Away From Home (alien x reader)
The ship is cold and unfamiliar, and the security blanket you’d been given does little to bring you comfort. You’ve found yourself and your crew stuck on a rescue ship, ship name here, after your own, other ship name, had suffered a spontaneous engine combustion. You’re staring off into the literal vacuum of space when you hear heavy footsteps across the metal floor.
The ship is cold and unfamiliar, and the weighted security blanket around your shoulders does little to bring you comfort. Much to your dismay, you and the other two people making up your crew are stuck on The Apex, a rescue ship, after your own had suffered an engine loss in an unpredicted asteroid storm.
You’re sat in their common room, and you’re staring off into literal space when you hear heavy footsteps coming up behind you. H’araak, a retired Nixyeni soldier. Tall, toned but slim, purple skinned, an extra set of eyes, seven fingers, and a cat-like nose. A sight that would have had you fainting in fear a decade ago is so natural to you now. He says something you can’t understand, so you hold up a finger and clip your translator into its place over your ear.
His translated voice crackles in your ear. “You don’t have an implant?” A question you get a lot. For humans, the procedure consisted of getting a hole drilled in the skull while the translator is implanted into said hole. The only evidence of having it done would be a small, flat, circular bump under the skin just above your ear. People said that it was painless, and the worst of it was a dull ache over the site for the first few days, but just the idea of having it done had you sweating.
“Don’t need one.” The answer you always gave. True enough anyways. You adjust your position in the armchair to face him better.
He pulls a face that you’re almost certain is either confusion or smugness for his kind. Maybe both. He leans against the back of the big sofa like he’s settling in. “A person who travels galaxies regularly doesn’t need one?”
“I just haul cargo. Not much social interaction. This little thing does all I need it to.” You really don’t want to hear the litany of reasons why you should suck it up and get a nice fancy implant again. “Did you need something?”
He stands up properly and nods. “Your room is ready.” God, you really are stuck here. Your displeasure must show on your face, because he reacts with his own expression of… amusement? You think? You’re gonna need to look up how he and his crew mates emote, you like to know how people are thinking as best you can. “What’s so wrong with that?”
“Nothing, no. It’s fine. Thank you for your hospitality. I’m just upset about the circumstances.” His face changes.
“Ah, yes. The asteroid storm. It’s my understanding no one was injured worse than a few bumps and scrapes. Was something of yours damaged or lost?” His translated voice comes through as sympathetic.
“No, nothing like that.” You stand and follow him down the hall. “Short trip, I didn’t bother bringing anything much, I’ve got everything of any value with me. Just sucks, my pay is gonna get docked.”
He glances down at you. “Docked?”
“Sorry, cut. They’ll take some of it away.” His head tilts.
“Why would they do that?”
You wrap your blanket tighter around your shoulders. “Because we didn’t make the trip.”
A sound comes from the back of his throat. “That’s not your fault.”
“They don’t care. They’re not getting paid in full, so we’re not getting paid in full.” He doesn’t respond to that. He stops in front of a gray metal door. He opens it for you and you step in.
It’s standard, but you don’t need anything more. A bed, a nightstand, and a little desk. A private bathroom too. You figure you should send him off and let him have his night in peace. “Well. Thank you.”
He nods, watching you quietly for a moment. “Goodnight.”
