Like a Horse Made of Air

Finding the Time

Warning for breath play and D/s. Read responsibly people

Chapter Text

"I really wish I'd thought of this sooner," Wren sighs happily when Tommy finds her in her greenhouse. She'd found and hired another woman to split the work with Rosie—Annabeth—and that had meant that she'd gotten to spend all day in her workspace for the first time since she'd opened Wren's Respite. She wraps her arms around his neck and offers him a kiss he accepts easily.

"Going that well, eh?" He smiles at her as he kisses her again.

"Mhm," she hums as she lets him go to tidy up. "I'll give it a few weeks and see what comes out in the wash before I see about anymore hiring, but I'm pleased to leave the 'sales floor' to people who enjoy it."

"Was thinking about that actually," Tommy offers casually as he lights up.

"Yeah?" Wren glances curiously. "How so?"

"If you think she'd be good for it," Tommy says, "maybe you could offer the next opening to Ada."

"It's just as much whether or not she'd go for it," Wren tells him as she wipes off her hands, "as it is whether or not she'd be good for it."

"I've been thinking about what you said about her needing to get her hands dirty to get it. I just don't have any jobs I could give her as she is," Tommy sighs.

"I'm not saying no," Wren tells him. "I'll talk to her. I'm just saying I won't force her if she refuses the position."

"Alright," Tommy agrees as he moves into the kitchen with her. "Mention she'll have her own money to buy those dresses and ridiculous shoes she likes, and you'll have her."

Wren shakes her head with a laugh, "you didn't have to tell me that. I think there are people in the 'New World' who know Ada's mad for fashion."

He huffs a noise of agreement then moves on, "you want to stay here tonight, then?"

In the two weeks since their new arrangement, they've only slept at her place the very first night. Otherwise she only spends time here for business or her...lunch breaks.

"You good for that?" She asks him as she grabs two glasses and sets them at their usual places at the table.

He grabs down the bottles of amaretto and whiskey and fills their glasses, "wouldn't have offered if I wasn't."

"That's fair," Wren allows. "Just surprised I suppose. Yes, I'd rather like that."

"I asked Pol to handle dinner tonight," Tommy tells her as he rolls the cigarette over his lip.

"We'll still have to put in an appearance," Wren sips her drink. "The kids adore you and will want to see you. Additionally, your being present and accessible during dinner is rather the whole point. If your serious about taking over entirely, you'll need to be consistent. Use these informal get togethers to prove your invested in them."

"I can't argue with the results," Tommy admits. "I've already seen a shift in the men and the work. There's already been a drop in petty in fighting, and an upswing in productivity. They're not so keen to watch Arthur and I argue anymore. Even Arthur and John seem happier."

"Humans are social animals, like dogs or horses. Most of us need or crave gatherings to feel connected and a part of the group while isolation—or feelings of isolation—tends to make us ill," she explains. "We don't need to stay 'til the last person leaves, you know. Bonus of staying here tonight is we can leave when we're done."

"Fair point," Tommy muses.

She's not with Tommy when the man comes in. She's networking with some of the wives, Rosie at her side. Then there's a scream, a crash, and a sudden snap of tension. She hears Tommy call her name and quickly makes her way to him. She finds him standing over a man sprawled in a chair. It's Macintyre she thinks, but it's hard to tell through all the blood. There are a few other men in various states of bloody, but he's the worst.