Aeres - Kaelin

_{Good Bond}


Aeres let out another painful cough that wracked her whole body with a terrible ache. She could feel her head pulsating each time her heart beat and the pain was making her feel disoriented.

This was quite possibly the worst cold she had ever had, or consciously acknowledged for that matter.

Nevertheless, the young woman struggled out of her bed—she had things to do, training to complete. She couldn’t slack out of it—no cold could stop her. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and the movement itself caused her head to spin and she squeezed her eyes shut tightly. Had anyone come across her she would have looked nearly the same as usual—sulky, annoyed and far too angry. Now, throwing in pain made her look a little more intimidating than usual.

Her hair was down—which was unusual. She habitually pulled it back in tight, low pony- tail. Though now that she had just woken up her black hair danced down her back in gentle waves that looked similar to her father’s hair. She had inherited a few things from him—not many physical, but more mental and emotional. Though her father had grown out of his stoic self after raising thirteen children, she had grown up under his distant personality. That distance and defensiveness had rubbed off on her.

She wasn’t angry about that. Yami had been a good father, regardless of the fact that he had struggled to show affection during most of her childhood. He had changed though over time, but she had not.

Kaelin, whom she and her siblings affectionately referred to as “Papa” to reduce any confusion between their two fathers, had always been and would always be like a mother to her. He was sweet, gentle, and sometimes overly protective. His bubbly personality and flamboyant ways often threw her off, but she loved him dearly. He may not be biologically related to her like Yami, but he had raised her as his own—along with the majority of her siblings that shared no blood relation to either herself or either of her parents. Their family was a close one; blood relations had little merit.

Aeres stood slowly, coughing painfully into her hand. She could feel each cough reverberating through her chest and it was not all together pleasant. The young woman made her way to her dresser—which was rather plain and unattractive. The only thing set on it was a well used comb and a hair tie. She quickly ran the comb through her hair and in between coughs managed to pull her hair back up into its customary and simple style.

There was a knock on her door and she looked up into the mirror blankly, waiting for the intruder to enter. After a moment the door opened and a familiar face poked out from behind the cracked door.

Kaelin smiled brightly upon seeing his second eldest daughter, “Mind if I come in, Aeres, dear?”

“Sure,” the woman replied turning around to face him.

Kaelin stepped inside and closed the door. “…Aeres, you don’t plan on doing any training today, do you?”

“Of course I do.” Aeres snapped, but suddenly was overcome with another round of haggard coughing. She struggled to regain control of her breathing again and cleared her throat, “This is nothing, Papa. I’m fine.”

Kaelin, ever persistent, and a well-renowned doctor himself, frowned worriedly and made his way to his daughter. He reached up to place the back of his hand to his daughter’s forehead. He made a noise of distress and suddenly both his hands were touching her face and neck. Aeres twitched slightly—she enjoyed her personal space. Even if it was her Papa, she didn’t like being touched.

“Papa, I’m—“

“—Running a terrible fever. Back in bed you.” Kaelin began to usher his daughter back towards her bed and Aeres was rather surprised how forceful he could be. Then again, she realized whom he was dealing with. Anything other than a firm tone and a few more firmer nudges wouldn’t have any convincing tone for her. She needed to be a little bullied. It was strange though coming from Kaelin.

She found herself back in bed, blankets pulled up to her chest and her pillows all cushioned behind her so she could sit up properly in bed. She found Kaelin’s ability to get her back in bed rather admirable. Had it been anyone else, she probably would have muscled her way out of it. Kaelin was an exception. There was something about forcing her way out of submission from a monk that didn’t feel right. So instead she simply sat, sulking, in the bed and refused to meet her Papa’s gaze.

Kaelin chewed at his lip, looking rather distraught at the fact that he had upset his daughter. He put on a firm face—that’s what she wanted. Instead of outdoing him physically she was going to guilt trip him. He wouldn’t have any of that!

“Here’s a good book,” Kaelin said, pulling a small worn book from inside his robes. “I think you’ll enjoy it while you’re here getting some rest.”

Aeres eyed the book suspiciously for a moment before quietly reaching out to take it. She turned the book over to read the title, Temple of Eithian. Her eyebrows raised in surprise. It was a sacred temple, a temple that she had always wanted to visit. It was a temple of fighters and a very secretive society. She had always enjoyed studying other temples’ fighting styles. Eithian had always been one of her favorites. Literature was lacking for this particular group, for obvious reasons. She was rather surprised her Papa had gotten a hold of one of the few books.

Her gray gaze lifted slightly and the corner of her mouth twitched into the slightest of smiles. “Where did you get this?”

Kaelin did well not to smile I return, “I’ve been holding it ransom for such an occasion,” he said matter-of-factly.

Aeres looked up from the first page that she had already started reading, “Such an occasion?” she repeated, arching one eyebrow.

“You being sick and needing an excuse to stay in bed.” He leaned forward and kissed her cheek. She quickly dropped her gaze back to the book and began to read feverishly, as if she was trying to ignore the gestures of affection and love that always seemed to foreign to her, even if Kaelin had always treated her like this. “I’ll be back with some tea and soup. You just… stay in bed.”

When Kaelin left the room Aeres finally let her eyes rise from the book and she stared silently at the closed door. A smile crept onto her face, and for the moment she looked genuinely sweet and gentle, a rare occurrence for her. She couldn’t help herself, she just felt thoroughly loved. The smiles that she forced away couldn’t help but break through.

Kaelin just seemed to have that affect on people.

<sub>A/N:Story Bond 23/81 of a project I'm working on.

The moment I pulled out this combination I knew what I wanted to write. However, I've been so busy the last couple of weeks between having company and work that I haven't had the time or mentality to write this. I'm sorry for neglecting you Aeres, Kaelin! <3!

Aeres, if you haven't noticed (or haven't read the others) is sort of stoic, impulsive and doesn't like showing emotions or dealing with others emotions. She doesn't like being affectionate or having affection put onto her... and that was just somethings he picked up from Yami growing up. He use to have a stoic side and only seemed gentle and sincere to Kaelin. Eventually he learned how to open up to his children--somewhere around Perry (his 8th child who he personally decided to adopt without the consent of Kaelin ((who wouldn't have minded anyways, seriously))). It's not that Yami was completely cold to them, it was more so that he was awkward. e_e

Kaelin... Kaelin is pretty much the sweetest thing that exists. Like... he's just pure sugar crystals. DX;;; He knows his children well enough to know how to talk/encourage them accordingly to their personality. Aeres and Perry are a little harder for him because they're both so indifferent to others emotions. Kaelin being somewhat overly emotional has to tone down a little around them and know when to bully them (gently, of course!) and when to baby them.</sub>


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