King Me

One Step

As Faust promised, he did not speak out against Adoltlin's playing again. He took his promise a step further, sitting out with the rest of the group for a time, eventually vanishing back into the cabin. It seemed the Doctor was many things, including a man of his word. The fire warmed the area, but even without it Yancey would stay hot for several reasons. Besides the heat of the fire, liquor warmed her, a feeling she was unacclimated to. And besides even that, she was trading fiery glances with Aurelia. Every time Yancey's eyes turned to her, no matter how subtly they did, Aurelia knew, and would meet her gaze.

Yancey was she. She knew she liked girls, but she'd never had a significant other. All her life she'd had either her video games, and that was just the way she liked it. Now here she was, trapped out of her comfort zone, but she was adapting fast. Still, love was lands unventured, her own fear crippling her, keeping her feet from moving, and--

Haven't I doubted myself enough? Yancey rose to her feet. She stole a long, hard look at Aurelia, and headed off into the woods. She listened, but the roman did not ask Conner to follow her again. No, they both knew this was between them. Yancey went just deep enough into the woods that the fire was still visible through the foliage. And there she was. Her back to the distant fire, Aurelia's hair of red whispered in the dark, guiding the woman towards her. The fire was blocked, and yet a knew one rose to crippling heights.

Yancey caught the woman's shoulders, pulling her in, and at last, their lips pushed together. And then, Aurelia's arms came up, pushing Yancey away. Yancey's fears all came tumbling back, "I- I'm sorry, did I misread the situation?" She asked, but Aurelia shook her head.

"I adore you, Yancey Clairvo, to the point it scares me," Aurelia started, taking a long breath of air, "But I cannot accept your advances."

Yancey's heart sank. Of course, unrequited beauty would never go unnoticed, and unrequited beauty trounced by unparalleled genius would garner the attention of all, "Of course. You already have someone, don't you?" Yancey asked, and surprisingly, Aurelia laughed.

"Oh, no, I am afraid my words have not struck true purpose," Aurelia started, lowering her eyes too the ground. "When this is over, what do you think will become of us? Will it be over, each of us returned to our respective timeline? Will it continue, new enemies pitted against us? Will we both even survive long enough to know?" Aurelia brought her eyes back up, twinkling with the specks of starlight that could make the pilgrimage through the canopy above,

"I fear you are the closest to heaven that I will ever know, and if I fall in love with you only to lose you, I know I will not care what happens,"

Yancey's voice trembled, "Is life not venturing into the unknown? Is it not about trying your best to eek out some joy," her hand slipped to Aurelia's cheek, wiping away a trace of dirt, "some love?"

Aurelia reached her own hand up, placing it atop Yancey's, "I am a strategist. Did you know that the average person typically only focuses on the present, or envisions things just a move or two in advance? Not I. Every time I close my eyes, my mind wanders into the depths. Five moves ahead. Ten. A hundred. From the moment I was born, my view has peered ahead to the moment I might die," She pulled Yancey's hand away, stepping back. It wouldn't have mattered if Yancey had wiped away the dirt or not. Tears were running down Aurelia's cheeks, washing everything away.

"And yet, here, I have no comprehensible concept to work with, no venture of a guess as to what to expect. You know, when I first met you, I saw a timid little bird, and I thought perhaps you could make a modest warrior. And now, you are a force, absorbing aspects of us so-called kings as sponge to water. I was further from semblance of truth with you then I've ever been before regarding anything in my entire life. Every single moment my eyes fall upon you I wish could drag into eternity, pleading with Chronos to make is so, for the next moment is unknown to me, and I fear it will be the last I ever behold your visage.

"I cannot accept this, Yancey Clairvo, I cannot accept you into my heart, not yet. Know this: if You perish, or are lost to time, I will never love another. Knowing such grace has tarnished all other images of what love should be, and I will live a damned life,"

Yancey wanted to protest. She wasn't afraid to, either, but she knew the indomitable spirit that stood before her. She knew Aurelia would never waver. Instead, she reached her hands down, clasping Aurelia's face, cleansing it of tears, "And if I am separated from you, Chronos, Zeus, all your gods will fear me, for nothing will restrain me," Yancey paused, trying to devise something clever to say as Aurelia had. Alas, the tiny woman was born to command armies and sway minds. And Yancey was Yancey. But, in the end, that would be plenty.

But Aurelia laughed, surprising Yancey, "Chronos is no god, simpleton!" She taunted, and Yancey scoffed.

"Yes he is. I had mythology classes. He's Zeus's father, so he's a god."

"He is Zeus's father, but nevertheless a titan," Aurelia tutted, reaching and grasping Yancey's hand, pulling her back to camp, "I but craft words of praise, only to find them trampled beneath foot of the very same one they regard!"

Yancey chuckled, balling up a fist and tapping it against Aurelia's cheek, "Don't make me whoop your ass again,"

"Memory fails you twice! I was clearly victorious in that bout," Aurelia countered, winking the blackeye that Yancey had given her. 

The two reached the camp, where Adoltlin now sat, alone, strumming his guitar and singing for none other than himself. He eyed the two, changing his tune, "From wood come the birds of a feather to hear the one of song sing. The one of song thought to turn tomcat and catch a peep!"

Yancey erupted with laughter, and Aurelia did chuckle along as well, the little roman woman shaking her head, "Curiosity killed the cat,"

Yancey could hardly huff out her interjection, "Unfortunately, no kitties of any variety were harmed today," Aurelia's mouth dropped, turning towards Yancey with a look of hysterical astonishment.

Aurelia's arms wrapped her scarred stomach, and she did her best to contain a laugh that reverberated through the area. Adoltlin strummed along, chortling and singing, "Each cat yet maintains all nine of their lives; cat one yet laments that a fight did not arise!"

Yancey sang back, "Yet that cat was not the one poised for the fight, but the black cat who sat back as his pants began to rise!" Adoltlin couldn't even play further, toppling back out of his chair, screaming with laughter. Aurelia struggled for breath between laughs, hands clasping Yancey's waiste for support lest she fall as well. Yancey, quite bruised and drunk, lost her balance and the two tumbled to the ground, exploding with laughter. When did this tournament become a musical? 

The door to the cabin exploded off its hinges, all three of the perverted jokesters jumping with surprise, watching as Faust came stepping out, "SHUT THE HELL UP! I AGREED YOU COULD PLAY YOUR DAMN INSTRUMENT, NOT SCREAM AS BANSHEES THOUGH ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT!" His voice seemed louder than that capable of man, and the three scurried like mice up towards their respective cabins. Yancey and Aurelia were located together, and Yancey, respecting Aurelia's wishes, snatched a blanket and took to the floor, leaving a strung-up bed, something like a cross between a hammock and a massive pillow, for the injured Aurelia.

And yet, Aurelia snatched just a pillow, pulling half of Yancey's blanket over herself. Yancey started the question the situation but a finger pressed against her lips. Aurelia's arms looped around Yancey's waist and neck, pulling her in tight. For the first time since they'd arrived, Yancey felt safe, secure in the tiny strategist's arms. She did not want for more, Yancey simply enjoyed the simplicity of the moment. Aurelia was perfection, physically and mentally, and Yancey was graced with not only her presence but her touch.

Aurelia planted a tender kiss on her forehead, sending Yancey into slumber with a whisper, "I wish I could only see a step into the future, for with limited sight, all I would see is you."