"Not everything," he said fiercely. "Not that. I understand if you don't believe me, after—"
Well, literally everything he'd ever done to her, for starters.
"I get it," he said. "Please just tell me. I won't let anything like that happen to you again." He rubbed at his eyes.
He took a deep breath as he considered the implications. The King had brought her to Gareth's old room? That did sound like something he'd do. He'd visited Gareth there often enough, before Gareth got a better room and then moved out of the castle entirely. It hadn't occurred to him that there'd still be anything in there, that it wouldn't have been emptied out and all his old things destroyed. He hadn't brought any of it with him. Hadn't wanted to look at any of it again. He'd been foolish enough to assume someone would do him the favor of destroying it all as trash.
Stupid. He should have taken care of it himself. He'd… make sure someone took care of it, this time.
He still didn't want to do it himself.
"Nightshade," he muttered. "You drank moonshine infused with nightshade." He thought about it a moment longer. "If you were entirely human, it would have killed you."
Well, literally everything he'd ever done to her, for starters.
"I get it," he said. "Please just tell me. I won't let anything like that happen to you again." He rubbed at his eyes.
He took a deep breath as he considered the implications. The King had brought her to Gareth's old room? That did sound like something he'd do. He'd visited Gareth there often enough, before Gareth got a better room and then moved out of the castle entirely. It hadn't occurred to him that there'd still be anything in there, that it wouldn't have been emptied out and all his old things destroyed. He hadn't brought any of it with him. Hadn't wanted to look at any of it again. He'd been foolish enough to assume someone would do him the favor of destroying it all as trash.
Stupid. He should have taken care of it himself. He'd… make sure someone took care of it, this time.
He still didn't want to do it himself.
"Nightshade," he muttered. "You drank moonshine infused with nightshade." He thought about it a moment longer. "If you were entirely human, it would have killed you."
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"Hey," she said softly. She was rough around the edges from a lot of abrasion, but she had enough awareness to tell one someone else was, too. If anything, Gareth was looking worse than her, and she was in a medic's bed. "It's not like that, okay?"
She gripped his hand in what she hoped was a comforting manner, because she couldn't do much else. "I'll admit, I proly looked rough when they found me, but it was my idea. I suggested it to the King. Please don't run in there half cocked an' get yerself killed." If he was going to do something stupid on her behalf because he wasn't thinking clearly, she'd rather him do it when she was about to be eaten, instead. That was still a constant worry.
Looking at him now, though, she wondered if maybe she'd been wrong about it being easy for him if she died now rather than later. But maybe that was because of the circumstances. It'd happened under his roof, so to speak, while he'd been taking the day off. It'd be easy for him to feel guilty, under those circumstances.
"I drank what." It wasn't even a question, it was flat shock. "Why does that even exist?! Who... Where did I..." That must have been what she remembered finding. Why had that been in a cell room? Fuck, someone must have been planning a serious poisoning, way more serious than her lead-in-the-water idea. The rest was just as much of a shock. It would have... killed her?
"Oh," she said, blankly. "Well." She swallowed, then sighed. Twice in one night. Fucking incredible, her luck. Simultaneously the worst and the best of all time. "Guess I owe my nebulous mystery freaky ancestors a word o' thanks, then." She wasn't going to start shaking. She was not.
She was maybe starting to shake a little. She would blame it on the sickness. "...Tell ya what," she said, weakly, trying to inject some more levity into the situation. "If I'da known that was gonna happen, I woulda told th' King to go a lot easier on my kidneys."
She gripped his hand in what she hoped was a comforting manner, because she couldn't do much else. "I'll admit, I proly looked rough when they found me, but it was my idea. I suggested it to the King. Please don't run in there half cocked an' get yerself killed." If he was going to do something stupid on her behalf because he wasn't thinking clearly, she'd rather him do it when she was about to be eaten, instead. That was still a constant worry.
Looking at him now, though, she wondered if maybe she'd been wrong about it being easy for him if she died now rather than later. But maybe that was because of the circumstances. It'd happened under his roof, so to speak, while he'd been taking the day off. It'd be easy for him to feel guilty, under those circumstances.
"I drank what." It wasn't even a question, it was flat shock. "Why does that even exist?! Who... Where did I..." That must have been what she remembered finding. Why had that been in a cell room? Fuck, someone must have been planning a serious poisoning, way more serious than her lead-in-the-water idea. The rest was just as much of a shock. It would have... killed her?
"Oh," she said, blankly. "Well." She swallowed, then sighed. Twice in one night. Fucking incredible, her luck. Simultaneously the worst and the best of all time. "Guess I owe my nebulous mystery freaky ancestors a word o' thanks, then." She wasn't going to start shaking. She was not.
She was maybe starting to shake a little. She would blame it on the sickness. "...Tell ya what," she said, weakly, trying to inject some more levity into the situation. "If I'da known that was gonna happen, I woulda told th' King to go a lot easier on my kidneys."
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He let out a shaky breath of the most profound relief. "Okay," he said, relaxing a little. He kissed her hand again. "Good. Not good, but. I'm glad you know you don't have to—that I wouldn't make you—" He swallowed. "Good," he said again.
There was no explanation that Gareth could give that wouldn't say more than he wanted to. She didn't seem to be aware who that room had previously belonged to, and he wasn't going to tell her. Didn't want to explain a process that made sending your soul out of your body easier by mostly killing it first. He hadn't had to think about that in years, and he didn't like having to think about it now, under these circumstances.
It had been an accident, though. She hadn't known what she was drinking. Hadn't wanted to die in either body or soul. Nothing had happened to make it seem like the better option. She'd had a good time with the King making a series of bad decisions that just happened to culminate in drinking something she'd assumed would only get her drunk.
It was okay. This was okay.
"I, um." He let her go to fumble with the basket at his feet, bringing out one of the paper-wrapped candied apples. "I ran into your friend," he said, feeling awkward. "Buck. He's married now, living on an apple farm. He didn't realize how long it'd been since he'd come to visit. He sent this for you."
There was no explanation that Gareth could give that wouldn't say more than he wanted to. She didn't seem to be aware who that room had previously belonged to, and he wasn't going to tell her. Didn't want to explain a process that made sending your soul out of your body easier by mostly killing it first. He hadn't had to think about that in years, and he didn't like having to think about it now, under these circumstances.
It had been an accident, though. She hadn't known what she was drinking. Hadn't wanted to die in either body or soul. Nothing had happened to make it seem like the better option. She'd had a good time with the King making a series of bad decisions that just happened to culminate in drinking something she'd assumed would only get her drunk.
It was okay. This was okay.
"I, um." He let her go to fumble with the basket at his feet, bringing out one of the paper-wrapped candied apples. "I ran into your friend," he said, feeling awkward. "Buck. He's married now, living on an apple farm. He didn't realize how long it'd been since he'd come to visit. He sent this for you."
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He'd been really scared about someone raping her for someone who'd fucked her without bothering to ask first, like, two weeks into knowing her. Still, she couldn't actually hold that against him. He was a half-succubus. He probably knew when someone wanted to have sex, by some vague magical sex powers. Alternatively, given that succubi were primarily known for making people want to have sex with them, he might just have a long-standing paranoia. She'd never actually considered that before.
Now was definitely not the time to tell him that she had assumed that if another one of her captors, Grilka or Colin maybe, wanted to have sex with her, she'd have no choice but to do it. She wasn't actually confident that had changed. She couldn't exactly imagine herself stomping her foot on the ground and exclaiming that she didn't have to have sex, her boss said so. Still. It was a very nice sentiment. She appreciated it.
She went rigid at the sight of the candy apple, realizing what it was the second he mentioned Buck. Her stomach dropped like the candy apple she'd dropped onto the ground when she took of running.
What do we teach the hatchlings in the castle, Boldheart?
Should I break your hands?
What do you think you are, except a thing that happens to other people?
"...I can't believe you found him," she said, after too long staring. She reached out with a shaking hand to take the candy apple. She unwrapped it slowly, stared down at it for a moment. "That's great. He always had the best apples so--" her voice caught, and she cleared her throat, wondering how much she could blame on having almost died recently.
Hopefully a lot, because she was definitely starting to tear up. The whole situation was crashing into her. She almost died. Twice. She was still trapped here. She would always be trapped here. The only way out was to die and the only thing that could probably kill her was the King because apparently she couldn't even be poisoned to death by fucking nightshade.
"Sorry," she wheezed, wiping at her cheek. "It's just... been a hell of a day."
Now was definitely not the time to tell him that she had assumed that if another one of her captors, Grilka or Colin maybe, wanted to have sex with her, she'd have no choice but to do it. She wasn't actually confident that had changed. She couldn't exactly imagine herself stomping her foot on the ground and exclaiming that she didn't have to have sex, her boss said so. Still. It was a very nice sentiment. She appreciated it.
She went rigid at the sight of the candy apple, realizing what it was the second he mentioned Buck. Her stomach dropped like the candy apple she'd dropped onto the ground when she took of running.
What do we teach the hatchlings in the castle, Boldheart?
Should I break your hands?
What do you think you are, except a thing that happens to other people?
"...I can't believe you found him," she said, after too long staring. She reached out with a shaking hand to take the candy apple. She unwrapped it slowly, stared down at it for a moment. "That's great. He always had the best apples so--" her voice caught, and she cleared her throat, wondering how much she could blame on having almost died recently.
Hopefully a lot, because she was definitely starting to tear up. The whole situation was crashing into her. She almost died. Twice. She was still trapped here. She would always be trapped here. The only way out was to die and the only thing that could probably kill her was the King because apparently she couldn't even be poisoned to death by fucking nightshade.
"Sorry," she wheezed, wiping at her cheek. "It's just... been a hell of a day."
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"Shit," he said. He'd been hoping to cheer her up, but seeing her turn pale made him realize that was a mistake. "I'm sorry, that was a lot—I should have realized. You don't have to—I don't know if you can eat, yet." He reached out to cup her face and wipe her tears away with his thumbs. "It's okay," he said. "You don't have to be okay." Reminders of her old life and everything she might have lost, all the freedom she no longer had.
"Here," he said, hauling the heavy basket up into his lap. "There's some apple tarts that might be better on an empty stomach, or... I got you this." He pulled out the knit shawl, draping it carefully over her lap. "To wear this winter. If... if you want." He set the basket carefully onto her bedside table, navigating around rats.
"If you want to be alone, I can go," he assured her. He didn't want to. He wanted to keep an eye on her to be sure she'd be safe. He felt awful for having left her, now. He didn't know if he would have worried, if he'd known then that the King might visit her alone. The part of him that felt he was safe warred with the part that knew he was dangerous. How much of this was Avi's fault? Aside, obviously, from all of it. "I can get you something from the kitchens, if you want real food."
"Here," he said, hauling the heavy basket up into his lap. "There's some apple tarts that might be better on an empty stomach, or... I got you this." He pulled out the knit shawl, draping it carefully over her lap. "To wear this winter. If... if you want." He set the basket carefully onto her bedside table, navigating around rats.
"If you want to be alone, I can go," he assured her. He didn't want to. He wanted to keep an eye on her to be sure she'd be safe. He felt awful for having left her, now. He didn't know if he would have worried, if he'd known then that the King might visit her alone. The part of him that felt he was safe warred with the part that knew he was dangerous. How much of this was Avi's fault? Aside, obviously, from all of it. "I can get you something from the kitchens, if you want real food."
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It was pretty shitty of her to cry at a heartfelt gift. He couldn't possibly have known what it would remind her of. "No, I'm sorry, it's good, I just...!" It was a lot. Everything was a lot. He wiped her tears away with an over-sized hand. He was warm. Actually, it made her realize how cold she was. She hadn't noticed, too caught up in the pain, but she was freezing, as if she'd never had any warmth in her body at all. Corpse cold.
She was distracted from that sobering thought by the basket he pulled up. She stared down at it, eyes widening.
He hadn't just gotten her a single candy apple from Buck. It looked like he'd been to every stall at the fair. She hadn't even seen small jars like these... had he gotten them specifically for her? While she was out trying to run away from him, he'd been shopping for her. She swallowed, thickly, and then all at once, more tears started pouring out of her.
He'd been thinking of her, the same time she'd been thinking of him. She'd been yelling at the King that she cared about him, and he'd been picking out apple everything to bring to her, because she couldn't leave to go herself.
"Thanks," she croaked. "I... can't believe y'... This is..."
It would be dumb, to get her hopes up over something like this. This was nice, but that was just him. He was just nice. But right now, he was being nice to her, and maybe just for today she was allowed to be a little weak about it. Her hands clutched against the shawl like she would never let it go, even after death.
"Don't leave," she said quickly, maybe too quickly, her hand catching his sleeve as if he might make a break for it. "Please don't leave. I..." she swallowed. "I wanna ask ya somethin', but... Y'can say yes or no, jus', after today, pretend I never asked, yeah? Pretend it never happened. Can y'do that?"
She was distracted from that sobering thought by the basket he pulled up. She stared down at it, eyes widening.
He hadn't just gotten her a single candy apple from Buck. It looked like he'd been to every stall at the fair. She hadn't even seen small jars like these... had he gotten them specifically for her? While she was out trying to run away from him, he'd been shopping for her. She swallowed, thickly, and then all at once, more tears started pouring out of her.
He'd been thinking of her, the same time she'd been thinking of him. She'd been yelling at the King that she cared about him, and he'd been picking out apple everything to bring to her, because she couldn't leave to go herself.
"Thanks," she croaked. "I... can't believe y'... This is..."
It would be dumb, to get her hopes up over something like this. This was nice, but that was just him. He was just nice. But right now, he was being nice to her, and maybe just for today she was allowed to be a little weak about it. Her hands clutched against the shawl like she would never let it go, even after death.
"Don't leave," she said quickly, maybe too quickly, her hand catching his sleeve as if he might make a break for it. "Please don't leave. I..." she swallowed. "I wanna ask ya somethin', but... Y'can say yes or no, jus', after today, pretend I never asked, yeah? Pretend it never happened. Can y'do that?"
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He'd gone and made her cry worse. He didn't know why he'd thought the rest of it would be better, aside from the fact that she didn't have a particular personal connection to apple butter. As far as he knew. At least she seemed to like the shawl?
"Okay," he said, putting his hand over hers to reassure her that she didn't need to hold onto him so hard. "I'm here." He stroked his thumb over her skin. God, she was cold. He was always a little warmer than other people, but this was cold.
"I can do that," he promised softly. He couldn't begin to imagine what it might be. The things that embarrassed her were always slightly off from what he thought they should have been.
"Okay," he said, putting his hand over hers to reassure her that she didn't need to hold onto him so hard. "I'm here." He stroked his thumb over her skin. God, she was cold. He was always a little warmer than other people, but this was cold.
"I can do that," he promised softly. He couldn't begin to imagine what it might be. The things that embarrassed her were always slightly off from what he thought they should have been.
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She didn't really think he'd say no. If he did, she wouldn't have asked, no matter how weak she felt at the moment, physically and emotionally. Even the small chance was making her nervous, though.
"Can y'hold me?" she blurted out all at once, wincing a bit as if just the asking caused pain. It kind of did, which was stupid considering how much actual pain she was in at the moment. "I know the bed's small," she continued, blathering with nerves now that she had gotten the initial bit out. "But can y'just... pick me up an' hold me an' not let go?"
She wanted to pretend, today, that she could have what she wanted. She wanted to pretend that the King and his opinions didn't exist, that she was right and he was wrong and she could have someone she loved who loved her back, someone who wouldn't ask that she be sacrificed as a prerequisite to affection.
Given her track record, this was almost surely not the case. But everything else sucked right now, so she wanted to have this, and thought maybe she could if they just both agreed never to talk about it again.
Regardless of whether or not he agreed, the shawl would be remaining in her arms. She would hold onto the whole basket if she could, and never put it down. Just carry it around all day every day as evidence.
"Can y'hold me?" she blurted out all at once, wincing a bit as if just the asking caused pain. It kind of did, which was stupid considering how much actual pain she was in at the moment. "I know the bed's small," she continued, blathering with nerves now that she had gotten the initial bit out. "But can y'just... pick me up an' hold me an' not let go?"
She wanted to pretend, today, that she could have what she wanted. She wanted to pretend that the King and his opinions didn't exist, that she was right and he was wrong and she could have someone she loved who loved her back, someone who wouldn't ask that she be sacrificed as a prerequisite to affection.
Given her track record, this was almost surely not the case. But everything else sucked right now, so she wanted to have this, and thought maybe she could if they just both agreed never to talk about it again.
Regardless of whether or not he agreed, the shawl would be remaining in her arms. She would hold onto the whole basket if she could, and never put it down. Just carry it around all day every day as evidence.
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"Of course," Gareth said, holding her hand tighter. "I can absolutely do that."
Figuring out how was a little more of a problem. He felt nervous about trying to move her, as if she had something wrong with her spine instead of just being poisoned. Carefully and awkwardly, he managed to lift her up off the bed and maneuver himself onto it, until he was holding her in his lap. He wrapped his arms around her, his cheek resting against her hair. He wanted to maximize the amount of her that was touching him, hoping some warmth would seep into her. They'd put her in a thin gown, and it didn't feel like enough.
"I can pretend," he murmured. "But all you have to do is ask. Any time, just ask." He didn't think she would. Even coaxing her into allowing a kiss could be tricky. But he'd like it if this were something she'd ask for sometimes, instead of just goading him into losing his temper.
He nuzzled at her hair, and pressed a kiss to her scalp.
Figuring out how was a little more of a problem. He felt nervous about trying to move her, as if she had something wrong with her spine instead of just being poisoned. Carefully and awkwardly, he managed to lift her up off the bed and maneuver himself onto it, until he was holding her in his lap. He wrapped his arms around her, his cheek resting against her hair. He wanted to maximize the amount of her that was touching him, hoping some warmth would seep into her. They'd put her in a thin gown, and it didn't feel like enough.
"I can pretend," he murmured. "But all you have to do is ask. Any time, just ask." He didn't think she would. Even coaxing her into allowing a kiss could be tricky. But he'd like it if this were something she'd ask for sometimes, instead of just goading him into losing his temper.
He nuzzled at her hair, and pressed a kiss to her scalp.
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He said yes! And with more enthusiasm than she'd expected, and even less smug mockery. He got painfully smug, sometimes, when he pieced out that she wanted him. That had been the main reason for the cuddling caveat, as well as just...
Emotional safety. For her. This was a delicate situation. She had feelings for her boss, feelings that were probably at least somewhat induced by Stockholm syndrome, and also she was pretty sure he had something weird going on with the King, who was planning on killing and eating her at some unclear point in the future when he got bored of watching her fail spectacularly at every non-mechanical thing she tried to do in her life.
Mmm. Yeah. It was complicated.
But what wasn't complicated was the way he felt against her, hot enough against her deathlike cold that it bordered on uncomfortable. What it did to her heart didn't feel all that complicated either, right then, even if she knew it really was. Fuck. Goddamnit. It hadn't been a fluke. Poison hadn't killed it. This was all horribly real.
He nuzzled against her hair, and suddenly it was far too much like the position she'd been in with the King the night before. When he'd made the fire. Why did he do things like that? If he treated her cruelly all the time, she wouldn't keep forgetting where she stood. She wouldn't have any hopes left to get up.
She didn't want to think about that, so she turned, with great effort. It wasn't as hard as it would have been without him there; she could feel his warmth seeping into her.
Now it was too much like when the King had kissed her. An equally confusing memory.
"Lie down?" she requested, pointedly ignoring his offer to do this whenever. She was too scared she'd take him up on it. "If y'can. Put me on top of you, an' the blanket over me." Lie under the blankets with me, while I'm in this thin hospital robe, was what she was asking. She didn't trust him not to get any ideas when most of their positive interactions had involved his dick at some point. But given how he was treating her like she was made of glass, it'd probably be fine.
She wanted to lie against him. On top of him. Surely that was an appropriate medical response to being cold.
Emotional safety. For her. This was a delicate situation. She had feelings for her boss, feelings that were probably at least somewhat induced by Stockholm syndrome, and also she was pretty sure he had something weird going on with the King, who was planning on killing and eating her at some unclear point in the future when he got bored of watching her fail spectacularly at every non-mechanical thing she tried to do in her life.
Mmm. Yeah. It was complicated.
But what wasn't complicated was the way he felt against her, hot enough against her deathlike cold that it bordered on uncomfortable. What it did to her heart didn't feel all that complicated either, right then, even if she knew it really was. Fuck. Goddamnit. It hadn't been a fluke. Poison hadn't killed it. This was all horribly real.
He nuzzled against her hair, and suddenly it was far too much like the position she'd been in with the King the night before. When he'd made the fire. Why did he do things like that? If he treated her cruelly all the time, she wouldn't keep forgetting where she stood. She wouldn't have any hopes left to get up.
She didn't want to think about that, so she turned, with great effort. It wasn't as hard as it would have been without him there; she could feel his warmth seeping into her.
Now it was too much like when the King had kissed her. An equally confusing memory.
"Lie down?" she requested, pointedly ignoring his offer to do this whenever. She was too scared she'd take him up on it. "If y'can. Put me on top of you, an' the blanket over me." Lie under the blankets with me, while I'm in this thin hospital robe, was what she was asking. She didn't trust him not to get any ideas when most of their positive interactions had involved his dick at some point. But given how he was treating her like she was made of glass, it'd probably be fine.
She wanted to lie against him. On top of him. Surely that was an appropriate medical response to being cold.
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Gareth loosened his hold on her as she squirmed herself around, the familiar experience of two people trying to figure out how to cuddle comfortably. He'd been perfectly happy spooning, but there was no accounting for taste.
"Okay," he said, adjusting his position beneath her and taking her with him. It would be far too specific for him to assume it was sexual even if she weren't in the state she was in. She'd hardly be the first person to ask to lay on or beneath him in a platonic sort of way. He was a popular cuddlebuddy despite his own certainty that he was going to end up crushing someone one of these days. He pulled the blanket over them both, holding her against his chest so she could settle without falling off. He'd had to position himself with his knees bent over the foot of the bed, because it was the only sustainable way to fit. "How's that?"
A man with an absolutely unimpeachable jawline took one step inside before seeing them, and stopping.
"… she was cold," Gareth explained to the doctor.
"… ah," he said. "Right." He stepped back out, and shut the door behind him.
Gareth leaned his head back against the bed, turning a darker shade of red.
"Okay," he said, adjusting his position beneath her and taking her with him. It would be far too specific for him to assume it was sexual even if she weren't in the state she was in. She'd hardly be the first person to ask to lay on or beneath him in a platonic sort of way. He was a popular cuddlebuddy despite his own certainty that he was going to end up crushing someone one of these days. He pulled the blanket over them both, holding her against his chest so she could settle without falling off. He'd had to position himself with his knees bent over the foot of the bed, because it was the only sustainable way to fit. "How's that?"
A man with an absolutely unimpeachable jawline took one step inside before seeing them, and stopping.
"… she was cold," Gareth explained to the doctor.
"… ah," he said. "Right." He stepped back out, and shut the door behind him.
Gareth leaned his head back against the bed, turning a darker shade of red.
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It took them a little bit to settle into a comfortable position. Ren was hardly an experienced cuddler, and Gareth was definitely not a swarm of rats. It probably wasn't super comfortable for him to lay on a bed built for someone a few feet shorter, but it was comfortable for her. She settled against his chest immediately, nestling her head underneath his chin.
"This is perfect," she murmured. She probably shouldn't fall asleep. She was a little worried, still, that she wouldn't wake up. He was like a furnace underneath her, sinking warmth into even her cold bones.
She didn't even look up when the doctor came in, but did glance up to be amused at the shade Gareth was turning. "I dunno what yer embarrassed by. Every doctor in this place has caught me lookin' seven shades of fucked by now, an' I'm pretty sure most of 'em have figured out yer responsible. Huggin' ain't gonna damage yer reputation at this point."
From this angle, she was noticing how close she was to his face. It was closer than she normally got, what with him being almost three full feet taller than her.
...They were still operating under the rule of not talking about this later, right?
Before she could second guess herself--which she would, at length--she kissed him. She wasn't even really sure why; he'd just looked kissable, that close to her face. She was just about to deepen it when she pulled away, abruptly, looking horrified.
"Wait!" she exclaimed. "Am I safe t' kiss?" Frantically, she wiped her thumb against his lips, as if she could remove any traces she might have left behind. "I jus' drank poison, fer fuck's sake!" Was that how it worked? Had anyone brushed her teeth?
"This is perfect," she murmured. She probably shouldn't fall asleep. She was a little worried, still, that she wouldn't wake up. He was like a furnace underneath her, sinking warmth into even her cold bones.
She didn't even look up when the doctor came in, but did glance up to be amused at the shade Gareth was turning. "I dunno what yer embarrassed by. Every doctor in this place has caught me lookin' seven shades of fucked by now, an' I'm pretty sure most of 'em have figured out yer responsible. Huggin' ain't gonna damage yer reputation at this point."
From this angle, she was noticing how close she was to his face. It was closer than she normally got, what with him being almost three full feet taller than her.
...They were still operating under the rule of not talking about this later, right?
Before she could second guess herself--which she would, at length--she kissed him. She wasn't even really sure why; he'd just looked kissable, that close to her face. She was just about to deepen it when she pulled away, abruptly, looking horrified.
"Wait!" she exclaimed. "Am I safe t' kiss?" Frantically, she wiped her thumb against his lips, as if she could remove any traces she might have left behind. "I jus' drank poison, fer fuck's sake!" Was that how it worked? Had anyone brushed her teeth?
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The reminder didn't make him feel any better about the situation. "Different circumstances," he insisted without clarifying. Looking like he was taking advantage of her when she was unwell was significantly worse for his reputation, in his estimation.
Gareth was surprised when she kissed him, but that didn't stop him from kissing her back, automatic and enthusiastic. He laughed when she started frantically second-guessing herself. "It's not going to kill me," he assured her. "I don't think they left you in here with poison on your mouth, anyway. If I were you, I would have been more worried about having vomit-breath. Which you don't, for the record. Not that I noticed. Here, I'll double-check."
He caught her mouth in another quick kiss before she could stop him.
"Seems fine."
Gareth was surprised when she kissed him, but that didn't stop him from kissing her back, automatic and enthusiastic. He laughed when she started frantically second-guessing herself. "It's not going to kill me," he assured her. "I don't think they left you in here with poison on your mouth, anyway. If I were you, I would have been more worried about having vomit-breath. Which you don't, for the record. Not that I noticed. Here, I'll double-check."
He caught her mouth in another quick kiss before she could stop him.
"Seems fine."
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"Of course," she said, rolling her eyes. Fucking her was one thing, but god forbid they be caught snuggling... Not that she was any different about it. "Well, now that he thinks we're tryin' holistic medicine, at least we'll be left alone." Ren didn't particularly like doctors, or dealing with them. She also just didn't want to deal with any of the realities of her situation yet.
Right, of course they wouldn't just leave her with poison all over her. That'd be really counter-intuitive, since it was... poisonous to her too. The vomit-breath comment made her panic, but before she could smell her own breath, Gareth kissed her again.
His lips were warm, firm but soft. She could have done this for hours. She might, if no one stopped her.
"Yer ridiculous," she muttered when he pulled away again. She was embarrassed, but there wasn't enough heat in her to blush at the moment. "Ridiculous and warm." He was like the world's biggest hot water bottle. "If a blizzard ever hits, an' we have to huddle together for warmth, I call dibs," she announced. Then she kissed him again. For science. To see if it was as nice the third time.
It was, unfortunately. She deepened it, hesitantly, shifting to find a more comfortable position on top of him, which turned out to be basically straddling him. He really was so warm, like a little oven underneath her. As cold as she was, the heat was almost as addictive as his lips were turning out to be.
When she finally pulled away, she was breathing a bit more heavily. "...It's a miracle we get any work done at all," she muttered.
Right, of course they wouldn't just leave her with poison all over her. That'd be really counter-intuitive, since it was... poisonous to her too. The vomit-breath comment made her panic, but before she could smell her own breath, Gareth kissed her again.
His lips were warm, firm but soft. She could have done this for hours. She might, if no one stopped her.
"Yer ridiculous," she muttered when he pulled away again. She was embarrassed, but there wasn't enough heat in her to blush at the moment. "Ridiculous and warm." He was like the world's biggest hot water bottle. "If a blizzard ever hits, an' we have to huddle together for warmth, I call dibs," she announced. Then she kissed him again. For science. To see if it was as nice the third time.
It was, unfortunately. She deepened it, hesitantly, shifting to find a more comfortable position on top of him, which turned out to be basically straddling him. He really was so warm, like a little oven underneath her. As cold as she was, the heat was almost as addictive as his lips were turning out to be.
When she finally pulled away, she was breathing a bit more heavily. "...It's a miracle we get any work done at all," she muttered.
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"My plan involved more firewood," he said, "but I like yours better. Let's go with that. I'm holding you to it. I'm giving away my firewood, so if you don't follow through we're going to freeze."
He let her go to cup her face as she kissed him again, letting her take the lead. Getting to kiss her in earnest was a pleasant change of pace despite the circumstances, and he had every intention of drawing it out for as long as possible. Who knew how she'd feel about it tomorrow?
Taking advantage of her emotional vulnerability following a brush with death to kiss her thoroughly wasn't the nicest thing to do, but he seemed to do a lot of not-nice things with her.
He stroked his thumbs over her cheeks. "I missed you," he sighed, before he could think better of it. "I'm so glad you're okay."
He let her go to cup her face as she kissed him again, letting her take the lead. Getting to kiss her in earnest was a pleasant change of pace despite the circumstances, and he had every intention of drawing it out for as long as possible. Who knew how she'd feel about it tomorrow?
Taking advantage of her emotional vulnerability following a brush with death to kiss her thoroughly wasn't the nicest thing to do, but he seemed to do a lot of not-nice things with her.
He stroked his thumbs over her cheeks. "I missed you," he sighed, before he could think better of it. "I'm so glad you're okay."
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