What's Klah?

Writers: Suzee, Eimi
Date Posted: 30th September 2010
Series: It takes Time to Love

Characters: U'kaiah, Tavia
Description: Tavia visits DFW and runs into an old friend
Location: Dragonsfall Weyr
Date: month 11, day 5 of Turn 5
Notes: Mentions: Traelyn

Tavia

Tavia hadn't been to Dragonsfall in ages and she kept managing to get
herself turned around in the corridors. Not that she wanted to tell
the child she was transporting to his parent that part. Finally she
found the wing common room she was looking for and the 6 yr old saw
his father. She laughed as the boy ripped his hand from hers and ran
to the tall rider. She'd worked with the healer mother at Dolphin Cove
for several years and was happy to bring the boy over for his visit.
She smiled and waved at the child before she turned to leave and ran
smack into a very large rider.

"Excuse me!" she said and looked up, and up again. She knew that face
she thought. Then she caught sight of his shoulder knot "U'kaiah!" she
said with a pleased smile.

"Good day," the bronzerider smiled and nodded, though didn't make any
move to stop. After all, there weren't many Wingleaders in the Weyr and
he wasn't surprised that he had been recognized.

Tavia realized that she wasn't all that memorable, she got that all
the time and it didn't really bother her. But she remembered him. She
smiled at the memory. "U'kaiah" she said with a tiny pout in her
voice. "Water-ball? Dolphin Cove? You lost?" she laughed up at him.

He stopped, realizing that the woman had truly wanted his attention.
This time he really looked at her face, trying to think back. Waterball
with Dolphin Cove... They had lost many games against Dolphin Cove, so
it was hard to pick out which time she might be referring to. Until
another memory sprung up in his mind. A strong one. One that had
nothing to do with the woman before him.

It was before he and Trae had become lovers. He remembered clearly that
at the get-together they had afterwards, he had met a girl and gone back
to Dolphin Cove with her for a private party of their own. A call had
come through Kalamath that Trae was insisting to see him as soon as
possible. She had been so mad, and he hadn't known why. The Weyrwoman
didn't like the fact that he had spent the night with another woman and
hadn't even thought of taking a little time for her. They had said a
lot of nasty things to each other that day. It took almost a month for
them to make up after that one.

Yes. Now he remembered her.

"Tavia," he finally said, the name coming back to him. Smiling despite
the unpleasant memory, he asked, "How have you been?"

It took him a second but she was glad she wasn't completely
forgettable. Faranth knew he'd probably had his pick of partners. Big,
good looking and a bronzerider. Not like there were a lot of those on
her dance card. Sawauth preferred brown. "Yes," she said "I've been
good." She looked behind her at the happy father and son and shot a
thumb over her shoulder. "Just dispensing a little joy." She looked
him up and down. "You look good in the light of day. How are you
doing?"

"I'm well," his eyes scanned her as well. Her knots - she was in Trae's
Wing. "So how's..." he stopped himself before he could finish that
question. "How's your waterball team this Turn? Do you think you'll
beat us again?"

She could hear the 'almost question' behind the one he asked, Weyr
gossip being what it was. If she'd known at the time he was Traelyns's
she'd never have traded the one night of pleasure for the fear of
hurting
the gold rider. She'd kept her distance from him after that, it wasn't
that hard when they were at different Weyrs. She'd
counted on her own forgettable face and it had worked out quite well.
Even the short trip between hadn't caused her significant heartache.
She couldn't help it this time though. She'd, literally bumped into
him and her mouth had run off before she thought it through.

"Teams shaping up nicely." she smiled. "Of course I'll support the
team line and say we're the best". Her own playing was still good
enough to keep her on the team. "How's yours?"

"Similar, I'm afraid," he smiled, wondering just how they compared.
"Listen, I'm done with my hidework and was searching out a cup of klah.
Do you have time for one?"

She tilted her head a moment. "Sure" she said "Nothing pressing at the
moment. I have a couple of candlemarks before I need to be anywhere.
I'd love to have a cup of klah with you."

"So is reuniting families just a hobby, or are you making a mark on the
side?" he asked turning towards the dinning hall once more.

"Oh Ranari just asked me to bring her son to visit his father. She's a
healer at Dolphin Cove, we've worked together for turns. It was just a
favor for a friend." She said as she turned to follow U'kaiah

A slight smile curled his lips as he remembered more about her. "Ah
yes, I remember, your knowledge of human anatomy was rather impressive."

She smiled with a twinkle in her eye. "I relish my work." she returned.

This time U'kaiah truly laughed. Now he remembered why he decided to
spend his evening with this particular greenrider. A sense of humor was
as memorable as technique. "I bet you do. And it's so very kind of you
to share."

"My pleasure," she quipped "Several times as I recall."

"I can be a demanding patient," he said with a rather smug smile. "But
I like to think I know a thing or two myself." U'kaiah leaned closer to
whisper, "I studied human anatomy extensively as a weyrling, you know."

"I'm sure you are demanding." she said "But I think I know how to
handle a patient." she arched a brow "Perhaps you need an examination
just to see how much you remember. Weyrling classes were a little
while ago."

And that was another thing he had liked about her. She knew what she
wanted and wasn't shy about it. This sounded much more stimulating than
a cup of klah! "Well, you know, I try to practice regularly. Being a
Wingleader and all, I feel it's my duty to be a good role model for my
riders. However, a few pointers from an expert might not be a bad
idea."

"All altruism I'm sure." she said then looked around them "So, why are
we still headed toward the dining hall?"

"We're not," he said with his best bronzerider grin. "Didn't you see
the stairs we past? I gave up on the idea of klah as soon as you
started flirting with me."

"Excellent choice sir." she said and batted her lashes at him "Klah is
overrated." she'd have to thank Ranari later. This trip was turning
out far better than she could ever have expected.

"Now, wine, on the other hand, goes very well with my Wingleader sized
bathing pool." And he hadn't had a bath yet after drills, so she might
appreciate getting him cleaned up before hand.

"Ohhh" she sighed thinking about wet bronzrider. "Wine sounds
wonderful, and there's nothing like a little good clean fun."

"There's no where like a bath to get a little dirty," U'kaiah agreed,
wondering just how long this fun little greenrider would be able to stay
in their little corner of Pern. "I even have a towel you can borrow."

"I couldn't agree more." she said lightly. Her eyes darted around the
corridor and didn't see anyone else. If it took much longer to get
there, he might not get a chance to get anywhere near the water. "how
much further?" she said as she walked backwards a few steps next to
him and her hands began to wander.

U'kaiah took in a deep breath, a little surprised. "I didn't know I was
_that_ memorable. You really missed me, huh?" he asked, hand curling
around her waist. Would she ever consider transferring, he wondered.
"If I told you, you might stop doing that."

She wasn't about to tell him just _how_ interested she'd been. Tavia
preferred to keep things light and fun. Talking about that subject
would simply bring the fun mood down. So instead she teased him with
her eyes. "You were fun" she said in a husky voice.

"You were quite enjoyable yourself," he murmured, his thumb lifting the
hem of her tunic so his fingers could lightly caress her side. Echoing
her thoughts he added, "If you're not careful we won't make it even as
far as my door, let alone into the bath."

"Well then." she said with a mock serious look. "I'll have to be
_very_ careful. Because obviously I'm here for the bath." then giggled
as she dodged away from his hands.

His legs being longer, it wasn't hard for him to catch up to her,
reaching a long arm out to pull her back in even closer. "Where do you
think you're going, greenrider? I didn't dismiss you," he growled,
though his eyes smoldered with approval.

By this time she was laughing and twisted as he grabbed her. Flinging
her arms around his neck "Yes sir," she said a little breathlessly.
"Just let me get out of the leather before you dump me in the pool?
Otherwise it will be a very cold ride back."

He turned her, slightly, walking her back towards the corridor wall.
"Don't worry, Tavia, when I get you in the pool," **_if_ I get you in
the pool,** "you won't have a stitch of clothing left on your body."
With her trapped between his body and the stone wall, he knew there was
little chance of her escaping him now. U'kaiah made sure the kiss he
planted on her lips conveyed fully his intentions.

She was trapped neatly against the wall and the kiss he planted
brought back the memories full force. A chance meeting like this one
didn't allow a girl the chance to play coy. Besides Tavia didn't play
those kinds of games. She wanted to feel him again and gave him back
the kiss with interest, leaving no doubt of her willingness.

Pulling back slightly, breathless, he grinned down at her. "Last chance
for that cup of klah," he said, brows arching teasingly.

Standing on tiptoe her fingers caressed the side of his face. "What's
klah?" she asked every bit as breathless as he.

"Who cares," he grinned, reaching for the handle of the door they had
settled next to. "We're here. Now let's see about getting you out of
those leathers, eh?"

Last updated on the October 1st 2010

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