An innocent kiss

ㅤ Meredy… was strange. She could start dancing in public on the street, trying to hug Reid, trying to provoke a reaction, loudly shouting "feebureel". They knew too little about Celestia, so they took all her antics for granted. 'Probably everyone on Celestia is like that…' thought the three of them, convinced that all the tales about cannibals and other absurd, yet so familiar "truths" were, in fact, utter nonsense. Every morning Meredy began with a light kiss and ended the day with one. A brief brush of lips. Barely perceptible, like breathing. The first time, Keele, still believing Meredy to be "monstrous", threw a fit, fleeing from her into the darkest corners, trying to keep her from coming close or even looking in his direction. Meredy was upset, though she tried not to give in to her despondency… Each time, she greeted Keele with a smile. Gradually, they began to understand each other. The myth of the Celestians was dispelled. Then Keele began to allow Meredy to get closer. Then she renewed her attempts, catching Keele off guard. Every morning and evening. Without any embarrassment, always smiling. As if this was how it was supposed to be—a normal thing for friends. "Do you even understand that this kind of thing isn't accepted on Inferia?" he tried to reason with the girl each time. But at some point, Keele gave in. He'd gotten used to the daily kisses and phrases, echoing them: "Good morning!", "Good night!". Soon, for Keele, too, this became an embarrassing routine, helping him fall asleep, casting aside all his worries. The realization that something was wrong came on Celestia. Observing other Celestians, Keele did not notice this peculiarity between Celestian friends. Only couples kissed each other. 'Maybe I haven’t come across it yet?' he tried to dispel his suspicions. Then he decided to ask a Celestian about local traditions, hesitating to approach Meredy directly. He would have preferred to bury himself in books and find the answer there, but his knowledge of the language wasn't yet sufficient… "Tradition?" the Celestian laughed at the stranger's stupidity. "No, of course, we don't have such customs. We only kiss those we really like, expressing affection. It's a sign of a very close relationship." Keele was stunned. His heart pounded wildly, his face flushed. His hands shook with excitement. He was completely at a loss: all this time, he'd misunderstood Meredy's actions. And now he didn't know what to do at all. Special… He was special to her… But Meredy's behavior also raised questions: "But is it really possible to do something so intimate without embarrassment? Even the first time, isn't it embarrassing?" "Why? Expressing feelings is commonplace for Celestians. We share our feelings, and whether they're accepted is a matter of luck. No one forces anyone to love them. Sometimes it's enough to warm a heart, to smile at someone you care about." For a moment, Keele stood there, mouth open, watching the stranger go. He tried to process the information he'd received. To figure out what to do next. Talk? The thought sent shivers down his spine, catching up with the sudden shudder. Panic twisted all his emotions, reaching his stomach through them. He had to grit his teeth, close his eyes, and calm himself, concentrating on his breathing. On logic! "There's no point in running away. Sooner or later we'll have to talk about this…. Be a man, finally!" he tried the most futile argument, fully aware of his weaknesses. His strength wasn't in willpower or physical strength. He's a scientist. And the thought of Meredy made his brain shut down… ㅤ Alone with Meredy, Keele began hesitantly: "About those kisses..." From his worried gaze and the fragment of his question, Meredy understood everything. She only smiled reassuringly. "It's fine. Think about it some more. Now is not the time to make a decision." 'And when will there be time?' the question remained unasked. However, Keele understood even without it. Too much was at stake. Meredy didn't dare allow herself to relax. But Keele had settled into her heart… He inspired her. With him, Meredy felt good and natural. She experienced a long-forgotten happiness… Not the small joys that help her endure until the next day. But real. Unshakable. But she couldn't admit it directly and ask for anything more. Until then, the threat existed… So she bided her time, content with little. It was enough for her that Keele no longer pushed her away. They still had time to get closer. As well as the opportunity to observe each other. To understand what drew them together. Why their hearts always felt warm when they were together… Even without words. And how important it was to preserve this feeling in the future. Is it worth it? Trying to figure this out, Keele began to look at Meredy differently. To understand her better. And what had once seemed strange and incomprehensible now seemed obvious and ordinary. All that remained was to save the world… ㅤ