Nightshade

kelli - respite

Kelli lay in the tent with hera, it was a little awkward, the silence.  He looked over for a moment at the beautiful woman across from him,  her dark skin contrasting the orange sleeping bag,  reminding him a bit of halloween chocolate in a cute little jack o lantern pail. He realized he had made eye contact with hera, and he flushed. He opened his mouth to apologize and explain away,  but she just smiled "you know,  I'd be offended if you didn't look,  so don't apologize too hard~" he laughed a bit, the sound muted by the snow outside.  "Someone's got an ego, you're lucky you've got all the rest to go with it!" She grinned and stretched "you know,  I was really impressed today.  You and Luka figured out that riddle like nothin. Not to mention how you climbed." Kelli smiled back "well, I'm well traveled.  I've seen and heard a lot. Not my first legendary temple I went into and all" He tried to sound nonchalant and avant garde, but it came off a bit dorky,  and hera snorted out more laughter "not your first, huh? I bet you get all the ladies" he chuckled "eh, not as many as you might think.  I'm too restless." She eyed him with those enchanting deep green eyes.  Oh she was trouble... but lord did he not care. "I've been called restless too..." He smiled "I bet you have,  miss Rockstar." She blushed a bit at that. "One performance, a Rockstar does not one make." He blew out a breathy laugh, reaching out and casually playing with a strand of her hair.  "I disagree.  You were a natural up there.  You and Luka blew my mind that night." She eyed the hand in her hair and smiled,  reaching up and holding it. "I think we had better sleep~" he chuckled "yeah,  probably..." They settled back in,  quietly talking and trading stories till they fell asleep.  The next morning,  he was awoken by someone slapping his tent,  hera sitting up as well. "Hold on,  hold on,  we're up!"  Hera called out before pulling on her jacket. Kelli did the same,  then opened the tent,  sputtering a bit as icy cold snow fell off the top of the tent directly onto his head.  Luka laughed and offered the two of them a hand out,  which they took.  The other three tents were already either put away or being broken down "I told the others to let you two sleep in" Luka explained.  "Well thank you,  but you really shouldn't have,  I feel absolutely selfish!" Hera said,  smiling that lovely impish smile of hers.  It was clear she had no such feelings of regret,  and as she eyed him,  Kelli suspected she'd told Luka to buzz off, pun intended,  when he had come by earlier. They got to work breaking down the tent and rolling the sleeping bags up,  then stuffed them back into the heavy equipment bags. They headed to the choppers, and Shavronne took some time de-icing the high end aircrafts before hera and him set to spinning up the rotors, whipping up snow like a Blizzard.  They all got into their respective helicopters, and began the journey back to the airport in France.  They used their headphones to talk to each other throughout the ride,  Shavronne stating that he'd like to split up and enjoy a few nights in the famously romantic country with his lover,  and the rest of them would be free to do as they pleased. Kelli was about to privately talk to hera about a possible trip of their own,  when she spoke into the group line "Kelli and I will be staying here for a while as well. He blushed a bit and grinned as she looked over at him,  winking,  and uriel keyed in a moment later "I'll be heading back to America with the angels.  I still have a lot of shit I need to work through,  not to mention we only brought me so many blood bags." They all made affirmative responses,  and then switched back to private lines.  "So a private trip with the one and only kellian mercia,  huh?" Hera smiled at him.  It was odd, he felt butterflies in his stomach when she looked at him,  unlike he'd felt since highschool. It wasn't like he was some shaky little virgin, he'd traveled the world, gone on dates and slept around to experience everything he could... but she was just so... awesome. Just as worldly as himself and just as eager to learn! Not to mention that smile,  those eyes... he smiled back "yep yep, you booked yourself a one way ticket to a truly magical weekend" she laughed and began to take the helicopter down into their descent.  "I look forward to it,  ya better not lemme down mister." She winked at him,  then had to bring her focus to the landing.  They landed safely,  and were greeted by a small crew of men in elegant suits,  presumably Shavronne had arranged this welcome.  Kelli loved adventures like this,  but he'd be lying if he said he wasn't absolutely on the edge of his seat to get back to civilization and have a nice bath. They all said their goodbyes to each other,  and headed their seperate ways,  each group having a seperate limousine to take them where they wanted to go.  Kelli told the driver to take them to a specific nice little hotel. It was humble and homey, and he almost always stayed there when in France.  Hera simply waited as he gave instructions in perfect French. He grinned back at her "oh, should I have mentioned that I'm a Frenchman?" She laughed "oh well in that case,  kick bricks froggy!" He laughed and rolled his eyes.  They rode comfortably, their banter continuing as they arrived at the little motel. He got out and opened the door for hera with a little mock bow.  She chuckled and got out,  shutting the door herself before he had a chance "how rude! A lady who won't even give a gentleman a chance to do her simple favors?" She shrugged "snooze ya lose bud" He smiled.  "Ya know,  I forgot to mention to you all,  but today is my twentieth birthday." She made a noise in suprise "shit! You little whippersnapper, you're gonna make me feel old!" He laughed "how old are you?" She grinned "you're not supposed to ask a lady that,  but if you must know,  I'm 27." He smiled "good thing I like my women a tad on the older side" he winked at her and she playfully shoved him as they headed inside.