#wisc

“Who are you people?” Lamb screamed. “Where am I? Are you with the Old Faith?”

Narinder’s head jerked towards the commotion in the healing bay. She had left for just a second, just to get Nana to watch over them while she was gone. Narinder was quick to get there, nervously ushering their following away from them. In the center, wearing a plain tunic much similar to the day they were sacrificed, stood an anxious Lamb, bandages wrapped around their forehead. Their fists were trembling, raised, ready to defend themselves.

The cat made her way towards them, grabbing their arm and practically yanking them out of the healing bay. Biting her lip, Narinder guided Lamb to their temple while they were still protesting and arguing, their anxiety high. They had no idea that they were strong enough to fend her off. Tears were in their eyes by the time they made their way to their room.

“Are you going to kill me?” they stammered out, voice wobbly. Narinder, sighing, took her hood and veil off, exposing her face. She stepped closer to them on their bed and the sight of her three eyes made Lamb jump. A hand delicately rested on their shoulder. The sudden movement made a whimper slip from their throat.

“Nayen,” Narinder softly said, “you’re safe here. No one is coming to hurt you.”

Panting a bit, trying to calm down, it took a few seconds for them to process what she had said. “Um,” they started, “who are you? How do you know my name?”

Narinder rubbed soft circles into their shoulder with her thumb, thinking of how much to tell them. You usurped me? You took away my free will? I’m trapped here with you?

“The others call me Fate, but you call me Narinder. I’m your right hand in command. The others are your community,” she explained, smiling at them softly.

They looked around their room a little bit, full of foreign objects. Tarot cards, crystals, relics, things they didn’t recognize, things they couldn’t name. Narinder was patient with them while they examined their surroundings, before their eyes rested on hers. They looked at her this time, really looked at her. Then at her hand on their shoulder. Color was forming on their cheeks. A pretty girl was alone with them in their room, touching them.

“Are we dating?” they blurted out. Narinder was dumbfounded at the question. She expected them to ask literally anything other than that. Moving her hand away from them quickly, it was her turn to stammer.

“Well,” she started, the words caught in her throat. They weren’t technically dating. Sure, before their concussion, they said they loved her all the time. Once, she even said it back. They almost kissed that one time they were drunk. Lamb was hopelessly obsessed with her to a concerning extent. But, no, they weren’t dating. “We like each other, yes,” is what Narinder decided to say. Her tail puffed up and her fur stood on end, she was a bit flustered. Lamb studied her for a second.

“Woah, a pretty girl like you and me?” Narinder was going to nod, but they continued, “have we kissed yet?” They were getting progressively more and more excited.

“How did you even come to that conclusion?” Narinder deflected. She didn’t know how much of this she could take. Lamb laughed at her, like she had said something stupid.

“Well, you’re obviously comfortable enough to touch me. And no one else knew my name except for my family. I thought we were just really good friends but apparently, I was mistaken.” They smiled at her. It was such a pure smile, something she hadn’t seen from them in centuries. Yes, this was certainly more than her heart could take. By now, alone in a room together, normal Lamb would probably be flirting with her and asking to kiss. Narinder wasn’t used to this form of them. But, Hells below, did she fucking like it. It was driving her a bit crazy.

“Okay, stop! Sorry, I’m not used to you being like this, I’m ⸺” She hid her blushing face with her hood and veil, shaky hands tying the fabric around her head. Narinder had to slow her breathing, calming down. She gripped her cloak with her palm, feeling the air come in and out of her lungs. She was treading on dangerous land.

“What am I usually like?” Lamb asked, barely above a whisper. Narinder’s eyes locked onto theirs again and she groaned. Even with their memories gone, they were tormenting her.

“Lamb -”

“I like when you call me Nayen,” she interjected.

“Nayen,” her voice was soft, embarrassed, “. . . you’re usually far more affectionate.”

Lamb cocked their head to the side, picking up the tension in the room. “Hmm. And you like it when I’m like that? Please tell me I’m not usually clinging to you and you hate it?” Narinder didn’t have a heart, in the traditional sense. It was full of ichor, an inorganic form in place of the real thing. Her real heart was staring at her, in Lamb’s chest. Quickly, she pried her eyes away from her chest. If she said yes, what would that mean? They’d date? Would this version of Lamb be normal? No more toxicity? Would she be loved like normal? Her heart was beating so fast she was convinced Lamb could hear it, too.

“Mhm,” Narinder replied. She was frazzled, taking another deep breath to calm down. “You’re just so different from usual, I don’t know how to feel,” she blurted out. Whenever Narinder felt backed into a corner like this, she was far too honest. But this version of Lamb wasn’t the one putting her into that box, it was herself. She had control this time, and she’d lead this version of them into loving her the right way. Even if she didn’t know how long they’d lose their memory.

“Good,” Lamb replied. Biting their lip, they thought carefully of what to say next. “Can you, um, teach me how I normally act?”

“With me? Or the cult?” Narinder’s head was swarming with thoughts. Half of her wanted their memory to come back so they’d smother her the way they always did. She wanted to kiss Lamb so bad. Sober this time, not drunk and confused. Lamb’s eyes traced her lips and jaw. They did always get nervous in front of pretty girls, they remembered.

“Both,” Lamb replied. Gingerly, they brought Narinder’s arms down. Their fingertip gently traced down her arm, to her wrist, to her palm. They could see it in her eyes, she was kicking down many mental gears to stay in this position, like a prey done running. She looked like she wanted to stay still and bolt out of there at the same time. “Teach me how to love you.”

Narinder’s head was fuzzy. They were so close together, they were breathing the same air. Things had escalated so fast. This time, she really was okay with kissing them. Interlocking their fingers together, gently, Lamb closed the distance between them. Their lips were soft against hers and Narinder’s eyes fluttered closed.

Maybe them getting a concussion and losing their memory wasn’t that bad, after all.