Drink your fears away

Kai was so entranced with the beautiful tree that he nearly jumped off of the rock when the hand appeared over his shoulder.

Kai turned his head quickly and saw who the hand and can belonged to. Behind him stood Sofia. The pale woman still looked absolutely beautiful even though she had to have been going through the same amount of stress, well, maybe a bit less than Kai.

It seemed that even the hardships that one endures in this forest can't stop attractive people from being attractive.

Kai sighed in regret.

"Oh, hey Sofia."

Sofia remained standing silently for a few moments, which had Kai confused.

"Oh."

Once he realised what she wanted, Kai moved over a bit on the rock so she would have some room to sit.

Sofia sat down beside him, handing him the can. They were so close to each other, their shoulders were touching, yet Kai felt nothing stir within him.

Kai inwardly sighed.

He didn't want to admit it again in fear of what happened with Noelle, but he knew in his heart...

He still viewed Sofia as a friend.

"I didn't know you were a sly person, trying to trick Mr Tuxedo into letting you take a drink. Who else have you tricked before this?"

Kai chuckled softly as he felt the dampness on the can seep into his palms.

"I'm not sly, just... experienced in the art of misleading people."

Sofia laughed, which made Kai smile in return. Her face was pretty when she laughed.

"So what is it that you wanted?"

Kai asked he cracked open the can Sofia gave him. The drink inside looked like the one he had previously, but it didn't have the golden glow the other one had.

"Just to talk." Sofia shrugged. "It was getting overbearing in there."

"Oh yeah." Kai chuckled again. "I'm sure you were having your fun with that guy who approached you."

Sofia snorted in response.

"Don't be like that, I'm sure you had your fair share of damsels hoping you would clear out their tower."

Kai fell silent as he studied Sofia's expression for any sign of... anything.

He failed.

"You know, I can't tell are you just making fun of me or you genuinely believe I have a shot with women."

Sofia shrugged.

"I'll leave that up to your mind to decide."

Sighing, Kai shook his head and changed the subject.

"What did that guy even say for you to reject him that badly?"

Sofia smiled softly for a few moments before answering in a slightly quieter tone.

"He made fun of the company I keep."

Oh...

"Plus, he asked if I would be able to convince Noelle to join us as well."

Kai, who was just about to take a sip of apple bear, nearly dropped his can in shock.

"So he was a dickhead?"

Sofia laughed.

"I was nearly certain that his ego was bigger than him."

Kai smiled, happy that he wasn't spending his time alone tonight...

If it really was night. On the painted sky of The Dome you could see the moon, but who knew what time it truly was.

"I'm sure you could have stayed in there a while longer, there would be plenty of other people hoping to catch your eye."

Sofia sighed.

"Probably, but they would all just want the same. A woman with a nice body they could have before a fight they could die in. They're just as bad as the beasts you can hear all around us."

Kai was just about to laugh again, but then Sofia added one more sentence to her rant.

"Plus, I think that you are better company to keep."

H...Huh?

Kai felt his face heat up. Knowing that it was inevitable that he would be bright red in a few moments, he took advantage of that time to ask a question before he embarrassed himself any further.

"What?"

Sofia turned her head to look at him, then noticed the colour of his face and laughed.

"Relax, Kai. I didn't realise how dirty your thoughts were." Sofia giggled. "I'm a fair bit older than you, and even if the world was ending I don't think I would be so desperate to go after an innocent seventeen year old, I'm not a pedophile after all.

Kai sighed, but he wasn't sure if the sigh was in relief or dissapointment.

Sure Sofia was attractive, but Kai didn't feel ready for anything like that. Luckily, Sofia turned him down before he done anything embarrassing.

Or was it lucky?

"Well that's a shame then, it would have pained me to do but I would have had to turn you down."

Sofia laughed at Kai's remark, punching him softly in the arm.

"Since when were you so confident? I didn't realise you had this side to you."

Kai smiled softly.

"It's a skill."

Sofia snorted.

"I'm sure it is."

Sofia then added:

"Still, I'm more than happy to use an innocent seventeen year old as a drinking partner.

Kai laughed as he brought the can up to his lips. The golden liquid flowed freely down his throat as he relished in the taste.

Letting out a satisfied sigh, Kai lowered the can and had one single thought.

Still tastes the same...

Even though the beer tasted the exact same, it didn't have the same flair as the godly version. Kai could tell his soul wouldn't be getting any upgrades from this one.

Sofia chuckled as she watched Kai drink, bringing her own can up to her lips to have a taste as well.

"Never expected you to be an alcoholic, you look so sweet and innocent. Where is the poor old Kai I knew gone?"

Kai scoffed as fidgeted with the can in his hand, tapping it to a strange beat.

"What poor and innocent Kai? I'll have you know that even in my dreams I've been drinking."

"Oh my, I've been hanging out with a drunkard. How naive of me!"

Sofia dramatically raised the back of her hand to her forehead, acting as if she was about to faint. She even closed her eyes to reinforce the act.

Kai laughed at her show.

"You're such a tease."

Sofia grinned as she took a sip from her can.

"In more ways than one."

Kai felt his face heating up again, so he scoffed and waved his hand dismissively to change the topic.

The two continued to gaze out at the cherry blossom as they drank from their cans. Soon, their cans ran dry, but Sofia went back the hall to grab some more.

While she was gone, Kai steeled his nerves for round two. It's only after Sofia returned that Kai realised he probably should have done more than steel his nerves.

Even when doing a basic act such as slowly jogging under the artificial moonlight, Sofia looked stunning. Kai's eyes were even stuck to her chest area.

Not for the reason that you are thinking though.

Cradled in Sofia's arms was not two, but twelve cans of apple beer. Kai's eyes widened at the sight as he swallowed reflexively.

Once Sofia was back on the rock beside him, Kai tried to grab one of the cans, but Sofia swatted his hand away.

"Ah, you're still young. You have to take your time."

But then Sofia smirked teasingly and opened a can for herself.

"Luckily, I'm an adult, I can drink however much I want."

Shocked, Kai could only watch in defeat as Sofia gulped down the golden beer. Defeated, Kai worked on a plan to be able to get a can for himself.

Realistically, Kai could beat Sofia in a fight if he fused with Umbra, but he didn't want to take his familiar away from having fun with Wa'rak. Plus, he didn't want to fight Sofia anyway.

It's strange how his first thought was to fight, how times change.

His second idea was much more efficient.

If Kai didn't believe that honesty was the best policy...

"Did I ever tell you how beautiful you are? And you're such a great person too. So kind and caring. And your skill with a bow is incredible too, you're like Robin Hood. And you most certainly do not look like a vampire. Your complexion is perfect!"

Then flattery sure was.

Sofia listened to Kai as she continued to drink from her can, guarding the other ones with her body. Once Kai had finished speaking, Sofia smiled slightly and said:

"Flattery doesn't work on me, Kai. You would have to try more than that."

Just as Kai was about to try something different, Sofia sighed and relented.

"But I will let it work this time. Just don't drink too quickly, I would rather not have to carry you if you pass out."

Kai grinned.

"No promises!"

As Kai took the can from Sofia's hand, he inwardly thanked Nonchalance for helping him say all that with a straight face and without stuttering.

The rare skill was just to incredible to have for someone like Kai.

Drinking from the can, Kai's gaze wandered past Sofia and to all the other cans she grabbed.

"Why grab so many cans?"

Kai asked as he watched Sofia drink from her own can, her red lips suctioned to the drink.

Sofia shrugged after swallowing the drink in her mouth.

"There's a high chance we die tomorrow. And it has my thoughts in shambles."

Sofia smiled weakly as she turned to look at Kai.

"While I may look calm, I'm inwardly terrified... Life is a fleeting thing, Kai. You have got to take every chance that you're given, otherwise you'll regret it.

I enjoyed my life, I really did. But that doesn't mean I want to die, you know?"

For the first time since they had met, Kai saw something other than confidence and calmness in Sofia's eyes.

Fear.

"So if I'm going to die, I'm at least going to have a hangover so I can say I felt something in my last moments."

Kai fell silent. He didn't know what to say. It's not like he could comfort her, because he didn't feel the same as her.

Nonchalance made it so that he kept calm in horrible situations. While that skill was absolutely incredible and probably the most important skill he has...

It made him feel less human.

He had already thought about this before, but it was true. Fear was a driving force for many. It catapulted people to new heights, making them the best version of themselves.

But Kai's driving force...

Was probably wanting to protect those around him. If he would actually be able to do that or not he didn't know, that's a thought for the future.

After a few moments silence, Kai sighed and agreed with Sofia.

"Yeah..." His voice was hoarse. He had no way to comfort Sofia, he was never good with this type of thing anyway.

So he let the drink do the talking.

Lifting up his can, Kai smiled weakly and looked towards Sofia. Extending his arm slightly, he held the can ready as he said:

"To survival."

Sofia looked him in the eyes and chuckled softly, lifting up her own glass in response.

"To survival."

Both of them clashed their cans into each others, a small ring echoing around them as both of them said cheers.

They both sat on that rock, drinking and having small conversations from time to time.

The pile of cans that Sofia had taken was starting to dwindle. Soon, there was nine left, then six, then four, and eventually there was only two cans remaining.

Sighing, Sofia took one for herself and handed the other to Kai.

"No, I lied earlier. There was another reason I wanted to speak to you."

Kai's ears perked up. He was starting to feel slightly tired from the drink, but that statement woke him up.

"And what's that?"

Sofia smiled at him softly, a hint of worry in her eyes as she asked:

"When are you going to make up with Noelle?"