Enestos

"Why does it have to be so hot?" Hazel whined. His skin was red from sunburn, it felt like he was being pierced by tiny needles all-over.

"Hmmmm… I dunno… maybe 'cuz we're in the middle of a fricking desert, Sherlock." If there was one thing Hazel had learned about Kaitlyn in the hour they'd been walking, it was that she had an endless fondness for sarcasm.

"I didn't go to bed with socks on, so my feet are literally baking right now." Hazel continued.

"I will leave you here."

"I would prefer if you didn't."

"That's what I thought. By the way, do you know how to fight? Like, at all?"

She asked, stopping and turning to face him with that intense green gaze.

"No. Maybe? I… I don't know." He grimaced, I still have no idea who I am, or who I was. Kaitlyn didn't comment on his odd behavior, she didn't pry, only stared at him inquisitively.

The lack of nosiness is something I can appreciate, she is only following our agreement though.

Hazel recalled their earlier conversation:

"Get up." Kaitlyn extended a hand, helping him to his feet.

"What? Wh-why am I alive?" Hazel looked around: still desert, still disgustingly hot.

"Because I didn't feel like killing you, and… I could use a partner." She smiled at him, then punched him in the gut.

"Owww, what the he*l was that for?!"

"I dunno, I felt like hitting someone and you just happened to be right here in front of me."

The sky was still dark, it seemed that a storm was beginning to form. The earlier wind had calmed down, but only slightly. The sand at his feet was crusty with blood, mostly Hazel's. He went to move his arm but swiftly clutched it at the sharp pain, the experience was the same when he tried to walk.

"Hey, hey," Kaitlyn soothed, gently helping him sit back down, "let's get you patched up, and… I'm sorry."

"Nah, I-ugh!" Hazel let out a pained grunt as Kaitlyn forcefully extended his arm. Her touch was hesistant, but the contact still sent tingles racing down the injured limb. "I went and foolishly challenged you, I let my hubris get out of hand. Don't worry about it." He finished. Kaitlyn still gazed at him worriedly though, much to Hazel's dismay.

"I swear it's alright! I uhh… I just figured I had to get out of that situation. Having that blade to my throat got me thinking. I just realized that I haven't really done anything meaningful with my life, at least what I reme—," Hazel cut himself off, I want to keep that private. I can't just go around telling everyone I have amnesia.

"I… know the feeling. I'm gonna bandage your arm, is that alright?" She asked. Hazel replied with a nod and gritted his teeth.

"So, what the h*ll does 'hubris' mean?"

"Are you kidding me?" Hazel asked, incredulously.

"Shut up. I've never been good with words anyway."

"It's kind of a synonym for 'pride.'"

"Oh, ok."

There was an awkward silence as she slowly wrapped the white cloth around his forearm. Hazel could feel the blood rushing to his cheeks as he blushed.

"So, I never got around to asking, but uhh, why are you naked?" Kaitlyn asked.

"Technically I'm not naked, I've got my boxers on. To answer your question though, I didn't want to overheat. I forgot to factor sunburn into the equation though."

"I still think you're an exhibitionist."

"I am not an exhibitionist!"

"Right."

Hazel sighed, defeated. Kaitlyn finished with his right arm and moved to his leg. And I thought having my arm bandaged was embarassing! This is two times worse, Hazel lamented. With a grunt, he laid back, staring at the gray sky. Though the air was cooler than before, the sand was still hot, the pain was bearable more so now than before.

Kaitlyn pulled the final bandage tight, then, unexpectedly, she lay down beside Hazel. Both were staring pensively at the sky, as if they were lost in their own separate worlds.

I never really thought this through, how would I explain any of it to her? My memory loss, waking up halfway across the globe, and all of the other strange crap that's happened to me recently. How did I ever go off thinking I could be a suitable partner in crime?

Kaitlyn bumped his side with her head in a comforting manner, "if I didn't think you could do it, I would have just left you here." She said.

"Can you read minds?"

"No, only faces."

"Then what does mine say?"

"It says you're worried… and also turned on." Kaitlyn said, busting into laughter.

"What?! Nuh uh!" His voiced cracked halfway through, even I know I'm lying! Hazel desperately tried to save face. "I-I mean, how would you react if you had a complete stranger rubbing themselves all over you?!"

"I was not 'rubbing myself all over you,' I was tending to your possibly life threatening wounds!" She punched him in the shoulder jokingly.

"Oh yeah. I forgot about that part." Hazel muttered, a stupid grin forming on his face. I can always appreciate a little humor between coworkers.

"I think we should set some boundaries," Kaitlyn asserted.

"What kind of boundaries?"

"The usual."

"I'm assuming that means no getting involved in each others lives?"

"Yeah, pretty much. One more thing, though, you have to do everything I tell you to. This isn't a game, people die. That guy over there is one example." She pointed straight at the marred corpse lying in the sand.

"Does that mean I get a gun?!" Hazel jumped to his feet, giddy and revitalized.

"Typical American."

"Uhh, you're American too… right? Also, you've got one right there," Hazel gestured towards the holstered weapon at her side, "and you didn't hesitate to aim it at me, did you?"

"Fair point."

Both of them paused for a minute, each collecting themselves.

"Shake on it?" Hazel offered, extending his hand with a grin.

"You sir, have found yourself a partner." She grabbed his hand and shook it vigorously.

I can't tell if I just made one he*l of a mistake, or one he*l of a good deal.