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Keyleth hadn’t expected Vax to need her help. Not when she’s still so awkward and unsure of herself. Not when she’s.. well, her.
He had sheepishly come to her the day before with a faint tinge of red to his cheeks, asking, “Now that I’m able to fly, do you think you could help me learn?” She had agreed, of course. In a rather stupid way, to no one’s shock, but she agreed to help the best she could nonetheless. Now, the day after, they sit on the cliff overlooking Whitestone, staring down at the changing city.
“How did you learn to fly, Kiki?”
“Well.. I studied birds in flight a lot, I guess. Also, keep in mind, Ashari are taught. But I think—I think I can teach you the same way they taught me to.”
Vax cocks an eyebrow at that. “You think?”
“I know I can,” she responds. And before she can stop herself, Keyleth also stammers out, “But—I can’t really talk, when I’m a bird. I know you know that, but I just.. wanted to clarify in case you.. y’know what? Never mind!” She stands up abruptly, offering her free hand to the handsome half-elf beside her.
As soon as he’s up, he’s asking with a rather humorous lilt to his voice, “Did you say anything? I’m afraid I didn’t hear you if so.” In response, Keyleth laughs and replies, “No! I didn’t say anything.”
Vax smiles softly, and he lets go of her hands to mimic flapping wings. “Well then, Keyleth of the Air Ashari. Care to teach me to fly?”
-
Vax takes to flying rather quickly. So quickly that Keyleth wonders if he even needed her help to begin with. After transforming back into herself, Vax glides down to land beside her right where they took off.
“You know, I don’t think you needed my help to learn, Vax,” Keyleth says quietly, shaking herself a little bit. It always felt weird right after transforming, like a piece of whatever animal she became was still fighting for dominance.
“Maybe not,” Vax admits with a sly grin. “But why would I pass up the chance to spend time with you, Kiki?”
Her breath catches at this, at this obvious hint of his affection for her. She knows, has known since he confessed under the Sun Tree in Whitestone and maybe even before. But knowing does not make it any less awkward, any less scary, for her to hear.
Despite her fear, she offers a smile back, her eyes sliding over the Deathwalker’s Ward as she does. Maybe, if the Raven Queen has granted him the ability to fly—has granted them this extra sliver of time together—she is not so terrible as Keyleth thought she would be.