Override

Erend had been spending more time with Aloy now that the world was fine again. Sort of. He enjoyed inviting her to hunts, or inviting himself along to something she was currently doing. Aloy didn't mind, however, she felt as if he was a bit... Over the top with his invitations.

People still needed help, and Aloy found herself doing things for people yet again. From collecting machine parts to tracking down robbers with the focus, it just didn't end. Erend was sweet though, offering to carry things when she went shopping for supplies or food in Meridian. It wasn't from the first meeting with him she had back at Mother's heart, but she learned to enjoy his company and respect him. He fought well, he could hold his own, even if he was a bit drunk at the moment.

Aloy helped hold him up as they swerved back and forth. They had worked together that day to catch a murderer, and caught him. The Sun king relied on both of the now, at least every now and again. Erend was celebrating at the tavern when she found him. Just in case no one saw her, Erend had called out to her so loudly, she got a few looks. True, he didn't drink as much as he used to, but it was a big case as the captain of the vanguard.

"Hey, Aloy. I have a question." He spoke up finally. Until then he had just hummed along a tune.

"What is it?"

"...Thanks. For putting up with me and my clumsy attempts." He sighed, looking down at her. It had been a while, that he found himself thinking about her a lot. Thinking how she was probably the bravest of them all. The vanguard that is, how she defeated everyone that had tried to block her way. By the sun god, she was beautiful. He figured at first he'd protect her like a sister, but recently... Maybe this attraction got his imagination a bit carried away. Nope. He pushed those thoughts of his right off the cliff.

"You're welcome?" She laughed, and shook her head. It didn't seem like much anything, but his attempts?

"What attempts? Trying to drink out the bar?"

"Ouch. No... No you got me wrong, I-" Wait, had she not even noticed? He never had much luck with women, as clumsy as he was with trying to woo them. He was now screaming in his head. He had been trying, and he meant trying hard to woo her. To court Aloy, and she hadn't noticed? By the gods.

Maybe he was too subtle? It wasn't his best, but still. He went silent. Aloy looked at him, his face looking a bit depressed now. Once they got to his own home, she opened the door and sat him down on the chair the was in front of the fireplace with a huff. All that metal on him only made it harder to do. "I think I remember something, to help with the drink. Might help you clear your head." Aloy said, looking around. To be honest, it was a bit awkward to be in his home with him drunk, not that she had broken into it like they did Olin's.

Maybe a bit nervous? She scoffed at that idea. She had nothing to be nervous about, she trusted Erend. Or maybe it had nothing to do with trust. All Mother help her, her thoughts were taking a dangerous turn. She was like a sister to him, and for the love of-sisters didn't think about kissing their brothers.

"Well, I'll see what I can find in the kitchen. Do you have any-" A hand grabbed hers, almost pulling her back off her feet. She looked at Erend, his face now dead serious.

"I'm no good at mincing words Aloy, so even though I'm drunk, I'm gonna tell you right out." Aloy's face became confused, but not for longer than his inhale of breath.

"I'll be honest, as much as I've tried to shove it out of my head, you just keep coming back in all..." He cleared his throat. "I've been trying to court you, and I admit, I'm not the best at that. But I've tried hard, to help you think of me in some way that could, I don't know, become more than just friends?"

Oh. Aloy's eyes grew wider. Oh. Her heart started to beat faster, and she resisted the urge to hide her face just because it felt warm now. He...wanted them to become lovers?

All that Rost had taught her about men flooded her mind. What they usually wanted in the bed... That had been an awkward talk, but she was so focused on winning the Proving when she was old enough, she didn't pay much attention to his warnings. Now? She wished she paid more attention.

Erend stood, surprisingly himself. A bold move considering he was weaving on the streets just minutes ago. "Aloy." He came closer to her, eyes locked onto hers.

Ok, so she had wondered about kissing him, maybe loving him in that way had already begun? She felt both fear and some form of excitement. Fear that he just wanted to bed her, not love her in another way. He came closer, when he suddenly leaned in. Aloy thought he was either going to fall and pass out, or kiss her. Neither. Erend held her close to him and whispered to her. "I've been trying to court you properly... Seeing as that didn't work I'll just say it. I love you." Aloy stopped breathing.

"And not like I loved Ersa as family, as a sister. I want to be with you, to share everything. Hunting, fighting off cultists, whatever you go through, I want to be there with you by your side. You're brave, strong and kind. I love everything about you." He let her go then, fearing he'd just see something on her face or in her eyes that she didn't think of him in that way.

She was silent for a few moments, searching his eyes. Erend was about to take a step back, when Aloy closed the distance and kissed him, making his heart skip a beat. He had either passed out and was dreaming this, or she did feel the same way. To hell with it, Erend thought. He could throw caution to the wind, and put his arms around her back, pulling her closer. When they broke the kiss, Aloy put her hand on the side of his face.

"If you mean all that you've just said...We can make this work, you and I." Erend slowly smiled, then kissed her back and lifting her up in the air to spin her around once, then set her back down before stumbling back. Right. Still drunk. Aloy let out a laugh as he fell to the floor, landing on his rump. "Sorry, forgot." Erend shook his head, closing his eyes to try and make the room stop spinning. Aloy sat down next to his head, smiling softly at him.

"You need to be careful." She told him, and he grabbed her arm, making her lean on top of him. "I've waited for this a long time Aloy, stay with me tonight?" Her chest pressed against hers, her face turned pink. "You need to sober up Erend." She sighed. She may want to be with him too, but not in this drunken state.

"Come on, up you go."She managed to yank him off the floor and they went to his bed where she helped him lay down. "I'll see you tomorrow outside the city... Then we can talk more, ok?" Aloy gave him one more kiss before standing and walking to the front door. Erend, though slightly disappointed she wouldn't sleep with him tonight, did know at this rate, he probably wouldn't remember their coupling anyways.

"Ok ok, see you in the morning..." Eyes closed again, Aloy bit her lip as she left, and hurried to her own place and went inside. She took in a deep breath. That was close, any longer and maybe her resolve might have been washed away with kisses and being against him. Tomorrow. Then they could talk more and maybe more...

Aloy smiled as she went to take a bath, then go to bed.