Re: Cath & Warrick #8 YoBling: Eye-Sex™ Pioneers
Well here you go! I was going to proof it and get it up before I went to bed but I'm growing drowsier by the minute. So you get it as is. There is an M rated version of it that I'm going to finish up and have posted on ff.net by monday at the very latest. This is only about two pages and the M rated one is about seven, so far, so I'm sorry if this is blah at the end. I lost stamina writing it and editing it down to PG took something away from it.
Anyway here's the PG version of my oneshot for your viewing pleasure. I'm posting it here because I said I was going to, so I hope that's alright. Going to the fanfiction thread for such a short little blurb seemed silly.
Well enough blabber, here you go.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Wildfire-
I’ve spent the last two hours staring at the quarter inch think line of paled skin that wraps itself in a complete circle around my left ring finger. The discoloration in my skin acts as a shining reminder of all of the deformities I have in my life. The tan line is a slowly fading reminder of the two years I wore a gold band on that finger, a glittering symbol of the lies that perpetuated my life. The only distraction I find from dwelling on my failed marriage, wounded heart, and broken spirit are the one hundred and four black and red cards and the multitude of green, red, blue and various other colors of casino chips that I share at this table with two strangers and a dealer who, over the last few days, I’ve come to learn is referred to as ‘Slim.’ I allow my eyes to break the trance they’ve formed with that particular part of my anatomy long enough to study the two cards I have before me on the table, pound back another shot of tequila, and gesture to the dealer I’d like a hit. I’m unsure which I should feel worse about in my life, the fact I married a woman I couldn’t love, or the gambling habit I’d almost defeated, almost.
A little more thought and the continued careful study of the place of absence on my finger leads me to a conclusion I can live with for now. Though many people have been hurt as the result of my gambling, one I’ll never forgive myself for, I feel no shame in the fact that I’ve returned to one of the former Braun casinos in search of a rush, a not-so-cheap thrill. No, all of my shame lies in the knowledge that I rushed myself into a marriage with a woman I didn’t love and doomed both of us into a life that would, best case scenario, end with us being older, on the verge of leaving our prime, bitter, and divorced. ‘Welcome to hell’ I think to myself as I pound back another shot of tequila and push the remainder of my chips into the center of the felt table. A last ditch attempt to save the remaining spoils of my paycheck. Turned up in front of me I see a queen of diamonds and I secretly peek beneath it where I find burrowed the five of clubs, after consideration of the dealer’s six of spades showing I feel confident in gesturing for a hit when my turn comes around. The seven of clubs, naturally, twenty-two points and bust. One more shot pours its way down the back of my throat as I stand and begin to navigate my way out of the casino, following close behind me is a private demon telling me that there is something horribly wrong with my life, that something is missing.
Though my mind is still acting with conscious thought my body is beginning to sway and turn to mush and I have to lean against the face of the building to keep balance, I’m thankful I had the foresight not to try to drive home. At this very moment I’m in front of the casino trying to get the attention of a cab driver before one of the clusters of tourists standing all around me, I’m failing miserably. It doesn’t take long, however, for me to catch the attention of perhaps the only person I’d even be willing to talk to at the time. I pop a piece of gum in my mouth and think myself through all the logical steps of making conversation and normal human bodily movement desperately trying to hide my inebriation as she approaches. She did notice me, I’m sure of it, the population is simply causing an obstacle between her and me, thus prolonging her approach.
I watch all of the natural beauty that encompasses her as she weaves between strangers, trying to greet me. Her pale skin like an ivory throne to the sapphire rivers flowing in her eyes, her long hair wrapping around her cheeks, neck, and shoulders like wildfire consumed with beauty. She smiles at me and I swear nothing, not the city lights nor all the stars in the sky, could possess the beauty to transform my mood as such a small gesture from her. I can’t be sure if it’s all the alcohol or not but when she finally leans close to say ‘hi’ over the bustle and volume of the people around us, I’m high.
It takes me a moment but finally I register that she asked me “what are you doing here?”
Involuntarily I smile at her, and I take a few more moments to study her face before I reply, with a surprisingly much lighter mood, “I could ask you the same thing.” I’m only playing around with her though, and I’m happy for the distraction from my wretched night so I add “I just needed a night out.”
“Since Sam died” she tells me, “I get the royal treatment when I come here. I like to come here to unwind from time to time, it’s nice being out but knowing I have the protection of every security guard and hotel worker in the joint.”
“Picture that” I say to her, amused, and pleased, that she’s concerned with her own safety for once in her life. The incident with the date rape put things in perspective for her, I guess.
“You heading out for the night?” she asks me, with a gesture to the city around us. “Or can I persuade you to come inside for a few drinks and perhaps some good conversation?”
“Honestly, I’m leaning against this wall for a reason, I’d better lay off the drinks” I admit to her honestly. “I’ll have a few cokes though, if you don’t mind drinking with a lightweight.”
“Not at all” she winks at me and I follow her back into the casino, this time not afraid that I’ll find my doom deep within its bowels.
When I finally feel that my eyelids are too heavy to bear I begin to assess the situation a bit, I’ve almost completely sobered though my body is rife with fatigue I feel pretty normal. My watch reads three hours later than it did when I made the attempt to leave the casino the first time, and I feel pretty great. I’ve decided it’s time to make my exit, and when I stand to leave, she stands to bid me goodbye. Something happens though, something I can’t explain. I lean forward to give her a half hug, like I do frequently, but I plant a kiss on her jaw bone where it meets her neck. We haven’t greeted each other in this way for years, and with a surge of giddiness and blood rushing to my cheeks, as well as other places, I realize why. She makes me, among other things, hot. I consider apologizing but the apology is lost in translation, this time the kiss falls on her lips. Our lips meet again, this time driven by passion, and not the awkward fumbling I was doing moments before. I’m secretly grateful that Catherine is a woman that knows her way around this sort of thing, because with pretty girls like her, I’ve never been Casanova.
Things are hazy for a few moments and then I glance out of the elevator that we’ve made our way to long enough to catch a glimpse of a ‘Top Story’ on CNN. Apparently a fire has sprung up in one of the forests in North Carolina and though I’m very occupied at the moment I can’t help but feel a little bad about it. After all I’m pretty sure it was the chemistry and heat coming from the two of us that caused the fire to spring up on the other side of the country, because it’s pretty hot in here and if neither of us are going to get burned the energy had to be displaced somewhere.
The demon is gone and I realize, as I bury my lips into her earlobe and feel the flames of her red curls tickle my cheeks, that the something missing was wildfire.
-by-
~LLK