Guys, I am so, so, SO sorry for the long period in between updates.

*on the verge of tears

PLEASE FORGIVE MEEEE *bows repeatedly


Previously...

She kept her eyes open and unseeing for a long time, remembering the brief anger in his eyes as he pulled her out of the rubble. The smoke had been black and heavy, and the haze of heat had made her dizzy, but it was unmistakable. Kyle had always called her brash and irresponsible. No wonder he blamed her for making a bad situation worse. But did he really have to call her out on it? It was bad enough that he thought she was useless in fights, needed to be protected and rescued like a stupid damsel in distress. But to say, with that burning contempt in his voice, that she had been irresponsible, had lost her temper, had caused all this…

Frederica closed her eyes, letting the tears squeeze out, hot and painful.

And then they were wiped away, just like that, with gentle and calloused fingers that Frederica would have recognized anywhere.


Frederica jerked back, frightened. No, she wasn't frightened, just -

"Fuu, what's wrong?" Kyle caught her hand before she could get away, in a grip that was far stronger than she remembered. Was he still angry? She couldn't tell. Slightly panicked, she sat up, ignoring the rush of pain to her arm and her head. The world swam in front of her eyes. All of her trademark confidence was completely gone, and Frederica couldn't even bring herself to look up at him.

He tried again, this time pulling on her hand, getting her attention. "Look, I'm sorry. I - Fuu, what's wrong?"

She shook her head again, hot tears spilling from her eyes. Damn it all, why did he have to show up now? They wouldn't stop, these tears.

"It's not your fault - "

"Yes it is!" Frederica wiped at her eyes furiously, wishing that she could get angry. If she was angry, then she wouldn't be so scared right now. "Why are you here? Don't you need to clear out the mess?"

"Yes, but - "

"Well then, go back there! They need you."

Kyle sighed audibly, and then let go of her hand before pulling her into a tight hug. "Well, they said that you needed me more."

He was warm, smelled faintly of charcoal and soot and something else that was comforting and familiar. Frederica was surprised how much smaller she was compared to him. Surely last time his shoulder's hadn't been quite so broad. And now his chin rested on top of her head comfortably. How much more would he grow, now that he was 19 and no longer the boy she had played video games and sparred with? How much longer could she protect him and everyone, now that they were moving away from their dangerous yet familiar life in the Root?

"Meddling bastards," she murmured into his chest, feeling the annoying urge to weep again. "I said I wanted to be left alone."

His hand moved slowly into her hair, as if he was unused to doing this. And even though Frederica could see and feel nothing but the slow rise and fall of his chest, she could hear him smile indulgently. "Yeah," he said, gently combing his fingers through her hair, playing with the blonde strands. The feeling soothed Frederica immeasurably, and she pressed against him with a soft, happy sound.

Immediately, he tensed, with a sharp intake of breath. But before she could lift her head, Kyle asked her in a hard voice: "Do you know how scared everyone was?"

Frederica stiffened as well, her hands curling into fists. Here it comes, she thought.

"I know I shouldn't have lost my temper! I know I shouldn't have yelled at you, or blamed you for losing control, but still! The eastern wing is expendable. It was never meant to last. Why did you have to risk your life over something like that? Don't you know how much you scared Marie and the others?" He was holding her too tightly now. Frederica held still, knowing that she deserved every bit of it.

The eastern wing was gone because of her.

She had been angry back then, angry enough to forget that everyone she cared about was still in danger. Angry enough to want to burn the rot out of the building at any cost, to scorch the cursed damp and mold all away. She had lost too many things already, and she wasn't ready to lose another part of her home as well.

Finally, in a whisper, she managed to say something that had never been part of her vocabulary before. "Kyle...I'm sorry."

Kyle certainly recognized the monumental event that had just happened. He let go of her instantly, looking down at her with a bewildered sort of incredulity. Frederica was astonished to realize that she was upset again. Damnit! How long was she going to stay this dejected and weak?

"I didn't mean - " he started.

No, wait. Why was she the one apologizing? Frederica drew herself up indignantly, interrupting him. "That's only for slapping you though. I'm not going to apologize for anything else, and don't you dare - stop smiling like that!"

But Kyle laughed instead, pulling her into another big hug. "Glad you're back, Fuu."

"You're not angry?" She asked, surprised. His soft white hair got into her face and was distracting, so she leaned back to look in his face instead. "I thought you were mad at me."

"Not like that." Kyle looked away, then back at her, then away again. And then he said something that wasn't in his vocabulary either. "I was scared."

"What?"

"Scared of losing you, I mean."

Frederica could say nothing to that, only stare at Kyle with a half-formed blush on her cheeks. He fiddled with a strand of her hair, clearing his throat, refusing to look at her again. "Fuu, I...what I'm saying is...I - "

And then, at that exact instant, the door burst open and Van, Marie, and Shao fell gracelessly onto the tiled floor.


HA! They didn't even kiss!

Sorry about that though, the next update will be faster, I promise!