Caelum is uncomfortable.

Aerglo is usually always busy, always commanding the ship and making sure everything is running smoothly. This means that xyr mate is almost always alone, but Caelum doesn't mind. He knows Aerglo is needed, xe is the captain after all.

What does crush him inside, however, are the looks he gets whenever he wanders out their room.

The first day he went exploring nearly gave him a heart attack.

Giant aliens seven to eight feet tall thundering through the ship's halls, their chattering coming to an abrupt halt at the sight of the trembling human sticking close to the wall, belly round and heavy. Their eyes always piercing and as cold as coal, pitch black and harsh.

Completely different from Aerglo's soft and tender gaze.

They scowl at him and talk about him in their language, he knows by the sneers he gets.

And then there are the few humans on the ship that work in the small crevices that the giants can't fit into or the engines they refuse to fix because they rather not lower themselves to the level of a puny human. They look at him funny, some looking at him in disgust when they catch a glimpse of him cradling his belly.

It irks him and he tries really hard not to let it get to him. He has to survive an entire month in a ship full of judgement.

But one day he just can't help it.

One of the engineers makes a crude comment clearly about him and he loses it.

He doesn't know how or where he gets the strength from, the man is practically twice his size, but Caelum growls at him and grabs the front of the oil stained shirt. His face is flushed red as he demands for the rude man to repeat what he said.

"I said," the man scowls, grabbing the boy's hand in a tight grip, "you are a disgusting freak rolling around in bed with a monster an-"

He doesn't even finish when Caelum throws the first punch.

A few passing aliens freeze at the commotion, staring in shock at the puny pregnant human who snarls at the older one.

One of them is smart enough to snap out of it and go in search of Aerglo.

"You stupid little bitch!" The engineer growls in rage, ready to fight back only to be pushed away from the smaller boy by the only woman on the crew.

"What the hell Ange!"

"He's pregnant!"

"He's a fucking freak!"

Aerglo is within ear shot when xe hears that and xe roars in rage.

The male engineer freezes, immediately turning pale. Xe changes within an instant, bones cracking and rearranging until xe's a large intimidating alien. Caelum watches with wide eyes as xe snarls at the man, picking him up easily.

"For your trespass against my mate, you shall be expelled from my ship, immediately upon arrival," Aerglo growls, tossing the human toward a nearby guard.

"Wait! Captain Aerglo!" The engineer calls in near desperation, "my apologies! I'm sorry! I-"

Aerglo doesn't bother to turn toward the struggling human, just waves xyr hand to the guard to get rid of him, to throw him bellow deck where they keep prisoners or traitors until they arrive home.

Then, the giant alien kneels down beside xyr mate, xyr focus solely on him and their child.

"Are you well, eno elttil?"

Caelum nods, slightly panting, "We're okay."

Aerglo frowns, pressing xemself closer to xyr mate and making sure that what Caelum is saying is true.

Caelum giggles a bit breathless, pushing the alien away, "We're okay, promise."

"I would feel better if we went to Dr. Vega," Aerglo insists, voice gruffly and thick.

Caelum rolls his eyes, "you're such a mother hen."

"Mother... hen?"

"It's an expression," Ange explains, the woman offering Caelum an encouraging smile, "but you should go, our captain will be a mess otherwise."

Caelum returns the small gesture with a blushing smile, "okay, thank you..."

"Ange, or Angie, whatever floats your boat kiddo," she grins.

"Thank you, human Angie," Aerglo says in gratitude, dismissing everyone around.

Aerglo doesn't change to human, instead xe leads Caelum away from the crowd, hovering over xyr mate.

"We're okay, you know that right?"

Aerglo huffs, knowing that what xyr mate is saying is true. Xe can hear the gentle beating of their child's heartbeat, but xe can't help worrying.

"Okay," Caelum sighs when he gets no verbal reply, "fine, we'll go to Dr. Vega."