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Tiny Creatures.
“What’s the word for that infestation of tiny creatures over there?”
The innocence behind Amna’s absurd words caught Tobias off-guard.
“Those are children. That’s a school.”
Amna frowned, “Ah. My apologies.” They appeared deep in thought before turning to face Tobias. Their human disguise tended to slip in subtle ways when they were upset. In this moment, their human irises were facing opposite directions.
It was unnerving.
If you’d asked Tobias four months ago, he would’ve been an adamant fan of Amna’s human disguise. The Tobias-of-four-months-ago would’ve BEGGED Amna to keep their human disguise active at all times. In fact, Tobias-of-four-months-ago HAD done that very thing.
Current Tobias thought differently. Current Tobias had insight into the energy it took his friend to maintain such a disguise. Current Tobias knew how much damage the knowledge that Amna’s disguise was slipping in this moment would cause. Additional pain on top of the current pain of once again forgetting an Earth term.
Current Tobias knew that Amna held themselves to impossible standards.
If all aliens were like Amna, Tobias thought a take-over was long overdue. Fuck knows the world needed leaders with low tolerance for bullshit, and an innocent, eager appreciation for all the unique aspects that made up human society and existence.
They met originally as children, deep in the woods. Amna had not yet learned about human disguises. Tobias had been terrified and intrigued. He’d never felt threatened, though.
“Why am I a monster?” Amna asked.
Tobias didn’t know, and it made him terribly sad.
Years passed. Tobias had managed to convince himself that his extraterrestrial encounter was all a dream. And then, six months ago, Amna had reappeared. They’d been in disguise this time, so it had taken quite a lot of convincing, and eventually a grand reveal of their true form for Tobias to believe their claims.
Amna now had a mission. Not a take-over of Earth’s abysmal governing systems, unfortunately, no matter how persuasive Tobias’ arguments. Amna’s mission was that of a researcher. An anthropologist, really. Assimilate, record, do not disturb, eventually return to share their findings.
Pretty boring stuff.
Not that Amna found it boring. Tobias had never met anyone with as much genuine enthusiasm and wonder for everyday occurrences and natural feats as Amna. Accompanying Amna on their research missions always reminded Tobias of their initial meeting in the woods.
As he watched Amna fall further and further in love with Earth, as he watched them punish themselves for forgetting an Earthen term, as he watched them marvel over the simplest of occurrences, he was reminded of his deep sadness in response to their very first question.
‘Why am I a monster?’
In their true form, Amna had fuzzy antler appendages sprouting from their midsection. They were covered in a layer of fine, sensitive fur that protected the surface of their skin - which housed sensors much like fingertips and tongues. Amna had thirteen eyes and four ear holes. They hovered above the ground with some invisible force Tobias STILL didn’t understand.
And yet, Amna was one of the kindest, honest, human-like beings Tobias had ever met. He often wondered whether that high standard of ‘human’, in and of itself, was evidence of the gross self-importance that summarised and plagued the human condition.
Amna was nothing like any human he’d ever met. And that was probably the biggest compliment Tobias could ever give. Amna was a culmination of all the good things in the universe; it was probably an insult to assume that this could be categorised as being ‘human.’
These were revelations Tobias had learned to keep to himself. What he thought were comments of high praise, Amna interpreted as affirmations that they were not doing an acceptable job at blending in.
“...Tobias?” Amna’s voice was small and suggested this was not the first time they’d called Tobias’ name.
“Have I… Have I displeased you?” they asked hesitantly.
“You know you haven’t Amna. I’m just thinking. You’re doing great,” Tobias reassured.
They still didn’t look convinced, but they nodded anyway and turned to face the school again.
“This school, is it a… small school? Or an aged school?” Amna spoke slowly. Tobias could practically see the cogs turning inside their head as they searched the archives of their brain for the right words.
Another thing Tobias liked about spending time with Amna: unpacking their cryptic clues kept him on his feet.
Small school? Aged school?
“In Australia, we have two types of schools for children. Primary schools, for the younger children, and High schools for the teenagers.”
“Ah,” Amna’s face was pinched in deep concentration. “Teenagers… Almost adults?”
Smiling softly, Tobias confirmed, “Almost adults, yep.”
“Primary school. High school,” Amna rolled the syllables of the words around their mouth. They looked back over at the children. Again, Tobias amused himself by imagining the cogs working within their mind as they thought.
“Those children are small. They do not yet look like almost adults… This is a Primary school?”
“Exactly!” Tobias cheered. “See, you’ve got this!”
Amna smiled to themselves, pleased. Noticing that their animated discussion had caught the children’s attention, the alien waved cheerily with their disguise. Tobias smiled to himself again at their enthusiasm, and gave a half-hearted wave at the confused children looking right towards the pair.
Amna was wearing their auburn human hair in a high ponytail today. Tobias watched it bob from side to side with the movement from his friend’s vigorous greeting.
His companion turned to cross the road, mind already on their next destination.
“I believe it is time for a caffeine break, Tobias!” they announced.
“You’re just excited to see how the barista spells your name, and what drawing you’ll get on your cup,” he teased.
“Maybe so,” Amna admitted, striding ahead at a determined pace. “It’s all about the little things, my dear friend!”
“You’d be lost without me, Amna,” Tobias teased again.
“Maybe so,” Amna repeated. “Even if I was not at the risk of getting lost, I would enjoy your company regardless. You know that.”
Relaxed in the safety of knowing Amna wouldn’t turn around to face him until they were standing in line at the cafe, Tobias allowed a fond, private grin and blush to rise on his face as he watched their hair sway in time with their strides.
© O.M.A
#Love&love #relationships #YoungLove #alien #fantasy #fiction #shortstory #story #writco #writcoapp
The innocence behind Amna’s absurd words caught Tobias off-guard.
“Those are children. That’s a school.”
Amna frowned, “Ah. My apologies.” They appeared deep in thought before turning to face Tobias. Their human disguise tended to slip in subtle ways when they were upset. In this moment, their human irises were facing opposite directions.
It was unnerving.
If you’d asked Tobias four months ago, he would’ve been an adamant fan of Amna’s human disguise. The Tobias-of-four-months-ago would’ve BEGGED Amna to keep their human disguise active at all times. In fact, Tobias-of-four-months-ago HAD done that very thing.
Current Tobias thought differently. Current Tobias had insight into the energy it took his friend to maintain such a disguise. Current Tobias knew how much damage the knowledge that Amna’s disguise was slipping in this moment would cause. Additional pain on top of the current pain of once again forgetting an Earth term.
Current Tobias knew that Amna held themselves to impossible standards.
If all aliens were like Amna, Tobias thought a take-over was long overdue. Fuck knows the world needed leaders with low tolerance for bullshit, and an innocent, eager appreciation for all the unique aspects that made up human society and existence.
They met originally as children, deep in the woods. Amna had not yet learned about human disguises. Tobias had been terrified and intrigued. He’d never felt threatened, though.
“Why am I a monster?” Amna asked.
Tobias didn’t know, and it made him terribly sad.
Years passed. Tobias had managed to convince himself that his extraterrestrial encounter was all a dream. And then, six months ago, Amna had reappeared. They’d been in disguise this time, so it had taken quite a lot of convincing, and eventually a grand reveal of their true form for Tobias to believe their claims.
Amna now had a mission. Not a take-over of Earth’s abysmal governing systems, unfortunately, no matter how persuasive Tobias’ arguments. Amna’s mission was that of a researcher. An anthropologist, really. Assimilate, record, do not disturb, eventually return to share their findings.
Pretty boring stuff.
Not that Amna found it boring. Tobias had never met anyone with as much genuine enthusiasm and wonder for everyday occurrences and natural feats as Amna. Accompanying Amna on their research missions always reminded Tobias of their initial meeting in the woods.
As he watched Amna fall further and further in love with Earth, as he watched them punish themselves for forgetting an Earthen term, as he watched them marvel over the simplest of occurrences, he was reminded of his deep sadness in response to their very first question.
‘Why am I a monster?’
In their true form, Amna had fuzzy antler appendages sprouting from their midsection. They were covered in a layer of fine, sensitive fur that protected the surface of their skin - which housed sensors much like fingertips and tongues. Amna had thirteen eyes and four ear holes. They hovered above the ground with some invisible force Tobias STILL didn’t understand.
And yet, Amna was one of the kindest, honest, human-like beings Tobias had ever met. He often wondered whether that high standard of ‘human’, in and of itself, was evidence of the gross self-importance that summarised and plagued the human condition.
Amna was nothing like any human he’d ever met. And that was probably the biggest compliment Tobias could ever give. Amna was a culmination of all the good things in the universe; it was probably an insult to assume that this could be categorised as being ‘human.’
These were revelations Tobias had learned to keep to himself. What he thought were comments of high praise, Amna interpreted as affirmations that they were not doing an acceptable job at blending in.
“...Tobias?” Amna’s voice was small and suggested this was not the first time they’d called Tobias’ name.
“Have I… Have I displeased you?” they asked hesitantly.
“You know you haven’t Amna. I’m just thinking. You’re doing great,” Tobias reassured.
They still didn’t look convinced, but they nodded anyway and turned to face the school again.
“This school, is it a… small school? Or an aged school?” Amna spoke slowly. Tobias could practically see the cogs turning inside their head as they searched the archives of their brain for the right words.
Another thing Tobias liked about spending time with Amna: unpacking their cryptic clues kept him on his feet.
Small school? Aged school?
“In Australia, we have two types of schools for children. Primary schools, for the younger children, and High schools for the teenagers.”
“Ah,” Amna’s face was pinched in deep concentration. “Teenagers… Almost adults?”
Smiling softly, Tobias confirmed, “Almost adults, yep.”
“Primary school. High school,” Amna rolled the syllables of the words around their mouth. They looked back over at the children. Again, Tobias amused himself by imagining the cogs working within their mind as they thought.
“Those children are small. They do not yet look like almost adults… This is a Primary school?”
“Exactly!” Tobias cheered. “See, you’ve got this!”
Amna smiled to themselves, pleased. Noticing that their animated discussion had caught the children’s attention, the alien waved cheerily with their disguise. Tobias smiled to himself again at their enthusiasm, and gave a half-hearted wave at the confused children looking right towards the pair.
Amna was wearing their auburn human hair in a high ponytail today. Tobias watched it bob from side to side with the movement from his friend’s vigorous greeting.
His companion turned to cross the road, mind already on their next destination.
“I believe it is time for a caffeine break, Tobias!” they announced.
“You’re just excited to see how the barista spells your name, and what drawing you’ll get on your cup,” he teased.
“Maybe so,” Amna admitted, striding ahead at a determined pace. “It’s all about the little things, my dear friend!”
“You’d be lost without me, Amna,” Tobias teased again.
“Maybe so,” Amna repeated. “Even if I was not at the risk of getting lost, I would enjoy your company regardless. You know that.”
Relaxed in the safety of knowing Amna wouldn’t turn around to face him until they were standing in line at the cafe, Tobias allowed a fond, private grin and blush to rise on his face as he watched their hair sway in time with their strides.
© O.M.A
#Love&love #relationships #YoungLove #alien #fantasy #fiction #shortstory #story #writco #writcoapp
