A Break from the Drama (1/2)

Writers: Devin, Dana
Date Posted: 19th May 2006

Characters: N'vanik, Traelyn
Description: N'vanik takes Trae out for some fun and relaxation
Location: Dolphin Cove Weyr, Elsewhere on Pern
Date: month 11, day 28 of Turn 3

N'vanik

"Morning, Beautiful," N'vanik said as he entered the weyr. "How about I take you out of here for a little while?"

Dressed in nothing but the shirt she usually slept in, and with her hands cupping a full mug of klah, she blinked blearily up at him from her partially sprawled position on the sofa. "What, dressed like this?" Trae gave him a sleepy grin.

He put his hands on his hips and studied her for a moment. "Hmmm . . . I suppose you should put something more on. That doesn't look warm enough for /between/," he said with a teasing smile.

Sitting up straighter, she took a long sip of her sweetened klah before setting it aside. "/Between/, huh? Where're we going?" she asked, stretching.

"I was thinking we could go to that clearing I brought you to a while ago.
I brought a ball with me, so maybe we could toss it around or something."

Trae stood up, giving him a mock-suspicious look. "Or something, hmm?"
she teased, coming close to give him a quick kiss on the cheek before heading to the sleeping room. "Sounds fun. Let me just throw on some pants and a shirt... You can have some klah or rolls or whatever's on the table if you want," she called as she disappeared from view. Faranth, it was going to be so nice to get out! And it was a gorgeous day too...

N'vanik glanced at the table and saw that there were indeed rolls. Taking one, he sat down on the couch and took a bite. Back at Dragonsfall it was the middle of the night, and he'd had klah before he left. Spending time with Trae was well worth skipping sleep.

Trae was still in the process of lacing up a clean shirt when she finally came out of her room. "Must've slept all afternoon to be here so early, huh?" she asked with a knowing smile.

The bronzerider nodded. "I had a nap." He took another bite of the roll.

Grabbing her boots, she came over to sit beside him. Then, after a quick debate with herself, she decided to finish her mug of klah before lacing them up. After all, she wasn't _really_ awake until she had her first cup. "Do you need me to pack anything to eat for later?" she asked after taking another swallow.

"I brought something for lunch, but you can bring something else if you want to." N'vanik stuck the last bite of the roll in his mouth and licked icing off his finger.

"No, that's fine," she replied, watching him finish his roll. "Unless you forgot to bring wine?"

He grinned. "Nope. I brought that too." It was surprising he had any alcohol left after drinking so much during his grounding. "Ready to go?"

After tying off the last knot in her boot laces, she grinned at him and stood. "Mm-hmm. Ready."

~*~

Thankfully, the weather was nice and early morning sun glinted off the dragons' hides as they spiraled lazily down to the clearing. After landing, N'vanik dismounted and began to remove Loseth's riding straps.
Now that he had Trae here, he didn't know what to say. Asking how things were going might remind her of whatever was bothering her, if indeed it was still going on.

Suddenly her arms slipped around his waist from behind, her lips pressed lightly against the side of his neck. "You're awfully quiet, N'vanik,"
she murmured after kissing him there. "Even for you." This last bit was a quiet tease.

"Just . . . thinking," he said as he laid his arms over hers.

"Oh? About what?"

He gently pulled her arms off so he could turn to face her. "You." N'vanik smiled and kissed her.

"And they're good thoughts, I take it?" she asked once their lips parted, her dark eyes glinting up into his.

**They are now.** "Mmm-hmm." He moved a hand up and down her back. "So, what would you like to do?"

"Well, it seems like we have a couple options, don't we? We could either take a dip in that river over there. Looks deep enough." Her hands slid down his sides. "We could throw that ball you said you brought around. I'll have you know, I'm _very_ good at 'keep-away'." Her fingers of each hand linked behind him. "Or..."

"Unless you need to get back soon, we have time enough for everything."
N'vanik bent to kiss along her neck.

"Mmmm...no..." Trae tilted her head to the side, offering him more skin. Shards, but that felt really nice. "Don't have to get back soon..."

"Good." He brushed his lips along her jawline. "Then we can take things slow."

"Are we still talking about..." Mmmmm. "...swimming? And...keep-away?"

"Now whoever heard of a slow game of keep-away?" N'vanik asked as he pulled her toward the soft grass, still kissing along her neck and jaw.

A wicked grin curved her lips as she slid a hand into his hair. "That depends on what context you're taking...keep-away...in, doesn't it?"

He chuckled. "I suppose you're right." His hands slid along her sides, shifting the fabric of her shirt.

Her fingers followed a similar path, gently pulling his shirt tail from his trousers as she leaned forward to brush her lips against his neck. "I can be right sometimes, bronzerider," she murmured, her nails lightly caressing up his spine.

The sensation was wonderful. With eyes half-lidded, he lifted her arm and kissed the inside of her elbow.

Curling her arm so that his head was gently cradled there, her fingers combing through his hair, she moved closer, delighting in the way his lips felt against the sensitive flesh on the inside of her arm.

With his attention turned toward caress and kiss, other thoughts faded.
Maybe, if only for a little while, the shadows that hung over him -- over both of them -- could be chased away.

Last updated on the May 19th 2006

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A Break from the Drama (1/2)