Each of her fingers were smothered in dirt she looked down to see her outfit was horrendously filthy. Steadily she rose up now on her knees, Her body ached horribly but before she could make another move Gladiolus held his hand out to her.
His large calloused hand was gigantic compared to her hand, Her slender fingers held on tight as he pulled her up off the ground.
With a anguished gasp she leaned back against tree for support. "Are you okay? Do you need my help?" Asked Gladiolus gently grabbing both her shoulders She took slow deep breathes as she held her head up trying to keep her composure.
"I'm fine thank you Gladio…I got to get back to hunting…" she said as she lightly pushed him away. "I messed up..."
"Yeah deciding to go down a wet slick hill wasn't a great idea." He smirked.
"Yeah don't remind me…thanks." Said Qedus as she began to stagger away.
"You can't fight in your condition..." Protested Gladiolus as he followed behind her. She turned around now irritated, why couldn't anyone let her handle her own she thought, That irritation quickly turned to anger.
"Gladio seriously could you leave me alone?" She snarled turning heel towards the lake nearby. Two large Catoblepases stomped around in the lake that she walked towards. She groaned loudly as she rested her head against a rock nearby. "Go away…I don't need your help." She said knowing Gladiolus was hovering behind her.
"This isn't the time to let your pride get yourself hurt." He said his tone more serious.
"This is like the sixth time you have got in my business! What is your problem?" Asked Qedus now spinning around throwing her hands up. The last few months they had bumped into each other a decent amount. A few times her and her brothers teamed up with them on some jobs. On numerous occasions Gladiolus had somehow in someway got involved with her. "Why are you here? Did you follow me?"
"Really…no I didn't, I'm here because Wiz called us about the black Chocobo egg that we saved it hatched today." Said Gladiolus now his brows furrowing together in frustration.
"I can see handle myself! I need to!" She shouted.
"Your being ridiculous!" Finally he snapped his voice raised and his posture tense.
"No I'm not!" She yelled once more.
"I was just trying to help!" He yelled his Amber eyes burning holes through her.
Qedus breathed in hard as she glared just as hard back. "Your Noctis's shield not mine." with those words she shoved past Gladiolus and walked past Ignis, Noctis and Prompto who stared her down. Each of their eyes asking so many questions as she walked by.
After she defeated the rest of the Voretooths she collected her gil from Wiz. It was getting dark, The nights were dangerous in Eos. She knew she needed to seek shelter, There was a Haven nearby and also the caravan. The closest was the caravan so she made her way towards it only to see it was already taken by none other then the prince and his Bros.
Prompto seen her approaching and waved her over. "Hey Qedus!" She forced a smile and made her ways towards him acknowledging everyone but Gladiolus. He gestured for her to sit and she nodded in agreement, Happy to finally be able to sit and chill.
"How's it going everyone?" She asked as she stretched.
"Fine but may I ask why your soaked?" Asked Noctis.
"I washed off in the lake…my home is not to far from here. Not sure if I'm going there…its to late."
"It's dangerous out there…why not call your brothers?" Asked Prompto.
"They are busy talking a late night hunt…however Leenox pestered me to get to a Haven at least." Repiled Qedus.
"Why not stay in the caravan with us, I'm sure we can make room." Asked Prompto.
"I wouldn't want to be bother however thank you...I'm going to get going." Said Qedus standing. Everyone except for Gladiolus protested heavily asking her to stay but she refused. After a few more words she whistled for Huey and made her way down the road.
Huey trotted along the road, As Qedus cursed herself for being so hard headed. How was she going to seek shelter in a Haven without any tent. She arrived at Ausace Haven, She sat down on the hard stone of the Haven top. Tossing her satchel behind her head she gazed up at the stars. Her eyes grew heavy as she drifted off for a few moments only to be woken up.
"Qedus wake up now!" Roared a angered Gladiolus who stood above her. She woke up quickly, Completely shook. When she realized it was him she leaped up getting up close and personal.
"Stop following me! I can handle myself!" She yelled just as loud shoving him backwards.
"No I'm not going to stop until you tell me why you hate me!" He demanded.
Qedus was taken back by his accusation. "I don't hate you…" She sighed her anger disappeared. "Why do you care what happens to me? I'm not your concern."
"I know...I know…I just…your cool I like you Qedus. Your strong...and smart when your not trying to get yourself killed." He said crossing his arms as his Amber eyes softened.
"I'm okay Gladio…thank you but I'm okay." She said.
Gladiolus glared once more as he grabbed the bottom of her shirt raising it up. She frantically tried to push him away but looked down to see a huge bruise across her chest. He let go only to grab her wrist showing her the inflamed bite marks the Voretooth had left.
She shoved away avoiding his eyes. "I'm fine!" She yelled her voice breaking.
"When is the last time you have used a potion? You need to also clean your wounds…your just like Lark…" He said shaking his head.
He was right, She was being reckless. Qedus looked down holding in tears but her anger was still there. "Please don't make me fight you."
"Shortcake you wouldn't win." Said Gladiolus with a smirk.
"Wanna bet?" She looked up and smirked back.
"On?" Asked Gladiolus.
"If I win you leave me alone and stop trying to be my shield." She demanded.
"I'm not going to fight you." Gladiolus said sternly as his eyebrows furrowed.
"You don't have a choice..." She said in almost a whisper. Before he could respond she leaped up delivering a kick to his chest. Her kick knocked him back but he rebounded quickly only to be met with fists. Qedus swung delivering a left hook then a right hook over and over but she couldn't land a hit. He reached to grab her, only to be knocked down by a a sweep kick.
Immedately she hopped on to him placing one of her brass knuckle daggers to his throat. He held up his chin trying to avoid the blade as he lay down both her legs holding down his arms. "We'll look at this..." She said with a sneer. Suddenly Gladiolus countered her rolling on top of her and ripping off her brass knuckles dagger.
Qedus lay underneath him her breathing heavy as her sneer turned into a grin. "You win...I'm to tired…" she mumbled. He didn't show any emotion, As he placed his hand across her cheek. Gently he caressed it as his breathing began to get heavy as well.
She didn't know what he was doing, She lay there looking into his eyes for answers. She could feel her cheeks get hot underneath his strong calloused hand. The silence ended as Gladiolus stopped what he was doing and slid off to the side of her. She rose up now sitting beside him and looking at him.
He seemed troubled by something as he looked away. "I consider you a friend Qedus. I've known you for a few months now and you and your brothers...well have grown on me." He rested his hands on his knees. "I'm sorry that I get to involved at times...it's just I see how you act at times...your extremely reckless. I jump in because it's what I'm used to…I was born to protect it's in my blood. I care about you okay…even if we don't see each other everyday…im glad Cor introduced me to you…your great." He said not looking at her.
"I want to be able to take care of myself...I have to always be checked up on by my brothers. When I know I can handle myself Gladio…I don't need any help." She said. "But…thank you for your kind words…Gladiolus…I hate that your so blunt at times…your so honest..."
"That's a bad thing?" Asked Gladiolus smiling.
"No…I'm sorry Gladiolus...I'm sorry I've been so stubborn and mean towards you…"
"You are really stubborn but it's okay…" He reached out to her pulling her slowly into a hug. She didn't now how to feel about the hug or how he was acting or what he said but she couldn't deny the comfort being in his arms brought to her.