I managed to finish this the same day! Yay! Let's see how things work out when Mira is forced to face Baxium after ignoring him for a few days...
Days had passed since Mira started ghosting Baxium. She didn't intend to fully ghost him, and replied to some of his texts every now and then, but eventually he started to ask her why she was avoiding him and she didn't want to deal with that.
When she left the apartment, she was hoping she wouldn't see her turtle neighbors or Baxium. She continued to go to work and do necessary food shopping, but did her best to keep a low profile. Eventually, it even got on Ashley's nerves.
"You can't just avoid him forever you know. You've gotta go out with him again at some point, just get it over with!" she would say.
"That's easy for you to say," Mira would almost always respond. It wasn't like Ashley was in a relationship on the brink of collapse riding on just one meet up with her boyfriend. Sure, putting it off could be making things worse, but at least she didn't have to face it just yet.
"Mira, whatever happens you're never going to be ready for. Keeping him at arm's length is only going to make things worse for you in the long run!"
She was right. Even though Mira knew for herself that she needed to face him, she didn't want to deal with the possible heartbreak. She enjoyed her relationship with Baxium and just didn't want him to leave her yet. Obviously, relationships either end or continue for the rest of one's life, and she didn't know what she wanted in the end, but she did know she wasn't ready to see the end just yet.
What Mira didn't know was that Baxium was stressing out about their relationship as well. Without her answering any of his texts, he was beginning to worry that he had really messed things up with her.
"I don't know what I did wrong, but she won't talk to me anymore," he compleined to Ryan one evening.
Ryan, cluelessly empathetic as he was, began offering possible ways Baxium had messed up. "There's the classic 'you're getting too clingy' reason that throws some girls off. From my experience, double- or more- texting isn't going to help you."
"But we often do that to one another," Baxium said.
"Okay... so probably not that. It's possible you said or did something to offend her. I mean do you ever say anything about how she looks or acts around you?"
"I do always tell her that I think she's pretty and enjoy her company. Should I be doing more?"
Ryan shook his head. "No, that's probably not it then."
They each thought for a moment before Baxium realized something they had previously talked about before. "Do you think I haven't been making the right moves? Could she want more than what I am giving her? Or less?"
Ryan could clearly see that Baxium was getting worked up over something that was probably nothing, but would be the best explanation for everything so far. "I don't know. Do you think she's ready to go there with you? It's possible she's getting bored I guess."
"Bored?" Baxium repeated, looking down as his thoughts raced. "I wouldn't want her to think I'm boring."
"Or maybe you just aren't giving her enough attention," Ryan suggested.
"Like I'm neglecting her feelings?"
Ryan shrugged, causing Baxium to lean back in his seat with a sigh. "I don't believe this. I've got to make it right."
"You sure do care a lot," Ryan noted with a smile. "You didn't get this worked up about any of the other girls you've dated."
"Well, I mean... I feel like Mira lets me be myself, you know? If I'm not as aggressive as other guys she doesn't get upset about it. She loves flowers and used to ask me to go do something with her. I feel like maybe she actually wants to be with me and it's great because no one expects her to, you know?" Baxium smiled as he thought of all the times he had spent with Mira before frowning once again. "To think I messed it all up..."
Ryan patted him on his large shoulder. "It'll be alright man, just do what you feel you should."
Baxium nodded thoughtfully before giving his roommate a side hug. "Thanks, friend."
"Don't mention it," Ryan said with a laugh as he pushed his head out from under Baxium's arm.
Baxium took a breath in and resolved to find her the next day and fix things.
Mira knew that it was coming. Sooner or later she would have to see Baxium again and come face to face with whatever he had planned on talking to her about. She didn't quite account for how hurt he might have been at being given the silent treatment; so hurt, apparently, that he waited in front of her apartment for an hour until she finally came to face him. She could see him from a mile away and thought if she walked around other neighborhoods he'd give up and go home- but he remained on her steps like a rock.
He stood up when she approached, sheepishly and with anxiety coursing through her. "Mira, hey."
"Hi," she said quietly.
"I need to talk to you," he said. His voice was soft, but his word choice made it clear that he didn't want to wait. His word choice also sent Mira's anxiety into a frenzy and she struggled to keep herself under control.
"No we don't," she countered lightheartedly before malking past him and into her apartment.
"Mira, please wait," he pleaded. When she looked behind her she saw the saddest face he had ever had around her and it compelled her to do as he asked.
"We don't need to talk today, but I don't want to go a week without talking to you at all," he said.
Mira swallowed the lump that formed in her throat and threatened to come back up. "What is it?" she asked. She figured if he wanted to end things then and there, she was able to at least make a fast getaway to her apartment.
"I need to apologize," he said as Mira mentally prepared for the worst. "I didn't realize until only recently that I've been neglecting you."
Wait, what? was all she could think to say as she watched him. He nervously grasped one hand with the other as he continued.
"There are things for you that are different as a human than for me, and I didn't realize that I haven't been giving you all the attention you need. I'm sorry, I promise I'll do better. Can you forgive me?" His eyes were pleading with her, even though he had no clear iris or pupils. She could feel him begging her for forgiveness she didn't even think he needed, and she was at a loss for words.
Baxium shuffled a little, nervously. "I understand if you're upset at me, but I hope I haven't just made things worse. I really enjoy being with you and if I ruined it all I'd... I don't know how I'd manage."
Mira had to take a moment to come back from the fear she had built up inside from the days of worrying about their relationship. He thought he hadn't been giving her enough attention? He spent so much of his time around her, holding her hand when he could and pressing his face agaisnt hers as his cute Triceraton way of kissing, how could he think he hadn't been giving her enough attention?
"What are you talking about?" she finally asked, unable to think of anything else to say.
Baxium was relieved she finally said something to him. "Well, because things are different for you. I mean, I can't really hold your hand comfortably and I didn't even think that touching your hair could be considered rude, and I know I haven't really... y'know... made a lot of advances like you're probably accustomed to, and I feel like a fool for not even taking those differences into account. I'm really sorry." He gently took her hand in his own, pressing it against his mouth as she watched on, dumbfounded.
"Baxi," she started, pocketing her keys and taking his hands in her own. "I never thought you weren't giving me enough attention."
He looked at her, confused. "Really?"
She nodded. "Where'd you get that idea from?"
He shrugged as he stood back up, letting her hands return to her sides. "I guess I started to think the worst when you stopped replying to my texts. I thought I had really messed up."
"Oh," she said aloud. "That had nothing to do with you, Baxium I promise you that." Suddenly all she could think about was being pissed at Raphael all over again.
"Then what was wrong?" He turned and sat on the highest step, watching Mira as she thought of how to phrase what happened.
She just shrugged. "It's nothing. It doesn't matter now, anyway."
Mira sat down next to him with a smile, leaning against his big familiar arm. Her anxiety finally melted away and she felt comfortable with him again, grateful there had just been a misunderstanding between them both. "I'm sorry for ignoring you so much."
"Don't worry about it," he told her, smiling as he wrapped his arm around her. "I'm just glad we're alright. You really had me worried."
She just smiled to herself as she relaxed in his arm. "It won't happen again, I promise."
"Good." He leaned his head down to press his mouth against her head, mimicking a kissing sound. She giggled and moved closer to him.
"I like it when you do the face thing, you know. It's sweet."
He sat her up and rubbed his face enthusiastically against hers. "You mean like this?"
She cotinued to laugh, but made no movement away from him and instead wrapped her arms around his head and pressed her face against his. He laughed as they sat like that for a moment. Mira broke away with a kiss to his cheek and they sat on the steps as the sky began to change color and transition into night.
"I guess I should head home," Baxium said, though he made no movement to get up.
"You could come in, you know," Mira told him. "I know it isn't the most comfortable of spaces for you, but you're welcome anytime."
He looked back at the door, then smiled at her. "I think I could manage it for a little while."
They both were all smiles as Mira led him into her apartment for the first time while completely sober. Ashley was still finishing up her shift at the restaurant she worked in and wouldn't be home for a few more hours. This gave the two plenty of time to cozy up to one another as they waited on their dinner to be delivered.
All was forgiven. At least, between the two of them.
I think Raph might still be in trouble, though. What do you think? See you next time! :D