At Least They're Not Apples

[Zero]

Tesha watched him turn and walk away, shaking her head with a bit of a smirk. She hadn't missed how red he'd gotten. Poor, poor Kenneth, he was really struggling with this, wasn't he? Sighing, she looked out into the darkening forest, pondering what to do now. What did you do when you'd kissed your best friend and told him you loved him?

After a few minutes she turned and followed him to the campfire he had created, finding somewhere to sit near the flames, drawing her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around her legs, and resting her chin on her knees with a sigh.

[GoblinFae]

He heard her approach and tried to keep from fidgeting too much. His brain struggled as if he was swimming upstream to try and remember what it was he had been working on before the unfortunate scream and thorn incident.

"Food!" the ranger suddenly squealed, hopping to get back to it. What he observed at the fire though made him whine and collapse to his knees in defeat. The little bit of meat they had left he had left to warm over the fire and was now ash from having fallen off his warming stick. "This is pathetic," he growled, using the stick to poke at the flames.

"Naked thorn ash," Kenneth blamed crossly with the largest pout he could manage.

[Zero]

Tesha watched Kenneth squeal over the bit of dried meat before falling to his knees. It was his incoherent little pout that had her snickering softly, though. They didn't have any other food and neither would be able to gather something edible. Even if they could hunt, they couldn't manage to cook it properly.

"Looks like we're waiting until tomorrow to eat. Won't be the first night I went to bed on an empty stomach during a mission." She sighed as she stood up and walked over to sit beside him, leaving just enough space between them so they weren't actually touching. The fear of him recoiling was still a bit strong, and she honestly didn't want to make him too uncomfortable with the still very awkward situation they found themselves in.

[GoblinFae]

Kenneth continued to mutter under his breath, looking extremely put out as he took her statement as a jibe at his cooking skills or rather lack thereof. It was therefore a surprise to him when she sat herself down beside him a mere breath's away as it were. If he had the courage a simple shifting of his elbow would even have them touching but he remained stiff and resolute, still incredibly embarrassed by their kiss.

"Well maybe next time you'll cook for yourself instead of complaining," he grumbled at her, pulling his knees into his chest to place his forehead on them. "Who gets first watch tonight?"

[Zero]

"Like I could do better." Tesha pointed out. She couldn't cook either. Not at all. It really hadn't been meant to be a poke at his lack of cooking skills, merely a reassurance that this little blunder wasn't the worst that could or had happened.

"I can take the first watch, if you think you can get any rest." She wasn't all that tired, her mind was still churning with confusion and frustration of all that had happened that day.

[GoblinFae]

"I'll stay with you until I can," he told her as he blinked wearily into the flames. "No use tossing and turning until you get fed up and tell me it's my turn anyway." Kenneth rubbed at his eyes, letting his forehead rest in the palm of his hand when he was finished. He did not even realize that in doing so he placed himself with his head partially resting against Tesha's arm. "What a week eh?"

[Zero]

Tesha smiled as Kenneth ended up with his head leaning against her arm. It was a start. She found herself sitting stiffly, afraid to move because if she did he might pull away or move away altogether. "Yeah, it has been a hell of a week."

Today was the most exhausting, at least for her. Certainly the most nerve-wracking.

[GoblinFae]

It was not long before exhaustion won Kenneth over and his head began to rest more heavily upon Tesha's arm. He slumped forward further and further as soft snores echoed from his throat. Unconsciously he flung his arm over her lap and held onto her, making Tesha his personal pillow as he allowed his tensions to fully abandon him in dreamless sleep.

[Zero]

Almost as soon as Kenneth was asleep Tesha shifted slightly to make sure his head was cradled comfortably in her lap, with her fingers smoothing over and through his dark hair affectionately while he snored softly.

"Oh Kenny...Kenny...Kenny...what's a girl to do with a daft goofball like you?" The young ranger asked quietly, a small smile playing across her lips.

[GoblinFae]

He grunted before flopping over onto his other side so that he could bury his face into her stomach. "Tessie," Kenneth mumbled under his breath with a contented sigh and a hint of a smile. Another inaudible word escaped his lips as he tried to tug her body closer to his own sleepily.

[Zero]

A soft chuckle was given as her dearest friend cuddled his face against her stomach, her arms moving to hold him gently. Tesha probably managed a good hour of keeping watch before her eyes started feeling grainy and heavy. Stubbornly she refused to wake up Kenneth, her goofball looked far too peaceful for that, but Dizzy appeared chattering softly before taking up a watchful position.

"Thanks pal, you're a life-saver." The young ranger yawned quietly before gently prying Kenny off her lap so she could wiggle her way down to cuddle herself against his chest, one arm draping over his side while one of her legs entangled with his.

[GoblinFae]

Kenneth grumbled mightily in his sleep at the loss of comfort and warmth but was quickly silenced as the woman he dreamed of once more settled within the circle of his arms. He immediately latched onto her tighter, pulling her firmly against his chest with his arms supporting her waist and the back of her head.

He was in heaven and slept peacefully, breathing in a familiar scent that left a smile upon his face even in dreams. Morning came too soon though and he found himself groggily nuzzling into warmth before realizing what or rather whom it was. Kenneth was careful to not try and wake Tesha yet his heart raced with realization that not only were they sleeping close together but that he must have fallen asleep on guard duty. He cursed under his breath even as he fought to quickly scan the immediate area for signs of danger.

[Zero]

Tesha grunted as Kenneth pulled her against his chest so quickly and tightly. After a few moments of near-futile squirming she settled in her new position, giving a sigh as her face nuzzled against his chest. Within a couple minutes she was deeply and contently asleep in her friend's arms.

Far too soon something was disturbing her. A subtle shifting, quiet mutterings had those intense blue eyes dragging open reluctantly. It took a few moments for her mostly asleep brain to decide that the disturbance was her warm sleeping companion waking up. Grumbling incoherently, Tesha tightened her hold on Kenneth, snuggling closer and burying her face once more against his chest to block out the morning light.

"Go back to sleep." She mumbled irritably. Nearby Dizzy was sitting quietly, his vigil on the forest had been interrupted as he peered at his Ranger and Kenneth curiously.

[GoblinFae]

He murmured softly and incoherently to her as he gently patting her back and shoulder as his eyes continued to scan the surrounding area. Absentmindedly, Kenneth even placed a featherlight kiss to the top of Tesha's head, not even realizing he had done so as he was still too tired to be held responsible for his actions.

"Sorry for waking you, Tesha. Go back to sleep. It's alright now," he whispered softly, instinctively wrapping his arms more firmly about her as well to keep her warm now that the fire had died down. Brennus flitted nearby, making his presence known while cawing softly in a show that everything was clear and he was also on the lookout.

[Zero]

The gentle patting brought a soft huff from Tesha as she peered up at him with one eye, the other still hidden against his chest as she calmly accepted the affectionate gestures, including the kiss to the top of her head. That had made her lips curl into a slight grin as she knew that Kenneth wasn't really paying attention to what he was doing. Poor boy'd probably be so red and awkward if he'd realized what he'd just done.

"Noooo." She murmured in protest as she wiggled around in his arms until she could reach up to drag his face back to look at her with one hand before stealing a kiss. "Come back to sleep with me. Not as nice sleeping alone."

[GoblinFae]

Oblivious to the antics that his fellow ranger was up to, Kenneth continued with his patrol search of their area until Tesha wrestled him down and ceased his resistance with a kiss. His eyes widened to the size of plates as he remained still and breathless against her.

"I think you need the sleep more than me," he at last breathed, still staring at her as if he could not believe what had just happened.

[Zero]

"I think we both need to get back to the Clockwork City and get food more than either of us needs sleep." Tesha mused, a wry smile on her lips. She really couldn't say that she was shocked by Kenneth's reaction to her kissing him. It would be nice if his reaction didn't sting so much. With a sigh she released him, and looked up at him expectantly, as his arms were still quite firmly wrapped around her and until he let go, neither of them were going to be able to go anywhere.

[GoblinFae]

Kenneth blinked at her owlishly. "You kissed me," he whispered. "I mean you...kissed me. You. I..." The ranger could not wrap his head around the fact that Tesha had willingly kissed him. "We really should get you fed," the young man ended up muttering distractedly, wondering to himself if lack of food was causing her to feel a bit confused.

[Zero]

Tesha couldn't help but chuckle at Kenneth. Her sweet klutz wasn't exactly eloquent at his best, but this was downright comical. It was impossibly to resist the urge to lean her head up and steal another quick peck on his lips. "Yes, I kissed you. We kissed yesterday too, or had you already forgotten that?"

She hated mornings, it was too early to be up, but she was hungry. Not to mention they would be expected back, if not already then very soon. No need to start worrying people. Heaven forbid her mother get worried - about Kenny, not her. She could already picture her mother scolding her for having poor Kenny out too long without one of her good, home-cooked meals.

With a tired sigh she nudged Kenny with her leg, he still had a firm hold on her and she wouldn't be able to easily escape his grasp. "Are you going to let me go so we can get up or shall we just lay here all day cuddled up so my mom can yell at me for not bringing you home on time?"

[GoblinFae]

He reddened fiercely at the memory of their first kiss and Kenneth found himself immediately releasing her while clearing his throat shyly. "yes, yes, best to get you back before Mrs. Constance gets cross with me for starving her lovely daughter. It is my fault after all that you haven't eaten dinner." Kenneth sighed heavily, shaking his head as he got to his feet. "Again."