The fear radiating from within the gift box was unsettling. Not quite a tremble, but a sinking━━ quick s i n k i n g feeling.
━━ Up my alley… haa great.
Sentiment understood, there was a new, tiny, worry forming in the back of Matsuba’s mind. Was this going to happen every time? Steven wasn’t necessarily wrong… But he had enough on his plate with Kakyu, Mimiya, and Yasu. Another troublesome ghost would━━
❛ She wasn’t wrong. ❜ He can feel the presence, yet… when the top of the gift box is removed, nothing seems out of the ordinary. It’s beautiful, that much is clear on the mystic’s face.
Hands are gentle, as if the mended c r a c k s will simply fall apart again if he isn’t. But that’s far from the reason. There’s something just as fragile, scared, hidden away in one of cups. Another momentary glance is given to Steven. A half smile━( thankful and conveying the appreciation for the gift )━graces Matsuba’s face.
The worry comes straight back, once he looks away.
❛ Come on out… ❜ Soft words. What one would speak to a frightened Growlithe’s pup or a Meowth’s kitten. Ghosts deserved the same tenderness. Kindness, too. ❛ You are safe here. ❜
Steven had caught the glance and understood. Despite the hassle they’re having right now, Matsuba wasn’t unhappy about the gift. Phew.
He watched the other handle the porcelaine with so much care, Steven wished Matsuba would touch him that way too. Maybe someday he’d be deserving of that kind of gentle treatment? He watched Matsuba coax something out, silver blue eyes squinting to make sure he wasn’t missing anything.
And then he finally saw it. Looked like liquid, but not quite. A bit on the gooey side. He made out a face on the cup itself now, an expression he hadn’t noticed before. “Is this a pokemon?” Not any Steven had ever seen before. Whatever it was, it was kinda cute and didn’t seem hostile. On the contrary, it was shy and seeing two big men leaning over it must be intimidating.
