Roadside Distractions (Carolina)

[Agent South Carolina]

((I'm setting you up here! ))

Again she had to force herself to relax enough to enjoy this. Floating, hugging... It felt wrong, to have to force the relaxation, but it felt so right to be here, in his arms. Recovering gradually, she softened, melting into his grip, slowly kicking with him as she timed her kicks to match his, lest they get tangled in an awkward knot of humans limbs. Gradually, slowly, she was able to calm her breathing down, to calm the rapid beating of her heart, to once again relax - and somehow, it seemed so much more complete now.

She rested her head on York's left shoulder, her wet hair pressing gently against his neck and the side of his head for a good while, allowing a few moments like this before she looked up, not pulling out, studying him carefully, an almost confused look on her face. Maybe they should go soon? Something in her felt a bit off, accepting such... Closeness with a team mate. Would this ruin their working together? Would they lose focus on what was important?

But... What was important anymore? Suddenly all of those grudges she'd held seemed a little bit more distant. Yes, this was definitely the start of a new chapter of life - and yet, so much was left unfinished. Yet, all of that was only just barely forming in her mind, not quite tangible - not yet. Right now, her mind was all mixed up, confused with conflicting thoughts and emotions, conflicting ideas.

She opened her mouth as though to say something, but found that suddenly she couldn't find the words. The last time she'd lost a train of thought that quickly... Well, it had been a long time ago. She'd always been so sure of herself, but now... It had happened so fast, like a dam holding back a flood that had finally broken - and that dam's main support had been the BWC. It had been a blessing and a curse, but now that it was gone... There was nothing left to keep the flood from crashing down - nothing except for the meager attempts of her own mind to uphold the old habits and order that it once had.

But this felt so right, so perfect... Was it right? Was this what had needed to happen, oh so long ago? She continued to stare at him, ever so slightly slack jawed, thinking - probably just a little bit too much.

[/blockquote]

[Agent New York]

York seemed to know what she was thinking, and his arm squeezed her waist gently, in a reassuring kind of way. He wanted her to know that he was there, and he would be waiting for when the time was right. No one else could be like Carolina, or Kate for that matter. He would only ever choose her, and he hoped she knew that, and would do the same for him. He had no idea what he'd do without her.

"Kate... we'll figure out a way to do this. I promise. If you want, that is." He told her with a soft smile. And he would make sure that it worked. He would make sure that everyone they came across didn't underestimate her just because she was in a closer relationship with himself. He just needed to let her know that this wouldn't harm her reputation. She could still be Carolina. Just with a bit more help.

[Agent South Carolina]

The confusion on her face had gradually grown, and now it was almost desperately lost, before she pulls him closer, back into the hug, a much harder, more intense thing as she pressed against him - her way of saying yes at the moment, since apparently words weren't working. And, for a moment, she'd stay like that, before letting go and kicking off for the shore, climbing out, shivering and wet as cold air blasted against her. She needed to dry out before she got in her armor again, but it was freakin' cold out here. Maybe swimming had been a bad idea.

Shivering, cold, she made her way over to her armor, sitting down beside it, hugging herself to keep warm in this cold air. She was never good at handling cold - if it came down to it, she could suffer - but that didn't mean she liked it. Shivering, she tried to allow herself to dry off. She was vaguely afraid she might catch a cold or something - which would be absolutely dreadful. Maybe she should go on a quick run to help keep herself warm? But she didn't want to leave her armor here, and she didn't want to ditch Sean, not now, not that abruptly. She'd rather sit here and shiver than ditch him, and her armor, like that. It was a matter of preferences.

[/blockquote]

[Agent New York]

Sean watched her go, swimming off to the shore as well to follow her out of the pool. Okay, so maybe swimming wasn't the best idea ever, since it was freaking freezing out here right now. But he didn't regret it; they had gotten things off of their chests, and they were taking small steps forward. He moved to sit beside her, wrapping an an arm around her shoulders to try and help her - and himself - warm up.

That was the way people trying to survive did it, anyway. Huddle together for warmth, like penguins. He thought it kind of stupid likening them to penguins, since said animals were nothing like them. Half of the time they were more like savage lions. But still, hopefully the technique would work, and she wouldn't be shivering as much. He wouldn't want her catching a cold, after all.

Or worse.

[Agent South Carolina]

She hesitated for a moment before leaning into him, carefully closing her eyes, listening to his breath and the peace of the area around them, careful to avoid moving too much or making too much sound.She was still shivering, though it wasn't quite as exaggerated at this point. They could easily suit here like this for a while, and sleep was a tempting thing - but she refused to fall asleep just now; she'd always been told that it was bad to sleep when you were cold, anyway. So instead, she imitated a sort of sleep, simply because it was a more peaceful position and state of being.

She vaguely wondered what Delta was thinking, being forced to watch this whole thing, and grinned slightly at the thought that she may have made the poor little leprechaun uncomfortable. She'd always kind of wondered what life would have been like if they hadn't taken those AIs away from her, but she'd never date admit that - or the fact that she often wished that they had given her a chance to get used to them before snatching them away. She really didn't remember much about them - just that one of them was really loud, and the two didn't get along.

With a very light sigh, she leaned into Sean just a little bit more. She could get used to this - she really could. One day at a time, they could get their lives back - together.

[/blockquote]

[Agent New York]

York couldn't help but smile slightly as she accepted the hug. They were getting closer, at least. It would take a while for them to get to a proper relationship, but perhaps it wouldn't take as long as he initially thought it would. He just needed to take his time, and make sure nothing happened to them. Or her, for that matter. He couldn't let anything get in between them, so he had to be careful. But he could manage that. Sure he could.

Delta wasn't in York's head at that moment. He was still back in the tan Freelancer's helmet in the Warthog, leaving the two in peace. He was only going to return to his partner's mind if something was happening that required his attention, but the forest was pretty empty apart from the two in the meadow. York was glad that the AI had stayed behind; he knew Carolina would be pretty uncomfortable if he was there.

[Agent South Carolina]

The air did gradually start to dry them off, though her hair would take much longer as it clung consistently to her back, and, leaning against York, any part of her body that wasn't in contact with the air was still damp, and she was still really, really cold. With a bit of a yawn - it was bad to be tired when you were cold... Wasn't it? - she slowly pulled away, standing up, away from that source of warmth that she'd come to appreciate.

"We should be heading back."

[/color] It was a simple statement, and with that, she turned her back toward him as she started to re=equip her armor - her warmer armor - so that they could head out. This had been a nice break, but... Something in her still vaguely wanted to run. Still wanted to get out of it... Just a little bit less so now.

She could come to appreciate little breaks like this more often; especially with York. She had to admit - she kinda liked the guy.[/size][/blockquote]

[Agent New York]

York watched her get up and begin to click her armor back into place, a little disappointed that their peaceful period had ended so suddenly, but understanding anyway. Carolina would be a hard woman to win over, but he would enjoy the challenge. He too got to his feet and headed over to his own armor, slipping on the black under-armor before the tan pieces were clicked together fairly quickly. It wasn't a hard thing to do in a quick pace anymore.

He would be happy to get back on the road, though. His blue armored partner would still have to take the passenger seat, since he couldn't reattach the turret without the proper equipment, which he would probably get back at the Autobot base. Why they'd taken such a long route, he didn't know. Maybe he enjoyed Carolina's company, especially when it was just the two of them. It was always nice.

York would wait until the woman beside him was done before he began to head back towards the Warthog, and therefore his awaiting AI partner. At least nothing bad had happened.

[Agent South Carolina]

Carolina had equipped her armor with a fair swiftness, eager to get the cold air off of her skin; the biggest delay had been coaxing her wet and tangled hair into the helmet, and even that wasn't too long. However, when they got back, she would definitely have to set it aside to let it dry. Stretching slightly - had she actually begun to fall asleep while they had been sitting there? - she turned to head back to the Warthog with York, making sure that he was ready too, leaving that gentle creek behind.

She knew very well that she would be stuck in the passenger seat; she had before wondered why she never drove, but had shrugged it off; he was better at not using the vehicle against their opponents, thus salvaging it for later, and admittedly a better combat driver; that's why he drove. Everybody had their strengths, and hers depended on her being directly in the action, and using all of the resources on hand to aid her - including, but definitely not limited to, vehicles. The question at this point was simply a matter of would they run into any action on the road?

The lack of activity really nagged at her. She hated it when there was nothing to do; it forced her to slow down, to think. She didn't like that. She was very fast paced, and her thoughts were a plague to her mental state. She had already almost gone borderline insane in the past, and she really, really did not want to poke at that damaged part of her mind, or at any memories that might trigger it. Some would call it PTSD, she called it mental torture. She was a warrior, and a mobile one at that. As long as there was something to do, she was safe. And, for now, that something to do would be to focus on the trip - and stay alert. She would climb in the Warthog when they got there, ready to go whenever he was.

[/blockquote]

[Agent New York]

It didn't take thm too long to reach the Warthog again. York leaned over to pick up his helmet and place it over his head again. Delta's presence returned to his mind, which he welcomed. It was awfully lonely without the AI with him, but he'd never say something like that to Carolina. {"Everything okay back here?}" He asked mentally as he hopped over into the driver's seat.

{"There has been no unusual activity within the immediate vicinity during your absence. I have also not detected any signals from Agent Maine within the state at all."} Delta replied, causing the Freelancer to grin to himself. Yep, he missed Delta sometimes.

He withdrew the keys from underneath the driver's seat, starting up the engine, relieved when he heard the healthy purr from behind. At least it hadn't had the nerve to break on him again. York waited until Carolina got into th passenger seat, and once she was there, Sean and Kate drove off towards the horizon, looking for the next epic adventure...

{"Man, that sounds so cheesy."}

[Maple]

THREAD COMPLETE