Page 24 of Tempt

His tail is also different. It’s shorter and more blunt than Vyastil I’ve known. His piercings are also nothing like Eissa’s. He has them all over his body. In his nose, his lips, and between his fingers.

Maybe he was born different. He’s living on Earth for a reason. Maybe his differences made him an outcast on Erethar, but I haven’t been brave enough to ask.

Either way, he doesn’t normally work in the front of the shop. He’s usually in the back prepping food. Zinni, the Vyastil, is more than capable of managing everything alone.

But things have gotten busier at their shop in recent months. Especially after Creature Comforts started offering Eretharian drinks for the Vyastil who live nearby. It’s one of the few places in town where the monsters can feel like they have a piece of their home, and I know what that feels like a little too well.

Every time I’m away from my family for too long, I feel an ache—an almost pull to bring me back. I can’t imagine what it must be like for the Vyastil to be in an entirely different universe.

Taking a breath, I pull the café door open and the scent of coffee beans, cinnamon, and something that reminds me of Eissa hits my nose. I bask in it for a short, indulgent moment, then make my way inside.

Zinni and Hepyn are both behind the counter, which probably means it’s been a busier day than usual. Zinni catches my eye as I slip into the line, and he offers me a quick, flashing smile and a welcoming flick of his ears. He motions for me to come back and skip ahead, but I rarely ever do that.

I can wait just like everyone else.

Hepyn catches that and rolls his eyes a little, shaking his head, which causes his long, thick, silver braid to flop over his shoulder. He shoves it back impatiently and gets back to work, and Zinni shoots me another grin as he hip-checks Hepyn on his way to the register.

He’s such an interesting contrast to his companion with his darker blue skin and bright orange hair he’s currently wearing on top of his head in a messy bun. He smiles a lot more than Hepyn, but the two of them move in tandem like they were made for each other.

As far as I know—as far as Zinni has protested—they’re just friends, but I wonder if maybe being on Earth and seeing how we love here will change things for them. Maybe they’ll find some kind of happiness together.

Blinking out of my thoughts, I see a completely unfamiliar and very human person pop up from behind the counter, and I startle. Zinni and Hepyn had been very insistent they didn’t want help at the shop, but they must have cracked with how busy they’ve been.

The human is shorter than me by at least a foot, his thin frame dwarfed under the shirt he’s wearing. His hair is black with a streak of blue, and his lip and eyebrow are pierced. On his nose are thick-framed glasses, and when I get closer, I can see tattoos trailing up his neck and down one of his arms. It takes me a second to see what they are: ladybugs, moths, and beetles.

Kind of weird, but then again, I sell dick cookies at Deaf expos so who the fuck am I to judge?

When I step up to the counter, he offers me a shrug as if he couldn’t care less about me, but I see a subtle blush on his cheeks, his green eyes almost translucent as he looks at me and then glances away.

I see his lips moving as he talks, and I can read some of what he’s saying, but it’s all out of context, so I point at my ear and shake my head.

His eyes widen. “Deaf.”

The one word I will probably always recognize on any lips. Well, that and fuck you. Or fuck me. I smile and nod, and for whatever reason that seems to make him even more nervous because he reaches to the side and almost knocks over a stack of cups.

Luckily Hepyn’s tail catches them, righting them before a long-suffering sigh leaves his chest. I can’t hear it, but I can see the way his chest heaves then falls as he does.

Leaning my elbow on the counter, my eyes find his name badge pinned to his apron. Syl. I have no idea how that would be pronounced, and I’m not even going to try. I’m bad enough with common words, and considering how nervous he is by my existence, my Deaf accent with the hint of Ukrainian I picked up from my speech therapist would probably make it worse.

‘You’re fine,’ I sign, mouthing the words so hopefully he’ll follow.

Syl takes in a breath, looking almost embarrassed by his clumsy arm, but when his green eyes meet mine again, he looks resolved.

Bratty even.

He doesn’t say another word to me. Instead, he rests his wrist on the counter and begins to drum his fingers.

‘Sorry about him. He’s new,’ Hepyn signs, a scowl on his face. ‘More trouble than he’s worth. Useless. But Zinni wanted a helper, so here we are.’

‘That’s rude to sign right in front of him.’

‘He doesn’t know ASL. Another lazy human.’

‘Hey, we aren’t all lazy.’ I puff up my chest, though I’m not sure I have any real business saying that. I don’t have an official job besides landlord, and the only thing I do in my free time is hit the free weights.

Hepyn peers over at Syl, his ears flicking, and then turns back to me, his lips curling up in a small smile. ‘You are lazy too. Otherwise you wouldn’t let us be late on rent.’ I flip him off, and his grin widens. ‘Stop making me smile. I do not like the way it feels on my face.’

‘Awww, hurts to feel happiness,’ I tease. He doesn’t look amused.