Black leather. Sexy black leather. It certainly sounded like a good idea at the time, especially on his first real night of banditry. The thrill of how dangerous it was, coupled with the fact he thought he looked down right sexy, maybe even a little dashing in his all black leather, tight fighting attire, helped to boost Clint West's confidence as he strutted his stuff trough the night. Though after realizing strutting wasn't exactly stealthy, he made adjustments to the way he walked until he got to the wealthier end of town- His side of town, and let his green eyes glisten and his mouth water at the prospect of all the jewels he could pluck in the name of criminals!
What fun! He could not believe he was doing this, and had to do everything in his power to stop himself from giggling with glee. A smile had already consumed most of his face, dimples upon dimples lining his cheeks as he began to make his way into the back garden to the Beirne Estate. It wasn't the first time he'd been here. After all, his family was close to the Beirne's and they visited them at least once a year, when propriety dictated. And well, to be honest, he thought the Beirne's had a smokin' hot daughter. So. though while guilty for taking this assignment, part of him was also giggling over the fact he might be able to sneak a peak of Einin in her night gown. And he wondered how much he might be able to see through her silks.
Round the back he knew where the servant's quarters was, and not just that, but where a certain side of the estate held a series of strong suited vines climbing up the top. He knew precisely where the vines would go, and upon seeing the young woman's window open- it made his white teeth flash into the night.
Internally, he was mwahahaha-ing, while gloved hands now found their way into a tricky climb, but being so lithe and nimble and light weight, it didn't take long for him to reach the top-
and when he peered in- he go ta face full of curtains. But upon seeing the silouhette of something... that he believed was down right scandalous... the ends of his lips began to curl, and slowly, he peeked through the curtains to get a look- a look at hopefully either Einin in the nude, or at least some sort of panty or nighty view.
HE COULD ONLY HOPE.
Einin felt restless.
Normally, on a night like this, she would be outdoors. Exploring the town, getting in and out of trouble, the usual. But after everything that had happened, her family had upped security around the place--and not only that, but she simply didn't feel ready. She knew she could probably still sneak out with a little illusion, and that the Wolves were close by--but she couldn't yet work herself up to it.
So stupid. She was serious when she said she wanted to become a knight, and she certainly wouldn't get there by letting fear freeze her. And yet, her head was still filled with memories, her skin remembered the sensations, and she just couldn't stomach it. She wasn't ready. She needed more training.
And yet, this was no better.
Stuck with supervision and restricted to the grounds (both by her own doing, and by her parents), she felt like she was slowly going mad. Her muscles needed to be stretched, and she felt claustrophobic indoors, and there was still so much to do. Like end her fake engagement, and figure out a backup plan. She didn't even know where to begin. And so she cracked open a window to get some air and help her feel a little less claustrophobic, and wound up pacing her room, book in front of her nose, until she felt tired enough to sleep.
Because she needed to be exhausted to sleep. She wanted her sleep to be dreamless.
When she finally felt herself winding down, she tossed the book aside and went to her wardrobe. And she had been about to change into her nightgown, but movement out of the corner of her eye drew her attention and she jerked her dress back over her shoulders and spun to face it. Sure, she had cracked the window for some air, but it was not nearly so breezy out for the curtain to move like that, and maybe she was being paranoid, but her heart beat quicker and for a second she held her breath to listen.
Another time, and she might not have noticed. It was subtle, after all, that movement. But she had been on hyper-alert ever since the goblins and her first thought was that she'd been found. Grabbing the first blunt object she could reach--a large candle holder, which was thick and heavy enough to be a club--she headed for the window--
And threw it open the rest of the way.
Hard, and with every intent to bash into whatever might be lurking just outside it.
"Sweet fucking Kia's crown!" The boy exclaimed, just as the candle stick came smashing down a mere inch from him on the sill. He had almost lost his balance, almost, but found himself gripping to the window ledge even tighter now as he adjusted his weight to look from candle stick to woman, who was still half masked in the soft drapery.
Then in order to avoid a second smashing, the nimble 'cat' hefted himself onto the ledge, but so hasty was he in his actions, oil slicked boots caught onto the curtains and with a noisy, "Oh fuck!!!" He went down onto the bedroom floor ina tangle of drapes, which were freed from their hooks in a quick and mighty rip!
Now the boy lay, in a ghostly and flailing heap of white curtains, and all the while he was floundering around looking for an exit in this thing, he was swearing up a storm like a hissing cat. And somehow in his nearly blind flailing, he smashed into a side table and broke a vase, then crashed into her bedside, making the canopy fall crookedly on it's decorative tines, and then teetered away on uneven boot steps to bash right into the book shelf, and down a series of raining books went, popping him on the head, shoulder and wherever else he was so unfortunate to be struck, as the boy was down right growling now before he gave a final, angered tug at the sheets. He now freed his face, and neck, then most of his torso, to reveal a boy wearing a mask, askew, and his once slicked back blonde hair now remaining in choppy, cheek length pieces about his face. And now he was still surly in his words, realizing he had back tracked and had himself positioned, thighs against the base of her bed.
Ooc: since Clint is swearing up a storm, she might be able to easily identify him from his choice of words XD Clint has quite the... Expressive and colorful vocabulary :T If not that's also fine, but Clint is the worst stealthy person EVER.
The voice surprised her. It surprised Einin enough that, lucky for the boy, she paused and didn't bash him over the head with the candlestick. That voice was human, and not only that, but it was young.
And familiar.
But a second later and she wished she had thwacked him, because he hefted himself up--and came tearing through her room.
Quite literally.
The curtains ripped, he broke a vase, and Einin just stood back and watched as he...basically beat himself up for her. Candlestick still in hand, she waited it out and looked for an opening, but as it turned out, she might not have to do much work at all, for he was a tangled wreck. Not that she still didn't plan on handling this with her own hands, because she did, because if her suspicions were correct (and the more he swore, the more familiar his voice), then there was going to be hell to pay.
Finally, he came to a stop, and got untangled enough to reveal his upper body--and blond hair. And Einin's eyes narrowed to murderous slits.
Marching over to him, a well aimed kick swept his legs out from under him (easy enough, with the sheet still trapping them), and another kick in the chest put him on his back. Dropping down on top of him before he could recover, she pinned him, her knees on his elbows to trap them at his sides and the candlestick raised in one hand to show she meant business.
With her other hand, she ripped the mask off--and glared down into those familiar eyes.
"You lecherous little--I ought to bash your head in!" she snapped, grabbing the front of his shirt and giving him a shake. "What the fuck are you thinking?! What is wrong with you?!"
Clint let out a yelp and fell onto his backside on her bed, and though, perhaps if he had his wits about him in the moment, and if the girl over top of him wasn't about to kill him with her eyes, he would have found this kinky, but then she went about tearing off his mask.
"Hey!" he barked, growing angry himself as he tried to reach for it, but then she gave him a good shake and that look and the boy grit his teeth and with drew his hand.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" he said, with an extra puff to his chest and now, dawning that obnoxious Clint West grin. "I'm a Mountain Cat now," he stated proudly. "So you've caught yourself an animal."
"You know what people do with trapped animals?" Einin said, still glaring down at him. "They skin them. And you! A Mountain Cat? Have you lost your bloody mind?! I really should bash your brains in, maybe that would unscramble them enough for you to realize how stupid you are!"
With a frustrated growl, for she was feeling especially prickly and jumpy after everything that had gone down, she dropped the candlestick by his head (where it landed with a loud, ominous thunk) and rolled off of him. Rising to her feet, she brushed off the front of her dress then stared down at him with her arms crossed over her chest.
"So do Mountain Cats make a habit of sneaking into women's rooms at night?"
Clint was grinning ear to ear as she went on, trying to lecture him. Ah, let the innocent maiden think what she would. He was going to make something of himself.
"Well, if you'd want to take of this leather... I'd be more than happy to let ya," he told her with a saucy wink, and laughed off any thoughts of him being in idiot.
But truthfully, he was afraid she really was going to hit him, and was a little more than relieved when she let it go. Thank Kia she did. But seeing as she withdrew from her moment of ferocity, he rose up more properly and grinned even broader at her last statement.
"Well, if you want me to... I could make it a nightly occasion."
Einin drew a deep breath, though her hands balled into fists. "That is the complete opposite of what I want. I want you to keep your clothes on, and I want you to never, ever do this again, to me or any other girl, you understand? Because this, my friend? Is creepy! And I can't guarantee you'll survive another encounter if you do! You're lucky it was just a candlestick. There were worse things I could have grabbed, but that was the closest!"
Like the knife she had taken to sleeping with under her pillow. You know. Just in case.
Beginning to pace, she picked up the candlestick, put it back in its place, and turned her back on him so she could start fixing her room. "But while you're here, you can help me clean up the mess you made. I hope you've at least made some money working for these Cats because you owe me for the curtains and the vase." Truthfully, she didn't care about either, but it was the principle of the matter. He had committed a criminal act, so he needed to pay for his crimes!
"You're lucky I don't turn you in. Though maybe I will! The Mountain Cats, really?! Do you have any concept of what you've signed up for?" she asked, putting her books back where they belonged.
"You know, you don't need to lecture me, Einin!" he barked back. "I ain't no kid. I know what I'm doing."
Einin turned to look at him, lips pressed into a thin line. "Alright. Then tell me, what are you doing?"
Clint fixed his leather shirt and slicked back his hair, making himself appear more re presentable.
"Making a name for myself."
"Making a name for yourself. As a criminal?" Einin shot back, and scoffed. "A fine name that'll be when you're swinging from the gallows."
"Whoever said I'd swing from the gallows?" he said, sounding a bit too confident for his own good. "If anything, I'll be famous." And he gave another suave slick of his hand through his hair.
"Considering how easily I caught you, you'll be famous, all right," Einin laughed, and shoved the last book onto her shelf. "Not for the reasons you want."
Clint gave a light sniff. He had been neglecting helping her, and had only re shelved a few books while he was going off about his 'fame'.
"Yeah, well, I gotta start somewhere," he said, flashing her a sheepish grin. "But you know how it is. It's like we're invisible sometimes to these people." And in his head, he knew how these people were- but perhaps, he hadn't realized, she did not. "They go on with their lives as if we ain't nothing." He gave another sniff and raise of his nose. "And I see the way you look at the knights. I know that ain't lust." Or so he hoped. He could be calling a big bluff here for her, but he'd always watched Einin, though from a distance. "Don't you ever wish you could do something big? Well," if he had suspenders, he'd snap them. "Now's my chance!"
Einin gave him a sidelong look, eyes narrowed. "Who said it's not lust?" she asked with a grin and a light laugh. "Certainly not me."
Which was the truth--just not in the way he implied. She did lust after them--the idea of them, of their position, of everything they stood for and all the adventures they had. She wanted to be one of them. And, alright, so sometimes she did let let herself indulge some fantasy of maybe falling head over heels for a fellow knight and everything that could entail, but that was a secret she would take to her grave. It wasn't that she didn't have those sorts of feelings; it was just that it kind of scared her.
"Anyway, there were plenty of ways you could make a name for yourself that didn't involve criminal acts and working for just...the lowest kind of criminal, at that! What about becoming a knight? What about putting some good into the world?"
"A knight?" Clint made a face and shook his head, turning away from her as she replied, "My parents would kill me if I tried." He was their only son and heir, after all. But that wouldn't stop them from disowning him. "I figure this way, I can do what I want, where I want, and get to wear this sexy leather at night!"
Naturally, he ignored the part he was doing all of this as a criminal, but hey, maybe even he had the same dreams as she...
But to have his parents outright admonish it... was something else. Maybe if he proved himself this way, became stronger.. where he had always been clumsy with a sword, since his parents never saw fit to teach him proper... maybe then, they might consider....
Or take the path he was already on and become a sexy, midnight vigilante! Or well.. he supposed in his cause... a 'criminal'.
Einin wanted to shake him. Just take him by the shoulders and shake him until his brain rattled around enough to knock those stupid ideas out of his head!
Instead, she sank her face into her hand and pinched the bridge of her nose. "And they're not going to kill you when they discover their son's running with Mountain Cats?! Clint, this is pretty much the stupidest thing I've ever heard. And you've said a lot of stupid things."
With a sigh, she looked over her hand at him. "How long have you been doing this?"
Clint was trying not to let her words get to him, but it was becoming increasingly more difficult beneath her scrutiny. He wanted to impress her, not have her laughing at him like the rest. And this was his first real night at this. How was itshe could make him feel so stupid? Was it the same reason that compelled him to impress her by actually eating worms for her? Granted, that happened so many years ago.
"Yeah, well, sometimes good ideas start out stupid," he said, trying to ignore his flush of shame from her comment as he.moved to try to slick back his hair, only to have more blond locks fall about his face. And at her last question, his frown grew but his voice became quieter. "Since last Thursday."
Damnit it! He should have lied! That, he realized, made him sound even more pathetic. But then again, he couldn't even bring himself to do it. And now he was fighting internally to hold onto his pride. Was she going to laugh at him now? And what about Clayton? That ass. He'd find some way to turn him into some mockery, make him a laughing stock. And then he'd win at this. Again. For all he knew, even the girl he'd been crushing on all his life was in love with him too, and boy was his blood beginning to boil at that. Blinking back what were NOT tears, he turned to her with a smile.
"And I gotta start somewhere if people are to see me like some hero of the night. You know, like the night bird rumors that have been spreading. Who knows, maybe that guy needs some help! Night time hero's have to stick together." Even if, okay, technically his side was the enemy.
Night bird rumors? There were rumors now? Einin felt a jolt of pride and curiosity. Well, she had managed to save a shop keeper from a burning building, right before...well, before everything went bad. Unlike her other ventures, there had been a large audience for that, too. Fortunately, none of them had seen what had happened after that.
Hearing that there were now rumors repaired some of her damaged pride and stoked the flames that had simmered down a little from lingering anxiety and night terrors. A hero of the night, huh? That's right. That was exactly what she wanted to be, and exactly what she was trying to do.
It was just too bad that her nighttime antics had inspired Clint in the wrong direction.
"Clint..." Einin brushed her hair back from her face. His eyes were shining and too bright, the tell-tale sign of unshed tears, and she could hear the determination in his voice. He wasn't much younger than her, him at sixteen, her a month away from eighteen--but right then she felt a lot older. He had no idea what he was getting himself into. He had no idea what sorts of horrors await him.
She hadn't known, either, until that first night meeting Rufus. She hadn't know the entirety of it until very recently.
He kind of reminded her of how she'd been what felt like so many months ago, but was scarcely that. Things escalated quickly.
"Clint, I think the, ah...the night bird is probably okay. And besides, you're on the wrong side for helping him," she said. "If you're a Mountain Cat, you wouldn't be his ally. You'd be his enemy. If he caught you, he'd turn you in."
"Catch me?" Clint gave a laugh. "Unless hes' really some hot babe under that mask, I doubt he would be able to get this cat in it's clutches." He puffed out his chest, giving an overly confident smile.
"And who says a hero can't be dark? Maybe I could turn into a thief who, when the time comes around, turns the other way and becomes famous for once being a deceitful villain,a n then suddenly changing his tune for the good!"
And the plan sounded brilliant! At least to him. And boy was Clint beaming at that.
"Besides, I gotta show that no good cousin of mine what's up. He stalks around as if he owns the place, just because he's a knight! Asshole," he breathed. Just thinking about it ruffled his own feathers!
Einin couldn't help but smirk at that, a plan already forming in her mind the instant Clint claimed Owl couldn't catch him. She knew Clint. And she knew she was tougher than him; even as kids, she'd always been a bit more rough and tumble, and as tonight proved, she could still take him down.
Her friend was in desperate need of a wake-up call before he got himself killed.
Before something happened to him, like what had happened to her. Or worse.
Because there was always worse.
Sure Clint could be annoying, but she cared about the kid, and he had no idea what he was getting himself into. She needed to save him before he did something he'd regret--
And if he'd joined the Mountain Cats, well...she knew what they were capable of. They had attacked she and Ryk in that alley at the faire, held a knife to her throat...
Of course, she couldn't tell Clint any of that.
"Redemption stories are fun, Clint, but...that's in stories. In real life, it doesn't always work that way, and Clint, you're too good to be bad. Why would you want to hurt people?" With a sigh, she leaned her shoulder against the book shelf. "Because that's what being a villain is. It's hurting people. I didn't think you had a mean bone in you."
And she gave him a look as she said it, putting on her best "I'm not mad, I'm just disappointed" face.
Clint really didn't like where this conversation was going. He wanted to impress her, not have her scolding him like his mom.
"Whoever said about hurtin' anybody?" the boy barked, gritting his teeth at such an idea. "Besides, some of these pompous frilly folk could use a lighter purse, walkin' around as if they own the place thinking money and titles can just get them what they want." WHich was ironic, because it seemed he was in a predicament that spoke the opposite, though in truth, he could go against his parents wishes- but part of him just... well, could not.
"And I ain't never said I'd be a villain. It's just all in your mind set. Whoever said what I do at night has got to be all bad?" Heck, he could rescue a damsel if he wanted to! Not that he ever tried...
But wouldn't that be heroic?
"Besides, I probably saved you from being robbed!" he went on- not mentioning he was there to do some robbery, but he had seen some Soot Wolves lurking about and had been warned about this side of town, how it was over populated by them and well- somehow, he hadn't been stopped by a one of them-a nd they mysteriously 'disappeared'. Little did he know they might even be watching them now. He had no idea the extents of Einin's alter ego, or of how truly involved and massive the Soot Wolves were. In fact, he just heard about them all too recently, and so to him, since he never had a personal run in, they were still just the stuff of fantasies. After all, this was his first night on the prowl!
"I saw a bunch of thieves lurkin' on this side of town. They took one look at me and scattered. Bet they were afraid to try something on someone who looked so dangerous!"
Though in truth, his presence probably only left them confused. And it was a bit of a stretch on the truth, but hey- she didn't have to know all of the details. White lies never hurt anyone, after all!
"Clint," Einin said, her voice and expression flat as old champagne, "you're one of us pompous frilly folks. And..."
Her eyes narrowed a little. "So am I. For Kia's sake, Clint! Are you saying you want to steal from us? From me? Because stealing is dishonest and villainous, and not liking a person's station isn't a good enough reason to take what's not yours! There are other ways to help people." With a frustrated huff, she crossed her arms over her chest.
"In any case, I'm fine, Clint. I'm safe. After everything that happened, my parents tightened security and..."
She trailed off, realization dawning as soon as she said it, and her eyes widened with alarm, a jolt of anxiety striking her. She felt foolish for it, stupid and weak, but it was still too soon. Way too soon. The memories were still fresh, fresh enough she still woke up sobbing, and she hugged herself a little tighter.
"How did you get in?"
Clint was trying to stubbornly ignore Einin's scoldings. Even though she was right... He didn't want to admit that or he'd sound even more like a fool. So when her last question came around, the unusually quiet young man simply snapped, "What? I just came in through the window. You've got some lattice work and vines out here and-" And the second Clint stepped near to the window, a Soot Wolf showed up and grabbed Clint by the collar of his leather suit, and suddenly the teenager felt the coldness of a blade to his throat as he froze.
"Holy fucking shit!" Clint exclaimed.
"Hey there, mountain cat. What the hell do you think you're doing in Lady Beirne's room? You've got ten seconds before I cut your throat and gut you to leave you out on display on the streets."
"Don't!" Einin snapped, a bit too loudly, and bolted for the window where Clint was being held captive. She spoke without thinking, her heart in her throat, because Clint was seconds from bleeding out and this was the exact opposite of what she wanted!
And yet, she couldn't say she was surprised...
She was only surprised it hadn't happened sooner.
"Kaz, don't hurt him! He's my friend, alright? So let him go. Please?"
The Soot Wolf's eyes narrowed on Einin before they cut Clint a sharp look as the boy spat,
"Y-yeah! You heard the lady! Now lemme go!"
With a growl, he released Clint, and the boy nearly fell over, groping the nearby window pane as he sputtered for air. But even as Clint was released, the wolf held his blade.
"You know this boy associates with the enemy?" Because despite what Einin stated, his orders were to protect her and show no mercy to any cats. In fact, it was part of his duty to help clean the streets of those flea bags for good, and he got the deep scar over his eye to prove his loyalty, too.
"I know," Einin said, and gave a long, disappointed sigh, pouring as much disapproval into one breath as was possible.
"He's young, and he's dumb, and he's my friend. He's made some bad choices, but he'd never hurt me." And with a sly smirk Clint's way, she added, "Because he knows I'd kick his ass."
Expression sobering again, she looked back to the Wolf. "Thank you, though. Honestly. You did your job, and you did it well! Keep close, but let me talk to him?"
Kaz growled at the revelation, but promptly obeyed. As much as he questioned his obligations here, he was not about to go against pack protocol. And when Kaz finally disappeared back out the window, Clint rushed towards it, making sure he was gone before he looked over at Einin.
And soon he found himself realizing to question..
"What do you mean you'd kick my ass?" And he looked thoroughly offended by it.
Einin let herself sag with relief. Thank goodness. That could have ended...very, very badly.
Still willing her heart to work properly, she turned to look at Clint when he spoke--and then she grinned at his question.
"I mean exactly what I said," she said with a flip of her hair. "Now then, let's use what happened just now as a learning moment, shall we? That?" She pointed at the window he was standing before. "That whole thing just now? The one where you just about got your throat slit? That is exactly why this is a bad idea."
Clint puffed out his chest pompously.
"As if that would ever happen again!" the boy spat, bristling like an angered cat. "They just got me by surprise. If we were on even ground, that man would be begging for mercy at the end of my blade!"
And with a suave slicking of his hair, he gave a wolfish grin towards Einin, "And if you're up for some learning entertainment, why I wouldn't mind some more intimate lessons taught by you."
And his green eyes went up her body, trailing across her hips and chest, before flashing deviously as he met his eyes with hers.
And when his eyes met with her's, Clint would find that Einin's had narrowed to murderous slits. She crossed her arms over her chest, flushing self-consciously, because she definitely knew what that look meant!
"My fist's about to get really intimate with your nose if you keep looking at me like that," she said through grit teeth.
Clint flashed her a toothy grin.
"Fists ain't as fun as lips. Why don't we try to acquaint those instead?"
Einin glowered at him. "Do you want to get smacked, is that what's happening here?"
"What?" he went on, putting his arms up. "Can't help it when you've got a face and body like that! You've grown up into quite the woman, Einin. Quite the woman," he leered. "A shame you're not engaged yet... but perhaps the right man ain't showed up yet?" he went on, jutting out his chin and flashing those pretty white teeth. He had heard enough rumors about her and Ryk Handelaar- enough to know what he believed did and did not happen, but when Ryk's engagement to Lady Swinden was announced, the boy was more than elated. That meant any rumors Einin and he were to be engaged were snuffed out. ANd he held Einin in a high enough regard to presume she wouldn't just be another Handelaar lover- even if he had no idea she sort of was. Of course, he hadn't properly heard about her and the eccentric thief, either. Then again, that might have just been him being ignorant. Which he usually was. Who would get engaged to an Adelan anyways. Or was he Essyrni? Not that it mattered. As far as Clint was concerned, she was still fresh meat in the market- and he? Well, he, a fine prize for a husband, would he not? He figured they'd be a smokin' hot couple-
and well...
He wanted to try some smokin' hot things with her in bed, too.
"Pffft." Einin rolled her eyes and then gave Clint a mischievous grin, head cocked and eyes hooded. "Who said it had to be a man?"
And it was only half jest, partly to throw Clint off, and partly because...well...why not? And maybe she was feeling a little bitter about men. Of course her parents were pushing her to marry a man, because they needed heirs, and a legacy, and blah, blah, blah. But she knew people didn't always have relations with the opposite sex, and if she'd learned one thing from her brothel visit with Ryk, it was that she hadn't at all minded kissing Ebony. Nor had it felt strange to her. She'd only minded that she was grabby, and a stranger!
She may have also read a racy book that featured two lady knights in a decidedly not-platonic relationship, and that book may have still been in her room, right alongside a similarly racy not-platonic story about a thief and his princess...
Both of which were hidden under her bed because oh Kia no, she did not want anyone learning about that!
What could she say? Recent events had, uh, left her kind of curious. Even with the first-hand experience.
Clint was indeed, caught off guard, but in no means deterred. In fact, after the initial shock began to fade, his grin grew.
"Oh... have a lady friend?" he asked, his grin now cat like. "I ain't never seen no two girls kiss. Bet it would be hot!"
"No!" Einin snapped, and her face colored a little at the thought. "And even if I did, it's not like you'd be invited!"
"Oh, so you are admittin' to bein' single?" Clint asked, his grin widening.
Oh Kia, this was a trap, it was a trap and she knew it!
Einin shifted her eyes away. "And what if I was?"
"I dunno, I was worried about them other men I heard you were gonna hook up with. But if you ain't with 'em..." he said, his leer growing a bit more sheepish. "I was, you know, thinkin' perhaps we ought to court."
There, he finally put that out there- and it actually was a lot harder to blurt out than he thought. He was hoping he'd remain all suave and confident, but he felt himself sweating as if he were giving a speech before a crowd. But his skin and blood tingled with anticipation. Would she accept? Because hot damn, did he ever want to kiss those lips! He had the hots for her for ages, and dare he admit well...
He had a lot of fantasies about her at night!
For all that Einin was being hard on Clint, even she noticed the change in his demeanor, from "suave"and confident, to...oddly nervous as he said the words. And though it was easy to vehemently reject his advances when he was being so...so inappropriate, she looked back over at him when he'd finished, and the anger flooded out of her.
Because right then, in that moment, he wasn't Clint-the-annoying-perverted-kid-whose-skin-she-was-trying-to-save. He was...
He was Clint her friend, and right then, he looked not only sincere, but also vulnerable.
Einin bit her bottom lip and played with a lock of pink hair, brushing her fingers through it over and over again.
Kia help her.
"Oh, Clint, I..." She let out a sigh, shoulders drooping, and flicked her hair back over her shoulder. How to handle this? This wasn't Clint playing, this was him being serious, and for all her bluff and bluster, she didn't actually want to hurt his feelings.
Stepping over to the window, she took a seat on the ledge and reached for his hand. Then she looked up into his eyes, expression sober. "Clint, I know that probably took a lot of courage just now, but...but you're my friend," she said at last, wincing even as she said it. Was that the right thing? The right wording? Ugh, she was terrible at this! "You're like a little brother to me. It'd just...it'd just be too weird! I still like you, though! Just...not like that. You know?"
She chewed her lip again, heart beating fast. "A-and I'm sure you've heard a lot of things! But I'm just...uh...honestly, I'm kind of really confused right now. About a lot of things. Like, I'm under a lot of pressure to marry and everything, and...I'm sorry."
"So you are engaged?" Clint pressed, for the moment, undeterred.
So much for vulnerability.
"Uhhh...what? No...why?"
"Then you should consider this proposal!" the boy went on, undeterred by the fact she tried to compare him to a little brother. He was beaming. "Court me and let me show you how a man really ought to treat a lady." For clearly, the two men who's names were rolling around that she was more or less possibly fooling around with clearly didn't mean anything to her now! Allow him to scoop in to the rescue! The time was right anyway- except, you know it was a bit awkward he had kind of snuck into her room... through her window...
and stuff.
But didn't that make him appear all the more dashing? He could only hope!
For a moment, beneath the abject horror that Clint's proposal had birthed in her, it occurred to the more devious side of Einin's brain that this could benefit her.
If she "courted" Clint, she would be safe again for a while. Safe from the badgering, safe from an arranged marriage...potentially. Clint's family was a good one, and her family had long been friends with his, and when they were younger and she was pushing his face in the mud, her parents had made many infuriating jokes that, clearly, it was puppy love and they might one day marry. Even though she suspected he was a bit younger than they were hoping for. Which was well and good, because aside from being like a brother to her, he was definitely too young for Einin's tastes!
...Apparently she liked them older.
But it would have worked! She could accept that proposal, agree to the courtship, and be safe. It would be terribly awkward, and she'd have to make a lot of things crystal clear to Clint (no kissing, no touching, etcetera), but...it would benefit her.
For a split second, beneath the building horror, she actually found herself considering it.
But that consideration died as quickly as it was born, and she felt suddenly ashamed for even thinking about it.
Clint was her friend.
And he had a massive thing for her!
She wasn't going to use her friend like that.
With a grimace, Einin shook her head. "Clint, I...did you miss where I said you're like a brother?! They have a word for that, you know!"
Clint was still grinning. She hadn't denied him yet so there was still hope!
"Yeah, I heard ya, but people can change, Einin. Maybe what you think of as another love could be different."
Einin lifted an eyebrow and tilted her head, eying him skeptically. "Oh?"
"Yeah, who's to say I couldn't sweep you off your feet?" he said, approaching her more closely as she slicked back his already slicked back blonde hair. "Come out with me tonight. Without your parents knowing. You know you want to. I know all of the best places to sneak around at night. You won't be disappointed."
Little did the night time wonder wannabe realize what Einin's alter ego was capable of, or had done, but ignorance was bliss- and he was determined to prove himself worthy enough to woo her. And a bit cocky to think it would only take one night!
"Come on.." he said, offering out his hand. "Do you trust me?"
...Hmmm!
Einin pressed her lips together with the effort not to laugh at the irony of it all. Having an alter ego, as she was learning, could be kind of frustrating! Namely, the part where she had to feign ignorance and pretend to be more delicate than she actually was. Of course people knew she took fencing lessons! And of course people knew she'd always been a little tomboyish. But no one realized how intense her fencing lessons were, and that she wasn't being taught the courtly version. And there was a difference between climbing trees in her garden, and scaling walls and adventuring out into the city at night to run around among thugs.
All that meant was that if she agreed, she had to really scale back her knowledge and...let him do most of the work. And pretend to be amazed and stuff.
That was always so frustrating!
But, admittedly...it was also a lot more fun than hanging around here. And she'd been doing a lot of hanging around here. Sure, she'd kept up her lessons once she was well enough to, and even taken some lessons from the Scavenger Wolves, but nothing dangerous, and nothing that took her into the city alone. She missed her adventures, but couldn't stop jumping at shadows. Not yet.
This...might actually not be a bad idea. A good way to start slow, work herself back up.
And it also might show her some new haunts--and give her a good idea of where Clint frequented so she could bust his ass later!
She paused a moment, seeming to consider it. She couldn't look too eager, after all!
"Are...you sure that's a good idea?" she asked finally, biting her bottom lip. "What if we get caught?"
"Of course it's a bad idea!" he told her with a laugh. "That's why we're doing it. For the thrill." And he kept his hand extended for her, those green eyes of him sparkling with glee.
"Well? The moon ain't getting any younger! And if we get caught, we'll just run like hell!"
It sounded fun to him!
"I dunno, Clint..." Einin pretended to struggle over the decision, biting at her thumbnail as though it were a tough choice. Finally, she took his hand. "Ummm...okay! Why not? Live a little, right? Oh, wait. I can't go out like this! Give me a second, alright?"
She tugged her hand free and went to her wardrobe, then turned around and gave Clint a stern look. "Face the window. Now that you'll be able to see anything, but I swear if I catch you trying to peek around my changing screen..."
She let the threat hang in the air, so he could draw his own conclusions. Then, grabbing a casual dress from her wardrobe, she slipped behind her screen to change. She had also grabbed her new thigh harness to wear beneath it, and slipped her ice dagger into its sheath. While she couldn't take her sword with her, since she couldn't let on she wasn't new to this, she wasn't about to go anywhere unarmed.
When she was done, she stepped out from behind the screen. "Now I'm ready."
Oh how he desperately wanted to peek, but to see her silhouette as she changed, for now..., was enough for him! Though in all honesty, he wished she would go out in her night dress. She was pretty hot in that thing! And when she returned, he was wondering if she'd have noticed the bulge in his pants.
"I like that color on you," he said, moving swiftly to her side and latching her arm around hers. "Shall we?" And he gave a gesture towards the window. Yep, this trip included them both sneaking out the same way Clint had come in.
Einin rolled her eyes at Clint at his comment, but linked arms with him and started for the window. "Indeed, let's be off! Though, ah..."
She nodded toward the window they were heading for. "How are you planning on doing this, exactly?"
"How do you think I got up here?" And he gave her a wink and a big, multi-dimpled smile. Though it was before the window he paused and laughed at her. "Why? You afraid of doin' a little climbing?"
That did not seem like the Einin he knew!
"Of course not," Einin said with a laugh. Even though Clint wouldn't know about her adventures as Owl, everyone knew that she'd always been a tomboy, always getting yelled at for climbing trees and roughhousing in unladylike ways.
"But I am concerned about the guards. How did you evade them?"
"Bait and switch," he told her, smile like a cat that got into the cream. And he demonstrated for her, after climbing down to the bottom, and tossed a rock up into a tree on the opposing side of the fence. He held his breath and watched as the guards went to investigate, before creeping out the front- when suddenly the door creaked.
"Aww, shit."
Looks like someone hadn't oiled it!
OH GODS!
To Einin, that creak sounded like a bloodcurdling screech, a cringe-worthy thing that crawled beneath her skin like wriggling, scratching insects. It felt like the whole world could hear it! And certainly every guard!
And there Clint was, freezing up!
AGH!
"What are you doing?! Don't just stand there!" she whispered, and grabbed his arm before hauling off away from the fence, and off to a nearby bed of roses. She pulled him in after her as she crawled in among the plants and crouched down low; she knew all the good hiding places--and also all the best ways to get out! Which made this all the more painful, because she couldn't let on to Clint that she knew the best way to get out of here, and that his way was terrible!
Clint made a noise as they fell into the roses, wincing as he felt one cut his cheek, and just about everywhere else.
"What the hell, Einin. Why did you-"
But then he was holding his breath as the guards drew near.
Einin slapped a hand over Clint's mouth as soon as he started to speak, and waited tensely as the guards went over to investigate the gate. And then, seeing it slightly ajar, the one closest to it spoke in hushed tones to the others, and pointed, and Einin saw their hands go to their swords as the others spread out to search the perimeter and the one remained near the gate.
Oh shit...oh shit...
Clint breathed hotly through her hand, trying to speak.
After a moment, Einin relaxed her hand over Clint's face, and slowly started to lower it.
His hot breath was starting to make her hand all sweaty, so that was kind of gross! And she not-so-subtly wiped it off onto her dress.
"Well so much for my master plan!" Clint huffed when he was finally able to breath. He cut a look to Einin.
"What now?"
As if this were somehow her problem to fix!
"What now? What now?" Einin repeated in a whisper, and let out a quiet laugh.
"I thought you knew what you were doing, wildcat."
Clint glared back at her.
"Yeah, but this is your house. Don't you normally sneak outta here or somethin'? I'm sure a girl like you can't remain all cooped up all the time." ANd he knew her parents...
It was only a matter of time before she was crawling out of these gates!
Einin coughed and shifted her eyes away from Clint. "Er...no. Why would you think something like that? I would never sneak out. A guard might catch me and then I'd be locked in my room forever!"
"Locked in your room, forever? Come on, I doubt that they could keep you under lock and key."
And their conversation was getting a bit too loud, and soon Clint was swearing.
"Aw, fuck sauce, are the guards coming back already?"
They needed to think of a plan, and fast!
"Is there any other places in the gates we could sneak outta? Like any loose poles to slip through or a tree to climb over the fence?"
Einin pretended to wrack her brain for ideas, wringing her hands nervously and chewing her lip. "Ah...ah...um...! Well, how did you get in here?" she said, and then shot a look around the yard. She could hear the guards, hear the steady fall of their feet, and now her nervousness wasn't all feigned.
Which, of course, added legitimacy to her ruse!
"Um...uh...oh! There's a hole in the wall! There!" she said, pointing. "Beneath the wall, I mean, hidden by all the bushes. I've seen cats slip under there before. Not sure if it's big enough for a person, but it's worth a look!"
Of course, it was big enough for a person, because she used it all the time.
Clint wasted no time leaping into the bushes and dragging Einin along. And once he caught sight of the hole, his eyes grew in size.
"Sweet Kia's tits, looks like we struck gold!" And he gestured to her with a partial bow.
"Ladies first."
"Uh...do you think we'll be able to fit?" Einin asked, feigning uncertainty. She leaned down to examine the hole, and grimaced. "Oh man. We're gonna have to crawl, huh? I'm gonna get filthy, but...I guess I can just change and hide the mess from my parents..."
She bit her lip, feigning nervousness and uncertainty--and hoped she wasn't overselling it! It was hard, pretending this was the first time she'd done this when she'd done it a hundred times already! And so, after a brief moment's "deliberation", she knelt and awkwardly began to crawl beneath the fence.
...And then a thought hit her as soon as she was on her hands and knees, and she shot a glare back at Clint and made sure her nightgown was fully covering her rear. "No staring!" she said, and crawled beneath the fence.
Oh, but when she'd look back, Clint would be wearing a grin that looked like a cat that got into the cream! For he had seen enough to get him all bothered as his cheeks turned pink and that smile grew and grew.
"What about oogling?" he told her, still looking at her rear and savoring the sight.
"No oogling either!" Einin hissed, her own cheeks going quite red because, of course, she knew he was looking! Damn him!
She scrambled quickly out onto the other side and yanked her night dress down, even though it was already covering everything and came down to just above her ankles. She shot him a glower. "Stop that."
"Stop what?" he asked, his entire face wrinkling up with dimples when he smiled. "Can't a guy just admire a lady's rear? I'ts not my fault it's sexy!"
"It's not my fault, either!" Einin snapped back, face turning an even darker shade of pink. "And besides, it's hardly gentlemanly! Show some manners!"
Said the girl who had roughed the boy up on multiple occasions, and tricked him into eating worms.
She tossed her hair over her shoulder and crossed her arms over her chest. "ANYWAY, moving on! Where to now, kitty cat?"