A Jewel in the Night

~~~~~~~~ 1 ~~~~~~~~

Soft pellets of rain were hitting the Embassy’s virtual glass façade. The sky outside was somewhat dark, cloudy at least, but it was still early in the evening, and some daylight was still struggling to peer through the rainclouds. It had been raining for some time now, quiet tears from the clouds above.

Of course, rain was nothing more than a common meteorological occurrence. But somehow, the symbolism felt more appropriate.

Da’an was standing inside the Embassy, alone in his office. He cast a glance to Liam’s desk, from where his protector was conspicuously absent. He couldn’t quite remember where Liam had gone—his thoughts had been preoccupied elsewhere. Not that it mattered. He turned back to watching the rain outside.

Da’an was alone… painfully alone.

Oh, the Commonality was always there, of course. Thoughts and voices and fleeting images and emotions coursed through his mind, as they had for as long as he could consciously remember. But the flood of voices was so constant, and so barely a comfort, that they may as wnot not be there at all.

He felt tired, and drained, and he was all too aware that an energy shower would do very little to ease his fatigue. No, this fatigue was the same one that had weighed over him for the better part of the last thousand years.

Da’an closed his eyes, trying to banish the feelings, but of course, it was futile. Images of his only child, of words spoken between them, of cold stares exchanged and hatred unconcealed, kept roiling within him, torturing his already-tormented soul.

Zo’or, his only living child. With difficulty, he tried to ignore the memories of an exchange they had shared, some time ago. The words rang with such painful clarity in his mind they may as well have just been spoken.

“You are my child,” Da’an had said, explaining why he had framed himself for a murder for which he had believed Zo’or to be responsible. “I would never allow you to be harmed.”

His eyes, his words, cruel and cold, Zo’or had replied, “I would not do the same for you.”

Da’an winced as the pain returned.

When did it happen, my child? When did the love I once saw in your eyes turn into the bitter hatred I see now? I would give my life, if only you could look upon me as you once did. I thought I once knew you. Now, I do not. All I see is a stranger in your eyes… Outside, the rain intensified, as though sympathizing with Da’an’s feelings. Taelons did not feel emotions as humans did—at least, not in a way humans would understand. Millennia of evolution had altered their way of seeing the world and feeling its joys and pains. Though they no longer felt as humans did, they could still experience joy, and fear, and pain, and loneliness…

And heartbreak. It was not only for the human heart to feel.

But, we cannot cry, Da’an thought, closing his eyes. We feel the pain, but cannot shed the tears. I have heard humans state many times how crying helps release the pain… perhaps that is why I hurt so.

I have a thousand years of tears within me, and will never be able to shed them. Suddenly very tired, Da’an slowly sat on the shiny ramp circlthe the office, so that he would still be able to watch the rain outside. It was a peculiar thing; water was life-bearing, and rain fell to allow many life-forms to flourish. And yet, so many humans reacted negatively to a rainfall. Perhaps, he thought, they associated it with feelings of despair and melancholy, darkness and coldness. It seemed appropriate, though unfortunate.

Leaning forward, Da’an gathered his arms around himself. Now matter how many millennia of evolution they had behind them, sentient races could seemingly not escape their emotions. Some had better control than others, all all felt the same—and hurt the same.

Why must it hurt so?

Why must you hurt me so, Zo’or?

I wish I knew… I wish I remembered when it happened. When I lost you. If only I had known, I would have acted or spoken differently. All I did was love and protect you. You were my only surviving child. I would have died time and again for you.

Is it possible for one’s love to turn into another’s hatred?

Da’an sighed. Oh, how he wished he could cry.

Or at least be able to forget, to banish these memories, these emotions, these visions, to only remember the time when he had felt only joy, and not pain, when he looked upon his child.

But, of course, he couldn’t do that any more than he could summon the tears hiding behind his façade.

Da’an’s hand fluttered down to his abdomen. To this day, he remembered what it felt like to carry children. He had conceived five of them, but only one had survived its birth.

He ached for the time when Zo’or was not yet born, still growing within him, unexposed to the outside world and all its evils, not yet aware of things like pain and hatred and loneliness.

I know how your barrenness pains you, Zo’or. You say that you will never know completion. I envy you. For your pain is for something you will never have. Mine is for that which I have lost.

So many things he wished he could say to his child. But nothing, no words, no actions, could ever erase the pain…

You say that I do not understand. How can I make you see that I do? I have known much pain, Zo’or, more than you can fathom. I have known the joy of conceiving a first child, of birthing it, only to see it lifeless in my arms, and never urviurvive on its own. It is a loss more unbearable than you can imagine. And I have known it again, and again, and again… to feel a child flourish within me, and yet to be consumed by fear and despair until its birth, and again to have my children taken away, for fate has decided that they are not meant for life.

And then, despite the pain, the desperation, to conceive a fifth child, and hope it will be the survivor… the agony is unbearable. You will never know how birthing is painful, Zo’or, when the mind is unable to focus on anything but fear for the child’s life…

I have felt it all. I still remember the joy of finally being able to hold a child in my arms, a child that is of me, and which has survived fate.

Of holding you, my child, and of finally knowing happiness.

It is for you, Zo’or, that I have accumulated these tears within me. And will continue to do so until the hate vanishes from your eyes, though I fear it is not to be.

Outside, the rain had slowly subsided. Da’an’s heart still felt as heavy.

If I could cry, Zo’or… I would cry for both of us.


-------------
Liam shook the raindrops from his jacket before walking inside the Embassy later that evening, grateful to be out of the chilly, humid air. The rain had stopped only a few minutes ago, though the clouds were still dark and menacing above.

Shaking the moisture from his hair, he made his way through the Embassy until he reached Da’an’s office. He had planned to check on the Companion before going back home for the night, or maybe heading over to the Flat Planet.

Strolling inside the office, he had expected to see Da’an sitting in his chair, perhaps under the energy shower, but Liam couldn’t help but feel puzzled at the sight of the Taelon sitting quietly on the lower ramp of the office, huddled around himself.

“Da’an?” he called out, stepping up behind him. you you okay?”

Da’an flinched slightly, as though startled by Liam’s presence. “Liam,” he acknowledged, but the question remained unanswered.

The human watched him for a short while, but Da’an remained silent, gazing out into the darkening sky.

“Alright, well…” Liam said, hesitant. “I’ll be back tomorrow morning. Contact me if you need anything…” He stopped, staring at his friend. Da’an had barely spoken, but Liam had known the Taelon long enough to know when something was troubling him.

“You sure you’re okay?” Liam asked again.

Da’an made a sound a bit like a sigh. His head tilted slightly, as though he were trying to form a particular thought.

“Liam…” he finally said, his voice distant and dreamy. “Do you ever cry?”

Liam frowned, taken aback by the peculiar question. For a moment, he wondered why the Taelon would possibly ask such a thing and he moved around the ramp, just enough to catch a glimpse of Da’an’s face.

Do I cry? Of course, Liam thought grimly. He remembered crying after his human mother, Siobhan Beckett, had died in his arms… it had been the first time in his short life he had truly known loss. Yes, he had cried, and still did sometimes, when he thought of her.

Lost in his thoughts for a moment, Liam saw that the Taelon was waiting, having turned around bit to look up at him, he finally said, “Sometimes, I guess. Everyone does.”

Da’an appeared to ponder the answer. His blue eyes darted away for an instant, and once again focused on his protector.

“How does it feel?” he asked softly, almost apologetically, as though his question was somehow intrusive.

What’s going on? Liam wondered, suddenly concerned. This wasn’t like Da’an. Intently studying the alien’s face, he searched for some kind of explanation, some kind of clue as to what was happening… but Da’an was practically unreadable. Except… did he actually look saddened? What could be possibly be troubling him to this point? Something was wrong.

“Why do you want to know, Da’an?”

“Please, answer me,” Da’an replied, as his eyes fluttered shut.

Liam sighed, feeling his stomach tighten. Something was definitely wrong.

“Well, it depends,” he finally answered, hoping that playing along would eventually give him an answer. “People cry when they’re sad, or hurt, or angry. Or sometimes, when they’re really happy. It feels different for every person.”

He eyed Da’an, who was carefully considering his answers.

“Is it not also… a release?” the Taelon gently asked.

“Yes… I suppose it is, sometimes,” Liam said, slowly stepping up the ramp where Da’an was sitting.

As Liam approached, Da’an turned away, hiding his expression from the human, focusing his attention on the city outside. It was now almost completely dark, save for the lights dotting the streets beyond the Embassy.

They both remained unmoving, unspeaking, for ng wng while. Liam wanted nothing more than to grab the Taelon, shake him, and demand to know what was happening, but he forced himself to remain as still as the lithe alien before him.

Soon, the faint clattering of raindrops against the virtual glass broke the silence. Da’an seemed to stir a little, staring out into the rain-dotted sky.

When he spoke again, his voice was so soft Liam could hardly discern his words.

“Taelons cannot cry.”

Surprised for a moment, Liam searched for the right words to say.

“I’m… sorry,” he finally uttered.

“As am I.” Da’an finally turned around, his eyes searching for and locking onto Liam’s. “I would imagine the sensation of release from one’s pain to be very… gratifying.”

Hardly, Liam thought. He pressed on, “Crying isn’t always gratifying. Sometimes it just makes you more miserable.”

Trust me, I know.

“Still… I envy humans for this ability.” Da’an murmured, lowering his eyes as his hand formed a nervous, indistinct pattern in the air.

Still genuinely confused, not to mention worried, Liam reached out and touched the Taelon’s shoulder. “You want to be able to cry?” Da’an did not speak his answer, but it was evident in his eyes. “Why?”

It took a while before Da’an spoke again. In this silence, Liam studied his face—he could definitely see traces of sorrow, sadness there. He looked so tired…

Finally, Da’an seemed to sigh, and spoke with such weariness in his voice that Liam couldn’t help but grasp the alien’s other shoulder, offering mental if not physical support.

“I have… many centuries of tears within me,” he said softly. “I would like to be able to shed them. But of course, I will never possess that ability.”

His answer surprised Liam. He pressed on, “Do you want to talk about it?”

“There is nothing to say, Liam.”

Liam sighed, beginning to feel frustrated. “Will you at least tell me what’s bothering you? Maybe I can help.”

“Some things are better left unsaid,” Da’an said, dismissive. “Please, let us not speak of this again.” With that, he became silent again, staring out through the glass.

Okay, I get it, Liam thought. You’re not going to say anything no matter what I do.

Damn. He hated seeing Da’an like this. He was in pain, that much was obvious. Liam was his protector, but there was no protecting or defending against feelings. He wished there was some way that Da’an would be able to experience what he wanted to…

A sudden idea struck him. Perhaps, with a little help, Da’an could experience the next best thing.

Shuffling a little closer to Da’an on the ramp, Liam raised his right hand, offering his palm to the Taelon. Da’an looked at it, puzzled.

“Liam?”

“If you’ll let me… I’ll cry for you,” Liam said, his hand drifting closer. He had shared with Taelons before, with Da’an especially; and, he knew, everything down to the most intimate emotional sensations could be shared. And this was precisely what Da’an needed.

Da’an, however, was still staring at his hand. “What?”

“Share with me… feel what it feels like. It could help… it can’t hurt.”

Da’an drew back slightly. “Liam, I cannot ask…”

“You’re not,” Liam insisted. “I’m offering.”

There was hesitation there, as Da’an continued to contemplate his protector’s hand. Obviously, he was aware of the enormity of what he offering… Da’an was seemingly amazed Liam had actually suggested it.

His eyes wavered for a moment, returning to Liam’tendtended hand, and then to the human’s eyes. Only a look of quiet reassurance could be seen there.

A few more seconds ticked by, and finally, Da’an lifted his slender hand and pressed it to Liam’s, and a moment later his body blushed as he initiated the sharing.

Liam stiffened as it began, slowly. The familiar warmth of psychic energy pressed against his palm, seeping into his arm and fiy iny into the depths of his head, so that now the heat was everywhere, in his band and in his mind.

A peculiar sensation tugged at the back of his brain; he had expected to see images, as he had during previous sharings, but instead was hit by an intense wave of emotions, heavy and unexpected, most of which he could not identify or understand. Alien emotions, unfamiliar even to his Kimeran senses, but the sheer sensation of pain was unmistakable. It was universal.

His vision blurred, but he recognized it as normal. Colors were flashing before his eyes, and then another surge of emotion struck him.

Da’an…

The Taelon had not spoken a word yet through their al lal link. Liam was still able to sense him, and felt his hesitation, his unwillingness to burden or even hurt him in sha sharing.

Please, Da’an, don’t resist, Liam communicated to him.

Suddenly, images flashed through his mind, too quickly at f for for him to grasp any of them, but here and there he saw shapes, a face… a familiar face…

And again, the mental tug of hesitation.

Don’t hide from me, Da’an, let me see…

I cannot…

Please…

Finally, resignation. The tsunami of emotions returned full force.

Liam wavered, wondering how much more he could take. Lights were blurring his eyes now, but he finally saw something… he caught glimpses of Taelons… infant Taelons?

Tiny, unmoving… lifeless… Da’an’s children.

Not dead, but never truly alive. Lost forever. A parent’s heartbreak for lost children. Now, he understood.

Another image flashed before him, and for a second he thought he saw a familiar Taelon form, but the image dissolved too quickly for him to see.

A wave of intense sadness followed the last image, so strongly that Liam was certain he would have collapsed had he not been sitting in the Embassy. He felt the familiar burning behind his eyes, unable to control himself anymore.

And soon he could no longer resist it; his eyes stung for a moment, blurring with tears, and a deep sob racked his body as pearly teardrops rained down his face.

He couldn’t fight it, and didn’t try to… he allowed Da’an’s pain to flow through his body, his mind, until it gushed from his eyes in an unbridled torrent.

He was vaguely aware of Da’an besides him, and also inside his mind, his body shuddering as he shared Liam’s physical reaction.

Pausing for a second to catch his breath, Liam sobbed again, soon overwhelmed by the emotions.

But, as quickly as it had begun, the sharing ended, and gradually Liam returned to consciousness. He vainly attempted to catch his breath as warm tears continued to course down his face… the ones Da’an had not been allowed to shed.

When he finally managed to open his eyes, he saw Da’an sitting next to him, his bright blue eyes wide, evidently still reeling from the experience. “Liam…”

Still shaky, Liam dabbed at the moisture on his cheeks, and then reached out to wrap his arms around Da’an, easing them both to the ground.

“Thank you, Liam…” Da’an murmured weakly.

Liam smiled tiredly and held his friend more tightly, protectively, only pulling one hand away to brush away a final tear.

~~~~~~ 2 ~~~~~~

For a long time, long enough that night had fallen for quite some time now and the rain had stopped for good, Liam and Da’an remained embraced, still sitting where they had both collapsed after the sharing. It had left Liam drained at first, but he was quickly regaining his strength, though his eyes still itched from the sudden gush of tears he had been unable to restrain.

But, the experience had seemed to help Da’an, so he had sensed. The Taelon lay quietly in his arms, still reeling from the intensity of the sharing. Every so often, Liam could feel his small body shudder, almost like gentle sobs were escaping him.

So, Da’an was a parent… he shook his head, trying to forget the images of the lifeless children. He couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more he hadn’t been allowed to see during the sharing, like a familiar he had glimpsed for a split second, but he decided to ignore it for now.

He couldn’t believe his friend had never spoken of this to him before. It wasn’t fair for one being to carry so much pain. Despite himself, his thoughts drifted to his own mother, Siobhan Beckett, and how he had once held her, much as he now held Da’an. Yes, he knew how it hurt to lose a loved one; he had lost a parent, and Da’an had lost children.

Knowing this now, he felt a new kinship with his friend.

Da’an… poor Da’an, he thought, gently stroking the quiet alien’s back. His arms were wrapped around Da’an’s body, who in turn was clinging to his arms, his head resting on Liam’s shoulder. He was so small now, so fragile…

He remembered a time when he had been the small one, the protégé to this mysterious, ethereal alien being. How times have changed… obviously, Liam thought, they had come a long way and their relationship had greatly changed from simply mentor and child.

Yes, so much had changed…

Willing further reassurance, Liam leaned forward and placed a small kiss on the alien’s forehead.

Da’an stirred, surprised at the sudden, new contact. Since his sharing with Liam had ended an hour or so ago, he had allowed himself to lapse into silence, contemplating the experience.

His protector had given him a most wonderful gift… even now, despite his heightened emotions brought on by the sharing, he could feel a renewed sense of calm, of assurance.

Being with Liam now added to that calm. In all the time he had spent on Earth, he couldn’t recaltimetime when he had felt so… what was the word humans used?

Content. Yes, that was it. Despite their disagreements, their misunderstandings and their occasional rifts caused by their respective loyalties to their species, he still felt a profound sense of contentment in Liam’s presence. Undeniably, they had a bond.

And now… now, after Liam had so selflessly shared himself and released him from his pain…

Feeling the contact of his protector’s lips against his forehead, Da’an shifted and looked up at him, watching as a small blush settled over his face.

“I’m sorry… I just…” Liam said, staring into Da’an’s glowing eyes. “I just meant it as comfort, that’s all.”

Da’an still looked very tired, but a tiny smile suddenly spread across his lips.

“Humans kiss for comfort?”

“In a way,” Liam said, taken aback by Da’an’s reaction. “You might say, we kiss to feel the presence of someone we love. I guess it is kind of a comfort.”

There was a pause, and then Da’an spoke, echoing a statement he had earlier made, but now with something akin to amusement in his voice. “Taelons do not kiss.”

Liam couldn’t help but smile. “No, you don’t. But you have other things,” he said, lifting Da’an’s pale hand. The delicate fingers opened, and he pressed his own hand to it. “Like sharing.”

Da’an shifted against his protector, sitting up straighter. “Although sharing is not an act of love,” he said quietly, contemplating Liam’s hand around his own.

“Well, do Taelons feel love?” Liam asked, softly.

“We feel something similar,” Da’an said. “We are capable of forming deep bonds with certain people, in a way you would describe as intimate…” His voice trailed off, as though he was pondering something.

“Liam?”

“Yes?”

“Do humans kiss only for love?”

Liam hesitated at the question for a while. Funny, he thought, how their conversation had shifted to matters of love, when he himself didn’t quite understand the emotion. He loved his mother, that much he was sure of—but it wasn’t the same kind of affection he felt for, say, Renee, or Augur, or Da’an…

Love… he pondered, his eyes drifting again to their joined hands, their palms lightly pressed. No, what he felt for Da’an, he didn’t share with anyone else. This was a different, deeper, affection, a bond… the inexplicable bond he felt for his alien friend. Love…

I love Da’an.

The words coalesced into his mind, surprising him with their clarity. Yes, it felt right… he just hadn’t been able to realize it until now. His eyes found Da’an’s again.

When he finally answered, he was certain he had never spoken truer words. “You don’t kiss someone you don’t love.”

He released Da’an’s hand, reaching up to gently press his own against Da’an’s cheek. Fueled by Liam’s words, the Taelon did not resist—in fact, he closed his eyes in silent appreciation of the new contact, a barely perceptible blush washing over his features. Liam slowly pulled his face closer, until they were barely a breath apart.

Their lips met, and for the first time ever, a human and a Taelon shared a kiss.

Liam’s eyes closed as he savored this new experience. Da’an’s lips didn’t feel like a human’s… they were soft, and silken, much like the texture of his skin. It was not unpleasant—in fact, it felt good.

Da’an felt himself blush at this new sensation, as Liam deepened the kiss, pressing his body against his own. He mimicked the human’s actions, caressing Liam’s lips with his own. He was obviously inexperienced, but Liam didn’t seem to mind; his hand slowly moved from Da’an’s cheek to cup the back of his neck.

It was a most intriguing sensation, though it hardly brought the same physical satisfaction he sensed in Liam. Human lips were greatly sensitive; but Taelons bodies were different, and experienced physical sensitivity elsewhere, namely through their hands.

Pressing his hands against Liam’s arms, he could now sense his protector’s growing pleasure. Feelings of lust and intense desire coursed warmly through his pathways, forcing a shudder to ripple through his body.

Liam ended the kiss, taking a deep breath, and he gazed deeply into Da’an’s eyes. “That was… amazing,” he whispered.

“Indeed,” Da’an said, noticing how Liam’s face seemed flushed. “Though I would venture to say that the experience of kissing is different between two humans.”

Liam frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Your lips…” Da’an said, lifting his hand to press a finger against Liam’s lower lip. “Are a sensitive part of the human body. Unlike a Taelon’s.”

Liam smiled at this. Da’an was right; but Liam was also half-Kimera, and had at least some knowledge of Taelon physiology, which he planned on putting to good use.

Liam took Da’an’s hand, lifting it to his lips. He placed a small, tender kiss in the center of the palm and, surprised for a moment, felt a rush of heat against his mouth. He glanced up to see Da’an, whose eyes were closed, his head leaning back a little. Smiling, Liam kissed his friend’s hand again, and when he pressed his tongue against it, gently licking the skin, he heard Da’an sigh in pleasure for quite possibly the first time ever.

It was an amazing sensation, Liam thought, to excite such a reaction from a being he had never truly pictured in a sexual situation before. Taelons, he knew, had not known any kind of physical sex for countless millennia. But this was genuine pleasure—genuine desire, he saw, as Da’an opened his eyes, settling on Liam with something between surprise and gratitude.

“Now that’s what kissing feels like,” Liam said, chuckling softly.

“It is… most enjoyable…” Da’an said, slightly out of breath.

He shuddered again as Liam’s lips caressed the sensitive pathways of his hand, sending increasingly intense shockwaves of pleasure along them. He was no longer sharing in Liam’s sensations, he suddenly realized—this was his own pleasure he was experiencing.

Closing his eyes to enjoy this new and delightful experience, he opened them again in surprise when Liam began kissing his arm, moving upward until he reached the Taelon’s neck. He could feel the human’s hands trailing over his arms, his back, his chest, his desire obvious, though there was still a slowness to his movements, a hesitation, as though at any second he expected Da’an to pull away.

In an effort to reassure him, and to return some of the pleasure Liam had so skillfully given him, Da’an followed his lead and pressed his hands against his protector’s shoulders, feeling the contours of the muscles before exploring Liam’s chest.

In turn, Liam’s hands were feeling their way over the curves of Da’an’s chest, massaging lower and lower until the gentle fingers caressed the surface of his abdomen over the sparkly jumpsuit. Da’an’s reaction was immediate; he tensed anspedsped, stunned by the sudden rush of pleasure that surged under Liam’s touch.

Da’an had been aware that this particular part of any Taelon’s body was especially receptive to touch—the sensitivity of the abdominal pathways were necessary for physical and mental awareness of their unborn children.

But, he had never been touched there, not like this, not in a way that excited such a powerfully intense sensation. Liam’s fingers pressed against his belly again, and Da’an couldn’t fight the urge to arch his body forward as sheer physical pleasure overtook him again.

Delighted at this new discovery, Liam smiled and leaned forward to caress Da’an’s abdomen with his lips, further pleased when the Taelon shuddered and blushed under his touch. He gently pushed the unresisting Da’an onto his back and eased between his legs, free to explore this newly-found sensitive place.

The material of Da’an’s suit was remarkably soft, pleasant to the touch, and Liam didn’t hesitate to brush his lips and his hands all over it, delighting in Da’an’s reactions. After a few minutes of this loveplay, Liam began to notice the same heat he had felt in Da’an’s hand before, only this time he could feel it pulsing against his mouth, the beat gently increasing under his caresses.

He was aware of the heat in his own body, flushing his skin and intently settling between his legs. Liam could not deny that his body was also urging to be touched—he was, after all, mostly human in many respects-- but he resisted; his desire to touch and explore this alien body offered before him was overwhelming.

Liam’s lips continued to skim over the surface of Da’an’s jumpsuit, drawing sighs and sometimes even moans from the alien. He soon discovered a specially sensitive spot, near Da’an’s left hip, and he placed his hand against it, massaging it as his mouth continued to caress the rest of his new lover’s abdomen.

Why didn’t I think of this sooner? Liam thought, rubbing his cheek against the smooth material. It had to be a sensitive area; this is where Taelons carry and birth their children. Where Da’an himself had—

--given birth to the lifeless children he had seen, when they had shared.

Liam slowed down a bit, his kisses becoming more tempered, until he respectfully nuzzled Da’an’s abdomen and stopped completely. No, this was a private place. He suddenly felt guilty, as though he had violated a sacred part of his friend’s body.

Da’an felt the change, and his eyes closed as his body slowly returned to its normal rhythm. He sensed what thoughts had permeated Liam’s mind to make him stop; he couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness as well, though he regretted the intimacy had seemingly ended. The newfound closeness had been… a most welcome experience.

“I’m sorry…” Liam murmured, shifting to sit besides Da’an, gently placing a hand on his friend’s arm. “I didn’t think. I’m sorry.”

The supple alien was quiet for a moment. He did appreciate Liam’s withdrawal as a gesture of respect, but…

Da’an carefully reached for Liam’s hand, linking their fingers together. “You must not be sorry,” he said softly. “You have given me the greatest gift of all… in your presence, I have felt things I never thought possible. Please… I wish to experience this with you…”

“Are you sure?” Liam asked, tightening his hand around Da’an’s.

“Yes…”

Having received permission, Liam raised Da’an’s hand to his mouth, kissing it gently. “As you wish…” He kissed the smooth hand, trailing his lips over each finger, lovingly stroked them with his tongue.

Da’an was once again lost in the sensations, his mind swimming with newfound expressions of lust, but he quickly gained enough resolve to wrap his other hand around Liam’s, stopping him.

“Please, I would like to bring you pleasure as well…”

Liam smiled. The now-insistent hardness growing beneath the surface of his pants cried out for attention, but as much as his body was thrumming with desire, he waited. It was difficult, but he knew it would be worth it in the end. “You’ll get your turn,” he whispered. “Let me finish first.”

He turned to Da’an’s other hand, giving it the same attention, until the pulsing beneath the opal skin increased again. He noted with some amusement the unexpected physical reaction of an aroused Taelon. He soon returned to the life-giving part of Da’an’s body, pressing his hands flat against it, massaging in slow circles.

Da’an almost cried out, feeling a moment of surprise at his unexpected lack of control. Liam’s caresses were slowly rekindling the long-lost embers of a passion he had believed dead in his species. But he had believed wrong… it was there, merely dormant, waiting to be re-awakened, hiding within a body that only waited to be touched in such erotic ways.

Da’an felt his body heating, surges of pure ecstasy coursing along his energy networks, to the point where he could no longer lie still under Liam’s ministrations. He was now kissing the surface of his abdomen, slowly, tenderly—lovingly kissing him. Love… yes, there was love in his protector’s languid caresses, touching his body in ways no one else, certainly not other Taelons, ever had. The simple, pleasurable feel of a lover’s touch had been denied to him, to his entire species, for so many years… too many years.

The mental caresses of the Commonality, of his fellow Taelons, were one thing. This was so very different than a simple sharing of thoughts and feelings. He understood now, why humans considered the shg ofg of bodies the most intimate gift of all.

Liam’s hand rubbed against his hip, and he spasmed and blushed, shuddering and twisting beneath him, as though trying to escape his touch and at the same time desiring more of it.

It was too much, too fast, and Da’an soon felt he was losing control again. These new feelings were incredible, stronger than anything any Taelon could have anticipated… he could feel something building inside him, forming deep inside his abdomen and growing, slowly growing… he couldn’t stop moving, trembling…

After a while, Liam had to fasten his hands around Da’an’s hips to keep him in place. Beneath his lips, he could feel the pulsing gradually building up, the heat intensifying. He could sense that Da’an was close, close to whatever Taelons could experience as the peak of physical pleasure.

“Liam…” Da’an gasped, his voice strained and his breathing labored. His hands twitched in the air, fingers splayed outward.

Liam broke away for a moment to whisper, “Just let it come…”

A few seconds later, Da’an felt as though his body was exploding.

Every surge of pleasure was felt throughout his entire body, pulsing along every pathway, shaking his body with pure ecstasy no Taelon had ever experienced with a human before. His body was moving, uncontrollable, riding the waves of pleasure.

It was bliss… so pure, so sweet, so much more intense than anything he had ever experienced, or imagined. He no longer had any sense of time… pleasure was the center of his universe now, stroking him from within.

When it finally faded, leaving him weak and trembling, he slowly opened his eyes to see Liam’s smiling face looking down at him, tenderly holding him in his arms.

“Liam…” he gasped, stunned at the intensity of what had just hit him. To share such an experience with another was surely the greatest gift of all.

Liam’s smile deepened. “How do you feel?”

Da’an’s eyes closed for a moment. His energy was beginning to return and he carefully sat up. “Strange, but…” He struggled for theht wht word. “Gratified.”

Liam gathered him in his arms again, brushing his lips against Da’an’s. “I’m glad…” He initiated another kiss, deep and demanding, pausing only briefly to slip free of his shirt, pulling it over his head and tossing it down below rampramp.

Da’an moaned as his hands brushed against Liam, feeling his protector’s undeniable desire. He had ignored his own pleasure for his sake, Da’an realized. Mimicking Liam’s earlier actions, he began exploring the human’s body, his graceful hands firstly stroking his protector’s neck, then moving lower to caress his muscular chest. His skin was warm and flushed, glistening with a faint sheen of sweat.

Liam moaned, allowing him free reign as those sleek fingers danced against his skin and briefly brushed against his hardened nipples, and he nearly jumped when Da’an’s gentle hand pressed against the warm bulge in his pants. Sliding his hands down his own body he quickly unfastened his pants, slipping free of them under Da’an’s curious gaze.

“I take it this is your first real anatomy lesson?” Liam teased, his breath quickening as Da’an intently studied his human organ, swollen with obvious desire.

Da’an did not answer, instead reached out to caress him, his silken hand a most wonderful and welcome sensation. Liam gasped, undulating his hips into that gentle, exploratory caress, and pulled Da’an closer to him, savoring his new lover’s first touch.

So soft… so beautiful…

But something was bothering him… he wanted—no, needed to see Da’an’s body as well. As much as it pained him, he clasped Da’an’s hand and removed it from his swollen erection.

“I want to see you too,” he whispered, sliding a hand behind his lover’s neck, feeling for a seam or a fastener in the jumpsuit. “How do you get your suit off?”

Da’an hesitated. “You cannot remove it… it is a part of me. Of my human façade.”

Liam stared at him for a moment, and finally said, “Then take it off, all of it. I want to see you… all of you.”

Understanding, Da’an pulled back a bit. A moment of concentration, and Da’an’s human form faded away to reveal his true Taelon self.

In the darkness of the chamber, he glowed a deep blue. White and purple energy lines were pulsating and shining to their own unique rhythm through his translucent body, under the waterlike, fluid skin. Liam caught his breath; he had never really looked at a Taelon in its natural form before. He had seen many, but never really looked; it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

So alien, and yet so beautiful to his human eyes.

Against the night sky, Da’an’s body was like a lovely gem… a precious jewel. His precious jewel.

“I never realized,” he whispered. “How beautiful you really are.”

Da’an’s body flared, and Liam smiled, recognizing what would have been a blush, had he been in human form.

Tentatively, Liam reached out to touch Da’an’s energy form. It pulsed, much like his body had before, only now the sensation of pure glowing energy was like a gentle tingle against his skin. The energy-like skin shimmered, like wind rippling the water in a lake.

Liam trailed his hand lower, feeling the heat and pulsing increase as he caressed Da’an’s belly. The energy there glowed a bright white for a moment, before surging outward along the circulating pathways. The Taelon reacted much as before, shivering.

Da’an’s head leaned to the side and watched his protector through hooded eyes. His hair was messy and clung to the perspiration of his forehead, and his skin gleamed with the soft blue light reflected from his own body. The Taelon ideal of beauty greatly varied from that of humans… but in this moment, he was certain he had never seen Liam looking quite so lovely. He closed his eyes, remembering the sight, as the human reached for and lifted his hand.

Liam could see and feel the concentration of energy in Da’an’s hand, sparkling as he pressed his lips against it. It then surged along Da’an’s pathways, and Liam watched as the white energy circulated through the Taelon’s body. He could only imagine what it must feel like, but judging how Da’an moaned and trembled in his arms, it must have felt nice.

Gathering him close, Liam found what passed for lips in this form, and hungrily claimed them, overwhelmed for a moment at the sheer electrifying pleasure it caused. He pressed Da’an closer to his own naked body, feeling the same blissful tingle everywhere. His male flesh responded eagerly, pressed as it was against Da’an’s lower abdomen, rubbing against it as the Taelon slowly moved against him.

There was nothing he wanted more than to experience this intense intimacy to its completion, as humans would, but he briefly wondered how Da’an would react if he asked. It was, after all, not a natural thing anymore for a Taelon, but… he so wanted to feel every last depth of Da’an’s body. This lovely, shimmering body…

“Da’an…” he whispered against the alien’s translucent neck. “Would you let me be… inside you?”

Da’an stopped for a moment, aware of whaam wam was asking. There was hardly anything to consider in this request; he could deny nothing to his human protector, who had already given him more pleasure than he had thought possible.

“Yes…” he whispered back.

He felt Liam shifting against him, his strong arms sliding behind his back and lifting him as though he weighted nothing. Holding him close, the human maneuvered their bodies until he lay on top, and he eased his weight over the Taelon’s rippling energy form.

Liam’s hand slid downward, caressing the peculiar texture of Da’an’s ‘skin’ until he reached his objective, and gently pressed a finger between the glowing thighs.

Of course, Da’an was not female and possessed nothing down there of the sort, but his energy form easily made way for Liam’s careful exploration.

After a few moments, Liam withdrew his fingers and repositioned himself over the alien, one hand slipping behind his back in a tender embrace. Readily accepting him, Da’an opened his legs, and sighed as Liam eased inside him, feeling his energy form shifting and parting to accommodate this new invasion.

Liam groaned, stunned at this wonderful new sensation. Energy tingled around his organ, bathing it in the most delightful warmth. Surely it didn’t feel like this with a human woman, but he didn’t care… he had everything he needed right here, he thought, gazing down into Da’an’s glowing face. His expression was difficult to read in this form, but there was definitely some look of pleasure in that beautiful gem-like face.

Wrapping his arms around the Taelon’s body, he made a first, small thrust, and it was all he could do to keep from climaxing right there.

But then he heard Da’an make a small sound, like a pained moan, and he froze. “Did I hurt you?”

“No…” Da’an said, seemingly out of breath. “It is a most unusual sensation. Please, continue…”

Hardly in a position to argue, Liam wrapped his arms tighter, pushing his hips against Da’an’s again. He couldn’t stifle a long, lustful moan, feeling the energy from Da’an’s insides coursing along his shaft, surging to claim his body much as he had seen the energy surging in Da’an’s body.

It was absolute bliss. His hips began a slow undulating rhythm, every stroke sending tendrils of energy through his groin, spreading to his chest and everywhere in his body.

After a while he reached between their bodies and pressed his fingers to Da’an’s abdomen, feeling the warmth of his sensitive pathways as he stroked them, massaging in time with his thrusts.

As soon as Liam touched him again, Da’an felt that impossible, uncontrollable feeling growing inside him, building in intensity with every caress, every demanding stroke. Liam’s warm, erratic breath echoed in his ears, and he could feel his protector’s heartbeat deep inside him, pressing within his body… wrapping his arms around Liam’s body, he moaned softly and allowed the sensations to take him where they may…

Soon they were both gasping, bodies moving in a slow, sensual dance, the chamber lighted only by the silvery pulses of energy in Da’an’s iridescent body.

Liam’s head was swimming, dazzled by their unbelievable lovemaking, and with one last thrust he finally cried out as a burning burst of release washed over him, shaking him as he spent himself within the jeweled depths of Da’an’s body.

He was vaguely aware of the surge of heat flashing from Da’an, taking to moment to feel pleased that his friend had reached the pinnacle of pleasure along with him. Soon he collapsed forward, the remnants of Da’an’s energy still tingling over him in small aftershocks.

With what little strength he had left, Liam carefully withdrew from Da’an and settled next to him on the cool ramp, gathering the glowing Taelon clos his his arms.

For what felt like a long time, both remained still and silent in the darkened chamber. This tranquility, this simple freedom of all doubt, pain, fear, mistrust, loneliness, darkness and heartbreak… it was truly a blessing, a peace denied to them both, sought after, and finally found.

No words needed to be said, but Liam finally broke the silence. “I “I think I’ve always loved you,” he said quietly, his breath caressing Da’an’s forehead. “Though I never thought we’d… go quite this far.”

“I am pleased we were able to discover this new level together,” Da’an responded, his fatigue and contentment both obvious as he spoke. “I too have long cared for you, Liam…”

Liam smiled, and watched as Da’an’s eyes drifted closed and he pressed his head against Liam’s arm. Shifting closer to his still-shimmering body, Liam closed his eyes and savored this newfound relationship—no longer Taelon and human, alien and protector… they had moved beyond all that, the boundaries of their relationship redefined, leaving them bonded anything they could have thought possible.

They didn’t move again until the morning sunlight flooded the Embassy.


The End