Alyssa x Morpheus

The Tendencies of Rain {Part Two}

        Alyssa had nearly succeeded in calming herself.

        Morpheus took a ridiculously long time to bathe; she had been able to take her time and work through several possibilities of what might happen after he stepped out. From crazy to dull, she had plotted them all. The scenario she had chosen was one that involved a lot of sarcasm on her part, and a lot of flirting on his. He'd probably take it a step farther than usual; probably kiss her. That was to be her 'reconnection' with Wonderland. 

        Alyssa had nearly succeeded. 

        She lay on her bed, ankles crossed neatly, knees to her chest. Against the massive frame, Alyssa looked young and small; how she currently felt.

        Then the bathroom door creaked open and she sat up, all her former anxiety flooding back. Morpheus lazily reentered the bedroom, steam puffing dramatically around him. Most was from the hot water, though Alyssa suspected some was smoke as well; she could smell the sweetness of it on the air coming towards her.

        Morpheus himself smirked at her wide eyes and tense, half-relaxed posture. He was shirtless, blue hair drying but still damp, with loose fitting--and low riding, for that matter--satin pants on his hips. 

        "Don't look so scared, luv."

        She tried to glare at him, tried to say she wasn't nervous; but all that came from her was a grimace and a soft croak.

        He didn't like the grimace.

        Having very observantly noticed it, Morpheus' brows bulled together, his jewels flickering a muddy green color that perfectly represented her anxiety. He closed the distance between them, moving to kneel on the bed in front of her much like he might have as a child. 

        "You're not afraid of me, are you?" 

        Alyssa was surprised at how thick his accent had become. She wasn't used to a nervous Morpheus, a netherling afraid to lose her. What a strange thought, she wondered silently as he watched her; he was more reliant on himself fighting for her than the fact that they were 'together' only strung loosely. With no definite commitment and no challenge, he was lost. 

        The thought lit a small fire inside her.

        Not that type of fire. It was warmth, thawing her tense muscles and easing her mind. A campfire that stirred her confidence and began to prod the netherling within her awake. 

        Enough that she could ask, "are you afraid to lose me, Morpheus?"

        He didn't meet her gaze; instead, he lay down and stretched width-length across the bed, right at Alyssa's feet. His right wing flopped over her, while the left fell harmlessly off the bed, stomach upwards towards the high ceiling. 

        Alyssa sat up and frowned, a minuscule smile tempting her lips. She grabbed the wing that had partially covered her and stretched it out carefully, the leathery, thin surface moving smoothly over her legs. With a slight tilt to her head, she began to draw aimless patterns in his wing; swirls and curves and jagged loops of all kinds, she had just as soon decided she'd contently wait for him to speak, when--he did. 

        "Stop that," he grumbled softly, though not soft enough that Alyssa missed the note of laughter in his voice. Helpless, chaotic laughter.

   The cheshire cat couldn't manage her next smile; it was completely pleased, utterly, incomprehensibly pleased in the way a child might be after discovering some fantastical secret. 

        Alyssa scooted closer, all former worries vanquished. She looked at Morpheus for a moment, all eyes; took a glance right into his soul. Her hair fell down to brush his shoulder as she leaned closer to him. And then she traced her index finger up his arm and knotted her fingers with his.

        "Curiouser and curiouser."

        Morpheus was biting his lip; smiling because Alyssa was more herself than she'd been in a while, but conflicted about it because it was to be at his expense. 

        "Morpheus," Alyssa crooned, mimicking the way he so often taunted her. "You're ticklish."

        And before he could respond with something witty or clever, she pressed her index and middle finger to the skin above his hip bone and wriggled them around.

        The effect was brilliant; Morpheus had arched his back and let out a shout of muffled laughter, and in the same moment flapped both wings. This, of course, threw Alyssa off balance, and he'd, of course, taken advantage of such a thing; one of her hands was already locked with his. It hadn't taken much for him to have his queen pinned. 

        Presently, she didn't mind.

        Blond hair strewn about, a bit out of breath and pinned underneath someone usually so sternly broody--now chuckling; Alyssa grinned. 

        "Kiss me," she demanded suddenly, tilting her chin up and banishing her smile in favor for instincts all netherling. "Dance; win my favor like a colorful bird," she purred, wriggling around.

        "You've gone from positively prude to full-blooded netherling in far too short a time, luv, even on Wonderland's terms. You really must learn to control yourself."

        "Pish posh," Alyssa giggled, sliding her hands free of his to shamelessly run her fingers through his hair.

        "I don't have the self control to teach you proper tonight," he growled quietly, closing his eyes, composure faltering. 

        "Be everything but controlled," Alyssa whined, locking her arms around his neck to bring him closer to her, closer until he was so close he simply gave in and lay atop her. 

        "If you are embarrassed by yourself later, I will thouroughly enjoy it," Morpheus rolled his eyes, pressing his lips to her neck; giving in. 

        "I'm not as far gone as you might be inclined to believe," Alyssa whispered, holding him to her, fingers knotted in his hair. 

        "And I will never be well behaved."