#zo walking out with varls spear

[thyminee]

Now we're having fun, right?

[cclightroast]

Hey guys! Back with another Kotallo/Reader lmaooo this was an add on to the last one I wrote that was requested by @labyrinth-of-thoughts and thanks to the wonder detail she keeps giving me, I’m able to keep pumping these out lol. I kept the ending open for yet another part, so fingers crossed all goes well and I’m able to add on. Also if anyone has any idea for a title pls let a homie know XD 

Aloy waltzed into the base with a perturbed expression adorning her face. She immediately made her way to Erend and plopped down beside him on the couch.

���We’ve got an issue.” She began, running her hands over her face.

“What’s the problem? Is it something my hammer can fix?” he knocked back another pint of his ale and leaned forward to give the red head his attention.

She leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms over her chest. “We will need a little more finesse than that to start with.” At that moment the door to the war room opened up and out walked Y/N and Kotallo. “Another fierce match indeed. I believe we are once again at a stalemate.”

The Veera warrior had a smile pulling at her lips, and anyone looking at them could tell that she had won. “I’ve had a great teacher. Won’t be much longer before I’m beating you in every match.”

“Hm,” his lips quirked up and he shook his head, stopping to see Aloy in slight distress. “Aloy, what is wrong?”

The Nora stood from her spot, slightly relieved to be in the presence of the top two strategists of the group. “I came across a nasty rebel camp. They’re holding some Tenakth prisoners and have the entire camp covered with tripwires and dangerous machines. Big ones.”

“What kind of machines?” She could see the cogs already turning in the warrior’s heads, and Aloy knew that she was going to get the advice she needed. “While I was surveying, I saw Bristleback mounts and ravagers patrolling the perimeter.”

“Dangerous, but manageable.” Y/N responded with a nod. “They also have a fireclaw in the center of the camp.” Kotallo and his companion shared a look. “Can you share the data from the camp to us?”

With a raised eyebrow, Aloy slid past the group and headed back into the war room; everyone on her toes. She swiped through the data on her focus and sent it to the hologram where Kotallo and Y/N practiced.

“This is the layout.” Kotallo stepped forward with a hum and stared intently at the data. “They have a good formation, but there’s a lot of cover.” Leaning next to the Tenakth, the Veera pointed at the environment surrounding the rebels. “Look,” she began. “They’ve got canisters lying around that could be used against the fireclaw.”

“You could pick off the rebels from the grass, save the fireclaw for last with these. They leave enough room between patrols to be stealthy.” Aloy nodded in agreement while Kotallo turned towards the Nora.

“Do you need our blades?”

Chuckling, the Nora shook her head. “I think I’ve got a better idea on how to tackle this camp. I’ll be fine. Thank you for your help.” She left not long after that to go put an end to one more rebel camp and everything inside the base went back to normal. Varl and Zo were standing across from each other at the counter, whispering lovingly to one another, Erend was going through the data on his focus while nursing his ale. Y/N had walked over to Zo and interjected herself between the couple, deciding to ask more about their tribe’s history while she sat herself on the table.

She had been intently listening, asking questions when they popped up, eyes focused on whichever was speaking at the time. That was, until Kotallo walks by the trio with his usual stern expression. He carried his spear on his back so either he was going to train, or he was going to hunt.

The voices of her companions turned muffled in her ears until all she was focused on was raking her eyes up and down his form, paying close attention to the muscles in his arm and back before moving down to see how his legs flex with each step.

She really didn’t know long she watched him until she zoned back in, only to hear Zo sniggering under her breath, elbowing Varl. “You like what you see?” she joked, her breathless giggles turning into a full-blown laugh when Y/N’s cheeks heat up slightly before she leans in slightly and whispers, “have you SEEN him, Zo? Of course I like what I see.”

Her whispering wasn’t as quiet as she thought. The Tenakth had slowed down after hearing Zo’s bolstering laugh, curious to hear what was so funny; once he heard Y/N’s statement, his back straightened further. His painted lips pulled to a smirk as he continued walking towards the exit, his ego greatly boosted from her compliment.

“All right, can we stop drooling over Kotallo and get back to having a normal conversation?” Varl shook his head, an amused expression giving away what he really felt.

“Hey,” Y/N looked offended. “I wasn’t drooling… yet.” Zo had doubled over again, causing a chain reaction and soon enough the trio were laughing with Erend looking so incredibly lost.

----

The group had been hard at work the next few weeks. Aloy had been out trying to collect Gaia’s subordinate functions, and between the group going out to do their own thing and staying at the base for training everyone had grown remarkably closer. Even Kotallo had opened up more about become more talkative with everyone, Y/N included.

They dedicated one day a week for everyone to join in a group training session, Aloy thought it would be a good idea for them to spar with different people to learn how to fight against different styles. Today Erend and Kotallo were starting the training off. He started off strong against the Tenakth but with how slow he moves with his training hammer he was only able to hold Kotallo off for so long. “OW! Dammit!” Erend was gasping for air, slapping his hand against the floor. “I give! I give! By the forge…”

“I don’t think any of us could beat you.” He sighed, accepting Kotallo’s hand while the other congratulated him for holding out for so long.

“I’d like to challenge that.” Kotallo raised an eyebrow, watching as the Veera warrior stepped forward with her training spear. “Are you sure you want to have your ego bruised so early in the day?” Y/N laughed, “I believe I should be saying that to you.”

Without another word the two stood across from each other, lowering themselves into fighting position. It took only a second before they met in the middle, the training spears knocking against each other in quick motions, the woman seeming to dance around the Tenakth.

He was noticeably stronger than her, but what she lacked in strength she made up in agility. She knew she wouldn’t win against the marshal head on, so she focused on staying on the defensive. Her arms were burning from the sheer force of the hits she was blocking, so the next time he raised his spear she rolled out of the way and circled behind him, knocking him in the back to catch him off-balance before jabbing at him again.

He caught on to her movements rather quick, and as she moved to circle him to jab at his back, he turned and swiped his foot under hers, closing the distance so that as she hit the floor his spear immediately pressed against her throat.

Time seemingly stood still in that moment. They were breathing heavily, the puffs fanning over each other’s faces; the hot air mingling together. If Kotallo wanted to, he could move forward briefly and have their lips brush like their noses are.

He zoned back into her breathless giggles filling his ears, causing him to furrow his brows. “You’re smiling a little too much for a dead woman.”

Her smile widened and only then did he register the feeling of her hand against his chest, “A little arrogant when I’ve already gut you.” He glances down to see her weapon pressed against his lower abdomen.

“Well, damn,” he huffed, raking his eyes back to hold hers. He was impressed, but the heat he felt growing in him was keeping him from thinking… pure thoughts.

Kotallo finally got to his feet and pulled Y/N up with him, keeping her about as close as they were on the floor. “You’re very skilled indeed, it’s no wonder you’re a marshal.” She smirked, the adrenaline pumping through her veins giving her the confidence to act on the heat she’s feeling.

“I’d love to see those skills being used in a more… interesting scenario.” She watches as the Tenakth’s eyes narrow slightly, his grip on her hand tightening, causing heat to pool in her stomach.

“Can everyone PLEASE stop acting like they’re going to climb each other like a damn tree.” Erend cut through the tension with a groan, heading towards the door while grumbling under his breath.

After that moment things have shifted between the two and though both flirted in their own way, neither of them acted on anything other than that. Kotallo was attracted to Y/N, if the fantasies he has about her at night is anything to go by, but every time he looked at where his left arm should be, he curses.

He may be coming to terms with the loss of his arm, but he still doesn’t want to hold her back from having someone… whole. Aloy had found him on top of the mountains where he was surrounded by destroyed Sunwings.

“This was a little too violent to be just for training.” Kotallo turned to the red head with heavy breaths. “I’ve just got a lot on my mind.” Sitting down on a nearby rock, she gave the Tenakth a friendly smile. “You wanna talk about it?”

He came and sat beside her with a sigh. “I’m usually so confident in what I do, but now I’m unsure.”

“Is this about Y/N?”

Kotallo’s head snapped to hers in question, but before he could ask, she was already speaking again. “You guys are very obvious in your feelings for each other. So,” she continued. “This lack of confidence. That’s why you haven’t made a move?”

He nodded, “It’s more than that. She’s a Veera. It’s virtually unheard of for Tenakth to… mate… outside our tribe.” Aloy rolled her eyes. “And I’m sure the Veera’s don’t mate outside theirs either, but it doesn’t seem like she cares.”

“I admire that about her.” The two stayed silent as Aloy looked at him. “That’s not all.” He looked down to his arm, and that was all she needed to see. “What would she have of me? I’m maimed so what if I’m unable to protect?”

Leaning forward, she shot him a gentle smile. “She doesn’t care. You could be missing both of your arms and I’m sure she would still feel the same.”

“On a serious note.” She began, “you saw how she held her own against you, and you’ve heard how she took down a Thunderjaw by herself. She doesn’t need protecting, and if she ever does. I know you’ll fight til your last breath for her.”

He nodded, “If I die protecting her, it would be an honorable death.”

“It doesn’t matter about your arm, and it doesn’t matter about the tribes you come from. It’s obvious you both care for each other. Act on it.” Kotallo laughed at her blunt response and stood from the rock. “Thank you, Aloy. I owe you yet again.”

“If we are going to be saving the world, might as well be happy while doing so.” Shaking her head, she bid him farewell and headed back down the mountain, leaving him to his thoughts.

More time had passed, and Y/N had decided to up her game. She was determined to get him bothered enough before dragging him to her room to get his feelings out. She knew he felt something, but she wanted to make sure the feelings were as genuine as hers were.

She had set up training dummies around the sparring area while Erend and Kotallo were playing Strike in the main room. Erend paid no mind to her but whenever Kotallo was waiting for his turn he would glance over to her.

Soon enough she had begun training with the dummies, making sure to put her all into it to garner Kotallo’s attention. She had made sure to wear less than she usually did while sparring so that most of her shoulders and back were showing and glistening with sweat due to the vigorous training.

All the while Kotallo was still stealing glances at her between turns, but they gradually got longer and longer until he was more focused on her than the match. He would halfheartedly move his pieces just so he could look back to her. His imagination was running rampant, from him having her pinned against the wall to him on his knees, hands around her thighs as she shook above him.

“Finally! I beat you… By the forge not again.” Erend’s excitement turned into annoyance at the faraway look on the marshal’s face. “Will you just go kiss the woman already? I’m so tired of seeing you beat around the bush.”

“Kotallo,” he hadn’t even heard Y/N walk up to them, but there she was in all her sweaty glory. He cleared his throat at her presence, “Could you come with me?”