𝐒𝐈𝐏𝐇𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐑 | Kevin Levin

MOVIE NIGHT FAILURES

CHAPTER ONE
MOVIE NIGHT FAILURES

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Anika allowed herself to be pulled along by the hand, constantly stumbling over her own feet before giving up and floating after him. Kevin was careful, lacing their fingers together and constantly turning back to check up on her. The young Anodite would tilt her head at him and copy that gesture he did, lifting the corners of her mouth— smiling? It always seemed to calm him, and he normally did it back. He always did it a lot whenever he came back after being away for a while. She couldn’t go out in public whenever he went out to get food since she didn’t know how to make a human body yet. 

Kevin led her outside of their home and let go of her hand, making Anika set her feet on the ground, disappointed. He gave her a small grin and gestured at the metal box, “Tada! This is a car battery— or lunch, if you wanna call it that.” Kevin said, shrugging his shoulders. 

She hummed happily, realizing that it was energy for her to eat, and gently nudged their foreheads together. His cheeks grew pink, something that always happened when she engaged in physical contact with him outside of holding hands, and his smile grew. Anika wrapped a pale tendril around the battery with the intention of feeding, but she paused upon noticing Kevin didn’t have his human food with him. She sent the question into his mind, and Kevin blinked. 

“Oh,” He murmured, “I’ll go get something then.” Kevin started walking back to the house before turning and pointing a finger at her with a stern look. “Don’t go anywhere. Stay right there, An.” 

Anika bobbed her head, gently swaying in place as she inspected the battery, turning it with her tendrils. She was so invested in learning more of the contraption that she didn’t hear anyone approaching until they were right behind her, their stature casting a large shadow. Confused, she lifted her head to stare up at an aged human with gray hair and an… amused expression. “So you’re the one taking all the batteries.” He stated, and Anika turned her body to look him over. 

He didn’t look threatening, not like the bad men — hunters — that Kevin would hide her from. This human had the same caring energy that Kevin had whenever they were together. Deeming him safe enough, Anika set the battery down to reach out to him with her tendrils. The man smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling, and allowed her to grab his hands to sate her curiosity. 

“I didn’t think I’d ever see a youngling like you on Earth, much less with that coloration.” He noted, and Anika paused to see if he would say anything mean— maybe even hit her like the others on Anodyne. He didn’t do any of those things, just gently pulled away when she was done inspecting his hands. “I have some batteries I don’t need back in the Rust Bucket, stay here for a second.” 

Anika bounced on the balls of her feet and did the smiling gesture when he returned with a box of the batteries that went into those remote devices. She reached her hands in, tendrils swaying excitedly, and grabbed a few in her hands. A startled shout of her name made her pause, turning with the small batteries in her hands to smile at Kevin. He didn’t do it back, his mouth open and his eyes wide as he stared at her. Shock? Why was he shocked? 

She made a noise to catch his attention again and waved the batteries in her hands, tugging at the man’s sleeve with a tendril. Kevin’s expression twisted into something she’d never seen before, and he dropped his bag to drag her away from the man. He shielded her with his body, ignoring her concerned coos, and glared at the older human. Kevin’s heart was beating much too quickly, and his chest rose and fell in short breaths that only fueled her concern. “I won’t let him take her,” She heard him think, “I won’t let him take the one good thing—”