Realistic or Modern Oracle Manor

[Becboc]

So she couldn’t shake her head, but she could roll her eyes and that’s exactly what Essa did as Hayden went on to explain why he was here. Her note hadn’t intended to draw him back in, she had simply wanted to have the last word… hadn’t she? But before she could part her lips to tell him as much, that finger that he had infuriatingly pointed at her face was drawing close and her breath hitched as amber eyes followed it until the tip met her neck, just below her ear in that sensitive spot that ignited every other nerve ending in her body. It was like the bastard knew, like he knew what that would do to her.

Essa’s gaze flickered to the darkness of his as he drew the contact down the slope of her neck, as she struggled to hear the words he was growling at her simultaneously. Her body flooded with a heat she hadn’t felt since… well, since ever if she was being honest with herself and it was all she could do to ball her hands into fists at her sides to stop from lunging for the man who was now lilting his voice by the shell of her ear, to stop from crashing her lips against his despite how much her current condition probably wouldn’t allow for the things she wanted to do to him.

It was when he finally straightened that Essa was briefly cast back into the reality of her situation, how unwell she was, the bandages on her head, the slight swaying of her body. She blinked rapidly, trying to gather herself, trying not to replay those words over and over in her head, trying not to focus on the way that they made her feel.

“I’m fucking mad for you Essa. Do not deny me this.”

Gods, denying Hayden anything was the very last thing that she wanted to do. Her body yearned for him, craved him in a way that she hadn’t known was possible and yet… it was her mind that stopped her from acting on that instinct and the very real reminder of what this was, what he had told her it was only days ago.

“The gods are responsible for these feelings, remember?” The words were uttered quietly, softly, as though she didn’t truly believe them and her eyes finally lowered to the box of snacks that were now being thrust her way. It was as though being released from Hayden’s gaze had doused the fire within her; her shoulders sagged again and she felt… drained, unable to fight against what this was, what he wanted, what she wanted. And perhaps… perhaps a small part of her didn’t want to for the simple reason that him being here, being close to her? It made her feel safer than she had for as long as she could remember and as much as she hated that, right now, it was all that Essa truly needed.

Letting out a sigh of defeat, she finally reached out a hand to take a few nuts from the box with a muttered, “Fine,” as she dropped them into her mouth and turned away, not quite sure what to do with herself until she noted Hayden plopping down into the seat beside her bed. Despite the pain it caused in her temple, her brow furrowed slightly but then slowly, reluctantly, she began to move towards where she had prepared her bed only moments ago.

It didn’t take Essa long to clamber in, but as she sat there with the sheets pulled up to her shoulders, back propped against the pillows, she couldn’t stop her gaze from drifting to the man who sat beside her, pin straight in a seat that he somehow managed to make look uncomfortable. It was upon making this observation though, that Essa also noticed his paler features, the way his usually neat hair was mussed, the dark circles under his eyes. Sure, she had been through the wars today, but so had he. He had killed for her, sacrificed winning for her and now here he was; taking care of her again at the expense of himself.

Essa felt guilt roil through her stomach and a desperate need to change that, which is what caused her to say in the end, “Look, I’m never going to be able to sleep with you… sat there watching me like that. Put on one of those 90s films you love so much and… just come over here, would you? There’s plenty of space on here for two and I… I…” Her words faltered for a moment as flashes of images of them cradled together in the forest replayed through her mind.

“I’ll just… feel better, okay?” If you’re closer to me. “You need to rest too.”

 

[BoneBrain]

Her invitation was the olive branch, the waving white flag to his and Hayden latched onto it like a dying man finding water in the desert. His mind, though exhausted tingled with involuntary joy and he forced himself to rise up slowly and purposefully, rather than dive into the bed like his body wanted to. His heart did a funny little flip in his chest when she mentioned his weakness for 90's rom-coms and he snagged the remote to the TV on his way around the bed.

After kicking off his shoes he peeled back the covers next to her and slid in as gently as he could. He didn't want to jostle her and be responsible for one of the many winces she'd had since entering her room. He wished he could take the pain away. The red line of fate, always invisible and occasionally felt squeezed tighter around him at the thought of taking her pain away. It coiled tight like a snake ready to strike if only given the right circumstances. Hayden felt power bubble deep within him, but it remained out of reach- like a distant memory lost to time. He cleared his throat against the constricting feeling and focused on bringing the TV to life and finding one of his comfort shows. He settled on Practical Magic, and as the opening lines of the movie lulled them away from the horror and the pain of the day he settled back, snacks between them.

It was almost too domestic, too normal and Hayden had to ruin it somehow. "I don't care if you have a concussion or not, if you snore, I will smother you with your pillow."

Neither of them made it halfway through the movie and Hayden had the presence of mind to set the snacks to the side before he slipped down under the covers and and laid back, sleep taking him quicker than it ever had before. It was most definitely due to the days events and the pain and exhaustion roiling through him. Surely the presence of the woman with a song birds voice and sad eyes couldn't ease his soul that much?

Without the barriers of their awake minds to keep them parted, Essa and Hayden drew closer and closer in the night. His arms wound around her, drawing her back snug against his front. His body, now freely reigning over his actions slid his hand under the hem of her shirt, so the skin of his palm might rest against her warm stomach. In sleep he sighed, his body relaxing around her. He was at ease, utterly vulnerable and yet he felt completely safe. With Essa in his arms, Hayden was capable of anything- even getting the best sleep of his life.

---

In the days that passed, Hayden and Essa fell into a strange sort of routine. Hayden refused to speak to Essa about the compromising situation they'd woken up to days previous and despite his best efforts, he and Essa couldn't seem to keep away from each other. As had become the norm, their spats drove them wild and they would storm away from each other only to find themselves back in each others presence minutes later. Those around the house had taken to avoiding them when they marched down the hallway in a flurry of untapped lust and seething anger.

Hayden led Essa to the library one morning, intent on finding any text that had to do with the thread of Fate when one of the maids of the house approached them with gleaming gold envelopes that smelled like mulled wine and cinnamon when opened. The maid didn't offer any explanation and simply walked off after a small curtsy, leaving Hayden and Essa standing with their strange new gifts. Hayden cautiously opened it, half expecting some sort of trick, but when an invitation slid out of the the gleaming envelope he lifted it and read aloud.

"Hello my darling Chosen." Hayden gave that sentence the frown it deserved. "It is my greatest pleasure to invite you all to my grand Masquerade Ball, marking the first month of the games complete. Attendance and debauchery is mandatory. Love, Dionysus."