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1
The first time Malia held her hand, Kira wasn’t even aware of it till after it ended. Kira had been drowning in swiftly moving sand, attempting to follow the pack away from her teachers. Finally, they’d come back for her, and when the sand moved to drag her back, Kira reached out for them. She found someone. They were strong but ended up having to dig their claws into Kira's arm to keep hold of her.
Kira let her fox take control—like she’d been wanting to for over three years—and used the extra surge of strength to pull herself out of the ground. Blindly, she let herself be pulled along by the strong hand until she was in what she could tell was Stiles' Jeep.
Relief flooded her body. Finally, she was back with her pack. Kira didn’t know how they knew they needed to come get her, but she was too happy to care. Soon after she’d left and started trying to control her fox, Kira realized that wasn’t going to work for her. Kira and her fox needed to learn how to work together. Her teachers hadn’t understood that, and when they eventually found out she was directly disobeying them, their methods of teaching became much crueler.
After managing to wipe off some sand off her face with one hand, Kira turned to see Malia. She pressed up next to Kira and letting go of her hand, so she could pull a disoriented Liam into the back seats as well. Kira's hand still tingled with the phantom warmth, while Stiles and Scott shouted at each other in the front seats, trying their best to speed out of the desert.
Kira almost reached out again. She wanted the warm security of Malia’s grasp, but she decided against it.
2
It had been stressful for Kira to adjust to normal life once again, but after three months she felt like she had the hang of it. She had even applied to a few jobs and tried to reconnect with the pack. A lot had happened while she was gone, and it was shocking to see how much they’d grown up. She’d mostly found comfort in her mom and Parrish, the only other people in her life she wouldn’t have to watch wither away in a few decades.
Malia was nice to be around as well. Kira didn’t quite know why, but Malia didn’t make her spiral into a panic about how short everyone else's lives were anytime they saw each other.
So there Kira was, sitting across from Malia at a small table and sipping on an iced coffee—which was one of the small things she’d really missed while in the desert. They were getting lunch together at a small café in town, like they’d done every Saturday for the past month.
Malia was a constant now, and that was something that Kira was thankful for. She ordered the same food, kept the same chipped blue nail polish, and always laughed at her own jokes—even if they were a bit bad. Kira would laugh too, because Malia was charming, and her laugh was contagious, and it just felt good to be happy with someone.
They were both doubled over in their seats gasping for breath only after a few minutes of being sat down. Kira couldn’t even remember what the initial joke was, but tears filled her eyes, and her laughter only worsened when Malia snorted so hard she started choking. It took a long time for them to calm down, but eventually they did. The women sat back up straight in their seats and tried to suppress their last bits of laughter. Malia’s smile grew as she gazed at Kira.
“I’m glad you’re here.” Malia said earnestly, reaching out to cover Kira’s hand firmly. Warmth filled her body when Malia didn’t pull her hand away. She felt a hot blush come over her, but luckily, the waiter came just in time to distract Malia.
3
Kira had missed the cold while she was gone. Well, the good type of cold. At night, the temperature used to drop far too low and leave her shaking and shivering as she tried to sleep. But the good kind of cold was different. It made her breath visible, let snow float to the ground, and blew her hair in crazy directions. Her mood was also improved by her pack being around.
They were all in town for the holidays, and Scott, Stiles, and Lydia convinced everyone to go ice skating. Kira met new pack members, made friends with old enemies, and drank the best hot chocolate she’d ever had. Liam pulled her aside for a moment while everyone else was distracted.
He handed over a crudely wrapped box. The tag was in Liam’s almost unreadable scrawl, from Liam and Theo , and Kira instantly knew what it was, “I don’t really know if it counts as a gift if it was yours to begin with, but here.” Liam said, shyly rubbing the back of his neck.
“Thank you.” Her voice cracked with emotion as she opened it and saw fragments of her sword shining back at her. When she first came back, Liam had tried to give it to her, but panic had consumed her at the thought. She was ready now, though.
Liam pulled her into a hug, and a pang of sadness went through her. He was so grown up. When they disconnected, she urged Liam to go and join the others on the ice without her. Kira needed a moment to steady herself.
Malia came up to her after a moment and asked Kira if wanted to skate with her. Kira smiled, nodded, and felt an eruption of butterflies in her stomach when Malia grabbed her hand. Malia did let go even once they were on the ice with the others, and Kira was glad she didn’t.
4
Kira shouldn’t have been surprised when her fox finally overtook her. Hunters had come through Beacon Hills and decided to torment the pack that lived there. Her final straw had been when they threatened Scott's mom. Kira saw red and didn’t bother to stop or work with her fox when it pushed its way out from under her skin.
It hadn’t ended horribly. At least no one died, but she felt the stares from her pack. Liam and Malia were the only other members of the pack that would understand why she chose to let her fox take over, so she was glad at least Malia was there. Kira, although she would never admit it out loud, preferred Malia’s silent support anyway.
They were outside the hospital, tucked away to the side of the building, sitting against the wall. Hot tears made their way down her face and seemed to burn wherever they touched. Malia was there, silent, constant, and safe.
Kira brought her sword out in front of her and angrily studied it. How could she be trusted to wield something so dangerous if she couldn’t contain her rage? For a moment, she considered breaking it again.
Just as her hands wrapped around it, Malia gripped her wrist. Without a word, she eased the sword out of Kira’s grasp and interlocked their hands. Kira wanted to cry again. It was so much work to not allow her fox to lead her, but Malia knew exactly how it felt. Her coyote had overwhelmed her for most of her childhood and almost half her life.
If Malia thought Kira could overcome the struggle, then so could she.
5
It wasn’t shocking that Kira couldn’t take her eyes off of Malia, even in the commotion of a crowded club. The pair had gone down to UCLA to celebrate Mason’s birthday, and he decided that since they were all twenty-one, they should go bar hopping. Malia was definitely dressed for the occasion. Her shorts were distractingly high, the sequins on her top stood out in any crowd, and her new rings made her hands hypnotizing.
Eventually, they ended up sharing a wolfsbane infused piña colada, watching from the table as their friends danced wildly and sang at the top of their lungs. Well, Malia watched them; Kira was watching her.
Kira had been back for almost a year, and sometimes it felt like she’d never left at all. That was one of those nights. She was in a good mood, surrounded by some of her pack, and memories of the desert didn’t haunt her. Everything felt perfect, Kira couldn’t think of a single thing that would make her night better.
But then Malia's hand found hers under the table, and Kira knew she had been wrong. Now her night was perfect. Kira didn’t even mind the hard press of cold rings between her fingers. She was definitely a bit tipsy because she had the idea to squeeze Malia’s hand. The only indication that Malia had felt it was the fact that she squeezed back. She couldn’t help but smile, blush, and hold on tighter.
+1
Malia and Kira were both sprawled on her bed watching some movie. Kira wasn’t really that invested in it. She was trying to think of a smooth way to reach out and take Malia's hand in her own. Every time Malia had held Kira’s hand, it seemed like second nature.
It took her a long time to build up her confidence, but eventually, she reached out and slid her hand into Malia’s. Immediately, a smile came across the other woman's lips.
“I was wondering why you smelt anxious.” she laughed, sending a soft gaze over to Kira.
“I didn’t know if you’d want me to.” Kira shrugged, feeling all her anxiety melt away.
“I hold your hand like every time we’re around each other. Why wouldn’t I want it?” Malia asked.
“I know, I know. I was just nervous.” Kira blushed.
“Trust me,” Malia said, bringing Kira’s hand up to her mouth and placing a kiss on Kira’s knuckles, “You have nothing to be nervous about.” Butterflies swirled in her stomach and her face started to hurt from how hard she was smiling.