Author's Note:
This story contains potential spoilers for the Gravity Rush and Gravity Rush 2 games. So please, make sure you play the games and then come back to read it.
Also, for an added experience youtube 'storm sounds' while you're reading the story, it really inspired me when writing this. ~ Cor Caroli V
Sick Day
Torrential rain poured down from layers of black circling clouds that stretched across the entire horizon and enveloped Jirga Para Lhao and Hekseville in a shadowy darkness.
Kat sneezed and wiped her nose with a frozen hand as another cluster of icy raindrops pierced her skin. She focused her gravity powers to lift the last crate onto the back of the overloaded air boat.
It had been hours of this same repetitive gravity-lifting. Kat was exhausted. Her feline companion Dusty sat in a puddle beside her, seemingly unaffected by the pelting rain.
Barjoun, the delivery manager strapped and secured the last crate to the air boat, jumped down next to Kat and hastily patted her wet cold shoulder. He was also soaked from head to toe.
"Thanks again, Kat! I wouldn't of made this delivery on time if you hadn't helped!" Barjoun smiled gratefully, water dripping from his bearded chin. "If my second air boat hadn't crapped out in this weather, we could of had these crates transported twice as fast."
Words escaped Kat between cold breaths and chattering teeth, "Oh, it... it was... was nothing. It was just… just luck that I had almost fin..finished my patrol and… and saw your broken air boat in… Lei ...Lei Havana."
Although Kat slightly regretted helping Barjoun when she could have been at home by now eating donuts and Lhao skewers, she was just relieved they both could finally get out of this unrelenting rain.
Barjoun smiled one last time. "You're a life saviour, make sure you get home safe and warm up! I'm not sure how long this storm is going to last." And with that he hurried into his sputtering air boat and disappeared into the hazy, charcoal sky to finish his last delivery.
Kat sneezed and looked down at Dusty with tired red eyes. The steady rain had plastered her blonde hair to her neck and face. Her damp black one-piece clung to her skin. Her stomach growled with anticipation.
"Come on Dusty... let's stop by that donut shop in Vendecentre before we head home! I think we deserve it after having this kind of day!"
Dusty meowed beside her as Kat stiffly made her way to the edge of the air boat dock. The rain whirled around the pair in a complex, rhythmic dance.
Kat wondered how Raven's patrol of Hekseville went and if the blue-eyed girl looked as soaked as she was. She pictured Raven drenched head to toe, her long black and red hair looking like she had just stepped out of the shower and her exposed skin between her one-piece having little goosebumps. Kat inwardly shook her head with a small smile. If anything, Raven was the responsible one to avoid getting that wet and would surely scold Kat if she saw the red-eyed girl like this.
Still, Raven's pale skin and blue eyes would look so pretty in the rain… I wonder what it would be like to touch...
Dusty meowed again and Kat snapped out of it, instantly embarrassed. A tinge of red warmed her frozen cheeks. She had been standing at the edge of the dock, staring out at the stormy graphite sky, fantasizing. Rain continued to drip off her nose and chin.
Kat couldn't help but realize that lately she had been having more of these daydreams and confusing thoughts about Raven. Each time she did it caused a hard pulsing in her chest. She didn't quite understand how it was so hard to be around Raven without being awkward and flustered.
She needed to push these thoughts away for another time, standing out in the rain wasn't going to help with how tired, cold, and hungry she was.
Kat didn't hesitate any longer and stepped off the Lei Havana air boat landing, free-falling just like the droplets of rain that surrounded her before she activated her gravity powers towards Vendecentre.
Her stomach had a date with a creamy glazed-filled donut that she couldn't miss, even in this weather.
o x o
Thunder. It rumbled and echoed across the rolling azure sky. The wind picked up, growing more forceful and swirling the rain around in vortices between the floating islands.
Kat could see shingles creak and flap from the wind and rain on resident's rooftops as she crossed over Lei Colmosna. Shop keepers bustled to bring their produce, wears, tables and chairs inside and then lowered their heavy metal shop screens. People urgently opened large heavy tankards on their balconies and roofs for collecting rain water before retreating inside. Air boats were docked and roped down. Signs and trees swayed aggressively.
Kat landed in the market square to quickly restore her drained gravity power. The city's overhead speakers, attached randomly to sides of buildings, broadcasted their warning through the storm, "This is an announcement. Unusual environmental storm detected across Hekseville and Jirga Para Lhao. All residents must evacuate to the nearest shelter. I repeat…"
A large piece of shingling from a nearby roof loosened with a loud screech, thrashed in the wind, whizzed by Kat before it hurtled itself over the edge of the island.
Kat winced and stumbled. Her body was a frozen numbness, her head throbbed from the onslaught of pounding rain that hit it. Her forehead felt unnaturally hot against the rain. The wind caused her wet hair and scarf to whip around her wildly.
Dusty reappeared and tilted its head to the side, making it look quizzical.
"Dusty… something's wrong, I don't feel too good." Kat rubbed the stuff coming out of her nose against her sleeve. She guessed being tired, cold, and hungry for so long finally caught up to her.
"Ugh, Creators! I really wanted that donut before we headed home. But feeling like this and in this weather..." Kat moaned, thinking about its creamy-glazed insides never to be united with her mouth.
A frozen moment of contemplation passed.
With grim determination she looked out towards the wall of vicious storm that separated her from her precious craving. "Ah what the heck, I'm sure I'll be back to normal as soon as I get a taste of it! The stall better not be closed! No storm is going to stop me!"
An angry resolute bubbled in her and Kat lifted herself up, staggered forward a few steps before doing a Lunar style leap off the floating island's edge. The wind howled. The storm effortlessly swallowed the gravity shifter into its bitter embrace.
Instinctively, Kat knew that this direction would take her towards Vendecentre.
Raven would probably - no - definitely scold her for this if she found out.
o x o
The blue-eyed gravity shifter sheltered herself under the large apple advertisement that sat upon one of rooftops encircling downtown Vendecentre square. Her raven, Xii, was perched on the arrow that was lodged in the apple, stoic and unfazed by the current storm.
What had began as a slow pitter-patter against the roofs and windows from earlier in the morning had steadily built up to a hard steady downpour; the rain hitting the buildings and windows with sharp tings that fell down to the streets and raced along the gutters. It started to overwhelm the drains.
Raven scanned freedom square and pushed her damp long wavy hair back with one hand, satisfied for the moment. She had opened the last of the water tankards on the Vendecentre rooftops, while reminding residents to stay inside over the broadcasts.
Only a few residents remained outside, each hurrying to the safety and warmth of their homes. The robotic grigos were no where to be seen.
Raven spoke quietly, "I guess this means I'm all done my duties for today. Kat's probably been at home for awhile now, eating her handfuls of Lhao skewers." An image of the Gravity Queen sprawled out lazily on her bed wolfing down three juicy Lhao skewers at once filled her mind. Raven inwardly cringed at the very real possibility in which that scenario was happening right now.
Raven took a long, deep breath and hesitantly contemplated if she should go and visit the Gravity Queen. However, lately, Raven noticed that Kat had been acting strangely towards her. When questioned about anything, Kat only gave her short, curt answers instead of her usual long drawn out banter on subjects. She had stopped teasing Raven and, instead, found quick excuses to leave, either to go on patrol or to talk to Lisa or Syd about an important matter.
What did I do to make Kat so upset at me? Raven frowned, finding no obvious answer to her question.
Unless Raven went over there now and confronted her about it, the dark-haired girl didn't know if the issue would clear up on its own.
Plus, she wouldn't mind stealing a delicious skewer or two from the other shifter.
Glowing blue, she jumped up and turned from the square. Raven focused her personal gravity so that the falling rain and wind seemed to hit an invisible spherical barrier around her. She felt her body go weightless and she let gravity pull her feet- first towards the outermost building that had a veranda and theatre type set-up so that citizens could watch a giant monitor the government had installed for broadcasts.
Raven landed between swaying trees and grabbed onto the railing. Her blue-eyes gazed towards the direction of Jirga Para Lhao. Dark, ominous clouds seemed to be intensified in that area and flashes of white light interrupted its dark sky. The fierce storm made it difficult to see any sort of outline of a floating island in the distance.
Raven reflected that Kat had the harder patrolling job today as the Jirga Para Lhao region was wider and more expansive with all the numerous floating islands and their different levels. A sinking feeling nestled deep in her chest as she worried about the many possibilities the blonde-haired girl may have gotten herself into. Raven knew from experience that the free-spirited and optimistic Gravity Queen had a knack for helping citizens out with random jobs and in the oddest of circumstances.
Even in a storm, Kat would help whoever was in need.
Mentally kicking herself for always thinking of the worst, Raven was just about to turn her gaze away from the stormy abyss when a slight faintness of something crimson caught her attention.
A small burning light emerged from a dark sea of violent wind and rain.
Raven's piercing blue eyes narrowed and she instinctively started to track the red projectiles flight path. The sounds of wind and rain around her seemed to minimize as she focused on the small being shooting towards her.
Time slowed. Her blood started to pulse hard in her head and chest. Her breath stopped. Her fingers tightened around the railing and her hair whipped aggressively behind her. Raven's usual icy detached demeanour showed signs of cracking.
What is she doing thinking she can be shifting through that?! Is she that careless about her own well-being... If she thinks she's going to sneak this past me then she has another thing coming! Regardless of how Kat's actions were towards her recently, Raven's thoughts were irrationally angry.
Kat's crimson aura staggered in the wind as she kept coming closer and closer to Vendecentre. Raven could vaguely make out Kat's form. The shifter's head was tucked into her chest, her face was obscured by wet blonde hair, and her arms hugged tightly around her bent knees.
Something was wrong with Kat and it caused a sudden sharp, painful stab somewhere deep inside Raven.
Unconsciously, Raven's body turned a dark ethereal sapphire and without hestiation she jumped off the building and directed her gravity towards Kat. Her heart beat louder and faster.
Kat's shifting course was arching down towards a small corner plaza of shops and a train entrance without any deceleration for a smooth landing. Although Kat had trained her body to take hard impacts, Raven knew Kat would still feel the soreness of a rough landing, days after, even if she didn't say it.
A streak of dark sapphire cut through the storm like a swinging blade.
Raven, being a faster gravity shifter than Kat, caught up behind Kat's tail, their auras started to merge together as lamp posts, trees and signs whizzed past them in a daze. Raven wrapped her arms around Kat's cold, wet body just in time as Raven dug her heels into a sea of wet tiles. A long trail of up-rooted cobblestones and debris formed on one of Vendecentre's lower levels as their speeds were slowed and halted. Their gravity powers extinguished.
The rain drummed around them in a hard rhythmic, isolated beat.
Raven looked down at Kat, fear and worry etched on her face as she held the Gravity Queen in her arms. Kat shivered uncontrollably in a hot and cold mess, her eyes closed and her hands clenched into tight fists around her body. Raven could feel Kat's body frozen to the touch. Tiny ice flakes covered the ends of her clothes.
A weak voice uttered out of Kat, "Help me…please..."
o x o
Kat awoke feverishly in her pipe house. She was in her bed, her sheets encircled her like a warm hug. A damp, wet cloth covered her forehead.
Kat looked wearily around the room. Candles burned brightly from her book shelf, side table, and overhanging chandelier, which enveloped her small drainage pipe in a warm, ambient glow. A large kettle was being heated on her single-burner hot plate on the circular rug. Dusty was curled up in his basket on the floor as Raven's bird nestled on one of the rocking chair handles.
Looking past the animals, Kat saw Raven push her entrance sheet a bit to the side. She was wringing something out, her arms stretched outside the pipe. The sounds of the raging storm heard past Raven continued to threaten into the darkening night.
"Raven… what happened? How did I get here?" Kat asked, weakly, as she tried to pull herself upright in the bed but failed.
Raven looked back, startled that the blonde-haired girl had awoken. At once, Raven made her way to Kat, putting the black cloth she had been wringing out down on the small desk.
"Kat… I found you in Vendecentre, chilled to the bone. You were shivering and really out of it... so I brought you home." Raven said slowly, as she sat on the bed next to Kat and studied her pale, moistened face.
"Oh… you didn't have to do that Raven." Kat said, sheepishly.
"Yes I did, everyone in Hekseville was already indoors, protecting themselves from this storm." Raven continued, narrowing her penetrating blue eyes down at Kat. "What were you thinking trying to cross that storm? Why weren't you already at home Kat? A patrol shouldn't have taken you that long even in this rain."
"Ah.. ha, well you see," Kat's cheeks and forehead started to burn and she felt her body ache with chills, "…you see, I was helping Barjoun with moving some crates. I saw one of his delivery air boats broken in the rain over in Lei Havana." Kat sneezed. "I just didn't think it would take that long, but there were more crates than I had anticipated. I just couldn't leave him to do it on his own, Raven... " Kat's voice fell silent.
A long, delicate pause came between them. Both had realized that this conversation was the most they had said to each other in weeks.
The candles flickered and a low thunderous rumble was heard outside.
Kat kept her eyes down, her heart pounded in her chest from Raven sitting so close to her… on her bed, analyzing her. Her hands balled up beside her. Her fever was intermittently subdued. It was so difficult to meet Raven's eyes.
Why was it so difficult?
"I kinda knew you would get yourself into some sort of trouble like that." Raven murmured, amused, and let out a soft, pent-up sigh.
Just then, Kat's stomach let out a slow growl. The blonde-haired girl tried to recoil into her bed, embarrassed that her gut would make such a noise at this moment. Raven unleashed a rare small smile, which caused Kat's chest to tie into knots.
"How about I make you some food?" Raven asked evenly, as she got up from the bed and began to look around for some type of edible item that she could cook up. A moment of searching yielded only a half-filled jar of small pretzels lying under Kat's bed amongst a clutter of empty bottles and various trinkets.
Kat let out a mortified, apologetic half-hearted laugh. "Sorry Raven, I haven't had time lately to pick up food from the market. Or the money… And… I don't need you to cook for me when I have these perfectly appetizing pretzels to eat…" Kat lied, as she hoped Raven would be convinced.
"No." Raven said, bluntly. She looked seriously over at the Gravity Queen. A spark of stubbornness blanketed Raven's features. "You're sick Kat, so please for once in your life let other people help you…"
Kat didn't know what to say. Neither did she have the energy to come up with an argument as another wave of fever caused her eyelids to droop and her clammy body to go limp. Kat felt hot, cornered and naked under the sheets.
"I'm going to see if there are any Auldnoir shops open at this time and in this weather." Raven strategized, then recollected, "I think I remember Syd saying that there was a shop open 24 hours on one of the lower levels not far from your place."
Raven retreated to the pipe's entrance. Knowingly, Raven's otherworldly bird had perked up from its resting spot and had hopped onto the dark-haired girls' shoulder. Raven glanced back at Kat.
Kat's head tossed feverishly back and forth. "No Raven, please... don't go... it's too dangerous and I…" Kat's plea was cut short by Raven.
"Don't worry, I won't be long. Just focus on getting better." And with a quick swish of the entrance sheet Raven had shifted into the pouring rain.
Kat let out an extended, exasperated, dejected moan.
Today had not gone as she smoothly as she had planned. First, the weather, then her donut run failure, followed by this cold and, now, Raven having to take care of her. Kat couldn't think of anything worse than having Raven see her like this. All sweaty and gross. It made Kat's heart hurt.
The Gravity Queen meekly brushed sweat off her brow before putting her arm under the covers to rest on her bare, clammy stomach. She really did feel naked and exposed under these sheets.
Wait a second…
Kat panicked, her hand searched for a trace of her black one-piece on her body.
Am I naked?
Kat wondered frantically and looked towards the wet black cloth that Raven had put down on the desk earlier. Next to it, her gold elastic framing, which held down her clothing, rested.
A slow, deep shade of crimson hue crept up her face, a shade not even a fever could disguise.
Dusty shuffled around, picked himself up and found a comfortable position to rest again as he preceded to ignore Kat's mortified shrill.
o x o
It didn't take long for Raven to find the shop that Syd had mentioned.
The colossal inner lower levels of Auldnoir were relatively sheltered from the turbulent wind due to its multitude of residential layers packed tightly together. Raven's route was illuminated by a thousand lights that shone brilliantly out of stacked windows against the stormy darkness. However, these lower layers amassed waterfalls of rain as it cascaded down the building's sides, flooded the paths, and continued down further to fall off the attached island's massive girder, structural beams.
Raven expended more gravity power to sustain her invisible, spherical umbrella that deflected the avalanche of rain off her body. She shifted up to the level where Aujean and Eugie's house used to be before a gravity storm destroyed it a long time ago.
Although, Raven would witness Kat frequently argue with Aujean that she had almost saved it.
The shop was nestled within a pedway tunnel that connected two adjacent lower-level residential sectors, making it reasonably concealed from the destructive weather. It had a plain white door and two brightly lit caged windows on its right side. A red neon sign, which stated it was a 24-hour shop, was bolted above its door.
Raven released her gravity power. Xii reappeared, perched on the sign, and watched as Raven went inside.
The door chimed softly. The air was filled with different aromas of herbs and spices. Circular lanterns hung in columns across the room in a warming, colourful orientation. There were two rows of dark green produce displayed and a long smoky grill in the back with someone cooking meat on it. A wall of crated bottles was stacked on top of each other at the side. People sat in front of the grill around wooden tables, laughing and enjoying large bowls of pork, vegetables, and broth.
Raven's mouth watered as she approached. She thought the old man that cooked at the grill looked uncannily similar to Gade the Creator, except this man was much shorter and rounder with large, dark circular glasses that covered his face.
"Well hello shifter what brings you in from this awful weather?" The old man recognized the famous Hekseville saviour instantly and radiated a bubbly friendliness.
Then the others at the table glanced over at the beautiful dark-haired girl, some awe-struck, while others excitedly interrupted each others conversation to barrage Raven with praise and questions.
"Oh wow, Raven! I can't believe you're here -"
"Thank-you for saving our city and destroying that monstrous Nevi like it was nothing -"
"You and Kat really are something-"
"Isn't this storm crazy-"
"What's it like using using your gravity powers-"
Raven took an self-conscious and uncomfortable step back and wondered where to begin. The popularity that came with being a gravity shifter still seemed unnatural to her. Kat, on the other hand, took it in stride, and would of answered them with as much thrill and enthusiasm as they gave.
Before Raven could reply, the cook cleared his throat loudly and waved his grilling tongs at them, "Now now that's not how my customers get treated here. If you guys keep this up, there won't be any extra pieces of meat in your next meals." His bubbly voice had an undertone of rebuke. The barrage of voices protested and then subsided. The people retreated back to their chairs, grudgingly, but they continued to discreetly watch the two. Raven couldn't help but feel a bit relieved.
"Now what can I get you?" The cook returned to his normal exuberance and smiled at Raven.
"I came to pick up a few supplies for stew." Raven said, as she regained her composure.
To speed things up Raven gestured to the people's dishes. "I'll take what's in their bowls. It smells delicious."
"Of course, their bowls have a blend of Jirga Para Lhao spices that I recently got in." He opened a brown bag, started putting ingredients in, and chuckled. "... these spices might have a small aphrodisiac effect but it wears off quite quickly. The meat is grilled pork, lightly salted and seasoned. I also put in a bunch of home-grown vegetables. They're soft and savoury if you cook them in the broth first." The old man was clearly passionate about his recipe.
Raven's stomach turned over. She didn't know how starved she was until now. If Kat was standing next to her, the Gravity Queen would be a giddy, drooling mess before the man had finished his speech. The cook was about to explain his intricate grilling method when the door chimed and a familiar voice filled the shop.
"Raven? Fancy seeing you in a place like this! Market stall food not agreeing with you." Syd bantered playfully. He was drenched; his helmet, shirt and jeans dripping wet as he moved and picked up a crate of wine bottles. "I guess with this monsoon outside everyones closed up shop... except for good ol' Albin."
Syd gestured to the cook, who returned Syd's comment with a light chuckle.
Raven eyed the policeman and his wine as he approached. "I could say the same to you. Aren't you suppose to be in Banga helping Lisa and Cecei with council business."
Syd waved his free hand in the air, his laid back attitude in full force. "Yes, and meetings this late into the evening call for precious wine. Believe me, discussions on government mergers between Jirga Para Lhao and Hekseville get more interesting after a glass or two."
Raven let out an irritated, icy exhale. "So you came all the way here from Banga in this crazy storm to get wine…"
"Just as you did to get food." Syd countered slyly. "I'm surprised the Gravity Queen isn't with you. She isn't the type to pass on a late-night food run." He placed a few small gems down on the counter. Albin finished with his bag full of ingredients and handed it over to Raven.
Raven hugged the bag to her chest, her voice quiet as she spoke, "I'm actually here to get food for Kat. She got sick from staying out in the rain all day and I don't think she's eaten for awhile."
A flash of worry crossed Syd's eyes before they returned back to his normal, mischievous self, "Well, it's good that she has you to take care of her. I'm sure she'll really appreciate having you close by." He gave Raven a quick wink and playful push. Confused, Raven reddened despite herself. She wasn't sure what to say to that but her heart quickened.
Syd continued, "I'd stop over there but Lisa would have my head if I took any more time away from work. Please promise me you'll stay with her until she feels better, okay Raven?"
Raven nodded. She reached down to her belt to take out a few gems but Albin waved his head and hand in a polite dismissiveness. Albin proudly stated, "Keep it as a sign of appreciation for what you and the Gravity Queen do for our city... Also, I threw in some complementary goodies for snacks." He chuckled again.
Raven thanked Albin, graciously. She and Syd said their good-byes to the old man as the table of people watching them looked dismayed to see the famous shifter go. They left the shop where the storm welcomed them with a loud thunderous clap.
Syd went over to his parked air scooter and placed his wine crate down along the feet area. He put his goggles down over his eyes and started his machine. He turned back to Raven as if he had remembered something important.
"Oh Raven, Misai's been monitoring the storm's weather pattern and it looks like it's not going to be stopping for the next day or two. Make sure you and Kat stay safe and if the two of you get into any sort of trouble just use the walkie-talkie Kat keeps around. It has a direct link with mine." He patted the walkie-talkie pouch at his belt.
Raven nodded. She watched as Syd maneuvered his air bike towards the opposite end of the tunnel that Raven was heading. Outside the passageway the heavy rain beat itself against the cold, wet pavement.
"Are you sure you're going to make it back to Banga in one piece?" Raven asked brazenly.
Syd cocked his head and laughed, "It would take a lot more than wind and rain to get rid of me, Raven!"
And with that he sped down the pedway and disappeared into the tempestuous night.
o x o
With her grocery bag in hand, Raven shifted and landed on Kat's steps outside. For some reason a confused, small nervousness invaded her emotions. She hesitated for a second and took a long deep breath to dismiss it. She pushed the soaked entrance sheet to the side and went in.
Inside, everything was the same as she had left it. The candles continued to burn, if only a bit more melted. Dusty lay curled up in his basket fast asleep. Raven's bird had reappeared and resumed its spot on the rocking chair. The water kettle on the hot plate had warmed the small room as it kept the encroaching coldness outside at bay.
Raven put the grocery bag down and made her way to the bed.
Kat rested in a feverish unconsciousness. Her cute face was covered in a faintly lit, glistening sweat. Her golden hair encircled around her head like a crown. Her hands lay lifelessly on the bedsheets. Raven took one of Kat's cold hands and entwined her fingers with it.
Raven's heart sank. The flamboyant and head strong Gravity Queen that she was used to seeing now looked so unguarded, fragile and delicate like a porcelain doll. She had never seen Kat like this before. Before they were friends, Raven was taken aback by Kat's strong-will and self-assertive attitude… however now, Raven felt invigorated by Kat's unfaltering determination. Kat never wavered on her opinions when she so strongly felt that it was the right thing to do. It was intoxicating compared to Raven's own indifferent and levelheaded nature.
Raven's bright blue eyes studied Kat's expression. Kat looked to be in a stern, pained meditation as if she were fighting away invisible demons. Knots turned inside Raven's stomach. She couldn't help Kat in this fight, the two of them together always became unstoppable against any enemy that they encountered.
Almost as if they were of one mind and body sometimes...
That's why Raven didn't want to admit to herself that when Kat started to become distant with her lately it had hurt. It had really hurt her. Raven thought she knew Kat well enough by now to know what she was thinking… what she was feeling.
What happened, Kat, to make you push yourself away from me like that? What did I say or... what did I do?
Kat stirred and Raven released her hand, embarrassed.
What in Creators am I doing? I'm acting like I'm expecting her to answer me right now when I should be helping her.
Raven released a low groan. She felt selfish and she didn't like it.
Raven rose from the bed and went to the bag with all the ingredients Albin had given her. The extra complementary goodies he had threw in were a few apples and cookies, which made Raven inwardly smile. She rummaged through Kat's side cupboard and found a small pot and spoon. She used the water from the kettle to start a broth and slowly added each ingredient in until it was a bubbling concoction of stew. Raven lifted the pot off the hot plate and tasted its deliciousness.
Returning to Kat's side with stew in hand, Raven gently shook Kat's shoulder.
The Gravity Queen fidgeted. She let out multiple small, painful moans until she slowly opened her transfixing crimson eyes. Raven, unknowingly, held her breath.
"Raven… you came back." Kat smiled weakly.
"Of course I came back, silly." Raven murmured, then said a little bit more confidently. "I made you some stew that I want you to eat."
"Oh perfect… you know I love food." Kat tried to joke. She attempted to raise her arm but she couldn't find the strength to lift it. "Raven, I don't think I can move."
"That's okay, I'll feed it to you." Raven said unusually gently and raised her spoon towards the blonde-haired girl's soft lips. Kat seemed to shy away briefly but relaxed once she felt the hot liquid enter her body.
Time slowed. The world around them faded from existence and the only thing that mattered at that moment were the small repeated movements Raven's spoon made between the two girls as they shared the stew. And for them, right now, that was all they needed.
Once the pot of stew was finished, Raven set it down on the side table.
"Thank you Raven… I feel better." Kat breathed tiredly. She fought to keep her eyes open but her energy was fatigued from eating. Kat closed her eyes and slumbered more peacefully than before.
Raven continued to stare at Kat for some time with her penetrating blue eyes, transfixed. The only indication that an outside world existed were the distant sounds of the coursing rain and whispering gusts of wind.
Kat, even in sickness, you're an indescribable beauty.
Something inside Raven became electric and it felt like her heart had hurtled itself through the sky like a meteor.
The candles flickered and it caused their shadows to dance along the drainage pipe walls.
Raven leaned her head down, closer to Kats. Her thoughts competed against each other as if she were duelling with another version of herself.
You always wanted to protect her.
She's never needed your protection.
Raven remembered holding Kat in the rain. Fear and tension taking over.
You know she's stronger without you.
But she makes me stronger...
Raven's hand touched Kat's, their fingers entwined.
You always sacrificed more for her than she did for you.
We've both sacrificed just as much, that's why we're like this. This is why we're broken.
Their lips were so close to touching. Gravity pushed her down. Raven's heart pulsated. Her breath wavered against Kat's skin.
Do you remember, Sachya? This other version of herself echoed, then faded and disappeared from her mind.
Raven kissed Kat's soft, warm lips and everything instantly felt familiar and right in this world. Everything seemed to make sense like things were falling into place where they were supposed to. Her kiss lingered and she tenderly brought her hand up to Kat's burning cheek. Her black nail polish contrasted against Kat's pale, olive skin. Raven's long black and red hair fell in waves around them.
The kiss seemed to last forever but at the same time seemed to be no more than a few seconds.
Raven released her kiss. She looked down at the Gravity Queen's slumbering form and bit into her lip.
What did I just do?
Raven's slow realization caused an increasingly bright red shade to creep onto her face and chest. Her usual calm, icy facade had broken into a millions pieces.
Suddenly, a barely audible whimper broke through Kat's feverish sleep."Sachya, I'm so cold…" Her voice was unaware, in a dreamy haze.
Raven shot back, horrified. Her blue eyes flickered over Kat as if expecting her limp body to spring to life.
Kat continued to mumble distantly in her sleep for Sachya.
Raven had never felt so conflicted in her life. Half of her wanted to terrifyingly shift away while the other half wanted to so badly embrace and reassure Kat.
Raven swallowed and half-fearlessly, half-timidly acted. She slid her body next to Kat on the bed, one arm tucked under her head while the other wrapped itself around Kat's waist on top of the bed sheet. The Gravity Queen seemed to settle down because Kat's head nestled into Raven's half-moon tattoo just above her breasts.
Raven's body was rigid. She knew all too well that Kat's naked body was pressing itself against hers. Raven had been the one to take off Kat's soaked and icy clothes in order to prevent the Gravity Queen from freezing to death…a sort of survival instinct, but now an odd, carnal desire had started to take over her.
Raven huffed and forcibly pushed her perversive thoughts back down inside of her. In the morning, she would have to act like nothing had happened, that nothing had changed. To her, it was the most logical action to take.
But her kiss and her thoughts lingered in the back of her mind.
Outside the drainage pipe, the thunder rumbled and rolled and the rain persisted without abandon.
It was going to be a long sleepless night.
Continued in Chapter 2...
Thanks for reading :) This story will be 3 chapters long and we'll be delving more into Kat and Raven's emotions next... with a few cute moments in between.
I have to give a big shout-out to Arcturius' story "Girls of a Feather Purr Together" for the inspiration. I'm hoping more people will post Kat/Raven stories, so, in the mean time, I thought I'd give it a go. ~ Cor Caroli V
Chapter 2 update - 98% done, just making minor changes, should be up soon! (Mar 29/17)