(A/N: Aloha everyone! 🌻 

Again sorry, You had to wait so long! As always all feedback is welcome. 

Enjoy! Lealea! ❤️) 

You entered the hideout looking as though you had returned from a battlefield; you had blood all over your face.

Vincent, standing guard, was speechless. Although that could have been due to seeing the Roughskin who was still with you carrying Ellen. Even your uncle, who appeared moments later, looked frightened.

Everyone who had been drawn to the hall by the din of your return, seeing Othiel retreated swiftly. Only your parents, uncle, aunt, and Vincent, who still had to guard the entrance, remained, however reluctantly. Your mother didn't even reproach you for leaving the hiding place again without saying a word to her.

In a few sentences, you explained that your companions were taken from the hideout of the savages and need care. Bianca, Patrick's mother, took care of them; they got a hearty meal, and herbs to strengthen them, they could wash and sleep in peace. Later, there will be time for conversations and any questions, now they deserved rest above all. 

Barker never left Lilly an inch. Although the uncle frowned seeing the dog, he was convinced that he could betray you, but the aunt reprimanded him, saying that now you have a protector and you don't have to worry about such trifles.

Othiel, releasing Ellen from his arms, stood in the doorway, letting people revel in the horror of his appearance. You had the impression that he took a perverse pleasure in the fact that everyone around him was afraid.

Your aunt whispered to you to invite him to dinner. You looked questioningly at your uncle, and he only nodded, although his eyes were filled with anxiety and something else... Something you couldn't define, but you thought to yourself that you didn't like it.

You walked over to the Roughskin, who had probably heard the aunt's whisper already. You realized that he has much more sensitive hearing than humans. Somehow surprised by the offer,  he accepted the invitation.

'Thank you, but first I have to go for a while,' he said. 'I'll be back soon to eat with you.'

'OK, see you later, then. '

Thanks to this, you had a moment to assess how others view his presence in the hideout and the dinner.

'Are you sure you don't mind?' You asked the people around you, when Othiel left.

They shrugged, muttering something under their breath. They weren't so sure. Finally, however, your mother spoke up, stepping closer and trying to wipe the blood from your face.

'If you say he won't do anything to us, we trust you.'

'Well, I suppose he deserved some thanks,' the father added hesitantly.

Mark, passing by, holding his daughter in his arms, laughed jovially. 'Don't worry, we won't jump on him with a pitchfork.'

After these assurances, you felt a little calmer. Before Othiel returned, you went to Elijah to give him some medicine. Soon the fever subsided, to the relief of all those present around his bed. Bea kissed you happily, and Patrick almost tore your head off when he hugged you. However, you quickly ran back to the hall to await the guest there. You didn't want him walking around the factory alone.

Seeing him coming by the window, you opened the door for him. At the entrance, he assured that the savages were not chasing you, and he also brought a boar hunted a moment earlier for dinner. Guido and General took it from him, avoiding physical contact, and carried to the patio.

'Othiel...' You shook your head, amazed at how much he cared about you. Too much actually. Suddenly, a pained expression appeared on your face. You almost forgot about your injuries. 

'Your nose...needs attention...' The Roughskin remarked. 'Why hasn't anyone taken care of it?'

'Right now, there are people who need it more,' you replied. 

'Then let me help you. Sit here.' He pointed to a tall table by the entrance to the patio. Several men were already bustling around the hearth, lighting a fire and robbing the boar he had brought.

'But... do you know this? I mean... human anatomy is a bit different than...'

'(Y/n), trust me...' He took off his goggles, hanging them around his neck, then cupped your face and looked you straight in the eye. 'I won't hurt you.'

'Oh... all right...'

'Hey, you!' he called to the men milling around and scowling at him. 'Bring wound dressings and something cold.' 

No one even dared to ignore or disobey his command. Soon, Patrick appeared with a bottle of cold water, gauze, cotton balls and a band-aid. 

'It's enough?' He asked.

Othiel nodded, focused on you, specifically on your smashed nose. 'Let's cool it down first, it's heavily swollen. Did you take anything to stop the pain?'

'Nope. Not yet...'

Othiel glanced meaningfully at Patrick, who walked away once more and returned with pills and a cup of water.

'Thanks.' You grunted, a little embarrassed at being so taken care of. But on the other hand, who said that only women are to take care of others? Someone had to take care of them, too, when the need arose. Othiel seemed to understand this perfectly, unlike some human males.

You swallowed the pill with couple sips of water. Othiel waited a moment for the drug to take effect, in the meantime cooling your nose with gauze soaked in water and washing the blood off your face and neck.

It was very pleasant. You giggled involuntarily.

'What?' he frowned.

'You do it so gently it tickles,' you explained.Othiel didn't answer, just started to probe your nose, still very gentle. Patrick, who was still standing next to you, watched with interest.

'I have to adjust it, and it's going to hurt.'

You nodded. 'I know.' Even before you had finished saying those words, Othiel made a quick move and you felt a terrible pain radiating from your nose to your whole face. You screamed loudly.

'I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, but it's over, now.' He stroked your head, wiping the blood from your nose with the other hand. He bandaged the cut at the base and nodded his approval. 'Ready. And please listen to me next time, okay?' 

'Oh, so there will be a next time?'

Othiel looked pointedly at Patrick. 'Thank you for your help.'

The man took the hint, gathered up the supplies he had brought and disappeared.

'Why didn't you wait for me?' Othiel asked. You guessed he meant the situation in the house of the savages. 

'Because I was afraid you'd try to stop me, that you wouldn't agree to get another girl out.'

'Listen, (y/n).' He leaned forward, resting his hands on the table by your sides. You were trapped between his arms, but somehow you didn't take it as a threat. 'I'll agree to any idea you have, just please don't do anything without my knowledge in these situations. I'll help you anytime, but I need to know what you're up to. Don't disappear without a word, okay?' 

'Umm... All right, I'll try to remember that.' You replied, slightly stunned and confused by the words. However, you decided to answer in a careless tone. 'So, you're not sulking anymore?' 

Othiel snorted quietly, glaring at you but did not get your game. 'You could have died.'

'The truth is, I could die at any moment,' you remarked.  

He shook his head firmly. 'Not with me.'

This time you snorted. 'You can't predict everything, Othie. 

'We don't know that,' the confidence in his voice annoyed you. You rolled your eyes. 

'What was that?' he was clearly surprised by your eyes' motion. 'Why did you do that?'

'I'll explain it to you someday,' you murmured, trying to move his arm away so you could get off the table. He wasn't cooperative. "Othie..." You called emphatically.

Finally, he took his hand as he spoke. 'I think you're postponing too much.'

'I'm not the only one here doing this.'

***

The people at first kept their distance from Othiel. They were unsure and scared, but they all joined in for dinner on the patio anyway.

Your friend watched everyone carefully and stayed close to you all the time, every now and then when someone called you, or came closer, wrapping his tail protectively around you. Confused, you finally asked why he was doing this.

'It's a reflex... Someday I'll explain it...' He bared his teeth, and you gasped in amazement. He was teasing you for the first time. You didn't think he could do that. He hasn't understood even your simplest jokes so far.

'You're getting more and more human,' you said.

'That 's bad?'

'I don't know yet. But Othie, please control that tail of yours, because it's quite embarrassing for me, and others might think something of it.'

'Something like what?'

'Like you treat me like I'm your property.'

He looked surprised, even indignant at the thought. 'I wouldn't dare...' he just grunted.

'Sure, I know that, but we don't want to give that impression, do we?'

Still disgusted, he nodded. 

You saw Bianca coming out of the cellars, so you walked over to her, and Othiel followed.

'What about the girls?' you asked.

'All right. They're clean, fed, resting now. I suggested that they come to dinner, but I think they prefer to stay in each other's company. Your mother and I made beds for them in a separate room.'

'Good. How's the baby? It was so peaceful, slept all the way, I don't even ask about it's...' You didn't finished. Bianca's expression made your heart stop.

'(Y/n), the child is dead... It was already dead when you came here. Probably died yesterday, maybe even earlier...'

'W-what?!' you choked out.

'Kalia just can't accept it... She didn't let us take the body... and it's already starting to smell bad.'

'Oh... Maybe, I'll try to talk to her...' You headed down the stairs, and of course Othiel followed you.

'Good luck,' Bianca said, but without confidence in her voice. 

You met your mother in the hallway downstairs.

'Where are they?' you asked, knowing that she would guess who you mean.

'In the third cell on the left where it was empty.'

'Wait here, Othie, okay?" you ordered the Roughskin and walked in that direction, out of the corner of your eye seeing your mother start to say something to Othiel with a nervous smile.

You knocked on the door. Hearing a faint: 'Come in', you went inside and had a kind of deja-vu.

The women lay on their beds in a small room lit by a few candles. It's just that this time they were clean, had new clothes, and furs and blankets didn't look as shabby as those of the savages. Barker, watched faithfully by Lilly's side, resting his head on her knees.

'Everything okay, girls?' you asked. 'Do you like this... room?'

'Yeah, it's fine,' Ellen nodded. 'And how's your nose?'

'Also fine, apparently someone took care of it.'

'I'm betting it was not that monster of yours?'

'So you lost,' you laughed, sticking your tongue out at her. You really liked Ellen. 'Kalia, are you asleep?' you asked the woman lying face down on the last bed.

'No,' she snapped back. 'How can anybody answer yes to this question?' Her voice was hoarse, obviously she had been crying recently.

'Then can I have a word with you?'

Cursing, she got up and, holding the bundle with the dead child, followed you into the corridor. You closed the door behind, so the rest of the girls couldn't hear you. Othiel stood where you left him, but the mother was gone. Apart from him and you, there was no one else in the corridor.

'What do you want?' Kalia growled menacingly. 'I'm not giving up my baby!'

'I want to talk to you... I know you love your baby more than anything...'

'So you understand I can't leave him!' she interjected, not letting you finish.

'Yes, I know.' You nodded, which surprised her a bit. 'But, I'm not asking you to leave him, I am asking you to let him leave you... Burry him...'

She was taken aback. 'You're crazy!" she cried furiously. 'He's alive!'

'Kalia, I have no idea what you're going through and I can't even imagine the pain you're feeling, but sooner or later you'll have to say goodbye to your son... I won't promise you that the pain will decrease when you accept his death, but thanks to this you could honor him. Thanked him for being with you even for a moment...  For giving you the joy you needed so much...' You paused for a moment, looking at her carefully.

'NO!' She shook her head, but you could see her resistance weakening. 'His dad... He's not one of them! Definitely! I've been pregnant before. My boyfriend, Derek... he died... he's been killed by...' She looked at Othiel, who was standing a few feet away. She didn't have to finish, you knew who she meant. 'One of them killed him and the other saved me...' she shook her head. 'I loved Derek, you know? I love our baby too...'

'I know. But denying the death of this child leads nowhere. What will happen when his body starts to deteriorate... Will you deprive your child of a dignified departure because of your selfishness? Think about him. What would he want?'

'He want to be with his mother!' she cried.

'He will always be with you... But maybe... maybe he wants to be with his dad now... Let him do that.'

Kalia started crying tenderly so you hugged her tight. It took a while for her to calm down, then she asked. 'And will you come with me (y/n)? I don't want anyone else to see this.'

'Of course.'

You started towards the stairs. Othiel joined you and you were about to tell him to stay when Kalia nodded. 'She can go too.'

You left the factory without explaining yourself to anyone, you limited yourself to asking Vincent in a whisper for a spade. He dared not bother you, not in front of Othiel.

You led a small funeral cortege to the rear where your little cemetery was. It was almost completely dark now. If you waited a few more moments, you'd have to use flashlights.

During the time you were hiding, two elderly people died and you buried them in the back of the factory. It was a good place to bury Kalia's child here as well.

You handed Othiel the shovel and asked him to dig a hole. He didn't ask any questions, didn't say anything at all, but you could see he was confused. Later, you asked him how funerals were done in his culture, but when he started telling you about dismembering the body and throwing the pieces to the rantaers, whatever they were, you regretted your curiosity.

When the pit was ready, Kalia, weeping bitterly, placed her baby in it, wrapped tightly in a blanket, and then hung on you, sobbing. You hugged and asked the baby's name.

'A-adam...' she sobbed.

'Sleep well, Adam,' you said. 'Greet your dad and tell him that mom is well looked after.'

Kalia sobbed even louder, and you signaled Othiel to fill the grave with dirt. You stood over there for a long moment, and then you took light frenzy Kalia back to the cellars.

'I have nothing left to live for...' the woman croaked when you were already at the door of her new bedroom.

'On the contrary. Now you can't disappoint your son. He helped you get through the worst time... Besides, you have two younger sisters...' you reminded her. 'They still need you.'

She sighed heavily and entered the room without saying anything more.

You looked questioningly at Othiel.

'She feels better, now" he said, sensing her emotions. 

'You don't think she could hurt herself?' you asked, realizing that Othiel may sense such things.

He frowned. 'Why would she?'

'Perhaps she'd like to join the baby, that is, the nestling?'

He looked really puzzled, which was unusual for him. 'But the nestling is dead...'

'Oh, never mind. Since you say she's better, I'll trust your judgment.'

'You ... do you believe that you go somewhere after you die?' he asked after a moment's thought. 'To a place where all the dead are?'

'Hmm... I guess you could put it that way. And you don't believe in such a row eh?' 

'No... Roughskins don't believe such things. They think that death is the end of us and all that matters is the survival of the species.'

You looked at him, intrigued. 'Interesting, but... how about you? Do you think the same?'

'What I think... no, what I believe has changed a lot lately.'

'How?'

'I know now that death is not the end, because I no longer believe in death.'

You frowned. 'What?! You kill everyone around you and you don't believe in death?'

'Kind of...'

You were too tired for this conversation, so you just said. 'You're crazy!' 

***

You sat down on one of the benches next to the hearth above which, on an iron stand, stood a large pot with boiling stew. Everyone, except for the new women, had gathered around, but you understood they didn't feel like the company just yet. 

You and Othiel were sitting slightly apart from the rest. Deliberately. You didn't want anyone feeling stressed about being around the Roughskin.

Aunt Samantha and some of her "kitchen assistants" started serving the meal, which made you very happy, because you were starving.

Othiel, to your astonishment, at the request of the aunt got the first portion. Standing with the ladle by the pot, she called him over. He looked at you questioningly before doing so.

'We appreciate your help and care for us. Accept the first portion as a sign of our gratitude,' she said pouring the stew into a bowl and handing it to him, her hand trembling slightly.

Othiel gently took the vessel from her, politely thanked her, bowed, then returned to you, walking carefully among the people, watching not to hit anyone with his tail.

Your aunt started serving food to the others, and Othiel sat down next to you and passed a bowl of steaming stew to you.

'Where I come from, the females eat first...' he said. 'Please help yourself.'

'Thank you. I love this custom, but it's your portion, and I'm about to get mine.'

'It would be an honor for me if you ate a little from my plate,' he insisted.

Feeling that, whether you want it or not, you are taking part in some symbolic ritual that you have no idea about, you scooped up a spoonful of his stew. You tried not to think about whether someone was watching you at the moment.

'Thanks,' you whispered, smiling and swallowing hard. The stew was hot, filling, and delicious like anything aunt Samantha made. But you were alarmed by the tough guy's expression - he looked very pleased with himself. Like never before. Your fear, that by not knowing the customs of the Roughskins you just sealed some sentence on yourself, has intensified. 

'(Y/n), please your father suddenly stood over you, holding two bowls of the stew, one of which he was offering you. 'I know you're hungry, but it's not proper to overeat our guest.' 

You thanked him, too embarrassed to answer in a light-hearted way. You took your food to hide your embarrassment.

'Was that your father?' Othiel asked when you were alone again.

'Yes. And my mother is the woman who approached you in the basement. I'm sorry, I should have introduced you... I didn't think of that...'

'That 's nothing. We'll have time for that later.'

'And what did my mother tell you?'

'That I must be special, since you like me so much.'

You smiled to yourself and he asked. 'What does it mean to like someone?'

'I thought you know that. It means to want spending time with someone, to cherish their company, to enjoy being with that person...'

He swallowed another mouthful of stew and said. 'I thought that meant to love." 

'There is a difference between the two... Liking is less intense... Loving can refer to family relationships, but also to strong bonds between partners... When people talk about love, that is, loving, they usually mean romantic love...'

'Romantic?' He was clearly intrigued.

'Shortly speaking, is the kind of love when two people like each other enough to have sex,' you explained as you went back to eating.

He stopped with the spoon halfway to his mouth. 'What's sex?' 

'Othiel, you're killing me...' You groaned, partly embarrassed, partly amused. Sometimes he didn't know the meaning of such common words. 'Sex is sexual intercourse, ... Thanks to it, a new life is born ...'

'Ah... I see, procreation. You also call this a fucking...'

'Yeah...' You gave him a long look, wondering where he heard that. 'But that's not a very elegant term. No less glad you know what it means.'

'Do people procreate just to breed nestling?' A serious and matter-of-fact Othiel asking you with obvious interest about human sex live, that was fun. 

'Not always. Procreation can be very enjoyable, and that's probably the main reason why people do it.' 

'It's important for the Roughskins to breed nestlings, but connection makes procreation sacred and very pleasurable. Only then do we have the right to lose ourselves in nice feelings? The truth is that the feelings are too strong to just ignore them block or block. I think... that's when we really feel something.' He went back to eating. You too, pondering his words.

The whole "connection" thing sounded a little too romantic for your taste, but apparently, it meant a lot to the Roughskins. If they could give each other affection, they couldn't be so bad. You thought they just got lost over the centuries, much like humanity. Who knows what future would await you...? Perhaps you would become like them. After all, the savages were taking the first steps towards it.

You looked around the patio to see how people were reacting to Othiel, but almost everyone, busy with their meal, seemed to have forgotten about him. Only the uncle sitting in the corner did not eat, whispering something intensely to Vincent's ear. The boy nodded his head vigorously and his blond mane waved. You hoped they weren't up to something and wondered who stayed on guard instead of Vincent.

After you ate, you and Othiel lingered for a long time by the fire, talking quietly. The others either sat around as well, soaking up the pleasant warmth of the fire and quietly exchanging remarks or went to sleep. 

You two were left alone for a long time, but in the end the children dared to be the first to approach Othiel, wanting to see him up close.

He ignored them at first, but the closer they got, the harder it became.

'What do you want, nestlings?' he finally asked rather sharply. However, he did not discourage them.

'We're not nestlings!' cried Elijah, who was among the group of little ones surrounding you and the Roughskin. 'We're children!' 

'I think they would like to see your googles,' you rescued him from this situation. Othiel took them from around his neck and handed them, children, albeit reluctantly. You watched them take turns trying on the goggles. Carefully, no jostling, each waiting their turn, apparently still impressed by the Roughskin's presence and his frown. Normally they'd be yelling and arguing.

Soon the adults started coming to you. Patrick appeared, offering Othiel a large helping of the beer he had been trying to brew lately. At the entrance gate to the factory there were many hops, which your cousin's partner had collected and dried last year, but only recently had time to make something out of them.

The Roughskin refused the beer, but you said you'd be happy to drink for him. You took a few sips and grimaced terribly. The beer was disgusting, very bitter.

'It doesn't look tasty,' Othiel noted.

'But you can get a little drunk on it,' put in Patrick. 

'Try it.' You handed the tough guy a cup. 'I ate from your plate, now you drink from my cup.'

'All right...' Othiel pressed his mouth to the rim of the vessel. You remembered the scene in The Lord of the Rings when Éowyn gives Aragorn a drink. Now, even in your culture, your gesture could be considered very unambiguous. But it was too late to undo it.

Having tasted the drink, the Roughskin nodded his head in appreciation, at which Patryk brightened visibly and left. Only then You asked. 'Do you really like it?'

'Yes. It's quite good,' said Othiel honestly. 

'If you want, you can drink the rest of it...' You offered, pushing the cup back to him. 

He put his hand on yours, cupping the vessel, and grunted. 'We'll share.'

'May I sit down?' 

The others came to replace Patrick, and you jumped up. You almost dropped the cup from your hand. Fortunately, Othiel wasn't so timid and didn't loosen his grip.

You were joined by Guido and his wife, Martha, a plump woman with a cheerful disposition and a warm look, as well as the General and your father. 

'I see our troublemakers have already taken something from you, pal?' Guido pointed to the kids, including two of his own, who were still playing with Othiel's goggles. 'They're curious kids. Listen... We have some questions for you if you don't mind.'

Othiel slowly released your hand and looked at you questioningly. Like he was asking you, what you think about it. 

'Sounded like you were going to interrogate him,' you frowned, eyeing them suspiciously. Apparently, under the influence of Patrick's beer, you suddenly went into overprotection mode toward your alien friend.

'Nothing like that, (y/n)....' your father said. 'We're just curious about him, just like these kids.'

 'Yeah, we're curious why he doesn't kill people like the rest of his kin?' the General interjected.

You didn't like his tone, but Othiel replied briefly anyway. 'I didn't come here to murder humans.'

You involuntarily remembered the humans' skull hanging in his lair. 

'Then why do others do it?'

'They want to destroy you.'

'Why? Guido inquired. 'What have we done to you?' 

Othiel stared at him for a long time, as if struggling with what to say.'Our planet is dying, we need a new one...' he finally replied. 

'And you just chose a fucking one that's already inhabited?' growled the General. 

Before the situation got unpleasant, Marta directed the conversation to other tracks. "Perhaps there are others like you? Those who don't kill?'

Othiel gave her a stern look. 'I do kill, like every Roughskin. I am a warrior. I am not gentle or... tamed as you think. I even kill people when I see no other way out... Sometimes even when I see a way out...' It was a very sincere confession, but you were afraid it wouldn't be well received. The men looked as if they were only thinking about how long it would take them to reach the armory. 

Fortunately, Marta spoke again.'Then why did you spare us and care for us so?' 

Othiel looked straight at you as if you were the answer to that question. You were afraid that he was about to say something that would completely plunge him and you along with him, but no, he only said. 'Because I don't kill needlessly. I have a friend who seems to think the same, but... I have no contact with him, he was in a different group.'

'It's a pity, maybe we could persuade him to help us too . . . '

'Okay, enough of meeting an interesting man, let him breathe,' You exclaimed, tired of the questions yourself. 

Your aunt heard you and began to disperse the company. Othiel got up too. 

'Oh no, darling, you can stay,' she assured him.

Othiel shook his head. 'I should go, it's late, time to rest.'

'You can sleep here, it's no problem,' you said, getting up as well. 

He leaned over you and whispered. 'I could sleep here, but only with you in my arms, and that would probably be a problem.' 

You blushed hard, unable to come up with any sensical or even nonsensical answer. Othiel squeezed you tightly. You hid your reddened face in his chest, wanting to hide. Despite the embarrassment, you felt very comfortable, you didn't want to break the hug.

'You're cold,' he remarked.

'So what if you're such a great heater.' 

'I recommend myself for the future,' he purred promisingly, rubbing his jaw against your neck.

 You felt even hotter, your heart definitely sped up, and you literally trembled with excitement. Did he really have to go?

'I'll remember that,' you panted, barely able to catch your breath. What was happening to you was terribly embarrassing, especially since he must have been well aware of it, he had such heightened senses, but you couldn't help it.

You tore slowly and reluctantly. In his eyes, you saw the same desire that was probably painted on your own.

He took his goggles from the kids and left. Then your aunt asked you for a word.

'He's courting you (y/n)! He's in love,' she said a bit astonished.  

You couldn't play dumb. Not in front of her. 'Yeah... I think so too.'

'I'm sure of it! Just look at him. His love for you is miles away. He doesn't take his eyes off you, he'd carry you in his arms if you'd just let him. And he shared his ration of food with you.' Aunt Samantha smiled contentedly. 'And you? Do you feel something for him?'

A blush covered your cheeks again. 'Aunt! He's an extraterrestrial! Alien! Monster...!'

'Well, so what? He's quite nice, he cares about you... and the way he looks... well, I've seen worse horrors among people. I'm telling you (y/n), it's a great catch these days.'