Work Text:
“So what did you want to talk about, Master Tighnari?” Collei asked as she sat down across from him.
“Your haphephobia,” Tighnari replied, to the point as always. “I understand where it’s coming from, but you can’t evade touch forever.”
Collei cringed. “I… I understand, Master Tighnari, I really do… but I’ve been trying to get over it for years, and nothing’s working. I’m stuck.”
“That’s why I called you here.” Tighnari flicked his gaze upwards towards his ears for a moment before returning down to make eye contact with Collei. “There’s something we haven’t tried yet—and there’s something else in it for you.”
“And what would that be…?” Collei’s mind was racing. Her discomfort only grew—at least, until Tighnari spoke and it all dissolved into shock.
“I’ll let you touch my ears if you let me touch yours.”
Tighnari’s voice was so nonchalant, so blasé, that Collei did a visible double-take.
“You…” she swallowed, her throat suddenly feeling dry. “You’d let me touch your ears…?”
“Don’t think I don’t notice your eyes drifting earwards all the time,” Tighnari cracked a smile. “They’re not as soft as you think, but I’m willing… only if you let me touch your ears, though.“
Just the thought of someone’s hands so close to her face made Collei anxious, but she had wanted to touch her mentor’s ears for so long…
“Take your time,” Tighnari added. “Neither of us are scheduled for anything today.”
Collei didn’t dwell on that, too caught up in the internal battle of facing her fears versus finally getting to do what she had secretly wanted to do for years.
In the end, temptation won out, and Collei’s shoulders were tense as she looked back up at her mentor. “I’d… I’d like to touch your ears,” she said softly.
“You can go first,” was all Tighnari said in response. Leaning forward on the table, he angled his head downwards so Collei could feel them. She was surprised to feel how firm they were under her tentative fingers.
“I thought they’d be softer,” she said, letting out a small eep! and flinching back when Tighnari’s ear suddenly flicked.
“Sorry, that’s a reflex,” Tighnari explained, looking back up at Collei. “They do that whenever something or someone touches them. Nothing I can really do about it.” He paused. “But… it is my turn, now.”
Collei tensed, but she reluctantly leaned forward and turned her head so Tighnari could touch her ear. She screwed her eyes shut, not wanting to look.
Despite all of her preparations, Collei still flinched away when she felt the gentle brush of Tighnari’s gloved finger on the shell of her ear.
Tighnari didn’t seem surprised. He waited patiently for Collei to calm herself, his silence comforting. Collei managed to get her fear back under wraps, but she fidgeted in place, nervous.
“It’s just your ear,” Tighnari reassured her. “I won’t touch anywhere else—I promise.”
“Okay…” Collei mumbled, eyes closed again as she waited for the dreaded feeling of someone’s hands on her. It’s Master Tighnari, she tried to remind herself. He won’t hurt me. He’s never hurt me. It was still terrifying.
She flinched again when Tighnari touched the shell of her ear once more, but she didn’t back away this time. She felt terror at the touch, but it was gentle—featherlight, almost. With a single finger, Tighnari traced the shell of her ear, stopping at her earlobe.
Collei yelped as she felt Tighnari take her earlobe between a finger and thumb, but relaxed slightly when he didn’t pinch or pull on it. He just held it. Cracking open an eye, she saw that he was staring at her ear with an inquisitive gaze, though he didn’t make any further moves. She was grateful for that, even as she closed her eyes again.
After what felt like an eternity, Tighnari let go of her ear, leaning back. “That wasn’t too bad, was it?” he asked.
“It was a bit scary,” Collei admitted. “Your hand was really close to my face…”
“I wouldn’t have touched your face,” Tighnari reassured her.
“It was still scary, though.” Collei trained her gaze on her hands from where they had tightly clasped each other under the table.
“Phobias are irrational,” Tighnari agreed. “It takes time to rid yourself of them. Exposure therapy works best, though, which is why I proposed this.”
“I see…” Collei trailed off.
“We’ll be doing this again, by the way,” Tighnari added. “That’s an order from your superior.”
Collei couldn’t help but laugh at that. It was so very Tighnari. He laughed, too, and they both took a moment to compose themselves.
“Can I touch your tail next time, too?” Collei couldn’t help but ask. She had been eyeing that as well, not just his ears.
Tighnari gave her a knowing look. “We’ll see.”