Sarit
The drive there today was filled with silence. Abyss was looking between us, trying to nudge me. Chada was still busy driving but I did not like his sister, some woman, a human! Showing up and interrupting us.
The whole family has this way of treating me like I'm some cute kid even though they themselves are like puppies.
He looked over at me in the passenger seat and adjusted the temperature "is this cool enough?" He asked paying close attention to me. I just grumbled at him.
Behind us in the middle Abyss said "you two sound like a married couple, Sarit you specifically are such a grumbly wife"
The both of us at the same time objected. "I'm a man. There is no need to apply heteronormative speech to this." I said.
Chada nodded agreeing saying "exactly, he's right. There can be two husband's or 2 wives for sapphic individuals. There is no point in trying to make homosexual relationships conform to being the same as a man and a woman, otherwise what is the point being gay? Or gendering those terms in the first place?"
His response made me feel at least finally right now we seemed to be in agreement.
Abyss said "I was just teasing but you're right. I should have known better especially given how normal it is in the sea. We don't really term it like you guys in general. It's usually something akin to Mate, gender neutral"
Chada seemed to find this interesting. I watched his reaction carefully, noting how he reacts. "So is it normal for the same sex to pair in the sea?" He asked. Abyss and I both nodded as Abyss said "yeah actually it is, especially because many species can even change their gender so it doesn't really matter"
Chada seemed a bit surprised but pleasantly. "Ah so kind of like the clown fish I hear of." He said and Abyss nodded.
"gender doesn't matter or it can change. Some species can conceive in other ways too so we never learned society like you guys" I said.
He glanced over at me as he drove. "So what's about you? What is it like for your species" he asked.
"Rude" I said at him appalled by the audacity to ask such things.
Abyss just smirked at us. "Oh his species is about as compatible with humans as it gets. Haven't you seen his human form, it's very adaptable" he said teasingly.
Chada kind of sputtered a bit glancing in the rear view mirror at him. "Well uh, yeah I have....I didn't see uhmmm nevermind" he cut himself off.
"Didn't see what. You've seen all of me" I replied. Faking a glare at him.
I heard Abyss gasp in the backseat. I shrugged like what is the big deal, he saw it day one and almost every day since.
Abyss snickered in the backseat enjoying this. "What Abyss don't act like you haven't seen all of me too come on" I said.
Chada looked over at us "what?!?" He said. "He has seen all of you?" He said looking at us in shock but trying to focus on driving. He almost pulled over. Giving me a pouty upset mixed face.
"It's no big deal. We all do this plus Abyss and I are supposed to be mates" I said shrugging.
Now this time he really pulled over "mates?!?! No, you two certainly make good friends but mates? Hell no" he said staring at me.
"What are you jealous?" I said raising my eyebrows at him.
"Yes, in fact, I am" he said without hesitation. Both me and Abyss were taken aback. Abyss's face now twisting into a shipping smirk.
I hadn't a clue what to say or react to this I just floundered a bit. The car was filled with my own awkward silence the rest of it while the other two kept looking at me.
Abyss even turned to Chada saying "I'm not your enemy man. I wish you the best of luck. The mate thing is just something the others arranged for us. It doesn't actually hold any meaning"
I reached back to slap his shoulder. That traitor. I would get him for this.
That seemed to make Chada ease up a bit however. A small determination and confidence resting on his shoulders and entire demeanor.
Finally that car ride that felt like 12 centuries was over. Abyss quickly skipped to hop his way out of the car and run away ahead of me, avoiding my wrath.
I tried to get up to follow him before I was pulled back suddenly by a gentle but fierce muscly arm. I couldn't even form a "what" when my lips made contact with his. He pulled me into that kiss as if trying to make me waver and like him. When he pulled back, I was slightly stunned off my game. He bumped his forehead to mine before saying "mine"
What a wolf in sheeps clothing! You give him a fruit basket and he organizes a feast! How could he think that some time together using him means he can kiss me whenever, right after trying to hide me from his sister.
I was still pouting so I just said "as if" and slammed the car door on my way out as he smiled nonetheless.
I found myself back in the company actually starting to look forward to this project. My nerves though, suddenly they were talking about upping the date for my debut but while I may have the talent, I'm not good with crowds. What would happen if I sang them all to the ocean and our cover was blown?
Why should I deign to perform for the humans. I honestly just wanted to curl up in Chadas house playing his games or back home in the sea in my cozy bed. It's safer that way, it feels that way anyway.
I found myself sweating droplets while practicing so hard, I actually enjoyed doing it though. I just had to keep dabbing it all away before it ruins my skin.
I knew I had an easy time because I hadn't debuted before, debuting this soon is already legendary and has the company talking a lot. The concern I have is not only will I have photoshoots and events and interviews and performances but also needing to socialize and get my name around by participating in shows and getting investors attention.
This is all so new to me, I am glad I have Abyss and thankfully a seemingly reasonable company guiding me however it's still hard and tricky. They keep running over how to respond to media questions, in particular because I have a sassy snappy attitude they deemed perhaps unsuitable.
They also started trying to prep me for stalkers or online hate or cameras in my face. The very thought of those things made me very unsure how I was supposed to maintain double lives without anyone noticing. It also meant I would need to be around Chada a lot more.
Telling me these things was one thing, the reality was another. Already before even having debuted there were some fans of mine waiting outside the lobby. I tried to wave at them but got too nervous to do so.
I shook it off trying to muster my usual flirtatious confidence. I knew I was amazing. "3 2 1" went the flash of the cameras for some magazine they said was essential. I posed perfectly actually, my confidence growing. Now this, was another area I'm good at. Especially when they handed me a mirror, I could pose as sassily as I wanted.
The photographers seemed to coo being happy with the work which made me smile. Maybe this whole thing isn't so bad after all.
Next they ushered us to an outdoor square, many of the trainees that may be debuting would perform here to build up some semblance of an audience if they didn't already have deals to be in TV series.
I was offered but I turned down as I can't manage being in that much close contact with people.
I found myself feeling the excitement of going on stage. When my cue finally came my nerves had now subsided. By the side of the stage Abyss was cheering me on. I saw even the front of the crowd, Chada had come ending his work early to watch me. For some reason this made me smile. I started singing with confidence, the audience completely pulled in and almost hypnotized. During the entire thing he continued to lock eyes with me in that steady gaze.
I found myself getting drawn into the emotions and lyrics of the music. Swaying to it like ocean waves.
For the first time since I stepped foot on this land, I finally didn't feel scared. I finally saw beauty in it.
For that first time, I felt like maybe I could belong.