Isaiah shrugged. "Fair enough. Just... try not to die, alright? The result of releasing all that all at once would probably bear a solid resemblance to a hydrogen bomb going off."
"I'm OK." Mattie replied, looking back down at the table. For a few uncomfortable moments she was silent and then she swallowed.
"Kayla," she said. "I just want to say,... I'm sorry. I know that,.. what I thought,.. what i thought you might feel for me was just... Her. Nike. I know it wasn't you... and, well it was kind've like that for me too but,.. it was more than that. The things we did, I did... I wanted to do them and Its more than that. Its, I,...."
She paused, cutting off whatever she'd been about to say.
"I know that you don't feel like that too, and you probably feel like I took advantage or something, and it must feel like,.. like I took advantage of how she was making you act and you probably hate me. You should hate me but,.. I didn't know." she swallowed again, "So,... I've been thinking and,.. I know you won't want me around. Not with what happened and what I did. So I've,.. I've asked around, and AEGIS are recruiting.... I don't want to wreck the team, or make you feel like you need to leave so,... So I will. Then maybe it'll be OK with you and Rory, and I won't get in the way any more and everything'll be better." Mattie said, looking up at Kayla with tears glistening in her eyes.
”Mattie...” Kayla tried to interrupt, but she kept going. When she finally finished, Kayla finally managed to edge in ”Mattie, no. Just...no. You aren’t leaving the team. Look, if this is about what I said to everyone the other day, I’ll tell you exactly what I told your brother. I’m not embarrassed by what we did. I’m embarrassed that I was able to let some other...thing...whatever she was...control me and use me to try to break up the team. To try to hurt your relationship with your brother.”
She leans back in her chair, taking a deep breath before continuing, ”I...I think she was just using feelings I already felt. I dunno if I’m...if I’m bi, or if I prefer guys or girls. I’m just as confused as everyone else is that’s wrapped up in all this. But, I told your brother and I’m telling you the same thing, I want us to start off on fair footing, both you and your brother. And anyone else. I...I dunno if its something she did or if I just...just am, but I sort of have feelings for the others too, but I definitely feel more for you Noble’s. Must be something in the family,” she makes a bad joke.
”Long story short, if something develops between you and me, or me and your brother, or me and whoever, I want it to be on fair terms, terms that I actually am sure I have a say in. Okay?”
Rory arrives back at Blockbuster which appears to be empty. Tossing his
suit jacket on his bed, he then loosens up his tie, he hate them always feels like he is being choked, and kicks of his dress shoes. The shoes make a satisfying thump as they land in the closet. Pulling a key from his pocket he unlocks a filing cabinet next to his desk, he laughs to himself at the futility of such a device - Kayla could tear it to shreds, Shin and Mattie could melt it, Isaiah can probably pick the lock or some shit, Psyche could just read his mind, it might stop Ness although he doubts that. Rory pulls out a file labeled 'Praetoria's Parents' and flips through it, the file contains whatever information the group was able to find prior to Ness's information leading the Sentinels to them. Rory thumbs through it one more time racking his brain trying to find what he missed. The answer eludes him. About to toss the file into an industrial paper shredder he pauses then places the file back in the cabinet, maybe he can use it to prevent future mistakes down the road, just before shutting the drawer he whispers, "maybe if we got there sooner... I'm sorry."
Rory sits on his bed before falling backwards onto it leaving his legs hang off the side. He reaches into a storage space in the head board and pulls out an A.E.G.I.S. brochure he had snagged when returning the hoverboard.
Mattie sniffed, wiped her eyes and gave a short involuntary laugh at the 'joke' which helped relieve the tension. A bit. Within her, a tangled wave of emotions seethed - confusion, relief,.. jealousy, but more than the others was,... hope
"You don't hate me? You might,.. like me too?" she asked in disbelief. "But you said that,.. Nike.... You really might like me? You're not embarrassed about,...." she paused. "And you told Rory that too? Was he OK? Oh god, I'll need to talk to him and,.. I think I need to face up to Kylie too... But,.. I mean how's that even going to work? You're, what, going to date both of us? I mean, I know Kylie seems to manage it but,... He's my brother. What did he say?"
He sighs, and leans forward. "Brass tacks time. Did you pull the doors off the hinges at the Dawkins Research Facility? Did you have permission to be there? Think about that. 'Cause the judge will be."
"I did take those actions." And while there is as I hinted, a more esoteric path towards a Not Guilty verdict, I don't believe that it is a worthwhile one with the stakes as they are. I only mention this because if you were to discover that the prosecutor intended to press for imprisonment that calculus could shift.
Her mother glowered lightly as the conversation took a mental detour. [b]"Something I should know?"
"We can discuss it later more fully, but not for now: Does a defense based upon justification have any merit? I can only imagine that the fact my teammate was in fact taken under their care for the reasons that I brought her there could only strengthen the idea that I had a credible fear for her survival. If I am likely to have approximately a year of probation in any case, I am inclined to attempt to be found innocent, even without any wilder explanations."
***
She didn't want to pretend that she thought it was fine that he had forgotten, but it wasn't as though there was anything to be gained by making him miserable for having done so.
Psyche moved on.
"Dusk again? That is concerning... This is why I think he might not have a full accounting of your current timeline - when he reaches out it tends to be only in regards to public events, at least as far as you've told me. I assume he was offering some sort of insight to Kayla's abduction? He has a vested interest in you thinking him infallible and omniscient. Don't forget that he has many ways to acquire information that don't stem from your recollections." And if you're ever heading home, I'll mindwipe you first, like we once talked about. We can discuss that closer to that moment though.[/b]
”No...I’m not doing that to either of you. When I date someone again, it will be exclusive. I’m not...normally...you know...” she didn’t want to say a slut, like Nike was making her act.
”Unfaithful. I don’t have any interest in acting like that. THAT was the behavior that I am embarrassed about. But, I’m starting things off clean slate, with both of you.”
She sighs and says, ”And I do think you two need to talk. Maybe we all three should, just to make sure we understand one another...”
Mattie nodded. "We do all need to talk, but I think maybe I should talk to him one-on-one first. OK?" she replied. "I need to tell him,... I need to check he's really OK with this. You're sure he took it OK? I mean,.. it's a pretty big thing to say to someone... 'I like you but I like your sister too.' - You really like me? You're not, like, just trying to make me feel better or make me not leave or,.. anything? Really?"
Kayla scrunches her eyes together like she’s hurting. ”He took it about like you’d expect. Why I definitely think you two need to talk, then the three of us talk. Sooner the better. And yes I like you, and I like him. But not enough to ruin your relationship with one another. So let’s just see how things go. I’m not gonna take part in anything that hurts that.”
She rubs her temples and looks around. The plaza must be getting packed, she could hear the hustle and bustle even back here in the private section. ”Can we go hop in the car and have it drop us off somewhere so we can slip back to Blockbuster now?” she asked as she picked up Duke and her backpack. ”I brought some clothes to stay over, if y’all are fine with it. And I wanna let Duke and Bear play.”
Duke’s fur felt pricklier than usual. Maybe give little guy a bath, too.
Mattie nodded. Yeah, back to Blockbuster I guess. I suppose I can't really put it off any longer."
In the car, Mattie was subdued, trying to think of what she was going to say to her brother, although she couldn't help but shoot occasional, furtive glances at Kayla - she was so beautiful. More than beautiful really more,.... divine. Trying to take her mind off things, she'd tried to introduce herself to Duke - he was so cute! So she'd reached forward with her hand held out for him to smell. It hadn't gone well though - He'd seemed scared of her and had backed up to Kayla for protection. For the remainder of the trip, he'd sat staring at her making her feel uncomfortable.
Back at the base, Mattie had first headed for her room to drop off her clothes - hanging her wet towel and swimsuit in the bathroom to dry - she could've just fanned them with some warm air, but there didn't seem much point. There wasn't any rush.
It hadn't taken long to find her brother - he was in the training room working up a sweat. For a few moments she'd stood watching him working out before she'd announced her presence with a cough.
"Hey." she'd said, nervously kicking her heels against the ground. "I... I guess we should talk."
Kayla didn’t try to interfere with Mattie going to talk with Rory. She was glad that they would begin working out their odd problem finally. Instead, she flopped on the couch and encouraged Duke and Bear to play with one another. But, she couldn’t help but notice that Rory was dropping the weights awfully hard, and Mattie was talking quite loud.
And why was someone just running water?
After a moment, she leaned back and raised her arms up over her eyes, trying to deal with this headache she was developing.
Rory hits the heavy bag with some hooks while circling, "I guess so," he replies pulling off his gloves and unwrapping his hands. "So, how've you been, you haven't seemed super talkative since the thing with Dread," he asks trying to delay the topic he assumes is the reason for this visit.
"Um. Yeah. I'm ok." Mattie replied. "I guess I've been a bit stand-offish since then, but. Yeah, I'm fine..." She paused uncomfortably, not sure of how to begin.
"So, uh, yeah, um, I've talked with Kayla and,.... she told me she's talked with you about,... about everything and,... Well, I guess I thought we should talk about it."
"By it I assume you mean her?" Rory responds with raised eyebrows. He doesn't want to have this conversation but knows he can't avoid it forever.
As she reached out towards her friend, Kylie could feel the building pressure within Kayla's mind. It wasn't the same as the migraines that sometimes spiked through her own skull, but some of the flavor of it seemed familiar nonetheless.
Gently she sent, "Kayla? Is now a good time to make certain that Nike hasn't left anything behind? Or just to talk?"
"Yeah, I mean her,.. us,.. the whole,... situation." Mattie replied, looking down to avoid her brother's eyes. "and I guess I need to start by saying,... I'm sorry." she looks up. "I'm really sorry. Its my fault that she broke it off with you, whatever she says about 'Nike'. I,... I've really tried not to,.. um,.. tried to stop my feelings for her. I've really tried. But,.. I don't know. I,... can't help it, and I can't blame anyone else for that I think. Everything I've done,... everything. I think they were all things I wanted to do. And,... and I don't think I can just stop feeling how I do."
she lapsed into silence.
"I was even looking at leaving the team and,.. I don't know,.. sining up with AEGIS or something so that I don't get in the way. She says I shouldn't but,... but I will, if that's what you want. If that's what I have to do for you, for you not to end up hating me, then I will. I'll leave, and I'll try to stay as far away as I can."
Kayla sat up, rubbing her temples. ”Yeah, I guess. But be easy...my head is killing me, and I’m a little stressed, as you can tell by what Rory and Mattie are talking about. I wish they’d keep it down, that really should be a private talk.”
As Mattie talks about her feelings, you can see Kayla beginning to blush.
With a depressurized pop, the noises disappeared. All of them.
"Something's wrong with your ears, Kayla. Anything you know of that would be supercharging your senses? That wasn't one of your parents abilities, was it? You can still hear just fine by the way. I just put a little mental block over noticing what you hear. Is that better?"
Of course. Any time I think I might be able to talk to my friend, something new has to come up. One more problem that I'm the only one to see.
She opened the door and floated in, a look of gentle concern precisely in place on her face.
Beyond the shrinking vortex, you can hear a distant voice say, ”They are present. She has already taken too much from our realm. Sever the tie completely. We shall look elsewhere.”
Kayla looks at you and says ”Psyche...what’s going on?”
"I don't know, Kayla, but I won't let it hurt you again. Does this sound anything like when Nike spoke to you?"
Kayla grits her teeth. ”No. But I recognize that voice. It was the voice that bossed her around...”
Kayla willed the Regalia to form, her own clothes magically vanishing as it does. ”And I’m going to kick it’s ass...” she says as she then begins to fly towards the rapidly closing vortex!
When she is about halfway there, the portal-like tear vanishes from sight! The moment it does, Kayla’s Regalia vanishes! She hovers there in her t-shirt and ripped jeans, a confused look on her face. She flies back over to Psyche and says ”I don’t get it...what’s going on?”
"Then it's probably an entity like the one that enthralled my church and abducted your grandmother. Something that hoped to use you like Nike did. I would assume something with the characteristics of Zeus, or perhaps Athena since the Greco-Roman mythos has come up a couple of times in reference to your heritage.
"Did you dismiss the regalia on purpose? Can you summon it back? It's the power that seems most connected to other beings. Especially the weaponry."
He sighs, and leans forward. "Brass tacks time. Did you pull the doors off the hinges at the Dawkins Research Facility? Did you have permission to be there? Think about that. 'Cause the judge will be."
"I did take those actions." And while there is as I hinted, a more esoteric path towards a Not Guilty verdict, I don't believe that it is a worthwhile one with the stakes as they are. I only mention this because if you were to discover that the prosecutor intended to press for imprisonment that calculus could shift.
Her mother glowered lightly as the conversation took a mental detour. "Something I should know?"
"We can discuss it later more fully, but not for now: Does a defense based upon justification have any merit? I can only imagine that the fact my teammate was in fact taken under their care for the reasons that I brought her there could only strengthen the idea that I had a credible fear for her survival. If I am likely to have approximately a year of probation in any case, I am inclined to attempt to be found innocent, even without any wilder explanations."
Mr. Turbeville's mustache twitches as he thinks for a while. He reaches a decision, swivels in his chair and puts his phone on speaker. Signaling for Psyche and her mother to be quiet, he punches in some numbers and gets a ring. The line is picked up with a cordial, "Jeffers."
"Hey, Tom. It's me."
"Turb! How's it going? How's your back?"
"I've got surgery in a month."
"Is that so? Well, I hope it all goes well. Bet you're anxious to get back out on the golf course."
Mr. Turbeville chuckles. "Yeah, but then I won't have any excuse."
The voice on the other line laughs. "Yeah. I assume you're calling about the Psyche case? You get the packet?"
"I did. I met with her and her mom, too. Nice girl."
"And? What'd they say about the offer?"
The defense attorney rubs his face. "Well, you know how these hero types are."
Mr. Jeffers' voice sounds confused. "Huh? What's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean, they see everything as some supervillain plot. Like you're going to pull the rug out from under them."
"Aw, jeeze. Give me a break. You know I wouldn't do that."
Mr. Turbeville glances over at Kylie and gives her a wink. "What can I say? They have a hard life. And a year probation? Maybe if someone had gotten hurt, I could see that."
There's an exasperated sigh on the other end. "Come on. She ripped the effing door off its hinges. I've got the Dawkins people breathing down my neck. But then I've got Captain-freaking-Stalwart calling me up and pushing for leniency! I'd come down more -- I'd love to -- but the feds don't like it when germ-central gets messed with."
"I feel for you Tom, but I've got to do right by my client. We're looking into a necessity defense."
There's a long pause. "Dammit, Turb," the prosecutor says eventually. "You know that's not going to go anywhere."
His thick mustache quirks into a smile. "I don't know. The DRF did accept the other girl in as a patient."
"Well, then you'd better call Captain Stalwart and tell him. He's going to have the mayor give Miss Ascher the Halcyon Star the day before the hearing. For that alien business last week. Pushing the case back for a full hearing is going to throw off his sense of dramatic irony."
Mr. Turbeville glances at Kylie, but doesn't say anything. He lets the silence stretch. Finally, Jeffers speaks again. "Can you talk to Miss Ascher and let her know I'm not some supervillain? Just talk her into the deal. No tricks, I promise. And don't tell her about the award. That's supposed to be a surprise."
"Well, about that..."
"She's still in your office, isn't she? Geezus, Turb! Why do you--?" There's a moment where some off-color language is muffled. Then he comes back on. "Hello, Ms. Ascher. Please consider the deal. And try to act surprised for Captain Stalwart. Turb, you'll let me know what she says? Dammit. Later."
Somewhat smugly, Mr. Turbeville cuts off the phone and swivels his chair to look at Kylie.
What does she do??
Kayla tries to make the armor appear again, but it doesn’t! She then looks at her hands, as but a look of surprise paints itself on her face making it clear she can’t manifest weapons anymore either!
”Psyche!?!? Something’s wrong! Is this happening here, or out in the real world too? Get us out of here so I can see!”
Kylie sat still for a long moment, rifling through the memories she'd borrowed for the meeting. Then she nodded, holding up fingers as she counted out her proposals, "My record will be sealed when I turn eighteen. And I'll plead No Contest instead of Guilty. Just in case Dawkins isn't happy with the outcome and decides to pursue civil means. Do you think you can arrange for those amendments to the deal?"
"And don't worry, I'm very good at feigning surprise when given a gift. I've had a lot of practice."
***
"Just a moment. I'm leaving your ears rerouted for now so you can focus though."
Kayla’s eyes snap open once Kylie lets them out of the mindscape. She immediately raises up and stands, looking down at her body and hands in a panic.
”It’s...it’s gone! I can’t...I can’t make them appear!”
"I had the same idea,leaving for AEGIS," Rory nods toward a brochure poking out of the side pocket of his gym bag, "but I really don't think anyone needs to leave the team. To be clear this isn't the first time I've thought about joining AEGIS, if I were to do something like that it wouldn't be because of either of you. Naturally I would need to clear up the missing power gloves issue, but that's neither here nor there. As far as things with Kayla go I'm still incredibly hurt by what went down, however, she wants to figure out what she wants so I am going to give her the space to do that, and I would advise you do the same."
Psyche nodded briskly. "That's probably a good thing. Out of all your powers its certainly the most suspect if you assume some of them are an external being's influence."
She concentrated for a moment and Kayla's original regalia appeared on top of her, but all in Psyche's color scheme of fierce purples and vivid pinks. "It's not easy to maintain this without impeding your movements, but if I didn't have to worry about my body and had just taken up shop in your mind, I'm certain it would be much simpler."
Kayla looks down at the fake armor in Psyche’s colors covering her body. She smiles weakly and sighs ”Yeah...thanks but no. I’d have to deal with too many questions. And I can only imagine what Angel would say.”
She sits down and crosses her legs, leaning her head back on the couch. ”Maybe it’s time for a new look altogether. Maybe we could have, like, a group spa day? Does Blockbuster’s computer have like, a hologram generator that we could use to like, design a new suit for me? Might be fun, right?”
She sits up a bit excitedly and adds ”Or we could do a shopping trip!”
Psyche's response was so immediate and strong that even her face moved involuntarily into a moue of displeasure.
"Kayla, I'm saying that this, plus a little cosmetic tweaking is how I would trick you if I were a parasitic entity. Not that it's a *good* idea."
Panic to laughing to.. spa day? Without even a flash of annoyance that I deafened her? Though it was a good idea.
"Kayla, don't take this the wrong way, but I think you need to slow down a little. We can design a new costume, we can spend time with the rest of the team; none of that is bad. But we just thirty seconds ago discovered that a mythical part of your legacy might just be a way for parasitic entities to try to seize control of you and your family.
"Don't you want to take a minute?"
She slid very slightly into Kayla's speech center to better modulate the volume she was speaking with. Even if she made Kayla a bit too quiet for now, while she was sitting there she'd read every word she planned to say regardless.
Kayla sighs and slumps down into the couch. ”I...I get it. I’m sorry. It’s just, between my mom and dad...and Dread...and Rory and Mattie...and now this and my head hurting...if I dwell on it too much...I just don’t think I can take it. I need a distraction, Kylie. If I go home, that’s all they are going to want to talk about. I’ve been...I don’t think I’ve gotten to just be me for years. I feel like...like I’ve just been a secret passenger on someone else’s years long ride...”
Mr. Turbeville nods. "That'll be fine. Your record gets sealed no matter what. That's automatic. And I think Jeffers will let you plead no contest. I'll check to see if that's a deal-breaker, but I doubt it. I'll give him a few days before I call him back; let him sweat a little." He quirks a lopsided smile. "Do you have any more questions?"
Mattie shifted uncomfortably. "I really am sorry for,... what happened." she said. "and that I to between you and she dumped you. Hurting you is the last thing I want to do. Really it is... I know you're hurting more than you're letting on and that it all makes everything difficult between us, between you and Kay, between everyone."
She paused. And,... yeah, I know she needs time to figure out what she wants, and I'm OK with that, obviously, but,... I know what I want. If she ends up choosing you, or someone else, or whatever, then I'll deal with it but,..." she lapsed into silence for a moment. "I guess I want to know how you feel about her how you really feel,... do you think you,.. Do you love her? Are in love with her?. Because,.... because, well,...
...I think I am."
Isaiah... studiously ignored the private conversations going on. But he didn't want to be sitting around doing nothing. So instead he sought out Gallowglass, who's absence had made her just about the only other person on the team *not* caught up in some kind of relationship triangle.
"Really? When did she really take control? I thought she was mostly just an influence at first?" Gradually Psyche muted the line of questions that sprung to the front of her brain.
"You don't have to go back to the Tower if you don't want to, Kayla. This is your home too." A thunderclap tore into the background of the link, and she continued on with her mouth-voice without acknowledging the sudden burst of emotion that had severed the link.
"I don't think I would get much out of the spa experience since I don't have skin anymore. If you need to do something else to de-stress, I would be happy to go shopping though. So long as we don't stay out too long for my drone to remain cloaked. I could stand to get out of here for a little while."
Rory rolls his eyes so hard his head tilts all the way back and looks like he is about to fall backwards, then with a groan he speaks, "Are... you... f~@%ing... kidding me?" He brings his head back looking at Mattie, "Mattie you kept apologizing and saying you're sorry but then you follow it up with the same shit that hurt me. Like what I am hearing from you is 'I'm sorry I played a role in your breakup but now that you're broken up it's cool that pursue your ex right?' And I'm not going to tell you what you can or can't do or who you can or can't date but this - this is some Jerry Springer shit." Rory grabs his bag off the ground and heads to leave, just before he exits he looks over his shoulder at Scorch, "I'm not really even that mad anymore, just disappointed," and with that he continues on his way.
Mattie shrank back under Rory's verbal assault, her eyes widening. She stood silent as Rory's words washed over her before he turned and stormed off.
For several minutes, Mattie stood, watching the empty space he'd just vacated as the tears began to stream.
"I told you I can't help how I feel,.." she started to say to the empty space.
He's right. Its wrong. Its my fault. Its ALL my fault. she thought to herself as her eyes settled on Rory's AEGIS brochure.....
Kayla smiles numbly at Psyche. She still felt bad for what had happened to her over her lack of control to Nike. And for everything else that has gone wrong in her life lately. She wished the Nobles would hurry up so she could find out how their talk went.
She looked at Psyche and said ”So...can you tell what is going on with my...everything? All my senses seem to be ramped up to eleven. Is there a way you can, like, whammy my head to let me control it somehow while we wait? If not, I think it’s going to drive me crazy.”
What did you expect. No one wants to talk to you about any of this. They'd all rather pretend it isn't happening. That I wasn't arrested for trying to save Her, that I didn't have my body stolen by fools who didn't trust me to fix what needed fixing. Even after I'd just rewritten reality to save everyone. Why would She care. Why would Kayla actually want to spend time with you instead of just needing your power?
The epidermis around her eyes gave a few twitches and contractions as she thought. "I don't know, Kayla. Probably something to do with your genetics. The absence of a possessing or influencing entity doesn't seem likely to enhance your senses. The wiser course though is probably to get used to them. I can give you a break from them though, when you need."
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Actually...I contacted him first. Because I felt frustrated and useless after getting kicked out of Mattie's mindscape. I was grasping at straws. It didn't matter, because he didn't help me at all.
When we were in Tartarus though, he someone texted me. Kayla was in my arms, and dying...he offered a way to save her from death by giving Dr. Dread the coordinates she needed. Considering that he could have told me where Kayla was days before, I didn't take him up on it. Though maybe that was his plan, to inspire me to infuse her with a seed of her power.
He figured that he'd covered almost everything. Except the part that scared him the most. I still (care/love/admire) you. I don't want you to lose that feeling for me. Even with your new body.
Shin was quiet for a couple of minutes before he spoke up again, trying to change the subject. "I think that I'd like to learn how to pilot Inquiry. Just in case - if you were to get shut off and we needed to make a hasty exit, knowing how to get everyone out of harm's way seems like a good idea."
"Okay, I don't want to lose you either, Shin." Her sending was hopeful, but it was floating on an undercurrent of dread. "I'm really glad to hear that's how it went with Dusk. I wish you hadn't reached out to him, but I'm glad you didn't dance on his strings." The dread intensified. "Could we take it slow? I felt very self conscious already in my previous body.
There's a sudden sense of relief from Shin as she asks about taking things slow. I think that's for the best. I've been too forward with you already. I feel like I've created bad karma for you and myself. I think...maybe we're both too young to do that kind of thing responsibly. His mind bristles a bit, Libido attempting to rebel. I don't see too much of a problem with the kissing though.
Rory bypasses his room and heads to exit Blockbuster. He acknowledges Psyche and Praetoria as he walks past the couch in the common area, "ladies, how are things..."
"Why?! It was something we both wanted to try. Just because I don't want to right now doesn't mean I was tricked or acting immoral! And kissing... Kissing's so complicated. Even if my tongue still feels the same, somehow, what if you hate my lips? Or I've got New Car breath? Where are you going to put your hands. I told you I want to go slower, but I don't want you to just fold them away like you're terrified to touch me!" b
***
Psyche's facial epidermis was still twitching, faintly but erratically, but it almost stopped when her lips curved into a perfectly warm smile as Rory walked by.
"We're fine, Rory. Oh, Kayla might have another inexplicable power with an unknown origin though. Something to watch out for. Never know what will happen next with those, but if it's-" going to Hell again "... It's sure to be interesting."
The sudden and unexpected response of Kylie alarmed Shin as Anxiety gripped him and held on. But then, that made him recognize that Kylie must have had her own Anxiety throttling her.
Which was why he stopped trying to explain, and grabbed both sides of her head and kissed her like they were both back on Kayla's vacation island. The pure joy of the act crystallized into the only emotion he felt for that moment. He had missed her touch - she had missed his touch. She was the one in need now, of reassurance.
I'm sorry I made you feel unwanted. I'm not afraid to touch you. I'm afraid you might not want to touch me.
Vantablack nails. Vantablack scar tissue. How much of Dusk's body had been taken by this power? He let Kylie in on these fears buried under Anxiety and Guilt, the pair needling him in the back of the neck.
Kayla sits up sharply when Rory enters. ”Hey. We are talking about going out and being normal teens for a while. Do some shopping. And I need some input from everyone later, it seems I’ve lost the Regalia. You’re gonna come with, right?”
She would have given almost anything for Shin's kiss to have felt the same. But her mouth was bone-dry, Why didn't I realize how dry it was?! her lips didn't have the same give, and instead of a warm, spreading tingle, his kiss was just pressure and humidity.
Still she kissed back hungrily, a light pulse keeping her hair from falling in between them as she curved her body towards his, never a thought given to his strange scars.
You are Psyche damnit! You've faced down so-called gods and demons, if you gave up when things didn't go your way, you'd be powerless and he'd be a wolfboy. You can figure out how to kiss your boyfriend!
He was already thinking of their other kisses so she let herself slide into those memories, feeling his warmth, a nervousness tinged with spangles of normal, human concerns, his arousal, a hunger kept carefully constrained...
It still wasn't the same, but it was good enough. It was close enough that she dared to peek at how he felt about this one.
***
Only her practiced control kept Kylie from whipping her head around to stare at Kayla. That *can't* be what he wants. Especially not if Kayla's going to invite Her too.
Losing his thoughts to the moment had the distinct advantage of pushing Anxiety and Guilt and every other personified emotion out of his mind. He knew it was still awkward, but that she was kissing back spurred him on because she wanted it as much as he did.
There wasn't any doubt in his mind that kissing her new body was different. But it was still exciting. His hands gliding down from her face to her neck, down her shoulders and alongside her back. Her lips were firmer, so he kissed harder, more eager to illicit those breathy sounds he remembered, but happy enough to get any positive reaction.
Finally, after a moment that stretched for dozens of his own heartbeats, he broke the kiss and held her close in his arms. "I would find a way to hold you even if you were only air," He found himself whispering without thinking. But the sentiment was there. Her body might be stiffer and heavier, but she was still Kylie inside. He couldn't stop loving her as long as his heart beated.
The dread in her link slowly ebbed away til it was almost overwhelmed by contentment and peace. "Okay. We can make it work. Just..." her face didn't move, but a bubble of happiness burst in his mind, "I missed us, Shin. I missed us so much." She didn't need the warmth, she didn't really 'feel' his skin, but she snuggled up against him nonetheless. "Just keep thinking beautiful thoughts."