Page 84 of Sway’s Peace (Delivery Service #2)

Grace

Maybe putting her work station right beside Sway’s was a bad idea. Sure, it was nice to be right next to her mate all the time.

But that meant she was right next to her mate all the time . And Sway, as it happened, took great pleasure in preventing her from working. Which wouldn’t be so bad if she hadn’t needed to get those forms filled out quickly. And if they weren’t in a public space.

Garnet walked in on them while Sway had his hand up her skirt and, while she didn’t see anything, she certainly couldn’t miss what was happening. Especially since the feathers on the back of Sway’s fingers were obviously damp.

Just her luck, her mate was feathery. They’d never be able to conceal fluids on him like they would someone with skin. It was mortifying.

But Garnet just grinned as she climbed into the upper bridge.

She came down a short time later with a small vial, exactly the size Alred had projected, in her hands.

It was little. About half the size of her pinkie finger.

It had a button on one end, and a cap on the other.

Alred explained how she needed to remove the cap and press that end against Loyalty’s skin in order to gather a sample.

It was such a weird request. And Alred still hadn’t told her why he even wanted it. Did she chalk it up to them being strange guys from Rik-Vane, or did he need it for a specific reason?

She genuinely didn’t know, but the weight of the vial in her pocket was surprisingly heavy as they came into orbit around Xelfeter and she and Sway left the bridge so they could go say goodbye to Loyalty.

The landing shuttle’s entrance door could be accessed down in main storage. It was in a line beside the small storage room doors, opposite the door that they would typically use to leave the ship when they docked at a station.

The shuttle door was already open, Loyalty setting his bags inside when they came down out of upper storage, using the steep ladder steps to join him. He gave them both a smile as he stepped out, hands on his hips, tail hissing on the floor as it dragged behind him.

“We here?” He asked, voice breathless with anticipation.

Grace nodded. “You must be relieved to be home.”

“Like you can’t even imagine. My mate is eager to see me. I’ve been hiding my new body from her. I want it to be a surprise when she first sees me. How do I look? I stayed up late last night polishing my scales and oiling my quills. Bit of a learning curve, I’ll admit, but I think I did alright.”

“Very handsome,” Grace applauded.

Sway was surprised by the immediate flash of annoyance that made his crest start to rise. He knew she didn’t mean anything by it, and both of them were mated to other people, but he found he did not like his female complimenting another male in such a way.

The amused look on Loyalty’s face told him the flash of jealousy did not go unnoticed. But he didn’t remark on it as he said instead-

“Thank you. I mean, she knew I was going to be a ratchi when I came back, and she saw pics of the male when we were making our arrangement, but still…”

“It’s definitely not the same,” Grace agreed, nodding quickly. “She’s going to love it. And you two are going to be so happy together! I can’t wait to meet her!”

Loyalty laughed. “The next time you’re around our system, I should have visitor permission for you all to come see us.

Definitely by the time our first youngling is spawning.

I want you to meet them. I want our young to know that there are good people in the cosmos, and that not everyone is going to fear and revile us. ”

Sway was not prepared for such a sincere and solemn reason behind something as simple as meeting the younglings of a friend. Even Grace started in surprise. Loyalty gave them a sheepish look as he chuckled.

“Sorry. A lot to ask. But you don’t really have to do anything. I just wanted you to meet them. Seriously. That’s it. You don’t need to, like, try to role model for them or anything.”

“Oh, no! I’d love to,” Grace said quickly, before stumbling on her words. “M-Meet them, I mean. And role model. O-Or not? You know, it’s fine. I’m happy to do it. We both are. Right?”

She looked at him and Sway nodded. He wasn’t sure how good of a role model he could possible be to impressionable younglings, and he certainly wasn’t a good example of there being good people in the cosmos…

But he also didn’t mind showing them that you didn’t have to be from the same species in order to bond with someone. And that you could find your family anywhere, even if it wasn’t necessarily among your own kind.

Yeah. That was probably the best lesson he could pass on.

“Thank you,” Loyalty said, smiling at them. “I mean it.”

“You’ve been such a great friend to us, it’s the least we could do,” Grace said.

“Well, your captain did give me a discount for helping you out,” he laughed. “So, I think I actually got the better deal. If you ever need anything, please, don’t hesitate to reach out.”

“Yeah,” she nodded. Then stilled.

Loyalty didn’t miss the change. “Hm? Did you think of something?”

“Oh. Well. Yeah. K-Kind of?” She made a face. “This is going to sound like a really weird request – and you can totally say no! No pressure here. No hard feelings. Seriously. This is just like a small, weird favor you don’t have to agree to if you don’t-”

“Grace,” Loyalty cut her off, laughing. “You won’t offend me. It’s fine. Just ask.”

“Right.” She shifted her weight nervously. “Er, can I have a, er… abloodsample .” She finished in a murmured rush, the words turning into an unintelligible mess.

“A what?”

“A blood sample!” She repeated quickly, wincing. “Sorry. I just… if you can?”

Loyalty gave her an odd look. “I mean, I could. Why do you want one?”

She hesitated, and Sway stepped in, neatly covering for her.

“I wanted to study it,” he said. “I used to study things like that back on Rik-Vane.”

“People study on Rik-Vane?” Loyalty asked, surprised.

“Well, it’s not really an accredited educational establishment,” he smirked, “but yes. We did in fact study things. And my area of expertise was biological. Grace was interested in learning. And your species is both pretty unknown and interesting.”

Loyalty looked between them for a long moment before shrugging. “I mean, sure. Not really a big loss to me.”

Grace’s shoulder’s slumped with relief as she fumbled to get the vial from her pocket.

The process was very short and simple. Loyalty took the vial and put it to his wrist. Sway watched as one of his veins moved into place right underneath.

Loyalty hit the button, the vial hissed, and the indicator on the side began to glow purple, indicating it had successfully obtained the sample.

When he moved it away, only a small dot remained.

“Here you go,” Loyalty said, smiling as he handed it back to Grace.

“Thanks,” she breathed taking it gently. She frowned between it and his wrist. “Did that… hurt? I know your blood isn’t, like, blood, it’s you. I didn’t just take your finger or something right?”

Loyalty laughed. “I will say, it probably hurts me more to do that than you. I don’t really have a ‘blood’ to sample, but I promise I can lose that much without damaging myself.

I’ll recover. And that sample won’t hurt you or gain sentience or something.

Despite how some people think, that’s not how our bodies work. ”

She beamed, clutching the vial close to her chest. “Thank you, Loyalty. You’re a really good friend. I can’t wait to see your baby.”

“I could say the same to you,” he grinned, making her squeak as her face burned. She couldn’t help but dart her gaze up to Sway, away, then back again. “I plan on breeding my mate the moment I get back. Shall we have a race to see who has their youngling first?”

“We’d win,” Sway said. “Farasie females lay their eggs after three tendays.”

“Ah, but it takes much longer for them to hatch,” Loyalty smirked. “My kind don’t spawn in eggs, therefore my young would be here first.”

“Should get to work then,” Sway said, putting her arm around her waist.

“S-Sway!” She sputtered, her cheeks burning hotter.

Footsteps signaled Tanin and Garnet’s arrival as the two males laughed at her.

“Can I get in on this baby bet?” Garnet asked, grinning.

“Doesn’t count if you’re already pregnant,” Sway said easily as Loyalty nodded along.

“We’re ready to go,” Tanin said, touching Garnet’s arm. “I’ll be back soon.”

“Have fun,” she nodded happily.

“Bye, Loyalty,” Grace beamed, stowing the vial back in her pocket so she could give him a hug. A move that clearly surprised him, because it took a second for him to hold her back.

“We’ll see each other again, I promise,” Loyalty said affectionately. “And if you ever need help, be sure you call on me first.”

Grace nodded, stepping back into Sway’s waiting arm. Her mate nodded at Loyalty before saying-

“The same goes for you. I won’t forget your, well, loyalty.”

He chuckled. “I earned my name for a reason. I’m ready if you are, captain.”

Tanin nodded, walking past him to the shuttle.

Grace stayed in place even after the door shut, the shuttle launched, and Garnet left to go back to whatever chores she set herself for the day. The sorrow of saying goodbye was twisting in her chest, making tears prick at her eyes.

“You’re not saying goodbye forever,” Sway reminded her gently, pulling her into his embrace.

“I know,” she pouted. “But I still don’t like it.”

He chuckled, kissing the top of her head. She didn’t like it, but she couldn’t deny it was very comforting to have Sway hold her like this. She was saying goodbye to someone else, but she wasn’t being left alone this time. She would never be alone again-

“Got you!”

They jumped apart, looking over as Vytln suddenly yanked up a panel in the floor, revealing a whole lot of wires and cords that made no sense to her. She hadn’t even heard him sneaking in. However, whatever he was chasing down must have because the space was empty.

Cursing in his native tongue again, he dropped the panel with a loud clatter before stomping out, grumbling under his breath.

Grace and Sway started laughing. It was a ridiculous way to end the moment, but at least she could say she wasn’t feeling so sad anymore.