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It was love at first sight. Aloy watched the small child stare at Kotallo then toddle towards him on unsteady legs, reaching their hands towards him. As soon as they were near enough, they grabbed hold of a greave and started trying to climb up his leg. Aloy’s stoic marshal had smiled his beautiful smile and hauled the child up and held them against his chest. He rubbed his nose against the child’s and whispered in their ear. Aloy felt something happen inside, felt something change.
A young woman hurried towards them and tried to take the child from Kotallo. Aloy drifted over, the better to hear their conversation.
“No, marshal, you should not be burdened with my little niece,” the woman was saying.
Now she was close, Aloy lowered the woman’s age. Younger than herself certainly. Mid-teens, more than a child, not quite a full adult.
“Such a sturdy little warrior is not a burden,” Kotallo replied. He was still wearing the smile he usually reserved for Aloy. The child was patting his cheeks and Kotallo shifted his head so he could blow little raspberry kisses on her face.
Aloy was not the only one watching the interchange avidly. The sister was looking increasingly interested in Kotallo as he indulged the little girl with playful attention. Aloy wasn’t used to seeing women eye Kotallo; it didn’t seem flirtatious though. She nevertheless had the urge to casually circle round and elbow the aunt in the tits for her temerity. But then the little girl fastened her hazel gaze on Aloy, and the urge vanished, washed away by the bright curiosity Aloy saw in those eyes.
The tiny hands reached out towards her now. Kotallo stepped nearer so the girl could reach her new object of attention – Aloy’s bright red hair. Chubby fingers grasped at her braids and tugged them, as if checking they were real, actually attached to Aloy’s head.
“Champion, I apologise. My niece has never seen an outlander before, with hair your colour and a bare face.” The younger woman made ‘bare face’ sound obscene.
“Would you like?” Kotallo offered the child to Aloy, who didn’t hesitate to take her from him.
The girl started making disgruntled noises at being separated from the love of her life. However, when Aloy changed her hold so Kotallo could stroke the little one’s hair and play with her hands, the smiles and chuckles returned.
“What is her name?” Aloy asked.
“We call her Kerrah. Her mother died before saying her name.”
“Didn’t her father know?”
“My brother. He died before she was born. I am her only living family, only recently risen to soldier. My new squad are trying to love Kerrah as their own.” The woman stared pointedly at Kotallo. “She is very easy to look after. As you said Marshal, she is never a burden.”
Kotallo looked grave. Aloy thought he had now picked up on the conversation’s subtext. He would not want to encourage someone in a hopeless cause. She would follow his lead.
“My commander and I have enjoyed meeting your charge. She has the makings of a bold warrior,” he said.
He lifted Kerrah from Aloy’s arms and passed the child back to her aunt, who did not hide her disappointment well. “We should continue our business, Commander.”
“Of course, Marshal. Lead the way,” Aloy responded.
Aloy waited until they were nearly at the other side of the settlement before she spoke.
“Was she offering to give her niece to you?” she asked, trying to process the conversation. “I thought at first she was going to flirt with you then…”
“I am known for a fondness of small children. These approaches…” he sighs. “They are based on the premise that because I am maimed, I will not have the opportunity to father my own child. That I will leap at the chance to take on an orphan or three.”
“Was Kerrah coached to approach you, do you think?” Aloy asked in disbelief.
“I doubt it. Her aunt saw an opportunity and sought to bring it to fruition.” Kotallo sounded sad.
Aloy brushed her fingers against his hand. “Do you want children?”
“Once I did. Before this,” the usual gesture towards his arm, “before my Kulrut. As a young soldier I longed to pledge to a mate and have children with her. Having a family was one of my dreams. There might have been a chance, even, before Tekotteh sent me to Hekarro.” Kotallo shrugged. “Idle thoughts now. I do not indulge in them.”
“As ever, I struggle to understand how wasteful your tribe are,” Aloy commented, sounding fierce.
“Wasteful?” Kotallo looked bemused.
“You have many excellent qualities. A skilled brave, a veteran soldier, a loyal marshal. Strong, courageous, marked with many great deeds. Physically attractive. Among the Nora you would be sought after to father children, the reason for your injury seen as evidence of your inherent worth.” She shook her head in disbelief. “Anyway, do you know where we can get something to eat here?”
Kotallo didn’t know what happened during the mid-day meal with Aloy. What he’d eaten, what he’d drunk, what they’d talked about. His head simply kept replaying her words.
Courageous. Physically attractive. Sought after to father children. Inherent worth.
Physically attractive.
Sought after.
Physically attractive.
Did that mean that Aloy was attracted to him? Sure, he’d felt the pull of something between them, a shiver of desire. However Kotallo’s mindset about his own worth since the Embassy had dismissed as imagination any possible sexual interest from the gorgeous red head. Kotallo had labelled her lingering looks in his direction and the subtle touches as concern for an unfamiliar subordinate. Fair enough, he hadn’t noticed Aloy initiating physical contact with any other acquaintance which wasn’t a kick to the gut or a punch in the face during sparring, but if she was being as subtle with them as she was with him, maybe he wouldn’t.
Kotallo knew that for a lie though. When he was in Aloy’s company, his attention centred on her. His commander couldn’t twitch an eyelid without Kotallo noticing. She didn’t touch people. If anyone got too close, she would move away. There were times when Kotallo had seen Aloy flinch when a squad mate sat down next to her unexpectedly without leaving sufficient space between their bodies. Varl had spoken to him about it when Aloy visited the base for the first time after Kotallo had settled in.
“Listen, I don’t know what your tribe are like, Kotallo. The Nora are generally quite free with touching others casually, or how close they stand or sit next to each other. Zo says the Utaru are the same. That isn’t Aloy. She doesn’t like to touch people, or to be touched. She doesn’t like people being too close to her, and how close is too close changes a lot. If Aloy suddenly backs away from you or recoils if you try to touch her, it isn’t personal. She’s like that with everyone.”
“Is there a particular reason Aloy is like that? So different from her tribe?” Kotallo had had squaddies become like that after traumatic experiences.
“Aloy’s entire life up until a couple of years ago, basically. Just her and her foster father, living out in the Embrace, never seeing or talking to anyone else. Even since then, much of the time she’s been in physical contact with someone, she’s been fighting for her life.”
“Blood of the Ten!” Kotallo had cursed. Since he’d lost his arm, he had thought he was deprived of the touch of others. He can’t imagine what Aloy’s life has been like.
“Yeah, exactly. Try to give Aloy as much space as you can, please. When she gets spooked she’s liable to vanish off into the wilderness before you can even spit.”
“I will, Varl. Thank you for the briefing.”
That conversation has meant Kotallo has been surprised by the way Aloy will brush her fingers against his from time to time, or how she will sit down next to him at a campfire with barely a finger’s length distance between them. He hasn’t known what to make of it; has been careful to not initiate any contact with her. If he has become a safe person with whom Aloy could practice closeness, Kotallo was not going to jeopardise her progress. He wanted Aloy to learn the comfort and pleasure of touch, especially now he was learning to live without it.
Their task in the settlement complete, Kotallo expected Aloy to want to leave immediately, as usual. The residents wanted to use the champion’s presence as an excuse for a party. Kotallo couldn’t blame them. Aloy’s work had already improved their quality of life. While their situation was still tough, there was enough clean water for everyone, and food stocks were increasing. This time, though, Aloy accepted the offer of hospitality instantly.
Kotallo spent the evening by the fire, guarding Aloy as person after person contrived to get a moment alone with the champion. Some wanted to talk, some to flirt, all simply desperate to get the red head’s personal attention for even a second. Well, the marshal understood that feeling but he kept watch to make sure no one overstepped, glaring at those whose flirting looked like it might move towards outright propositioning. There was muttering about the maimed marshal trying to claim the champion as his when he was unworthy to clean her boots.
The moon hadn’t risen when Aloy leaned over to whisper in Kotallo’s ear. “This is all your fault, you know.”
“My fault?” Kotallo was genuinely indignant. Hadn’t he been doing his utmost to keep the riffraff from inviting Aloy to ride them all night long?
“Yes. If you had done something about the thing…” she gestured from herself to Kotallo, “between us, they’d know I was taken and would leave me alone.”
Kotallo’s heart stopped for so long he thought he must be dead. His stomach was falling like a leaf from a tree.
“The thing?” he forced out. His voice did not want to work.
“Yes. The thing,” Aloy repeated slowly, as if she was explaining philosophy to Erend. “The attraction.”
When Kotallo didn’t respond straightaway, the smile dropped from her face. “Oh! I’m sorry. I’ve got it wrong. I thought you…”
Kotallo grabbed her hand, squeezed. “You didn’t get it wrong, Aloy. You ambushed me with your words, and I was stunned. I am attracted to you, very attracted. More than attracted. I didn’t think it was returned.”
Aloy’s smile blossomed like a field of flowers. “More than attracted – I like the sound of that. It’s how I feel about you. You captivate me, Kotallo.”
Kotallo was still processing “captivate” when Aloy jumped to her feet and tugged at his hand.
“Time for bed,” she said loudly. “I’m hungry for you, Kotallo.”
He could see the impact of Aloy’s words ripple across the gathering. Why was someone as private as Aloy drawing attention to their actions? By the Ten, no! Was this some kind of prank on his commander’s part? Pretending to want him? Kotallo’s instant pain subsided as he remembered her initial approach had been whispered. He let Aloy assist, pulling him upwards with her unexpected strength. She was still smiling while leading Kotallo through the Tenakth towards their billet. The smile vanished when a man stepped into their path.
“I think you would prefer the attention of a proper Tenakth soldier,” he said. “A proper Tenakth cock.”
Aloy looked him up and down, at the markings that covered no more than half his body. She scoffed. Kotallo judged the soldier to be second rank at most. Unworthy of a warrior like his commander.
“You’re right, I would. I do.” She ran her hand over Kotallo’s abdomen, emphasising the tattoos that covered his skin. “The youngest to ever complete the Mark of the Ten. The man who climbed the Daunt. The soldier who opened Barren Light’s gate. The only marshal strong enough to survive Regalla’s ambush.”
Those who heard, laughed. They might not approve of Kotallo’s continued existence, but the Champion had scored excellent hits. Aloy’s would-be lover snarled and tried to grab at her arm. Instead Aloy grabbed his chest plate and pulled him in close so she could land a firm head butt on his face.
“That means no, by the way,” she commented, letting go as the blood poured freely from his nose and he staggered back under the force of her blow.
Kotallo didn’t resist his sudden need. He swung Aloy against his torso and scooped her upwards. Without hesitation, she wound her arms around his neck and her legs around his middle. They didn’t say anything, to each other or to their observers as Kotallo stalked through the settlement, Aloy’s face nestled against his.
When they were alone in their quarters, Aloy started to laugh.
“Did you see their faces?”
“I saw only your face, Aloy,” Kotallo answered. He had set her down and now stroked her face gently. He leaned in to kiss her but Aloy dodged his lips.
“Spikes off, Marshal. I don’t want to impale myself on anything but your cock tonight,” she smirked.
“As you order, commander dearest.”
Working together, they made quick work of removing first Kotallo’s armour and then Aloy’s. They left their underwear in place while re-arranging their bed rolls into a nest for two. Kotallo lay down on his side, propped on his right arm. Aloy lay down facing him.
“Have you felt like this for a while?” Kotallo asked her.
“It’s difficult for me to tell exactly when it started,” Aloy replied. “I didn’t, and then suddenly it seemed impossible that I’d ever not had these feelings for you.”
“And when was that?” Kotallo had a need to know.
She smiled softly at him, blushing a little. “When you asked me if you’d see me at the Grove for the Kulrut, I knew for definite. I counted the days. I hoped I would get to fight alongside you again.”
This time, Aloy met Kotallo halfway, sinking into their first kiss with a sigh. It was all too short a kiss, Aloy pulling away.
“What about you? When?” she enquired.
“You will laugh,” Kotallo warned.
“Oh! I must know now you’ve said that.”
“At the foot of the Bulwark. When you lost your temper and called me an arrogant shit. I realised you were the most beautiful sight I had ever seen and that I had behaved like a fool. I wanted only to redeem myself in your opinion.” Kotallo smirked, “Well, that and worship your body with my mouth, of course.”
Aloy chuckled. “Some might say we’ve wasted a lot of time then. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you though.”
“Let me confess something. I would never have spoken of my feelings first, Aloy. I didn’t dare think you might feel more than comradeship for me.”
“And I was waiting for you to speak, Kotallo, because I didn’t know how.”
“What changed?” Kotallo asked.
“Seeing how loving you were with Kerrah. Hearing your emotion when you talked about wanting children. Learning the Tenakth think no one will want to bear your children. All that made me realise something else I feel about you.” Aloy buried her face against his chest, bright red from hair to breasts. “I don’t know what the Nora look for in potential fathers. I was speaking about me. What I want.”
Kotallo felt his heart lurch. Could Aloy mean…?
“I want to have your children. Not immediately, because you know, the mission. But afterwards.”
A groan exploded from Kotallo’s chest. He rolled so he was now on top of Aloy and sank his teeth into her neck. She shuddered in response and writhed against him.
“Don’t say it if you don’t mean it, Aloy. You have no idea what hearing that does to me,” he rasped. Kotallo’s cock was rock hard, and he ground his hips into Aloy.
“I mean it. I want to scream your name as you fill me with your seed. I want to grow your sons and daughters within me. Other children will envy ours because of the glorious father they have.”
Kotallo ripped Aloy’s top away and started to suck and lick her breasts. Aloy panted and moaned, digging her fingers into his hair, and holding him in place. She arched her hips up to match with his.
“I won’t be able to stall myself for long,” he warned. “I want you too much, Aloy my love.”
“We’re going to practice baby making a lot, Kotallo. I want you to fuck me in every settlement and shelter across Tenakth lands. Let those women know what a mistake they’ve made in judging you unfit to breed them. Let everyone know how thoroughly you pleasure me as we keep them awake with our orgasms.”
Kotallo can’t help himself; he laughs. “By the Ten, they did anger you today!”
“No one mistreats my marshal without being punished, Kotallo. Now, stop talking, show how you would worship me with your mouth.”