That shop was full.
"I'm not even going to ask what that says." I folded my arms, squinting my eyes at the curly writing above the door. It looked like scribbles.
"Hmmm it doesn't translate well," Myro said, now leading me toward the glass doors that were scrubbed extraordinarily clean. "But you will find the best clothes in the universe in there."
I had done a pretty good job of hiding my slack-jawed awe of this place, but the possibility of clothes flipped my stomach. I had never really been able to afford anything other than my uniform at the sewing center, and, despite my last few years in the Scarlet Feather, I actually really liked wearing clothes.
I liked soft things, and well-fitting pants that I could sling a few knives from.
One step into the store and all of those hopes were dashed.
"One question, Myro. How many legs do you think I have?" Everything here was made for every being except humans. It was all too big, had too many sleeves... "Or boobs?"
"It's set up by species. Humans would be..." he stood up on tip-toes, peering over the heads of the shoppers and the racks that were packed so close together that there wasn't much room between. Shoppers were shoulder to shoulder and ass to ass. "Come on."
Humans. Or, 'Dual-Bi-Peds, Standard' were in the back. It was the only sign that was in English. It was also the smallest section here. We had passed lines and lines of clothes for every other crazy alien out there, but back in the human corner were five racks. Three for women, two for men.
"That's a lot of grey..." I sighed, recognizing what this was at once. A place to dress your slave.
"There's got to be something," Myro was shifting through the clothes, but even his face was falling.
I, however, had turned away from the pitiful display. The clothes on the rack right behind me weren't that far off from human-sized. Whatever they were meant for had longer legs and maybe bigger asses, but I eyed the bright colors and interesting styles with hope.
"I can make this work," I said, pulling a red shirt and blue pants off the rack. Looking at them, I realized that maybe they were taller than I’d thought. These pants went up to my boobs. "I've tailored worse."
It wasn't a complete lie. When you're five and given an adult’s uniform, you have to figure something out.
"You have a needle and thread, right?" I asked Myro, who was now looking at a four-cupped bra in confusion.
"For cuts and stuff," he stuttered in a panic, shoving the bra back on the rack and sending the whole thing flying sideways. The clatter echoed over the muted music and mumbled conversations with a bang, and everyone turned.
Myro's cheeks colored in embarrassment, his lips pulling tight as he waved sheepishly to everyone who had turned. They didn't turn away though, they stared, eyes wide before they began whispering again. This time more excitedly, pointing and giggling.
Geeze, and I thought the women at the Scarlet Feather were terrible gossips.
"If you want, I can stay here and find stuff. I know you've got your own list." I offered, but Myro turned, the same look of terror already back on his face.
I rolled my eyes and went back to the clothes. "I'm armed, I'm capable, I'm not twelve." I wasn't taking no for an answer. Screw me, I needed some time alone, because those guys liked to screw me every chance they got. I needed a break.
"I know you aren't twelve, and I know you are well familiar with killing humans." He still didn't seem convinced.
"Go, Myro." I grinned at him and turned away, pulling a few possibilities off the rack and draping them over my arm. "I'll be right here when you are done."
He stepped back, the step short and hesitated.
"Fine. If you don't go I'll stab you in the dick." I looked him right in the eye, my jaw tense as I challenged him. He didn't fight me back, he moaned and kind of wilted.
"God, you are so hot when you do that?"
"What? Stab you in the dick? Don't challenge me, I've done it before." I blew him a kiss and he closed the gap between us, his hand wrapping around my wrist as he pulled me into him, his lips collapsing against mine. His taste coated my tongue and I groaned.
No matter how much he restrained his power, I could always taste it when I kissed him. And it always drove me mad.
"Go, Myro, or I'm going to ride you right here." That threat would not have worked for Fey, but Myro stepped back, still watching me as he backed up.
"Stay here," he warned before finally turning and leaving me alone.
Took him long enough.
The store was a muddle of foreign noises, music, and whisperings in alien tongues, the metal grinding of hangers and racks punctuating everything. Still, it was bliss to be in my own head. It was also nice to select some clothes, even if they were two times the size I needed.
I held another yellow shirt up against me, trying to decide if I could trim it down enough to make it work. Too big. I don't think there was anything I could do to keep my boobs from popping out of that one. Not that the guys would mind.
With a sigh, I placed the hanger back on the rack and turned to the next one, some striped number with a built-in bra for a few too many boobs. Okay, next.
It was then that I saw the same ladies from before, the ones that had whispered and pointed at Myro, but now they were staring at me instead. Okay, not staring at me, they were holding up what looked like a grey metal square... a camera.
"Can I help you?" I
