milliways_bar | (no subject)

(no subject)

Faith comes into the bar from upstairs, obviously just out of the shower - all the blood is gone, and her hair is still wet, clinging to her shoulders.

Her expression is completely unreadable as she moves to the bar and acquires two things - coffee, and a room key - before moving to a table.

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"...oh."

Faith sits, silently, for a moment, then reaches up, takes both of Alex's hands in hers, and pulls them away from his face before leaning over and kissing the corner of his mouth.

"Mutual."

He smiles, a little shakily. "Sorry if it makes things weird."

"It doesn't. Really."

Faith chuckles, softly. "It's...very nice to know, actually."

"Mmm. It's true." He hugs her again. "Love you, dearheart."

"Love you too."

She hugs him back, smiling.

"I...wouldn't mind being dragged, by the way. Not a bit. Not now, not so soon, but...sometime."

He kisses her hair again.

"I'll keep it in mind."

"Good."

Silence, for a second, and then, wickedly, "Muscles like you wouldn't believe."

He snickers. "I'll make sure to mention that to Nick."

She wraps an arm around his waist, smirking.

"They don't make 'em like me most places."

He kisses the side of her neck.

"They certainly don't make women like you in Tortall. Except for perhaps Alanna."

Faith purrs.

Just a little.

"...I'm sure they don't. Considering her reaction when I carried your horse down a flight of stairs..."

Alex blinks.

"You carried a horse down a flight of stairs?"

"Mmm. Ghost. And Mithros too. Through the Dancing Dove and into the cellar, to bring them here. Didn't I tell you?"

"I don't think so. Just that you'd brought them. Which, again, thank you." He laughs. "Mithros, I can just see their faces at the sight of a woman carrying a horse down the stairs. I almost wish I'd been there."

Faith giggles.

"Alanna's jaw was hanging open. It was wonderful. And you're welcome, again."

"You're a special one, Faith."

It's somehow clear that 'special' is a good thing, in this case.

Faith blushes, faintly.

"Eh. Slayer."

He shakes his head. "No. Faith."

Faith considers a Trazan joke, but Alex wouldn't get it, so she settles instead for kissing his jaw.

He wraps his arm around her shoulder and kisses her cheek.

"Feeling okay now, dearheart?"

"Mm. Better. I'll be fine. It's best, really."

She leans against him, smiling faintly.

"Anyway...Slayers have short shelf lives. I won't see thirty, probably. Selfish to put him through that."

Slayers don't all have this place, or the people here. But Alex doesn't say that, because Faith probably doesn't want to hear it. He just holds her, stroking her hair gently.

"Love you."

She knows that, really.

But she has a duty, too, still, and she'll always go back to it.

"Love you too."

For right now, though...duty can wait.

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