For Just a Moment

Riding the Crimson Wave

Cinder stared at the underside of the top bunk bed, wondering how much the ship would have to jerk for her to fly up and hit her head on the cool metal bars. Knowing Thorne's flying abilities, it probably wouldn't take much. Unfortunately for her, he was very much still blind, meaning that the majority of the flying had fallen upon her shoulders.

She turned over on her side, examining the wall beside her. She placed a hand over the chipped white paint and tried to ignore the fact that, if she could, she would be crying right now. The pain behind her eyes was almost overbearing, so she closed them. And when a flash of text, informing her of increased hormones within her body, came across her vision, she dismissed it with an agitated grunt.

Of course she was experiencing an increase in her hormone levels. She just— she didn't have the time to deal with this. Not now.

"Hey." A knock sounded from her door, a quick triple rap to alert one of another's presence. "Are you okay?"

Cinder opened her eyes, trying to convince herself that this wasn't happening. But when she rolled over, there he was, dressed in his military-issued uniform glory. He wore an expression of concern that made Cinder wish she was very, very far away.

She turned back to face the wall.

"Yeah," she replied, "just having a little 'me time,' as Thorne would say."

Kai walked toward the bed, his soft footfalls the only indication of his approach. Cinder squeezed her eyes shut, wishing more than anything that he would leave. But he was Kai— he genuinely cared about people.

"I know we haven't known one another for an exceptionally long time, and the time we have known one another has been... strange, to say the least," Kai said. "But I can honestly say that you don't seem the type to take 'me time.'" Kai air-quoted. "What's going on?"

It had been over a week since she had kidnapped Kai. It had been a week full of a mix of emotions, ranging from anger and regret to relief and anticipation. There was frustration at Thorne's still-blind state, and worry concerning Wolf's mental state. Then there was Kai, desperately wanting to go back to Earth, and Cinder only wanting for him to stay. She knew it was only a matter of time before he had to leave— he was an emperor, after all— but he was the only one who understood the stress she was under, the expectations people had for her.

They had been somewhat awkward, to say the least. Apart from that brief kiss they shared in the engine room the day of Kai's kidnapping, they'd shared only fleeting moments together and casual touches. Most of their conversations had been strategic, more than anything else. Discussing speeches and next moves— that sort of thing.

But this— she did not want to talk about this. Not with him.

He sat on the edge of her bed. He didn't touch her, but she could feel him all the same. "You can tell me, you know." His voice was soft. It only made Cinder want to cry even more. "I understand what you're going through."

At this, Cinder laughed. She rolled over on her back and stared at him. Then she laughed some more.

Kai frowned. "What?"

The question only raised Cinder's laughter. Kai's cheeks heated, and he looked about the room, as if to see if there was someone else she could be laughing at. When he discovered no one, his gaze returned to Cinder's.

"What's so funny?" Kai asked, blinking in a rather confused manner.

"I don't think... you quite understand... what I'm going through," Cinder wheezed. She clutched at her stomach. "This is something... that I think you will find... lies out of your area of expertise."