By a Fire// [Stare] Blitz!

Benedict Nolan

It felt almost domestic. Sitting there with Alicia close against you, both huddled under a quilt while the winds whipped about outside. She was still playing doctor to your head, but it was nice to watch her. Blue eyes focused on her task, fingers brushing against skin, lips pressed firmly together in concentration.

The house moaned as the wind beat against it. Alicia's hands froze for a second at the sound, and your good arm instinctively reached over and settled on her shoulder. Like you could defend anyone from anything right now, but still you felt a need to protect her even if she didn't need your protection.

"That's alright, I'm allergic to goose feathers anyway," you say with a grin. Knowing you'll be there for the night, you start to wiggle in the chair to adjust yourself only in the process you managed to pull at the skin around your memento from earlier. Cringing, you settle back into the chair, leaning against Alicia shoulder. Staring into the fire you wonder aloud. "Maybe I've always been too proud. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me something." Your eyes flash back up to her's and for a second you're stuck there, melting in the fiery depths that is Miss Klare.

Benedict Nolan

Warm fingers pressed against your chest as she buttoned the rest of your shirt. You wonder if she can feel your heartbeat under your ribcage because it's doing a dance of a lifetime.

She shifted closer in the chair, this perch that was way too small for two people to sit comfortably on but you wanted her as close as possible. Not just because she was taking care of you, or keeping you warm. You want her there just to be there. Fingers kept sliding through your hair, and brushing against cuts that had long been washed. She was close, so close, her face right near yours as her smooth voice sang her words.

"No? Cause I feel like I'm right where I'm supposed to be," your heart flipped in your chest, and even though in the past you've chastised yourself for giving into this girl you don't feel it now. Right now, you're as light as the feathers that make your nose run. You're floating wrapped in the Alicia's scent- in her hair- in her arms.

Without having an ulterior motive, without doing it for personal gain, you lean in towards you. Then, without any other reasons other than you just want to, you gently press your wounded lips to hers.

If you weren't lightheaded before you sure as hell are now.

Benedict Nolan

The feeling was both familiar and new- you had kissed many times but most of them were in the heat of the moment and in an attempt to get something. This had the same heat and passion, but sincere and truthful. Her hands gripped your shoulders, and in that moment- kissing this girl huddled together by the fire- it felt perfect.

She pulled back to breathe and you realized how long you'd been without air. Taking in a deep breath, she kissed you on the corner of your mouth and you wanted more than anything for her lips to move over just an inch to their rightful spot.

"I think we make a pretty good team," you say, grinning at her.

Your good arm raises so that you can slip your fingers into her hair, pulling it back to get a look at her face splashed with firelight.

"Ripred, you are gorgeous," there is a feeling in your throat that you can't quite identify and suddenly it's pinching at your eyes threatening to make you tear up from the shear power of it. "And smart and so so witty."

You bite on your lower lip, green eyes focused on her blue ones.

"Miss Klare, you seem to have cast a spell on me."

Benedict Nolan

Closing your eyes as she traced your lips, you savored the sensation before it was her own lips against yours. The kiss seemed to be impossibly long, but even when it did break you wish it hadn't.

She was mumbling an apology, one that she didn't need to say. Your mind started to fill with the words you had exchanged that first night you had met. You were horrible. A prideful terror that thought they had every person in this district under their thumb- all but one.

Between her apologies, you reach up to caress her cheek. The movement hurts, but you can pull through the pain if it is to relieve her's.

"No, I'm the one who should apologize. I'm a cruel man, with nothing in this world but money and the power to use it," you shift closer to her, your battered body leaning into her. "But... now I have you. I'm softer now, because of you. You've changed me, Alicia, and I wouldn't want it any other way."

Moving your hand from her cheek to her shoulders, you pull her close to your chest and pressing a kiss on the top of her head.

"You've saved me, and not just from a knife wound," the words just flowed out now, like water from a pump. Thoughts that you had never before put into words poured from your lips in a rush.

"You saved me from myself."

Benedict Nolan

Her voice was cracking with unshed tears. It sent a crack through your heart to hear her say such things. She was doubting herself and you knew it. No, you had to let her know how much she meant to you.

Taking her chin in your hand, you raised her face up so you could look her in the eye- those blue eyes that seemed to change with every mood. Cool and steely, or warm and inviting. Right now they were hurting and it made your chest hurt too.

"Alicia, you could never disappoint me. You are everything to me," your voice was soft but insistent. She needed to hear this, and you needed to let it out. "You have made me feel things I never thought possible. When I say you saved me I mean it."

Looking into those eyes, you feel yourself lost again but not in the dangerous way when you first were sucked in by Miss Klare's charm. No, this was like coming home.

"Alicia, I love you."

Benedict Nolan

She loves you. Has anyone ever told you that they love you? Your memory can't recall one, but her. Your Alicia who is curled up with you by a fire, exchanging kisses back and forth.

This is why people fight to live, this is why people beg for money- this is the reason people go to extremes. You see it now. If anything or anyone had tried to take Alicia away from you now, bleeding be damned you'd end them. People do foolish things while in love, but you had always just passed it off as ignorance. Now that the feeling has rooted in your chest and your mind, you know it isn't stupidity that drives people to the edges of cliffs. It's the love of another person. It's both exciting and terrifying all at once.

You press your lips to hers again and again, sleepy eyes half closed while the warmth of the fire lulls you into dreams. This is what heaven feels like- to fall asleep wrapped up with Alicia. Both you warm and safe. You had missed out on this, and now that you had a taste you didn't want to give it up.

So focused on your partner in your arms you didn't even hear the footsteps and chatter approaching the front door.

Benedict Nolan

Sleep was pulling on your mind, and after the night you had it felt welcome. Only, it was interrupted by Alicia's scared voice and violent flailing. Stumbling out the chair, getting caught up in the blankets, she stood over you panicked.

It was just her parents, you'd have to meet them sometime. That thought made you feel all tingly again. Only, Alicia's anxious look distracted you from it.

Sleep had overtaken your mind. You were wounded and exhausted, and words were beyond you at this point. The two of you had fallen asleep for how long cuddled up by the fire?

"Well," you began, trying to keep your green eyes all the way open. "I think this is a fine time to meet them."

The sentence was punctuated with a large yawn and was probably not what Miss Klare was looking for.