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All in all, she felt it'd been a successful first few weeks since her purification. She got back into school, had a job, was re-building connections with her friends and was slowly but steadily piecing some new ground beneath herself to stand on. Some things were still hard. Adjusting to patrolling as a super who couldn't teleport was still a challenge, and sometimes, memories of Machine and Bus, of her past life she could remember, it hit her hard at times. She took it in stride the best she could, and knew it for what it was. Adjusting and healing.

It was Sunday, and Solas was lying on her stomach on the deck of her sailboat, reading Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson. She had picked up the three books in the series that were out at the book store a while ago, and she was sucked into the story and the characters. Especially the sections about the character named Kaladin. It was amazing storytelling.

She was nearing the end of the second book, and had the third one close at hand, rapidly turning the pages.

Solas had paused in her reading when she heard footsteps on the dock, and she looked up when, on the other side of the plastic covering of the sailboat, she could see a figure right outside. She nearly dropped her book when she heard the voice.

Oh. Well. Then.

She was stunned for a moment, and hated the way her heart beat a little faster as she marked her page. She dropped the book and stood, making her way over to where the plastic parted to let people on and off. Solas pulled the flap aside and stared at the man, a brow quirking.

"You know, I'd say that's rude to drop in unannounced, but considering it's all you did in ballet get up, I shouldn't be surprised." Briefly, a corner of her lips pulled up, and after a moment, she backed up to let him on the boat, holding the plastic flap open for him. There was a notable degree difference from the dock to the deck. Where as it was winter outside, it was between a very nice 70-80 on the boat, evidenced by Solas only wearing a long t-shirt and stockings with garters.

"Would you like something to drink? There's water, coffee, juice---or I can bust out the bourbon."

Well, she partly cheated by writing everything she wouldn't possibly remember down. Even if she didn't remember, didn't mean it didn't happen, and she trusted what she wrote. Solas snorted softly. "Wind." She echoed. "Mhm. Let's try a different element, hm?" She teased, and didn't even have time to pour herself a glass as he knocked back his. Well, she wasn't complaining, especially not when she found herself pressed between the little kitchen counter and him. There went her heart, palpitating, at his proximity and contact.

She didn't hesitate though, and her hands reached up to rest on his chest for a moment. "That's an open ended question." She murmured, her hands sliding up. "But---" Pale fingers slid along tanned skin as her hands moved to cup the back of his neck. "I know what you're asking." One hand stayed there, while the other ran through the buzzed hair. "And the answer is intensely, but, Malysh, there's something I'm waiting to hear before this goes any further." She smiled a bit, lips brushing the corner of his.

She couldn't help but laugh, genuinely, eyes creasing in amusement. "I could have forgotten nearly everything again, but that, I would make certain to remember, come hell or high water." Her heart was beating faster, but even at the teasing, she just smiled. She had time, now. They had time. No more stolen moments on opposite sides, and no more secrets to keep. "Oh, it's no problem for me to be specific, Malysh, and your memory is fine, it's just selective." Solas teased back, but here, she was more than happy to repeat herself.

Especially since he asked, as well.

"I want to date you, Sergei Vetrov. Exclusive, because I won't share you anymore. Because it's all or nothing for me. Because I've had a taste of how good it could be. Because I can't remember first hand you smiling and grinning, and I want the chance to be able to do it again and remember it. I want to make new memories with you." Her brows lifted as she looked at him.

She didn't disagree with that assessment. They weren't as good, but they helped. Of course he thought long and hard. She didn't doubt that he probably threw himself into work during the past few weeks, too. It was just what he did.

Holy hell. She wondered if it was possible for her heart to just stop, because she felt like it might, hearing him say those words, and it was okay that they weren't his forte. They were still perfect.

Solas' own hands pressed harder against him, and her body pressed harder against his. She met him force for force, and she just felt happy. Sergei had been with her from the beginning, even if she couldn't remember it. Had been with her through every iteration of her existence. Knew why she was the way she was now, accepted that, and a part of what made it easy to be with him, was that he didn't miss the person she used to be. He wanted her as she was now.

She did have one more thing to say to him, though, and it was important to her. Her lips parted from his, and she paused for a moment before kissing him briefly once more. "Sergei." She said. "If, in the future, if things change and if you're not happy---if you find that you don't want this anymore, I will let you go. I won't force you to stay, and I won't force you to hold onto this. Having been forced like I have---I could never do that to someone else, especially not to you. This is a promise from me to you." And now that she had told him this, she felt peace.

"Alright." Solas said against his mouth, and grinned. "I'm ready to show you what I do remember, Malysh, from all those times I had my way with you in the backseat."