Fed-Ex was never like this.....

From what Shade could tell, Gohrick had a few muscles severely out of whack, but hopefully nothing torn. If so, such was an easy fix for Brix back at the Garden. Her brow furrowed further with guilt, yet he was the one blushing? Her eyes met his when he began to speak, only to shift away nervously and nod to his words until she saw him holding up his pants.... Oh shit.... With a slow intake of breath seething through her nostrils, she made a mental note to construct a custom made muzzle for that cursed Summons as she facepalmed herself and groaned into her hand.


And he still said she had nothing to apologize or worry for...


Truly his line of thinking and optimistic attitude was a marvel as her hand slid down her face before Shade looked up at again as if Gohrick lost his damn mind. When he kissed her cheek, her assumption was pretty much cinched.... the magic of the Lifestream definitely muddled his brains from the healing.... "You're wound being healed was certainly worth the wild ride, Gohrick." That frustrating awkwardness returned again when Shade found herself unable to think of anything else to say at that moment, and for the first time, found herself silently cursing herself for appearing so rude for it.


Just then, Griever's roar could be heard echoing through the sky as he soared directly in their direction to come to a sliding landing across the ground. He gave his massive body a shake before slowly venturing toward them, only to give Gohrick a long lick to his back, causing the poor Mithra's fur to stand on edge. Shade could only sigh again as her head shook from the GF's obnoxious antics before silently glaring at her Summons. "Have you had enough fun for the day? You about broke his arm off...." Griever could only respond with a saddened groan rumbling in his throat before nudging the Mithra gently with his nose as his own sign of apology before bringing that same big nose into Shade's hair and giving a playful snort. With a faint smile, she playfully swatted him away before Griever took off into the sky again and dissipated into the air.


With the awkward silence returned between them, Shade took a shuffled step back while averting her gaze to the airship and clearing her throat. "Um.... I guess we should get you back.... I'm sure your friends are really worried about you..." Her smile was weak, with a hint of uncertainty within her silver hues before turning to walk up the ramp. She paused in step for a moment to speak over her shoulder. "And perhaps we can find something to mend your pants..."

Gohrick tilted his head as Shade looked at him like he had grown a second or third head...what he was saying wasn't that far from basis, was it? He thought it made perfect sense. When she said his wound being healed was worth the ride, he could only nod his head in agreement. Though, he would put that on the back burner...getting to know someone like Shade still existed in a world where most would rather cut his hide than save it was more than worth a little discomfort and embarrassment. And certainly worth the wild ride of the century.

He watched her through blue hues as the stone and metal wall that contained Shade slowly started to come back up again as she seemed suddenly at a loss as the silence stretched between them. He tilted his head the other way and opened his maw to say something just as a roar was heard.

“Well...look who decided to join the party,” Gohrick said with a smirk, turning his head and watching the giant summon come to a sliding landing. He gave the larger feline a slight smirk and shook his head, before meeping as he was licked once more, feeling his fur sticking up and his feet to leave the ground once again.

As Shade reprimanded her summon, he could only stare into the giant cat's eyes as he was nosed. He reached out with his good arm and pet the feline gently, softly purring and growling, speaking in his native tongue for a moment as he hadn't in years...He didn't know if Griever understood, but Gohrick wasn't too upset with him. Actually, he was quite happy for the excitement. It truly showed him where he needed to improve or work on himself. After all, not all summons were nearly this friendly. He watched as the summon took to the skies once again and vanished back to his realm. He would certainly remember that energy.

Once more silence over took the pair, before Shade mentioned that she should be taking him back because of his worried friends.

“This wouldn't be my first venture...and they can get along just fine without me. They've done it before. I'm in no real hurry, unless you are Shade,” he said, turning his head and staring into her eyes for a moment, before chuckling as she mentioned mending his pants.

“Now that is an idea I can get fully behind least you enjoy looking at my furry behind,” he said with a playful wink, before the pair walked up the ramp. The ship was as marvelous as ever, but Gohrick suddenly felt his stomach tighten, as if nervous about something. He bit on his lower lip, before he continued on the ship, hearing the ramp closing up behind him.

The pair of them continued into the heart of the ship, before Shade pointed out one of the rooms, indicating that he could find a pair of spare pants in there. He nodded before entering, closing the door behind him as he leaned on the door, taking a deep breath. He was beyond nervous as he changed, putting on a spare white shirt and the jacket on top of it. Shirts...they just felt odd to him now, but in a good way.

He exited the room, now in a new pair of torn pants (his tail had to go somewhere, though it was much neater than his first time around), and gave the air a sniff. He slowly made his way to the cockpit, where Shade was already priming the ship for take off. He took a seat and once more, felt very nervous. He turned his head and stared at Shade as she started the take off procedures, watching her movements.

She turned her head and stared back at him, ,her face blank with a single eye brow raised, as if questioning him. He shook his head and gave her a smile, before leaning back in the chair. As the ship started to take off, Gohrick was running through the past few days in his head. From his first encounter with Shade, he knew there was something about her...now he knew in his heart, which was always very hard to ignore.

His eyes once more fell upon the SeeD Headmaster as she skillfully piloted the ship back into space, before turning on the auto pilot.

“What is it Gohrick?” she asked, not turning to meet his eyes as she continued to stare over the instruments of the dragon ship.

“Shade...I really think I'm falling for you,” he said honestly, his voice cracking slightly as he continued to stare at her, mentally almost begging her to look at him. It seemed as though his thoughts had some power after all.

Shade sighed heavily, before turning her head and meeting his gaze, her steel hues almost cold as she stared hard, as if looking for something once again. Trust perhaps...loyalty...Maybe even a little of herself in the feline passenger. She took another deep breath, bracing herself as she spoke.

“There are a few things you need to know about me Gohrick. Things that might change that perspective of yours, however scoured by magic it may be. Things that might make you no longer trust me, or even...hate me...” she responded, her voice biting back any and all emotions.

“I could never hate you Shade...if anything I...” Gohrick started, only to be interrupted by the cold stare Shade was now giving him, enough to freeze most people in their place.

“No...Don't. Do not say it. Not until you hear the whole story. Not until you hear what I have to say,” she said, her eyes hardening, making it very hard to argue against her.

He nodded his head, and in the deepest reaches of space, Shade spoke about herself in a way only a very, very few people knew. She told him about her past, about what had happened, and why she was taking the path she was now on. They talked the whole ride back to Balamb, before leaving and circling around once more to continue their conversation in private.

Gohrick listened to everything Shade had to say, some of it understanding, other parts of it causing him to gasp in shock. However, he never interrupted it, and by the end of the second trip through space, his view on Shade had changed only slightly. He still cared strongly for her, that didn't change at all. No...what changed was a deep understanding for what she had gone through, and what she was still fighting for.

It was in that moment of understanding that Gohrick mentally pledged himself to help her no matter what. To always answer her call, to stand by her side. Either as her friend, or something more one day...but he would never abandon her. Even if she had never done anything for him, he would stand by her.

The Crew of the Calamity and Cypher were going to be waiting for a while longer it seemed. And that was alright. Gohrick was cured. He was happy. He had made an amazing friend and perhaps...one day...something more. That was all he could hope for as the Ragnarok continued its space journey with a crew of two, just as it had many years and a dimension ago.