Chapter Text
“Wait, you guys actually kissed?!”
Kehda groaned, “I just told you like ten different things and that’s all you heard?”
“I wouldn’t say all but it’s pretty high up there.”
Kenyatta took one final look at Kehda and gently applied salve to the laceration under her lip as she continued, “You two would look cute together. Plus you’re lucky for finding someone with experience in that field. First kiss with Nai’o? Not so great,” she feigned dramatic disgust at the thought while speaking.
“I just don’t know what it means,” Kehda thought of how to phrase her words without the secrets slipping, “We haven’t really talked about it.”
“No duh, ‘cause your mouth was busy with something else,” Kenyatta smirked at her friend teasingly.
“Is it bad if I hope it happens again?”
Kenyatta giggled, “Usually that means it was pretty great. Oh wait, is that not what you meant?”
Kehda’s head spun from the memory, “I think that’s a bonus, but like… how do I let him know I like him?”
“Do you want the ‘proper’ answer or do you want to know how to make him lose his mind?”
Kehda considered answering ‘both’, “How did Nai’o tell you?”
“He gave me a box of chocolates and a bouquet of heartdrop lilies. You don’t have to do all that though, just give him one or the other so he knows your feelings are serious. Unless he’s just for fun and you realized I’m the real catch here.”
Kehda laughed and playfully pushed her friend away from her, “So that’s why Zeki always has those heart shaped boxes out on display? And I just… hand it to him,” doubt rattled her voice, feeling suddenly as though the knowledge she had absorbed and learned through books was not enough, “What do I say?”
“From what I’ve heard, he’s crazy about you. Just tell him how you feel, and if he turns you down then I’ll run away with you instead.”
The two went to Zeki’s together, Kenyatta tagging along for emotional support as Kehda handed the box to the Grimalkin behind the counter.
“Woah, kid, chocolates? Who’s the lucky guy,” his ears twitched towards Kenyatta in unspoken suggestion, “Or gal?”
“Oh, well, it’s… I’d rather not say until it’s official, you know?“
“I respect your discrepancy,” he said with a laugh, “I could use some extra help sometime if you ever want to put that discrepancy to good use.” He said the second part when only Kehda could hear, Kenyatta browsing on the far end of the store.
She thanked Zeki, feeling slightly awkward by the vague proposition, and was glad to find Kenyatta back beside her.
Kehda tucked the box safely into her bag before the two exited the store together.
“You’re up, heartbreaker. And remember,” Kenyatta gave her one final boost of confidence for encouragement as she pushed her towards the direction of the Inn, “If he doesn’t want them, he’s an idiot and I can and will make his life hell. And then we will run away together and live a life of danger.”
Kehda hesitantly stepped into the Inn, and as soon as she saw Reth stand in behind the counter as usual her healing lip began to throb. She considered just turning and running before he noticed her there, but he saw her immediately.
“Hey, Sweet Tooth! Just couldn’t stay away from me huh,” he said with a playful wink as she dragged her feet towards the bar and hopped on one of the stools, bag plopped on the counter in front of her.
“I brought you something.”
He smiled, continuing his work nonchalantly, “I hope it’s more of those carrots, we completely sold out of soup when I used them! Unless it’s blueberries, that would be great too.”
“Well, it’s uh… can I come around back there?”
Reth turned and raised an eyebrow at her curiously, “Yeah, is everything okay?”
Instead of answering she grabbed her bag in one hand and walked into the kitchen behind the bar as Reth walked in to meet her through the adjoining door to behind the bar, “Is this about me calling you Sweet Tooth?” His heart dropped to his feet, “Or did I take it too far the other day? I’m really sorry if I made you feel uncomfortable.”
She blushed and looked down at her bag, “It’s about those things.”
Reth sighed and dropped his head in defeat, “I prepared myself for this, just make it quick, please.”
She looked at him confused, “Huh? What are you talking about?”
He met her gaze and raised an eyebrow, “You’re not here to tell me I’m not worth your time and you hate me?”
She laughed at the notion that he would be just as nervous as she was and reached into her bag, “Close your eyes.”
He closed his eyes hesitantly as she asked, his expression still twisted from nerves, “Please just make it quick if you’re secretly a sell sword.”
She tentatively lifted the box out of her bag, setting her bag gently onto the floor and stepping over to Reth.
Gently taking his hand from his side, she lifted it to be palm up in front of his chest. She stole a glance up to his face and smiled, taking in his handsome features before letting out a shaky exhale and setting the box onto his palm, “You can open your eyes now.”
He blinked his eyes open and looked incredulously at the golden tinted heart shaped box in his hand, bringing his other hand up to hold onto it carefully, “This is…. for me?”
Kehda stumbled for words when she saw the expression on his face, “Y-yeah, I talked with Kenyatta and, well, she said… she said this was how these things work,” she felt so flustered she was on the verge of tears, cold regret filling her veins, “If you don’t want them I understand and I’ll take them back-“
“No! I just… you sure about this one, Sweet Tooth?” He looked at her with worry, she could have her pick of anyone. Reth felt conflicted between selfish happiness and guilt. He wanted to give her everything, but he had less than nothing, “I really thought you were out of my league entirely. That’s why I kissed you, I didn’t want to live the rest of this broken existence without that experience. It’s probably the only true thing people whisper about me, I’m a mess.”
“I thought you were out of mine,” Kehda mumbled with her eyes to the floor, “Looks aside, you’re funny, kind, selfless, and apart from my opinion on your lettuce soup, you’re a great chef. You say you’re a mess, but you’re authentic.”
Reth laughed softly, “Better be careful saying things like that about me, I may start believing you and getting an ego.”
She felt a wide range of emotions that morning and was glad the ride ended on happiness and excitement. Reth had accepted her romantic intentions.
“Hey,” Ashura walked in with an expression of fatherly disappointment before he noticed the box on the table and his eyes lit up with excitement, glancing between Kehda and Reth, “I was about to tell you to stop slacking off, but you get a pass since it’s Kehda,” he gave a warm smile and nod of approval in her direction before heading back out towards the door on his way to visit Sabine.
“How scandalous, he left you here all alone with me unsupervised,” Reth stood in front of her and placed his hands on her hips with a devious grin as he walked forward slowly causing Kehda’s back to press against the cold wall, “You, me, back room, five minutes?”
She flushed with the realization that this was the path his flirting would take from now on, no longer playful and innocent. Kehda worried she might melt into the wall as she leaned her head back against it. He lifted a hand to caress her cheek, his fingers warm against her skin.
She managed to choke out a breathy, “Why wait?”
He laughed and kissed her exposed cheek gently before whispering in her ear, “Why, Kehda, did you think I meant smoochin’? I’m a professional at work, I just wanted to plan some crimes with you while Ashura’s gone.”
He released her and smiled, giving her a wink as he walked back around the corner to the bar, “Come see me again soon? Not to make things weird but uh, I’ll miss you.”
That man’s going to be the death of me.
Kenyatta was waiting for Kehda outside of the Inn with her mouth hanging open in a suspenseful ‘O’. Kehda grinned and gave her two thumbs up. Kenyatta fought the urge to jump and scream in excitement (she had a reputation to uphold), instead giving a proud grin as Kehda walked to her, “Not to rub it in or anything, but, I kinda told you so. Time to celebrate!”
Kehda was smiling uncontrollably, “What’s first on the agenda?”
“Well, I was thinking we could cause a little trouble for Eshe if you’re up to it,” Kenyatta replied with a hopeful raised eyebrow under her hair, “I have a new formula that needs a willing test subject.”
She felt her adrenaline rushing from her recent confession to Reth and felt unstoppable, “Absolutely, I’m in.”
She had no idea what she would be in for. If Chayne was faith and Tamala was magic, Kenyatta was a mad scientist when it came to homeopathic remedies.
******
Kenyatta led her friend to a small path on the edge of the shore and pulled out a corked ceramic jug with an uncharacteristically enthusiastic voice, “I hope you’re ready for a tea party!”
She sat under a mature birch tree and patted the ground next to her in invitation as she pulled out two stacked cups and pulled off the cork with a satisfying ‘pop’.
Kehda giggled with mischief in her eyes as she took a seat next to her friend in the shade, “As long as it won’t kill me, I’m in.”
Kenyatta grinned, pouring them each a small cup before replacing the cork and storing the bottle, “It’s my special recipe. We’ll have like half an hour that will feel like five years but it’s fun.”
Kehda nearly choked on the tea she had just shot back, “What?”
Kenyatta winked and drank hers in a single un-ladylike gulp, “I think it may let you see flow, but I’m still tinkering with the formula.”
They sat in silence for a few moments, enjoying the stillness of the late morning. Kehda spoke first, breaking the silence, “I don’t think that did anything.”
Kenyatta laughed, “Patience, my young apprentice.”
The human huffed impatiently and observed the peacefulness of their shaded refuge. Each breath felt purposeful and refreshing, every second of the inhale alerting all her senses. She noticed as she looked around now how the rays of sun seemed to become prismatic through the leaves of the trees, colors swirling and dancing together in the rhythm of her heart beating, “Oh.”
Kenyatta laughed maniacally this time, for when she looked over at her friend her jaw was dropped with her mouth hanging open in childlike wonder, “Bro, you look-,” she had to composer herself, tears streaming down her cheeks from laughing so hard, “You look like you just witnessed a miracle or something.”
Kehda was laughing along with Kenyatta, unable to feel any emotions aside from happiness and peace. She felt one with the ground under her, able to sense the flow radiating from each individual blade of grass coming together in a surge of energy filling her entire presence. This was the happiest she had ever felt, she was sure of it.
The two women in synchronicity focused their attention on the bark of the birch tree beside them. They crawled closer to either side until they were only inches from the surface. The tree seemed to be breathing, alive and aware they could see the magic typically hidden. Lines of white and sienna swirling and melting together, no longer solid and stationary.
Kehda reached her hand out and placed her hand on the tree hesitantly, unsure of what to expect from this new magic she was experiencing. She touched it and pulled her hand back and quickly. Every raised bump of the bark’s surface felt sharp and rough.
The two looked at each other then and laughed again at a boisterous volume, unable to do anything but collapse onto each other on the ground in the warmth of friendship and laughter.
Once they were able to compose themselves the effects of the tea were already beginning to wear off. Kenyatta stood and helped her friend adjust to the sensation of standing as well, making sure she didn’t get up too quickly, “This was fun, I enjoy having you around. Everyone else is so… boring sometimes. “
Kehda felt weightless and free, connected to Palia in a way she didn’t know possible, “I think I understand what you meant about the flow now and I should be thanking you. I don’t know I want to do it again though.”
The feeling of weightlessness disappeared as her stomach felt twisted in knots, it was the only sensation she was able to feel or notice. Her dry mouth started watering profusely and she felt a wave of cold and then heat rush over her simultaneously. She ran over to a row of bushes and fell to her knees, vomiting back up any remnants of the tea she had just consumed, “Definitely never again, ugh.”
Kenyatta held her hair back apologetically, “I’m so sorry… I completely forgot the first time can be rough if you don’t drink enough water,” she felt like a bad friend as she held a canteen of cool water to Kehda, “Here, small sips. Let’s get you back home, I don’t think you wanna be running around in the heat like that.”
Kehda groaned softly, “I don’t want to be there alone.”
“Do you want me to take you to Tish’s instead?”
Kehda took a small sip of water and nodded in response.
