It's gonna be ok. You didn't do anything to make me like you. I just do I guess. And so doe Grayell, that Marg chick and a bunch of other scary, nasty fighter types.
He took a nervious breath to try and calm himself and her.
No one is going to hurt you. I am going to make sure of that, ok? That...
... that's what friends do.... right?
Tallia "There are some things... that we all can't escape from..."
She stared at him, cold, for a second, then slipped out from underneath Kiga's arms. Turning and walking away from him, her ears and tail fell towards the ground.
"W... well... Friends also get to... to... k-know each other... before putting themselves... in harm's... w... way..."
She sighed, looking towards the roof, hoping to find solace in... whatever this thing was covered with.
"I... I appreciate you... w... worrying about me... b-but... don't make me... w-worry about... y... you... like that... I may not look it... b... but... I can fight... I've... I've been fighting..."
Stopping for a second, her mind wandered back to days past...
She turned briskly to face him, a pouty look on her face.
"W... what I want to say... what I really want to say is... I... I really don't want to... drag anyone into this... this was something that neither of us wanted... s... something that we hoped... would go away... but... we came to accept it... for what it was... E... everything was taken from me before... I... just don't want it... to... to happen again..."
Her head hung low, as though she had been judged for a crime she knew she did not commit. Without another thought, she threw herself into Kiga, wrapping her arms around him again and nearly stumbling them both off of the roof.
"Th... thank you... but... next time... let me know b... beforehand... OK...?"
Done with the topic, she rested her head on his shoulder.
Kiga's eye opened wide and he gasped as she tackle hugged him. He trembled as she wrapped those arms around him, his own hands reaching in the air behind her and finding nothing. But when her head came to his shoulder, as much as he was dizzy; his arms wound about her in that same fashion and held onto her.
His cheek rested beside her head and he closed his eye, his chin low. It took him a moment to speak, he wanted this hug to not end.
Ok. I..... want to protect you Tallia. If you'll let me.
Tallia "There are some things... that we all can't escape from..."
She gave off a small smile, partly due to comfort where she stood, and partly to Kiga's statement.
"T...that... would be nice..."
Bringing her head up, her arms left his side. She then gently lifted both his arms away, as though instructing him on what to do.
"D... don't forget... I... I still don't know... my way around this place... Y... you must have more to... to show me...right...?"
She smiled as she brought her hands to her face, covering her mouth. Suddenly, she slipped behind Kiga, grabbing one of his hands, and got close behind him, waiting to be led. Close to his ear, she giggled slightly.
Kiga's face showed complete shock, his body snapping forward a little at her touch. He then blushed, settling back, his heart thumping like a worked up bird. It took him a moment to get his head straight.
O.... ok! Let's go!
Kiga broke into a sprint immediately, he knew she could keep up with him easily. They traversed the rooftop in an instant and then scurried up a awning before leaping off! A rush of wind lifted them higher into the air, letting them float for a brief moment - before they came landing on the other side of the street. Kiga laughed, laughed excitedly and kept running, looking back.
C'mon slowpoke!
His hand held hers tightly, it would never let go.
Tallia "There are some things... that we all can't escape from..."
His sudden dash forward startled her a bit, but once she realized he did so on purpose, she smiled widely. Jumping off with him, she giggled excitedly alongside Kiga, his happiness radiating off unto her.
"H... hey...! I'm only... a little slower...!"
She laughed, holding his hand as long as she could, not wanting to imagine it would be over...
He was laughing now and with their combined agility and youth, the rooftops fell by. But something more happened than a paired running, Kiga was careful in how he held her hand, he would lift her with ease and their weight would lever, spin them in the air like some mad, dizzying dance. He didn't always lead either, at times he followed her and was thrilled to see her explore and run without a care.
They reached the far end of Wistvale and ran out of rooftop, now standing and overlooking the large lake that nestled beside the lower road. Kiga was panting, still laughing a little.
He looked back to her with that mad pulse in his smile, his eye stunningly bright. He said nothing but stared, his thumb gently rubbing the back of her hand.
Tallia "There are some things... that we all can't escape from..."
She turned to him as well, noticing the thumb rubbing against her hand, and smiled brilliantly. Her eyes gleamed back, as though it responded to the spark in Kiga's. Of course, she blushed furiously; being in the company of someone like this was something she didn't experience every day... She remained silent as well; words could not add to the moment, nor describe the experience.
Kiga looked own when she blushed and quite quickly he released her hand. His fingers waggled, twicthed as if needing a new purpose and he ended up drumming them on his thighs. He rocked on one foot and spun back to face the view, a rather animated whistle sounding almost like a cartoon falling noise. Not a bird call, strange.
He chuckled, nervously and looked out at the horizon.
So umm...
.... whatcha wanna do?
Tallia "There are some things... that we all can't escape from..."
Tallia looked at the ninja, confused for a second, then giggled. A part of her wanted to just laze back, but another one wanted to go... adventuring as always. She could never seem to keep herself still...
"Um... w... would you...l-like to go... out of town for a bit...? I... haven't been able to... um... get to know... w-what... what's out there, either... I'd... feel better if... someone... was... w-with me... l-like you..."
Not exactly sure where she was going with this or how it sounded, color came to her face just as quickly as it left, and it was burning hot.
Kiga's falling whistle hit ground bottom with those words. He froze, froze in an odd manner too. He was still standing on one foot, the other raised and his arms floating out at his sides like a child spinning on a pole, hopping from one to the next along a garden lane.
But his head hunched down. Did she just say....
You.... like me?
Tallia "There are some things... that we all can't escape from..."
Her eyes sprung open, the question unforeseen. Tallia's face brightened to a complexion she hadn't even known existed — not that she could see it herself... Lowering her head, she let her hair hide her heated head. Her heart beat faster than she could hope to run, her hands shook harder than she could hope to leap, and her mind spun faster than she could ever twirl... Words tried to come through her mouth, but they were stammered so badly that one would think she was speaking another language... She swallowed hard, trying to calm herself down, but to no avail. She closed in on him, grabbing an arm and yanking him towards herself. They were close, now, and... she was actually going to do this... Not wanting to waste the chance, she proceeded, her voice lowered so only they alone could hear...
Spoiling not a second more, she gave Kiga a deep kiss... Already blushing madly and unable to speak, she simply gripped his hand tightly as she made a dash for the town gates, hoping to drag him along with her.
Which kinda worked. The poor ninja lad was so entirely, utterly overwhelmed by that kiss that his head was spinning, his heart was a flutter, his arms felt like wings and he was walking on a cloud. There was no thought in his mind, just a complete and al encompassing, bodily sigh that painted the biggest, cheesiest grin upon his face.
And then the cloud he was walking on gave out. His coordination was as bad as his perception at this particular moment and that would completely explain why he had fallen into the alleyway, crashing into a merchant's cart in an entirely uncermenious manner. Whoops.
Tallia "There are some things... that we all can't escape from..."
Tallia spun around as she heard the impact, deftly noting that it was kind of her fault. She ran over to Kiga, hoping that he didn't lose consciousness or anything of the sort... The look on his face told her he was a bit dazed, but otherwise OK... Twiddling her fingers, her mouth formed a torrent of "uh"s,"um"s, and "ah"s as she attempted to apologize, still heated from what just happened. Inevitably, she could only bow, then proceeded to help him up on his feet again.
Kiga's head was quite literally spinning as he shook out the little birds floating about his head, then rubbed his neck. He obviously didn't land so well in the fall but it was nothing he couldn't shake off. He looked to Tallia a moment... then managed to stand straight as if nothing had happened and beamed a wide smile.