Page 127 of To Fight and To Fold

Now that she recognized that blush and caught sight of the freckle on her chin each time Thea tucked a smile over her shoulder, Aaryn wondered if it had been real after all.

Maybe it was the alcohol making her brave.

She asked.

It was cute how Thea blinked at her, eyes flickering as the question landed between them, how her cheeks flushed even deeper purple.

"No," Thea murmured. "It wasn't all an act."

Aaryn took the opportunity to finish her drink as she absorbed the information, hiding the way her rib cage burst with excitement and delight.

"Sorry I ruined it by stealing Starspark," Thea said quietly, turned toward the side, as if she was afraid to meet Aaryn's eyes.

Aaryn wasn't as shy, staring at her in confusion. She thought of Starspark nudging Thea into her, of Thea curling her arms around her waist as they flew through the air, of wrapping Thea's fingers in bandages.

Aaryn stood and trailed her socked feet around the table, toward Thea. She leaned over her, bracing one hand on the bed, and grasping her chin in the other.

Her dusky morning eyes widened and before Aaryn could overthink it, she leaned down and pressed their lips together. Lightly, a tease, a hint. A reminder.

"Maybe it's not as ruined as you think," Aaryn admitted against her lips, and deepened the kiss.

Aaryn woke up and she was… warm. Comfortable. Sinking into the mattress with—an arm around her waist.

Aaryn blinked her eyes open, adjusting to the soft light of the morning. Deep breaths sounded in her ear, at her back, hypnotizing in their gentleness.

Her eyes threatened to flutter shut under the coziness of the moment, and she dared to let them.

Thea is cuddling me.

Her eyes snapped open. A smile crawled across her lips.

It was no secret Aaryn liked to cling to Thea. But Thea clinging back?

Aaryn remained perfectly still, and was torn between slipping out of bed and keeping this little secret to herself, or never letting Thea live this down, ever.

The universe decided for her. As the sun crept through the window and splashed through the room, Thea jerked in her sleep and hummed.

Aaryn had heard her making little noises like that in her slumber these past weeks. Up close like this, she found them terribly adorable.

As the fog of sleep dispersed, Thea stretched, retracting her arm and tugging Aaryn back against her, rubbing her head against the back of her neck like an oversized, surprisingly affectionate cat.

Aaryn could have sworn she felt her horns getting tangled in her hair, and bit down on a smile.

It was Thea who stiffened in the end, realizing exactly what she was doing.

"Wha—" she cried out and pushed herself away, smacking against the wall with a thump.

Aaryn chuckled and sat up, swinging her legs off the side of the bed and glancing over her shoulder. "Aren't you cute?"

The mortified, apologetic look left Thea's eyes, replaced by annoyance. "M'not cute," she grumbled.

"Whatever you say," Aaryn teased, and stood. "How are your fingers?"

Aaryn didn't receive a response and turned to find Thea staring at her hands, touching the pads of her fingers together to assess the damage. Aaryn couldn't read her expression, but she thought it felt soft in the morning light.

"Feels fine," she finally decided, and Aaryn nodded.

They parted ways not long after waking to go about their different duties. Aaryn got word of Thea at the schools; at a few kitchens; at the barracks; and in New Leaf introducing some of the refugees, finding places for them. She was everywhere. Meanwhile, Aaryn visited Carissa daily, making sure she was eating, either sitting in heavy silence or walking with her beneath the sun, watching Starspark and Stormstrike wrestle.