[Inanimate (Puzzle) TF]

"So what do you think he meant when he was talking about a favor?"

James turned to look at Puzz who was laying on the couch next to him. It was a rare night to get her to not be relaxing in the puzzles, and James enjoyed every minute of it. "Him, who?"

Puzz sighed, rolling over to looking at him. "Aelfgir. The guy who sold us the puzzles."

"Oh. Ale-guy. Him." James sat in bitter silence. He wasn't thrilled with the old man; in his eyes, Aelfgir just fed into Puzz's addiction and spun a tale that would enchant her. Now, daily, Puzz would ask and try to talk about what was going on. How was this all possible? Was he really an elf? Was she magical like he said?

"Look," she continued patiently. "I know it's been a month since we saw him. But I need you to know it's been a month for you. I watch you from the puzzle and I know time is moving for you, but it's not for me. I just get to thinking about everything happening as if it just happened, because time doesn't pass for a puzzle. It's been a month for you; it was just yesterday for me."

James sighed as Puzz stood up, and he turned back to the television. Every night that she had been out of the puzzle it had turned this way. She would go now and put herself in one of her puzzles, and he would start working on solving her in the morning. The clap from the other room confirmed his suspicions. He turned off the show and headed to bed; he didn't have anyone to stay up with anymore.

===

James slept fitfully all night. His bed felt too large and empty, and he couldn't get comfortable. His dreams took wild and unpredictable turns, a chaotic blend of impressions and feelings. He woke feeling exhausted and tired, and startled loudly to find himself wrapped around someone. Their soft skin made him feel uncomfortable.

His hands fumbled for the lights behind him, trying to move as little as possible to disturbing the sleeping figure. Finally the small lamp turned on, blinding James. His vision cleared and he saw his girlfriend, Puzz. She was curled up against him, spooning him.

Puzz yawned and stretched, turning around to curl into the soft chest hair James sported. "Why'd ya turn on the lights?" She murmured, barely awake enough to coherently speak.

"I thought you were in your puzzle already." James replied, his voice asking more of a question than he intended.

Puzz nodded against his torso. "I felt bad for walking off while we were talking. This is rough for both of us, and I wanted to spend the night with you." She yawned, still sleepy. "Turn off the light, we can discuss this in the morning."

James did as he was told, laying back in bed. He was well and truly awake now as he pondered how she could have gotten out of the puzzle on her own. Puzz's soft snores helped guide him back down to sleep, lulling him away. Before he was fully asleep he thought he saw something glowing near Puzz, but it was gone quickly much like his consciousness.

===

Morning came, and James woke to an empty bed. An normal occurrence. Assuming he merely dreamed that Puzz came to bed, he started his usual work routine. Fortunately, Puzz clapped last night and she would be in the sliding puzzle. At least he could take her with to work. He got downstairs and started making breakfast in the kitchen, the dishes clattering to break the otherwise still silence.

"Want to make that for two?" James heard a voice behind him, but before he could turn around, Puzz had her arms around him. She held him as he cooked. "Sorry for waking you up last night."

James mumbled his response, craning his neck to kiss her on the cheek. "So, that really happened? You left your puzzle on your own?"

She nodded, letting go of her owner long enough to help him finish making their breakfast. Despite James not being interested in the toast he was making, he still took both plates to the table and eat with his girlfriend.

"Well… how?"

Puzz giggled, shrugging. "I felt like I had to, so I did. I'm still in the puzzle… Sort of, at least." Puzz pulled back the sleeve on the shirt she was wearing. There, the outline of a generic puzzle piece glowed yellow, occasionally pulsating an angry looking red. It looked like she was branded, but it didn't look scarred or enflamed. James touched it. Just a flat mark.

"I guess you are Puzz, the Puzzle Girl, huh?" Puzz laughed, hugging tight to James. He looked curiously at her. "What do you mean, you're still in the puzzle?"

"Well, sometime after I fell asleep in bed with you last night, I reappeared in the puzzle. I'm doing the same thing as last night. I can tell it's going to pull me back into it again. I think that's what the red glowing means, that it will happen soon."

James held her close, nodding that he heard her. He stayed quiet though, enjoying the moment. The puzzle mark sped up its flashing, and Puzz nuzzled against his chest. As it was speeding up, she broke free of his embrace and gave him a quick kiss before grabbing the breakfast he made for her and vanishing.

James finished his own breakfast, the dining room feeling especially empty for her absence. Heading into their spare room, he found the sliding puzzle that current housed Puzz. She was frozen in the image, but the picture looked almost animated as each individual square of the puzzle seemed vibrant and alive. He had a feeling if he checked on her later in the day, she would have made progress on the food she took with her, as impossible as it seemed.

He grabbed the puzzle and added it to his work items, heading off for the day. He might even head by the old man’s shop, see if he had any new puzzles for Puzz to try out.