Daehyun bent slightly to kiss his wife Xelena sweetly on the lips as they stood in the docking area. The sound of engines ready to take off as twenty soldiers prepared to go off into space on the shared moon between EXO Planet and Planet Mato for three months. The sounds of cries of goodbyes from other families echoed throughout the hangar.

“Be careful up there.” Xelena said as she hugged onto Daehyun tightly. “I want you back here in one piece.”

“Honey, we’re going for peace. There won’t be any fights between us.” Daehyun assured her as he held her close. Not wanting to let her go.

“That’s what you say now but you and I both know that once all forty of you are on that base, tensions will rise and someone will try to be alpha male.” Youngjae said, his eyes turning a bright green.

Everyone on Planet Mato had them. It was their telltale part of their anatomy that made them who they were but they hid it under the guise of another color that they chose in the last few decades, as a safety measure in case they needed to hide amongst the enemy. It was their only bit of magic that their kind had. They were more of a technological race than magical. Not many knew this, especially not their enemies the Exotytes who were all magic.

“You know I won’t be having any of that. Now change your eyes back.” Daehyun shifted Xelena from in front of him to use his other arm to slap at Youngjae’s arm playfully as he switched his eyes back to the deep grey he usually had them as.. Youngjae had a huge grin on his face and reached for Xelena.

“You might want to get going. You’re about to be the last one to get on board.” He said pointing towards the entrance of the ship. Captain Himchan Kim, stood at the door seeing everyone get on board. His stern eyes landed on the three of them and softened. He didn’t smile but his eyes, colored a beautiful shade of purple, showed familial affection towards them.

Xelena weaseled out of Youngjae’s grasp to give Daehyun one final kiss goodbye. She stepped back slowly, tears forming in her hazel eyes as she watched him walk towards the ship. He placed his uniform cap on his head before stepping onto the platform that led to the ship’s entrance.

“She just wouldn’t let you go huh?” Himchan said as he got closer. Daehyun gave him a cheeky grin and walked inside. As the doors closed behind them, he spoke.

“We may or may not have tried for a baby again before we left this morning.” His smile grew wider remembering the events of the morning.

“I’m guessing she didn’t want to stop.” Himchan gave him a knowing look.

He and Himchan shared a laugh as they walked to their seats. Everyone else saluted them as they passed and they both nodded in return. The trip to the MatExo Peace Base would take half a day and since Daehyun was exhausted, he went to one of the cots provided on the ship and settled himself in for a much needed nap.

The ship was quiet except with a few soldiers whispering about what to expect from the Exotytes.

“What do you think these other soldiers will be like?” One spoke carefully.

Another shrugged. “Maybe they’ll do us all a favor and ignore us.”

“But isn’t the point of this whole thing so we can get to know one another and stop the war?”

“Yeah, but I don’t feel like dealing with them after fighting with them for centuries.”

“Hmm, so you still see a reason to fight?” Himchan’s voice cause them all to stand at attention and salute him. “Tell me soldier, what is your name?”

“Jaehyo Ahn, sir.”

“Now, Private Ahn. What is the reason we are fighting this war?”

Jaehyo stayed silent. Himchan nodded and looked at the other soldier he was speaking with. “What about you?”

“Minhyuk Lee, sir.”

“In the future, refrain from such statements. We are trying to establish peace between our planets for a good reason.” With that, Himchan left them to continue walking about the ship. Jaehyo and Minhyuk shared a look as soon as he was no longer in sight, slinking down into their seats once more.

Daehyun woke up halfway through the trip and ventured out into the ships rest area. He saw Himchan leaning against a wall and walked over to him.

“So what did I miss during my nap?” He yawned as he spoke, his eyes changing back to its warm brown as he did so.

“Nothing really. Everyone is nervous about this entire thing considering the only time we’ve ever encountered them was on the battlefield. This could lead to a complete end to this war and bring peace to both planets.”

Daehyun shrugged. “I guess it’s really good that we had this base built then huh?”

Himchan smiled knowing Daehyun was really just as nervous as everyone else on the ship about meeting the Exotytes. These next few months would prove to be a struggle between the two worlds and it could end on either a really good note or the ending of the cease fire.

The ship finally landed on the base and everyone began to file off the ship. The base was pretty large with a huge cafeteria and lounge areas. They hadn’t been assigned to their rooms just yet but some of the Matoki soldiers were already choosing who they wanted to room with amongst themselves.

The troops walked in and sat down in one of the lounge rooms and waited quietly until the Exotytes walked into the room. The tension that encased the room was high. The other twenty soldiers in the room stared at one another blankly.

The commanders from each side stepped forward first and shook hands. Himchan eyed Joonmyeon Kim cautiously. Himchan already didn’t like him. His handshake was weak and he seemed like a pushover. But he wouldn’t be easily fooled by his first thoughts on the Exotyte male.

“Welcome.” Himchan said, his voice all business as he stepped back slightly to properly observe the others. “I hope we can get through these next few months without any mishaps.”

“Agreed.” Joonmyeon said simply before turning to his soldiers. “How will the rooming go?”

Himchan immediately took out a letter. It had the official seal of the Matoki on the outside, a stitched up rabbit. “According to this, my king and yours have decided that we pair up where it’ll be a Matoki and an Exotyte to a room.”

Soon as the words left his mouth, everyone began arguing.

“I’m not staying with a dirty creature like you in the same room!”

“Oh and you guys are any better? He looks like he hasn’t bathed in months.”

The insults kept coming from both sides. Himchan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened them, he saw that Joonmyeon was doing the same.

“This is for peace! Why are we fighting already?” An Exotyte stepped forward with a booming voice. He looked tired with the eye bags beneath them. Daehyun watched as he got every Exotyte to quiet down. Daehyun sighed and looked at the soldiers behind him. They all felt his stare and backed down. He could see his fellow soldiers restraining themselves so much but it was the best he could get out of them with all this tension filling the room.

“I think we just found the first two roommates.” Joonmyeon said with a smile. Himchan nodded and smiled at Daehyun.

“You don’t mean-” He was cut off.

“Yes. It would be fitting for the second in command to room together. Lt. Jung, you will be rooming with this Exotyte. What is your name soldier?” Himchan asked. The room’s noise level filled with murmurs on both sides.

“Baekhyun Byun.” He answered, his head held high. Himchan couldn’t help but see a slight resemblance between Lt Jung and Lt. Byun. He held a straight face as he looked between the two with stern eyes.

“Lt. Byun. The two of you will room together as an example of how this peace will work between us. You both are level headed from what I can see and I trust my best soldier to do his utmost when it comes to achieving this peace.” Himchan stated.

Baekhyun looked towards Daehyun with a blank expression. Daehyun let out a huff of breath before stepping forward, hand outstretche