Loona put the finishing touches to her pixie like haircut. It took her half an hour usually to get each strand perfectly positioned. She hated to leave the house unless it was perfect. She and Naskia had joked the day before about how similar they were in this respect. Once she was finished she stood up and examined herself in her full length mirror; she was mostly happy with her appearance. She was rarely fully happy with herself. There was usually one blemish that annoyed her or one strand of hair that just wouldn’t do as it was told.

Nonah was behaving in a similar manner to a wayward strand of hair. She was still refusing to take off the red t-shirt that Niall had given to her. Loona had left it for the night but she was going to have to sort this problem out before they left to meet Niall and Naskia. She got up and went to collect Nonah from her tank.

Nonah’s tank was much bigger than Niall’s. Loona had spared no expense for her. It had 2 levels and various pieces of climbing equipment and balance bars for her to play on. Nonah even had a covered house with bedding to sleep in rather than just a mat. The tank was sealed on top and Loona had to unlatch it to clean it out or to retrieve Nonah.

Loona unlatched the lid and lifted it up. There was no sign of Nonah. She was still in her house.

“C’mon out Nonah it’s time to go.” Loona said into the tank.

She waited a few seconds and eventually the small blonde girl slowly skulked out into the open.

Loona frowned disapprovingly when she saw Nonah was still wearing the red t-shirt she had been told the night before to remove. Nonah was looking at her feet and standing still. She knew she was deliberately going against everything she had been taught her whole life but she didn’t care. This was her only possession, the only thing she had ever owned.

“What did I tell you last night?” Loona crossed her arms.

Nonah deliberately did not reply.

“Take it off….now.” Loona said her voice low with a hint of restrained annoyance. She was attempting to use her journalism persona to hide just how annoyed she was. Not at Nonah but at Niall for getting these ideas into Nonah’s head in the first place. He had his right to opinions but he didn’t have the right to get into Nonah’s head.

“No…” Nonah said shaking with a combination of fear and defiance. This was crazy. Loona was massive and enormously powerful. She could pull her arm off in a second never mind a bit of fabric.

“You either take it off yourself or I take it off for you.” Loona said continuing with her detached persona.

“No! It’s mine. Niall said I could keep it. You can’t make me.” Nonah finally looked up, finding some courage within herself.

Loona sighed weary of this conversation already. “It’s not yours. You are a thing, my thing to be precise. You cannot own something because I own you. Last chance; take it off or there will be trouble.”

Nonah was now getting angry. Being referred to as “a thing” was crossing the line. The anger was giving her courage. She was done with being a pet, she wanted to be like Niall and get a say in her life.

“I am not a thing! I’m a person like you. I sat with you and talked with you and you think you own me cuz you’re bigger but you don’t. No one asked me if I wanted to be a pet. I didn’t think I had a choice. I know I do now and I want to be like Niall. I want clothes and to learn and to be treated like a person and not a thing.” Nonah was trying to string various different arguments together but lacked the skills of a practiced debater.

Loona waited for a few seconds before replying. She decided to ignore what Nonah had said. She didn’t want an argument or a debate before class; it was too early in the morning, maybe later but not now. “Either you take it off or I take off for you.”

Nonah knew she couldn’t win here. She could tell by the stern look on Loona’s face. She removed the red t-shirt and threw it on the ground before collapsing into a heap on the floor and bursting into tears.

“C’mon Nonah stop this foolishness.” Loona said her stern demeanour breaking at the sight of the pathetic spectacle. Loona hated seeing Nonah upset. Her automatic instinct was to try and make her happy again but she couldn’t give in, it was going too far.

Nonah didn’t stop; she wailed louder and curled up into a ball. Tears streamed relentlessly down her face, she hadn’t felt like this since her best friend was taken away from her when she was a child. She knew Loona was a good owner and had heard tales of what could happen to pretty human girls at the hands of Titan men but now she knew what she could have if only given the chance. If only she were born on Earth or born a Titan things would be completely different for her. No amount of commands from Loona would rid her of the grief that she now felt, mourning the life she could have had.

“Fine be that way. You’re coming with me whether you like it or not.” Loona scooped up the crying Nonah who briefly fought back, pounding her fists into Loona’s index finger before submitting and was quickly deposited her in the travel box. Loona decided to ignore the act of aggression. This was Niall’s fault and Nonah didn’t deserve to be punished just because she had been manipulated.

“I’ll carry the box since you hate the bag so much ok?” Loona said hoping to placate the distraught girl. No response except for more tears. Loona would definitely be having words with Niall.

***

Naskia heard the door buzzer chime and hurried to answer it. She was nervous and could feel her stomach churn at what the day might bring. Nonah was to spend the day with Niall to help keep him calm while Naskia was in class. She was worried that Nonah might not be able to help and that Niall would have a panic attack and she would have to rush home. She was secretly more worried Niall and Nonah would get on far too well.

Nonah was very beautiful and full of life. It would be hard for any man to resist a girl like that, especially since Nonah had the advantage of not being monstrously huge in comparison to him. Thinking about it just made the fluttering in her stomach worse.

“I’ll have to have a quiet chat with Nonah. Set some ground rules or something.” Naskia thought to herself before answering the door with a forced smile.

“Hiiii.” Naskia said ushering a rather exasperated looking Loona through to the living room.

“Everything ok?” Naskia asked.

“Yeah fine, Nonah is a bit upset. Niall has gotten some ideas into her head and she’s not happy with her current circumstances anymore. I think I need to have a talk with him.” Loona said setting a box down on the table and her rucksack on the floor.

Naskia grimaced. “Sorry I don’t want to cause you trouble or anything….he’s through in his room. Just please don’t get mad or yell at him. He doesn’t respond well to it.”

Loona smiled and moved towards the bedroom. “Don’t worry about it. That’s not really my style. Though check on me if you hear screaming!”

Naskia laughed unsure if she should be worried or not as Loona disappeared through the door. Naskia went through to the kitchen and poured herself some tea. She made a cup for Nonah too. If she was upset then taking a hard line wouldn’t be a good idea. She walked back to the table and sat on the floor and placed the tea on the table.

She opened the box and spied Nonah curled up in the corner with her arms tucking her legs up into herself.

“Awwwk sweetie what’s wrong?” Naskia asked.

Nonah looked up at Naskia. Her pretty face was red and puffy from crying. Her long hair was matted and clinging to her face where tears had ran into it. She really could use a friend right now and Naskia decided that was going to be her. The Niall conversation would go a lot smoother if it was as friends explaining feelings rather than directly warning her away from him.

“Loona took my t-shirt away and was being mean. She won’t let me be like Niall. It’s not fair.” Nonah said starting to sob again and pressed her face into her knees. She didn’t want to let Naskia see her cry.

Naskia felt her heart breaking for Nonah, it really wasn’t fair, in the holosuite there was really no way to tell the difference between her and a Titan. She could understand why she would be upset. She set her hand down beside her and ushered her to get on but Nonah didn’t move.

“C’mon I have something for you. It’ll cheer you right up I promise.” Naskia said.

Nonah slowly got up and sat on the edge of Naskia’s waiting palm before being lifted out and set on the table beside an 8 foot tall mug of tea and a small cup. Niall would never sit with his legs dangling off her hand as she lifted him. He always sat dead centre, still fairly nervous after all this time.

“Have some tea. It’ll make you feel better.” Naskia said nudging the tiny cup towards her.

“For me?” Nonah sniffled slowly picking up the warm cup usually reserved for Niall.

“Yeah it is. I love tea. I always drink it to make me feel better. Whether I’m tired or sick or upset it always helps.” Naskia said wrapping both hands around the warm mug and bringing it to her mouth for a sup.

Nonah copied her. The liquid was warm and slightly bitter. She felt it run down through her, warming her insides. After a few sips she felt a lot warmer and more comfortable. She wiped away the tears from her cheeks and sniffled some more.

“Better?” Naskia said her face soft and warm like the tea she had given Nonah.

Nonah smiled and nodded up at her grateful. “Thank you Miss Naskia. It really does help. I’ve never had tea before….only water. It’s nice.”

“Well when you’re here you can have whatever you like. Just ask. You don’t need to wait for me to offer.” Naskia said knowing this could well annoy Loona. She didn’t care, after treating Niall as an equal for so long she was starting to question how right it was to treat sentient beings as if they were brainless pets. They had feelings, desires and fears the same as any Titan. Besides, she needed Nonah on her side.

Nonah smiled and nodded and drank some more of her tea. Naskia had a few more sips while trying to think about how to bring up the subject of Niall

“Oh! I’ve something else you might like.” Naskia said getting up and walking to the heater. Some of Niall’s clothes were drying out on top of it. She picked up a green t-shirt and set it down beside Nonah before sitting down.

“You can have that. Go on put it on.” Naskia smiled.

Nonah eyed the t-shirt longingly. She really did want it. She wanted the one Niall had given her too but Loona had told her no and she didn’t have want another argument. She still felt pretty fragile after losing the argument earlier.

“But….but Loona says I can’t….” Nonah said.

“Don’t you worry about Loona. I’ll take care of her ok?” Naskia reassured her and stroked her hair softly.

Nonah practically dived onto the t-shirt and pulled it on. Naskia watched the little girl enviously. Naskia was by no means out of shape but Nonah’s figure was flawless; Naskia eyed her gentle curves and toned legs feeling an odd feeling wash over her. It wasn’t jealously; it was something else….Attraction! Naskia turned away embarrassed with herself and tried to shake off the feeling. She sipped at her tea and pretended to ignore the little woman.

Nonah’s face emerged through the top of the t-shirt glowing with happiness. It was very long on her and covered everything that should be kept private. Naskia felt a lot more comfortable about Nonah being near Niall now.

Nonah ran up passed the mug of tea and leapt excitedly at Naskia surprising her. Nonah hit Naskia’s creamy skin just below her neck. She dug in her feet and stretched her arms out to stop herself from sliding into the ample cleavage below.

“Thank you for being so nice Miss Naskia.” Nonah said rubbing her flushed cheeks against the velvety soft skin she was clinging to. “I wish there was something I could do for you.”

Naskia leaned back and lay down slowly so Nonah wouldn’t slip. That could get embarrassing trying to fish a wriggling girl out from between her boobs, especially after where her mind hand wandered to just moments earlier.

“There is one thing you could do…..” Naskia said seizing the opening Nonah had given her.

“Anything.” Nonah said standing up and looking up fixing onto Naskia’s eyes.

“Please don’t get all touchy feely with Niall? I know how you humans can get some time and you’re a really beautiful girl. I love Niall a lot and I can’t stand the thought of another girl being with him, especially a human one.” Naskia said doing her best to sound vulnerable.

Nonah looked into Naskia’s eyes. They were shimmering like stars in the night sky. She could see Naskia was genuinely worried.

Nonah laughed. “I wouldn’t. I don’t think I could even if I wanted to. I know I’m pretty but you’re so, so beautiful. He loves you and he wouldn’t do that. He doesn’t look at me like that at all, only you. This is really funny.”

Nonah giggled some more and Naskia giggled awkwardly in return.

“Why is it funny?” She asked feeling a bit like she was being mocked.

“Cuz you’re jealous of me! You’re a master and I’m just a thing according to Loona.” The last remark sounded somewhat bitter, especially when coming from the normally sugary sweet Nonah.

“Awww you’re not a thing. You’re a little person. I’ll give Loona a good telling off for saying that. That’s such a nasty thing to say.” Naskia said scooping Nonah up and holding her to her chest. She felt closer to her now, she trusted her. Naskia could easily see herself behaving like Nonah if their positions were reversed. She was going to look out for Nonah.

***

“Seriously Niall you can’t keep filling her head with this stuff. It’s ok for you, you’re smart but she isn’t.” Loona huffed.

Niall stood calm and focused with his arms crossed behind his back. He decided to gloss over the fact that what Loona called “stuff” he called freedom and equality. “Loona you’re a nice girl and you seem to have a conscience too but if you think Nonah is stupid then you’re clearly an idiot.”

Loona’s trained journalism facade broke and she gritted her teeth. She was totally blindsided by his blunt response. She hated anyone calling her stupid never mind a human she was watching over for his own protection.

Niall decided to clarify his remark seeing a flash of anger across Loona’s face. “You sat with her and listened to her talk. You can see her level of emotional intelligence. It’s probably higher than anyone else in this house.”

“Yeah but that’s not the same. She can’t read or count or anything like that.” Loona countered.

Niall grinned and walked into his tank up to his pad. “Come see this.”

Loona leaned in as Niall flicked through a series of prepared images. It started with a picture of Earth from orbit and moved to various shots of landmasses and the moon. It then changed to all the symbols of the Titan alphabet and numbers before going on to each individual letter.

“You cannot be serious. You know I’m annoyed at you already and you want to try to teach her to read and write!” Loona said staring at the images.

“You say she’s stupid. If I can’t teach her to read and write then I’ll admit I’m wrong and I’ll stop. However if I can teach her then you have to start respecting her and give her some freedom.” Niall said.

“Or I leave now and take her with me and not come back?” Loona raised an eyebrow.

“Fine, you do that. You’re only showing off your own insecurities. You think Nonah will love you less having some freedom? I think she’ll love you more. She’ll respect you more, be better company and be happier.”

Loona thought for a minute. She liked Nonah the way she was but she now seemed to be totally wrapped up with the ideas Niall had put into her head. She would probably need retrained but doing that could rob her of her bubbly personality. Having a Nonah who could proof read her articles and still be bubbly and fun too would be nice.

“Argh fine! You are a real pain in the neck ya know that? If you break Nonah there will be trouble though. Naskia will have to buy her off me or something.” Loona sighed.

Niall flashed a charming Irish smile. “If it comes to that I’ll give you double what you paid for her.”

Loona laughed heartily deliberately trying to belittle Niall. “You’re Naskia’s property. You can’t have a bank account let alone money, how could you possibly afford to buy her from me?!”

Niall kept grinning not wanting to show how much Loona’s remark had annoyed him. “A mere formality, easily worked around.”

“What are you planning?” Loona asked her eyes wide with curiosity.

“Oh you’ll see. You’ll see….I’m hardly going to tell a journalist all my plans am I?” Niall said smugly.