Not mine
Malls could be both comforting and frightening places. It was incredibly easy to just get lost in the crowd and wander back and forth between stores tucked snugly into the moving throngs of people. Yet, it was also very easy to get stuck in between screaming parents and their children, or to be forced to navigate around a couple that just would not stop holding hands.
It was because of those unfortunate, if rare, situations that Kira opted to travel on the very edge of the crowd whenever she was trying to fight her way to a store.
But on this particular trip to the Nike store, Kira felt like she was gliding down the concourse, with no one lunging in front of her or making awkward eye contact with her. Perhaps, she owed this relatively easy walk to the lithe form of Malia Tate stalking next to her.
Standing at least a head over Kira, Malia practically cut a swath through the mass of people with her purposeful stride. Every movement she made seemed to be chosen for maximum efficiency. People seemed to naturally not want to get in her way. They didn't really do that with Kira, but then again she didn't walk like she knew how to kill you with her bare hands.
But for all of Malia's outer confidence, Kira could see the minute movements that told another story. The taller girl's head didn't move much, but her eyes flicked distrustfully and restlessly back and forth on each face that passed her by. Though her hands were loose at her side, at least seven tons of stress sat nestled between her tight shoulder blades.
A little piece of Kira shattered every time she saw Malia begin to unconsciously start performing checks on all the people around her and all surrounding exits. It was like watching...well, a wild animal. It hurt her heart to think of why those habits were so ingrained into the girl striding in front of her.
A small flash of guilt burned in the back of Kira's mind. If she hadn't suggested they go shopping for some new clothes, Malia wouldn't have been forced into a stressful situation, surrounded by people.
Kira had almost begun suggesting turning around and leaving when Malia abruptly turned and caught her eye. The bright orange sign of the Nike store loomed above them. Through the glass windows, Kira could see the racks of new shoes and tops and compression shorts.
"Holy crap, look at those spandex. Look at those sneakers!" Kira whispered reverently. Nike had her ever-present love and adoration until the end of time.
"Yeah," Malia smiled down at her. "They're colorful."
"They're beautiful." Kira blindly reached down, grabbed Malia's hand and dragged her into the store. As soon as they crossed the threshold of the store, the noise around them quieted. Out of the corner of her eye, Kira saw some of the tension visibly loosen from Malia's shoulders.
There weren't many people in the store for her to worry about, just a dad and his daughter and a group of teenage boys huddled around some new shoe. Malia's eyes were still roving around, but this time it seemed to be more because her grudging appreciation of the clothes than for survival reasons.
"Hello ladies, how can I help you today?" The cheery voice of one of the staff members broke Kira of her compression short filled daydream. The woman had dark skin and a very pleasing dark auburn hair colour. She was also outfitted in the latest Nike products and had a kind smile plastered on her face.
"I need something that will withstand a fight." Came Malia's deadpan greeting. She glanced at the staffer while running her fingers along the sleeve of a shirt. The woman looked stricken and her mouth hung open for a moment before she responded.
"A fight?"
"Yes, a fight. Like, with fist--"
"--What my friend is trying to say," Kira interjected with a waved hand. "Is that we need something that can take a lot of punishment."
