Nothing is Easy (Finished)

[ruma]

Ruma looked away for a moment and sighed. She was never really around outsiders, so everyone knew the story. She broke off from him and sat at the foot of the bed, letting the memories flood her again.

"It's not a story I'm used to sharing. Everyone here already knows it. But I'll do my best." She cleared her throat and began to tear up again.

"Far as I know, Me, Kotone, Merik, and Mara all have mothers who are sisters. Merik's died giving birth to him. That was two years before I was born. I'm the youngest, by about a month. Kotone is Merik's age, Mara is mine. For 6 years after I was born, we were all very close, then I began to acquire my technology fondness, and spent time building. Nothing advanced, just simple projects. Two years later we got hit by the plague." At mention of the plague Ruma broke down crying. She tried to continue her story, but had trouble forming the words over the tears.

[Jin Reno]

Jin looked at her as she pulled away from him and knew instantly that he hit a sore spot, and before he could apologize, she was already speaking. He looked down at her and moved next to her, listening intently. Jin placed his hand on her back as she spoke, listening to her explanation about her relationship with Merik, Kotone, and another Gerudo named Mara.

It was when she mentioned a plague that it seemed like Ruma couldn't continue, and Jin simply pulled her against his body, stroking her head and offering a soft shh sounds. "I am sorry I brought it up Ruma... I wanted to know more about you, but I didn't know you had such trouble in your past. We don't have to talk about it anymore if you don't want to."

[ruma]

Ruma took off her glasses and put them aside so she could bury her head in Jin's chest, some of her tears falling down his chest. She squeezed him tightly to her, forgetting about his sore ribs for the moment because she just needed a hug so badly right now.

"*Sob* it's ok. It's just...the plague *sob* was such a tough time." She couldn't escape the memories. Kotone and Mara and her mother coming down with it, what the suffered through to survive. "I know you didn't mean to make me cry. You just didn't know my past. It's...tough to talk about." She curled up in his arms and fought to hold back the tears, but they just kept coming.

[Jin Reno]

As she moved into his chest and cried, Jin just held her against him, stroking her hair softly and comfortingly, rocking her gently to help calm her down. He had no idea that there was a plague, and apparently, it was very bad to have caused her pain like this. He kissed the top of her head softly and just held her for a little bit longer, before looking down at her once more.

"I understand that its tough... but you have lots of happy memories to right? Of everyone and your younger years? That should be enough to help you now." He said softly, stroking her cheek before lifting her chin up to face him. "You still have an amazing family here who takes care of you... a family that is here for you." He said, kissing her softly on the lips to help calm her down.

[ruma]

As she cried she felt comforted by Jin and him holding her. She was feeling a bit better after a moment and kissed Jin right back. She wasn't quite calm but calm enough to continue.

"Thanks. It's just really hard to think back to that and not cry. It was a tough time for all of us. I was lucky. In my relative isolation I managed to avoid the plague. But mother and Kotone got real sick. Mother didn't make it, and Kotone lost her voice. It was a tough time for all of us. Then two years later Kotone and Mara lost their mothers at sea. Merik's tried really hard to give us a normal life but we're Gerudo, we were strong for him and he for us. But we're all still alive and really close. We're still family." She couldn't bear the thought of losing any of her cousins. They were like sister to her. Except for Merik, who is male.

"And I have you." She kissed him again, with enough force to lay him down on the bed with her on top of him, placed strategically to avoid the ribs.

[Jin Reno]

He listened to her, nodding his head to her story, rubbing her back gently and watching her. "Thats why Kotone doesn't speak... I am sorry about your parents, but you have your memories of them, and you have Merik and your cousins for you, thats really all you need." Jin said, though the last part sound a bit more empty then he had planned it, but he didn't want to go into it, not now, not tonight. She had just told him a bit part of her past, opened herself to him, but there was a question on his mind he couldn't rid himself of.

Jin kissed her back and allowed himself to be laid back down on the bed, and he looked up at her. "Yeah... you have me." He said softly, stroking her hair once more. "Ruma... what is family like?" Jin asked finally, looking at her with a stone face, as if hiding himself from her eyes.

[ruma]

Ruma was glad he was there to console her. Typically when the thoughts came up she just cried it out, but with him there he could be helped to feel better.

What was family like? Where to begin? "It's the best feeling in the world. Having someone there for you at any time, who is willing to drop everything just for you. It's the best. Why do you ask? Don't you...have... It just dawned on her why he would ask such a question. She looked back at him with sympathetic eyes. "I'm sorry Jin. But...now you have a family...sort of. Maybe." She hugged him tight, giving him another kiss. She was getting the hang of it, and like everyone who just found something new and amazing, she couldn't get enough of it.

[Jin Reno]

Jin looked to the side as she spoke about the amazing things about having a family. Each word made his chest hurt, and try as he might, he couldn't stop his eyes from watering. Family was an amazing thing, yet he wasn't even sure if he had any out there, nor how they would even react to him now, since it had been at least a decade and a half since he had been alone.

"I'm not sure if I told you about where I grew up... alone... in a strangely well furnished cavern system out in the desert. I think I was at least six years old... my face and body scarred up... the first of many I suppose. Alone... 4 years I only heard my own voice. Then I found Sasha in the caves and she was the only thing I could talk to... 10 years after that... nothing... I left the cavern and met with a harsh world... things in the desert aiming to kill me constantly." Jin said, rubbing his head a bit.

"I can't remember anymore then that... I choose my own name... from a character in a book I read. A poe was the one who saved me, and because it saved my life... I must avenge it's death..." Jin said, knowing he left out details that shaped him. "Even this is new too me... strange and frightening."

"I don't want this to just be another dream..."

[ruma]

Ruma was sympathetic as he told a synopsis of his own story. She had been born almost with a silver spoon in her mouth, and here he was, probably living in his best conditions ever, and he was a slave. It was enough to make her forget her own problems, as they seemed insignificant compared to his.

"Wow, you've been through a lot. But...I know I can't be a suitable replacement, and I don't know if the others would be willing, but I can try my best to be the family you never had." She leaned back into him, giving him another kiss. Maybe her best yet as she was continuing to love the feel of it, again and again. As she broke it off she laid her head on his stomach and smiled.

"It's not a dream Jin. This is real."

[Jin Reno]

Jin looked at her and gave her a hug, letting out a sigh and giving her a soft kiss. "I had food, water, a place to sleep, and books to read... I survived off of those just fine for a while... but in the end... it was the loneliness that was the hardest part." He said, stroking her hair softly as she rested on his stomach.

"Ever since I've actually met other people I try to be around them as much as possible... but some people are rotten... some people are dangerous... and yet some are like you, and kind, and some are like Merik... strong, tough, but nice to those he cares about." Jin added, laying his head back and letting out a sigh. "I am glad to have met you... I really am." He said, rubbing his eyes for a moment.

He gently ran his fingers over her cheek and spoke, "You had it rough... I just didn't have anything to compare it too til now." Jin then smiled at Ruma and took her hand in his, squeezing it comfortingly. "Let's not let our pasts bother us anymore, ok?"

[ruma]

Ruma nodded to him, a little tear forming again. She was able to quickly brush it aside, as if he had given her a new-found strength. "We used our pasts to make ourselves stronger. Let's not waste it." As he took her hand in his, she smiled and nodded again.

"Agreed. And...I'm glad I met you too." She rolled onto her back, pulling Jin on top of her. From there she kissed him again, keeping him close. She wanted to forget it all again, go back to the moment where it was just them, and no one else was important.

[Jin Reno]

"From today on... lets not worry about the past and just forge through to tomorrow." He said to her, glad that she was feeling better, though not fully being able to take his own words to heart yet. Right now it was important to make her feel better, to make her feel happy and comfortable. He had to deal with his own past in his own time.

With little resistance, he was pulled on top of her and he gave her a smile and returned the kiss, one hand sliding beneath her waist and holding her while the other cupped her cheek. As they kissed, he just had to wonder how anyone got anything done with such an amazing feeling.

[ruma]

As the kiss continued on, Ruma found her hands drifting. They started together, and around his neck, and began to move around his chest, his back, and his arms. The feeling of him holding her waist was particularly tingly. She giggled underneath the kiss. It tickled a bit.

After it finally broke off, she sighed with content, looking to Jin with glowing eyes. "So, uhhh, what do you wanna do now?" she asked, having a couple of things in mind thanks to her sister, but still not entirely sure how to proceed.

[Jin Reno]

He continued to kiss Ruma, feeling her hands running around his body softly, and he shivered softly, and when she broke the kiss he pulled back and looked at her softly, breathing softly, the entire thing just amazing. However, when she asked the question, Jin blushed and pulled back a bit.

"I do like you Ruma... but... I don't think we should rush anything..." He said, looking down at her and stroking her cheek. "You are both beautiful and amazing... but I've known you for two days... I want to know you better before we try to do anymore." Jin said, before going back and sitting on his knees on the bed.

With a rub of his head, Jin let out a soft sigh. "I am sorry... I disappointed you... haven't I..."

[ruma]

Ruma was a little saddened by his thought of waiting. Part of her knew they both wanted this, but she couldn't really blame him.

She reached up and put a hand on his lips. "No. You haven't. I understand your hesitation. I just...I'm enjoying this so much. Maybe we should hold off, let the feelings build up." She laughed, running the finger down his chest until she removed it around his navel.

"Although I do think you've disappointed someone." She got the feeling Kotone was really pushing for this. But this wasn't her decision to make, it was theirs.

[Jin Reno]

He looked at her, keeping quiet while she spoke, trying to understand if she didn't mind. "I was enjoying this too... but it seems as if things moved a little to quick." When she slid a finger down his chest and stomach he couldn't help but shiver at her touch. It was so... teasing, like she was trying to mess with him just a bit.

"Sorry... I... didn't mean to disappoint anyone..." He said, rubbing his head, thinking it was Ruma he was disappointing. He turned on the bed and sat down at the foot of it, rubbing the back of his neck, moving his fingers around the dark metal. "I can say this much at least... by taking it slow... we can enjoy more romantic things."

[ruma]

Ruma shrugged off his comments. So he didn't want to disappoint anyone. "Don't worry about disappointing anyone. It's more important that you stick to your guns. I've already agreed, and I could essentially force you to do it if I wanted. Which means you're saying the right things and doing the right actions." She leaned forward and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you for voicing your concerns."

Quickly, she got up off of the bed and began to put her boots on. "Get your shirt on and get ready, we're heading to the main lab."

[Jin Reno]

Jin looked at her and wondered if she was telling him the truth, but he didn't want to force the issue and he just nodded his head as she pecked his cheek. "Alright... I am glad I didn't upset you then." He said, and he pushed himself onto his feet and watched as Ruma began to get ready. He had to get ready too now, so he wanted to do so.

He got his shirt on and looked over at Ruma, before putting on a few more pieces of clothes. "You have a main lab? Is it as messy as this room was?" Jin asked, smiling at her before he walked over to her and wrapped his arms around her. "I can say one thing about tonight that is good... I got to know you a bit better... and that you kiss really well." He said with a smile, before leaning down and giving her a kiss.

When he pulled back, he looked up in thought before adding, "Though I guess I have no way or knowing... but its still really good."

[ruma]

"Yeah, it's pretty messy. Mostly spare parts. I'll need your help to actually dismantle my old non-functional airship and use the plating to start making the new design. I found a new design that will use less power and I want to test it on a larger scale." She was pumped up to try out the new scale, though it would likely be months before it was even ready for preliminary testing. Maybe with Jin it would go faster.

"Ooh, Jin don't tease me like that." She turned around and kissed him right back, loving the continued sensation. As she finished putting on her boots, she hopped up and headed toward the door.

[Jin Reno]

"Oooooh? Are you working on a new Airship idea? I get to help? Amazing!" Jin said, enjoyment sparkling in his eyes as he wanted to get over there and see it himself. He finished getting his sandals on and smiled at Ruma before rubbing his chin and wondering about something. "Hey... will the crew members get optional clawshots? I think they'd want them if they fell from the airship." He said, grinning at Ruma.

"Though I think first it might be smart if we clean your Main lap up a bit if its as messy as you say." Jin added, rubbing his chin before grinning at Ruma. "You might say not to tease you like that... but we both know its an amazing feeling." He said to her, before walking to the door with her, giving her hand a soft squeeze.

He stopped for a moment, before looking back at Lisa. "Come on Lisa, lets go see what Ruma has done!" Jins aid, and the tortoise moved toward them happily.