we won't stop running 'til we reach the sun.

Ciara felt the feeling reciprocated back to her. Something lifted from her as she realised all the panic and overthinking that she'd been doing, completely out of character of her, over recent situations had all been for nothing. He felt the same way. She didn't like that it took this kind of trauma to do it but she was happy about it nonetheless. She kissed Cam for as long as she could, soaking up every second, before finally pulling away. Gasping for air, she smiled, "I don't know about you but I'm starving," she admitted.

"Cam, relax, you need to breathe," Octavia said, taking his hand to get him to stop pulling at his bandages, "It could have happened to anyone. You didn't mean to and Ciara is fine. She will be fine and she will forgive you. Please relax."

The Night Agent s02e03: “You’re safe. You’re okay, you’re okay.”

Ciara nodded, using her thumbs to brush away some of his tears before they could fall, "I promise," she said honestly, "But only if you promise to try and forgive yourself for this, for me. No matter how long it takes, don't let it eat away at you," she continued. Ciara watched his gaze again, searching his eyes for... something. She didn't know what but what she saw spurred her next actions. While she was there, standing so close to him and holding his face, she closed the gap and placed her lips on his. Ciara placed as much feeling as she could in that gentle kiss, all the love and forgiveness she could muster in hopes that he would feel it.

"Stop," Ciara said, trying to keep hold of him when he flinched away. If he really wasn't comfortable, she would never force that on him but she knew that he was struggling with an internal battle, "Look at me," she said softly, tears falling down her own cheeks now, "You are not a monster. You are Cameron Coleman. You are kind and you are loyal and you are a little socially awkward," she moved her hand briefly to wipe away her own tears with a small laugh, "You are my favourite person on this entire planet - yes, that includes my brother - and I love you," she paused, searching his eyes in hopes that she would find understanding or realisation. She had said it now for the second time and this time she didn't hide it behind nearly dying or him being a beast. She shook her head, "This isn't your fault. You told me to run. I didn't. I decided to do something to lock you up rather than risk you following me back to more people. I did this to myself. I would rather be cursed forever than let you live with hurting many more people. You may never forgive yourself for this but there would have been no coming back from what could have happened and I wouldn't forgive myself if I let that happen to you," she explained, "And as for next month, we will both take the potion together and we will go to the Shrieking Shack together and we will get through it together like every other full moon, okay?"

Ciara scoffed, "Cam, are you serious? You're my best friend, why would I not want to see you?" she asked, already knowing the answer before she asked. She stepped forward, "Of course, I don't want you to move out. I imagine you don't remember what I said when I locked the door but I already forgive you," she reached up and took his face in her hands so he would look at her, "Cam, I made this choice. The risk of being with you when you shift. I knew what could happen if something went wrong. Why do you think I carry silver and dittany on a full moon?" she paused, "The werewolf is not you, you did not do this to me but if you think you're going to abandon me no, that I will not forgive you for. Do you understand?"

@camcoleman

Tav was at the hospital as soon as she found out Cam was there. She had a bad feeling given what night it was and with her aunt having to work, she promised to stay when she couldn't, "Hey, hey, hey," she said quickly getting out of her seat to stand by the bed and take his hand, "Ciara is fine," she said, "I spoke to the healers and Jordi, she's fine," she paused, "She's alive. That's the important thing. Everything else, you can work out later but she is fine, I promise. What happened with you? The healers said you passed out. Are you okay?"

Looking around, Ciara found her own purse in the snow, abandoned in the chaos. This was always a risk, being bitten. Ciara had done her research before coming out with Cam for the first time. She had been willing to accept those risks in a heartbeat, unable to let her friend go through this alone. Even though Cam was typically good at remembering his potions, she had also come prepared. Silver and dittany would seal the wound. She would be a werewolf but she would be alive. Suddenly feeling dizzy, Ciara leaned against the door, as close as she could get to her friend without being there, "Listen, Cam," she said, her words already slurring from the loss of blood. Was it too late? She started applying the mixture to her wound as best she could despite not being able to see it well, "I know you're never going to forgive yourself for this but I forgive you. It's not your fault. This was always a risk and we both knew it. It'll be... It'll be fine," she whispered, now looking for something to bind the wound with. She tried to rip some of her dress but her coordination was poor, "I don't really know whether you can hear me or you'll remember me saying this but I love you, okay? I love..." she trailed off and everything went black.

"We're going to make it," Ciara said, not looking at Cam for a moment and feeling hopeful she could lock him up in time. Then came Cameron's scream and she turned to see he was aleady turning. Ciara could have run. Should have run. She should have gone back to the party, back to safety, but there was a risk of luring Cam in his werewolf form there and she knew he would never forgive himself if he hurt so many people. Instead, Ciara ran toward the Skrieking Shack. If she could get him in the building, she could lock him inside, or try to. She just kept running, no idea how far behind her he was and went into the building, stopping right to the side of the door in hopes that the werewolf would run further inside and she could sneak out while he was back was turned. It was the only way.

"You missed..." Ciara trailed off, gasping a little, "Okay, we run," she agreed, starting to sprint while regretting her choice of shoes for the night, "It's okay. It's not your fault. It will be fine, we can make it," she replied, hoping to hide the panic in her own voice now.

Ciara's eyes rounded. While Cam's voice was calm, she could sense the panic in his voice. She matched his pace but furrowed her brow, "Cam, what's wrong? I mean, you took your potion, right?" she asked, moving quicker. She was ready to do whatever she needed but she needed to know what was going on.

Ten minutes later, they had created some goody bags of snacks from the part and were walking down to the shrieking shack, "Just in time," she said with a smile as she popped a small tart into her mouth, "Full moon is nearly at its peak," she gestured up to the sky.

Octavia smiled, "Absolutely," she agreed, "And who knows? Maybe it will be an Octavia Coleman show, rather than a Gucci one," she added, a hint of hope in her voice, "That's my resolution for 2029. To step away from Gucci and start my own fashion empire."

Ciara smiled sadly. She had no words of comfort except for what she said next, "And you'll also have me for the rest of your life. I would never let you go through this alone. Ever." She was quite insistent in her tone, making sure he understood just how much the words meant, "Come on, we don't have much time now."

THE MAGIC FLUTE (2022)