#feeeeeeeeelings

((I...need to catch up.  Not much else to say today!))

Karo trudged into her room at the Pendants, dropping her bag unceremoniously just inside the door before heading to the window and throwing it open.  The sun was setting spectacularly over the Source (ha! What a name for that body of water-), but she slid down in front of the ledge facing back into the room instead of looking out.

“Well, that’s not where I expected to see a triumphant hero,” the deep comforting voice of her ghostly companion sounded surprised as he materialized to her right, sitting on one of the stools there.

“Is aught amiss?” she looked up at him, startled at the care in his voice.  Ardbert was perched on the edge of the stool, a curious expression on his face--almost as if he had surprised himself by asking as well.

“I--” she looked over to the table where the comforting note was sitting under the eaten basket of sandwiches.  She had just returned to the market, gathering up more supplies for the journey to Rak’tika.  They were leaving within the bell, and Bard was excited to be heading out to see Y’shtola again, but the thought of leaving the Crystarium behind was almost painful.

“Eh, you probably don’t want to hear about it,” she pushed off the floor and headed to the table to grab one of the pieces of fruit there to snack on. “It’s silly-” her voice cracked as her eyes hit the words on the note again.  It was silly, and ridiculous, and not like her at all.  She couldn’t even see his face, but, the Exarch was weaseling his way into her heart.  It was fact now that she had had time to think on it--and had wished every moment they had been in Il Mheg that he was there by her side sharing in the beauty and excitement.  The racing of her heart wherever she headed to the Ocular--even for something so benign as a mission briefing--gah.

Clearing her throat she took a deep breath and looked into the Warrior’s sky-blue eyes.  “How about this; if I’m still… out of sorts about this when we get back, I’ll talk to you about it if you still want me to.  Just know it’s about emotions and complicated right now.  I just don’t think I have the words for everything right now.”  Karo shoved the almost forgotten orange into her pack instead of eating it, her stomach still churning from even mentioning an idea of acknowledging her own feelings about the Exarch, coming face to face with Thancred again, and even the baffling attraction she had for the specter in front of her now.  “Please… just not now?”

AKA: my obscure OT3 mess of a Red vs. Blue Big Bang Fic

the drop of blood, the windflower, and the world

York/Kimball/Carolina, ~37000 words, Post Season 13. Vanessa Kimball has a lot to do in the aftermath of the battle with Hargrove’s forces, so really, it’s a good thing that the appearance of another Freelancer effectively puts any chance of her crush on Carolina being requited in the dust. Besides, Agent York is useful, and competent, and clever, and...charming. 

((I really need to stop getting my little writing bursts after midnight... Anyways, have more sap/angst... >.>))

Karoiseka pushed through the thick vegetation on the forest floor of the Rak’tika Greatwood, unsure of what to do with all of the emotions swirling around in her head.  That he would be the one to bring her back?  That they had almost lost Y’shtola again?  That she still hadn’t gotten a moment of peace and alone time with Thancred since finding him at Laxen Loft?  Breaking through a particularly dense area, she tripped on a root and ended up sprawled at the edge of one of the azure flower paths that guided the way to Fanow.  The effort to stand back up was too great, so she rolled over onto her back staring up at the humongous trees that stretched above her.

It was there, almost a bell later, that Thancred found her, tears still staining her cheeks, but blue eyes still alert to any danger.  Without a word, he sat down next to her, and gently pulled her into his lap.

“Hey there kitten, it’ll be alright,” his voice soft and gruff, Karo could tell he had been worried for her and had left his charge in the other’s care to come find her.  Finally able to drop her guard somewhat, she curled into his embrace, burrowing her face into his jacket’s lapel and clinging to him tightly.  She had spent most of the last bell thinking of Emet and Y'shtola, so having Thancred there almost magically would hopefully help to sooth the last of her jagged thoughts.  His arms circled her and he held her almost as tightly as she was holding him--the first real contact beyond a hand or shoulder squeeze since their reunion.  

No words were spoken--none were really needed after all.  The lush forest providing a soundtrack to the gentle movements of hands carefully moving along hair, face, and gentle kisses placed on foreheads, between ears and along necks and cheeks.  So much time had passed, yet felt like days later, not the months and years that had been for them both.  Their desperate embrace had loosened nearly another bell later, his cheek resting on top of her head and arms loosely draped around the other after their affirmation.