Everyone Deserves a Second Chance

Writers: Avery, Jelena
Date Posted: 26th November 2016

Characters: Genna, K'ran
Description: The morning after the reconciliation.
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 6, day 22 of Turn 8
Notes: Mentioned: A'kua

Genna

K'ran

Genna almost purred as she woke, feeling the warmth of K'ran beside
her radiate into her body. Propping herself up on one elbow, she
studied his still sleeping face and the chestnut brown hair with a
loving smile around her lips. Oh how lucky she was, waking up next to
this man. Even if it was just for the one night, she was happy they'd
had it.

Letting herself fall back on her pillow, she snuggled a little closer,
knowing he'd probably wake up soon.

The feeling of a warm body beside his was the big clue that something
was unusual. That wasn't something he was generally used to as part of
his day to day routine. So K'ran blinked awake quicker than normal. He
was in an unfamiliar weyr and bed. Then he realized that this wasn't
as unfamiliar as he expected - it was Genna's weyr at Dragonsfall.
Because she'd invited him back. Trusted him enough to.

His hand moved across the bed, seeking hers with the intent of holding
it. "Good morning," he whispered.

"Mornin'." Now Genna actually did purr and as she took his hand and
curled her legs around him. "I liked that after-party even more than
the Hatching party itself," she murmured in a husky voice. She had no
regrets. Well, apart from a very sulky Lissath on her ledge, of
course. Two slights in one night: going to a party at another Weyr
without her and inviting 'him' back with her. There would be words
later.

"I did too," he said, stroking her hand with his fingers and marveling
at lying beside her. "I wish this could happen all the time."

"Hmm, me too," Genna agreed. But they couldn't and she shouldn't
torment herself thinking about that too much. She should just enjoy
the moment she had right here, right now. "But I'm glad it's happening
now." She yawned sleepily and started tracing his contours with one
finger. "Do you have a busy day ahead?"

"Not particularly. The usual work, as much as we can call anything
usual. I don't do drills today, there's no Thread, no planned event at
a major Hold..."

"Hmmm. Same here." Genna stroked his upper leg seductively. "Want to
play hooky for a bit longer, then?"

"I think it can be arranged. I can always make time if I have to," he
said, leaning to kiss her deeply.

Genna took advantage of his kiss to wriggle just a little closer and a
happy little moan escaped her. How blessed she felt to have him there
just a little longer still!

His hands skimmed down her body and paused when he felt a shift in
texture. Looking down, he saw a bruise. And then near it, another one.
"Did something happen?"

"Hmm?" Genna didn't get what K'ran meant at first and then she caught
sight of her bruises. Ah. Those. She wasn't sure how K'ran would take
her training with A'kua, she had gotten some mixed reactions from the
people she'd told so far. "That's nothing," she tried to brush the
subject off.

"Training accident?" he guessed, hoping she was okay.

"Oh, you've heard?" Genna said, obviously somewhat relieved that he
hadn't made a big deal out of it and not realizing he could be talking
about any kind of training. "It's a bit a part of the deal, you know,
and I don't mind. I guess I'm actually quite proud of them." It was a
proof to herself that she was getting tougher and learning all these
skills that could save her life one day.

K'ran paused for a moment. "I didn't think queens handled firestone, though."

"Oh, it's not from firestone," Genna replied slowly, realizing her
mistake too late. Nothing left but to 'fess up now. "I mean my
training with A'kua. He's been teaching me self defense."

"Self-defense?" Of all the things she could have said, this one was
surprising. Why would she need any - beyond the weyrling training
classes - oh. He remembered why he'd come back to Dragonsfall to speak
with her and start their reconciliation, and spoke again.

"Is this from the Gather incident?"

Genna nodded seriously, her playful mood from earlier gone at the
mention of that particular incident. "I felt so.. helpless, I never
want to feel like that again."

"I'm so glad you weren't hurt. And I understand." He remembered again
the stab of fear at the idea she could have been badly wounded, and
understood. He'd faced his own share of physical challenges, after
all.

"So he's teaching you to protect yourself? How is it going?"

"Well, I'm actually enjoying it, to be honest," Genna laughed a bit
uncertainly. "It feels good to be able to, you know, toss a strong guy
like A'kua around. It's a matter of knowing the right tricks. Though I
realize it would be very different in a real situation." But at least
she'd feel better prepared now.

But a part of him thought about A'kua's hands on her, tossing her
around and hitting her, and felt a flare of irritation that she was
getting hurt, that the other bronzerider was doing the hurting. If
she'd needed that kind of protection, why not ask the member of the
weyrlingstaff who'd taught the lessons? Another woman, who'd know what
women needed to fight? Why'd it have to be another bronzerider? The
thoughts flurried around in his mind.

"It's size and leverage as well as power. You've probably got the same
disadvantages against A'kua that I do sparring most men," K'ran said.
He was trying to think about that kind of training in clinical terms
like that - to think of how Genna would do best in defense. If he
thought of it as a puzzle of training, it was fine. It would _be_
fine.

"Yes, but also a lower center of gravity, which can be a big
advantage!" Genna said, obviously proud she'd learned that. She could
sense K'ran wasn't entirely pleased, but she decided then to herself
that it mattered more how she felt about it. If K'ran truly cared for
her, and she was sure he did, he'd support her in this, too.

"In fact, if you're dealing with a taller person," he said.

"Exactly," Genna replied, feeling relieved K'ran wasn't making an
issue out of it. "And I do like getting stronger. I mean, caring for
Lissath is exercise enough, but I feel this training has made me
stronger and fitter in an entirely different way."

"I wonder what style he's teaching you," the bronzerider said, the
academic curiosity warring with the wash of jealousy. "What I mean is,
you remember the ritualized defense and throws of weyrling training?
Some guards are taught a more disciplined style, like that. Others are
taught a more aggressive and chaotic "anything goes"."

"More of a 'get the job done and get away' style," Genna laughed. "I
don't intend on staying in a dangerous situation longer than
necessary, I'm being taught what I need to do to buy me enough time to
get away."

"Practical," he said. Then, trying to lighten the mood - "I suppose I
should be glad you couldn't throw me around a few months ago."

"Very!" Genna replied with a twinkle in her eyes, though she
remembered she hadn't really wanted to hurt him back then. She'd just
been sad and confused rather than angry. "I'd have totally kicked your
backside."

"Dropped me off a weyrledge?" he joked.

"Nah, probably a ravine somewhere, so no one would have found your
body," Genna winked.

"What a terrible fate," he said, winking back. "I'm glad you didn't
drop me, and instead were willing to go on a trip and give me another
chance," he said more seriously.

"Everyone deserves a second chance," Genna said a little more
seriously now. "And you certainly stepped up to the opportunity."

"I'm glad you have that faith in me, and I'll try to prove worthy of
it." And he meant every word.

"Good," Genna said with a happy sigh as she laid her head to his chest again.

Last updated on the November 30th 2016

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Everyone Deserves a Second Chance