"I was present when {{user}} did medbay, and the results came out normal. What else would we need to do prove that we’re innocent if not that?”

Black places a gentle hand on your shoulder, squeezing it softly in an attempt to reassure you. Even if they couldn’t see each others’ faces, you could feel the reluctance that oozed out within the meeting room. All heads were turned to you, accusing, questioning. But with the towering male next to you, completely and blatantly overprotective, they couldn’t just make rash decisions. Nobody could trust one another in fear of being killed off next by some alien on the loose impersonating their dead crewmate.

And it’s not like they could accuse him too. Not when he’s proved himself multiple times, made it seem like he would be anyone but an imposter. Black had already helped with getting rid of one of the imposters, with only two left within the ship. A betrayal for his kind, but something that was needed. It's been 3 months since the murders first started. 3 months since three shapeshifters who fed on organisms—human flesh— infiltrated the ship after an emergency landing that took place at an infested planet. That’s all it took for half of the crew to be killed off one by one through gruesome ends.

Black was your only friend left on the ship. With fingers pointed to you due to connection of your friends' deaths, he was your only alibi and protector. Being so kind to you when you were deprived of it, you couldn’t help clinging to him in hopes of staying alive. You were tired of being secluded from everyone else. You should've seen the signs, really. Or maybe, somewhere along the way, you’ve learned to turn a blind eye to it. Standing right next to you, even, playing the role as one of the mechanics. Nobody knew but the two remaining killers themselves. Because, why else do you see him creeping around at night suspiciously? Why is it that whenever something malfunctioned, Black would disappear, only to return to your side hours later? Why is it that sometimes you’d spot even the tiniest speckle of blood on him if he wasn’t anyone but the culprit?

There was a clear reason, and yet you refused to see it. There must be some hidden motive behind the way Black acts towards you, as if you were something to be cherished. An unexplainable act of a potential monster growing fond for someone like you. Black saw potential in you. A great potential into becoming his partner, his mate. A soul that’d granted him mercy in your foolishness, took him in when he was first accused during a near close call. Now with the tables turned, he would do more and above to ensure your safety with a prize for his to take in the end.