[Room 103 - Apharsites]

[princeinexile]

You know, this was starting to get to be habit. Once everything was rolling, lunch was had -- as well as what one of the others might call a 'nooner'. Or sometimes evening, or...

Well, either way, Zuko was getting used to running into Mel, and then... ending up in bed with her. It wasn't like that was all they did, either. Sometimes it was talk of work, and then sex. Sometimes it was right to the sex, and then talk of work. Sometimes ... they didn't have sex at all, and had to seperate to different duties.

But it was getting to be regular. The sex was almost daily, but Zuko was not inclined to complain. He was beginning to wonder if he wasn't getting better at it, honestly, but was never one to seek a compliment. Life had taught him better then to fish from that.

Besides, she came back. That said he was doing something right.

So when she left her place above him, he stretched and then fell boneless against the not-matress.

"... we need to find a way to get more matresses," he says thoughtfully. "I bet this is even better on a matress. And we won't go away with occasional rug burn."

The things you think about after a couple of orgasms, y' know?

Comments

[slayer_fray]

Funny, isn't it, how quickly 'number of times ever' can double and become uncountable?

Mel likes this. A lot. It stands out as the highlight of her day, and no matter where else she is, or what she's doing: working, training, being with Harth or Sokka or anyone else, there's always a part of her, sometimes more than a part, that's looking forward to the next time she spends alone with him.

And he's right: it doesn't matter what they're doing.

"There might be some on the floors we haven't really touched," she says. "Eighth or nineth?" People either gravitate to the lower or the upper floors. the middle area is more or less untouched.

But as she rolls over onto her side and latches on to his upper arm, she continues, "mayebe we should work out a way of resuming scavenging."

[princeinexile]

Zuko never thought he'd lose count, really. It was sort of like the first five are burned indelibly into his brain and ...

...then they started blur into a pleasant montage of experience, whether it was just 'that lunch the other day' or 'that thing I nearly pulled a muscle doing in bed'.

It was nice. And he considers. "The one in here was all mucked up and rotted, which is why I don't use it. We could start checking the rooms, though. Rube's -- man, he's efficient -- he's been cleaning palces out of the junk, we'll have to ask him if he can start marking rooms with salvagable stuff..."

Ah, shop talk.

But as for scavenging. "That-- makes me unaccountably nervous. They're still out there, and the information I got from Harper is not good. Fifteen's a raiding party-- it means they've got a breeding den -- which means they're picking off newcomers to lay eggs in." He frowns. "Which means they probably outnumber us significantly. He says as soon as they're ready, they WILL attack, because they can't think farther then that... So I'm worried about who to send, how prepared to make them... And where might the den be?"

A dark conversation for post coital bliss, but-- it came up. It happens. It just means he rolls over and slings an arm around her, and quietly nestles closer.

[slayer_fray]

The nestling is good. She can happily nestle in return, making herself comfortable against him, bathing in his warmth. It's a wonderful experience.

"That's what I'm worried about," she says. "I promised Katara we wouldn't let anybody be hurt again, and that includes newcomers. You noticed we're getting fewer nowadays? What if we're losing them before we can find them because we're too busy hiding in here?"

[princeinexile]

"It had crossed my mind, " Zuko admits darkly. "But -- how do we balance protecting who we have against finding the ... lost sheep, as it were, before the wolves get them? It means-- risking the shephards."

"Biff patrols, despite that I've said not to do so alone, and so does Spoon. But they're just two alone. Maybe teams of scavenges-- at least four at a time -- could go, and look for things and people both? They'd have to have definite goals, and time limits, so we'd know that something was wrong and could be prepared to handle it."

And if the searchers don't come back... well. The obvious has happened.

[slayer_fray]

"OK," Mel concedes. "That's a start at least, and it'll give me something to do except hang around here getting bored." Of COURSE she's on the list. "And.. can we mark the building in someway? A beacon? Or will that attract the Magog?"

[princeinexile]

"Probably attract the magog." Speaking of that... oh god.

"I was marked. I can't go with you. I'm- covered in some sort of phereomone that they can smell from miles. So is Harper. We can't-- ever go with the scavengers, because it's blood in the water. They'll hone in instantly."

A very frustrating thing for someone as hands-on as Zuko.

[slayer_fray]

"Rut." That's that idea down the pan, then.

"Doesn't matter," she says, tracing patterns on his chest with as finger. "You're both more useful here. Both for organisation and for defense. Scavengers should be... disposable."

Like her. She's already gone over this with Sokka.

[princeinexile]

Zuko flinches at the word -- it's just a cousin to fresh meat.

"I -- don't believe in disposables," he says simply, voice very quiet. There is a story in that, but he's not telling it yet.

[slayer_fray]

"Impractical not to," she says. "Situation like this, some jobs are riskier than others and some people more important to group survival. You, Katara, Harper, Simon, you're needed here.

"Me, Spoon, Biff, Angua, we can defend ourselves and each other, and if something happens, it's not going to hurt the group too much. I'd add Sokka to that, but I'd rather see him in defence as well."

Partly because she doesn't want him hurt, partly because she sees potential in him that should be fostered with training.

[princeinexile]

"Harper wants Sokka to learn what he knows-- so," he says, weighing engineer against fodder.

He needs to talk to his uncle. Right now.

But he doesn't. Iroh is doing something somewhere, and some horrible voice says Iroh would serve well in defense; his experience would be invaluable in keeping them alive, and...

And he's old, and his position as educator... is tenuous at best. There are others who can teach weapons, combat.

He can't believe he's thinking this.

Scrubbing his face with his palms, he takes a breath and exhales hot air; a brief cleansing ritual, but... it doesn't solve it.

"We'll work out a list. Biff's the only translator-- he may not be entirely," his mouth is dry around the word, "expendable until a common language, spoken and written, is established and enough people know it to teach it."

But Angua, Spoon, Melaka... They still qualify.

"Iroh would be able to fill the gap left by Biff; he's still a capable warrior, and a Firebender atop that. His cunning would suit you well," he says simply; the decision is a painful one, but -- isn't that the burden of leadership?

[slayer_fray]

Mel may not know just how hard that was to admit, but she can guess. Moving her arm to embrace him across the chest, she squeezes him and reaches to kiss him on the temple.

It touches scar tissue, but she doesn't care in the slightest.

"Yeah, we need a translator," she admits. "Poor Nitta still can only speak Japanese."

She's reluctant to risk any bender, but she can't deny his use to the scouts. "OK," she says. "That group should be able to handle anything."

[princeinexile]

Zuko nods, grateful for the comfort and not flinching from the touch at his scar at all; he's gotten used to it, her touching him in ways he'ed never allow another to do so...

"It should. And when we have more... we can rotate it. So... some have a time to rest. A couple of runs a week should sustain us and keep the danger level down," he says as he thinks aloud.

Oh well, that's more then eenough downer talk for now.

"And I expect, when rotations can happen... to you occasionally not go out and run around and risk your neck," he notes, and kisses her brow, a breath taken...

"... you may... desire the action, but... I would be less, without you here."

There. That's enough of that.

[slayer_fray]

"We need to train up who we've got," Mel says. "We've got plenty of strong healthy adults that can't fight. Which is rutting stupid."

Then he says that, and she sighs. She grins, but she sighs as well.

"Yeah, sure. But I'm going stir crazy around here. I'm no good with the making things and organising like everyone else. Only thing I'm good for is fighting."

This is nice, but it's not important.

[princeinexile]

"I would beg to differ. I take your councel seriously," Zuko say, rolling closer, tangling up with her. "And not because make my blood sing, either. You know more about this then you give tell," he points out. "Many things i've done have been on your advisement."

[slayer_fray]

Mel squirms uncomfortably. Rutting compliments; she doesn't need them.

"Counsel's one thing," she says. And Zuko would know how uncomfortable she is giving it in front of people, anyway. "But I can't do anything."

[princeinexile]

Zuko groans, and then nips her shoulder. "I'll decide that," he says simply.

And he will. Value is not decided by the object, but by the appraiser.

"But you can work the scavenging. You're good at that, and strong besides. It will be good to have you there. I just -- hopee you don't take unnecessary risks."

Worry wart? Zuko? Yes.

[slayer_fray]

"Fine," Mel concedes, rolling her eyes, but still smiling. "I won't try and get killed. How's that?"

[princeinexile]

Zuko smirks at her flippant answer. "Harridan," he replies, grinning back at her. But then he's got better ways to show she matters, leaning over to kiss her again, hands drawing her tight to him.

Now if he could only bring himself to say how he feels.

[flyingsister.livejournal.com]

The door burst open, and a teary, panicking, black-haired girl burst into the room.

"ZUKO--AUGH!"

Normally should would have left the room or at least closed her eyes, but Sokka was more important than embarassment.

She was breathless with panic and running and her hands were bloody from where Harper had grabbed her.

"Sokka's missing! There was blood! His knife on the ground outside--Harper ran off to find him--told me to come to you--have to find him, we have to find him--"

[slayer_fray]

Sokka's missing.

Sokka's missing.

Mel rolls away from Zuko in seconds, pushing him away with a force that may just wind him. Without pausing she reaches for her pants and fumbles to find the leg holes.

"Where?"

[princeinexile]

With a bit of shock, both from intrusino and them from thepush, Zuko takes a few seconds to register before he himself is rolling to fetch clothing, dressing hurriedly. "Magog? A raiding party? Was he outside?" he asks in quick succession, as he quickly dresses.

Sokka, you idiot. How could you be so foolish? Why would you go out where they could grab you?

[flyingsister.livejournal.com]

Now she turned away to give them their privacy.

"We don't know. We just couldn't find him and all we found outside was blood and his knife near the bars and the swing! Harper ran off following the trail of blood--there was a trail--there was--"

She was in full-out panic mode.

[slayer_fray]

Pants on, Mel grabs her shirt and pulls it on.

Boots follow, and she nearly rips the laces in two in her hurry to lace them.

"I'm going after them," she says. "Zuko, get people together, send a party after us."

Not bothering with her belt, Spoon's knife goes into a belt loop and she's on her feet.

[princeinexile]

On his feet, shirtless, Zuko reaches out and grabs for Mel, to quickly press a kiss. "Remember what I said about coming back. But bring them back, too!"

He knows he cant go; just minutes ago, he was talking about why he could't lead in the 'feild' for now...

Letting Mel go as she would, Zuko turned to KAtara. "You're going to come with me. You're going to find Simon and get him to gather EVERYTHING he might need for a medical emergecy. Get Hotaru too, she says she's a healer. We may need all your skills."

The rest, he'd handle.