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When Isaac had come back out to this homestead, he’d been curious about the odd behavior of the bees nearby. They didn’t come near the flowers he planted, but he knew they were ones bees loved. Bee balm they were called. When he put out the flowers and sugar water he was expecting one to fall in. He’d take a look and if they were unique he’d pin it up like the butterflies from his younger years. It was why he’d set up a camera; make sure it didn’t stay waterlogged too long. An idea that filled him with a mixture of guilt and relief now.
Especially considering sweetpea, now named Aster, had captivated him from the moment she appeared. He checked the camera at least a dozen times to make sure she was real. Long hair all the way to her feet. Colored black and yellow to make her look like a bee. Her skin was a dark black. Stick thin too. The wings stood out though, not quite bee-like. Almost more like a butterfly. It was why he tried using his breath to dry them. Delicate, but strong. Like he saw her.
Cute as a button to boot. Almost the size of one too. She was at best an inch long. Made him nervous once she started flying all over. Aster was one curious little bee. Had to know what everything in his house did and was. Boy did he love answering her every question. A curiosity to match his own was rare.
The excitement died out after the first day. That was when she started to avoid him. If he approached her she jumped in the air and stared at him. Of course he gave her space, but he was worried about the change. If she was scared of him. Isaac was no fool, he knew he was a big man. Tall and fat. Most people had some nerves when they first met. Usually his way of talking calmed them down. Not the little sweetpea though. And that posed another issue.
See he was already more than a little smitten with her. Honestly he might just be head over heels for the little bee. Of course he didn’t plan to tell her until she’d made herself comfortable, but that brought him to the other issues. Making her comfortable in his house. A folded up shirt wasn’t a good bed for a little thing like her. She liked the flowers, but he worried she’d fall from those. Especially as they wilted. Then they still had to work out what she needed for her usual life. Not to mention finding a way to hear her. Didn’t sit right with him that she had to shout right in his ear for them to talk.
Honestly, the issues piled on each other. Making a mountain where he wished there was a molehill. There wasn’t much he could do about her voice. Not much he could do for a bed either. Not that any solution he came up with could do much good when she was scared of him. At times like this he had to clear his head and that meant one thing.
Baking.
It had all started with a family tradition. Cookies each year for the holidays. Given out to the whole town. It became his favorite way to clear his mind when there was a problem. Isaac never had much of a sweet tooth, but the town loved when he brought sweets down.
It had been a while since he’d last wanted to bake. It took a bit of searching to gather an idea of his ingredients. Enough to make some simple sugar cookies. He had cookie cutters somewhere, that would keep his hands busy. Enough so that he started on the dough right away.
After about twenty minutes the dough was done and shoved in the fridge to chill. The best shapes always came from a chilled mix. That left him with his thoughts. Which he pushed off by digging around for the cookie cutters. He found them quickly, but realized just how many he couldn’t identify. Isaac collected them all and brought them to the table. A quick turn to set the oven to preheat before he took a seat to start sorting them.
Admittedly he was a little sad Aster hadn’t shown up. It wasn’t quiet when he started up. He understood it though. Wouldn’t make sense for that little sweetpea to come in when he was doing something loud. It brought his thoughts away from the problems he had to deal with. Instead he was focused on what sweetpea might think of him.
A small, delicate, pretty little thing. It had been quite a long time since he last found someone that charmed him like this. That smile had his heart dead to rights the moment it lit up his screen. Boy did he want to get a closer look. Maybe the magnifying glass would help. Truly get an idea of how she shines.
Now he knew he wasn’t what some folks would call ideal. Not that he cared. He was comfortable with himself. Didn’t mean she’d be interested. Obviously he was bigger in more than one way when it came to her. Made it hard to think she could even look at him as a special someone. He’d have to keep his hopes low in case she broke his heart. Not that he’d blame her if she did. Such a small, delicate, little woman.
The oven beeped and jolted him from his thoughts. He’d stopped paying attention to the cookie cutters. He renewed his efforts to sort them, but one caught his eye. A laugh bubbled out as he flipped it in his hand.
“I’ll be damned,” he chuckled. “Didn’t know I had ya. Wonder if Sweetpea’ll get a kick out of ya…”
A plan in his mind, Isaac shoved the other shapes aside to sort later. He left the chosen one in the center of the table while he searched for what he’d need. Specifically food coloring. After about an hour he managed to find the bits. It caused another laugh to bubble out of him. The only place in his life that was unorganized had always been his kitchen.
Another hour was spent starting to mix up the icing before he felt the dough was ready. It took a while, but he’d made a good chunk of cookies with the design he wanted. They were set in the oven with a timer on for when they’d be done. The icing needed more mixing so he sat down to return to that.
The mindless task let his mind wander again. This time he was focused on the problems at hand. Aster’s voice specifically. A soft, kind sound from what he could gather. Not one he could hear easily. There had to be something to help. He could try a hearing aid, but that was expensive. Not to mention there was no guarantee. It wasn’t as if he’d ever come across someone mentioning talking bees.
Another part of it puzzled him. She’d been a bit quieter at one point when he heard her. Not quite yelling. How did that work? Why was it that he couldn’t hear if he looked at her? Something special there… what could they try out for that? Just lookin away from her? Didn’t seem right.
The very buzzing he was wondering about joined him in the kitchen. He hummed a small tune as he kept up mixing the icing. He’d taken to acting like he didn’t notice when she arrived. He hesitated for a moment with his task. Could that be what made her scared? Caused her to jump up? That she thought he wasn’t paying enough attention. He pushed those thoughts aside as the buzzing reached his ear.
“What are you doing?” she asked. It took a lot of control not to face her. He wanted to try and get a look at that cute little face. Even if it wasn’t clear.
“Makin cookies, Sweetpea,” he hummed. A little louder than the last time they talked. He wanted to see what she could handle. “Ya ever had any?”
“What’s a cookie?”
“Somethin sweet, like you,” he turned his head a little to wink at her.
“L-like me?”
Before he could reply the oven timer beeped. He reached up to his shoulder and wrapped Aster in a loose fist. Slowly, he led her down towards the table. She bumped his fingers a few times, but didn’t buzz angrily or try to get out. A little above the table he released his hold. Then stood up.
“Stay there Sweetpea,” he said. She looked so much more like a bee when they were like this. It made him question his own sanity. That smile in his memories made him not care. “Don’t want ya comin near the oven. Hotter than hades for me, can’t imagine ya would wanna get close.”
He walked off without waiting for a reply. It would be nothing, but buzzing anyhow. A quick tug to open the oven then he slipped on oven mitts. The scent of fresh cookies always made him relax. Carefully, he moved the cookies to some cooling racks. Set a timer to let him know when they’d be cool enough. For good measure he added a fan over them. Whether or not it helped, it made the entire house smell amazing.
When he turned back towards Aster he smiled. She was perched on the edge of one of the bowls of icing. Boy was he crazy for her. Hopefully the cookies made her a little calmer around him. Grabbing a few bags for the icing he returned to the table. Caught Aster from falling into the bowl as he sat down.
“Careful there, Sweetpea,” he chuckled. It got him a flurry of buzzes. Words he needed a better way to hear. Isaac leaned forward and turned his head to hear her. “Say that again would ya, sweetpea?”
“I said it’s your fault I was falling,” she huffed. Isaac’s heart broke a bit.
“Sweetpea, am I really that bad walkin around ya?”
“All humans are, I guess you’re a little worse than the others were.”
If it was a bear it would have bit him. Course he caused her trouble moving about how he did. He was as graceful as a bull in heels. She jumped up to avoid him knocking her around. It felt like he’d been shot in the heart. Didn’t matter how smitten he was, no chance she’d take a risk on him when he was such a blind fool.
“I’m sorry about that Sweetpea,” he whispered. Testing her limits felt mighty selfish now. “Any way I can make it easier on ya? I’m afraid I’ve never been what ya might call graceful.”
“I… had one idea…” her voice was quieter, but he managed to hear her. He leaned closer.
“What were ya thinkin, Sweetpea?”
“Well… I could ride on you… most of the time…?”
Isaac pulled back to look at her. The cutest little bee was clearly looking away from him. Hanging out on his shoulders or his head would certainly help a lot. Cover the issue of hearing her until he came to a better solution. He leaned closer and turned his head before answering.
“Sweetpea, I think that might solve a world of problems for us for now. I’d be honored if ya felt that safe around me.”
“Of course I feel safe around you. You saved me from the water and gave me a new home!”
“Sweetpea, you are one hell of a woman.” The timer dinged. He didn’t even realize they’d been talking that long. “Can we take a rain check until these cookies are done? I was working on a surprise for ya.”
“O-ok.”
Aster flew away from the bowls and landed on the table. She watched the massive man carry them all towards the cookie things. They smelled good, she wanted to try them. Especially if they were sweet.
With the distance between them she could pretend for a minute they were the same. At least closer to it. He didn’t judge her at all for flying all over and asking things. Didn’t yell at her when he caught her resting her wings, and he caught her a lot she always had to rush into the air. That made her wings more tired. She couldn’t understand how he always found her either.
Not that she minded that part. It was strange how someone so big always knew right where she was. It would be nice if she knew what he meant to say more often. She didn’t even know what a raincheck was. Or hades. She wanted to ask, but then he might get tired of her.
She continued watching as he put the sweet smelling stuff from the bowls into the bags. Black, yellow, white, and red. Weird. Aster had to fight herself not to get closer. Almost like he knew Isaac turned back around and shook his head. How did he know so well? And…did he really mean it when he called her sweet?
If only she knew what to do. He made her feel something she wasn’t supposed to. In the hive she felt this a few times. Had some fun partners, but nothing real. It couldn’t be real there, they were workers, only the queen could have a real partner. Isaac was different from those other bees. The way he looked at her… she wanted something more than just a nice man who let her stay when she was lost.
“That should do it, prettier than a peach. Sweetpea close your eyes for me will ya?” Isaac asked. His voice was soft again, he’d started being louder. She didn’t mind, it was kind of reassuring just how loud he was sometimes.
Aster did as he asked right away. Steps that easily knocked her over approached. Normally she’d try to fight it, but something about it being Isaac made her kind of like how overpowering he was. His presence was something unique.
The sweet scent of the cookie things appeared in front of her. She jumped back to her feet. Above her Isaac laughed. She wondered just how much he really saw of her. Maybe he’d use the thing to be bigger again. Call her pretty again.
“Go ahead and look, sweetpea,” he whispered.
She opened her eyes and froze. The thing looked like her. Long hair all the way down her back, even the hints of red in it. A yellow and black dress, the same as she wore. With wings similar to her own. On the face was a smile that felt nothing like her own. Carefree, beautiful, put together. Not a bumbling little bee like her.
“I found a bee mold and got inspired, what do ya think?” Isaac sounded nervous.
“It’s beautiful!” she shouted. Isaac laughed before leaning closer and turning his ear towards her. Right she forgot he can’t hear her. “I said it’s beautiful!”
“Well, I had a beautiful model. I have to ask ya sweetpea, can ya eat food like I do? These are called sugar cookies. Nice and sweet.”
“Yes! We would take leftovers from humans sometimes!”
“Well this one here is all yours sweetpea.” Isaac set the beautiful design down. Aster approached it and tried to grab some. It was a little hard, but she got it after a few attempts. Her hands were covered in the stuff that made it look like her. “I’ll finish decoratin’ the others, come when your done if ya want.”
Isaac was gone before she could answer. She watched him walk away. There were ways she could tell him to make her life easier. Be careful about how much weight he puts in his steps. Move slower. That didn’t matter. She liked him being himself.
The sweet scent started to overwhelm her thoughts. She took a big bite and her wings twitched. It was better than the water and the leftovers. She ate all she could, barely making a dent in the gigantic cookie. It felt awful to let something so good be wasted. So she flew right over to Isaac and landed on his shoulder.
“Can we keep them for a long time?” she asked.
“Cookies can stay good for a while sweetpea. Why? Did ya like that much?” he laughed. She grinned as his shoulder moved and bounced her.
“Yeah! If all cookies are like this I love them!” Kind of like you she thought. A mimic to how he’d called them sweet. The first time she acknowledged the feeling he caused in her heart by name.
“Lucky for you I love makin’ them Sweetpea. If ya loved these I have lots of other things ya might like. Seems like you’re givin’ me a good excuse to do more bakin’.”
“Is that good?”
“Better than good, sweetpea. It’s like ya gave me a greenlight to do something I love for someone I-” He stopped. She climbed to her feet and approached his neck. Pressed her hands on his skin.
“Someone you?”
Another laugh, kind of sad. “Man I’m as tight lipped as a squealing pig.”
Isaac put the bag in his hands down. The cookie had most of her finished, the wings weren’t. His fingers surrounded her and gently pushed her off his shoulder. She was brought in front of his eyes. So big, dark, something hungry in them that made her feel wanted. It felt like she had to have that same hunger when looking at him.
“Sweetpea, I can’t lie to ya,” He sighed. She pulled her wings tight on her back. “I’m afraid I’m smitten with ya. Ever since I first saw ya on the camera. Head over heels really.”
“What does that mean?” She tried to show confusion with her body assuming he couldn’t hear her. It worked based on the sigh that blew below her.
“Sweetpea… you’re makin me say this straight aren’t ya?” Another sigh. Aster hugged herself. “I think I like ya, Sweetpea. Might even be love. I don’t go givin’ just anyone a nickname like yours. Special for a special someone. Now don’t ya fret. I’m not expecting anythin’ out of ya.”
Aster jumped out of his hand and to his shoulder. Put her head almost in his ear this time. It felt strange. Weird. They were so different. His warm hands stayed with her. The kind words. How he smiled when she came running to ask him a new question. The way he tried to help her act like she had a place to run to if he scared her.
“I… think I’m smitten too!” She screamed. Isaacs skin radiated heat.
“I’m redder than a tomato hearing that. Sweetpea ya have no idea how excited that makes me. I don’t know what that means for us, but I promise I’ll do right by ya. Treat ya like the queen of your very own hive.”
Aster didn’t think he meant it. Didn’t think he knew what it meant to be queen. That was ok. She flew back away from his ear and to his face. Right up to his lips. This was absolutely terrifying. She did it anyway. Leaned in and kissed his plump lips. That caused him to suck in a breath. Nearly her with it. Two fingers grabbed her before anything could happen and his massive lips pressed back gently. He pulled her away and held her up by his eye again.
“I had no idea ya were so forward, Sweetpea. Let’s finish with these cookies and then we can have some fun.”
Aster didn’t bother to say anything. Squirmed in his fingers until he let her go and settled on top of his head. Warm and safe. Absolutely perfect. Isaac started to hum and it made the moment sweeter. As he worked she felt herself grow tired. She snuggled into his hair ready to rest until he was done.
The last thing she heard was a whisper from Isaac, “Maybe I do have a sweet tooth.”