Chapter 110: Worthy Of Love
Koda;
"Hey, Elián. You live with us now, you should dress like us." I hear a man say I’m about to walk past the communal hut, and I stop midstep.
I move back to peek in through the curtains shielding one of the windows, and I spot Elián sitting beside Mother.
There are little girls behind him who have braided his hair into two tiny pigtails, which are sticking up on both sides of his head, and I smile at how silly and adorable it makes him look.
"Yes! You should try on a Krompa! I’m sure you’d love it!" Another man exclaims, and I watch Elián closely as his gaze shifts to Mother.
They shouldn’t tell him what to wear. If he doesn’t feel like being shirtless and in a Krompa, no one should force it on him. He’s okay in his clothes and...
"What do you think?" He whispers to my Mother, and she smiles at him as she casually crushes some nuts and passes them to him to eat.
"It’s up to you, sweetheart. What would you feel comfortable in? You don’t have to wear a Krompa if you don’t want to." She replies, and Elián stares at her in silence for a while as though weighing her words, and then he looks down at his fingers, which are on his lap.
"A Krompa would look very nice on you. It will go well with your pretty face and amazing hairdo!" One of the girls exclaims behind him as she throws herself over his shoulder, and I smile as I watch Elián giggle.
"You think so?" She questions as he pulls her onto his lap, and she nods.
"Yeah! We can do your face paint too, like our mamas do, if you want. I’m sure Alpha Koda will looove you even more if he sees you when we’re done." The other girl replies as she rushes to stand in front of Elián, and my smile grows.
I look back at Elián’s face and his cheeks are bright red. His smile however hasn’t faded. It’s as bright as light reflecting on gold.
He looks up at the small crowd in the hut and a warm resolve shines in his eyes.
"Alright. I’ll wear a Krompa." He announces, and the men and women cheer while Mother just chuckles as she hands crushed nuts to the little girls, too.
"We hoped you’d agree, so we got one custom-made to your size. Made of the finest materials." One of them says as he stands up and hands Elián a folded Krompa.
He sets the girl on his lap and takes the piece of clothing from the man.
"Can I put it on now?" He questions, and I raise a brow. He wants to wear it now?
What changed his mind? I thought he only liked his dark-themed, well-covering clothes?
"Sure! Let’s give him some privacy!" A man cheers, and I step away from the window and rush to the side of the hut as the people start pouring out.
"When you’re done, you can come find me at my hut." I hear Mother say to him, and a few seconds later, she steps out as well and shuts the door behind her.
I move back to the window, and my gaze finds Elain standing in the middle of the room with the Krompa still folded in his hands.
He traces his fingers across the material lightly with a gentle smile on his beautiful face, and seeing the morning’s light on his face like this makes my heart race.
Especially how it makes one of his eyes glimmer like a gemstone.
I watch his grip on the cloth tighten, and his scent shifts to that of pure moon flowers, causing my brows to knot. There’s no trace of that usual minty undertone.
A lone tear escapes his eyes as he stares at the cloth like it’s some sacred item, and I just watch him.
The simple, delicate beauty of him...
He chuckles softly to himself before unfolding the Krompa and raising it to his eye level to stare at it.
"A pair of pants has never made me so happy before." He laughs and I tilt my head as I watch him.
What’s so special about a Krompa that it makes him happy? Should I get him more Krompas?
He sighs and then slings the Krompa over his shoulder.
My heart skips a beat when he takes his hands to the knot holding his pants up, and before I get the chance to fight the temptation of spying on him, he loosens the knot and yanks down his pants, causing his bare back and bottom to be on full display to me.
My lungs forget how to properly process air as he bends over to put on the Krompa, and I start choking.
I move away from the window as I try to rid myself of the violent torrent of coughs that’s suddenly attacked the core of my existence.
I hold the back of my hand over my mouth and stare wide eyed into the space before me.
Did I seriously just choke at the sight of my omega naked??
Light! I’m completely done for!!
I peek back into the hut, and Elián is busy humming now, still bent over as he lightly sways his hips.
"Uh-huh, I like it... it’s simple as that..." He sing softly, and I swallow hard as I stare at the smooth flawlessness of his backside.
"I don’t need no one, two, three, not bourgeoisie, I’ll step in..." He continues singing in a whisper, and the rush of blood to my third leg is instant and merciless.
It’s taking everything inside me not to do something utterly foolish at this moment. Why is it taking him so long to put on the Krompa!? I should stop looking, but I can’t...
Light, help me!!
He finally pulls on the Krompa and covers himself up, and I can’t help the breath of relief that escapes me. I survived!!
"You know he’s going to chew you out if he catches you spying on him." Hear Mother’s voice say behind me, and a shiver runs up my spine as I stand completely frozen.
I slowly turn around with a nervous smile and she raises a brow at me.
"Mom... I... I thought you left." I note and she rolls her eyes.
"You think there’s a moment here when I’m not keeping an eye on that dandelion?" She replies, and her words cause a level of peace to flood my system.
Her words prove to me what I always hoped. She cares about Elián and his well-being. That significantly lessens my worry.
"Now, let’s leave here before he catches you and throws a fit." She adds as she grabs me by the ear, and a breath escapes me.
"Ah!" I groan, but she ignores me as she begins to pull me away.
"You’re honestly still such a handful, Koda. What did you think would happen if he found you there?" She scolds as we get farther away from the hut, and I follow whimpering in pain.
"Ow, Ma... that hurts!!"
"It’s meant to."
**********
Elián;
I brush the wrinkles off the Krompa I’m not putting on, and my smile doesn’t vanish.
I twist my feet and raise heels as I look at the back view of the Krompa.
It’s my perfect size. Hand-stitched with not a single thread loose or out of place.
My palms rub against the fur and my vision blurs. Tears I’ve been fighting come pouring out.
It’s just a pair of pants... yet it feels like an initiation into something bigger and precious.
It feels like... like marrying into a family and finally getting their last name.
I feel... like a person. Like someone who’s actually... welcome. Wanted. They’re not taking care of me cause they don’t have a choice.
They don’t ignore me when I talk, they don’t talk over me, when I speak, they go silent to listen... they treat like... like I belong and... I never knew how beautiful this felt.
I chuckle softly as I wipe a tear.
God, I guess I never knew how broken I was. How lonely I felt... there’s always been this void inside that only stubbornness could distract me from.
I’ve always felt unworthy of love, affection... attention. I felt if even my parents couldn’t love me... no one could.
It affected me in so many ways. I could only make one friend and even he was a mistake.
But all that emptiness... all that pain... it’s all gone here. These people don’t make me feel it.
I used to think I hated this world, but Gravemaw just might be my place.
It’s the best place I’ve ever been. Being gay, having red eyes... Being me isn’t a problem. I can laugh freely, talk freely. Dance, eat, smile... do whatever I want and not feel an ounce of anxiety or worry.
I’ve never felt this way before. And it’s silly that just being gifted a pair of their traditional attire is making me so emotional, but... it is what it is.
I finally feel like I found home. Like life has dealt me blow after blow, and finally it’s deciding to give a hug. A warm... long overdue hug.
I don’t want to lose this. I’m happy I came here. It’s crazy but I’m happy Bram ran into me with that truck.
If he never did... I may never have never felt this.
I may never have come here.
I may never have met this people.
I may never have known what family fees like...
Now that I know... I’m happy. And I’ll give anything to protect it.
Even if it means giving Koda a chance. He seems like a good man.
A place so beautiful can only create a man equally as perfect.
Maybe... maybe if I’m not so closed off to him... Maybe I can finally get something beautiful for myself.
I mean... It’s worth a try... right?
I just might be worthy of love after all...