This is as Merry as I get

"You have questions, I assume, about the vex energy?" Osiris began. Yetta nodded, sipping her coco. "Have you read my notes? I saw you mention them at the meeting."

"I've glanced over them, got a basic idea," she admitted. Osiris hummed in interest.

"To give you a more detailed explanation," he started, setting his mug down, glancing towards the kitchen. "You are connected with a certain portal. One that likes to travel the more it's messed with."

Yetta sat back, looking where he was. Crow and Saint were working in the kitchen, giving the two the space their respective partners needed to talk. She put her mug to her lips again, taking another sip. Saint had put marshmallows in it, along with a little whipping cream and a lot of sugar to sweeten it. "So, what exactly does that mean for me?"

"The more it gets messed with, the more it pulls you along for the ride. When the pulling starts, you start to, for lack of a better word, bleed the vex energy." Osiris shrugged. "It doesn't have a large radius, only surrounding you. However, after some testing, I learned that the radius does affect anybody who touches you, and the energy starts bleeding out of them."

Yetta nodded along, listening. "So, Crow bleeds it too, now?"

"The energy had an entry point with him. It would not surprise me if he did." Osiris took another swig of his hot coco, one that had a reddish tint to it. He said it was from some spices he'd added. Yetta would have to try it some time. "The good news is, we got the portal copied, and stabilized to a specific point. If you, or him, or both of you, travel again, we can pull you back."

Yetta narrowed her eyes thoughtfully. "Ok, but how do we get it out? That seems like a pretty important step here."

"Ah-," he hesitated. "That is…trickier to solve. Has Jason been navigating the energy well?"

"Yeah, basically. He's getting faster."

"Good. For right now, that is my only solution, the only one available." He sighed heavily. "You won't like this, but there may not be a way to extract the Vex from your system. The best I can say is to hold on to your humanity." He stood up to put his mug in the kitchen, turning back in case Yetta had any response. She didn't, just sipped the warm drink in silence as she chewed on his words.

. . .

The heater was finally working. Yetta chirped in glee as the warm house welcomed her in, shrugging out of the various blankets and sweaters with ease this time around. Saint had sent them home with some food, some goulash, biscuits, and cake. The two of them, "skinny hunters," as the titan had called them, fought their way inside, their arms full of containers.

Yetta set her containers down with an "oof" as she clambered free. "Well, that was nice." She shook her hair free of the ponytail as she talked. Crow set to work putting stuff in the fridge, humming softly. "Do you have any paperwork you need to do today?" she asked, hopping up to sit on the counters. 

"Not today, no." He nudged her legs apart, so he could step in between them. Yetta ducked down as he opened the cabinet above her head, grabbing a couple cups. "Coffee? I know you haven't had any today." His chest brushed against hers, and she started, before relaxing.

"Do we have any tea?" She let her head thunk into his chest. She felt him hum in surprise. 

"You? Tea?" His hand came to rest on her head. "Who are you? But yes, we do have some."

"Don't tell Carman, she wouldn't let me live it down. We'd have more tea than we know what to do with."

"Oh, like she'd part with her precious stash," Crow pointed out. Yetta straightened up as he closed the door, wrapping her legs around his waist to prevent him from leaving. "Hm?" He looked down at her, and Yetta waited for the gears to click in his head. 

"Where are you right now?" she asked, leaning against the cabinet.

"The house….oh." He realized their position with an awkward chuckle, kissing her softly. "Will that suffice to let me go?"

She hummed thoughtfully, shaking her head with a grin. "Carry me?" She raised her arms.

He sighed softly, picking her up as she wrapped around him like a koala. Crow carried her over to the couch, dumping her on the soft cushions. Yetta let herself fall with another "oof," bouncing slightly. "Sucker," she chirped. Groaning, Crow lay on top of her.

"Only for you," he pointed out.

. . .

He kissed her, slow and soft, hands exploring her arms. She kissed back, wrapping her arms around his neck. Pulling away slightly, he looked down at her, sitting up. "I don't want to rush you," he said, softly. Yetta sat up beside him, leaning onto his arm. 

"How so?"

"I-," he hesitated. "I want you. And not just…by my side. I *want* you, want you. I want you under me, I want you around me, just. I want you."

Yetta laughed, confused. "I don't understand." Sighing softly through his nose, he kissed her head. 

"You know, the um." He grew quiet, whispering. "A bit of the old in-out, in-out. Act of darkness."

"What."

"Afternoon delight? Baking the potato? Come on, don't make me say it."

"Say it," she challenged. A slight smile quirked on her lips. 

Crow sighed, a little frustrated. "I want to fuck. Kinda," he said hurriedly.

"Oh! The ol' bam-bam in the ham!"

He shoved her playfully. "Little shit," he teased. "You knew the whole time, didn't you?" Yetta shrugged, leaning on his arm again. She fell quiet, thinking. His hand stroked her hair, playing with the crimson strands. "The gears are turning again," he commented.

"Do you know why I reacted so bad, last time?" she asked. Crow fell quiet beside her, waiting for her to continue. "There was no asking if I was ready. We were drunk, we made a mistake, and we both just…carried on like it never happened."

He nodded, pulling her closer. "Want me to wait?" he asked. 

"I…I don't know." Yetta bit her lip, falling into thought again. Crow kissed her hair, just holding her.

"Then we wait."