No. Even if Lexi offered, Damien could never take it. Could he? How could he be sure he’d stop, before causing irreversible harm? Could he trust himself?
To not lose control again?
It had taken far too much effort for him to control himself on the ship. That was failure enough itself. He’d need to better prepare if he dared return to New Atlantis.
What was the point of even pursuing such a… bond? Damien knew too well how friendships with humans always ended; loss, pain, and being alone.
With a tinge of something that he refused to name for fear of longing for it, Damien hoped that Lexi would somehow build the new home, connections, and “found-family” that they clearly wanted. Or at the least, he hoped Lexi would take care of themself.
Yes, Damien was very much looking forward to being home.
While no sunlight penetrated the ship’s walls, he could still feel the sunrise, the sun’s oppressive presence at the horizon. Lulling him to sleep, as it did every day. Almost impossible to fight. He closed his eyes, his thoughts swirling until he found transient peace.
But little did Damien know that his house-sitter had brought an unexpected guest. Another being in need of healing.
One who, like Damien, needed friends more than they realized. Though Damien would have been the last person to admit it.
Sharing a bit of of my #hopepunk novel for today's #WIPSnips, "pursue."
Damien returns home, after the team fails to evacuate a planet being sucked into a black hole.
The only chapter from Damien’s POV.
#WritingCommunity #WriteSky #sff #alien #vampire #zoo #empathy #alienzoo #scifi
