A Most Dangerous Tango

[Juno]

Surprised that she finally reached out to him, Caden just stayed where he was beside her in a crouch. He felt the tingling, the heat, heard the odd change in her breathing. Something was changing.

Looking down at her hand, he felt something surge and winced at the strange jolt. It wasn't pain, but it was definitely shocking. When she began to fall over, he snapped his hands out to hug her around her shoulders. Bringing her close, he just shook his head at the statement. Pah. I'd like to see her try...wait, no I wouldn't!

"What am I going to do with you?" Caden smiled and turned her limp body over so he could scoop her up as he stood. The rain was coming harder now. With a quick glance down at the scar now present on his skin, he realized he'd have plenty of questions for her whenever she awoke. For now, though, he needed to get them under cover and dry again.

Carrying her, Caden searched through the storm for an inn for them for the night. It didn't take long to secure a room, but as he took her down the hall he realized a flaw in his plans. I can't have her getting sick...She's human after all.

Wincing, he looked down at her face as he set her atop the bed. What to do about this... Taking off his cloak, he draped the soaked thing over a chair before toeing off his boots. Eyeing her warily, he finally made his decision. I feel like I'm going to regret this...

Leaning over her, he carefully lifted her sheathed sword and leaned the thing up against the wall before beginning the process of peeling away her armor and whatever underclothes remained. Draping her things wherever he could manage about the room, Caden sighed as his eyes wandered over to her again. Absolutely beautiful...just stunning...so...- NO! Don't look!

Tearing his eyes away, Caden frowned at his predicament. Be freezing all night or snuggle up with her. Easy enough...oh, if only it truly were that simple... After peeling off his own clothing and hanging things up where he could, he cautiously returned to her. He paced. He couldn't do this! Oh, but he would.

Succumbing to the temptation, he carefully scooped her up again, pulled back the covers for the bed, and settled down beside her for the night. Sure, there would be consequences in the morning, no doubt, but now? Oh, it was too sweet to pass up. "Tiraris...you're warm." And with that, he snaked his arms around her more firmly for the night, relishing in the warmth of her bare skin as he drifted off to sleep.

[GoblinFae]

Tiraris woke to a strange high-pitched keening noise. Then, the pain hit her and she realized she was the one making the sound. Her first reaction was to jerk to escape whatever was hurting her. She nearly threw up from the added pain that caused. Every miniscule movement, every heartbeat, every breathe sent waves of pain crashing onto the shores of insanity.

Her pained whining tripled in volume with each passing moment. She flailed her arm back hitting something soft and warm. Struggling to open her eyes, she found that she was temporarily blind. She knew from past experience it had taken her a week to even heal enough to wake up followed by another month of bed-rest after a forced healing.

Slowly she ran her hand down the surface she was in contact with. Smooth hard planes of flesh yielded under fingertips. When her fingers encountered the jagged scar, she realized who she was touching. 'I did it.'

"Caden," she whimpered. Her hand fell limply, brushing against him as it did. Tiraris tensed as she realized her hand had touched his lower abdomen and thighs without encountering anything besides warm flesh. Her entire body tensed in anger and she screamed in pain her hands coming back to curl in on herself. That was when she realized she was also naked.

Trying to take short even breaths and not cause herself anymore severe outbursts of pain she growled, "Now I am going to castrate you."

[Juno]

The whining was missed on him, dead to the world in his exhaustion. It was her hands that stirred him, though. Grumbling, twisting his face in confusion as his eyes snapped open for the grating noises she was making, Caden looked entirely at a loss. Hearing her whisper his name, though, was so priceless.

Smiling, he closed his eyes and gathered her up into a hug even as her hands swept across his body. Waggling his eyebrows as she dipped down to his thighs, Caden chuckled, amused by her. At least, until she started screaming and mentioned such a terrible thing. Still doing his best to hold her fast even as she recoiled, he frowned.

"No, you aren't. I helped you, how could you even think of doing such a thing? So cruel..." It was all mock hurt, though. He was smiling, reaching closer to nuzzle against her hair. He didn't realize she was in such pain, though. At least, not yet.

[GoblinFae]

He was touching her head, moving strands of hair that sent rapid impulses of pain down throughout her entire body. She mewled in pain, sobbing as she caused her more and more pain and distress. She was frozen with the pain, blind and unable to move. Her throat was hoarse from all her screaming and crying. "Let me go. Let me go," she chanted over and over to him unintelligibly before swinging her arm down hard towards his nether regions.

[Juno]

Now that was certainly a surprise. Hearing her cry out, it hurt in more ways than one. Trying to soothe her, he started a gentle rub along her back and shoulders, but then she was telling him to let her go. "Well...are you- ACK!"

He'd seen her arm move, and jumped for being startled. Frantically, he turned his hips sharply to the side to have her just barely miss her mark. He felt the hard thunk of her fist against  the top of his thigh. That had been way too close. I....almost......died.

"Tiraris," he whispered, wary as he went to grab her hand. "What...what's wrong?"

[GoblinFae]

Pain fired through her again as she was jostled by Caden's antics. She cried out again, arching her body. The pale column of her throat strained back and away, her chest thrust up by her straining shoulders, she hung like that upside down, hoping that it would all just end. She wished desperately to pass out again or to wake from this blind nightmare and be far away from all the pain and Caden's complications. She cursed her mother for driving her into becoming an assassin, her employer for hiring her, Remina for being Caden's brother, and Caden, she cursed Caden for being an incompetent individual. Then she mentally started the cursing all over again.

"Hurting me," she hissed out to him, praying he could figure it out on his own and could she go back to the dark lifeless world of sleep.

[Juno]

Eyes widening for the scene before him, Caden loosened his hold simply for the sheer confusion surrounding this. He was clueless to what was happening, but when she told him he was hurting her...well, he felt quite horrible for that. Letting her go, he leaned up to sit properly, just watching her for a time.

"Um...what hurts?" he asked cautiously, voice almost a whisper.

[GoblinFae]

Tiraris shakily exhaled as she was released back onto the bed. For several minutes she just lay there, her body giving off slight spasms as the nerves resettled. Her breathe gradually evened out again and she felt herself fading into sleep. As her body relaxed the pain began to dull. Only deeper breaths disturbed her and caused her pain if she was careful to not move.

Weakly she began to speak to him, her voice no louder than a whisper. "No touch....pain touch...huuuurt....heal you....pay pain price....your fault...your fault....Remina." Each set of words was broken up by long pauses where she just lay there trying to breathe as painlessly as possible. After the last word she fell completely silent once more. Sleep had claimed her once more.

[Juno]

Wary of her as she settled down again, Caden laid back down beside her to listen as she spoke, taking the chance to nuzzle his head close to hers again. Too irresistible. Heal me and a price to pay? Now isn't that adorable...so kind even when you put up such an angry face...wait, Remina? He'd been about to ask what Remina had to do with any of this, and just who this Remina was, but she'd fallen asleep again. Well, I'll be damned if I disturb her...she said not to touch....but that doesn't mean you can't admire.

He wondered if her Remina was also his Remina. Ironically, even knowing what he did about Tiraris, he had no suspicions yet. Instead, he propped his head up with one curled hand as his eyes swept over her. In her fits, she'd gotten the covers away, strewn randomly about the foot of the bed, but Caden didn't mind it. At all. Taking in her curves appreciatively, he couldn't help the mischievous grin that appeared. Lucky I care so much...beautiful creature. No, but he would let her sleep and not let it be known that he watched her with kind eyes.

For once, her face seemed entirely gentle. There was no scowl, and only a twitch of a frown appeared every so often, as far as he could see. That gorgeous hair he so loved was fanned out around her head. With a view like this, he could definitely wait on her.

[GoblinFae]

When Tiraris woke again it was the middle of the night. The pain had lessened greatly to an overall dull ache. She only felt severe instead of excruciating pain as she tested moving her limbs. She lay there peacefully opening and closing her eyes slowly adjusting to sight once more. She vision was still not back to normal but she could make out some blurry shapes.

Beside her the still naked Caden cuddled close, sharing his warmth with her. For a while she just watched his chest rise and fall. Then, when she realized what she was doing she sat up and pushed him off the bed. "Clothes!" she shouted pulling the blankets up over her. "What in your right mind thought it would be fine to undress an unconscious armed woman and cuddle up naked with her? Need I remind you how well I can use said weapons?"

[Juno]

It was so peaceful. He'd fallen back asleep and was only had thoughts of warmth, calm and the sheltered state of them at the moment. Unconsciously, he wrapped himself around her further, tightening his grip as she stirred. He was comfortable like this, as unused to it as he was, but he could definitely get used to this every day.

All of a sudden, though, he felt himself flying, or as close as this demon would ever come to it. Eyes snapping open as he felt not the warm bed, but air beneath him, Caden let out a yelp of surprise as he dropped to the floor. Hard. "Oww! Why'd you have to-?!" Poking his head up over the edge, eyeing the woman huddled there as she was, a slow grin overtook his face at the realization of her words.

Draping an arm up on the bed, reaching lazily for her, he glanced behind himself to their things still hanging about the room. His grin widened. "I thought it would be fine if you didn't catch cold and were comfortable at least. You showed me that well enough yesterday..." He gestured to the scar on his chest that had definitely not been there before. "And...who said all we did was cuddle?" For this, he gave a mischievous waggle of his eyebrows.

[GoblinFae]

Slowly and painfully she rose from the bed her back to him as she picked up her now dry shift. She struggled for a moment getting it on, her arms still not following all her brain's commands. Looking at the condition of her things and finding it suitable she turned back to Caden.

Seeing him still naked she yelled, "You ego-centric thing put some clothes on! You are not that impressive to look at!" She marched over to him and thumped him on his newly healed chest, her hand tightening around the dagger she had picked up and was hiding. Moving closer she leaned against him, as much as she could without causing herself another seizure. Her knife came between them, lightly grazing against Caden's exposed skin between his legs. "Now what was that about doing more than cuddling," she crooned in his ear.

[Juno]

Her yelling was nothing short of amusing, at least for now. He made no move to listen, though he did intend to after watching the last of that glorious skin disappear behind her clothes. What a pity that was. He sighed for the loss.

Grinning as she hit him, he just shook his head and dropped his arm from the bed, ready to move away and do as she demanded now. That was when he felt that horrible, sinking feeling. "Tiraris!" he hissed, not daring to move at first lest she do so herself. He certainly did not want this to be happening. Not now. Not ever.

The smile entirely gone, he pouted now as he answered her. "Fine, fine...you got me... You make it hardly worth the fun at all. Now move that thing away?"

[GoblinFae]

"Now why would I do that? I did tell you twice that I was going to castrate you. I do not make idle threats," she informed him very seriously. "Put some clothes on before my sanity returns," she said standing and moving away from him.

A scratching at the door drew her attention away Caden and his state of apparel, or lack thereof. Opening the door, she was attacked by a very familiar purring ball of fur. "Caydence!" she cried. "You blasted thing! How dare you abandon me like that and expect me to just welcome you back." Moving over to the bed, Tiraris threw the cat onto it, albeit gently.

Affronted the cat gave her its backside, flicked its tail, and then sauntered over to Caden. "If I did not any better I would say that you are trying to seduce him." She snorted watching the feline's antics. "I would not waste my time if I were you. He is all talk and no action," she told that cat smirking as she sat down on her edge of the bed.

[Juno]

Finally moving away from her and getting to his feet, Caden went about the room to retrieve his clothes. He decided only to don what was necessary indoors, though, not wanting to give any impression that he wanted them to leave.  Distracted, he missed the purring and the scratching until Tiraris began berating the animal.

Curious, he looked over. It was the same calico from the previous night. Amused as the animal came over to him, he reached a hand to pet and scratch at her head for her. Smirking for the woman's words, Caden shot her a knowing look as she sat down. "Caydence...what a lovely name. I quite like it, so fitting for a cat." All in a rush, though, he'd crawled back up to the bed, crouched just behind her even though he knew well enough she was armed once again. He reached a hand up to run fingers gently through her hair.

"Sounds like someone wants a bit more...action." He was grinning now, he couldn't help himself. This was just too good, too easy.

[GoblinFae]

"You like the name? I named her after someone she reminded me of. A very annoying and useless individual who falls too easily for ego-stroking praises." She raised her brow at him. "Quit touching! Did you learn nothing from earlier? Physical touch is painful right now."

She lowered her head into her hands. "Even my hair hurts," she grumbled. On cue Caydence slunk over to the pair and raised her paw to bat at Tiraris locks. "Do not even think about it," Tiraris hissed back not looking up. The cat paused giving her a look before batting the swaying strands anyway and running into Caden's lap. "You live a charmed life fuzz-ass."

[Juno]

While he couldn't argue with her on the pain, it wasn't exactly easy for slip his hand away from being so close again. Sighing, he sat down and watched the cat, amused. "Definitely of a shared mind...so mischievous," he praised her, giving her lots of petting and attention even as Tiraris muttered on.

"How long does it take...exactly?" he wondered, lifting his bright, violet eyes to watch the woman before him. "I mean, for you not to be in such...pain." Caden frowned a bit for this, not liking that she was hurting because of him. Even though it was her fault that she'd hurt him in the first place. He figured it was sort of...a transfer. A transfer of hurt. Fair enough, but still so cruel.

[GoblinFae]

"I do not exactly know. This has only happened once before." She nudged him over so she could lay back. "I was a child the last time it happened. Then it was an accident. This is the first time I have ever forced the healing to occur on anything other than myself, which is very different. I was not even sure it would work this time. Something could have gone wrong, that kind of energy is not meant to be channeled into such a constructive force. Last time I was eight I think; I was in a coma for a week and on bedrest for a month. It was a whole year before I stopped aching from a single touch."

She reached her hand out and ran the pads of her fingers along the ragged scar. "I can officially say that there is now nothing in this world that is perfect. For I have destroyed the last perfect thing," she teased him. "How did you find me last night? I have spent all this time avoiding you and," she smacked her lips together making a popping sound, "you are there."

[Juno]

Her story caused a chill to run through him to his very bones. The thought of her being that knocked out, over healing something, made him feel terribly guilty. And the pain. He felt horrible for the pain still.

His eyes twinkling, he smirked for her teasing. Her question, though, made him look away for a moment. Should he lie? Should he just be honest? Would she find the truth troubling? "I, uh, was meeting someone...I wanted to find out where you were and I guess I went the right...wrong...right-wrong way.

"Why did you do it, though? For me, I mean...it would have healed in time," he pointed out.

[GoblinFae]

"The right-wrong way, that is always-not the best-worst way to do anything," she teased crinkling her nose and closing her eyes.

'Why did I do it? Because you felt guilty. What did I have to be guilty about? That you hurt the man you lo-that you have to kill his sister.' She inhaled sharply 'I forgot about her. Should I play with him again? I am getting nowhere with these informants. You got nowhere with him. I ran out of time, besides I will not have to run this time. You risk your heart.' The last thought jolted her back into reality, forcing into a decision that kept her from getting hurt again.

"I did it because I wanted to know if I could. I did not think I would succeed. The fact you did is just an unfortunate side effect," she replied coldly. 'Back to this old game again. Now to leave.'

"If you could be so kind to watch Caydence for me I have somewhere to be," she said sitting up once more and beginning to put her armor on. 'This is a very bad idea. I am going to be dead from pain before I even make it a full three steps out the door. At least I will make it three steps out the door.'