FEELINGS ARE COMPLICATED?! Especially when you have no OFF switch

[bestestfurrend]

Characters: Tavros and Nepeta
Location: Hive de Tavros & Nep, Tavros' room
Time: After this thread
Style: Prose
Status: Closed, Ongoing

Thank you. No, no, no, she couldn't just say thank you after he'd said something that sweet to her! It had been unexpected and being taken by surprise like that had made her blush horribly and she knew Tavros well enough to worry that he'd take her stammering over text the wrong way entirely if she didn't clear it up right now.

So that's why a few seconds after she'd told him to hold on, she burst into his room.

Comments

[bestestfurrend]

"That was really really nice of you!" the greenblooded troll burst out saying, skipping over any hellos or how are yous she might have made otherwise. She felt like if she didn't say it properly right away then she never would.

"I think you're full of niceness too and no one's efur said I'm pretty befur and..." Okay, more than she'd meant to say, and her face was quickly turning a bright green. "I suppaws I wanted to say thank you," she continued in a quieter voice. "But thank you didn't seem like enough."

[toreadorkabull]

"But you are pretty." He said without any thought of hesitation. It wasn't a bad thing to say to someone, but usually he'd have to take his time and work up the courage to. Especially since they've been growing closer. Or at least, he'd like to think they were. He loved having someone around that didn't make fun of him for the things he liked, and actually seemed to enjoy spending time with him. It was hard not to react favorably to such things.

"And, uh.." There was that stuttering hesitation again, now that he was catching up with himself. "I-I don't think, I did anything that you need to, uh... thank me for."

[bestestfurrend]

Nepeta took a few steps towards him, then stopped, hiding her hands in her pockets as she stuck to her new spot self-consciously.

"Yes, yes you did. I didn't say thank you purroperly fur them befur. You came right away when I arrived and found out about Equius and needed someone, and you played games with me and let me stay with you. It all meant lots and lots to me."

She finally closed the gap between them, hesitating before she darted in and placed a kiss on his cheek, blushing furiously when she pulled away again. "I like that you think I'm pretty."

[toreadorkabull]

Tavros can't remember a time when he'd been thanked so readily for something before. It makes him feel shy and embarrassed and he's not sure for a moment what he's supposed to do besides stare in dumbfounded amazement. He never expected things like that to happen, so when they do it takes him a moment to register.

He very nearly flinched back from the kiss. Mot because he didn't want her to touch him but because sudden, darting moments like that usually ended with a stinging pain of some sort. His face ended up turning various shades of orange and the silliest of bashful grins spreads across his face.

"U-uh... you're, more than welcome then."

[bestestfurrend]

Nepeta did notice that flinching and was all ready to apologize - she was too used to pouncing Equius constantly to remember that sudden movements might seem threatening to one of her friends. But he was blushing too and smiling, so she guessed that it was okay with him after all, and she returned the bashful grin with one of her own, giggling a bit shyly.

"Can I stay here fur a little while? We can continue Pupa Pan's story furom last time!" Because Pupa Pan was also a thing she knew made Tavros happy, and she was very interested in seeing him happier right now. Especially if it meant he'd smile like that some more.

[toreadorkabull]

"Okay!" Liking that idea was a thing he was doing, so he shifted over in the chair a bit to make room for her. There wasn't that much space, but they could probably fit. Mostly. At least if he didn't turn his head to quickly, they should be alright.

"We could, uh... always do something, that you like to do. Maybe. If you wanted."

[bestestfurrend]

Nepeta beamed when he offered to share his chair with her. She knew he was very fond of that chair, so it meant a lot to her that he was making room for her on it too.

She was small enough that she didn't take up a lot of space, fitting comfortably against his side, pleased at how warm he was. There was the urge to hug him, but she thought she'd probably done enough pouncing for now.

"But I like doing what you like doing!"

[toreadorkabull]

It was really nice having her so close by. He was starting to feel more comfortable around her than he didn't anyone else, which was saying something. Tavros still worried about saying or doing something wrong, recent events before arriving in this place had him more than a little self conscious.

Death is quite the downer.

"But I'm sure that, you have really good ideas too!"

[bestestfurrend]

It was the biggest downer. But maybe not as big as being brought back to life to be told your moirail wasn't pale for you any more.

Yeah, times have been rough.

But that was why she was taking extra pleasure in snuggling up against her friend's side right now, all cozy and warm and letting out a happy purr without realizing it, taking the good times as they came.

"I'd like to expurrlore the island more! And have adventures there! But I'd furry much like to know what happens to Pupa Pan and Tiger Beetle furst."

[toreadorkabull]

He let her snuggle up along his side, shifting to make it more comfortable for the both of them. But... what should he do with his arm? There were a few, long, awkward moments of deliberation before he finally rested it chastely against her side, not actually sure if thats what he's supposed to do or even if it was okay.

"Haven't you ever, read the stories?

[bestestfurrend]

It seemed to be perfectly okay with her, especially since she immediately rested her own arm on top of his. They were snuggling! Being close was an essential part of that, oh yes.

"Nuh uh, I'm afurraid not! Will you tell them to me?" she asked, curiosity all over her face. She really did want to know more!

[toreadorkabull]

Oh, okay. That works. It's actually really nice! He could very definitely get used to this cuddling with another troll thing. It was... very warm. He actually had to try not to smile like a goofy spaz. He failed of course, but the effort was there.

"I, uh... don't have the book anymore but... I have it all memorized! I used to, uh... read it all the time and, would even leave the window open. Just in case Pupa Pan came, to take me away."

So much for not saying anything stupid.

[bestestfurrend]

There was absolutely no reason for him to try and not smile in front of her. Nepeta liked seeing him so happy, it didn't look goofy to her at all. She thought Tavros could stand to smile this way more often, actually.

"To go on adventures with him?" She nodded - yes, that made sense to her. "I think that was a furry clever idea! Even if he nefur came, it would have been pawful if you left the window closed the one time he did!"

[toreadorkabull]

Tavros blinked in surprise, then grinned even wider. "Uh, yes! I hated, feeling so trapped all the time. And I hoped that he would maybe come and teach me how to fly, and, uh... have lots of bravery and confidence!"

[bestestfurrend]

"Tavros..." She really hated thinking of him stuck in his hive on his own, unable to walk and hoping to be rescued from it. He's getting hugged now, close and tight. "I think you're the bravest," she said with her cheek pressed to his. "You're my hero, okay? Beclaws you saved me from being unhappy."