"G'orenzia."
That sounded like a beautiful alien name.
Nansich tried to say it back. "Gore…Gorr'nzeeya? Goren—" He gave up halfway, his lips twitching. "Okay, nope. That's not happening."
He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "How about I just call you Zia? That's easier."
Zia didn't seem to mind. He just blinked slowly, like he was accepting whatever Nansich threw at him. No complaints. No judgment. Just calm, steady presence.
"So, Zia…" Nansich paused, then pointed up at the small crack in the barn roof where the night sky peeked through, dark and full of scattered stars. "You from up there?"
Zia followed his finger and gave a single, slow nod.
A soft smile tugged at Nansich's lips. He didn't know why, but it made him feel oddly…warm. Like he was sharing a moment with someone who shouldn't be real, and yet here he was—an alien, blood-covered and strong enough to crush monsters—sitting quietly with him in a barn like it was nothing.
