The Promised Starting Over (2/2)

Writers: Avery, Heather
Date Posted: 5th September 2019

Characters: K'lvin, Riveenata
Description: K'lvin and Riv have a first date and start over, but the topics get serious.
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr, Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 12, day 27 of Turn 9
Notes: Mentioned: K'ran

She turned away from the view which was still drawing her eye, and she
settled down onto the blanket he put down. "We haven't made any
promises. And until the other morning, I would have thought you'd want
to go and get away with me," she admitted. "So why not go, if it's what
you want?"

"Because I want to be with you," K'lvin answered truthfully. "Do I want
to have some purpose again around the Weyr by having duties? Of course,
you know I like to work, but none of that matters unless I can still see
you."

She brought her hand to her mouth, pressing the tips of her fingers
against her lips in some surprise. "I didn't know you held me in such
high regard." It came out a little weak and a lot surprised.

"I know, and that's my fault," the bronzerider answered, his light green
eyes going to hers. "I hope that doesn't scare you off."

"That you care so much or that you didn't say anything?"

"That I care so much," he said. The depth of his feelings had been one
of the reasons K'lvin had originally tried to end things between them.
He didn't see how someone young, with so many opportunities in front of
her, like Riveenata, would want to be tied down to him.
"It's...a surprise," she said, her light blue eyes meeting his in
return. "Being friends with you has been feeling like free-falling. But
it's also held me together this Turn. I needed your steadiness when I
was grounded and lost. Then I thought what I was feeling was a silly
crush and unreciprocated...then it was...then it wasn't."

She'd tried to maintain the eye contact to show her sincerity but her
feelings were so much and she was failing at it. She turned to look out
across the vista again. "I want to make this work between us and to not
hurt. I want to give it a try. But I'm scared."

K'lvin wanted to promise her that there was nothing to be scared of and
that he would not hurt her again, but he knew in relationships that
sometimes both of those things were inevitable. "I also want to make
this work. That's why if going to help out at Barrier Lake hinders that,
then I won't do it."

Riveenata gave him - gave them both, really - the courtesy of stopping
to think before she said her next words. There were a few moments of
silence. It didn't feel awkward or unpleasant, for her, to be sitting
quietly with him, looking out over a familiar style of beach, thinking
through the thoughts.

"You want to go back to having something to do with your life. You
haven't had many opportunities at Dolphin Cove, and whatever K'ran will
have you do, I'm sure there's more to it than what you've been doing. Yes?"

"Yes," K'lvin agreed. Even if what he would be doing for K'ran was
mostly administrative and supervising, it was more than he was doing at
Dolphin Cove.

She reached out one of her hands and took his with it. "Then you should
go. You'll be happy that way. And won't we both be better people if
we're doing work we love and that makes us happy? Won't that make us
better for ourselves, and each other?"

"But I don't want to lose you," he said simply. "I know I can't ask for
promises, and we're both dragonriders, I'm not naive. If I go, it would
only be temporary, and I'd like to come and visit you as often as I can."

"You think it would be temporary and you wouldn't want to stay?" she
asked with some surprise.

K'lvin chuckled. "If you're here, then I'm not going to go there
permanently."

It was a reasonable question to ask, to distinguish between those two
things. She knew some River Bluff riders eagerly spoke of it, and maybe
he thought she was one of them. Asking if she considered going back to
the home territory - even if it wasn't the same home Weyr, the familiar
old walls and buildings and beach - was reasonable. Asking if she'd come
with him...that was a different _kind_ of question. One that maybe, with
the part where they were going to try to build their friendship turned
passion into something...decided, and confirmed, and maybe intended for
a long term...that was different, entirely.

"I guess what I am saying is that I want to be wherever you are, so we
can continue this," he gestured between them. "If you are comfortable
and stable at Dolphin Cove and that's where you want to stay, then after
I've helped K'ran, I'll come back to Dolphin Cove. If you're ready for
something new and want to go to Barrier Lake, I'll wait for you there."

"I don't think the whole family's ready to up and move, _again_..." And
she'd never lived without them. It didn't mean she couldn't move on her
own, but the idea was oddly intimidating.

"My sister's pregnant and due around Turn's End, or so we hope," she
said. "I'd at least like to stay through the birth, and then we can talk
about it. I could come visit you there and see, couldn't I?" After all,
with dragons, anything was possible.

"Of course, and I hope you will... if you want," he added hastily.
K'lvin feared that perhaps his feelings were greater than hers and maybe
this was all too serious for her at this point, but he was determined to
pursue her with everything he had this time around.

"I'd love to see the place as it's built up," she said.

K'lvin released an exhale, looking visibly relieved. "Well, now that
_that_ conversation is settled," he grinned up at her, looking more
carefree than he had since River Bluff fell, "we can eat."

"I'd love to," she said, with an answering bright smile.

Last updated on the September 9th 2019

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The Promised Starting Over (2/2)