I (TRY) to kiss her

You bring her closer and gently lay your lips on her neck, making her gasp and squirm. “What are you doing?!” She wiggles and fights, but all this does is prompt you to hold her closer.

“Doesn’t that make you feel warmer?” You manage, giving her another small kiss.

“Not really!” She shoots back. “Let me go!”

Suddenly, you realize that as soon you let her go she’ll probably bolt for the ladder and escape - maybe even managing to find Kenji or any of the others to nark on you. Considering she seems to be valued greatly, you know that wouldn’t do you any good.

“Wait, Flora! Stop!” You shout, just as she fights her way out. You tackle her to the floor and pin her under you. Her expression pink, flustered from your sudden kiss. She also looks terrified. “I’m sorry!”

Looking bewildered, she tries to fight you off of her, but your superior strength, especially in this position, makes it impossible for her to escape you. “Let me explain myself.”

“What? What is it?! Don’t you know who I am!?” Flora grunts, renewing her attempt.

“You- no I don't! But you remind me so much of someone I knew before.” You exhale. She stops and blinks, staring at you now. You feel her struggling subside, but she still wears the same expression of being horrified. “Before I came here with Scarlet, I was with someone that I now realize I...I loved.”

Flora, looking more confused than scared now asks what you mean. You explain a little more of your background and mention Delilah to her. Your grip loosens and you climb off her. She’s not trying to escape anymore.

“I shouldn't have kissed you,” you tell her, apologizing one more time. “It’s just that you’re so much like her, that I couldn’t- it doesn’t make it any better but, I…”

Your words get lost, so they come out in disorder. Flora crawls away until her back is against the wall. “I don’t know what to say.”

“I don’t expect you to say anything.” You reply. “This is going to make the rest of our time together fucking weird.”

A harsh laugh boils out from her mouth, but she doesn’t say anything back for a few seconds. “Let’s just pretend it didn’t happen. I guess I’m happy to know you’re not just some kind of ****, but that was seriously the grossest thing you or any one else could have done.”

She cringes and closes her eyes. “Oh, my god that was so weird of you to do! I’m going outside.”

“No!” You don’t really trust her enough to go out and try to find the others. “I’ll leave. You stay down here.”

“No? I don’t want to be stuck down here with you, creep!”

“How do I know you won’t run off and try to find your friends?”

“Because I’m-” she stops and looks away. “I won’t do that!”

You notice the pause, but you aren’t in a position to ask any questions. “I don’t trust you.”

“I’m the one who suggested we forget about this, wasn’t I?”

“Oh yeah, I bet if I sat on the couch and invited you back into my arms you’d do just that.” You spit.

“Well, no…”

“Then you stay down here and I’ll leave. For at least a few minutes for you to just… Just forget this entire dumb fucking mistake.”

“Fine,” Flora caves in. “Just don’t come back down until an hour passes. I can hardly even look at you right now. Just give me some time to think on my own for a bit, okay?”

You stand up and proceed to the ladder. “Yeah, I can do that. I’m...Again, I’m sorry - I shouldn’t have done that.”

“No, you’re right you shouldn’t have but...Just- just get the hell out of here already.”

She doesn’t need to say it one more time. You step onto the ladder and climb to the surface. The cool air hits you as soon as the hatch is opened. You climb up and over the entryway and close the hatch back down. You slump against the shack’s walls and curse.

What the fuck? Why the hell did I do that? Doesn’t matter what happens here, she’s going to tell the others. I can’t run now, the weather's gone to shit and they’d probably place some kind of bounty on my ass. That was such a dumbass thing to do! What kind of professional--

Before your self-degrading thoughts could go any further, you get the sense you're not alone...Your body tenses before you feel a gentle grip grab you from behind. You turn around and see a face you've never seen before. A girl, being perhaps one of the most gentle and beautiful women you've ever seen before, stands before you.

"Oh my," she says with a surprised expression. "Can you see me?"

Her eyes are sugar blue - even in her confusion she seems elegant. You clear your throat and step slightly away. She seems so harmless you don't even try to reach for your firearm. "Excuse me. Who are you?"

The girl laughs, making your chest tighten. Your eyes stay trained on her. All tension leaves your body - all what you start feeling is...peace? She brushes back her gold blonde hair and looks at you as she tilts her head down. "I promise you, I am not here to cause any trouble."

You knew she didn't, even before she started to talk. You blink and look away, somehow even looking at her feels like you are degrading her. You step further back and ask her to leave, and that she's in danger by just being here. Instead of doing that however, she extends her pale hand out and grabs your shoulder.

She smiles at you, making your eyes widen in surprise. She's waay out of your league to even talk to you. And yet...It feels...familiar? "I'm here to help you! I didn't intend to be seen by you, but now that we're here...Why don't we talk and work things out? What happened down there, was not ideal."

Your gaze is broken. You look away and bite your lips. This is wrong. No....It can't be...You've never felt so relaxed and safe (!?) in you're entire life. Her touch is so gentle...so caring...so careful and innocent. She then says your name and repeats her offer. Your heart skipped a beat. How does she know your name? You shake yourself and let out a crooked laugh. You're so embarrassed now for some reason.

"Wh-what...what should..."

The girl giggles and places the hand from your shoulder to your stomach. "Calm down. I'm your friend. Let's just talk."