Terrestrial Alien ✔

Chapter 67: Una Estrategia

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"I think... I think I have an idea," Sundo says in carefully measured Spanish. "I have not had much time to think it through, but I think it just might be enough. I'm... I have confidence."

He smiles for Joshua, brushing his hand over his face and tucking an unruly strand of hair behind his ear. His feline eyes are searching, as though hoping to read Joshua's approval on his face, hoping to find praise for his Spanish, maybe. Joshua can't help the smile that pulls at his cheeks, seeing this. Sundo's goodness has to be contagious.

Though a little stiff, Sundo's Spanish is actually quite impressive, and Joshua finds his heart warming with pride. As far as he's aware, Sundo picked up the language solely from pouring over high school textbooks, with little, if any, further instruction. Joshua finds himself in awe of this alien all over again.

His own Spanish is nothing spectacular, either, truthfully. There are huge gaps in his vocabulary, and he understands it better than he can speak it, though he can still hold passable conversation. Which is just what they need right now. They can understand each other, and with luck, Marlowe can't, if they're even listening at all.

Joshua grasps Sundo's hand and holds it, running his fingers over those inky markings instinctually. "Tell me. What is this strategy of yours?"

It's a little thing, but he thinks to use the word "strategy", rather than "plan" because it sounds a little different in Spanish. Estrategia.

"Plan", on the other hand, is just "un plan" in Spanish.

If Sundo notices, he doesn't give any indication. He seems more invested in Joshua's hands and his smile. With Joshua's smile, a whole new warmth has spread over Sundo's face.

Sundo begins to whisper, "I, well..." but he's speaking in English again, and he knows even as he begins, he's letting himself get distracted.

Carefully, he pulls his hand from Joshua's, catching both hands under Joshua's waist instead.

"Oh," Joshua says softly as Sundo lifts him from his lap with ease, moving him to sit on the mat beside him, to keep himself from getting further derailed.

Even so, as Sundo turns to face him, he reaches over to take Joshua's hands again, resting his fingers against his warm palm. Some distance would help, but not too much, of course. Joshua hides a small smile.

Letting out a breath, Sundo tries again, this time in steady Spanish, "I am thinking that I can tell Bennett that I will shift for him, as he wants, but only if you are there as well. This will get us in the same place again, so we won't have to try and find each other again. I don't really... know my way around this place yet."

Joshua raises his eyebrows, listening carefully to the plan. He's watching Sundo's face, though Sundo has dropped his gaze to their hands and is carefully tracing his fingers over the lines of Joshua's palms. Feeling Joshua's look, however, he lifts his gaze.

"I don't really know my way around here either," Joshua replies. "It's like a maze. Marlowe made me wear a blindfold to even come down here, so I wouldn't know the way to find you again."

Sundo listens carefully, but even when Joshua finishes, he has a look on his face like he missed something.

"Blindfold?" He repeats eventually, not recognising the word in Spanish. Vendaron.

Tapping his fingers against Sundo's hand, Joshua translates the word, and Sundo's eyes light up with understanding.

"Oh," he says, then frowns as he fully understands. "Oh. Darn. That makes sense."