Page 5

Gendry

“Why are we out here?” Christian asks with a whine. He picks up another piece of trash, placing it into the giant garbage bag he’s holding.

“We are volunteering. We are helping the environment. Should you not be happy we are cleaning the Earth you so desperately wish to stay at?”

Christian narrows his eyes in my direction but doesn’t argue further. His movements are more exaggerated and irritated as he picks up a can from the ground and shoves it into his garbage bag.

“Aldo visited me yesterday.”

That catches Christian’s attention. His movements slow down. I pick up another piece of trash as he processes this information.

“Okay,” he says slowly. “Did he want something?”

“He welcomed me to the area with a sweet treat.”

“Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”

I tilt my head to the side. “What do you mean? There were no kids involved.”

“I.. no… Gendry,” Christian says, using his free hand to rub at the back of his neck. “That’s just a phrase people use when they jokingly mean you’re referring to sex.”

“Oh,” I say, standing up straight and dropping my garbage bag. I feel my cheeks flush with embarrassment. “No. That’s not what we did. There was no sexual relations or anything close. We simply talked and ate brownies.”

“I believe you,” he says right away. “I was just making a joke, it’s okay.”

I pick my bag back up, going back to cleaning up trash. I have no idea why some humans think it’s okay to leave garbage out like this. If this happened on my planet, Ghenie would pass out harsh punishments. We’ve always believed it is our duty to take care of the planet that houses us, why do some humans find that so difficult?

Instead of dwelling on the frustration that comes with thinking about certain humans, I move my thoughts to a different human, one who’s thoroughly caught my attention. I turn towards Christian.

“I have a question.”

Christian perks up. “Yeah?”

“What does it mean when a human changes their hair color?”

I continue picking up garbage, ignoring the way his eyes are on me. When I finally look over, Christian has a small smile on his face. He nods his head.

“That’s a really good sign.”

“Really? But what does it mean? Is it some sort of camouflage technique or something to scare away predators?”

“No, no. It’s more like a mood indicator. Some of us have the ability to project our emotions with our hair.”

I narrow my eyes. That doesn’t sound like something humans can do, but who am I to argue with a native? “So what does bright pink mean?”

“Oh, Gendry, really? It was bright pink?” I nod my head and Christian’s face lights up. “That’s amazing. It means he has romantic feelings for you!”

My heart picks up speed and my skin tingles with delight. Aldo has feelings for me? He’s so beautiful and kind, while I am so large and alien. How could he possibly have romantic feelings for me?

“That can’t be. I’m an alien.”

“Some people look past the skin, even if it’s purple, into the man inside, Gendry. I think you should ask him to go on a date with you.”

“A date?” I think about the movie I watched last night. It was a romantic comedy, or at least, that’s what the TV had called it. It was about two women who fall in love during a medical tragedy. I was expecting it to end in disaster but somehow, they both pulled through and were able to be together in the end. I can admit, I shed more than one tear at the end because it was so beautiful. During the movie, one of the women took the other on a date to see a movie and then walked through a park together. At the end of the date, they shared a soft kiss.

My stomach swoops as I think about possibly doing the same with Aldo. Would he allow me to take him on a date? Would he allow me to duck down and press my lips against his own at the end of it?

I want to find out. I want whatever he’s willing to let me have, even if it will only last this year.

“You know what a date is, right? I guess you’re used to doing weird athletics to prove you can mate someone,” Christian says, his brows wrinkling. “That mating ritual is so fucking stupid. What if someone is born with only one leg? Are they just supposed to be alone forever? You shouldn’t have to put on a fucking show just to be with the person you love.”

Ghenie is my Toralleh but even I can see that our ways are outdated. There’s limitations to how we prove ourselves to our mates, I agree with Christian. I also know that it is not my place to question Ghenie’s leadership. Timalah has brought these things up to Ghenie in the past and the two of them have talked about it at great lengths.

It wouldn’t surprise me if things are already different by the time I get back to my home planet. Ghenie is our leader. It is his mission to speak with our Ancestors, to allow them to help him lead our people. They will help guide him into this next stage. They will help him develop a new and better way to bring our matches together, I have no doubt.

“In a movie I watched, two people went to a theater together and then went for a walk. I could do something like that with Aldo.”

Christian snaps out of his terrible mood when thinking about our mating rituals, focusing on explaining different date ideas to me instead.

“As long as you’re spending time together, getting to know each other better, and having a nice time, that’s all that matters. Pretty much anything can become a date as long as your intention is to be with each other.”

I nod along as he explains. “That makes sense. So having brownies and talking could be a date?”

“Yes. But usually, it’s only a date when you’re both on the same page about it being a date.”

“A conscious decision by both parties involved,” I murmur. I reach down and pick up some more trash as we talk. “I am unsure what Aldo would enjoy as a date, but I could simply ask him next time I see him. He promised to play soccer with me.”

“That’s a good sign, that he’s promising to spend time with you in the future.”

Christian’s words fill me with warmth. There’s a chance this is going to work out. There’s a chance I might have a shot at wooing Aldo. My heart flutters pleasantly every time I think about him. It’s maddening and exhilarating all at once.

As we finish up and start to head to our apartment, I nudge Christian with my elbow. “Aldo mentioned he’s given up on wonder and whimsy because he has been burned too many times by human men in the past. Do you think I’ll be the same?”

Christian stops and looks up at me. He places a hand on my shoulder. “I think you’re a good man, Gendry. You would never do something to hurt someone on purpose. My only caution is remembering you’re not staying here forever. As long as you’re both okay with that, I vote that you go for it.”

“You’ve given me much to think about. Thank you, Christian.”

“Don’t mention it,” he says, starting to walk again. “Ever.”

I can’t stop myself from chuckling as I follow behind Christian. My eyes dart around the streeting, taking in all the signs and shops as we walk. Everything is so flashy and bright, so much more obscene than I’m used to. On my home planet, we do our best to live a simple life but here, it’s so different. I’m enjoying everything Earth has to offer, but I can admit I miss being home.

One shop has a glowing pair of scissors. It makes me pause, thinking about Aldo. To my surprise, when I look through the window, I find him standing inside!

“Christian! Aldo is inside!”

Christian slows down, following my gaze. “I think he works here.”

“I must go in and say hello.”

“You could ask him for a haircut while you’re at it. You have money on you, right?”

“Of course! I will pay him for his services. Would you like to come with me?”

“And listen to you awkwardly flirt? Absolutely not. I’ll talk to you later.”

Before I can argue, Christian turns and leaves. I think about chasing him down for only a moment before I think better of it. Christian has shown much of himself to me today through our conversation. It’s best to leave things as they are before I push too much. He’s not a very forthcoming man, but when he shows slivers of himself, it paints a wonderful picture of a truly caring man. One just has to find it beneath miles of cynicism and grunts.

I step inside the shop, looking around in wonder. Everything is so bright. There’s three stations with chairs, giant mirrors, and counters. There are weird looking contraptions towards the back that look like a giant ball goes over someone’s head. Terrifying. There’s also a seat that tips back into a sink which looks mildly interesting.

The walls are a lovely blue color with splashes and dots of a variety of colors. I instantly feel a smile stretch across my lips. This place makes me feel happy, I can’t describe why, but it does.

The smells however, I could really do without. There’s some sort of chemicals in the air that leave my head feeling light and my nose wrinkling.

Aldo looks over at me, a flash of surprise going across his features before he’s smiling.

“Hi, Gendry! I wasn’t expecting you!”

“Hello,” I say in English, hoping my pronunciation is okay. By the look on his face, I’m guessing I nailed it.

The woman in Aldo’s chair turns around. I feel her eyes slide up and down my body. When Aldo does it, I’m filled with warmth, but as she does it, I find that I don’t enjoy it.

“I didn’t realize I liked 'em big and purple,” she says to Aldo with a giggle.

“Hush,” he says, laying a piece of foil over her face and turning the chair around so she can’t keep staring at me. “One second. I’ll be right back,” he says to her before walking over to me.

“What’s brought you here, Gendry?”

I reach into my pocket and pull out my translator, handing it over to Aldo. He takes it and places it into his ear, looking up at me with soft eyes.

“I saw you through the window while I was walking home.”

“Oh. Did you need something?”

I shake my head. “I just wanted to see you. Christian said I should ask you for a haircut.”

“I can do that, but you’ll have to wait. I’m finishing up someone right now.”

“I can wait,” I say right away.

Aldo gives me a soft smile. He gestures towards a plush couch. “There’s coffee if you’d like a cup while you wait. I won’t be too long, I promise.”

I sit down and watch him walk back over to his station. As he goes, my eyes dart down to his ass. His jeans are light gray and hug him just right. When I realize I’m staring, I look back up, only to find him watching me in the reflection of the giant mirror.

My cheeks heat at being caught but the smirk he throws my way lightens the embarrassment. I think he might like that I was taking him in. I like what I see, and I’m not ashamed of that.

I look over at the little coffee machine they have here. As much as a cup of warm coffee sounds good, I have no idea how to work this contraption and it’s probably best I just sit and wait. I flip through a magazine. I can’t read the words but there are some pictures I can look at.

I have no idea how long I wait but eventually, the woman in Aldo’s seat stands up. They walk over to the counter to the side of the shop. They continue to chat as she pays before finally leaving with a lingering glance in my direction.

“Okay, Gendry,” Aldo says, walking back to his station. “Let me clean this up and then I’m all yours.”

Warmth floods through me without my permission. His words strike a chord within me, tingling sensations rushing through my extremities towards the center of my chest where my heart lies. I barely know Aldo but already I want him to be mine.

Aldo’s hair is still that lovely shade of pink. Christian’s words play over and over in head. This shade means he likes me. But then again, it was pink while he worked on the last person’s hair. Does that mean he likes her as well?

By the Ancestors, these humans are complicated.

“There we go! Hop into my chair, handsome.” Warmth floods me once more. I don’t understand how this human can sway my insides so thoroughly. What is it about him that has me feeling this way? Why has no one stirred me quite like Aldo?

I get into the chair and he chuckles, hitting a button and making the chair slowly get lower and lower. Once he has me at the perfect height, the chair stops.

“There we go. Now I can actually work on your head. I’m gonna put my hands in your hair now, is that okay?”

“Of course. It would be difficult for you to work on my hair without touching it.”

“True,” he says with a warm laugh. The sound rings through the room and tugs at my insides. Everything he does makes me feel something . “I didn’t want to surprise you, that’s all.”

Aldo touches my hair and a shiver runs down my spine. Maybe I didn’t think this through properly. Sure, I wanted to spend more time with Aldo but now that his hands are actually touching me, I’m not sure I will be able to keep myself from not growing wet and aroused. I don’t want to make him uncomfortable but his touch feels so good .

“What are you thinking? Please tell me you’re not planning something super short. Your hair is so beautiful and long.”

“My usual style would be shaved around my ears and the back but keeping the rest long. I like being able to braid it back and away from my face.”

“That sounds perfect,” Aldo says, smiling at me in the reflection of the mirror. “Would you like me to shampoo you?”

I tilt my head to the side. “What?”

Aldo chuckles and nods towards the back of the room where the sink sits. “I can wash your hair as part of your haircut. It feels really nice.”

“Oh,” I breathe out. “Okay. I would like the full human experience, please.”

Aldo gives me a wink. “You got it. Follow me.”

I carefully move over to the sink. I feel like I have too much leg and I have to curl my tail around my thigh to keep it out of the way but with a bit of squirming and adjusting, I get myself into the chair and tilted back so that Aldo can wash my hair.

“What should I do about your antennae?”

“Try not to touch them, please. They can be rather sensitive and I have special oils I use to keep them clean.”

“Got it. They might get a little wet, will that be okay or would you rather I put a cloth over them?”

“If they get a little wet, that is fine. Thank you for asking, Aldo.” I look up at him, seeing his face upside down from this angle. Somehow, even at this silly angle, his beauty is apparent. I’m not sure any angle could make him any less beautiful. It’s a good thing he cannot connect telepathically with me or else he’d be able to know exactly what the cause of my blush is.

“No problem. I wanna make sure you’re well taken care of,” he says with a grin before turning on the water. He splashes just a tiny bit against my hair. “How’s the temperature? Too hot? Too cold?”

I smile. “It’s just right.”

“Just like you,” he says before getting my hair wet. I stare up at him as he works, his eyes glancing down at me a few times before he’s giggling. He taps my forehead gently. “Gendry, close your eyes. Humans don’t stare while they’re getting their hair washed usually.”

“My apologies,” I quickly say, slamming my eyelids shut.

“It’s okay. It’s nice to know you think I’m pretty enough to stare, but this is supposed to feel nice and relaxing. Just enjoy the feeling, okay?”

I do as I’m asked, keeping my eyes closed as Aldo gets my hair wet. I hear a squelch before his fingers are dancing over my scalp, lathering the soap into my hair. Oh, that feels nice. Really nice.

Without my permission, a rumble overtakes my chest, something between a content growl and purr.

“Someone is enjoying this, hmm? That’s adorable, I had no idea you could purr like that.”

In all honesty, neither did I. I don’t think I’ve ever purred before, but it’s not completely unheard of, especially when someone is around their matron . Aldo sounds pleased by the purring so I don’t try to calm myself.

“Feels nice,” I murmur as Aldo washes my hair. He massages my scalp, runs his fingers over my ears, and is careful not to get my antennae wet. I melt against the seat, completely relaxed. I’ve never had someone wash my hair like this before. I normally shear my own hair back home.

Far too soon, Aldo turns off the water. “Are you still awake, Gendry?” Aldo asks with a chuckle. “It’s time to sit up and move over to my chair.”

I sit up with a bit of difficulty, allowing Aldo to wrap my hair in a towel to keep from dripping all over as we move back to his chair. Once I sit down, Aldo gets to work drying my hair with the towel before wrapping a plastic sheet around my shoulders.

Aldo runs his fingers through my hair. I watch him in the reflection of the mirror, my insides warm, my body relaxed. So far, this has been the most wonderful experience and I’m so happy to be experiencing it with Aldo. Somehow, I feel closer to him just by allowing him to cut my hair.

“Let’s get the dead ends cut and then we can shave the sides,” Aldo says, picking up a comb and a pair of scissors. “God, your hair is so fucking pretty. So many people would kill for this color.”

“Your hair is pretty as well. The pink really suits you,” I say, ignoring the way my cheeks heat up. I clear my throat. “Though, I think any color would be pretty on you.”

“Oh, you are such a charmer, Gendry.”

“Charmer? What does that mean? Is it something good?”

Aldo starts cutting my hair, humming as he thinks. “It means that you say charming things that flatter me.”

“I am only speaking the truth.”

Aldo has a small smile across his lips as he snips the ends of my hair. “You’re not like anyone I’ve ever met before.”

“Is that a good thing?”

“It’s a great thing,” he says, looking at me in the mirror and giving me a wink.

“May I ask you a question?”

Aldo nods. “You can ask me anything.”

“Can you change your hair color at will? Or is it only when you’re feeling certain emotions?”

Aldo’s hands still and he glances up at me in confusion. “What do you mean?”

“Christian explained that human hair color is based on what the human is feeling. He said that pink meant you felt warmly towards me.”

“Oh my god,” Aldo murmurs, shaking his head. He covers his face with his hand for a moment before giggles are bursting forth, almost like it’s against his permission. “Oh my god, he’s such an ass.”

“Why do I have a feeling he was fooling me?”

“Because he absolutely was! I dye my hair using chemicals, Gendry.”

“Oh,” I say slowly, understanding washes over me. With that understanding comes embarrassment. “Oh no. I’m sorry.”

Aldo’s giggling fades. “Why are you sorry? It’s not your fault your friend bullies you.”

“I could have made you uncomfortable by implying you feel warmly towards me.”

“I’m not uncomfortable,” Aldo says, going back to trimming my hair. “And you haven’t implied anything that isn’t true. I’ve only known you a short time, but I really enjoy the little time we’ve spent together. I’d love to continue getting to know you, Gendry.”

“Are you certain?”

“I don’t do things I don’t want to do. I have no issue telling people no. When I say I want to spend time with you, it’s the truth.”

I hum happily. Aldo’s voice washes over me. I think I could listen to him speak all day and never grow bored. His words sit against my chest, filling me with emotion. He wants to spend time with me as much as I want to spend time with him. Could he be feeling the same type of sensations inside his chest that I’m feeling? Could he crave learning about me the same way I want to learn about him?

“Now I’m gonna buzz the sides. It can be a little loud around your ears, okay?”

Aldo shaves the sides of my head, careful around my ears. He also does the back, making sure it’s all even. Once he’s done, he brushes the stray hairs away from my head and the back of my neck.

“What do you think?”

Aldo gives me a handheld mirror, spinning the chair around so I can see the back of my head. Everything looks exactly as I wanted. He’s done a wonderful job and made sure I felt heard and taken care of the entire time. I can see why he’s successful in this profession.

“It’s wonderful. You’ve done a perfect job, Aldo. Would you mind braiding it back for me?”

“It would be my pleasure,” Aldo says with a grin. He tries to lower the chair but it’s as low as it will go. With a groan, he walks away and comes back with a stepping stool, setting it behind the chair and standing up on it. “You’re so fucking tall!”

“And you’re so short.”

“You’re lucky I find men taller than me extremely sexy,” Aldo says, running his fingers through the top of my hair and pulling it back.

“Very lucky indeed,” I say, my face bright with a blush. I’ve never felt this way before, never flirted or shown interest in another person. There was no one back home who inspired me in such a way.

“Now is probably a wonderful time for me to ask if you have a lovely lady or handsome gentleman waiting back home for you,” Aldo says as he starts to braid my hair back. He’s doing a single braid down the middle, careful not to touch the antennae on my forehead.

“My species doesn’t have gender the way your planet does. We all possess the same parts and almost all of us consider ourselves men.” I think for a moment, remembering a medical program I watched last week. It’s amazing the types of things I have learned from the television. “I think the closest way to describe us that you would understand would be intersex?” Then I remember Aldo’s original question. “But no, I do not have anyone on a romantic level waiting for me back home.”

Aldo looks at me in the reflection of the mirror. “That’s really interesting, Gendry. Thank you for sharing that with me,” he says, nodding his head before looking back at his hands. “And that’s really good to know. About the romantic partner. I’m glad.”

“As am I. Can we spend more time together? Sometime soon?”

Aldo finishes the braid, tying it at the end. He places the end of my braid over my shoulder. “Absolutely. Do you have plans this weekend?”

“I am free.”

“Great. I’ll meet you outside your apartment in the morning. Let’s plan for 9. Wear something comfortable.”

I smile so wide that my cheeks ache. “I look forward to it.”

Standing up, I follow Aldo to the counter so that I can pay for my haircut. This entire experience feels like a dream and my head feels like I am floating.

“I’ll see you on Saturday,” Aldo says, reaching across the counter and squeezing my wrist. “It’s a date.”