Chapter 6: Not A Dream

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Artist: genniax

I blink my eyes open gently as the sun slowly rises in the balcony window. I turn slowly and notice that the Princess is absent. I slowly sit up, looking around aimlessly. I see no signs she was ever even here. Hell- I am naked, not wearing the outfit she originally forced me to wear. I feel a ping of relief but it is quickly filled with sadness.

Why am I sad? That entire dream was me being abused and treated as lesser. Why would I miss that?, I think to myself, my brow furrowing. I quickly scramble to my dresser. I need to find some clothes for work later today. I dig through the clothes and pull out a plain black shirt and jeans. I set them on the bed and walk to the kitchen. I look in my fridge and note several things need restocked. I sigh and close the fridge as the sound of my balcony door opening is heard. I freeze and turn around. Princess Koriand'r, with bags around her arms, is standing there. "What are you doing, my Knight?" She asks, seeming confused at my activity. "So- It wasn't a dream." I said quietly. She tilts her head, approaching me. "What was that?" She asks. "Nothing my Princess." I state, standing a bit stiffer. She sets the bags down. "What are those?" I ask. She gives me a small smile as she pulls out a red variant of her outfit. "I got our new friends to make you more comfortable clothing to wear!" She exclaimed, seeming proud of herself.

I feel myself get woozy for a second. The outfit is a exact replica of my outfit back on Tamaran. Remembering the battles I fought in with it and the security details for fancy parties overwhelm my mind for a moment. Princess Koriand'r softly grabs my arm and I feel myself ground. I make eye contact with her and she smiles. How can someone that I feel so unsafe with make me feel safe at the same time?, I think to myself.

"Would you like to try it on?" She asks. I feel the want to say no, but she gives me some look in her eyes that makes me quickly decide against it. "Sure, Princess." I say quietly. She smiles. I grab the clothes and begin to walk to the bathroom before I remembered what she demanded before. I look at her expectantly and she seems to have read my mind. "You may." She says simply, ushering me toward the bathroom. My heart accelerates and I feel a ping of happiness as I go. Maybe she does care about my needs, I think quietly. I put the outfit on and look at myself in the mirror.

The revealing nature seems to compliment me a lot better then they used to. Almost like it  was a custom fit. It isn't too loose or tight, the shorts not too long or short- It is a seamless and perfect fit. The gem in the center of the breastplate also seems genuine, the green rock looking fine compared to the silver and red. I look at myself one last time in the mirror before exiting. Princess Koriand'r is sitting on the bed, leaning a bit with one leg over the other. As I approach, she does a twirl motion. I oblige, twirling a bit. She smiles when I finish and beckons me to sit beside her. I obey and she puts an arm around my waist.

"They told me I should go through the Extraterrestrial Integration Program. Have you ever went through it?" She asks. I think back to my early days on Earth, when Miss Martian intercepted me after my crash landing. She brought me to Wayne Corporation complex, where they do the Program. After testing all my abilities and weeks of teaching me human culture, they brought me here. They pay for all housing, I just need to handle my other needs. "I have. It basically helps you integrate into their society." I explain. She sighs and flops onto the bed. "Why would I want to integrate?" She asks. "That way you get citizenship. If you don't and get in trouble, you have no rights or protections. There have even been cases of being exiled from the planet by the United Nations, a type of Council of all the nations on the planet." I explain. She sighs again and nods. "Okay. I'll go tomorrow. And I order you to stay right here while I do it." She says strictly, placing a hand on my thigh.

"I swear it Princess Koriand'r." I say quietly. I then lay beside her, not expecting the night to just be getting started for her.

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