for Kate (post Sex Ed)

[duerespectguv]

Declan didn't go to the sex ed lecture put on by Magnus and Zimmerman but he'd hung around outside and when he sees Kate leaving, he snags her, grinning wide at her. He's still not what he'd call settled but he's got a hut way on the edges of the island and not so terribly far from what's been called "dino country" and he's of half a mind to check it out. Kate would be good backup.

"Learn anything new today from the lovebirds?"

Comments

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"Oh, thank fuck." Kate almost flings herself at Declan. Almost. But she's still got more cool than that, even on an island where clothes come out of a box. She's got on a super-short denim skirt, pink and black striped leggings, a nice cleavage baring cross-over number, and boots. Always boots.

"If I had to watch another minute of the 'I Love Magnus' show, I swear I was going to barf. Tell me you want to go hunt monkeys or something. I don't even care, just get me out of here."

It hadn't been that bad, all things considered. But her entire life right now was one big heaping plate of get me the fuck out of here, Declan.

[duerespectguv]

"They can get sappy," Declan agrees, though he doesn't know if Magnus would do that during a lecture. She had too much of a work ethic to compromise herself that way, at least back home.

"Feeling up to some recon? I've decided I want to map the whole island."

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"Will's got exactly no pokerface. It gets..." Kate shrugs it off. She really is happy for them, she reminds herself a-gain. It's good to see them both happy. She just would rather see and hear a little less of that and a little more let's find a way out of here.

"It gets old and boring for a girl who'd rather be mapping the whole island." She tips him a little grin. "Not really dressed for it, though. Mind if we make a quick run by either the cabin or the clothing box?"

[duerespectguv]

"Clothes box will be quicker," Declan points out, nodding his consent. Not that Kate needs his consent, she'll do what she wants anyway, but it makes him feel a little better to give it in these small situations.

"I thought we could work our way out from my hut on the far west side, that way we have a point of operations?"

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"Aye-aye, sir," Kate teases. It's easy to tease and smile and laugh with Declan, no matter how fucked this all is. He's still the guy who shook off the idea of pre-date nookie when Will and Abby didn't show up at Alfredo's. The guy she thought seriously about suggesting they pretend to be Will and Abby and take the reservation for themselves.

She winks at him and playfully grabs for his hand, dragging him off in her wake to see whether the box is going to cough up anything useful today. She has a stash of pieces. Odds and ends. Some of them are even starting to make outfits. If they're stuck here much longer, she'll find a sewing machine or stitch by hand if she has to.

Kate Freelander doesn't do castoffs. Not anymore.

[duerespectguv]

The idea that anyone would skip Alfredo's for sex was sacrilege. If Kate had the opportunity to see for herself, she'd likely agree. For now, though, Declan lets her drag him through the halls down to the clothes box, bemused smirk in place.

"You know, I'm not really the sort that's into fashion. If it fits and it's functional, it's good enough for me."

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"That explains why you've never had a date interrupted by sex before dinner," Kate quips as she crouches by the box. It's on her mind, and she's pretty sure he'll remember.

She rubs her hands together and blows on them. Just 'cuz. "C'mon, baby. Mama needs a new pair of jeans."

[duerespectguv]

"I've had plenty of sex interrupted by dinner," Declan quips in return, leaning against the wall as he watches her sweet-talking the box. It may or may not do any good but it's damned entertaining to watch her do it.

"Something tight, preferably, yeah? Isn't that your usual?"

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

Kate reaches into the box and comes away with a pair of leggings that look like they'll be spraypainted on. She tosses them at Declan with a smirk and a, "Didn't know you'd noticed, babe," in a teasing little purr.

"Tight's practical. Nothing to get caught in bushes or fire escapes, nothing for anyone to grab onto. Besides--" She grins back over her shoulder, giving him that look. "It's a good look for me. Don't you think?"

[duerespectguv]

"Forgive me, I usually think about the tactical advantages and not your ass," Declan says dryly, catching the leggings and imagining he'd really like to see Kate in them. Or a catsuit, but that's just getting ridiculous.

"And I don't know much about women's clothes except that they look good on the floor beside my bed, so that's up to you to pick something out, love."

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"Usually." Kate smirks harder at that as she digs through the box's offerings, but it's mostly cover for how she's suddenly thinking about his ass and how fine it is. And about her clothes on the floor next to his bed. "But sometimes, you're thinking about my ass."

She finds a tank top, black, that doesn't smell like anyone's had it on recently, and a pair of fatigues that don't suck. The box is always generous with socks, which she doesn't need but there are some really cute ones that she grabs. Maybe she'll make stuff with them later. They're like a size Ate Nothing But Cheeseburgers for the Last Twelve Years, so it's enough fabric to do things with. Elastic, too. Nice.

"I don't blame you," she continues, pulling things out, shutting the lid, purring at the box and starting over again until she comes up with a hotass black leather vest and some black denim leggings. Perfect. "It's a great ass."

She stands and tosses everything but the new black bits and the off-white scoop neck at him. "And my clothes would look hot next to your bed."

[duerespectguv]

Declan's always been good at catch but he didn't think this was what his Da had in mind when he'd taught him. Or maybe he had, hard to tell. He catches the clothes and smirks at Kate, giving her a once-over.

"I'm sure they would, Kate. Problem is, I don't like to take a girl to bed without eliciting promises of a repeat performance. Old-fashioned like that."

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

One more reach into the box nets her a dress made, seriously, for an elephant. She pats the box and ties off the dress, then prowls over to Declan, chin down and eyes tilted up. While she's clearly holding out the dress-bag for the clothes, her eyes are smoldering. She knows it because she can feel it.

"I'm the kind of girl that likes to sample the merchandise before she makes promises," she purrs, playing, because she doesn't really think this is going anywhere. "But I'm sure you can interest a girl in round two."

[duerespectguv]

"I like to take a girl to dinner first," Declan quips, shaking his head at the fact that she's somehow conscripted him into carrying her things. Typical male-female dynamics, it seems, still apply on the island.

"Where are we taking these? I'm not carting them through the jungle, it's rough country."

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

Kate ties the extras up in her dress-bag while she's teasing, "Oh god, don't go Zimmerman on me. The Alfredo's ploy, really?" even though she'd let him take her out. If he were talking about her and not just talking. "Where would you even take a girl on the island?"

She ignores the question about the clothes in favor of dragging him off toward the caves. She's got a hidey-hole there and she trusts him enough to let him know where it is. It's not his hut, but it'll work for staging. Plus, it'll give her a place to change.

[duerespectguv]

"I'd cook," Declan says airily, giving her a cheeky grin for her troubles. In all truth, he knows there's at least one restaurant, that Winchester business, but he'd much rather cook for someone special if he has the time.

"Sometimes women like that, a little extra attention. Because clearly, a man who takes the time to cook them a full meal from hors d'oeuvre to dessert is going to be good to them in bed. It's worth the effort, if it's the right girl."

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

Declan cooks? That's new information. Kate files it away for future reference, in case she ever meets someone good enough for him. Someone better than Abby, more like Magnus.

But she ducks into the cave entrances and glances back to make sure he's following before she answers. It's the same kind of bullshit talk they always do on retrievals before things heat up. Hell, she's pretty sure she's had this same conversation with Biggie and Hank. Minus the flirting.

"Sometimes we do, yeah. But you've got 'good guy' written all over you. Any girl who can't see that just isn't looking."

[duerespectguv]

"And here I was going for deadly and mysterious," Declan deadpans, following her into the caves and waiting, arms crossed over his chest. It's a casual pose, certainly, but he's not relaxed. Too much field training for that.

"Don't you ladies like the bad boys?"

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"You asking what I like or what ladies like?" Kate tosses back from where she's crouching on the ground, tucking her new stash behind a rock. It's no big thing if anyone takes it, since everything's free and none of that matters, but it's a habit to have stashes. One that kept her alive.

As she stands, she pulls her shirt off over her head. The dim lighting in the caves does nothing to hide the fading bruises, bites and scratches from the other night.

[duerespectguv]

Declan watches as she takes off her shirt because she is a beautiful woman and he'd be a fool not to be attracted to her. When he catches sight of the bites and bruises, though, he hisses under his breath and draws closer.

"Who did this to you? It'd better damned have been consensual."

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

Kate curses under her breath when she hears that hiss. She shakes her head at herself, because fucking well of course she should have known. And now he's looking at her and her emotions are a mile a minute every direction at once.

"It's fine, Declan. I promise." Her cheeks flame, but at least her skin hides that mark. Fucking great. He already thinks she's trouble, now he's either going to think she let herself get hit or that she's a pain slut - more of one than she is. "I'm fine. Nothing happened that I didn't want."

So why does she want to curl into that note in his voice and stay that way?

[duerespectguv]

"Still, no need to mark you up like this," Declan says, tracing one of the bruises with a fingertip. He comes from the old school where women are meant to be put on a pedestal and treated gentle and while intellectually he knows she might actually seek this out, it's hard to reconcile that with his own experience.

"You'll be careful, yeah?"

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

His fingertip sets fire to her bare, bruised shoulder. Kate tells herself it's just the combination of pain, pleasure, and skin on skin, and she's a good liar so she mostly believes it. Mostly, but there's that protectiveness in Declan's voice that's hitting her somewhere deep and it pisses her off as much as it turns her on.

"I said I'm fine," she snaps out and pulls the tank on before she turns around to look him in the face. "Not every girl wants to be wined and dined. Some of just want to get fucked, good and hard."

[duerespectguv]

"Suit yourself," Declan says, lifting his hands in a gesture of surrender and backing away. He's never been cut out for fucking hard and fast the way she seems to want it but he's not going to deny her that choice. It just needs to be a choice on her part or he's going to interfere.

"I figure we can hike until sundown. I've got paper so we can sketch a map of what we find," he says, smoothly changing the subject from Kate's sex life to the task at hand.

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

First Magnus, now Declan. Next it'll be Will or baby Will, which is what she's starting to call Sam in her head. If they don't lay off, Aidan's going to have another really good night. Soon.

Kate turns away again to strip out of her boots and tights, socks and skirt, and dress again in the socks, the black denim, and her boots, not caring she's showing off the bruises on her ass.

"Planning to spend the night out there? We should grab food if you are."

[duerespectguv]

"Was thinking we could make it back to my hut," Declan says, averting his eyes while she finishes changing. Seems only right, after that conversation, and he doesn't want to gape.

"You're welcome to stay over if you don't want to walk back to wherever you're sleeping."

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

Quick and efficient, Kate pulls together a small bundle - underwear, socks, rags in case of medical emergencies, clean shirt, tooth brush, condoms (in case she found someone who wanted to play and not judge) - and ties it up. When it's done, it's the size of two fists and she fastens it around her waist with a braided belt of torn fabric strips.

"Whatever works," is what she finally finds the words to say to Declan when she stands to face him again. It's an ugly feeling, his judgment, and she wants it to go away. "You want me to lead so you can draw?"

[duerespectguv]

"Prefer that, yeah. Also I can be your backup," Declan says, giving her a little smile. Damn if he hates she's not flirting with him anymore.

"First step to understanding this place is knowing it, I think. This will be beneficial, in the end."

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"Always a good idea to get the lay of the land. Maybe we'll find something Tesla can use to get us out of here," she says, all business. Kate needs him to know that no matter how bad she's being at night, she's still good at this. He can still count on her.

She rolls her eyes as she sets out for the exit to the caves. "So not cool with thinking of him as our best hope to get out of here."

[duerespectguv]

"He is brilliant," Declan says, shrugging. He's always worked well enough with Tesla, when the occasion called for it.

"If there's anyone who can get us off this island, it's him. And Magnus, but she's preoccupied."

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

That reminds her of what Magnus said before, about being human, and being able to be in love with Will and not lose him to old age and Kate goes quiet and protective. "She's happy. If anyone deserves it, it's her."

Not like Kate, whose still trying to deserve the home Magnus gave her.

[duerespectguv]

"Yeah? Suppose I can't interfere with that," Declan says softly, dropping the subject for a moment. If anyone deserves happiness, it's Helen Magnus, and Declan's not going to prevent it from happening.

"Think she's happy to have you, me and Tesla raining on her little love parade?"

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

The question hits too close to all the things Kate doesn't want to think about when she's with Declan and she just shrugs, tight, and keeps walking.

"She says she is," Kate manages after awhile and does a passable job at sounding casual. And then adds, "I'm glad you're here, whatever she thinks."

[duerespectguv]

Declan flashes a cheeky grin at her, brightening at that. Perhaps she's not going to hold his flash of protectiveness against him forever.

"Yeah? You sure know how to make a guy feel welcome. Should we be off, then?"