"It was just a song Link," Nabooru drawled, exasperated. Her voice was muffled by pounding cascade of rain assaulting the land from the heavens.
It had been pouring rain since the night before, easing some of the intense summer heat. The wide expanse of Hyrule Field was even more blistering than most regions in the kingdom during the season, so Link was almost thankful for the rains….almost.
"It's a good sign. I know it in my gut." Link replied, and couldn't help the grin that tugged at his mouth as he adjusted the hood of his cloak.
They had been shadowing the movements of the army for two days as they slowly made their trek west. After having a good idea of the numbers, they only had one part of the mission left - which was to try to find an opportunity to speak to Kali. Just the thought of it, of her potentially recognizing him made him feel breathless as his pulse raced. It seemed that the army kept close to the cliff sides that skirted the bases of the mountains as much as possible. Groupings of trees, caves, and foliage were more common in the area. Nabooru told him the day before it was likely in preparation for some kind of counter attack, so they'd have the advantage of some cover against arrows or canons.
"I just don't want you to get your hopes too high. She is still….Not right." Nabooru muttered, taking a careful pause to choose her words. She likely didn't want to upset him, but he had been in good spirits since he caught the sweet sound of her voice humming the song he'd taught her months prior. "And how many times has that gut feeling gotten you into trouble, anyway?" she added sharply, but the insult didn't have much sting to it.
His eyes drifted into the distance ignoring her last comment. Settled on the dark, teeming mass of the army - spreading like a sinister cloud over the field as they marched on. But Kali was really there, and she was safe. In their continuous attempts at spying, it had been more and more difficult to catch sight of her. It appeared that she was kept hidden away in a dark carriage while the army was moving. Only occasionally did she step out to stretch her legs, to skim the horizon with cold eyes. He tried to find the girl he knew before in those brief glimpses of her, but found nothing that supported his hope after hearing her song. "I just wish we could catch her alone." he said, more glum now.
"Pallas sure does keep a close eye on her," Nabooru responded glumly, sounding like she wanted nothing more than to go back to the castle, " And if he isn't, then Styx is always at her back."
That much was true. Anytime they slipped into the shadows near the army as it stopped for rest, Kali would keep to herself in her large tent - or perhaps she would be made to stay there, Link wasn't sure which. When she wasn't being paraded with Pallas as he made rounds to check operations or plans, to assure himself that the force had no weaknesses, she was flanked by Styx who appeared to be her personal bodyguard. Link had to cover his mouth at that, his chest shaking with silent laughter. After all Kali had done to Styx, breaking his nose, leaving a scar in the shape of a bite mark on his hand, killing his brother - Pallas had actually been cruel enough to force him to be her personal guard. Nabooru didn't find it as amusing, knowing full well how lethal the shadow could be and how he would have gladly beaten Kali to death if it weren't for his master. His jovial mood didn't last long when he noticed how grim-faced Kali looked nearly at all times. Though, after some time of watching he wondered if she did it on purpose - to keep the monsters from interacting with her as she strolled through the camp. He recalled the familiar mask she used when she had first arrived in Hyrule when she'd take walks through Kakariko Village, straight backed, squared shoulders, lips turned slightly down at the corners, her chin tilted up slightly so her gleaming eyes could meet the stares of those taller than her. It was very effective at scaring the Hylians away from her, and she usually did it when she was intimidated by something, but willing to meet it head on as she usually did. Perhaps it was some default defense mechanism that even wiping her memory couldn't erase.
The army slowed as the sun began to set, ready to rest after the day's travel. "We can't linger much longer." Nabooru informed Link, and he felt her eyes on his back as he watched the monsters begin to scatter - to set up tents, to start fires, to secure the perimeter.
"I know." he muttered solemnly.
They resumed their routine of Nabooru casting an illusion of camouflage over them before they slipped into a hiding spot where they could observe activity. This time, it was amongst the crumbling remains of an ancient stone wall that might have served as a fence for some structure that was long gone. At least the unrelenting rain served as extra measure of protection, the rumbling thunder covering any slip of sound they may have made. As usual, they positioned themselves as close to Kali's tent as possible. Link willed there to be an opportunity to catch her alone, he prayed to whatever Gods might have been listening to him that that night would finally be the night. They waited for hours, observing nothing besides the usual routines of the camps. There was no sign of movements in her tent at all, and he grew worried that maybe the rain really was a curse after all, preventing her from wanting to go outside.
"You really care for her, don't you?" Nabooru's voice cut through the rain like a knife near him. She'd given up on spying, and was now huddled close to the wall. Her back was pressed casually to the wet stones, any prospect of staying dry gone from the Gerudo's mind. Her amber eyes glinted knowingly, reflecting the flames from the enemy camp.
Link tore his gaze from the camp, squatted down so he was fully hidden. "Of course I do," He replied evenly, raising a brow at Nabooru. Kali had grown to be one of his closest companions since the night he and Impa had found her laying in the dead leaves, pale, her lips turning blue from the unforgiving cold.
Nabooru only pinched her lips as she served him a flat expression. "What?" he asked, still confused.
She twisted towards him and made a vague gesture with her hands, exaggerating her statement more, "But you care about her...Right?"
Link only narrowed his eyes at her, and felt as if he was catching onto her meaning. But he said nothing. Nabooru sighed harshly, taking his silence as more confusion and added, "Romantically?"
At that, Link averted his gaze, suddenly finding the cracks in the stones very fascinating. There was an unwelcome warmth of blood rushing to his cheeks. Those thoughts were complicated. Much like Kali had said herself, since she'd arrived there hadn't been much time for either of them to think of those feelings, to truly sort through them. She blew into his life like a mysterious, beautiful storm - trouble following her everywhere she went, no matter what she tried. They'd always been plotting, or training, or fighting. He felt fairly certain that those feelings had been clear for her when she was with Kiden. He had flirted with her from their first meeting, and he remembered her flushed cheeks, her bewildered expression when they left the potion shop that day. But something had happened between them that just….made them not the same as they were before. Something had driven a deep spike between them, and something told him it had to do with the day Impa was killed protecting the potion maker. But when she was encircled in his arms, something about it felt safe, warm...whole. He remembered how his heart felt as if it might burst from his chest when he dared to kiss her cheek after the spring ball. The squeeze of her hand in his, or the barest brush of her fingers on his cheek made him feel at home. And nothing could come close to describing when he kissed her lips….Nothing got much more romantic in feeling than that. So Link settled with a dip of his head and a small shrug to his shoulders, "I….Think so?"
Nabooru gaped at him, and she threw up her hands in frustration, "So all of this angst and all of those longing looks and you tell me you think you love her?"
His cheeks burned hotter as he met her disbelieving gaze with a sharp look, "Love is a strong word."
The gerudo only cocked her head to the side and crossed her arms over her chest, a challenge in her eye, "Alright then. What do you think she feels?"
"That's impossible to tell most of the time," he answered quickly, a soft chuckle escaping him. She was a whirlwind of emotion.
Nabooru rolled her eyes, "You didn't answer the question."
Link pressed his lips together as he contemplated it. His gaze found Kali's tent again. She hadn't stopped him when he kissed her, and had even told him that he could kiss her again. That surely must have been a good sign, right? She openly admitted she had feelings for him, even if they had frightened her. At his unsure expression, Nabooru added, "Do you think, if your roles were reversed that she would be doing all of this for you?"
"Yes, she would." The answer was out of his mouth almost immediately, no extra thought was needed for it. The forceful tackle of her body against his flashed in his memory. She had thrown herself directly into harm's way to save his life when she should have just ran away during the attack on Kakariko. He remembered the jarring shake of her fisted hands in his shirt as she yelled at him after the disorienting fall through the portal, the despair on her face as tears streamed cleanly through the dirt and blood that coated her skin. The tears that made her eyes shine like green fire as they pierced into him. He felt that moment had been some sort of turning point in her heart when it came to him, despite how dire it had been.
Nabooru didn't ask anymore questions after that, but seemed to consider his answer for a long while. Maybe she wanted to know so she could feel that her trying to save Kali would be worth it somehow. Movement along the back end of Kali's tent caught Link's attention and he nudged Nabooru, for the extra pair of eyes that might aid them both. A hand carefully lifted the fabric of the tent, parking to allow the dark form of a body to slip from underneath. A grin ripped through Link's expression as he realized what was happening. Pallas may have been able to wipe her memory away, but her habits and spirit remained the same. Curious, adventurous, and she hated to be confined, smothered in any way more than anything else. Kali had always had this desire to free herself in any way possible, to do what she wished. Even right then this was true as he watched as she snuck away from her own tent without catching the attention of the guards posted near the tent flaps at the front, opposite to her. Cautious green eyes swept from side to side, assuring herself that she wasn't noticed before slipping away . He wondered absently why she just hadn't made a portal to get to wherever she wanted to go.
Surely this would be their chance to talk to her, to get her alone. They skirted the wall silently, pursuing her movements as she crept from shadow to shadow between the tents, the pounding rain and dark dress aiding her all the way. Was she escaping? Did she finally have the sense to run away from this awful place? Link's heart galloped with anticipation as he kept his eyes locked on her.
She eventually paused beneath the cover of a large evergreen tree, the sounds of the rain muffled, the clean smell of the crushed dry needles beneath her feet drifted to where Nabooru and Link squatted behind a large boulder as they observed her. Link felt a strange tightening feeling around him as Nabooru solidified the illusion more firmly around their bodies.
Kali's chest rose and fell at a quick pace, as if she were breathing heavily - perhaps with the nerves of sneaking off. But then she gave a heaving sigh with relief. The tension eased from her shoulders, and her expression relaxed into one he knew better than the unapproachable seriousness she'd shown for days. He finally spotted that she was carrying something close to her chest, covered in smooth, dark cloth. She sat gingerly at the base of the tree trunk and leaned into the bark as she uncovered what she held. Link nearly laughed out loud, but settled for an amused smile as he beheld the parchment and charcoal now resting in her lap. She'd escaped her tent so she could spend time by herself, drawing. Even when she couldn't remember her love for art, her talent for sketching, she couldn't restrain the innate urge to create.
A small smile even crept onto her face as she began to scratch at the parchment with her charcoals, smudging her gloveless fingers with the dark pigment. "She likes to draw?" Nabooru whispered to him, curious.
"She's pretty good at it too." Link replied almost smugly.
Nabooru's eyes were considering as she studied the girl beneath the tree, as if she were seeing her for the very first time. But Link shouldn't hesitate, now was the perfect chance to speak to her. He began to move out from behind the boulder, but Nabooru's hand clamped down on his arm, yanking him back. "What are you-?" he began.
But Nabooru pressed one finger to her lips, her eyes sharp on Kali. He studied her again and frowned deeply as he noticed a shadow solidifying into a human shape behind where she sat. Styx must have said something because Kali startled, the drawing supplies spilling from her lap. Then she furrowed her brows, frustrated and glared at Styx. Link's fists clenched. They had been so close! Of course the shadow soldier was lingering nearby. He saw the flash of white teeth as Styx grinned condescendingly down at her, and his words were barely audible as he crooned, "Did you think you could sneak away so easily, Lady Leere?"
Kali pressed the back of her head against the bark of the tree and gave a long sigh, closing her eyes tight against the annoyance she didn't try to hide. "I just wanted some time to myself, Styx. Go away."
Styx snatched up one of the papers and raised a brow at the beginnings of the sketch, "I didn't even know you could draw.." he muttered, puzzled.
"Because it's none of your business." she snapped as her hand shot out and snatched the rough sketch from his grip.
Styx's hand twitched violently, as if he were going to strike her while her eyes were on her papers, sorting them in her lap. On instinct, Link stood from his hiding spot, the urge to protect her so strong that he couldn't control it. He barely registered Nabooru as she cursed under her breath at his sudden movement. As he realized what he'd done, he was suddenly thankful that Styx had his burning yellow eyes fixed in a hateful stare on Kali. But there was a flash of lightning at exactly the wrong moment, and he was fixed in place by the halting stare of Kali's eyes. The illusion had been scattered due to his foolishness and Nabooru was quick to fix the illusion back around him, but he was sure it was too late. Surely she'd just beheld his shocked face, the top half of his body illuminated by the bright flash of the storm. But she only stared at the spot where he was, and instead of piercing him with her eyes, she was seeing through him. Her expression was hard, and her eyes shifted slightly from side to side. She was trying to place him in the darkness of the storm again.
"Regardless," Styx said through gritted teeth, "Lord Pallas has ordered me to guard you at all ti-" He paused mid sentence, finally catching her searching expression.
He followed her gaze out into the storm, but Link had already crouched slowly behind the boulder, hidden by Nabooru's camouflage. His entire body was tense, each muscle pulled tight like a coiled spring, ready to jump into action if they needed to flee. Styx glanced back to her, his eyebrows pulled together and he cocked his head at her. He considered her as if she were a child doing something particularly amusing, "Is something wrong?"
Kali blinked once - twice, as if clearing her thoughts. Then she gave her head a shake, her face still tight with anxiety or maybe suspicion. Link and Nabooru were statues, frozen behind the boulder as they listened carefully for her response. "No," Kali started, and they both deflated with relieved sighs, slumping against the stone, "I just think I'm tired. Let's go back."
Styx studied her carefully as she collected her things and then his sharp yellow eyes scanned the area she'd been examining one more time before shadowing her back to her tent.
Kali had definitely seen him. He'd seen the knowing enter her eyes as she caught that single lightning illuminated glimpse of him. So why didn't she tell the truth? Did she really believe that she'd only seen something because she was tired?
"You foolish boy," Nabooru growled as she yanked him by the arm fully to the ground. "We were almost discovered because of your impulsiveness."
"I'm sorry," he responded, unable to fully clear his thoughts. Something about Kali not pursuing them struck him as strange.
"You and I both." she snapped, frowning openly at him.
But it was plain in his face that he wasn't paying any mind to her anger with him. He was lost in deep thought. Nabooru only shook her head with disgust and began to drag him away from the army - not willing to take any more risks, she claimed. He had a feeling she also wanted to escape the rain for the night. They found a small, dank cave to attempt to find rest for the night. The storm didn't exactly set them at ease, unable to light a fire for fear of discovery, unable to escape the dark dampness of the rain. Link laid on his back, uncomfortable against the cold stone beneath him. He closed his eyes to make an honest attempt at sleep, but instead of the calm dark of the back of his eyes, he was haunted into the night by Kali's penetrative eyes illuminated by a flash of lightning.
The next night was more difficult. The rain still poured, but the storm was worse than it had been for days prior. Now Link and Nabooru were berated with the harsh snap of the wind, held a near constant fear of being actually struck by the lightning that frequently lit the sky, and could barely see in the downpour. Their cloaks were little to no good at that point, and if anything was more of a tripping hazard as the fabric tangled between their legs, carried by the wind.
Nabooru stayed huddled beneath a canopy of trees whose branches cracked and moaned above them. Link blinked the near constant stream of rain from his eyes as he peered at the camp, searching for any sign of Kali's movements.
He managed to spot a glint of blonde hair against the blurry glow of a torch, and those awful glowing green eyes towering over her short figure. There was no hope of overhearing any conversation in the roar of the storm, but his heart gave a leap as he watched her pull up the hood of her cloak, which she then pulled tight around her body. She was flanked by Styx, as well as another much shorter shadow creature. They began in a direction away from the camp, and Link nudged Nabooru once more, prompting her to take a look. "Where are they going?" She questioned as her squinted eyes followed the small group, sticking close to him so she wouldn't have to shout over the wind.
Kali and her two guards were accompanied by two more short, green skinned soldiers as they all disappeared into the line of trees, headed for the base of the mountain. "I have no idea. But we have to follow them. Maybe if we can take out her guards, then we can reason with her."
"I don't think that particular display of violence would convince her to come with us," Nabooru said flatly, but Link was already moving through the shadows.
Still, she followed closely as he shot back, "Do you have a better idea?"
Nabooru didn't answer as she dogged his steps, hands with twitchy fingers outstretched slightly to keep the illusion constantly shifting around them so they weren't spotted as they pursued the small group. Pallas didn't allow her to go anywhere without him, and now all of a sudden he sends her into the mountains? His gut twisted with nerves, but he continued to follow the dim light of their torch through the groaning trees.
"Link, I don't think this is a good idea." Nabooru mumbled quietly, and she did indeed look uneasy. It showed in her tight lipped expression, her wary eyes as they skimmed the shadows around them, the tension of her entire body. He was suddenly sure that her gut writhed with apprehensiveness, much the same as his.
He paused for a moment as he watched the light disappear into the mouth of a cave entrance, trying to calm his pounding heart. To find the reason in this sudden chance. Even if they faced off against Kali, she wouldn't attempt to kill them….would she? If the reports he'd read were accurate, she hadn't made a single kill this entire time. He tried to find the right decision within himself, reached deep down to find that gut feeling that so often reassured him in difficult situations. He found nothing but squirming nerves thrashing there. He set his jaw and glanced over his shoulder at Nabooru, "This might be our last shot during this assignment." He said evenly.
She almost looked as if she'd refuse, but he could see the moment she gave in. Maybe she was afraid he would go in alone. Perhaps he would have, if it meant getting Kali back. "Just be prepared, I have a really bad feeling about this." she added warningly. With that, Link felt the tingle run across his skin as the illusion around them dropped. Her efforts were better spent being prepared for a fight at that point.
It would have been foolish to run into a cave unarmed, unwitting to what exactly Kali and the group of soldiers task was within it. So he carefully considered what he would do if she attacked him, whether with intention to harm or just because he frightened her. The look of fear of her face when she saw him for the first time after having her memories taken flashed in his mind. It sent a shudder through him. What did she normally do when they sparred? If she were disarmed? Then he remembered she wouldn't have even the memories of her training anymore. It was so frustrating. Before, he had been quite good at predicting her movements, her thoughts - but without the foundation of their relationship, or the context of all that she'd been through, he was lost. He settled with pulling his shield from his back, the firm weight of it settled against his shoulder bracing him for whatever they were to face. He had his other hand prepared to reach back and grasp his sword as they peered into the cave mouth.
It was darker than they'd anticipated, as if the torch had been carried so far within that the light no longer reached them. They'd stalled for too long, and Link clenched his jaw before taking careful, silent steps forward. He swiped at his sopping wet hair, pushed it to the sides of his face where it clung to his skin and blinked a few times, grateful to finally have full sight without the pour of rain in his eyes. He could only hear the sounds of distant steps, the pounding of the rain outside the cave, and the drops of water that fell from their clothing. The eerie silence that filled the rest of the space made him feel off balance. When he briefly glanced back, Nabooru had her blades out already, positioned into a fighting stance. Her eyes were bright on him, wary like a cat about to pounce. Her dark skin gleamed with droplets of rain water, her scarlet ponytail clung wetly to her neck and shoulders. He turned back and continued forward, deeper into the shadows.
This wasn't unlike the many searches he'd already been on for Kali, and he couldn't help but think back on when she was taken the first time. He'd been worse off then than he was now - unable to sleep, to eat, unable to think straight without imagining the worst of what happened to her. He remembered the wave of rage and dread that washed over him when they found her, laying in a bed of moss on the forest floor, so weak that she couldn't even lift her head on her own. She had been so thin, so entirely breakable and delicate looking - like a dirty, broken porcelain doll. He had been petrified to even move her for fear of causing her more pain. But even in that state, that secret fire that captivated him burned dimly within her eyes. He couldn't help but compare the laughing, spunky she was back then, to this unfamiliar weapon Pallas had made her into with those bleak, piercing eyes.
He would get the girl he knew back.
It seemed that no matter how far they wandered, there was no returning torch light. He felt fresh claws of panic dragging itself out of his chest, into his throat as his eyes searched the darkness more frantically. What if she'd disappeared again? What if the soldiers had simply taken her far away, where she'd be hidden away from the battles? What if Pallas would remove her from this war to keep her safe? Was she being punished for sneaking away?
"Link," Nabooru called to him, and though her voice was a whisper the sound seemed to bounce off the walls in every direction.
Link paused, his jaw ached from how hard he clenched his teeth as his feet came to a stop. He couldn't look at her, didn't want to see the defeat in her eyes. He knew what she was going to say.
"We should go back...this is too risky." Nabooru said softly, and had the decency to sound sorry for the words.
He grimaced, and gazed deeply into the shadows of the cave. She was so close, but so out of reach...But he made a promise to her before her memories were taken.
"Go back where exactly?" Said a horribly familiar voice.
Link and Nabooru whirled. His eyes only barely registered the darkness of Styx, who was poised to slash at Nabooru behind him but she stepped around his strike with a dancer's grace. She went to position herself strike at the shadow from behind, her blades raised but was met with the presence of the other soldiers. The stockier shadow creature and the two small green skinned warriors cornered her, and Link called out to his friend. Nabooru was already prepared for an attack though, and her hands shot out, the swords flying from her grasp. One found its mark in the forehead of the extra shadow guard who collapsed to the rocks with a thickening thud. The other was barely dodged by one of the smaller guards, and by the time they looked up, Nabooru had raised her hands and hidden herself within her illusions.
"Go after her!" said another voice, "She won't be easy to defeat!"
Link gave a start, the sound of the command coming from Kali's voice freezing him on the spot. But, no…it wasn't her voice, he realized. Styx moved from his line of sight to pursue Nabooru, revealing the figure of Kali standing before him, her hands outstretched. She was using her powers on him, she'd caught him!
Her eyes were dark, unfeeling pits, her brows pulled low over them. If he were able to move, to react, a shudder would have rocked through his spine at that look. They heard the hard pounding of footsteps as the soldiers went after Nabooru, and shortly after only the soft tap as droplets of rain dripped from his clothing to the stone below. He was still positioned with his shield at the ready, and he felt his heart pounding hard in his chest under that awful, empty gaze. Then her eyes averted from his, and she paused for a moment, as if detecting something behind her. Then she lowered her hands, and Link was able to move again. She had been checking to make sure her companions were truly gone, he realized. Her usual moss green eyes seemed nearly black in the darkness as she studied him carefully, searching his face. "You need to leave." she said evenly, but more softly than her cold command to the soldiers.
"I can't, I need to talk to you." Link managed to say quietly, amazed that he was actually talking to her - that she wasn't attacking him. "I don't want to fight you."
"There is nothing to talk about." Kali said, her eyes shifted over her shoulder towards where her companions disappeared, like she didn't want to look at him, "You got the best of me and escaped my grasp. So go. Now."
Link tried to make sense of her change of position, of why she would release him from what was so obviously a trap set specifically for them. It didn't follow any manner of logical thinking, or reason. "Kali, please...Let me explain some things.." he muttered, lowering his shield slightly to reach for her with his free hand.
She stiffened at the feel of his fingers slipping gently around her wrist, and then she moved so quickly that it was nearly a blur to his eyes. She'd broken his grip with one hand and twisted his wrist to the side with the other in a fluid movement and he blinked at her - stunned. That was a move that Impa had taught them both during her hand to hand combat, and it was the spark of an impossible thought. Though his wrist was twisted at an awkward angle, he only felt the pressure of the technique, instead of the pain it was meant to inflict. She was controlled, she knew exactly what she was doing. His wide eyes moved from their hands, slowly up to her face. It was flat, neutral. But at his bewildered expression, the barest smirk pulled at the corner of her lips - as if she were amused and trying to hide it. He recognized that look too. Any time she'd gotten the better of him or done something so reckless that it caught him off guard, allowing her to win against him, that delighted smirk had brightened her entire face. It had always made him smile too. He wasn't sure if his heart was pounding anymore or if it had stopped dead in his chest, and slowly….so terribly slowly that spark of an impossible thought broke over him like a dawning sun, taking solid shape in his mind.
Her eyes softened on him, and with her pulling him that close, he could see the green in them again. The same eyes he'd gazed into time and time again, and within them in that moment, he could still see that tiny hidden spark burning like an ember within them. She must have mixed his expression of realization with one of confusion, because to clarify - she reached up with her other hand and tucked it into the tight collar at the neck of her dress. He nearly fell to his knees as she pulled out a thin gold chain with a small golden Triforce captured in a circle, and she pressed it firmly to her chest, her eyes gazing deeply, meaningfully into his.
He almost couldn't believe what she was trying to show him, to make clear to him as she slowly released her grip on his wrist. It was as if the truth couldn't sink into his brain, like this was some sort of weird fever dream. Had she actually struck him over the head? Was this only this ideal reality created by a concussion? His mouth worked to form words, his body trembled as he beheld her with fresh eyes, eyes that strung at the threat of tears. Kali stepped away, almost shyly as he watched her. "This entire time…" he stammered out, rendered speechless as a crashing wave of relief rocked through his body.
"You found me eventually." she said softly, as if trying for a light hearted joke but wasn't sure if it would hit the mark. She remembered his promise from the last time they'd seen each other.
Link choked out a startled laugh. She'd remembered him, she knew him. "Your memories..they're.." he tried again but was choked off once more as his shield lowered even more in his grip.
"Mostly intact." she finished for him, her eyes grew darker again as she added, "He got a good chunk of them though."
"So why didn't you...Why did you go with him?" He sounded stupid, even to his own ears. But he just couldn't believe what he was hearing, couldn't believe his own eyes as she didn't hide the familiarity that danced in her eyes. She must be some kind of illusion of his own mind's creation.
Kali crossed her arms over her stomach, anxiously he realized as she considered him before she answered - something burning deep within her eyes as they met his, "Because...I knew Pallas wanted to just trick me and then teach me all the secrets to our powers, and learning that was our best shot at defeating him someday. I wanted to know all there is to know about it, including what exactly the dagger that killed the last timekeeper was, and where it is now. This is the long game." She bit her lip, and she looked away from him as if she were embarrassed, "And...I wanted to make myself someone who was…." She paused, swallowed and then tried again, "I wanted to be worthy of you. Of all of you. After everything I've done, after all the things I've failed at."
So she trapped herself within Pallas's clutches to make herself stronger, made herself do and see awful things, pretended to be someone entirely alien to anyone she knew, to be an inside pair of eyes on this war - all to feel worthy of everything her friends had done for her and to find retribution for her failures. The truth of it all knocked the breath from him, and he took a tentative step towards her. She watched him with cautious eyes, as if she were afraid he would be mad at her. That was absolutely ridiculous.
The shield dropped from his hand with a clang, and without any second thoughts he went to her. He pulled her to him, his arms shaking. He needed to touch her, to feel her, to know she was real flesh and blood and not some dream he'd made up for himself. He heard her soft gasp as his hands circled her waist, cupped her neck. She was still so soft, as she'd always been in a way. She was a perfect shape to fit to his chest and torso as he drew her in, pressing his lips so hard to her's that he thought perhaps they would bruise. He didn't care. He couldn't get enough of the warmth he always knew was within her, of the softness of her skin under his hands that clutched desperately to her, the sweet taste of her lips against his. He felt her body tense, as if she were about to restrain herself, to pull away and send them both far, far away from where they stood embraced in the cave. But after a moment, it was as if some gate between them had been burst apart, burned down, demolished so completely that there was no hope of rebuilding it. He knew a tight rope of control snapped within her as he felt her body go taught and loose all at the same time. She leaned into his touch, like she couldn't or wouldn't hold herself back any longer. He shivered, his skin prickling as her arms pulled him closer, her fingers entangling in his wet hair as they slipped slightly under his hat, at the other hand that clutched at the back of his neck. She kissed him back, roughly, desperately but he sensed the relief that overwhelmed her too somehow.
She was real - so astonishingly real. Solid but soft beneath his hands, warm beneath his lips. She hadn't forgotten him and he felt it in their kiss - felt every ounce of affection and attraction she'd held back for so long. He had finally found her like he'd promised, and he wanted to kiss her until they both forgot the world outside, the war, Pallas, the conflict, her plans. He desired nothing greater in that moment than to kiss her in that cave for the rest of his life, until the end of time.