Chapter 8: A Simple Misunderstanding

Throughout the entire night, Dean hadn’t made a single move towards her. And that did not make Yuki the least bit comfortable.

He acted like a gracious, but distant host. Even when she had dolled herself up for him, Dean refrained from commenting on Yuki’s appearance.

After eating Pizza, and drinking what was her first beer. Dean said he was going to bed for the night and told her to clean up whatever mess she had made before heading upstairs.

She stayed downstairs, flipping through the man’s internal servers, and found that he wasn’t lying.

Most of the best cinema and television was recorded and downloaded internally. Meaning that even if the internet went down, they would still have access to entertainment.

And it wasn’t just movies; there were plenty of video games, single-player or multiplayer, to choose from.

Had he really gone so far as to preserve entertainment? When she thought of the lengths Dean had gone to in order to prepare for this storm. She had only one thought.

This storm isn’t going to end anytime soon, is it?

The military logo on the beer tap caught her eye as she brought her dishes to the kitchen sink. Washing off any residue that remained before placing them in the dishwasher.

As she looked at the custom tap, she saw the photo framed next to it. There Dean stood with what she presumed were his parents, wearing a grey beret with a distinctive flash.

The Flash had a yellow-gold outline, with a diagonally divided blue and black field. In its center was a silver badge that matched the one inlaid into the tap.

On his biceps were four distinctive patches. One was the unit insignia of the particular company he was attached to, and above it were four patches reading as:

Ranger

Recon

Airborne

Yuki didn’t think much of the photo, at least not at first. But as she returned to her bedroom and showered for a second time in order to make herself comfortable. She found herself lying on her bed, looking at her phone.

While the internet was still up and running she decided to look into the background of Dean and what that photo really meant.

She quickly realized that her neighbor next door was not some crazy doomsday prepper who had just so happened to be proven right. Nor was he some guy who just got lucky.

He was a former member of the Union of Columbia Airforce Special Operations Command, particularly its Special Reconnaissance who were until just a few years ago known as Special Operations Weather Technicians.

In other words, when Dean was serving in the UCAF, he was one of the Special Operations Combat Weathermen who transitioned into the first Special Reconnaissance officers.

Once she read this information, it all made sense to her.

“So that’s how he knew… That’s why he spent this last month preparing…. He absolutely knew this winter was coming ,and if he went to this extent… Then it really isn’t ending tomorrow, is it?”

She sank her head deep into her plush pillow to conceal the fear that had spread across it. Thoughts of dread rapidly filled her mind.

Was the world really coming to an end?

Will my family truly be safe in the Lion City?

Why did he take me in?

The last thought plagued Yuki’s mind as she thought back to the first time Dean had mentioned the snow to her. Until now, she had barely interacted with the man.

They were neighbors for less than two months before the world began to freeze over. They weren’t friends, and as far as she knew, it’s not like he owed her anything? Why would he possibly take her in, and her alone? Why go out of his way to alert her to the upcoming snowstorm?

There was only one thing she could think of, and it made her heart beat rapidly. Not in the way one felt when they were head over heels in love.

But in the way one might have when they were about to enter a panic attack. Her breath became short as she hid her head further in the pillows, trying to distance herself from the idea.

She couldn’t…. I mean, she didn’t even see Dean that way, even if he was kind of her type…. She wasn’t that kind of girl! Or so she told herself. But the idea of being sent back out there… back into the cold… with no food, no warmth… nobody to protect her….

Yuki rose from her bed and picked out a nightgown that she had purchased in an attempt to gain some self-confidence after moving to the Union of Columbia for college and preparing to re-invent her identity.

It was a bit too provocative, even for her wildest dreams. And yet… She looked over at the door, which was closed.

—

Dean was already half asleep when the knock on his door woke him up. He didn’t startle or stir, nor gain instant clarity. He simply called out to whoever was on the other side, trying to struggle away from sleep’s warm embrace.

“Hmm? Yeah it’s open….”

The door opened to reveal Yuki in the doorway wearing nothing but a pink sheer nightgown with leopard print to conceal some of the more sensitive areas.

Her arms were crossed beneath her bust, as her face was flushed with embarrassment. She stood there silently as Dean still struggled to fully open his eyes.

“Dean… do you need some help…. Warming your bed?”

There was silence following these words as Yuki shut her eyes, bracing for the answer. Only to be shocked as she heard the slurred words come from a man who was more asleep than awake.

“Warm? Yeah, go ahead and turn up the heat if you want, it’s not a problem. Good night….”

He then turned over beneath his sheets and fell right back to sleep. Leaving Yuki to stand in his doorway, utterly bewildered. Her hands dropped to her sides while she struggled to keep her jaw from following them.

“Thanks….”

She quickly closed the door behind her as she walked out of his room. And stood there for a solid minute absolutely dumbfounded by what had just happened.

He doesn’t want my body….

When the realization hit her, she fell to her knees and covered her head in shame, all while crying and muttering under her breath.

“Yuki! You’re such an idiot!”

She didn’t realize it, but the moment she closed the door behind her, Dean’s eyes opened wide, showing a clarity that hadn’t been there a moment before.

He heard the girl sulk and criticize herself on the other side of his door before shutting his eyes and shifting his head back into his pillow all while thinking to himself.

I’m not pulling the pin on that grenade just yet….

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