Free Regrets of The Fallen (Victis Honor Book 1) by Jake Taylor Page B

sighed as she pulled the blankets back up. “Is better.”
    Bella smiled. “I’m glad you think so. It doesn’t look like you’re one of those people afraid of storms, though.”
    Haruka shook her head. “Are you?”
    Bella laughed softly. “No. Especially not… Well, I mean, they’ve always made me feel even lonelier than normal since they make everything feel so cut off… Now, though, it’s just nice. Kind of fun even.”
    The monk gave a smile. “Glad it changed,” she stated quietly. “Sleep better now?”
    “From now on, probably,” Isabella said contently. “Goodnight.”
    “Night,” Haruka said quickly, hearing the fading tone. She chuckled to herself as she heard Bella sleeping only seconds later despite the cracking thunder, making a soft, almost snoring sound. Honestly, the woman was even endearing while unconscious.
     
    IXH
     
    Haruka awoke in the morning to notice a couple of things. First of all, the storm seemed to have abated somewhat, as she heard steady rain rather than torrential, and only distant thunder. The light from the room’s sole window was dim and grey, lending a lazy feeling to the morning. The second – and arguably more important – thing she noticed was that she was virtually being used as a stuffed animal by Isabella, who not only had her head on her chest, but her arms around her and body close.
    Haru didn’t mind it in the least, of course – enjoyed it even – but the way Bella did it just drove home her former loneliness. She was practically clinging to her, as if she expected the monk to disappear in the middle of the night. It might take some convincing, Haruka thought to herself, to make her believe I’m here to stay.
    After a few minutes Isabella stirred, waking up and blinking blearily. Her eyes looked around and she grew flushed as she realized her position. She started to move but Haruka laid a hand on her shoulder, pushing her back down. “You’re fine.”
    Isabella smiled, laying her head back down. “I slept… really well,” she said with a hint of surprise. “What about you?”
    Haruka thought it over and realized she was right; she’d expected the situation to feel uncomfortable, having always been a solitary person and certainly never sleeping so close to another. “I did,” she replied. “Unusual.”
    Isabella gave a teasing smile. “Maybe it’s because you tried a bed instead of a chair.”
    “Maybe,” Haruka said, doubting it. “Unlikely.”
    Isabella shifted her head, watching her. Haruka couldn’t tell what the other woman was thinking but she could tell it was something important, something that she was even nervous to say. Isabella leaned herself up on one elbow and Haruka watched her gather up the courage to speak, looking down at her. “There’s something…” Bella swallowed, looking in the brunette’s eyes. “Haruka, I-“
    “So how’s my favorite patient today?” Vivian said as she opened the door.
    The two women shot apart in surprise and Haruka practically threw herself out of the bed, tripping over the chair beside it and knocking it over as she fell to the floor. Isabella sat up worriedly. “Ruki, are you alright?!”
    Haruka sat up, rubbing her head with an intensely annoyed and embarrassed expression. “Fine.”
    Their attention turned back to the doctor as she smirked. “These beds are for healing only, you know.”
    Isabella attempted to stammer out a reply, only coming up with, “W-we weren’t-“
    “Mhmm,” Vivian said disbelievingly, moving over to the bed. “I’m just here to check your injury, nothing more.”
    Haruka stood and picked up the chair, taking a seat as the doctor examined her companion. Isabella’s face was red; she certainly wasn’t used to being embarrassed like that, apparently. She was mostly quiet as the doctor checked her wounds, really only replying to direct questions. Haru was certain that, whatever kind of moment they had just had, it was gone. She was left to wonder