Curiosity skilled the Cat

Overwhelmed was an understatement. Nothing had gone according to plan and Sumas wasn't entirely sure if that was a good thing or a bad one. On the one hand, showing up extra early to mentally prepare before the mermen arrived spared Sumas from the need to select one and use him. It also allowed them to encounter another scientist working with Hyde and reprogram his badge. However, having to leave in a hurry meant when the mermen showed up and Sumas wasn't there not only would the mermen fear the worst, but word would get back to Sumas's best friend who would probably be bedside herself with worry and grief. Moreover, there was a chance the meds they stole could be tainted and the entire accidental meeting with the scientist could be part of a greater plot to ensnare Sumas. They wouldn't know until they were able to test the meds. Likewise, the human had followed them, was still following them, and unlike them with the aid of his suit could breathe under water.

The entire situation got exponentially more complicated by the fact that they touched him. Sumas's ability for empathy was only amplified by touch. It's why they were typically averse to it unless it involved someone they deeply cared about. It just made things too difficult otherwise. Imagine empathizing with your abuser.

Because of the situation, because of his association Sumas knew he was dangerous and they couldn't trust him, and yet when they touched him they felt many different things. He was afraid, that's normal for someone in an unfamiliar environment in a potentially life threatening situation, but that fear quickly dissipated when he realized who was strangling him. It was clear he was aroused, but Sumas was used to that, most people seemed to have that reaction to them. Still there was more, there was an excitement and an intrigue that existed for no other motive than itself. While this feeling was something Sumas looked for in each of their friends they found it exceptionally rare, so rare in fact that Sumas actually started to doubt their ability. Could it really be possible, a human with curiosity?

Sumas really couldn't decide within themself what was the best course of action. There were now too many variables. If they hadn't touched him this would be so much easier, but now Sumas was also battling their own curiosity. They really wanted to know more about this curious human.

'This is what happens when you let your guard down, Sumas. You should know better than this by now.' They thought to themself. Because of constantly having to surface for air, Suraci was catching up to them. Panic inevitably kills in times of crisis. Sumas knew what they had to do and they didn't like it.

If things weren't already confusing enough, the aphrodisiac they took in preparation for the mermen was starting to kick in and feelings Sumas was completely unfamiliar with started washing over their entire body. They felt hot, tingly and...desperate. It was getting hard to think or focus. There wasn't much time...

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Suraci was gaining distance on Sumas when Sumas disappeared into a coral formation. This wasn't the first time they had tried to lose him. Whether it was the stinging seaweed, schools of marine life, or the living rock that wound through the open ocean, Sumas was leading him through an obstacle course.

The coral had an iridescent appearance which, in places, was barely visible behind the lush plants and other marine life that inhabited it. Suraci felt a twinge of remorse having to rush through. While he found much beauty in the wildlife on his home world and that of many of the worlds he had studied, this was by far the most colorful, luminous planet he'd ever seen.

Actually why was he following the test subject anyway? When he inevitably had to return he'd need to explain how his badge was tampered with, but he didn't have to give chase. He'd decided the first day on the field this job was outside his morals anyway, and this was a good opportunity to not participate. After all, the test subject had already successfully been evading an entire base full of military personnel and scientists for some time now. The subject getting away from him was easily believable. Then again, if he didn't catch it, who would and what inhumane means would that person use? It could have killed him, but it didn't and he owed it for that at least.

No matter how much he told himself these rationalizations, the reality was he was already fixated. He had found something interesting again and he was compelled to learn about it. He'd left his home, his galaxy, everything familiar to chase this feeling. He couldn't stop now, he was too curious.

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'Oooooh fuck. I can't handle this. I'm going to start emitting light' Sumas was starting to feel frantic. 'This can't be the way I go. I mean when I'm dead I won't be able to die of embarrassment, but uhhhhhh where are those mermen when I need them. Where is my head at right now? Sumas you need to focus. Focus. FOCUS. Ugh, if I turn it all off now it's dangerous. I don't know what I'll feel later or if I'll get addicted to not feeling. No no no this is life and death right now, I have to survive.'

Sumas had lived a very difficult life which lent them to being opportunistic and resourceful. Empathy, well feelings in general, often magnified that difficulty. As a self defense mechanism, Sumas's brain had figured out a way to shut its effective empathy off. It was usually only a temporary measure, but circumstances kept getting more dire to the point that they were concerned that it was becoming addictive. Instead of using tragedy as learning, their brain was more like running in its own hamster wheel away from trauma, using itself to become comfortably numb. But they weren't in a position anymore where they could really worry about the side effects of their self medicating. Before they could think anymore it was already done. A deep and fierce calm came over them as they disappeared into the coral.

Suraci had somehow lost them in the coral. He backtracked exploring other crevices in the rock. Then, from beneath him, Sumas swam up and grabbed his face pulling it to theirs. As their lips pressed together He was lost for a second until he realized they were pulling air from his lungs. Before he could react, they ducked down, pulled his badge off, and forced his head into the rock. Suraci quickly fell unconscious.

Seeing him float looking like he was dead, touching him, sharing his breath and the undercurrent of aphrodisiac was enough to jar their feelings awake again much like a patient walking up from anesthesia. In an instant all these jumbled feelings tumbled around in Sumas's head. 'What did I do?' They reattached his badge and shook him trying to get him to wake up. Oh this is bad, this is really, really bad.'