Lost and Found (Vic, Aless)

[Lovely]

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The property and home that her family had lived in and owned was set outside of the small grouping of homes that made up the center of town. Everything in the area was spread out, houses scattered along the roads and set back into the trees so that some were not even visible as you passed them. Al drove for about ten to fifteen minutes away from the general store they'd met at and had taken a turn from main street to an area where the trees were thicker and driveways became more scarce.

Her nearest neighbor was probably a half mile away from the driveway she now turned into, which looked more like an old back road as the truck moved along it as if it knew this way well enough to drive itself home. The trees broke to reveal the house and garage with a yard that had spent the summer unmowed. It was as she'd described - a place where they had kept themselves pretty well self sustained, the solar panels along the roof of the house and even the small barn which looked as though it had been closed up for a few months.

Al knew her home and her land well enough to know nothing had been through since she'd been gone, her eyes scanning along the yard and buildings for any signs that any of it had been disturbed, everything was as she'd left it and it was a relief though she was still alert to anything which might arise. She had slowed the truck and brought it around to a small porch where unloading it would be much like loading had been at the store.

He looked at the property and at the space between the trees and the house - good enough to set up a fire break if necessary and far enough from the road he didn't think the damaged and raging would find them easily. A chilling thought ran through him as he peered out the back window over their small load of wood... not found unless followed or they could find the smoke and circle their way in to find them. He turned back to face her and the porch. "It's nice," he smiled thinly beneath the whiskers and reached for the door to start unloading. Leaning on the door a moment, he gave her a curious look. "Where's your axe?"

"My axe?" She glanced to him a curious expression, wondering why he asked and if he was looking for a replacement for the shovel he'd left behind. "Inside." She answered quietly, when the world was normal it might seem odd to keep the axe in the house when there was a barn and garage but the current situation.. well it was right inside the door they were about to go in. She'd set it there to keep it close at hand if it was needed to defend herself.

"Good. We're going to need more wood. Let's get this inside where it's useful." He closed the door and kept watch around them as he ran his hand down the side of the truck bed... this was real, it was real, the cold paint under his fingers was real. He unhooked the tailgate as quietly as possible and started to carry. "Hoping you have a shovel, too."

She'd only done the dead bolt on the door, the handle lock was alot easier to break and doing both would cause more time in getting into the house. The key to the truck was kept sepreate from the one for the bolt but both were kept close at hand. She eyed her new compainion for a moment hoping he wasn't going to kill her with the axe and use the shovel to bury her body. It was just the mix of his words which brought such thoughts to mind, she almost chuckled over it but didn't. Aless got the door unlocked and swung it inward, looking around at the foyer of the house, no strange sounds or things out of place, it was quiet and still.. she missed the bustle of her family. Slipping the keys into the pockets of her jeans she turned to go to the truck and grab an armful of the supplies. "Set everything inside there and we'll sort it after it's all in and the door is secured." She didn't mean to order him around but he didn't know her house or what she'd planned since she'd met him halfway through.

The light of day was shrinking fast and the warmth around them with it. He was in no position to argue with getting done quickly and getting warm. "Fair enough. Most anything else will need to wait until morning anyway," he said, taking an armload inside as she'd instructed. Returning for more, he was becoming more talkative, more inquisitive. "When it happened... how did you know? Your family... what did you look for first?"

"When the outbreak first happened or when they... my family.. when they changed?" She asked, her voice kind of fading out and her gaze moving away from him as she went in with her armload, then returned for another.

"When they changed. I want to know what to look for. I had no one near me, close to me enough, I just found them, or they found me, already gone into the depths of the sickness," he explained as she came past him and his next load he took inside.

[Lovely]

Her chest felt a familiar tightening and she swallowed hard, glad that he'd moved away with his armload, she used the moment to take a deep breath and punch the closest bundle of wood. She loaded up her arms with supplies, her jaw showing a slight clench to it as she carried her load in. "It happened fast.. the change. Almost like one minute they were normal and the next they weren't even there inside anymore." She shook her head a little. "I don't think it takes more than a few minutes for them to be lost in the depths of whatever it is. They don't talk, just stare, glare, grunt, scream.. like rage.. they go after anything that is not like them."

He nodded, leaning away from her as she explained and took another load in before saying anything else. The truck bed was nearly empty already and sky turning its shades of low grey-blue behind the trees. In warmer months there might have been crickets to meet the nightfall, but he suspected even they would remain quiet and hiding now. "If I grow quiet, check first before cutting my head off," he suggested. "If I happen to attack you, don't assume it's the sickness, hm?"

She was stretching to reach a few of the bags and she paused, looking over her shoulder at him. "What should I assume it is?" She asked him in the same quiet manner she used before. Aless wondered again at what he was thinking and what he meant by such a statement.

He was beside her as she reached and he leapt up into the truck bed to assist her with the last few things. He crouched in front of her, looking down. "That I'm doing something equally foolish by making an assumption of why you let me come with you." He jumped down again, watching her as gathered another armload.

Her gaze followed him as he leapt up, he was quick and light.. her expression was perhaps a bit facinated as she now looked up at him. He was down and gathering his things up and she was left to stare at the empty space for a few seconds before she started moving again. What they were bringing in was the last of the load and she found her gaze shifting to him more and more as she tried to figure out what it was he might assume were her reasons and why he'd attack her for them. She set her bags down and moved to the door to secure it behind him once he was inside, her eyes following his every move until the gears finally clicked into place. "Oh!" She gasped softly as her brain shifted to a reason for what he'd said and why she might have let him come with her.. but did he mean what she thought he did? She cleared her throat and hoped the blush wasn't too obvious, what if he was thinking something else entirely? "I ah.. I suppose I should show you around a little first."

He set down the last of the items she'd chosen to return with and came back to the door as she locked it, picking up the axe from beside the door. The weight of it seemed to relax him as he held it like he had the shovel when meeting her. "Only if you want to. It's a house, Aless. As long as I can take a piss in the dark without waking you or ending up in the closet... Fine. Show me."

Her eyes ran over him with the axe and how he seemed more relaxed as he held it, that worried her a little. Maybe even without being 'sick' like the others had, he'd just decide to kill her. She didn't have the rifle in her hands to protect her at the moment. "There is a small bathroom down here and another full bathroom upstairs with the bedrooms." Her tongue ran over her lips and her hands brushed along the top of her jeans, over the pockets and waist band before they settled near her hips with her thumbs hooked gently over her belt. "If that's all you want to know, I can just point them out and tour over."

He gripped the axe a little tighter and nodded toward the upper level. Either his caution was making her nervous or her nervousness bred his caution. "Show me upstairs and how to get to your panels. Something goes wrong with them, I want to know where to check first."

Her eyes were drawn to the subtle movement of his hands as he gripped the axe tighter, she didn't move at first, her gaze slowly moved from his hands to his face. "You get your choice of rooms.. to sleep in or whatever.. " Hers was the only one being used since everyone else was gone. Aless hoped he didn't intend to use that axe on her but she had to take a chance on trust and turned her back to him and led the way up the stairs to the landing and hallway where the bedrooms were located. Two doors were open and the rest had been pulled closed, one was her bedroom - her full size bed left unmade and her tousled covers in view as she stopped at the door across from hers which was the second open door. "Bathroom." She leaned with her shoulder against the frame.

[Lovely]

He leaned around the frame to peek in then across at the other door. He went cautiously to the other door and peered in there as well, staying there a little longer as he leaned, in thought. "Your room. Do you keep the door open at night?"

She followed him across the hall where he leaned looking into her room. She chewed at her lower lip, her head nodding slowly to his question. "I do now.. I didn't used to but after.. well I thought it would be easier to hear any noises with the door open."

"Good. Keep it open," he agreed, moving now to the closed doors without her to try them and peek inside as well, all the while gripping the axe. He understood that it pained her to have the furnishings and belongings of her family left in view and untouched, yet safety played a different part for them now. His hand stayed on the knob for the next room, hesitant to open it, listening.

She didn't follow him this time when he first moved on to the other rooms to check them, it did hurt her to see the belongings of her family and the emptiness of their rooms without the people in them. She was chewing at her lip again, looking down at the floor, trying to be braver than she felt. Swallowing down her own pain and grief as she'd had to do so often, she forced her feet to take the steps down the hall to the next door. "My brother's room." She told him of the door his hand was on. "The clothes and stuff I mentioned earlier.. that you can use.. my brother's are in there and my dad's.. " She pointed to the door at the end of the hall which was her parent's room.

He nodded and opened the door slowly, axe in the other hand at the ready. He pushed the door wide and stayed at the hall, peering in. The window was intact and the rest undisturbed from what he could tell. He looked across in the dim light at the closet for the clothes and nodded again. "His should work fine if you can stand to see me in them.." ... or out of them if not, he considered, giving her another glance before going in to look for a change of something to cover him.

"It will be fine.." It wasn't a complete lie, she didn't expect it would be easy to see someone else in her brother's clothes but she would deal with it. "Well.. you know where the bathroom is if you want to shower or clean up.. or .. take a piss.." She shrugged, tossing his words and comments back at him in a slight tease. "I'm going to go get started on dinner." Aless offered him a small but warm smile and a few minutes of privacy to get himself changed. She gave him another walk over with her eyes and then turned to head back downstairs.

She was a good judge for sizes and he was thankful for the fortune of her brother having clean clothes ready and waiting. Fashion wasn't a concern to him, only functional layers. She'd offered a shower and now that he passed his reflection, almost taking the axe to it as the movement startled him, he agreed it was probably a good choice. Who knew when he'd get another? The pieces he picked out were varying colors, but not too far off from matching, even jeans and a change of boots. A few minutes after leaving him to the choices, she'd hear the water running and the sounds of a few notes of song sailing over the steam out the partially open bathroom door.

The running of water wasn't as much of a shock as the sound of his voice as he sang in the shower, that sound had her standing still to listen for a moment. It brought a soft smile to her face and she shook her head a little, it was a nice feeling to have someone else there with her. She gathered some of the items from the trip to the store and took them into the kitchen with her, she was low on some supplies and wouldn't make it through the winter which is what prompted her to go out but her shelves were not bare so to speak. She debated what to cook for them and thought about what she'd learned of and from him so far. She had beef strips in the fridge that she'd taken from the larger freezer to thaw out, they would be perfect with some veggies and sauce...

In a short time she was humming quietly to herself as she made her own sort of stirfry with the beef, rice and some brocoli and cauliflower that she'd had left in the freezer.

Axe in hand again, perhaps it was the only thing she'd find familiar of the man she'd brought into her home. He'd shaven away the beard and comed back the nearly-black hair that was harnessed loosely in a dark shred of ribbon and dripped at his shoulder over the borrowed shirts from her brother's room. Once carved out from the dirt and scrubby whiskers, his features were starkly angular and his eyes kind and bright behind the pale, high cheeks. "I know you haven't killed me, so this isn't heaven, but it certainly smells like it could be. You cooked for your family?" He leaned at the doorway of the kitchen he'd found by will alone and by the aroma that pulled him closer.

[Lovely]

He'd see the rifle propped up against the lower cupboards, within reach if she needed it but she didn't dive for it when she turned at the sound of his footsteps coming toward the kitchen. Her smile was gently surprised but his appearance and she let her gaze drift over him, taking in the changes and improvements. "Sometimes.. my mother usually did the cooking. But I learned from her and when I was away at school.. well she wasn't there to cook for me.. so.. " She shrugged, finding her cheeks warming from his compliment and she turned to stir the pan to try to hide the blush.

"She'd be proud of you," he said at her shoulder after she turned away. He reached around her for the spoon in her hand. "I didn't properly thank you earlier."

"Thank you." The words came out a little more softly than she'd meant them too, but he was so close and surprised her with the second compliment. She let him take the spoon from her grasp, slowly turning her head toward him. "You didn't?" At the moment she couldn't remember if he had or hadn't or if he even had anything to thank her for.

He shook his head, setting the spoon aside and giving her a soft grin she could see in his cheeks now. "No, I didn't. And I scared you when I shouldn't have. I'm sorry."

She half nodded and half shook her head, sort of saying yes and no to his scaring her. His smile coaxed hers back out and the soft warm expression shone back at him, gently lighting up her eyes and easing the sadness from her features. "I won't hold a grudge, promise... apology accepted."

"Not entirely," he said, reaching up to the corner of her eye, as if seeing a tear there he wouldn't let fall. "This isn't an attack, promise," he hinted, leaning closer to kiss that same spot on her cheek.

Aless was about to ask what he meant when he showed her with his soft touch and the light kiss to her cheek. Her eyes closed for that moment, she was nearly overwhelmed by the sweet gesture. She didn't have the spoon to grasp anymore and her fingers brushed against his sleeves, her face turning ever so slightly to try to keep the contact with him, her breath warm over his cheek and ear.

He chuckled as she tried to nuzzle him in return. "Now... apology accepted, hm? Let me get the fire going for the night or we'll freeze," he suggested, though not exactly stating which type of fire he was most interested in kindling.

She blinked and slowly moved back from how she'd started to curl into him, her head nodded but she didn't say anything at first. Partly confused and partly surprised by herself, him, and the brief exchange. "Ah.. right.. sure.. um.. over there." She blinked again as if to clear her thoughts and pointed him to the woodstove.

"Of course," he said, his hand falling slowly as she stepped away from him. Perhaps his thoughts weren't as foolish as he'd thought earlier given how she seemed as reluctant as he was to step away. "I'll see what I can get started, then and we'll eat... and then... I have no idea."

Her hand reached to catch his as it fell slowly. She almost told him that he'd just started something but she kept that comment back with her teeth gently grasping her lower lip. It caused a cute little expression with her smile half trapped and her head still slightly tilted. "Alright.. I'll finish up dinner.." She didn't turn away from him right off, watching his expression.

[Lovely]

His fingers tightened around hers, feeling them as real as the paint on the truck or the axe handle in his other hand. "You do that. Sooner we eat, the sooner you can get warm by the fire. You're trembling," he winked, then let go to tend to the wood.

"I.." It was more of a breath sighed out than a spoken word as she watched him go, and then turned back to tend to the food. Was she trembling? She glanced at her hands which felt slightly unsteady, she flexed her fingers and took a deep breath. If she was trembling, it had nothing to do with being cold, to be honest she felt oddly warm at the moment. She stirred the food and turned the burner down to a lower temp, then went over to set two places at the table. Dinner would be done shortly and it gave her a better view of Vic for a few moments as she moved around to the plates and silverware.

He knew his way around a stove to have it sparking and glowing quickly. "Well seasoned wood," he mentioned over his shoulder as he crouched at the grate to ensure he hadn't piled it too full to start. He looked behind him to see her watching from the table. He untied the shred in his hair to let it loose in front of the fire's heat and tossed the scrap in on the logs before he closed the grate and returned to help her. "It doesn't need to be fancy, Aless. Please, don't fuss."

Maybe he'd believe she'd only just looked when he spoke to her and maybe he wouldn't see the soft blush from where he crouched. When he came over to help, her eyes followed his movements until he was in front of her. She shook her head gently. "We need plates and forks.. and... and it's been awhile since I've had anyone to share dinner with.. so let me fuss if I want to fuss." She wasn't harsh in her 'back talk' but the need to make this at least a little normal and a little nice came through in her tone.

"Alright. Fuss, but don't spend all your energy just doing this," he insisted softly, looking at the table set for two... something he hadn't seen in a very long time, himself. "I'm sure I've forgotten all my manners, anyway. For that, I apologize in advance."

She didn't say anything but perhaps he'd know by the light of her eyes and gentle upturn of her lips that he'd given her a bit of happiness in that moment. She shrugged to his last comment, as if to tell him manners weren't important. She shifted to move around him to finish setting that table, which wasn't really fancy but probably more so than either of them had seen in a long time. Aless stopped with her shoulder just resting against his and leaned to kiss his cheek. "Apology accepted.. in advance." She whispered to him before going on.

"Not sure I deserved that, but thank you," he smiled shyly, holding onto the table for the moment as she slipped out of reach. He pulled out the chair next to him and sat. "You fuss... I'll just ... stay here a moment."

She glanced at him with an arched brow and a soft smile, setting the silverware next to the plates. "Do you.. like wine?" She asked after the thought occurred to her of what they might drink with dinner.

"I do when I can find it. My father used to brew his own. I still had some in... I haven't had any for a while," he said, trying to forget the home he'd known and left behind. He was here now, and warm enough to not want to remember the rest.

She nodded slowly perhaps understanding why he started a statement and then switched to another. Her family was gone but at least she still was in her home, for now. He didn't have either, he only had the company of a strange woman. Aless bent down to pull two bottles from the cabinet, presenting them to him for him to choose which he'd like with dinner. "You pick and I'll go bring our dinner in." She set the bottles on the table and shifted off into the other room, giving him a moment if he needed it and transferring the food from the pans to serving dishes, which she came back with a couple minutes later.

"Why choose?" He called after her as she retreated into the kitchen. "You have one, I'll have the other, or we can share. The nights are getting long, you know. Might as well enjoy them."

"In that case we may need to get more." She commented as she came back with the steaming dishes and set them on the table. "You know.. for other nights.." She added as an after thought, pulling the corkscrew from her back pocket to hand to him as she went to the hutch to grab glasses for them.

[Lovely]

"Right. We get more. I'm sure there's a bottle or two left behind at your neighbors' for pilfering later. What, fussing with glasses, too?" He chuckled, but let her bring them over, taking the corkscrew in hand to open the bottle closest to him.

"You don't want glasses?" She asked as she stood with them in her hands, her eyebrow arched up again, she was about to sit down but if he didn't really want a glass why waste it?

"No need, is there? It's not a fancy dress party.. and I have no worries about where your mouth's been," he teased, tapping the spot on his cheek where she'd kissed him. "Take a drink and pass it 'round. Liiiive a little, Aless."

She sighed and shook her head, teasing him as she put the glasses away. "Next you'll have me putting the plates away and us sitting all close sharing one of the bowls.." She grabbed her fork and stole a bite for 'effect', giving him a wink as she shifted to sit in the chair.

"Why use a bowl when it's already in the pot?" He shrugged and picked up his fork, considering it for a moment. "I would have suggested it, but since you're fussing, fuss. I'll live." He took a sip from the bottle he opened then passed it to her.

She reached over and snatched his plate up, sticking her tongue out at him and then giving him a playful smile. "I'm done fussing.. I've had my moment." She took the bottle in her other hand and neatly stacked his plate on top of hers before taking a sip of the wine.

"I was joking," he laughed, watching the spirit fill her and bring out a genuine smile. He'd surrendered the bottle and playfully charged out to grab it back when she was done with her sip. "Serve, eat... we have all night to play."

She took up the plate and started to fill it for him, the food was hot and the aroma was stronger as she scooped from the serving dish and added to the plate. "How's that to start?" She asked after giving him a generous amount of the food and gently set the plate back in front of him before picking up her own and serving herself.

"Enough for now. Thank you for not cooking anything orange. I did notice," he sighed, looking at the feast and feeling his hollow stomach rumble from the wine. She'd done what she'd said and he was more than thankful. He muttered a few quiet words before taking up his fork again.

"You're welcome." She smiled at him and sat down with her plate, she was quiet for a moment, silently saying her own thanks for the meal they were about to share. Aless watched him for a moment before taking up her fork, she hoped he would like the taste of the food as much as the smells had enticed him earlier. She fell quiet for a few minutes as she started to eat their meal, she wasn't really sure what to talk about or if they should talk right now.

Few words needed to be said with the way he easily cleaned every speck of rice from his plate when nothing else was left. The wine bottle was lifted and he gestured to her with it, setting his fork down and leaning on the table's edge. "Cheers to a marvelous woman... and marvelous cook," he said before taking a sip and passing it back again.

She looked at his plate, seeing how he'd cleaned it and then to him as he toasted her and her cooking, she was flattered and stared at him for a moment before taking the bottle for a sip. "Marvelous?" She chuckled and shook her head a little. "Thank you.. it's very nice of you to say so." She held the bottle out to him. "Would you like some more?" She gestured to his plate and offered to get him a second helping.

[Lovely]

"Only if there's more of you to go with it," he said directly, watching her absorb the compliment awkwardly. He pushed the plate away and leaned closer as he took the bottle back, holding his hand around hers on the glass. "You... are marvelous. The meal is only a meal. I'd rather... have more of you."

Her mouth dropped a little and it was pretty clear no one had ever been quite so direct with a compliment or request for her before, for a moment she had no idea what to say. Her thoughts scattered in that moment, as if they were dry leaves and his words a strong wind. "M.. more of me? I.." She couldn't find a single valid reason to object to it. Her free hand reached to brush her hair behind her ear as she licked her lips, her other hand feeling the warmth of his around it. She nodded her head a little, letting her gaze meet his.

His dark and still-damp hair framed his bright eyes and deepened his cheeks more as he leaned toward her, pulling her gently closer with the bottle. "You nod that you agree, then? Definitely marvelous," he muttered.

Aless moved toward him, sliding from her chair and leaning over him in his. "I agree.. as long as you agree to let me have more of you in return." Her voice was softly hushed and her fingers lifted to brush over his cheek beneath the shadow of his hair, her thumb drifting over his lower lip.

He grabbed for her thumb gently with his teeth and chuckled behind the gesture, trying not to bite too hard, always fearing the draw of blood. His lips curled around her thumb as his teeth let go. "I'm sure I can give you that," he agreed in a whisper that felt hot as it sifted out to follow her thumb.

She felt the heat of his breath and her heart beat a little faster with a strange excitement that filled her and made her tingle. Her eyes stayed on his, the shy expression starting to fade, more of the braveness of girl who'd found him earlier bubbling to the surface. Her thumb slipped away from his lip, she leaned down meet his mouth with hers.

Against the softness of her lips, the hint of wine chilled and warmed him at once. The bottle was set down and her hand drawn with his to the table's edge that kept him from getting much closer. The kiss was sweet and real, but shortened by his suggestions. "Better to clear the table first," he muttered, not to be polite and save the food, but to save the dishes from the temptation of pushing them away for room to make her his next course to devour. That temptation shuddered his breath as he kissed her again.

Her skin was already heating up with the kiss and the desire for so much more, her hip pressed into the edge of the table as she leaned over it to taste his mouth. She sighed softly, glancing to the dishes that were on the table, she didn't feel like cleaning up but he was right, they should do so. Her thoughts travelled along a path similar to his as she eyed what was left and felt his mouth on hers again, his breath shuddered and she stretched to deepen the kiss. She pushed her chair back with her foot and shifted around the edge of the table, finding that she was growing hungry in a different way now. If she didn't stop, she was going to send the dishes crashing to the floor herself... she reluctantly pulled back, taking a moment to try to catch her breath and clear her head.

[Lovely]

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She'd pulled away from him though he had no sense that something was wrong or anything had been done to offend. The moment was broken, but it was only a moment. He grinned crookedly as she stole away with the dishes to clear them off and save some of their food. Meanwhile he was left to wander and keep his mind clear. Clearly that was an impossibility with the gorgeous woman in the kitchen with the rifle close at hand. His shoulders still felt a little damp from the ends of his hair, making him shiver and he looked around for items of warmth not only for himself but for later as the night waned on. That's it! He poked around to see she was steeped in suds and steam. Meanwhile he pulled away, back to the rooms in search of blankets, at least a singularly large one if there was one and pillows. The floor was likely cool and dusty so he'd need to pull together as much as he could, covers, padding, warmth, comfort. He stopped at the door of her brother's room, peeking in for anything additional, looking down at the piled linens in his arms. He could have easily left this where it had been, but the stove was down here and would need tending. He couldn't bring the stove to the room, so therefore his logic was sound, though he still felt silly tripping over the wadded blankets that could have still stayed. Water still hissed in the kitchen as she rinsed off something else and he quickly spread things out, making their haphazard camp.. it had been mostly bed-shaped already and just needed unfolding. It had occured to him as well that it was better to be near the fire and the rifle and the truck... should anything try to break in, it was all within reach. A log shifted in the stove just then, startling him. He chuckled at himself that it was only coals tipping and rolling. He was still alert enough... perhaps too alert. He was edgy and jumpy. "We'll need more wine, I think," he called out between the splashes of water.

"Did you see where I got those bottles from?" She didn't have to speak loudly to be heard as she paused and smiled over her shoulder at him. She didn't yet see the surprise he was preparing as she was preoccupied with finishing the clean up from dinner. She was nearly done and turned back to put the plates away in the cabinet above her head. "You're welcome to grab another bottle."

He'd come to fetch her and slunk up beside her. Once she set the plates safely down he spoke closer to her, sliding his hand around her waist. "Needed to grab something more important first. Can I get your help with something, hm?"

Her arms slowly lowered as he wrapped his around her waist, her head turned and she leaned against him a little, her smile soft and questioning. "Hi.." Her voice was quiet and she awed at how natural this felt, how easy it was to be around him and how comfortable she felt with him. It had happened quickly in the past few hours since they's come across each other. Maybe it was something that could be explained away by science or logic, but she just knew she felt it and it was pleasant. She knew without a doubt she was very attracted to him and kissing him earlier.. well she'd been thinking about it the whole time she'd been cleaning up. "Can I get something from you first?"

"No, because you'll distract me completely from my mission which is very, very important," he said, trying not to get too distracted by the very fact that he had her in his arms and his feet weren't helping him well to show her his creation by the fire. "Alright. You win," he conceded, deciding he didn't want to let go. "You first."

She shifted slightly and tilted her head back a little to line them up better, then gently reached her hand to the back of his neck to tug him down to kiss her as he held her from behind. "I only want a kiss."

"I knew you would distract me. Distract away, but come with me back by the fire. You're done in here," he grinned, offering a small peck first and a tug to come sit with him at the blankets.

He gave her a peck? She tried not to be disappointed or take it to mean more than it might, but for a young woman, asking for a kiss and getting a peck was almost the same as not getting a kiss at all. "By the fire?" She asked as he tugged and she gave in, moving from the kitchen to discover a pile of blankets and pillows, she gasped and then laughed softly. "Ohhh.."

"Now.. you were saying?" He chuckled and nearly threw himself down onto the pile like a child jumping into a mountain of autumn leaves. "Much warmer down here," he suggested, reaching out to her to help ease her down and join him.

"I was saying you're surprisingly thoughtful." She had to admit the pile of softness with him reaching up to invite her into it was just too hard to resist. She took his hand and melted down beside him, feeling the warmth of his hand and his body against hers. "It is, nice and warm."

"Surprisingly? Good, then it worked. Mission very accomplished," he muttered as she flowed down alongside him. "Surprisingly, I've never thought moments like this really existed."

[Lovely]

"What do you mean by that?" She asked softly, not wanting to assume anything about what he meant, her experiences were different from his and that could alter how each took or meant something the other had said.

"Quiet and gentle ones, Aless. Quiet ones I've seen maybe too many. I like this, though," he said, wondering why it seemed to confuse or concern her. "I am glad the surprise was a pleasant one since I pulled all your bedding apart."

Perhaps she was just young, foolish, and inexperienced, to her it seemed more romantic, but the way he described it sounded different. Hopeless romantic? maybe just hopeless and reading too much into things, like a logical explaination of a quiet moment and the desire to stay warm. It didn't seem as pleasant now that she felt like she'd gotten the wrong idea, but it was still nice and she smiled. "I don't mind, really."

"Aless... you're troubled. I may not be around people much, but I know... Mmm... nevermind, just come here. It wasn't the wine I wanted, it was you," he said, thinking out loud and telling her as the thoughts formed. He reached out to give her the kiss she'd asked for.

"I'm not troubled.. at least not more than anyone else." Completely confused by him? Yes, and more so with each passing moment. She didn't know what to think when he tried to kiss her, her head swam and she decided that maybe thinking so much wasn't such a good idea. But was kissing him any wiser when she felt such a strong pull toward him and got so easily caught up in her own ideas and desires? It was a little late for such a consideration with his mouth brushing hers and her leaning into the sensation.

Vic could drink more of these kisses for hours. There was no table in the way this time and she was.. so very close and warm. Maybe he'd read more into her confusion than he needed to be concerned with. Instead he was concerned about stopping now that he'd started. His lips brushed over hers again and he drew his fingers over her cheek.

Thinking on a conscious level wasn't possible with his kisses and the way he brushed over her cheek with his fingers. Aless wasn't sure staying upright was possible and she found herself falling gently to rest on the pillows. She reached to pull him down with her and keep the tender kisses flowing freely between them.

He followed her downward, humming at first then chuckling out loud. "There you go distracting me again. I was going to pull you down first," he whispered, teasing her with a flurry of tender kisses over her ear and down into the flow of her hair down her neck. "And pull you closer, and not let go," he promised in another whisper, bring the kiss back to the corner of her mouth.

She didn't know what to say to all that, there were thoughts that stirred due to his comments but she wasn't sure how he'd take them and so she simply returned his kiss when he brought his mouth to hers. She'd shivered lightly under the shower of kisses along her neck and ear. For someone who claimed not to be around people much, he sure seemed to be finding his way around her very well.

"Either you don't mind that either, or I've completely stunned you," he smiled, pulling away to lean on his arm over the pillow beside her. The glow from the firelight reached his eyes occasionally to where she might see the adoration in them and the mischief underneath.

"Could be a little of both.." She admitted in a whisper, her smile was soft and her eyes warm as she gazed up at him. She reached up to draw along the shadow of his cheek with gentle fingers, watching how the fire light caught in his eyes. She swore he was gazing at her adoringly, but that could be wishful thinking, regardless the adoration was mirrored in her own eyes.

He laid down fully and pulled his hands together under his cheek, the long black strands sifting over them and the pillow like some antiqued painting of angels with the red glow. "I've never been stunning before.. not to anyone," he said bashfully, so different and calm now from the man who'd cowered from her earlier at the shop. He unhooked one of his hands to brush her cheek and hold her for him to lean up to her kiss once more. He just couldn't stay away. "Though I think it's backwards and that you're stunning to me."