"Chips?" Zeke repeated in surprise as the puddle rose off the ground and assembled itself into a rather floppy person who had no sense of personal space. It took him a little while, during which his brain warred against his instinct to back down, but he eventually lifted both his hands and pushed the floppy doll back away from him, holding her at arm's length. "It's not my fault if you're flopping around like a rag doll and not looking where you're going," he responded.

It was a definite step forward from the reaction he would have had three months ago. Having friends who liked him despite all of his weirdness had helped Zeke find his courage. He wasn't going to run away and hide all the time. He would have never been able to hang around with Icy if he hadn't gotten over his fear of her pet boy. Although, his new confidence only extended so far. Zeke realised what his hands were holding to keep the girl away, and he pulled his hands away as if her chest had stung him. 

He blushed bright red and took a few steps back, internally flinching before she started yelling and screaming and for her friend to start yelling and screaming. Then he'd be in trouble and he'd have to run and he'd be punished... Zeke closed his eyes and balled his hands into fists, thinking of anything to help him calm down. Perhaps unsurprisingly, Viola came to mind. Then the possibility of doing that to her came to mind, and he buried his head in his hands as the blush doubled out past his ears.

[@Crusader Lord][@Rune_Alchemist]