Red Queen One-Shots

The Stargazers

A/N: Warning of one horny boy.

It had been a long time since he'd felt burned. Actually, Cal couldn't remember such an incident. The fire was a part of him, a friend and a weapon, its dangers under his control. Yet the burns on his skin had nothing to do with flames and were rather related to heated passion. Piedmont's May wasn't cold but the difference to daytime temperatures was still considerable and the reminders of passion were what warmed him now, on the inside, more than his ability. His lips were swollen, his neck bruised from Mare's kisses. He grinned at the memory, certain he left similar marks on her. And he already missed her.

"We can't go into my house," she'd said. "Nor to my room," he'd replied, and despite this disturbance, they searched for other lone places on the base to make out – and more. He still had difficulties to believe it had really happened, and the thought made him blush as he sat on a bench outside his barracks, close to midnight. Sleeping with Mare, in the woods, during a storm, left him with wonder, even though it was hardly a miracle compared to her rescue, or a shock after the events of the last year since she'd stormed into his life. Yet the lines of her body, the sparks of her touch and his own desire occupied him more than battle plans and political agendas. All he craved was more of her.

Cal knew his father would've chided him for that. Cal hadn't flirted much with court ladies from the start but his father had waved off any noble girl trying too hard to win the prince's attention, as he'd reminded Cal to keep his distance, to maintain his chaste and regal image. King Tiberias VI didn't want his son to get entangled in extramarital affairs and as Queenstrial was supposed to choose his future wife, Cal hadn't been allowed to search on his own, period. Although he did see many flirts and unconventional relationships among the Silvers, he hadn't missed his own lack of romance. Instead, he regarded his father's insistence as its own kind of romantic, with his respect for marriage showing the love he still had for Coriane, Cal's mother.

Only that Cal couldn't have hoped for a similar match with Evangeline Samos chosen for him, like Elara had been chosen for his father. But he'd been aware of his duty.

All of that was before Mare though. He wanted her more than anything else in the world, and he wished to protect her and see her happy. She was all he had left. Now that he'd learned how it was to love, he was ruled by it instead of becoming a ruler himself. At least here on the Scarlet Guard base, where people didn't treat him like a prince, king or whatever he was supposed to be. He tasted the air, full of night, forest and spring, and was free of being anything but Mare's lover. The season itself became manifest in this evening with a sky full of stars and only increased his longing – desire – and again, he rued that he and Mare didn't share a room like at the notch.

A more reasonable but small part of him was embarrassed by these sensual, if not outright dirty thoughts.

"Are you on night watch there, Calore?"

He startled. It was what he deserved, found sunken in fantasies, and he could only hope to keep his demeanour straight, glad he didn't show more proof of his dreamings when he turned to the speaker.

Farley came closer to him, which was necessary in the darkness outside the barracks. She held her baby against her chest. The little girl was wrapped in a blanket, barely visible.

"Good to see you again," Cal said. "And no, I'm not on watch, just restless."

She nodded. "I'd tell you to mind your schedule, but I've given myself some days off either." She leaned against the wall, then changed her hold on the child who apparently protested. "Clara is restless too," Farley said. "Well, so am I, so I thought we could get some fresh air and a different sight than hospital walls." She sighed. "And I don't know whether she has it too cold or too hot now." She pulled the blanket off Clara's head. The baby was indeed awake although she seemed as sleepy as her mother who was obviously tired to the bones, with rings under her eyes and wearing the most comfortable clothing imaginable. Three days after giving birth, her belly was still rounded and somehow, her whole appearance was softer as well.

Cal cleared his throat. "Are you recovering well?"

She inclined her head, almost amused. "Well. To be honest, I've slept as much as Clara in the last three days. When she lets me, and currently she doesn't." That didn't stop her from pulling Clara even closer, as if to kiss her.

"Everything's new to you for once, General?" he asked.

She snorted. In agreement, he assumed, as she didn't say more. Instead Clara gave a cry, urging her mother to calm her and him to get from his bench.

"Maybe she is cold," he said

"Maybe you could change that," Farley replied. Was that an invitation to caress Clara? He couldn't believe it, expecting Farley to threaten him "touch her and I'll kill you." She carried a gun on her too, in all likelihood. But her eyes continued to beckon him.

So his hand froze mid-air, a few inches form Clara. He pulled back and shrugged. "She looks so tiny," he said with his most polite, court-trained smile.

One Farley didn't reciprocate. "Tsk. Didn't feel that way when she was born," she uttered. "Or the days before."

His jaw dropped and his mind started to swim desperately in a sea of words he couldn't grab and pictures he didn't want to imagine.

"You know, she's a 4 kg-baby," she added.

"I ... guess ...so," he stuttered. "I meant, well, she's pre – um, cute, General. A cute baby." This time, he could've sworn the corners of her mouth twitched. By his colours, did she smile at his awkward gasping?

But then, he rather felt relief than embarrassment at seeing Diana Farley smile again.

It still left him unprepared for her next words. "You know, it took only one time."

He blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Sleeping with Shade without protection."

"What?" Again, he needed a few seconds to get her meaning, then he blushed so much he wanted to sink into the ground. "Oh, I see," he muttered. "But I'm not sure if ... "

Farley raised her eyebrows. "Right, it might be different for Reds and Silvers, of course." She shook her head. "Just talk with Mare about it, Calore. This is an order, because I can't do everything for you." She looked him dead in the eyes with her infamous glare. Then Clara yawned, which felt addictive to him and Farley both although she tried to hide it. "Good night," she said and left him alone.

His former notions were gone by then. While the night was still magically beautiful, he thought less about chasing starlight with Mare and more about their future that might be written in the constellations.