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On a random day, Atlas had unceremoniously scooped him up from where he’d been lounging and stowed him away in his carrier. He’d been transported to a building that he didn’t recognize and let free as Atlas conversed with the alien inhabitant.
When he emerged from his carrier he was surprised to see two crystal beings. He had never seen another alien with the same appearance as Atlas so he compared them against each other.
His scrutiny was obviously amusing to Atlas as he made his laughing noise and crouched down to pet the length of his back, perhaps in reassurance.
Atlas said a few quick words to the other alien then got up and left him.
Bruce was alone with a stranger. They tried to reach down and pet him like Atlas had but Bruce would have none of that. He spun in a quick turn to put momentum behind his elbow, as he struck it against the reaching hand.
He heard the satisfying chink as a scale fractured and the alien reeled back, shaking out its hand like they’d just gotten a paper cut.
They came to a truce after that, they would leave him alone and he would explore this new space freely.
He was surprised when Atlas did not return for him by the end of the day but Bruce supposed leaving him alone for a few hours was not worth finding a pet sitter. And Bruce was sure it was a pet sitter as he managed to find a bag with some of his bedding and about two weeks worth of pre-portioned meals in a bag alongside his carrier before he was shooed away.
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The bathroom situation was even less ideal than what he had with Atlas. Every few hours he was herded onto an outdoor balcony garden and made to stand in the cold while the alien waited for him to do something. When he didn’t, they relented and let them both back inside.
After a few failed repetitions they brought out a little doorbell and exaggeratedly pantomimed pressing it to request they open the door. Bruce wanted to walk away but some level of cooperation was required when it came to his necessities.
He let himself be trained to press the button and got a few treats for his trouble.
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What he’d first thought was a simple alarm jingle for the door turned out to be actual words when the button started being paired to more aspects of his day.
It was an interesting development and Bruce decided he would take full advantage of this opportunity to learn how to communicate with these aliens.
Kara was glimmering brightly with barely contained enthusiasm.
“Ok, you are absolutely going to love this! I taught Nox to speak!”
Kal looked at her incredulously. He had needed to attend a conference in a nearby system so he’d needed to find someone to watch Noxum. Normal boarding facilities were out because they didn’t house exotics, so as a last resort he had called his cousin.
He’d warned her that Noxum was not friendly and couldn’t be taken out due to his flight risk but Kara had assured him that they’d be just fine in her apartment.
Kal guessed she had managed to find a way to keep them busy by the bright almost manic brightness shining from her.
Kara paused to reconsider her wording, “ It’s actually rough word association but he’s pretty good at it. Here, look.”
She pulled out an audio play mat like the ones babies used to learn common, but the basic phrases were scribbled out and had single words written beside the buttons.
“Noxy nyx!” She called out “Come here!”
Kal was surprised when Noxum slunk over.
“Oh, what a good boy!” Kara cheered and rolled him a treat, “ok boy let’s show off huh. Nyx, who’s the bestest auntie ever?”
Noxum stared at her for a long moment, then slowly reached out a foot and pressed a button on the mat.
“Kara.” The board said.
Kara's erupted in a shower of delighted sparks. "Yes! Yes, that's me! Oh, you’re so smart! Good boy!”
Kal’s scales rose in interest as Kara rolled Nox his treats.
“Ok Nox one more,” Her tone shifted between her praise to what was obviously some kind of command phrase, “Nox, who’s that?”
She pointed at Kal. Noxum followed her gesture with his eyes, then looked back at the board. He reached out a hand this time.
“Kal.” The board said.
“Oh such a smart little man,” Kara cooed.
She went to grab another couple of treats to throw at him but Noxum was carefully picking his way around the board.
“Juice. treat. juice”
He then looked up at Kara.
Kara laughed and reached into the bag she'd brought with her. "Okay, okay. You can have some.”
She produced a small, sealed container and Noxum reached out his hands cupped together as Kara let a couple of drops fall into the outstretched hands.
Kal was amused at the sight of the two of them interacting together so cutely and amazed at what Kara had managed to accomplish with Noxum, until he smelt this ‘juice’.
Kal's head scales snapped flat against his skull. "You've been giving him KINER?"
"Relax." Kara waved him off, unconcerned. "It's just a bit. He kept stealing it out of my cup and I'm absolutely not drinking after him, so he gets his own.”
The creature in question was eagerly draining the brew in his hands.
Kinder was packed with all kinds of complex synthetic compounds that Kal had been strictly avoiding in his pet’s diet. It was probably so unhealthy. And who knew what other junk food Kara had been giving him at her house.
Kal sighed maybe next time he should ask his parents to pet sit.
When he’d first been given the buttons, learning the language seemed like an insurmountable challenge. It was nearly impossible to tell one warble from the next but at times like this the endless headache was absolutely worth it.
He sneered at Atlas and stomped his foot down.
—
Noxum stared angrily down at the buttons then glared up at Kal.
“Bitch.”
Kal gaped down at his pet, “Now why is that even a button!”
It was a quiet afternoon and Kal was lounging peacefully reading when Noxum quietly slipped into the room. He stared at Kal for a long time before reaching out for a button.
“Home.”
It was times like this when Kal was kind of annoyed with the buttons. Sure they could be helpful but other times it was utter nonsense.
“We are home, buddy.” He said not really bothering to look up from his tablet.
It was quiet for a while.
“Home.”
Kal looked up, and Noxum was staring directly at him in an almost eerie way. Without breaking eye contact Noxum reached out again.
“Home.”
Kal had no idea what his pet was going on about, maybe he’d seen that his carrier wasn’t put away.
“Yes, I promise you aren’t going back to Kara’s house. No Kara, no vet. Stay home.”
Noxum stared at him for a long time and Kal hoped the simple wording had got through.
Noxum shifted a bit to reach out to a different button.
“Outside. Home.”
Realization hit Kal like a flood.
“Oh you want to go to the outside enclosure, ok sorry I didn’t understand you bud. You’re so smart.”
Noxum struggled slightly as Kal picked him up but settled quickly enough as Kal walked through the house and out into the garden.
“Here you go bud. Outside home. Go play.”
Kal expected him to run off like usual but Noxum just seemed to slump where he was set down.
Maybe he had the right idea, sitting outside enjoying the last bit of sunlight was nice. Kal settled down next to his pet and gently stroked his fur as he enjoyed this little quiet moment.