Two Hearts

Chapter 3 - Menace

It was the third day in a row that it rained. The city was a gleaming dreary landscape of black metal and neon. The inhabitants were done with the season, despite it being the season when the rains came for weeks on end. With the clouds preventing the welcome heat of the sun, the Yautja chose to wear their body nets to better keep themselves warm.

They weren't reptiles, but they preferred the warmth rather than the cold.

Such was a rainy day that Emily enjoyed a slow day at the bar. Less customers had come. A sure result of the rain.

Yautja stayed in the dry warmth of their homes or left the planet for warmer weather. They were less inclined to drink outside the home.

Emily didn't mind it, however. It gave her a chance to confront Bhehre.

He had been quieter than usual, less chatty and choosing to busy himself when she tried to approach him. There was a tension in his shoulders that she had noticed. The little black quills on his bare shoulders taut with the tension. His eyes rarely strayed to even look her way.

She had thought that they were making good progress in growing closer. The portly Yautja was an enigma that she wanted to solve, yet...he felt so far away now. Seeing him so withdrawn like this made her heart twinge with sadness. Her heart seemed to swell when he was near and his sudden distancing hurt.

Had she done something to offend him? Did that hug offend him?

It had been harmless but every Yautja was different with affection. Most were uncomfortable with it, just like some humans were. Was he one of those?

After so many months, she felt like she barely knew him; which was true.

Bhehre was a mystery she wanted to solve. She wanted to maybe be closer friends...perhaps more of time let on. With him closing her off it seemed like a far-fetched dream...

The Yautja had grown on her. She liked watching him interact with his loyal customers and engaging with new ones, his hearty laughter of rapid successive clicks bringing a smile to her face. His hands were calloused and scarred but he had a gracefulness that belied a being who could stalk and maim with ease. Those same hands had been so warm when curious about her hair.

They were warm. Gentle.

Just like their owner.

There was a lull in the customers during her typical lunch hour, so she passed by the bar letting him know she was taking her break. He grunted an acknowledgement from behind the bar while he meticulously cleaned the dirty mugs.

Back in the "break room" as she called it, a large square room with a Yautja sized couch and table, she ate her small meal of fruit. Once that was in her stomach, she decided some fresh air was in store. She took the side exit for employees only into the empty ally where she sat on a bench under the covered area.

A long breath left her mouth as she sat and watched the rain fall.

The sound was soothing. Rain helped to soothe her frayed nerves concerning Bhehre.

She sat like for quite some time until a figure appeared from around the corner near the front of the business. One that was vaguely familiar as they made their way to her. The Yautja strode towards her with a predatory lope, the sight making her jump to action and try to make it to the door before he reached her.

He was faster, unfortunately.

G'keta braced one of his large hands on the wall above her head as he leaned down to peer into her eyes. His black shoulder-length locs fell forward with the motion of his body as he smirked devilishly, "Ooman, what a pleasure to find you out here alone and in the rain. You have not changed much. Still so...tiny I see."