writers_muses prompt set 131.6 [a loss for words]

[its_notluck]

It wasn’t the first time Phoebe had been allowed to stay with Claire and Hiro overnight but it was the first night that they had any inclination that there was something different about her. Not anything bad but just different in the same way they were different.

Comments

[powered_otaku]

Hiro looks at her. "A ball of shadows? Was it just, perhaps, a black ball she brought with her?" Not that he remembered her bringing any toys. Usually she kept her toys here so that the bullies at the orphanage wouldn't steal them from her. Maybe it came from the orphanage?

[powered_otaku]

Hiro kneels down to her eye level, hoping to keep her more comfortable not having to look up at them. "We just want to know what you were doing."

[its_notluck]

Phoebe ducks her head a little. "I was playing." She murmurs softly.

"What were you playing with?" Claire asks, still rubbing her back gently. "It's okay to tell us, sweetie. We're not mad or anything, we just want to know."

The little girl shifts nervously. "I'm not supposed to tell."

[powered_otaku]

Hiro gently takes her hand. "You know you can tell us anything, Phoebe. We are not upset with you."

[its_notluck]

"If you can do something that other people can't do, you can tell us." Claire urges gently.

Phoebe looks at them both, biting her lip before she caves. "I was playing with shadows."

Claire shoots a look over the little girl's head.

[powered_otaku]

Hiro's head tilts. "Playing with shadows?" He looks confused as he's sure Claire feels.

[in_theshadows]

Phoebe looks incredibly nervous as she holds up her hand, concentrating. Seconds later, little tendrils of shadow start to pool into a ball just an inch above her hand. The shadows all around them start to flicker as well.

[powered_otaku]

Hiro looks a little startled, then his eyes grow wide. "Sugoi!" He looks around the room. "Do you draw it from the shadows in the room or create them yourself?"

[in_theshadows]

"I don't know." She admits with a little shake of her head. "I just do it."

"It looks like she pulls them from the shadows in the room." Claire murmurs, glancing around.

[powered_otaku]

"That is a wonderful ability! Especially to protect yourself. How long have you had this ability?" He still looks delighted. It really is a cool ability and he can think of several ways she could use it.

[in_theshadows]

"Since I was four years old." She holds up four fingers to show him, just in case he needed the age clarified.

"That's amazing, Phoebe." Claire smiles softly, giving the little girl a gentle squeeze.

"You really think so?"

[powered_otaku]

Hiro nods. "It is, truly. I have not seen anything like it. We also need to tell you something." He squeezes both of their hands and takes a deep breath. "Okasan and I both have abilities, too."

[its_notluck]

"You do?" Phoebe's eyes widen as she looks between them both.

"We do." Claire smiles a little bit. "I'm...well, I can't get hurt. Every time I do, I heal really fast." She explains, trying to keep it simple.

[powered_otaku]

"And it is easier to show you my ability," he winks. "Would you like to see where otosan comes from?"

[in_theshadows]

"What do you mean?"

[powered_otaku]

"Would you like to see the house I grew up in?"