confusifying | wicked | book 3/3

Nessa

"There you go my sweet little Nessarose." Boc mimics in a squeaky little voice that sounds nothing like my mother but still makes me laugh.
It's fortunate that the two of us are alone in my room and not the lounge with everyone else because I don't think mother would take to kindly to being made fun of.
"I'm surprised she didn't wipe the blood off of your finger for you!" Boc cries, continuing to make me laugh.
"I think your being cruel." I reply but I can't stop myself from smirking.
Boc folds his arms playfully.
"I think your mother is treating you like a child." He replies stubbornly.
I raise my eyebrows humouring his not too far fetched assumption.
"I'm not surprised." I say honestly "she never got to see me as a child, she's probably just wanting to do all those weird mumsy things."
I shrug but Boc laughs at me.
"Just watch out or she'll be asking to tuck you in!"
We both break out into fits of hysteria until there's tears in both our eyes, then Boc stops laughing and looks deep into my eyes.
"We're not going to be able to do this soon." He says sadly "when your in charge of Oz they'll be no time for fun."
I think for a moment, all the things I'm going to have to give up.
"But think of all the good I could do." I answer, attempting to reassure myself that I'm doing the right thing "if I'm able to do this I can prevent horrible things from happening in Oz."

I'm getting so passionate about this and thinking about all the good I could be doing that I start to cry, Boc immediately stops laughing at me and grabs a hold of my shoulders.
"Nessa?" He gasps "Nessa what's wrong?"
I nearly topple out of my chair throwing myself into his embrace, my arms are in agony and the warm towels have fallen off from me suddenly propelling myself forwards but I don't care.
"I'm going to lose you!" I sob dramatically, Boc clutches at me anxiously, scared that he's going to hurt me and scared that I'm going to fall from my chair.
"Nessa I'm not going anywhere, I was only joking." Boc whispers reassuringly "we'll always be able to have a laugh, even if your the most powerful person in Oz."
I continue to sob into his arms, and he quickly realises that my arms are in complete agony.
"Nessa you've let those silly towels fall of your arms." Boc cries "aren't you in pain?"
"Of course I'm in pain!" I sob, Boc starts to carefully lean me back in my chair, "what are you doing!" I cry.
Boc stops in his tracks.
"Stopping you from hurting yourself." Boc replies calmly.
I shake my head and cling tighter, the pain is debilitating but I hold on Like a monkey to its mother.
"Nessa stop it," Boc pleads "I don't want to let you injure yourself."

If my arms could talk, there'd be screaming at me to let go, so I do, Boc lowers me back into my chair and I sit there breathing heavily for a while.
"Your a force to be reckoned with Nessarose Thropp." Boc says sighing slightly "please don't do that again!"
I look down at my mother warm towels that are crumpled on the floor.
"I'll try." I smirk, Boc looks at me and smiles gently.
I love his smile.
He extends a hand out and wipes my tears away and looks over my shoulder towards my bed, he yawns tiredly.
"I think I'm going to have to go to bed in a few minutes Nessa." He informs me "do you want me to help you into bed now? Or would you rather wait and I can stay with you until your sister or someone else comes in?"
I smile at his thoughtful ness.
I looks over at the bed and evaluate my options.
I do very much want to go to sleep and I'd just like to go to bed and lie down.
"Could you get me into my bed please?" I ask politely, Boc nods gently and lifts me carefully into my bed, he pulls the quilt around me tightly and begins to speak in that squeaky voice again.
"Sleep well my precious little Nessarose." He coos mockingly.
"You're so horrible!" I cry, though I can't stifle the smiles.
"I think you'll find, I'm highly accurate." Boc replies smugly.
I can hear the dopey grin on his face.
"wipe that smile off your face Boc." I giggle.
"How on earth can you tell?" He cries, alarmed as I'm lying flat on my back and theoretically shouldn't be able to see his face from where he's stood.
I can't see his face at all, but I could hear the smirk in his voice.
"Lucky guess." I reply smugly.

Boc sits down beside my bed and lets out a loud sigh as he lowers himself into the chair.
"A though you were going to bed?" I ask suspicious of why he's suddenly sat back down.
Boc clears his throat as if he's about to announce something.
"Just thought I'd sit with you for a little longer." He whispers, there's a smile to his voice and a gentle tenderness that makes me so very happy.
Boc leans forward suddenly, placing both his hands onto my nearest arm to him.
"What are you doing?" I gasp.
Boc interlocks my fingers with his and uses his other hand to slide my sleeve up my arm, a rush of coldness hits me sending a shiver up my spine.
"It looks much better than it did." Boc mutters, an undertone of relief in his voice "do they feel any better?"
I think for a moment as he pulls my sleeve back down to cover my arm once more.
"It's not as bad as it was." I reply honestly "though it's excruciating at times."