Page 25 of Space Daddy’s Guide to the Galaxy (Villains in Space #2)

25

MICAH

An hour later, I was pacing the small space while Ziggy lounged on the bed and Pedro pounced on invisible dust mites.

They kind of are a space cat.

The building we were staying in was unsurprisingly created from lava rock—from the ceiling to the floor, and including the furniture. The beds were covered in various furs for comfort, like those ice hotels back on Earth, but the temperature was pleasantly warm beneath the surface of Ekistron.

Must be all that lava…

The Eki controlling lava was blowing my mind, even if it wasn’t outside the realm of possibility for someone like me. It was more that I’d just never used my powers in that way before.

Never been asked, more like it…

You would think having a kid who could control inorganic components—which were found everywhere on Earth, including within organic matter—would be seen as a valuable asset in a supe family. It was, but only for utilitarian things, like fixing the crumbling foundation of my parents’ estate or creating handy tools to enhance my siblings’ more badass powers.

I remembered the time my mother was hosting a superhero dignitary who asked about the stone walkway they were strolling down. Not only had she referred to the person who created it— me —as “the hired help,” she’d completely missed the opportunity to point out how the design was based on chemical compounds found in the human body.

All that star stuff we’re made of.

Despite how impressive—or not impressive, depending on who you asked—my powers were, I’d only ever used them on material I was in direct contact with. In theory, lava’s inorganic makeup meant I should be able to manipulate it, but I wasn’t understanding how.

“Why are you worried about this, Micah?” Ziggy murmured, effortlessly picking up on my nerves, even with his eyes on Pedro. “You were born with these powers. The Eki are simply showing you how to better utilize them.”

“But what if I can’t?” I whined, dramatically flopping onto the bed next to him as another wave of self-doubt washed over me. “Yeah, my powers are vaguely similar to theirs, but that doesn’t mean?—”

“I have no doubt you can,” Ziggy interrupted, gaze shifting to me even as he dangled a random piece of rope over the side of the bed for Pedro to play with.

That looks like “enrichment” to me, Space Daddy.

“Uhh…” I eloquently replied. “You seem pretty sure of yourself, Zig.”

“I am,” he fired back, patting his lap until Pedro hopped up to join him with a ferocious little yowl.

So cute!

Both of them.

“Okay, fine, fine,” I chuckled, basking in the confidence he had in me before a new thought floated to the surface. “Maybe that’s why they’re agreeing to train me—because they recognize I have the matter manipulator Force or something?”

Like Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.

More like Yoda and Luke, let’s be real…

Ziggy hummed noncommittally. “Perhaps. Or it’s because they’re trying to figure out why we’re actually here.”

My blood ran cold as I sat up and turned to gape at him. “You don’t think they believe the story we gave them?”

Now I was sweating, but my stellar collision looked as unbothered as always. “I don’t believe they’re as clueless about Pedro as they let on.”

“I got the same vibes!” I shouted before lowering my voice—as if anyone around here spoke Earthling American English. “And Pedro’s shields were up, so it wasn’t the call of the karnilian or whatever.”

Ziggy cleared his throat and dropped his gaze to the Trol curled up in his lap. “Yes, well… you should keep Pedro’s shields up while we’re here regardless?—”

“What’s the point?” I huffed, annoyed at my lack of skill all over again. “You saw how that Eki just dissolved my shields like it was nothing.”

Hmph.

“And you can learn to do that too, sunshine,” he soothed, filling me with comfort from the inside out. “If the Eki wanted us dead, they would have tried harder to kill us.”

“That’s not as reassuring as you think, Zig,” I laughed, even as I blasted him with schmoopy gratitude in return. “I have to ask, though… Why did you make up that story about the Kaalas? I know Uulvin said don’t mention them by name, but we’re really gonna pretend this was a complete coincidence?”

Ziggy was quiet for a long moment, absently running his hands through Pedro’s fur as the creature purred up a storm.

“Something isn’t adding up here.” His gaze met mine. “And since we haven’t been given the full story of why they let us into a notoriously unwelcoming city, I figured I’d return the favor.”

I sighed heavily, even if I understood where he was coming from. Knowledge was power, no matter what planet you were on, and—as a supe—I was well-versed in the ways people withheld intel for personal gain.

“Well, as long as you don’t think it’s a bad idea for me to train with them…” I tried to play it cool, even though I assumed my man could see— feel— right through my nonchalant posturing.

He smiled softly. “I think it’s a very good idea, and I also believe the offer to train you is genuine.”

That was all the reassurance I needed, because Ziggy was skilled at reading others, even with his tendrils under wraps.

“Okay!” I stood and jumped in place a few times, hyping myself up. “Then I should probably go find the Eki who offered?—”

As if on cue, a soft knock on the door had me hustling to answer. When I swung the—lava rock, of course—door wide, my space wizard sensei was calmly standing on the other side with their hands tucked into the sleeves of their sparkly robe.

I wonder what they look like under there…

“H-hi, hello!” I switched to the trade language and stepped back. “Please come in.”

They took a single step inside the room before clocking Zig and Pedro on the bed. “The accommodations are to your liking? Would you have preferred a single room?”

“Yes! And, uh, no. Two rooms is better for me and my… mate…” I trailed off as my face heated.

Because I need uninterrupted Tendril Touchy Time, thanks for asking.

“What should we call you?” Ziggy called from the bed, probably picking up on my slutty embarrassment and wanting to redirect.

“Leeloo,” the Eki replied, and my excitement returned with a vengeance.

Like Lilo and Stitch?

Or The Fifth Element?!

MULTIPASS!!!

Yes, my nerdy taste in entertainment knew no bounds, but devouring sci-fi content had always been the best way to give my busy brain a break while feeding my obsession with space.

Until my very own alien landed on my doorstep.

Now I’m just obsessed with him.

“I’m Ziggy,” my partner continued, since I was still gaping like a fool. “And this is Micah.”

“Zig-ee,” Leeloo repeated before turning their literally hooded gaze on me. “My-kuh.”

“That’s me!” I waved for no good goddamn reason. “It’s a name from the Bible… which is a, um, book where we come from. A fiction book. Open to interpretation. Anyway, I’ve always liked my name because it sounds like mica, which is what we call crystallized silicate minerals that show up in metamorphic, sedimentary, and igneous rock… Kind of like what you’ve got going on here…”

The Eki was staring at me with either rapt interest or deep confusion, but I had no way of knowing which one.

And this is why I was single before I met Ziggy.

“And this is Pedro,” my space fiancé cheerfully called out, saving my dumb ass once again—this time from myself.

Partners ‘til the end.

Leeloo snapped their attention to the pair on the bed. “You named them?”

“Well, yeah.” I rubbed the back of my neck, wondering if it was considered weird in outer space to name highly coveted talismans. “We think of Pedro as family.”

The Eki hadn’t taken their gaze off the Trol. “Is that why you feel… called to protect them?”

Ziggy tensed, placing a protective hand on Pedro as Leeloo stepped closer.

Ooh, Space Daddy in the house!

“Yes,” I blurted out, eager to draw Leeloo’s attention away from the Trol. “It’s like a… paternal instinct? I mean, we don’t have children of our own yet, so?—”

Oh, no…

This time, I tried to rescue my own damn self by slamming my mouth shut and throwing away the key, but the damage had been done. Ziggy’s baby blues had gone as round as twin moons, and the sound he choked out could only be described as a death rattle.

Way to Stormtrooper the baby discussion, Micah.

Leeloo nearly blew their own hood off with how quickly they glanced between us before producing a rasping sound of their own.

Are they… laughing at us?

Fair.

“Let us focus on training for now, My-kuh,” they blessedly redirected. “Before your mate disappears into thin air.”

THEY KNOW!

Now, we both tensed, but I instantly realized my Jedi Master was making a joke.

Okay, Leeloo. I see you.

“Yeah,” I laughed awkwardly. “I would like that, and I appreciate the training. Again, thank you.”

The Eki inclined their head as Ziggy piped in, “May I join the training session? To watch?”

Yes fucking please.

The raw relief that coursed through me left no doubt in my mind that I needed my Space Daddy by my side for this exercise—as moral support.

My forever hype girl.

Leeloo considered for a moment before nodding at Ziggy. “Of course, you may accompany your mate, as long as you maintain a safe distance from the exercises. I would caution against bringing the child with you, however, as we would not want to place them in harm’s way.”

Ah, fuck.

We all knew Pedro would be fine, but if Ziggy and I insisted they come along, it might contradict my claim of possessing paternal instincts to protect the ‘helpless’ baby.

“The droid you have will suffice as protection while you are away,” Leeloo crisply added, apparently wanting to get this show on the road. “The GRX-5L is known for swiftly delivering death to anyone aside from the designated caregivers—assuming you have programmed it to do so.”

Uhhh…

“I… think I did,” I replied with a grimace. “It didn’t exactly come with instructions.”

“You also have nothing to fear in our city.” Leeloo stepped closer before inclining their head. “Shall we proceed?”

I nodded, and Ziggy immediately stood, carrying Pedro to the nanny bot in the adjoining room. While I knew he was just playing his role of supposedly less impressive mate, I couldn’t help how my chest grew tight at the sight of my stellar collision caring for the little furbaby.

Our pretend baby.

Fuck.

I want to mpreg that man so fucking bad.

Leeloo cleared their throat, and for one horrifying moment, I wondered if Eki could taste emotions in the air as well.

I will throw myself into the nearest volcano if that’s the case.

To my relief, they simply whispered conspiratorially, “I promise to steer the discussion away from children in front of your frightened mate.”

Leeloo has your number, Zig!

I had to hide my laugh beneath a cough. “Yeah… He might need a little time to warm up to the idea.”

The Eki followed my gaze to where Ziggy appeared to be fussing over arranging Pedro just so in SWOL-E’s baby sling.

“He will come around eventually,” Leeloo replied sagely, earning them infinite points in my book. “For now, let us see what you can do.”

I nodded and blew out a breath, determined to give this my all and not fuck up too badly.

You’ve got this, Micah.

I hope….