He trills a hum again, and I’m starting to understand that meansyes. 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 wheneverhe’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.
