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You never felt a true sense of privacy in your own home. You had gone through your whole life with the feeling that someone was watching you. Whether you were in bed sleeping or at your desk doing work. From waking up to the moment you step out the door the feeling of being watched wouldn’t leave you until you locked eyes with another person to break those paranoid thoughts. For years now, ever since you moved out of your parent’s home, you would lie awake at night until the witching hours feeling that sense of dread that something was watching you. But you could never prove it and it had driven you to nearly insane for a period of time. You tried speaking to a counsellor at the college you were attending to but they concluded it was just stress. After that you became determined to find out if there was indeed something watching you.
You had set up crude booby traps that would show evidence of your watcher’s presence. Such as stacking paper cups near the doorway or sticking tape under the door. You returned home to see the tape had strange smudges on it and the cups looked liked they had been knocked over and stacked back up differently than how you did. You also once took a large bowl of flour from the kitchen cabinets and sprinkled it all over your bedroom floor before going to bed. Anything that came into the room afterwards would leave trails on the flour and you would finally have proof to show.
When you awoke the next day, you remember feeling your heart dropping to your stomach and your arms feeling weak as you looked down and saw evidence of foot and hand prints in the flour. But they all looked wrong. Too alien to be human. You pressed your hand in the empty space of the hand print and it was almost three times bigger than your own hand. With the fingers bent in ways that was impossible for a human finger to do. It was like they were malformed or unnaturally twisted. And the feet were wrong, as well. The toes were too long, almost with twisted digits. Looked more like smaller versions of hands than human feet. You studied each of them and tried to follow where they led to. They seemed to have come out from under your bed. And then circled around the room and you also spotted some strange markings and smears of hardened flours caked on the floor. Like a dog tried to lick it up. Then the prints stopped at your bedside closest to your head. Evenly spaced apart with toes and fingers facing towards you. Like it had been standing on it’s hands and feet for a long period of time.
Just... Watching you.
And then the prints seemed hurried and went towards the end of the bed. Towards the floor vent where most of the flour was dusted away. As if a gust of wind and puffed out and created a faint circle around the vent.
You remember your chest pounding and your head racing with panic as you stepped carefully on the empty spaces where the creature had walked. Feeling a deep sense of uneasiness as you stepped onto the same spot It did. But you couldn’t risk disturbing them. You had to show your someone the proof. Had to show them that it wasn’t you going crazy and that whatever was here is real!
And so you took some photos on your phone. And began to get a whole story together about the traps and how the trail led into the vents and you presented your findings to the dorm supervisor. But after you presented your concerns and the photos to her, she just looked at you like you were delusional with a an annoyed sigh and said that she’ll look into it. But the most that ever came out of it was a inspection on the door locks, the vents and a supply of rat traps and a warning to keep the home tidy and to not leave flour on the floor again. You felt crushed by this, that you were going insane since you seemed to be the only person to notice this. And that it only seemed to happen to you out of everyone.
But the feeling never went away. Every night, you felt the dread knowing that the creature would come out again. That it would watch you, night after night for who knows how long. What did it want from you? Was it doing something to you in your sleep? You would see no evidence in the mornings when you checked yourself in the mirror, aside from tangled hair and a wet smear on your cheek you assumed was your own drool. And then eventually when you’ve resigned to accept the fact that whatever it was, be it a real thing or just your own delusions, it was ultimately harmless. You had no injuries, no scars, and aside from the mental distress and anxiety disorder, you were relatively healthy.
And eventually, you had forgotten about the flour incident and had moved on with your life. You finished college and eventually found your own apartment. Life was relatively normal for you.
Until the one night, the time the creature had finally decided to show itself. After years of self-doubt, having your sanity questioned and being mocked as an attention seeker. You finally saw and heard the damn thing in the flesh. This thing who stood at 7 ft tall, had eyes light fog lights and wasn’t anything like any normal creature should be. Humanoid in shape but with dark blue skin like rubber, elongated limbs and is able to twist and contort itself into different shapes and fit into spaces one quarter of it’s size.
It was real all along.
If you had not been under sleep paralysis the first night you saw it you would have laughed. But you could only laugh inside your own head as the creature spoke to you. It confessed it had watched you, it knew everything about you. A silent observer who remained in the shadows of your home for decades. Simply watching and learning about you. It continued to speak, asking questions as if this thing wanted to be your friend. Giving advice on how to sleep, asking if you liked music. It seemed almost human, friendly even, if it weren’t for the unblinking stare and the way it skin audibly stretched as it moved.
Eventually, it left and you fell asleep once again.
The following nights after that, it appeared again. And you were finally able to touch the thing. Confirming it was a real, living, breathing thing. And it held a disturbing amount of attentiveness to everything you did. Matching your breathing, tapping it’s finger in sync to your heartbeat, it’s wandering, bright yellow eyes followed your gaze wherever it looked as you both wandered around your apartment together at night. Learning more about it as the nights went on.
On one of the earlier nights, you showed it around your apartment, curious to know what it understood about human accommodations. And found yourself a little disturbed by how much it knew and what it had been up to this whole time. Licking your plates clean, wearing your clothes, and you didn’t even want to ask what it was going in the water closet.
After getting to know the creature on a more personable level, and setting some boundaries about what it can and can’t get away with in the home, the monster you had been dreading this whole time soon became a rather welcome sight. In a strange and unexpected twist of events, the creature that had haunted your awareness since college was now your roommate.
When it wasn’t fixating it’s full attention on you, you’ve learned that it can be rather playful at times. Hiding itself inside drawers and cabinets, as if trying to impress you with how it can contort it’s body into any shape. And even spooked you one time when you opened the utensil drawer to find it compacted into a perfect square. And then it casually handed you the spoon you were looking for for your soup. Understanding this creature’s needs also forced you to make some small adjustments to your life. Including limiting your light use and using dimmed lamps and a flashlight when it became dark. Keeping the windows closed most nights in order to block out the noise from the streets below. And, after learning about it’s particular diet, leaving some leftovers behind on the counter on purpose so it could, in it’s own way, enjoy a meal with you.
Living with this creature also presented some incidents where it seemed completely oblivious to the concept of privacy.
You had once stepped into the water closet to use the toilet. Had dropped your pants and sat down and then glanced up to stretch your neck. Before nearly falling into the toilet bowl when you spotted it’s large, glowing yellow eyes staring directly down at you. You screamed at it to leave the room where it then quickly scuttled away, crawling along the ceiling and walls like a massive spider and retreated under the sofa where it had curled up into a ball like a frightened cat.
You banned it from entering the water closet for a week after that.
Aside from it’s loose understanding of privacy, for most of the time it wasn’t that bad to have around. It was hard to describe but it’s presence was comforting in a way. Reassuring in the knowledge that it was and may always be there. Silently watching you, speaking in a low, raspy voice when it wanted to share it’s thoughts on something. And occasionally, reaching out to touch you, seemingly out of curiosity. Just simple, light, harmless touches. Your arm, your hand. Sometimes your hair and shoulders. And when sleep overtook you, you had both began to grow accustomed to sharing a bed together. Though it usually preferred to stay underneath during the day, during the night you would sometimes just spend hours laying and talking about your day together. Or just laying in silence.
You would be scrolling through your phone or reading a book and the creature would wrap it’s long limbs around you. It’s face pressed into your hair or against your shoulder. The pressure of it’s torso pressing into your side as it breathed in sync with you. It’s long, thin hands curled around you as it’s fingers curled into your clothes or touched lightly against the exposed skin of your arms. It’s legs, though shorter than yours, would curl around your waist or behind your knee like pythons clinging to you for warmth. One finger always tapping to the sound of your heartbeat.
You had grown accustomed to spending your nights alone over the years. But spending nights like this, where neither of you had to speak and it was enough to just simply exist, it was... Pleasant. You found yourself resting more and falling asleep more easily when it held you like this. The presence of it’s body wrapped around yours akin to a weighted blanket.
The monster you once dreaded had become a warm, gentle constant in your nights.
Because this creature was living inside your home 24/7, trying to get some privacy was difficult at times. Especially when incidents like the water closet still happen on occasion. It just seemed so damn curious at everything you do. The more you thought of it the more unnerving it became. How many times has it watched you do something without you knowing? When you used the toilet in the past. Changed clothes in your room? When you were making private phone calls or texts to someone?
Was it watching you take a bath right now?
It was the weekend and you have decided to treat yourself to a nice, scented bath. A rare luxury you afforded yourself. You picked up a flowery scented bath bomb at the local drug store along with some tealight candles to make things extra fancy. Set the mood for an evening of complete relaxation. You filled the bath and dropped the bath bomb inside, and as it fizzed and foamed up the water’s surface you made yourself a cup of chamomile tea and brought in one of the chairs from the kitchen so you would be able to reach it more easily as you laid in the tub.
After arranging everything, you lit the candles. Placing a couple on the bathroom counter and one on the chair to help you see things. And then you shut the lights off, disrobed and sank into the tub.
You had laid in the warm, scented water for several minutes. Taking a sip of your tea before laying your head on the rim and closing your eyes. Feeling the tensions in your muscles and bones slowly ease away. A long, soft sigh escaping you as your limbs almost went limp.
Then the feeling of being watched returned again. Almost like a tickle on your skin. You cracked open one eye and immediately spotted a bright yellow eye with a large, black pupil staring directly back at you from under the bathroom cabinets. It almost blended in perfectly with the shadows aside form the faint glimmer of candlelight shining off its rubbery skin. Its one, visible eye locked onto your gaze as it’s fingers slipped out and seemed to slither over the cabinet doors and the floor tiles. The index finger on the tile tapping on the hard surface to the rhythm of your slowed heartbeat.
“Hello...” It rasped softly. It’s tone seemed almost timid.
“Hello.” You replied back. Sitting up slightly to turn your head and brace the tub’s edge. Keeping your body fully submerged beneath the foam.
“I didn’t think you’d use the tub today.” I rasped, it’s voice almost a whisper with how low it spoke. Its bright eyes staring at you, unblinking. You had always wondered how it’s eyes glowed like that. Bioluminescence perhaps?
“Did you plan on using it?” You asked.
“Yes.” I replied, a bit bluntly.
“Oh...” You muttered. “Sorry... You can use it when I’m done, though.”
“Okay.” I said softly. It seemed satisfied with your answer.
You both then stared at each other in silence. It seems to frequently happen between you two, when no other words were needed. It bothered you for a while at first but now you had grown used to its stares.
“Does the light from the candles bother you?” You asked, suddenly recalling its severe sensitivity to light.
It couldn’t even tolerate the light of the lampshade without covering its eyes. Seemingly pained by it. Anything brighter and it would curl into a massive, tight ball of coiled limbs and refuse to move or speak until the light was gone.
“A little.” It said, it’s pupil now starting to wander around the room, aimed mostly towards the darkest corners or at you. “But it’s... Tolerable. But I know you need some light to see.”
Then silence fell again. You watched as its other fingers seemed to trace patterns on the cabinet doors. A thought itching in it’s mind.
“May I... Come closer?” It asked, finally. Its eyes seemingly grown bigger when it asked the question.
You watched its fingers as they lightly moved over the hard surfaces. Each of the fingers seemed to move separately from the others as if each one had their own independent mind. Except for the one on the tile that diligently kept track of your heartbeat with its taps.
“Sure.” You finally decided. You glance at the candle on the chair.
“You want me to put that one out for you?” You asked it.
“Yes... Please.” I rasped. There was a slight shift on it’s expression in the shadow but it was too dim for you to see it clearly.
You shifted in the tub and reached for the tealight. Bring it close to your face and blowing it out before placing it back on the chair near you in the dark.
You then hear it start to move after you did that, the stretch and strain of its rubbery skin sliding across the tile and wood as it’s squeezed itself out from under the cabinet. Its head stretched out and upward like a sprouting mushroom followed by its chest and torso. Its upper body expanding like a balloon as you watched its skin and muscles stretch and bunch up. Pulling itself up from under the cabinet with its head first while the rest of its soft body followed after it before settling back into its usual shape. Two hands braced the floor as its legs slipped free and planted themselves on the tile. Then it moved forward in a semi-slithering motion. Crouched down low as it slinked towards the tub and its fingers curled over the rim of the tub near where your feet were. The fingertips just above the water as it resumed its tapping against the white, acrylic surface. The rest of it’s body curling up as it crouched. It’s shoulders hunched over as its head seemed to tuck into its body slightly. It reminded you of an owl sitting on a perch.
Then silence fell on you both again. At this close proximity to the creature, you did feel an anxious knot twist in your gut. Despite having known the creature for several weeks now, there was still the slight anticipation of it’s unpredictability. But, after a few moments, you began to relax again. Sinking into the water up to your neck and resting your head on the tub rim. Taking a chance to enjoy the warm water again.
You listened to the tapping of it’s finger against the side of the tub. And heard the wisp of air escape it’s mouth as it breathed in time with you. At the beginning after it revealed itself, it was unnerving. But as time went on, you found it rather meditative in a way. It was like having a partner for a breathing exercise. Air in. Air out. Repeat. You wondered if it found it relaxing too, hence why does it every time you’re around.
“Don’t fall asleep in the water.”
Your eyes opened, looking back at the creature where it had not moved at all.
“It’s dangerous.” It said, its wide eyes fixed on you.
“I won’t, I promise.” I said. “I’m simply relaxing, is all.”
It hummed softly, seemingly satisfied with your answer.
Its eyes then drifted over the foam in the water. It’s fingers from one hand moving lower to dip themselves beneath the surface. Slowly stirring the foam near the edge and pinching it between its fingers.
“Why do you need so many soaps for this bath? You don’t usually use this much.” I asked, its eyes seemingly transfixed on the multicoloured bubbles.
“It’s a luxury bath. It’s more fancy than a normal bath. I wanted to treat myself to something nice that would make me feel good and smell nice. So I added a bath bomb to it.”
Its eyes narrow as it stares into the water. Like it’s trying to discern something about it.
Then it withdrew its fingers from the water, the foam and droplets running down its lengthy digits. And then you see its yellow teeth part and a long tongue snake out to lap at the water on its fingers. You froze as you watched it clean its fingers, leaving a thin film of saliva on them. Its face grimaced into a distasteful look.
“This water tastes bad.”
You try to push the image of its tongue out of your head as you shook it.
“You’re not supposed to drink it. Just soak in it.”
It then turned its gaze back to you and tilted its head slightly, its eyes wide again.
“Oh...” It muttered softly then gazed back at the soap with a contemplative look.
A question began to nag at you in the back of your mind and you decided now was as good as any chance to ask it.
"You've seen me naked before, haven't you?"
"Yes." It answered. Not even hesitating. It didn’t seem to feel any shame about it either.
A wave of unease fell over you in that moment when it admitted to it. But then again, it’s not like this creature had made any sexual advances on you over the past few weeks. It enjoyed holding you and touching your skin, sure, but it was more akin to touching a pet. At least, that’s what it felt like when you were both together cuddling. Like you were its pet or favourite plushie rather than something to exploit.
"Well… I guess it shouldn't be a surprise. You watch me in my sleep, afterall. And when I use the toilet." You said.
It averts your gaze, looking a little guilty.
You watched its face curiously, noting how it doesn't even try to defend or deny its actions.
"What is it about watching me that is so fascinating to you?" You asked, deciding to ask it more directly. "I mean… If you've been living with me for as long as you say you did, I would've guessed you've gotten bored at some point. My body doesn't change much…" You said and watched it as you waited for its response.
It started gently playing with the foam again. Gathering small clumps to start a pile against the side of the tub.
"You may not go through many changes on the outside. But inside, there is always things happening." It said, its eyes fixed on yours once more.
"Your thoughts, emotions and experiences flicker and spark underneath your skin that I can feel when you are home. They vibrate through me, giving me sensations and sustenance that reflect everything you experience. They make me feel… Grounded. Connected to you."
Its gaze grows more intense as it speaks, as if staring deep into your soul.
"If I could describe it to you… It might be similar to looking at the television or your computer." It tilts its head, its face contorting curiously as it continues. "They are both boxes filled with wires that display flickering lights. But they display seemingly endless forms of entertainment and information for you.”
It tilts its head and it’s thin lips curl into an unnerving grin.
“It must be very fascinating for you since you spent many hours in the night looking at the screens. Despite seeing the same thing over and over, but in a different context."
Its face twists again, returning to it usual, stoic expression.
"I think my fascination for you may be similar to that. It is still the same series of flickering energies underneath the surface, but they are always changing. Creating new sensations I can feel. Becoming different as time goes by. With every challenge you face. Every new experience you have. And…" It glances away, thinking.
"I’ve noticed as you learn about me… It feels more different now that you are aware of me. Warmer… Sharper some days and soft on others. A new layer of complexity to the whole that makes up you." Its voice grew softer. Then it pauses, contemplating its next response.
It looks back to you and tilted its head slightly, it’s eyes wide and intense.
"I could watch you forever and never really get bored, I don't think." It said softly. Its gaze seemed to soften into what you could only assume was affection. Or perhaps an emotion you just couldn’t name, given its unusual nature.
You stare back at it for a moment. Letting yourself lock eyes with it.
"That's... Rather beautiful."
It's grin curled into a wobbly smile on its face. It looked rather endearing.
It resumed its stirring of the water. Your body was warmed and now thoroughly soaked and an idea popped into your head. You sit up and bring your legs closer to your chest. Shifting to make as much room as possible.
"Would you like to join me and we can bathe each other?"
It tilted its head and its eyes widen in surprise. It hadn't expected you to share the bath with you.
"The water will overflow..." It muttered, eyeing how high the water was.
"I can drain some of it before you slip in." You said. You shift over to remove the drain, the water flowing heavily underneath the tub as it began to drain. The creature flinched back, as if scared it would get caught in the drain. After a moment, you stuck the plug back in with the water now lowered to your chest.
"There, that should be enough room, I think." You said, shifting over to allow it room to climb in.
It eyed the tub water for a moment. Hesitating as if it was expecting some sort of trick. But as you remained patiently waiting, its shoulders seemed to relax and it began to climb inside. It gripped the rim of the tub with both its hands before snaking one leg up over the rim. The whole leg and foot bent in an arch where it sank into the water, barely causing a ripple, followed by its hips and the rest of its body as it filled the other half of the tub with its large body. Its movements were so smooth and fluid and they had settled in within just a blink. It was like its body became liquid for a few seconds as it contorted itself into the tub. The water level quickly rose once all its weight was inside. The half-filled tub was now gently splashing against the rim, covering up up to your neck again.
“Eh... Maybe I should’ve drained it a bit more.” You muttered.
The creature’s face withdrew into itself, looking slightly embarrassed. You quickly catch on and tried to reassure it.
“Oh it’s fine, don’t worry. The floors are tile so we can just clean it up later if it overflows.” You said.
“...Okay.” It mutters softly, wrapping its right arm around its legs as it rests its chin on its knees, letting its left arm drape outside of the tub and lay limp on the floor. One finger tapping the floor as it kept track of your heartbeat.
You both fell into silence as the creature’s eyes seem to wander. Watching the bubbles float around it as their translucent surfaces sparkled from the light reflected in the candles. The skin on its shoulder, arm and head also seemed to absorb some of the candlelight as it gave its midnight blue skin a warm glow. And, as always, its chest expanded and contracted steadily in sync with your own breathing.
You tilt your head curiously as you watch it.
“Does it get tiring to keep track of my breathing and heartbeat sometimes?”
Its eyes drifted up to your face when you asked the question.
“Only when you are scared. Then it becomes difficult to keep track. Or when my hands are busy. Or when I am trying to fit into a small space.” It explained. Its fingers on its knees twitched slightly as it watched you.
“How long have you been doing it?”
I remained silent, but you can tell it was trying to recall. Its eyes wandered around the tub again with a blank expression. It then became hard to tell what it was thinking.
“... I’ve always kept track of it. It is instinctive to me.” It whispered finally after a long minute.
But the long pause was curious to you. Why did it take longer to respond? Was it struggling to remember? Then you wondered if it knew any other humans before you. How old was it truly? Judging by its appearance it was impossible to tell its age.
“Say... You said before in our previous conversations that you were always with me. Can you tell me what you meant by that?" You asked.
Its eyes focused on your face, flickering subtly over your features.
"I have always been here. With you." It explained.
"And before that? Do you remember how you found me?"
This seemed to have stunted it. Even its tapping hesitated for a moment before continuing. Its eyes narrowed as it became lost in thought. Trying to recall a lost memory.
"I... I... Don't remember." I whispered. Its voice so faint you almost didn't hear it. “I have always been here... As far as I know.”
You studied the creatures face, watching its warping expression grimace into a new expression you don’t think you’ve seen before. If you had to guess what it meant it would likely have meant that it was disturbed by this revelation.
You lift a hand but hesitate. Its eyes immediately lock onto it, following your movements precisely. Then, very slowly, you reach out and place a hand on top of its own that rested on its knee. It looks back up at you, eyes wide and curious what the gesture meant.
“Hey, it’s okay if you don’t remember.” You said, wanting to reassure the creature. “We don’t have to think about it for now if it’s hard for you. We can talk about something else.” You smiled and slowly retracted your hand.
Its eyes followed your hand as you withdrew and it settled around your knees again. For a moment, it simply stared at you. As it often did when it was carefully choosing its words. Or was simply lost in its own thoughts. It was hard to tell the difference. It then exhaled a soft sigh from its thin, dry lips and its head bobbed just slightly for a nod. Communicating that it was content.
You also sighed, mirroring its contentment.
And then you scooped a handful of water and began to rinse it over your hair, neck and shoulders. Feeling it was time to actually start washing yourself. Even with the other occupant in the bathtub with you, you felt strangely at ease now that you have gotten used to the creature. As it watched you, you didn’t get the sense of unease you normally would have if anyone else had been watching you bath. It was simply present with you as if this were part of any other routine. Your body was just a part of you that required maintenance and care like any other part of you. And it remained on its side of the tub as you carried on with your washing.
After rinsing your skin and hair til you were satisfied, you wiped the scented water from your face with a wash cloth before setting it on the tub rim. You looked back at your night-bound occupant, noting it barely moved from it’s spot.
“How is the water for you?” You asked it. You opened your mouth to ask if it was too hot or too cold before you remembered that it may not feel the difference.
The creature glanced down at the water and with its free hand it scooped a small amount of water and let it pour gently over its left shoulder. Laying its long fingers over its skin and somewhat mimicking how you washed yourself.
"It feels... Nice, I guess. Though I do like how calm it makes you feel. I like that more." It said, its voice coming out as a low rumble. "And it feels nice to breathe in the steam. It leaves a soft tickle in my throat." It smiled, its eyes warping slightly as it shifted its face.You returned the smile and an idea popped into mind.
"Would you like me to wash you?" You asked.
Its eyes widened at me and it went silent.
"I mean, if you're comfortable with it." You added.
It glanced away in thought for a moment before it gave a slight nod.
"Okay." It said and slumped its shoulders slightly. A non verbal que that its given you permission to touch it.
You nodded and shifted closer to it until you were kneeling before it. It went completely still as you did, as if bracing itself for contact.
“Is there any places you don’t want me to touch?” You asked, looking at its eyes as you waited for its response.
It gazed back at my eyes, thoughts slowly flickering behind its eyes. Then it lifted its hand and pointed at the closed slit in the side of its neck.
“There...”
Then dipped its hand below the surface and gestured at its groin area.
“And there...” It said lowly. And then rested its hand back on its knees, bowing its head slightly.
You nodded. “Okay, I’ll be mindful of them.”
You then leaned forward and reached for the body wash soap bottle resting on the rail beside us and the loofah. You squeezed a small portion onto the bright pink scrubber before lathering it up. Then when the soap suds began to build, You took its hand and gently began to scrub at the top of it. Its long fingers curled around your hand and circled around you wrist lightly. You let its fingers idly brush along your skin as you began to wash it. Slowly making your way from its knuckles, to its wrist and then down its very, very long arm.
You hear its breathing deepen as you begin to wash it. Its eyes narrowed to a half-lidded, relaxed gaze as a content sigh left its lips. Its fingers crawled down your arm as you gradually moved lower. The pads of its fingers trailing along the flexing tendons inside your wrist. Pressing into them as it felt them flex and twitch beneath the skin. Its eyes following along the lines of your veins, or at least as much as it could see before it faded under your skin pigments.
You let it touch you. Feeling its fingers lazily crawl over your arm like curious snakes. There were many times it had enveloped you in its arms at night, its fingers seemingly always hungry for contact with your skin which they never seem to grow tired of. It was almost soothing, in it’s own strange way. Like just having contact with you, even in simple touches like this, was enough to comfort it.
You had to lift its arm over you and allowed it to rest on your shoulder as you moved closer and carefully began to wash at its shoulder and chest area. Its long arm naturally coiled around your shoulders. Its hand finding a perch on your left shoulder where it’s bicep rested on as its thumb gently stroked the edge of your collarbone. Its eyes wider now to watch you more closely as you now knelt between its bent legs.
You placed your hand on its shoulder as well to keep yourself from slipping in the tub. As you gently continued to lather the body wash over its chest and opposite shoulder, you let your hands explore its skin morel. Half-mindedly copying its gesture. Pressing your fingers into the firm yet flexible skin, trying to trace its cords of muscles and feel for bones. You traced your fingers towards its neck. Sensing a slight tension and the muscles stiffen just a little as you drew closer to a sensitive area. You wondered briefly if it was perhaps ticklish there but weren’t willing to test it at this moment.
Instead you moved your hand downward and your fingers followed along what you assumed was its collarbone. Lightly trailing your fingers along it as the hand holding the loofah stopped washing briefly to shift your focus on studying it.
“Do you have any bones?” You asked.
“Mmm... I do. But they’re not like yours.” It hummed contemplatively, looking down as it watched your fingers. You decided to experiment a little and you pressed your fingers into the curve of its collarbone. Rubbing your fingers gently into its skin until you felt a semisolid layer underneath. But the more you pressed into it, you noticed that it would create a small dip in the otherwise straight structure. You pressed your finger just a little more until you definitely felt the malleable bone underneath.
The creature went still again and the hand it had coiled around your shoulder tensed its grip. As if preparing to pull you away if you didn’t stop.
You immediately stopped.
“Sorry... Did that hurt?” You asked, looking up into its face with a mix of guilt and concern.
It looked up into your eyes and gently shook its head.
“No... But I don’t want you to do that.” It said, the hand on your shoulder relaxing slightly, its fingers tapping lightly on your wet skin.
“I think... If you put too much pressure on my body like that, it may try to envelope you. Like it tried when you touched my eye.” I said.
“Oh...” You remembered that incident vividly.
How your fingers had just grazed its eyelids before your hand was suddenly swallowed by its skin. All of it pooling and engulfing your hand and your arm in seconds like a mass of worms hungry to devour you. You dreaded to think what would’ve happened if the creature hadn’t figured out how to stop it. If it hadn’t told you you both needed to relax to get its body to do the same.
You withdrew your hand from its collarbone, instead sinking it into the water to let it rest on your lap as your other held the loofah still.
“Don’t you have control over it?” You asked.
It bowed its head slightly, thinking.
“I do... To some extent.”
Its eyes glanced at your neck area and you feel it’s thumb rub along your collarbone. Pressing it a little more firmly in some places as if mimicking how you were touching it.
“But when something I don’t expect happens, my body will react instinctively. And I may not stop it in time.” I said solemnly, lifting it’s head and rolling it on it’s shoulder as it regarded you.
You nodded, giving a small hum of acknowledgement.
“Okay, I’ll bear that in mind.” You said. And then continued with the washing. Moving the loofah over its other shoulder and then down to its chest and under its arms. Unlike its neck it didn’t seem nearly as sensitive. Its shoulders slumped again and its head lowered slightly as it grew more relaxed. Seemingly soothed by the gentle washing you were giving it. You felt its hand still caressing your shoulder and collarbone and you sense its gaze drift down to your chest.
“May I... Rest my hand over your heart?” It asked.
You glanced up at it and nodded. Both of you lulled into this relaxed state of caring and touching one another.
Its fingers then moved away from your shoulder and down over your left breast. Its large palm pressed into your skin above the nipple as its fingers curled around your ribs and under your arm. Essentially hugging you with one arm. You feel its palm press against the flat of your chest and one of its fingers began to twitch against your side as it felt your heartbeat.
A long soft sigh left the creature and it closed its eyes. And you felt a wave of deep contentment from it as you slowly and gently finished washing it. Its gentle gestures, its soft, even breathing that matched yours and the warmth of its arm and hand encircled around you felt calming. Both of you simply being present with one another in this caring act.
You washed away at the rest of its chest, its sides and then leaned in even closer as you reached for its back. Resting your head on its broad shoulder as you worked your way from the base of its neck, down its spine and shoulder blades. Tracing alone its thick cords of muscles and the subtle bumps of its bones. You sensed movement from it’s left hand that was resting outside of the tub and you feel it submerge itself into the tub and circle around your back. Its hand gently resting against the middle of your back as its head leaned forward and you feel its forehead press into the crook of your neck. Warmth blooms inside of you at the intimacy you both feel being at this close proximity. With your bare skins pressed into one another, the warmed shared from both the water and from your bodies and the dim flickering of the candles in your peripheral vision, the moment was tranquil for the both of you.
You decided that washing just its upper body was enough for the bath and you let the loofah drop into the water before you scooped up a handful into your cupped hands and began to slowly it off. Again, starting from its shoulders, its chest and then its back. Wiping off any residue soap from its body. All the while its arms remained tenderly wrapped around you, keeping its grip loose and delicate. After the last of the soap was washed off of it, you slowly leaned forward to wrap your arms around the creature’s broad chest and laid your cheek on its shoulder. Its fingers twitched at the affectionate gesture but it made no move to stop you. Feeling too relaxed and a profound sense of contentment in this moment. Then you feel its arms move slowly, gently tightening its hold on you as your bodies pressed together in the embrace, your chests cushioned against each other as they rose and fell with each breath you both took.
Neither of you said a word for a long while and you both allowed your bodies melt into one. Only your heartbeat keeping track of time with every tap of the creature’s finger.
After a while, you almost could’ve fallen asleep like this. But you soon began to realize the bathwater was getting cold and it may be time to finish in the tub.
Reluctantly, you pulled away from the creature. Its head followed the contact of your shoulder as you leaned away before its large, bright eyes blinked open. As if awoken from a trance. You both make eye contact as you rest your hands on its shoulders.
“You wanna go cuddle in bed together?” You asked.
The creature blink again, processing your words slowly before it gave a small nod.
“Yes... I’d like that.”
It then carefully unwound its arms from around you and allowed you to step out of the tub before it followed suit. Using its arms to steady itself as you reached for a bath towel and dried yourself off. You turned and wordlessly began to help the creature dry off as well. It seemed to appreciate the gesture as its eyelids relaxed into a narrowed gaze as it calmly watched you dry its body. It took less effort than you expected as it seemed most of the moisture had already rolled off of its rubbery skin. You wondered briefly if helping to wash it at all did anything to help clean it but your concerns seemed to dissipate with the look of pure contentment in its face.
You finished off drying each other off before you tossed the towels over the puddles left by you both. Leaving it to clean up later as you slipped your pajamas back on and blew out the candles before leaving the bathroom together.
You were familiar enough with your apartment to navigate in the near darkness. You didn’t have a flashlight with you but when you weren’t sure how far some of the furniture was from your shins, you felt the creature’s hand on your shoulder gently guide you around it. You reached up and placed your hand over its own. Your fingers curling around each other as you made it to the bedroom.
It lingered behind as you reached out and felt for the mattress and blanket in front of you. You then lifted the blanket and climbed into bed. Looking up to see the eyes of the creature that stood out from the darkness like owl eyes. After you had settled in, you patted at the empty spot beside you and felt the bed dip as it crawled in to join you.
You feel its arms coil around you. One looping over your stomach with the hand slithering up to rest on your shoulder, the other slipping under your pillow and emerging from the other side to lightly touch your damp hair. It pressed itself against your side, careful not to let its heavy weight lean against you too much. Lastly, one leg slide over yours and coiled itself under your knee and when it finally settled in you can feel its breath against your neck as it laid its head on the pillow next to your head. The soft light of their eyes illuminating part of your face as their gaze fixes on you once more.
You glance at it one last time before you close your eyes.
“Good night. I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
The creature blinked slowly and its fingers began to gently stroke your hair. The finger tips tracing along your crown with almost reverent tenderness.
“Good night. See you tomorrow.” It whispered back. And you both remained laying there like this until you slowly drifted off to slumber with the weight of its hold comforting you.