What do you think?

"It was your idea to bring her…" he pointed out.

"That was that and this is this. And aren’t you worried about what sort of trouble she could get into." she answered.

"It’ll be fine. We have a strong protector, don’t we? Besides, let her get this out of her system, she’ll be less wound up later. You said something about that." Zac had a grin on his face.

"You spoil her." she answered back, arms folded and foot tapping.

"Flip a coin?"

"Heads."

And that’s why she was buying three tickets to the ‘Aquarium’ right now. She was pretty sure he used a double-sided coin. Or some other trick. Out of spite to make her look bad. Right?

It was just going to be the three of them as she sent Carm ahead to the away ship. She didn’t want the goods she had bought today to be lugged around the aquarium so the Nanny would just take them all to the ship and wait for them to finish up. It wouldn’t be a long trip anyway. The ‘dry’ section of the area was never as big as the actual wet area. Besides if something happened, the robot wouldn’t help much in combat short of watching out for Layla. Best to get her out of the way.

“So how does this actually work?” he asked.

She glared daggers at Zac as he walked up next to her. For once, the child was quiet. Layla was busy craning her head around to try and see the sights. So, she only had to deal with the man for now. She took a deep breathe and explained.

“The dry section has a few walk ways which we’ll tour around. There's going to be a few view ports to watch part of the water reclamation process, or view the water section itself. This allows for visitors to see just how the water it being handled, mixed crews to still interact, or even cross species couples to…” she cut her words off when she started to realize what she was saying.

"This isn’t… ADULT, is it?" he whispered, doing his best to not let Layla hear.

"Now YOU get your mind out of the gutter." She hissed back, "I simply meant it allowed couples to still see or interact with each other. There are a few view ports that have those gloved sections to let you reach into the water."

"Anything THAT specific you would need to go elsewhere." She angrily added.

He put up his hands in a mock show to defend himself and dropped it, all the while Layla was looking at the two of them, snickering a bit. It really was more fun to watch Dad and Fire-Mom ‘fight’ more than Dad and Mom. Even if she didn't get what they were fighting about.

"Hmm… wonder what the Fire word for Mom is?" She thought.

"Better not ask Blackfire about that, she might blow up part of the station…, maybe Nanny Carm would know." She giggled to herself, wondering what Blackfire's face would look like if she called her mom in her own words.

Tickets in hand they were waved in through the door. It seemed a rather slow day so they should some parts to themselves. There were only a handful of others around. Inside was a little…, odd. Familiar but just different enough to make it seem off.

First was the lighting. It was darker than the entrance foyer; something he had expected to be honest. The color choice was odd though; most places he went to used a soft blue hue, possibly green. This placed opted to use a soft lavender hue. Felt more like a club of some kind than a place of learning. Then again this wasn’t that either.

It felt more like a park of some kind than outright aquarium. There were a few benches here and there for people to sit down. A few concessions stands were set up, owned by the station no doubt, selling small food stuffs or trinkets. Couples and families slowly r

At least the view ports were about what he expected. Beyond the glass, or whatever they used, he saw water but not just clear water; it was several different hues and shades. Sometimes the tank beyond had a couple bits of machinery and pipes; doing their jobs to move the water about. Other times there were a few bits of flora or fauna inside. A few of them though looked to just be what he was standing in just under water.

“Was that a … bar I saw in that tank?”

"Yeah buddy."

He turned and saw a large fish like creature standing behind him. Well, more like what someone would draw as a furry or were shark. The creature was huge and ripped like a brickhouse and pretty curvy too. That or it was small inside of a suit of some kind. Its skin was maybe blue, hard to tell in the light, and was wearing what looked to be a mix of power armor and a wet suit. Its green eyes looked him up and down from behind what looked to be googles of some kind and a weird water filled plastic wrap was held around its neck.

"First time in the Tank pal?"

"Yeah… something like that. Just… taking in the sights before my next long haul…" Zac offered as he took a step back or two.

"Ah gotcha. I can understand that. Good to stretch your legs a bit." The creature said, motioning towards the glass, “Yeah that’s a full fledged bar in there. The drinks in there are in like little tube shots you stick in your mouth and press down."

"Okay but… why? This feels really…,"

"Inefficient to put all this over a water treatement plant?" She gave a big laugh when Zac returned a ‘something like that’ look.

"Eh this is only like the top ten or twenty percent or something like that. Rest of it is lower down. Most of this is just the left overs of the first couple treatment plants that got installed. Strong stuff but not worth really up-keeping short of some of the pipes and spectacle. See those 'chairs' the water folk are sitting on? Yeah the newer versions are maybe 1/4th the size of them now."

"But why do this in the first place? Seems a bit over the top I guess..." Zac before turning his head to see how Blackfire was doing.

"EH besides what you probably heard about the water breathers, this place was where a lot of people snuck off to for dates and the like when the station was first getting underway. Sort of like one of those lover's points some cultures have."

"Really?"

“OH SURE." she gave a weak wave, "It’s quiet, out of the way, NO one picks fights here at the time due to all the machinery so you didn’t have to worry about some jealous person fragging you during the days this place was really important. Run the risk of damaging the machines."

"What I heard is that over time, the people running the station figured it was easier to let people in but charge them a fee vs trying to shoo everyone from comin in the first place."

"That makes a lick of sense… I guess." Zac started before a thought came to him, "How do you know so much."

"Ah sorry, I work here. I only approached you cause yah seemed lost." she gave him a maybe too big of a grin. Hard not to with that many teeth though.

"I admit it is a little…. Overwhelming. I’m used to smaller stations." he gave a small sigh and gestured with his head But the wife wanted to… show our daughter some more sights so…"

“Ah. Say no more. I got a few me-self so I git it. You didn’t lose the two did you?"

"No they’d right over there...."Zac turned and the words kinda died in his throat.

He had seen her in lingerie. Just a thong. Covered in a sheen of sweat with a dopey look on her face. He couldn’t argue that Blackfire was one hell of a knockout regardless of whatever she was or wasn't wearing.

Now though? She looked… enchanting.

The lower light levels gave most visitors a dim shadowy look to them. Blackfire lacked this hue though. Instead she stood out among the gloom, her skin still bright even as she was bathed in the dim colored lights. The glow reflecting off her clothing; shining the metal brilliantly and accenting her cloth and curves. Her hair shimmered in the mixing colors, and yet through it all; her eyes.

Her brilliant amethyst eyes still cut through glow of shadow she found herself in. Even from back here, he found himself getting lost in those eyes. Honestly if it wasn’t for her words and attitude, he could just stare at them all day. They were such a soft color but a brilliant shine to them that spoke volumes of… well he wasn’t sure. But they did say that eyes speak more than words.

A slight nudge on his shoulder brought him back to attention as the shark woman gave him a look.

"Huh… oh right." Zac muttered as he looked away.

Ah that’s the wife?" the shark alien cupped her chin in thought, "Dang she’s a hell of a catch."

"Yeah I know…," Zac mumbled.

"You don’t sound enthusiastic."

"It’s… complicated." he answered, "And way more than I can say in just a short bit."

"I get it, no trying to be a busy body here. Lemme ask you then; your daughter. Is she happy?"

"Yeah."

It had only been… a day? Two? But he hadn’t see Layla this happy in a good while. For an interstellar tyrant, Blackfire seemed to be treating her well. At least far better than he had expected and far better than some of the nannies his ex wife had hired on. She was laughing, curious and just enjoying everything that was happening; even if she was a little scared she was good at hiding it behind all her excitement. At the very least she seemed like she was going to have some good memories from this trip.

The hell was he going to do for her when Blackfire left? She’d probably be heart broken or say she’d hate him forever. That was... something he was gonna have to figure out later.

"Well..., I guess it's not all sunshine though. We argue and get in each other's faces but.., our daughter is… happy and healthy. For the most part." Zac explained, "But that's getting some personal stuff with a stranger I just met so..., you know."

"Nah nah..., I get it. Still good you two know that she comes first. Kids are important after all. And hey if you’re still arguing, I got just the thing…" the shark gave him a slight elbow in the side.

"You’re a vendor?" he raised an eyebrow.

"Look cred is tight." she sighed as she pulled out a folding table from her pack.

"What’s that?" "For the love of...," Blackfire muttered.

She was getting annoyed by how many questions this child was asking of her. Every tiny little thing seemed to peak her interest. And it was getting to the point she was explaining very very simple stuff now. The kind of stuff that she could only just name because it didn't matter to anyone to learn anything ELSE about the object unless your job was working with it. Guess it made sense though, she was shealtered and in a new world…, but if it wasn’t tiring in just a cute way.

"…., wait."

"Snrk"

Her head turned to see a sly grin on Zac’s face as he was trying to hide a laugh. She spun on her heels and walked away, making Zac pick up Layla and move to keep up with her. The little trip continued in that way for a bit. A brief walk, some questions from the child and then something she said or did or her dad did would make her huff off in a direction.

Eventually the trio had to sit on one of the benches. The little one had needed a break from her excitement, which wasn’t surprising given her condition.

What was surprising was she asked to sit in Blackfire’s lap. And more surprising, she had let her.

"Wasn't expecting you to agree. Figured you'd say something about how a queen wouldn't allow anyone to sit on her lap."

"Please, she’d have a fit or be pouty otherwise." She gestured at the sleeping child, "I’ll take her being content and asleep thank you very much. Easier to deal with."

"You're better with kids than I would have expected." she laughed at his statement.

"Ah...., No I’m not," she hissed, "I’m good with this kid and it’s only because of situation. And the fact she ‘likes’ me, makes it easier for me to manipulate her into acting well."

"Bah." she leaned back against the bench, "Maybe Starfire should have been picked."

"Really? You're admitting your worse than your sister?"

"OH!" she scoffed as she sat up and looked at him, a weird smile starting to form on her lips, "You’d not prefer my wonderfully sweet and adorable sister over me? I must be hearing things."

"Well, it wouldn't be this… interesting is a good word I suppose." he shrugged, "Easier sure cause she wouldn't have throttled me but I could see her beside her self from being torn away from… I have no idea which robin, I think the first one."

Maybe? Starfire wasn't the rather scared princess anymore but being torn away from her world and her lover might make her freak out for a little bit where as herself..., well. Getting kidnapped was kinda a regular thing..., only this time she couldn't just instant blast the person in question. Really who kidnaps/captures someone and NOT take steps to make sure they can't break out. Always underestimating her...

"… can I ask you something?""

"Hmm?" his question got her out of her thoughts, "Trying to get know me? Now? You’re doing this now?"

"Well you sitting there with Layla kinda made me think of something. You seem... normal." he held up a hand when she started to speak, "What I mean is, you seem normal. Not like... evil. Tyrantical, forceful, etc etc. You seem just like any other woman with a kid; mother, nanny or otherwise."

Her eyebrow twitched when he mentioned 'mother' though she wasn't sure if that ticked her off more or less than being called a 'nanny'. But she let him continue for now.

"So it just got me thinking; What do you do? For fun I mean. I don't expect you're what Layla would probably think before meeting you; stomping around your room and doing evil things all the time like stealing cookies, kicking dogs or planning your next scheme 24/7."