cascade | kotlc

19. Twin Relationships

--- Linh POV ---

Life was getting better and better now.

After Sophie, after Exilium, after Ravagog. It was as if her entire future was torn apart and rewritten for the better.

She faced the waterfall, whispering a silent prayer to the Moonlark as she traced her hand through the trickle.

Water felt peaceful now. It no longer tugged on her constantly, like it used to, pressing on her like hot needles. She could finally control it without immediately feeling the urge to drown everything.

"How's it going?'

Tam passed down the stairs, treading across the wet grass and to the beanbag next to her. She smiled.

"It's getting better now, always. I'm not scared anymore."

"I knew you could do it."
"I think I know too. How's your relationship with Biana?"
He blushed, turning away to hide the flush appearing on his cheeks. "She's nice. We're talking on Imparter a lot, because, you know, we still can't leave Alluveterre." He picked at the grass, tearing them out from their roots. "I wonder if we could just sneak away without them noticing."
"Unlikely. Our 'dwarven stalkers' are still under us somewhere. Oh- did you hear, June and Sophie and Fitz got grounded?"

"What, why? Wait, no, don't tell me." He scratched his chin, contemplating something. "What's another stupid way to get hurt?"

"No, they actually just went out to visit Keefe," Linh corrected. "Did Biana not tell you?"

"She just told me her brother was in extreme trouble. Grizel was yelling at him about dancing or something?" He frowned. "Wait, that's it? They got in trouble for visiting Keefe?"

"It was more like Keefe visited them. But yeah, I think everyone's getting paranoid after..." She waved her hand aimlessly. "What happened to Wylie."

"Thank god you were there," Tam told her quietly. "If you weren't, or June wasn't there either..."

Her mind flashed to how she'd almost abandoned the mission, high up in the sky, too afraid to drop. She wondered if she'd ever be able to forgive herself if she really did back out from irrational fear. Wylie would've suffered through days and days of torture...

You did it, she reminded herself. It doesn't matter. You did it in the end, and you saved Wylie from what would've happened otherwise.

But if I just got there sooner, I might've been able to see where the Neverseen came from... if I just dropped earlier, I would've been able to warn Wylie, maybe...

You saved him. Nothing else matters. You saved him from being taken by the Neverseen, and that's all that matters.

"Earth to Linh?" Tam asked. "Hello?"

"What- sorry," she mumbled. "I just blanked out for a second."

His expression turned sympathetic. "I know."

She fidgeted with her fingers, wrapping them around her loose tunic, watching as the moisture dripped from the cool fabric. "Are you ever taking the Black Swan oath? Because I asked Blur if I could take it today."

"Did you?" He shifted slightly, his mouth opening and closing. "I... still have trust issues, honestly."

"I know you do. But I think this is something we can trust. After all, your girlfriend's in the organization too."

"Yeah, I know. Fine," he decided, patting Linh's shoulder affectionately. "I'll do it for you. I'm always staying by your side. You could run off to get exiled again and I'll come with you."