(Untitled)
It's quiet today down by the lake. A breeze has blown up from the Caribbean inlet engulfing the shallows in an unseasonably pleasant warmth. The turtleducks are taking advantage of the weather to dive for some of the last tasty invertebrates before autumn truly sets in. From the pier some distance away a small alien watches in silence.
She checks herself, however, nostrils flaring as she glances toward the lake.
Her eyes go wide.
Several moments later she's making her way toward the pier, steps slow, careful and very quiet.
She does not want to interrupt.
Reply
She's downwind of him.
"Abomination."
And even to those with sharp hearing, X can be very quiet.
"You were built to destroy. You can never belong."
Eventually though, Stitch's head jerks up. His ears fall. Somehow, without moving, he seems to shrink. He does not turn around.
Reply
She moves up beside him on the pier, dropping into a crouch almost close enough to touch.
But only almost.
Her gaze remains fixed on the turtleducks.
She stays silent.
Reply
Out on the water, the turtleducks continue dabble and dive. Perodically one bobs to the surface with something wriggly in its bill.
Reply
X, ever so slowly, shifts her weight to the left until her shoulder just brushes up against Stitch.
She breathes, and continues to watch the turtleducks swim.
Reply
Reply
Composed.
And maybe a little confused.
She doesn't move away, however.
Not even an inch.
Reply
His eyes fall to the boards of the pier.
Nothing he says matters. Nothing can fix this.
"I sorry..."
Reply
The pier is very interesting.
And some things are hard to say.
"I know."
Her voice is similarly quiet.
But she's leaning against him just that little bit more heavily.
Reply
The anguish is still there when he meets her gaze again but this time it's accompanied by something else: confusion.
Reply
If it also kind of resembles a half-hug, it's pure coincidence.
Probably.
She keeps looking at Stitch, but remains silent.
She cannot find the words.
Reply
Blink.
Blink.
Slowly, hesitantly, and still looking bewildered Stitch carefully leans to the right. And hugs her back.
Reply
(She may be operating under the slightly mistaken assumption that Stitch is more used to hugging than she is. To be fair, most people are.)
And it is --
It can be comforting.
Sometimes.
Reply
Time passes out on the lake. The Caribbean breeze gradually ebbs away. The turtleducks haul out to doze on the warmth of the shore. On the pier, obscured by X's taller stature, Stitch's shoulders begin to silently shake.
Reply
Then --
She does not even bother looking around before pulling him over into her lap.
Some things it is better to make sure that no one can see.
Reply
He's fine. Really.
Reply
Leave a comment