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Post by Druscilla Grace on Apr 4, 2008 17:55:37 GMT -5
Dru took a deep breath and pushed open the door to the quiet wing. She had her bag with her and, deep inside, a book by Orson Scott Card. In her dorm the night she had come in from the attack she had sat up trying to remember the author Chase had mentioned way back when in the Room of Requirement. Just by a stroke of luck she had been able to get her hands on one of his books by talking to one of the people that worked in the Bloody Mary.
She came up to Chase's bedside and looked down at him, something was different, perhaps something in the way his cuts had been dressed, she didn't know for sure. Her hand came up and smoothed the hair from his forehead, fighting over whether to speak to him or walk away and let him rest. She compromised by pulling up a chair and sitting down, pulling out the book to thumb through it.
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Apr 4, 2008 18:28:45 GMT -5
Chase felt the touch against his face, and it was enough to coax him toward consciousness. He wondered vaguely as he awoke who it was this time. His eyes opened just enough to look out from beneath his lashes. Dru. He wasn't sure whether to be glad she'd finally come or apprehensive about her finding out anything that had happened in her absence. At least Emilian wasn't right next to him anymore. Apparently the nurse had decided it was worth the effort of walking between them to keep the peace. Chase decided there was no use trying to avoid. He was bored off his ass, and even a guilt trip and a confrontation was better than just lying around thinking until he fell asleep. Chase opened his eyes to watch Dru, reluctant to draw her attention. But she was a hell of a lot better to watch than the ceiling.
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Post by Druscilla Grace on Apr 4, 2008 18:43:20 GMT -5
Dru felt his eyes on her and suppressed a wide smile, tempering it to a smaller one as she closed the book and looked up at him. "How are you?" she asked softly. She knew that he would just say that he was fine and blow it off, even though they both knew that she knew different. "Been staying out of trouble?" she added, noting the fact that Emilian was now in a different area.
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Apr 4, 2008 18:52:10 GMT -5
Chase's smirk died quickly, and his eyes flashed a brief but visible scarlet as he glanced away. "I'm leaving him alone," he mumbled. He was now, anyway. And now he could honestly say he didn't intend to try it again. Not after the last time. It was still painful. "I'm fine," he added. If he'd known how predictable that reply was, he'd have thought of another, but his mind was elsewhere. On all the lines he'd nearly crossed, for example, and all the lines he had crossed.
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Post by Druscilla Grace on Apr 4, 2008 19:05:15 GMT -5
Dru gave Chase a look of blatant disapproval, she knew that she wasn't getting the whole story. "So why's he all the way over there?" she couldn't help but ask. It probably would have been smarter to not ask, but she had to know. Her fingers ran absently over the cover of the book as she waited for an answer. Something had to have happened, the nurse wouldn't move them without good reason.
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Apr 4, 2008 19:14:32 GMT -5
Now Chase's lips quirked. He's all the way over there because I taught him a little lesson about respect that he almost didn't live through. Again, his smirk faded. That lesson hadn't gone well for either of them. "I guess the nurse figured it was better for our stress levels." This was why he hadn't specifically been waiting for Dru. The Inquisition. And she could see straight through bullsh~.
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Post by Druscilla Grace on Apr 4, 2008 19:27:00 GMT -5
Dru let her eyes fall from Chase's face, caught somewhere between pressing him for details and apologizing for asking. "I got you this," she said, handing him the book. "I thought it'd keep you occupied, I know how boring it can be in here." She watched his face for any sign of thanks or derision, anything. "I hope you haven't already read it, I remember you mentioning him way back in the Room of Requirement." The corner of her mouth twitched up in a small smile.
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Apr 4, 2008 19:57:00 GMT -5
Chase gritted his teeth even at the effort of raising his good arm to take the book, the motion pulling at the slashing wound across his abdomen. He took short breaths as he relaxed slightly, holding the book up to look at. Memory of Earth. Orson Scott Card. One brow arched, and he flicked a glance at Dru before returning his attention to the book, flipping it to read the description. He didn't recall mentioning Card, but here was the proof he had. Chase read the back of the book, then laid it down, resting his arm against the blankets. The book looked good. "Thank you," he said, voice low, unsure what else to say.
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Post by Druscilla Grace on Apr 4, 2008 20:09:24 GMT -5
Dru bit back a question about if he was alright and watched him, chewing her lip. "You like it?" she asked when he put it down. Her expression was slightly anxious, needing the reassurance that the gift was appreciated. Even though he had thanked her for it, she needed to hear it, how was she to know that he wasn't just saying thank you because it was expected?
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Apr 4, 2008 20:31:09 GMT -5
Chase looked at Dru, at the insecurity visible in her eyes. "Yeah, it looks good," he assured her. "But I'm not going to read it while you're sitting there. I know where my priorities are." Girls first--Dru first--and other entertainment after. Chase raised his hand just enough to gesture for Dru to get closer. His lips curved with anticipation of obvious intent. "Come here and let me thank you properly," he suggested.
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Post by Druscilla Grace on Apr 4, 2008 20:43:08 GMT -5
A wide smile came over Dru's face at the assurance and her eyes sparkled. She knew that he wasn't going to lay there and read it, she had just wanted to hear something other than thank you. She stood, leaning over him, and kissed him. One hand stroked his hair and she made herself let him choose when to end it. With the action she wondered how she had considered Gabby's words, Dru didn't want to give this up, not yet.
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Apr 4, 2008 20:57:17 GMT -5
Chase took his sweet time, savoring Dru, since he finally had the option. His muscles tensed as he shifted, abandoning the book to slip his hand around the back of Dru's neck, fingers spearing into her hair. He wanted more, but he knew there wasn't a chance in hell, so he paced himself and brought the kiss to an end before desperation hit, though it was already too late to prevent discomfort. Chase's eyes were smoky as he released her, willingly, and yet not.
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Post by Druscilla Grace on Apr 4, 2008 21:06:59 GMT -5
Chase had pulled away just as Dru's mind was beginning to go blank, and so when the contact was broken she had to pause a moment to collect her thoughts before smiling and meeting his lips once more, very briefly, and then settling back in her chair. She took his hand in hers, "Well if that's any indication, then you really like it," she said softly. Her mind flew, searching for something to talk about. Of course, she would have been happy to just sit with him, but that wouldn't have went over well, she thought.
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Post by Chase Firebrand on Apr 4, 2008 21:38:44 GMT -5
"I really like it," Chase repeated. He looked Dru over, silently cursing himself for still being trapped in a damn hospital bed. He was glad she'd come to see him, but he was finding it difficult not to focus everything he'd been repressing onto her. His fingers threaded through hers, and he watched her, thinking over the wisdom of another kiss, or more specifically, the wisdom of pressing for more.
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Post by Druscilla Grace on Apr 4, 2008 21:50:17 GMT -5
"Good," she said, practically beaming. "So how long are you going to be stuck in here?" she asked, wrinkling her nose and looking around. "How in the world I used to stay in here all day I'll never know." At the time it hadn't seemed like such a big deal, but when she looked back on it it seemed like a nightmare, especially considering no one had ever come in.
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