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A kiss to her hand.
She felt just a little sad when Zira rubbed it immediately after.
“Zira, you said you were going home.”
They kissed her palm this time,
“What made you change your mind?”
“My mama can wait.. Don't tell her I said that.”
The sentence elicited a small laugh from Aika.
“What are you looking at?”
She knew.
Zira was focused on the scar across her arm.
That one is a little new. Battle injuries.
Not from the nuisance, of course. He’s too weak to do anything like that.
It was just a scrape from a sharp corner.
“This one looks so cool on you! What happened?”
She seemed actually interested.
“It's just a little scratch.”
It's just a scratch.
It's not worth her time like Aika is.
“Can I kiss it too?”
“Of course you can.”
The way Zira’s eyes lit up made Aika feel warm.
Seeing Zira happy makes her happy. Happier than ever.
Happier than anything else could make her.
“I like when you kiss me.”
She wished Zira would kiss more of her.
More scars, more stitches.
“I don't think I’m that good at it..”
Why are they always doubting themself?
“You're the best at it.”
Even after the reassurance, they still were.
“You kiss the scars better.”
“Stop.. stop saying it like that.”
But it's true.
That was the truth in Aika’s head, at least.
Some scars never really felt healed until Zira came in contact with them.
She wanted that type of attention from her.
The type where she’s holding her arms.
Kissing the burn mark on her shoulder.
Kissing the scar on her chest.
Being gentle.
Being with Zira means Aika had nothing to prove.
Nothing to worry about.
“You look happy.”
“I know. You're kissing me and scratching me. Why wouldn't I be?”
To her dismay, Zira pulled their hands away from her arms.
“Oh. Sorry. I dunno why I did that. Sorry. I was uh–”
“You have really nice nails.”
Not too long, but nothing she would consider too short.
“But I bite them off all the time?”
“So what? I’d want you to scratch me regardless.”
There’s this feeling she could only experience around Zira.
She wanted to explore more of it,
How much could she love them?
How many more of these moments could she have with them?
Where they both don't have to acknowledge anything else?
Where they have each other?
Where they don't acknowledge any scars.
She would already give up everything to be near them, at this point.
To be with them.
Even if it's just silence.
Silent kisses and hugs.
Aika figured she liked being scratched because it's just mild pain against her skin.
Mild pain to distract her from her real problems.
Problems that she can't solve, problems that she has no idea how to handle alone.