Onyx
I watched him skip around with Pixie in that shopping mall, picking out clothes for him as he went. He was definitely not a fashionista. He struggled to keep up, and even Pixie had more fun with it. I felt pressure in my head again, building a headache, but ignored it.
Today went all kinds of wrong, and yet here I am, actually in a good mood. Somehow just being near him feels comforting. He may not seem like a bright, exuberant energy, especially in contrast to little Pixie, but he sure is very warm once you actually get to know him.
I could often tell he keeps his walls high and his heart guarded. I was no idiot. I thought he was also way smarter than others seemingly deemed him. He had an odd knack for odd things. I liked, no loved, his black, edgy aesthetic; it was amazing. However, I felt he needed a little refining in styling and look.
I eyed a pair of sheer mesh, sparkling black blouse and black pants. I held it up to him, eyeing him. "Hmmmm," I said, squinching my eyes. "Let's buy it. Bring you to a hair salon and then continue." Pixie bounced next to us, playing with a new toy we bought.
"You better not be planning to have my hair cut," he said seriously. "No, of course not. That would be an atrocity," I replied earnestly. "Good. Because my hair is extremely important to me," he said. I nodded. "Yeah, it's really special." I then turned away to head to the parlor; he walked next to me, Pixie straying just ahead of us. I turned my face towards him as we walked, taking notice I always instinctually angled myself towards him. I remembered in psychology we tend to aim our feet and body towards the individual we like more.
I then said to him, "Did you know in folklore people believe someone can cast a curse on you if they possess your hair? It's one of the purest essences spirits leech off of, so in older times, people would collect their hair and hide it in a box. Not only that, but many witches and cultures believe that your hair holds memories and that cutting it loses those. In connection to that, some people believe longer hair makes longer spirituality. Isn't that fascinating? Given how Buddhism here, if you are to be a monk, cutting off the hair is what is seen as spiritual as it removes all superficial ties to the world."
Abyss looked at me with big eyes over my long tangent. I felt silly, like maybe I spoke too much, but he actually delighted in it, smiling. He continued the conversation, "I didn't know that; I always learn something new with you. We have some pretty deep conversations, huh?" he said. "I must, however, confess I am much more of a dork behind all this. I only speak like this because I was trained to," I replied.
He stopped briefly in front of a mural. "Oh dear, I already picked up on that. It sounds like you're always under a lot of pressure..." he said.
I nodded grimly. "A lot," I said. He slowly pulled his hand up and grasped mine gently. "But I can tell you're more than that. You've been very kind, and I like your silly side, so how about we make a deal? You can be silly or informal and soft with me and I won't judge, and I'll keep your secrets — how does that sound?" he asked.
I pursed my lips, considering it. "I quite like the idea of this. I am keen to accept, should you do me one favor, tell me one fact about you a day. It doesn't need to be a big one, or one you don't like. Just anything, so I can get to know you," I said to him.
He made a very small, soft smile. "Why would you want to know me? I'm no one," he said quizzically. "Not to me," I replied.
We continued walking now to the place, and he looked at me a bit abashed. He kept glancing at me then glancing away. When he sat down in the barber's chair, he screeched in fear the moment the barber turned on the buzzer that would just trim his hair into shape.
He looked all panicked again, but then I came over and tried to distract him along with Pixie by pretending we were making hand puppets in a play. It seemed to make him laugh a little. He joined in Pixie's games. When the cut was finally done and he turned around, I felt like I was in one of those movies where the main character gets a huge glow-up. Not that he wasn't pretty; he always was his own special sort of aesthetic.
But now? He was breathtaking. It went from a rough dagger to an elegant but sharp sword. I was in awe. But there was one very big difference: we'd bumped into his cousin briefly on the way here. I was very shocked I had a talent that was a cousin to a star. I was impressed a bit but not particularly fazed, his cousin was already on the way out of the mall being dragged lovingly by his fiancé. They only quickly exchanged hellos and planned to meet again. However, upon seeing his cousin, he got a very unique idea.
His hair was now mostly tied up in a loose wispy ponytail-style bun, with hairs surrounding his face. Within it lay a deep, deep, dark green hue mixed into it. Dyes got really advanced these days because whenever you changed angles or the light shone on it a certain way, the parts of his hair that were green would appear deep blue.
It was like staring at magic. His hair was still mostly black but now shimmered hues of green and blue. "Whoaaa," I said trailing off in sheer awe. Pixie clapped her hands at the reveal, bouncing in her seat. "You look like how I wish papa would let me!!!" she exclaimed. "Oh no, it's not healthy; wait until you're a little older, okay?" I said. "Aww," she pouted and looked down at the floor and swung her legs.
I looked back up and saw that Abyss was finding this cute. "How about we do some more shopping for you, Pixie, first, okay?" I said, looking to Abyss to see if he felt he didn't mind the interruption; he nodded at me that it was okay. "Yay!!!" Pixie said, now getting up excitedly. "Buy me lots of stuffed animals," she said with an impish grin. I nodded, and she started pulling us out the door.