Selfish Desire

In Her Arms

Warm.

It's the first feeling Katelyn's concious of. Then, it's the feeling of being hugged, close and desperate. She feels them move their hands to hold her face. Their hands are gentle, despite being slightly calloused.

"...I'msorryI'msorryI'msorry..." a feminine voice whispers rapidly. It's oddly familiar, reminding of lights and sadness.

Katelyn almost frowns, why would this person be apologizing to them?

The other person, female, she's sure, kisses her. It's soft, gentle, and reminds of her strongly of a distant memory. Maybe it's also the taste of blood and tears. But it's desperate, and full of grief and sadness.

The other woman pulls away, sobbing gently. The sound of this person Katelyn believes is a stranger crying makes her want to cry. It's a sound that makes her soul weep, driving a knife in her heart.

Katelyn slowly opens her eyes.

At first, she's blinded by the bright light of reality. As her eyes adjust to light, she's blinded by the sight in front of her.

A woman covered in ash, scratches, bruises, blood, and tears would have been an interesting sight, maybe appalling to some. But to Katelyn, it was the one of the most beautiful sights she ever laid her eyes on.

The tears shouldn't be there though. It angered Katelyn. It made her want to go and beat up whoever made this remarkable beauty cry. Even if it was herself.

Katelyn gently lifted a hand, lifting the other woman's face to level their gaze. Not only could she now see all of the woman's features, she realized she knew who this was.

It was Aphmau.

"Aphmau..." she mumbled.

Thankfully, it still got Aphmau's attention. Her eyes sparkled with happiness, with hope. But grew dull, like she shouldn't believe it because she was imagining things. Aphmah looked away.

Katelyn frowned a bit, but it melted into a small smile. She softly turned Aphmau's head to her again. She smiled a bit wider.

She leaned forward and pressed their lips together.

This kiss was different than the one before. There was no trace of grief, or sadness, just, at first, disbelief. That morphed into happiness. It sparked wilting fires of passion back to life. The kiss was like their first one, but there was no pressure of someone dying.

This kiss was sure to last for eternity, if not for the human need to have a respitory system that required breathing to work. When the two finally pulled away, Katelyn barely had time to catch her breath before Aphmau practically tackled her in a hug.

"KATELYN!"

Aphmau had hugged her tight, burying her face in the crook of Katelyn's neck. Sobs were shaking Aphmau's body, the tears soaking through her armor. Katelyn returned the hug, pressing Aphmau closer as her arms wrapped around the shorter woman. A tear slipped down the side of her face.

"You're alive, you're alive!" Aphmau cried.

Katelyn nodded. She was indeed alive. She thanked Irene for that.

"Yeah, I'm alive because I'm right here, right in front of you," Katelyn replies, poking Aphmau's forehead with one hand, wiping away Aphmau's tear with the other.

Aphmau laughs, the sound melodious and gleeful. Katelyn lets out a light chuckle herself.

Aphmau's hands brushed over the cuts on her back. Katelyn grimaced slightly, but recovered, hoping it wouldn't draw Aphmau's attention.

Too late.

"Oh my Irene!" Aphmau jerks back sharply, breaking the hug. "I'm so sorry! I didn't know that those weren't healed all the way!"

"It's fine," Katelyn says.

She couldn't check her back, but looking at her wrist and her leg, Katelyn could guess that most of injuries were healed. Or in the case of said wrist and leg, scarred over. She lifted her hand to the cut that was on her face. The skin was rougher there and she could feel the scar tissue.

Katelyn stood up to check if her leg was fine, even as Aphmau protested she should sit and rest. She didn't collaspe upon putting pressure on it. It ached, like the entire leg was bruised, but other than that, everything seemed to be fine.

Aphmau stood up, Katelyn helping her stand.

"Do you think anyone saw the fire?" Aphmau asked.

"Yeah." Katelyn looks around the clearing, attempting to see how the big the fire was. "Either someone at that village or one of the guards as Phoenix Drop."

Aphmau looked around nervously.

"I guess we gather what we can salvage and make our way back to Phoenix Drop?"

Katelyn nodded in agreement. Aphmau began to walk over to where she believed her sword was thrown.

Watching her walk away, some odd instinct compelled Katelyn to do something. Acting on it, Katelyn walked behind Aphmau and hugged her. Aphmau tensed in surprise, but relaxed when she remebered it was Katelyn.

Katelyn pulled Aphmau close, resting her chin on Aphmau's shoulder.

"I love you, Aphmau," she whispers into Aphmau's ear, kissing her cheek.

Aphmau blushed a bit, but giggled. She leans back into Katelyn.

"I love you too, Katelyn," she replies equally as soft, kissing Katelyn's chin, the only place she could reach in their current position.

And Kayelyn stood there, with Aphmau in her arms, whispering "I love you's" and exchanging kisses.

[A/N] And it's done. This story is complete. That was the last bonus chapter. Thank you for reading and keep an eye out for any Katemau works I will surely make. Just because this story's done doesn't mean I'll stop. I have plenty of angsty/fluffy ideas I could use, for Diaries or Side Stories. Any feedback is appreciated and I hoped you enjoyed this.

Also, I'm sorry this is late.

I do take requests and I will be doing Katemau requests for until March 7th for those of you interested. *wink wink*

ALL ABOARD THE KATEMAU SHIP! OUR SHIP WILL SAIL THESE WATERS STRONG AND SURE!