A/N: Disclaimer: Refer back to Chapter 1.
WARNING: OOC, LANGUAGE, SUGGESTIVE LANGUAGE, WAFF, FLUFF
Chapter 10: Light
As they both lay comfortably together, on the floor, with nothing but just the feeling of bliss draped on their shoulders, they held one another tightly, neither speaking…
"Serph…?"
"What?" he asked gently.
She laid her head on his chest and closed her eyes, "Why were you upset earlier?"
He sighed; she still hadn't forgotten about it.
He thought for a moment and there spoke slowly, "I suppose…I'll miss this place."
Argilla raised her head and looked at him bemusedly, "What?"
He chuckled and ushered for them to sit. They did. Now, sitting up, they looked into each other's eyes. Serph smiled ruefully, "This whole place…This whole continent…This is where I spent my time with you…alone. This is…where we got together. And…well, when we get rescued, this won't be ours any longer…"
Argilla's eyes softened and her heart melted.
She now understood what he meant.
This place…this harsh environment…their ice prison…was also their paradise. It was their secret garden. It was where they were free of their other responsibilities to the rest of the world. In there, in the Arctic, they could do whatever it was they wanted…
This was a place of treasured memories for the both of them…
This was the place that they had discovered the unknown. This was the place that they faced death and danger together.
This was the place where they had finally realized their feelings…This was the place where they had first shared their passion…
And when Heat and the others arrived…this place, this secret garden, their paradise would no longer be their own.
Others would be there…
And once more, their responsibilities would loom over them like an executioner.
She sighed and cupped his face in her hands, "Well…at least, we could say that…we had fun." she said cheerfully.
He laughed, "Yeah." He nodded, "You're right."
"The memories we had made here…would be ours alone." she told him firmly.
He nodded, "You're right."
He leaned in and kissed her chastely.
She smiled as he pulled back and held his hand. She then stood up and urged him to do the same, "Come on. Let's get some sleep."
He nodded, "Let's. I'm bushed."
The two gathered their fallen apparel that had lain scattered all around the room and then walked over to their prepared bedding.
Argilla looked back at Serph and raised an eyebrow, "You could be so sappy Serph." she said, chuckling.
He smiled this time, no longer affected by such banter. He knew what he was; he understood his feelings better. The old him would have felt offended and would have avoided her…But not now.
He was strong when he needed to be…and exposed and embraced his weaknesses…
But what he had learnt was that…what he felt, the emotions running through him…weren't weakness. They served as the impetus for him to perform his duties…his responsibilities…It was those feelings and emotions that had propelled him to tell her what he felt…It was what served as the catalyst that he needed to save her…to persevere and brave this unknown continent.
"What can I say? I'm a hopeless romantic." he chuckled in response.
Argilla walked over to him, dropping her clothes on the floor and kissed him. He held her tight and returned her kiss. A moment later they pulled back and Argilla nuzzled her face against his, "And I wouldn't have it any other way…"
XXXXX
Argilla awoke alone. She looked around groggily and saw that Serph had gone. She blinked, "Oh…"
He must be checking the transmissions.
She stretched and once more felt for her clothes. She was still bare as they had decided to share their passion once more.
Within a few minutes, she was ready for the day.
She took a mug with her and made her way to the control room. Yup. She was right. There he was, sending another transmission. He was talking to someone.
Probably to Heat.
She waited patiently as she stood a few meters away from him. A moment later, the transmission ended.
He turned to her, "Argilla."
She held out the mug to him, "Here."
He smiled and took it from her, sipping the hot coffee within, "Come on. We haven't much time."
"Eh?" she asked in confusion.
He grabbed her hand and led her through the halls, "They will be here soon. We had better get packed."
Argilla's eyes widened. "Aahhh!" she exclaimed excitedly.
He chuckled, "Their ETA is an hour or so."
The two soon reached their room and there neatly packed everything. Argilla quickly put on her arctic ensemble, as did Serph.
A moment later, they were ready.
Serph looked at her and stood, "Stay here. I'll have to send another transmission."
She nodded, "Alright."
She didn't have to wait long though. As soon as the hour had run out, Serph had come in, "Come on. They're here."
She nodded, feeling immense relief…A moment later, a redhead popped within their room and grinned at her, "Argilla."
Argilla's eyes widened as she saw him and she ran to him embracing him tightly, "Heat…! You're really here!"
Serph watched them but he didn't have the time to comment on it. His men were here and he needed to oversee the evacuation.
So, he left the two to their own devices…
Heat pulled away and grinned at her, "I thought you were dead woman!"
She slapped him, "I wouldn't die that easily!"
He chuckled and looked around, "This is all your stuff?"
She nodded, "That's all of it."
He nodded and looked at her firmly, "Alright. I'll just have these transferred."
He walked within the room and sniffed. Argilla arched an eyebrow; what the hell was he doing?
He looked back at her with a shocked expression. Shock that turned into the grin of an evil elf, "Aah…Argilla…what have you been up to?" he asked sensuously.
Argilla gave him a flabbergasted face, "Eh? What are you talking about? We've been surviving out here! Hanging by the skin of our teeth!" she said growling, emphasizing on the word "surviving".
Heat chuckled, "I don't think that's all you've been in here."
Argilla was taken aback, still not following on what he was saying.
"I think that you've been doing more than surviving here…" he drawled.
"W-what?!" she asked in incredulity.
Heat grinned wider still, baring his teeth, "I think that you might have been preparing to repopulate this part of the world…"
"Eh…?!"
Heat sniffed the air once more. Argilla did the same; nope, she didn't smell anything different.
Heat then grinned mischievously, wiggling his eyebrows, "It smells like sex in here."
Argilla froze.
The air…smelled like sex?
Was that even possible?
She snorted; nah. It was just Heat. He just had a profound acute sense when it came to things like sex and other perverse subjects.
She crossed her arms, "I don't know what you're talking about." she openly denied.
Two minutes of seeing her long-awaited teammate and friend and she already couldn't stand him. She wanted nothing more than to strangle him.
Heat sniffed again, "No, no." he affirmed, "I'm right."
"I'm right." he repeated, "Did you forget that I'm a pro when it comes to these things…?" he asked, his voice husky.
Argilla made a face; oh yes. How could she forget? But still, she'd never admit it, "Shut up Heat! You're being your stupid perverted self again!"
He laughed, "So…you've been 'carrying on' with Serph eh?"
Argilla blushed, "None of your business Heat." She then growled, "Now, get this stuff out of here before I snap your neck."
Heat sweat-dropped but grinned nonetheless, "Sure. Whatever you say."
He took their belongings and started to walk out of the room. He stopped just as he was at the door and looked back at her with the most perverted facial expression that only he had been capable of doing, "This room still smells like sex though."
Seeing her livid made him hightail out of there however.
Argilla ground her teeth in severe annoyance.
Serph, having passed Heat at the hall, who, he might add, had given him a thumbs-up, looked at Argilla and saw her livid, "What's up with Heat?"
Argilla rolled her eyes, "He was being his usual perverted self."
Serph raised an eyebrow, his protective and possessive feelings waking, "What did he do?"
She chuckled as she saw his face darken, and shook her head, "Nothing. He just knows about us."
Serph blinked, "Oh."
XXXXX
The two looked on as their icy paradise became steadily farther away from them…They would be back though. They had discovered an entire continent…
Argilla leaned her head on Serph's shoulder.
He wrapped his arms around her and spoke, "So, I suppose it was a successful mission then?"
Argilla chuckled, "That's an affirmative, sir."
Yup.
They had done whatever it was they had set out to do. They had established claim on these lands…They had explored it and had survived it…
And along the way, they had discovered something else…They had discovered themselves and had accepted their feelings.
Moreover, they had finally opened the hidden feelings that they had kept hidden for far too long and had denied too harshly.
They reckoned that this sideline in their lives was more an act of God rather than anything else…It was a bit ironic though.
It had been through tragedy and turbulence that something so beautiful such as their love had been born…and had grown.
They were grateful…They had found one another.
Divided, they would have fallen apart…and would have died. But together, they were strong.
They were one…
And it was because of that that they were able to conquer this land…this test of fate. It had been their love that had allowed them to persevere and remain every vigilant. It had been their feelings for one another that had given them the impetus to fight and survive…
And it was because of those deep-seethed feelings of affection that allowed them to walk that land together, hand in hand…It was love that gave them the courage to brave that unknown world…together.
"Argilla…?"
She turned to him, "Hm…?"
He said nothing, but just slowly took her hands in his and intertwined their fingers tightly. They fit perfectly.
"I'd never forget…"
And neither would she. She would never forget the experiences that she had had with him within that place…Never.
"Me neither." She nodded in congruence.
She smiled at him mischievously, "So, when's our next adventure?"
He blinked and looked at her with bemused eyes, "What…? You want to leave again…?"
The mischief from her eyes suddenly disappeared only to be replaced with eyes that held nothing but truth…and affection, "I'd go anywhere you would Serph…Even to the unknown."
With her other hand, she caressed his face lovingly, letting him nuzzle his face on her palm, groaning.
"Argilla…" he breathed out as he relished on the feel of her hand on his face…Yes. He believed her. They would continue to explore the world together…
Wherever fate might call them next.
She smiled as she saw him, content in her arms and slowly spoke, "I'd go anywhere with you Serph…I'd brave the unknown…with you…"
XXXXX
FIN