@ElderGodSwimwithGamers group
"I'm sure." Ash held out his hands a bit, to take the clothes.
"We probably should have gotten a cart," he joked quietly. "But I can handle it. I'm really strong."
"I'm sure." Ash held out his hands a bit, to take the clothes.
"We probably should have gotten a cart," he joked quietly. "But I can handle it. I'm really strong."
Laura felt a little smile pull up, handing him the few things.
"I don't really need anything else." She replied softly, tucking her hair back out of her face. "Did you say I had to try them on?"
Ash nodded.
"Yes. The changing rooms are right over here. Do you think you can manage on your own?" He wasn't going to go it, not a chance.
"Yeah, I can do it." Laura replied softly, slowly starting to make her way over to where he had pointed.
"Thank you, sir…"
Ash followed.
"You're welocme," he said with a smile. He put the clothes in a stall for Laura, then left to give her some privacy.
Laura gave him a little smile, before shutting the door. After about fifteen minutes she had tried on everything, and pulled the door open.
"Most of it fit. There were a few things that were too small." She informed, holding a small stack in her arms. There were only about two or three things she was holding, currently.
Ash nodded.
"Do you want to find them in a bigger size then?" He took the clothes that didn't fit, print them on the return reach as he took note of what they were. He then took the clothes that fit, holding them in one arm. "Find other clothes, or head over to the toy section?"
Laura shook her head a little to his first question, following him quietly.
"That's alright, sir. I have enough as is." She told him, taking his hand when he had a free one. "I… um… we could head over to the toy section..?"
"Of course!" He smiled, beginning to walk with Laura to the section.
"Which toys so you want to look at first?" He smiled, standing now in front of the several isles that made up the toy section.
Laura glanced over the different isles, looking down them.
"I… I dunno…" She replied softly, seeming to be a little overwhelmed. "What… um, which do you think..?"
"Well… why don't we start in one isle, and move through them all? Then we can see what you want." Ash took Laura's hand, leading her gently to the first isle. Dolls, of course.
Laura nodded a little, glancing around. She stuck close to him, worried to touch anything she wasn't suppose to.
"Right, sir…" She mumbled, looking up to him. "What do we do, if I find something?"
"Well, when you find something you can hand it to me, and I'll buy it. You can touch them if you want." He smiled gently, motioning over to the shelves.
"But… isn't that just more money?" Laura asked softly, slowly walking up to the shelves.
"You're already spending so much on me… it's just another thing…"
"It's something for you, Laura. You don't have to worry about money. It's alright." He smiled softly as Laura looked at the dolls.
"But… but I don't understand," She replied softly, looking up at him instead.
"I haven't… I haven't done anything to deserve it. You're already buying me clothes, are you really sure?"
"I'm really sure." Ash knelt down a bit, placing his hand on Laura's head lightly.
"You don't have to do anything to earn this."
"But… but…" Laura stammered, starting to grow distressed.
"But… that… that's what I've been told." She whispered, timidly glancing up to him. "I… I don't deserve any of this, sir…"
Ash watched Laura a moment, setting the clothes down and carefully cupping her head in his hands.
"You're here, right?" He started softly. "You've survived, through whatever you had to, and you've found your way to a safe place. That's what makes you deserve this, Miss Laura."
"B-but… I ran away…" Laura insisted weakly, starting to tear up.
"I… I ran away, and all I've done is cause trouble. I-I'm in your way, a-and I'm making things difficult…" She mumbled, trying her best not to cry. "I-I really… really don't deserve this…"
"You escaped, Laura, not ran away. You're not in my way, Laura, you've done nothing but behave so well." Ash rubbed Laura's cheek gently, then carefully pulled her in for a hug.
"It's okay, Laura…"
Laura practically collapsed into his arms, burying her face in his shoulder.
"I… I'm so sorry…" She mumbled, holding on to him tightly. She wasn't crying, but was really close to doing so. Though she told herself she would annoy him if she did so, so she forced herself not to.
"Hey, hey, it's okay," Ash said softly. He held Laura close, rubbing her back gently.
"It's okay to cry," he whispered, picking Laura up and holding her to himself.
Laura leaned into him as he held her, quietly tracing circles into his shirt to distract herself. She didn't want to cry right now— not in the middle of the store. Not only because she was worried about bothering him, but people might start starring at her.
"I-I'm sorry…" She mumbled again, sighing shakily.
Ash stood, holding Laura close. He picked up her clothes as well.
"Maybe we should head home. We'll come get you some toys when you're ready, okay? I still want to get you some, but I don't want people to be mean to you. Is that okay?" He continued to rub her back, his tail coming up to gently rest against her.
The following keyboard controls are supported across Notebook.ai. All keyboard controls are disabled when editing a document or notebook page.