Long Distance

Part 6

Kai didn't think he'd ever been so nervous in his entire life. Should he had been this nervous? It was just a simple misunderstanding, and they were going to meet now.

Nevertheless, Kai's fingernails dug into the present he was holding, slightly ripping it's red paper. His heart pounded like a drum against his rib cage.

Winter seemed to notice.

"Don't be so nervous, Kai," she said. "You have nothing to worry about. Isn't that right, Jacin?"

Jacin, the guard that had helped Cinder in the revolution, but the one Kai was just getting aquatinted with, shrugged. "I think he should be nervous. Watch out for that metal hand, Your Highness."

Kai gulped and pulled on his collar as Winter glared up at Jacin.

The docks around the three were busy. People bustled, heaving boxes into trucks and ships. Ever since Cinder had signed the Treaty of Bremen, she and Kai had been scrambling to get as many resources into Luna to aid with the reconstruction.

It had been Kai's gift to her. Suddenly, the box in his hands seemed painfully inadequate.

"What did you get her?" Jacin asked, glancing at the gift.

Kai shook his head. "It's a surprise."

"Of course it is."

"I just hope she likes it," Kai murmured. In front of him, Cinder's podship finally arrived. It had the same pearlescent finish as the other royal Lunar ships. Kai could see her through the front windshield, sitting next to her personal guard, Kinney.

He caught her eye, and her glare made him want to curl up into a ball.

Although it was challenging, he didn't drop his gaze and she held her angry scowl as she walked down the ramp and strode up to him, her arms folded across her chest.

The whole dock fell into an awkward hush as everyone stared at the Lunar Queen and  the Emperor of the Eastern Commonwealth. 

Kai smiled awkwardly. "Erm...hello, Cinder. It's, uh, pleasant seeing you here."

Cinder hunched her shoulders up to her ears, but didn't move from her spot, didn't falter her gaze.

"I, um, got you a present," Kai continued, holding out the box covered in red wrapping paper. "Happy birthday."

"Kinney," Cinder suddenly snapped, making Kai jump. The guard came up behind her, armor clanking.

"Yes, Your Majesty?"

"I need a moment alone with the Emperor. Proceed to the castle without me."

Kinney bowed, and went off, out of the docks and toward the maglev tracks. Kai caught a glimpse of his smirk as he passed.

"D-don't you need him?" Kai asked, gripping the present close to his chest. "What if someone tries to assassinate--"

"Come on," Cinder interrupted, making her own way down to the tracks. As they walked away, whispers followed after him.

"Trouble in paradise?"

"You think she'll have him executed?"

"Nah...well, maybe."

Kai pretended he didn't hear them as he and Cinder left the docks and entered one of the transport hovers waiting to take them to the castle.

Inside, Kai sat down as Cinder placed her hand on the control panel.

"Queen Selene Blackburn," the pleasant female automated voice said. There was a few more taps as Cinder chose their destination. She finished, and sat opposite Kai, folding her arms and looking out the window.

They sat in silence as the hover whizzed down the dark tunnels beneath the moon's surface. Cinder hadn't bothered to turn on the lights, so the only source were the fluorescent one's that flashed past every few feet or so.

Kai glanced at Cinder's silhouette as one of the lights whisked by.

He saw something on her face. What was that? A smile?

Then, she laughed.

It was even more unexpected than when Torin had done it.

"Cinder?" Kai asked into the darkness, a tinge of fear in his voice. Her laugh faded into a chuckle, and she took a few moments to answer.

"Kai, I'm sorry," she said as another light whooshed past, and he saw her smile. Kai gaped.

"Wha--" He cleared his throat. "What?"

"I'm sorry for being so hard on you," she answered, scooting foreword and covering his hands, which were still clutching the present.

Kai tilted his head. "You really mean it?"

"Of course I do." She peeled his hands from the gift, taking them in her's. "Just, next time, maybe don't try and throw me a surprise birthday. Even just a small visit from you would be the best gift in the world."

Kai sighed in relief, pulling Cinder closer. After a moment he said, "I missed you."

She rested her forehead on his. "I missed you too."

The hover broke into the light of Artemisia, but they didn't look up.