Chapter 80
The next morning, we’re jolted awake by Hiro’s voice calling from downstairs. My body feels heavy with the kind of delicious ache that comes after a night like the one we just had. I stretch lazily, turning to see Wake still lying beside me, looking somehow both relaxed and alert, like a predator waiting for the perfect moment to strike. He cocks an eyebrow at me, his lips curling into a lazy smirk.
“You’d better get up before he finds us like this,” I say, rolling out of bed.
Wake grunts, clearly unconvinced, but sits up, his bare chest gleaming in the morning light streaming through the window. His eyes follow me as I make my way to the closet, pulling it open to see what Hiro might have left for us. My eyes fall on a couple of robes, one in a dull gray and another in dark blue. I grab them and toss one to Wake.
“These will have to do for now.”
I pull on the robe, but it’s ridiculously large, draping off me like I’m wearing a blanket. I tie the sash, trying to make it work, but the thing just swallows me whole. Meanwhile, I glance over to see Wake struggling to tie his robe closed. It’s laughably tight, barely covering his hips, and gaping open at the chest in a way that leaves very little to the imagination.
“I look ridiculous,” he growls, tugging at the fabric like it’s personally offended him.
I snicker, taking in the sight of him. “Not ridiculous, exactly. Just… very, *very* distracting.”
He shoots me a look, but there’s amusement flickering in his eyes. Before things can get any further, Hiro calls out again from downstairs, reminding me that we don’t have time for any more distractions this morning.
“We’d better get going before he starts knocking down the door,” I say, adjusting the oversized robe once more.
Wake huffs in resignation as we head downstairs to meet Hiro in the dining area. As soon as we enter, Hiro’s eyes widen slightly at the sight of Wake in his poorly fitted robe, though he quickly schools his expression. His gaze lingers a second too long on Wake’s impressive form, and I feel my cheeks flush.
Hiro clears his throat. “I, uh, brought clothes. Hope I got the sizes right. I guesstimated,” he says, gesturing to the bags spread across the table. “I figured you’d prefer something better than stolen swimwear.”
I can’t help but laugh, and even Wake seems amused, despite himself. “You could say that,” I reply, still blushing. “Thanks, Hiro.”
“Go get dressed,” Hiro says, waving us off as he heads toward the kitchen. “I’ll get started on breakfast.”
We retreat to the guest room to change, pulling open the bags Hiro brought. Phoebe pulls out a white tank top, black skinny jeans, a cozy cable-knit cardigan, and leather Chelsea boots. The outfit is simple, but it’s comfortable and practical for whatever comes next. I slip into the clothes, grateful for the semblance of normalcy after everything that’s happened. It feels good to be dressed like myself again.
Wake, on the other hand, is clearly not used to human clothes. I hand him a pair of black cargo pants, a slightly oversized white graphic t-shirt, and a pair of sturdy black combat boots that will make him tower over me even more than usual. He looks down at the pile of clothes like it’s an alien object.
“What am I supposed to do with these?” he asks, frowning.
I grin. “You wear them, big guy.”
With some effort—and a lot of patience on my part—I help him figure out the buttons, zippers, and laces. Wake is not impressed. Especially not with the shoes. He puts them on for a moment, immediately ripping them off and tossing them across the room in disgust.
“I do not need these… contraptions,” he growls, flexing his toes against the hardwood floor.
“Shoes,” I correct, stifling a laugh. “They’re called shoes. And yes, you do need them. Human feet are really sensitive. You need to protect them, especially if you’re going to be walking around on land for a while.”
I glance at the sturdy black combat boots Hiro bought him. They look even bigger out of the bag, and the idea of getting Wake to wear them without a fight is almost laughable. But we’re going to have to blend in, which means he has to figure out how humans live on land. Shoes are just the beginning.
Wake looks unconvinced, but when I kneel down in front of him and take his foot in my hands, his expression changes. He’s watching me, his gaze skeptical, as if I’ve lost my mind. His skin is warm under my fingers, the strong muscles of his arch tensing as I press lightly.
"Footwear is something humans need to protect their feet. The ground here is a lot like the ocean floor—it’s covered in human debris, rocks, whatever lives there. Only, here, you don't have the option of floating above it all.”
He snorts dismissively. "I’ve survived worse than a few rocks.”
“Maybe, but your feet are vulnerable now. You need to protect them,” I explain gently.
“Vulnerable?” Wake's attention is piqued, his warrior’s instincts wary of being left unprepared.
"Yes," I say, rubbing my thumbs in slow circles along the bottom of his foot. "Human feet aren’t made for rough terrain, at least not anymore. We evolved. We got soft. The world up here is harsh—especially in cities. We can’t just walk barefoot unless we want to end up a bleeding mess.”
He watches me, his body still, but I can feel the tension easing slightly under my touch. His eyes narrow slightly as he considers my words, and I wonder if he’s really absorbing what I’m saying or just enjoying the feel of my hands on him.
“Think of it like armor,” I add, a bit teasingly, hoping to make this easier for him. “Land armor for your feet.”
“Land armor…” he repeats, his tone thoughtful as I continue to massage his foot, feeling him respond to the gentle pressure of my touch.
I smile as I shift a little, pressing deeper into the ball of his foot, massaging the muscles that, until now, he probably never gave much thought to. His eyes close, and a low, satisfied rumble vibrates in his chest. “This…is not entirely unpleasant,” he admits grudgingly.
I laugh softly. “Not entirely, huh? Well, let me show you something.” I pick up the boot again, this time moving more purposefully. “Look, it’s not that bad. Trust me, you'll get used to it.”
“I do not need to ‘get used’ to anything. If it is necessary, I will endure,” he says staunchly, but he doesn’t pull his foot away as I slip the boot on.
I lace it up carefully, tugging gently to tighten the fit. His foot is so large that the leather strains just a bit, but it’s a good, solid fit overall. I reach for the other boot, repeating the process. “Whatever you say, big guy.”
He watches me intently, a hunger flashing in his eyes as he studies my every movement. The tension between us rises again, but before he can act on it, Hiro calls out from downstairs.
“Breakfast is ready!”
I chuckle, pulling Wake to his feet. “Looks like your new favorite human is calling.”
Wake grumbles something under his breath but follows me out of the room, this time keeping the boots on.
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