Jin blinked. He looked away and then back again. There was no recrimination on that beautiful face the second time he checked either. Her words were a comfort and more. 'If tonight had been different...' Nodding, he understood what she was trying to say.
Her kiss was a surprise and a gift. Jin was shocked to find himself the recipient of it but he was taught to accept such things with grace. In this case, also with a tentative fervor and an increasing hope for the future. He closed his eyes, focusing on the feel of Mara's mouth, her hands on his skin and the comforting weight of her body on top of him. The steamy water raining down on them contributed a surreal aspect to the whole experience. He opened his eyes to look into her's. Dewy drops clung to her dark lashes, a distant echo of the pale beauty of her eyes. There was hope that the next night -would- be different.
Reaching up to cup her cheek, Jin grinned. Apparently he hadn't made his determination to stay at her side unless she forced him to leave very clear. Perhaps he hadn't said it out loud.
"I will stay with you for as long as you will let me." He smiled softly. "There is no where I would rather be."
Leaning up to turn off the water, Jin reached out for the towels.
"That rest part sounds really good though."
Hidden Away (attn: Jin)
((ooc: Directly follows Cooking Quest))
Mara was still conscious when they reached the safety of Shades' although it might have been more of a blessing if she'd not been. She knew she was in Jin's arms and she understood something of the pain it must be causing him to carry her, for he'd been injured too. Yet the idea of anyone else touching her was, at that moment, unbearable, and she kept her face turned in toward his coat as he walked with her.
They went in through the back door of the club and Shades led them upstairs where Mara's small apartment was. It wasn't widely known that she had a room here and she wasn't always in it but the smells in here were comforting to her. Someone had come ahead of them; the blankets covering the bed were not hers.
"Let me see," Shades said once Mara had been gently deposited upon them. She tried to crawl away from even her great-grandfather's soft touch, panic welling up as Jin disappeared from view momentarily. But Shades patiently waited until she fought it down and then carefully turned her face with a gentle hand.
His gold-flecked eyes were snapping with barely-repressed anger, as if he understood that that emotion would frighten Mara more were it expressed. She was still shaking, unsure whether it was because she was terrified or because she was freezing or both.
Shades turned away. "Kaeva," he said, and gestured to Jin. Kaeva, the tall slender woman who had accompanied Shades to the alleyway to retrieve Mara, smiled and moved toward their guest.
"You would honor me by allowing me to help you heal yourself," she said in her gentle voice, offering her wrist to Jin.
Mara could smell blood that wasn't hers and when Shades turned back to her he offered her his own wrist, cut with his pocket knife, the blade still in the wound at the edge of it, holding it open. "Drink, little one."
Mara couldn't have refused if she'd wanted to at that point. The scent of fresh blood was overwhelming and she strained toward it even as the offered wrist was held to her battered lips. Shades' blood, ancient and potent, filled her mouth and she let it slide down her throat as a sense of relief briefly sparkled through her panicked mind. She wasn't actually going to die. Neither was Jin. They were safe at Shades', the safest place she could think of outside of Heolfor.
Her eyes searched for Jin, somewhere beyond her sight over Shades' massive shoulders. Shivering, she lifted her mouth from Shades' wrist and looked for him. She needed to make sure he was all right; she hadn't actually seen him since he'd laid her here. Shades frowned at her and removed his wrist, pulling his knife from it, apparently satisfied that she wasn't going to collapse into a pile of dust that moment.
Probably sensing her fear and discomfort, Shades moved away. Mara could feel her blankets beneath her damp with blood but her various wounds were beginning to mend slowly with her great grandfathers' contribution. It hadn't been enough by any means, but Mara couldn't face the prospect of feeding again just then. Instead she curled into a shivering ball and hid her face. She understood why there were people there... but at the moment there were simply too many for her.
Jin
13 years ago
Mara
13 years ago
Mara knew better then to take Jin's words literally, but they sounded sweet to her ears in any case. She knew he worked outside the Clan. Eventually his job here would be done, and then what? It would hurt when he left again, but everyone left. She had considered before how close to let him get, how much she could risk. Apparently, everything. At his promise, she pressed her cheek against his chest in silent thanks.
She chastised herself for reading too far into his words though. He meant he wouldn't leave her tonight, was the likeliest scenario. And that was good. She couldn't even stomach the idea of tomorrow... or the night after that. And she couldn't run to Amir either. If he knew, he'd hold her, comfort her, make everything all right again. But if Amir knew, then Subira would also know. And if Amir knew, many things could go wrong.
As Jin turned the water off, Mara stood unassisted, further restored by Jin's selfless offering. Her knees were weak yet but she knew much of her fatigue and shaking now was stress and shock. They helped each other now, out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom.
"I have clothes that would fit you, if you like," Mara said to Jin. Amir did not stay at Shades' but on occasion he'd had cause to stop by, often in a disheveled and wolf-battered state, and Mara kept a duffel bag with clothing in it for him. Jin was slightly smaller than Amir, but only slightly.
As she reached for the bag in her closet and turned back to Jin she said suddenly, "He can't know, Jin. About tonight. Please."
It was an odd request, she knew, given how much she adored her creator. But she looked at Jin with a hopeful, urgent expression, silently asking him to trust her.
She chastised herself for reading too far into his words though. He meant he wouldn't leave her tonight, was the likeliest scenario. And that was good. She couldn't even stomach the idea of tomorrow... or the night after that. And she couldn't run to Amir either. If he knew, he'd hold her, comfort her, make everything all right again. But if Amir knew, then Subira would also know. And if Amir knew, many things could go wrong.
As Jin turned the water off, Mara stood unassisted, further restored by Jin's selfless offering. Her knees were weak yet but she knew much of her fatigue and shaking now was stress and shock. They helped each other now, out of the bathroom and back into the bedroom.
"I have clothes that would fit you, if you like," Mara said to Jin. Amir did not stay at Shades' but on occasion he'd had cause to stop by, often in a disheveled and wolf-battered state, and Mara kept a duffel bag with clothing in it for him. Jin was slightly smaller than Amir, but only slightly.
As she reached for the bag in her closet and turned back to Jin she said suddenly, "He can't know, Jin. About tonight. Please."
It was an odd request, she knew, given how much she adored her creator. But she looked at Jin with a hopeful, urgent expression, silently asking him to trust her.
Jin
13 years ago
Jin was happy to see Mara standing on her own feet, though carrying her was certainly a wonderful excuse to hold her close. Normally they were both quite a bit more agile than their wobbly progress back to the bedroom would suggest.
She said she had some clothes for him and Jin wondered at that. He could not see Mara entertaining here; it had the feel of a haven to him. The clothes that she pulled out though were almost the right size without her having to sort through them. Amir then. He noticed they were clean but battered. Jin wondered what kinds of trouble the Huntsman had been getting into of late.
Jin was tempted to protest that he would be a perfect gentleman if she wanted to bring him home, but she was serious. It concerned him that she would not tell Amir about this. This message, and the message seemed to be harming Mara, not whatever Cahyo had to say, seemed likely for her Creator. It could be for the Night but then who was the message for? The Elder was 'away' which was why he was asked to come here in the first place. Or she was doing something on her own that Amir would not approve of.
He nodded slowly.
"As you wish, Mara." Jin frowned slightly. Amir was a friend; he respected him. It seemed wrong for him to hide something like this from him. Mara cared for him and if she said he needed not to know then there was a good reason for it. She had suffered at the hands of these people and that would have made her wishes paramount to him even if he didn't feel the way he did about her. "May I know why? Surely he would want to know."
Jin slipped into the sweat pants she had given him. Aware, now that he was dressing, that they had been standing there speaking rather comfortably in nothing at all. He quickly slid the tee shirt over his head and set the hoodie onto the desk, for when they got back up.
Sitting on the edge of bed, he smiled at Mara.
"Thank you"
She said she had some clothes for him and Jin wondered at that. He could not see Mara entertaining here; it had the feel of a haven to him. The clothes that she pulled out though were almost the right size without her having to sort through them. Amir then. He noticed they were clean but battered. Jin wondered what kinds of trouble the Huntsman had been getting into of late.
Jin was tempted to protest that he would be a perfect gentleman if she wanted to bring him home, but she was serious. It concerned him that she would not tell Amir about this. This message, and the message seemed to be harming Mara, not whatever Cahyo had to say, seemed likely for her Creator. It could be for the Night but then who was the message for? The Elder was 'away' which was why he was asked to come here in the first place. Or she was doing something on her own that Amir would not approve of.
He nodded slowly.
"As you wish, Mara." Jin frowned slightly. Amir was a friend; he respected him. It seemed wrong for him to hide something like this from him. Mara cared for him and if she said he needed not to know then there was a good reason for it. She had suffered at the hands of these people and that would have made her wishes paramount to him even if he didn't feel the way he did about her. "May I know why? Surely he would want to know."
Jin slipped into the sweat pants she had given him. Aware, now that he was dressing, that they had been standing there speaking rather comfortably in nothing at all. He quickly slid the tee shirt over his head and set the hoodie onto the desk, for when they got back up.
Sitting on the edge of bed, he smiled at Mara.
"Thank you"
Mara
13 years ago
Mara breathed a sigh of relief when Jin agreed not to make mention of this to Amir. The fewer people knew about this, the better. And now that she was recovering her strength, physical and mental, she was certain of that. She had her own agenda regarding her creator, and ever since he had given her his cryptic reason for turning her she'd put a lot of thought into his motivation.
She gave the clothing to Jin and turned, still clutching her towel to herself, to riffle through the hangers on the other side of the little closet while she pondered his question. Dressing lightly, and quickly, in a brief cami and a pair of pajama pants decorated with sushi, she finally turned back to Jin and shrugged apologetically.
"Not entirely," she admitted. "Suffice it to say my Creator hasn't made a lot of friends for himself in Nachton. It goes with the job. If he knew about what happened tonight..." She shook her head at Jin. Amir would certainly chase after the remaining antagonists.
But she owed Jin some explanation, more than that. She moved over to the bed, slid her hip between Jin's legs, and perched lightly in his lap. "The person who sent those men knew exactly how to get to Amir," she said angrily, softly. "If he chases, they'll be ready for him."
It was only one reason of many, but Mara didn't quite know how to express everything else to Jin. "He has protected me for hundreds of years. I was dying when he turned me. My life was worthless and empty. He saved me. The least I can do is protect him in return."
She couldn't help shuddering at the remembrance of the attack, a little wince passing across her features as she recalled the feel of unwelcome fangs tearing into her neck. Mara ducked her head and laid it upon Jin's uninjured shoulder.
"I'm sorry you were dragged into it," she said softly, "but I can't help but feel glad you were there. It could have been so much worse."
Mara shook her head quickly; she'd been able to move away from the whole affair for a few moments but it was creeping back in now and she didn't want it. Standing once again she motioned Jin aside and moved the older, bloodstained blanket off of her bed. Pulling back the clean cover beneath she smiled at him, swallowing back frightened tears that threatened once more, and gestured to him. She wasn't sure how they would arrange themselves comfortably on her small bed with their various cuts and bruises but they'd manage.
She gave the clothing to Jin and turned, still clutching her towel to herself, to riffle through the hangers on the other side of the little closet while she pondered his question. Dressing lightly, and quickly, in a brief cami and a pair of pajama pants decorated with sushi, she finally turned back to Jin and shrugged apologetically.
"Not entirely," she admitted. "Suffice it to say my Creator hasn't made a lot of friends for himself in Nachton. It goes with the job. If he knew about what happened tonight..." She shook her head at Jin. Amir would certainly chase after the remaining antagonists.
But she owed Jin some explanation, more than that. She moved over to the bed, slid her hip between Jin's legs, and perched lightly in his lap. "The person who sent those men knew exactly how to get to Amir," she said angrily, softly. "If he chases, they'll be ready for him."
It was only one reason of many, but Mara didn't quite know how to express everything else to Jin. "He has protected me for hundreds of years. I was dying when he turned me. My life was worthless and empty. He saved me. The least I can do is protect him in return."
She couldn't help shuddering at the remembrance of the attack, a little wince passing across her features as she recalled the feel of unwelcome fangs tearing into her neck. Mara ducked her head and laid it upon Jin's uninjured shoulder.
"I'm sorry you were dragged into it," she said softly, "but I can't help but feel glad you were there. It could have been so much worse."
Mara shook her head quickly; she'd been able to move away from the whole affair for a few moments but it was creeping back in now and she didn't want it. Standing once again she motioned Jin aside and moved the older, bloodstained blanket off of her bed. Pulling back the clean cover beneath she smiled at him, swallowing back frightened tears that threatened once more, and gestured to him. She wasn't sure how they would arrange themselves comfortably on her small bed with their various cuts and bruises but they'd manage.
Jin
13 years ago
Her answer made sense. Those people willing to harm Mara in order to send a message to Amir must surely know what trouble they were getting into by hurting the Huntsman's daughter. There seemed to be more of it that she was unwilling to explain. He could respect that.
He held her as she perched on his lap, listening to her speak. Jin could not imagine her being worthless and obviously Amir did not believe that either. The thought of her dying, something which nearly happened again tonight, made him want to hold her tight. When she shuddered slightly, he did, murmuring soft words of reassurance and stroking the damp strands of hair down her back.
"I am not sorry as I was there." Jin smiled softly and leaned his head down to her's "It led me to here and if my presence was any help at all then I am glad for it and would do it again."
Watching her ready the covers, Jin took in her attire for the first time. He chuckled and shook his head, giving her a small one armed hug as he climbed into the bed. He held his arms up for her wanting to be able to hold her close as they got their much needed rest.
"I hope those pants give you wonderful sushi flavored dreams."
He held her as she perched on his lap, listening to her speak. Jin could not imagine her being worthless and obviously Amir did not believe that either. The thought of her dying, something which nearly happened again tonight, made him want to hold her tight. When she shuddered slightly, he did, murmuring soft words of reassurance and stroking the damp strands of hair down her back.
"I am not sorry as I was there." Jin smiled softly and leaned his head down to her's "It led me to here and if my presence was any help at all then I am glad for it and would do it again."
Watching her ready the covers, Jin took in her attire for the first time. He chuckled and shook his head, giving her a small one armed hug as he climbed into the bed. He held his arms up for her wanting to be able to hold her close as they got their much needed rest.
"I hope those pants give you wonderful sushi flavored dreams."
Mara
13 years ago
Mara had planned to climb into her bed and leave Jin alone so that he could rest peacefully for she didn't think her own sleep would be entirely uninterrupted, but he held his arms out to her and her heart melted and she felt something strange and unexpected and wonderful at the sight of him in her bed waiting for her.
It took her about half a second to change her plans.
Careful not to jostle him uncomfortably Mara slipped into bed next to him, squirmed her way up alongside him, and cuddled close. She wrapped one arm around him and then after a moment's thought, kissed him once more.
"I think I would prefer tiger-flavored dreams," she said as she settled herself down and closed her eyes.
Sleep did not come easily, nor did it let her rest for long before it was broken by nightmares and chills. But every time she awoke Jin did too, and every time she cried he held her close and did his best to soothe her. She fell asleep repeatedly with his voice in her ear or his lips against her cheek and that sensation was always enough to last an hour or two.
Mara shifted restlessly for the duration of the night, sometimes resting alongside Jin as a human, sometimes curled up in a tiny shivering silver-and-black spotted ball beneath his comforting hands. The entire night, however, it never once crossed her mind to ask him to leave or to give her room. His presence was comforting and desirable and she knew without a doubt whenever she closed her eyes that he would be there beside her when she woke again.
It was more than she had ever expected of him, and eventually, when she did dream, he was there too.
((ooc: Mara and Jin out))
It took her about half a second to change her plans.
Careful not to jostle him uncomfortably Mara slipped into bed next to him, squirmed her way up alongside him, and cuddled close. She wrapped one arm around him and then after a moment's thought, kissed him once more.
"I think I would prefer tiger-flavored dreams," she said as she settled herself down and closed her eyes.
Sleep did not come easily, nor did it let her rest for long before it was broken by nightmares and chills. But every time she awoke Jin did too, and every time she cried he held her close and did his best to soothe her. She fell asleep repeatedly with his voice in her ear or his lips against her cheek and that sensation was always enough to last an hour or two.
Mara shifted restlessly for the duration of the night, sometimes resting alongside Jin as a human, sometimes curled up in a tiny shivering silver-and-black spotted ball beneath his comforting hands. The entire night, however, it never once crossed her mind to ask him to leave or to give her room. His presence was comforting and desirable and she knew without a doubt whenever she closed her eyes that he would be there beside her when she woke again.
It was more than she had ever expected of him, and eventually, when she did dream, he was there too.
((ooc: Mara and Jin out))