Red Blood High

Though she nodded, Amnesia couldn't imagine that she'd visit during the day, knowing that he'd be sleeping. Maybe really late in the day, knowing he'd be awake soon, but definitely not morning. She'd feel bad about disturbing him.
"Only if you promise to do the same." She tended to be awake most, if not the entire day, as well as well into the night, generally not needing a lot of sleep, but the closer to dawn it was, the more likely he would find her asleep.
She thought he seemed oddly nervous when she offered to help, though he also seemed willing to accept the offer, and she blinked when he removed his shirt, frowning a bit as her hand reached out and touched the fabric wrapped around his torso. It was the same as his hand last time she'd been there, though this was wrapped around his front as well, where she knew he wasn't burned.
"Umm..."
She searched her memory, trying to think if she knew of more than one way for it to work, but she'd always been around her family, who healed like her, and Khal, who'd always been able to take care of himself and also healed pretty fast, as far as she knew. James was the only one she could remember ever trying to heal.
"Do you have something I could cut myself with?" Last time, he'd ingested her blood, which had seemed to work, so that seemed like the best option. If she would will him well, he'd already be, and aside from not wanting to touch the burns for fear of hurting him, rubbing her blood against them didn't really sound like something that would work.

“Okay, I’ll do the same…I’ll visit whenever I can.”
He had meant that, he was intent on visiting when he could. I mean…he had no reason not to, especially now.
Mentioning needing to cut herself, he seemed to have a light bulb idea, holding out the bracelet he had most recently put on.
It began to snap and crack, like bones unnaturally shifting, it’s shape straightening into a handle. The handle was pure white, dressed like a strange bone, a shield at the top of the handle near where the blade would be, and, it only got weirder as a streak of black shot from it, the blade that came free pointing upward near its edge.
It was a combination of Death’s bones and the hardened feathers of fallen angels (Specifically two twins), the blade’s dark appearance shining under the light.
Before he moved to cut her though, he barely ran the blade down the bandages on his torso, sure to make sure she moved her hand. The blade seemed very sharp, barely requiring any effort as the bandaging fell off of him.
After that, he turned his gaze to her.
“Do you want to do it or should I?”
He held the handle out towards her, not completely trusting she’d know how to use it but not feeling right having to cut her. He’d do it if she didn’t want to though.

Amnesia nodded with a smile, more than a little excited at the prospect of seeing him more than just occasionally.
As the white band she'd just recently returned to James began to make noise and move, she took a step back, almost without realizing it, aquiline eyes fixated on it as it changed shape and then suddenly formed a blade, becoming a sword. Not quite sure what had caused it to do that, she found herself suddenly happy that she hadn't really messed with it before she'd given it back to him... She couldn't imagine what she would've done if it had become a sword while she was by herself.
When he turned the blade toward himself, she started to protest, going quiet though when she saw he was simply cutting through the fabric that covered his torso, much of which fell, though some simply went limp, seeming as if it were stuck to his back. Amnesia didn't dare reach over and tug at the limp pieces though, leaving them be.
"I can do it," she said, accepting the handle of the sword from him, which was actually lighter than she'd expected it to be.
It wasn't that she didn't trusted James. She did. But if she didn't want to hurt him, it stood to reason that he didn't want to hurt her either. It seemed like he didn't at least, and besides, she was sure she'd know better what to do. While he might make a shallow cut that closed up immediately, she knew she'd have to make sure more than just a drop of blood was able to form.
The sword felt odd in her hand, but Amnesia held it with a steady hand as she raised her free hand and positioned it palm-up. "I don't think it'll take a lot," she said as she quickly looked up at him, "But I can give you more if you need it."
That said, she pressed the edge of the blade into the palm of her hand, immediately feeling the sting as it bit into her skin. Rather than pull back, however, she continued to press until a crimson pool had formed in her cupped palm. Only then did she pull the blade back and raise her bloody hand to James.

James was (admittedly) surprised when she took the blade from him, though he made no effort to fight her.
An involuntary twitch, eyes widening when she stabbed into her palm. He’d started to open his mouth, worry that she might go too far, though, there was another part that simply put faith in her, staring down into her palm at the crimson pool in her palm.
A questioning gaze, about to ask I she was sure her hand would heal right, though, when she raised it, he lowered, hand cupping hers’ as he helped her guide it, opening his mouth and drinking in the warm liquid.
A vampire would know what blood would taste like, that was a given. Since he was young, he’d been raised to drink it, to know it’s taste, to know the differences in every person…. but he had no idea what this tasted like. It was different…. somewhat sweet, lacking the default taste of iron. It was different…but not a bad different.
Then his insides began to burn…like an unending urge for more of the liquid had sprouted, something screaming out in response. It was a feeling of familiarity, something he’d felt before and knew he’d craved before…and then the overwhelming urge was gone. The urge for more was there, though, he no longer felt an overwhelming urge to jump her and take it. By the time he’d noticed this, he’d almost ignored the lack of pain in his legs and back, though, when he came back to his senses, he crudely tore free the bandaging still limply on his back, staring at the mess he’d pulled free, before he turned back toward Amnesia.
He’d wanted to kiss her, wanted to thank her that way, though, he felt sharp teeth start to slide from his gums at the thought of it, so he abandoned that idea.
“I don’t feel any pain anymore...”
He was almost marveled at the thought, and, as if to show, he turned his back, pointing it towards her. If he were healed, he didn’t know by how much, but he’d imagine many of the problems would be gone. He’d never taken much time to look at his own back, so, he couldn’t tell what was normal for it…but if it wasn’t a scabbed mess, he was fine.
“How does it look?”

As James drank the blood from her palm, Amnesia watched him, as if she would be able to see the healing taking place even though it was his back that was hurt. She wasn't sure what to make of how he went completely still for several moments, as if something was going on.
She was just starting to get worried when he moved, reaching behind him and pulling away the rest of the cloth that had been stuck there, not even flinching once as if it hurt, and she felt something within her ease.
"That's great!" she said with a grin wen he revealed that he wasn't hurting, since that meant it had worked and something weird hadn't happened. The way he'd just gone quiet and still, she'd thought something bad might've happened for a moment.
When he turned to show her his back, Amnesia looked it over, eyes searching for signs of burns. Much of his back looked a soft pink, the skin looking a little stretched, but otherwise, there didn't appear to be any signs of scabs or blood or anything she imagined would be painful or worrisome.
"It's kind of pink in a lot of places and kind of looks weird, almost rough," she told him, careful to keep her hands to herself as she looked. "Is that good?" She wasn't really sure how it was supposed to look, if maybe he needed more healing.

Almost directly after he’d began drinking, her scent became much more…there, as if his nose had cleared and she was all he could smell. Despite this, he pushed down the sudden differences, giving her a small smile in return.
He had turned to show her his back, but, he’d also turned away to hide the fangs sliding out from his gums. He…remembered that her blood had done something like this before, though, it had not been as intense, nor had it happened so quickly. Of course, he had also been nearly unconscious before, so, that might’ve been why. His eyes instinctively went to the fridge, knowing for a fact he’d made sure to stock himself full in case he’d need it.
Eyes switching back, he forced the fangs to slide back, knowing they’d interrupt or make his speech sound off if he were to leave them.
“It’s not a scabby mess back there? If it’s not scabbing or bleeding, then that’s really good.”
He responded.
“It doesn’t really hurt either. Good idea.”
He gave her a smile, though, the moment he did, he began a casual stroll toward the fridge, moving into the kitchen, hands digging into the fridge.
“Do you want anything from the fridge? We can try a water again if you want.”
He asked, hopefully keeping her from wondering why he’d gone to the fridge. He grabbed one of the blood bags in the fridge, fangs sliding out, as, with an almost hungerly aggressive bite, he stabbed a hole into the bottom of the bag with his mouth. He sucked most of the cold, lifeless, disgusting blood from the bag before he’d had time to think, the stark difference between hers’ and this one nearly making him sick, though, it sated some of the urges as he tossed the blood bag towards the trash, wiping his mouth with a paper towel nearby.
A part of him still told him that blood wouldn’t solve the problem completely, and, though his fangs sank back, he still found her smell the most enticing thing in the room.
He’d thought he’d just been hungry, but it didn’t seem like that was completely the case.

Amnesia shook her head without thinking about how he wouldn’t be able to see her, answering, “No, it’s just a little pink.” Curiosity took over then, and because he’d said it wasn’t hurting anymore, she ran her fingers lightly across an area of pink. It was warm to the touch and felt strange under her fingertips, almost like a scab but not quite.
She dropped her hand as he began to walk away, for a moment thinking she’d done something wrong, though that worry was soon eased by his question. “I’m good,” she answered, her mind even working through a new word on its own. She guessed fridge was the thing that looked a little like a slab of stone that he opened up and reached into, and she thought she’d probably be able to remember it well. It sounded like frigid, which was what the water was that he’d given her last time she was here.
As she saw James pick up something dark, she stepped closer, tilting her head as she looked to see what he had and what he was doing with it. To her surprise, he bit into it and drank its contents, Amnesia only recognizing the substance as blood as it became clearer that it’s color was red.
“Is that what you eat?” she asked, a second question occurring to her before the first was even fully formed. “Did my blood taste bad?” When she thought about it, it was almost like he’d been trying to get a bad taste out of his mouth. She raised the hand she’d cut to her face, sniffing at the leftover blood still clinging to her skin, and, after a moment, curiously licking some off her palm.

He’d forgotten to feed, so, he’d known he was actually hungry, but, now that blood was running through him, despite it being cold and horrid, he realized it seemed to be more than just hungry. It wasn’t like he needed it to survive…he just, wanted it. He’d felt it before, but he’d also been able to avoid her before, long enough for the feeling to go away…now, he didn’t know if he had a choice.
It was as he was wiping his face with the paper towel that his head shot over, widened eyes staring toward her as he lightly tossed the paper towel in the trash.
“It’s not all I eat, but I do…”
He responded, eyeing her as she asked her next question and silently went to lick at her palm.
“No…your blood tastes, really good…but, I think it’s too good. I don’t need more, so I was trying to…. stop myself from accidently biting at you.”
Before he even gave her the chance to offer, blood and healed wounds made him faster, reaching her and gently taking the weapon from her hands, ignoring the overwhelming smell of her that his nostrils offered.
“I don’t want you to give me more, okay? Even if I ask…don’t. It’s really useful and I can’t thank you enough, but I think I like it too much.”
It healed him…but something felt off about it. It was almost addictive, made his mouth start watering as he thought about it….he hated that he’d even had the thought to bite at her.

Amnesia had never really seen James eat anything, which was where her question stemmed from, but with his answer, her mind couldn’t help but wander. She’d never met a person who drank blood before, and she couldn’t help but wonder if it was a common thing or if James was unusual. It was obvious he wasn’t human, but more than that, she wasn’t sure. Even with her memories to help her out with things she didn’t know, her knowledge was still limited.
After tasting her own blood, Amnesia decided that it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t really anything she’d want to taste again. Then again, as far as she knew, she’d never tasted anyone else’s blood. She wasn’t sure if it was better or worse compared to others or how it might taste to someone who drank blood.
James’ answer to her question quickly pulled her full attention to him though, and she frowned a bit as he mentioned biting her, then came over to her and took the sword that she still held in one hand. She released it willingly, and though she heard cracking as it transformed back into a bracelet, her eyes were on James and his almost troubled expression.
“Okay,” she agreed to his request softly, reaching out to take his hand. “Are you okay?” Even though he’d mentioned stopping himself from accidentally biting her, it didn’t occur to her that leaving might help.

A part of him was afraid. Afraid that his hands were shaking, afraid that his pupils were dilated…. afraid that he’d bite her before he thought about it. When she grabbed for him, he was quick to reach out and meet her, holding her hand as well.
“I think I’ll be okay…. Next thing I knew, right after drinking it…I could smell things a lot better, mostly you….and I can kind of hear the blood in you, running through. I feel like I’m a little too fast for my body, and I can still taste the blood on my tongue…other then all of that, I actually feel better than I have in a while.”
That was the thing, he felt like he was on a direct high, like he’d come to life and could topple mountains…yet there was still a part of him that seemed unsatisfied, causing discomfort in his stomach. That was the part of him that wanted more, that seemed to make him want to indulge well beyond what he should.
His head turned, staring off in the direction of the hallway, towards the rooms and bathroom.
“I have an idea…. how about I sit in here and try to get past this, and you go try to use my shower, I can help you figure out the water and everything if you want, but I’ll come back in here…that way I don’t accidently bite you.”
He didn’t want her to leave, his voice a silent plea that she might go into the other room away from him long enough for him to compose…or try.

The way he was acting, Amnesia was almost afraid he’d just draw back, but the opposite proved to be true, as he grasped her hand instead.
Listening to him describe how he was feeling was a little weird and actually had Amaryllis speaking up for the first time since she’d left the forest. Since she wasn’t about to leave him though, she ignored the voice in the back of her head that was currently calling her an idiot.
“I’m glad you feel better,” she told him, not quite sure how to react to what he’d said about being able to hear her blood moving or what she could possibly say.
When he mentioned the shower, she started to ask if he was sure he didn’t want her to stay with him, but she thought better of it before she said the words. Judging by what he was saying, she was the problem.
“Do you think that’ll help?” she asked, squeezing his hand. She didn’t want to but... “I could leave if you need me to.” That was the option Amaryllis favored, even above the lure of a shower.

His squeeze was light in return, as if he thought his own current strength might get the better of him and he might crush her hand, which he knew was the farthest from the truth but couldn’t help feeling.
His last words were true. He could smell everything about her, could hear the blood as it moved through her body, and that seemed to be one of the reasons he craved it. It was almost as if he’d amplified his senses. Had it been because of her blood? The thought hadn’t crossed his mind until now, though, when it did, he seemed to urgently nod his head at her question.
“Could you stay…please? I don’t know when I’ll get to see you again.”
Despite his urges, he still found the selfish need to see her, to be able to talk with her and enjoy time with her.
“I can help you or the rude girl in your head can help you, but I’d like you to stay. At least give me a few minutes to see if I can get it under control. She already knows how to start the shower, she’s done it before…you can ask her.”
When he opened his hand, a small flash followed, before a folded shirt sat in his hand, and, though he seemed surprised it had worked that way, he held it out to her. If it weren’t such a chore trying to resist biting her, this blood might just be amazing.

Relief was evident in Amnesia's expression when he asked her to stay, and she quickly nodded her affirmation. "Of course! I just didn't know if it would be better to leave." She smiled warmly and impulsive pushed herself up on her toes to give him a quick kiss. "I'll stay as long as you want."
The offer wasn't entirely altruistic. While she was concerned about him and how he was acting and of course wanted to make sure that he was fine, she also loved spending time with him. The fact that she'd seen him two days in a row was already unprecedented, but if it were up to her, she'd spend most--if not all--her time with him. Just seeing him was guaranteed to make her smile, and the days they spent time together were usually her happiest. Something about him just made her feel like a plant stretching towards the sun and blossoming under its warmth.
"If you're going to stay, I'm handling it. He can stay in here," Amaryllis said in response to James' offer, and though Amnesia had expected something about him calling her rude, there was nothing else uttered.
"She said she'll help me," Amnesia told him, also surprised when a folded piece of cloth appeared in his hand. "Thank you. I'll be back soon" she said as she accepted it from him, and with the assistance of a nudge from Amaryllis, she was set into motion back towards the bathroom.
Though she didn't quite remember where to go, Amaryllis did and instructed her slow steps. With her connection to the forest so weak she could hardly feel it in the midst of the trees, by the time she'd begun walking on the stone trail in the Strange Wood, it had disappeared entirely. Maybe it was because of that that she wasn't half as bothered by it this time around or maybe she was actually starting to get used to it. Whatever the case, aside from still not liking the feeling of everything being closed in, it didn't seem as bad as last time.
Once in the bathroom, Amnesia paused and looked around the small area, in which so many strange things sat that she wasn't familiar with. She even considered just sitting down and waiting a few minutes for James rather than mess with anything. It wasn't that she had anything against bathing--she actually washed off in the creek sometimes or used a pond she knew of for that very purpose--but it was all weird and even though she'd said that she would listen to Amaryllis, she couldn't help but harbor the suspicion that the voice in her head might intentionally play a cruel trick. Still, even being as used to generally being dirty as she was, even she had to admit that it was time to bathe. It was with that and Amaryllis' insistances on her mind that she decided to try it.
Following the instructions of the voice, Amnesia pushed closed the door, effectively trapping herself in the tiny space, but when the hairs on the back of her neck raised, she grabbed the door knob and quickly opened it again. It wasn't much of a difference, but it felt better. Then the thick hoodie that covered her torso came off, halfway inside-out when she pulled it over her head, and she found what appeared to be an unobtrusive corner to carefully place it in, setting down the folded shirt on top.
Next came the instructions on how to use the shower--which she privately thought of as a waterfall despite knowing its name. There was a knob she was told to turn more than halfway to the left which seemed a little like how to use a door, and as soon as she began turning, water appeared, splashing from a curved hole into the container below. It was at that time that Amaryllis told her to pull up on a little shiny thing sitting on top of where the water was coming from, and when she did, the water that had been pouring from below suddenly stopped and started coming from the waterfall. She started, jumping back a step when she was splashed, but soon approached the edge of the container again, also finding that she was fascinated.
She was told to put her hand under the water and feel it, and when she did, found that it was cool--chillier than she'd expected. The longer she stood there though, the more she began to feel it warm up, until it was pleasantly warm. That was when Amaryllis told her to step into the container and pull closed the curtain hanging at the side, instructions she slowly and carefully followed as the water immediately began to run down her body.
For a few minutes thereafter, Amnesia actually just stood under the waterfall and enjoyed the feeling of the warmed water pouring down on her. Then, under prodding from Amaryllis, she began to wash, using her fingers to comb through her hair and remove any debris that might've been stuck in the sunny strands. Next, she was introduced to what Amaryllis called shampoo, though according to the voice, she accidentally poured far too much in her hand, and it soon began to spill over onto the floor below her. The strange smell of it, which immediately reached her nose, was James.
She rubbed the liquid into her hair as told and found bubbles on her hands when they were in front of her again, which she was informed would hurt her if she got it in her mouth or eyes, making her very careful to wash it from her skin. After doing the same for her hair, she had to repeat the process with a different liquid and then was told to scrub her body with a slippery rock, though Amaryllis claimed not to have the patience to explain what all of these things did or why she was using them.
After all bubbles had been washed away by the water, which by this point had started to become cold again, Amnesia twisted the knob to the right, and the waterfall ceased. Water came gushing out of the same, lower hole as before, startling her a step back, but though her foot caught on something slippery, she managed to catch herself rather than fall.
She stepped carefully out of the little container and onto what felt like a patch of really soft, oddly colored grass under her toes and followed the last of Amaryllis' instructions to dry herself off with a long piece of cloth that looked like what she'd found covering her hair last time she'd been here. No matter how much she rubbed at her hair though, it wouldn't dry, and so she just stopped after it stopped dripping and had to ask Amaryllis where to put the cloth. After that, she returned to the corner she'd placed the shirt and hoodie and after slipping the shirt over her head--she had no idea she'd put it on backwards and Amaryllis didn't mention it--she picked up the dirty hoodie the demon voted she throw away and clutched it to her as she practically rushed from the little room, anxious to see James and how he was doing.

“I’d never want you to leave because of that.”
He replied, and, despite the situation and the immediate overwhelm of his nostrils at her sudden closeness, he found a smile after she kissed his lips, appreciating the fact that she had completely started that one.
At her thanks, he let go of the shirt and moved off towards the couch as she walked off, looking almost dazed herself. By the time he sat on it, he’d already felt himself slightly adapting to this new scenario, focusing his hearing enough to notice when the shower water first began, closing his eyes as he then attempted to block it from his mind.
Body resting back, he almost completely forgotten about the prior pain, or the fact that he was shirtless, instead seeming entirely focused on controlling his own senses once again.
It felt as if the blood has spurred him forward, had brought about whatever this was….and, despite how worried he’d been, now that she was away from his ears and sight…. he had to admit he liked the feeling.
There was an inkling of pride to be had in his own abilities, an inkling that told him he was stronger now, that he could take whatever the world could throw…but everything else told him it wouldn’t last, that he’d be stuck back in the same hole he’d been in. As much as he hated it…he knew to listen to everything else.
Eyes closed, he began to think of the area around him, picking up the smaller things, like the faint sound of a microwave going off from one of the other apartments, the footsteps of someone walking nearby, and, once more…the sound of the shower. One part of him feared he might begin to crave again, while the other just didn’t like the thought that this could count as spying, so, he attempted to pull away, switching from hearing to seeing. He’d imagine his room, though he hadn’t had to do it to make something appear before, mind clearly focused on the deodorant stick he’d left on his bed. When he opened his palm, he felt a small weight, and, wrapping his fingers around it, he felt the shape of the deodorant. Smirking, he tried to imagine his room once more, holding tight the deodorant that had just appeared. The weight was gone the next moment, and, though he didn’t know where it had ended up, he’d thought of his bed, laying nearly where it had been before.
His senses didn’t lessen, no, but he seemed to calm, his nerves and everything else begin to fit into place around this new development, a deep breath of fresh air coming from him in a sigh.
He hadn’t realized how much time had passed, how calm he’d found himself becoming during. His hands were at his side, fingers all open and simply laying on the couch. It was almost as if he were peacefully asleep, though, when the noise began, his eyes opened immediately and seemed to catch Amnesia before she’d even made it out of the door.
“I think that helped…”
He said, finding it now easier to block out the sounds he didn’t desire now that he’d allowed himself time to calm.
“So…how’d the shower go?”
She’d walked out with damp hair, her shirt on backwards, and her arms wrapped tightly around the hoodie she’d been wearing moments ago. He’d started to see her more and more in different lights the closer the two became, one of them caught in the way he’d glanced at her legs and how much the shirt covered, and the other in how pretty she looked in nothing but wet hair and a t-shirt, clutching what he’d given her like she was afraid she’d lose it.

When she rounded the corner, Amnesia's eyes immediately found James already turned towards her and almost before he spoke, she could see that he seemed more relaxed. "I'm glad," she said, smiling, and came further into the room.
Almost as if it were natural, she found herself moving to curl up beside him, the hoodie finding a home in her lap. "I... really liked it," she said, seeming surprised with herself. "Amaryllis didn't want to explain anything, just tell me what to do, and it was weird, but the warm water felt really nice. Even in the summer, the pond isn't warm like that."
Even sitting down, James was taller, and she tilted her head back to look up at him. "You sure you're okay now?" she asked, a little of the previous day's guilt coming through. She hated the idea that she'd gotten him hurt like that and might have screwed something else up trying to fix the first thing she'd done.
Considering Lily was out and about, doing her best to hurt her, it hit a little too close to home.
Which suddenly made her think of something. "Hey James... if you ever see a pink or green or brown or white kitten and it starts talking to you, could you promise not to talk back and to get away from it? Or a woman with really long hair the same colors who isn't wearing clothes and you can't see her eyes. That's Lily, my sister... She can't really hurt you physically, but if she touches you, she could do things to your mind."
She would've warned him ages ago if she'd had her memories and it seemed late now, but she'd rather he know, just in case Lily ever decided to approach him directly. Still, some part of her held onto hope that as badly as her sister wanted to hurt her, she wouldn't involve James, who had nothing to do with what happened.

She’d gotten even more comfortable with him than she had before, easily coming to sit beside him, and, showing that he too had gotten comfortable, he found his arm moving to wrap around her, finding the smells and sounds drifting further from his mind.
“It can be really relaxing, you can make it hot or cold, depending on what you feel like.”
He told her.
“It’s simple to figure out, you’ll get the hang of it if you do it more.”
He’d look down at her in return, catching her eye as the hand wrapping into her placed itself lightly on her upper arm.
“Still not completely gone…but it’s not so bad now that I’ve let myself get used to it. I’m not wanting to bite you though, and that’s a plus.”
He still felt it, but, it was as if the urge to do so had died with time.
As if preparing to do what he had done before, though, now not in an attempt to put her to sleep, he raised his arm and rubbed it lightly through her hair, though, finding that it was still damp, he ran through it once before placing a somewhat wet hand back on her arm.
“You look like you feel a lot better with a good night’s sleep and a shower. I’d say you look pretty…but you always do.”
A little smile there to slide up his lips as he spoke, this one much more genuine than a few of the ones he’d given before.
Her sentence was…odd, that was a fact…but, he found that, aside from knowing she couldn’t lie well at all, her words seemed to have a truth to them.
“…She wouldn’t dare… ”
A voice he hadn’t expected to ring in his head again, as if he hadn’t been paying attention until that moment.
“Yeah…I’ll be sure to avoid her. She’s the one that…messed with your head, right?”
He seemed to have to motion to his head as he said that, pointing to his skull.

Amnesia nodded as she snuggled into his side. She was happy when he put an arm around her rather than stiffening up, as she halfway expected, some part of her brain just so used to those sorts of reactions that it was having trouble catching up. After so long of him keeping distance, this was different--in the best possible sort of way though, of course.
"Okay, good," she said, obviously relieved. There was some skepticism at the back of her head which belonged to Amaryllis, but she ignored it. The voice might believe she trusted too easily, but it seemed like Amaryllis didn't trust at all.
When she felt his hand in her hair, however briefly, Amnesia smiled, remembering how nice it had felt. She couldn't help but wonder if it would feel nice to him too, considering how short his hair was. Shifting back a bit so that she could turn and move a little better, she angled her torso more towards him and lifted her hand up, letting her fingers run through his much-shorter hair. It was extremely soft, and her fingers didn't run into tangles as they glided through the strands. Her mind actually forget her curiosity in the actions as she found that she simply enjoyed it. The last time she'd just played with someone's hair had been with Lily, and that wasn't quite the same. That hadn't really bee for the pleasure of it. That time had a purpose, since Lily had wanted flowers in her hair. She couldn't quite name exactly why, but this just felt different.
Her fingers stilled as James spoke and her attention focused back on him in time for him to say that she looked pretty. "I do?" It didn't sound as if she were seeking to get him to say it again or affirm himself but more as if she were genuinely curious if that were the truth.
When James promised to avoid Lily, Amnesia felt as if a weight had lifted, and she nodded, glad that he'd agreed. "Yeah... I think she's the one who took my memories in the first place, and then she gave them back. She could have done it kindly if she'd wanted to. She made sure that she did it the most painful way possible, and I'm still missing pieces I'll never get back."

It was again that he remembered the calm from before, the way he’d felt at peace having her leaning on him, and he felt even better the way she snuggled in, as if she didn’t have any doubts about him, any reason to think he could be dangerous or even harmful. The innocence made him sad, though there was mostly a warm feeling that crawled its way up, a happy feeling that had led him to stroking her hair in the first place.
Not understanding what she was aiming to do, he eventually realized and ducked his head slightly, a half-cooked but joyful smile on his lips as he stared towards her, allowing her to feel his hair. It wasn’t like it felt bad…much more like a small, somewhat uncoordinated scalp massage, but the innocence in the act made him enjoy it.
When it stopped, he blinked and nodded his head.
“Absolutely! I think you look beautiful. Wet hair fits you just as much as dry.”
He said, and, raising his other hand, he grabbed slowly for her hand, wrapping it in his and quietly kissing one of her knuckles. He didn’t know why he’d done it, but it felt right in the moment.
The smile soon drooped somewhat as she explained.
“Doesn’t sound like anyone I want to meet. I’d have more to say than I’d like to admit.”
She was his girlfriend, and the thought of someone putting someone as alive and innocent through pain made fire in him, though he found it quelled as he held her hand and lightly rubbed in a circle at the top of her hand, just below her knuckles.
“I’ll try my best to avoid her.”
“Are we feeling possessive now? How sweet. Lock her in a cage and leave her, and heathens would find and devour her. Innocence makes a target, and the world is just so eager to squash such a thing. Don’t be a fool. ”

When Amnesia realized what she was doing, she started to draw back, though something about the way James smiled made her pause and mimic the gesture. And since he didn't seem to have a problem with it, she ended up continuing to run her fingers through his hair for a little longer before she stopped and drew her hand back.
She felt her cheeks warm when he spoke and kissed her hand, a fluttery sort of feeling taking over her stomach that she couldn't say she'd ever felt before but didn't exactly hate either. "I'm glad you think so. I... actually don't really look like this," she admitted to him softly, feeling the warmth in her cheeks spread. "Well, I mean, I do, I guess... when I was created, I didn't, but you're supposed to shape-shift when you come to the human world so you fit in better."
Amnesia had no idea where all of that had come from or why she'd suddenly tried to explain it all to James like that. She wasn't even sure how much of it he would understand, and she felt a thread of embarrassment take hold. What was going on with her?
She found her gaze drawn to their joined hands as he traced circles across her skin, glad to have something else to focus on when he replied to what she'd said about Lily. "Then I'm glad I warned you... I don't think she would try to hurt you, but I honestly don't know." Part of her wanted to defend her sister, tell him some of the older, fonder memories she had, but even she had to admit that Lily had changed, and she didn't know her sister as well as she once had.

He’d let her run her hand through his hair until he’d taken it and kissed her skin, bright blue eyes showing excitement as her cheeks warmed, something he felt slightly taint his cheeks as well.
“If you think that matters to me now, you’re being too hard on yourself. I mean, I know this you the best, but you are still you, and I think that works for me.”
He didn’t want to question her on where she was born and who she was so suddenly, slightly afraid that such a sudden thing, poking her like a lab rat, would run the blood from her cheeks.
He did want to know, what she was and where she came from, everything he could find out, but he didn’t dare throw it all at her now.
Circling her skin, he’d gone slowly, almost tracing it, before he heard her speak again.
“Well, I’ll take your word for it.”
Was all he said, finding that his mind hadn’t left her origins and who she was, afraid that she might have some doubt in his words.
It was this that made him decide, moving his body forward and pulling her close, locking lips and making this one long and drawn out as he pulled her into a hug, exposing her to a more intimate and close kiss, wrapping into her and letting the two of them simply move and breath together for a moment before he pulled his head away, coming to simply hold her as his lips detached. Kissing was the easiest way he knew to express himself, the way he’d found himself doing more and more with her, as if trying to tell her everything he wanted to, but, he found himself frustrated knowing that this wouldn’t solve the problem (that he didn’t even know she was for sure having, she could’ve just been fine with his answer, he didn’t know). It was so much easier to not feel this! So much easier to enjoy a night of fun and booze and women! The thought came and was gone as soon as it had, instantly pushed down with stubbornness. He'd fight like hell to keep this now that he had it.
“I don’t want you to think you have to hide from me, Amnesia. You not being human or not actually looking like this doesn’t matter. I…. what I want to say is I…”
He seemed to have difficulty saying it. His nerves were building like walls, pushing down his words. He was being a hypocrite, still hiding things from her. How would she feel if she knew him? Was it the right time to tell her how he felt? What if it was too soon? Was he supposed to say it this quick? Should he say it? How would she react? A swarm of words, questions floating like people were asking them in a chorus of differing voices, and it was the memory of her saying the same that broke him free from the chorus, obliterating the doubtful walls in his way.
“…I love you, so, don’t ever think that matters.”
A shy smile as he went from soft and slow to rapidly quick, as if he’d suddenly realized the words were coming out and wanted them to race forward. After this, it was his cheeks that were bright red.
“That came out easier than I thought…”
A little whisper to himself, though, he’d made it a little more vocal than he’d attempted to.