Careless | A Powerless Fanfiction

Chapter 13: Kai

The past few days had been a whirlwind. Between securing a ship to Izram, gathering supplies, and scrounging together enough money to keep us afloat, I hadn't had much time to catch my breath. But I didn't mind. Every task, every challenge felt lighter with Paedyn by my side. Her presence turned even the most mundane errands into something... more. A quiet kind of joy, a partnership that felt natural in a way I hadn't expected.

That morning, we woke up early to start the day. The market was bustling with activity, and the salty tang of the sea breeze mingled with the scents of freshly baked bread and dried herbs. Paedyn and I split up to cover more ground. She headed toward the blacksmith's stall to haggle over a new knife, while I worked my way through the docks, searching for a captain willing to take us across the sea.

By midday, we'd regrouped, each with our own victories. Paedyn's grin was triumphant as she held up the new blade, its polished steel gleaming in the sunlight. "Got it for half the asking price," she announced proudly.

"Of course you did," I said, matching her grin. "They never stood a chance."

She rolled her eyes but didn't deny it, slipping the knife into her belt. As we walked through the market together, our hands brushed-once, twice-before I finally caught her fingers in mine. She didn't pull away, and the warmth of her hand in mine sent a surge of something fierce and protective through me.

Pausing by a fruit stall, I picked out a ripe pear and held it out to her. "Hungry?"

She took a bite, the juice dribbling down her chin. I reached out to wipe it away with my thumb, and the way her eyes softened... it made me forget where we were, made me forget everything but her. Leaning in, I pressed a quick kiss to her lips, tasting the sweetness of the fruit and something entirely her own.

"Focus, Kai," she said, but her voice was breathy, and her cheeks were flushed. "We've still got work to do."

"Right, work," I murmured, stealing one more kiss before pulling back. Her laugh was soft, and it lingered in my chest long after we'd moved on.

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By the time the sun began to dip below the horizon, we'd crossed everything off our list. A sturdy pack of supplies, fresh clothes, and enough food to last us a few days at sea. The captain I'd spoken to earlier had agreed to take us aboard his ship-for a price, of course. But I'd managed to haggle him down to something reasonable. The ship would leave tomorrow night, giving us one last evening in this bustling port city.

We found ourselves back at the inn, our packs stowed safely in the corner of our modest room. Paedyn was pacing, her fingers twisting together as she moved. I watched her for a moment, leaning against the doorframe. She had that furrowed look on her face, the one that meant her mind was racing a thousand miles an hour.

"Hey," I said softly, stepping toward her. "What's going on?"

She stopped, looking up at me with wide eyes. "It's just... Izram. Starting over. Leaving everything behind. What if it doesn't work? What if we get there and we..." She trailed off, her hands falling to her sides.