More Football Than Alien
Chloe winces. A dull throb swells in the arch of her foot. It worsens when she takes another step on the paved path in the woods. She pauses to assess the damage, bending over to rub the side of her sneaker. There isn't any pain when she massages it, but when she inches it forward, she feels the muscles in her foot tense, and she frowns, understanding what has happened.
Bobby stops when he realizes she has. He pivots to her, tilting his head and asking, "You okay?"
"A slight negative. I think I may have overextended my foot," she replies, straightening her back. She takes another step and frowns. The pain tickles then dies down, feeling more like an annoying pulse than actual pain.
Bobby purses his lips as best as he can. His grotesque calcium protrusions and overbite are on prominent display. But the way he scratches his jaw and glances around gives Chloe a clear insight into his thoughts.
"A minor injury like this won't deter me," she says, ambling forward. Another vibration spreads up to her heel, but she perseveres. "Remember, Bobby. We aren't too far from the patch of wildflowers that may have had their maturation complicated by psitanium. Lili said - ow."
Chloe hobbles, leaning to the side. Holding out her arms, she catches herself before she can lose her footing. Her nerves tingle, but the sensation immediately fades when she relaxes her stance. She must have put too much pressure on it while trying to prove her point.
But Bobby reaches out for her. His hand falls on her shoulder as she steadies herself. As brief as the contact is, he jerks away like he touched a hot stove. He wrings his hands together, reiterating his question.
"Affirmative. I'm positive that it hasn't sprained, but my gait will be off." Chloe nods, more so to herself. "We aren't too far from the location. We can continue without further hesitation."
"Uh, I guess," he says, gripping his hips.
He looks ahead, Chloe following his gaze. The wilderness is comfortingly familiar. Tall, towering trees and the sound of nearby creeks and critters surround them. The aroma of wildflowers wafts in the breeze. While Earth is primitive, its nature is remarkable and appreciated by Chloe.
But as she admires the nearby dragonflies, Bobby's shadow hovers over her. She looks up, finding his face twisting in apprehension. She waits for him to speak when he fidgets with the hem of his jersey. As he is a Fathian, she knows he struggles with communication; their species borders on barbarism.
"If it, um, if it hurts, maybe-" He holds out his hands. "-I can lift you."
She shakes her head. "Negative. Your telekinesis needs improvement, which increases the risk of dropping me."
Bobby snorts, his freckled cheeks burning red. "I didn't mean it like that, and my telekinesis ain't that bad."
Chloe raises her head in a slow nod. He can lift swimming fish directly out from the lake, so he deserves some credit. Pushing her weight onto her other leg, she says, "I see. My apologies for assuming and causing any offense."
His features soften as best as they can. He still huffs, but he shows his palms. Chloe notices the callouses and faint traces of color from the markers he used that morning. When he wiggles his fingers, she isn't sure how to interpret his gesture and waits for his answer.
"I'll carry ya," he states, and impulsively, he grabs her waist.
She's weightless. Her legs move on instinct, and she squeaks out her surprise. Grinning, Bobby tucks her underneath his arm, puffing out his chest with pride. Her limbs dangle, her body now horizontal, the vertical Bobby marching forward with longer strides.
"Hey, I did not agree to this," she exclaims, crossing her arms. "It isn't mannerly to act on someone's behalf without permission. Unless we're in the middle of an intergalactic battle, Bobby, don't do that."
He pauses. His grin falls. He looks down at her, saying, "Y-yeah, uh, but your foot hurts."
"Which I can handle. I'm not fragile, and you are well aware of that."
His face burns again. He gnaws on his lower lip with a tooth that seems ready to fall from his gums. "Okay, okay, but I'm, uh, I mean, we're moving a lot faster now?"
She surmises that is true. If she walked by herself, then she would have taken moments to inspect her foot or stop altogether. He had taken the initiative and moved with purpose toward their goal. It might have been a reactionary motion, but she supposes it's for the best, and with that, she nods, allowing Bobby to continue.
She feels like a football while he walks. Her body sways, bouncing when he readjusts her. She isn't too heavy, but he does stop to switch her to his other arm every twenty paces. She's also thankful she had reminded him to shower and wear deodorant earlier in the day. Otherwise, she would have been wrinkling her nose at his natural scent.
Chloe instructs him where to go. He maneuvers underneath a tree branch, ducking his head. Even with the leaves now sticking in his hair, he doesn't care and follows her every word. Chloe feels like she's in zero gravity, quietly kicking her legs, the throb unimportant while Bobby carries her where they need to go.
"Stop," she says, and he does on a dime.
Before them is a small gathering of bell-shaped wildflowers. Their petals are a soft, vibrant purple. From the soil, wispy puffs of psitanium gas emerge from the grass. But their leaves wilt toward the ground, a few of them already scattered and dried, despite having full access to sunlight.
He quickly wipes his brow. "So, uh, can I-?"
She nods, and he leans his arm back, releasing her. Chloe lands on her feet, grimacing when her foot aches at the sudden pressure against it. She wiggles it, hearing Bobby utter a strange sort of whine next to her, but it lessens after another silent moment.
"Excellent. Thank you, Bobby. We arrived sooner than I expected because you acted," she says, glancing at him.
"For wha-? Oh!" Excitement rushes to his face, and he breaks out in a smirk. He snakes his hand behind his head, rubbing through his hair. "Yeah! Totally. Just here to help, heh heh."
And as they crouch by the flowers, Bobby digging up arrowheads for her examination, she smiles at him while he focuses on his work.