CHAPTER 35
Cait's offer to take all the night's watches had been met with universal gratitude, as the rest of the team might be hero-fit, but a whole day of hiking made anyone sore. Well, not her, but most anyone else. Fingerguns turned out to be a pretty capable outdoorsman, clearing an area and making a nicely controlled fire.
"You're looking at AEGIS' only Guardian who made Woodsman in the Timber Scouts!" Hotglue explained to the team as 'Guns poked at the fire. His tone was an equal mix between mockery and approval. "If you ever want to get this guy talking, just ask him about the time he met Scout Timber."
The group sat around the fire once 'Guns had it roaring, more for ambiance than heat. Late August in Iowa technically could get chilly at night, but this wasn't one of those rare occasions.
Claudio had started the night's conversation off by asking what food everyone thought they'd crave the most on a desert island, which formed some surprisingly strong opinions.
"Vanilla ice cream, Clyde?" Sandra asked incredulously. "Nothin' but coconuts and sand for 30 days, and your dick gets hard for vanilla?"
"There is no more refreshing treat!" Clyde argued back, holding up his deadly fingers. "Not like I'm going hungry, I could deadeye fish all day with these bad boys!"
"Wait, we have our powers?" Interjected Kennedy, who had chosen brisket poutine, to the shock of everyone. "That…. well, that wouldn't change mine actually.
She was leaned back, eyes closed and resting her head against Rose's flank. The Cruma had quickly won over most of the group, especially after Kennedy made her display some of the aerial loop de loops and tricks they'd been working on during the trip. Cait sat next to them, enjoying the calming rumble of the cat.
Damn. Miss Salad right now.
As she thought that, she felt Kennedy's fingers reach over to squeeze her own. They'd held their link for so long Cait had actually forgotten it was there.
"Salad, or Lira?" she asked, opening one golden eye.
Both of their comms chimed then, and they checked to find Cait wasn't alone.
Group Chat: L K C
L: We miss you guys!
She'd attached a pic of her cuddled up with Salad on the couch, the cat stretched out and making the close eyed smile of every cozy kitty.
C: I think this is the only pic I have of you I could show my parents
K: I could show them all to mine, but only because my mom's main criteria to bone someone is apparently if they're friends with me
Cait winced, looking over at Kennedy to find her smiling wickedly. She squeezed Cait's fingers again.
"It's fine Cait," she said. "You're both adults."
I mean, yeah, but…. Whatever, gift horses and mouths and whatnot.
Actually, no.
"Hey, you know I like you, right Kennedy?"
That got both golden eyes open, and Cait felt a shock of panic through their link before it closed off. The girl quickly schooled her face, snuggling back into Rose and chuckling.
"You're not exactly subtle, big girl," she replied, a quaver barely audible in her voice.
"Okay, but honestly, I'm playing along with a lot of shit here," Cait continued, not willing to be dismissed. "I do not understand the dynamics at work. Fact is, I'm pretty sure you're interested in me too. So why your mom and best friend are throwing themselves at me is fucking baffling."
Kennedy's palm had grown chilled and sweaty on Cait's fingers, and she pulled it back.
"They're helping, Cait," Kennedy said, her voice taking on a bit of that same chill. "It helps me. Can't you just be happy you've got a bunch of beautiful women willing to hop in bed with you and not get jealous about it?"
Technically an excellent point.
"Okay, Kennedy," Cait sighed. "I mean, yeah that's not exactly a big ask. But I'd had about enough of people telling me it was okay on your behalf."
Kennedy surprised Cait by lifting herself up, and scooting over to rest her head on Cait's thigh rather than Rose's flank. The birdcat grumbled, circling around to cuddle up to Kennedy's side. She looked back up at Cait over her shoulder.
"I think we made a good choice with you, Cait," she smiled up at her, eyes gleaming with the reflection of the firelight. "And, you're right I am interested."
Her fingers barely trembled as she took Cait's hand, lacing it in her own and bringing it to her stomach. The conversation around the fire had continued, but as Kennedy drifted to sleep, she was the only thing Cait knew.
Later, the crunch of footsteps pulled Cait back out of her and Kennedy's little world. Warhawk stood over them, arms crossed.
"You best not fuck that up," she said, iron in her voice. "Just cause we ain't figured out to hurt you yet don't mean we won't."
"Came over just to say that?" Cait said, voice low to not disturb Kennedy or the rest of the team, most of whom had begun to doze.
"Nah," Warhawk responded, shaking her head, "but it is important. Came over to check, make sure you were actually good keepin' watch. Not tired? Even a little bit?"
"I'm good! I realized I was going to bed and sleeping out of habit. Like I should be tired, so I was. Obviously the instinct is still there, but the actual effects? I'm still at 100."
Warhawk nodded, "Alright, I'll trust you then. Definitely better everyone else keeps rested, most of this lot ain't experienced rangers."
"I've got a drone perimeter set up around you guys," Gwyn's voice came over the comms. "You'll need to keep your head up anyway Cait, but it should give you an early warning of anything approaching."
"Thanks Gwyn!" Cait said to the sky. "I'll kiss B-boy goodnight for you."
A cloud of nanobots formed a fist and middle finger in front of Cait, getting a chuckle from her and Warhawk. The bird woman wandered off, pulling herself into a tent and leaving Cait alone in the waking world.
So much for practicing my kung-fu, Cait thought, looking down at Kennedy's beautiful face asleep on her legs. Honestly, even if we get attacked imma have trouble bringing myself to wake her up.