Humming to myself, I walk into the grocery store, Oraxia back at home since I can’t bring her with me here.

  Not that she isn’t with me, we share minds now. So she’s still in my head, watching as I grab a cart and start grabbing things. “So this is a grocery store.”

  Nodding a bit, I simply think my response to her, since it’s smarter than speaking out loud and looking crazy. …I am crazy, aren’t I? Eh. ‘Yeah, they’re pretty helpful. When I first got to the city, I was amazed. I thought we could grab anything.’

  “You need to pay for it, right? Like how people pay for things from the cafe?”

  ‘Mhm, exactly. I almost got in trouble for stealing the first time; I grabbed a chocolate bar since it looked good.’ Chuckling a bit to myself at the thought, I can sense her mirth at the thought.

  Stopping in front of the dairy aisle, I’m struggling to remember what I need to grab… ‘Mind asking Lumi for me?’

  “Of course not.” Closing my eyes and humming a little tune, I look through her eyes for a change. Her body is so strange to move in, or well, feel the movements of. Eight arms all moving at once, but somehow it also feels natural thanks to her. The wider field of view isn’t that bad either, honestly, just different. Like seeing things with a wide lens, Lumi looks closer when through her view than my own.

  Which, she’d reach her and ask her what’s needed, before I grab it and focus back on my view again. ‘Always weird doing that, but honestly really cool.’

  “Mhm, I enjoy seeing your perspective. It’s calmer with fewer movements, but your higher stance and fewer legs makes me feel like I might fall over.”

  ‘It’s not that bad, is it?’ Smirking a little, I balance on one leg, and I can feel her get queasy. “Stop it!”

  Giggling to myself, I continue my shopping, ignoring the people giving me strange looks. Not like it lasts long anyways, there’s stranger to focus on in Blackline. “Like what?” ‘People going into fake worlds to have sex is pretty up there.’ “What’s that?”

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  Pausing, I just sigh and facepalm. ‘On second thought, ask Sal.’ “Okay!” And with that, I focus my perspective away from hers, not wanting to be part of that conversation. Was it a bit mean to direct it to her? …maybe, but Sal is better at explaining things than I am.

  …

  As I get into the house with the food, I go to the kitchen and quickly start sorting it away, including the heavy bags into the back, Oraxia coming and climbing onto my back as I go. “There you are, how was home?” “You exist in my mind, what does asking do when you know?” Shrugging, I place a bag of sugar on the shelf. “Nothing, it just feels right.”

  There’s a pause, before she responds. “Then home was good. Salka explained sex to me.” Snorting, I move to the kitchen to put the perishables away. “Ah, alright. Glad she could do it.”

  “Of course she could, she’s very smart. Is that why you want to?” Cocking an ear to the side in question, she explains, sensing what confused me. “Why you want to have sex with her.”

  Tail shooting up in embarrassment, I sputter out rapid denying responses, before I just sigh, knowing she sees right through them all.

  Looking down at my feet, I close my eyes in thought, before speaking through my head only. ‘Don’t tell anyone, alright? She already has Lumi, it wouldn’t be right. Especially not after I caused them so much heartache.’

  Ignoring her disappointment and confusion, I finish putting things away. “Even if they wanted it too? Both of them? They wouldn’t deny you things.” Stepping into the hall and slipping into my room, I just speak low instead of in my mind. “Look, that’s not how it works. It’s… it’s different, being family and being lovers are different things.”

  “They love you a lot though.” “Look just… just drop it, alright? Thanks for caring but… just no.”

  Sitting on my bed, I look up at the wall in thought, something that’s no longer private for me. ‘So this is what never being lonely is like… I do like it. But I do also miss being able to have privacy in my own mind. Being able to… not explain these things to people.’

  “Sorry…” Sighing, I move her to my lap, gently petting her head. “Don’t be. You did your best, and I think it’s a net positive. Just… everything has its downside, is all.” “Okay… thanks…”

  Letting out a breath, I lay back and hold her to my chest, honestly… what she said isn’t going to leave my mind.

  ‘What if… they did want me?’