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Kai had been desperately trying to pry the bars open for the past 15 minutes now. Her biceps burned and she grunted with effort, but the bars didn’t even budge.
“Fuck.” She breathed under her breath. Ahri had already given up earlier, her tail swinging lowly, her ears draped and her eyebrows forming into a crease.
“Babe? Are you okay?” Kai’s worried gaze landed on her girlfriend as her hands cupped Ahri’s cheek, its warmth robbed by the steel bars.
“Bokkie…” Ahri’s voice cracked under the taller woman, and the tears escaped the confines of her eyes freely. Her body racked with sobs and she gripped Kai’s hand for comfort and stability.
“I-if I just let everyone stay home, we won’t be here. Eve and Kali and Sera would still be safe, and your symbiote, it’ll still be on you and-” Kai sealed her lips over Ahri’s, effectively silencing her girlfriend. That did nothing to halt both women's tears, mixing with the heated kiss. Kai wasn’t sure if it was the right thing to do in this predicament, but she needed this. Ahri needed this.
They both did.
When Ahri still didn’t react after a full two seconds, Kai was forced to pull away. Kai berated herself on the inside, feeling disgusted for not even asking for consent, not waiting, not being strong enough, not protecting the team, not-
“Bokkie…” Ahri’s tail wraps around the other’s abs, silencing her inner turmoil. They both knew how prone they were to overthinking, to blaming themselves in every situation even if it was unavoidable, even if it was unintentional.
They never stopped blaming themselves.
“I’m sorry Ahri.” The gumiho covers the distance between them in a stride, hands dancing on the younger’s defined jawline. They stay like this for a moment, appreciating the serenity in all the clutter.
Kai’s fingers brush the base of the fox’s ears, prompting a flick.
“Kai, do you think Eve and the others are fine?” Ahri’s golden eyes bore into Kai’s brown ones and Kai almost breaks on the spot, but she needed to be strong for Ahri, for herself, and for the team.
“Eve is strong, she’ll protect Kali and Sera. I’m sure Kali’s oni side and assassin skills would be of use too.” As unsure Kai was, she made her words sound as convincing as possible within the cage.
“Will we find them?”
“We’ll find them,”
“You promise?”
“I promise.”