Chapter 36: Love.
"Neptune! Neptune, can you hear me? Are you conscious?" Guide asked, crouching beside Neptune. She was curled in a fetal position, and didn't move at all. She let out the occasional sharp breath.
Guide sighed, and sat down. He put his functional arm around Neptune, allowing his broken arm to rest in his lap. He didn't have the heart to rummage through the unconscious Hero's bag for a healing potion.
"So... Based on your non-regulated breathing, I assume you're awake. Could we talk please?" Guide asked. Several seconds passed. Eventually, Neptune nodded.
"Good. I, um, I'm very sorry for all this. You do not have to go any further if you don't want to. We can always turn back. I'm, uh, I'm honestly one step away from shutting down myself," Guide said. Neptune began to uncurl from her defensive position. She peered questioningly at Guide from between her knees.
"What is there to turn back to?" Neptune asked. Guide shrugged.
"I don't know. I'm just growing tired of tracking down a goblin army which is possibly led by an undead horror who I have a personal acquaintance with," Guide replied.
"You are remarkably calm about this prospect. What shall become of Hero here?" Neptune asked.
"I'm sure he's getting tired of this too! Assuming he regains consciousness, we can all just go to the surface and back to the status quo!" Guide said. Slowly, Neptune began to stand up, pulling Guide up with her.
"Nicholas, we cannot. We have a path we must follow, and it is an important one. I will not deny destiny!" Neptune said sternly.
"Can we not deny destiny just once? We could live in the elven forests, or on that beautiful steppe we once visited, even if it was only for a year or two. Those would be the most pleasant years of my life!" Guide protested.
"Nicholas, as much as I enjoy the idea of living a peaceful life with you, it can't happen. I apologize, but that is not where our fate lies. I... I'm sorry," Neptune said. Guide let out a deep sigh.
"Yes, I suppose I know this. However, the idea is comforting. I enjoy spending time with you, Neptune," said Guide. Neptune smiled a bit.
"I enjoy spending time with you too, Nicholas. You are a good friend," Neptune said. She clasped his hand a bit tighter.
"You know, you have a pretty smile. You should use it more often," Guide said. Neptune laughed, and the two smiled at one another in awkward silence for several seconds.
"I love you, Neptune. I really do," Guide confessed. Neptune did not reply. "That's... That's okay, right?" Guide asked. He prepared for the worst, and began to wonder if he made an irreversible mistake. However, he was so baffled by his own brash confession that he simply sat still, and stared onward, ready to be rejected. It had to happen sometime-
Neptune did not say anything. Instead, she simply pulled him in, and kissed him on the lips. For the second time in his life, Guide was entirely speechless.
"Yes, Nick. It's more than 'okay.'" Neptune said.
"So, you love me too?"
"That was implied, yes. Do you require it be said aloud?" Neptune asked.
"It would be appreciated, yes."
"Fine," she said. She took a deep breath. "I love you too, Nick."