KIRO’S STORY / CHAPTER 29 OF 36
Tower
by hasira · about 18 min read
Kiro made it maybe ten steps.
Then stopped.
“Fuck.”
Susie turned around.
“What?”
Kiro stared back toward the Ranger.
“The cameras.”
Susie looked at her empty shoulder.
“Oh.”
“I brought you to a lake in the middle of nowhere, found an old watchtower, and left your camera bag in the truck.”
“Kiro, it's fine.”
“No.”
He was already running.
“You don't have to run!”
Kiro ignored her.
He reached the Ranger, opened the passenger door and grabbed her camera bag from behind the seat.
Then noticed the smaller pouch beside it.
Took that too.
When he came back, he was slightly out of breath.
Susie was waiting beneath the tower.
Kiro handed everything over.
“In case you want pictures from the top.”
Her expression softened.
“Thanks.”
“Yeah.”
Kiro looked upward.
His confidence disappeared.
The tower was much worse from underneath.
Four tall wooden supports rose above them, connected by heavy crossed beams.
A staircase zigzagged through the open structure.
One flight.
Landing.
Turn.
Another flight.
Again.
Again.
Nothing enclosed.
Nothing hiding the ground.
At the very top sat a small wooden cabin, windows on every side, with a narrow balcony wrapped around it.
The whole structure looked solid.
Old.
Maintained.
And very, very open.
Wind moved between the beams.
Something above them creaked.
Kiro stared.
Susie followed his eyes.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.”
Another quiet creak.
Kiro's ears lowered.
“No.”
Susie looked amused.
“You don't like heights.”
“It's complicated.”
“Looks pretty simple.”
Kiro pointed upward.
“If I'm inside something, I'm fine. Building, roof with a wall, window, whatever.”
Then he pointed at the open staircase.
“But that can go fuck itself.”
Susie laughed.
“You brought me here.”
“I remembered the view.”
“You forgot the tower?”
“I remembered stairs.”
Kiro looked through the gaps between the beams.
“I did not remember being able to watch the ground get farther away the entire time.”
Susie's smile softened.
“We don't have to climb it.”
Kiro looked at her like she'd insulted him.
“I drove your truck illegally through half a forest to show you this.”
“That's not a good reason.”
“It's the reason I have.”
He started toward the stairs.
Before they reached them, Kiro noticed a small wooden building farther behind the tower.
He stopped.
Susie sighed.
“What now?”
Kiro pointed.
“Storage.”
“You sound excited.”
“I am curious.”
“That's usually worse.”
He walked toward it.
Susie followed.
The small building wasn't locked.
Inside were shelves with tools, replacement boards, old fuel cans, cleaning supplies and maintenance equipment.
Something farther inside made a low steady hum.
Kiro's ears lifted.
He leaned around a shelf.
“Generator.”
Susie looked past him.
“Still running?”
“Looks like it.”
A heavy cable disappeared from the building and ran toward the tower.
Kiro smiled.
“There's electricity.”
Susie stared at him.
“You're way too happy about that.”
“There might be lights.”
“There might also be whoever owns all this.”
Kiro looked around.
“No one here now.”
“Very reassuring.”
He stepped outside again.
“So it's not abandoned abandoned.”
Susie adjusted the camera bag on her shoulder.
“More like unattended.”
“Good enough.”
The first flight wasn't terrible.
They were barely above the ground.
The wooden stairs were wide enough.
The railing felt solid.
Kiro relaxed slightly.
Click.
Kiro turned around.
She was photographing an old bolt where two wooden beams crossed.
“You have an entire lake waiting at the top.”
Susie checked the picture.
“I know.”
“You photographed a screw.”
“It's an interesting screw.”
Kiro stared at her.
“Sure.”
Click.
“Another one?”
“Different screw.”
“Jesus Christ.”
They reached the first landing.
Kiro looked down.
Mistake.
Not high yet.
Still high enough.
He could see the ground through almost everything.
The next flight went the opposite direction.
Open railing.
Open air.
Nothing between him and the forest except old wood.
Kiro breathed out slowly.
Susie noticed.
“You good?”
“Ask me when we're back on the ground.”
She nodded and kept close.
They climbed.
Second landing.
Turn.
Another flight.
The Ranger became smaller.
Then smaller again.
With every level there was more empty air around them.
Kiro kept one paw around the railing.
The wind moved through the tower.
The structure shifted slightly.
Barely.
Kiro felt it anyway.
He stopped.
His stomach dropped.
“Nope.”
Susie stopped two steps below him.
“Kiro?”
“Give me a second.”
She didn't move.
Kiro focused on one of the thick wooden supports beside him.
Old.
Solid.
Still there.
He breathed in.
Slowly out.
The strange light feeling in his head settled a little.
Susie watched him.
“Want to go down?”
Kiro looked toward the cabin far above.
“No.”
“You look sick.”
“I feel sick.”
“That's usually connected.”
Despite himself, Kiro laughed.
He tightened his paw around the railing.
“I want to get up there.”
Susie nodded.
“Then we go slow.”
Kiro looked back at her.
“Just stay close.”
“I am.”
He turned forward again.
Step.
Railing.
Beam.
Step.
Railing.
Beam.
Don't look down.
He looked down.
“Fuck.”
Susie laughed behind him.
“Why?”
“I don't know.”
“You know it makes you dizzy.”
“I know.”
“So stop.”
“Excellent advice.”
Higher up, Susie stopped taking pictures.
Kiro noticed.
“You can still use the camera.”
“I'm fine.”
“You're not taking anything.”
Susie looked up at him.
“I'm watching you.”
“That's worse.”
“Keep climbing.”
Kiro smiled weakly and continued.
The last few flights were the worst.
They were above most of the trees now.
The lake stretched farther into view.
Beautiful.
Kiro couldn't enjoy it yet.
The wind was stronger.
The tower moved again.
His claws almost came out against the railing.
Susie stopped immediately.
“Kiro.”
“One second.”
He stared at the cabin.
Solid walls.
Windows.
A floor.
A wonderful fucking floor.
One more flight.
Kiro forced his paw to move.
Then his foot.
Step.
Another.
Another.
Finally at top platform.
The narrow balcony ran around the cabin.
Still open.
Still much too high.
Kiro crossed it faster than he wanted Susie to notice.
She noticed.
He opened the cabin door and stepped inside.
Walls.
Roof.
Solid floor.
Kiro leaned against the nearest wall.
“Oh, thank fuck.”
Susie entered behind him, trying not to laugh.
“You survived.”
“Don't speak to me.”
“The tower barely moved.”
“It moved.”
“It's supposed to.”
Kiro stared at her.
“That sentence is not helping.”
Susie smiled.
Kiro closed his eyes for a moment.
His body still felt like the floor was shifting.
Then opened them.
Windows covered every side of the cabin.
The forest spread below them in every direction.
The lake sat dark and still between the trees.
Clouds reflected across the water.
No houses.
No traffic.
No town.
Nothing but forest, water and sky.
Kiro forgot the height.
For a moment.
Susie stared.
Slowly, her expression changed.
Then her paw reached for the camera.
Kiro smiled.
Exactly what he'd hoped for.
Click.
The lake.
Click.
Old tower beams crossing below.
Kiro leaned against the wall and watched her.
“I knew it.”
Susie lowered the camera.
“Knew what?”
“You'd like it.”
She looked at him like the answer should have been obvious.
“Are you fucking serious?”
Kiro smiled wider.
“I'll take that as yes.”
Susie lifted the camera again.
Click.
Kiro frowned.
“Was that me?”
“No.”
“Susie.”
Click.
“Stop.”
“You look fine.”
“I look like I just survived a plane crash.”
“Very natural.”
“Fuck you.”
They stayed much longer than either expected.
Susie photographed everything.
The lake.
The wooden frame.
The balcony.
The old marks carved into the walls.
A faded map near one window.
Kiro wandered around the cabin.
There was an old desk.
A chair.
Shelves.
A radio.
Some maintenance notes.
A few mugs.
Nothing luxurious, but everything looked cared for.
Then he found a tiny fridge beneath the counter.
Kiro opened it.
Stopped.
Susie looked over from the window.
“What?”
He stared inside.
“...There's lasagna.”
Susie lowered the camera.
“What?”
“There's fucking lasagna.”
She came closer.
Inside was a plastic container.
Half a lasagna.
Clearly already eaten from.
Covered.
Beside it was several bottles of water.
They both stared.
Susie slowly closed the fridge.
“No.”
Kiro looked at her.
“I didn't say anything.”
“Your face did.”
“My face was surprised.”
“Your face was considering it.”
Kiro glanced toward the fridge.
“We have been here for hours.”
“We ate before we left.”
“That was hours ago.”
“Still not eating somebody's half-finished forest lasagna.”
Kiro looked offended.
“I wasn't going to.”
“You thought about it.”
“Briefly.”
Susie stared.
Kiro looked beside the fridge.
A small microwave.
He pressed a button.
The display lit up.
His ears lifted.
“Oh.”
Susie sighed.
“What now?”
“It works.”
“Congratulations.”
“We have a microwave.”
“We?”
Kiro looked around.
“For however long we're trespassing here.”
“Better.”
He opened the fridge again.
Susie immediately reached over and shut it.
“Kiro.”
“I'm checking.”
“You already know what's inside.”
“Half a lasagna.”
“Stop making it sound valuable.”
Then he noticed a narrow door near the back wall.
“What's that?”
Susie turned.
Kiro opened it.
Behind the main cabin was a tiny sleeping space.
Barely a room.
A narrow bed was pushed against one wall.
Thin mattress.
One pillow.
A folded blanket.
A small shelf beside it.
Flashlight.
First aid box.
Extra blankets stored underneath.
A few hooks on the wall.
An old jacket hanging from one.
Susie looked over his shoulder.
“Oh.”
Kiro stepped inside.
“Okay. That explains things.”
Susie looked around.
“Someone actually stays here.”
“Probably whoever watches the area.”
“Or does maintenance.”
Kiro opened one of the small drawers.
Batteries.
Matches.
Basic supplies.
Nothing personal.
Nothing suggesting someone lived here permanently.
Just enough to stay overnight.
Susie touched one of the folded blankets.
“Could also be for emergencies.”
Kiro looked at her.
“People getting lost?”
“Maybe.”
She glanced toward the endless forest outside.
“Lost, injured, caught in bad weather.”
Kiro nodded.
“Better than sleeping under a tree.”
They stepped back into the main room.
By then the sunlight had started changing.
Orange spread across the lake.
Long shadows stretched between the trees.
Susie returned to the windows immediately.
Kiro sat on the floor against one of the solid walls.
Very important.
He watched the sunset.
For a while, neither spoke.
Then Kiro's eyes moved toward the staircase outside.
The tower supports were already becoming darker.
His expression changed.
Susie noticed while lowering the camera.
“What?”
“It's getting dark.”
“Good observation.”
Kiro ignored that.
“...I really don't want to climb those stairs at night.”
Susie looked outside too.
“Fair.”
Kiro glanced around the cabin.
Electricity.
Lights.
Water.
Microwave.
Bed.
Shelter.
He looked back at her.
“Want to stay?”
Susie blinked.
“Here?”
“Yeah, until morning.”
She looked toward the little sleeping area.
Then outside at the lake.
“You really want to?”
Kiro glanced at the staircase.
“I would rather deal with that thing when I can see it.”
A small smile appeared on Susie's face.
“Okay.”
Kiro's ears lifted slightly.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah.”
He looked around.
“So we're spending the night in a watchtower.”
Susie put the camera down.
“Looks like it.”
Kiro smiled.
“This is a terrible idea.”
“I like it.”
“Good.”
A moment later Kiro looked around again.
Then his expression changed.
Susie caught it.
“What?”
Kiro walked toward the window and looked down.
Far below sat the Ranger.
Their jackets.
Most of the water.
The old blanket.
The remaining food.
All inside.
Kiro stared.
Then looked at the staircase.
Then back at the truck.
“...I didn't think this through.”
Susie followed his eyes.
A smile appeared.
Kiro pointed at her immediately.
“Don't.”
She laughed anyway.
“I suggested staying here and left half our shit down there.”
“Pretty much.”
Kiro stared at the darkening sky.
“So I have to climb down...”
His eyes moved toward the stairs.
“...then voluntarily come back.”
Susie picked up her camera bag.
“We should do it now.”
Kiro sighed.
“Yeah.”
He headed toward the door.
Then glanced toward the fridge.
Susie caught it.
“No.”
Kiro looked offended.
“I wasn't doing anything.”
“You were looking at the lasagna.”
“I was saying goodbye.”
“Come on.”
Going down was worse.
Much worse.
Every step forced Kiro to see what was beneath it.
And what was beneath it was always more air.
Susie stayed a few steps below him.
Kiro looked through one gap.
Instant regret.
“Why did I fucking look?”
Susie glanced up.
“Then stop doing that.”
“The stairs are mostly holes.”
“They're not.”
“Emotionally, they are.”
The tower shifted slightly.
Kiro froze.
Susie stopped too.
This time she didn't joke.
“Take your time.”
Kiro focused on one thick support.
Solid wood.
He breathed.
Then moved again.
One step.
Another.
Another.
When his paws finally touched dirt, he walked several steps away from the tower.
Then crouched.
Susie came down behind him.
“What are you doing?”
Kiro placed one paw flat against the ground.
“Appreciating structural stability.”
Susie laughed.
“It's dirt.”
“Beautiful, dependable dirt.”
They took more than they needed.
Water.
The remaining chips.
Susie's spare jacket.
An old blanket from behind the seats.
A flashlight.
Kiro found another sealed bottle of water under the passenger seat.
He held it up.
“Treasure.”
Susie glanced over.
“That's been there for months.”
Kiro slowly lowered it.
“Less treasure.”
She took it anyway.
When they finished, Kiro looked toward the tower.
The cabin was already becoming a dark shape against the evening sky.
He breathed out.
“If I die going up, tell Rin I died doing something impressive.”
Susie adjusted one of the bags.
“I'll tell him you died carrying chips.”
Kiro stared at her.
“You're horrible.”
The second climb wasn't easier.
But Kiro knew what to expect now.
He knew which landing moved slightly.
Which section gave him the worst view downward.
Which beams to look at the height became too much.
Susie stayed behind him.
Close, but not hovering.
At one point Kiro glanced back.
“You can pass me.”
“I'm fine here.”
“I'm slow.”
Susie shifted the camera bag higher.
“I'd rather not climb over you if you freeze.”
Kiro gave her a look.
“Very romantic.”
“Keep moving.”
By the time they reached the top again, Kiro's legs felt strange.
He stepped inside and leaned against the wall.
Susie dropped the blanket onto the bed.
“Still worth it?”
Kiro looked through the windows.
The last orange light sat over the lake.
“Yeah.”
No hesitation.
“Still worth it.”
They ate chips near the windows.
Not exactly dinner.
Kiro looked into the bag.
“This is pathetic.”
Susie took another chip.
“We had breakfast.”
“That was another lifetime.”
“It was this morning.”
“I've aged.”
Susie snorted.
Kiro's eyes slowly moved toward the refrigerator.
She noticed without looking directly at him.
“Don't.”
Kiro frowned.
“You can't possibly know what I'm thinking.”
“The lasagna.”
Silence.
Kiro ate another chip.
“...Maybe.”
Night settled completely.
The lake disappeared first.
Then the trees.
Soon the windows were mostly black mirrors reflecting the warm cabin lights.
One bulb flickered occasionally.
Kiro didn't trust it.
Wind moved through the tower.
Wood creaked below them.
His ears twitched.
Another creak.
His shoulders tightened.
Susie watched him from beside the window.
“You know it's supposed to move a little.”
Kiro slowly turned toward her.
“I preferred not knowing that.”
“It helps the structure handle the wind.”
“It means the floor is moving.”
“Kiro.”
“I know.”
He rubbed one paw over his knee.
“My brain understands that.”
The tower shifted gently again.
Kiro looked down.
“My stomach doesn't.”
Susie moved closer and held out her paw.
Kiro looked at it.
“What's that?”
“Treatment.”
“For?”
Susie glanced around the cabin.
“This.”
Kiro smiled.
“Very scientific.”
Susie's fingers closed around his paw.
The tower creaked again.
Kiro still felt it.
Still hated it.
But he didn't tense quite as much.
Later, Susie sat beside him checking the photos.
Kiro leaned closer.
“Anything good?”
She turned the camera toward him.
Lake.
Forest.
The crossed beams beneath the tower.
The Ranger far below.
Sunset.
Then Kiro.
He was standing beside one of the windows.
Red plaid shirt slightly wrinkled.
One paw against the wooden frame.
Looking outside.
He hadn't known she was taking it.
Kiro stopped.
Susie watched his face.
“You hate it?”
Usually the answer came immediately.
Something wrong with his face.
His body.
His posture.
Something.
This time...
“No.”
Susie's expression softened.
Kiro studied the picture.
“I look...”
She waited.
“Like what?”
Kiro shrugged.
“Normal.”
Susie smiled.
“You are normal.”
He gave her a flat look.
“Don't push it.”
She laughed.
Kiro looked at the picture once more.
“Keep that one.”
Susie raised an eyebrow.
“You want me to?”
Kiro immediately became defensive.
“I didn't say frame it above your bed.”
“I wasn't planning to.”
“Good.”
Susie saved the photo.
“I'll keep it.”
Kiro looked toward the window before she could see his ears warming.
Eventually both of them looked toward the tiny sleeping area.
One narrow bed.
One pillow.
A mattress clearly designed for one person.
Kiro stared at it.
Susie stared too.
He pointed.
“You can take it.”
Susie looked toward the wooden floor.
“And you?”
“Floor.”
“No.”
Kiro frowned.
“Why?”
“Because you're going to wake up shaped like a question mark.”
“I already do that.”
“Exactly.”
Kiro looked at the bed again.
“There's absolutely no way we're both fitting on that.”
Susie walked over and sat on the edge.
The mattress sank slightly on the edge.
“Probably not.”
“Great.”
Kiro started looking around the room.
“I'll make something on the floor.”
Susie looked up at him.
“Or...”
Kiro stopped.
He knew that tone.
“What?”
Susie smiled.
“Lie down.”
His ears moved.
“Why?”
“Just do it.”
“That's concerning.”
“Kiro.”
He stared at her.
Then at the bed.
Then back at her.
“You're planning something.”
“Maybe.”
“That doesn't make me want to cooperate.”
Susie's smile widened.
“It absolutely does.”
Kiro hated that she was right.
He sighed and lay down.
The bed was barely wide enough for him.
His shoulder nearly touched the wall.
“See?”
He looked toward her.
“One person.”
Susie nodded thoughtfully.
“Yeah.”
“Good. Glad we've established basic geometry.”
Then she climbed onto the bed.
Kiro's expression changed immediately.
“Susie.”
She put one knee beside his hip.
Then the other.
Kiro went completely still.
“...Susie.”
“What?”
She lowered herself carefully onto him.
Not all her weight.
Enough.
Chest against his.
Her legs fitting on either side because there was nowhere else for them to go.
Kiro stared at the ceiling.
His entire face became hot.
“This was not the solution I expected.”
Susie smiled above him.
“But we both fit.”
“This is cheating.”
“It's efficient.”
Kiro slowly looked at her.
Their faces were close.
Very close.
He could feel her breathing.
Her hair fell slightly forward around his face.
Kiro swallowed.
“You're enjoying this way too much.”
“A little.”
Susie's paw rested against his chest.
Right over his heartbeat.
Her smile changed.
“It's fast.”
Kiro immediately covered her paw with his.
“Don't monitor it.”
“I'm not.”
“You are literally touching it.”
“Maybe it's the tower.”
Kiro stared at her.
“The tower isn't lying on top of me.”
Susie tried not to laugh.
Failed.
Kiro looked away.
“Fuck you.”
Her voice became softer.
“You keep saying that.”
“I keep meaning it.”
“No, you don't.”
Kiro looked back at her.
There was that sentence again.
Except now she was inches from his face.
Kiro's ears went warmer.
Susie noticed.
Of course she noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Your face says something.”
Kiro frowned.
“That's my line.”
“I stole it.”
“Give it back.”
“No.”
Kiro's paw was still over hers.
Neither moved it.
The tower creaked.
Kiro's body tightened beneath her.
Susie felt it immediately.
She looked toward the ceiling.
Then back down.
“Still scared?”
“Yes.”
A pause.
Kiro looked at her.
“Less.”
Susie's expression softened.
“Because I'm crushing you?”
“You're not crushing me.”
“Could.”
“Please don't.”
She smiled.
Kiro's paw moved from hers to her side almost without him thinking.
He stopped when he realized.
Susie looked down at it.
Kiro started to pull away.
She caught his wrist lightly.
“Hey.”
He looked at her.
“You can.”
Kiro hesitated.
Then his paw settled against her side again.
Carefully.
Like she might disappear if he did it wrong.
Susie watched him.
Kiro became uncomfortable.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
“Stop looking at me.”
“No.”
“Why?”
Instead of answering, Susie leaned closer.
Kiro knew exactly what was happening this time.
His heartbeat sped up anyway.
She stopped just before reaching him.
Close enough that their noses almost touched.
Kiro stared at her.
Susie smiled slightly.
“What?”
His voice came quieter.
“Are you going to make me ask?”
“Maybe.”
Kiro's ears flattened from embarrassment.
“You're evil.”
“Mhm.”
He looked at her lips.
Then her eyes.
A second passed.
Kiro swallowed.
“Can you...”
He stopped.
Susie waited.
Kiro looked annoyed with himself.
“Can you kiss me?”
Her teasing expression disappeared.
Something softer replaced it.
“Yeah.”
She closed the last little distance.
This time Kiro closed his eyes before their lips touched.
No shock.
No freezing.
Just warmth.
His paw tightened slightly against her side.
Susie's fingers moved into the fur near his cheek.
The kiss stayed slow.
Quiet.
Nothing like the concert.
Nothing like the first one outside the gas station.
No cold air.
No bright lights.
No cashier somewhere behind glass.
Just an old bed.
A moving tower.
Susie above him.
Kiro slowly learning that he was allowed to kiss her back.
So he did.
Awkwardly at first.
Then less.
He tilted his head slightly.
Susie followed.
Kiro's other paw found her back.
For several seconds, he forgot about the height completely.
Forgot about everything outside the room.
Eventually Susie pulled back.
Not fair.
Kiro's eyes opened slowly.
She was still right above him.
Both of them were breathing a little differently now.
Susie smiled.
“Better than the floor?”
Kiro stared at her.
“...Maybe.”
She raised an eyebrow.
“Maybe?”
He tried to keep a straight face.
Failed.
“Fine.”
A pause.
“Significantly.”
Susie laughed quietly.
Then kissed him once more.
Shorter.
Just because she could.
Kiro followed her slightly when she pulled away.
He noticed.
So did she.
Neither mentioned it.
Susie lowered herself against his chest again and rested her head beneath his chin.
Kiro blinked.
“Oh.”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
His paws hovered awkwardly for a moment.
Then one settled around her back.
The other rested near her shoulder.
The bed creaked.
Kiro froze.
Susie laughed against his chest.
“That was the bed.”
“I know.”
“Not the tower.”
“I know.”
“Just checking.”
Kiro sighed.
“You've become incredibly annoying.”
Susie closed her eyes.
“You like me.”
“Unfortunately.”
She smiled against him.
Kiro felt it.
That made him smile too.
The tower shifted gently in the wind.
His stomach still noticed.
But now Susie's weight was warm against him.
Her breathing slowly becoming softer.
Her paw resting against his chest.
Kiro looked toward the dark little window.
Then down at her.
“Comfortable?”
Susie made a sleepy sound.
“Mhm.”
“I'm not.”
She opened one eye.
Kiro smiled.
“I'm lying.”
Her eye closed again.
“Idiot.”
“You like that idiot.”
“Yeah.”
A few minutes later, she was asleep.
Actually asleep.
On top of him.
Kiro stared at the ceiling.
His heart was still beating a little faster than normal.
Not frightening.
Just there.
He carefully pulled the blanket higher over both of them.
Susie moved closer in her sleep.
Kiro's face warmed again.
“Okay.”
Quiet.
Mostly to himself.
He rested one paw against her back.
The tower creaked.
Kiro listened.
Still hated it.
Then Susie breathed slowly against his chest.
Kiro closed his eyes.
The tower could move all it wanted.