Cassie

Flirting

Today was the usual lazy day at the shop, Mr. Amorphous, who lived up to his name, was the only customer and had picked up an artificial limb fixed up for his son. Cassie plays with a rubik's cube at the register as Owl tinkers with his latest project. Owl sets down the metal object, leaning on the counter as he watches the small girl intently. She puts down the cube as she notices him staring "what are you doing?"

Owl leans closer "admiring a beautiful piece of work."

Cassie eyes him skeptically. "It's definitely a piece of work if it tries to bite you." She gnashes her teeth at him.

Owl simply laughs "Makes it more of a masterpiece."

"Can you not?"

Owl grins leaning closer "I would love to inspect you further."

Cassie blushes furiously, pulling her hood over her face "Please stop."

Owl laughs, patting the girl's head as he leans back "You're very easy to tease" Cassie squeaks as the creature pulls her hood away "Don't hide that pretty face"

"I'm not pretty, I'm gorgeous." The girl tries to peer past his mask. "What if I'm secretly a monster?"

He taps his mask "Most would consider me a monster." Owl peers into her eyes for a moment, taking in a deep breath "Besides, you're definitely Human."

Cassie, flushes again, countering "How do you know?"

The man sits for a moment, choosing his words carefully "You just. Are. You smell and feel Human. Would you like me to check to make sure?"

He leans forward as the thought of facing a shark crosses Cassie's thoughts "No thank you."

They sit in silence for a while before the teen speaks again "What if I was a murderer?"

Owl shakes his head "I would be able to smell it."

Cassie stares at him "But, just a thought, what if I was a horrible person?"

The beast pulls her into a hug. "You're not that person now. The past only needs to be remembered so that it isn't repeated."

The girl relaxes "Thank you."

-------

Cassie lies on the kitchen floor, face pressed to the cool linoleum, wearing only a tank top and shorts. "Are you alright mistress?" 

The teen groans into the floor as Tell kneels beside her. 

"Are you not feeling well, Cassandra?" 

The girl groans again, shutting her eyes. 

"Cassie, you have to tell me what's wrong so I can help you." the automaton woman places a silicone coated hand on Cassie' forehead.

"Is she alright?" Tell's hand is removed as someone else kneels beside the Human, a much larger, slightly warmer hand being placed on her forehead.

"I think it's just a fever, Owl."

Owl's mask enters Cassie' field of vision "How are you feeling, Cassie?"

The teen blinks a few times "My brain is fuzzy and my stomach isn't my friend." Her words come out slightly slurred as she shuts her eyes again and falls asleep.

-

Cassie awakes to find Owl sitting on the floor beside her bed, mask slightly askew as his chest rises and falls. She leans forward, fingers curling around the edges of the object. She's about to pry it off when two very large hands wrap around her wrists. "You feeling better?"

Two red pupils stare at her from a single golden iris. "Y-yes."

Owl replaces his mask, placing a hand on her head "That's good. I need someone new to talk."

Cassie watches as he leaves her room, smiling to herself. "Someone new, huh?"