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The Cohen Clover

Angie Mae & Anin C

copyright comidacomida 2023

Although the Pod usually spent most Friday nights gathered in The Parlor, Angie Mae found herself surrounded by her friends in the waiting room of one of Station Zero's medical centers. Male Humans giving birth was hardly anything spectacular or out of the ordinary at Station Zero, but there were still complications which could arise, and so all medical procedures reserved for birthing of a Human/Phin hybrid in which a male Human carried the offspring to term was given special attention.

Everyone in the Pod was gathered save Max and Carver; the former was in the process of giving birth to their child while the latter would doubtlessly be at his side the entire time. Angie Mae found it romantic; Andy and Coaster were probably empathizing; Charlie and Clicker were snuggling together happily in the corner; Greg seemed thoughtful while Hunter looked almost... jealous. That left Angie Mae and Anin-- they were part of the group, but also, by the nature of their partnership, not exactly part of the festivities due to their lack of association. Regardless, she didn't feel like an outsider... not among her friends.

Everyone remained sitting in the waiting room, impatiently looking forward to some indication that everything went well, yet still being mindful enough to respect the sanctity of the hospital's preference for a quiet atmosphere. Every now and again someone would say something in a muted tone to a pod-mate beside them; the answer would usually be spoken quietly as well-- an affirmation of the time of night, or an agreement that, yes, it felt like they'd been waiting forever. That remained the norm for the first several hours but eventually impatience brought on by the passage of time began to wear patience thin, and some of their number began to pace.

During the entire time, Angie Mae recognized that she'd joined her Pod in the waiting room as a show of solidarity, and because she was there for Max. Even so, while she was there physically, her mind continued to dwell on Anin. The Ikali had joined her and the rest of the Pod, selecting a chair beside her in which he sat with supreme patience (especially since his people were not known for their ability to sit still). Anin, for the most part, was doing as well as any of the other Pod members, looking all around, humming to himself, and alternating between kicking his dangling feet from side to side and trying to touch the tips of his toes to the floor without sliding completely off the chair.

Anin had held Angie Mae's hand ever since their arrival and, despite the fact that his fur began to feel a little gnarled within her grasp she couldn't bring herself to let go. There was something comforting about having Anin around-- whether it was his childlike enthusiasm about everything, or the infinite amount of support he always seemed to show her, she couldn't help but feel that part of her ability to weather the wait was thanks to his presence... but it didn't help that her confession had been interrupted earlier that night.

Even as Angie Mae dwelled on thoughts of Anin, Hunter and Greg were off to the side carrying on a quiet discussion between themselves. She wasn't surprised to hear that Hunter was telling Greg that THEIR calf would have been born after far less of a time; Hunter was not encouraged when Greg pointed out that neither of them were pregnant. At some point Andy and Coaster decided to strike up a conversation with one of the attendants; considering everyone present had relatively advanced understanding of biology, it was no surprise to Angie Mae that the talk was about genetically inherited traits.

The three of them were talking quietly about how traits to be passed down to the offspring were based on which parent was Human, which was Phin, and whether the child was born as a Phin or a Human (with either YY or XY chromosomes). Eventually the discussion shifted to the different generations that had grown up on Station Zero since it was first founded, and even the grandchildren of Nathan Cohen and his siblings. From there, it was a short transition to a discussion of genealogy. At that point Angie Mae's attention returned to Anin; the Ikali's whiskers were twitching.

She wasn't about to let his musings go unchallenged. "What is it, Anin?"

Still holding her hand, the Otter stood up on his seat. "Are they talking about human mythology?"

Angie Mae shook her head. "No... they're discussing genetics-- more specifically, a line of descent traced continuously from an ancestor. Genealogy."

Anin's whiskers vibrated. "Right! Isn't that the study of Genies?"

The Ikali got looks from everyone around him, plus a few snickers. Quickly shifting the focus to something a little more productive (and to cover her ardent-but-failing attempt to avoid smiling), she quickly reached under the end table and pulled out an old analog board game. "We should pass the time with a game."

Everyone had been waiting long enough that, despite the ancient game being far more mundane than what would normally be required to hold the interest of some early 20-somethings, they were all too happy to sit down to pass the time. It didn't take long for two distinct teams to form: Angie Mae and Anin teamed up with Clicker and Charlie while Angel, Seraph, Andy and Coaster rounded out team two. Roller was the odd-Phin out since he didn't have a partner, and Greg willingly sat out of the game since Hunter's competitive nature might otherwise turn a pleasant way to spend time into a full-on spearcast... or at least a tiff.

The game was an old one, but all of the Humans present were familiar with the digital version so it was not difficult to teach the Phins and Ikali. Part of the charm of a physical version was the dice included, which Angie Mae happily used; almost everyone else was content to use a random number generator on their tablet, but she didn't mind-- Anin was also a fan of the dice... almost obsessively so. Part way into the game, the Otter was hooked.

After nearly two hours with the game still ongoing, Angel made the mistake of pointing out how long they'd been playing. "Any idea how much longer this game lasts?"

Anin was the first to respond. Standing up on his seat and raising the dice in his paw as if they were a holy relic, the Ikali declared "Losing takes only minutes... but victory shall be hours."

Andy and Coaster glanced to one another; the former asked. "Did he say 'hours' or 'ours'?"

The answer was not forthcoming and never provided as, in that moment, Carver came into the waiting room with a huge smile on his maw and a happy whistle accompanying his words. "He's fine. They're both healthy. I'm a dad now!"

Many congratulations were passed around the room and everyone rejoiced. Hugs were exchanged, happy fluke slaps, high fives, and more hugs-- a few tears and, more than anything else, an exhausted sigh of relief. Angie Mae and Anin had started their day at around 6 in the morning and, checking the clock, she saw that it was nearly 3 the following day. She wasn't really a fan of being up 21 hours. Fortunately she wasn't the only one.

Angel gave Seraph's arm a gentle tug. "Come on, Double-Stuff... we gotta get back to the kiddos. Giver promised to watch the little ones but he'll never offer again if we're out all night."

Seraph offered Carver another hug and wished everyone else a good night before following his Human partner out. "I already messaged him to let him know what was going on, Angel... he said it was fine."

The discussion continued as the two disappeared out the door, but their departure signaled the close of the night. One by one the rest of the Pod gave Carver a congratulatory hug and words of encouragement. Angie Mae and Anin were the second-to-last to do so, followed by Greg and Hunter and, then, with 'good night's offered, everyone was on their way back to their respective apartments. She found Anin's paw in hers as they walked.

He was the first to speak up. "I am glad that Max is well and that he and Carver have a baby now."

Angie Mae couldn't agree more. "It's been a long time coming. Those two have been through a lot of hardship, and I'm happy that they can finally start their family."

She walked slowly, making it easy for Anin to keep up with her. Even so, he slowed down as they walked by one of the outside gardens. She recognized the way his whiskers vibrated and was already expecting a question before he even had the opportunity to speak up which, of course, he did. "Ammy?"

"Yes, Anin?"

He picked up the pace so she wouldn't have to slow down too much. "Ikali usually do not have much furniture, and either spend their time laying down, standing, or swimming. Do all Human towns have so many benches, and chairs, and stools?"

Angie Mae nodded. "All the ones I'm aware of. Humans spend a lot of time standing and laying down too, but we also like to recline and sit when we're working or relaxing... why the sudden interest?"

He let out a happy chirp. "Oh. I guess that makes sense.... that must be why human towns are called cities and not stand-ies."

She didn't bother hiding her laughter that time and Anin joined in happily. The night had been a long one but, with Anin there, Angie Mae didn't mind.

* * * * *

With less than two weeks left until their departure, Angie Mae had planned to use her weekends to best effect; that Saturday didn't really start off in that direction since she ended up sleeping in. Awakening late, the young woman realized it right away due to the color of light shining in through her window... plus the smell of breakfast being cooked for her out in the kitchen. Although Anin preparing a meal was not entirely uncommon, she rarely woke up before he'd started the eggs, and she could hear them sizzling away in the pan with the accompaniment of the Otter's little sing-song. Even though the morning had passed unproductively she still found herself smiling regardless.

The two of them sat down to a nice breakfast and Angie Mae continued smiling as the Ikali vivaciously jumped from topic to topic, covering a lot of ground from Max and Carver's new child to what Angie Mae should expect on Riparian Earth to how much he enjoyed salmon-- so many different topics that it would have been nigh impossible for her to follow along even if she had provided him her full attention, but she'd put on her lab coat from the prior day so she wouldn't forget to store it later.

Her fingers had slipped in amidst the chits in one of the pockets; she continued fondling the thumb chit as her thoughts returned to the prior night before her discussion with her partner was preempted by Max going into labor. She was at war with herself over whether the interruption had stopped her from following her heart, or if it had saved her from doing something without thinking it through. Angie Mae's thoughts were ultimately brought back to the present when she noticed Anin was staring at her. She returned his look inquisitively, feeling her cheeks redden. "Hmm?"

He cocked his head to the side. "You do not like the sausage?"

Looking down at her plate, the young woman realized that she'd barely begun to pick at her food and her cheeks reddened further. "Oh. No. It's good... I'm just a little lost in thought."

Anin perked up immediately. "Oh... I spend enough time there that I've become very good at finding a way out. Do you need a scout to guide you?"

Although her mind desperately wanted to resolve the dilemma she faced, Angie Mae felt a lot more comfortable meeting the challenges of the day rather than navel-gazing. Laughing at his silliness as well as her own, she reached out and pressed her finger against his nose. "No. What I WILL need help with, though, is straightening this place up. I can't believe we let it get THIS messy."

As usual, her Ikali companion was always in step with her plans and readily agreed, though he did point out "It only got this messy because we spent so much time at the lab finishing up our project ahead of passing through the Gateway!"

She once had to explain the difference between an explanation and an excuse to Anin, but he always had trouble figuring out the difference. Still, she had to agree that his statement was, in fact, both. "I know... I know. I'm not complaining-- I just want to make sure we leave this place in a good condition for whomever gets it after us."

Angie Mae handed Anin her plate as he gathered the place settings up from the table and brought them into the kitchen. "I thought a cleaning team is going to come through after we leave."

Angie Mae chuckled; he WAS right. "I know... but it's the principle of the thing."

She had started straightening up the pillows on the sofa, so her partner's subtle word play almost got past her. "I am sure they will have some interest in your point of view."

She realized immediately that he'd played off the loan term 'principle'. The young woman barely skipped a beat, and surprised herself by playing along with the direction his verbal gaming went into the financial sector. "I'm banking on it."

His happy churl in response was the confirmation that she hadn't failed to impress. He followed up with a much more direct comment to acknowledge it. "I am so glad you are my partner, Ammy... I feel like you understand me."

The two continued their casual banter interspersed with a lively back-and-forth for much of the day, working together to straighten up their shared apartment. They made so much progress that Angie Mae was surprised when she checked the clock after cleaning up her room; it was already mid-afternoon. Shouting across the apartment to get Anin's attention she pointed that out. "Hey, Anin? Did you notice it's almost three?"

His chirpy voice called out from the bathroom in response. "I did now! I was too busy cleaning the toilet to notice it before!"

Out of all of the chores around the apartment, the two Angie Mae hated the most was changing out the trash cans and cleaning the bathroom; Anin had taken both upon himself without her even having to ask. She honestly and earnestly had to accept that he knew her well enough to anticipate her needs, but also cared enough to actively address them. Her partner was so amazing that it was almost frustrating. That, and he made breakfast. She quickly announced "We missed lunch, so I'll get started on an early dinner!"

He emerged from the bathroom with a pair of human-sized yellow rubber cleaning gloves; before he could say anything the comedic sight caused Angie Mae to crack up, and she dropped the satchel she was carrying to her room. He remained standing there for several moments, head cocked to the side. When Anin finally did speak, his comment was surprisingly mundane and so appropriate to her prior statement that it almost seemed like a non-sequitor. "It has been awhile since I ate potato, and we have potatoes."

Angie Mae was perfectly happy to make baked potatoes; they were easy, and Anin had gone to the effort to express a preference-- it was not always a common thing for him. She decided that sandwiches would be a solid option and was able to put together some Ikali-safe barbecue sauce so she could make pulled pork. The menu came together quickly enough and, while she would normally consider making french fries or tots with sandwiches, the idea of baked potato had already settled in her mind; to finish off the meal she made a simple shredded cabbage, carrot, and onion slaw.

Anin joined her in the kitchen to help move everything to the table just after four. His nose was busy at work sniffing over everything and, as she finally brought the two potatoes to the table, he took stock of things. "We have shredded meat in a sweet sauce... potatoes.... raw toast and cole's slaw?"

Realizing suddenly that Anin had only ever had dinner sandwiches pre assembled, she was about to comment until she was forced to double-take at his comments. "Raw toast?"

The Ikali nodded sagely. "Yes... you have not cooked it."

Angie Mae paused, trying to figure out whether the Otter had ever encountered bread before. She knew he'd seen dinner rolls, and the hamburger buns she'd selected for the dinner were definitely familiar to him so she settled on determining that it was just more Ikali humor... not unlike cole's slaw. "Other than the potato, you can assemble it all into a sandwich... like this."

She quickly placed the pulled pork on the bottom of the bun and then took a forkful of the coleslaw to crown it before closing it off with the top bun. Anin quickly followed suit, replicating her work in order to make his own sandwich. "Oh! It's like a hamburger, only it's not made with beef-- OH! It really IS a ham burger!"

Dinner turned out into quite the adventure with Anin enjoying the sandwich and going so far as to make himself a second; he ate half his potato between his first and second sandwich, and polished the other half off before looking at the remaining pork and buns. Angie Mae called him on it. "You don't need a third sandwich, Anin."

The Ikali's whiskers twitched downward. "I don't NEED one, no... but I think I might WANT one--" he paused as his stomach gurbled faintly. "My belly doesn't though. I guess that means I'm full."

Angie Mae had been around Anin too long and she couldn't help herself. Extending her hand to him, she offered an overtly friendly smile as she stated with great pomp and circumstance. "Hello, 'full'. I'm Angie Mae. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Her partner let out a high pitched squeal of pure joy. "I wasn't introducing myself, Ammy! And my name isn't full... it's A--"

It was obvious that he was being indignant for the sake of humor, and there was that moment of distinct role reversal that made it all the funnier. A swelling of positive emotion rose up in her in that moment and, before she realized what was happening, Angie Mae leaned forward and pressed her lips to his muzzle.

Anin froze in place, his entire body going taut as his whiskers puffed out noticeably; she felt them tickle her lips and cheeks as she kissed him. For a split second she was aghast, mortified that she had not only overstepped common decency, but that she may have inadvertently put Anin into a compromising situation in which he-- all of that concern melted away when his whiskers softened, his posture slumped forward, and his fuzzy muzzle pressed back into her kiss; a faint, yearning churl vibrated through him as he quivered bodily.

She pulled back after that, simultaneously self-conscious and in surprise at her own actions and wanting to immediately try it again since he wouldn't be caught off guard the second time. She reached up to touch her still tingling lips. "I--"

The Otter wrapped his tail around his body, squeezing it against his chest with his arms as if it were a security blanket. "I really liked that, Ammy... but... I... I am a little confused. Isn't something like a kiss supposed to--?"

Realizing that she'd moved beyond the point of no return, Angie Mae doubled down. Her face was flush with embarrassment as she held her hand out. Not saying a word, she presented the thumb chit to Anin, holding her breath as he looked down at it, his response completely neutral. Eventually his stoic gaze gave way to an expression of surprise, and his eyes migrated upward until he was looking straight into hers. He was so obviously flabbergasted that every last hint of his usually bubbly personality was subdued as he tentatively asked "Does... this mean you.... want to... spend the night with me?"

Angie Mae nodded, feeling her face flush even more, enough that she could feel the tingling along her shoulders and across her chest. Still unable to outright say it, she only just managed to make an affirmative sound. "Mmm-hmm."

Anin blinked, the faintest hint of his mischievous personality peeking through his stunned surprise as he tentatively reached out for the chit. "Was that a 'yes' mmm-hmm, or a 'no' nnn-nnh?"

The young woman shoved the chit into his paw, and leaned forward again. The Otter met her half way at that point, his muzzle ready to receive her kiss as her lips pressed firmly against his furry face. His free paw reached up to rest against his shoulder while the other one sought out her hand, placing the chit back into it; at that point she had no doubt: it was definitely happening. Their kiss lasted longer than she bothered counting and, as it came to an end, she no longer had any hesitation. "It's a 'yes', by the way."

Several expressions flowed across Anin's muzzle, his face slackening and scrunching up several times before he managed to formulate an answer. His paw that had returned the chit gripped her hand, giving it a gentle squeeze before letting go. "I am very, very happy, Ammy."

She was far less reluctant with her reply than she thought she would be. Standing up, she offered a hand to him. "So am I, Anin."

The young woman led her partner back to her room; he had been in it before, but only casually and only for a few moments; that night, she hoped that he would stay with her until morning. They both entered and Anin's tail reached out to close the door behind him. His expression was far calmer than she could recall him ever looking-- almost serene. "Just let me know what you want me to do.... okay?"

It was a normal statement for Anin; he was always willing to do what she asked. Angie Mae would have laughed if not for the insanity of the situation. "I... haven't ever done this with an Ikali before."

The Otter's whiskers twitched faintly as he offered a good humored smile. "I have."

Sitting down on her bed, Angie Mae motioned for Anin to join her even as she rolled her eyes. "You're incorrigible."

He offered a surprisingly suave wink. "That's only because you incorrige me."

She silenced his wordplay with a kiss and an embrace; it worked very effectively and, from there, she began to earnestly explore his body with her hands even as his paws traversed across hers. Anin was thin, but in an athletic way rather than a lithe one. He had muscle present beneath his fur she had never really noticed it until her fingers pressed up against them; his was a wiry strength, which had been on display the time he'd saved her from drowning. The memory of that event made her freeze.

Anin immediately pulled back. "What's wrong, Ammy?"

Shaking her head, Angie Mae confirmed "Nothing." before renewing the kiss.

He churled softly, leaning forward and she let him guide her until she was laying back against the mattress. Her eyes rolled back in her head as she felt his paws traverse her body. Although he was atop her, Anin was smaller than her and was lighter, so she felt neither trapped nor overwhelmed; it was a nice feeling... until his paw made it to the zipper of her wet suit. The sudden, overwhelming pressure of a flashback to Jackson caused her breath to catch in her throat but she grit her teeth against the memory, trying to push through the discomfort.

It worked for a moment, even long enough for her to feel Anin's velvety paw pads against her shoulder, but the moment he pressed his hips against hers she felt the hardness between his legs and she could not hold back an exclamation. her heart felt like it was in a vice, and Angie Mae had trouble breathing. She immediately sat up, causing the Otter to fall off the bed and onto the floor. The confusion on his face led to a sense of self-loathing when she realized that she'd not only ruined the moment, but she'd made a complete mess of things. "I... I'm so sorry!"

Anin was beyond gracious, sitting where he fell. "No... I'm sorry, Ammy. I should have asked first. I didn't mean to--"

She shook her head. "No, Anin... you didn't do anything wrong."

The Ikali slowly stood up and took a tentative step closer, his furred brow creased in concern. "If I didn't do anything wrong, you wouldn't be crying, Ammy..."

Angie Mae didn't realize that there were tears falling down her cheeks until her partner had called her attention to them. She felt betrayed, not only by her mind, but by her body. "It's not your fault."

Anin let out a non-committal shrug, moving to take a seat on her bed with a little space between the two of them. He offered a hesitant smile, leaning forward so he could turn and look her in the eye. "Maybe... or maybe not... but... I hope I can be at fault for helping you with whatever's wrong."

Angie Mae had never once had the feeling that someone or something was 'too good for her' but, in that moment, she wondered how her partner could be so amazing... and she started crying anew. Through it all, Anin waited patiently, neither pushing his involvement nor insisting on it. Eventually, after many more tears, she felt confident enough to reach out and take his paw. Sniffling, she murmured "Thank you."

Her Ikali partner stood up, raising his paw with her hand in it, and brushed his whiskered muzzle across the back of it, giving her an ever-so-gentle kiss. "You're welcome, Ammy. Are you feeling better?"

Biting back the self-loathing that came with feeling weaker than she knew she should have been, Angie-Mae silently cursed Jackson and the power he STILL had over her. "I... don't know."

The Otter nodded solemnly. "I'll stay with you as long as you want tonight... but... I think it would be best if we forget about the chit for now."

Nodding, Angie Mae was more than willing to agree. "I know-- I mean... yes; I... think so too. It's... it's not that I don't WANT to, I-- I just...need some more time."

Anin nodded sympathetically. "I understand, Ammy. Would you like me to stay? I can sleep on the floor if you--"

She shook her head. "No... it's alright. I think I'll do better if I can just be alone for a little bit."

Her partner nodded anew. "Okay. Can I..." he paused. "... never mind. Goodnight."

His hesitance to speak his mind hurt, but Angie Mae understood why he was censoring himself. "Goodnight, Anin."

One thing the young woman learned about Ikali was that they were not good at hiding their feelings; Anin did do a remarkable job of trying though. She watched as her friend left quietly and dejectedly,closing the door softly behind himself.

Once she was alone, Angie Mae didn't bother holding back the tears. It was a long night.