Tears and Rouge

"I'm sorry Rox. I wasn't thinking. I just wanted her to stop talking about marrying me off too someone else." Tears well in my eyes. Before I knew it he had me wrapped up in his arms.

"Don't apologize. I told you I would stand by your side if we ever did have to meet them." He smooths my hair down.

"I was hoping you never had to meet them." I shake in fear. How do I tell him?

"Sophie? Hey what's wrong?" He holds my face in his hands. 

It breaks my heart with what I am about to say. I begin to weep and place my hands over his. He doesn't try comforting me but let's me cry while wiping my tears with his thumbs. After what feels like an eternity my tears start to dry.

"Ready to talk?" He asks gently.

I nod. "Can we sit on the couch?" I ask looking into his concerned eyes.

"Yes." He says picking me up and carries me to the couch. He plops down on it so we are more laying than sitting while he holds onto me. Then he waits, knowing I will talk once I'm ready.

I take a ragged breath before telling him what my parents and society are like.

"You know how the church I go to accepts any and all races?" I ask.

"Yea?"

"Where I'm from they read from the same book but different parts. So they believe anything outside of humans are considered beasts. Animals that are ment to be mastered or killed. My father will never approve of you as a goblin. If he ever did, which he won't, he would have to go against the church. Meaning he and my family would be prosecuted. Unless he kills you first." I don't mask the sadness in my voice.

"Prosecuted?" He asks.

"K-killed." I choke on the word. I hug him a little tighter. "Can we run away to the mountains Rox?"

"I don't think this is a running matter Sophie. It seems they knew you were here the whole time." Rox states. "It's hard on me to do this but watch."

He places his hands over his ears and closes his eyes. I sit up as his skin color starts to turn paler and looses the green tone. He moves his hands to show rounded not pointed ears. When he opens his eyes they are brown with yellow flecks. He shifted into a human.

"How? What?" I ask grabbing his face and moving it around.

"Hey this takes a lot of concentration!" Rox protests before his features changed back.

"I had no idea you could do that." I'm dumbfounded. I squish his green face some more. "I like you this way though."

"I'm happy to hear that." He smiles. 

"But if you could do that just for a little while. Then father approves of you. We can skip the other discussions and leave. Then never go back." I rattle my idea out there.

"After he approves I kinda want to show him my true form." Suggests Rox.

"Please don't. You need to run off into the mountains with me." I plead.

"Alright I will behave just long enough to get you to the mountains." He says stroking my cheek. "Since we are on the topic of agreements."

"Yea?" I ask. He directs my attention to the food he bought.

"You are to tell me if you're struggling my soon to be wife." He smirks with his comment.

My cheeks and ears feel like they are on fire. So he was rummaging through my cupboards last night! 

"I saw you spend the last of your coin on my family last night." He says stroking away a tear that welled in my eye. 

I've been caught but it wasn't a bad thing that I did. Was it? 

"So you were going to starve yourself today?" He asks gently.

"N-no I..." I stutter trying to find the best wording. "I was going to go to the guild this morning to look for work. Then go shopping."

"There was no way you would have had energy to do those quests. Next time come to me. You don't have to do everything on your own." He tenderly tells me.

"I want to show everyone I can survive on my own though." I whisper.

"And asking for help is one of the hardest things. Do you think you're up for that?" He says tilting my chin up. I feel my ears get hot again.

"Alright I will ask for help from my soon to be husband." I lightly tease back hoping for his ears to turn red.

"Anyone tell you how cute your ears are?" Rox says gently tracing them with the tip of his finger.

Now I know how Rox felt last night when I brushed against his ear. Many of kisses were shared.

~     ~     ~     ~     ~

It's next week already. Rox and I are on our way to my parents house on the back of our dire wolves. We have bags on our backs holding the dress I bought and clothes he bought to try to fit in with. We did agree to pretend he is still a candidate for the next leader of his village. All because I blurted that out when my mother was present.

At the edge of the city we dismount our wolves and tell them to stay low. Now to get changed I tell Rox not to peek while I hide behind a tree. I get on the expensive yellow gown while Rox changes into his black with yellow accented suit. I fix a light color rouge onto my lips and cheeks. Then I look over to him while I brush my hair out. 

"I'm sorry you have to loose the bandana." I tell him. He removes his bandana and his black hair is wild as ever. "Let me help."

I brush his hair back with my brush and wax. Just enough wax to hold it in place without having it rock solid. I step back and can't look at him with a straight face. He can't pull off a fully sleaked back style. I tease his bangs a little for a few strands to fall forward. There, just enough of his wild side.

"Your smile says I'm irresistible." He says folding his arms and leaning against a tree.

I hold my stomach while I laugh. "Rox. I can't. You just." He looks funny all dressed up. Handsome but knowing his wild side it just looks funny.

"Oh come on. I got all fancy smancy for this and you're laughing at me!" He keeps saying little phases like that till I can not breath from laughing so hard. I try begging for mercy but all he has to do is look at me and I loose it.

"Rox." I say finally gaining my composure and more abdomen muscles. "We should get this over with."

Rox and I sober up to what we are about to face. Rox tucks his daggers into his boots and my sword is too big so I have to leave it with my bag. I bury my sword in the leaves and set mine and Rox's bag on top of it.

"Shall we lady Sophia?" Rox says holding out his arm like a gentleman.

"Thank you sir Rox." I say taking his arm.

Before we stepped on to the road he shifted into the appearance of a human. He practiced a lot over the last week to the point he can hold his shape shifted human form for four hours before needing a break.

"I still don't think I can kiss you like that." I comment. It feels like I'm being unfaithful to Rox.

"I will see about stealing you away then for some kisses when I need a rest." He teases me. That makes my ears burn with excitement.

After awhile of walking we make to to my family's estate. My brother is at the gate talking to some ladies that had stopped by for a tea party. He sends them off with a kiss on their hands as we approach. They all get into their carriages and leave. As we get closer I can see his white noble attire has blue and gold accents.

"My wild sister makes her return! And she brings a suitor?" Christopher boasts. His blonde hair shines in the sun and blue eyes match the sky. His cheerful grin dances on his (according to others) handsome face. (Also according to others) Adventuring and practicing swordsmanship has done his body well.

"Oh hold your tongue." I snap back.

"Perhaps I would but your goblin friend's ears are showing." Chris comments.

I get a glimpse of his slightly pointed ear before Rox covers the one and swears.

"Heh. Dad's gonna kill him." Chris gives a pained smile.