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The jungle is humid and warm, the shade of the trees bringing no respite from the torturous heat. It feels like they've been trekking aimlessly for hours, searching for Jonah and whatever items might be leftover from the plane crash. Tensions are high. Sweat sticking to their clothes, dirt caking their boots. They've no weapons save for the knife Lara's crafted for herself. It sits snuggly in the waistband of her pants, it's not much but until they find Jonah and the wreck, it'll have to do.
She's been staring at the back of Lara's head for the better half of this entire walk. She'd never admit it out loud but her knees feel like they're creaking, and she's sure she sprained something during the crash. Yet she perseveres on, seemingly unphased despite the throbbing in her temples and the pulsating pain travelling upwards from her knee. Her breaths come out more as huffs than inhales and exhales, and still she remains silent, swallows down her discomfort.
Blaming Lara for this would be easy. But she can't, she wouldn't. Lara didn't beg her to tag along. In fact, it was the very opposite. Lara had damn near begged on her knees for her to stay behind. Something about being the eyes and ears back home, just in case Lara and Jonah needed back up from a safe distance. The reply to that was "eyes and ears my ass." Jonah buckled first, of course. His words were "what would be the harm?" It's not like either of them planned on the damn plane crashing, let alone crashing it in the middle of a humid jungle with no map, no equipment, and just the devil may care attitude of "we can do this!" to inspire everyone.
Safe to say the attitude evaporated somewhere between the first roll in the mud after being scared half to death by whatever was rustling in the local fauna and the realization that they had no way of contacting each other if they were separated again. The fact that Lara's crash site was close to hers was thanks to fate and fate alone. But the more they trek through this beautiful, dangerous, possible deathtrap of a jungle the more she curses fate and her own stubborness. As if she could possibly protect Lara, let alone guide her through this wilderness.
"What are you thinking about?" Lara spoke, dragging her out of the swirling thoughts.
"Nothing." Was an easy enough reply. The less she had to talk the less chance there was that in this discomfort she'd buckle and start complaining about everything ailing her. Physically and emotionally.
Lara hummed, halting in her tracks and taking a look around. "Think we should rest for a while, it's not like the plane's going anywhere."
Her companion just nodded, looking up towards the tall trees as if thanking them and whatever holy power resides within them for this relief. Releasing a breath, she sat down on the wet dirt, her back against the firm tree bark. For a moment she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath. Letting herself fully go slack in that moment she didn't hear anything save for the beating of her own heart. When she opened her eyes, Lara was standing above her.
"What?"
Lara shrugged, squatting down. "Nothing. You looked like you needed a break, that's all."
The heat of her gaze was unnerving. Not in a bad way, just in a sort of way where you feel like someone is looking at you and inside of you at the same time. They held each others gazes for a while before there was a slight upturn in the corners of Lara's mouth and she reached out, brushing a few strands of hair off of her friends' forehead. She held her hands on her cheeks, cradling her as if she were an incredibly fragile artifact. Or perhaps an expensive jewel. Her right hand traveled up to her temple, tenderly touching what was an injury sustained during the crash. The skin torn, only slightly but enough to be a constant throbbing.
Lara ran her fingers gently against the sensitive skin, her companion hissing in return and gripping onto her calf. Somewhat of a warning, and somewhat of an instinctual reaction to her gentle probing. Lara paid it no mind, too focused on studying the way her temple was becoming dotted with blues and purples. Dried blood crusted into her hair. Lara exhaled through her nose.
"You could've died." She'd mumbled.
"So could you." Was the quick retort.
Lara's brown eyes flitted towards her companion, a sort of disapproving expression settling on her expression.
"That's not the point." Her right hand moved to grip her friends chin lightly, "It's my job to protect you. And I almost lost you."
Her companions hand enclosed her wrist, "And does Jonah not need protecting?"
"Not like you do, no. Unlike you, Jonah actually enjoys staying behind and letting me do the death defying tricks."
A beat of silence. Immediately interrupted by the sound of a flare going off somewhere further in the jungle. The light of it shining through the thick of trees, barely pinpointing a location. Lara exhales a sigh of relief, yet her hold on the woman's chin remains firm. Both their eyes flitted back to each other.
Lara was the first to speak up, "It's getting dark. Think we'll camp out here and then.. we'll make a move towards Jonah."
"I'm good to go now, there's still daylight."
Lara hummed, hands falling back to her sides. She looked around before her eyes settled back on her friend. "You've been huffing and puffing for nearly the entire trek. If you think I'm going to make you walk 'til suns down or even leave you here, you'd have to be crazy."
Her companion rolled her eyes. "I'm fine, it's not like you're in peak condition. We were all jostled around during the crash. I unfortunately just have the physical evidence of the beating I took from the plane."
"Do you think I don't see it?" Lara whispered. "You've been biting down all that pain, thinking that just because I took the lead that I can't see."
But you can't see, is what she wanted to say. Can't see that she'd fought tooth and nail to go on this borderline suicide mission if it meant she could just keep Lara closer for a second longer. Can't see that she'd gladly risk her life over and over again if it meant Lara got to fulfill her crusade. Can't see that she'd give life and limb today, tomorrow, the day after that to get Lara to where she needs to be just so she can see the fire in her eyes. But she doesn't say any of it. She sits silently, compliant. Because if she opened her mouth now all that would spill would be a nonstop slew of I love you's.
And that silence is defeaning. Hazardous, even. Because professing your love in the middle of the jungle when you're both barely functioning as people isn't a way to profess at all, is it? And Lara's never been good with words either but she wants to hold her, cradle her, whisper in the crown of her head that she'll take care of her no matter what. But those feel like empty promises when Lara's lost more people than she's saved.
The birds are chirping, and you can hear the rustle of the wind and all Lara can come up with in that moment is, "I see you. Even when you think I don't."
Her companion nods. She closes her eyes and leans her head towards Lara, their foreheads touching. It's not quite a profession of love, and it's not quite the same as saying I love you, but in this jungle and in this moment where the only witnesses are the birds and the trees, it's enough. They see each other, and that's enough.