Nice Smile
For once, my hood was down. There was no need for celebration, just a oddly warm day in the Reach and my comfort level with Kaidan being okay. It took a moment and I couldn’t help but ask for permission first.
“H-hey, Kai,” his grunt of a response made me even more nervous but I begged my heart to function a bit properly. “Would it be okay if I put my hood down.”
He looked at me like I had five heads, or I think he did. Maybe he was just confused. I wasn’t the best at reading people. “Ren, you don’t need to ask me.” Was that a yes? Was he being nice? I had no idea. My mouth opened and closed as he continued to clean his sword, then he noticed me staring. “Yes,”
A breath of air left me and with shaky hands I put my hood down, avoiding from showing him my left side. “Thank you,” I was finally able to relax, pulling out a book to read and just enjoying the warm sun, glad we decided to set up camp early to wake up at an earlier time the next day. Yet, I couldn’t keep my eyes on the pages. Mainly for two reasons. My hair was still in my face, bugging me with every movement I made and there was a handsome man nearby that grabbed my curiosity.
I couldn’t help but watch Kaidan shining his sword with the sternest look on his face - which I tried to replicate but I just felt constipated. So instead I watched and studied, wondering if I could even get a glimpse of a smile. He had done it once before, I just wanted to see him do it again. Though the last time was an accident.
What can I do to make him smile?
That’s when it hit me. It made babies smile at times, making faces and imitating others, so maybe it’ll make him smile! Putting my genius plan into motion, I cut a small line of cloth and tried my best to copy Kai’s hair. Once I was done, I was ready to put my plan to the test.
“Look at me!” My voice was shaking and my heart forgot the beat it was supposed to go to, but I got his attention. “I’m Kaidan and I like to brood!” I stomped around a bit, doing my best to put on a brood face by pursing my lips and furrowing my brow. There was even a very impressive grunt, though from me it probably sounded like a pathetic meow.
Kaidan’s poker face didn’t break, but he put his sword down and that was something. “I do not like to brood,” a giggle passes me along with a small snort. “And that is not how you brood!”
More laughter, and I wipe a tear from my eye. “If you don’t like to brood then how do you know how to do it?” I wasn’t sure if he was amused at my poking or if he wanted smother me, either way, he seemed to be enjoying it. That’s when I saw his sword. Squaring myself up, I go to pick up the sword.
“Aye, I would be careful with that if I were you.”
I smiled at him, knowing that he was always worrying about me. It made me happy, truly. “I’ll be fine besides,” as I lift the sword, I realize that it’s a bit heavier than expected, but I push through. “I need it to be more convincing.” I barely get it a foot in the air before losing balance and falling to the ground, hard.
The scrambling of metal can be heard and Kaidan’s face appears above me concerned. “Ren, are you okay?’
No, I want to say. Instead I groan. “Maybe I should let you swing the sword and I’ll just continue practicing brooding.” Even though my back hurts and the air seems to have been knocked out a bit, I can’t help but laugh.
Kaidan’s laugh joins and I find myself enraptured as he hold his hand to to me. “To be fair,” I grab his hand and it seems surreal that we are making contact or that when he pulls me up we feel so close. “Brooding doesn’t quite fit your face, bookworm.” My words leave me.
In all my years, I never seen anything so honest in my life. Just the stretch of his mouth, seeing his eyes light up and shine like an apple’s skin.
“What? Did I say something?”
Kaidan’s question pulls me out. He seems confused and I quickly shake my head and smile. “No, it’s just,” instinctively, my hand squeezes his. I want to see more of his smile, no matter what I had to do. “You have a very nice smile.”