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Neal's cheerful "have fun with my wife!" came from the doorway right before the sound of the door closing, and Kel couldn't help rolling her eyes fondly. He was still such a pain, even now that they were adults and he was married. He really was a good match for Yuki, her other childhood friend. If someone had told her that her two best friends from such different parts of her life were going to meet and one day get married, she would have sworn they were making things up. Doubly so if she'd been told that she would be dating Yuki too. Her life as a knight kept her too busy to settle down, and Yuki was already used to that.
Yuki, sitting on the arm of the chair Kel was in, smiled at her. "Finally. He can be so exhausting sometimes. I thought he would come back in for another round of goodbyes. How many times does he need to be kissed before he can go out with Cleon, Prosper, and the others? You would think he's going to be gone for months, the way he carries on. Has he always been like that?"
"Well, he never kissed the other pages, if that's what you mean," Kel said dryly, amused. Yuki's eyes crinkled, showing her own amusement. "But he was always the type to fuss over everyone."
"People rarely change. I'm glad you came, and that you brought the others. He needs a night out, and you look like you could use a night in. If I wasn't so set on tonight being a date night, I would have invited Cricket. But I want you all to myself tonight, Keladry."
"That I can promise you. I've been exhausted. Do you have any idea how much work it takes moving refugees from place to place? The raiders are getting bolder, they destroyed a whole village."
"Kel, tonight is not about work," Yuki said firmly, taking her hands in hers. "We can talk about it tomorrow, after you've had some fun. When was the last time you smiled? Or laughed?"
That sounded reasonable to Kel. A huge yawn slipped out before she could answer, though she was pretty sure Yuki already knew the answer to her questions. "…Probably the last time I was here," she admitted. "Peachblossom and Hoshi are good company, but neither is very funny. And the refugees have been too stressed."
"You need to spend more time with friends," Yuki scolded. In one smooth motion, she was off the arm of the chair, settled in Kel's lap comfortably. She leaned in for a kiss, keeping it quick and chaste. "I missed you. And Neal missed you. You should stay here for a few nights, so you can get some time with both of us. Maybe we really should invite Cricket for a night… The Queen's Riders would trust the three of us to keep her safe, I'm sure."
Kel's lips still tingled with the kiss. She'd missed Yuki so much… Maybe her girlfriend was right, and a few nights together would help her feel better. "I'll stay for as long as I can. A break might do me a lot of good."
She was rewarded for that with another kiss, this one a little longer. "Good. You always were serious, but it's painful to see you so stressed, you know. I think only the Stump can work forever and never need breaks."
"Since when do you call Wyldon anything like that?" There was no doubt she'd learned that from Neal. That was his favorite nickname for the old training master, even now. Yuki wouldn't have interacted much with him at all, as far as Kel knew.
"Since I've had to listen to all of Neal's stories about page training. I forgot his name," Yuki admitted, and the laughter in her voice was contagious.
Kel started laughing too, imagining the look on the old man's face if he knew there was anyone out there who only knew him as the Stump. Part of her felt a little guilty, feeling like she owed him more respect than that, but she was so tired that she couldn't help the way her laughter kept going and going, quickly out of her control.
Hearing Kel laughing so much must have set Yuki off, and soon they were both giggling like little girls and neither of them knew what they were laughing at anymore. Every time silence descended upon them, they would make eye contact or one of them would lean in for a kiss, and they'd start up again, clinging to each other.
This was exactly what she'd needed. By the time they were finally giggled out, Yuki was yawning too, but they were both in much better moods. Kel even smiled at her, even if it was interrupted by another yawn, and a quiet snicker from her girlfriend.
"Let's get you in bed," Yuki suggested, kissing her cheek.