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Burgie : She's trying, that's the most anyone can do haha. Koko holds a soft spot in my heart, she represents someone in my life who was unfortunately misguided by gossip and other's opinions. Means well, but doesn't always take charge of her own ideas, desires and thoughts.


*Chapter 144*

Standing poised, as graceful as a beacon lofting goodness out into the universe, Kepa's and Gideon's gorgeous lighthouse glistened against Turbotime's powerful, wintertime sunshine. Cold ocean air whipped Gideon's messy, auburn hair about, he inhaled a shaky breath and pressed through the marked path of beach grass he had mowed down over time. Big feet that crunched the dirt and grass underneath, he finally came to the fluffier white sand that surrounded the lighthouse's entry way. The shadow of the incredible spire clipped his being, once and for all, though as he bravely came upon their lovely turquoise front door with a gentle fist in prepping to knock, he firmly scrunched his shoulders tight to his head, hunkered down a little and squeezed his eyes shut amidst a powerful gust of wind that suddenly whipped directly over him. With the familiar sound of flapping wings, Gideon urgently looked up just in time to see Novus's huge tail sails vanish over the whole of the building Gideon was tightly stood at. He softened, took a few wobbly steps backwards and sourced Novus, but was surprised to see Kepa's beautiful wingspan tight in tow.

"Hey, loser," Novus called after him and Kepa circled back around, banked lower to the ground and came to an easy, trotting land. Gideon furrowed his eyebrows and almost glowered Novus down, he knew what this meeting would likely entail, now that Novus was peculiarly added to it. Novus lifted his head, shifted on his powerful legs, tucked his wings tight to his body and gave Gideon a rather walled-off look of disgruntled, brotherly cuteness, "I came over thinking we'd have a normal beach day, only to find that you two are feuding."

"Yeah, it's my favorite thing, ever," Gideon barked in irritation over the fact that Novus likely had a world of information Gideon was hoping would just be kept private, though as he eased his eyes to Kepa's figure, he flinched and dared to soften with a regretful frown.

It looked as if Kepa and Novus had just returned from a rather successful foraging outing deep in Juniper Forest's lovely pines. Kepa wore thick, worn drapery that had a hood, tan and brown hide-like materials that were equally light and airy for flying in. Draped across her body was a cute items bag, her hair was beautiful done in a long, low braid, she looked like a sweet, foraging, ethereal woodlands elf. Gideon understood that their little spat probably had something to do with her gearing up and getting out of the house, strictly to busy her mind. Her bag looked full, the two looked as if they had a fun, eventful time together, though Kepa's gorgeous orange eyes looked puffy and red, as if she had been crying. Gideon heaved a long, regretful sigh through his nose, gave Kepa an apologetic look of promised walls dropped, though he sneakily shot Novus a daring little look of authority, as if to assure to Novus that maybe staying out of their business would benefit him, from here on out. Certain said dirty look would convey full authority, he was shocked to see Novus stiffen and prepare to fight back.

"Hey, I love you, but I also love her, too, I could've sworn I've already made that clear," Novus stabbed as he flattened his ears and stiffened to show he meant business, Gideon clenched his fists and shook his head.

"That's great, I came over here to solve this problem with Kepa, not you," Gideon muttered, it was here did Kepa rub her forehead, take a step to the side and firmly look off in glowering annoyance.

"Sorry she just so happened to need a shoulder to cry on," Novus grumbled, "Isn't that supposed to be YOUR job?"

"I'm LITERALLY right here, this is the main reason I came over," Gideon argued, he did everything in his power to remain calm, his sweet disposition held nicely as he hovered closer to Kepa for assuredness, though Novus pushed the issue.

"For someone with quick wit, you move stupid-slow," Novus meanly muttered, to which Kepa finally flattened her ears and shot Novus a look of glowering challenge.

"Alright, enough, I know you're like a brother to me, but I'm going to need you to knock it off," Kepa firmly delivered, causing Novus to sag in submission and nervous apology, "Sure, I'm upset, but you don't need to crucify the guy for properly coming over to right a wrong. You can mediate, Novus, nothing more. I appreciate you being there for me, and being protective of me, but those stances are evenly spread. I'm protective of HIM, so watch yourself."

Gideon raised his eyebrows and lovingly peered to the side of Kepa's face as she kept her authoritative, haunting cross-haired gaze tight into Novus's skin, so unwavering that Novus finally heaved a hot sigh through his snout, receded in the few steps he took away from Gideon and flattened his ears in grumbling submission. He sagged, eased Gideon a small glower of annoyed apology and bobbed a nod of equally as annoyed confirmation.

"Ma'am," Novus grumbled quietly.

Kepa lifted her ears a little, peered to Gideon in a show of still hurt confusion, though looked to seem to be in better spirits now that Gideon was in front of her, ready to tackle their misunderstanding. Gideon heaved a long sigh, shook his head and narrowed his sweet gaze into her eyes, his disposition full of apology.

"Look... I turn into a wreck when I feel as if I'm being abandoned," Gideon mumbled, he cocked an eyebrow and glanced to Novus, alongside a motioning gesture, "I'm assuming you told Novus everything that happened, the other night..."

"I didn't go into detail whatsoever," Kepa assured in a mumbling, low tone as she held her eyes up into Gideon's, Gideon sighed and felt his face heat up at the idea that more individuals were now cued to the sparks of Kepa's and Gideon's sex life, not his own private business he wanted everyone nosing into.

"I should've just believed you when you said that you wanting space wasn't personal," Gideon stated in apology, he shook his head and frowned, "After doing stuff like that, with you, I... I guess I assumed we'd kind of be attached at the hip. I guess I require a world's amount of reassurance, more than I would've ever thought."

"Well, now I know," Kepa shrugged, "You didn't know what you didn't know... That's perfectly normal to feel that way. Gideon, I'm prepared to give you the world, but it has to be at my own pace. If I say I need space, it's not to blatantly get away from you, there's no hidden meaning. I felt it really fucked that you just... Flat out ignored me after an innocent mistake."

"I wasn't ignoring you, Callum and I were in a place that had shitty reception," Gideon gently argued, he flinched the second both Kepa and Novus stiffened.

"Callum?" They both urged in hot confusion, Gideon felt his face wash hot white.

"Y-Yeah, I... Y-You weren't answering, and he just so happened to call me," Gideon now felt his throat swell, he tried to swallow, he felt his insides clench with terror the second Kepa's irritated, grumbly front now stiffened to riled, frustrated protection.

"The hell you doing hanging out with Callum?" Kepa erupted quietly, she shook her head and firmly glanced in Novus's direction, "You know about this?"

"No, I had no clue you two were even on speaking terms," Novus uttered, almost as if to be offended.

"Guys, he apologized to me, it's really not a huge deal," Gideon urged darkly, Novus flattened his ears and now began to look angry.

"You KNOW that guy is bad news, and you're really just... Palling around with him? Willingly?" Novus stabbed, Gideon now firmly glowered Novus down and narrowed his gaze.

"I said, it's not a huge deal, I have a life outside of Turbotime, okay?" Gideon spat, though it was here did the metaphor roll through Novus like a wave of poison. Novus flattened his ears tight to his skull, glowered his incredible blue eyes into Gideon's and felt the urge to spill everything about Sugar Rush to Kepa, right here in this moment, though instead, he stiffened, took a few steps away and prepared his wings for flight.

"I wonder what else you're not telling us," Novus snipped meanly, and with one last lingering glower of whole frustration, Novus leaped into the air, heavily flapped his wings with emphasis and began to loft away, for good.

Gideon clenched his teeth behind a pursed glower and felt a million different emotions kick up. He glared down the flash of vivid blue that was Novus's ventral, his beautiful wingspan rapidly disappeared over the top of Juniper Forest's incredible peaks, and was soon too far gone to spot amidst Turbotime's wild blue. Gideon exhaled a long, trembling breath through his nose and nervously brought his gaze back to Kepa's. She looked equally as confused, though more sorrowful than anything. Gideon let Novus's heavy metaphor soak over him, an ocean that began to threaten to drown him, he frowned deep into Kepa's eyes and was well aware they both likely had difficult nights, last night. He was certain he looked disheveled, now due to the twinkle of sorrow, in Kepa's eye, subtly switching to concern.

"You don't look so good, are you okay?" Kepa murmured gently, she reached her hand out and was thrilled Gideon opened his to lovingly receive her.

"I had one too many drinks, last night," Gideon eased weakly, he lulled his tired eyes closed and was successful in pulling Kepa into a big hug about her adorable little shoulders, "I'm really sorry for how I acted... I got scared you were ignoring me, so I busied myself elsewhere. I truly wasn't ignoring you, the building we were in made the reception shitty, so I got ALL of your messages at once, like an hour or two after you had likely messaged me."

"I believe you, I wasn't ignoring you, either, Gideon," Kepa begged quietly as she cutely nuzzled her nose and face into the warmth and security of Gideon's big, broad chest and left shoulder. She sighed in relief and gripped her arms about his thick, strong middle, her lovely tail and wings warmly enveloped his body, as well. She murmured on into the security of the collar of his soft jacket, "I wanted alone time, but not if it was going to upset you this badly."

"I was being selfish, I took it personally," Gideon mumbled into the top of Kepa's soft, lovely, light pink hair, "We had a beautiful night together, but I just... Think I needed more reassurance that it wasn't just a one and done."

"I feel like it might have been a one and done had we been perfect strangers who met at a bar and we parted ways the next morning without exchanging information," Kepa huffed a giggle and, although she stayed in the security of Gideon's embrace, she pulled away just enough to look up into his tired, sunken eyes, "But, we're literally a committed couple. I'm not going to do intimate things with you and then just drop you. Have a little bit more faith in me."

"I-I will once this becomes a new norm, this is still so fresh and I'm just..." Gideon staggered quietly, he faltered, to which Kepa filled in the blanks.

"Untrusting, I understand," Kepa whispered in gentle defeat, she looked down to Gideon's sternum, to which she took note of the cute, dark chest hairs that daintily climbed out of the collar of Gideon's shirt.

"I'll ask questions, next time, instead of assuming," Gideon frowned, he humbly peered into her face and remained as soft and caring as possible, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Kepa sighed warmly, "I'll do better at prolonging reassurance... I'm sorry."

"It's okay," Gideon returned quietly, the two hovered for a moment in their finalized, warm stillness and finally eased tender smiles into each other's tired eyes. Gideon exhaled a chuckle of a breath through his nose and cutely leaned down to catch Kepa in a warm smooch to her agape lips, ultimately catching her right in the middle of preparing to speak. She blurt a giggle and succumbed to the following smooches as he cutely interrupted her, "I think we're getting better at this."

"At what, fighting?" Kepa's giggling broadened, the closed front door of their lighthouse clipped with the bounce of said insatiable laughter.

"Yeah, nothing has broken us up," Gideon dorkily encouraged as he now wrapped his arms tight about her back, into the folds of her beautiful wings.

"Yet," Kepa teased, to which Gideon stiffened and gave her a slope of an offended frown. She wildly giggled and firmly pat his chest, "I'm JOKING! It's a joke, please cheer up, please."

"Where did you and Novus go?" Gideon grumbled, adhering to her request though wanting to now change the subject.

"Oh," Kepa sighed happily as the two unravelled from their embrace. She cutely tucked her loose baby hairs behind her ears, opened her satchel and broadened the gape, so to show Gideon what was inside, "We just went foraging, I needed some herbs and flowers for some spell work I was going to do today. Wanna join me?"

"Yes, please," Gideon begged in a drone of exhaustion, as if the whole day yesterday was precious time he's only now understanding was wasted being a deadbeat at Flint's. The two began to press to the lighthouse's front door, "I'll... Talk with Novus later."

"Yeah, he seemed pissed," Kepa muttered, "You don't have to tell us every little detail about where you are and what you're up to. We all have our own personal inner lives."

"Exactly," Gideon fervently agreed as they stepped into the lighthouse, though as he shut the door, he furrowed his brow and peered to the back of Kepa's head in a draw of his own conclusions, the draw of understanding that she was equally including herself in on that notion.

With a clack and lock of the front door, and the press of her scary clawed feet that crossed their sunny foyer of the lighthouse, he swallowed a gulp and understood this messy, winding road of kept secrets wasn't simply a road that only he was traversing. He knew mapping the dark corners of her heart was an equal exchange with his own void of secrets, and as he passed the calendar on the wall, near Kepa's fridge, he felt his heart skip at the raw fact that Valentine's Day was just around the corner, a day that he was prepared to expose everything in the hopes that it'd only make their relationship stronger.