āāāāāāāāāĀ»ā¢Ā»
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā The fear radiating from within the gift box was unsettling. Not quite a tremble, but a sinkingāā quickĀ Ā s i n k i n gĀ feeling.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā āā Up my alley⦠haa great.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Sentiment understood, there was a new, tiny, worry forming in the back of Matsubaās mind. Was this going to happen every time? Steven wasnāt necessarily wrong⦠But he had enough on his plate with Kakyu, Mimiya, and Yasu. Another troublesome ghost wouldāā
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā ā She wasnāt wrong.Ā āĀ He can feel the presence, yetā¦Ā when the top of the gift box is removed, nothing seems out of the ordinary. Itās beautiful, that much is clear on the mysticās face.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Hands are gentle, as if the mendedĀ Ā c r a c k sĀ will simply fall apart again if he isnāt. But thatās far from the reason. Thereās something just as fragile, scared, hidden away in one of cups. Another momentary glance is given to Steven. A half smileā( thankful and conveying the appreciation for the gift )āgraces Matsubaās face.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā The worry comes straight back, once he looks away.
Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā ā Come on outā¦Ā ā Soft words. What one would speak to a frightened Growlitheās pup or a Meowthās kitten. Ghosts deserved the same tenderness. Kindness, too.Ā ā You are safe here.Ā ā
Steven had caught the glance and understood. Despite the hassle theyāre having right now, Matsuba wasnāt unhappy about the gift. Phew.
He watched the other handle the porcelaine with so much care, Steven wished Matsuba would touch him that way too. Maybe someday heād be deserving of that kind of gentle treatment? He watched Matsuba coax something out, silver blue eyes squinting to make sure he wasnāt missing anything.
And then he finally saw it. Looked like liquid, but not quite. A bit on the gooey side. He made out a face on the cup itself now, an expression he hadnāt noticed before.Ā āIs this a pokemon?ā Not any Steven had ever seen before. Whatever it was, it was kinda cute and didnāt seem hostile. On the contrary, it was shy and seeing two big men leaning over it must be intimidating.