Bathing was a luxury that soldiering didn't often afford me. Privacy was one major concern, finding time was another. Most of the time a quick dip in a chilly stream was all one could expect. So it was that a nice long, hot bath was enough to significantly improve my mood, even if I was bathing alone. A silly thought, of course but a girl is allowed her fantasies.
The water was starting to grow cold now but I was still loathed to depart my watery sanctuary. Leaving a hot bath and a contented mood for an icy room and empty bed was hardly my idea of a good time. I swore softly under my breath and submerged my head under the water. I didn't even know if she would be staying the night in the inn. Distant as she was acting she might even have gone back to the Travel Agency to spend her leave with the Chocobos.
Bath too chilly for comfort, I was forced to rise at last. I retrieved my towel from the nearby stand provided for just that purpose and began drying off. My hair was still wet but I didn't really care. It would dry soon enough and it wasn't like I was going anywhere. I wrapped the towel around my waist more out of habit than anything. I should have had the room to myself so there was really no reason to be modest but such things are engrained, I suppose.
Pushing open the door to the small bathroom I glanced out into the main bedroom area and stopped short when I saw a figure clad in a white bath robe, red hair spilling over her shoulders like a scarlet waterfall. She didn't seem to notice me and I couldn't seem to find my breath. Well, at least I knew she wasn't going back to the Travel Agency. She didn't turn so I took a few steps into the larger room and closed the door to the smaller. There was a click of the latch and the sound caused the white robed figure to turn. Brown eyes swept upwards along my mostly naked body and I felt a blush creeping into my cheeks. It wasn't like she hadn't seen my body before but there was something about the way she seemed to be studying it that made the heat rush to my face. She turned deliberately and strode across the room to stand in front of me. She was only a few inches taller than me but sometimes she seemed to tower over me, as she did now. I fought down the feelings churning in my stomach, not knowing if she was still distant and cold. I didn't want to be disappointed a second time but looking up at her then I couldn't stop myself from wanting her to touch me, to kiss me. I would have reached out for her myself but doing so would require releasing my toweland this situation was awkward enough as it was now.
Almost as if reading my thoughts she brought up one hand and ran it lightly through my damp hair, pushing a few loose dark strands away from my face. She looked for a long moment as if there was something she wanted to say but in the end she decided to put her mouth to better use, fingers curling around the back of my neck to pull me into a tender kiss. I melted against her, closing my eyes and parting my invitingly. Never one to waste an opening, Lucil slipped her tongue through the gap. Grateful even for this much intimacy after the way she had acted earlier I simply sucked light on her tongue. I felt her free hand trace its way down my side, seeking the seam in the impeding towel. When she found it, she wasted no time in sliding her hand inside to lightly caress the bare skin beneath. I shuddered at her touch, familiar fires springing to life within me.
After a long moment she pulled away, hand retreating to her side. I couldn't help but mourn the loss of her touch and feel a small stab of panic at the thought of her turning cold on me now. That seemed to be the last thing on her mind, however. My eyes flew open when I felt her hands over mine and gently pry my fingers from their unconscious death grip on my only garment. My cheeks flushed scarlet as I was revealed to her, though it was more the hungry look in her eyes that caused the blush than my lack of clothing. That was one thing about my Lucil, she may be cold and distant at times but when she thawed out, she did so with startling passion.
My hands now freed of their previous responsibility I reached up to place one arm around her neck with my other set about satisfying my curiosity. Our lips met again and eyes closed. I felt her hands roam restlessly along my bare back as my free hand snaked its way inside her robe and found, much to my delight, that she wore nothing else beneath it. I felt her right hand slowly trace the length of my back before curling around to my left side. I pulled away from the kiss to take a sharp breath, skin tingling at the contact. Slowly, her smallest finger trailed down the length of the crescent shaped scar, coming to rest at the end and waiting their as all four of its sisters made the same journey one at a time. By the time her thumb had etched the scar as well; I was trembling and clinging to my captain's neck for support.
