April 10

[captainryan]

April has come and with it the warm weather. Werewolves, for the next six months at least, do not find it quite so miserable to be outdoors for three days in a row.  The level of easy prey is beginning to rise as well, as the animals of the forest begin their reproductive cycles anew. A good time to be a predator.

It’s the last night of the full moon. The right edge has begun to wane ever so slightly, barely noticeable, but its light is still bright over the hills and valleys of Milliways' Scottish simulation. The light is less illuminating under the trees, but still enough to pick out a path without too great a difficulty, provided there’s a path to follow.

Comments

[hell_in_highheels]

"Don't be a fool, Richard." Her voice resumes its normal volume, her tone simply weary.

She pushes herself to her feet and returns to the den, her intent to reach passed him to retrieve the Holtzmann shield from where it's nestled against the wall.

"I'm not eager to die again, any more than you are." If he lets her, she'll buckle on the belt bag with the same ease he puts on his own holster.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He shakes his head roughly, still showing teeth.

"Only stops you from bleeding." He knows he's strong enough to throw her around and that the shield does little to stop concussive damage.

[hell_in_highheels]

She meets his gaze, level, not backing down an inch. "I took a calculated risk. I needed you."

Her jaw clenches and unclenches, and he can smell her need now. Sharp and bright, woven with pain and longing.

Do you know how much you mean to me?

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"And if I killed you?"

He's still showing teeth, but his voice has gone soft and quiet. His eyes hold hers, unblinking.

[hell_in_highheels]

"You didn't, my love." Her voice is equally quiet, gentling now. "I'm not saying you aren't dangerous, Richard. I knew when I came out here that I was putting myself at risk. I hadn't intended to do anything more than lay eyes on you. I hadn't ever hoped to meet you, to touch you and run with you. To eat with you. To sleep beside you and feel you curled around me. I hadn't intended any of that."

There is a soft wonder in her voice as she speaks.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He presses his lips together, catching flashes of memory, pieces of what happened. He knows it doesn't sound so bad when that's all you see.

But it's only half.

"Don't come out here again."

[hell_in_highheels]

She nods and looks down for just a moment, before looking back into his face.

It takes her a moment to find the words. Any words.

"I'm sorry I shouted at you."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He lets out a breath of air all at once and shakes himself off. He's blinking as he meets her eyes now.

"I forget," he answers, still speaking carefully. "About English."

Especially when he's distracted by other matters.

[hell_in_highheels]

"I know." She gives him a small smile. "You forget a lot of things when you're angry."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He doesn't smile.

But he does turn himself to bump her shoulder.

[hell_in_highheels]

Her hand catches his shirt and then his forearm. She turns, her eyes downturned, and rests her head on his shoulder.

She's biting her lip hard, trying not to let her emotions overwhelm her. It's not working very well.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He lifts his free hand to pet the back of her head as she leans against him. He stands solid and strong, unmoving under her head.

He isn't sorry for his reaction, but that doesn't mean he likes to see/smell her this way.

[hell_in_highheels]

The touch of his hand breaks her composure. She exhales and leans against him, her hands coming up to grip his shirt front. Her face is pressed tight into his chest and as a result, her words are muffled.

"I still need you."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"I'm here." His voice vibrates through his chest, trying to reassure her. His other hand is free now and he uses it to hold her to him.

"I'm not going anywhere."

[hell_in_highheels]

She's tried valiantly, but she can't contain the tears any longer. Her arms tentatively slip around his neck and she stands on her tip toes to press her temple against his jaw. Her sobs are quiet, but they shake her whole body.

It is a revelation to her that, after surviving an encounter with his eight-foot tall, predator form, the thing that she couldn't bear to face was not his anger, but his withdrawal.

It's something she'll talk to him about. Later. Right now, she just wants to hold him, to feel his arms around her.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He's not really sure how they got to her crying. Were it a little later in the day, he'd probably ask.

Right now, though, all that's important is that she is.

He holds her quietly, frowning over her head at the still dim woods.

[hell_in_highheels]

She is not proud about it. She's tired, and drawn thin by their exchange. Even as angry as the Doctor could make her, he never brought her to tears. But this is different. This is Richard.

He's here. He's not going anywhere. She repeats the words, the very sound of his voice in her head, over and over again. 'I'm here. I'm not going anywhere.'

The tears taper off eventually. Fear and sadness in her scent slowly dimming (memories of that velvet tongue washing away her fears). A little laugh escapes her throat.

"You're scarier than he is."

She doesn't like thinking of them as two separate beings, but in this case, it's true.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

He doesn't agree with that assessment at all. But then, he was nearly eaten by one of those things. He's glad she's been spared that particular experience.

As long as she understands it's a distinct possibility.

He shakes his head slightly, chin rubbing her temple. "No."

[hell_in_highheels]

Yes, she thinks. He just bit my nose. You bit my head clean off.

She doesn't say this at all.

She feels the scruff of his chin against her face and her hands pull him down to her, so she can nuzzle his chin again.

Never leave you, wolf. "Never leave you. Promised."

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

"That's why you shouldn't come out here." There is, very faintly, the hint of a whine to his tone.

I don't want to lose you.

[hell_in_highheels]

"Okay, my love," My love,. "I won't." I had to. "I promise." Can't lose you. "I promise." Love you so much.

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

Good.

I love you too, you know. That's why he worries.

[hell_in_highheels]

Her head is tucked under his chin and he feels her give a tiny little nod. Her mind is racing, but she keeps her mouth shut.

After a long moment of just holding tight to him, letting her heart rate settle, letting his strength soothe her, calm her, she pulls back just a tiny bit. Where's Damocles?

[captainryan.livejournal.com]

I don't know. He looks around a bit, sniffing on the off chance he'll catch something besides her scent.

I doubt he's gone far.

[hell_in_highheels]

She falls back a bit, but she keeps hold of one of his hands. Her eyes are scanning the tree line, and she's listening. Her eyes come back to his face and he might recognise the tiny furrow between her eyebrows as frustration. It's gone just as fast as it came.

"We should head back."