oct 20 - for Kate

[duerespectguv]

"Let's go," Declan says, but he doesn't make a move to release her from his arms. "In a few, though, I'm not inclined to let you go just yet."

Damn, he was gone on her. Too gone.

It's sort of a long walk from the Hub to his hut and that's mostly by design. Declan likes having something that's easily defended in the case of an attack and the hut being isolated as it is has a good visibility for anyone coming in. If he knows it's coming, he can be prepared. Of course, that's all worst-case scenario and a bit dire but it doesn't hurt to be prepared for everything. It's that same motto that's kept his head attached to his shoulders for the past forty some years.

When they get there (and he's not calling it home even if he concedes to being stuck here for a while - home is an antique bed in London with fantastic sheets and a great view), it's automatic to open the door for her even if Kate Freelander's not the sort of woman who needs doors opened for her.

"After you, Katie."

Comments

[duerespectguv]

"Japan," Declan says smoothly, deciding not to comment on his preference in endearments. She knows, he knows she knows and they're not going to talk about it. At least not today, anyway.

"I worked in the Tokyo sanctuary for a while when I was still learning. James thought it was good I see other houses and how they work."

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"Spend a lot of time with the Sanctuary's personal geishas?" She's not even kidding. They probably have them. They have everything else.

It drives home, though, something she doesn't think much about. Declan being older than her and a lot more experienced. At everything but sex. Kate's pretty sure she's got the wider spread there. She wonders if she's boring, which is a thought she's never once in her entire life had.

[duerespectguv]

"Empaths make fantastic geishas. Sometimes they get exploited," Declan says. It's not a pretty thing but the Tokyo Sanctuary has several empaths that live there of their own accord and are happy to teach what they know.

"Now you know something about me. You should tell me something about you, even the score?"

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"I asked a question and you answered." Kate rolls her head to the other side so she can look back over her shoulder at him. He's so hot. Gods. Why does he want her? "I didn't volunteer for an information exchange."

But he feels so good, this feels so good, she gives him a pained sigh. "But, for the sake of fairness, if you ask a question, I'll answer it. Two conditions; we keep going until I run out of questions, and we both have veto power."

[duerespectguv]

"Fair enough. Favorite color, then?"

Maybe it's a stupid question but he doesn't know the answer to it and it'll keep her asking and answering for a bit yet. He slides his hands a little further down her back, pressing his thumbs in along her spine.

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"Like you even need to ask. Black." She scoffs and stretches long across the bed. If she rolls over, what will he do? "Yeah, yeah. I know. Color. I guess it depends on what I'm doing with it. I wouldn't want to live with a room decorated in it, but I like yellow a lot."

[duerespectguv]

"Suits you. Yellow's not subtle," Declan says and it's more of a compliment than anything else. He likes that he doesn't have to beat around the bush with her, for the most part.

"Your turn. Ask away." His hands haven't stopped moving along her back, working the muscles with his fingers as best he can.

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"Just being unique, babe. You know me." It's really nice to have him touching her like this, and she lets him know it, reaching back with one hand to squeeze his forearm and rub it with her fingers.

"I don't know what your favorite color is. Hm. New condition. You have to answer the question you asked, too. So, favorite color and...favorite non-Abnormal zoo animal." It's a completely ridiculous question, but it shouldn't go anywhere bad and they both like animals. "I'll tell you mine after."

[duerespectguv]

"Favorite color is blue," Declan says quickly. He has to think about the other one for a moment and distracts himself with sliding down to massage her legs. Those are bare, though, so maybe it's more a distraction for him.

"Animal? Probably falcons. They're bloody gorgeous."

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"You'd look good in blue, really good," Kate tells him, purr in her voice for his hands kneading her legs. It's less the massage - which is great - than his bare hands on her bare skin. She moans, just a little, teasing.

"I should probably come up with something cool and sleek and dangerous, but I love giraffes. Have since I was a little kid." She likes this. It's innocent. But she already feels like she knows him better. "Next question's yours, babe."

[duerespectguv]

Declan busies himself with running his hands down her calf to find her foot before asking another. It's a little deeper than before, though, and he hopes that's all right.

"Favorite memory, then?"

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

Kate glances back when he takes hold of her foot, eyebrow lifting. "Is this because we're not fucking? Because if it is, you might want to rethink your tactics." Thanks for being so sweet even when you're getting nothing out of it.

"That's tricky. It depends on whether it's favorite funny memory, favorite Sanctuary memory, favorite all-time, favorite Declan memory..." Yeah, she's stalling, but memories are hard on the island and she didn't have that many good ones before the Sanctuary to begin with.

[duerespectguv]

"This is because you're my Katie. Now, you're stalling," Declan says pointedly, rubbing his thumbs into the arch of her foot.

"Favorite Declan memory, then. If that's going to be easiest?"

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

My Katie. Kate has to fight back a whimper for how hard her heart flips in her chest at that. She wants to tell him they're making it now. There are others that are less incriminating and as true.

"First time I saw you on the island," Kate says after a minute. "I don't think I've ever been so happy to see anyone in my life. Before that, though--" Her mouth twists, lips pursing. "Looking at you across Magnus's desk and wondering if you were thinking what I was thinking about Will's reservation at Alfredo's. Your turn, favorite Kate memory on the island and before."

[duerespectguv]

"I'll give you a bonus answer. No, because nobody forgoes Alfredo's for sex. The food is sex." That said, he might slide in a bit late if he and Kate ever get a chance to take a date there.

"Before...hmm. Probably when you filched this phone off a Lotus operative with a little sleight of hand and a big smile. I've got it bad for cons, I suppose. And here, well. The first time I kissed you at the bookshelf."

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"I meant after we knew they were missing it. I was thinking we should pretend to be Will and Abby and go." She vaguely remembers telling him that already, but it was probably before the kiss he's talking about and, yeah, she doesn't remember much but the kiss.

"Anyway, I did that? Was that in Carentan? Classic lift technique. Get up close and flirt, confuse or fluster while you slip a hand in a pocket." Kate rolls face up and puts her hands behind her head. "I want to know more about Carentan. Maybe not tonight, but soon. I know it sucks to have memories of me that I don't share. I want to fix that. Tonight, hm. First kiss, who was it and when?"

[duerespectguv]

"Valarie Beck, when I was thirteen. It was terrible but I was glad to have gotten it anyway. What about you?"

Declan stops massaging for the moment and lays down on his side next to her, one hand resting against her stomach.

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"Tommy Toretti, when I was eleven. Under the El near Wrigley Field. It was all right, but he tasted like anchovies." She makes a face. "Blech."

Kate tells herself there's nothing significant about her rolling up on her hip to wrap her arm around his hips. She's just comfortable with him and doesn't need as much space, that's all. "What else do you want to know about me?"

[duerespectguv]

"When's the first time you fell in love?"

It's a highly personal question and he has a highly personal answer of his own for it but he wants to know what she says or if she tries to brush it off.

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

Her gaze flicks up to his, soft and startled. She covers quick, drawing her fingertips down the arm that's around her.

"Never," Kate tells him after a few long, quiet minutes. "I think Magnus is the closest I ever came to that, and it doesn't count when it's someone you can never have."

[duerespectguv]

"It counts," Declan promises.

"Watson, for me, on that count but nothing ever came of it. I'm not normally...with men but he was different. First time, though, this girl I met before I joined the SAS. Loved her. She didn't love me half as much, caught her in bed with a mate of mine first time I decided to surprise her on leave."

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

"I wonder if that's a thing. People falling for their first Head of house when they come in from outside. I mean...Will, right?" But that's different, since Magnus loves Will.

Kate rubs a soothing hand up his arm. "Guess that's why you can't...you know, with me."

[duerespectguv]

"There's a mystery about them that makes you love them, yeah. But they're special in their own right, too."

At the last, he presses his lips together and nods. "Yeah. Can't do it, love, not without a promise. It would be different if I didn't care about you but I do and I simply...I can't."

[girlsolo.livejournal.com]

Kate wants to tell him it was never the mystery with Magnus. It was always the strength, and Magnus's faith in her. And Magnus opening her home and her life to her. It sounds ridiculous.

And it doesn't mean anything at all with Declan looking at her like that.

"I know," she tells him and scoots a little closer. "It's...since I've been with the Sanctuary, I don't make promises unless I know I can keep them. It's too important to me, you guys trusting me. I can't risk that. Without it..." Kate rolls her shoulder, squashing down the flood of panic just at thought of who she is if they stop trusting her. "I won't promise for the same reason you can't do it. I care, babe, but I have to be sure."

[duerespectguv]

"I respect that," Declan says, tipping her chin up slightly before leaning in to kiss her. He hasn't cared about a woman as much as he cares about Kate in a long while and it feels good, even if it's difficult right now.

For now, there's a kiss, and he tries to put as much emotion and built up tension into it as he can.