Archive of Our Own ^beta

“Miss Reinford,” the cool voice called over the intercom. “Mr. Capua is here to see you.”

“Wonderful, please send him in Darla. And would you also bring some light refreshments as well?”

“Of course my lady.”

The intercom clicked off and Alisa rose from her desk, smoothing out her suit jacket though she was confident no wrinkles were present. To this day she didn’t know what kind of magic Sharon used when she laundered her clothes, her outfits remaining perfectly pressed without a single crease no matter how badly she slouched over her desk. And sometimes her posture was pretty atrocious.

A quick knock and the door opened, Darla gesturing for Kyle to walk ahead while she haphazardly balanced a full tray in the other hand. It was overloaded with a large pitcher of cucumber infused sparkling water, maple cookies, and the sweet sponge cake from Bose Market that Alisa had flown in for the meeting.

“Darla, be care—”

The words were barely out of her mouth before Kyle grabbed the tray with ease, a warm smile spreading across his lips. “Please, let me help.”

“Oh no!” Darla yelped, hands reaching out for the tray. “You are our guest, I couldn’t possibly—”

“It’s no big deal,” he said easily. “I’m simply carrying it over to the table. But I’d love it if you could pour me a glass of water once I set it down.”

Another bright smile had Darla blushing like a teenager, quickly moving over to the table to pour two glasses of water. She sat one down gently in front of Kyle and the other was placed opposite where Alisa would soon be seated.

It was plain to see why most of the girls in her department and some of the guys too, swooned over Kyle like a celebrity on the few occasions he had come to the office. Not only was he an extremely good looking and handsome man, but he was kind and genuine with everyone he met.

“My lady, will there be anything else?” Darla asked, seeming to recover herself for the moment.

Alisa shook her slowly, taking the empty seat across from Kyle. “No, that’s everything for now. Thank you Darla.”

“Thank you for the water,” Kyle replied with a wink.

Darla stuttered out a quick “You’re welcome”, her blush coming back full force as she made a beeline out the door.

Alisa couldn’t help the chuckle that escaped her lips as she took a sip of the sparkling water in her glass. It was so refreshing. She never would have thought to add cucumbers to the bubbly beverage, with just a hint of lime as well, but that had been something Kyle had introduced her to a few months back.

While he may have been born into nobility, he certainly didn’t act like a noble any longer. None of the Capua siblings did. But the one thing he held on to was the fancy water he had been served back when his family still held the barony. It wasn’t often he got to enjoy it while flying all over the place for work, but whenever he got a few days to himself he would make some up.

After his recommendation, Alisa had asked Sharon to try making the water, purchasing fresh cucumbers and slicing them thin. The result was amazing. It was light and refreshing and she could see why a noble family would prefer this to plain drinking water.

“Thank you for this,” Kyle mumbled quietly as he closed his eyes briefly, relishing the taste.

He leaned his head back against the couch, his long aqua hair tied back like usual. He had come straight from flying in to the airport it seemed, still dressed in his flight jacket with his goggles hanging loosely around his neck.

“Please, have some cake as well. It’s fresh, I had it flown in just yesterday morning.”

“Wait, is this from Katrina’s?”

“Mmhmm.”

“Wow Alisa, you really went all out. What did I do to deserve all this?”

“Well,” she began, taking a slice of her own and savoring the first bite before continuing. “I have a pretty big favor to ask.”

“Does this have anything to do with the schematics you sent over to me?”

“It does.”

“I haven’t had too much free time to look them over thoroughly, but from what I did see, I can tell a lot went into the design. It’s going to change the market for sure and you won’t have any direct competition for several years I’d wager.”

Alisa looked concerned for a moment. “Have you been that busy?”

“Hmmm?”

“You said you haven’t had a lot of free time.”

“Oh that,” Kyle tried to wave dismissively but Alisa could see the dark circles under his eyes. “It’s nothing, really. We’ve just been getting a lot more orders in and expanding our delivery area. Longer flights and all have made for fewer days off to make up the difference.”

“When was the last time you had a day off?”

Kyle cupped his chin in his hand, contemplating the question. “You know, I’m not completely sure. Maybe two months ago…”

“Two months! You can’t go that long without a break. You’ll burn yourself out.”

“I’m fine, seriously. I know my limits. Plus this is nothing compared to when we were on the run so don’t worry. And things will be getting better soon.”

“What do you mean?”

“I’m working with two new guys. I’ve pretty much completed their flight training and Don’s brokering a deal to get us two more air ships. They’re used, but in great shape and we’ll only have to do minor work to get them prepped for hauling cargo. Once that’s all taken care of I won’t be spread as thin.”

“Why didn’t you come to me?”

Kyle cocked his head to the side. “What do you mean?”

“I could have had two brand new airships built for you all, with whatever mods or specs you needed. You wouldn’t have needed to buy used.”

“I appreciate the offer and the fact that you think we’re doing that well that we could afford two brand new airships, but I think that’d be slightly out of our price range. We’d have to work nonstop for two years straight to just pay off one of them, let alone two.”

Alisa sighed heavily. “You know I’d give you all a discount. Especially after everything Josette has done for us. And you too.”

“I hardly call delivering a few packages here and there for Reinford that much. It’s certainly not worthy of what you’re talking about.”

“Are you kidding? All the supplies you helped us with during the war? We wouldn’t have been able to get half of those things for the Radiant Wings without you and Josette and Don. Not to mention the fact that you fought at the Retributive Tower. The way I see it, I owe you a ship or two free of charge.”

And Alisa meant it. Despite not knowing the Capua family all that long, they had gone out of their way time and again to help her and her friends. They all could have easily kept to themselves and let the relationship be strictly business and nothing more, but they didn’t. Josette had quickly become a close friend and ally. And while she didn’t know Kyle or Don nearly as well, she still looked forward to their sparse visits. Especially Kyle as of late.

Alisa felt her cheeks burn at the thought. She hadn’t been paying that much attention to where they wandered and now here she was focusing on Kyle’s perfect smile and handsome face and gorgeous green eyes. She needed to snap out of it.

“Alisa, you doing ok? You didn’t answer me.”

“W-what?”

“I said you definitely don’t owe us a ship for free and you just kinda spaced out there.”

“O-oh sorry about that. I was…ummm…just thinking of something else for a moment. Nothing important.”

She certainly wasn’t thinking about how cute his nose looked all scrunched up like that while he was trying to figure out what was going on in her head. Nope, definitely not thinking that.

Kyle looked over the blueprints in his hand along with the contract attached to them. It was way more generous than it should be and if he decided to accept it he would need to talk to Alisa about some of these numbers. There was no way he could take that kind of money, even if it would completely pay for their new ships and then some.

The meeting had gone really well and he had to admit the project she presented was exactly the kind of thing that peaked his interest. Test flying the new Reinford prototype two person aircraft? It was no brainer. There were few things he loved more in the world than flying and getting to be the person that tested an airship before anyone else even got to lay eyes on it was a dream come true.

And if it helped Alisa out, it was a pretty easy decision from there. She had been nothing but kind to him and his siblings and she had forged a real and true friendship with Josette. His sister always had a hard time making friends with other girls her age, a hard truth from their life on the run for so many years.

But Alisa hadn’t judged her, or any of them, for the sins of the past. She looked at them as the people they were now, desperately trying to right their wrongs and live good and honest lives. And she provided them with more work than they knew what to do with.

Normally as swamped as he was, there would be no way he could just step aside for the next month or possibly two to work on a project like this. Not only would he be test flying the ships, but he would be directly involved in the actual design modifications. He wasn’t an engineer by a long shot—that was more Alisa’s wheelhouse than his— but he was decent at maintenance and as a pilot himself, he knew what worked and what didn’t.

But now that they would have their new airships in a matter of days and two freshly trained pilots added to their ranks, Kyle was actually in a decent position to step aside and work on something of this grand scale. It still wouldn’t be easy and there would probably be a time or two that he’d need to fly back to help out Don, but still…

He could actually do this. He could do something useful and meaningful. And if it meant he got to spend a little more time with Alisa along the way… well that wouldn’t be so bad either.

“What’s got you grinning like an idiot?”

Kyle nearly jumped out of his skin at the sound of Josette’s voice behind him, flinging the folder full of documents into the air. Josette caught it with ease and settled down next to him on the worn out couch. They had been running the delivery together since it was taking them back to Liberl.

Kyle insisted he could handle it just fine on his own, but Josette had wanted to tag along. He had a feeling that she was secretly hoping to meet up with Estelle and Joshua over at the guild, especially since she had brought some snacks from her last stop in Ored that she knew they both liked.

“Oh never mind, it’s Alisa. Big surprise,” she answered with a smirk.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” he asked, reaching for the folder back.

Josette handed it over with little fuss. “Nothing, just the fact that you always jump through hoops whenever she asks you for anything.”

“I’d hardly call this jumping through hoops. Did you see how much mira she’s willing to pay for this?”

“Yep,” she nodded her head. “Not that that’s shocking either.”

“What are you talking about?”

“She had to make the offer so good that you basically couldn’t turn her down even if you wanted to. Not that you’d ever say no to her.”

“Come on, it’s not like that.”

“Really? She could hire a military pilot with a lot more experience than you for a whole lot less than this.”

“What the hell Jo? I’m a damn good pilot.”

“I didn’t say you weren’t, but even you have to realize you aren’t worth this much.”

Kyle’s shoulders slumped ever so slightly. She was right of course. While his skills were certainly good they weren’t worth the price Alisa was willing to pay, even for a contract that could last up to three months. It was why he planned on negotiating for less… which sounded ridiculous when he thought about it but what could he do? He didn’t want to feel like he was taking advantage of Alisa’s generosity.

“I know that…”

“Don’t sulk. I wasn’t trying to be mean. But it’s pretty obvious this number is high so you’ll have to say yes.”

“I don’t get it. You said yourself she could get a pilot with more experience that would probably be better suited to this sort of thing, so why would she pay this much just to hire me?”

“Goddess are you really this dense?” she asked as she playfully punched him in the arm.

“What?”

“She obviously likes you. And she wants to spend time with you and work together on this project.”

“You think she likes me?” Kyle asked, gesturing towards the papers. “Because of this?”

“This and the fact every time I see her she asks how you’re doing?”

“So? Doesn’t she ask how Don’s doing too?”

“Yeah, but she doesn’t ask if Don has a girlfriend.”

“She’s asked you if I have a girlfriend?”

“Yeah dummy. Every time we talk. Like she’s so subtle. ‘Oh by the way Josette, is Kyle seeing anyone?’ or ‘Has Kyle got a girlfriend yet?’ or ‘Do you know if he’s interested in anyone?’ Not that you’re any better.”

“I don’t ask about her that much.”

Josette crossed her arms and gave him a look that said otherwise.

“Ok fine, but I’ve never asked you if she has a boyfriend. I know she doesn’t, but she’s hung up on that Divine Blade she went to school with.”

“Are you serious right now?” Josette barked out a laugh. “He was her high school crush. She’s been over him for ages. That’d be like me still having a crush on Joshua. It’s been years.”

“So? You mean to tell me that if Joshua and Estelle broke up and he suddenly declared his love for you that you wouldn’t jump at the chance to be with him?”

“No, I wouldn’t. Sixteen year old me, absolutely. But the things I wanted then are way different than what I want now. The bracer life isn’t exactly the easiest and with me traveling all the time, I want something more stable. Someone I can come home to and I know he’ll always be there with a warm pot of coffee and telling me about his day. Someone mature and with a steady job. Someone I could see myself starting a family with one day.”

Kyle didn’t miss the far off look in his sister’s eyes or the way her tone softened as she spoke. “It sounds like you already have someone in mind.”

“Maybe,” she blushed. “We’ve only been on two dates, but we talk almost every day. He’s…I could see things going well with him.”

“Oh yeah?” Kyle asked with a slight smirk. It wasn’t every day he got to see this softer side of his sister. “Have I met the guy before?”

“Yeah, you and Don both did. Remember that big order we did three months ago for the Crossbell police department? He was there helping with the inventory. And he made us all that really good black cherry coffee.”

“Oh, the tall guy with the glasses?”

Josette nodded.

“I remember him, he was super thorough, made the job a hell of a lot easier. Al…Alan right?”

“No, Alex.”

“Right, right. But that guy, he’s your type now? After someone like Joshua he just seems kind of… dull.”

“He’s not dull! And that’s what I’ve been trying to tell you. Just because your teenage crush is one way, doesn’t mean that’s the type of person you want forever. Like with Alisa.”

“Wait, are you trying to say I’m the dull, boring guy she’s going for after having a crush on the Ashen Chevalier?”

“I mean, you’re not wrong compared to him, but no that wasn’t what I was trying to say. She’s not interested in him in that way anymore, he’s a friend. So stop being so stupid and ask her out already!”

“I can’t just ask her out when we’re going to be working together.”

“Ugh, you’re hopeless. Ask her out one night to dinner when you’re there, she won’t say no. Trust me.”

Kyle wanted to believe Josette, he knew she wouldn’t set him up for failure like that, but still…

What could someone like Alisa Reinford see in him? A disgraced noble turned sky bandit turned delivery guy. Sure he owned a third of the company with his brother and sister and he wasn’t half bad at the business side of it, but what could he really offer her? She had more money than she could ever need. Anything she could possibly want was hers in an instant. There was nothing he could offer her that she didn’t have.

Alisa was nervous. More nervous than she really should be. She’d met with Kyle dozens of times before so why all of a sudden was she downing cucumber water like she was dying of thirst? It wasn’t that big of a deal. Either he would agree to work with her on the airships or he wouldn’t. It was really that simple.

“So, I looked over the proposal but—”

“I can offer more money,” Alisa blurted out.

“What? No, Alisa, it’s too much as it is.”

“Sorry, I shouldn’t have yelled like that. I was afraid you were going to say no and if you do I think that’s a really big mistake because this project is going to be huge and there’s no one better for it than you and—”

“Hey,” Kyle said gently, refilling her water from the pitcher on the table. “Take a breath and than drink this. I’m going to accept, ok?”

“Ok,” Alisa mumbled into her glass, the water bubbling around her lips. She was lucky she didn’t spill it all down her chin. Why was she such a disaster today?

Kyle laughed at her antics and Alisa couldn’t help but smile back. Even his laugh was cute.

No, she couldn’t go there. She needed to focus. She was a professional and she needed to act like one.

“Like I said, I’m going to accept the offer. But, I can’t take this much money. It’s way too much and even our most expensive hourly rates wouldn’t equal this.”

“But I’m keeping you away from your actual job for months, you need to be fairly compensated—”

“How about this? Half the rate you’re offering, but you let me stay in one of the apartments you keep for visiting engineers.”

“But you were going to get one of those anyway!”

Kyle smirked and Alisa immediately felt butterflies in her stomach. “Well it’s not in the contract, it just says room and board are provided, nothing about where it is. I’ll even let you give me one with a balcony.”

Alisa couldn’t help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it all. Who went to the table to negotiate for less than what was being offered? Apparently Kyle Capua, that’s who.

“You win,” Alisa threw her hands up in defeat. “I can already tell there’s no use arguing anymore. You and Josette are both so stubborn, how did Don ever put up with the two of you?”

“He drinks.”

Alisa laughed again, not quite expecting that answer but also not surprised. She stuck her hand out, a question in her eyes. “Partners?”

Kyle smiled easily, gripping her hand and giving it a shake. She could feel the warmth even through his leather gloves. “Here’s to the start of a beautiful relationship.”

The next few weeks went by in a flash. Kyle would show up at Alisa’s office promptly at nine, iced coffees in hand to begin their day. It didn’t take long for him to figure out her preference and while he may have preferred tea— a by-product of his once stature as nobility— he had to admit that iced coffee with a little milk and sugar wasn’t quite so bad. And it was only an added bonus that Alisa’s eyes lit up whenever he placed her cup down in front of her.

The two of them would chit-chat about little things, all the while enjoying their coffee before starting the day. It was nice, having a ritual like this. The normalcy of coming in to an office everyday, adhering to a schedule and knowing that his entire workday was planned out with little room for the unexpected.

There was a time when he was younger and still living in Leeves when he thought this would be the exact type of job he would have. Don, as the oldest, would obviously take over the Barony one day. And Josette, unfortunate as it sounded, would likely be married off to another noble to forge a profitable and mutually beneficial alliance.

Not that it would be much different for Kyle. The same would be expected of him. Marry a nice noble, hopefully one of higher standing than himself, and settle down. Given he was the second son, he’d have a little more leeway with his career choice and would still be able to attend the Roer Institute of Technology, but at the end of the day he was a noble and his duty would always be first and foremost to his house.

But all that changed once they lost their land and their titles. Technically they might still be of noble lineage, but that meant little to nothing now. And Kyle wouldn’t change a thing. It had been hard at first, especially on Don. He had taken all the blame on and never could forgive himself for what happened.

Kyle wasn’t so magnanimous to admit that he hadn’t missed the things they had in the beginning. Their home, the pleasant and quaint town they grew up in, their possessions. But now it all seemed like a distant dream. They had each built new lives that they could truly be proud of. And they weren’t tied down by the rules and expectations of the nobility.

How could he hate his new life after all? If not for that, he wouldn’t be with Alisa in this very moment. He wouldn’t be pouring over blueprints and helping design a brand new model of airship with an incredibly talented, smart, capable, and beautiful woman.

He’d likely be married. Maybe even raising a few children of his own. He was twenty-eight after all, well past the age that he would have been married off.

And even if he could have had all of that, what would it matter if he didn’t love the woman he was with? Sure, some nobles were lucky enough to find love in their arranged marriages, but those were few and far between.

Kyle found himself pretty easy going in most cases, but even he would have a hard time staying with someone he had no genuine feelings for. Now though, he had the chance to live the life he wanted without his house or title being the things to hold him down.

Not that he did much with that freedom as it were. His life was his work and it left little room for much else. And while this little break with Alisa was nice, it too would come to an end eventually.

He sighed at the thought. It had barely been a week and he was already attached to this sort of life. A life with roots, a place to call home.

“Kyle? You in there?” Alisa asked, tapping the eraser tip of her pencil against his nose.

Kyle sat back, looking confused for a moment before shaking his head. “Sorry, I must have zoned out a bit there.”

“It’s ok. You seemed pretty lost in thought. I was just asking what you think of these two designs for the cockpit? They’re pretty similar, but an actual pilot’s perspective would be good to have as well.”

Kyle smiled as he picked up the two blueprints. He appreciated Alisa not prying into his thoughts, though why would she? They were on friendly terms, might actually be friends at that, but they weren’t close enough for her to ask what was on his mind. Especially when it was plain to see his thoughts were anywhere but on their project.

“Hmmm. They both look good, but this one here makes more sense. See how the master and avionics switch is here, right next to the primary flight display screen. On the other, the switch is above the head, which is fine too, but having it right next to the yoke, where your hands are anyway, is much more convenient.”

“That does make sense.”

“Same for the flap switch. It’s on the opposite side of the yoke, but still within arms reach. I know some pilots prefer them overhead, but most will tell you it’s a lot easier to have them where your hands already are. You want to make the most of the space provided and the things you use the least should be overhead, not what you use all the time.”

“You really know your stuff, huh?” Alisa asked, leaning closer as she looked at the schematics still clutched in his hand.

“Eh, I’m probably not as good as some of the military guys, but I think I do ok. I can tell whoever did this one though definitely has flying experience. The only thing I would change myself would be to move these gauges from here to here.”

“What are they?”

“Its the airspeed indicator, attitude indicator, and altimeter. They’re fine where they are, it’s not a terrible design at all, I just prefer them above the primary flight display. That way everything is right there in one spot. You don’t have to turn your head back and forth to look at the readouts. It’s not bad normally, but if you’ve ever had an emergency and you’re in a stressful situation, you’ll want everything right in front of you.”

He watched as Alisa made quick notes and sketches on the drawing. She didn’t question a single thing he said, jotting it all down to make sure the changes were implemented right away.

Kyle leaned in a little closer, pointing at the paper. “Move that just slightly to the left and it’s perfect.”

“Like this?” Alisa asked as she moved the pencil across the page, fingers barely touching his.

She sat back quickly, face blushing bright red as she moved her hand away. “S-sorry about that!”

“It’s ok,” Kyle replied calmly though his heart was racing at the slight caress. It wasn’t like he had never touched her hand before, they had shaken hands numerous times in the past, but that had always been business.

But somehow this simple, innocent, unintended brush of skin sent his mind reeling and his heart pounding. He felt like a teenager again.

Stealing a glance, he was happy to see that he wasn’t the only one effected. Alisa’s cheeks were still flushed and she was trying her hardest to concentrate on the paper in front of her to little avail.

It made him happy to know that maybe she was feeling the exact same things he was.

“Ugh Sharon, what am I supposed to do?” Alisa groaned, covering her face in her hands. “I totally froze up. I couldn’t say anything after that. I could barely look at him for the rest of the day. What is wrong with me?”

Sharon placed a cup of tea on the table in front of Alisa before taking the seat next to her, her own cup of tea before her. She took a tentative sip before answering. “Nothing is wrong with you, nothing at all.”

“Why couldn’t I just act normal? I barely touched him, I didn’t need to freak out like that. He probably thinks I’m an idiot.”

“Well, how did he respond?”

“What do you mean?”

“You accidentally touched his hand and then you snatched yours away and froze up. How did he react? Did he freeze up too? Or did he pull away from you?”

“No.”

“What did he do?”

“Nothing. He just sat there. He said it was ok and that was it.”

“Perhaps he liked it then.”

“Or he’s being nice because we’re working on this project.”

“Or maybe you’re overthinking all of this?”

Alisa groaned into her arms, leaning forward to rest her head against the table. “Why am I like this?”

“Would you like the real answer?”

“No.”

Sharon chuckled. “I’ll give it to you anyway.”

“Of course you will.”

“My lady, do you remember how flustered you used to get around Master Rean?”

“Sharon, please don’t remind me of that.”

“I promise I’m not trying to embarrass you.”

“You’re not succeeding then.”

“Alisa, please sit up.”

Alisa complied, slowly lifting her head. Sharon very rarely spoke her name without “Lady” proceeding it—that’s how she knew things were serious.

“Ok, I’m listening.”

“I won’t mince words then. You have feelings for Master Kyle.”

“What? M-maybe a crush, but I don’t know him well enough for feelings!”

“Really? It’s not the first time the two of you worked together. Granted either Lady Josette or Master Don were usually around, but it’s not like the two of you are complete strangers.”

“N-no…I mean, you’re right, but…”

“I’ve not been around him that often myself, but I have noticed the way he looks at you when he sees you. He shows up early each morning and brings you coffee, he walks you to the elevator each evening to see you off.”

“He’s just being nice, that doesn’t mean anything…”

“Maybe you’re right. But I have a feeling if that were the case he’d simply come to work and leave at the end of the day. He wouldn’t do all the little things he does day in and day out if he didn’t care.”

“But what if he doesn’t?”

“Then he doesn’t. And your life goes on. But Alisa, you need to stop looking at every potential suitor as another Rean. It may not have worked out with him, but it doesn’t mean every relationship is doomed to fail before it starts.”

Alisa was silent. She knew Sharon was right. Ever since that disastrous day she confessed her feelings to Rean and he smiled at her with pity in his eyes, she’d been afraid to ever put herself in that position again. It wasn’t Rean’s fault she misread the situation. He was friendly to everyone he came across, that’s the type of person he was. She should have been the one to know better— that his kind nature didn’t have romantic implications. But it didn’t change the fact that she had given herself hope that he would return the same feelings she had.

And now here she was, pushing her feelings away all because she was scared. There was a wonderful, smart, handsome, and kind man right in front of her. A man that she could absolutely see herself falling for and she couldn’t work up the courage to ask him to lunch. It would be simple. They saw each other every single day, they both took an hour break to go eat. Would it be so hard to see if he wanted to go with her instead of eating by himself?

But what if he rejected her? What if he told her she was a lovely person but he could only see himself being friends with her? That he was interested in someone else.

She’d never know unless she asked and that was her problem in it’s entirety. She knew she wouldn’t be able to do it.

“My lady, I’d be happy to help push Master Kyle along if you’d like. I could go talk to him now in fact,” Sharon said as she rose from the table.

“What?” Alisa squeaked.

“He’s on the floor below us, I can run down there and give him a nice talk.”

Alisa threw her hands up, rapidly moving them back and forth. “No no no! Don’t do that! Please, that will make it worse!”

“How so? Then we’ll know his feelings for certain although I’m pretty sure they are exactly as I’ve said.”

“Please Sharon, don’t do that. And he has to get up early tomorrow anyway. He’s going back to Don for a week. They have a big delivery that the two of them need to handle so he won’t even be here.”

“Hmmm,” Sharon hummed as she raised her hand to her chin. “I suppose I can wait a few days then. But if you haven’t talked to him when he comes back, I’ll have no choice but to intervene for your sake.”

Alisa groaned half-heartedly and laid her head against the table once more. She knew without a doubt that Sharon would do it too. If she didn’t say something to Kyle when he got back, Sharon would take matters into her own hands.

But that still gave her a few days. She simply had to get her courage up before Kyle returned. How hard could that be?

It was much harder than she thought. For days the quiet courage had built inside her, the sense that maybe she could steal her nerves enough to finally ask Kyle out. She’d practiced in front of her bathroom mirror countless times, to the point where the words seemed natural enough. But now with Kyle standing in front of her the words all faded away into nothingness.

It didn’t help matters that Kyle looked absolutely worn out. She knew he arrived back late last night— just after midnight according to the front desk attendant— and he couldn’t have had much sleep. But here he was, coffee in hand with that brilliant, easy-going smile on his lips. And while she was sure it was her own bias, she couldn’t help but think his eyes shone a little brighter when they landed on her.

“Good morning,” he greeted, his voice carrying a slight rasp as he cleared his throat.

“Are you ok?”

He waved it off, handing her one of the coffees he held. “Im fine. Tired, but nothing a little caffeine won’t cure.”

“Was the trip that bad?” Alisa asked, walking over to the couch and gesturing for him to follow.

Kyle sank into the cushions next to her, leaning his head back with a deep sigh. “No, not bad exactly. Just stressful. Making deliveries to Arteria isn’t the easiest, but it’s always been that way. They’ve got all kinds of screenings and security is tight. Nothing like having weapons drawn on you while all the cargo is meticulously inspected.”

“But why? Don’t you have clearance?”

“Sure. But it doesn’t change the fact that attacking the church’s seat of power through something as innocent as a delivery makes sense. Today’s friend, tomorrow’s enemy and all that.”

“As much as you’ve all helped the church they should know you’d never do that.”

Kyle shrugged. “Maybe, but the right price or incentive could make an enemy of anyone. And I was a sky bandit. It’s not something that’s easy to forget.”

“So what? You’ve more than proven yourself since then. The Queen of Liberl pardoned all of you. And you’ve been running a legit business for years. You’re a good man, anyone can see that.”

Kyle turned his head and gazed deeply into Alisa’s eyes, his expression warm and inviting. She felt almost dizzy from it all.

“You think I’m a good man?”

“Ummm…I…”

“Yes?” he prompted, grin widening.

“I…have a surprise! We should get to the airport!” she blurted out.

“Huh? Why?”

Alisa stood up quickly, back stiff as a board as she awkwardly stepped away from the couch. “The prototype is ready. I want you to see it.”

“Wait, really?” Kyle asked, fatigue all but forgotten and replaced by pure excitement as he bounded off the couch after her. “How’d you get it done in only a week?”

“Most of the framework was based off of our existing models, all we had to do was scale it down a little. The assembly went pretty smoothly after that. The cockpit took some extra work but it was worth it to make sure it was ready when you came back. I wanted you to be able to fly it.”

“It’s ready to fly?”

“It is. But fair warning because I don’t want you to be disappointed when you see it. It is just a prototype so no fancy paint job yet. It’s all still metal and not the prettiest to look at.”

“What makes you think I need paint and polish? This is our project, our ship. We built this together, it’s ours. It’s bound to be beautiful.”

Alisa felt her knees go weak at the words. She knew Kyle probably meant nothing by it, but it didn’t stop her heart from beating loudly inside her chest.

“T-then come see it with me. Let’s go fly.”

Kyle knew it would be beautiful, but even he was at a loss for words when standing before the ship they had created. The silver metal shimmered in the sunlight, reflecting bits of gold that almost seemed to glow.

He walked forward slowly, his hand reaching out to touch the metal. It was surprisingly cool to the touch.

“We treated it with a special alloy,” Alisa began. “It keeps it from heating up too much when sitting in the sun for hours. That way you don’t have to wait forever for the inside to cool down.”

“That’s incredible.”

“So…you like it?”

“Like it? It’s amazing. I…it couldn’t be more perfect.”

Alisa smiled widely. “Well go on it. This is just the outside. Wait till you see the inside, it’s just like you wanted.”

Kyle pressed a button on the hull, the door sliding open with ease. He reached for Alisa’s hand, lacing his fingers through hers and pulling her close. “After you.”

He watched the blush creep up her neck and onto her face as she passed him and he couldn’t help but think how gorgeous she was in that moment. The sun made her blonde hair shimmer and her eyes sparkle. She was breathtaking.

Alisa couldn’t help but be nervous, stealing quick glances at Kyle as they flew above Roer. He had taken to the controls like she knew he would, flipping switches and reading gauges with practiced ease before taking off.

The ship handled like a dream; smooth and quiet and fast. It was everything they had wanted and more. But it was made even better seeing exactly how much Kyle was enjoying himself.

He couldn’t hide the grin etched onto his lips or the way his eyes shown with happiness as they broke above the low-lying clouds. He was truly in his element.

“How does it feel? Any complaints?”

“Not one. It’s perfect.”

“You keep saying that, but there has to be something you would change. There’s no way we struck gold on the first try.”

“And why not? We put nothing but passion and love into this project and it shows. Alisa, I’m not saying this lightly. There is truly nothing I would change. This is my dream setup. Honestly, I’m more worried another pilot might not like it as much.”

“I doubt that. But I could always have someone else take it up for a test flight, see what they think. Angie might actually be around…”

“Angie?”

“Oh, she’s one of my good friends. Angelica Rogner. She learned how to pilot during the Civil War and she’s pretty good. It might actually be better to have a civilian try it out anyway. She doesn’t fly for a living so if she says it’s easy to handle I think we’ll have a winner.”

“Yeah, I think that sounds great actually. If you fly all the time you’re pretty used to it so it might make it harder to get a completely unbiased opinion. In fact…” Kyle’s grin widened. “Why don’t you give it a shot?”

“Me?” Alisa blinked, startled. “I don’t know how to fly.”

“That’s kind of the point.”

“But I—”

“Don’t worry,” Kyle said as he switched over to autopilot. “I’ll be right here the whole time. You can trust me.”

Before she could think too hard about it, Kyle stood and motioned for her to take the pilot’s seat. Alisa swallowed her resolve and slid into the vacated chair, hands hovering nervously for a moment before she reached forward and gripped the yoke.

“Relax,” Kyle said over her shoulder, leaning down and placing his arms over hers. “You’ve got this.”

His hands, so warm and soft, covered hers as she held the controls tightly. Alisa felt her heart flutter at the heat radiating off his body and the clean, crisp scent of his cologne as it surrounded her.

“We’re going to climb, so just pull back ever so slightly. We’re only taking her up another thousand arge, so slow and steady works just fine.”

Alisa did as he said, pulling yoke back towards her gently. She felt the ship pitch up, the cityscape below disappearing and only clouds remaining in view. There was no delay, no sudden jolt as the ship continued it’s climb. If she hadn’t been watching the sky, watching the land give way to endless blue, she may not have even noticed it.

It was incredible that something they created felt so flawless, so ideal. She could only dream of manufacturing the larger commercial airships so impeccably.

She had the briefest thought of stealing Kyle away, offering him a permanent position at Reinford to revamp their airship development. But it disappeared as quickly as it came. Alisa knew she could never take Kyle away from his own work. He’d never be able to stand being tied down to one spot permanently, not when his life was the sky itself.

“Ok, gently push forward. We want to even out now that we’re at altitude,” his voice broke through the silence.

Alisa did as she was told, barely easing the yoke back into it’s original position. She felt the ship level as she did so, the movements smooth and natural.

“There, you did it,” Kyle whispered by her ear. “You’re flying this all by yourself.”

“Huh?” Alisa asked, looking down for a brief second. Kyle was right, it was only her hands on the yoke, he had moved his away at some point in time. His chest was still firmly against the back of her seat, but his arms no longer wrapped around hers. “But when—”

She cut herself short, head whipping around and finding her face mere rege from his. Her breath caught in her throat along with her words.

His bright blue eyes shone as he looked at her, full of pride and admiration and something else that she couldn’t quite put her finger on. Her eyes drifted down to his lips and she knew she could close the distance instantly if she wanted to, if she could make herself take the initiative.

Time seemed to creep to a standstill, neither able to move or break away. She wondered if Kyle would make the first move, if he would lean down and brush his lips against hers. And she found that she wouldn’t mind in the least if he did.

“Kyle…”

Hearing his name uttered so quietly snapped him back to reality. He moved away, not too quickly but with enough urgency that Alisa knew the moment was gone.

“You did…really well. That was…”

“Yeah…”

“We should probably land soon.”

“Yeah…”

“Ummm, Alisa? I’ll need my seat back.”

“Oh!” she practically yelled as she jumped up from the chair. “Sorry!”

“Don’t worry about it,” he said gently. “I’ll get us down.”

Kyle’s hands moved over the controls, already second nature in next to no time at all, and guided the ship back to the airport. The trip was quiet save for the light hum from the engines. He couldn’t bring himself to speak, to say what was on his mind. He knew he should break the silence between them; they had both been quite chatty before all this, but he couldn’t.

He had almost kissed Alisa. He would have kissed her if her voice hadn’t broken through the haze in his mind.

It was too much. The closeness as he held her and guided her movements, the slight brush of her long hair against his face, the smell of her shampoo and perfume intermingled; all of his senses were on fire in that moment.

And still, he could have ignored all that if she hadn’t turned to look at him when she did. Her eyes narrowed ever so slightly and her breath hitched, momentarily stopping altogether.

He knew that look, had seen it a time or two with girls he had dated in the past. Alisa wanted the kiss nearly as bad as he did. But did she truly want him or was she simply caught up in the moment?

He had to admit that flying over the city of Roer with it’s picturesque mountains in the background made for quite the romantic setup. Anyone would have a hard time not being overwhelmed by it. Then throwing in the fact that they were seeing this view from within the very airship they designed, and it was almost guaranteed to induce feelings of some sort.

Even now as the airship finally came to a stop and Kyle flipped the multitude of switches to start shutting it down, he felt completely enraptured by Alisa. For him it wasn’t just the ship and the flight and the view; it was her.

But did she feel the same way?

Josette certainly seemed to think so. Every time they spoke lately she asked how it was going. If he had asked her out yet. And no matter how many times he would tell her that their relationship wasn’t like that, she’d laugh it off and tell him to just wait.

Maybe she was right. Josette spent a lot more time around Alisa in the past than he ever did, and she still talked to her pretty regularly. And his sister wasn’t the type to set him up to fail.

It wouldn’t be that hard to simply ask Alisa out to dinner. The worst she could say was no and if she did, then at least he would know where he stood. But if she said yes…

Kyle shook his head from side to side, unbuckling his harness and stepping out of the cockpit. Alisa had exited a moment before and he didn’t want to let her get too far ahead. Not that he didn’t think she’d wait for him, but he didn’t want to risk one of the mechanics or someone from Reinford seeing her and trying to talk to her about some problem or issue that needed attention.

No, if he was going to do this, he had to do it now. Otherwise he’d lose his nerve and his opportunity.

Stepping out into the warm, dry air his eyes scanned the area and immediately landed on Alisa. She hadn’t gone far, standing only a few arge from the front of the ship and looking up with a soft smile.

“She really is beautiful,” Alisa breathed out as he came to stand beside her.

“I’ll say.”

He didn’t miss the slight blush on her cheeks at his words and while he could certainly blame it on the sun or the light breeze picking up, he wouldn’t. Between how she acted on their flight and her reaction now, he knew she felt something. Maybe it wasn’t quite as strong as his feelings, but something was there.

“And it’s all thanks to you.”

“No,” she shook her head. “This was us. Start to finish, it’s all us.”

“We make pretty good partners.”

“Yeah we do.”

They fell into silence, still looking up at the ship they created. The ship that was theirs and theirs alone.

“Alisa?”

“Yes?”

Kyle swallowed. He was more nervous than ever looking down into her ruby eyes that held such warmth and tenderness for him.

“Could we…I mean…uh…would you like to grab dinner tonight? With me that is. The two of us. Together.”

Adios above why did he stumble over his words like a teenage boy? He’d asked plenty of girls out before. Well, not plenty but enough. And it was never this hard.

He was normally so confident and sure of himself, he shouldn’t be stuttering, unable to string together a coherent sentence.

Alisa giggled lightly and that was when Kyle knew he lost her. She was probably thinking of the best way to let him down gently after that embarrassing display. There was no way the Ashen Chevalier got that tongue tied talking to women like he did. She had to be comparing him to the one that got away, it didn’t matter what Josette said.

“I’d love to. What time should we go?”

Kyle stopped short. “What?”

“What time should we go to dinner? My night is pretty clear, so we can go anytime.”

She was saying yes. He couldn’t believe it. Relief and joy swept over him in equal measure, prior nervousness all but fading away. He’d been so certain he screwed it up but here she was actually saying yes.

“How does six sound?” he asked, willing his confidence back. He could do it, the hard part was over.

“Six sounds great.”

“Ok, yeah. I’ll meet you in the lobby at six and we’ll go from there.”

“It’s a date.”

The air outside the Reinford building was warm, tinged with the faint metallic tang unique to the industrial city. It wasn’t unpleasant—far from it. In fact, Kyle found himself growing ever fonder of the rich scent, a scent that at some point started to feel like home. It had been a long time since he’d felt anything akin to that.

He stayed in the Bobcat for the most part or would occasionally rent a room at a hotel or inn when he needed to stay in an area for longer than a few weeks, but nothing had ever come close to feeling like home. Not since Leeves. Yet somehow this bustling city that he had never paid much mind to before was slowly drawing him in.

He tugged lightly at his shirt collar, the top two buttons undone but still feeling slightly restrictive. He wasn’t used to wearing getup like this, a crisp yellow dress shirt and charcoal slacks were a far cry from his usual cargo pants and flight jacket. He’d spent an embarrassingly long time deciding— nitpicking nearly everything he owned until finally settling on what he wore now. But he had wanted to look nice for Alisa and he was glad he did.

The moment she had stepped off the elevator it was like he had forgotten how to breathe. Her aqua dress, nearly the same shade as his hair, was casual yet elegant. It clung to her curves beautifully and flowed out just enough at her hips to sway lightly where it stopped at her knees. Her hair down, but instead of wearing it straight like she normally did, she had curled it to fall in soft waves around her shoulders. A shimmery pin held a small section of her hair off to the side, reflecting a rainbow of colors when the light hit it.

He still couldn’t believe this amazing woman was right next to him, walking down the bright and bustling streets of Roer on their way to a cozy little restaurant he had found. It was a little off the beaten path, but he had wanted to take her somewhere that maybe she hadn’t been before.

Don of all people had been the one to recommend it. He’d had a delivery a few month ago in Roer and once it was done, he’d asked one of the guys at the airport for a good place to grab a bite.

The restaurant, Bella Roma, had just opened up at the time and was becoming quite popular for it’s authentic Arterian pasta dishes. And while Don said it was a bit too fancy of a place for him to feel comfortable in, he praised the food as some of the best he’d ever had.

He only hoped it would be the kind of place Alisa liked.

Alisa took a sip of her wine, looking out the window at twinkling lights shining below. While not as high up as many buildings in the city, the fifth floor still made for quite a sight to see. The area was quieter than the main heart of the city and there was even a small grassy area across the street that boasted the title of “Park”—or Roer’s sad imitation of one.

But seeing the older couple seated next to each other on one of the few benches, hands clasped together as they watched the world pass them by, made her think that maybe it was a pretty nice spot.

The restaurant itself was cozy and inviting, fairy lights strung across the ceiling and casting a warm, golden glow throughout. Soft string music played on the orbal speakers, it’s melody soothing and the perfect accompaniment for a romantic evening out.

She had to hand it to Kyle, he had really knocked this one out. She didn’t know this place even existed but she could confidently say it was becoming her favorite restaurant.

“How did you find this place?”

Kyle huffed out a small laugh, clearly amused. “Don of all people, if you can believe.”

“I really can’t,” she giggled back, her mind conjuring an image of the eldest Capua sibling. Don with his burly beard and battle scarred face certainly didn’t blend with the intimate atmosphere of this place, even knowing he had once been a noble himself.

“He liked the food at any rate, but it’s not quite his style. Still though, he really came through recommending this place. It suits you perfectly.”

Alisa blushed, glancing down at the menu in front of her in an attempt to avoid Kyle’s deep gaze. It was like he could see straight through her. “M-maybe we should order.”

Kyle could barely concentrate as Alisa sat across from him, radiant under the golden lights. The soft glow highlighted every detail from the silken curls of her blonde hair to the luster in her crimson eyes. His thoughts kept drifting through the conversation, though lucky for him it flowed easily enough. She was just so breathtakingly beautiful that his mind had room for little else.

Having her here, sitting across from him on an actual date, felt like a dream he didn’t want to wake up from. He’d always found her attractive, her confident demeanor and striking features turned heads no matter where she went. Anyone that looked her way couldn’t help but to be enthralled by her beauty in an instant.

But now that he had gotten to know her, had worked with her so closely over the last month and a half, something had changed. It was subtle at first, but now there was no denying just how much he liked her. He’d fallen completely.

It might be too early to throw the word “love” around, but he could tell that’s where his heart was headed. His girlfriends in the past, while all perfectly nice, were nothing compared to Alisa. Her passion, her drive, her intelligence, it set her so far apart that no one else ever stood a chance.

The more time he spent with her, the harder he fell under her spell. It made their project’s end all the more depressing.

If only he had stalled on some of the blueprints or had come up with something—anything really—to fix or improve from their flight today. But how could he?

Giving her doubts about the ship they built, the ship they poured their everything in to, it wouldn’t be fair. And now that it was nearly done, their time together would be drawing to a close.

Sure, he could still come and visit—and he absolutely would—but it wouldn’t be anything like seeing her day in and day out. Once he was back on his delivery schedule, he’d be lucky if he could visit a few days a month.

Would she be ok with that? Would she wait for him? What right did he have to ask her that when at this very moment all they were, were friends?

Even if they were dating, would she be interested in long distance? His schedule was never that predictable and while the new guys were doing relatively well, they still had more work than they could handle. He supposed he should be grateful for their rising popularity, but instead it was disappointment knowing he’d have so little time with Alisa in the future.

He’d have to make the most of the time they had left. This would simply be the first of many dates to come and he’d make sure to use every single moment of free time to see her, even if that meant flying out for the day and turning right back around. It’d all be worth it to keep that lovely smile on her face.

The walk back to the Reinford building was peaceful, the night air still warm despite the sun having set hours ago. The city was calmer now, many already settled in the for the night and the only consistent noise being the low metallic hum of nearby factories.

They reached the building in little time, Kyle pressing the button in the elevator to the penthouse floor. Alisa smiled at the gesture, knowing he planned to walk her to her door. It was sweet and she felt her chest warm at the thought.

The elevator doors opened with a chime, Kyle stepping aside with a motion for her to step out first. Ever the gentleman.

“Tonight was…” Kyle began, hesitating as he searched for the right words. “It was incredible. Thank you for making it so perfect.”

“I should be the one thanking you. It’s been a while since I’ve had this much fun on a date. Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a date this much.”

“Really?” He stepped closer.

Alisa felt her cheeks heat up at the proximity. “Yeah, I’m so happy you asked me out. I was afraid I’d have to make the first move.”

Kyle’s eyes widened in surprise before a grin tugged at the corner of his lips. He took another step forward, closer still until he was only a breath away.

Alisa could feel the heat radiating from his skin, his cheeks as flushed as hers. She could blame it on the wine, but she knew that wasn’t it at all.

“And how about now? Will you make the first move?” he asked, dropping his voice low to where it was barely a whisper.

Her breath hitched at his words, heart pounding relentlessly inside her chest as she realized what he was doing. The choice was hers and hers alone. If she wanted to stop, he’d back away as if nothing had ever happened. They could go back to their working relationship for whatever time they had left on the project and that would be that. But…but, if she wanted this to go further, all she had to do was close the distance.

Her lips curved into a soft smile as she leaned in, closing the gap between them. Their lips met in a gentle kiss, warm and sweet and oh so good it was like heaven. The faint taste of wine lingered as Kyle deepened the kiss, moving one hand to cradle her face. Intoxicating was the only word for it.

Her eyes fluttered shut and she wrapped her arms around Kyle’s neck, pulling him flush against her. He was warm all over and she wondered if she felt the same to him. Surely her face had to be nearly as red as the wine they had earlier but she found herself not caring one single bit. How could she when she was lightheaded from the best kiss she ever had?

Before the kiss could get any more heated, Kyle pulled away, eyes slightly glazed as he rested his forehead against hers. Alisa’s heart was pounding furiously and she was certain he had to hear it.

“That was…” he breathed out.

Alisa nodded, too dazed to form a coherent sentence.

“I’d like to do this again sometime. Sometime soon.”

Another nod.

Kyle chuckled, his voice slightly husky. “Well then, I suppose this is where I say goodnight. So, goodnight Alisa. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“G-goodnight,” she barely got out as he stepped into the elevator.

The lift dinged and Kyle’s smiling face was the last thing she saw before the doors closed with a light clack. She leaned back against her own door, legs suddenly weak and barely able to support her. Sliding down to cool marble floor, she reached up and touched her lips, still warm and tingling as the ghost of his kiss lingered.

Alisa smiled, a soft, dreamlike expression on her face.

She had it bad.

The days and nights seemed to blur together, the next weeks going far too fast for Kyle’s liking. They were nearly done, the last few tweaks that he desperately tried to come up with to stall his leaving already completed.

All that was left was a fresh coat of paint on their prototype and to present their project to board and then they would be done. His days of coming in to the office to work and nights spent out on the town with Alisa were at an end.

They went to dinner nearly every night, the only exceptions being when Alisa was forced to attend the odd business dinner or two with her mother. He knew it was crazy to be jealous, they were business meetings and nothing more, but he couldn’t help the bitterness that would creep into his thoughts at someone else monopolizing the precious time he had left with Alisa.

He would never voice those thoughts to her though, she felt bad enough at not being able to spend the evening together, guilting her further would serve no purpose. At least he knew how much she hated those meetings, she’d lament her woes the next morning, telling him how she would have had a much more enjoyable time spent in his company.

Perhaps he wouldn’t feel so anxious and envious of her duties if he knew he could see whenever he wanted to. Right now it was fine because he was still in the city, the same building even, but that would all be changing in a week.

He’d be flying for nearly a month straight once he met back up with his siblings. The orders kept coming and he had another young pilot to train to try to help with the deliveries.

He knew he should be happy at their success, especially for Don’s sake since all he ever wanted was for his brother and sister to live comfortably and never have to worry about having food in their bellies or clothes on their backs. And he was happy, he truly was. But what he wouldn’t give for their business to be a little less popular.

And while they could turn away some orders, most were too important to entrust to anyone else. They’d become the exclusive carrier for Saint Ursula’s and were often delivering much needed supplies, equipment, and medicine. There were even a handful of times that he had delivered organs for transplant, those trips taking priority over all others.

Once that had started, it didn’t take long for the Crossbell Police to enlist their services either, though that tended to be Josette’s run. He hadn’t understood it at first until she told him about the officer she was seeing. If the delivery was marked for Crossbell, there was almost every chance that Josette would scoop it up.

Kyle wondered if maybe he could do the same for Roer. Alisa pretty much only used them for deliveries at this point, it would be simple enough take on the Roer route himself. Depending on where he was coming from and if it was his last stop for the day, he could easily turn it into an overnight visit. It wouldn’t change the fact that he’d need to leave the following day, but it would give him the opportunity to spend a few hours with her and take her out to dinner.

It wasn’t ideal, not like staying full time in Roer would be, but it was something. He’d have to take whatever crumbs he could.

The day had finally come and Alisa was doing everything possible to put on brave face. She didn’t want Kyle to feel bad about leaving, not when she could sense the hesitancy in every step he took to the airport. It wouldn’t be fair for her to grab him, hold him close and beg him not to go. And yet, that was all she wanted to do.

Over the past few weeks they has grown incredibly close, more than she ever thought they would. The late nights working, the dinner dates, the idle small talk during working lunches had slowly bonded them in a way she never saw coming. And now all of that was ending along with their contract.

Kyle promised to come back as soon as he could, but it did little to comfort her. She knew it would be several weeks at least before she saw him again, and that was if everything went smoothly.

“So,” she began as she reached out and brushed her hand against his, seeking the little comforts she could. “You start training your new guy first thing tomorrow, right?”

Kyle made a noise of affirmation, lacing his fingers between hers. He squeezed her hand tight before relaxing to a gentler, yet still firm grip. Though small, the gesture made her heart melt.

“How many pilots will you have now?”

“Once he’s up and running on his own, that’ll make five of us. And with four ships at the moment, we’ll start a rotation schedule, which means I’ll actually get to take some time off and spend it with you.”

“Really?” Alisa couldn’t help the grin that spread across her lips at the news. Just hearing the words from his own mouth, that he would want to spend his precious time with her was all she needed.

“Yeah. Maybe we could even go somewhere for a few days. Pack a bag, load up our ship and fly wherever we want. Ored should be fairly nice this time of year.”

It didn’t escape Alisa’s notice that he called it “our ship”. And while she knew he didn’t mean it that way, she couldn’t help the little hope that sprung deep within that maybe this would be the first of many things that would be theirs.

“I’d like to see Ored,” she said as she let the thoughts slip away. “I’ve only ever been there for business, so I really haven’t had much time to look around.”

“Same,” Kyle replied easily, squeezing her hand tighter the closer they got to the airport. “I’ve run some deliveries here and there and slept on the Bobcat, but I’ve never just explored. There’s supposed to be some really beautiful hiking trails and waterfalls further north, that could be fun.”

Alisa nodded, already envisioning a trip in their ship, their perfect prototype already going into production. Making it to Ored would require a stop along the way to recharge, the orbal engine not quite powerful enough to fly that kind of distance nonstop, but that could be fun in it’s own way. A little stopover in Nord to possibly visit with Gaius and his family, or if that didn’t work out, maybe a visit to Remiferia. There were plenty of things to do in the capital that would ensure they wouldn’t be bored.

Though maybe she shouldn’t get too far ahead of herself. Here she was planning an entire trip and she wasn’t even sure when they could make it happen.

“It sounds perfect,” she finally said. And it did. It didn’t matter when they would get to go, she knew it would happen eventually and that was enough for her.

“Yeah, it does. Hopefully having something to look forward to will make the time go by quickly. For both of us.”

Alisa could only hope.

Kyle sighed heavily as the airship lifted off, the faint hum of the engines drowning out the chatter around him. He leaned back, watching the city shrink below as the ship ascended. The smile finally faded from his lips as he dropped the mask he wore all through his good bye.

Who knew leaving Alisa would be so hard?

It was just a job. And she was just a friend—at least that’s what he told himself in the beginning. But he’d be lying if he said he felt nothing for her even back then. Something had been there from the start, well before their project was a thought in her head.

Loathe though he was to admit it, Josette had been right all along. She’d teased him constantly about his feelings for Alisa, insisting she knew well before he did.

And here he was, finally admitting the truth and actually dating Alisa and he had to turn away and leave. They’d barely started this chapter of their lives and now the distance loomed like a shadow overhead, forcing them to separate.

Long distance relationships were hard and Kyle knew better than most how difficult it could be to keep them going. The odds would be against them from the start, but he didn’t care. He’d do whatever it took as long as it meant he could be with her. He’d adjust his schedule around hers, plan his routes to pass through Roer as much as possible, anything at all even if their moments were fleeting.

It’d been years since he felt this happy and at peace with his life. Losing their parents, then their home and titles, had nearly torn his family apart. None of them were suited for a life of petty banditry, running in fear nearly every single day, and yet that was what they did. If nothing else, they were survivors.

For too long that was all he and Don and Josette did, merely survive. They didn’t live, not truly.

But things were different, after all this time of simply clinging to life, they were finally thriving.

They had built something real, something truly theirs. A successful business. True friends that gave their lives meaning. And best of all, love.

Josette was seeing that detective from Crossbell and though not as forthcoming as their sister, Kyle was fairly certain Don had a girlfriend. Either that, or he just really enjoyed late night conversations with that loud and more often than not, drunk Erebonian bracer.

Still, seeing his siblings happy was everything to Kyle. Especially Don. For too long their brother had taken on the brunt of their hardships, burdening himself to shield his siblings from the worst of it all. But no longer. They deserved to be happy, all of them.

And they would.

As the airship continued on it’s course, carrying him further away from Alisa with each passing moment, he made himself a silent promise. He’d do whatever it took to make his way back to her, to spend whatever moments he could in her embrace. She was the joy that had been missing from his life for so long, a light in the darkness he didn’t realize he’d been submerged in.

He wouldn’t lose her, he wouldn’t.

The next month crawled by with an unbearable slowness. Alisa tried her best to prepare her heart for the ache of missing Kyle—pouring herself into work for the final prep and public unveiling of the “Sky Bandit” personal aircraft—but no amount of distractions could keep him from her mind for long.

And while her days were at the very least productive, the nights stretched on endlessly. Once she was back in her much too large penthouse there was little she could do to keep her lonely thoughts at bay.

Sure they spoke every single night, sometimes for hours, but it wasn’t the same as seeing his face and holding his hand and kissing his soft lips. She longed to smell his cologne with the light scent of limes that mingled with the leather from his flight jacket. She wanted to feel the warmth of his skin as he pulled her flush against him, hugging her close and refusing to let go for even a second.

Not that she wasn’t endlessly grateful for the time she did get. She knew Kyle made her his top priority and regardless of how tight his schedule was or how little sleep he may get for the night, he never missed their calls. There were times when a few minutes were all he could afford, but he spent those few minutes with her and only her. It meant the world.

She hadn’t felt this happy, this satisfied, this… complete in—well if she were being completely honest with herself—ever. Her disastrous crush on Rean was worlds away from the mature and often times overwhelming love she felt for Kyle.

Love.

The word had lingered in the back of her mind for weeks, insistently invading her thoughts until she could no longer deny it. Alisa was in love with Kyle. Undeniably so.

And though he hadn’t said the words to her, no more than she had to him, she was certain he felt the same. She could see it every time their eyes met, hear it in the soft timbre of his voice, feel it in the gentle way he held her. Kyle was as deeply in love as she was, no mistaking it.

Alisa leaned back against the plush cushions of her couch, eyes drifting to the view of the encroaching night sky. Her penthouse offered one of the best views of the city, the lights twinkling below as the nightlife began in the early evening hours. She could even see the airships coming in on their flight path to the airport, the subtle whir comforting and always reminding her she was home.

She only wished one of those ships would carry Kyle back to her. It may have only been a month, hardly any time at all, but she still missed him terribly.

A quick glance at the clock hanging on the wall told her it was just past seven. Kyle could call any time now, though for the last few days his calls had been later and briefer than usual. She knew he was working hard, but it made little difference to her heart that longed to be with him once again.

The dull ache was there every time she thought of him, but for some reason tonight it was especially persistent. She missed the little things—the way he’d brush a stray hair behind her ear or his laugh when he found something particularly funny or how he’d watch her so intently when he didn’t think she was looking.

She breathed in slowly, the light citrusy scent of a candle Sharon had earlier still wafting gently through the air. It was light and clean and relaxing, just what she needed at the moment. Her eyes closed slowly, the light hum of machinery all around the city and the occasional thrum of an airship engine further calming her mind.

Most people that came to Roer, unless they were from a large city themselves, cared little for the constant noise. Even in the dead of night the huge orbal generators never stopped running.

Kyle had loved the noise. He loved everything about the city. He said the twinkling lights and mechanical buzz made the city feel like a living, breathing entity, more so than any place he had ever visited. Generators were everywhere you looked, and if one stood still long enough, the faintest vibrations could be felt.

Anyone that wasn’t born and raised in Roer rarely spoke so passionately about the city. It made her more aware than ever that Kyle truly knew her. It didn’t matter that their time together was brief, in the moments they did have, he had understood her in a way no one else had before.

Her ARCUS started buzzing on the table, vibrations moving it slowly across the table. Alisa bolted upright in an instant, any lingering tiredness quickly forgotten.

“Hello? Kyle?” she called as she flipped the ARCUS open.

“Hey there,” he replied easily, his voice warm through the tiny speaker. “Did you miss me?”

“You know I did.”

“Good,” he sighed. “I missed you too.”

“You’re a little later than usual today.”

She didn’t mention that he had been late to their calls for the last few days, forcing them to be brief. Alisa knew how hard he worked and she didn’t want to make him feel guilty, especially when he still called no matter what.

“I know, sorry about that. I’ve been pretty busy but things are starting to slow down finally.”

“Does that mean I’ll get to see you soon?”

“Maybe,” he said, a hint of playfulness in his voice. “If I send you an address, would you be able to get there tonight?”

“Tonight?”

“Don’t worry, it’s in Roer. I wouldn’t ask you to go anywhere too far.”

“I’d go anyway,” she said without hesitation.

Kyle chuckled, the sound light and genuine. “I know you would.”

“So where am I going?”

“I’ll send it now. Let me know when you’re there.”

Before she could say anything else, the call ended. She stared down at her ARCUS in confusion, an unfamiliar address flashing across the screen.

Alisa double checked the address once more, standing outside the sleek apartment building in the residential district. She tilted her head slightly, wondering if she had misread the address. But no, this was definitely the right place.

The lobby was warm and inviting, modern in it’s design with clean lines and soft lighting to set the right atmosphere. The faint smell of paint lingered in the air, letting her know just how new it truly was.

The mailboxes in the corner practically shone, the metal polished and gleaming with not a single smudge or fingerprint on them. In little time that would all change. They’d have scratches from keys and spots of discoloration where oil from fingertips would accumulate over the years. One day they’d show their wear and tear, just like the ones at Thors.

The bittersweet memory brought a smile to her face as she stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for the fifth floor. The inside was mirrored and the plush carpet new. It made Alisa wonder if anyone even lived in the building yet. Surely there would be some sign of dirt or scuffs along the floor; buildings didn’t stay pristine for long.

The ride was quiet, the light whirring helping to calm her nerves. She still had no idea what Kyle wanted or why he had called her here.

The doors opened with a soft chime and she stepped into the hall, glancing at the numbers to see where she needed to go. Her destination was further down on the right, the last door at the end of the hallway.

Alisa raised her hand to knock, hesitating momentarily. Should she call Kyle first? He did ask her to let him know when she was there. In fact, once she arrived at the address, she wasn’t completely sure what she was supposed to do. His only instructions had been to go to the address and then advise him of her arrival.

Lost in her own world as she contemplated the matter further, she didn’t notice the door slowly opening.

“Hey there beautiful.”

Kyle nearly choked at Alisa’s shocked expression, doing everything he could to hold back his laughter. After over a month apart, he didn’t think laughing in his girlfriend’s face was the way to greet her.

“Wh-what? Kyle? Why are you here?”

“Come on, did you really think I wouldn’t be here after I told you to get here as soon as you could?”

“I don’t know, I thought maybe you wanted me to check the building out or something. It looks brand new, does anyone even live here yet?”

“Yeah, one person does.” he teased, a mischievous smirk tugging at his lips.

Alisa’s confused expression deepened and he couldn’t hold back his laughter any longer. She was so cute with that puzzled look on her face he couldn’t help it. Without thinking, he leaned down and pressed his lips to hers in a warm, gentle kiss. It was soft and far too brief for his taste, but he knew if he let it go on any longer than he’d never get the chance to explain.

When he pulled back, Alisa took a moment to catch her breath. She peaked around him, trying to see into the apartment as her curiosity got the better of her.

Kyle stepped aside, gesturing for her to come in. “It’s nothing compared to your penthouse, but still, it’s not too shabby.”

As Alisa walked in, her eyes settled on the boxes stacked neatly throughout the space. The apartment was sparsely furnished and it was clear from how it was haphazardly thrown about the living room that it hadn’t been there long. “Wait, when you said one person…”

“Yeah, me.”

“What do you mean?”

Kyle’s grin widened as he leaned against the doorframe. “I live here. Just signed the lease this morning and have been working like crazy trying to get everything moved in.”

“You’re going to live here? In Roer?”

“Yeah. I thought it was about time I got a place of my own. Don’t get me wrong, I love the Bobcat and she was my home back when I had nothing, but I want roots. I want a place that’s mine and mine alone. Somewhere I can truly make into a home so that I can share it with the woman I love.”

Alisa’s breath caught in her throat, crimson eyes widening as she looked at Kyle. “You love me?”

“I have for a long time now,” Kyle stepped forward, lowering his voice to a tender murmur. “It’s why I got this place. When I’m not working, I want to be here, with you. In this city that you love, breathing the same air you do. I want to sleep beneath the same stars and hold your hand as we watch the sunrise together. I want to wake up with you in my arms, feeling your heart beat against my chest.”

Alisa couldn’t speak, the depth of his words overwhelming. She closed the distance between them without hesitation, wrapping her arms around him. Burying her head face in his jacket, Kyle caught the light scent of jasmine as he inhaled deeply.

“I can’t believe you got an apartment here,” she said, her voice slightly muffled by his chest.

“I’d do anything to be with you. And moving to Roer means I’ll see as much as possible.”

“But what about Liberl? Isn’t that your home?”

Kyle shook his head. “No, not really.”

And it was the truth. As much as he loved Liberl and the people, it never felt like home, not really. He and his siblings didn’t truly live there. They’d never had a home, it’d always been just the Bobcat and whatever strip of land they set her down on.

But now they were all moving on. Josette spent her days in Crossbell, renting a room when she needed to at Long Lau. At least when she wasn’t staying with Alex, which was pretty much all the time now.

And Don had recently purchased a modest home back in Leeves, a move that had surprised both himself and Josette. They’d all been back to their former hometown a few times, but Kyle could honestly say he had no desire to actually move back there. Josette felt much the same.

But Don was different. Maybe being older made it harder to forget the memories he had here. Or maybe it was the fact that their parents, grandparents, great-grandparents and so forth were buried in a small, private cemetery not too far from where their mansion used to be. Regardless of his reasons, Don had longed for the town and it’s people over the years.

And with both Kyle and Josette setting forth and finding their own paths, he had decided to do the same. He had to wonder if a certain loud-mouth, perpetually intoxicated bracer may have also helped influence his decision to move back to Erebonia.

“Liberl… gave us a place to belong when we had nothing. I have a lot of memories there; some not so great but it wasn’t all bad. It just wasn’t home. Not even Leeves feels like home now.”

“And Roer?” Alisa asked quietly, her tone laced with hope.

Kyle looked down, raising his hand to lightly brush his fingers across her cheek. “Yeah, Roer feels like home. But only because you’re here.”

“Kyle…”

“I love you Alisa,” he said, his voice steady, yet soft. “My home is with you.”

Tears spilled down her cheeks at the words, but the smile on her lips was radiant. She leaned up and kissed him, fully and passionately and with a heat their first kiss didn’t have. It lingered, deep and full of promises for the future. When they finally pulled apart, Alisa rested her head back against his chest, circling her arms around his waist to hold him close.

“I love you too,” she whispered. “More than anything.”

Kyle felt his heart swell with a happiness he had never known. “Guess you’re stuck with me now.”

“Ha!” she laughed, playful smirk on her lips. “What makes you think I’d let you go?”

“Good,” Kyle smirked, wrapping his arms around her tighter still. “Because I’m not going anywhere.”

They stood together in silence, the low hum of the city the only noise besides their breathing. It was nice, this brief moment of peace in their busy lives.

“Welcome home,” Alisa whispered.

“Thanks. It’s good to be home,” he said as placed a light kiss against her hair.

And Kyle meant it. For the first time in years, he felt warm and complete, his past no longer holding him back. He was building a home and a future with the woman he loved. And that future was bright.