(no subject)

[gossamer-enigma.livejournal.com]

Who: Edea and Zax
Where: Edea's house Outside treno
What: day-after awkwardness?
Warnings: PG for now save for water on clothing.
When: Near Noon

Zax yawned slightly as he returned from one of his walks of Edea's grounds, taken to ensure the woman's safety against the encroaching nature around. Monsters were prevalent in any area, and he was well-trained to take care of any and all threats. Glancing around, his bright blue eyes took in the kitchen, a wealth of comforting sights and smells, before he entered. He generally used the kitchen entrance to get back into Edea's house, as it was where hired help, if she'd ever had any, would be entering. And really, at the base of it when she'd purchased him, he was hers. "Hmm.. now, where to?" was Edea around? If so, Zax would make a beeline to her. He'd been loyal before, but since they'd become more.. familiar, with one another, feelings of affectionate protection had heaped in.

Edea was standing in the kitchen itself, peering into a saucepot she was stirring, the steam flushing her face a bit as she pulled back, hearing the door open. she blushed. She still hadn't been able to look at Zax straight after their ... adventure the few days previous, as she gave a small smile, and turned to pull something from the pantry, stretching up to reach for something, making herself  almost topple for it. 

Zax was there in a flash, his hands moving to her waist to steady the woman, his touch at once unhesitating as it was strong. Before, he'd have thought twice about it, but right then it hadn't occurred to him that she may not want his hands on her. "Gotcha!" he smiled softly to her, raising a brow, "Careful, that coulda sucked."

Edea gasped at the sudden touch, and blushed, looking over at him, with an almost shy smile - somewhat out of place on her features, as she righted herself, to not let herself linger in that sudden comfort, holding the canister between her palms, and looking up at him, "Thank ... you" she calmed herself. 

He smiled gallantly, brushing his bangs out of his eyes, and peered at her, leaning down slightly and raising a hand to brush a speck of dust from her cheek. "Anytime Edea, I'm here to keep you safe after all." he took his job very seriously, "Is there anything I can help you with in here? The grounds are monster-free." indeed, his clothing had that scuffed and somewhat dirtied look that came from fighting creatures, and diving aside rather than taking hits. Still, he hadn't come back torn up or chewed on, so far so good.

Edea smiled to him, and looked over his armor and turned, still close to him as she opened the jar to pour into the pan before her, "Perhaps you want somethign to eat after all that work. ... and maybe to get cleaned up as well" she smiled, and then blushed harder at the image of him 'cleaning up' from last time. She bit her bottom lip, and turned her head slightly to regard him from the corner    of her eye.

A bit of mischief rose in him when he noticed how much she was blushing, and he put on the face of an innocent man as he asked, "Well, if I do clean up, do you think you could wash my back? It's a pain to do with this hair of mine in the way." he lifted a large hunk of his raven hair, and chuckled softly, raising a brow almost suggestively, in a way that didn't mesh with the innocence on his face.

Edea blushed more, and looked at him, "I ... suppose I could" she said with a bit of unusual nervousness, nodding a little, as she stirred the pot before her, "why don't you sit down this will be done in a few moments" she said quietly, as if to distract herself from the idea of him naked wet and soapy again. 

Zax nodded a little, and seized her for a moment, stepping close and kissing her cheek, a look of gratitude clear in his eyes, "Thank you for taking care of me. I know I should be taking care of you, but I honestly hadn't expected you to care for my needs.. some people don't, and expect people like myself to see to their own living." he carefully sat at her table, scooping up a rag to clean his boots off. It wouldn't do to track mud and other things through Edea's house, after all. He'd have to clean the kitchen floor as it was.

Edea smiled, "I took care of people all of my life, for the most part. It's just natural that I would want to care for you for protecting me" she said simply, as she pulled two dishes from the counter, and poured the contents of what looked like pasta with sauce, and two forks, laying one gingerly in front of him before sitting down. "Besides, can't have someone fighting monsters all day on an empty stomach" she said with a little grin, looking over at him, but only being able to hold the gaze for a minute before that blush returned.

"Well, some monsters are edible y'know. I hear they press Tonberry tails for spirits, and Marlboro tentacles are excellent over an open flame, from what some people have told me." Zack's memories again; Zax hadn't known anyone besides Edea and some of the townsfolk he'd met getting supplies with her. He picked up his fork, and sampled the food, his face screwing up for a second before he swallowed hastily, then chuckled, "Hot." he blew on the next piece, before popping it in his mouth, "But it's good."

Edea smiled and took a few bites of hers, and nodded, "I have had Marlboro tentacles before, they're pretty good raw, as well" she said softly, and looked up at him. "hopefully we won't have to find out any time soon though. i'm more of a ... fish person myself" she said softly, standing up to get a couple of glasses, and something to drink.

"Long as there's meat in it, I'm good." he dragged his eyes away from Edea's back, as they'd been drifting along the curve of her body, and stared at his food for the moment, suppressing, or trying to suppress, the heat he felt spreading over his cheeks. "I've had fish a number of ways.. I don't like fish sausage."

edea screwed up her face a bit, "Fish sausage? that ... doesn't sound appetizing at all. i prefer my sausage filled with ..." she blushed, her mind going quite perverted for a moment. "erm, nevermind. Anyway." she said softly, pouring them both some cold water.

Zax covered a cough of surprise, and a bit more of a blush, by pretending to have swallowed wrong, and after smacking his chest once or twice, he was able to compose himself. "Well.. er.. what can I say. Wutai makes some.. interesting dishes."

Edea looked at him, and got concerned, "Are you okay?" she said with a tilt of her head. "Remind me to never dine in Wutai then ... Fish sausages ... that's as bad as Beer battered chocobo breasts" she said softly, shaking her head. 

"Y-yeah, I'm fine. Just swallowed with the wrong tube, if ya catch my drift." he gestured to his throat, then made a face, "Ugh.. if you're gonna use Chocobo in a dish, may as well go for the best and make Choco Gratin. Otherwise you might as well eat chicken." he refused to allow his eyes to roam her chest; she seemed uncomfortable enough without him checking her out. Even if she -was- on his mind all day.

Edea smiled a bit and nodded, finishing the bowl she had, and standing up, moving to wash up, when the pressure on the sink malfunctioned, spraying her with cold water. She gasped, and pulled back, the front of her dress was soaked, making her shiver. 

Zax blinked, having finished as well and had been coming up behind her to wash his own bowl. This, he sat on the counter, before shutting the water off, and looking at Edea. His gaze lingered, before he physically turned a bit, blushing openly, "Er.. you might wish to change out of that.."

{ To Be Continued in Comments .... }

Comments

[makobornsoldier.livejournal.com]

Sooo, is it my turn or -your- turn? O.o))

[gossamer-enigma.livejournal.com]

(( Mine XDD I spaced it ))

Edea blushed, and brought a towel to her chest, to cover herself up a bit, smirking.

"Guess that is the answer to whether or not i needed a shower." she said softly, putting everything away to dry and turning to him, dropping the towel to the counter.

[makobornsoldier.livejournal.com]

"Geez, well, you're already wet, it can't hurt." he winked playfully, and stepped around her to wash his dish in what was left of the water in the sink, setting it on the counter as well. "No worries though, I can always go after you, if you prefer; that way you don't run out of hot water midway through.." he glanced over at the Sorceress and smiled slightly, "You've had enough of that, I'm thinking."

[gossamer-enigma.livejournal.com]

Edea looked over him, and blushed a bit. What was it about this boy that made her feel like a younger girl again?

"Well ... I think i can deal with a cold shower, I don't think you need to though" she winked, and caught herself licking her lips, stopping halfway, as she shyly turned, laying the towel back on the countertop.

[makobornsoldier.livejournal.com]

He swept his eyes along the older woman before catching himself, and chuckled somewhat huskily, "Well, I'd rather not have to be dampened like that.." he grinned at her, tilting his head and looking around the kitchen, "'Course, you stay there dripping in the kitchen, you're bound to catch a cold. C'mon, to the shower, bath, whatever with you." he made little shooing motions in a playful way, smiling to Edea.

[gossamer-enigma.livejournal.com]

Edea looked at him in mock offense, before shaking her head and heading upstairs to the bathroom, not even thinking she started to peel the back of her dress off of her skin, humming as she moved. To say she was still unused to having company was an understatement.

[makobornsoldier.livejournal.com]

Of course, Zax was right behind her, and he skirted off to the side when they'd reached the bathroom, setting out towels and a selection of scented products that he'd noticed her having used from time to time. After that, he bent slightly over the edge of her tub and ran the water, a little warmer than lukewarm, to be adjusted at need. Idly, he thought of joining the woman in the shower, the thought spreading colour over his cheeks and the back of his neck, and he gently shooed that aside as well. It -was- a nice thought though..

[gossamer-enigma.livejournal.com]

Edea was far from ashamed of her body, and really had no reason to hide it from him. Thus she stripped of her dress, and laid it aside, leaving her in just the slip she wore beneath, moving towards the bath. She remembered that last time he had decided to join her. She smirked, and looked him over, as she played with the straps holding the slip on her body.

[makobornsoldier.livejournal.com]

Zax smiled to Edea, and tried not to undress her further than she was, with his eyes that was.. He cleared his throat, and tilted his head towards the bath, both brows raised slightly, an innocent tone to his voice when he asked, "Would you like me to get your back for you, Edea, since I've asked you to handle mine?" it was only fair after all, and might have remained innocent if not for the way his eyes strayed to her chest, and down further, along her belly and hips. He tore his gaze back up before it went down her seemingly endless legs, and tried his best not to blush.

[gossamer-enigma.livejournal.com]

Edea could see what was running through his mind without Alexander's help. She smirked, and slid the slip off as she stepped into the bath, looking at him. "If you want to ... feel free." she said with a seducing wink.

[makobornsoldier.livejournal.com]

Zax didn't really have to be told twice, and it was a double bonus that he got to wash off the morning's work while spending time in close quarters with the Sorceress. He quickly took his gear off, hanging the armor properly on it's pegs in his room before coming back, his clothes hitting the hamper. He might be less conscious about his body than anyone else, considering he knew full well he could just be regrown and sewn up if something happened, and that he was in top physical shape for a mako-enhanced human. There was always room for improvement, of course, but that would only be additions, and not repairs.

[gossamer-enigma.livejournal.com]

Edea relaxed as she slipped into the water, sliding ehr hands through her hair to dampen its tresses, leaving room for him to slide in behind her, leaning over her body, and smirking as she watched bit, biting her lip playfully.

[makobornsoldier.livejournal.com]

Zax did indeed slip into the tub, almost gracefully, behind her, sliding a leg up on the outside of either of hers, and chuckling, "Almost a snug fit, heh." he leaned forward slightly, making to pick up a cloth and some soap, but bringing his teeth in contact with her ear, nipping once gentle, "Hopefully you're not squashed."

[gossamer-enigma.livejournal.com]

Edea groaned softly as he nipped at her neck, making her shiver slightly, "ooooh ... I'm quite comfortable" she murmured, going so far as to lay back against him for a moment, closing her eyes and blushing.

[makobornsoldier.livejournal.com]

One of his arms slipped around the woman's waist, holding her close to him when she leaned back. He gently stroked the cloth along her side as he held her, nuzzling his cheek against her hair, rather enjoying the closeness with Edea. "That's good, I'd prefer that to you being uncomfortable with me."

[gossamer-enigma.livejournal.com]

Edea chuckled softly, and simply relaxed, stretching her legs and arching her back, laying her head against his shoulder, her eyes closed, hands idly following his.

[makobornsoldier.livejournal.com]

"So.. I've been here for some time.." he spoke softly, intimately to her now that they were close and behind closed doors, "Tell me about yourself.. about.. before me." it was the most honest way he could put it. Zax wanted to know Edea, and know about her, and the easiest way to find things like that out were generally by asking. "That is, of course, if you want to tell me... If not, I can shut up." there was that almost casual bluntness again. No guile in him where she was concerned.

[gossamer-enigma.livejournal.com]

Edea smiled softly, "Well, unfortunately i don't remember much of it. I do remember, I used to run an orphanage, with my former husband. And i began an organization to help protect against attacks on innocent people. but, I became one of those people. It wasn't my fault really, but it happened. And when they finally freed me, i just ... wanted to stay away. So it couldn't happen again. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if my own knight hadn't turned on me ..." she said softly, turning her wrist over to look at the long sword scar she had up her arm.

[makobornsoldier.livejournal.com]

He caught sight of it, and inwardly Zax seethed. How could someone hurt Edea? The idea actually repulsed him, literally turning his stomach somewhat, and even as he traced the edge of the scar with a fingertip, his mind was momentarily drowned in thoughts of how he could make someone, -anyone- pay for it. Then he shook them off, and while obviously agitated, wasn't as tense or bristling as much as before, "Well.. I.." he decided against promising against hurting her; she'd likely not believe him, or think it a grandiose show of gallantry, "I'm sorry that someone you believed in didn't live up to the expectation, Edea.. I hope I measure up to your standards." he wasn't made to be self-conscious, but he certainly felt that way in regards to her safety.

[gossamer-enigma.livejournal.com]

"I'm a much different woman than I was before Zax. I doubt you'll have anything to measure up to but what you do now. I have no plans to lead that life again. it cost me everything. including the person that vowed to stay with me for better or worse. In fact. .. the irony of it all. was that the children ... the children i raised were the ones taht came to kill me. it's not their fault really. I wasn't their foster mother anymore. I was a cold, merciless killer" she said quietly. "They still will not look at me the same. Thus why I stay here, away from the Gardens i helped to create"

[makobornsoldier.livejournal.com]

"Hmph.." he didn't know what to say to that, as he knew he was a ruthless, cold blooded killing machine. He was programmed to be, and knew just where to hit a man to make it hurt, or make it kill. "Sometimes that's an asset." he said more to himself than to her, his thoughts clear through her link to Alexander, which he still wore, "Mercy tends to get one's charges killed.." he squeezed her closer with the arm around her waist, as if to protect her from some invisible threat.

[gossamer-enigma.livejournal.com]

"not in a mother though ..." she sighed softly when she said that word. Even Alexander didn't know what to tell Zax about how she reacted. she relaxed against him, though her hands idly ran across the scar on her arm. "i mean, with Cid acting like he did back then it was an amazing thing those children came out alright." she mumbled.

[makobornsoldier.livejournal.com]

"Doesn't sound like the right type to have around 'em." Zax was speaking thoughtfully, though he rested his hand on Edea's belly as he continued the thought, "You seem like you'd make a great mother, though, free of bad influences that is." Zax wrinkled his nose in a genuine smile, nipping the woman's neck once more.

[gossamer-enigma.livejournal.com]

"I doubt i will ever know dear" she said softly, as he nipped at her neck, and made her coo softly, her hand reaching up to lace into his hair, shivering slightly. "though I believe you are far from a bad influence"

[makobornsoldier.livejournal.com]

He chuckled softly, gently kissing the spot he'd nipped, still teasing her side with the cloth, "Well.. I'm glad you think I'm a good one, then.." he truly was. Not that he could have children; ShinRa clones were supposed to be sterile, to prevent the spread of their genetic trademark, after all.

[gossamer-enigma.livejournal.com]

Edea smiled, and gently turned a bit to look into his eyes. "For now you can just take care of me hmmm?" she said with a smile, stroking his cheek, as she adjusted her positioning between his legs.

[makobornsoldier.livejournal.com]

He shivered slightly as she shifted against him, and looked back at her, "Of course." he let the cloth drop, and pulled her up against his chest, dipping his head slightly to press a soft kiss to Edea's lips. "Anything you want or need, from me, is yours." he lifted his brows, looked down at her, then to himself, then back to her, and winked roguishly.