In Search of Home

Chapter 54

After Pedro managed to squeeze out that Viktor was crushing his ribs to ashes, they separated with some reluctance. They sat on the floor, simply staring at each other for a moment. Pedro had a half-smile, mouth slightly parted as if he couldn't believe that Viktor was right in front of him. Viktor could scarcely believe it, either. 

The other man's eyes flickered to the side of his face briefly, widening just slightly, and Viktor had to wonder how bad the scar on his face really was. Pedro's gaze went all over him, pausing on his newly freed arm and on his wrist, where his bracelet lay. He looked like he wanted to ask a million questions, and Viktor couldn't blame him. They had both changed quite a bit in the two months since they had last seen each other. But all he said was, 

"You've gotten taller."

"What?" Viktor laughed excitedly, stretching himself up. "Really?" 

"Yeah," Pedro returned easily, laying his hand flat on Viktor's head before bringing it close to his own chest. "Used to be here," Pedro got a little smile on his face that Viktor hadn't seen before, "and now you're here!" His hand came back to smack in the middle of Viktor's forehead. Viktor recoiled with a yell of betrayal.

"Aw," he complained, rubbing his forehead with a grin. "Did I really get taller, though?"

Pedro snorted, getting up to his feet. He dusted off his pants - sweatpants like Viktor's that were blue in color - before throwing out a hand to help Viktor up. He took it. 

"Nah," Pedro said, patting the teenager on the shoulder when Viktor's face fell. 

"One day," he said wistfully. 

Vok'Rul, Rukka, and the new alien were watching their interaction carefully. Vok'Rul had a hopeful yet concerned look on his face, probably thinking that Viktor had attacked his friend's pet unprovoked. He looked pretty relieved that things were going well. 

"I've got so much to tell you," Viktor grinned at the man. Pedro echoed his sentiment. 

"This is Vok'Rul. Well, you know that already, from the pet store. That alien behind him is his sister, Rukka. She's kinda scary, but she's alright." Viktor explained. The aliens tilted their heads when he spoke their names. 

"Huh," Pedro hummed before pointing at his alien. "I call this one Blacksmith. I'm not too sure what her real name is, though. She's been teaching me some words. I end up getting the stuff that she can't reach." 

"Vok'Rul's teaching me words, too!" Viktor informed him happily.

Pedro's smile grew soft, and he drew Viktor into his side, squeezing his shoulders. "I'm glad you're happy, kid. Is he treating you alright?" 

Viktor thought, briefly, of when Vok'Rul spoke to him, angry and hushed in the restaurant at the zoo. He thought about the times when his claws had pressed uncomfortably into his skin in the alien's attempts to grab him when he was struggling to get away. He thought of how Vok'Rul's voice sounded when he had said Kora, Kohgrash! 

But there was more good than bad. He thought of the quiet words the alien spoke to him when it was just the two of them, fond and affectionate. He thought of all the times Vok'Rul ran a claw down his cheek, ruffled his hair, and praised him. He thought of how gently the alien held him, even when his injuries likely made it painful. He thought of his promise to stay with Viktor, even though they were of different species, spoke different languages, and had been born on different planets. 

He no longer feared for his life, unlike during his time at the arena. There were no sleepless nights in the mansion because he was afraid that it might be his last. There was no uncertainty lingering in his stomach about whether or not he would be fed, watered, or just taken care of. Viktor could go to sleep every night, curled up in a soft bed with a warm blanket, and know that he would wake up in the morning.