[MillietheWarrior]

Fi leaned idly against the back of a park bench, his boots swinging beneath him and scuffling against the ground. One arm was looped around the back of the bench, and he managed to yawn widely, his face a  schooling of sheer boredom. Nearly a month and  half had passed since he’d first met a strange, wonderful woman by the name of Kyrie. She was barely a distant memory in his mind, but each day, when he woke up, he’d look at the picture he carried with him, and remember her. The picture of he and Kyrie, sitting together on a wooden box, looking like the couple Fi never thought they would be.

Should’ve kissed you there
I should’ve held your face
I should’ve watched those eyes
Instead of run in place

Him with his arm around her, boldly kissing her on the cheek; her with a soft blush staining her face and a surprised but happy look in her sparkling emerald eyes. Fi carried the picture with him, mostly as a reminder of the happiest day he’d ever had in his life. He desperately tried not to forget Kyrie. But sometimes the memories of that night were vague, and sometimes he forgot what her name had been. On the back of the picture, in sloping, loopy scrawl, Fi had written the date of that night and underneath it read; ‘Fi and Kyrie - Friends forever, even if we never meet again. Don't forget the sprinklers.’ It was his constant reminder not to forget.

I should’ve called you out
I should’ve said your name
I should’ve turned around
I should’ve looked again

Reaching into his pocket, Fi pulled out the slightly dog-eared photograph, his eyes darting over it with a familiar smile. He carried it with him all the time; most people would’ve thought he was silly for doing that. But Fi didn’t really care. He’d nearly stopped caring what people thought about him after he’d met Kyrie. Even though he was still awkward, uncoordinated, forgetful, clumsy and sometimes self-conscious, he was doing his best to get better. Maybe it was Kyrie who inspired him, or maybe it was the thought that one day, if they saw one another again, Fi would be able to show her how much better he’d gotten. Then maybe he wouldn’t be such an embarrassment to her; maybe she'd be proud of him. His smiled widened slightly, and he stuffed the picture back into his jacket pocket.

Should’ve held my ground
I could’ve been redeemed
For every second chance
That changed its mind on me

Fi was dressed for the cold weather today; long, thick blue jeans, a black jacket, a long sleeved green shirt and a dark green scarf. He still wore the same boots he always did; he probably didn’t own another pair anyway. Bundled up on a park bench, minding his own business, Fi didn’t attract a lot of attention. Today was another one of his outings; he’d been getting steadily better and better at remembering things. He’d even made it home on his own twice in a row without getting lost. Today, he hoped, would be the third time. For now, he rested on the bench, watching the people go by him and pay him no mind. He saw a man walking his dog, a woman and her daughter out for a stroll, a pretzel stand selling warm pretzels and coffee.

I should’ve spoken up
I should’ve proudly claimed
That oh my head’s to blame
For all my heart’s mistakes

For a moment, he debated on getting one for himself, but then turned it down; he didn’t need people seeing him spilling things all over himself. He was still too uncoordinated with his muscle movements to hold anything for very long. He’d almost conquered his soup problems, but coffee and cups were another matter entirely. Fi managed a weak smile; that’s just what everyone in the park wanted to see, some di’kut who couldn’t even hold his coffee right. He chuckled wryly, no longer feeling as sorry for himself or concerned over how people perceived him. Certainly, he was often still bothered by certain things; stares, insults, whispers and piteous looks. But Kyrie had helped him realize that his world didn’t have to revolve around the opinion of other people. Fi managed a stronger smile this time.

And it’s you, and it’s you
And it’s you, and it’s you
And it’s falling down, as you walk away
And it’s on me now, as you go

When he’d first shown the picture of him and Kyrie to Darman, his former squad mate and brother, Darman was almost speechless. He’d asked Fi multiple times if he’d somehow managed to photoshop the picture. Fi, indignant, had assured him that it was real. Darman had finally relented and agreed, to which Fi promptly pounced on him and asked him if he could remember to remind him about Kyrie and tell him who she was everyday. His brother, so attuned to the emotions and feelings of others, had agreed to it with a sympathetic smile, and everyday, Darman had told Fi about Kyrie over breakfast. Fi was grateful for his brothers; family was everything to him. But he often thought about Kyrie. She plagued his thoughts, his dreams, and even his hazy memories.

But oh, I’m staring at the mess I made
I ’m staring at the mess I made
I ’m staring at the mess I made
As you turn, you take your heart and walk away

Sometimes he would wake up and not remember her, but then Darman or the picture would jog his memory, and it all came flooding back to him. His fingertips brushed the photo in his pocket, and with another yawn, Fi lifted himself from the bench. It took him a minute to gain his equilibrium, righting himself so he wouldn’t go walking off in a direction he didn’t want to take. Fi pursed his lips, and began to whistle to a song he’d heard on the radio at home earlier that day. It was a catchy tune, and Fi had found he couldn’t turn it off when it came on. It was some song called ‘The Mess I Made’ by some strange little band called Parachute. Fi found the song invading, and he couldn’t get it out of his head. So he ambled casually down the cobblestone street, whistling to himself as a crisp autumn breeze ruffled his short, curly hair, and wondering when his next moment of happiness would chance by.

I ’m staring at the mess I made
As you turn, you take your heart and walk away...

[1/25]

[Kallile]

It was much colder than it had been in the previous month, chasing many people indoors at earlier hours unless they absolutely had to be out in the biting wind. It came as no surprise that Kyrie was a little more bundled as well today. Warm looking, fuzzy trimmed cream boots, a pair of light wash jeans, along with a navy and cream checkered cardigan dressed her today. She held a scarf in her hands—a simple powder blue and navy pattern on it.  

She had left for nearly an entire month after the week she had met Fi. She hung around, trying to find him again without success. So she returned home for a while, finished a few of her yearly contracts and gave the reporters who had ambushed she and Fi the interview she had promised them. Seems in the end all three had shared the number…but only after the cardholder got his interview first.

Yet with life as back to normal as it could get, she couldn’t stop thinking of this place. About the man with the soup she had scared and what he had come to mean to her in such a short time. She had packed her bags and returned across sea to the peaceful Terrace, wondering if he even lived her or if, like her, he had just been visiting.

Every day she had come out here on a morning or early afternoon walk, peeking into shops and little hole-in-the-wall diners were Fi might have chosen to travel that day. The café owner somehow remembered her, and reluctantly told her what he knew of the boy’s pattern. He seemed stunned that after so much time had passed the young woman had come back, still trying to find him. At first he thought it might have been a cruel joke, but the pleading look in her eyes told him it meant something much more to her.

“Go to the small square by the pretzel stand tomorrow. He’s usually there on his favorite bench right across from it about this time.” he had said.

Jogging along, realizing that she was running late if she watched to catch him, Kyrie finally found the correct pretzel stand with a bench parallel to it. Her heart sunk as the people moved away, and Kyrie realized the bench was empty. Had the old man lied to her? She stood there for a moment, looking around as people began giving her looks. No one’s eyes lit up in recognition, but the ‘familiar face’ syndrome was overriding. She was well aware of that, and slowly she began to turn to walk back.

A soft whistle caught her attention, of a song she had heard and played over and over after Fi had kissed her on the cheek and left her hotel that night. It was the song that helped get her home, through the long month of work, and then back to the park city she stood in now. It was her traveling song and her heart’s consult.  She whirled around, brilliant green eyes desperately seeking out where it was coming from.

The persons back was turned to her, the clothing unfamiliar save for one piece. The boot spoke volumes; Kyrie had never seen them anywhere else…except for running from reporters and running through the sprinklers. She found herself unable to speak for a moment, but her eyes instantly misted. Could it be?...

“Fi?” She whispered softly, taking a few small steps as the figure disappeared around a corner and out of her view. Her feet began to carry her faster. She didn’t care if it ended up not being him, she had to catch up and take the chance that she was wrong. If she didn’t, she could be letting him get away. She was at a dead run now, her chocolate brown hair billowing behind her from both her own motion and the breeze. It had to be him, please let it be him…

“Fi!” She called, this time loud enough to be heard.

[26]

[MillietheWarrior]

I'It was his imagination. He was hearing anything. The voice was just a distant cry on the wind, another mirage for Fi to ignore. He shoved his hands deeper into his pockets, lowering his head slightly. There was no way he was hearing what he thought he heard, right? Then the voice called to him again, and Fi felt his body jerk to an involuntary stop. No, no he wasn’t imagining was he? Slowly, almost hesitatingly, he turned to glance over his shoulder. His golden eyes widened slightly at the sight he saw. It was Kyrie…Kyrie was here? Fi watched in a trance as she flew towards him.

Her chocolate hair streamed behind her, bright green eyes sparkling as she raced in his direction. How did she get here? What was she doing here? Fi felt his hands begin to tremble; he thought he’d never see her again. Yet, here she was, running towards him like a long lost memory that he couldn’t quite place. Fi felt himself turn fully, his hands falling out of his pockets to hang limply at his sides. What was he supposed to do now? He’d dreamed of this moment nearly everyday since they’d parted. But now that it had come, Fi couldn’t seem to find the words to say. He couldn’t even move. Frozen in time, Fio stood in the middle of the sidewalk as people scooted around him and shot him annoyed or confused looks. He paid them no mind.


His eyes were locked onto Kyrie. Fi willed his body to move, and managed to take a shaky step forward, lifting his arms just slightly as if reaching out to welcome her into his arms. “Kyrie?” he murmured gently. “Kyrie…How…Where did you…” Fi felt he didn’t care anymore, and finally willed his body to move. He took  a few short steps and had suddenly closed the distance between them. He wanted to sweep her up into a hug, but didn’t know if she’d accept it. So he stood there, looking lost and confused, his arms stiffly at his sides. “Kyrie…I didn’t think I’d ever see you again…How did you find me?”

[26]

[Kallile]

At first the form she was chasing just kept walking, and Kyrie felt her heart sink. Maybe it wasn’t him, maybe she was the one chasing fuzzy memories. Then…the form stopped. Was she dreaming this all up? Was this how Fi felt when he was trying to remember things? She blinked, instantly recognizing the face.

She wove through the people who gave her equally sour looks, but their gaze was lost on Kyrie. After months of thinking of Fi, wondering where he was and how he was doing, she could see him plainly. She heard him return her name and her heart felt like it might have exploded. She had spent so much time preparing for a cold reunion (should they have ever met again) from his lack of memory about her. But there he was, saying her name and looking genuinely happy to see her.

She didn’t mind that he dropped him arms—he had opened the invitation for a hug and that was exactly what she was going to give him. Slowing her last few steps, Kyrie came to a complete stop as she wrapped her arms under his and around his middle, resting the side of her face on his collar bone as she closed her eyes.

He was here again—here for real and not just in a memory she had replayed in her mind night after night. She squeezed him tightly, as if just to make sure he was really right there. She could hear his heartbeat: yes, he was really here.

“I didn’t think so either…I searched for a week after that night and couldn’t find you…” She pulled away just enough so that she could look up at him, a wide smile on her face and tears brimming her eyes. “I went back home, tried to go back to a normal day-to-day life but I couldn’t stop thinking about you. I asked around until someone finally told me some of your patterns…”

She pushed her face into his scarf, letting out a shuddered breath of relief. “And had I been two steps slower today I would have missed you. Again.” She said, muffled. But her shoulders shook a little, and when she pulled her face away from the fabric it was easy to tell it was a sort of giddy laughter rather than tears. “But you’re here! That’s all that matters.”

[27]

[MillietheWarrior]

Kyrie wasn’t a mirage; she was here, now, and very real. Fi felt wave after wave of emotion flood over him, unsure of which one he should be feeling or where to go from here. Her voice was like a voice from a dream, and he imagined he’d heard it many times before. He’d missed it, he realized, and to hear it again was like nothing he’d ever experienced. He felt her tiny arms wrap around his torso, barely able to reach around him. Her head felt light against his chest, barely reaching the tops of his shoulders. And like the first time she’d hugged him, Fi laid his head against her own, his eyes closing tightly as he realized how much he’d missed her.

He never thought he’d be truly happy again, and yet, his happiness had literally run back into his life. He clung to Kyrie, afraid she might disappear, his arms enfolding her like a protective blanket. She still smelled faintly of strawberries. When she pulled away from him slightly, he felt his heart sink slightly, but his frown soon blossomed into a full blown smile when she spoke. “I looked for you too. And I never forgot. My brother reminded me of you everyday, told me not to forget, made sure I remembered you.”

He let one arm drop from around her waist, reaching into his pocket to pull out the picture. “See?” he said, with a big smile. It was as if he wanted her to be proud of him for remembering. “I kept this with me so I wouldn’t forget.” He held it out for her to see. “I’m glad you’re here too. I really missed you.” He wrapped his arms around her again, holding her close as if worried she might disappear. “What are you doing here, though? I thought…Well, I thought maybe you’d be busy with work.”

[27]

[Kallile]

Kyrie beamed up at him, her eyes gliding over to the picture that he held out for her to see. She removed a hand from around his back and reached out to touch it lightly as if she were touching that moment in the past. She flushed again just like she was in the picture and laughed. “I still can’t believe you did that.” She remarked happily, clearly not upset about it, letting her hand fall away from the photograph and back to Fi’s back. She hadn’t seen what was scrawled on the back, but she had to imagine there was something back there for Fi incase he needed it.

“I’ll have to remember to thank him.” She said. It was a gesture only of kindness, her eyes were still beaming proudly up at Fi. It was him that she was proud of because of all the heartache she had went through thinking that he may no even remember her face. “You’ve really been carrying it around with you all this time?”

It touched Kyrie that he would have been so dedicated to remembering her that he would have carried around the picture of them. It certainly looked worn enough on the edges to have been his traveling companion. She leaned into him a little more, lost to the world still moving around them.

She shrugged lightly, smiling. “When I went home I finished some of my contracts until next year. I had to come back…I didn’t know how long you might be here. I was afraid I’d been away too long already, and that I’d never have a chance to find you again.”

She let out a small, content sigh, chuckling to herself. “My other job moves with me, so that doesn’t matter where I am. And I’d much rather be here with you than by the ocean any day.”

[28]

[MillietheWarrior]

Her smile made everything worth it. All the long days of agonizing over whether or not he could remember her. Wondering if tomorrow would be the day he’d forget completely. All the worries and trepidations about never seeing here again…All of that fell away, disappearing like dust in the wind. He smiled down at her, his arms resting lightly around her small frame. “It was worth it. I’m just glad I never forgot.” He tilted his head lightly, and turned the picture over in his hand, showing her the writing on the back. It was a bit hard to read, and mostly just scribble writing, but it was still there.

“Darman didn’t even believe me at first. Kept asking if photoshopped the picture together. I honestly doubt I could do that even if I wanted to.” The pride in her eyes made Fi’s heart skip a beat, and he wondered if she was proud of him for remembering her. “I’ve gotten a little better too, now, Kyrie,” he said, almost bouncing in his boots at his excitement to tell her. “I can eat soup without spilling it all over the place, and my balance is much better. I’ve even managed to aim a blaster straight once or twice.” His face seemed to glow with happiness when he said this; Fi felt he was well on his way to getting better, and all because Kyrie believed he could.

Before her, he’d been unhappy with his life, upset by the piteous glances sent his way, angry at all the special treatment he received. But now he was right back where he belonged; with Kyrie. “I don’t live very far from here, actually. I even managed to make it home by myself twice without getting lost. I’m here a lot…Just moving around all day. Sometimes when I forget where I’m going, I just end up back here.” He shrugged, a happy smile still on his face. “I’m glad you’re here. I’ve really missed you. I thought I might…I might never see you again.” He seemed content, not at all anxious or upset, but then a frown crossed his face and it all changed. “You aren’t going to leave again right now, are you?”

[28]

[Kallile]

This moment, Kyrie decided, couldn’t feel anymore right even if it tried. She giggled up at him, nodding in agreement. “I think I’m glad you did it too.” She said as he flipped the picture around for her to see what he had written on the back. She squinted a little at it, and felt her eyes mist again. She was determined not to cry in front of him this time, but it seemed her tear ducts had other plans they were trying to set into motion. “You really didn’t want to forget me…” She said in almost a whisper and if there was anyway she could have possible gotten closer to him, she would have tried it in an instant.

But she couldn’t, and she stood there already pressed against him with just enough wiggle room that she could lean back her shoulders and move her head back to look at his face. She felt her shoulders bounce slightly as she chuckled at the photoshopping idea. “I don’t think anyone could create such a perfect moment by doing that.” She agreed.

Her eyes fluttered back up to his face, willing the mist in her eyes to stay at bay from forming tears. He was simply glowing and Kyrie couldn’t help but glow back. This was the Fi she wanted to see everyday—happy and secure in himself. That is exactly what he was at that moment, and over the months they had been apart he had indeed improved. “That’s wonderful!” She chimed, leaning up to plant a soft, sweet congratulatory kiss on his cheek. “I can’t believe you’ve accomplished so much already.” She continued to beam up at him, not questioning the blasters he mentioned. She didn’t want to hear that he would return to the one thing that had made him this way, but it was his choice if he did and she’d support it. He was making it home—twice in a row! That alone was an accomplishment that surpassed anything Kyrie could call to her mind at that moment.

Her face mellowed down a little, and she nodded. “I missed you too…” She said softly. His change of expression broke her heart, and she wanted nothing more than to see him smile at her again in that moment. “I’ll be here for a little while, another week or two. If that doesn’t make my father come hunting for me, it will be a miracle.”

She flushed suddenly, and hugged him tightly to reassure him. “Dad…wasn’t happy that I came back. It’s just him doing his parental job though; he’s protective of his little girl. It makes him nervous when I book trips by myself.” She quirked a small smile, still one of reassurance. “But I think I may be able to stay longer if I play my cards right…and if you want me to stay longer.”

[29]

[MillietheWarrior]

Fi grinned. "Of course I didn't want to forget you! You showed me what it's like to really be alive. Before you, all I knew was my life in the army, and I wanted it back; really wanted it back. My brothers were there and I felt ashamed to not be fighting by their side. But you showed me it was okay to be who I am; to be imperfect and to live life without a care for what others think about me and my imperfections." He blushed after he realized what he'd said. It was the must he'd said in one sitting to her ever before. And it seemed he'd improved with his grammatical skills as well. "You made me want a life outside the army; so I'm...I'm trying to find one."

It was hard to tell what he was talking about. What he was trying to 'find' was difficult to interpret; did he truly mean a life, or something more than that? The pride in her eyes made his heart flutter with happiness. She was proud of him; finally, he'd done something worth her recognition. Before, he felt like he had maybe been wasting her time, and he praise was somewhat forced (Even though it was never true). But now he truly believed he had done something worthy of making her proud. Fi seemed to suddenly realized that he still had his arms wrapped tightly around her, and blushed slightly. Did she want him to let her go? She hadn't pulled away or smacked him or anything, so was that a good sign?

Fi decided he liked standing here like this, and he'd keep his arms wrapped around her for as long as he could. She made him feel better, different, like the old Fi once more. He was happy to just stand there in a warm, friendly embrace. The kiss on his cheek made his face light up again, and he smiled brightly, blushing only minimally. "Only another week or two?" he said absently, his grin fading slightly. He wanted her to stay forever, but he wasn't about to say it out loud; she'd think he was crazy. The information about her father made him slightly nervous; would the man be as scary as Fi's mind made him out to be?

Fi had thrown himself on a bomb, run through live fire, faced down hundreds of enemies, and pretty much jumped out of a ship nearly three thousand feet in the air. But the thought of facing down Kyrie's father had him scared; there was no way her father would ever find him good enough. Fi was far too flawed, far too messed up to pass approval. He looked down at Kyrie once more, frowning at the tone she had used at the end of her sentence. "Of course I want you to stay...For-" He stopped himself from saying it. She'd probably think he was stupid for wanting her to stay forever. "Anyway...I hope you can stay longer. I've missed you; your the only friend I've ever made on my own."

[29]

[Kallile]

Relief was one look that instantly washed over her face; Fi was trying to find a life out of the army that could have killed him. All thoughts of him trying to use a blaster again were forgone, and Kyrie let the idea slide to the backburner. There were, she reasoned, plenty of people who liked to shoot just for the thrill of shooting and getting better at it. Why was it so wrong to assume maybe it was a sort of release for Fi? The second look that washed over her face was a proud sort of embarrassment. She had read plenty of fan written letters telling her that she inspired someone to do this and that…but she’d never been this close to any of them. Especially, in the literal sense of things, right now. “I’m so glad you feel that way. I don’t think I could have lived with myself knowing someone like you was uncomfortable with themselves; you don’t have to prove anything to anyone but yourself.” She paused thoughtfully. “What kind of life are you thinking about?”

It was a simple enough question, and one Kyrie asked innocently. Maybe it was something she could help him get a start in—she had plenty of connections who would gladly help a friend of hers find his feet in a new industry if he wanted. The thought that maybe he meant family and such never really crossed her mind, but again, she didn’t feel they knew each other quite well enough for her to pry that deeply. He would tell her things as he was ready to, as she would do in return.

The embrace they were locked in was a comfortable one, and Kyrie felt no urge to complain or try and escape it. It made her feel light and happy—like that fresh cup of hot chocolate after coming in from a day of playing in the snow. It warmed the spirit, so to speak. That is how she felt now. She frowned a little too when he did, though only in shared disappointment at the situation. “That’s the plan for now, yeah. It’ll be getting close to the holidays and I always help my mother decorate the house. I can always come back afterward though. Who knows, maybe I’ll look for a little rental house here to make the frequent trips easier to deal with. You’re the only good friend I’ve had in a very long time, I’d hate to just get to see a time or two every year.”

Though it may have sounded in jest, there was no real joke about it that reflected in her eyes. She liked Fi, and if he was so excited to let her know and see how much better he was getting, maybe frequent trips back here to visit for a few weeks at a time would be good. For both of them.

[40 (adding in BR posts here)]

[MillietheWarrior]

Fi managed a small shrug. To be honest, he hadn’t quite thought about what kind of life he wanted. But he couldn’t deny that he’d imagined her in it. The thought made him blush slightly, and he lowered his gaze, eyes half-lidded and thoughtful as he looked at the ground. “I’m not sure what kind of life I’d be suited for. Farming? Bounty hunting? Something that…doesn’t require a lot of hand eye coordination might be a better idea. But I know I’d like a family…a wife. Lots of kids. A big, giant family! Like my brothers have, but…but mine.” He grinned subconsciously, rubbing the back of his neck nervously with one hand, his other arm still comfortably resting around Kyrie’s waist. “It’s probably going to be hard to find all those things, you know. I’m not exactly a ‘great catch’ anymore, although back in the day, I bet I turned a couple heads.”

He chuckled, showing he was just joking, much like the ‘old Fi’ would have done. Fi was managing to reclaim more and more of his former personality with each day; he enjoyed making people laugh, even if it was at his own expense sometimes. He had gotten very good at burying the hidden feelings of longing and desire for a real life behind his wisecracks and sarcastic comments. Fi buried those feelings now, but it was a lot harder when it came to Kyrie than it was when he was around his brothers. He decided it would be best to just forget he’d even said anything; he was good at forgetting.

His eyes lit up warmly at the mention of her renting a home to stay at while she was there. “Oh! We have lots of spare rooms at my house, you know…For all the vode who come home for breaks and stuff. You could stay there, rent free. Kal’buir wouldn’t mind, and neither would I…” He paused, and then remembered that a woman living in a house with a man alone, without being married or even involved, might not have been socially acceptable. “Er, uh, unless…you’d rather rent a home. It’s completely fine. I can come visit you here. Just as long as your close, I don’t really mind where you stay.” He chuckled nervously, feeling like an idiot. He’d just put his boot in his mouth, that was for sure.

[32 (Adding in breeding room posts)]

[Kallile]

Kyrie just smiled up at him, ignoring his blush and how he looked away from her as he spoke about what kind of future he saw for himself. The first time she'd met him, he would have told her "nothing" as his answer. But to hear actual thoughts--possible paths of career--come from his mouth made her happier than she could ever imagine something so simple would. His whole world seemed to have been changing for him since they'd met; and for the better. "I know you'll find something you like and are good at. Though...I hope you don't go for bounty hunting." She fidgeted slightly in his grasp, though didn't make a more to distance herself. "I'd...worry about you. That stuff is dangerous."

She grinned at his comment on family. She'd come from a decently sized family--made larger by all the "roommates" that happened to rent rooms and little villas from the same estate. She'd never really thought much about actually having one of her own; sure, she loved children, and she'd like to have some of her own one day, but she'd never met the right sort of guy to make her consider that possibility. The very fact that her mind was drawn to it now made her skin darken just slightly. "How many do you define as a lot?"

The question was accompanied by a small laugh, hiding her own nervousness on the subject. The smile lingered even as she shook her head at him. "You're still a 'great catch', and I bet anyone who took the time to know you would agree."

Her eyes rose to meet his quickly, both from mild shock that he was bold enough to make an offer like that (which, despite her wide eyes, she silently cheered him on for) and from relief that maybe she could help him. He had mentioned that his brothers often stayed at the house as well to help him remember things...maybe she could give everyone a bit of a break from the daily routine. "There's no such thing as rent free."

A smile rested playfully on her lips and she curled her arms slightly tighter around him. "Consider me your personal chef while I stay...if you want me too. It'd be nice to not be so alone in a strange town while I find somewhere to rent closer to where you might be. Hotels get so stuffy."

Yes, she was reaching for reasons. Yes, her parents would be on the next flight to Terrace if they knew she was staying with a practical stranger alone. And yes, even she was a little nervous. But it...it just felt alright. It felt like a risk worth taking, though she couldn't place why.

"Is that where you were headed when I caught up with you? Back home?"

[41]

[MillietheWarrior]

Fi rubbed the back of his head somewhat nervously, his cheeks a light shade of pink. She’d actually worry about him? Well, he figured she might. She was his friend, after all. He’d never made any other real friends besides her; they’d all pale in comparison to Kyrie. He’d never even tried making other friends. Sure, the townspeople knew him, and were kind to him, but he couldn’t call them ‘friends’ like he could with Kyrie. “I doubt I’d ever be a real bounty hunter. I’m too clumsy and…you know…I’d end up getting shot or something.” He hadn’t actually meant to say that; his mind had said ‘stop, stop!’ but his mouth had kept going. That would worry Kyrie more than the mere thought of him being a bounty hunter. He quickly decided to change the subject; he didn’t want her to think he was going to go out and get himself shot.

He motioned towards the bench he’d been sitting on only a few feet away, and finally relinquished his hold on her waist to wobble over to it and sit down heavily. “A lot…Er…Just a whole bunch? As many as my wife wants to have, I suppose. Ten, twenty.” He grinned. “Although I doubt I should tell anyone that; most women would probably freak out and run if I told them I wanted a whole buncha kids.” He folded his hands carefully on his lap, staring at her with wide, child-like yellow eyes. He seemed almost startled by her agreement to stay at his house, but his face lit up with a giant grin, and he had to stop himself from wrapping her in an ecstatic hug.

“That’s great! I can’t…cook, really. So it’s usually soup or salad or bread or a sandwich for me. That’s about all I can make without…burning things or dropping something. My brothers don’t come by too often anymore; they all have girlfriends of their own, apparently. Lucky them.” He chuckled lightly, as if it was a joke, but there was a deep seeded sadness behind the happy-go-lucky smile on his face. “It’ll be nice not to be alone all the time. Talking to the plants can get lonely.” He grinned this time, and it really was a joke…Well, the plant part, at least. “I was headed home when you stopped me. Would you…like to come with me? I can show you around.”

[33]

[Kallile]

Her eyes were quick to flood with concern at the mention of him getting shot. It was hard enough knowing that he wasn't supposed to even be here--that it was warfare that had taken him out of the world before she even knew he existed. To willingly go back into that life....it was something Kyrie couldn't fathom.

She let it move to a different subject as Fi brought it up. It was too happy an occasion to think about things like that now anyway--maybe later, if he brought it up again, she'd voice her concerns. Besides...the sheer numbers that came out of his mouth neck had her blinking up at him in pure shock. "T-ten? Or twenty?" She asked breathlessly. She found that she, too, suddenly needed to sit down on the bench he moved to to soak in that number properly. "Well, some women want really large families like that...but you'd have to have more than one wife to make it to twenty kids, I'd think."

She laughing tone turned into one of pleasant surprise as Fi halted his hugging attack on her. It was the first time she'd really seen his eyes light up quite that brightly. Yeah...maybe it was a dumb move...but it still felt right. The look on his face alone was enough. "I promise that I'll do my best to expand your daily diet then." She said happily, her own emerald eyes shining brightly and blissfully up at him.

"I'd love to get a tour. I can always call my hotel and have them come pick me up to go get my stuff later. Hopefully you won't mind having a few womanly touches to your house. I know how bachelors can be." She said this with an honest grin; a joke of her own. She really didn't have any intentions of changing anything at his house--she wanted to be as transparent as glass as far as the imprint she left on his home.

[42]

[MillietheWarrior]

Fi rubbed the back of his head nervously, chuckling lightly as he looked down at his boots. “Yeah, you’d be surprised how many people react that way,” he said shakily, feeling like an idiot for sharing something like that with her. He’d probably just scared her out of her mind, and thrown away any hope of a relationship he may have ever had. He turned to blink at her in confusion, taking her joke as a literal assessment of his dream of a big family. “I…I don’t want more than one wife,” he said lamely, the look on his face reminiscent of a kicked puppy. No, he did not want more than one wife. He wanted one, and he knew who he’d like that one to be; of course, he’d never voice it aloud, or even breach the subject.

He’d probably scare away the only friend he’d ever truly had. He quickly shook himself out of that depressing train of thought and smiled as brightly as he could, ignoring the sting of sadness he felt when he realized that the thought of ever being with Kyrie as more than a friend was impossible. “You don’t know how awesome that is,” he said happily, lifting himself from the bench. He wobbled slightly, as he was wont to do when his equilibrium was thrown off balance, and then bouncing slightly where he stood, excited to get going. “And my place is as bare as a bantha’s backside,” he chuckled.

“So by all means, please add away.” He held out his hand, as  if asking to help pull her up, and then seemed to decide against it; he wasn’t the best person for that kind of job. He’d end up making them both stumble and tumble to the ground. Instead, he smiled shakily and reached for her hand, tugging lightly before letting go. “Come on,” he said with a bright grin. “Let’s get going. I can’t wait for you to meet Haamyc. You’ll love her.” Who was this now? Fi had never mentioned another woman before. This might…be trouble.

[36]