Work Text:
It was gone.
It was all gone.
One moment she was inside, preparing food for tomorrow, the next she was coughing in a crater, as she struggled to look up. She couldn’t breathe, her arms were shaky whilst she pushed herself onto her knees and hands.
Katie stayed curled like that for what felt like forever inside the ruins of her KFC. She wasn't really aware of the fire that licked at her already burned body, nor the sluggish bleeding that came from various cuts. Her eyes burned as tears blurred her vision, half-hidden behind her cracked glasses.
Distantly she could hear the sound of someone's voice and footsteps, but it was all muddled underneath the sound of crackling fire. Hands landed on her arms, pulling her into a standing position. Her knees felt like noodles and she would've fallen if not for the hands still holding her up.
Arms wrapped around her burned shoulders, pulling her into the persons chest, dragging her away from the burning fast food restaurant. She gripped their shirt tightly as she held in a sob of pain as they squeezed at her wounds. Her head was slowly getting clearer the further they got away from the KFC, the cold night’s wind making her singed hair sway.
The voice became louder, now that their face was closer to hers, and she could make out her name.
“Kate!” The voice pierced her ears, drawing her eyes to the source.
It was Ewron, his dark eyes looking at her, with an emotion she couldn't make out with the lingering fog in her brain. When Katie didn't respond to him, he moved his focus to bringing her further from the wreckage. Once it looked like he deemed them far away enough, he lowered them onto the ground, resting her head onto his knees.
Ewron ran a hand over her forehead, gently fixing her flyaways. The tender movement made the tears finally fall from her eyes, quietly pattering against his robe.
“Katie…” he tried again, cupping the side of her face when she didn’t look at him.
He leaned in slightly, though not close enough to block the view of her KFC she couldn't stop staring at.
“Life is unfair,” she could see him smile down at her from the corner of her eye.
“Kill yourself,” he said with a shrug, turning his head towards the burning building, yet his eyes lingered on her tear-stained face, “or get over it.”
“Katie,” Ewron looked at her, caressing the side of her face, “Katie, look at me.”
He cupped her chin, guiding her head to face him, “look at me.”
When Katie's eyes focused, staring up at his, he leaned closer to her, wiping the tears from her cheek with a quick swipe of his thumb. “Get over it,” he whispered with a barely perceptible smile.
The two were quiet for a moment, before Ewroon pulled out his Warp Stone, grabbing Katie’s hand with his other hand.
“Let's get you fixed up,” he hums, activating the Crystal. Katie looked back at her beloved restaurant before the scenery changed to stone, in the blink of an eye.
Ewroon pocketed the Warp Stone and looked to Katie. “Polish Cave.” Was all he said. He grabbed one of her arms, wrapping it around his neck as his other arm wrapped around her waist, moving to a crouch, lifting Katie up with him. He held tightly onto Katie as they stumbled to the beds, and helped her sit on the nearest one.
“Stay here, Kate,” he started as he turned away, “I'll grab some potions for you.” He walked away, his form disappearing behind the large stone pillar.
Katie sat, her mind replaying what had just happened. She leaned over her knees and buried her face into her arms, trying to prevent more tears.