A couple hours later, she was curled up in the chair they'd been sharing and making out in while watching the cams, with the com next to her. The damned frisbee had started sending stupid data again, and it needed to be checked, and maybe replaced. Rhys had followed through on going alone, so now she was monitoring here, and listening.
"Babe, you almost there yet? I don't want you to be out, alone, too long." She was actually a little fretful about this.
Pao
He had bundled up as best he could, but nothing matched the warmth of her body and being huddled up together in that observation room together. Rhys made do, however, and as promised went off to fix a finnicky Frisbees on his own. In his mind it probably wouldn't take that long, minus the trip he had to make to the nearest gas station half an hour away, so it didn't seem like that big a deal in the long run.
"Almost there," he said, destination already in sight. "I'll try and make this quick. Can't account for anything crazy happening but I'd give it another hour or somethin' like that, counting travel time."
Aria
She had to control the urge to brush her fingers along the comm, not wanting to give him a burst of static, but hearing him out there made her wish, in some ways, despite the cold, she'd gone with him. She didn't like being alone, especially not now, and in this place? Somehow, knowing she was alone in this building with no help for miles when he was out doing this? It felt creepier then normal.
She was very glad for the comm, at least, so she could hear him, because it made her feel a little more stable.
"Good... You got directions to the gas station in your phone? Does it have a translator for you?" She sounded a little concerned. "I doubt the gas station staff speak anything but Russian, and this is such a... suspicious country."
Pao
The concern in her voice made him smile though it added a bit of anxiety to the anxiety he was already feeling. He was used to being on his own but he wasn't used to all of this...isolation, so it was new and a bit nerve-racking.
"Nah, phone's low on battery so I went old school. Used a map stashed inside the snowmobile." After a moment of silence, save for maybe the sound of the running vehicle, he added, "Just got here. I'll just hold up a number and give the guy money, no translation needed." Though she wasn't there to see it, Rhys smirked and parked at a pump, turned off the mobile and ran inside.
"Hold up, babe."
"Hey--" there was a pause and some rustling, and then, "Oh! You speak English? Awesome. Yeah, just gonna fill up there. ... Great, thanks."*
Aria
"All right... Just be careful." She didn't want the Russian police or whatever trying to come find them because Suspicious American! was buying gas. But when she heard him talking to the station attendance in English, her heart untied itself from one of the nervous knots it had been in. She waited in patience, and only spoke again once he was back on the snowmobile and moving.
"That was unexpected and interesting... But good to know. At least there's someone who speaks English, which suggests to me a decent number of non-Russians come through here enough to make it worth knowing. Good..."
She didn't want to have to break him out of prison, after all.
"So you have a spare in the bag just in case, right?" She just wanted him done and back as soon as possible. Frankly she was tempted to just suggest he switch it out and bring the janky one back for inspection at the Outpost, but she didn't want him to think she was too weak to handle herself alone.
Pao
His laugh likely went through a bit static-y as he went, and he shrugged. "Kid sounded like he hated his life being there," said the brunette as he zoomed on through toward lake and the tree. He was hoping it would be as easy as swapping things out, but often that wasn’t the case. "Maybe it's some kind of family thing?"
At the question of a spare he glanced over his shoulder, "Yeah, I brought two just in case," came his reply. "I fig---d I c---- --eck the rest of 'em and the came---, too, m--be s--- a trip."
Aria
"Could be... Probably a sucky job, honestly, in good weather, and in this it is probably pure hell." Her tone was sympathetic for the poor kid.
She nodded along at first, then froze as the comm started to fritz. "Babe... You're cutting out... Is everything ok?"
Pao
"Hm?" He slowed down and tapped at the earpiece. "How 'bout now?"
He glanced around as well, the surrounding at this point just being lots of snow and ice; the trees were just a distant line of green all around at this point. "I'm in a clearing, is that better? I think I see the lake up ahead..."
And what he also saw up ahead was a larger blue...entity...floating above the lake. It was likely out of the camera's view but he had to ask. "Uh...babe...you see anything on the cameras?"
Aria
"That's better..." She sounded honestly relieved once he came back in clear.
She was about to respond to the comment about clearings when she noticed some blue sparkles in the camera.
When he asked, she shivered, extremely nervous now. "Some of those dancing blue lights, babe... More than one. Why do you ask?"
Pao
He came to a stop, wiping whatever was on his goggles before squinting into the distance in hopes of getting a clearer picture of what was possibly waiting for him. Sure enough, after inching a little bit closer it certainly was just a large cluster of the blue orbs that they originally saw the first time they got out there, but large as in about as tall as the tree and at least twice as wide.
"Dancing blue lights look like someone super-glued them together," he said, trying to calm himself as he got a bit closer. "Nothin' on the lake?" He was half hoping he was just seeing things, really; Zephira was doubting enough for the both of them that he'd be that lucky.
Aria
She was gripping the table and staring hard at the screens, eyes trying to make out anything on the lake. "No... It's not really showing very far out though... These cams need more detail and the ability to zoom or something..." She was trying so hard not to panic.
She should have gone with him. She should be at his side right now... If he got hurt out there, alone, she'd never forgive herself.
She managed to control her voice, however, mostly, as she spoke, so all he'd hear was a tremble in her words, instead of the full depth of her fear. "Are they doing anything, Babe? Do you want to come get me so I can guard your back?"
Pao
"Nah, I should be good..." he said while still staring intently at the thing on the lake. It looked like it was just floating there so he figured it was probably harmless, got off the mobile and started fishing for the frisbees. Once he got one he started testing it, making sure to keep an eye on the things in the distance.
"I'll be in and out as quick and quietly as I can," he said, a little smile on his face when he heard the tremble in her voice. "Can you tell me which Frisbees is acting out?"
Aria
"If you're sure..." She said, just loud enough that he could hear her, her fingers clenching tightly enough into the wood that she actually was causing the edge of the table to splinter a little, though she didn't realize it.
At his request, she began to go through the system, however, then said "I believe it's the one to the South/Southeast of the tree." She eyed the system. "Should have the designation 579C34J."
Pao
"579C34J..." he chanted while he did the tests.
And then for a split second he lost focus and sighed. "Kinda wish you were here, though, babe," he said, a bit quietly but over the comm it was probably loud and clear. Rhys went quiet again after another sigh. Each time he looked up the thing was in a different spot...and it looked almost like it was getting closer.
< It probably is. >
He blinked and looked down at his stats, relief washing over him when he saw that it was done. "Thing noticed me I think," he said as he hurriedly packed up the laptop and started the engine. "Gotta move. If you hear snow, don't follow me out here, got it? Could just be interference from the thing."
Aria
She had gone back to clenching the table while he chanted. His words, though, made her smile softly. "Wish I was too... Even though I love you for sparing me the cold, I'd rather be at your side..." She didn't add the part about how the worry and the fear was getting to her so badly.
He was out there dealing with the stress already, she didn't need to make it worse.
"What? I... ok... Please hurry back, babe." He might hear a slight cracking sound, because she'd gripped the table so hard a piece of the edge snapped off. She tried to pretend that it hadn't happened, though. "Just... if you get close, and need back up, please tell me..." She couldn't handle it if he protected her to his detriment, it would hurt her so badly.
Pao
"I'll try..."
And that was the last thing he said before the engine revved and he put all of his focus into the task at hand. Experience was a great thing, but nothing ever prepared a hunter for whatever they might possibly encounter out in the field. In this case, the thing had noticed him and almost as soon as he swerved to go around it, it swiveled and chased him.
And it was fast.
"Piece of shi--"
His comm went out before the he finished the phrase.
Aria
Seren cried out in worry... And ran to where she could see out the window, staring out it, fear on her face. She watched, waiting and silently praying to whatever gods might be listening for his safe return, trying not to cry in fear. This was not how this was supposed to go.
He was supposed to come back, cold but fine, and ready for many snuggles and kisses to warm him up.
He wasn't supposed to be chased by the giggling blue lights. She pressed her face to the cold glass, her heart racing.
Pao
The comm didn't crackle back to life until a few hours later.
"Anyone there...?" he said, sounding tired but otherwise fine. "In case you are," because he knew they were on a private channel, "just checking in before this thing officially dies. I got the frisbee replaced finally. Damn thing chased me for a while ... just had to hide in the snow. Should be back soon, don't come o--"
And it cut again.
The brunette showed some hours after that, just past sundown, cold and limping and bloodied but otherwise...fine. The outpost was in plain view already, and from the distance he waved, a weak smile on his incredibly tired face.
Aria
Seren had, after a time, gone back to check on things for some minutes. She heard him, and was going to reply when it cut again. She spent the entire time going back and forth from the windows to the comm, her eyes wide, and occasionally crying.
Part of her wondered if the universe had just decided to prove she was a curse to those she loved, by hurting or taking him from her life.
She very nearly curled up under the couch crying.
When he appeared, she pressed her face to the glass, hard, and waved back, trembling with the relief that flowed over her at the sight of him being ok... Or at least somewhat. The part about being bloodied freaked her out a lot. She ran to the door and pulled it open, waiting for him to make it to her. Once he did, she pulled him inside and began to get his layers off of him, shutting the door with her foot, and trying to check where his injuries were.
Pao
The warmth barely hit him once he was inside, and frankly he could barely move from outright exhaustion but he tried to help her move far enough inside that she could shut the door.
"The snowmobile is still out there," he said through a rather painful groan as she started pulling his layers off. "On its side but still in one piece..." Then he gestured to his bleeding leg. "How that happened. Turned too hard, toppled over and all of the weight was on my leg." Despite everything he felt, from the pain to the cold to the tiredness, he snorted...amused. "Thankful for the FEAR shield or I might never get to lift again with that kinda injury."
Aria
She bit her lip at his injury, and then tucked herself under his arm, to help support him getting any further. "Let's get you to the bathroom. We'll worry about the snowmobile later, we should get that cleaned up and bandaged. Did you, by chance, work out where the first aid kit is?"
She wanted to help him get the pants off but had a feeling it might be a touch triggering, even if he was in pain. But at least if they got to the bathroom, she could get stuff while he got them off.
Pao
It was with a very strained groan that he, with a lot of her help, got himself up off of the floor. He tried really hard not to put too much weight on her, but he wasn't sure how he was doing in that regard since he was more or less numb all over. Mostly his leg, though. "Nope," he managed through gritted teeth. "It's usually in the bathroom though, right?"
It took some time but they made it to the couch and he started pulling more layers off. While the rest of his wasn't too bloodied up, FEAR shield healing and all, he still had other open wounds and bruises of various shapes and sizes on other parts of his body. Zephira wasn't too willing to lend a helping hand beyond just keeping him alive because of his "being blinded and stupidified by love."
Aria
Seren hissed at all of that, and snapped "Your weapon's being a lazy b***h, I see." in anger at the fact that she was letting these smaller wounds continue to hurt him. "Sometimes I wonder about her." She ran to the bathroom, and hunted around until she found the first aid kit, then came back and pulled out the iodine, and cotton balls, then knelt in front of him.
She began to gently, and carefully, cleanse the big wound first, wishing that there was a way to prevent it from stinging. Once she had it fully clean, she pulled out a bandage and began to wrap it carefully around the wound, before securing it in place. She leaned her head against his knee for a moment, still trying not to freak out in her worry for him, but then got back to work on the rest of his wounds.
Pao
He was forcibly paused whenever the iodine seeped deep into the open wound and stung, but he managed conversation well enough. "She's always been that way--sassy and into her way of doing things--I've learned to deal with it. Keeps me on my toes as far as getting injured is concerned." When she leaned against his knee he smiled, again still a bit weak, but grateful that she was there with him now. "Just need a few hours and I'll be all good."
When she was all done bandaging him up he asked for some help to get up, nodding to the bedroom. "Gotta get dressed. Could we maybe just stay in bed for a while, do a late dinner? I'll write up a report about the incident later..."
Aria
She nodded, listening to his words, her face blank with her attempting to both focus on his wounds, and to calm herself. She had spent a little too long worrying about him to just chill easily. Di was whispering words of calm into her mind, which was helping, but she couldn't totally calm down right away. "All right... If you say so. I just... these small wounds are well within Fear Shield prevention level, and with that big one..." She bit her lip, trying not to get nasty at his weapon. It wouldn't help, and would make his life harder. "Never mind."
She stood, slowly, and carefully helped him up, her arm sliding around him to add extra support once he was up. She didn't want him to make the wound hurt more. "Yeah. We can do that, though I was thinking of making some cocoa to help warm you up... If you would prefer to just snuggle, though, we can do that?" Her eyes flickered between his eyes, and the floor, still working on her calm.
Pao
When he was on his feet he easily slipped his arm around her, most of the pain already subsiding now that it was properly bandaged and he wasn't freezing cold. Not to mention not being in survival mode and also now being in her arms...it helped a lot, mentally. Which in turned helped to keep the pain from being the only thing he was focused on.
He wrapped his other arm around her as well, only long enough to hug her properly and give her a quick kiss on the forehead before adjusting himself so hobbling to the room wasn't impossible. "I'll be fine, love," he repeated softly as they went. "Zeph and I... well, as long as she heals me enough that I recover 100% then it's fine. A little pain's a good teacher."
His ears perked at the sound of hot cocoa, and he sheepishly nodded. "Any chance I could have both?"
Aria
She controlled the urge to lean against him in the hug, but it was hard. Instead she leaned up just enough to kiss his cheek, the feeling of his skin against her lips helping her to center and relax a little more. When he was back to leaning a bit on her, she started walking him back to the bedroom, fingers curled a little possessively around him. "If you say so..." Is all she could say, a hint of the worry she'd been in for the time he was gone escaping into her voice.
His request was met with a smile. "I planned to return and snuggle you, I just... wanted to be sure which you wanted first. All right, let's get you comfy, then I'll go make the cocoa and come back. Goof." She helped him into the bed, then brought him his pajamas so he didn't have to get up. She walked to the door, then, when she got there, she turned her head to look back at him. "Oh... and that question you asked me, weeks about, about goof being a term of endearment... of course it is." And then disappeared to the kitchen.
Pao
He sensed the worry and immediately felt apologetic about the whole situation--it being his idea to go out on his own and all. He put it off for now, figuring he could more effectively ease the worry out of her once they were all snuggled up in bed.
Snuggling had somehow become one of his favorite pastimes ever since they started dating. Which was...he wasn't even sure what the proper date, but they could discuss this later. So when she said she'd be back for snuggles and cocoa he smiled a bit brighter as he scooted himself (with quiet groans along the way) onto the bed. And that smile brightened still when she confirmed his theory from that day with the cookies. Those cookies. They hadn't talked about that, but now that she reminded him...
"Good to know," he called after her, then gave an amused huff as he slipped into his PJs and tried to get comfy. It was proving more difficult than usual, but not impossible.
Aria
She chuckled at his response, and got to work on the cocoa. She wasn't making any for herself, right now... Her stomach was still too upset from the past hours... She had lost track... of waiting and worrying. She simply got it prepped and into a nice, big mug, and carried it with care and caution back to the bedroom. She gave him a loving smile, and set the cup on the bedside table for him, then kicked off her shoes.
She didn't bother to change anything else, because being in his arms again, and next to him, was more important than anything else she could imagine on the planet. She carefully climbed over him onto the bed, and then cuddled in close, arms sliding around him, and her face pressing gently into his chest. She didn't want to think about earlier, right then.
Pao
He had just gotten comfortable when she made it back, and he smiled and watched her make her way over to the bed. "Thanks, baby," he said as he eyed the mug, putting off taking any sips until they were settled. Which didn't take nearly as long because as soon as she was beside him he just pulled her in as close as he could without hurting himself, smile soft and apologetic at the way she cuddled in.
"Hey," he whispered as he gave her forehead a little kiss. "Sorry...did I make you worry?" It was more rhetorical because he knew he did...she just had yet to say so.
Aria
The feeling of him wrapped around her was wonderful, and the kiss felt good... But his question made her tense a little, before she nodded. "Yeah... I mean... of course I did." She didn't want to talk about the repeated moments of remembering the accusations of being a curse, or any of that, she just wanted to let the worry go. "I mean, I love you... and you were being chased by an unknown something..."
Her voice got a little thick, as she thought about the hours of waiting, worrying, being terrified that he wasn't coming back. "Losing the comm, I think, made it worse... You couldn't check in, so... I had to just sit, and wait, and hope."
Pao
He nodded, cheek against her hair as he listened. There wasn't anything he could really say...this was the job--their job. If it ever came to a point that she was the one out there, and it would eventually, if he was sitting in an observation room and her comm cut he'd probably need someone to physically hold him back from just running to find and help her.
"Sorry..." was all he could manage, followed by a heavy, guilt-ridden sigh. And then silence for a while before he said, "I'll be more careful if there's a next time. At the least, there won't be for the rest of this trip. Can't promise any future ones, 'cause...well, that's the job."
Aria
She held him as tight as she could without hurting any of his wounds, her head nodding against his chest. "I know, babe... I know. I have to cope with it, but... It doesn't make it any less terrifying. All I could think was 'he has to come back, he has to come back.' because otherwise I think I'd have gone nuts."
A couple tears leaked out, but she refused to let more out, to cry, because he was here, he'd made it, and she wasn't going to ruin that fact by becoming a sobbing mess. "I know you're strong, you're capable, and you've fought so much more then me, it just was hard in those moments of not knowing."
Pao
It was honestly weird for him to be comforting someone about coming back alive and in one piece, only because he'd just...never had to, before. But it was Seren and she'd worried for him way back before they even got this far with anything, so as new as it was it still felt...good. That someone worried for him, though on the flipside he felt like s**t because he'd caused her to worry at all.
When she finished speaking he reached up and gently coaxed her to look up at him, wiping away whatever tears had managed to escape, gaze as loving as it was apologetic. "It'd drive me nuts, too," he said with a sigh. "But I'm here now, safe and sound and in your arms so no more crying?" He gave that weak smile again as he wiped at her cheeks, too.
Aria
She gave a slightly watery chuckle as he wiped her face, and then slipped up, just a little, to give him a soft, loving kiss, her arms tight around him, holding him as close as she could. Finally, when she needed to breath or risk passing out, she pulled away, and took some slow, deep breaths, saying "Yeah... I know. I just... needed to get past it."
She brushed her fingers along his face, the worries and fear slowly fading from her eyes. It was replaced with her love for him, her joy he made it back, and her happiness to be here. She slowly traced his features with her fingers, and murmured "So did... you figure out what the ******** that thing was? Are we likely to see it again when we go to collect the stuff?"
Pao
He was happy to sink into the kiss, eyes closed and not for the first time since they met and fell in love was he thankful that he was alive and able to share these kinds of moments with her. When she pulled away he forced himself to let if only because he needed to breathe, too. "Good," he said, gaze soft and loving and filled with relief as he saw the worry slowly disappear from her eyes while she traced.
Her question got another sigh out of him, and a half-shrug and quiet groan at the motion. "I'm not sure if it was trying to attack me or play with me. There was a lot of creepy giggling, and when I eventually hid in the snow I heard an angry huff and then next thing I know the thing was gone. s**t was fast too, damn. And I dunno, hoping not but there's always that chance."
Aria
"Good is being here with you..." She said, softly and a little teasingly, but mostly honestly. It was good... It was the best thing in her world. The chance to have someone she loved to much was amazing, and that he loved her back was even more so. She hoped to all the gods that if he went down, ever, she was right there at his side to go down with him, because she didn't want to live without him ever again.
Of course, she'd much rather they never go down.
She frowned some as she listened to the description, eyes lost in thought. "Wonder if it's some weird Halloweener, or what. Still. Neither of us are going out alone again, while we're up here." She was utterly firm about that.
Pao
"Could be?" he mused alongside her, then nodded in complete agreement. "Yeah, knowing that that thing's out there, definitely no more venturing out alone." He was right there with her, not wanting them to go down at all. Or at least for as long as they could possibly avoid it; he'd have to just mentally prepare for the day she got called out on assignment without him. That...would very possibly be torture.
"That's settled, so..." with a bit of maneuvering he was able to reach his cocoa and take a sip, a very content "mmm" escaping him before he took a couple more. It did a great job giving him additional warmth, though most of what he got was from her just being beside him, wrapped around him the way that she currently was. After a few more sips he offered her the mug.
"Want some?"
Aria
She nodded, glad he was not going to argue. Being at his back would make her feel better about this, because at least then, they'd have better odds of survival, and would know what was going on with the other. She was trying not to think about getting separated from him for duty.
She knew it would probably happen, but it wasn't something she wanted to face the thought of. Whether he left without her, or she left without him, they'd spend the entire time worried about each other. If only it were possible to be sure they were always on missions together.
She chuckled, though, when he decided that having settled all of that meant it was time to indulge in the cocoa. She didn't move unless she had to, because she had no desire to let him go right now. She was, however, kind of glad they couldn't indulge in... deeper things, right now, or she'd be tempted, just for the sake of being closer... But that might hurt his wounds, so it was good she had all the reasons not to try.
When he offered her some, she gently shook her head. "My stomach got kind of... upset... while worrying. Gonna be a bit before I can handle more then water, really." She paused, then frowned at him. "And don't you go blaming yourself. It's not your fault a monster attacked."
Pao
He was in the middle of taking another sip when she frowned, and for a cute reason, too, so he smirked and set his mug down. "I know," he said, then leaned down to kiss her. "I won't, but the cocoa's good so just cocoa kisses for now?"
In the back of his mind he was hoping her appetite would come back soon, but it wasn't an issue he could force. Just support was all he could offer, all of his support for as long as she'd need it. So he shoved the thoughts away and kissed her again, briefly smiling into it before just putting his focus on her again. His grip around her loosened so she could adjust enough to make things easier for the both of them, but aside from that and occasionally pulling away for a breath...he really would happily do this until they both got too sleepy or too hungry or they got to that line again.
Aria
She chuckled some, glad he didn't blame himself, and then kissed him back, mmming softly at the taste of him, and the cocoa too. As soon as his grip was looser, she moved up just enough that he didn't have to be constantly leaning, and kissed him back. She enjoyed the kissing and the close snuggling, though she did occasionally stop to encourage him to finish his cocoa before it got too cold, because it was better still warm.
And because the taste on his lips was wonderful. It was helping her stomach settle, this time with him, and even the taste without having to drink it, so she was enjoying this.
It was, possibly, an hour or more later when she was about to kiss him again, but was stopped by the not very common sound of her stomach growling.
Pao
Time could have stopped, reversed, or fast-forwarded and he wouldn't have cared as long as she was still there with him, kissing and snuggling and just generally doing something that people did with the person they loved. When he heard the quiet little growl though, he caught her eye and his smile widened slowly and he kissed her just once more.
"I'd say that's a good sign," he said as he hesitantly pulled away. As much as he wanted to keep on making out with her, the fact that her body was actually asking to be fed was way, way more important. Still, he kissed her briefly again, and would keep on kissing her until she was completely out of his reach. "Dinner?"
Aria
She blushed a little, at the sound, and sighed softly as he pulled away from the kisses. She mmm'd when he gave her another, and slowly sat up after, her eyes soft with happiness. "Yeaaah I suppose... Not sure what to make tonight. Let's go see what looks good." She climbed over him and out of the bed, leaning to kiss him before she stood, then stretched, slowly, her back popping a bit, before offering a hand up.
"If you have any requests, though, now's a good time to let me know, so I can search specifically for those ingredients."
Pao
"Just surprise me, babe," he said with a gentle smile as he took the offered hand. In the hour they were just lying there resting (mostly) he'd healed up a pretty good deal; not 100% yet but the limp wasn't as obvious, and it didn't hurt as much to move around. "Only request would probably be for more cocoa and more of that," he gestured at the bed, "later."
Because no, he would never get tired of it. And also because they really had to make up for those 11 days they wasted not seeing each other. Or at least, in his mind they did.
