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The airport was busy, as is typical of a setting like it. People bustling, voices heard everywhere, people saying goodbye to their loved ones before they depart, others rushing around trying to catch a flight in time. Kate has never liked airports much, what with it being overwhelming, but especially not now. Not after having said goodbye to Javi and to Tyler.
Tyler.
Tyler, who wrangled a tornado with her, and tamed it. Tyler, who found her, over and over when she needed someone. Tyler, who came to her mom’s barn, and asked if she wanted another chance. Tyler, who was the first person she saw when crawling out of his truck, and so, so grateful he was there for her. Tyler, who was just as passionate about tornados as her, who wanted to understand more about them, in order to help people. Kind, caring, cocky Tyler.
Kate had almost hoped he would ask her to stay. She would, if he did, had told him so indirectly, “Maybe if you feel it, you should chase it.” she said to him, before walking into the airport, away from him and Javi standing there.
She had loved being a part of the Wrangler’s team, had worked so well with each of them, how they all gelled together to work as a team. The banter, the quiet moments together, the bonding and sharing of deep truths, the motive for why they did what they did, Kate had loved it all. Had loved getting to know everyone on the team, from spending time with Dani and Dexter in the RV, to being swept up in Boone’s infectious wild spirit, or chilling out getting to know Lily and her drone, Kate had started to feel like one of them by the time her flight was due. It was hard to believe it had only been a week since she had met them. It felt like she knew them for years, had wanted to get to know them more. Had almost wished they asked her to stay. Stay and really start chasing again, learning more and more, developing her polymer solution, to really make a difference, like she once dreamed of.
But Tyler had just stood there, despite the look in his eyes. And when Kate walked into the airport, there was no attempt to stop her, looking out of the window overlooking the drop off zone, she saw him get into his truck.
So, that was it then.
She would probably see him again, could make sure the team was okay via their Youtube channel. It would hurt, not to be there with them, but she would survive. She always does.
Looking up to find her flight information, Kate got swept up in the airport. Becoming just another person on their way home, she didn’t notice a commotion in the drop off area. Nor did she notice footsteps coming up behind her. She finally came back to herself when she felt a familiar presence next to her.
“Hey there, Sapulpa.”
Tyler.
Turning her head, she gazed up at him, trying not to hope but knowing it was useless, and that a smile had already started to grow on her face as she looked at him.
“What’re you doing here, I thought you left?”
“Yeah, well someone told me if I feel it, maybe I should chase it,” Tyler’s eyes bore into hers as he spoke, subconsciously moving closer, “and I feel it Kate. There’s something here, and I want to chase it to see what it is.” Kate could see hope rising in his eyes, along with nerves. Though he had nothing to be nervous about, Kate thought, as she felt it too.
Kate dropped the handle on her suitcase to cup his face in her hands, smiling happily up at him, edging closer and closer. She could feel his body’s heat now, with how close they were, and leaning up on her toes, her face was only a couple inches from him. Her eyes dropped down to his lips before looking back into his eyes, knowing that he had seen her do so.
“Well then Arkansas, get chasin’.” she murmured before he bent to eliminate the space between their lips.
Kate truly thought that at that moment, an EF5 could be happening and she wouldn’t notice, too swept up in Tyler and his embrace. His arms wrapped around her waist, keeping her secured against him as he chased her lips with his once, twice, three times. Her hands found their way into his hair, using it as leverage to pull and keep him to her, the kisses to sweet and soft that she wasn’t ready for them to stop.
Finally, after minutes or hours, they pulled away for breaths, though not without one last peck from Tyler to Kate’s mouth, a smile breaking it apart. He leant back, Kate still dipped slightly from their embrace, with no sign of breaking it. Kate’s hands crept back to cupping his face, stroking the hair around his temples as they gazed into each other's eyes.
“So worth the parking fine.” Kate could only laugh in response, still lost in his gaze and in the fact he was here, that he came for her.
Finally the airport came back to her senses, with a crackling overheard heard before a woman’s voice announced the delayment of flights due to a storm. Looking back up at Tyler’s face, still wrapped up in his arms, and matching smiles on their faces, she knew they were on the same page.
Grabbing the handle of her suitcase, Tyler wrapped an arm around Kate’s waist with the other, both turning back to the exit, back to the truck, team and chasing, together for the first but not the last time.