What You Mean to Me

Out in the middle of the water where the creatures wouldn't follow, Chimera stopped pulling the rope that would lead them away and watched the shore. To his and Ali's surprise, the beasts all dropped to the ground dead. The brutes brow furrowed as the corpses all began to quickly rot and disintegrate before their very eyes. What in the actual fuck was going on in the world?

The night sounds returned and things seemed normal. He began pulling the ropes to get them moving again, but Aliana placed a paw on his side, silently asking for his attention. Chimera stopped again, seating himself on the wide raft and looking down at the small woman. He could see the emotion in her delicate face and his brow furrowed. Again he wondered if he'd damaged her irreparably. Aliana started by telling him that she wanted to keep the puppies. Somehow, he knew that she would. She was too sweet natured to kill something innocent, no matter how much of a painful reminder they might be.

The woman wasn't finished speaking and continued, telling him of her past and giving reasons as to why she claimed she didn't know what love was. He wanted to argue. Wanted to tell her that he hadn't been loved either, but he remained silent, allowing her to finish. Her words saddened him, yet her understood why she might think that way. The woman had been born and raised a slave. She was a possession. She had been his possession. In some ways, she still was. In some ways, he was her possession as well. The little fae had swooped in and had stolen a piece of his heart. Though he may have never admitted it aloud, part of him belonged to the beautiful, clouded woman.

Tears flowed freely down the fae's ash and alabaster cheeks and it was hard for Chimera to not wipe them away. He wanted her to finish what she was saying before he reacted. Her words were important to her and they were important to him as well. The raft beneath them gently rocked on the water and Chimera remained silent, staring down at the dainty beauty as she poured her heart out to him. Aliana them compared herself to Siren, Viper and Dalila and the brute's brown furrowed a little harder. They were all so different. None was better than the rest. He needed them all in different ways. Together, the little harem that he created made him complete. Hearing how little she thought of herself, how little she valued herself... He never wanted her to think that he was less.

And then she told him that she loved him and his heart that had moments ago weighed so heavy, was light as air. Whatever doubts and sorrow he'd had built up was washed away like the bursting of a dam. Shifting his paw, the giant man brought Aliana's delicate appendage up so that his lips could once again brush over the back of it. "Never think that you are less than anyone else, Aliana. You were chosen for me but I chose you in turn." Releasing her, Chimera's wide paw drifted up to cup one silken cheek. "You make me complete, Aliana. You're one piece of the puzzle that makes this broken man whole." Lowering his blocky skull, he kissed her, softly, gently, lovingly.

"Chimera Klien"