In Search of Home

Chapter 49

Avoiding Vok'Rul was easier than it should have been. The alien didn't want anything to do with him, which Viktor pretended to not notice (and definitely pretended that it didn't feel like a knife was twisting into his heart). As soon as the family was finished eating, Vok'Rul untied the leash and slapped it into Rukka's outstretched hand. They exited the restaurant swiftly, avoiding the man - if they hadn't already left - and leaving without any further problems. 

Nohkka was insistent they go a certain direction, which Rukka and Kac obeyed. Vok'Rul, however, waved them off and turned around to go the opposite way. Viktor stood, a bit torn. Rukka tugged on the leash, noticeably harder than Vok'Rul did. 

"Vok'Rul?" he called, wringing his hands together. He didn't really want to interact with the alien, too afraid of the guilt he was feeling about the possibility of being around someone who had caused hundreds if not thousands of people's deaths, but he had an awful feeling in his stomach. His gut was telling him he needed to stay with Vok'Rul. He was the only alien here he really knew.

But the alien didn't turn around, even though Viktor knew he heard him. 

"Fine," he tried to say acidly, but it came out in a shaky whisper instead. He spun on his heel when Rukka tugged once more, following behind her at a sedated pace. 

They walked by multiple enclosures, but Viktor could barely lift his eyes from the ground in front of him to see what was inside them. His mind was foggy, filled with needling little doubts. What if that had been the last straw for Vok'Rul? Of course, he would care about his reputation. Having an out-of-control pet attacking some innocent bystander's own would probably do some damage. The alien was probably already planning on getting rid of him.

The longer they walked around without Vok'Rul showing up further cemented the thought in his head. He was going to be kicked out, just like that man had said. 

Viktor cursed himself. He shouldn't have lost control of his emotions, like that. He twisted strands of his cast between his fingers angrily, only half paying attention to his surroundings. That man had just been so... so irritating! 

Viktor could admit to himself that he was fond of Vok'Rul. He liked the alien and letting someone insult him to his face was something he had been unable to bear. That's what he would do for his friends. No, he corrected himself, he'd do it for anyone. Vok'Rul wasn't his friend. Especially now. The alien was just someone whose company he enjoyed. It wasn't like he had had a choice in his housing placement. Still, he had reacted before he could think, and now he had pushed Vok'Rul over the edge. 

Maybe they'd shove him in an exhibit, and he'd spend the rest of his life running around a square pen. 

God, Viktor thought, pressing his hands to his eyes briefly. Why couldn't he have just held his tongue? 

He twitched when Nohkka patted him consolingly on the head. He wondered if she even knew what had occurred, considering the pep in her step. She seemed just as excited to be walking around the zoo as she had before the restaurant fiasco. 

"Kas tih, Kohgrash," she said, before speaking about Vok'Rul. He only caught a few of the words, but he heard lorka at least once. He gave her a shaky smile even as his heart twisted painfully in his chest. He'd probably never go back to the mansion again. He tried not to let it bother him.

(It bothered him. A lot.)

He morosely stared at the ground after Nohkka got distracted by the latest exhibit. He heard Kac and Rukka talking over his head, only hearing snippets. They were talking about him, he knew. His name was sprinkled into their conversation and he could feel their piteous gazes on him.