You jumped up from the sofa with a start, it had just passed 11pm and your phone alarm had awakened you from your food-induced nap
You had promised to pick Kronii up from the bar where she was having some celebratory drinks with the rest of the council, neither of you trusted her sense of direction to find her way back home by public transport on top of her likely inebriated state
Snatching up your coat and keys, you fire a message to Kronii apologising and saying you were on your way. You were more worried about her being upset at you than her being angry
The engine roars and you turn out into the road. Your phone hadn't buzzed with a reply from her and usually she would respond to you very quickly
The bar wasn't too far of a drive but you couldn't help but panic slightly. She had told you she couldn't handle her drinks, she wasn't comfortable in social situations, she was headstrong and you were concerned she might have stormed off to find her own way home
Kronii had brought up her trust issues on a semi-regular basis, those words swimming in your dome. You had been her rock for a while now, even though it had taken a while she had opened up and trusted you more and more each passing day; but you knew even something this small as being late to pick her up would be a blow to her
You were more aggressive with the clutch than usual, you beeped at minor inconvieniences that slowed you down even slightly. Kronii was all that mattered to you after all, her trust was a delicate spring flower at threat from a cold frost.
11:22pm, you had made it to the bar car park, albeit late. She still hadn't replied to you
Another message, this time stating your arrival, sent off as you hurredly left the car and walked up to the bar. Last orders had been rung and people were slowly filtering out of door
Brazenly, you push the clientele, brushing off the aggrivated complaints and slurs
"Excuse me..." you approach one of the bartenders, asking him about the whereabouts of a distinctive woman
"She's waiting in the office" A wave of relief flushed over you, only to be replaced with dread, dread of how Kronii would react, how even a simple mistake like this could fracture her trust in you
Kronii was led through the bar and she walked past you, you reached out to grab her arm but she shrugged your attempt off and walked out into the cold evening
You jog out, this time firmly grasping her arm and turning her round
"Kronii!" you croak, you felt her sorrowful demeanour before she even looked up at you; Her head hung low, she stiffled a sob and wiped her nose with the back of her coat jacket. You lifted her head up to meet her, those large sapphire eyes were damp and bloodshot, tearmarks stained her cheek. Her sprigs of hair stuck to her pale, forlorn face. She was trembling slightly and was trying her hardest to hold in a painful sob
"I...I'm sorry" Is all you can feebly putter out, tears whelling up in you too. You felt like the blue heart she had given you had developed a new crack
There was only one solution, your body took control and pulled Kronii in close, hugging her tight, not wanting to let her go. A muffled sob reverberated though your coat as she reciprocated the embrace. You both stand there, together, in the cold night air
"I won't break your trust again" you murmur into her ear
Kronii had composed herself a little now and with a big sniff and wiping her face on your jacket, she releases from your embrace and wraps around your arm
"You had better not!" Her characteristic haughty manner had returned to a degree. You both laughed as you walked her to the car, next time you'll set your alarm far earlier...