"I... then... I mean... I look... younger, don't I? Than you I mean... " He was... lost by the whole concept. Then again, his entire being... What made him... Him... It was so fragile. And... Much of it was false, wasn't it... Was... Maybe it was bad to change at all... Should I... This slowly started to get to him more, and he pulled himself in, his knees and tails coming closer to him. "Should I... be your age? Older maybe? By... a little? What's... the right age if this... isn't?"
Shay wasn't as worried as he was. She shrugged. "This is the right age, but what if you get bored of it? You don't actually have to take school or anything, not if you don't want to, and growing up can take a long time. What if you get bored of having to grow? What if you just want to be grown?"
"I... I don't..." Every day is a new existential crisis with this kid. This was no different. I... really could be older, couldn't I... This form is... "I.."
So what... makes me... How should I... age?
He shook his head. "Then... Can I... Grow up with you, Shay-shay?" He asked as if without her permission he couldn't.
"That's not my choice," Shay said. "If you want to, of course you can."
"Oh..." He nodded and smiled. "Then that's it." He told her. "I'll grow up with you and.." He let out a relieved sigh and relaxed. "And that'll... Make it ok." I'll stay with Shay-shay... I won't turn old and make it 'weird'. I won't stay too young when she grows up... My form will be... "I'll be real..." He mumbled to himself.
"Huh?" Shay asked, having missed what he said. "So I guess that means you'll never get bored of being my age?"
"
"Ofcorse not." He said happily. "As long as I'm your age, it won't be 'weird' to hold your hand. Thats what you said, right?." He asked with a smile.
Shay's face was completely still as she stared at him for a good thirty seconds. "Is that... the only reason you're deciding to stay the age you are?"
"Um... Do I... need more reasons?" He asked, her stare making him feel like he said something wrong.