animus_network

[A slow smirk tugged at his mouth, and he grabbed her hand.]

That wasn't what I meant, babe... you can't use those kinda things on the kids, y'know?

....!!

[Oh sweet carbuncle riding a go-kart, just what in Gaia's name just happened? Here she had thought she was being cool, collected and a bad-ass. She'd wanted to show that she knew a thing or two - but ended up looking like...like...like some sex-crazed seductress! And on RENO no less.

It was very appropriate that it was Reno, because now her face matched the color of her hair and, with both his hands now holding both of hers, the possibility of escape was very slim.]

A-ah! N-No...right....they're a little too young...v-very young....Sorry...don't know what came over me...sorry...

[He laughed, breaking the tension and letting her hands go.] Calm down, Elena. You weren't that bad. Maybe it'll work on the kids.

[The moment hands felt freedom, they quickly came together, rubbing against one another as she took a step back, trying to gain some semblance of self-control back. The laugh help, sure, and she forced a laugh in return.

But the physical contact had been quite welcomed. Missed, even. The last time she'd actually touched skin that intimately had been, well, months. And that left a little feeling of uneasiness settling in her stomach.]

Oh come on, Reno, I looked like an idiot. Just..let it go, okay?

And like hell I'd do that to them! I'll stick with the critical and harsher words. That seemed to work just fine with them before.

You never look like an idiot.

[Pause.

He folds his arms, looking quite, quite amused. ]

Except when you're hanging upside down on a cliff.

....Really?

[And, for the briefest of seconds, she's actually feeling better about the situation. Sure, she'd pretty much thrown herself at him in an attempt to look like she could be a bawse, but even she was still insecure about herself. She was the newest and littlest of the four.

Until the other shoe fell. Hands fly up into her hair, grasping at blonde strands, as her eyes and head roll back]

OH MY GOOOODDD, Reno...will you ever let that diiieee? Ever? Please? Pretty please? It was so horrible....I want to forget it even happened.

[Because how could he say no to that pouty, pleading face looking up at him, hands clasped together, as if praying that it would.]

[His smirk just grew.]

Elena, you talk too much.

[And with that, he leaned down slightly and pressed his lips to hers in a light kiss, hands settling on her waist.]

[It wasn't working, but at least that wave of utter embarrassment was long forgotten, much to Reno's antics. Shoulders had sagged when he didn't acknowledge her pouting, her hands lowering to her sides, disappointed with his lack of response. Ah, but that line - sh'es heard that once before, hadn't she?]

Isn't that what -

[She saw him leaning forward, but any reason for doing so completely vacant from her mind. Which was all well and good, seeing that the moment she could feel the softness of his lips on hers she couldn't think anyway. But her body instinctively knew the motions, fingers drawing soft lines along the sleeve of his jacket before curling around the back of his arms. Her eyes drifted shut, returning the kiss, if not a bit too eagerly.]

[After a long moment, almost too long, feeling the eagerness in her body, he broke the kiss. Pulling back, he let her go, that smirk still there.]

What were you sayin', Elena?

[Long, short - time was, at that moment, purely relative. All she could register was the tall figure in front of her, warm hands pressing through her suit, the velvet feel of his lips, and the faint tickle of red strands against her face. And it was both grounding and electrifying at the same time. Feeling him pull back, she mirrored his movements, hands releasing at the last possible second as she moved away, putting a few feet between them]

....Ah, nothing. Nothing at all.

[Beneath the protective layer of her suit, her heart hammered at a mile a minute, slamming against her ribcage painfully. Arms wrapped protectively around her middle, fingers reaching up to lightly touch her mouth before clasping her elbows. Her steps continued taking her backwards towards the door. Teeth bit into the meat of her lower lip, eyes clouded and nervous and something else. ]

I-I think...I should get going. I should..ah...go check on the kids and...aah...get some training in... Thanks for coming, though. It was...nice talking with you... We should do drinks later...

[Wait... what just happened?

'should get going' 'nice talking with you' 'drinks later'

Bam! Bam! BA BAM!

He sat back down in his chair and watched her leave.]

Y-yeah...

[He was... confused. And feeling rather awkward and embarrassed.]

[O-oh no. Oh no, no, no... That expression she could read quite clearly, even halfway across the room. And that was not at all what she had intended with her graceless and hastey exit. Hands slid up her arms to be face pressing against cheeks before covering her mouth.]

Reno...don't... [Take it personally. Think it's your fault. Look at me that way. She paused, taking a deep, audibly shuddering breath.] ...It was...[Amazing. Needed. Fingers moved again, releasing their hold on her lips, her hands falling to her sides in an almost defeatist manner.]

I think I'm a little more fucked up than you know, and...I..I don't want to mess things up. I don't want to be the cause of anyone else being hurt. Okay?

[That... didn't really help him. Mutely, he just nodded, putting on a neutral expression to hide what he must have been displaying.]

[His silence is unbearable, despite the acknowledging nod, and the weight on her chest doubles, making it hard to breathe. It was damn. Ear amazing how she could take what might have been an interesting evening into a utter train wreck.]

Fuck... I-I'm sorry. I talk too damn much sometimes.

[Eyes lower, moving away from him to the floor, body turning away to face the door. Her steps are hurried, the desire to escape before she could do more damage driving her. But, before she passed through the door, she pauses and turned back towards him.]

Drinks. Just you and me. In two days. I'll be waiting.

...I'll be there. [But she's already gone by that time, he doesn't know if she heard him, or what she would think of his hesitation.]

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