Catching Up Once More

Writers: Leigh M-F., Miriah
Date Posted: 23rd December 2015

Characters: Ninaine, A'kua
Description: Not long before Ninaine is due, she and A'kua have a chance to chat.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 2, day 24 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: N'call

Ninaine

A'kua was starting to feel a little more like himself lately. He had
figured out the trick of taking full advantage of non-Threadfall restdays:
Doing almost nothing but napping and having some snacks between taking care
of Zeiranth. With that kind of rest, new medication for his headaches that
didn't leave him feeling like he had overdosed on a euphoric, and plenty of
klah as needed, things were finally falling under control.

It was showing, too. His back was straighter, the shadows had pretty much
disappeared from under his eyes, and other weyrlings in his class realized
he was snapping at them less because he had more energy to put toward being
polite, as evidenced by the smiles and nods to the workers in the serving
line this day at lunch.

"You're looking better than you have been." Ninaine's voice was soft and as
always, polite, as she walked up to him, her pronounced waddle making her
slow.

A'kua smiled at his friend, pleased as ever to see her. "You look like
you're glowin'," he said sincerely, balancing his tray on one hand to give
her a quick, gentle, one-armed hug about her shoulders. "How've you been
feelin' lately?" he asked, eager to catch up. It had been too long since
they had been able to properly visit.

"Tired, mostly." She returned his hug and sat with difficulty, having to
turn her body to sit with comfort on the benches. "I'm ready for this to be
over with." She wrinkled her nose. She hated being so swollen and ungainly
all the time and she had to admit that it was something she simply didn't
want to do ever again. What would she have done at the Hold? She would have
_had_ to do this often. She couldn't imagine it now. "How is your training
going?"

The tall redhead sat down next to her. "This is my third mug of klah today,
that's how," he sighed. "Some days I don't understand how anyone gets into
the wings. There's so much to learn. And of course I'm basically actin'
like Zeiranth's pa half the time. It's not as bad as it was, but some
nights I still don't sleep well. Same as any other weyrlin', I guess." He
shrugged. "I am feelin' better, though."

"I'm still not in them." She pointed out. "I'm supposed to be helping
Weyrlings, like I have any clue how to do that, so..." She perked up and
her brows rose. "I outrank you." She paused and gave a slight grin. "You
have to do what I say."

"Enjoy it while you can," A'kua teased with a smile. "So what're your
orders at the moment?" No harm in running with it, he figured. Besides,
there likely wasn't much Ninaine could actually tell him to do since they
were both trying to eat in a timely manner.

"Well..." She started primly, then slowly relaxed as she smiled. "Would you
mind terribly helping me lace my boot?" She lifted a foot and waggled it.
"It keeps coming undone and I can't reach the thing!"

Aww. It was like a little sister asking her big brother for help. A'kua
smiled and gently took Ninaine's ankle, resting it on his knee as he
swiftly pulled the laces into their proper position. "Want a double-knot to
keep it from comin' undone so easily, or just a sailor-knot?"

"Anything that's easy to get off when they need to come off." It was
awkward having her ankle hitched up that high. It certainly wasn't lady
like, but she was willing to sacrifice it so as to not trip over herself.
"You know, Aluka. I don't think I want to do this again. I don't know why I
thought it was such a wonderful thing at the hold."

"Because no one ever told you there were other options," A'kua said,
deciding on a simple square knot instead and completing the job. "There you
go." He lowered Ninane's leg and picked up his klah for a swig. "What are
the healers sayin'? Everything's okay, right?"

"Everything is fine. For a pregnancy, they say I'm doing pretty well." She
wiggled her foot and smiled gratefully. "Thanks for that." She settled her
legs once again and rubbed her stomach. "The baby kicks me all the time
now. I think he...or she...will come out kicking."

He didn't even have those parts and that thought made A'kua cringe. But it
also tugged at a conversational string he had discussed with his friend
some months earlier. "Even now?"

Ninaine looked down at her stomach and just as Aluka finished his question,
a visible bump pushed her tunic out with a little jerk. She winced
slightly. "Even now."

A'kua got distinctly buggy-eyed, staring in amazement. Somehow, seeing that
made this more real; there truly was a tiny person inside his friend, one
that would come into the world very soon. "Could I-" He hesitated. "Would
you mind if-" Another hesitation, and then, in a quieter tone, "Is it weird
that I- that I want to feel it move too?" He had never had such a chance
back at the hold.

Ninaine just looked at him for a moment. It was one thing for N'call to cup
her belly; he'd put the child there. But would it be so bad for him, her
friend, to do that? No, she thought, it wouldn't mean the same thing as it
had with N'call. A'kua didn't look at her that way. It wouldn't hurt
anything. She bent, grabbed his hand gently and laid it flat on her rounded
stomach. She paused, her brow knitting, then moved it slightly to the side.
Within another moment, there was a sharp little kick against A'kua's hand,
then another.

The redhead almost levitated off the bench, eyes even wider. "Oh," was all
he could say in an astonished whisper. "I- Wow." Not terribly eloquent, but
it was the best he could do. He gently rubbed the kicked area. "Hey, settle
down in there, li'l one. Your ma would appreciate it," he added without
thinking.

Ninaine's eyes were gentle, despite the intimacy of the touch. "He's saying
hello to his uncle A'kua. That's all."

The weyrling's heart melted. This was the first time Ninaine had called him
that. Maybe she was finally thinking of him as her brother. "Well, they
could be a little nicer to you about it," he kidded, reluctantly
withdrawing his hand. "Thanks, sis," he tacked on, giving the greenrider a
warm smile.

Ninaine shrugged, a little embarrassed. "It's nothing."

Last updated on the December 29th 2015

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