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[recoined]

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kimberly hart.

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[recoined]

( he doesn't have to drag her; she's happy to follow, snug against his side as they walk, all too aware of the warmth of his hand tangled with hers. the walk itself isn't long, just a few minutes, but before they make it all the way, kimberly tugs him to a stop under the shade of a tree still in possession of its autumn leaves. the afternoon sunlight filters through, leaving them both covered in a muted crimson glow — she's a bit grateful for that, as it might hide the flush in her cheeks as she pulls him in a little closer. )

Robbie, ( breathed out, face tipping up to his; he's smiling, and it's impossible to resist the urge to mirror the expression, even if it grows so wide it pushes at her cheeks. ) I'm interested.

( she thought that much was obvious. )

I've been interested the whole time.

[acuerdo]

[though he loves the witty banter, the oneupsmanship that usually accompanies their time spent with one another, moments like these: quiet and tender, have become more frequent. robbie likes them too, and so it's no surprise that he leans in, tucks an errant strand of hair away from her face and presses their foreheads together, noses bumping lightly.

his heart hammers in his chest as he presses a soft kiss to her lips.]

When I came here, I was just so happy to not be dead, you know? I didn't think... I didn't think I'd meet anyone who I'd care about.

[his blinks slowly, hand stroking her cheek as he does.]

I care about you.

[recoined]

( the brush of his mouth against her own is soft, almost tender in a way, and yet, it's just as satisfying as the more frenetic, greedy touches they so often seem to default to. perhaps even more so, right now, since it doesn't inspire the same sort of desperate escalation in return. no, she's happy to linger under the canopy here, his hand warm as it palms her cheek, and let the rising tide of sweetness overtake her for a moment.

she doesn't like to think about the what-could-have-been when it comes to either of them. how close they both had come to life disappearing before their eyes, how scared they had felt before coming here. thinking about it makes her think of what would eventually have to come to pass — about going back to the places and people they left behind, to different worlds that may not intertwine. it's too sad for this moment, so she pushes the thoughts down like always in favor of something else.

something better — like the sincerity of his confession, the warmth that blooms in her chest as he says it, something more than just i like you or i want you. something that means something. )

Me too. ( her voice is quiet at first, almost too much to be heard, but kimberly swallows, offers again, ) I didn't think anybody would ever... I mean, not like this.

( the implication's pretty easy to follow. she's had plenty of boys be interested in her for purely physical reasons, even dated a few of them casually here and there, but nothing that's ever felt quite so genuine. )

The feeling's mutual, is what I'm trying to say.

[acuerdo]

[a pleased sigh slips from his lips as she admits that there's something here beyond what they'd initially sought out. while there's a great many unspoken things between them about what happens when they inevitably head home, questions about whether they'll even be able to see each other again or if moments like this one will fade slowly but surely as memories are wont to do, robbie isn't thinking about them at all. he grabs hold of her hand, squeezes it tightly and nods in understanding.]

I know it is, Kim.

Well, I don't think they'll wait all day for us. [he comments as he looks at their balloon operator making a few last minute adjustments just a bit further along the path.]

What do you say we find out just how high we can fly?

[recoined]

I know you know. But I wanted to tell you.

( the loss of touch is disappointing, earning a fleeting moment of a frown before his hand shifts to take hers; the frown quickly reverses at the fervent squeeze that accompanies the gesture, and her smile only sweetens with his reassurance.

it's not defined, this thing between them, or categorized. they're still just two people finding comfort in the other, two people who come together for a mutual need, but there's something more to it too. something more sincere, more genuine — they've shared things together that kimberly had never quite expected to share with someone here. her ranger history, his los angeles checkered past, their fears and worries for those they've left behind — all whispered out in the dark, curled up together with her head resting on his chest, his hands carefully carding through her hair. it had felt... intimate, for lack of a better word, in a way that she'd never really experienced before.

kimberly's shaken from her thoughts by his sudden suggestion and the tug of his hand in hers as he pulls her along towards the balloon; it takes her a moment to realize what he's said, but she's glad to follow him down the path until they approach.

the sight of everything takes her a bit by surprise at first. the balloon itself is massive, much bigger than she'd expected even from the parking lot, and while she's neither worried about the basket's capability to hold their weight or their own respective abilities to handle a fall if one were to happen, it's still a little intimidating to climb inside. )

Have you ever been in one of these before?

[acuerdo]

[this metaphorical road they're going down with each other may not have a defined destination, but robbie has enjoyed each twist and turn of their journey so far. he's found comfort in the physical, to be sure. perhaps most interesting and likely most telling, he's honestly enjoyed the quiet moments the most; secrets spilled under the cover of darkness left him feeling like he'd met another soul who might understand where he was coming from. it made things real in a way that he hadn't anticipated.

so planning this date had just been the next obvious step. and seeing kim's eyes go wide as they finally reach the base of the balloon is definitely worth it. he shakes head in the negative as he holds out his hand to help her step into the basket.]

I haven't but I've always wanted to. Now seemed like the right time with the right person.

[she's definitely worth all the fuss, even if they haven't clearly defined what they mean to each other. he thinks the fact that he's at the very least said that she matters to him should be enough for now. they can worry about social media status updates some other time. for now there's the sky and a thermos full of a warm drink awaiting them.]

[recoined]

( she doesn't bother to hide the flush that spills over her cheeks at his statement, a warmth born of sweetness and surprise from the sentimental nature of the phrase spreading through her as they settle in against the basket's walls. it doesn't take more than a few minutes for the operator to double-check the necessary safety checklist, or to give them a brief overview of the to do's (and to don'ts) of their flight, and before long, they're high up above the trees, the landscape below dotted in the autumn colors of reds and oranges underneath them.

it really is pretty, she has to admit. the fire under the balloon lends a comfortable warmth to the air, and a gentle roar in the background offers a little privacy as they turn out towards their surroundings; while she's sure the operator is probably less than interested in the conversations of his passengers, it's still nice to have a bit of space just for them. )

The right person, hm?

( but she's smiling all the same, eyes alight as her gaze wavers between the canopy below and peeking back at him. )

You're feeling very romantic today, aren't you, Mr Reyes?

[acuerdo]

[he's quiet for their ascent, marveling as the ground below and the familiar surroundings of the city become smaller and smaller with each passing minute. at last they've made it to where all of cadelle is visible below. it's beautiful and yes, there's not another person he'd have wanted to experience this with.]

Yeah. The right person. If that makes romantic, then I guess I am feeling particularly romantic.

Is that terrible?

[recoined]

It's not terrible.

( standing in the basket gives her hands somewhere to rest, curved across the wicker edge with a slight tremble as the basket rises higher and higher in the sky. she's not afraid of heights, but there's something about the ground disappearing so slowly that makes her a tiny bit nervous. luckily, there's a particularly sturdy person that's just right for leaning up against within arm's reach. )

How much higher do you think we're going to go?

[acuerdo]

[is he a little unnerved by how high up they are? perhaps a little. but in his defense, he's not used to being this high up. it's pretty though, and he certainly isn't going to let it be known that he's a little afraid. the hands gripping the basket might be a hint. maybe.]

I don't know. I think we're pretty good though, don't you?

[recoined]

Yeah. Yeah, I think we're good. Definitely good!

( if she lets her voice rise high enough to be heard by the operator — if not loud enough to be heard from the ground — it's just an accident. and if the balloon's ascent slows and lets them sink just a little, just enough to feel a little more comfortable, that's not a horrible thing.

she'll just try not to let her exhale of relief be too obvious. )

Next time, maybe we should stay on the ground...

[acuerdo]

[if robbie breathes a sigh of relief as their balloon slows and they shift downward just a little, well, it's mostly for her benefit. so she doesn't feel so alone in being unnerved.

it's certainly not because he's also a fan of the ground.]

And miss the view? You sure? Because it's really pretty up here. High, but pretty.

[recoined]

I'm sure.

( okay, maybe she's a little bit less thrilled with heights than she'd initially let on. it was one thing to climb up the face of a mountain or soar into the sky on her zord. she could get down on those at any time, climb down or tilt the controls down to land. but on this balloon? she just had to wait, try and be patient, and patience was really not one of her strong suits. )

I'm ready to get down, actually, if... if that's okay.

[acuerdo]

Yeah. I'd be okay with heading down.

[he offers a nod to the balloon operator and they begin their slow descent back toward the ground. robbie wraps an arm around kim as the trees below become steadily larger until they're at last back on the ground.]

Ready for our picnic?