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I had been practicing for weeks now. I just wanted to do something for the two of them. After everything, they still smile at me and laugh. They act like nothing has changed even when I’m something dangerous. I heard a bit of laughter. Alessia was telling Delphia something insane again. I smiled, looking over them. I would need them to trust me… I don’t know how ready I am to find out if they do.
“Ash!” Alessia called. I leaned closer slowly. I shadowed them completely. If I wanted, I could keep them in darkness all the time. Both of them smiled up at me like nothing was wrong. I couldn’t believe they just accepted what I did. I was a force of nature and they both acted like I wasn’t any different than the day I left. “Did you hear any of what I said?”
I shook my head. I hadn’t been listening at all. I was thinking about how small they were, how what I wanted to do could prove they were scared. I didn’t think I should follow through with my idea, but I had to. I don’t know why, but I just wanted to show my feelings were the same. I leaned a bit closer, one careless move and they would be gone. I thought of the fruits I’d practiced with, it hadn’t been hard to hold them.
“What’s going on?” Delphia asked. She always saw through me. She could tell when I had something to hide. It was like she still honestly saw me for the human I’d been so long ago. I closed my eyes, seeing them felt so hard at times. “Is everything ok? Is there something we can do?”
I shook my head a little. I barely opened my eyes and could see how a small movement affected them. They had stumbled together, but still looked up at me without fear. I almost wanted fear to finally come through. I moved slowly, bringing a hand near them. Smaller than even the tip of my finger, but the most important part of my world. They’re the only reason I’m still able to see humans as they are. If I hadn’t seen the picture of me with them… I don’t want to think of who I would be.
“Can I try something?” I whispered. Both of the women I loved placed a hand on my finger near them and nodded. I leaned just a little closer, I could trap them without trying. “Do you trust me?”
“Of course,” Delphia sounded almost offended I asked. I smiled a little, she never wanted me to doubt her. Alessia slapped the bit of my finger near her.
“We wouldn’t be here if we didn’t. Stop checking that all the time!” It made me laugh. The two laughed with me. I couldn’t believe I’d managed to get a voice soft enough for them. I thought for sure I’d always be alone after I’d hurt so many.
I took a deep breath. It pulled them along, but I moved my thumb to stop them. I was cautious as I placed my thumb next to them. The tips of my fingers were bigger than the two combined… I started to bring my thumb and index finger together. Carefully I pressed my fingers together holding the two of them. The invisible vines coating me made it easier to feel them. Each miniscule heave of their chests. I could even feel their heartbeat, neither seemed to feel fear.
I increased the pressure slightly, just enough that when I moved their bodies followed. I felt them tense, I waited for a shout of fear, but none came. I turned my hand so my index finger was flat on the ground, the two laying on top of it. I moved again slowly bringing the finger up to my face. I kept waiting for a sign that they were scared, but didn’t speak up. Their hearts were beating in sync, as if they were one being. I wondered if mine was beating the same. I brought them even closer.
I could see them faintly lit by the light from my eyes. I held them where they were coated by green and slowly shifted them under my blue eye. They were beautiful in the glow, I wished it was from something other than myself. I could see the smile on their faces, as if something amazing was happening. I wanted to ask, but I hadn’t finished what I wanted to try yet. I started to move my finger again.
I brought my finger closer to my face. I moved them closer to my lips. I didn’t know how this would turn out. I could feel the slight increase in their heart beats. I hesitated, but no words were said so I continued. I pressed my finger gently against my lips. I could feel every part of them. It was terrifying to start to try and kiss them. I could feel my own heart beat speed up as they tensed under my lips.
I wasn’t even sure they knew what I was doing. I felt like electricity jolted through me when two small sets of lips touched my own. I relaxed slightly, letting my finger slide down to give them the slightest bit more of a kiss. I waited only a few more seconds until I started to pull away. I moved my finger back to my eyes. The light seemed brighter as I held them close. I could faintly taste mint and apples, the taste was intrinsically them.
“Wow…” Alessia breathed. I held my own breath… They might be scared now.
“Ok… giant kisses might be one of my favorite things,” Delphia laughed. I brought them closer, they finally blurred a bit with how close to my eye they were.
“I didn’t… scare you?”
The two laughed at me. I made a face lowering my hand back down to the cliff they stayed on. The laughter didn’t die down at all. It started to make me smile. I started to tilt my finger for them to slide off, but both quickly dug their hands into my skin. I flattened my finger again leaving the two lying there staring up at me.I narrowed my eyes at the two humans on my skin. I could still feel the trembles from their attempts to contain their laughter.
“Sorry sorry, but Ash you can’t scare us,” Delphia said. I widened my eyes at her words, of course I could. I was big enough to miss a human and hurt them by accident.
“You don’t believe her. Well too bad, but I actually want to stay right here,” Alessia said. She rolled over on her side and I couldn’t hold back a laugh. I knew I was shaking them, but it was so much like her to just decide something like that. When I finally stopped both were nearly at the edge of my finger tip. I used my thumb to bring them back, smiling at the calmness they exuded.
“...Can I try something else?” I asked. This time I had no practice, but I had a new idea. It could backfire, but I could use the vines to help me. They nodded again.
I brought my finger close and rested my thumb on top of them. They squirmed a bit before I added a little pressure. I could feel the way they seemed to lean into my hold. Carefully I started to move onto my back. I could feel the two heartbeats in my hold grow faster, but somehow I knew it was anticipation.
My tail slammed the ground as I moved. I was a bit out of control, but I didn’t mind for once. I slid down so my head was right next to the cliff. I was more grateful for the landscape matching my height now than ever. I winced a bit as I let my weight hit the ground. The shudder of the world around me made me worry about the two in my hand. Their heartbeats had grown calmer.
I moved my hand over my heart and paused. My skin was covered in something hard and leaves. I didn’t actually know how my body would react to them. I changed my mind and brought them up to my face instead. I placed my fingers on their sides and slowly released the pressure. I could feel as they landed and their impossibly small hands touched my skin. I pulled my hand away and froze as my tail slammed on the ground again. I was so nervous I couldn’t keep control.
I could feel as the two stood and started to walk along my face. I expected it to feel like when an ant had crawled up my arm, but this was different. They felt like something else, something almost impossible to explain. They felt like people. I sucked in a breath as they moved and almost panicked when I felt them fall to their knees. This was a bad idea, I could hurt them. My vines were already making their way up to me.
“Don’t you dare!” Delphia insisted. The vines froze just next to my face. I tried not to move when she did that. I stayed still as the two climbed over and reached my nose. They sat down and leaned back against me. It felt impossible to have them close like this. “Let us stay here… please?”
“It’s not safe…” I murmured. I felt them move as I spoke. I couldn’t even imagine how it felt to them.
“I don’t care, I miss being close to you. You said we’d try to find a way to fix things, let us be close until then too.” Alessia complained. The weakness she only showed to us was slipping out. “Especially if we can’t… I’m not losing you again.”
“Neither am I. Ash you aren’t going to get rid of us that easily. Trust us.”
“I… I’ll keep trying to be close. I’m scared of hurting you.” I felt small hands rub my skin. The bit of comfort that I wanted for so long. I shut my eyes, focusing entirely on them. I wouldn’t ever let them be hurt. I jumped as they both seemed to press into me. I sighed and turned my head a bit. It forced them to lay against my nose and I smiled as they let out excited shouts. “I’ll make sure you’re safe with me…”
“We know.”