Nike Crawford-Marine (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
nottheshoe) wrote2017-09-22 08:23 pm
nottheshoe) wrote2017-09-22 08:23 pm
THE THIRD AND FINAL
"I love you," her arms locked around his center.
She'd seen him exiting the kitchen, Probably after grabbing a snack. She hadn't seen him all day-- no for nearly a week he'd managed to avoid her. It'd be impressive given he was the head of her queens guard, sworn to protect her through darkest night and whatever other antiquated bullshit they forced them to say. But he had said he was sick- or needed a vacation. Passed all the info through her PA and left her wondering what she was supposed to do.
She'd held it together-- she had to. At the very least the week wasn't busy. But she had snapped at a Japanese diplomat and her assistant had taken her to the side.
'Resolve this,' it wasn't a request. 'Fire him, fuck him, I don't care. Do what you have to do.'
She'd turned scarlet. Rare for her. And when she had attempted to point out how inappropriate any comment about her and Shinji even engaging in such an act was--
That had sealed the deal. Her assistant had rolled her eyes and walked off before she could even say another word.
'Take care of it, Crawford.'
So she had wracked her brain all night, sleep had only caught her for an hour before she woke up to Aileen pulling open her curtains and saying she had cleared her schedule. The greeting was curt. She had her job to do.
For one day she didn't have to worry about being queen.
Nike had tried to find him in his room-- in Yoshie's room. No luck. She was way too used to him being by her side. She confirmed, through some snooping, that he was in the city, and had first caught sight of him greeting another young royal-- shit. Countess? Lady? She wasn't keeping track today.
Just run up. Say hi. Be casual.
This wasn't supposed to be difficult.
She took one step forward when she is thrown into the memory of pressing her lips against his, his smell, his feel, the sound of his voice.
This time she finds herself on the roof.
Had she just transported herself out of nervousness?
"Yes, you did."
"Athena!" Half insulted, half scared, lacking all the confidence she normally had. Nike turned to plant a glare firmly on her guardian.
'I've been keeping out of this for the most part, give me some credit,' the familiar lay her head down on her paws and gave a soft huff of breath.
Nike fidgeted on her feet, back and forth, before collapsing down into a sitting position next to the cat.
'I fucked up.'
'You did.'
'Big time.'
'I'm not going to deny that.'
A moment of quiet and Nike brings the sleeve of her shirt to her nose as the wind passes them. A shuddering breath that she'll pass off as being a sneeze, Athena knows better.
"Own it." A quiet rumble comes from the snow leopard.
"Right, I'm sure that will go well."
"Nike," short and sharp. "You are an idiot, but he is even more of an idiot. You spend every day of your life pretending to be someone else for most every person around you-- maybe he doesn't understand that with him you're authentic."
And if to underline the point, she says this only between them.
'And that you want to kiss him again.'
That catches the breath in her throat-- she hates that Athena is right. She had hoped maybe she could get away with telling him it was a joke- because to be rejected by Shinji.
That very thought made her stomach drop.
She runs a thumb over the hem of the top she's wearing and all at once stands.
'I'll figure it out,' is all she offers before she concentrates her energy on teleporting herself back to her room.
Half the day is spent stressing trying to find some way out of the truth. The other half is spent organizing various pockets of clutter- before a servant comes in and eyes her nervously.
That had been when she spotted him.
Her head buried in his back, eyes closed, his scent so familiar.
"I'm a fucking idiot," now the breath catches in her throat. "And I love you."
It was true. They both knew it was.
Both parts of those statements.
He shifted under her touch—to move, to speak—she didn’t care. She gripped him more tightly and shook her head.
Not yet. Please not yet.
“I—I didn’t mean t—“ She tripped over the sentence, cursing internally, what the hell was she trying to say? “I kissed you cuz I wanted to.”
She could feel him shift, trying to look over his shoulder at her.
God if she could open that door to an alternate dimension right now and lock herself in it, she would. No questions asked.
Her face was bright red and somehow she knows he’d love that—the very idea that he’d loved that sends her heart beating faster.
“I’ve wanted to,” she corrects herself.
The tension in his shoulder released slightly. Large warm hands encompass hers and it’s only then she realized she’d been shaking. He pulled free of her grip—only to, gracefully, tug her around so she had to face him (It had been quick—nearly a twirl? She wondered if they were always dancing).
She was anxious and afraid, ready to throw up, but she faced him, they’d been through too much together for her to chicken out now.
And all she can see is his amused face.
A hand splayed across his forehead, some lingering tint on his cheeks—honestly, he looked nearly bashful as well. For a rare moment she could see him as a young boy in that expression.
“How long?”
His voice broke her thoughts.
“Huh?”
“How long have you wanted to kiss me?”
She sputtered. She tried to pull her hands away from him and he laughed even harder.
Oh god, he was laughing.
ABORT ABORT ABORT.
He pulled her into his arms. Her eyes closed and she wanted to memorize this moment. Memorize that face. It was hers to keep—He was hers. That’s all that mattered to her.
“Since y’saved me, that first time,” Quiet, she hoped he wouldn’t hear her.
A quick release of air and he responded, “That’s when we first met.”
A little after, but for all intents and purposes….
“Yeah. I know.” It came out hard and forced.
“Nike.” Bewildered, almost pitying.
“I. Know.” She was still shaking, he held her more tightly.
Voices echoed towards them and suddenly he pulled her into a nook. She hadn’t even thought of the fact that they could be spotted.
‘Be honest,’ chimed that calming voice.
She could practically hear Athena purring in approval.
“You saved me,” She still couldn’t bring herself to look up. Not yet. “I—I thought it was like I’d stumbled int’some fairytale.”
Had he always been her prince?
Another soft laugh and she wondered if she should play the lottery tonight. How often did he ever laugh like that? He murmured some Japanese and she knows he’s making fun of her some how.
Oh no. She cannot let him win this conversation. No way.
“Well—can I?”
A smirk spread across her face as she felt him stiffen.
“Can you what?” Measured and careful, the voice she was so familiar with.
She backed away, ready to face his gaze. Her cheeks were still warm and pink, and she was sure she looked half a mess, but he was giving her that look she adored. Where he had no idea what she was about to do, but was anticipating it all the same.
“Can I kiss you again?”
The question hung in the air- and Shinji clearly couldn’t settle on how to respond. She wasn’t sure he could even form a sentence in English right now.
“Ah.”
As close to a yes as she ever bet she’d get.
Well—that and the way his fingers had tightened around her.
Her hands found his face, fingers splayed in his hair, thumbs brushing under his jaw, and she pulled him in. Warm, soft and comforting, just how she had remembered it that night. Her nose bumped his slightly and she could feel his chuckle rumble through his body. She was only given a moment before his mouth drops open and he pressed his teeth to her lips in a teasing nibble.
Oh—oh this was different from that night. Why had she kissed him when he was almost asleep again?
She gasped, and pulled away, pushed her forehead to his while her arms wrapped around his neck.
“Nike--?”
“Again.”
His mouth was against hers almost as soon as she finishes the word, arms caged her in and it felt as though she was on fire. His tongue ran along the seam of her mouth and she allowed him entrance. She wondered, briefly, how long he had thought of kissing her—or when the last time he had even kissed someone had been—and then his tongue presses against her and all thought is gone.
She thought she heard the sound of someone whimpering—and when Shinji pulled away and asks—“Y’okay?”—She realized it was her.
A warm shuddering breath passed her lips before she says, “Again.”
He chuckled, it was deep and husky, sent a shiver up her spine.
“We’d need somewhere more private,” That almost sounded like a threat coming from him.
She drew her bottom lip into her mouth, running her tongue over it briefly and letting the idea roll around in her head.
Well there was only one possible answer she could give, right?
“Again.”
She'd seen him exiting the kitchen, Probably after grabbing a snack. She hadn't seen him all day-- no for nearly a week he'd managed to avoid her. It'd be impressive given he was the head of her queens guard, sworn to protect her through darkest night and whatever other antiquated bullshit they forced them to say. But he had said he was sick- or needed a vacation. Passed all the info through her PA and left her wondering what she was supposed to do.
She'd held it together-- she had to. At the very least the week wasn't busy. But she had snapped at a Japanese diplomat and her assistant had taken her to the side.
'Resolve this,' it wasn't a request. 'Fire him, fuck him, I don't care. Do what you have to do.'
She'd turned scarlet. Rare for her. And when she had attempted to point out how inappropriate any comment about her and Shinji even engaging in such an act was--
That had sealed the deal. Her assistant had rolled her eyes and walked off before she could even say another word.
'Take care of it, Crawford.'
So she had wracked her brain all night, sleep had only caught her for an hour before she woke up to Aileen pulling open her curtains and saying she had cleared her schedule. The greeting was curt. She had her job to do.
For one day she didn't have to worry about being queen.
Nike had tried to find him in his room-- in Yoshie's room. No luck. She was way too used to him being by her side. She confirmed, through some snooping, that he was in the city, and had first caught sight of him greeting another young royal-- shit. Countess? Lady? She wasn't keeping track today.
Just run up. Say hi. Be casual.
This wasn't supposed to be difficult.
She took one step forward when she is thrown into the memory of pressing her lips against his, his smell, his feel, the sound of his voice.
This time she finds herself on the roof.
Had she just transported herself out of nervousness?
"Yes, you did."
"Athena!" Half insulted, half scared, lacking all the confidence she normally had. Nike turned to plant a glare firmly on her guardian.
'I've been keeping out of this for the most part, give me some credit,' the familiar lay her head down on her paws and gave a soft huff of breath.
Nike fidgeted on her feet, back and forth, before collapsing down into a sitting position next to the cat.
'I fucked up.'
'You did.'
'Big time.'
'I'm not going to deny that.'
A moment of quiet and Nike brings the sleeve of her shirt to her nose as the wind passes them. A shuddering breath that she'll pass off as being a sneeze, Athena knows better.
"Own it." A quiet rumble comes from the snow leopard.
"Right, I'm sure that will go well."
"Nike," short and sharp. "You are an idiot, but he is even more of an idiot. You spend every day of your life pretending to be someone else for most every person around you-- maybe he doesn't understand that with him you're authentic."
And if to underline the point, she says this only between them.
'And that you want to kiss him again.'
That catches the breath in her throat-- she hates that Athena is right. She had hoped maybe she could get away with telling him it was a joke- because to be rejected by Shinji.
That very thought made her stomach drop.
She runs a thumb over the hem of the top she's wearing and all at once stands.
'I'll figure it out,' is all she offers before she concentrates her energy on teleporting herself back to her room.
Half the day is spent stressing trying to find some way out of the truth. The other half is spent organizing various pockets of clutter- before a servant comes in and eyes her nervously.
That had been when she spotted him.
Her head buried in his back, eyes closed, his scent so familiar.
"I'm a fucking idiot," now the breath catches in her throat. "And I love you."
It was true. They both knew it was.
Both parts of those statements.
He shifted under her touch—to move, to speak—she didn’t care. She gripped him more tightly and shook her head.
Not yet. Please not yet.
“I—I didn’t mean t—“ She tripped over the sentence, cursing internally, what the hell was she trying to say? “I kissed you cuz I wanted to.”
She could feel him shift, trying to look over his shoulder at her.
God if she could open that door to an alternate dimension right now and lock herself in it, she would. No questions asked.
Her face was bright red and somehow she knows he’d love that—the very idea that he’d loved that sends her heart beating faster.
“I’ve wanted to,” she corrects herself.
The tension in his shoulder released slightly. Large warm hands encompass hers and it’s only then she realized she’d been shaking. He pulled free of her grip—only to, gracefully, tug her around so she had to face him (It had been quick—nearly a twirl? She wondered if they were always dancing).
She was anxious and afraid, ready to throw up, but she faced him, they’d been through too much together for her to chicken out now.
And all she can see is his amused face.
A hand splayed across his forehead, some lingering tint on his cheeks—honestly, he looked nearly bashful as well. For a rare moment she could see him as a young boy in that expression.
“How long?”
His voice broke her thoughts.
“Huh?”
“How long have you wanted to kiss me?”
She sputtered. She tried to pull her hands away from him and he laughed even harder.
Oh god, he was laughing.
ABORT ABORT ABORT.
He pulled her into his arms. Her eyes closed and she wanted to memorize this moment. Memorize that face. It was hers to keep—He was hers. That’s all that mattered to her.
“Since y’saved me, that first time,” Quiet, she hoped he wouldn’t hear her.
A quick release of air and he responded, “That’s when we first met.”
A little after, but for all intents and purposes….
“Yeah. I know.” It came out hard and forced.
“Nike.” Bewildered, almost pitying.
“I. Know.” She was still shaking, he held her more tightly.
Voices echoed towards them and suddenly he pulled her into a nook. She hadn’t even thought of the fact that they could be spotted.
‘Be honest,’ chimed that calming voice.
She could practically hear Athena purring in approval.
“You saved me,” She still couldn’t bring herself to look up. Not yet. “I—I thought it was like I’d stumbled int’some fairytale.”
Had he always been her prince?
Another soft laugh and she wondered if she should play the lottery tonight. How often did he ever laugh like that? He murmured some Japanese and she knows he’s making fun of her some how.
Oh no. She cannot let him win this conversation. No way.
“Well—can I?”
A smirk spread across her face as she felt him stiffen.
“Can you what?” Measured and careful, the voice she was so familiar with.
She backed away, ready to face his gaze. Her cheeks were still warm and pink, and she was sure she looked half a mess, but he was giving her that look she adored. Where he had no idea what she was about to do, but was anticipating it all the same.
“Can I kiss you again?”
The question hung in the air- and Shinji clearly couldn’t settle on how to respond. She wasn’t sure he could even form a sentence in English right now.
“Ah.”
As close to a yes as she ever bet she’d get.
Well—that and the way his fingers had tightened around her.
Her hands found his face, fingers splayed in his hair, thumbs brushing under his jaw, and she pulled him in. Warm, soft and comforting, just how she had remembered it that night. Her nose bumped his slightly and she could feel his chuckle rumble through his body. She was only given a moment before his mouth drops open and he pressed his teeth to her lips in a teasing nibble.
Oh—oh this was different from that night. Why had she kissed him when he was almost asleep again?
She gasped, and pulled away, pushed her forehead to his while her arms wrapped around his neck.
“Nike--?”
“Again.”
His mouth was against hers almost as soon as she finishes the word, arms caged her in and it felt as though she was on fire. His tongue ran along the seam of her mouth and she allowed him entrance. She wondered, briefly, how long he had thought of kissing her—or when the last time he had even kissed someone had been—and then his tongue presses against her and all thought is gone.
She thought she heard the sound of someone whimpering—and when Shinji pulled away and asks—“Y’okay?”—She realized it was her.
A warm shuddering breath passed her lips before she says, “Again.”
He chuckled, it was deep and husky, sent a shiver up her spine.
“We’d need somewhere more private,” That almost sounded like a threat coming from him.
She drew her bottom lip into her mouth, running her tongue over it briefly and letting the idea roll around in her head.
Well there was only one possible answer she could give, right?
“Again.”