A New Home With You

And satisfied they were. Moments later, after groups had been divided and housing districts were assigned, Sayane and Azag found themselves in their new home. An audible gasp escaped Sayane’s lips when the crystal sheer curtain parted, and they stepped into the expansive chamber.

Every surface was rounded. Purples, pinks, indigos, and violets covered every geodic surface. Polished white and gold lined the tiles and walls. Tiny streams of sparkling ether gems danced along the ceilings, singing their pleasant song of chimes and pings that sounded as though they originated inside Sayane’s mind. Blue and orange flames flickered in torch shards.

At the center of the room was a rounded, flat bed that was more than large enough for the two of them. Not far away, a shallow pool sat bubbling.

“And we still have a bath in the room!” Sayane cheered as she took off her boots.

She started to run to the tub, but then she stopped and turned to Azag.

“Oh! Can I wipe your feet?” she asked.

“Hmm?” Azag laughed.

“I… In my culture back home, we would take off our shoes when we entered homes. To keep everything clean. I wear boots here, but you don’t. Would it be okay if I washed your feet? I think I miss that idea about clean floors…”

She couldn’t see it, but it felt like he was smiling as his head tilted to the side like it always did when he was contemplating her etherealness.

“I’m sorry you miss some things. I can certainly do that if it makes you feel more at home. It’s intriguing. But I will need your help, I fear.”

He stood there waiting while Sayane formulated a solution. Their other travel attire and luggage would arrive soon with their guards. But at the moment, they only had what was available. Sayane shrugged and removed the top layer of her tunic. It was already covered in stains, so she didn’t feel too terrible.

“Don’t tell Can-Mo,” she whispered as she dipped it in the tub’s water.

“OOOOOOooooohhhhh, it’s waaaaarm!!!” she sang with glee.

When she returned to Azag, she knelt, and he braced himself to balance on one foot. A soft grunt sounded out as he steadied his legs, and Sayane swiftly wiped the bottom of his first paw. Its fur was coarse and short. The pads were leathery and heavy to touch as she rubbed the fabric along the curves and arches. Then it lowered, and she repeated the motion to the other, letting the water wipe away as much as she could.

When she was done, she turned the fabric to dry off the remains of her work. His eyes stayed on her the whole time. Once the task was complete, Sayane looked up. Yet again, she found herself flustered and still at the sight of just how tall he was, even when hunched. Veins rose beneath their near exposure. Muscles shifted. Fabric clung to his lean, elegantly harsh body. Her lips parted.

“Thank you,” she whispered as she clasped his cane to help herself up.

As always, she noticed the lack of pain in her knee as she stood. That much remained the same.

The two of them joined hands and began the tour of their residence. Their current room seemed to be the center point. On either side, there was another circular chamber. Each had a balcony that looked out at the expansive city. There was some furniture, but for the most part, it was empty.

“I think we’re supposed to do something with these rooms,” Sayane said.

Her voice echoed back to her as she watched the ripples stretching from her footsteps. Then the idea came to her.

“The instruments!” she clapped.

“You can have them in here with you!” Azag said in understanding.

“Yeeeeeesssss!”

Sayane let out a shimmy of excitement as she imagined finally being close to her companions. They deserved to have a home and space as much as any beings. Imagining being with them in a dedicated space felt like having her own studio or sanctuary. New opportunities for brainstorming and trying out ideas would be abundant. She foresaw more than a few mornings that would involve waking up on the floor in that room and not her bed.

“The bed! Let’s see how it feels!” Sayane said as she rushed over to sit on the edge of the padding.

It was relatively high off the ground and easy for Azag to reach. Sayane hopped up and felt the edge. Resistance smooshed slightly.

“It’s firm. Good. I like firm.”

“I do too. That softness in the travel vessel was getting to me,” Azag grunted as he sat down.

Sayane noticed he was still quite tense, and the rattling breaths behind his mask were still slightly weak.

“Are you okay?” she asked.

He wanted to lie. She could tell it in the quiet pause before he looked away.

“I’ll be okay. I’m just fatigued, I think.”

“Please go to the doctors once everyone is settled. We have resources now. They can tend to the others and you. You don’t have to forsake help,” Sayane said.

Small details from the metal brackets in his back slid from behind the cover of his shirt. Whatever pain Sayane was feeling, she couldn’t imagine the agony he was powering through every day. His palm patted the bedding, and he pushed himself up to inspect the rest of the dwelling. Sayane accepted that it would take a little more time to have him get comfortable with seeking help.

She slid from the bed’s comfort and made her way to the other room to join him.

“Maybe I’ll make the other room some manner of study or workshop. Or a bar, for old time’s sake,” Azag said as he looked at the other room.

His focus returned to Sayane, and he suddenly let out a gasp.

“Sayane! You’re bleeding! Badly!” he said as he stepped towards her as quickly as possible.

“What? Where?” Sayane asked as she padded her body.

“Between your legs!” he said as he neared.

Her hands reached down to her thighs, then between her legs. Sure enough, warm red met her fingers. At first, she gasped in horror. Then it hit her.

The pain earlier that was below her stomach.

The fits of shifting emotions.

The pull towards Azag being even stronger.

“My period??” Sayane burst out laughing.

“Your… period?...” Azag repeated in confusion.

Sayane almost doubled over at the surrealness of it all. Laughs echoed back and Azag exhaled when he saw that she was unconcerned.

“Oh, holy hell. I was not expecting that. I’d almost forgotten I had one.”

“What the sounds is a period, and why are you bleeding so much?” Azag laughed.

The question made Sayane laugh even harder. She’d never contemplated the menstrual cycles of other mammals in her first life, and she had no clue as to what sort of thing beings in this world experienced. But now, she was faced with the reality that she was going through her cycle in a world that likely did not have pads. It was just another aspect of her old life she’d thought she was okay moving on from, but the daily realities always found a way to sneak up on her.

“I’ve always been irregular, and I guess I was just in such survival mode till now, but yeah. My kind bleed every few weeks if we’re not pregnant. It hurts, and there’s a lot of blood as we get rid of unfertilized eggs. So… hey! I’m not pregnant!”

All Azag could do was stammer and shake his head as he processed the information.

“I… I’m sorry?” he offered.

“No it’s fine. I just haven’t thought about it in a couple of months. Shame that didn’t stay behind in the ether,” Sayane said.

"Do any beings here have something similar?" Sayane asked.

"I've not heard of such a thing, though I fear I may not be the best resource. Perhaps ask Anahita next time we speak with her?" Azag said.

Sayane appreciated that he was objectively unbothered by the circumstance, beyond being concerned for her well-being. Many boyfriends in the past had been uncomfortable even discussing such things like shopping for tampons. 

Bubbling sounds from the tub rose slightly, and Sayane slouched in defeat.

“Aaaaawwwww, I wanted to take a bath. But I’ll be bleeding for a few days,” she sighed.

Azag tapped his way closer to her and paused, then slowly slid her top’s strap from her shoulder.

“I’ll bathe you, if you want to sit at the edge and at least put your legs in,” he said in a low voice.

More warmth moved through Sayane’s face, and her hands rose to her strap. Fabric slid down and fell to the floor. The air was cool to her exposed skin. Her hands reached for his shirt and began to undo the clasps. It wasn't exactly what she'd wanted, but it made for a nice alternative.

“I’d like that,” she said as more clothing was removed.