Issue 1 Downtime

Onyx was sitting on the couch in the evening, reading a book.

Aly came in, carrying a bag of groceries. She headed to the kitchen, not saying anything to Onyx.

Inwardly, Onyx sighs while keeping her eyes on her book. If she was being truthful, she was tired of being angry at Aly. A part of her wanted to bow and scrape and beg for forgiveness.

But a very new part of herself refused. Aly was wrong, it screamed. She wants you to do what you want, then gets angry when she doesn't like the results. She doesn't respect you or think you can take care of yourself.

Onyx gently closes her book and puts it on the coffee table.

"...Do you need help?" Onyx asks.

"Yeah." Alyson replied "Do you mind putting the cans in the pantry while I get the rest of it into the fridge?"

"No, I do not," Onyx says, standing up and heading into the kitchen. She begins to put away the cans, carefully organizing them.

"Thanks." Alyson said "Do you want chicken for dinner, or fish? If you don't want either I got some pork, but I'd like to cook that tomorrow night."

Onyx considered the question carefully. Dinner choices were not something she thought about lightly, "What type of chicken?"

"I hadn't gotten that far." Alyson said "Baked, maybe?"

"That sounds good," Onyx says,

"Ok." Alyson said "I'm sorry." she added, as she got out a baking dish.

Onyx felt her face blush a bit. She felt embarrassed and ashamed.

"...I am sorry as well," Onyx says.

"I shouldn't have yelled at you like that." Alyson said "You scared me, but that isn't an excuse."

"And I am sorry I put myself in a situation that made you worry," Onyx says, "I am not used to having this much freedom. It is...complicated."

"I can understand that." Alyson said "I do want you to stretch your wings. But I also worry about you getting hurt."

"I know you do," Onyx says, "And I love you for it. But I also don't want you to think that I am unable to care for myself."

"I know that you can take care of yourself." Alyson said "In my head, anyway. But sometimes, I get overprotectivce, and I'm sorry for that."

"I do not mind," Onyx says, "Honestly, most of the time I enjoy it."

"I do not know what has been wrong with me lately."

"You've been going through a lot of changes."

"I am not sure I enjoy them all," Onyx says, "It is troubling."

"Its part of growing up." Alyson said "And figuring out who you are."

"...Will you stay with me? No matter who I turn out to be?"

"I promise." Alyson said "I'm probably going to be growing and changing a lot myself. But I think that we'll grow together, instead of growing apart."

Onyx nods, looking visibly relieved.

"I love you." Alyson said "And that isn't going to change."

"I love you too, ma'am," Onyx says, smiling gently.

"MMM." Alyson said, smiling slyly "Then why were you doubting me?"

"People who love you can still leave," Onyx says quietly.

"Thats true." Alyson said turning serious again "But that doesn't mean that they always do. More to the point, I'm not leaving you. Ever."

"I will hold you to that, ma'am," Onyx says, smiling a little.

"Of course, that means that you can't decide to leave me."

"I won't," Onyx says, "I promise."

"Good." Alyson said.

"Besides, we will be married soon," Onyx says with a small grin, "Under Madripoor law, if I try to run you can cripple me for life."

"Oh, I'm sure that I could come up with something more creative than that."

"I do not doubt it," Onyx says with a grin.

"Besides, you're more fun when you can run away."

"Am I now?" Onyx asks with a grin.

"How else can I catch you and have my wicked way with you?"

"So, you are saying you do not enjoy it when I crawl?" Onyx asks.

"Oh, I enjoy that too." Alyson said, shivering a little "I like you running, and crawling, and walking, and kneeling,and lying there helpless and...." she chuckled evilly