broadsword_babe

The curtains stirred in the light breeze from the open window. Outside, a nightingale warbled in counterpart to the crickets. Inside, a warm hand lightly caressed her back as she laid in bed with her head on his shoulder.

"I'm glad you stayed," she murmured sleepily.

"Did you really think I wouldn't?" he asked curiously.

She groaned. "Do I have t'answer that? I might just end up sticking my foot in my mouth again."

"What would you have done if I'd left?"

"Prolly turned into a right proper grouch."

He snorted. "I doubt you would have missed me at all. You would've thrown yourself into remodelling this place and not even realised I was gone."

"Course I'd'a missed you," she answered. "Gods know I'd certainly've missed this."

She emphasised her answer by cuddling even closer to him, if that was possible.

"Admit it, you're just in it for the sex," he smirked.

"Well, there is that," she replied with a soft laugh. "But not just."

"Oh? You mean there's more?"

"Fancy that."

"And I don't suppose you're going to tell me."

She raised herself up on an elbow to look at him. "Y'know, I have half a mind not to, and just keep you guessing."

"You would," he replied, narrowing his dark eyes at her.

"Yer right," she grinned. "But I'll be nice."

"For once," he smirked.

"Hey! I'm always nice," she retorted, laughing.

"Oh, and I suppose that rattlesnake was just a token of your love and affection."

"Well, the stuffed toy one was."

His lips twitched and she could tell he was trying not to laugh, but then turned serious as he brushed her tangled hair away from her face.

"So, why are you glad I stayed, if not just for the sex?" he asked.

"Because I love you," she replied softly. "And I'm not saying that because it's what I think you want t'hear. You have no idea just how bad off I was living on Orkney. I thought being alone was what I needed t'get back t'just being me, but I was wrong. I hated waking up alone. I hated not having anyone t'make breakfast for in th'morning. Th'one Yuletide I spent there, I'd gone all out with decorations and such, and I was the only one t'enjoy it. Even if I wasn't there half th'time."

"You're glad I stayed just so you don't have to be lonely? Is that it?" he asked.

"Gah!" she groaned, rolling over onto her back and rubbing her face with her hands. "It's not just that, and stop putting words in my mouth."

"What is it then?" He shifted so he lay on his side to face her.

"We've both watched folk we love come and go," she replied, staring up at the ceiling, cracks and all. "We know what it feels like to lose friendships. And without meaning to, we've always managed t'find each other. It's like some cosmic force's saying we're supposed t'be together. We're much better together than not.

"Whether you've realised it or not, I've remembered more about myself since you pitched up than I ever would have if I'd stayed alone on Orkney," she added, looking over at him. "You've reminded me about my being a warrior, and how being Immortal can actually be fun at times. And I was so focused on how lousy Immortality was that I'd forgotten about th'fun side. Course, my idea of fun and yours might not exactly be th'same, but there y'have it."

He simply raised an eyebrow.

"Alright, the sex," she said on a long-suffering sigh. "And, yeah, sparring practice and all that, but also just living. You and your beer fetish." She couldn't help teasing him about that. "And me with cooking. I'd lose that sense of happiness if you left. I'd go right back t'being that hard-hearted, cranky-arsed person y'found on Orkney, and I don't ever want t'be that again."

"I was rather bitter about everything, myself," he admitted after a moment of soft silence. "There were at least a thousand things I regretted. One of which being that I never told you how I felt about you. That night on the platform, I promised myself that if we ever crossed paths again, I'd tell you. But in the intervening years I became convinced that you and I would never work out."

"But Rome," she argued. "What about that?"

"I honestly didn't think you'd agree," he answered. "I wanted to say something then, but it just wasn't the right time, and then when I found you on Orkney, I was surprised."

"By what?"

"You."

"Me? What'd I do?"

"It's more what you didn't do," he answered. "You could have gone right back to being Cassandra's little errand girl and not let go of my past, but instead, you let me in. You let me stay.

"I don't think I've ever admitted it, but when that Headhunter showed up, I honestly thought I was going to lose you. I didn't want to open the door at first, but I remembered that you were tougher than most. And afterwards, it wasn't simply the Quickening, but a realisation that even an Immortal's life can end in a second. I was tired of regretting that I'd never kissed you."

"And I was tired of regretting I hadn't let you try," she added with a smirk of her own. "And I was tired of you just being a fantasy."

He blinked in abject surprise and then grinned. "You do realise you've never told me any of them."

"Haven't I?" she asked with mock innocence before rolling over to rummage in a bedside drawer. "Now, where are those handcuffs...?"

Quinnleigh Kincaid
Highlander OC
950 Words

charloft: For this Wednesday, either find or create an image that gives you a sense of peace. As a bonus, or for the graphically challenged, write us a little bit on the topic. Interpret it how you like.
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