She shook her head but looked up as what seemed to be a baby griffin hovered over the two, carrying a portal crystal in its beak. "Cin's always thinking two steps ahead." She held out a hand, and the creature dropped the crystal and chirruped.
He glanced over in the direction of Cin, smiling. "Being a princess probably does that to people."
Tessa shook her head. "Nah. She's just smart." She chucked the crystal, and a portal emerged from its shattered remains. "After you."
"How sweet," he said with a smile, stepping through the portal and waiting beside it for Tess.
She gave the creature a two finger salute, then stepped through the portal and set the reformed crystal on a random surface. She still looked beat.
"Need a hug?" he asked, opening his arms up.
She practically threw herself at him, wrapping her arms around him and breathing in his scent. Real. This is real. He's real. I'm not going crazy. It's real. She had lost track of the numerous nightmares that had chased her out of reality and to all the bad things she did. Just this simple touch was all she needed to remind herself that this good thing in her life was real. Was not a taunting nightmare that she would soon wake from.
The cave hadn't helped her fears.
Needless to say, Runner stumbled back in surprise with how aggressive the hug was and how he was caught completely off guard.
This is hitting her hard, he thought. I knew it was important for her, but I didn't think it was this important.
"No one's gonna even remember it," he mumbled to her, "And if they do they're too afraid to tell you."
"I couldn't care less about what others think of me, or the fucking Games. It's just that I utterly failed today! I couldn't keep that damn beast back, and I was too scared to go in a fucking cave for two minutes. I lost to myself, and I let it happen."
Once again, he had no clue what to say at all. And the safest option for him is to not say anything, which he did.
"I need a drink," she muttered after a stretch of silence. "Just a few shots."
"No." He rubbed her back gently. "Not happening."
She pouted like a child. "Only three?" she tried.
"None at all," he said firmly, separating slightly so he could look her in her eyes.
Her mouth was set in a frown as she peered up at him. "Why?"
"'Cause you don't need it." His voice left to room for argument, a tone he rarely ever used.
She narrowed her eyes at him, not used to being told no so quickly. "Then what do I need, if you know so much?"
He shrugged. "I dunno. But I'm not gonna let you drink."
"Why."
He was beginning to get frustrated. "'Cause alcohol is an addicting drug that isn't good for you. I'm not gonna sit here and let you binge drink, Tess, 'cause that 'just 3 shots' is gonna turn into five, and then the whole bottle, and then two bottles."
Something flickered in her eyes and she looked away. "Then you'd better throw away my stash before I get to it," she whispered. She hated seeing Runner look so disapproving of her, so this was the best she could offer to amend that.
"To be honest, I might. But I'm trusting you to not drink before I get to that point." He hated being like this to her, but it was the only way she would listen to him.
She sighed, giving in. "Alright…"
He stepped forward into the hug again. "I love you. It's the only reason why I'm doing this."
"I know… But I'm keeping my red wine." She waited for his protest, already building her defense.
His stoneface broke slightly. "Okay, red wine can stay. But only 'cause I like it too."
"Yess! Thank you!" She briefly tightened her hug happily.
He returned it with a laugh. "But none right now, understand?"
She nodded. "Got it." She smiled up at him. "Thank you." She didn't just mean the wine.
He understood what she meant and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "It's what I'm for, right?"