Rendezvous at Phoenix Mountian

She blushed in embarrassment as he answered her first question, biting her lip and averting her eyes. He'd saved her life and had only needed to because she was too weak to handle a fight on her own... Pathetic. Then came his answer to her second question, at which she bristled and her gaze snapped back to meet his as she wore a crooked frown and furrowed her brows. There was something she didn't want to admit; he was right. She wouldn't have made it without him and that fact added a layer onto her dissapointment in herself. All of this was a fluke, random good luck. Had she not ran into him on this mountain, she'd probably be dead right then. Katherine sighed and held her head in her hands as she listened to his final comment. Her confusion played at the forefront of her thoughts and curiosity was choking her like a sob stuck in her throat.

"I don't... understand," she mumbled and then looked up to meet his eyes with such a serious expression it could have turned the air stale. "Why? Why do you want to make sure I leave this place safe? Why do you care? I-I'm not meaning this to come off as ungrateful or rude or anything of the sort, I just... don't get it. We don't know each other, there's nothing that binds us together other than this... this job that we both happened to take. Sure, we've made fast friends of each other, but in my book that's trivial. We'll probably never see each other after this and-" She stopped herself and ran a hand back through her hair. "Fuck... I'm rambling." She forcefully raked her hands over her face and groaned. The worst part about all of this for her was that she did want to see him again. Normally she'd work with people and then go her own way without looking back, but there was something about him that drew her to him like a moth to a brightly burning flame. And she honestly had no idea what it was. Sure, she found him attractive and his heroics added to that attraction, but that shouldn't make her grow attached so quickly. She had this want... to impress him, make him like her, tie them together somehow so saying "see you around" didn't turn out to be a lie like it always did. And it irritated her. It was a feeling that shouldn't have developed in the first place and yet it had.

Katherine would peek up at him then, an odd blush plaguing her cheeks and her lips pressed into a straight line.

She sat stiffly and listened wordlessly, her lips pressed hard and her gaze cast down again. For all that he said, her unbeating heart grew warm and tears welled inexplicably in her eyes, making her blink harshly to clear them but failing miserably. Instead they made their way down her cheeks and left wet tracks for the rest to follow, some even catching and dripping from the tip of her nose and her chin. She did try her best to keep quiet, but even the strongest effort couldn't stop her sniffling. Katherine really didn't know what to say, how to respond. She was shocked into silence, the concept he represented being one she couldn't fathom. And that on it's own was just... depressing. She'd look up again to meet his eyes, but he was turned to observe outside the tent. Then he looked back at her and smiled, an action so polar to her own expression that it hurt. She swallowed as he finished talking and slowly, as what she planned to do came together in her head, shifted her feet and stood. She hesitated for a moment, but then made her way with quick stride to his side of the fire to kneel and hug him abruptly. Her arms wrapped tightly around his waist and her cheek pressed into his chest. And in response to his last question, she said: "This is fine."

She felt him hesitate and then return her gesture. A warm flood of calm and ease washed over her, things she hadn't felt in a long time, and her livelyhood was regained within seconds. As soon as she finished healing, she withdrew and looked up at him with a soft smile. "It has been... such a long time since anyone took consideration for my wellbeing. I cannot even begin to explain to you how much all of this means to me, Aemon." She took a breath and looked out behind him, into the cave that was now empty of threats thanks to him. "I do not trust easily and betrayal is nothing new to me, in this life or my last, but... I'd dare say that you've earned it today." She stood. "I'm ready to leave now if you are. After we've parted and if we happen to cross paths again, I will not hesitate to do you endless favors. Chemistry like this is rare and I'd be a fool to pass up another opportunity to work with you."

[END]