last_adam | (no subject)

Stopping for a quick breath, Adam wipes his forehead with his sleeve.

It's not as though this is strictly necessary, winter is still a bit off. It's not even as if he needed have done it, ther are certainly servants enough willing to do so. But there's something reassuring about the heft of the axe in his hands, the solid thwack it makes when it meets the wood. About the calluses he can feel forming on his hands. And when fall turns colder and fires are lit, there'll be a warm comfort to the knowledge that it's because of the work of his hands.

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From:

the_lioness

Every time Alanna comes home from patrol or a lengthy stay in Corus, she spends a few days indulging her frequently neglected feminine side by wearing dresses, even when trousers would be more practical. As soon as she starts feeling restless again, the maps come out and the dresses are relegated to their trunks.

Alanna has been home for two weeks, and thus there's no rustle of skirts or swish of fabric to warn Adam that he's being watched. She smiles to herself, admiring the way he now wields the axe without any trace of awkwardness, and keeps perfectly quiet.

Then: "Thirsty?"

From:

last_adam

He's surprised, but tries hard not to show it and laughs as he turns around.

"You're lucky I wasn't in the middle of a swing there."

His cheeks are flushed, and he lets the axe thud slightly to the floor next to his boot. He looks at her a long moment, a stupid grin on his face, and then nods. "Thirsty, yeah."

From:

the_lioness

She snorts. "I did time my question accordingly."

He's better with the axe, but there's no need to risk him losing a toe.

Sauntering forward, she offers him the strap of a full water pouch and looks around.

"You've been busy."

From:

last_adam

He nods as a little bit of water dribbles from the side of his mouth. "I thought it would come in useful."

From:

the_lioness

Thinking of cozy fires at the cottage, she tilts her head and gives a small, mischievous laugh.

"Oh, it will."

Her eyes are warm as she bites her lip and watches the water at the side of his mouth, then subjects him to a leisurely perusal, lingering on his arms and hands before returning to his face.

"Hmmm," she murmurs, scarcely loud enough for him to hear.

From:

last_adam

"Hmmm?"

His own response isn't much louder, and he swallows hard.

"I've missed the fires," he says, and then chuckles lightly, as if he realizes what an inane comment that is.

From:

the_lioness

It's not inane to Alanna, but her only answer is a nod. There's an odd look on her face, like she has something terribly important to say, and one of her hands reaches forward to twine her fingers through his.

"You look really good, Adam," she says, and it's quiet and earnest and not at all eloquent. A smile soon follows, acknowledging this. "Happy."

From:

last_adam

Is that so hard to believe is the glib answer he almost lets out, but doesn't. Instead, he reaches up and tucks one of Alanna's stray strands of hair behind her ear.

"I never really imagined I could be."

From:

the_lioness

"I know," she replies, "and that's why it's so nice to see. I do love proving you wrong."

Stepping into him, she holds their hands at her lower back and rests her head over his heart. His shirt is damp, but she doesn't notice.

"I remember how it was." Her other hand trails up and down his arm, and this is what she can't get over: the new play of muscles under sun warmed skin, the result of countless hours outside. "Do you miss it?"

From:

last_adam

He leans down, placing soft kisses on the top of her head, even as his fingers play at the seam of her shirt.

"I miss Brian."

But missing people isn't the same, and Adam knows Alanna knows that. And Brian... well. That's something else.

"I don't regret a thing."

From:

the_lioness

Alanna squeezes her eyes shut, because that's a wound she'll never be able to heal.

"Neither do I." Turning her head, she steals a light kiss. "You haven't been back nearly as much as I thought you would."

Or at all, really.

From:

last_adam

He nods, and he opens his mouth, but says nothing and closes it again. His eyes shut, and open, and he breathes in Alanna and breathes out.

From:

the_lioness

Watching him closely, she lets go of his hand and smooths the hair off his forehead.

"I haven't, either," she admits. Then, trying to coax a smile from him, she adds, "But I will always remember very fondly the way you used to sulk over your cider while dealing with my pitiful flirtation attempts."

From:

last_adam

"Pitiful? You?"

He gives an incredulous smile. He closes his eyes again under the feel of her touch.

"And I never did sulk."

From:

the_lioness

"Mmm-hmm."

Of course, Adam. Whatever you say.

"Is there a reason you haven't been back?" she asks, fingers at his neck now. It's light and curious, nothing more.

From:

last_adam

He leans into her touch and shrugs slightly.

"I don't know. It hasn't seemed..."

His words trail off as he tries to think of what it is he means to say.

From:

the_lioness

Alanna waits, resting both hands at his waist so as not to distract him too much.

It's not an easy thing to put into words, she's sure, and this continues to be unlike any situation either has known. They make the rules up as they go along.

From:

last_adam

It's just as well, because they'd break any rules that were set in place, the two of them.

He shifts, taking her hands, and slides down to the floor, resting the water pouch next to him and gently tugging on Alanna's hand to bring her down into his lap.

"I've got all this. And that...

it almost seems like a dream."

From:

the_lioness

Though landing gracefully is out of the question, she looks content once she's settled.

"Aye, but without that," she points out, "we wouldn't have this."

From:

last_adam

"mmm."

He agrees. What? Like he wouldn't?

"And I love this."

From:

the_lioness

"This is rather nice," she allows, lips twitching. Unable to resist, she buries her face in his neck and takes a deep breath. "Especially since our children are spending the afternoon torturing Myles and Eleni."

(Is it torture if the victims thoroughly enjoy it?)

But she hasn't entirely let the subject drop, and there's a sigh as she thinks.

From:

last_adam

His fingers play through her hair, and he sighs along with her.

From:

the_lioness

"It's just that I think we should still go to London every now and then," she blurts out, lifting her head to eye him. "I don't want you to lose that."

Or the triplets. Or herself, if she's perfectly honest.

"The bar need only ever be the place where we met," though it's more than that to her, "the place we need to take us elsewhere, but England is a part of you."