A Legacy

[Revenchent]

Sleep was a welcome bubble of safety to the chaos that had been the night previous. Calico had forced his thought aside and allowed himself to give into his baser desire--something he would have chastised any of his sons for doing. Then again, they were all with the Manda, so did that matter?

He stared out from half-lidded eyes toward the window. Night still had hold of Abregado, and the steady pitter-patter of rain was a constant backdrop to what would have normally been a depressing evening. The former Commando sun his elbow into the white sheets and propped his head on an open palm. He simply sat there; dark eyes drifting over the messy details of the small room. It was peaceful in a way, and for once, he was content.

The soldier squinted at the chrono across the room to read the time. "Three..." He whispered to himself as he read the time. He fought back a groan, and sunk back into the bed. It was only then that he noticed the now familiar figure of the Echani across from him. His emotions were mixed about the whole situation. A concoction of guilt, self-pity, and an unfounded feeling of affection for this creature that should have served as a night of relaxation, and nothing more.

He allowed himself to focus on the latter for the moment, and smiled at her sleeping form. Perhaps, when this war was over, and Galaar had returned back to his family, Calico could indulge himself.

[member="Zandra Fenni"]

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

Zandra was not a light sleeper. She could sleep through thunderstorms, hurricanes, bombings... Especially after a night like this. So it was no surprise when she didn't wake until well into the morning. Yes, Zandra was not a light sleeper, but she was also not a peaceful sleeper. She grumbled in her sleep, rolled about, stole blankets, and even giggled.
And when she finally woke up, she was curled into a tight ball, head all the way off the pillow, arms reaching out to grasp... something.
When her eyes finally opened, she realized just what it was she had been reaching out for.

"Morning," she mumbled, entirely unsurprised to see him, "Sleep okay?"

She uncurled to face him, drawing the white sheets up to her chest with a sleepy smile. And that was that. Zandra had no idea, but she'd done something irreversible here. Something that would change everything for the rest of her life.

[member="Calico Tal'verda"]

 

[Revenchent]

"For once, aye, I did."

It had been a few hours, and Calico had spent them all contemplating. Perhaps he and Zandra could, just maybe, be more than simple friend. The previous evening had proven that if nothing else. For once in many months, Calico's mind was not on the upcoming war. Not on his dead wife, nor on the loss of his brothers in arms. This little Echani woman had enraptured him for the moment, and stolen his affections.

"Did you?" He asked quietly. It was a simple question, but the meaning was rather clear. He was asking if she regretted the decision or not. Yes or no, Calico wouldn't allow it to cripple him. Still, he found a tiny part of himself hoping for her to answer with the former.

[member="Zandra Fenni"]

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

The Echani's smile didn't budge, not an inch, especially when she leaned over and planted a soft kiss on any bit of face she could find in her sleepy state.

"Slept like a rock," she yawned, "It was a great night."

She forced herself to sit up a little, one hand holding up the sheet, the other running through her short, wild white hair, sticking up in the back like the feathers of a bird.
"Err.... Thanks, by the way."

Why was she thanking him? Usually it was the other way around. It was odd, but she kinda felt like she did owe him a bit of gratitude.

[member="Calico Tal'verda"]

 

[Revenchent]

Calico's nose scrunched up in something akin to amusement when her lips brushed against his face. He held back the urge to chuckle. His arms went up wide as he stretched out far, gaze centered on the Echani. "Thanks?" He asked with clear confusion. "For what?" He continued, obviously perplexed.

The soldier leaned up and rubbed at his eyes. There was a war to prepare for, but all he could think about right now was breakfast. Breakfast, and where he stood with the Echani. It seemed quite well, given her morning greeting. "There's a shower down the hall, if you want to use it." He mumbled still half asleep. A hand rose up to caress her cheek, more out of instinct than anything else, and he cracked the slightest of smiles. "Why thanks though?" He echoed.

[member="Zandra Fenni"]

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

Shower. That did sound good. But something kept her frozen on the spot. His hand on her cheek, the look in his eyes...
Her heart raced in her chest. Something was making her face hot. Very hot. Why?

"'Cuz... I don't really know exactly," she answered, trying to laugh it off, but it was clear that she was embarrassed, "Just seemed like the right thing to say. I mean... You thanked me last night, right? So I guess we're both thankful for... something."

That only made her more embarassed. This was not right. She was saying this all wrong. And why couldn't she get her words right? This was not like her. Not at all.

"Well, you know what I mean, anyway. Thanks, 'cuz..." she was leaning in now, "'Cuz last night was fun. I just... it was good. Thanks."

Zandra was good at many things. Expressing herself was not one of them.

[member="Calico Tal'verda"]

 

[Revenchent]

A more experienced man would have just leaned up and kissed the woman. Calico, as good a father and leader as he thought himself to be, was sorely lacking in the romantic department. He just blinked at her, and gave the white haired woman an uneasy smile. "You know you can stick around for a bit, right?" He asked somewhat calmly.

"I don't think anything bad about you, or anything." He continued with that almost childish naivety. His hand never strayed from her cheek, and his brow furrowed for just a moment. Perhaps he had just said something wrong all together.

"...In case that was what you were worried about."


[member="Zandra Fenni"]

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

Zandra blinked, over and over again. Then she smiled, and gave him a light, playful slap. She just had to drop the seriousness. Be herself.

"Don' be stupid, Cal. I ain't embarrassed or ashamed. I'd never be ashamed of this."

As if to illustrate her point, she moved the hand that had held the sheet over her bare chest, dropping the white cloth away. All the while, she watched him, searching his eyes for his reaction. Was he embarrassed? Ashamed? She didn't think so, but Zandra had been wrong before.
Truth was, she didn't want to leave. Not yet. And she didn't want him to leave either.

[member="Calico Tal'verda"]

 

[Revenchent]

Calico breathed a mental sigh of relief. It was at the very least, nice to hear he was somewhat wanted. Not that the love of his family wasn't lovely in its own way, just not like this. Except this wasn't love, of course. Not yet, anyway....so far as Calico could tell. That word was more dangerous than his entire Katarn rig fully put together. It destroyed more than it built.

"Figured you might be." He murmured quietly. His eyes remained locked with hers, though the slightest of smiles did grace his lips. "But I suppose not. I'm not going to complain about that." Calico pushed himself up from the bed and pulled on a pair of pajama pants. They always worked. "Guess who gets to get the boys ready for an assault on the Confederacy? This guy." He stated jokingly; a lopsided smile on his face. "And uh...you should come by more. Just a thought."

[member="Zandra Fenni"]

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

As Calico pulled on some pajama pants, Zandra did a quick sweep around the room for her own clothes. But when it was pretty clear that she wasn't going to find them anytime soon, she reached out to snag the shirt that he'd been wearing the night before, and without asking for permission, pulled it on over her head. It hung loose on her, almost all the way to mid thigh. She sat on the edge of the bed, playfully kicking her feet as they dangled over the edge.

"You gunna go after the 'feds, eh? Didn' ya say Galaar was with them? You're gunna go bring him back, right?"

She looked down at her bare feet as she spoke, a little smile on her lips. He wanted her to come back. Well, he would get his wish.
"I got an idea. When ya get back with him, let's go to Nameless. You ever been? It's a great place, just down the road a few blocks. They got live music sometimes. We can all go. I'll buy us all drinks."

[member="Calico Tal'verda"]

 

[Revenchent]

Calico gave her a veiled look, and flashed a wide smile. The general optimism had lifted his spirits quite a bit. He plopped down on the recliner nearby, and stretched his arms out wide above his head. "He is, and I'm going to convince him to come back. After that, it's a date."

He beamed at her for a long moment. Longer than he really shoulder. His hands drifted over the arms of the recliner, and his head tilted back toward the ceiling. Things were calm and peaceful for once. It was rare for such conditions to be that way as of late.

"I doubt the war will last long anyway. the Confederacy isn't the strongest...you think he'll see reason?"

[member="Zandra Fenni"]

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

Zandra smiled across the room at him, still kicking her feet out.

"'Course he will! Just tell 'im, if he don't come back, Zandra'll have to kick his butt. I really wanna take you guys to Nameless. I'll find him myself and drag him there if I have to!"

She nodded, cementing the promise in her own mind. Zandra made few promises, because when she did, she just had to go through with them. She just had to. This was no different.

[member="Calico Tal'verda"]