Take Me Home: Aimee 11

Take Me Home:  Aimee 11

She shook her head, almost not wanting to believe it.  “I mean I know you said…but…is that how it’s going to be when you’re around your friends?”
Oh.  Heath frowned.
She had heard Corey, too? Gosh, the poor thing would not give herself a break when it came to what people thought of her. Heath felt a wave of pity for the girl; this issue was clearly what she was building and defining her life around.
Whether she had the freedom to live in this world as a fully-sentient person, same as giants.
He stopped stroking her; able to take the hint that it no longer was as comforting with the seed of doubt poisoning her thoughts.
"Paternal wasn't the word he was looking for. Adopting a human is just something different for me, so naturally people are going to read way too much into it."
She frowned, “because this was really nice. I was actually going to suggest something…but…” she shook her head again, looking up at him expectantly before lightning filled the room and she quickly pressed herself against his chest again.
She showed no signs to get off his chest, despite Corey’s words weighing heavily in her ears.  It was too warm…it was too comfortable but she still wanted to talk about this.  Even with the storm, she wanted to try and clear things up.
“I know you said that you…” she started to use air-quotes, “see me an equal…or a woman only tiny…” she ended her air quotes, “but I need to know how I’m supposed to act when I’m around other people in your life.  How are you going to treat me like when it’s just us versus when others are around?”
He gave her a gentle squeeze when the lightning startled her, then continued. "I don't care who’s around.  I’m going to treat you like Aimee no matter what.  You need to understand that.  I don't have a script for you to repeat every time you meet someone. You've got to stop beating yourself up about this, Aimee."
She gave a soft smile feeling his hold her closer.  “You’re…I guess you’re right,” she reasoned softly.  “I can’t change the way everyone sees me…but I was happy even when Wes seemed like the only person in the world who truly saw me as an equal and worth his time.”
The memories of their time together made her smile grow even wider.  “I mean…I don’t know this Corey guy…I have no right to judge him in the same way I’d like him to have no right to judge me.”
She lifted up her eyes to look at him, drinking him in for the first time with new eyes.  She couldn’t change everyone’s perception, but if someone like Wes…and maybe even Heath saw her as someone who mattered, maybe that would be enough.  She listened to the outside for a moment, and when it was silent, she finally worked up the nerve to crawl out from Heath’s hand, making her way closer to his face.
Heath hovered a hand beneath her as she skillfully free-climbed his upper body.
Aimee noticed he was trying to be still but there was something hesitant in his eyes.  Curious.
She finally made it to his shoulder…and before she could hesitate, she reached up and grabbed his chin, planting a gentle kiss on his jaw.  His stubble was a bit sharp, but she didn’t care.  This wasn’t a kiss meant for humor, she was honestly grateful to have him in her life, no matter what her role was.
She…she was his.
She kissed him again, a little longer this time, and let her lips stay close to his skin.  “You’re right,” she whispered, gently rubbing her thumb over his chin.  “I’ve got to stop.  Thank you, Heath…” she trailed off, resting her forehead against his skin, closing her eyes and simply enjoying his closeness for a bit before the thunder or lightning made her scared again.
He started to turn his head to talk to her, but the words dried up in his throat when her cool hand grasped his chin. Even with her tiny stature, he could sense the tenderness in the action this time. Heath was quiet for a moment, a faint shiver of pleasure zapping up his spine. How could she possibly think someone else could take her place? Aimee was incredibly sweet.
"I gotcha..." he breathed, reverent in his reassurance. He allowed himself to become a bit more informal, yet ever as warm as he continued.
"It's you and me now. We're a team. I'll always have your back."