Transformation (1/2)
Story contains- Nonbinary Character, female Character, fluff, whump, hurt but no comfort (not until the next chapter anyway)
Part 2
Also Contains- Hunger, painful transformation, urges to over eat without actually doing so.
This is really more of an introduction to Grace (she/her) and Cardinal (they/them).
Grace ran her fingers through the curly hair of her partner, carefully pulling out the endless knots that formed at the mildest provocation.
“Really darling, it’s like you don’t own a hair brush.”
She pulled it back into a ponytail, a task that would have been difficult if not for the undercut reducing the sheer amount of hair attempting to defy the task.
“Or a mirror for the matter” Grace continued to complain in a light tone.
Her partner, Cardinal, snorted softly stretching before leaning back into Grace.
“I promise you, I do happen to have both of those things.”
Grace wrapped her arms around them, giving a doubtful Mhm sound.
“Really, I do!” Cardinal protested. “It’s not my fault my hair’s like this! It’s been like this as long as I can remember.”
Grace squirmed out from underneath Cardinal, they were outside at the park and even in the shade her partner’s leather jacket was uncomfortably warm to be underneath.
“Problem?” There was concern behind those dark sunglasses. A timidness as to whether they had gone too far .
“Yes, actually. I know you get cold easily, but it’s almost 90 out. You should be dead in that thing.” Grace made a gesture to the offending article.
They laughed softly, a sound that often stood in contrast to their otherwise loud voice and seeming inability to go anywhere without making an absolute racket.
“Well, I get sunburnt easily.” Cardinal shrugged, “Speaking of which, I ought to go home soon. Got a busy night planned and I’m already a lovely shade of pink.”
It was Grace’s turn to giggle, “Busy night eh? Sometimes I swear. You’re either a drug dealer or a prostitute.”
“Or a serial killer.”
“Oh yes, I can see the headlines now. ‘Pale individual, roughly 5 foot 1 seen departing scene. Witnesses say the suspect wore a hawaiian shirt that will haunt them till their dying days.”
Cardinal laughed again, reaching for the bag of pretzels and peering inside.
“Something got you stressed?” They asked as they examined the bag.
Grace paused before answering,
“Not particularly, no? Why do you ask?”
“Because, an entire footlong usually lasts you for two meals and a bag of pretzels can last you all day. You ate both in a couple of hours. Only time I can remember you eating a whole bunch at once is when you get all stressed out.”
Grace felt herself flushing. Yes, her stomach did feel oddly tight when she thought about it but other than that she just hadn’t even realized how much she had eaten. In fact, as she thought about it she realized she still felt hungry. Her face shifted into a mixture of concern and alarm.
Before she could say anything Cardinal caught a look at her expression and immediately fumbled for words.
“I- uh I’m sorry? It’s not a bad thing, I just- uh- thought I’d see if everything is ok. You kind of- um- stress eat now and then so I just wanted to- erm…”
Grace grabber Cardinal’s face in her hands and kissed them on the lips, cutting them off.
“It’s ok, I just.. Hadn’t even noticed to be honest? I think I’ll go home too… Nothing’s wrong, really. I’m just kind of tired”
At some point Cardinal’s sunglasses had become dislodged, but they seemed less concerned about the eye protection and more concerned about Grace even as their eyes watered in the light.
They walked to Grace’s home together, sharing another kiss at the entryway before Cardinal continued down the street to where their own home waited for them.
As Grace shut the door, her stomach growled. She had passed ‘could go for a snack’ and into ‘so hungry it actually made her queasy’ territory. Instead of immediately heading for the pantry however, she first filled a cup with water from the tap and sipped at it. It didn’t help much, but took the edge off the queasiness.
Cardinal’s comment about her eating habits was not unwarranted. She really didn’t eat too terribly much, with the exceptions being holidays and when she couldn’t find other coping methods for the stress. Even then, she tended to mindlessly snack over the course of a day rather than push her limits in one sitting.
She drained another glass and hesitated before grabbing a banana from the basket by the counter along with a small bag of chips. Grace curled up in her chair at her computer, dedicated to finding something to distract from the hollow feeling curling around her insides.
--------------------------
Grace jerked awake, a game over screen plastered across her monitor. It had to be close to evening, and as she checked her messages she cringed slightly. It was easy to see that Cardinal had tried repeatedly to check if she was ok before it trailed off. This time when the phone started to ring she grabbed it hurriedly, answering too fast despite the fact that she still felt half asleep.
“Sorry, had a bit of a nap.”
“A bit?” Cardinal’s voice sounded incredulous, “Babe, it’s been hours. Are you sure you’re ok?”
“Um… Actually…” Grace grasped for the half empty glass of water she had left on her desk, “I think I’m coming down with something.”
“How so?”
Grace smiled. It was so like them to start playing doctor. Every cut, scrape, and illness they always had some form of advice or comfort when they didn’t know how to help. They weren't bad at it either, always finding some way to help.
“Tired, kind of weird feeling, I think I’m running a fever now.”
“I’ll be over at some point tonight, I’ll try and bring by some of that soup you like and stay on the couch.”
“No, I don’t want you catching… Whatever it is I’ve got.”
“I’m pretty sure if you’re contagious you gave it to me this morning. Repeatedly.”
“Fair point.” Grace knew better than to argue a point like that, it just wasn’t worth it.
There was a moment of silence, then,
“I’m probably going to go on to bed. Love you.”
“Love you too, try not to get worse. Get plenty of water, and try and eat dinner if you’re up to it. I probably won’t be by until after midnight.”
At the thought of food Grace’s stomach whined and churned. Leaving her silently praying that Cardinal wasn’t able to hear it from their end.
“Yeah I- I will.”
She hung up, drained the glass and stood up from her chair. In moments the room spun and she felt herself thud against the carpet. It felt like she was burning from the inside, her chest felt constricted. Every joint had gone soft as jello, or at least it felt like it.
Slowly she staggered upright and made a slow, stumbling journey up the short stairs and into her room. Collapsing into the unmade bed she curled in tightly on herself. Stomach churning threateningly as another wave of vertigo washed over her.
Every movement began to bring new popping noises out of every joint. Despite her shivering, she was soon peeling off sweaty clothes as the burning sensation spread from her stomach to her extremities. It felt like she was radiating so much heat that her skin was slowly burning as well. Growing tighter and more painful over her frame.
As she lay, curled up and shivering on top of the blankets, an uncomfortable sensation of something shifting inside her brought forth a pained whimper.
Another, more painful, churning sensation caused her to tense, as her muscles strained against an invisible force. She arched her back, and upon the sudden movement brought a wave of sensation reminiscent to shards of glass piercing her from the inside. She heard a strangled scream as though from a distance and for all intents and purposes Grace fell unconscious as the moon crept into the sky.