He moves far quicker than I could, and the trees finally give way to a small clearing when I turn my focus to where he is going rather than his face itself. The... the spring. The spring I wanted to see.
I can't make out too much detail in the darkness of the night, but I can see the movement of several small animals that seem to be drinking from the edge of the water that I'm sure is nearly clear in daylight. I remember the report that I first read said that it was remarkably clean and cool, though it had a few smaller fish of species they didn't recognize.
"It's clean." Aska finally breaks his long silence, gently setting me down at the edge of the water as the smaller animals seem to finally notice his presence, scattering at the sight of what I'm sure is a natural predator to them, at least when he was younger. "Drink."
I smile softly and cup the chilling water in my hand, "It hasn't rained in weeks, right? I don't need it. I can live."
His tail moves as he hesitantly pushes me a little closer to the spring, "Not requiring it does not mean that you would feel better if you did not drink. You need water to avoid pain."
That... That's new. I knew that, I know that, but... nobody else seems to understand it. Not only that, but he is giving it to me. It isn't as if this is just a bottle he found on the ground that he didn't want, this is likely the water that he predominantly drinks. And he is asking me to take it, knowing that it is not something I require. Same with the fruits he would return to the cave with, even if he is purely a carnivore. They feed his prey, no? I guess I don't know if he really is a carnivore, though. I imagine he is. His teeth say he is. He doesn't have any molars that I can see. He has a full set of needle-like teeth in this form, even if you ignore the larger fangs.
Rather than respond to his generosity, I acquiesce and look towards my cupped hand, pressing it to my lips as I simply let it run into my mouth. It's been quite a few days, and I happen to be unable to drink it fully. The last thing I plan to do is waste the water he's willing to let me have.
He gets closer to me in near silence, pressing his cold scales to my side and helping me hold myself up, since one of my hands is being used to drink. After quite a few minutes and a slightly clearer head, I take a deep breath in, "You never answered my question, Aska. Why? Why do any of this?"
He's intelligent enough to understand that he will lose more than he will gain in my presence, and yet he wishes for me to stay here for at least a while. I genuinely can't understand why he seeks my company.
"Nagas..." He hesitates and I turn around to look at him, finding his eyes to be nearly white with lines of grey, "Nagas share their cave with only one for their lives. Even our nests are built in a communal cave, one that we have built generational homes in. We share our private cave with our mate when not in season to copulate. I first brought you as a... form of research, to learn more about humans and why you smell different. You... denied my invitation when I demanded that you stay, so I believe this is foreign to you. We decide to bond as mates when it has been proven that both sides are equals in strength. You did not die of my venom, and I did not die from the darts you spoke of. You proved that you cared for me when you sought to leave out of fear for my health. I understand that I have... misread your intentions, now, but my desire remains."
"Misread" is cutting that short. I blink rapidly at his rather nervous demeanor and finally ask, "To clarify, you are saying that you wish to take me as a mate?"
He nods before gently pushing his forehead against mine, "You have lived through my bite when no naga could."
So... the strongest of the nagas wants...
I blink quietly once again, "So, I assume homosexuality is not unnatural to you? I mean, you do understand that I am also male, right? Even if you understand that, isn't it still nature to want offspring?"
"It is uncommon, but less so in males. We are often slightly stronger than females. To find neither a male nor female counterpart who can withstand me would... be a much more agonizing life." Aska states, "Eternal, yet agonizing."
"Eternal?" I ask hesitantly, "Wait, what do you mean? You live until another comes along that tries to mate with you is strong enough to kill you?"
That's... I suppose a reasonable way for natural selection to take place. Why am I still asking him about that like I'm studying him? He wants me as his mate! Am I even... Could I even... "How" is the better question. It would still be a better life than any I could live with any humans, though it would be odd. I care for him to an extent, but that is mainly because his life and home are in jeopardy from the humans I've lived with for much longer than appears possible. Can I care for him beyond that?
"We age to maturity and cease to age. If our mate dies to another— generally over resources or a larger, more private cave— it would be our natural duty to avenge him or her, and that is how a bonded pair may die. That is to say... nagas mate for life. I would not die because I sought another."
Loyalty to me would have been laughable— if not for the boyish anxiety that seems to have overtaken him. He hasn't lied yet. I haven't dreamed or thought of a relationship because my lover would age and die without me. In a somewhat similar regard, he has probably tried with more than one of his kind that he was interested in... and then watched them die.
I sigh and lean my head against his chest, "I can tell you that I certainly wasn't trying to court you, but..."
I take a deep breath in as I meet his eyes, "I will try to be what you want me to be, though I need you to tell me how one goes about that."
YOU ARE READING
Forever Captive
General Fiction****** Disclaimer! This book contains depictions of violence, gore, vulgar language, and *checks notes* the grammar and words of a man who has a habit of writing on his poor computer at 2 in the morning. That being said, it does also contain lemon...
