(TATB) Ch 37: Return & Punishment, Its Good To Be Back!

(Skylar)

I sat at the dining room table just outside my bedroom, hands folded in front of me, trying very hard not to explode.

There he was. Right in front of me. Standing on the table like he hadn't just been gone for nearly a week. Like he hadn't vanished into the great big world, leaving me to spiral into every possible worst-case scenario and go slightly insane every time I walked past his room.

Victor.

Still alive. Still talking. Still... frustratingly nonchalant about the whole thing.

I tried to keep my cool, I really did. I crossed my legs, leaned forward, and gave him my best mildly concerned but not totally panicking anymore look. He stood there probably looking up at me with a crooked little smirk, probably thinking he could charm his way out of this.

"Uh... so how have you been?" he said, scratching the back of his head like we were catching up over coffee and not having a full emotional crisis reunion.

I let out a long breath, lowering my face down so it hovered just above the table. I rested my chin lightly on the wood and looked at him. Even now, after all that stress, I couldn't help but smile. He was home. And as mad as I wanted to be... I just felt relieved.

"I'm fine," I said, smiling softly. "And I'm really glad you came back."

Victor let out a chuckle. "Had to. I was made the leader of an unfinished town, remember? Can't bail on that."

I giggled a little despite myself. Of course that's why he came back—because he had responsibilities. Not because people were worried or anything. Victor logic.

But then I sat up straighter, letting the smile stay, but pushing just a little bit of seriousness into my voice. Enough to let him know I wasn't just brushing this off.

"Listen..." I started, locking eyes with him, "I understand why you did what you did. I get it. It was brave. Stupid, but brave. And honestly, I admire that."

Victor raised a brow like he wasn't expecting that one.

"But," I continued, leaning in slightly, "next time you're thinking about going off on some big, wild, possibly dangerous adventure? I want you to tell me first. Don't just disappear. I might be able to help. I want to help."

He looked up at me for a second, then nodded.

"Alright," he said. "I promise."

I smiled.

"Good," I said, folding my arms. "Now we can start your punishment."

Victor blinked. "My punishment?"

I gave him a slow, evil grin.

"Oh yeah. You made me worry. You don't get to come back from a near-death wilderness expedition with a pink-mohawked stranger and no consequences."

***

(Victor)

I knew that smile. That mischievous, slightly-too-pleased-with-herself smile Skylar got when she was about to do something ridiculous—and I was probably the target.

She lowered her face to the table, that massive mountain of freckles and blonde hair hovering right above me like a literal goddess of judgment, and with a sweetness that had real menace baked in, she said, "While you were off running around getting yourself killed, Sydney and Meara came up with a great punishment."

"...Huh?" I blinked, already suspicious.

And then came the fingers.

Her hand moved like a slow wave of flesh, the shadow falling over me before I could even consider backing away. I didn't even bother trying to resist—what was I gonna do, out-muscle a girl whose pinky toe was bigger than me? Yeah, no.

Massive, warm fingertips wrapped around my body, gentle but inescapable. She lifted me off the table like I weighed nothing. Which, in the grand scheme of things, was probably true.

And there I was again, hovering in front of her face, suspended in the air by a single hand. Her bright eyes narrowed slightly as she studied me. I swear she was savoring the moment.

"Just relax," she said, like that was supposed to help.

Then she started lowering me.

Slowly. Carefully. It was like riding an elevator made of muscle. A very alive, smug, and slightly amused elevator.

My feet touched down on something soft and slightly warm. I didn't even need to look around—I already knew what this was. But of course, I looked anyway, and yup. Just as I feared. Skin-colored terrain stretched out beneath me, with ridges and curves I really didn't want to analyze too closely.

Skylar's foot.

I craned my neck back, and sure enough, there she was, grinning down at me like a queen enjoying the show.

"Your punishment," she said sweetly, "is to give me a foot massage."

There was a pause. A dramatic silence as I stood there on this very literal hill of flesh and dignity loss.

"Oh boy," I muttered, shoulders slumping as I stared at the task ahead of me.

You know what? I've fought monsters. I've dodged spears. I've been teleported, tackled, chased, and nearly skewered.

But nothing—nothing—could prepare me for massaging a giant girl's feet under the gleeful eyes of the one handing out punishment like she was some kind of pampered titan.

I took a deep breath.

"...Alright. Let's get this over with."