(no subject)

[ladyfirestarter]

On a street corner in Chicago, two figures stop walking to catch their breath.

It's not that walking is so very exhausting; it's that both of them are laughing hard.

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[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

He settles in with his head on her shoulder, keeping her close and turning idly as they bob.

"Damn, this is all gonna be snow in a couple of weeks. That kind of breaks my heart a little."

The downside of autumn is that winter comes in inexorably on its heels. The upside of winter is that people have figured out ways of making the best of that. See: central heating, couches, and hot beverages flavored like eggnog.

[ladyfirestarter]

"You don't like snow?"

She tilts her head upward a little, her hair moving against his cheek.

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

"I'm okay with snow. But my constitution favors warmth, generally speaking. Old habits die hard and all."

He made a point of shaving today -- lucky for both of them.

"How about you?"

[ladyfirestarter]

"I like snow. Always have."

The impromptu dancing has slowed down to an idle back-and-forth swaying.

"I don't love the cold, but winter in general ... it's soothing."

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

He chuckles. "Maybe somewhere else. Not here." Not even the rush of cars on Lake Shore Drive disturbs them. "Then again, cities aren't exactly built to be oases of peace and relaxation."

Ignore the irony of the moment, please.

[ladyfirestarter]

"All rush and bustle," she agrees insincerely, leaning into him. "I don't know how people stand it."

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

"Oh, it's all about deadening the soul and getting mean." His arms press her closer. "You get the hang of it after a while."

[ladyfirestarter]

The sky's clear, with some stars visible through the corona of city lights, and the lake is a vast sweep of darkness stretching to the horizon.

Charlie turns her head again, stretching up, and her cheek brushes his.

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

He tilts his face toward hers. "You're disproving my theory," he murmurs. "Stop that."

[ladyfirestarter]

His breath's warm against her skin.

"If your theory is that easily disproved," she murmurs back, her lips almost touching the line of his jaw, "maybe you should trade it in for a new one."

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

As is hers. He leans in against the spot just below her ear, brushing away that curtain of hair with his fingertips.

"I gotta know it's not just sophistry first."

[ladyfirestarter]

What runs through her at that touch is the opposite of a shiver; a ripple of melting warmth, slow and sweet.

"Can't be sophistry," she breathes, turning in his arms and rising on her toes in the sand.

Her lips a bare centimeter from his, she pauses long enough to add "I haven't said a word," and moves in to complete the kiss.

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

 

 

 
"And yet, persuasive," he manages to supply, before leaning in to investigate the proposition once again.

[ladyfirestarter]

It's several seconds before the kiss breaks.

Charlie draws back a little, still in the circle of his arm, looking up at him thoughtfully.

(Her heart's beating a little faster, but not racing. No panic sweat. No tremor hinting at loss of control. It's a deliberate self-assessment: we're good.)

"And the verdict?"

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

His fingers play over the exposed skin just below her chin. "Can't we debate a little more?"

[ladyfirestarter]

"Debate for the purpose of debating?"

She leans into him, happily smug.

"Now who's being a sophist?"

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

"I'm older than Socrates. Leave me alone."

He can't quite decide on a smile or a pout: the hybrid is a creature to behold.

[ladyfirestarter]

Oh, it is.

"You're older than a lot of things."

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

He wraps both arms around her waist. "Yeah, but I'm forever young at heart. That's one of the signing bonuses for this gig."

[ladyfirestarter]

She reaches up to slide one hand around the back of his neck.

"Sounds like a good deal."

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

He leans forward with the pressure. "There's a reason we stick around like we do."

[ladyfirestarter]

Back to a murmur: "And what's that?"

Their faces are close together again, near touching.

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

"Because," he murmurs back, "we always get to find out what happens next."

In this instance, another kiss. A high wind blows up at his back, an insistent tug at their sleeves from the city of Chicago and the lake.

[ladyfirestarter]

It's just a touch chilly, an exhilarating contrast to their tiny pocket of warmth.




"So," she breathes, punctuating more than breaking the kiss, "what happens next?"

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

Both hands are on her face now, huge palms cupping her cheeks. "Well--if you don't want to catch a cab all the way back to my place--we're all dressed up, and there are some--fine local hotels--just a stone's throw away."

Prometheus just has that feeling tonight.