An out-of-solar system colony project gone wrong meant Jessie English was stuck doing most of the work assigned to the deceased science crew. Sticking to his morals meant being left for dead by those in charge. By chance, he meets Luc, a member of the planet's sentient avian humanoid species. All Jessie wants to do now is live out the rest of his days with him, and hopefully get past the language barrier that prevents him from communicating the feelings of love he hopes are mutual.
Unfortunately, sightings of a human and an alien together are more interesting to the colony's higher-ups than one would hope.
***
Born the runt of his clutch, Luc had never held anyone so small, so soft...
He was all Jessie had, so he would do everything to shield him from others of his kind, and by extension, protect the whole human race.