Nameless Ghoul

Testosterone

Sunshine fell asleep before the movie ended, and Itzal sat there for a while, unsure what to do. Eventually, he decided he should put her to bed.

He scooped her up gently. She only stirred slightly, nestling her head against him as he carried her to her room. He laid her down carefully and pulled the covers over her. She fidgeted a little, tugging them up under her chin before settling again, looking peaceful. Itzal slipped out quietly, closing the door with a soft click.

Voices drifted from the kitchen. Just as he thought he might make it to his room unnoticed, a blonde head popped around the corner.

“Is she okay?” Cumulus asked.

He glanced at Sunshine’s door, then back at her, and walked towards the kitchen. His bare feet were silent on the carpet.

“Yeah, I think so. She’s asleep now.”

Cumulus beckoned him in. Cirrus was at the stove, pouring hot chocolate into mugs.

“You want one?” she offered.

What he really wanted was to be alone in bed, but the hot chocolate smelled amazing, and he didn’t want to be rude. One mug wouldn’t take long.

He nodded his thanks.

Cumulus sighed.

“I wish she’d talk to us more. I mean, she does, but she holds back. Papa said to give her space, but I knew she was upset. It killed me not to go after her.”

Cirrus nodded, expression tight with guilt.

“Thanks for looking out for her,” she said, handing him a mug. “Want cream and marshmallows?”

He shook his head.

“No, but thanks again.” He took a sip and smiled. “Wow, this is even better than the chocolate milk.”

Cirrus beamed as she finished topping off the other two mugs.

“So… you and Sunshine, then?” Cumulus asked, a smirk curling at the edges of her mouth.

Itzal almost choked, coughing into his mug as his face turned scarlet. The two ghulehs laughed, high-fiving each other.

“Leave the poor ghoul alone!” Cirrus chuckled. “Sorry, but she’s been talking about you nonstop for the past couple of weeks. And when we saw you leaving her room just now...” She waggled her eyebrows. “Plus, we can smell her scent on you.”

If he’d thought he couldn’t blush any deeper, he was wrong.

“Uhh… she was upset, and I—she just needed a friend,” he mumbled with a shrug.

The teasing faded. Their smiles softened.

“We’re sorry,” Cumulus said. “We were just messing around. We should’ve been there for her earlier. We all love Sunshine to bits, and I’m really glad you were with her. You’ve been good for her lately.”

He gave a low chuckle.

“I don’t think so. Pretty sure I’ve only stressed her out.”

“No way,” said Cumulus. “She makes those goo-goo eyes whenever she talks about you. Her aura glows. She was so happy when you turned up. She’d been worrying about you since the show.”

“She told us everything when she got back to the concert hall,” Cirrus added. “Swore us to secrecy, of course.”

Itzal looked toward Sunshine’s door, thinking of the little thoughtful things she’d done for him. He didn’t think anyone had ever been that kind to him before.