Day 17 - Gender Euphoria

It had been some time since Fiora's body had been regenerated, and the ensuing complications had been dealt with. Getting used to the Machina-built prosthetics was, in some ways, as fun as it was uncomfortable and alien. More than that, though, the twined ideas of growth and regrowth wouldn't leave her mind.

Her hair had been cut short when Egil fitted her into the Face body for aerodynamics and the general logistical help of not having long hair to get caught in bits and bobs of armor, no doubt. Many of the Machina themselves had long hair - Egil and Vanea were two good examples - but their hair wasn't Homs hair, built of brittle proteins that Fiora had weakened all the more by way of relentless bleaching.

She'd barely been able to believe how much she enjoyed having short hair again. She'd always just...assumed she needed standard girlish tresses, to feel comfortable in her body (Homs body, that was).

"I never really thought much of your hair, Shulk," Fiora said absentmindedly, chin digging into the flesh of her remaining tricep.

"Hah. Am I supposed to be insulted?"

"I don't think you've thought much of it either, is my point." Not very distinctive, was it? But naturally hay-colored, if a bit lighter than that.

"Of course I have. I can't grow it out, if that's what you mean."

How had he known?

"Why not?"

"Well, because..."

He gazed into her eyes, searching for the right words.

"You know better than anyone that growing out a short haircut takes stages. A little longer than this would place me..."

Shulk gestured with a flat hand at the level of his collarbone.

"Ohhh. Right. Gotcha."

That much was obvious. The cheeky bit about returning to their "original" haircuts...not so much.

"Maybe someday, though."