Human Exchange Program - boyxboy (Incomplete)

Ch.3 Welcome to the Family

I woke up to a loud knocking on the door. "Oh Christ." I mumbled, "Come in!" I shouted while fixing my hair and straightening my clothes. 

The door cracked open, "...ready?" came that strong yet quiet voice once again. The thought of food made my stomach gurgle and I walked towards the door and opened it all of the way.

Usari was standing there in the same outfit he had been wearing earlier just without all of the accessories. When I looked up at him his eyes darted to his feet. "Am I dressed appropriately?" I asked him hoping to spark a conversation. He only nodded at me glancing up for a second. This was the first time I had really seen him up close. He was nearly a head taller than me, and I'm not a short man. His light golden hair looked silky up close though it seemed a little messier than before. I couldn't really see his eyes since he wouldn't look at me. His lips were thin, unlike mine, but they complimented his sharp features nicely. Who would have thought that a man could be so pretty? 

He turned away and began to walk down one of the hallways expecting me to follow, which I did. While we were walking I kept thinking about what the dinner would be like. No, not just the food! Okay, I was thinking about the food. But I was also thinking who all would be there. We went up some stairs and came into a dimly lit room surrounded with windows. When I entered I was surprised! There was a short table and thick red pillows tossed about it. Wetam was sitting down next to the man from earlier who I had heard called Fawyet earlier by Rezala. They were no longer adorned in their fancy gems and jewelry and they both were wearing simpler looking robes similar to mine. But that's not what really surprised me. Wetam was laughing uncontrollably and Fawyet was trying to calm him down while balancing a bowl in the other hand. It was just...odd looking.

"Drinking before we even eat?" said Usari in an almost sarcastic tone. 

"Tonight is a great night to celebrate! Is it not?" Wetam said choking back his laughter and straightening up his robe. 

"Celebrating and getting completely drunk are two different things dear." Fawyet said.

"Hush!" Wetam said patting Fawyet's hand in a playful manor. "It's just us tonight anyway! Rezala and Tunupa had somethings to attend to." he said while looking at me. "And your sister, Irasu, is being shyer than usual." he said while looking at Usari before reaching for the bowl in Fawyet's hand and saying something in his native tongue. 

"Usari, make the poor boy feel at home! He looks like he wants to run away." Fawyet said while trying to push Wetam away.

I didn't think I looked that confused and scared.

Usari sat down in front of the two men and motioned for me to sit now next to him. "These are my fathers Wetam and Fawyet. In case you could not tell." Usari said with the same tone he had spoken to me earlier with.

"Fathers?" I question out loud.

Usari looked at me with a puzzled face. "Yes, do you not have fathers?"

"Well, I have a father. Kind of."

"Oh I hear about that!" said Wetam who was temporally distracted from trying to get the bowl out of Fawyet's hand. "On Earth they can reproduce with someone of the opposite gender!"

"Can you not?" I asked trying to make my voice sound less surprised than I was.

"No, it's the reason that there are so few of us in comparison to you humans. Every anaba here has been created with...oh I can't remember what the word for it is!"

"Engineering?"

"Yes, thank you." Wetam said with a now calmer tone.

I had heard something about the anabas not being able to give birth naturally, but I thought that meant that they just struggled with it. Not that they would all die off without science! That does explain why Usari looks like both Fawyet and Wetam.

My thoughts were interrupted by a young anaba woman carrying a large dish into the room. Two others followed her carrying dishes and drinks. At this point I didn't care what it would taste like, I just wanted something in my stomach! 

"Hungry child?" asked Fawyet in a soothing voice. All I could do was nod as I stared at the dishes being placed on the table before us. I saw a slight smile appear on Fawyet's face.

The food all looked gorgeous and I ate my fill. I had no idea what I was eating, but it was all good! I was a little iffy on the thought of there not being any meat at first, but if the other food tasted even half as good as that meal did than I won't ever complain.

When we had all finished and the plates were being cleaned off the table Wetam asking in his sarcastic tone again, "I hope that you are able tolerate such horrible food." I gave a small laugh in response. 

Then Maska, the servant from earlier, entered with a large white bowl with a ladle and sat it down on the table. He squatted down and gave me a smile as he filled a much smaller bowl with some of the contents. I could smell the alcohol from where I was siting. He offered the small bowl to me and I took it. I took a sip and started coughing as soon as I swallowed it. Usari looked scared or concerned but everyone else was just trying to hold back their laughter. I felt a little embarrassed yet I wanted to laugh at myself too.

"You do not have to drink it." Fawyet said in between laughs. "It is strong. I know."

I didn't want to just waist what I had in my bowl so I managed to finish it while everyone else got their own bowls and began to drink as well. However, by the time I had finished the first bowl I was able to tolerate it and ended up filling my bowl again. We talked and drank for several hours and got to know each other a little better, entertaining each other with stories and asking questions. Although Usari was still quiet for the most part. I tried to keep up with Wetam's drinking but by the third and a half bowl I decided it was best if I just stopped. 

When Wetam started to doze off on Fawyet's shoulder we agreed it was time to retire. 

"Sleep well, Alexander." Fawyet said in a soft voice trying to not disturb Wetam whom he was lifting up with the help of Maska. As they passed us he and Usari touched foreheads lightly and then we followed behind them heading back to our rooms. 

"Did you enjoy?" Usari asked. We had both been drinking and it was hard for either of us to really focus.

"Yes! It's a shame that I couldn't meet the other royal family or your sister, but your fathers are really nice. They seem like they get along well with each other."

"Yes." was all he said back. 

When we reached my bedroom door he went to put his forehead to mine and it startled me. It was a common goodnight gesture in Nabar, but usually with someone close to you. I stumbled backwards a bit and he straightened up imminently. Well, that was awkward. "Sleep well." he said and then he quickly turned toward his room. "You too." I called out.

I entered my room and took off my clothes. I din't know what to do with them so I hung them back up. More clothes had been placed on my bed that I guessed were meant for sleeping. I didn't feel like going through them though so I just set them on the couch. I found a clean tee shirt in my bag and slipped that on. With a tee and my brief on I crawled into the soft covers feeling a little at home. I dozed off while watching the  black sky covered in bright stars. Something that I rarely saw on Earth.