VSach

• “Different in what way?” He asks slowly, wondering if you like it here or if you miss other humans, having your human things. ‘It’s peaceful. I feel like I can breathe,’ you answer, a shoulder lifting in a shrug and he relaxes. Can’t help but expect that eventually you’ll ask him to take you back. That this place isn’t suitable for humans. Isn’t enough. That he won’t be enough.

• “It’s yours as long as you want it to be,” he replies and you smile at how serious he sounds. ‘What if I never wanted to leave?’ You ask, looking up at him and he glances at you, his optics studying you. ‘What if you grow tired of me?’ Hate that insecure voice in the back of your head that whispers that he will. That you’re always too much. That you’re fun until people really get to know you and then they drift away.

• “What if you grow tired of me?” He counters and you make a face. “I’m blunt. I can be too intense. Quick to lose my temper,” he adds and you lean over to rest your head against his arm. ‘Well, I second guess everything and sabotage myself and my relationships,’ you tell him and he smiles faintly. “Sounds like we’re meant to be.” Rumbling as you huff out a soft laugh, he studies the storm outside the shelter.

• “Do you think this can really work? Long term?” You ask and he clears his vents. ‘I want it to,’ he says to make you smile, because it’s what you want to hear. That he wants you here. Wants to try to make this work. “Me, too,” you admit as thunder rumbles in the distance. Never really had a relationship like this. One where there were no expectations, no demands. Where you could just be you and you wouldn’t be judged. And you don’t want to lose this.