The hivemind is conquering for me?

After getting dressed, I opened the bedroom door and. ”Oh, good morning Janine, are you alright? You look a little rough.” Janine was slightly hunched over with bags under her eyes. ”I-Uh- I couldn’t sleep last night, I think I caught a bug or something.”

I frowned, saddened by the news, my immune system was too predatory against foreign antibodies to get sick from common ailments, but Janine was still somewhat normal in body stature. I suppose it made sense.”

”Aww, poor thing. Come here.” I said and pulled her in for a hug to comfort her. She must have really been out of it as she practically collapsed into me once I had her supported. ”Come on, let’s get you back to bed, you shouldn’t be up in this state.”

Janine was about to rebuttal, but being swept off her feet the way she just was, shut her mouth. She was still sore from rubbing all night and was doing her best to keep in her pain. That and she felt incredibly comforted and safe in Apollo’s arms.

I brought Janine to her bed and tucked her in. ”Orchid and I are going to be out all day, we have that combat evaluation thing with Valerica after twilight. So you just stay here and rest ok?”

Janine nodded her head as she looked up at me with tired, but beautiful eyes. I leaned down to kiss her on the forehead, but her hands softly emerged from her blanket and manipulated my head, changing the collision course.

Our lips touched for a few moments before we separated. I looked down at her and smiled before caressing her cheek, she nestled against my hand and looked up at me, expectantly? ” I have been enjoying our closeness Janine, but you need to set your boundaries ok? The way we are going, I am going to end up gobbling you up.” I warned. I didn’t mind kissing her, unlike before I left, it felt a lot nicer, but I think that was just on my end.

As if emphasising my point, Janine winked playfully and blew me a kiss in response to my warning, she was teasing me even when sick. ’Cheeky girl.’ I thought. I then leant back down and successfully kissed her on the forehead this time before leaving.

...

Janine waited thirty minutes, her door was left ajar so she could hear Apollo, Orchid and Nerissa downstairs. When they finally left, she shot up out of bed, wincing regretfully shortly afterwards.

It was actually a blessing Apollo would be out all day, she needed to clean up that room and move her stuff out of this room and into that one... She had a long day ahead. She then licked her lips, feeling the tingling sensation of the kiss she received, its presence still dancing upon her, leaving her giddy.

She then sighed happily. ”He is such an idiot.” She said, lovingly. She didn’t blame Apollo for his denseness in this case, other cases she was still baffled about, but for her it made sense, Apollo still thought her to be lesbian after all.

Her plan would be set in motion soon, but Apollo had been pushing forward her agenda without even realising. He was getting comfortable being naked around her and now she would start asking for ’friendly kisses’ because they felt nice. She would start asking in public as well to help fulfil the role she was playing.

Still, now that she had a taste of Apollo, she wasn’t fine with being unrequited anymore. She was getting hungrier. The only pit she felt in her stomach though, was if Apollo would actually have her if she offered herself up? Does he only see her as a friend now? He has never treated her differently, he was just getting more comfortable around her and her with him. Allowing for what happened not so long ago to occur.

Janine sighed. Now wasn’t the time to think about this, for now she had to clean.

...

Orchid, Nerissa and I were making our way to the final little activity we needed to attend before all the classes started. Due to us signing up for expeditions, the college needed to vet us and see what we might need training in and make sure we don’t go on expeditions where projected mortality was absolute. The sun was just rising, its beams bouncing beautifully off the lake as we walked past.

While walking, I spotted a familiar group on the jetty nearby. The group was lax chuckling and a smile grew on my face. ”I want to go say hi to my friends real quick, come on.” I said casually and took a slight detour, I doubted this small detour would make us late. Besides, if we were, the teacher was soft on me so it’s fine.

The group was talking and chuckling amongst one another, Iilr was silent however, he was holding his rope and spinning the end loosely in a circular motion, looking dead ahead at the lake.

”Hey guys!” I declared, causing a bunch of heads to turn. ”Freshman Apollo!” A group shouted out, before going wide eyed noticing my present company. A commotion broke out as the men ran over to Nerissa.

Nerissa tapped the gems on her body in a certain order and an invisible barrier emerged around her. A barrier a group of men just ran into head first. Shock was the first emotion they felt before a burst of laughter ensued and they began asking Nerissa a bunch of questions about what she was doing here.

I chuckled at all these massive men basically fangirling over Nerissa, it was quite the comical sight. Iilr turned around due to the commotion and was surprised for multiple reasons. Nevertheless, a smile crept upon his face and he dematerialised his rope.

I suddenly felt two large hands on my shoulders followed by. ”Well, who would have thought it would be you that is the freshman with the Praetorian? Haha, of course it is, my good luck charm. How are you lad? Are you here to try the challenge again? You are most welcome to join us.”

I turned around and Iilr extended out his hand, I reciprocated and gripped his hand firmly and we proceeded to shoulder check each other. ”No, I have to go attend an evaluation. I just saw you and thought I would come say hello. Are you doing the challenge again?”

”Haha! Of course I am doing it again! I will continue to do it till I am strong enough to see that beautiful creature again all on my own. I have a ways to go, but I am determined!” He chuckled before continuing.

”Did you say evaluation? The combat one? Brilliant. I will see you there in a bit. I am helping out with the training, though don’t tell the teacher, but that Hyllus lady scares the crap out of me.”

I laughed internally. ”Does she? Tell me about her.” I asked. Iilr’s shoulders shivered like he was in a snowstorm, not this beautiful warm morning it currently was. ”The lady is hot as shit, I will give her that. But those eyes man... We had to fight her the other day as it was our first session with a new tutor... It was like fighting a predator. I felt like prey, no word of a lie and I have gone toe to toe with Drakoshi before. Brrrrr!”

He shuddered again before clasping my shoulder tightly looking directly up into my eyes. ”Try and just get through this day without becoming a target for her... I don’t think a freshman can handle her attention without getting away unscathed.”

It was a miracle I kept my straight face, but nodded with a deep contemplation upon my face before looking back to Iilr. ”Thank you for letting me know pal, but that might be an issue already, she is my adoptive mother after all.”

The colour drained from Iilr’s face, a husk remained before it swiftly returned, followed by a bellowing laugh that erupted from deep within his chest. ”HA HA HA! You almost made me shit myself! Ha Ha Ha! Could you imagine?!? Bah, get out of here trouble maker, haven’t felt my heart palpitate in so long... Adoptive mother... Yeah and my auntie is Queen Elaine...”

I then got a playful, yet surprisingly painful punch to my shoulder. ”You are a good’n Apollo, now get out of here before you are late. Boys! Leave the Praetorian alone! She is a hero, she doesn’t need your fat arses bothering her!”

The group all groaned in dejection and moved away with only mild verbal fuss. I then said bye to Iilr and the group and the three of us continued on. Once we had made distance, Nerissa commented. ”Rather respectful for a burly bunch. It’s usually the opposite, obnoxious. A pleasant surprise.”

Orchid actually nodded her head. ”Yes, not one attempted to gaze disgustingly upon me either. They only tried to judge my strength. Smart of them.”

”Ow.” I yelped softly after pinching myself. Orchid just sort of complimented humans, in her own way, I had to make sure I was not dreaming.