Tsugi slammed onto the ground – hard. The jagged rocks dug into her shoulder blades, her spine. The dust of dirt rose into the air and filled her nose, coating them with the fine powder.

Her eyes shot open and she’s panting, staring into beautiful angry gray eyes.

“What the hell were you doing?!” Lugo yelled, spraying spit into her face as if he had forgotten to swallow the building fluid. She flinched and raised up a hand to wipe away the droplets, confused.

“What are you talking about?” She shrugged him off and looked around, but she wasn’t in the inn anymore, instead she was barefoot and at the edge of a cliff. Her feet were dirty and bloody from the sharp jagged rocks. “What – what the hell are we doing here?” She stood onto her feet and brushed the dirt off her clothes. The biting wind blew at her, and she realized she didn’t have a cloak either.

Was she sleepwalking?

“I left the room for two fucking seconds and when I returned you were gone!” He brushed aggressively at his trousers. “What the hell are you doing out here?!”

“I – I don’t know.” She muttered, her eyes turning to the steep cliff beside her.

“I can’t leave you alone for two fucking seconds!” He barked and untied his boots, slipping her feet into them. She was too dazed and confused to care or pay him any mind. Though her body trembled with the breeze flowing through her loose clothes, her mind searched for any remnant of why she would walk here in her sleep, but nothing came to mind. The last thing she remembered was falling asleep by the fireplace.

“Damn it Tsugi.” He ran both hands through his long disheveled silver hair. “Do I need to tie you to the fucking bed! You’re going to worry me to death!” He inhaled sharply and placed his fists on his waist, exhaling in exasperation.

“Stop being such a worry wart.” She grumbles, moving past him.

Entering the room, she stood by the door and watched as he slumped onto the couch with a cup of amber liquid in his hand, two empty bottles and another full one next to him.

“How much have you had to drink?” She walked over to the tub sitting in the corner.

“Not enough.” He muttered, taking a big gulp.

“Is everything alright? Why are you drinking so much?” She washed her feet, cleaning the cuts on it.

“Hmm?” He looked at her with tired eyes – eyes that seem to look like he’s aged with the few passing days. “Everything’s fine.” And then he chuckled, seemingly to himself as he muddled his face with his hand before running it through his hair. “I’m not losing my mind at all.” He laughed wryly, amused.

Tsugi said nothing, padding quietly over to sit beside him. He had lost it, he’s completely gone mad. She did nothing but sit patiently, watching him as he downed his cup and poured another – and another.

“Why do I feel like it’s my fault you’re acting like this?” Tsugi frowned and picked up the blanket from the floor, draping it over herself.

He snorted and took another gulp. “It’s not.” He slurred. “I’m – fine. Go to s-sleep.” He glanced at her and his head bobbed on his shoulders like his neck wasn’t strong enough to support it anymore.

“You should get some sleep too. Ellie said you haven’t been sleeping since we left. It might explain why you’re so cranky.” She muttered that last bit under her breath – half hoping he’d heard her.

He snorted again and finished the rest of the liquid. “Awe –” He sighed, taking a long gander at the empty bottles next to him. “Damn it.” He breathed, hanging his head in disappointment.

“Come on. Up you go.” Tsugi stood up and lifted him by the arm, leading him over to the bed and plopped him down.

He clasped his hands on either side of her face. “You…are beautiful.” He mumbled. She smelled the strong waft of ale on his breath along with the scent of him that buckled her knees for a moment.

“And you –” she pulled his hands off her face, “are drunk.”

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He laughed. “Yesss – yes I am.” He mumbled through his lazy smile.

“I’m sure if I had that much to drink, you’d start looking beautiful too.” She chuckles. As she pulled the duvet over him, he reached his hand over and pulled on her arm hard enough to sit her on the bed next to him.

“Why?” He whispered, looking down at her from his lashes. “Why are you doing this to me?”

“I’m not doing anything to you. Just go to sleep.” She pulled her wrist from his grasp and walked around to tidy up his mess before lying down on the other side of the bed.

Somehow, lying next to him, watching the shadows of the flickering fireplace dance upon his face, brought her a kind of solace she couldn’t explain. But when a hard upside ‘v’ began to form between his brows as he let out a low whimpering moan, oh how her heart felt so very small at that moment – so very small and fragile as she wished she could wash away the nightmares that plagued him.

“Shh.” She whispered, reaching up a hand to brush the hair from his eyes. She gently rubbed her thumb over the crease as if she could mold it away. “Shh.” She soothed again, running the backs of her fingers along his soft, warm cheeks.

How could anyone have skin so soft and flawless?

He quickly reached up and grabbed her hand, startling her. His eyes were wide open with horror, gazing into the shadows of her face like he was lost.

Faster than she could comprehend, he leans in and wraps his lips around hers. His hands cupped her cheeks and his tongue pushed into hers. Then there she went, melting under his spell and she was panting, lost in his smell that beguiled her – lost in him. Her heart pounded with wonder and she felt a weird dull tingle of electricity that shot through her lower abdomen with the kiss growing more passionate by the second.

He released her lips and trailed light feathery kisses along her jawline and lazily down her neck – and then he stopped, leaving her breathless and panting. She lifted up onto her elbow and gazed down at him. He was fast asleep again.

What the hell –

She panted, her eyes wide, feeling abandoned and an odd wetness between her legs that she couldn’t quite understand.

Was it her time of the month?

She moved to get off the bed.

“Ath’ka nye.” He muttered sleepily.

She turned back, but he was breathing softly, fast asleep.

Why does he keep saying that? What does it even mean?

She ran to the bath and checked, but it wasn’t her period. Instead it was a clear mucousy substance that stretched between her fingers. She furrowed her brows, confused, and grabbed a wet rag to clean herself before returning to bed.

She frowned and laid next to him. Who did he dream about that he kissed her like that? It obviously can’t be her. And yet as she laid there, she couldn’t help but stare at the beauty that was him. “Lugo.” She whispered and scooted closer to him. “Lugo.” She repeated.

“Mmm.” He mumbled sleepily.

“If I tell you a secret, you promise not to get mad?” She whispered.

He only let out an answering groan.

“I’m – I’m a woman.” She bit her lip feeling the heat radiate from her cheeks. And she smiled, feeling mischievous and snuggled into the pillow beside him.

***

Being back on the road again, Tsugi felt glad to finally be able to ride again. Though of course, Lugo was still hovering next to her like a mother hen.

“I’m surprised you don’t have a hangover.” Tsugi smirked at Lugo.

“I’m a professional drinker, I don’t get hangovers.”

“Uh huh, whatever you say.” She rolled her eyes. “If you’re such a professional drinker then what happened last night?” She blushed at the memory and pulled her hood over her head, glancing back to make sure the others were far enough behind so they wouldn’t hear them.

“Uh – I remember sitting on the couch and being very angry at you because you disappeared, and I found you at the edge of a CLIFF!” He scowled.

She frowns and clears her throat. “What does – um – ah…ath can…ath can eye mean?”

“Ath’ka nye?” He narrows his eyes at her. “Why?”

“It means why?”

“No.” He chuckled. “I’m asking you why you are asking.”

“Well, that’s the second time you’ve said that to me.”

“What?” He was taken aback. “When did I ever say that to you?”

“See! So you don’t remember!” She smirked.

“I-I do!” He frowned. “It means – get away from me.” He pulled his hood on and continued down the mountain.

“Jeez. Were you that angry at me, that you told me to get away from you?” She knit her brows. “Then what about the –” She stopped herself.

“What?” He said after a beat.

“N-nothing.” She stammered, clearing her throat. If he didn’t remember saying that to her, then he wouldn’t remember the kiss either.

She felt her face burning up more and more, thankful for her hood covering her face and the cold wind that cooled it.

The memory of the kiss sent an oddly delicious feeling down there again, causing her to close her eyes and inhale deeply as if she was high off this new unseeable drug.