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[color=808080][color=0bbdaf][b]#0bbdaf[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/6v586Ms][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [color=04ed42][b]#04ed42[/b][/color] [color=2e2c2c]....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [url=https://imgur.com/a/WUEies4][color=808080][b]outfit[/b][/color][/url] [color=2e2c2c].....[/color]|[color=2e2c2c].....[/color] [b]tappi's cabin > arena[/b][/color]
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[indent][indent][indent][indent][justify][color=808080]Tapeesa would have slept until noon, considering her hike up the mountain and how late it was when she finally dozed off. She was never someone who struggled too much with sleeping, but the warmth of Nate’s body and the softness of the couch lulled her off into the deepest slumber she’d had in awhile. By the time morning rolled around, their legs were loosely entangled while her arms were tucked between their chests, and her head rested in the crook of his neck. 

A strange chiming melody rang out in the silence of her cabin, cutting through the quiet peace of sleep and waking her with a small start. [color=86a8ad]"Good morning campers,"[/color] a deep voice echoed throughout the room coming from some unseen speaker like the voice of God or a terrible alarm. 

It took more energy than Tappi had to force her eyes open after being ripped out of her pleasant dream. [i]Something about a boy with red hair, kissing, and fireworks.[/i] She would have been content getting lost in it for a few more hours rather than whatever horrible racket was blaring from her TV. She must have fallen asleep with it on… [i]again.[/i] With squinted eyes and an annoyed expression, she started to roll over, hand reaching out to search for the remote that must have been hidden amongst her blankets and pillows. Her weight shifted from her side to rest on her back but there was no bed there to catch her. 

Tapeesa’s eyes snapped open, the realization that she wasn’t in her studio apartment and it [i]wasn’t[/i] a dream collided into her as she tipped over the edge of the couch. She gasped, surprised and weightless for a fraction of a second before she hit the ground with a thud.

Nate was startled awake by the sudden noise, startled from his rest with a familiar feeling. He was somewhere he didn't immediately recognize. In the past few years, he barely remembered what his own bed felt like. Nate had, once again, woken up in another person's bed. No… a quick feel of his surroundings made it clear it was a couch. His head felt a little foggy, must have had a few drinks the night before.

By the time Nate peeked over the edge of the couch with blurred vision, the puzzle of his prior night became clear. A warm smile graced his lips as he swung his legs over the couch to sit up, extending a hand down towards Tapeesa. [color=04ed42]"That's one way to wake up."[/color] He shook his head slightly, recalling some faint memory of a booming voice in some weird dream he was having. [color=04ed42]"You hurt?"[/color] The question was earnest enough as he wiggled the fingers of the hand he offered to help her up.

Tappi let out an exhausted groan as she accepted her fate on the floor. She brought her hands to her face and rubbed her eyes trying to push past her exhaustion and force herself awake. Hearing shifting on the couch beside her, she peeked between parted fingers in time to see Nate looking down at her, red hair, brown eyes, and somehow even [i]more[/i] disarmingly attractive in the daylight. [i]So, it wasn’t a dream.[/i] It only took one look at his smile for her cheeks to flush and her own grin to curve beneath her palms, visible through the subtle squint of her eyes. Her hands slowly ran down her face until just the tips of her fingers rested against her chin. 

[color=0bbdaf]"I’m—"[/color] she started to answer but was cut off by the same ominous voice that woke them in the first place. 

[color=86a8ad]"This is your new leader, River, speaking. It is currently 7:30 a.m. on January 1st. Your first training will begin in one hour at 8:30 a.m. in the arena. Please arrive promptly and dress accordingly."[/color]

She propped herself up on her elbows, looking around her small cabin like she was trying to find the source of the voice or whatever speaker it came from. Tapeesa sighed softly then looked back up at Nate and his extended hand. She swallowed, hesitating for a second before slipping her fingers into his upturned palm. The touch was innocent and gentle, but immediately flooded her mind with the reality of everything that happened: dancing, smoking… [i]kissing.[/i] Her breath hitched as her chest tightened and pulse quickened. [i]Gods, was there ever going to be a time when she wasn’t nervous around him?[/i] She cleared her throat, trying to pull herself out of her own mental fog, then used his hand and support to pull herself to her feet. 

Tapeesa’s fingers lingered in his grasp as she slowly lowered herself back down on the couch beside him. They were shoulder to shoulder, with their knees lightly brushing, mirroring how they sat in the late hours of the night, almost slipping into a strange but comfortable deja vu. [color=0bbdaf]"I’m fine,"[/color] she finally answered as she looked over at him with a sheepish smile. [color=0bbdaf]"Just embarrassed,"[/color] she added with a soft laugh. There was a moment where she contemplated apologizing for him spending the night on her couch, even if she was glad Nate stayed. But it wasn’t like she forced him and he wasn’t running for the door… Not yet anyway. There were a million questions bouncing around her head but she didn’t voice any of them, choosing to enjoy whatever fleeting moments remained rather than ruining it with her own overthinking.

Nate held Tappi's hand in his, happy for the slight warmth of the connection as he let out a yawn. He would have liked to sleep in a little later, especially since he hadn't volunteered for any [i]training[/i]. He hadn't signed up to be a counselor, he was here to get his mojo back and do a bit of sightseeing. He didn't mind his current detour, gingerly slipping his fingers between hers. [color=04ed42]"I'm supposed to be the clumsy one,"[/color] Nate joked, his cheeky grin evident as he met her gaze. [color=04ed42]"And clearly this couch isn't big enough for the both of us."[/color]

Tappi’s gaze fell to their hands as his fingers slowly slipped between hers effortlessly, like that was where they belonged, comfortable and at ease. She felt a warmth build in her chest and bloom along her neck and up to her cheeks. A soft chuckle slipped out at his comment as she mirrored his smile with her own. [color=0bbdaf]"Alright, [i]cowboy[/i],"[/color] she teased him, poking fun at his corny joke. Her head slowly turned, glancing back over her shoulder between them to look at the couch. [color=0bbdaf]"We seemed to fit just fine last night,"[/color] she added, barely above a whisper. Her gaze met his for a fleeting moment, cheeks reddening, before she quickly looked down at their entangled fingers and cleared her throat.

Once his own amused chuckle subsided, Nate turned his gaze towards the cabin at large. He eyed his duffel bag against the wall. He would need to get freshened up and ready, and probably scrounge up something to eat. But, a larger matter hung over him that his humor couldn't quite purge. [color=04ed42]"Last night was… really nice."[/color] His tone was sincere, but it was clear he was at a loss for words. He wouldn't mind picking up where they had left off before exhaustion overwhelmed them, but this was a surprisingly new sensation. When was the last time he had stayed the night? Had he ever slept over after a night of dancing and drinking? His foggy thoughts certainly could not recall such a time.

Right here and now, though, it didn't feel wrong. He didn't exactly have anywhere else to go, but he also felt peace in this witch's cabin in a compound in the woods. It almost felt like home here, but that notion was more distressing than reassuring. Nate shrugged his shoulders, more at the thought than at his own words. [color=04ed42]"I… would enjoy doing that again."[/color]

His words somehow managed to calm Tapeesa’s nerves while also igniting a new wave all at the same time. She shifted their entwined hands into her lap, gently pulling him a fraction closer and anchoring him in place. Her intention was to kiss him on the cheek, but as she leaned in, filling the space between them, there was a subconscious gravity that redirected her until her lips met his. Every kiss they had shared up until that moment Nate had initiated, but hearing his own gentle reassurances set into motion something she couldn’t quite control, a desire to reciprocate his thoughts in a way words couldn’t. It wasn’t passionate or needy, but soft and tender. She didn’t know if one night of making out gave her the freedom to steal a kiss whenever she wanted, but it felt right… and it was already too late.

She lingered in his warmth for a second or two, before slowly pulling away and creating a small sliver of space between them. Tapeesa opened her eyes to meet his gaze with a bashful smile. [color=0bbdaf]"I agree…"[/color] she whispered back in response.

Nate couldn't help but share a dumb smile at her words and actions. His bottom lip slipped beneath his front teeth as he briefly considered going in for more. He knew that was a slippery slope that would make them late to whatever event they needed to attend. He always preferred being fashionably late, but it wasn't his place to tempt Tapeesa down that path. The last thing he wanted was to make a bad impression for her sake.

It took more effort than she thought possible to force herself to her feet. The couch had grown to be their own safe little bubble and it felt like prying herself from the cushions would somehow sever whatever had grown in their brief time together. Even as Tappi stood before him, her knees remained lightly pressed against his while their fingers were still laced together. Her gaze drifted over to where Nate’s bag rested near her front door. It wasn’t until that moment that she realized he hadn’t even made it to his cabin yet. Did he even have one? With less than an hour before training, it wasn’t like there was really time. [color=0bbdaf]"You can make yourself at home."[/color] She looked down at him with a genuine smile that brightened her face and curved into her dimples. Her offer was innocent, wanting Nate to feel comfortable enough to get ready for training, but there was also a faint bit of selfishness in trying to prolong their time together. [color=0bbdaf]"I can make us coffee,"[/color] Tapeesa added, pointing at the coffee pot she noticed in her kitchenette. She didn’t know if there was coffee, but she recalled seeing beans in her greenhouse if there was nothing in the cabinets.

[color=04ed42]"Coffee would be great."[/color] The dull thrum in his head wasn’t nearly as bad as it usually was the morning after a party. Usually it was more like a pressure behind his eyes and a general fog in his thoughts that came from alcohol, drugs, and a long night. The warmth of their fleeting contact cut through any fog he had, filling that space with a calm that was unfamiliar. His eyes briefly turned towards the bag in the corner again, his tongue running across his bottom teeth in disdain as he recognized a need to get ready. [color=04ed42]"Do you mind if I borrow your shower?"[/color] He paused, furrowing his brows as he recalled small moments from the night before. Tapeesa seemed just as new to this place as he was. [color=04ed42]"Do you [i]have[/i] a shower?"[/color]

[color=0bbdaf]"Sure—"[/color] Tapeesa started to answer, but his second question made her pause. She pursed her lips together, looking around the cozy, but small, living area of her cabin. The only door led back outside, so if there was a bathroom, it wasn’t downstairs. [color=0bbdaf]"There has to be one, [i]right?[/i]"[/color] She rubbed the back of her neck with her free hand as she looked back down at Nate with a lopsided smile. [color=0bbdaf]"Let me get that coffee started. Then I’m sure I can find it."[/color] Her gaze fell to their entangled hands where she lightly tapped her thumb against his before reluctantly slipping her fingers free and creating the most space that had been between them in hours.

She made her way over to the small kitchenette tucked under the backside of the stairs. It didn’t look like Tapeesa would be able to make much with only a microwave and a hot plate but she honestly hadn’t mastered the art of cooking. Her diet before camp consisted of a lot of sandwiches and salads. It took a minute or two of searching the various cabinets to find two coffee mugs, filters, and—[i]ah ha![/i]—coffee. She filled the water reservoir, put a filter in the pot, added a scoop of coffee to the filter, and then turned it on. [color=0bbdaf]"Alright, coffee,"[/color] she mused to herself. 

Tappi made her way around the back of the couch, lightly tickling the back of Nate’s neck with a single stroke of her finger as she passed by. [color=0bbdaf]"Let’s find you that shower."[/color] She wasn’t entirely sure why she touched him. It was like there was some kind of subconscious gravity that moved her hand absent thought, seeking to bridge the space between them. It was innocent and harmless, but her cheeks still flushed from the brief contact as she made her way over to where she had discarded her belongings the night before. She scooped up her bag, winter coat, and anything else of hers that was lying around, then made her way over to the small stone tower with a spiral staircase. 

She made her up the stairs, stopping to peek out the small windows on her way up. When Tapeesa reached the top, the cylindrical tower opened up into a loft-like space. Immediately in front of her was a window seat and to her right was an open door to a quaint bathroom. It matched the aesthetic of the rest of her cottage-like cabin with a rustic charm, stone tiles, and a clawfoot bathtub. [color=0bbdaf]"Found it!"[/color] She called over her shoulder, voice echoing down the stairwell and back to Nate. 

Tapeesa then slowly turned around to face the rest of the room. Her jaw dropped and an audible gasp slipped from her lips. The bedroom might have been small and nothing special by other people’s standards, but to her it looked like something out of a fairytale. The ceiling was pitched with, what looked like, handpainted floral murals between decorative slats of wood. In the center of the far wall was a large circle window that acted almost like a headboard and looked out on a thicket of snow covered trees. After setting down her bag and other belongings on the ground, leaning them up against the wall, she scurried over to the bed. She flopped back against the mattress, legs draped over the edge as she looked up at the ceiling with a content hum. It was nothing like her small, cramped, studio apartment back in Iqaluit, in the best possible way.

She didn’t really know what to expect from camp, but all-in-all, her first 24 hours were shaping up to be far better than she could have imagined. Tappi had been expecting a Greek military bootcamp, not… whatever this was. Although training was likely to change her opinions, she could still try to enjoy the peace while it lasted.

Nate had followed Tapeesa upstairs, albeit slowly to avoid his wandering eyes from focusing on her gait up the steps. He had plucked his bag and coat from the ground, hoisting them over his shoulder as he made his way upstairs. The “cabin” felt surreal and unorthodox in its design, like he had stumbled into some fantasy novel he only watched the film version of for class. As he stood at the top of the stairs and he eyed the standalone bathtub, he shook his head in disbelief. He couldn’t remember the last time he had taken a bath instead of a shower… maybe in middle school when he got a knee full of gravel while playing near a pothole. He remembered having to soak in the bathtub so loose pieces of asphalt would dislodge from the scrap and float up. It was soothing, probably because he couldn’t feel the pain and hadn’t noticed the wound for an hour or so.

He turned his gaze away when his mind envisioned Tapeesa in the tub, soapy suds obscuring anything he hadn’t already seen. He gingerly stepped towards the rest of the loft, nodding softly as he admired the craftsmanship. He didn’t know much of the woman, but it did feel distinctly “weird” by his more modern sensibilities. She seemed comfortable and pleased with her accommodations, and that brought a grin to his face. He crossed the room, hovering next to Tapeesa at the edge of the bedding. His breath caught in his throat as he fought back his impulses, searching instead for words. [color=04ed42]"More importantly… we found you a bed. Hopefully you won’t fall out of this too."[/color] His smirk was goading as his knee brushed against hers. He looked back in the direction of the bathroom. [color=04ed42]"Did you want to bathe first? I can… crap, what’s the phrase… draw you a bath?"[/color]

Tapeesa’s smile grew as she felt the subtle touch of his leg against hers. She propped herself up on her elbows, letting her gaze shift from the elaborately painted ceiling over to Nate’s dark brown eyes as he stood before her. [color=0bbdaf]"That was [i]your[/i] fault,"[/color] she teased him back in response, lightly bumping her foot against the side of his leg. [color=0bbdaf]"It is significantly [i]larger[/i] than the couch."[/color] She glanced back over her shoulder toward the rest of the bed, noting how it was even larger than her bed in her apartment. There was a brief moment where her mind drifted toward their night spent together, specifically the parts where Nate was on top of her, but the image shifted from the couch to her bed and—

She cleared her throat, trying to push away the thoughts as her cheeks turned bright red. Luckily Nate’s question pulled her out of her [i]overactive[/i] imagination. His offer to draw her a bath made Tapeesa snort out a laugh. She clapped her hand over her mouth to try and refrain from snorting a second time and muffled her quiet giggles. [color=0bbdaf]"I don’t think an hour is enough time for us both to… [i]bathe[/i],"[/color] she replied, playfully emphasizing her words to tease him. [color=0bbdaf]"I [i]believe[/i] there’s a shower."[/color] But now she was second guessing it. She leaned to the side, peeking around Nate’s side to try, and catch a glimpse in the bathroom, but she was too far away to know for sure. 

Tappi pushed off the bed and got to her feet. She hadn’t really considered how close Nate was until she was standing face to face with him. The last time they stood that close was when they were in the greenhouse. It was almost like deja vu the way her chest faintly brushed against his and how her hands gently grabbed his arm to steady herself in the small tentative space she stood so that she didn’t teeter back onto the bed. She swallowed, trying to keep her breaths steady even if she couldn’t hide the flush of her cheeks or the nervous way she averted her gaze. [color=0bbdaf]"I can check,"[/color] she whispered into the small expanse between them, hesitantly looking up at him. 

Nate's heart thumped and his cheeks flushed with Tapeesa's own words and flustered looks. He had been good, restraining himself from letting their interaction this morning be another flurry of entwined limbs and lips. But as Tapeesa brushed up against them, their bodies gently pressed against each other, that restraint melted. He was not greedy, his free hand softly holding her head in place as he leaned in for a kiss. It wasn't long, only a few seconds that ticked far slower than usual. When it was done, he kept his eyes closed and his face near hers as his soft apology lingered. [color=04ed42]"Sorry…"[/color]

While Tapeesa wasn't expecting him to kiss her, it'd be a lie if she said she didn't want it. Since the night before it seemed like whenever they weren't kissing, the thought was always lingering at the back of her mind. Her heart skipped a beat when he held her head but she quickly settled into an elated calmness when his lips met hers. She sat in the moment for as long as he kept her there. When he pulled away the corners of her mouth immediately tugged into a bright smile that seemed a permanent fixture in Nate's presence. 

[color=0bbdaf]"Don't apologize,"[/color] she whispered, gently squeezing his upper arms where her hands still held onto him. [color=0bbdaf]"Just know,"[/color] Tapeesa added as she looked up at him. [color=0bbdaf]"If you keep kissing me I'll start thinking you're mine."[/color] There was a temporary pause before the reality of what she said sunk in. Her eyes went wide as she immediately started panic rambling. [color=0bbdaf]"Which is crazy because we just met and I don't know your last name and you don't know my favorite color and guys don't like girls who catch feelings quickly and—"[/color] She sucked in a sharp breath having forgotten to breathe through her word vomit. [color=0bbdaf]"And I was supposed to be checking if I have a shower."[/color]

Tapeesa nervously slipped from the place she stood, trapped between Nate and her bed. Her heart thrummed so hard in her chest her body trembled with every breath. She carried herself across the room like the more space between them would erase everything she said. They both agreed that they liked honesty but she needed to know when to stop talking. Words like those were saved for… Well later or never. If she had learned anything from her past, sharing her feelings usually just scared the people she liked away. But it was too late and her foot was firmly planted in her mouth. She anxiously brushed loose hair from her face, accidentally knocking the lucky cigarette from where she had forgotten it was nestled behind her ear. [color=0bbdaf]"Oh no!"[/color] she gasped. Her hands frantically shot out, fumbling and flailing, before finally catching it in her palms like it was made of glass. 

Nate stood motionless for a moment, his eyes widening slightly from shock. While the entire morning had been unusual, Tapeesa's confession was a jolt to his system that left his brain fried. She didn't know what she was getting herself into, that much was obvious. He had taken her first kiss, she was clearly just emotionally overwhelmed. But she did mean it. She was honest like he was. She wanted something more, something exclusive. He took a breath, processing her panicked backtracking. Her word salad was endearing, and would have warranted another kiss if her playful threat didn't hang over the air between them.

He didn't watch as she scurried back in the direction of the bathroom. His grip on his bag tightened as he let out a long exhale. Tapeesa's outcry turned his attention to her flailing arms and the cigarette she was trying to catch. Before he could stop himself, a hearty giggle burst from his chest as he shook his head. It was almost comical, the type of thing you usually saw in cartoons. It took a moment for his laugh to die down. He followed after her, keeping a little distance between them. His tone was soft and reassuring, with an amused undercurrent. [color=04ed42]"Banes. My last name is Banes."[/color]

Tapeesa stopped outside the bathroom, still cupping the cigarette gingerly between her palms like one false move could break it into a million pieces. She looked over at him, face still beat red but a hint of smile returned seeing that Nate wasn’t sprinting for the door, but lingered and even offered up his last name. She laughed awkwardly, finding it a little harder to hold his gaze as she chewed on the inside of her cheek. The space he kept between them didn’t go unnoticed but she tried her best not to focus on it but on the fact that he was still there. [color=0bbdaf]"Mine’s Nanuq,"[/color] she offered up in exchange with a small shrug. 

She leaned forward, dipping her head through the doorway of the bathroom, noting the showerhead attached to the wall overlooking the clawfoot tub and the oval metal ring that held the shower curtain, open and ready. Tappi inhaled sharply as she took a step to the side, trying her best not to put them both in another precarious situation by lingering in the narrow doorway. She motioned into the bathroom. [color=0bbdaf]"I was right… Should have made a bet so you’d owe me a favor,"[/color] she teased softly, trying to ease her own tensions and find her way back to the comfortable symbiosis they were in before. 

[color=0bbdaf]"You can go first."[/color] Tapeesa nodded her head toward the open doorway as she took another step backwards. [color=0bbdaf]"I wouldn’t want to steal all the hot water and I [i]imagine[/i] I have a better tolerance for cold than you… Not that I know where you’re from."[/color] Her face scrunched and head tilted slightly to the side as she felt the nervous rambling fight to explode out again. [color=0bbdaf]"I need to stop talking,"[/color] she grumbled to herself. She pivoted on her heels and started making her way back toward the other side of the room. Halfway there she stopped momentarily, glancing back at him over her shoulder while she absentmindedly spun the cigarette between the tips of her fingers. [color=0bbdaf]"It’s yellow, by the way… My favorite color."[/color] She spoke so softly that it was barely more than a whisper lost in the wind. 

Tapeesa clicked her tongue and nodded her head. [color=0bbdaf]"[i]Right.[/i] Shutting up now."[/color] She wandered over to her dresser and carefully discarded the cigarette into a small jewelry dish for safe keeping. Then she grabbed her bag, carried it over to her bed, and started unpacking what little bit of belongings she did have while desperately trying to keep herself from overthinking.

A steadfast smirk was a glowing testament to how amused Nate was by Tapeesa's fumbled words. He was usually better at pissing people off than he was leaving them dumbstruck, and he did not mind the change in circumstances. It would be easier to chalk up her feelings to naivety than to genuine connection, but a nagging feeling in his stomach refused to discount it. Maybe it had something to do with that small churn in his core as she kept her distance. Or maybe he was just really, really hungry.

He approached the bathroom, standing in the doorway as he looked in and got a better view at the accommodations. He hadn't noticed the shower attachment to the freestanding tub earlier, wincing a little at his own stupid suggestion earlier. Nate tossed his bag and coat inside the bathroom, calling over his shoulder. [color=04ed42]"I'll try not to take too long, it would be rude to hog [i]all[/i] of the hot water."[/color] He chuckled a little, before stepping into the bathroom and beginning to undo his belt. He paused for a moment as his foot rested against the bottom of the door to kick it closed, a few words Tapeesa said clinging to the back of his mind that demanded a retort. [color=04ed42]"Also, don't assume what I don't like. Maybe I don't mind people who fall quick."[/color] He swiftly kicked the door closed behind him to cut the discussion from progressing further.

Tappi slowly and methodically pulled each piece of clothing out of her bag one at a time and stacked them into neat piles on her bed. While her movements were calculated, her ears were tuned to the soft rustlings of Nate getting situated in the bathroom, waiting to hear the telltale sign of the door latching so she could let out the tense breath she had been holding in. His first comment made the tiniest of smiles resurface but it was quickly replaced with dumbfounded shock and a strangled gasp. Impulsively her head snapped to look back over her shoulder at him only to be met with the bathroom door closing, letting his words and their implications hang in the air. 

He tossed his dirty clothes in a heap on the tile as he undressed. He looked himself over in the mirror over the sink, his eyes trailing down his muscles and errant scars. He couldn't even remember how he got half of them, but he knew Tapeesa would ask about each one when she saw them. [I]if[/i] she saw them. He wasn't sticking around. He'd play along for a bit, get his luck back, and then skip town. It would be nice if she joined, but she was bought in on whatever this delusion was. But it wasn't a delusion. He looked at his ankle, no signs of damage or pain from the day before. She had healed it. She had magic. His luck was real, not just superstition. Was the way he never seemed to feel pain part of this whole mess too? His little offerings of cigarettes and names, was that… oh god.

Nate focused on getting the shower on and grabbing a bar of soap and a towel from his bag before he could unpack just how much his world had shifted in an evening. He didn't need to think about cute Inuit girls, or curses, or the fact that there might be an actual afterlife. Did they have a heaven or a hell? No, he needed to focus. He turned the faucet to full heat, stepping in to feel [i]something[/i] to shock the system. While he didn't feel like his skin was burning off, the change in temperature was enough of a shock to the system to let him focus on cleaning the dirt and grime from the days’ travels. The shower at his last hostel was busted when he tried to use it, so he was pleased this one seemed to work. Within a few minutes, he was already drying himself off and scrounging for some deodorant and fresh clothes. He decided on a simple white tank top and black sweatpants, slipping into those quickly and grabbing a hoodie before opening up the bathroom door again. [color=04ed42]"It's all yours."[/color]

While Tapeesa had been trying, fruitlessly, to do anything but overthink, like putting her clothes away in the dresser, Nate's words sent her mind reeling so fast it almost made her dizzy. It was stupid. [I]She[/i] was being stupid. She had most definitely had crushes before but nothing like this. They were all one sided and never got even [I]remotely[/I] close to kissing. Not that a kiss [I]had[/I] to mean something… Well… a lot of kisses. And he stayed the night… And there was the thing with his last name, and that comment and—[color=0bbdaf]"[I]Oh my god, stop,[/I]"[/color] she chastised herself, tossing the last piece of clothing haphazardly into the drawer before burying her face in her palms. 

She forced herself to take a couple deep breaths and [I]attempted[/I] to ground herself. When Tapeesa got her panicked mind back down to just overthinking, she sighed and pulled out one of the few outfits she had that felt suitable enough for training. After closing the drawer, she sat at the foot of her bed and slowly began unbraiding her hair. Just as she had started running her fingers through her hair to try to free some of the knots, Nate's voice pulled her out of her trance. She looked across the room at him with a timid smile. [color=0bbdaf]"Ok."[/color] She left behind her hoodie, socks and sneakers, but scooped up the rest of her clothes and toiletry bag. It wasn't until she was halfway to the bathroom that she noticed she was still wearing her boots. With all the grace of a newborn foal, she teetered and hopped as she wiggled out of her shoes and kicked them aside. 

Tappi walked past him as she approached the door. The scent of Nate's shampoo and soap still hung in the air mixed with the warm steam that radiated out of the bathroom. Her gaze slowly drifted over to in the brief moment they were nearly shoulder to shoulder, catching the faint hint of his cologne or deodorant or maybe it was just him. [color=0bbdaf]"You smell nice,"[/color] she commented softly with that familiar glint in her eye before she disappeared into the room and closed the door. 

She lightly set down the pile of fresh folded clothes on top of the toilet lid, then started unpacking her toiletries. After she finished setting the last item in its new home on the sink, Tapeesa caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror. It wasn't the tiredness in her eyes or the redness of her cheeks that got her attention but a foreign dark mark nestled in the crook of her neck. She wiped the steam from the mirror and leaned in closer, running the tips of her fingers gingerly over the bruise. Her mind replayed the night's events until it lingered on a moment when Nate had her pinned down against the couch cushions. His lips had started on hers then trailed their way along her jaw and down her neck to that spot… It didn't hurt. She distinctly remembered an entirely [I]different[/I] sensation, the warmth, and an unfamiliar sound that fell from her lips. 

Tapeesa's mind was dangerously close to wandering too far when she snapped herself out of it. But it wasn't soon enough to avoid the way her pulse elevated and the strange tension that knotted in her stomach. It didn't matter if there was hot water or not, she turned the taps to cold and stepped in before she could think better of it. The extreme temperature was enough to startle her awake and clear her mind… or numb it if nothing else. Considering how unbearably cold it was, she wasted no time washing up and allowed herself a few moments of warm water before getting out. She started the painstaking process of ringing out as much water from her long hair as possible then pulled on her yoga pants and sports bra. 

When she stepped out of the bathroom, Tapeesa didn't know what she expected to see but whatever it was, it wasn't her empty bedroom. It made sense that it might have been weird if Nate waited on her bed or on the window seat right outside the bathroom, but her heart still sank nevertheless when she didn't see him there. Her bare feet hurried across the room with a little more haste than necessary. She scooped up her coat, hoodie, shoes, socks, and hair brush, then made her way towards the stairs. Then with a new wave of nervousness at the thought that he might not be waiting downstairs either. Tappi took each step slowly until she was able to peek around the edge of the wall and find the familiar head of red hair. She sighed, relieved, taking the rest of the stairs far more calmly and significantly less like a spaz. 

[color=0bbdaf]"I have a confession,"[/color] she spoke up as she made her way over to the couch, setting down the various things she carried onto the coffee table before taking a seat. [color=0bbdaf]"I thought I might have scared you away,"[/color] Tappi admitted with a lopsided smile and a weak, slightly self deprecating laugh.

Nate looked a little too comfortable on the couch, hands behind his head and legs outstretched as she approached. His eyes met hers for a moment before she focused on setting up her stuff. His stomach churned a little at such a simple sight. [color=04ed42]"I… wouldn't know where else to go."[/color] It wasn't the most reassuring answer, but it was as honest as he could be. He wasn't exactly keen on leaving such comfortable accommodations until he had to. Though, that didn't necessarily mean that he was right at home. [color=04ed42]"I don't scare easily, though. This all makes me a little nervous, sure, but I'm not gonna skip out on you that quick."[/color]

[color=0bbdaf]"You’re nervous?"[/color] Tapeesa asked. Her damp hair fell from over her shoulder as she turned her head to look over at Nate. If she had to put a finger on it, he might have acted a little nervous last night, but if he had been that morning, he fooled her. There was just something about the way he carried himself, confident and surefooted, that she assumed nervousness was the last thing on his mind. Maybe it was her? [i]No, that couldn’t be it. That’s ridiculous.[/i] [color=0bbdaf]"[i]Well,[/i]"[/color] she lightly patted her knees with her hands, [color=0bbdaf]"We can’t [i]both[/i] be nervous all the time. That just sounds like a mess. So I nominate you to be the calm one."[/color] Her smile brightened as she lightly bumped his leg that stretched behind her across the couch with her elbow. 

Nate scoffed with a wide smile, rolling his eyes. [color=04ed42]"We can take turns. I get mornings."[/color]

As she met his gaze, the faint red light of the coffeepot caught Tappi’s attention out of the corner of her eyes. [color=0bbdaf]"[i]Shoot, the coffee![/i]"[/color] She hopped up and zipped around the couch toward the kitchenette. There were already the two mugs she had sitting out on the counter, ready and waiting, but she forgot to dig out anything else they might need. It wasn’t hard to find the milk, but it took a little more searching to figure out where the sugar was hiding, but by happy accident, while looking she stumbled upon a box of blueberry poptarts. She pulled out two packs and set them aside before grabbing the sugar. She poured them both a large cup, added a little bit of sugar and a splash of milk. 

Tapeesa tucked the foil wrapped poptarts under her arm, lightly pinned against her ribs, then leaned over and picked up the mugs. It wasn’t until she approached the back of the couch and glanced down at the coffee that she realized she never [i]asked[/i] him how he liked his coffee. She just made both cups like muscle memory. Her face scrunched up and flushed as she held out one of the mugs toward him. [color=0bbdaf]"I’m sorry. I didn’t think to ask how you liked it."[/color] Once her hand was free, she slipped one of the packs of poptarts out from under her arm and held it out to him. [color=0bbdaf]"Peace offering?"[/color] She wiggled the foil wrapped pastry in the air while flashing a playful and slightly embarrassed smile. 

After she got him to take the poptarts, Tapeesa made her way back around to the front of the couch. She set aside her own drink and breakfast on the side table, before nonchalantly and carefully lifting up Nate’s legs that stretched the length of the sofa. She then slipped down onto the seat, crossed her legs beneath her, and gently rested his feet back down on her lap, completely unbothered. Tappi didn’t want to make him move when he looked so comfortable and it didn’t bother her… And maybe there was a small, subconscious part of her that was seeking a fraction of physical contact, no matter what form it came in. Her right hand reached behind her head, dragging the tip of her fingers across the back of her neck to gather up all her hair and move it out of the way so she could sink back against the cushions. She then grabbed her coffee and took a long drink with a content hum.

That buzzing feeling in his gut intensified by how… normal Tapeesa was acting. It was like they had lived together for years, despite having just met. She was a nervous wreck only moments earlier as they were getting ready, and now she seemed perfectly happy with the domestic scene. He didn't want to [i]object[/i], but history implied this wouldn't last. With his luck, she'd be done with him in a few days. The thought made his coffee seem more bitter on his tongue than it should have been, but he seemed otherwise comfortable and pleased with the breakfast as he stared at the ceiling. Looking at his temporary roommate would only drive reality through the otherwise dreamy haze of the early morning.

Tappi was comfortable in the silence. She watched large snowflakes fall outside the window and rest along its frame as she sipped her coffee and took an occasional bite of her pastry. The serenity of the moment was a balm for her nerves, grounding her in the reality of everything that had unfolded around her in a handful of hours. There was a selfish part of her that wanted to prolong what time remained and greedily grasp to the fleeting minutes that were slipping away. She knew that the moment she stepped outside it’d all shift to a memory and break the illusion. Kissing didn’t always mean something to others. People frequently partake in physical intimacy simply for the sensations… [i]She didn’t.[/i] But she wasn’t naive either. Her gaze flicked over to Nate for no more than a second, studying his face as he looked at the ceiling. He was honest. He said as much and she believed him. He obviously [i]liked[/i] kissing her, even said she was his favorite kiss… But she couldn’t even begin to piece it all together and figure out what it meant.

She finished the rest of her coffee and breakfast without saying a word while her thoughts drifted and festered. After her final sip, Tapeesa leaned forward making sure not to knock Nate’s feet off her lap as she discarded the empty mug and foil wrapper on her coffee table. [color=0bbdaf]"So, where [i]are[/i] you from?"[/color] She asked, breaking the silence as she leaned back in her seat. She raised her right hand and ran the tip of her finger down the center of her scalp, parting her hair. After twisting one side and tucking it out of the way, she started French braiding the other side effortlessly as she continued. [color=0bbdaf]"I’m from Iqaluit, Nunavut. It’s like [i]really[/i] far north in Canada. Almost to Greenland,"[/color] she added with a weak chuckle and a shrug.

Nate tossed the foil remnants of his poptarts on the coffee table as he finished the last bite, squinting as he tried to place where exactly Tapeesa was from. He couldn't say he had a clear memory of what Canada looked like or how close it got to Greenland, so he just shrugged his shoulders. He would have to look it up later. He sipped from his cup before answering. [color=04ed42]"Vegas. Sin City."[/color] He finished the contents of his drink, the small craving for a hit of nicotine budding at the back of his mouth. Smoke reminded him of home. [color=04ed42]"This is the farthest from there I've been. Hell, it's my first time on a plane or out of the country."[/color]

Tapeesa took a small elastic and tied it around the end of the finished braid, then proceeded to start the second. She wasn’t entirely sure [i]why[/i] Vegas made sense. It wasn’t like she had ever been there, but something unspoken about Nate gave her the feeling that he’d fit into a city like that with ease… Even though all she really knew about it came from movies. [color=0bbdaf]"Same,"[/color] she replied softly as her fingers continued to twist and knot her damp hair. [color=0bbdaf]"I’ve always wanted to travel. It wasn’t really an option in the orphanage. I aged out a little over a year ago, but I barely made enough money for my studio apartment."[/color] She shrugged her shoulders, not particularly bothered by it, having accepted her life just… was the way it was. The most she could do was make the best of it, which she often tried. Eventually it got her here, so it couldn’t be all bad. 

She tied off her second braid, sparing a glance over her shoulder toward the clock. They had ten minutes until training started. Tappi sighed and her smile faded. The last thing she wanted to do was leave her cabin, but time wouldn’t stop because she willed it. She gently moved Nate’s feet off her lap with a quiet, [color=0bbdaf]"Sorry."[/color] Then scooted forward to the edge of the couch so she could start putting on her socks and shoes. After lacing up her sneakers, she pushed off her knees and stood up. The tips of her fingers slipped beneath the elastic band of her sports bra, adjusting how it rested in a subconscious way to delay the inevitable. [color=0bbdaf]"I’m running out of distractions,"[/color] she whispered the confession. She hesitated for another second or two, then leaned down and grabbed her hoodie.

Nate took Tapeesa’s movement as a sign to quickly slide back on his own sneakers, not bothering to retie the knot. When she rose, he followed a moment after. He grabbed his hoodie, which had been slung over the back of the couch, and quickly slid it on. Tapeesa’s words confused him for a moment, before the dawning realization crept up on him. He offered a grin as he closed the gap between them, placing his hand on her side as he stood behind her. He lowered his head so it was right next to hers, his whisper tickling the hairs on her ear. [color=04ed42]"I can think of a couple…."[/color] He leaned his head back and stood up straight, removing the hand from her side. [color=04ed42]"But I would hate to make you late to… whatever it is we are doing."[/color]

Tapeesa had slipped her arms into each sleeve of her hoodie and had the fabric bunched in her palms ready to pull it over her head when she felt Nate’s hand on her side. Her breaths grew sporadic and heavy, caught off guard by the sudden and unexpected touch. His calloused fingers were warm as they brushed against the exposed skin of her waist. She swallowed as she turned her head to look back at him. Her face was flushed as she held his gaze, part of it was flustered nerves but there was a small forbidden desire that wanted him too. She cleared her throat and finally pulled her hoodie over her head as an escape to hide for a second and try to compose herself. [color=0bbdaf]"[i]You[/i] are a bad influence, Nater-tot,"[/color] she goaded him with a playful poke to his chest. 

After pulling her braids out from beneath her sweatshirt, Tapeesa grabbed her parka and pulled it on with a soft sigh. She zipped it up slowly as she made her way over to the front door. Her hand hesitated on the handle before finally turning it and breaking the seal on their isolated bubble. She grimaced as the cold breeze hit her like a wave, shocking any remaining exhaustion or rose tint from her mind. She took a single step forward into the doorway, then froze. 

In that brief moment of hesitation she contemplated kissing him one last time, like stepping outside would break the illusion that had been lingering around them since the night before. She wanted to… but since her comment up in her room, there was an added gravity that lingered behind every touch and prospect of another kiss. She should have kept her mouth shut. The meaning behind her words were no less serious or true whether or not she shared them, but she spoke them into existence. There was a nagging feeling in her gut that those playful yet serious words were the final nail in the coffin on their night and everything shared was going to be buried and forgotten. She turned slightly towards Nate, feeling the temptation and uncertainty building in her as she looked up into his eyes. In that second there were several things that crossed her mind but only one that she wanted to do, but instead she just smiled up at him, bright and genuine with her prominent dimples and a faint nervous air. [color=0bbdaf]"Back to the real world,"[/color] she commented quietly.

Nate balked a little at the cold, slipping his hands into his hoodie pockets to feel for some gloves he had left there. While he didn’t feel the same sharp pin-pricks in his skin most did, the overwhelming shift in temperature was enough to send shivers down his spine. Thoughts of flirting had melted with the wind, his thoughts instead turned to how he just wanted to stay indoors to avoid the weather. He wasn’t sure that would work out for him in the end, and he wasn’t going to let Tapeesa face whatever was coming her way alone. He put on his gloves and followed Tappi, his quivering voice full of his usual mirth. [color=04ed42]"I don’t know if a camp counts as the real world."[/color]

[color=0bbdaf]"More real than making out on a couch,"[/color] Tapeesa mused as she stepped out from under the awning. She carefully followed the stepstone path, making sure to only place her feet on the rocks and avoid submerging her sneakers in a deep pile of snow. In that kind of weather she would have preferred to be wearing her mukluks, but they weren’t the most practical for working out or training or whatever she was about to be getting herself into. Thankfully the main path was covered in a light dusting of white so her socks were safe from getting soaked two steps outside her cabin. 

A bitter wind whipped through the trees as Tapeesa turned toward the arena, leading them between the row of cabins and what looked like some type of smith or armory. She pulled the large hood from her parka up onto her head, hoping to block her still damp hair from the familiar but frigid cold. She could hear her mom’s sweet, but nagging voice in her head, [i]"Dry your braids by the fire’s light or winter will claim them in the night."[/i] A silly little rhyme she was almost certain her mom made up, but maybe that was the reason it stuck with her for all those years. A decade apart and Tappi can still hear her mom’s voice as clear as if she was standing right in front of her. Of course, she only remembered it [i]after[/i] she forgot to heed the advice, but she tried. For extra measure, she tucked the tails of her braids beneath the collar of her coat like her mother’s spirit floated on the breeze, chastising her lovingly. 

It didn’t take them more than a couple minutes to reach the arena considering how close Tapeesa’s cabin was. They entered through the north facing side, emerging out from under a stone archway that cut through the stands. Her pace slowed, noticing the immediate shift in temperature similar to when she arrived at camp the night before. She started unzipping and removing her parka as she looked around at the fairly large crowd of unfamiliar faces. There was a second when her gaze found Elias. A knot immediately twisted in her stomach as his words came flooding to the forefront of her mind. There was a part of her that wanted to talk to him and make sure he got his things, but a bigger, more embarrassed part was still hurt and didn’t know [i]how[/i] to act around him anymore. When Tappi noticed she was staring her gaze fell to her feet bashfully. Without looking up and silent, she found her way to the nearest bench and took a seat.

Nate felt awkward shuffling after Tapeesa and into the stadium, his hands shoved deep into his hoodie pockets. He had hoped, despite Andy’s insistence, that the more soothing temperatures would persist. Hell, he had falsely assumed that Greece would be far more temperate in the colder months. As soon as he crossed that boundary into the arena, and he felt the warmth melt away that uncomfortable cold, he sighed in relief. He quickly began removing his gloves, sliding them back into his hoodie pocket as he glanced about those gathered. His eyes naturally followed Tapeesa’s stare, offering Elias little more than a scowl as he gingerly lifted a hand to squeeze his host’s shoulder as she turned to take a seat. He remained rooted for a moment, his body electrified with that overwhelming desire to “make a scene.” It was only a brief glance back at Tapeesa’s dejected form that let the impulse die. He followed her, shoving his hands into his pockets as he sat down next to her. He tapped the tip of his sneaker against her foot, offering her a warm smile. [color=04ed42]"Ready for orientation?"[/color]

Tapeesa’s hands rested on top of her parka that was laying across her lap. She hadn’t really noticed she was picking at that one pesky hang nail until Nate filled her peripheries and sat down beside her. She let out a quiet, distracted hum when his foot gently nudged hers, pulling her out of her spiraling thoughts. She sucked in a soft breath, straightening slightly before looking over at him. His warmth was a kind distraction that helped melt away some of her nerves and bring back a fraction of her own light. 

[color=0bbdaf]"I don’t know what kind of orientations you’ve been to,"[/color] Tappi mused quietly as her attention slowly shifted to the obstacle course that was splayed out in the center of the arena. A concerned grimace tugged at the corner of her lips as she tried to envision herself attempting [i]any[/i] of the obstacles. The only images that played through her mind were the various ways she’d end up injured or make a fool of herself by the end. It wasn’t until that moment that she wondered if she was in over her head coming to camp. She had the physical prowess of a house cat, but it was too late to turn back now. The best she could do was wish for it to be over quickly… [i]And painlessly.[/i][/color][/justify][/indent][/indent][/indent][/indent]

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