Trials In Love And Space (Billford)

Chapter 15: New sensations

Bill sat up on the couch, his senses reeling as he took in the unfamiliar weight of his new body. Every movement felt alien, every sensation more intense than anything he'd experienced before. And the two eyes! The solidness of the couch beneath him, the warmth of the sun coming through the window, the coolness of the air-all of it was overwhelming.

He stared down at his torso, realizing he was naked, marveling at the way his muscles flexed when he moved. The blanket had fallen off slightly in the movement, but his lap was still covered. Bill all of a sudden felt an emotion course through his body as he realized Ford had seen him completely naked and had probably carried him back to the Shack. He thinks he's seen Ford experience this emotion before, a long time ago...embarrassement?
Oh, how different it was than when he was a demon. This was his body now-so different from the nightmare demon he'd once been.

But then, something else began to gnaw at him. A strange emptiness grew in his stomach, a hollow ache that intensified with every passing moment. It wasn't pain, exactly, but it was discomforting and urgent. Bill pressed a hand to his abdomen, frowning as the sensation grew stronger. His mind raced with the possibilities. What was this? Was something wrong? Was this new vessel already failing him?

Panic crept into his thoughts. He had only just begun to experience this new life-he couldn't lose it so soon. Couldn't lose the chance he'd been given. "Stanford," he said, his voice rough, tinged with desperation. "Something's wrong. I feel... empty. Here." He pressed his hand harder against his stomach, his gaze searching Stanford's face for answers. "Is this body dying already? Am I-am I dying?"

Stanford, who had been watching him with a mix of concern and curiosity, sat up quickly, his eyes widening at the desperation in Bill's voice, but he couldn't help the laugh that escaped his mouth. "No, no, Bill. You're not dying."

Bill's breath came quicker, his panic rising. "Then what is this? It feels *wrong*."

Stanford's expression softened as he moved closer, sitting beside Bill on the edge of the couch. He placed a comforting hand on Bill's shoulder, grounding him once again and causing them both to have the same thought at the same time, unbeknownst to the other, 'this was probably going to happen a lot'

"It's hunger, Bill," Ford explains gently. "Your body needs food now to keep functioning. It's completely normal, I promise."

Bill's eyes narrowed as he tried to process what Stanford was saying. "So this... this discomfort goes away if I eat?"

"Yes," Stanford replied, his voice steady. "It's just your body telling you it needs fuel. You're not dying, Bill. You're just... adjusting."

Bill let out a shaky breath, the tension slowly easing from his shoulders. The idea that something as simple as eating could stave off this unsettling feeling was both comforting and strange. He nodded, though the unease lingered. This was a far cry from his demon days when he could indulge in food purely for pleasure, without the fear of consequences.

"You feel this every day?!" Bill exclaimed, still feeling a bit out of his depth.
Amusement laced Ford's voice as he answered, "Multiple times a day. Usually people need three meals a day..though of course it varies day by day and I tend to eat maybe twice a day."

"MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY?!!! Jeez, Sixer, I didn't know you had to take such care of your vessel. I might've been a bit more lenient back in the day."
Bill can feel his lips moving, his tongue pressing to the roof of his mouth, and the way he has to breathe through the sentences as he speaks - it's all so strange, he can't get over it.

Ford rolls his eyes but lets out a soft chuckle. It was actually very cute to see Bill discovering all of these new sensations. "Don't worry, I'll teach you how to take care of your body."