My Ticklish Adventures 2

Intimacy

As my thoughts continued to spiral out of control, I failed to notice another entity had been walking next to me. It was as though the world around me had been silenced as my thoughts deafened me. When the entity grabbed my arm, I couldn't help but gasp. My eyes darted in the direction of my assailant. The sharp breath I took stopped my thoughts like a cork on a pipe.

"Mari! Helloo...?" A familiar cat like face pressed closer to mine. "Are you alright, little one? Usually you jump at me when you hear my lovely voice..." She placed her pawed hand on my cheek as though she were examining me. I pulled away. "...?"

"I...I'm not in the mood right now. I had a long day today." Tears leaked from my eyes. I didn't dare look back at her. "I just want to go to sleep... I'm..I'm sorry." There was nothing I could think of to say. I couldn't let her see me like this!

The tiger immediately stopped me from moving forward, however, and ran in front of me. She grabbed my body gently and continued to look me over. My eyes were closed but still the tears were leaking out. My face became scrunched as a whimper revealed my true feelings. My breath became quivering and heavy. Stupidity was all I could ever be. I was a fool to think I could hide any emotions from Talia. Her eyes were of confusion and worry for my well being, but the only thing she did was grab me. There wasn't a smile anywhere. The sun was getting lower. "Why are you crying? Stop it. Stop..." Genuine emotion has washed over her.

I couldn't help but push myself into her, and wrap my arms around her. Her body was more than enough to support me as we stood weightlessly in the world. In her embrace, my face pressed against her dark orange fur and my tears began to wipe away. Quietly, I sobbed in the whistling air. My body felt weakened now, in this state, as I held onto her. I could feel the sunset behind Talia. I could feel its light glistening over my tears in an orange glow that continued to wane. The sun was warm, but the night that crept behind me was colder. The darkness behind me chilled my back. I pressed closer.

A reassuring hand slowly rubbed my back as I cried, albeit trembling a bit- unsure if this was the right reaction. My thoughts had stopped now as all I could do was cry. "I...I'm sorry. I'm so pathetic." I clenched my fist, feeling even more stupid than I did before. What am I doing, crying like this?

Her free hand lightly tilted my head up to meet hers. Instinctively, I opened my eyes through the tears to see her peering down at me warmly. "Pathetic? Absolutely not. Trust me, I would know pathetic if I saw it." I nodded, but a smile I did not feel. Still, she kept holding me close. "Here... Let's go somewhere more comfortable."

Holding me close still, she snapped her fingers with her free hand. In an instant, we were gone from Palmdale, and somewhere new. It was our room.

Gently, we laid on the messy bed. Side by side now, facing each other, she continued to look over me. Slowly and carefully she rubbed my body with her paw, lovingly. I sighed, pulling myself closer to her.

"I know I'm not actually...pathetic. I just... feel that way... I keep doing stupid things, and I just don't know what to d-do." It was hard to keep my voice from cracking. The lump in my throat continued to pester me.

I could hear Talia concur with my sentiment with a noise and then replied with an honest tone, "If you can see what you're doing wrong, then you're already doing the right thing." I could feel her fingers go through my fur as she spoke to me. The loving feeling reassured me she had every intention to make me feel better.

"Y-...you're right." I wiped my eyes with my hand as I looked up at her. "If...If I'm trying to do the right thing, then there's nothing more I can do..." Sighing, I nuzzled up closer to her face and tried to give her a kiss, but just fell short. My lips barely grazing her cheek.