A/N: Hi guys, I’m vaguely back. Back with something I don’t think anyone was really expecting or particularly waiting for since this is the first time I’ve ever written Catyler and they’re definitely not my favourite ship. But the idea came and I love a bit of angst and fluff so I thought why not?
Word Count: 844
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Blinking sleepily in the harsh lights of the med bay, Tyler roused from his slumber. There was a crick in his neck, his right arm was lacking feeling, and the grogginess that clung to him was more than enough of a hint that he’d awoken unnaturally and far too soon. It was probably Scarlett coming to check on them both or another well-meaning member of the squad intending to drag him away to rest properly. He thought they’d have given up by now. After all, it had been almost two weeks and none of their attempts had been successful. He hadn’t left Cat’s side for more than a couple of minutes at a time and not even de Stoy or Adams or irritated medics had been able to get him to leave. No one knew when Cat would wake up and Tyler wasn’t going to risk not being there when she did.
He dragged himself upright and wrestled his mind into gear enough to prepare his usual response to his friends, only to have it shut down momentarily when he finally registered what had actually woken him up. There was no one else in the room and it was as quiet as it had been all evening, but one thing had changed from when he’d fallen asleep. Where Cat had been lying still and serene for the past two weeks, now she was wide awake and curled up on her side facing him, their joined hands clutched to her chest. Evidently her movement had been what disturbed him, but that answer barely registered in the furthest recesses of his mind as a far more important fact took up the rest of it. Cat was awake. She was okay.
Words wouldn’t come and he practically choked on a well of emotion he’d been holding back for so long. He’d spent so much time convincing himself he’d never again get to see those beautiful brown eyes he loved so much clear and sparkling with life once again, had so nearly accepted it as the impossibility the Eshvaren had claimed it to be. But Cat was okay. She was finally safe and back by his side where she belonged.
“Hi,” she whispered, her voice soft in a way he hadn’t heard since that morning after on shore leave a lifetime ago.
“Cat…” The word was barely audible in the silence, but it was all Tyler could manage. Tears brimmed in his eyes and spilled over as Cat lifted his hand to her lips, her own eyes watering slightly. “I’m- I’m so sorry. I-”
“Don’t. Please.”
“But-”
“It’s done now.” Her voice hardened just a little and Tyler finally nodded and dropped it.
“I’m sorry I shot you though.”
“I’ll accept that apology.” She grinned at him and for the first time in weeks Tyler managed to smile back.
"I have one more to make, if that's okay with you." Cat scowled but nodded her permission anyway. "That night we-"
"Tyler, don't. It hurt enough the first time."
"That's not- just let me finish, okay?" She remained quiet and Tyler tried again. "It's not the night I'm sorry for, it's the morning after." He pulled his hand away from her and scrubbed at his face. "I've regretted saying those things to you since the moment they left my mouth. Because none of them were really true. It wasn't a mistake, but what I said to you was and I can't apologise enough for hurting you like that."
“What-”
“I’m trying to tell you I love you, Cat. I’ve always loved you. I just hope you can forgive me for being such an idiot.”
“You’ve always been an idiot,” Cat said fondly. “But, maker, help me, I love you too.” Tyler’s answering smile could outshine stars.
“Can I kiss you?” He asked, barely holding himself back from just doing it.
“You fucking better.” She grinned, grabbing his shirt and dragging him closer. Their lips met gently, Tyler still worried about her condition and not wanting to push it. Well, that just wasn’t good enough for Cat and she pulled away after a moment. “That all you got, goldenboy?”
“Problem?” He raised a brow, barely suppressing a smirk.
“Kiss me like you damn well mean it, Tyler.” Cat’s smile was a challenge and one Tyler was more than willing to accept.
This time he didn’t hold back, kissing her with everything he had, making up for all the lost time, and doing his best to prove he was sorry. Cat tugged him closer, pulling him up onto the bed with her and pouring every last ounce of strength into the kiss. She never imagined she’d get to have this again, not after the morning that shattered her heart, especially not after being taken by the Ra’haam. Feeling Tyler’s arms around her again, his lips on her skin, his hair between her fingers, it was a dream brought to life. Finally, after so long, through so much pain and loss, Cat was home. They were back together and safe at last.
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Tag Lists: (send me an ask if you want to be added!)
Could probably have thought of a different plan but went with kissing Kal
Was rather pleased with himself after that
Scarlett said she didn't know he "liked blonds" when she was checking out the security guard but wasn't surprised that he might have been checking him out too
Wants to know what "surprises" Fin has stashed in his exosuit *nudge nudge wink wink*
The awed and as far as I'm concerned slightly turned-on "great maker, he's good..." when Kal wrecks the TDF troops when they're rescuing Auri
I told them I already had an Alpha, he just couldn't make it. He slowly exhales and presses his palm against the glass and she lifts hers to press it back in return. My Ace. His hair is tousled and his eyes are blue as oceans, and the scar I gave him when we were kids cuts through one brow. And even though he looks tired as I've ever seen him, Maker, help me, I can't stop the butterflies in my--- I love you for sticking with me, you know that, right? There's that word. Just you and me, Tyler. Staring at each other across that barroom table and all those empty glasses. Best friends forever, right? For a second we're touching, chest to chest, and I'm reminded of the last time we were this close. The last time I ever had a drink. An Ace backs her Alpha. Always. Always. Lying with him on those crumpled sheets the morning after, shivering as he traced the lines of my tattoos with his fingertips. I reach out and squeeze her hand, and she grins at me, feral, triumphant, fierce as the heat of a thousand stars. // Hold on, Cat, you hear me? His voice is like iron, but I can feel the fear in him....hes terrified. For her. I know what happened between them on shore leave. Neither of them told me, but I figured it out. Coming back with new tattoos and a new distance between them. I could see Cat wanted to close it. I could understand why Tyler didnt. Why it might have been a mistake. Why it might have been the best thing that happened to either of them. Because as in love as Ty is with the idea of being a leader, of being a soldier, of being someone Dad would be proud of, I know part of Tyler is in love with Cat, too. But what will he do if he loses her? Cat... Leave me, Ty. No way. NO. Please. You listen to me, Brannock. Tears shining in his eyes. We are the Aurora Legion, and we do not leave our people behind...if you even think of cashing out on this drop, I'm going to kick your ass so hard the lump in your throat will be my fucking heel, is that understood. Tyler Jones, Squad Leader, First Class, doesn't curse. Sir, yessir. // We're eighteen years old and the empty glasses are stacked in front of us and the tattoos are new on our skin and we know exactly where we're heading and its somehow all right beacause deep down I know you love me. Oh, Cat... And I'm lying there the morning after and even though he left ten minutes ago I can still taste him on my lips and smell him on my skin and even though everything he said made an awful kind of sense I can't stop crying because he doesn't love me. // Tyler, we have to leave her. I told you, Ty, you have to let me go. Cat, no. I look at Tyler ...my beautiful, sad Tyler. The tears shining in his eyes. And I see it. Here at the end. Shining bright against the night. Cat...I... I know. GO. I see him turn and look back at me. And somehow it's all right. Because I know he loves me. // The hole in space where Cat should be sitting is like a hole in my chest. She's gone. I couldn't save her, and now she's gone.
