A Big Shiny Blue Marble Ch. 38

He gasped, smiling as he looked in a little disbelief. The way that her lips parted and this mysterious female showed her teeth to him in a very feral and happy grin told him that she knew of the ways that his kind loved.

"Zha broundeh tiesch?" He whispered.

"He asks me if this one has been to the abyss," Simmit said quietly.

Rohkanh watched as Copper nodded very slowly, her eyes never leaving his face as her tongue slipped out of her mouth to wet her lips.

"Tell him," she said in a whispering sigh as she leaned in close and dragged her lips across his lips as she spoke, "Tell him that this one lives in the abyss with his sister."

He pulled her to him for more before Simmit could even say it all.

"This is our little family," Simmit went on, reaching for the twins to take them, since they looked quite bored now, "my little males who see Copper as a father. They would welcome another as well to teach them as they grow.

This is my lover, and Rohkanh, there are wonders beneath this lumpy thing that she wears. Our ways are welcomed here, brother. I have already made it clear that you and I are close. She is no demon -- but she loves as one, as hard or as softly - just as we love.

I seek to tempt you. Know this and make no mistake. I want my brother as he has returned to me and I offer the one who holds my heart so that she can hold yours as well. Let us be a family here and you can seek for any others that you might want. You will seek with my help, but know that you can have this female as yours with ease just as I have always been yours."

Copper pulled away to look at Rohkanh, "Simmit," she whispered, "oh Murphy, I want him."

"Patience, Copper," Simmit said in English as she grinned up, "I am waiting for one question from Rohkanh.

Well, brother? Is there nothing that you would ask? Do you want to grow old in a long time, and leave nothing of yourself behind? Copper and I will live long. It makes no difference to me, since I am like you, but the one you hold now will outlive most of her kind. Is there nothing that you would ask?"

"Besh tsih imith at-thanh, Copper," he sighed a little as he touched the dwarf's face so gently. His heart thudded in his chest to hear her quiet moan as she looked at him. He tore his eyes away from Copper with effort, "Besh tzu ghan? Erreht moonih kith, Simmit"

"Ah, there it is," Simmit chuckled happily. "Copper? Rohkanh says that you are fine -- just as I knew that he would for we are the same. He says that he understands and that if you wish it, he will let you decide if and when you want him. He feels happiness at meeting you and having a family again."

"I'm not getting all of this, "Copper said as she smiled from under Rohkanh's jaw, "And I really want to be getting -- I mean, I want to understand it."

Simmit laughed at the dwarf's joke, "Rohkanh agrees with me. He wishes to fit himself into what we have and I have promised to help him find someone for him."

"Oh, I must be getting stupid to even have the thought of saying this, " Copper chuckled, "but why can't he find somebody by himself? It ought to take him a good long while."

"Two reasons," Simmit smiled, "I care about his heart and how he will need to learn how things are here, and also, the one will have to be a good choice for us all. If it is done right, then even though she will most likely not be like us and want only Rohkanh, his females will become a little like sisters in how the home is run. We would help her once she had bred with him and has their little ones and she would help us. This is how families grow where we come from and all share in the work -- him, you and I and the one that he chooses."

The dwarf thought about it for a moment, and then she nodded, "Alright. I'll give this a shot. Uh, can you tell him to put me down before I soak the insides of my coveralls any more than they already are?"

When she was back on her feet, Copper looked up and saw that he was smiling as he looked at them. "So he's good with you and me? I mean, the way --"

"Oh yes," Simmit nodded, "He wishes to join with us, not to change what we have."

"He looks so ... happy," Copper said as she gave in to what she felt and hugged him again.

Rohkanh saw what he suddenly wanted very much and blessed his sister for the chance to have a life which meant something. He knew that they were lovers, and so he needed one more piece to make this complete, but his amazing little sister was handing him one of the most important parts and he intended to keep them all well-loved if this all came to pass. To him, this wasn't about gratification, though that would be one of the ways that it would be expressed. Rohkanh could give protection and he intended to show his gratitude to his sister and her lover in many ways.

"He is happy," Simmit replied, "Most protectors want a family, but almost none ever get the chance at their wish because of what they are and how they might have to give their lives. I have always thought that it was very unfair -- since I am the sister of a protector. They are never given a choice for their lives. They can only ever be one thing. Females everywhere make noise and call to them, wanting to be claimed for the honor, but no female chooses a protector for their lives with him.

Protectors can live as long as the rest of us, but they never do and they all die the same way. Eventually they get a little older and slower. Sooner or later, they lose the fight. Oh, there is always a younger protector to take the fallen one's place, but no one remembers what he gave to keep them safe.

That is why my choice was easy for me to make. I think that we should go back inside now."

----------------------

"You have been quiet for a time," Ksyusha said, "What holds your interest so, Nika?"

The spark turned her head and smiled, "My new friend Simmit. She is amazing. I have the perfect view from where I sit here. She came here with her girl Copper, and the brother came then. She loves her girlfriend, and she loves her brother. Not only has she introduced them, she did far more. In five minutes, she has made them a family -- or well onto the road there.

I am sure that it is different to how it is done here, but if you remember, this is just as it is done where I am from among the families."

The warlock nodded, "I remember. My people make their families as it is done here -- usually beginning with one male and one female, but I know the ways of sparks -- since I have lived with one," she smirked, "I think that is why I was so eager to do things your way with Vadren."

They led Rohkanh into the bar, pointing out low obstacles like light fixtures which he could now walk into and not pass through as he did earlier. Conversations faded away instantly. No one stared at him, but they did look, since he was a rather imposing sort of figure.

Rohkanh stood well over seven feet tall, and Arrax saw the opportunity for a little wonder as he got to his feet and stepped over to meet the demon. Arrax himself was imposing to most people; seven feet tall and with a deep chest and long muscled limbs. Rohkanh was only a little taller, but he made Arrax smile to see that beside Rohkanh, he looked a little undernourished.

"I see other warriors here," Rohkanh said through his sister as she interpreted for him, "I am to live close by and this makes me pleased to see."

He was led to a table where Yuan sat with Rachel and Cha'khah and he smiled, "Everywhere here is beauty, I have seen nothing like this before."

They looked up at him, a smiling giant among them. His handsome face was open and friendly -- a little hopeful to meet these people. Finding a place to stand where there were no beams or lights, he stood straight and gained another few inches and his black hair hung down against his hard chest.

A black swirl detached itself from somewhere farther away and it came to him with a laugh as Nika appeared before him with a smile and her outstretched hand. When he reached for it, Simmit explained that while they were all different, they'd adopted the human custom of grasping the hand of one who wished to meet another one in a friendly manner.

Rohkanh smiled down and took Nika's hand, delighted to see a small one like Simmit, and he admired her for a moment as she stood on the tips of her hooves to stretch up and run the palm of her hand over his chest and down to his stomach. Nika giggled a little as she said something with his name in it and Rohkanh he turned to his sister for a translation.

"She says, 'very nice', Rohkanh, that is all." Simmit chuckled.

Rachel didn't much feel like a part of it all and looked away to find Selena looking at her with concern, "You're not ok, are you?"

Rachel shook her head and Selena took her hand, "You're hiding it well, but the girls, well, we all know. We all love you Rach.

Look, if you need to get away, Sariel can stay with Dahl and I, you know that, right? He's always welcome at our place. You are too if you just want to hide yourself away, but I was thinking that maybe you ought to head over to Barrett's for a little while. Leave Sariel with us and go hang with Cha'Khah and Barrett."

Rachel shook her head, "It's a nice thought, but they've got Mo-Wenn. I love her to death, but she reminds me that I always wanted another baby with Azrael. Time's going by and he was just never that enthusiastic about it, always asking me where I was in my month so that we were safe, and that was when he was even half-interested."

She fought back a sob for a second, "What's wrong with me? Why wasn't I enough for him? I suddenly feel as alone and ugly as I felt when I was getting close to going into labor."

Selena was against Rachel instantly with her arm around her shoulders, "Honey, there's not a thing wrong with you. Azrael's dick just didn't want to be at home most nights, I guess. I'm into girls too, and I can tell you you're so lovely. I know you don't want to hear that from me, but you know what I mean, right?

Rachel you're a wonderful person. You're a great friend to all of us, and you've got a body that'll stop a clock anytime if it doesn't fall right off the wall. I know this doesn't help how you feel, but you've gotta know that it's not you."

Selena laughed, "If we weren't all paired up, every male in this place would be after your sweet ass. Hell, I know that Shaevre and I would be."

The comment made Rachel laugh a little and she smiled, "That actually helps. Thanks."

Though he met them all, after a while, Rohkanh found that he kept looking at a few of them repeatedly and he made his way to them.

"My brother thinks that you are a relative of Azrael, "Simmit said. "He wishes to say that he is sorry, but his first view and by what he felt in his heart from Amon caused him to do what he did. He says that he holds no bad will toward you."

Rachel nodded as she looked back, struggling a little inside of herself. She was torn in a few directions since Azrael had been more than her husband. "I don't want him anywhere near me ever again, but I want to know what happened, if he'd tell me."

When it had been translated and Simmit had his answer, she looked at Rachel, "He is alive, but imprisoned. Rohkanh heard me when I asked that he kill Azrael, but these things are always the decision of the protector. He beat Azrael though he was gentle about it since no one was hurt, he says. He thinks that he will bring Azrael food in ten days or so and he thinks that he will release him then. Azrael will need water, but Rohkanh says that he can lick some from the stone there."

Rachel nodded, "I understand. Please thank him for me for not killing him. I'd want to ask if I could go along then, but I'd understand it if- "

"Excuse me," Simmit said, and she spoke to and then listened to the large demon for a few seconds, "Rohkanh wishes to know why -- if you do not wish to see him again."

Rachel drew a tired breath, "As somebody who loved him and had to see this mess and make her life more public than I'd ever have wanted, I don't want to see him. But I'm his sister. I just want to see that he's sort of alright so I can walk away then with the book closed between us -- if that makes any sense."

They talked between them for a moment and then Simmit reached to hug Rachel gently. "We understand," she said, "We are sorry, Rachel.

I wish for you to know that what happened here helped me. I wanted him to see his sons once. I was upset for what I saw, but without you, I would never have had the chance. If I had not met Copper and Yuan, I might have even done something stupid all over again if he came back."

She stepped around the edge of the table and hugged Rachel, "My troubles are ending, but I think that you feel as though you now have them," she said into Rachel's ear.

"No," Rachel sighed, wondering at how good it felt to hold the small demon and for the way that she seemed to feel a little better, "I think that I had these troubles before. Now they're just in the open and at least it's clear."

Simmit didn't let go as she said, "You do not know it, and it comes from a bad thing, but you have made a friend in me. You helped me to face this and see clearly. I did not want to come along when you asked, but I felt that you like me and my little ones. I will not forget, Rachel. If I ever can, I will help you." She kissed Rachel's cheek and stepped away to smile for a moment.

Rachel looked down and wiped her eyes for a minute. When she looked up, she saw that the huge demon had gotten to one knee and was reaching to put his arm around her. She allowed it and was surprised at how good it felt. She smiled a little then and thanked Rohkanh.

"I think I see why you're called a protector. For as long as that lasted, I've never felt so safe."

"I don't understand much of what he's saying," Copper smiled, "but I'm learning that I can get a lot of it by feel in how he says his words. Rachel, if you need a friend -- I mean besides all of these people here who love you, well I'd love to be a friend of yours." The demon spoke again to Simmit and she nodded, "He thinks that you will not want it, but Rohkanh offers his friendship as I offer mine."

"Thank you," Rachel said quietly, "I think I'd like that. These are all my friends and they all love me," she said, "I know they do, but looking around, I can see that none of them really know what to do with me right now. They've all said what they wanted to say to me, and I know that they're all here for me, but I can tell that they're all a little uncomfortable over all of this. Azrael was a part of this, and they all feel a little like I do."

She looked over to where Sariel sat with Nahl'een and her parents, "He tries to hide it, but I know that Sariel is upset. He's maybe not as upset over Azrael, but I'm hurt and he's my son."

She looked around, "You know, I love this place and the people in it, but right now, I don't want to be here very much. I know that one by one, they'll all keep coming to me and asking if I'm alright, or if there's anything they can do for me and it will only make me feel worse.

I probably ought to go look for another place tonight. There are lots of empty quarters here, but I don't even feel like doing that."

She looked down at the table top and her eyes drifted over the swirls and patterns. The ancient Arborite material was a leftover from the 1950s and the pattern was popular then. It was an attempt to imitate the swirling patterns on the inside of a conch or an oyster shell -- what is known as Mother of Pearl, the same thing that Copper used in many of her exclamations. For a time, it was also used in bathrooms, and so it was also called Mother of Toilet Seat. Rachel knew none of this, but she let her gaze wander over it as she thought -- or tried to.

When she looked up, only Rohkanh was there. Simmit and Copper were speaking with Yuan. She looked at him, and thought that she ought to feel like hating him. It didn't make sense, but the thought was there anyway. He put his arm around her again. "Rachel," he said carefully and she nodded. She knew that he wished to be able to speak to her to try to comfort her, and she knew that he didn't have any words to use that she would understand. She found that she couldn't hate him.

She smiled as bravely as she could, but she was falling apart and she knew it. There was nothing in his face but concern and sadness for her and for what he'd done. He spoke to her then. Quiet words that she didn't understand and she knew that he was trying to offer her comfort and a safe place for her pain.

Rachel gave in to the gentle tug and he took her into his arms. After only one breath, Rachel buried her face in his mane and began to cry.

Cha'Khah appeared before them a few minutes later and Rachel looked at her over Rohkanh's shoulder for a moment, "It's ok," she sniffled, "I'm alright."

The Drowess shook her head and reached to touch Rachel's cheek, "No you are not, my friend. You need to be away from here for a little while. The dragon has said that you and Sariel can stay with these ones tonight. Vadren knows roughly where they live and the dwarf-girl Copper has said that she will wait for him in the morning to guide him. He will come with Ksyusha and Nika to bring Sariel home for his lessons and Barrett has lessons for him as well as needing his help with the farm. We will bring him back to you the day after if you are still there and do not wish to be here. Maybe we will all come to visit.

But you should not be here tonight, Rachel. Take your drowling and try to heal together. He waits for you now. Selena and Dahlgren have said that he could stay the night with them and Nahl'een as he often does, and Barrett told him that he can always stay with his Aunt Cha'Khah but he said that he will not be parted from his mother this night because she needs him."

Cha'Khah nodded," I almost cried for the brave way that he sounded, but I held it back, because I could see that he wanted to cry himself."

She smirked, "And we have all had our heartstrings stretched for us when he kissed Nahl'een and promised to return to her. The way that they were, it was as though he was departing on a long journey. We all had to smile, but it was good to see."

Rachel didn't like the thought of walking out in tears. She found that she couldn't stop crying and there was a part of her somewhere deep inside that didn't want to. Cha'Khah knew it and smiled, "Hide against him. Turn your face against his neck and hide. He will carry you, I think." She reached to touch Rohkanh's shoulder and, pointing to Rachel, who had gone back to weeping against him, she lifted her outstretched palm.

Rohkanh nodded and stood up, lifting Rachel with no effort.

"I feel like an idiot," she said to his thick neck.

"Well you don't look like one," Selena said from close enough that Rachel could hear her speaking through her smile and she felt Selena's hand on her shoulder, "You ought to just take the comfort that he's trying so hard to give you, Rachel. He's not happy for what happened either, and the way that he looks at you, it's like he's feeling guilty for everything that happened, including what Azrael did.

Besides," she laughed a little in an effort to try to cheer her friend up a little, "I doubt there's a single girl here who wouldn't like to be carried off by somebody like him."

Rachel reached to hug Rohkanh as well and she pulled herself a little higher as he began to walk. He was careful as he got them through the doorway and he found Sariel waiting, his concern for her written all over him, "Are you alright, Mom?"

"I'm getting better," she smiled a little through her tears, "There's something about Rohkanh that takes away bad feelings. What's going on now?"

"Yuan and the other dragon have gone already," her son said, "They said they'd get a big bed ready for us and we're gonna stay the night there. We're coming back though, right?"