(no subject)

[ladyfirestarter]

About half of the fourteenth floor of the Dolphin Hotel -- it's the thirteenth floor, of course, but numbered 14 -- is closed for renovations.

Charlie's room is on the ninth floor.

She holds open the door of room 928, slipping the card-key back into her pocket.

Comments

[ladyfirestarter]

"If something goes wrong."

Her voice is very steady, deliberately so.

"Water. We're going to need water on hand. As cold as we can get."

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

Slowly, he nods again. "Fill the tub? Want me to get some ice?"

[ladyfirestarter]

Charlie nods. "Yeah. -- I'll come with you."

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

He shuffles off the bed and stands up, tugging the jacket he's still wearing. He's silent as he holds the door open for her, and doesn't speak until they reach the ice machine, tucked away in a close cul-de-sac.

"Charlie, if something does go wrong..." His voice is low, and a little husky. "Can I try and talk to it?"

[ladyfirestarter]

She looks up from the ice machine's controls, arrested in midmotion.

"If you think it could work," she says finally. "It would be worth a try."

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

His mouth smiles, his eyes do not.

"If it hurts you, I'll have words for it." The way he says words conjures up a bar room brawl; step outside with me, stranger. Let's talk in fists. His hands stay in his pockets, his shoulders hunched. "You push me out of the way the moment you think it's necessary."

[ladyfirestarter]

A very small smile touches the edge of Charlie's mouth, and she nods, once.

I trust this man.

As she turns back to the ice machine: "I'm more worried about it damaging the room. My cred with the manager only goes so far."

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

His face shifts, partway: the grin's wider, easier, but not entirely. "We could pool our cred. Granted, my reputation here is somewhat sketchier than yours, but it could count for pennies."

[ladyfirestarter]

She makes a face at him, and starts the ice machine going. It's too noisy to talk over.

When they're walking back to the room, carrying three or four bags of ice each, Charlie gives a small sigh.

"You know, ordinary people only have to worry about STDs and accidental pregnancy."

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

"I don't have either of those," he interjects hastily. "Just so you know."

[ladyfirestarter]

"Pretty sure I don't either."

She transfers her load of ice to one arm, freeing her other hand to get out the room key and let them in.

"I'm gonna put one of these in the sink, and the rest all goes in the bathtub."

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

"Right." He slips past into the bathroom, and starts the tap on the tub. The ice snaps and fissures when he dumps the bags into the water. "I love that sound," he remarks, straightening up. "It's satisfying. Like saying the word 'satisfying.'" He goes in for another try. "Satisfying."

[ladyfirestarter]

She's in there too by this time, setting down one ice bag in the sink.

The look she gives him is one of unalloyed affection.

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

Prometheus sets his hands on his hips, surveys their handiwork, then exhales. "Well! That's done. And it's definitely a little chilly in here." He glances sidelong at Charlie. "Not exactly what we're after for the moment, though, is it."

[ladyfirestarter]

"...Not exactly."

The bathrooms at the Dolphin Hotel aren't very big. Two people can fit into one, but not without considerable proximity.

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

With one movement, dancer-smooth, Prometheus swivels, wraps his arms around Charlie's waist, and kisses her.

When they pull apart, he glances from side to side. It would be a lie to say he didn't look just a little impish. "Look at that. So far so good."

[ladyfirestarter]

Charlie twines one hand around the collar of his jacket, and tugs lightly.

"...come here."

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

"Yes, ma'am!"

He doesn't need telling twice.

He slips his arms around from around her waist, though, to start shrugging the jacket off.

[ladyfirestarter]

Which means she takes him by the collar of his button-down shirt, instead, to draw him out into the bedroom proper.

Both her hands wind around the back of his neck as she stretches up to kiss him again.

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

It's bumpy going, navigating like this. Fun, but not efficient in its fun. Prometheus's hands wander past Charlie's hips, where they linger for a moment until he hitches her legs up around his waist and starts for the other room.

It wouldn't do to heat up the chilly bathroom before they might need it. That's what the beds are for.

[ladyfirestarter]

And for a while, they take full advantage of the beds. It's a private room, after all, and there's nothing likely to disturb them.

Until the panic attack hits, and Charlie twists away for the second time, hands first pushing frantically at his chest and then curling back to cover her face.

Tears, then, and cursing through them in angry despair, as she leans her head against his shoulder.

(The fire never even came close to breaking her control, this time.)

[notboundnow.livejournal.com]

It comes just as fast and hard as the fire, but this is one thing he can't do anything about.

Shh, he says, and wraps bare arms around her. It's okay. We've got time. We've got time.

He swallows a little bewilderment, and bites back jokes that won't make her feel any better. The hour is late; he asks if she needs time alone, and she asks if he'll stay, so he does.

She doesn't fall asleep for a long time. He sits with her in the dark room, and says, without lying, We had a good day today.

Her breathing levels out. He stays with her.