And She Sleeps...
Dragonsfall Weyr
Amber Hills Hold
Vintner Hall
Healer Hall
Hidden Meadows
Dolphin Cove Weyr
Dolphin Hall
Emerald Falls Hold
Harper Hall
Printer Hall
Green Valley Hold
Leeward Lagoon Hold
Barrier Lake Weyr
Sunstone Seahold
Citrus Bay Hold
Writers: Bree, Eimi
Date Posted: 22nd June 2006
Characters: U'kaiah, Abrei
Description: U'kaiah spends an evening helping Abrei out after her surgery, and manages to talk her out of sulking.
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 12, day 10 of Turn 3
Abrei gave an exhasperated sigh and scowled at the hairbrush in her lap.
Then she gave the bronzerider sitting next to her a narrow-eyed look of warning that said more clearly than words that if he laughed at her, he'd regret it. "So maybe I really did need help tonight, if I'm so wobbly that I can't even brush my hair. But if I can't get it out of my face, I'm going to cut it all off."
"Have I said a single word?" U'kaiah asked as he reached for the brush.
"Don't worry, I've had plenty of experience brushing a girl's hair."
Well, perhaps not _plenty_ of experience, but he was trying to pacify the sulky healer. He knew she hated playing the role of patient. "Now just let me know if I'm hurting you."
"They gave me so much medication to numb my leg that I doubt I'll notice," Abrei replied in an even more sulky voice. "And I don't care if my hair is brushed. I just want it out of my face."
U'kaiah chuckled. "Then what do you even _need_ a brush for? You just need to tie it back."
"I was going to braid it," Abrei replied grumpily. "It's the easiest way to keep it out of the way. And don't laugh at me, or I'll take that brush back and smack you with it." An empty threat seeing as she was feeling woozy enough from the medication to find sitting upright a challenge, but it made her feel better to say it.
"If I didn't have a healthy respect for your aim, I would say that I could escape you easily enough just by running around the room," U'kaiah replied with a silent smile. He began combing her hair back with his fingers.
Abrei snorted. "You're not nearly as funny as you think you are."
"Oh, now if you weren't drugged up on numbing medication I would remind you just how much fun I am," he said as he pulled her hair back and playfully nipped at her neck.
"Fun's not the same as funny," she muttered, but she didn't seem eager to pull away. The feeling of his fingers sliding through her hair was wonderfully soothing. The feeling of vulnerability that had been setting her temper on edge all evening was starting to fade now that she was away from M'galec and settled in her weyr with someone she trusted. "Ah, but which is the better attribute?" U'kaiah chuckled as he silently pondered his rhetorical question a moment. "So, do you want me to braid your hair then?"
"Mmmhmmm." Her eyes had drifted shut. "I'd say you could keep doing that, but I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to be sitting upright for. I'm already feeling a little... tilty. Am I tilting?"
"Yes, but that's because you're leaning," U'kaiah chuckled. "Do you have a hairtie?"
"Over there somewhere." Her vague gesture took in a good third of her weyr. "I shouldn't have let you make me take my medicine before I was already ready," she continued, listing a little more to the side. "But it doesn't really hurt anymore. And I think I feel less upset." "Upset? Why would you feel upset?" U'kaiah asked as he wrapped an arm around her to pull he back upright. "Here, lean back against me and you won't tilt so much."
Abrei wasn't sure how he planned on braiding her hair with her leaning against him. "Why wouldn't I feel upset? I can't take care of myself. It makes me grumpy." "Well, don't you enjoy having someone take care of you every once in a while?" he asked as he pondered the same problem. Maybe if he lifted her hair above her head? Or maybe if he just kept her talking until she forgot that he he was sposed to be doing something? And how in Faranth's name was he supposed find a hairtie from way over here?
"No." Abrei relaxed back against him, turning her head into his shoulder. "Well, maybe. But not if it's because I can't do it myself."
"Well, yeah, it can be rather annoying to have to rely on others," the bronzerider murmured as he ran his fingers through her hair again. "But it won't last forever. You'll be running around good as new here in just a couple sevendays, just you watch." Abrei smiled against his shoulder. "I'm really glad we're not in love, U'kaiah," she said sleepily, obviously feeling more than a little unguarded with all of the painkillers in her system. "The sex might be nicer when you're in love, but I don't think the broken hearts are worth it."
"I'm... glad I can satisfy you with so few complications," U'kaiah replied, trying not to laugh outright. "What brought this insight to mind?" She shrugged a little akwardly, not opening her eyes. "I think my heart is still broken. I thought it would be better by now, but I don't know how to fix it." The bronzerider snorted. "Shards, if you ever figure it out, let me know, will you?" "I did." She craned her neck back to look up at him. "You just don't fall in love to begin with. I've decided that can't fail. Logically infallible." "Oh Abrei, not even _I_ am immune from falling in love," he sighed. "The damage has already been done, I'm afraid."
"Mmmmmm." The thoughtful noise was followed by a long silence that was finally interrupted by a gentle snore. "Aaaaaand she sleeps." Typical. Why was it every time a woman wanted sex he was oh so interesting, but when he tried to talk to a women about how he truly felt... Ah well. At least he got out of braiding her hair...
Last updated on the June 22nd 2006