From the very beginning, Othiel felt that he was not welcomed by everyone. Despite the seemingly nice and calm atmosphere, he sensed a lot of fear and hatred around him. (Y/n) obviously couldn't know it with her limited senses, and maybe she was too fixated on him that evening to notice anything else... He was flattered and he wasn't going to ruin her mood by sharing his observations. Her people, while putting on a happy face, were sending him great amounts of overwhelming emotion. Especially the males. Not everyone, of course. Mainly the younger ones wanted to kill him on the spot.

He didn't blame them. He knew that they still needed a long time to get rid of their prejudices and understand that they were safe in his presence... At least as long as they were under (y/n's) protection. She had a decisive voice for him in every matter. He couldn't hurt them even if he wanted to, he just couldn't, for her sake.

When he left the hiding place, he already knew that several young males, who considered themselves warriors, had ambushed him at the edge of the forest with the intention of taking his life.

The satellite, that Earthlings called the Moon, arose, giving enough light for him to see perfectly and at the same time not so much as to hurt his eyes.

In any other case, he would have killed the attackers in a blink of an eye, but this was an exception. This time it had to be done differently. Though there was one Othiel intended to kill anyway... The male who had treated (y/n) in a way that deserved only a brutal and painful death. But he couldn't do that. Not yet... He would lose everything with this because humans would know that was his doing and they certainly would not forgive him... (Y/n) wouldn't forgive him.

So when the male attacked, jumping out of the bushes with a wild scream, Othiel grabbed him by his clothes and threw him against a tree trunk. Not hard enough to break bones, but just enough to take his breath away and put him out of the game for a while. Well, it might hurt a bit.

'You bastard!' shouted the second one, and together with the third and fourth youngsters they rushed at him in a coordinated attack.

'I don't want to hurt you.' The Roughskin said calmly, deftly parrying each of the blows. 'Stop it, please.'

Suddenly he felt something cold behind him, on his back. The barrel of a weapon, is similar to those sometimes used by the Roughskins.

He was getting too gentle. You had to throw the first male harder against the tree.

'You don't want to hurt us, huh? The rest of your kin were not so kind...Do you know what they did to my father?!' The male pressing the weapon against Othiel's body almost screamed. His henchmen stood around, as if to cut off the Roughskin's escape, and glared at him hatefully.

'I can guess...'

The weapon holder stepped forward so that Othiel could see him. His hand was trembling. He couldn't have had more than eighteen earth turns. None of them were certainly over twenty. They've probably never held a gun in their hands before. Not to kill.

'They ripped him in half!' The young man almost wept in response. 'And then they began to eat his insides... He was still alive...'

Othiel didn't want to hear it. He didn't feel guilty about what his brothers were doing, but he did feel a little disgusted, few Roughskins did things like eating still-living prey, that was a fact.

'You know killing me won't bring him back. It can only harm you...'

'We'll be fine without you! (Y/n) may think you're an oversized cuddly toy, but we won't be fooled! You just trying to get laid, or better yet, make little monsters with her, huh? You all want to possess our women, populate the Earth and wipe us out completely...'

Now the young male really pissed him off. He couldn't get over the way females were treated on Earth. As if they were worse than males, sometimes even, as if they were not beings at all, but objects, someone's property. It was unthinkable in his world, where females were treated with great, much greater respect than males. They were considered more trustworthy, because their judgment of the situation was considered more reasonable, devoid of uncontrollable fits of anger, as was sometimes the case with males.

The feathers on his head bristled unpleasantly as he spoke. 'Listen to me, human! If you're going to kill me, then do it, and don't talk so much!'

'You think you're such a badass, don't you?' a male with the weapon snorted. 'That we're only joking, that we want to scare you...' He didn't finish, because Othiel snatched the gun from him, crushing it in his hand, and with the other hand grabbed the male by the neck, lifting him up. The rest of the youngsters started screaming frantically, but as soon as they got too close to Othiel, he pulled out his biggest knife, and they backed off.

'Stop playing avengers and grow up,' he hissed, releasing the one he was holding. The male fell on the ground choking. 'I didn't kill your fathers or any of your relatives,' he said, knowing that might not be true. 'Not all of the Roughskins wish you ill, just as not all humans wish you well. If you want to survive, you must rely on me...'

He turned away from them as he headed for the forest.

'Don't think we're done with you, you fucker!' The one he had been choking shouted after him hoarsely.

Othiel replied only. "But I'm done with you."

***

You kept recollecting the tender hug Othiel had given you just before you parted. You recall it while getting ready for bed. You recall it when you were already lying on your pallet, just before falling asleep, applying a cool compress to your still sore and swollen nose.

You dreamed about humans' and the Roughskin's hands again, but this time the dream was longer. You saw the intertwined hands, and then you saw the whole figure to which the Roughskin's hand belonged. You only saw her for a moment, but you thought this figure could pass for Othiel, only... there was something different about it, like it was a little misshapen.

Woken up, you didn't think about it for too long, you just returned to recollecting last evening and saying goodbye to Othiel.

You recall it at breakfast, daydreaming about him. You also did so, while doing the job entrusted to you - washing the dishes.

You liked washing up the dishes. This was the kind of work you did without fuss because it didn't require much strength and you didn't have to think much, which meant you could fantasize to your heart's content.

You thought about Othiel, but in the end the memory of his embrace was no longer enough for you, you were fed up with it, you took everything you could out of it. So, naturally, your imagination has gone further, much further.

You imagined his strong hands running down your spine, slowly, sensually. Then brushing your cheek very gently... You enjoyed this image way too much. You began to wonder how you could kiss him without losing half your face. Did his species even kiss, and if not, how did they show affection? Did they have their equivalent of kissing? After all, yesterday he hinted that they had sex mainly for pleasure, so they must have understood the concept of sensuality...

You decided it would be a good idea to talk to him about it. Finding out more... in particular, clearing up a possible courtship, since it's gone so far that bystanders are beginning to see that there's something going on between the two of you. You had to find out what he was up to, especially since despite the species prejudices that were melting away with every moment, you clearly had feelings for him too.

You were going to see him that evening. There was no other option. You didn't quite know what you expected from this meeting... Well, you expected a lot, but as you know, expectations rarely go hand in hand with reality.

'(Y/n), can I help you?' You heard Lily's voice from the doorway. She entered the kitchen, together with Barker, who did not leave her side.

You thought about Othiel following you everywhere yesterday. It must have looked similar.

'I can handle. You better sit down. Why don't you drink something?'

'(Y/n), I'm not sick or dying... I don't need any special treatment.' Lilly, for then was the only one who left the room, just to get to know the hideout. Also, she walked with the dog so he can do his business. The rest of the girls only went out to use the bathroom. Bianca and your mother brought them breakfast.

'The girls want to talk to you, if I help you, you'll finish faster and you we can go to them.'

'Okay, let it be.'

With Lilly's help, you actually did the washing up pretty quickly, and soon enough, you were able to go visit the girls in their new bedroom.

They were sitting on their beddings, just as you had found them the night before. Ellen looked the most relaxed, she smiled broadly at the sight of you.

'(Y/n) has come,' she informed Myra, who was brushing Kalia's hair. Both seemed quite calm, Kalia nodded at you, although her reddened eyes betrayed that she was crying, she looked composed. What worried you the most was the sight of Daria, lying motionless on her bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

You glanced questioningly at Lilly who entered the room right behind you, but she only shook her head in response.

'We could use more candles,' Ellen said. 'More light but also hotter here.'

'I guess you guys got over allotted anyway,' you remarked. 'You'd better save up, because if you spend all day here, they'll soon be gone...' You fell silent for a moment, looking around the room. Only after a moment you dared to ask. 'Are you okay here? I mean... maybe you'd rather be in a bigger room with the others?'

'It's fine,' Lilly shrugged, sitting down next to Daria. Faithfully following her, Barker settled down at her feet.

'We'd rather stay here for now,'  Kalia said.

'Sure, I understand.'

Myra tied her companion's hair with a rubber band and turning more or less in your direction, she said, 'We wanted to thank you, (y/n).'

'No need...  The biggest thanks go to Bianca and my mom.'

'But it was you who pulled us out of... over there...' remarked the blind girl.

'Well, Othiel actually did it,' you reminded them.

Kalia shifted in her bed to see you better. 'But you talked him into it, didn't you?'

'Even so, I couldn't have done it without him.'

'Oh, shut up.' Ellen couldn't stand it. 'Can't you even politely accept thanks?!'

'Ellen!' Lilly scolded her, but you cut her off smiling broadly.

'No, she's right. I just should say, your welcome and shut myself up. Sorry.'

'It's okay,' Lilly lightly stroked Daria's shoulder. 'Hey baby, don't you want to add anything?'

The girl looked at her sister unseeingly, then transferred gaze to you and mumbled. 'Thanks, (y/n).' Then she stared at the ceiling again, unresponsive even as Barker licked her hand lightly.

'If you need anything, I'm here for you,' you sighed, trying to look reassuring. 'Lila, can I have a word with you?'

When you went out into the corridor, you asked the girl directly if Daria also behaved this way with the savages.

'You could say so, except that she cried more there, and here... she's totally absent so far,' sighed Lila. 'Maybe he just needs time...'

'Probably yes ... I'll talk to Bea, she is a psychologist, maybe she will be able to help her somehow, or at least give us some advice ...'

She was already with us this morning, at Bianca's request...' Lila informed. 'Daria talked to her as much as to you. Nevertheless, for now, Bea says not to lose hope, that it takes time to recover and overcome such a traumatic experience...

You smiled, though it probably came out rather weakly. 'We have all the time in the world.'

***

When you left the basement, you went to the women's bathroom, which was usually empty at this hour. You poured some tap water into a slightly rusty but well-washed basin and washed yourself with the herbal soap that aunt Samantha started making when you ran out of store soap. Herbs became your allies in these difficult times, they grew all around the factory grounds, and now, when women were allowed to go out around the factory, you had quite a lot of them.

Clean and smelling nice, you were going to the patio to hang a towel to dry, when you heard your uncle's raised voice at the main entrance. You stopped hidden from his sight, listening.

'You should have shot right away, you idiot!' barked the uncle to Vincent, who was standing before him, humbly at the head of his little gang.

'But why? Why did you make them do this?' shouted Marek, also participating in the discussion. If he was shouting at your uncle, the situation must have been serious, and you thought you'd listen further.

'I didn't tell them to piss him off, I told them to kill him, and that's a big difference,' said the uncle.

'You don't understand, idiot, that now he can attack us. Think that we are dangerous to him... Even (y/n) won't help us...!'

'You're forgetting yourself, Mark!' Uncle's voice becomes even more threatening.

Concerned, you came out of hiding, calling out. 'Hey, did someone call me?'

You got rather unwelcoming looks. You noticed that the General is also standing by the door, but hasn't said a word so far.

'Oh, great you came, (y/n)! Listen, Julius ordered those youngsters to kill your friend.' Marek began to explain, pointing to Vincent and his troupe, despite the fact that your uncle tried to silence him. Your heart stopped for a moment. 'Of course, they failed, but now I'm afraid that something may threaten us from him...'

'As if it hadn't been threatened before..." the uncle snorted.

'Stop!' the guard barked at him. "Just stop it! Can't you see how much you're destroying by doing this?'

'You're forgetting yourself again! I'm in charge here and I won't let...'

'NO! You're a self-proclaimed dictator, constantly keeping us in fear. No one chose you, you chose yourself because you thought you were the best person to lead, and at first we were too confused and too scared to object. Now, however, I see, and I'm probably not the only one, that your methods don't work... (Y/n) has done more for us in one trip than you did in six months, maybe it's time to pass the baton to her.'

Your uncle's face was red with rage or shame. In the main hall, at the entrance, several people had already gathered, attracted by shouts, and you heard them murmuring approvingly. You decided it wasn't worth dragging out this embarrassing scene.

'Calm down, let's not get emotional. Don't forget, Mark, that we owe Julius that we are still alive. You can say that he made our life in the factory, without him we would never have prospered so well.' You started, trying to stay calm, though deep down you wanted to strangle your uncle. 'I think... I think that Othiel will still not do anything to us, although he may stop helping us, and that alone could be the cause of our doom. I'll go to him and investigate the situation.

'Don't go, (y/n)!' cried Eliza, who happened to be in the small crowd. He could kill you!'

'Othiel won't kill anyone. If he wanted to, he would have dealt with them right away.' You pointed to the would-be murderers.

'Yesterday he said he kills, like all of the reptiles!' You heard Guido's voice, but before you could answer your father interjected.

'But he also said he didn't kill needlessly, and look, he was clearly needy... They attacked him, yet he didn't hurt them...'

'Should I show the bruises?' Vincent groaned.

'He helped us a lot, he's looking after us... I've been wondering... it must be true,' continued your father, ignoring him. 'Do you think we would have lasted this long if not for his vigilance? I'm more than sure he's the one keeping the other reptiles from getting close to us....I mean, the Roughskins. I don't know about you, but I trust my daughter's intuition, and if she says Othiel is our friend, I know he is.'

That statement meant a lot to you. You gave your father a grateful smile, then said. 'And on that optimistic note, let's end this conversation. I'm going scouting, and you guys don't worry, it'll be fine.'

You headed for the door, but the General grabbed your arm, stopping you. 'Are you sure about it?' he whispered, so no one except you could hear. 'He might be furious. I know you think he likes you, but... We don't really know anything about him... Don't get carried away by some frivolous feeling....'

'So far I've gotten carried away and it hasn't turned out badly.' You yanked your arm out of his grip. 'I'm in no danger, and neither are you. I'll be back... soon, ah... and please hang it on the patio for me to dry if you can.' You handed him your towel and left quickly.