[CLOSED continuation for @freewillacquired ]
“Won’t your neighbors find it strange you’re making all of these changes and don’t have a horse?” Lunira asked, standing at the window, looking out into the large garden area. Matt had a fairly large property, and between the two of them, they had developed the land better and better over the past few months. Still, she expected it was a little strange to see things developing so quickly.
"If my neighbors don't already find me strange by now, they haven't been paying close enough attention." Matt said with an easy shrug, his neighbors hadn’t really bothered to nose into his business, which had turned out for the best.
“You’re not strange. I like you.” The centaur replied quickly.
Matt chuckled, looking over at her. "Thank you, Lunira. That means a lot."
Not sure he quite understood how much she meant it, Lunira turned away from the window to face him. “I mean it. You’re the nicest man I’ve ever met.”
"Well... you haven't met many men..." he said shyly, "I'm really not... overly that nice of a person."
“I’ve met a few!” She said defensively. “I mean... a couple.... okay one was an elf. But still! I think you’re wonderful.”
“Fine, they were both elves!” Lunira pouted, feeling rather caught on her little fib.
"Elves are real?!" he exclaimed with such an excited smile.
Lunira looked quite confused. “Did you forget who you’re talking to?”
Giggling she pulled him into a hug and nuzzled his neck. “Silly Matt.”
Matt hugged her back, chuckling. "You're so sweet, Lunira."
“Says the sweetest man in the world.” Lunira chuckled and held him for a few moments longer than just a friendly hug. But he was so warm and comforting....
He didn't mind the long hug, but it did make him a little sad. Why was the first woman who didn't treat him like shit not a human? "I wish-" he started, but then he stopped and shook his head. "Nevermind," he whispered.
Lunira blinked and looked him in the eye, a longing to assist him was there. “You wish what?”
"I wish... that I was like you."
This only left her further confused. “But... I’m not special.”
"Yes, you are. You are to me."
“And you are to me. More than anything....”
"That's why I wish I was like you..."
“But you’re so special just as you are. I... I love everything about you now.”
"But if I'm human and you're not, then nothing can ever come of that," he said, slowly, sadly. "I care about you..."
It seemed to click to Lunira then and she too seemed to fade into sadness. “I see...” With a sorrowful smile, she reached up to cradle his face in one hand. “I’m sorry.”
"Don't be sorry. You're perfect. I'm the human screw-up," he said dejectedly.
“You are perfect, Matthew. Just as you are.” Lunira insisted with such a sure smile, scarcely inches from his face. “I’d never want you different.”
His eyes filled with tears. Why did he have to be human? This was cruel.
Lips parting in soft surprise, Lunira wasn’t sure what to make of his tears. She hadn’t upset him had she? Was he simply saddened that they were so different. Her heart clenched and she felt sick to her stomachs. “Matt...” She spoke his name with soft adoration. To Lunira there was little problem, she adored him as she was and loved him, human. But he made it clear that he saw the difference between them as too much. Very well. With a final decision she leaned in and kissed him, gentle, sweet, and tender. Then she turned and trotted out the front door into the night, galloping away..
The kiss was magical, right down to the cliche of his seeing stars. Maybe she felt the same way about him that he did about her, but... he wasn't right for her. Didn't she want one of her own kind? If they tried to do anything more than kiss, she'd probably inadvertently trample him. And... he wasn't really into horses. But she wasn't a horse, and he was very much into her. And then... she left. His eyes went wide, first with shock and then with horror. Oh god, he'd screwed up again and insulted her somehow. Why did this always happen to him? Why did every woman - regardless of species - end up either leaving or cheating on him? He must he the stupidest guy on the planet with regard to women, because he just kept royally messing up with them wherever he went. "Wait! Lunira, WAIT!" he called, running after her, but he couldn't keep up. So there he stood... in the middle of his home street, his front door wide open and a sizable stiffy in his pants. "Oh shut up," he said, looking down at it. "You're not getting anything tonight. Maybe not ever again."
She did return, but it was not for another couple of weeks, until three mornings after the full moon. There was a knock, and when he answered the door, there stood Lunira. Or at least most of her. She was, shockingly, human, wearing a long and flowing white dress, her now human feet bare and dusty. Seeing him, she smiled up at him shyly. “Hello, Matt.”
