[Pouflon] Insecurities

Wisp breathed a quiet sigh, turning onto her side as she lay beside her beloved vespire, her head resting on his haunches. She snuck a gaze at him, though he was lying down, he held his head up; an indication that he was not asleep as he rarely if ever found it comfortable to sleep in that position. His eyes were closed however and Wisp could feel his breathing steadily against her side. Every so often he would exhale slightly longer, pneumir escaping from the sides of his mouth; he was pondering something, she figured. From her vantage point he seemed so large; in the fading light he loomed over the space they both occupied but she still found him breathtaking. She let out another sigh, exhaling from her nose and readjusted her gaze to the window that faced their sleeping area.

“Something on your mind, dearest?” Myths voice rumbled, low and warm. It took Wisp a moment to answer, wrestling with the issue roiling in her mind.

“I think... I need a haircut soon.” It was not the whole truth, but it was part of it and there was a tiny pinprick of doubt that Myth would have any concern for the insecurity currently plaguing her mind. Myth did not open his eyes but his brow furrowed, he was acutely aware of his wife’s tossing and turning, not only because she was quite literally leaning on him but because she had held a restless energy since they had returned home from an outing hours ago. He only hummed his response, trusting that she would continue her thought but Wisp’s mind was occupied with the unfurling doubt that was beginning to spread. Myth’s tail twitched.

“And...?” He urged. He wasn’t good with words, especially not emotional ones but he was very good at differentiating Wisp’s moods.

“Well... maybe not... it might make me look smaller...” her voice was quiet and she sighed again. Myth tilted his head towards her, in not so many words the problem was revealed. It was a conversation they had had before and it was a conversation they would keep having, Myth knew this. He caught her gaze and raised an eyebrow at her.

“Something wrong with being small?” Wisp’s brow furrowed and she pouted at him; it struck him as adorable and he had to stop the chuckle that threatened to sneak out.

“It feels like I’ll always need someone’s help! Too short, too slow, can’t fly...”

“Who said this to you?” Myth rested his head on his arms, keeping a serious affect all the while.

“I- No one. No one’s said this to me.” Wisp looked sheepish, understanding the challenge Myth presented her with, “It’s just how I feel.” She mumbled.

“A feeling can be just that, love. Without any proof it’s just a feeling, not a truth.” He tucked himself closer to her, resting his head on her midsection. She pressed her nose to his temple, closing her eyes in thought. After a moment of her silence, which he took as her processing her thoughts, a rumble emanated from him - something akin to a purr but not quite exactly that. He watched a smile poke at her face, she peeked one eye open at him.

“Are you doing that to try to make me feel better?” She teased.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He feigned and she laughed at him but he could see a weariness in her still.

“You wouldn’t want to be bigger anyway.” Wisp tilted her head.

“And why’s that?”

“You’d have a harder time going through doorways.” She scoffed at him but appreciated the light tone.

“Sounds better than not being seen.” He hummed in acknowledgment; Wisp was not a large pouflon in stature or personality, she fell slightly short of average for a pixie-type pouflon and was often quiet and reserved in public spaces so he understood and has witnessed how easy it could be for others to overlook her - in some ways he felt frustrated for her but of course his opinion of other pouflons would always be tainted by his past.

“Those who choose not to see you are not worthy of knowing you and any who speak ill of you should find my ire most convincing.” His voice was soft but it had a conviction that filled Wisp with butterflies. Yes, they were married and yes, Myth adored her even before their hornfasting but rarely did he concern himself with the opinions of others. He was impressively resilient when it came to sharp remarks about himself so Wisp admittedly thought he would feel the same about anyone else being bad-mouthed, including her. “You do know that vespires grow forever, right? I could have inherited that trait.”

“Yes, maybe one day you’ll be so large that you’ll finally see how tiny I am. Your head in the clouds might barely hear my tiny voice!” Her tone was light, teasing, her nose scrunched as she smiled at him.

“Maybe so but do you know what I’ll say when you ask me about it from way down there?”

“What?”

“I love you as you are.” He tucked his head beneath her chin, pressing himself closer to her; nearly cradling her whole body in his form. Wisp felt the cloud of doubt in her mind dissipate and she almost felt ridiculous for letting herself overthink. Cuddling her cheek into the fluff of his neck, her words slightly muffled by the vespire’s clinginess, she responded in kind to his words.

“I love you too, Myth.”