Chapter 17 #2
I lead him into the shop, the scent of espresso hitting my nose as soon as we enter.
Cielo starts to hum in what I think is excitement as we stand in a short line to order.
The workers behind the counter are all human, but as the kitchen door swings open, I catch a glimpse of a very tall Vyastil with bright orange hair.
He’s gone before I can get a good look, but considering how much Cielo is into coffee, I guess I’m not surprised.
When we leave the shop, Cielo is cradling an extra-large, extra-foam latte in his hand. He’s pulled the top off and is slurping at the drink noisily.
“Good, right?”
He peers down at me, foam lining his lips once more. I say nothing, just let him live.
“Alright, let’s see if we can find a big-and-tall store you can shop at.”
I link my arm through his once more and guide him down the cobblestone walkway.
It kind of feels like we’re walking through old town Italy, or at least what I assume that would be like.
As I said, I’ve never traveled outside of Michigan.
Unless traveling to Rath’s living quarters in Erethar counts, but considering we haven’t seen anything besides the capital building and his apartment, it doesn’t.
I wonder if there are portals to other countries that Rath and I could take. Would cut out on air travel.
I mull this over, trying not to get too excited. Rath won’t even take me to Erethar again. There’s no way he’s going to take me to Europe.
“Oh, look! Right up here,” I say as I see the sign for a shop that I’ve heard of before. I think one guy at the gym mentioned it before.
Stallions.
Kind of a silly name for a clothing shop, but from what I heard, they cater to larger men, and their clothing is high quality. So why the fuck not?
“Let’s see if they have anything for you.”
We wander through the door, Cielo ducking down and hitting the bells at the top with his head.
The man behind the counter eyes us, and his eyebrows rise. “Hello, gentlemen.”
I grin, glancing up at Cielo. “See, dude. You’re a gentleman now.”
“Ginnnnnteeel,” he whispers, and I roll my lips between my teeth to hold back a smile.
“How can I help you?”
“Well,” I begin. “My friend here would like to know if you have anything in his size.”
The man’s eyes flick from the top of his head down to his clawed feet. Something flares in his gaze. Something I recognize. It was the same thing I felt when I first saw Rathyn.
I hide a smile. Cielo seems entirely unaware of what this human is thinking. It’s probably a good thing most Vyastil can’t read humans’ minds.
“I think I can work with him,” the man says. I catch a glimpse of his name badge. Asa. “Give me five minutes.”
Cielo watches him go, his gaze intense. Then he looks at me. Something about him seems nervous. It’s the way his ears are flicking.
“Is it bad to wear human clothes?”
He trills a little hum and shrugs, then shakes his head. “No. Not…” He grimaces as he works through a word. “Comfffttbaaa.”
It takes me a second to work that one out. Comfortable. Right. I guess that makes sense since they don’t seem to wear anything at all where they live.
I jerk my chin at a long bench, then sit and wait for him to join me. “You understand me, right? It’s just hard to use English?”
He trills a hum again, and I’m starting to understand that means yes. I’ve heard Rathyn do it, too. I wonder if it’ll be like that for me. I’ll be able to understand, and maybe mimic a few of their words, but I’ll never be able to speak it fluently.
“If you ever get lost when I say something, let me know. We can write it down, too.”
He looks slightly relieved and nods.
“And if there’s anything you don’t like, you can tell me. I will not let Rathyn rip your arms off.”
He snorts something like a laugh. I know Rathyn still scares him. I see it in the way he handles me with caution whenever he’s around. But he didn’t hesitate to come back, which says something.
I like having a friend.
“Alright, gentlemen,” Asa says, his arms full of stuff.
It’s a little weird to hear a Vyastil be referred to as a gentleman, but I think Cielo likes it from the way he goes a little deeper teal.
“Let me know if any of this is to your liking. We’ve never had a…
ah…” He gestures at Cielo, “in the shop before. But I’ve seen what they—ah—wear. ”
Watching people trip over what to call the Vyastil is a little hilarious. Some don’t mind being referred to as monsters. Like Rathyn. I think he kind of likes it. But it bothers others.
“Come on,” I say, jumping up. Asa lays everything out on a second bench, and I begin to paw through everything. Most of it is silky and soft and linen.
Cielo watches with very little expression before I pull back a silky button-up to reveal a pastel pink coat. It’s thicker than anything I’ve ever seen Rathyn wear. Hell, it’s heavier and bulkier than I’ve ever seen any Vyastil put on.
But Cielo zeroes in on it. He reaches forward, first with claws, then he retracts them and runs the pads of his fingers over the fabric. He trills softly in the back of his throat.
“Good choice,” Asa says. He reaches for it, and Cielo jerks back, taking several steps away.
“Don’t worry,” I tell him. “This is his job.”
Asa looks unsure, but I try to smile at him. “I think it looks great. Let me take it.” He doesn’t put up a fight when I grab it and hold it out toward Cielo. “One arm, nope, the other,” I say when he tries to put it on with the back against his chest.
Cielo flushes, and his ears flicker in embarrassment, but he switches arms, and I slide it up over his shoulders. His skin tinges slightly purple, and he strokes his hand over the fabric again before looking at me, eyes wide.
“Is goooot?”
“So good. You look amazing.” I seize his hand and drag him to the full-length mirror. His eyes go a little wider, and he turns from side to side, stroking the sleeves, touching the buttons, poking his fingers in and out of the pockets.
He’s humming softly, a melodic, happy song, and my heart feels full. I really like him. I don’t know if he’s the type of monster who’s allowed to have a companion, but if he is, I hope he finds one.
He needs a human who can give him the kind of affection the Vyastil seem to be sorely lacking.
“I love it,” I tell him. “Do you love it?”
He blinks owlishly at me, then at his reflection. “Loooov. It.” He trips a little over the V but manages it. For a brief, wild second, I think what it would be like to hear the word love on Rathyn’s lips.
But dear god, no. That is not a thought I need to be entertaining, and I need to be careful, considering he pops in and out of my head without asking. Or warning me.
I take a deep breath, then reach out and yank the tag off the sleeve and hand it to Asa. “Just this, I think.”
Cielo seemed entirely disinterested in anything else, and since the Vyastil don’t seem to ever want for much, I have a feeling this is spoiling him. And I like the idea that I can do this for my friends.
If Zane were being less of a shit about this whole thing, I would be spoiling the fuck out of him, too.
Cielo sees me walking to the register and starts to take the coat off, looking sad, so I quickly grab his arm.
“Keep it on.”
His ears flick happily.
“You look amazing in it. Show it off. Flaunt it.”
He does the smallest twist from side to side, and I do my best not to burst into laughter. But it’s not in a teasing way. It’s joy. Fuck, if Rathyn would let me make him happy like this, I would be goddamn unstoppable.