Let's Not Stay Away Anymore (Kaimelia)

18: Too close to the sun

David had once and for all recovered enough to pack up and leave for Minnesota, his little crew of a neuroscientist and a daughter in tow.

Notably, Kai had seen his and Esther's relationship genuinely improve, her father's health obviously shaking both up more than either one was willing to admit.

Esther had even cut back on her hours further, and was preparing to move some of her work to Minnesota, so more time could be spent with the family. And she was still considering taking a job at the lab.

It had been a hectic couple of days, packing up the small lab, tying loose ends, and getting ready to leave for the foreseeable future.

And today was their last day in Seattle.

Kai desperately wanted to talk to Amelia about it, Esther moving with them, that is.

Over the course of getting to know each other, she'd become someone who was easy to confide in. They were clearly falling for her, hard, but even apart from that, their connection was effortless. Kai felt their walls come down each time Amelia listened intently to whatever was on their mind, no matter how miniscule, and they felt it easier to come undone in front of her.

Logically then, they wanted to discuss working with Esther. For the sake of getting their mind right, but also, because they were about to leave Amelia in another state, possibly going to work with their ex.

They'd taken Amelia out for fries that afternoon; Amelia had managed to escape the hospital for a couple of hours, even though it had taken effort to make time for each other the past couple of days - the working lives of a neurosurgeon and a neuroscientist rarely allowed for personal endeavors to interfere.

"How do you feel about me working with Esther again?" Kai had asked, both wrapped in the familiar smell of fries, having each ordered a serving, and ultimately combining them on one plate that now held a mountain of warm, salty goodness.

"Is there a way you think I should feel?" Amelia was curious.

Kai had given her a sideways look that seemed to say 'Do you really think I'd ever try to dictate the way you feel?'

"I mean, I'm going to miss you a lot, but that's about it," Amelia shrugged.

Kai fleetingly relaxed, and dipped their fry in ketchup with a pleased if still a little contemplative smile.

"I'm going to miss you, too, you know," They said quietly, focusing on the fry now practically swimming in the sauce. "I just wanted to make sure to give you space to air any, erm, concerns."

"I appreciate that, but, to my own surprise, I'm pretty confident on where we stand these days," Amelia gleamed, leaning over to gently put her hand over theirs, lifting it slightly, worried the fry would disintegrate in the ketchup completely with the way Kai kept swirling it around in there.

"Is that so?"

"Yeah. You're way into me," Amelia giggled, throwing her head back and letting her wavy hair form back into place around her face.

"You have no idea."

Both smiled, remembering this exact exchange taking place a while ago in Minnesota, as they'd left the botanical gardens.

"The real question is - how do you feel about working with her?"

She has a point, Kai thought. Even though they'd had a couple of days to mull it over, they weren't entirely sure what to think, or how to feel.

"Esther has a way of pushing my buttons, of distracting me and intruding on my space in a way that, honestly, makes me act out sometimes," Kai admitted after a loaded pause.