get it. But I gotta go, so uh.. Don’t wait up.”

Chapter 6: Choices

Summary:

U ever make a decision? No? Okay Ketier first time's the charm.

Notes:

hey thought I'd throw some TWs down at the beginning here. Tw: suicidal ideation, disassociation, severe depression, anxiety.

It was around noon, and Ketier was skipping class again.

Xe knew xe needed to go. Xe was supposed to be in class. Xeir stay here was completely reliant on going to class and learning. “Fostering diplomatic inroads for specialized knowledge exchange,” as xe had so eloquently put it toward Netza just a few months ago, and xe was so relieved at the time. Xe woke up that morning and couldn’t stop wondering how, exactly, a degree was meant to help a dead Orno. Xe was supposed to be in class. Malkut would be disappointed in xem. Xe wasn't sick, nothing was wrong, but Ketier couldn't stop looking at xeir hands, at the fine bones generations of leaders had selected toward. Xe was SUPPOSED to be in CLASS. A legacy, like the magenta feathers; like the death sentence. Xe wondered sometimes if xeir body even belonged to xem, or if xe was just walking some meat-thing the places that real people needed it to be. Xeir room felt too small, too cramped. Xe just couldn't get up. Ketier knew xe was fucking pathetic, but not able to walk far enough to get xeir driver to take xem to school? Xe was useless.

Ketier spent nights in xeir nest, convinced that every creek in the building was a sibling, finally, come to end xem. Xe would jerk awake from dreams of familial violence, relieved it was a dream but disappointed that it wasn't over. Xe wouldn't be able to articulate what "it" was though, Chised has tried to get xem to explain. Ketier wasn't on the human internet, hadn't lost time to videos or games. Xe was just sitting and staring at a wall; wishing xe was better, that xe wasn't such a waste of care and attention.

A tablet sat, discarded, next to Ketier. Ketier had been enamored with human internet and their brand of thinking machines since xe had come to Earth. Someone could enter almost any question and be provided with an answer almost immediately. Xe had a question but xe didn't know if xe could handle the answer. The search bar was filled. Xe hadn't pressed enter, and the phrase stood out against the stark, white entry box. Xe could feel the question on the screen next to xem, devouring xeir attention.

"Why am I worthless?"

It was a question that xe had asked xeir tutors on Potanikyya, when xe hadn't taken to a lesson as quickly as xeir siblings. The answers xe had gotten ranged from being told xe wasn't worthless because xe was part of the royal family, to it being because xe wouldn't apply xeir skills to anything. It would be nice to have clarity of the answer instead of just never being good enough; at least then they would know why they should die instead of having to guess. Maybe then xe could convince xeir flock to just let xem. Xe sobbed as xe pressed the enter button.

The first result wasn't what Ketier expected, at all. It asked if xe needed help, or needed to talk. Xe had never tapped a button so fast in xeir life. Xe thought about it for a second, but surely talking to the tablet would be easier than talking to Chised. At least the tablet was connected to the internet; it wouldn't care that xe was the heir.

Chokma paused at the door to Ketier's room; the house had been restocked with necessary supplies and no one had been in or, disappointingly, out. Xe was going to try to convince Ketier to at least eat something when the door opened and Ketier rushed out. Xe had obviously been crying and xe had a white-knuckled grip on xeir tablet. Chokma raised an eyebrow, but said nothing.

"Chokma," Ketier decreed, "Our friend Tablet has found me a human 'Therapist' and scheduled an 'appointment.' You will drive me."

Chokma couldn't help the smile that spread on xeir face.

 

Malkut was seething and had been since the morning. First, the lab work xe had requested for an at-risk patient had been pushed back. Something to do with "too many tests" and "maximum amount of blood drawn," and none of the incompetent doctors here could stimulate it but xem. Malkut had just finished restoring the patient's blood levels when the trauma ward paged him; someone had lost control of xeir powers after the bus they were on was impacted with another vehicle. Xe had spent most of xeir morning doing menial surgeries and the Director of the Hospital had the nerve to "thank" xem and gave xem an "award" instead of just requesting some more skilled medical personnel transferred. Malkut asked for an espresso machine in the break room, instead.

Xe understood that it was a "Learning Hospital," but that didn't excuse the gross negligence. If Malkut hadn't been here, some of these people could have died! Xe knew that humans were new to their powers; it was still unexcusable. Xe hadn't even seen one of the teachers use xeir skills on a patient. They relied far too much on machines and surgeries and far too little on their powers, but xe was a student here and it wasn't xeir place to speak against the ones who let xem into their hospital to learn. Xe just had to keep xeir head down, and try not to get kicked out.

Every day xe wondered why xe was still here, and every day xe learned about some new little facet of human biological understanding. Xe hadn't necessarily understood the hows and whys of diseases xe had treated; hadn't had to when xe could just boost the body's defences, but xe couldn't stop imagining halving or even quartering the number of times xeir family was called to deal with plague outbreaks. Or being able to help someone whose bodily defences couldn't tell the difference between safe and dangerous. Malkut choked up a bit at the thought of finding something to help xeir sibling. It hadn't seemed possible on Potanikyya, but here xe had already drafted a few possible steroid courses and possible genetic tweaks. Xe felt some of the frustration melt away at the thought of actually healing xem.

Xe looked down at the medical textbook xe was supposed to be reading, saw the roster xe had been working on. Some of the students had aptitudes that didn't at all match what xe thought of as medical personnel. Malkut had been attempting to figure out what configurations the doctors here had in mind for their medic teams, even though none of these students had biological talents. Some seemed obvious. Combinations of teams with empathetic and extrasensory powers as diagnosticians, people with speed and precision for surgeons, sonic or precise destructive powers to sterilize or abrade; elementalists as portable labs.

Xe couldn't figure out where "person with horns" fit into the medical techniques xe was learning about, or "person who can grow extra hair very quickly." On Potanikyya, they would have been laughed away from an apprenticeship. Malkut sighed and scrubbed xeir hand through xeir feathers. It just… didn't make any sense. Xe sighed and felt another iota of tension bleed from xeir shoulders.

Xe opened a window and swung xeir legs out. Xe sat on the sill, smoking a cigarette off the 12th floor of the hospital building. Malkut had specially requested windows that opened fully. Malkut wondered, sometimes, what it would be like to jump. Xe wouldn't die. Not if xe flared xeir feathers or made wings or even just reinforced xeir body. Xe imagined not having to walk such a fine line, of letting the fake colors drop from xeir feathers and just for a few seconds being free enough to jump instead of xeir life belonging to Ketier first. Malkut found xe had been leaning forward, and stopped. Xe heard xeir phone vibrate on the desk and leaned back to grab it.

It was with a resigned slump to xeir shoulders that Malkut looked at the screen to see what Chised had sent xem now. Xe swiped, and just started to laugh.

On the screen was a picture of Ash, covered in what looks to be dust and cheese sauce, at a concession stand. They were wearing a striped umpire shirt and holding a pair of bowling shoes. Xe scrolled down and saw Ash with a number of coconuts on the ball return, homegrown pins at the end of a lane.

The caption had an address and said "Found a bowling alley. U up for a game?"

Malkut started to type out a refusal, one of xeir standard "I've too many patients and not enough time," but xe looked at the roster one more time. If they were in these teams, surely they could handle follow-ups for an hour or two? Xe went to find the two least annoying of xeir fellow students and sent a quick text back.

"I'll be right over."

Chapter 7: That one where neither of them realize it's a date until too late

Ash always woke up early to explore; the fewer people out and about on the street the less likely they ran into someone who recognized them. It was days like this, empty streets and cool air on their face, that they couldn't help but imagine a different life. They counted their money and had enough to go grab breakfast, so they stopped by a small cafe. They imagined leaving a better tip instead of stealing the day-old pastries wrapped and set by the register; being greeted by name when they visited instead of a quick “I’m good” when asked about the membership card. Ash saw the barista, a toned black woman with a name tag that read Cora, clock the missing food and narrow her eyes at their bag; they weren’t going to stick around and see which side won the “they stole vs. not my problem” war in her brain. Ash waved a cheeky goodbye; they’re out the door and back in the cold air before Cora can even think about confronting them. A light jog for a few minutes took them to the nearest bus stop, and Ash sat there and thought about being able to just get a car and drive. They couldn’t; not unless they were willing to register their powers and submit to the mandatory meta military service period. Fuck that bullshit, but the idea of just grabbing some people and getting in a car and driving away from everything ached like a hole in their heart.

Ash imagined grabbing Chised and Malkut and going on a road trip to a redwood forest; they would build a house up in the trees, living bark walls and giant dappled leaf canopies. Malkut would come and go and bring those other Orno and they would all see how smart and cool Ash was, how useful they could be. They’d bring snacks and get high and fuck and Ash would be able to have people stay, for once in their life. Hydraulic brakes screeching startled Ash out of the daydream, and they hopped on the bus; the maps said that this one wound around pretty much the whole city on an hour loop, perfect for finding an old building to squat in. About four stops in, they saw the perfect building; a bowling alley that looked almost condemned.

It was easier to break a lock than most people thought; especially a cheap padlock. A bit of wood under the shackle growing out, quick pop, door open. Easy. There was no one in the alley with the side door, so Ash just let themself in and started exploring. Every inch of the building was choked with dust, the light fixtures in the ceiling were full of cobwebs, the vinyl countertops were warped and peeling. The bathrooms weren’t the worst; tiles held up better without maintenance than carpet at least; the less said about the kitchen the better. Pretty much the only thing that, somehow, was still in good condition were the lanes themselves; the wood was smooth and straight, covered in a layer of cloudy wax that was long past needing to be replaced.

Finding a place like this was amazingly lucky; and finding it after Ash had slept and showered and eaten pretty well a few days in a row was even luckier; they would get to flex a little bit. Finding the roof access was easy, unlocking it easier, and they sat and basked in the sun, letting leaves sprout from their hair and vines twist out from their fingertips; growing through the building in a flash. Ash’s awareness spread through them like they were extensions of their hands; a sprinkler system was rigged up and still full of water; they cracked it open and drank deeply. Their vines found support beams that had warped; they were pulled straight where they could be, and where they had failed to age and stress were enveloped and replaced wholesale with pillars of living wood. Dust and mold were sucked out of the air by giant, quick growing filter plants; enormous peace lilies and ivies hung from every available surface. Soft moss enveloped molding carpet, sealing it away and beginning to consume it for nutrients, and enormous leaves folded together into a hammock in a back office, making a place for Ash to sleep. They let the vines spread across the roof, dark green leaves drinking up every iota of sunlight to feed everything they’d set up, and went to see what they could find in employee lockers. They were tired but energized, like they always were when they really let loose, and they couldn’t wait to finish up and show off to people. Hours of cleaning later, covered in dust and cheese sauce from the kitchen, they invited Malkut over.

It was with a sense of creeping dread that Malkut approached the desiccated remains of what one could have once called a bowling alley, the brick facade slumping and leaning precariously. Malkut was sure xe looked suspicious circling the building, but all thought of how xe would be perceived flew out of Malkut’s head as xe found the door Ash had marked with a large flower. Xe walked into the building and laughed; Ash was standing at the concession stand with a tray of brightly colored tropical fruit; comically oversized sunglasses and an umpire’s uniform on. Loops of vine hung from the ceiling covered in brightly glowing flowers, casting everything in a bioluminescent blue. They smiled and waved at xem and Malkut couldn’t help grinning as xe waved back.

“Hey Malkut! Boss, I’m gonna go on break.”

Ash was apparently referring to a coconut that was somehow attached to a broom, wearing a floral pattern shirt, as their boss. Malkut couldn’t help but wonder if their skill with plants allowed some level of communication, or if this was a person with an exceptionally strong flora expression, but expected that it was a joke and that xe wouldn’t have to be overly polite to the fruit on a stick. Hopefully.

“Ash, If I’d known I was going to be using up your valuable break time I would have brought you something. How’s the new job treating you?”

“Better than the last one for sure; you wouldn’t believe how little running away from parties pays. I got dinner ready but do you need a pair of shoes?” As Ash asked, they held up the most disgusting pair of shoes Malkut had ever seen; the soles looked to have been stapled on.

“The day you make me wear shoes is the day I die. Which lane is ours?”

The two of them bantered as they walked over to the lane Ash had prepared, and Malkut could feel tension bleeding out of xeir shoulders. The lane was originally lane six, but a nine had been crudely scratched into the floor next to it. Xe picked up a coconut and looked at Ash, tilting xeir head and waiting for instructions. It was heavier than Malkut expected, and xe modified the musculature in xeir shoulder and arm to accommodate the weight.

“So, uh, do you know how to bowl? Because I’ve totally bowled before, but before I get all zen bowling ball-master super pin expert on you I just figured I’d ask. Because there’s no reason to explain all the esoteric bowl-laws if you already know how to bowl, of course.”

“And the fact that you wouldn’t look me in the face as you said any of that?”

“Don’t want to intimidate you with all my knowledge and… skill. Bowling skill.”

“I’m assuming it's to get the ball down the lane? Hit all the little wooden targets in as few balls as possible?”

“Yeah! Like golf. We get 3 tries and if neither one of us gets it in one shot, whoever gets the highest number of targets with one ball wins.”

Malkut was fairly sure that wasn’t what the rules online said when xe looked it up earlier, but xe was somewhat familiar with human games that had different rules depending on the players; a fairly consistent theme at Ketier’s parties. Human games also tended to come with a forfeit; usually the removal of some clothing or the consumption of some alcohol from what xe understood. Malkut thought about asking, but there was something easy about the night so far and xe didn’t want to change that.

They bowled through a few sets of pins, chatted and lounged on the mossy floor, ate through the tray of fruit. Malkut was surprised by how often Ash would make casual contact with xem, xe had read Ash as a bit less physical at the party. They seemed to prefer handing Malkut fruit rather than letting xem take it from the tray, and when they adjusted how xe was bowling they would let their hand stay on xeir elbow longer than strictly necessary. Malkut, surprisingly, found that xe didn’t mind. Xe and Ash were relaxing on the floor with the tray of fruit between them when Ash bit into a large peach. The juice ran down their chin and across their neck; Malkut felt almost a tug in the bottom of xeir gut. Xe wanted to reach over, catch the drop against their throat and lick it of xeir finger. Ash noticed xem looking, they lifted their head so that their neck and collarbone were on display.

Malkut stood, the grin suddenly sliding of xeir face. Ash startled, dropping the peach they’d bitten into. Malkut’s expression went from open and interested to closed in a blink, and they didn’t know how they fucked it up.

“This was fun, Ash. Thank you for having me out. The next time you find yourself on break, let me know. I have had something arise that I need to take care of, so I hope you have a good evening. Chised is throwing another party in a few days, I hope to see you there”

“Wait a second—”

Malkut was moving quickly toward the door. For a moment xe hesitated, looking back at Ash. Ketier had xeir little human flings, the flatterers and hangers on. Malkut knew that, and xe also knew that every time xe did, Ketier didn’t even think of letting Malkut know. The two of them were partners, and Ketier deserved that ending to happen face to face at least. Xe sped up instead, the door almost slamming back shut behind xem as the cold night air washed over xem. In the bowling alley, Ash laid there, arm over their eyes.

Malkut typed a text out in the back seat of the cab.

“Ash. I am in a relationship with someone I do not desire to be, but I don’t want to be unfaithful. If I stayed there any longer tonight, I worry that we’d have done something that complicates our interactions going forward. I am going to have a conversation with Ketier. I’m sorry for leaving abruptly; I didn’t realize you intended this as a date... I had fun tonight and hope we do this again soon. My apologies.”

Great, Ash thought, another sad fucking text message.

Notes:

SAD ASH ALONE IN A BOWLING ALLEY WEARING A STRIPED THEMED SHIRT AND A SAD HALF EATEN PEACH IS A FUNNY IMAGE SORRY FOLKS