Chapter Text
“Okay, are we all good with the plan?”
Katya looked from the Conformitorium ahead of them back to Derwin at his question. Just the sight of the building was enough to make her heart rate quicken and her stomach squirm. The idea of going inside it again practically paralyzed her.
“I'm sorry you guys,” she admitted to her companions. “I thought I could come back here, but I just can't do it.”
Derwin and Amber looked at her sympathetically. All three of them had been thrown in the Conformitorium just over a week ago, but it hadn't taken long for them to escape since Head Witch Darius had forgotten to lock their cell door. Katya was the only one of them who had spent real time in the Conformitorium, having been arrested multiple times before, usually for weeks at a time. A part of her feared that if she entered this building again, even willingly, she might not ever come out. Luckily, her friends understood this.
“Don't worry about it,” reassured Derwin. “How about you stay out here and distract the guard while Amber and I sneak in and look for Raine?”
Searching for their lost leader was what brought them here today. All of the BATs had been arrested the day of the false raid, but only the younger trio had made it safely back to the hideout. They were sick with worry, but if Raine was here they were determined to find them.
“Yeah, Derwin and I got this,” Amber said confidently. “And we’ll be sure to free any wild witches and weirdos we see locked up, too.”
Katya smiled at her friends, feeling better already. “Thanks, you guys. Now let's do this.”
There appeared to be only one scout guarding the gate today. Katya approached him carefully while Derwin and Amber snuck around the back.
It didn't take long for the scout to see her, and he turned his masked face in her direction.
“Can I help you with something, ma'am?” he asked, sounding a bit perplexed. It was certainly unusual for civilians to hang around the Conformitorium.
Katya stumbled.
“Oh! Yes! Hi!”
He cocked his head at her.
Okay, weird start, but at least she had his attention.
“Um, great weather we're having today,” she continued.
The scout looked from her to the black smoke clouds overhead. It was always dark and cloudy on this part of the island no matter the time of day nor the season. Calling it “weather” didn't make much sense if you thought about it for too long.
“Um, if you like darkness and dry air, sure I guess,” he said. “Now if you don't need any help I should really return to my duties.”
“Wait!” Katya yelled a bit too loudly and stepped closer to the scout, getting in his personal space. “I do need help!”
“Oh, with what?”
“I uhhh…” At that moment Katya wished she had prepared a little better for this, but she was good at thinking on her feet. What satisfying lie could she possibly come up with this time? She just needed to keep this guy busy long enough for Derwin and Amber to search the prison for Raine and get out. She had to be able to come up with something. Just as long as he kept his eyes on her and didn't turn around, they would be fine. She just had to think of something quickly.
“I um…I've always wanted to see a scout without their mask on. Could you maybe take yours off?”
“I'm not really supposed to,” he said hesitantly.
“Please?” she said while batting her eyelashes. Katya knew she was a pretty girl, and that was something she planned to use to her advantage. “It's been one of my biggest wishes since I was a witchling. You'd be doing me a huuuuge favor.”
“I don’t know, I could get in trouble.”
He hadn't agreed yet, but she had his attention at least. This could work.
“I won't tell anyone, I promise! And there's no else around to see. Pretty please?” Katya put on the best pleading-eyes expression she could and placed a hand on the scout's arm. “For me?”
The scout didn't say anything for a minute, probably thinking it over. Finally he exhaled and said, “Okay, but just for a minute.”
He slowly lifted his bird shaped mask and—oh. Okay. Katya didn't know what she was expecting, but she certainly wasn't expecting this guy to actually be hot.
He had light skin with a pinkish hue to it, a handsome hooked nose, two cute birthmarks on one side of his face and a third on the other, a short white horn, and bright blue eyes. He was young for a scout, roughly about her age or perhaps a couple years older.
He was beautiful.
Caught off guard, Katya merely blinked at him for a moment.
“Okay, if that's everything—”
“Sorry!” Katya interrupted, shaking herself out of her daze. “I was just surprised. Are all scouts as good looking as you?”
Now without his mask on, nothing prevented Katya from seeing his cheeks flush bright red at the compliment. “Oh! Um… Some of them, I guess?”
She stifled a laugh. It was cute that he'd gotten so flustered over a simple compliment.
“I should probably get back to work now, if that's all,” he said while pointing over his shoulder.
“No, wait!” Katya again yelled just a bit too loudly, this time putting both her hands on his arms to prevent him from turning around. “There's something else!”
He hadn't lowered his mask, yet, and Katya saw him furrow his eyebrows at her. “Okay, what is it?”
“I, I” she stammered. Come on, think fast! All she needed to do was keep him focused on her, which should be easy considering how close they— "I've also always wanted to kiss a scout!” she blurted.
This time, his entire face lit up red as he stared back at her with his eyes wide.
Katya also blushed at her own words. Of all the things her brain could possibly think of, why did she think that? Just because they were standing close!?
“I know you're probably not supposed to, but it would mean a lot to me,” she frantically added. “You'd really be helping me.”
What was she saying!? She didn't want to kiss a scout!
Did she?
He was cute, after all.
But he was still a scout for the Emperor!
Wasn't that the point though?
“Okay,” he spoke softly.
“Wait, really?”
She hadn't actually expected him to actually agree, but she had to admit it would make a thorough distraction.
“Yeah. It's okay.”
She had his consent.
“Okay, great!”
The scout seemed unsure how to proceed, but Katya wasted no time in throwing her arms around his neck and pulling him down to her level—even with her heeled boots he was still a couple inches taller than her. She hesitated for just a moment before closing the distance between them.
The scout, who had likely been expecting a quick peck, stiffened in shock for a second before returning the kiss. And oh. Oh Titan, this guy was actually a good kisser. Okay girl, don't get distracted yourself!
The two parted, breathing heavily.
“Wow,” he said.
“Wow,” she echoed.
“That was—” he cut himself off at the sound of something falling in the distance. “What was that?” he asked no one in particular while starting to turn around, but Katya was faster.
She pulled him in for another kiss, this one more passionate than the last. The scout once again returned the kiss, this time putting one of his own hands behind her head and the other at her waist. If she was being honest, Katya got a little lost in the kiss herself.
Remembering the plan, Katya flicked open an eye to peer beyond the scout’s head. She saw Amber and Derwin, followed by half a dozen witches they had freed, sneaking out, her two friends slowing down to gawk at her.
Trying not to make her irritation obvious, she closed her eyes again and used one hand to wave them off.
She might have lost track of time just a little bit, but who could blame her? The next time she peaked her eyes open, her friends and the newly freed witches were no longer in sight. Her work here was done. With one last lingering kiss, they parted with a soft smacking sound.
“Thank you,” she said between heavy breaths. “That was um, a great help.”
“You're welcome,” he said, panting as well, but his hands were still on her.
“I’ll uh, let you get back to work now,” she said awkwardly and took a step back.
“Wait!” It was the scout this time who was a little too loud. “What's your name?”
“Katya,” she said with a soft smile. It would have definitely been smarter to use a false name, but she was still a bit too dazed to think of one right now.
“Katya,” the scout echoed, the infliction in his voice as if he were pronouncing something sacred. “I'm Steve.”
“Steve,” she repeated. “Well, thanks again.”
She prepared to turn around and walk away, but before doing so she impulsively leaned back in and placed another quick kiss on Steve's lips.
Oh Titan, why did I do that? WHY did I do THAT!?
Steve watched in a daze as he watched the beautiful and mysterious fanged witch disappear from sight. In all his years of being a scout, nothing like this had ever happened to him. He had to pinch himself to make sure it wasn't all a dream.
“WHERE ARE ALL THE PRISONERS?”
Steve was suddenly interrupted from his thoughts by the sound of Warden Wrath's angry shouting from inside the Conformitorium.
He touched a gloved hand to his lips where Katya had kissed him. He still could feel her warmth.
What the heck just happened?