What else could she say? Sara felt somewhat shocked at the fact that Evfra had even touched her, let alone tell her, a human, that she was beautiful. Her mind worked, trying to find the right words, but so far, she felt they would all sound ridiculous if she were to say anything.
Hell, she didn't even know Evfra would be capable of being like this. Hand on her cheek, that was slowly moving to rest on the base of her neck, an expression that didn't have a frown or scowl at the sight of her, but instead had resembled something close to what she would have interpreted as focus upon her; his eyes scanning her face, as he stepped into her...was this even happening?
SAM's voice tried to break through her own haze to tell her he was back online, but Sara ignored it, as Evfra leaned forward, to touch his forehead to her own.
There was a soft hum that began to course through her veins when their foreheads touched, and the corner of her lips curved up slightly at the sensation. What would be the right reaction to something so...intimate? She wanted to touch his scar that had run its length over his face; she wanted to touch the part of it that ran over his lips, to tell him that he wouldn't be alone anymore. But, when she was going to speak, a loud cough at their side broke whatever had just happened between them both.
"Scott," Sara breathed out, trying to regain her composure, hoping her cheeks were not as red with the heat she felt flooding them. Her twin's focus was on Evfra, and by the look on his face, Sara could see that he was not amused.
Sara stepped back from Evfra, feeling the void that came with the broken contact. The two males stood, motionless, staring at one another. Finally, Scott spoke up, "We have the weapon. It's going back to the Nexus."
"Good," Evfra plainly replied. He stepped back a little further and turned his attention back onto Sara. "Your capture may have been my doing."
What?
Sara could feel her heart sink slowly, even as Scott quickly, and angrily, interrupted, "It was your fault!"
Giving her head a quick shake, to bring herself back to reality, she narrowed her eyes at the both of them, but placed her hand upon her brother's arm, to avoid him from making any stupid and irrational decisions. "What do you mean?" She asked.
Her ears began ringing, as Evfra explained that his people had recieved intel on the possibility of it, but assuming it was towards Angara, he kept it from her and the Moshae, and forwarded it to his scientists; and blamed himself for not warning her of this possibility when she'd left.
Sara's mind tried to work out some rational response. She shoved back the painful memories of her first experience with the Kett; shoved back the memories of what was aboard the Archon's ship; and tried to understand his logic behind it. But...there wasn't any. Especially for him to keep it from the Moshae? Really? Sara stood, staring at him as he finished, "I should have warned you. I take the responsibility for this, Sara."
If he handed her over to the Kett himself, sure. Perhaps if his information was more specific. But, there was absolutely no way that Sara would allow Evfra to blame himself again for something he truly had no control over. Her capture was not his responsibility.
The fact that he withheld something so crucial for his prideful reasons and single minded thoughts of the Resistance is what had hurt her. Either Evfra truly felt as though he were alone in the universe, that even the Moshae couldn't keep his complete trust; or, he felt as though it were his responsibility for the protection of his people, and his alone. That only he could ever do it. She refused to believe he did it out of spite for politics or aliens. "No, it is not your responsibility. You had no way of knowing the Kett would capture me, especially so shortly after the raid. But when will you ever realize that your shoulders can only bear so much? That we're all in this together, and it's not all up to you, Evfra?" She reiterated to him. When he hadn't responded, she shook her head in slight disappointment, "You were never alone. And when I met you, since then, I saw to it that you would never be alone, Evfra."
It was a time for the outpost to celebrate their victories. Two successful raids on the Kett, two of their leaders dead, and the intel on the weapon that was now being studied by scientists from both the Nexus and the Angara, was invaluable, and an incredible victory on its own. Some rations were spared, with a complimentary fulfillment of what would be used on its way, and Evfra could hear the music behind him.
He didn't deserve to celebrate. He'd felt that celebrating alongside of them all was something that was for those who truly were victorious; Evfra merely felt as though he'd lost everything again. Sara had updated the Moshae, whom Evfra avoided. Sjefa finally had left a message for him, saying she deserved to speak with him, regardless of what he felt. And she was right. But, he was not one to let emotions in the open to deal with then and there, like other Angara. He did that once today, and he wouldn't be surprised if Sara chose never to speak to him again as a result.
Yes, once was enough. So, he decided to take a spot away from the celebrations, away from the outpost, to be alone. It wasn't outside of the guard perimeter, but it was far enough to hear the muffled music going on behind him. No chatter, laughter, or shouting; just him, the muffled music, and the sound of the Manta flying overhead to find another place to feed. He began to wonder if he would ever be able to salvage what he wanted with Sara.
Which...was what?, he thought to himself with a sneer. Run away together? Live happily on some piece of land on Voeld, without a care in the world? And what would she do if he were to even act upon his feelings towards her? He'd never been attracted to an alien before, he'd overheard his soldiers talk about their relations...it sounded as though it were possible-and enjoyable. But, it had been years since the thought let alone the actual act, had come to his mind. When he expressed what was almost as intimate as a kiss within the Angara culture with Sara, it felt right. He'd wanted to move his lips over hers, to see what she'd have done, but her incorrigible brother had come and interrupted it all. Damn him. That Pathfinder would probably become the bane of his own existence.
He was going to sit, but the sound of footsteps coming from behind him caused Evfra to turn, his hand resting on the hilt of his pistol strapped at his side. "It's me." Sara needed to stop sneaking up on him.
Evfra relaxed, as she continued to come towards him. His brow lowered as she stopped just in front of him, her head held high, and her neck craned upwards so she could gaze at his face as he towered over her. Stars, why hadn't he ever realized just how much smaller she was compared to him?
"Tell me something, Evfra. And you don't get to run away, and I'm not leaving until I get an answer," she began. "Why did you come to the slave camp?"
He contemplated on just making it easy for himself, and say he came looking for his missing soldiers. But, that wasn't truly the reason he'd gone. Evfra knew he could have sent another in his stead. Sara didn't deserve to be treated as though she were stupid, either. Evfra folded his arms over his chest, and ensured his own gaze locked with hers, "I came to find you."
She blinked as she swallowed harshly. His gaze cut to her mouth, when she licked her lips before speaking, "Because you felt like you were responsible?"
"No-yes-," He inhaled deeply, and pressed his hand to the bridge of his nose, to gather himself before looking at her once more, "Because I couldn't allow the Kett to take you. I won't let them take what I have left," his arms dropped to his sides in defeat, as he just let himself finally say what she deserved to hear. The truth. "You have this...affect on me. That makes me feel something I've not felt for years. I have...feelings for you. You have a laugh that I enjoy hearing; a smile that I cannot stop thinking about. I used to think that my soldiers that had fallen in love with aliens had lost their heads, and their hearts to our people. But, now you come along, and I suddenly feel like one of my fool soldiers-"
"Shut up," was what he heard from her before she planted her lips to his.
He froze momentarily, before his mind caught up with what was happening. When her hand rested upon his cheek, Evfra responded with a growl as he snaked his arms around her waist, and kissed her almost greedily in return. It was something he never thought he'd experience again; the sensation of lips belonging to a woman he'd fallen for against his own, seducing him further in. Evfra felt her fingers grip onto his shoulders, and he'd tried to hold back the bioelectic response that would normally happen between the Angara, fearing he'd hurt her.
Evfra pulled his lips from hers, searching her features for any sign of pain. He almost pulled away entirely when she'd gasped, but she stopped him, shaking her head, "No, please, don't stop that," she breathed out.
That was all he needed to hear before he kissed her hard, his hunger and sudden need to lose himself within her evident as their kiss deepened. One hand moved down from her waist, to lift her up, while the other satisfied his curiosity of what her hair had felt like, by entangling the strands within his grip. The strands were soft, and he loosened his grip, fearing he'd tear any. Human hair seemed...fragile to him. But, Evfra enjoyed the sound of her muffled moan she'd made into his mouth when he'd lightly pulled. He lifted her up, to allow her legs to wrap tightly around his waist and he moved forward, never breaking his lips from raveging hers, as he pressed her back up against the tree he had been hiding under.
At this point, Evfra didn't know if anyone had witnessed them both, nor, would he care what they thought, either. He was now lost in such a euphoric feeling, as his lips moved over hers, never wanting to leave. As if that weren't enough, her body pressed against him didn't feel different, as he'd originally thought it would. Instead, he felt whole; as if she truly were meant to be there; with him.
And when her hips lifted, to grind against the obvious evidence of the result of her touches and maddening lips, his restraint nearly snapped when both of them had groaned at the sensation. Would he even dare just let it go to the point of no return, here, now?
She deserved better.
Reluctantly, Evfra pulled away, and she blinked up at him, her beautiful lips slightly swollen thanks to him. Their heavy breathing caused their breaths to intermingle, as his lips hovered just over hers. Her breathy What is it?, even sounded beautiful, and nearly made him say damn it all, and continue until they were nude on the ground and spent from him raveging her entire body. But, Evfra was careful in what he'd told her.
"I can't," he said, not releasing her yet. But he didn't give her the opportunity to respond or get the wrong idea. "Not like this. I can't do this to you out here, where others would possibly see. I won't disrespect you like that."
Her chest lifted up, and down, as she was trying to catch her breath. At first, he understood the look of shock she'd had, that turned into confusion, and finally, understanding. "Oh," she breathed out, "Right. I think it would be a tad traumatic if your soldiers walked up on you and I in the middle of...well..."
He let her down to her feet gently, but kept his arms around her waist. Evfra was not ready to let her go. He wondered if he'd ever do so at this point. Evfra couldn't help himself as he pressed his lips against hers, inhaling deeply, remembering that significant and distinct aroma that was her own; one that soothed him even now. When he felt her smile against his lips, he finally said, "I won't let anything happen to you again, Sara. I'm sorry for what I'd done."
"It's not your fault," she said, pulling back, just enough to look up at him. "Just don't forget that you're never alone. That cold, dark hole you'd kept yourself in all these years, is not where you should be," her hand came to his cheek, and her finger gently brushed against the scar he'd recieved that he'd used as a reminder of the pain he'd used to fuel his reason to live. "Not anymore."
He didn't deserve what she offered. But, if she was willing to have him, Evfra would try. The easy wrong, over the hard right...
When his fingers interlaced with the soft and thick strands of her dark hair, Evfra kissed her once more. Would this be the hard right? He knew it would be easier to...just continue pushing her away.
It had to be; but this felt right. "Stay," his voice was more huskier than usual. But, he wasn't going back to that damned pod they were all to sleep in, and he wasn't ready to let her go just yet.
He just hoped that he could keep up this control throughout the evening if she chose to sleep at his side. Evfra would not allow himself to sour what they were now building.
Note: Now that I'd gotten this out, I hope I didn't just make it terrible lol. I am also sorry the site is frustrating when trying to copy and paste your work and your format isn't kept. But, thank you all, and I want to be able to just move them forward. Feel free to like, review, and suggest anything thst could be improved!