"Please Wanda, let me carry that." I shake my head in protest. Ian was right though, this box was too heavy, and my body screamed for me to let Ian take the box.
Instead of agreeing, a feeble and breathless answer comes out, "I have it Ian, and anyways you have your own boxes you're carrying. It's only a few more feet till the storage cave."
Ian's face is masked with concern, and I try to smile to reassure him. I can feel it turn into more of a wince. It doesn't matter anyways we're almost already at the storage cave. Ian sets his box down on the floor and quickly grabs mine, lifting it like it's air. Of course to him it probably only feels like air. He sets on top of his box while I take the time to shake out the muscles in my arms.
"No more unloading for you."
"What? I can unload more." my voice squeaked.
Ian smirks at the noise before shaking his head "there's only two loads left, one of the other guys who didn't go on the raid will get it. You're tired. Let's go back to our room." He tried to grasp my hand but I shifted it behind me.
"I'm not tired" I reply indigently.
Ian looks at me in the dim light, and I can see him rolling his eyes, "fine I'm tired. Will you like to come with me?"
He holds his hand out to me and slowly I put my small hand in his big one. Ian's smiles and I feel almost like I'm glowing on the inside. I make him smile like that, and no one else can.
Ian leads me back to our room even though by now I could do it in my sleep. A few people see us pass, the one's waiting up for the raiders, the ones who wanted to make sure we made it back in one piece. I wave to those who are my friends whom we pass.
The raid was the longest one that we had ever been on. Weeks and weeks were spent on the raid. Jared was the person in charge. Where ever Jared went Mel was not far behind. Ian went to as our own personal joke to tether me to the world. Sunny did not want to go and Kyle did not feel overly comfortable with leaving Sunny alone at the caves. My thoughts drift over the past few weeks and raid itself. Not once was I recognized now the name I used recognized. I was always worried that the name I gave would inform the other souls of my "native" lifestyle.
Before I realize it we're back at our room. Ian drops my hand quickly and moves the red door out of the way. He allows me to enter and then closes the door again. We both change quickly into our sleeping clothes before laying on the bed, a single mattress on the floor. Ian wraps his arms around me and pulls me closer to his chest. My eyes close softly. I was on the brink of sleep and I can feel Ian's lips ghosting over my skin. He kisses my neck gently, right in the middle of my insertion scar. The feeling is electric. My body jerks slightly and my eyes fly open.
I can feel Ian smile against my skin. I shift in his hold so I can better face him. Ian lightly runs his arm that is still around me up and down my back. I get lost in his eyes. They're as dark as the sky outside, but memorizing just the same. I see a flash of a smile on Ian's face. "I love you" he whispers.
"I love you too." His face breaks into the biggest smile I've seen since being back in the caves. My head is getting tired and I can feel myself drifting. The feel of the bed that we've been away from for weeks and the feel of Ian holding my to his chest makes me more tired than I thought I was.
"Sleep" he whispers. And I feel myself drift further until I slept.
I'm groggy when I wake, and I know that I have been asleep for a long time and for once that I am well rested. If I strain my ears I can hear a whispered conversation from the corner of the room. I crack an eye open and am startled to see that it is bright in the room. I sit up fully and see that it is Ian and Jamie in the corner talking I try my best to glare at them.
"Aw Wanda, we didn't mean to wake you." Jamie crawls into the bed next to me and hugs me.
"You should have woken me up." I reply. I look at the sky through the cracks in the ceiling. The sun is high in the sky, it must be at least lunch time.
"You needed the sleep." Ian replies.
Before I can respond Jamie grabs my hand and pulls my attention his way. "Sorry Wanda, but you're awake now. Want to go eat lunch with me?" he bounces slightly in excitement. I think we're having sandwiches with the stuff you guys got on the last raid. His smile is infectious and I feel my lips turn up in a grin.
"Sure Jamie. Let me get dress."
Jamie smiles bigger and bounds out of the room and I get ready Ian looks at me when I finish brushing my hair. He leans closer and his lips graze mine. "You're so beautiful Wanderer."
My whole body flushes crimson, and I stare at the ground. I feel fingers lift my chin and when I look up I float in a sea of brilliant sapphire. "I love you my Wanderer."
My heart's beating in my chest at a million beats per second and I feel my breathing hitch. My mouth opens and closes wordlessly a few times. No matter how many times Ian says it, it surprises me. "I love you too"
He smiles and puts my hand in his before leading my out of the room. Jamie smiles at me when he sees me exit and grabs my other hand. Together we all walk to the kitchens.
I do not own The Host although I wish I did. I'm just a broke college student. This will be a multichapter fic and I'm almost done with the next chapter, and have many of the other chapters planned.
