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strangetrip2018-02-01 06:39 pm
st_ingofthehundred) wrote in strangetrip2018-02-01 06:39 pm
Entry tags:
[GP] Check-in Day: Lurking Out of Habit
The first of the month arrived and Kash took up his usual station at the edge of the Cafe with his eyes on the door. It had been his habit since he first arrived and learned that arrivals had a pattern, and he had kept to it when he realized that a lot of people showed up injured. It had nothing to do with expecting Zahra to come for him any day now. Nothing to do with wanting to be right here should she arrive. He was just doing his work as a healer.
From the new library, he had acquired a text on modern medicine. It sat in front of him, a cup of coffee by his hand that Kitty kept full of fresh, steaming brew, and a plate of chocolate chip cookies by his other hand. He wore the symbol that he refused to consider holy, his dark spear rested against the thigh closer to the wall, and he had prepared all of his healing spells, and a few damage and area of effect spells in case anything came through that posed a threat.
Kitty was on-shift, which used to mean covering the bar, the cafe, and the pool bar. Out of habit, she still watched all of them, but these days, she had plenty of help. Ignis or Emma were almost always in the kitchen and someone usually tended the bakery counter.
In short, there was absolutely nothing unusual about the day, Kitty or Kash. It was exactly like every other arrival day. The only exception, if it was one, was that Kash was almost as interested in his book as Kitty was her research.
From the new library, he had acquired a text on modern medicine. It sat in front of him, a cup of coffee by his hand that Kitty kept full of fresh, steaming brew, and a plate of chocolate chip cookies by his other hand. He wore the symbol that he refused to consider holy, his dark spear rested against the thigh closer to the wall, and he had prepared all of his healing spells, and a few damage and area of effect spells in case anything came through that posed a threat.
Kitty was on-shift, which used to mean covering the bar, the cafe, and the pool bar. Out of habit, she still watched all of them, but these days, she had plenty of help. Ignis or Emma were almost always in the kitchen and someone usually tended the bakery counter.
In short, there was absolutely nothing unusual about the day, Kitty or Kash. It was exactly like every other arrival day. The only exception, if it was one, was that Kash was almost as interested in his book as Kitty was her research.
Re: Zahra's Assigned Threads
It hit her like a punch to the stomach and had she not been sitting down, she would have needed to. She looked over his face, his expression, and it became clear to her why he was looking at her the way he was. She sat there for a moment, quiet as she looked at him, before she leaned in to kiss him, hand cupping the side of his face. Hopefully she didn't taste too much like her own blood.
Re: Zahra's Assigned Threads
Re: Zahra's Assigned Threads
Zahra felt a twinge of guilt even though there was no control on her end for what had happened. She held him tight, a soft 'shhh' sound pressed passed her lips. She let him hold her for as long as he needed to. "I'm here now."
Re: Zahra's Assigned Threads
"It's gonna take awhile for that to sink in," he said, and meant I've missed you like breathing. There'd be time for that later. He leaned in to kiss her again, softly, like a prayer, and then sat back to look her over properly.
"You kept touching your stomach. Does it hurt still?"
Re: Zahra's Assigned Threads
She paused with the question. It was then she fully realized there was more than just a gap. If he had no idea why she was hurt then he had no idea about the baby. "It doesn't hurt." She tried to read his face for a moment before she slowly took off enough of her armour so her linen was left on her top and he could touch it. "But you should probably look at it. You'll have to pay close attention."
Re: Zahra's Assigned Threads
So when she stripped off her armor (with what help she'd let him give), he did as she bid, his fingers tender over her abdomen. The healer in him noted it had good tone and nothing felt distended or swollen, there was no bruising, and she'd put on a few pounds since he'd seen her last (which was good by him).
The lover who'd missed her desperately, reveled in the softness of her skin beneath his fingers. He bent to press his lips to her curve of her belly and breathe in her scent. It wasn't until he rubbed his cheek against her that he felt it.
Kash blinked, sat up abruptly, and began his exam again. "Z?"
Re: Zahra's Assigned Threads
There were a lot of unanswered questions right now and she had no idea what this Kash knew or didn't know except he obviously had no idea about the baby. Zahra did know, however, that he loved her and she him, so she wasn't necessarily nervous about him rejecting their child or anything. But it would be a shock to him and she knew that.
She gave him a soft smile that was warm and more delicate than she let others usually see. "It seems I'm full of surprises today for you, my love." There was the faintest hint of apology to her voice that he had to deal with all of it at once.
Re: Zahra's Assigned Threads
His mind flashed back to her hand on her stomach. Not probing. Protecting.
We're both all right. Not him and her. She and the...
Baby.
Z was pregnant. With his child. His child.
He blinked again, curved his hand over that small swell. "Did we... was it planned?" Another thought struck him almost as hard. "When...? How long ago did we kill Thordak for you?"
Re: Zahra's Assigned Threads
Zahra felt relief though she hadn't realized she was holding onto something until that moment. The slightest of exhales was given when he reaction seemed positive. Of course it would be, she scolded herself.
At the question, her brow furrowed slightly again. So much had happened since then. "Thordak... that was quite some time ago. All the dragons were defeated." It seemed so silly to say this to him as if it was for the first time. "We were defending Vasselheim from the god Venca when you and I..." When they both fell to their deaths, or near deaths anyways. She would just have to hope someone friendly found them before someone who wasn't or they would be dead for sure.
Re: Zahra's Assigned Threads
And then it bled away on a wave of relief. His death ward. It had been on all of them. He had protected her then and she was with him now.
"I'm going to need you to explain everything to me as clearly as you can, baby," he tried to tease but didn't get most of the words out before he'd drawn her into his arms again. "But it can wait. First I'm going to introduce you to a self-filling bath, get you clothes, and something to eat. I'll get Lillith to bring it so I don't have to leave."
She wouldn't have to see anyone else until she could pull herself back together. And he could hold himself together until she was ready for them to leave.
Re: Zahra's Assigned Threads
"All of those things sound lovely." She still hadn't quite processed the reality that other people were here, including her cousin Lillith. Still, the familiar brought comfort and the promise of a self-filling bath was like music to her ears.
"I'll tell you anything you want to know. I don't know the whole story." She knew enough. Everyone knew enough to fight against Vecna and to help Vox Machina win against him.
Re: Zahra's Assigned Threads
Re: Zahra's Assigned Threads
She nuzzled the side of his face, feeling a pit in her chest again as if she was somehow responsible for him being here without her. "I'm sorry. If I'd have known, I'd have come sooner."
Re: Zahra's Assigned Threads
Re: Zahra's Assigned Threads
Zahra smiled with a hint of playfulness. Even at his worst, he could make her smile with his comments. "I'll be certain to apologize quite thoroughly to you, my love."