This isn't weird.

Following Orders

Ben collapsed back into the sheets with an exhausted groan, his body covered in sweat and pleasantly achy from exertion. "Good god, woman," he said through panting breaths, "you're a fucking animal."

"Oh, you're one to talk," Millie giggled, stretching out beside him. "I'll be lucky if I can even walk in the morning, ya goddamn brute."

"Hey, I was just following orders," Ben shot back. He looked over at her with a grin. "Very aggressive, adamant orders."

"And you followed them very well," Millie assured him with a contented sigh.

"Are you sure that was all okay?" he asked with a twinge of anxiety. "That was... a lot. I kind of felt like I was hurting you."

"It was perfect." Millie rolled over to put her arms around him, but stopped. "Oh my god, ew. We are way too sweaty to cuddle."

"Way, way too sweaty," Ben concurred.

"I need to shower," Millie said, sitting up. "We need to shower. Come take a shower with me."

"That sounds fucking amazing," he agreed at once.

She got out of bed and plodded toward the door, opening it up and peeking out into the hallway. "Tess?" she called. When she received no response, she looked back at Ben. "I think we scared her off with sex noises. Looks like we've got the place to ourselves." She disappeared down the hall and a few seconds later he heard the sound of running water. Ben carefully checked the floor for glass before climbing out of bed to follow her.

He found her already in the shower, rinsing the sweat from her body, and stepped in to join her. Watching the water run down her back, he was reminded of their failed hiking expedition—the way she looked standing there in the pouring rain, and how desperately he had wanted to kiss her. However strange and confusing the nature of their relationship was in the present, it made him smile to imagine how ecstatic that past version of himself would be if he could only know that he would someday be right here, right now. He put his hands on Millie's hips and gently turned her around to face him.

"Hi," he said, looking down at her with a big, goofy grin.

"Hi," she replied, smiling back at him. Her heart swelled to see him look so happy.

He kissed her, then kissed her again, enjoying the tickle of the water that ran down their faces and between their lips, imagining that it was a warm summer rain. This, he thought, was worth it. All of it. Even if he never got to kiss her again, he would never regret any of the hurt or confusion he had endured just to experience this moment.

They took their time, leisurely lathering soap onto one another's bodies, washing each other's hair, taking frequent breaks to share yet another long kiss. When the water began to run cold, they finally turned off the shower. Ben stepped out first, found a pair of towels, and handed one to Millie. He dried himself off thoroughly, and when he finished, he looked back at her. It was the first time he had seen her fully in the light since they had left her bed.

Millie finished drying her hair and glanced at Ben, surprised to see his expression was suddenly mortified.

"What's wrong?" she asked him, confused.

"Millie," Ben said, voice full of alarm as he looked her up and down, "you're covered in bruises."