#admiralswekoreporting

[admiralsweko]

Rhyiona Week 2023 Day Five

Prompt: Legend

Cross My Heart

You, I can make you love me

Even when I take it all -- Always by Great Good Fine OK

He’d heard the stories. They echoed in his ears, even now, as he delved deeper into the woods. According to the tales Rhys had known most of his life, somewhere deep in this forest lay a spring, a wonder to behold and rumored to be the home of a nymph. It was said that kings and paupers alike used to visit the sacred site, offering any and all for a single boon.

Now, he was making the journey. 

Lost in thought, he fingered the patch over his left eye idly. He prayed that the stories were true. He had spent the last of his meager savings in an effort to track down this legend. Pulling his compass from the pocket of his doublet, he confirmed he was still headed in the correct direction. A short time later, he came upon his destination. 

Nature had reclaimed the marble columns that arched majestically around the perimeter of the little clearing, draping the solid white stone with choking green vines. Stepping around a toppled-over pillar, he surveyed the area. Bathed in sunlight streaming in from a break in the dense tree canopy overhead, the spring was an oasis of natural beauty. Patches of scarlet wild flowers dotted the thick carpet of grass underfoot, even sprouting in the cracks between the moss spotted boulders that lined the cerulean waters of the spring.

“Hello?” He called out, not truly expecting an answer. None came. 

Sliding his pack from his shoulder, he crouched to dig inside the leather bag. From it, he withdrew the items necessary to complete the summoning ritual. 

Atop the flat surface of one of the rocks, he laid out the assortment: a small sachet, a pair of old coins, and a scrap of paper. With trembling fingers, he untied the knot that held the sachet closed. Spreading the leather out, a grim menagerie of objects were disclosed. He flinched at the sight of the tiny bird skull amid the dried herbs, fine powdery ash, and other small bones he hoped were of animal origin. Carefully, he placed the two coins on top, mindful the king’s bust faced downward as the witch that had set him on this path had strictly instructed.

He pulled his dirk from the sheath at his hip. Taking a deep shuddering breath, he steadied himself before slicing into his palm. He winced as the sharp edge of the blade bit into his skin with ease and hot, red blood welled quickly. His dripping hand hovering above the coins, he recited the words scrawled on the paper. 

The ritual complete, he looked around expectantly, but found he remained alone. With a defeated sigh, he shook the excess blood from his wound and leaned forward to rinse it off in the waters below. 

I should have known better, he admonished himself. Only a fool would go off chasing fairy tales. 

As he dipped his hand into the cool liquid, something wrapped around his wrist. Shocked, a startled sound escaped him and he tried to withdraw, taking whatever it was with him. 

Encircling his wrist was a delicate hand, slender feminine fingers with nails tipped in turquoise color. Unbelieving of his own eyes, he watched dumbstruck as a woman emerged gracefully from the depths of the spring. Water streamed down her body, splashing back into the pool with a melodious chime. Half submerged, she was a vision unlike anything he’d ever seen before.

Clothed in a swath of damp fabric, it draped artfully along her curves. Her bare skin shimmered, the water droplets clinging to her reflecting the sunlight. Long russet-colored hair lay over one shoulder, shot through with a fiery red streak of a similar shade to the wildflowers that grew nearby. Sparkling emerald eyes gazed at him. 

“My, my,” she spoke. “What do we have here?” 

She took in the bloodied display of items still laid neatly atop the rock. Her eyes met his once more and she raised a scarred brow. A soft smirk graced her ruby lips. Her voice was like music as she said, “This is some old magic for such a young thing like you.” 

“I– I–” he struggled to formulate a response. His mouth opened and closed as his brain stalled. “I came to see you,” he blurted.

A gentle tinkle of laughter escaped her as her smirk melted into a genuine smile. “Oh, sweetling. If you wanted me this badly, all you had to do was call upon me. Aww,” she cooed, her attention turning to the open wound sliced across his palm, ”Now you’ve gone and hurt yourself.” 

Belatedly, Rhys realized she still held his wrist in her grasp. He watched as she raised his hand to her lips and planted a soft kiss to his cut. When their eyes met again, his heart skipped a beat. Transfixed by her emerald gaze, time spun out, a moment stretching into eons. Distantly he was aware of a tingling sensation that zipped along his wound and up his arm. Tearing himself away from her bewitching stare, he withdrew his hand from her gentle grip, took a step back, and glanced down to see his cut had fully healed. A faint thin seam of a scar was the only indication it had been there at all. 

“Now, seeing as how you’ve gone to so much trouble to summon me,” she came forward and leaned against the rocks lining the edge of the pool. Propping herself up against the flat ledge of a boulder, she rested her chin in her palm and looked up at him with expectant amusement, “What brings you here?” 

“Uh, Um, of course,” he shook his head in an attempt to straighten his scattered thoughts. “M– M’lady, I, um, wanted— If it pleases you–” Out of his element, he stuttered over his words, “ I-I’ve heard tales of your generosity and I seek to implore upon your benevolence.” 

“Ah, but it has been quite some time since anyone has come to beseech me,” she said brightly. “Tell me. What can I do for you?”

Nervous, Rhys cleared his throat before explaining, “There is a maiden in my town. She has come of marriageable age. I seek to ask for her hand, but her father is a wealthy man. A merchant tradesmen of some repute. I fear he would not be impressed by my meager offerings, if I were to approach him now. Hence, I’ve traveled here to…” he trailed off, apprehension gnawing at his insides. Speaking his words out loud, he realized how fatuous it sounded. 

“You’ve come to me,” she filled in, “in hopes of a significant boon that might sway this man to see you as a choice candidate for his daughter's hand. But is this a question of love,” she asked, tilting her head inquisitively. “Do you care for this maiden?” 

“I’m not certain I understand,” he flushed at the inquiry, unsure as to how to answer. “What difference does it make?”

Her lips twisted into a strange smile. The expression vanished as quickly as it had appeared. She shrugged, “Truthfully, it matters not. I am just a curious creature.” A knowing look settled upon her graceful features. ”But no doubt this betrothal would benefit you greatly, with more than just a pretty wife?” 

“Y-Yes, my lady,” he admitted reluctantly. “If I were to succeed in this advantageous match, my limited prospects in life would broaden, that is true. So will you help me?” 

She was silent for a moment as she mulled it over. Her eyes narrowed as she searched his face. 

“Wait here,” she bade him before disappearing under the surface of the water. Left alone, he nervously awaited her return. 

She resurfaced once more, putting forth a cupped palm. Nestled in her hand was the largest pearl Rhys had laid eyes upon. Black in color, it shone with a hypnotizing iridescence.

“This should serve to impress your maiden’s father,” she said with a smirk.

Rhys nodded mindlessly as he reached out to take the shimmering pearl.

“Ah, ah,” she admonished, closing her fingers and pulling away. “If you’ve heard tales told of me, you will know that I don’t offer anything out of the goodness of my heart. What do you propose to exchange for this courtesy?”

“Of course, my lady. My apologies.” 

He hastily patted at his pockets before remembering the pack at his feet. He bent to it and withdrew a small velvet pouch. Loosening the drawstring, he unfolded the cloth to reveal a delicate filigreed hair comb of fine wire, studded with small sparkling stones. 

“This was my late grandmother’s,” he explained. “Although not valuable in coin, it is of great sentimental worth to me. It is all I have to offer.” 

“Hmm,” she pondered, her eyes on the comb. Anticipation quickened the drum of his heart. “Yes, I believe this will suffice.”

Relief washed over him, immediately followed by a heady sense of excitement. They exchanged their goods; Rhys taking the pearl into the velvet sachet recently vacated by his grandmother’s comb. Wrapping it up, he tucked the treasure into his pack.

“Thank you, my lady,” he nodded respectfully, desperately trying to keep his excitement hidden under the veneer of manners.

“The pleasure was mine,” she said, “And please, call me Fiona.” 

“I’m honored to have met you… Fiona.”

“And what, pray tell, is your name, most intrepid sir,” she asked, a chuckle in her tone.

“Rhys, uh, my name is Rhys.” 

“Ah, Rhys," she smiled beatifically, her face lighting as she spoke his name out loud, “That’s lovely. Well, I wish you good fortune with your impending engagement.” 

With a wave of her hand, she slipped soundlessly beneath the surface of the water once more. 

()()()

Stumbling through the underbrush, Rhys panted as he came upon the spring. 

“Fiona!” he bellowed the nymph’s name angrily. Despite the week’s span that had unfolded since his disgrace, the bitterness was still fresh. Every step he’d taken on his journey back to this oasis further reminded him of the rube he was and the rebuff he had suffered.  

He called out once more, his hands at fists by his sides. 

“Well, hello again, Rhys.” In the space of a blink, she pushed up from the watery depths,  appearing even more captivating than he remembered. “I can’t say I expected–”

“You played me for a fool,” he interrupted her. Pulling the small velvet sachet from his pocket, he opened it. Inside, the great shining pearl he’d so admired had transformed into a damp, shiny brown lump. He cast aside the offending mass against the rocks of her pool, where the thick clump of wet mud splattered along the side of a boulder. 

“What is the meaning of this?” he demanded. “Do you realize what you’ve done?”

“I suppose the proposal didn’t quite go as planned.” Amusement danced in her eyes. 

“I was humiliated. Alyssandra’s father laughed in my face when I asked for her hand.” Defeat rounded his shoulders. “She’s– she’s been betrothed to another.” 

“Alas, it was for the best, I imagine. You didn’t want to marry that girl,” she stated matter-of-factly ”No matter the advantages such a match might have presented, I saved you from a lifetime of boredom."

Pinching the bridge of his nose, he sighed resignedly. His anger ebbed away in the face of the truth. As much as he was loath to admit it, she was right. The memory of the half hour he’d spent in the company of the dull-witted young woman he’d so bent on marrying haunted him. 

“I suppose you want me to thank you, then,” he said sarcastically. “For your good deed?” 

An imperious smirk graced the nymph’s beautiful face. “A little gratitude would be welcomed.”

Unable to contain his exasperation, he rolled his eyes. “I’ve returned to retrieve my grandmother’s comb. Let’s have it.”

“No,” she flatly refused. Her hand reached up to the comb nestled in her hair behind her ear, fingers tracing the little glass stones tenderly. “The deal was struck. You received your boon. It matters not if you were unsatisfied after the fact. I, on the other hand, am quite pleased with our trade.” 

“But you tricked me!” he snapped, irritation spiking once more. 

“That’s a harsh way to put it,” she admonished playfully. “In the end, our trade was a barter for objects of equal value. I was merely less forthcoming as to the quality of my item as you were of yours.”  

“Fine,” he scoffed, outmatched. Frustrated at her arrogance, he threw his hands up and turned to leave.

“Rhys, wait,” she called out, causing him to hesitate. “I’m not completely heartless. Since you’ve come all this way, perhaps we can broker another exchange. Perchance for something more appealing than some silly girl’s favor or a worthless trinket?”

Everything within him screamed that he should continue on his way and forget this place even existed. But he found himself turning to face her once more. 

“What could you possibly have to offer me after all this,” he implored wearily, gesturing to the muddied rock. 

“Your eye.”

Instinctively, he reached up, his fingers brushing against the smooth leather of his patch. Her unexpected overture gave him pause. 

“How can I be assured that you won’t trick me again?”

“You can’t,” she stated plainly, “You’ll just have to trust me. But what have you got to lose?”

He was silent for a moment as he pondered that fact. Finally, he asked, “What would you want in exchange?” 

“Ah, therein lies the real question, my dear,” her head tipped as she lifted a brow. “What can you offer me?” 

He raised his hands in surrender, “Alas, I have nothing of any importance to give. As you know, I am a poor man, in coin and title.” 

“I don’t want your coin, boy,” she scoffed, “What good would coin do me, out here in these wilds?” She extended her arms to take in the expanse of forest that surrounded them. “No,” she shook her head as that honeyed smile quirked her lips once more. “I want something you haven’t given another soul.” 

Despite himself, his curiosity stirred, tempered by a fair amount of caution. “And what, pray tell, could that be?”

“All in due time,” she laughed merrily. “First, that eye of yours.” 

She dove beneath the surface of the pool. Rhys waited, his anxiety telling him to turn tail and run. Before he could heed his better judgment, however, she resurfaced. In her hand, she held a small clay salve pot. She tossed it to him and he caught it. 

“Apply that to your eye every night before sleep. It will give you wicked dreams but by the time the salve is gone, you will have sight in your eye once more.” 

“Th–Thank you,” he said, hesitantly as he tucked the little pot in his pocket. “Now, what do you want in return?”

“Come closer,” she beckoned.

She glided up to the rocky perimeter of the spring and leaned out over the flat surface of a boulder. From her perch, he could glimpse translucent patches of iridescent scales that shimmered in the sunlight along her skin, revealing her true nature. Confronted with this reminder that he was dealing with no ordinary woman, his eyes narrowed as he held his ground.

“Come, come,” she urged him forward, curling a finger at him.

Cautiously, he stepped closer to the edge of the pool. Still she beckoned him lower, until finally he dropped to one knee before her. Now, face to face, her eyes sparkled mesmerizingly. The sweet smile on her lips soothed his wild nerves.

“What is it that you require in return?” he asked again softly. 

“Just a kiss,” she replied, the very picture of enchanting innocence. 

Confused, his brows pulled together for a moment. “But I thought you desired something I had never given another,” he reminded her. 

“I do.”

Amusement suffused him and he smiled. “This may surprise you, my lady, but I have given a kiss before.”

“I have no doubt as to your prowess with fair maidens,” she said sardonically, “but a kiss is what I require.” 

Puzzled by her request, he searched her expression for any hint of subterfuge. She gazed back at him guilelessly. 

Finally, he conceded, “As you wish, my lady.” 

He leaned forward slowly. As the space between them shortened, he watched her intently, wary of any treachery. With none forthcoming, he proceeded to press a soft, chaste kiss to her lips. He was withdrawing quickly when she grabbed a handful of the front of his doublet, halting his progress. 

“Hmm,” she hummed skeptically. A wicked gleam shone in her gaze. “I think we can do better than that.” 

Before he could react, she pulled him in again. His eyes widened as she kissed him fully. Her lips were cold against his, a sensation he hadn’t registered on that initial contact. She brought her other hand to his cheek, the chill making him gasp in shock. In great contrast, her tongue was hot as it slipped into his mouth, a warm, slick caress that shook him to his core. 

Instantly bewitched, he was completely at her mercy. His eyes drifted closed as he yielded to her. Sensing his surrender, she retreated and nipped at his lower lip. The unexpected scrape of her teeth against that sensitive surface drew a hushed grunt of pleasure and surprise from him. Quickly, she ran her tongue over the nibble, soothing as well as coaxing him to meet her advancement. Enticed, he obeyed, uniting with her once more in a velvety harmony that set his blood aflame. With every thunderous heartbeat, he succumbed even further to the torrid, wet magic of her kiss. It was true, he had been kissed before, but the memories of those hasty or hesitant exchanges melted away in the feverishness of this connection. 

When she finally relented, he found himself panting for air like a drowning man. Still holding him close, she pressed her forehead to his and laughed breathlessly. “I’d say that’s a good start.” 

“For–for what?” he asked, his thoughts still scattered. 

“Oh, my dear sweet Rhys,” she purred his name, causing the hair on the nape of his neck to stand. “You see, this kiss wasn’t my payment. At least, not in full.” She looked him deeply in the eyes as her thumb brushed against his lips. Her other hand unclenched from his doublet, her palm spreading flat against his chest. “For your end of the bargain, you have to give me your heart.” 

“My-My what?” Crashing back to his senses, he was horrified. Quickly, he pulled away from her. In his haste,  he lost his balance, landing on his rear with a thud. Gaining his feet, he stumbled away, trying to put distance between them. 

“Don’t be so alarmed, sweet one,” she chuckled. “I speak only figuratively. I intend you no harm.”

“Wha–” he scrambled to understand, “What is the meaning of this?” 

She shrugged as she smiled that wicked grin, merriment shining in her eyes. “A goddess is only as powerful as when she is worshiped, Rhys. And it hurts to be forgotten. This ensures you’ll never forget me.” 

“ But– But how does one kiss equal my heart?” he demanded. 

“As I said, darling, it’s a start.”

Pushing away from the rocks and into the water, she lengthened herself out to float along the surface of her pool. Arms lazily stroking through the clear blue waters, she was the embodiment of carefree elegance. 

Head tipped back, she looked to the sky as she continued, “Soon, you will find I am always in the back of your mind. Your body will ache for my touch, your lips will yearn for my kiss. No matter where you go, you will long to return to me.” 

“Folly,” he spit out the word. Rekindled anger burned hot in his stomach. “I don’t know what your aim is, but I can assure you I have no intention of ever setting foot in these woods again.” 

Resolute in his conviction, he spun on his heel. 

“You’ll be back,” she sang out behind him. Her delighted laughter sounded musically in the air. 

Outraged, he rushed headlong into the surrounding forest. He rubbed the rear of his hand against his mouth in a vain attempt to scrub the events that had just unfolded away as he tried to reject the notion of her words from his thoughts. 

There was no truth to her proposition, he reassured himself. It’s all just the mad contrivances of a nefarious sprite bent on toying with me.

Even as he repeated the conviction endlessly, a seed of dissent blossomed in the back of his mind. The remembered warmth of her kiss burned like a fire across his nerves, the heady rush of her tongue as it tangled with his own lingered. Hopelessly vexed, he desperately pushed down the bittersweet memory of her lips against his and hurried on his way.

[admiralsweko]

Rhyiona Week 2023 Day Four

Prompt: Temptation

In the Small Hours

Like a devil on my shoulder you keep whispering in my ear

And it's gettin' hard for me to do the right thing here

I wanna do the right thing, baby

- You Should Probably Leave by Chris Stapleton

Beep, Beep, Beep!

Distantly, Rhys registered the sound of his morning alarm chiming. Fighting his way to wakefulness, he automatically turned toward the holographic clock emitting from the surface of the nightstand and dismissed the alert with a swipe. His head hit the pillow once more with a muted thump. Although sleep beckoned invitingly, he knew he had to get started on the day. He rubbed his hand across his face and pushed himself up to seated, trying to shake the last vestiges of rest from his slumberous mind. 

Glancing over, he saw through the soft shadows of neon light glowing from the window that the alarm hadn’t roused his companion. Still sleeping peacefully, Fiona’s eyes remained closed tightly. Her deep, steady breath whistled through her slightly parted lips. A scarlet lock of hair lay across her cheek, inviting Rhys to brush it aside. His caress was tender as he tucked the stray strands in line. These were the moments he treasured dearly, when she was not only her most vulnerable, but completely at peace. His heart brimming with drowsy adoration, he leaned over and planted a kiss to her cheek. She mumbled softly in her sleep; a wordless noise of protest or acknowledgement, of which he wasn’t quite sure.

Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, his feet automatically found their home in his favorite well worn slippers. A yawn overtook him, followed by a stretch. Arms reaching overhead, his back arched.

“Rhys?” A sleepy voice spoke his name behind him.

Glancing over his shoulder at her, he smiled at the charming sight of her blinking up at him. “Hey,” he whispered. “Good morning. Sorry if I woke you.” 

“Ugh, what time is it?” Never much of an early riser, she rubbed at her eyes before looking to the window. “It’s still dark out?” 

“It’s early,” he replied with a grin. “Go back to sleep.” 

She gave a disgruntled huff. Expecting her to turn over and fall back to sleep, he opened the digital interface of his mechanical palm and began reviewing his schedule for the day. He sighed as he scratched at the back of his head. It was going to be a long day. Mentally plotting out his approach for the task of so many sequential meetings, he barely acknowledged the small hand  that rubbed against his bare back and up along a length of his spine. Soon, the hand was joined by its twin. 

“You’re nice and warm,” she mumbled. 

He felt the bed shift under her weight as she scooted closer. She pressed into him from behind, her knees bumping into his tailbone. Her hands slid up the muscles of his back, coming to rest at his shoulders.

“Whatcha looking at?” she murmured over his shoulder. 

“My schedule,” he replied, absentmindedly. 

“Hmm, busy, busy, busy,” she hummed as her left hand slipped down his bicep. 

“Well, it comes with the–” he trailed off, his entire train of thought fizzling out in the wake of the heated kiss she pressed to his shoulder. 

Awareness of her amorous intentions flooded his body with heat. Her left hand continued its lazy journey down the back of his arm and slipped effortlessly under it, her fingers splayed against his ribs as she made her way towards his chest. Electricity danced across his skin, awakening his nerves.

All the while, she kissed along his shoulder, her lips leaving sweet lingering love bites. Her right hand slid up into his hair and took the short locks in a loose grip. Lost in the sensation of her attention, his eyes fluttered closed as he momentarily surrendered to the pleasure. Her kisses coming up to his neck, she gave his hair a gentle tug, coaxing him to bare his throat for her. 

“Fi,” he breathed her name. Even as he obliged her seductive urging, he knew he shouldn’t give in. He really had no time to spare today. 

She acknowledged him with a nibble at the sweet spot where his neck met his shoulder.

I can’t. I really shouldn’t. I have too much to do this morning. 

She took his earlobe between her teeth and gave it a harmless tug. The litany of excuses grew quieter as his will weakened further.

Trying to gather his wits, he grabbed her left wrist, halting her progress as she smoothed her fingers across his chest. “Fi,” he swallowed, trying to quench his parched throat. “I really need to get up.” 

Her laugh was soft as it fluttered against his neck. “Well, Mr. CEO, it seems to me you already are.” 

As she spoke, she ignored his hold on her wrist, instead trailing her fingers down his abdomen until the tips of her fingers played under the elastic band of his pajama pants. His cheeks flushed as he realized her double entendre.

He stifled a low groan as she moved lower. 

“Stay with me,” she whispered in his ear. “Five more minutes, I swear.” 

Despite recognizing it for the lie it was, he was powerless to resist her. Swiftly, he tugged her wrist as he shifted on the bed, gracefully pulling her into his lap. Her breathy laugh was cut short when his hand slipped under the thin cotton of her t-shirt, finding the smooth warmth of her skin beneath. 

“Okay,” he capitulated. Their noses bumped in the dark before they found the perfect angle. He captured her lips in a hasty, heated kiss. “But we have to be quick.”

[admiralsweko]

Rhyiona Week Day Three

Prompt: Celestial

Elevation

'Stop the world it's only you

Oh, my heart is waking

Cause I could be your one and only'

- Heavy by Oh Wonder

“Well, I can fix it,” Ellie drawled. She waddled back a few steps from the open engine compartment of the caravan and deactivated the scanning function on her ECHO device with a click, “But it’ll cost ya.”

“That’s no problem,” Sasha breezily reassured the mechanic. “We just had some repairs done recently, so my sister and I made an arrangement with Scooter.”

“Oh, honey, that explains a lot,“ Ellie chuckled. “You see, Scooter’s a smart boy but he’s not nearly half the greaser I am. Don’t worry, though. I’ll get this sorted for ya. In the meantime, I’m sure we can come to an arrangement of our own.” She turned her attention to Rhys and gave him a wink, “How you doing, Stringbean?” 

He was caught off guard by her sudden shift in focus, offering an awkward nod in reply. Half a step behind, his face flushed as the implication in her interest finally registered.

‘Whoa there, Rhysie!’ a digitized voice shouted in his ear. 

Startled, Rhys yelped, turning quickly towards his former boss’ AI construct. His actions drew the attention of the women standing with him. The sisters gave each other a wary look while Ellie eyed him questioningly, “You okay there, Slim?”

Attempting to regain his composure, Rhys scratched at the back of his head. A sheepish grin curved across his face. “Uh, yeah. I just thought I saw a bug. Like a really big and annoying bug,” he looked directly at the digital figment as he emphasized his words. 

“He’s fine,” Fiona stepped in, dismissing Rhys’ outburst with a wave of her hand. “You know these corporate types. They’re all wound a little too tightly for their own good,” she muttered, subtly swirling her finger next to her temple. 

Rhys pouted at the blatant dig at his mental health. Truth notwithstanding, it irritated him. An easy grin slid into place across the con woman’s face as she effortlessly deflected attention back to the matter at hand, “So, Ellie, about that arrangement…” 

His erratic behavior forgotten, the trio of women quickly fell into negotiations. 

“I think she likes you,” Jack’s projection nodded towards the overweight mechanic and leered at Rhys. “Word of the wise, though, bud,” Despite being immaterial, he feigned placing his hand on Rhys’ shoulder as he lowered his voice conspiratorially, “I’ve heard she’s just like her mother, a real wild one. Rumors get around; let me tell you. Apparently, there was this one poor sap who–”

“Um, uh, it– it looks like you ladies have this well enough in hand,” Addressing the group at large, Rhys rushed to talk over his former boss. “I– I think– I think I’ll just step outside. Maybe get some fresh air.” 

Spinning on his heel, he swiftly exited through the garage’s open bay door. Narrowly focused on ignoring the continued prattling of his unwanted digital companion, he barely registered that nightfall had stolen across the sky, shrouding everything in darkness beyond the bright lights of the garage. 

“And things were getting really hot and heavy when she rolled over on top of him and crushed—” 

At his wits end, he hissed at the AI floating doggedly behind him, mindful of the volume of his tone. “Oh my god, will you shu–” Rounding the corner of the building, he almost ran into Athena. The vault hunter pulled up short, halting in her tracks to avoid a collision.

“A-Athena, hi! Sorry. I– uh, I didn’t see you there,” he scrambled to feign an air of casualness.

“Where are you going in such a rush?” She asked bluntly.

“Um, just for some air,” he answered meekly. “I think the gas fumes are getting to me?” Nerves turned his statement into a question. 

Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. Despite having done nothing wrong, her watchful gaze made him feel two inches tall. 

“Hmmph,” she scowled. “Stay close. The perimeter is secure but there’s a colony of spiderants nearby. Don’t go wandering off or you’re likely to become dinner.” She looked him up and down, as if assessing his quality as a meal. The expression on her face made it plain she’d found him lacking. 

“Will do,” he chuckled nervously, fumbling out a weak salute. 

Having said her peace, she dismissed him with a curt nod and continued on her way.

Shaken by the brief interaction with the vault hunter, Rhys realized he was holding his breath, his shoulders tight with tension. Exhaling shakily, he relaxed slightly. To his relief, Jack had vanished, likely spooked by Athena. 

Grateful for the brief respite from the meglomaniac’s incessant chatter, he rolled his shoulders and surveyed his surroundings. To his left a raised platform of solid concrete abutted the building. Taking the few short steps leading up, he leaned a shoulder against the wall and looked into the distance. Mountains of scrap metal clumped with stripped down car frames ringed around the property, forming a protective barrier against the elements. A scattered metallic gleam shining in the silvery moonlight hinted at the maze of rusted scrap heaps and other assorted detritus that stretched for miles beyond. A breeze kicked up, sending sand skittering over the hard packed ground with a soothing whisper. 

Lulled by this pocket of serenity amid the chaos he had found himself in, Rhys began to fully relax for the first time since they had broken down. He took a seat at the edge of the slab, lowering himself down to let his legs dangle over the ledge. Rubbing the tension from his neck, his eyes naturally gravitated to the heavy moon overhead and the H-shaped satellite suspended in front of its fiery glowing surface. 

A pang of homesickness clutched at his heart. Seeing the Hyperion headquarters from this distance reminded him of all that developed since he’d last stepped foot on the space station. The short time that had transpired felt like a yawning eternity.

To distract himself from the encroaching wistfulness, he looked to the stars instead. Billions of tiny points of light studded the night sky like so many diamonds. Comforted by the vastness of space, he began looking for familiar patterns amongst the heavens. 

“Hey, Hyperion,” a woman’s voice spoke behind him.

Lost in concentration, he startled and jerked to look over his shoulder. Fiona stood on the concrete apron behind him; the light from the half shuttered windows at her back cloaking her in shadows. 

“Damn, does working at that cushy office job really make you this jumpy or is it just a natural state for you?” she teased.

Putting a hand to his chest, he tried to calm his speeding heart. “In my defense, the phrase ‘dog-eat-dog’ isn’t quite so literal up there as it is down here. So, forgive me for being a little on edge.” 

“I wouldn’t worry too much about that,” she dismissed his concern with a gentle scoff. “The things that are likely to eat you around here don’t generally try to get your attention first. At least not the animals.”

He winced at her nonchalant reference to cannibalism; his stomach twisting queasily at the thought. Quick to change the subject, he nodded towards the garage. “So how is it going in there?” he asked. A muted cacophony of tools clanging coupled with an off-key rendition of a country tune filtered out through the window. “Did you guys decide on a price?”

Her shrug was noticeable, even in the gloom that shrouded her. “At first Sasha offered you up for an hour but we managed to talk it down to half that.”

“Me?” A cold finger of dread tracked down Rhys’ spine. He swallowed around the lump that had formed in his throat. “Wh–What?”

“I’m kidding,” Fiona huffed a laugh. “Don’t worry, Hyperion. Your virtue is safe. We agreed on a semi-reasonable amount. For cash. She says it shouldn’t take too long and then we can hit the road again.”

“Good, that’s great. Great– Great news,” he mumbled abashedly.

“So what are you doing out here?” she asked, tipping her head inquisitively. “Waxing nostalgic about crappy breakroom coffee and mounds of paperwork?”

“N–No,” Although he was quick to deny it, the kernel of truth in her question stung. “I was…” he hesitated. He faced front again, embarrassment heating his cheeks. “Nothing. I wasn’t doing anything.”

“Aww, c’mon,” she cajoled goodnaturedly. “You mean to tell me you ran out of there like your pants were on fire just to sit alone in the dark? I don’t buy it.”

“I didn’t run out of there,” he said, quick to defend himself. “And I’m not… Well, okay, yes. I am sitting in the dark.” He sighed resignedly. “Fine. I was… I was stargazing, all right?”

“Stargazing?” She seemed genuinely confused.

“Yes.” His eyes rose once more to the ocean of twinkling lights overhead. “I don’t know. It's just… It relaxes me.”

When no obvious derision was forthcoming, he hazarded a glance her way. Unable to make out her expression, he tried to read her body language. That, however, remained just as inscrutable as her face.

In the absence of a reaction, a looming sense of shame hung heavy in his mind, threatening to overtake him. He turned away and hastily explained, “Sometimes when I was stressed, I would visit the observation rooms on Helios and look at the stars. It helped because it reminded me that I’m just a small part of a much larger existence,” he babbled, the need to elaborate forcing the words out of his mouth mindlessly, “and that made my problems seem smaller. Eventually, I started to recognize the constellations and finding their patterns brings me peace when things get hectic.”

Finally, he trailed off, swallowing the stream of words in order to force himself to shut up. Humiliation burned like a stone in his gut as he waited for her response. His inability to keep his mouth shut had, yet again, left him a flustered mess. Internally, he kicked himself for his innate lack of poise. 

Her continued silence dismayed him more than any taunt. Rhys prayed she would let him off easy, tossing her hands in the air in dismissal and walking away. The scrape of her boots against the concrete was his only alert to her movements. To his profound surprise, she appeared beside him and lowered herself to sit, letting her legs hang over the edge in a position that mirrored his own. From this new angle, the light from the garage shone on the left side of her face. A gentle smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

A memory surfaced, one of her wearing that exact quizzical expression as she commented on his sock’s design way back in Old Haven. The remembrance soothed his ruffled nerves, setting him more at ease.

“Can you show me?” she asked, brushing her fingers through her bangs.

“Show you what?” Dumbstruck by this turn in events, he had forgotten what they had been talking about.

“The constellations,” she clarified. “I only know the one that’s supposed to look like a bucket with a long handle. I can never find it though.” She turned her eyes towards the sky.

“Um, sure. That one’s actually really easy to find,” he said as he pointed it out to her. “It’s so small.”

“Okay, Mr. Know-it-all,” she teased, bumping her boot gently against his. “Well, show me the bigger ones.”

“Hmm.” He searched the night sky for the telltale patterns of a constellation.

“Oh, it’s so easy,” Fiona quipped, mocking him amicably when he wasn’t quick enough.

“Give me a break, okay?” he said, amused. “It looks different from down here. Oh, there!” He pointed out in the distance, his arm extended fully. “There’s Ribella, the Muse.”

“The Muse?” she questioned as her eyes followed his finger.

  “Yeah, all the constellations have stories behind them,” Delighted by the possibility of her interest, he warmed to the topic, gushing as he continued, “Each one is based on a myth, likely derived from other folklore brought here by the early Dahl miners who colonized Pandora. There’s also Sansin, the Goat; Elsive, the Emissary; Daxy, the–”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” she laughed, “Slow down. One at a time, okay? Now what am I looking for here?” 

“Right. Uh,” he chuckled nervously, “The overall shape is, well..” He trailed off, struggling to explain the blocky geometric outline that seemed so clear to his own eyes. He gestured ineffectually as he tried to trace the configuration with his hands. “It’s kind of like, um…” Tongue-tied, an idea occurred to him. “Oh, hang on.” 

Activating his palm interface, he navigated his way to a star chart of Pandora’s constellations and made a selection. Ribella’s dot-to-dot celestial formation projected out in brilliant digital blue. Enlarging the image, he attempted to align it as closely as he could to the stars in the sky. 

She scooted closer and leaned into him slightly to get a better view, eyes flicking between the image and the sky beyond. He tensed momentarily, uncertain how to react with her so near. Pointedly ignoring the heat of her body as she crowded into his space, he, instead, focused on tracing the imaginary connection between the stars' alignment with his free hand. 

“See?” he asked. “If you can find these two stars first, the rest follow along.” Once he was certain she had the formation, he turned off the interface and lowered his arm.

She spotted it quickly, her eyes widening in surprise and recognition. A elated grin spread across her face as she looked to Rhys, wonder shining in her gaze. His heart skipped a beat, a warm rush of satisfaction washing over him. 

“It’s funny, ” she said, settling back. “I’ve lived on this planet my whole life and I never thought about the stars before.” 

“Yeah, well,” he shrugged, “Sometimes we don’t notice something until it’s pointed out to us, even when it was right in front of us the whole time.”

A companionable silence lengthened between them as they both drank in the tranquility of the evening. 

“You’re right, you know,” she murmured. 

“I am?” Surprise lifted his brows. “About what?” 

“It is relaxing.” 

A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he glanced her way. Admittedly, he was intrigued by this glimpse of the gentler side that had remained hidden under her oft times cavalier attitude towards him. With her attention trained on the heavens above, he took the opportunity to examine her. 

Even in the dim moonlight, her beauty was unquestionable. He found himself mesmerized by the reality of her: from the soft slope of her nose, to the graceful curve of her jaw, and down the elegant line of her neck. Fluttering in the breeze, the feathered tip of the scarlet streak in her hair danced against her cheek. An overwhelming urge to brush it aside flooded his senses. His hand flexed with the desire to touch her, to trace a finger along the smooth surface of her skin, to caress the pillowy softness of her full lips. 

Sensing his stare, she looked at him. He flushed, self consciousness heating his cheeks. An apology sat on the tip of his tongue, about to be voiced, when the return of that quizzical smile silenced him. Snared by the soft look in her eye, he was unable to tear his gaze from hers. Despite the resplendent expanse of space filling the night sky overhead, she was the most breathtaking thing he’d ever seen. 

Something intangible shifted within him at that moment. An enigmatic notion unfolded in the back of his mind. However undefinable, the potential of its intensity flickered across his thoughts, frightening him more than any external threat he’d faced yet. Despite his fear, he was powerless to the effect it had on him. An incandescent lightness enveloped his hammering heart. The unfamiliar sensation was almost as painful as it was intoxicating. 

“Rhys?” Butterflies awakened in his stomach at the soft sound of his name from her lips.

“Hey, you two,” Sasha called out from behind them, shattering the expectant calm. Poking her head out of the window, she slapped the side of the building to further get their attention. “We’re all set. Let’s roll.” 

“B-be right there,” Rhys choked out. His response was unnecessary, however. Just as suddenly as she had appeared, the younger woman had popped back out of sight. He was quick to gain his feet. Self consciousness prickled at the back of his neck. He rubbed at the spot, trying to soothe his frenzied nerves. 

“Uh,” he cleared his throat, scrambling to gather his wits. ”Guess we better get going.” 

Strangely quiet, Fiona stood up and brushed at her jacket. “Yeah, um, just give me a minute.”

“S-sure.”

Jittery with some unusual sense of excitement, he stepped away. His thoughts worried at the new bizarre insight that had settled in the back of his mind like a pebble in his shoe. Stopping at the edge of the building, he looked over his shoulder to check on Fiona. Her back was to him, her head tilted up with her face to the sky. The strange ache that had taken up residence in his chest tugged pleasantly as he turned the corner into the bright lights of the garage. 

[admiralsweko]

Rhyiona Week 2023 Day Two

Prompt: Trick/Treat

Spaces In Between

“You want to kiss me so badly it makes you look stupid,” Fiona taunted the company man. 

Crossing her arms over her chest, she cocked an eyebrow as she gave Rhys an arrogant smirk. Despite her outward appearance of imperious confidence, uncertainty roiled beneath the surface. 

Why did I just say that?

She had to admit it wasn’t her most witty rejoinder. But now that it was out in the air between them, there was no turning back.

“What?” he scoffed. “That’s probably the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. But coming from you, I’d expect nothing less.” With a disparaging wave of his hand, he turned away and continued down the hall.

“Hey,” she snapped, irritation flaring at his abrupt dismissal. 

Usually, there was something so satisfying about their verbal sparring matches. Most of the time she had no trouble talking circles around this corporate dork. This time, however, she was admittedly off her game. 

I’m just tired. That’s it. 

They had been going nonstop since they’d opened the vault and she could probably benefit greatly from a nap. Fortified in that contrivance, she’d almost persuaded herself that her comment had, in no way, been influenced by her recent revelations as to the depth of her feelings for this goofy stringbean of a man. 

Running to catch up to his impossibly long stride, she rounded his shoulder. He halted as she stood defiantly in front of him. Stubborn to a fault, she poked him in the chest and doubled down on her ridiculous accusation. 

“It’s true. I’ve seen the way you look at me when you think I’m not paying attention.” 

“And how is that?” he asked, sarcasm dripping from his tone. “Like I’m trying to test out the saying ‘If looks could kill’? Because if that’s what you’re referring to, then you might actually be right for a change.”

Despite his words, Fiona caught the subtle pink hue to his cheeks. Rallied by the possibility that she might be onto something, she ignored him and continued, “I always thought it was Sasha that I should be worried about but I was wrong. It was me you were interested in, wasn’t it?” 

Enjoying the look of shock that flashed over his expression, she was gratified to learn she had touched a nerve. Before he could deny it, she hurried on. “You may not want to admit it, Rhys, but I can see it written all over your face.” 

His eyes narrowed as his mouth fell into a pout. Attraction zipped through her at that stupid little pull of his lips. 

“I bet you think about me all the time. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if you —” Her barbs were cut short as he rolled his eyes and tried to move around her once more. Instinctively, she snagged his elbow as he passed. “I’m not done with you,” she blurted, even though she knew she should just let him go. 

“Enough,” he growled, his voice ripe with aggravation. Swiftly, he stepped into her space. She was forced to retreat back in order to look him in the eye. The expression on his face shifted, becoming predatory, as he realized he had her on the defense. He took another step. 

Withdrawing further, her back hit the wall of the corridor. Before she could twist away, his right hand met the wall beside her head with a click of metal on metal, his left quick to follow on the opposite side. He had effectively trapped her, crowding into her space without touching her. 

A strange awakening occurred within her at his proximity; her pulse kicking up. She frowned as she tried to stamp down the budding arousal that unfurled in the pit of her stomach. 

Curiously, he was quiet as he searched her face. His gaze was hypnotic; the captivating contrast of his mismatched eyes pinning her in place.

“What is it you want from me, Fiona?” he finally asked. “Do you want me to tell you it’s true?”

She blinked in shock, shaken by the question. Her heart skipped a beat as her mind raced to catch up. Wholly unprepared for this turn in events, she remained silent. 

“Do you want me to tell you that I think about you?” he continued, “That you’re constantly on my mind?” 

The words rang in her ears. To every question he posed, her heart answered with a wordless aching yes. 

To her chagrin, she realized she was blushing, her cheeks prickling with heat. His expression softened as he gazed at her. With a tender brush of his thumb, he caressed the apple of her cheek, tracing the rosy flush. The chill of his touch against her overheated skin caused her breath to catch.

“Do you want me to tell you that when I think about you, I sometimes imagine you like this?” 

His voice rasped against her frayed nerves, desire making her sensitive to the subtle gravel in his tone. 

Agitated by her reaction, she fought to regain some semblance of control from the storm that raged within her. No matter the truth, no matter the accuracy of his queries, she remained mistrustful. She was terrified he was just goading her on in some attempt to entrap her.

He’s got to be up to something. It’s a trick… Right?

Composing herself outwardly, she raised a brow. “Like what,” she quipped, “Quiet?” 

He smiled and another stone in her defense crumbled. “Something like that,” he answered softly.

She opened her mouth to speak but he stopped her with a finger to her lips before she could utter a word. 

“Ah, ah,” he admonished gently, that devastating smile spreading wider across his stupidly handsome face. “You know what your problem is, Fiona?” As his finger was still held to her lips, her only response was to narrow her eyes at him. “You just don’t know when to stop talking.”

Her snarky comeback died unspoken as he took that same forbidding finger and ran it gently over the sensitive surface of her lower lip. Blood thundered in her ears as her pulse slammed into high gear. Tracking down over her chin, the tips of his fingers trailed the length of her neck.

The last vestiges of her defiance evaporated, whisked away in wake of his exploration. Mesmerized, she watched him as his attention followed his movements. Skimming over the clasp at the hollow of her throat, he took his time tracing along the edge of the opening in her blouse. His touch scorched across the delicate skin of her chest. Despite being fully clothed, she felt utterly exposed. 

Realizing she was holding her breath, she let out a shaky exhale. He glanced up at her and their eyes locked. Bringing a knuckle under her chin, he tilted her head up. Slowly, he leaned closer. And closer.

Anticipation drove all rational thought from her mind. Every inch of her body hummed in response to his proximity; his nearness kindling a dormant craving that she’d refused to acknowledge before. Her lips parted slightly in preparation.

And yet, despite her silent consent, he hesitated. Breathless expectation stretched the moment into an eternity. Impatient, she rose to her tiptoes to try to kiss him, desperate to end this delicious torment.

But he evaded her. 

Using his height to his advantage, he managed to stay just out of reach of her questing lips. Defeated, she settled back on her heels and glared up at him in flustered confusion. A wicked half smile curved across his face as he huffed a laugh.

“Now, who looks stupid?” he teased mildly. 

Humiliation flashed over her like a bucket of ice water. Her temper was quick to follow as she tensed, her hands balling into fists. Ready to lash out, she was just about to cock her arm to strike him right in the gut when he kissed her. 

Fingers curling into a tight grip on the lapels of her jacket, he dragged her into him. His lips captured hers firmly, eliciting a soft sound of shock from her. Taking advantage of her surprise, he slipped his tongue into her mouth. Although it was only for a moment, the velvety caress sent a bolt of pure lust straight through her. Anger completely forgotten, she clung to him, her knees weak. 

He pulled away slightly, his eyes searching hers. Something in her expression must have pleased him as the wicked smile returned. He kissed her again, stealing the breath from her lungs. 

This time he kissed her slowly and steadily, remaining totally in control. Only offering just enough to lure her to the edge of satisfaction, he would then retreat, making an opportunity to plant a couple of lingeringly sweet pecks against her cheeks before returning to brush his lips against hers to coax her into another round. 

Driven mad with hunger for more, she clutched at his clothes, pulling at him in desperation. A quiet grunt of dissatisfaction escaped her as her ache for him grew stronger. Sensing her growing fervor, at last he gave her exactly what she needed. 

Pushing her flush against the wall with his body, he took her face in his hands and kissed her senseless. She surrendered herself wholly to the connection, lost in the swirling sea of sensations as his tongue and lips worked in harmony with her own. 

Lightheaded and out of breath, she tilted her face away as she panted for air. Undeterred, his left arm snaked around her waist, keeping her close. He worked his way down the length of her jaw, leaving scorching hot kisses in his wake. His cybernetic hand still cradled her cheek as she tipped her head to allow him better access to her neck. The smooth finish of his metal fingers was exotic against the tender flesh of her cheek, exciting her further. 

Briefly, he stopped to nuzzle her neck. His teeth nipped at the rapid pulse in her throat. She gasped at the sharp flicker of discomfort, the shock further fanning the flames of her desire. Before she could recover, his lips pressed against the soft shell of her ear. The hot flutter of his breath made her quiver. 

She could hear the amusement in his voice as he whispered, “I think I may have found the perfect way to shut you up.”

[admiralsweko]

Rhyiona Week 2023 Day One

Prompt: Dream

Stars Fading

Stars fading but I linger on, dear Still craving your kiss

- Dream a Little Dream of Me

“Fi?” Her sister’s voice quietly prodded Fiona awake. “Wake up. It’s your turn to drive.” 

Slowly awakening from her slumber, Fiona blinked the sleep from her eyes as Sasha gently shook her shoulder. Yawning, she sat up and waved her sister away. 

“You good?” Sasha asked, brows raised. “You were pretty out of it. Twitching and mumbling.”

“Hmm? Yeah,” Fiona replied, stretching as she got to her feet. “Just having a weird dream.” 

Earlier, the steady hum of the caravan in motion had quickly lulled her to sleep. While she dozed, she had fallen deeply into a dream. However, upon waking, she was left with only the vague memories of half formed images as to the events that had taken place. Now a haunting impression of the warmth and intimacy that had permeated her rest lingered in her mind like smoke. The undefinable, but nevertheless gnawing desire to feel the return of that sanctuary she had briefly experienced echoed through her. 

“As long as you’re awake enough to make sure we don’t run into anything,”  Sasha spoke, pulling Fiona’s attention back to the present, “I’d say it’s best if you give Rhys a break. He’s trying to pretend like he’s not exhausted but with all the swerving he’s been doing…” Sasha shrugged. 

“I’m on it.” 

Fiona stepped around the little table that sat in front of the caravan’s couch where she had been resting. Glancing over, she saw poor Vaughn was still frozen in paralysis. They had tried to make him as comfortable as possible, placing his stiff form onto couch cushions, but there was little else they could do. 

Eyes closed and arms crossed, Athena leaned against the rear wall beside the ladder leading to the roof hatch. It astounded Fiona that not only could the older woman sleep standing up, but that she was steady enough to do so in a moving vehicle. 

“I’m gonna check on the bots up top,” Sasha said, pointing a finger to the roof. “Make sure they haven’t blown away.” She flashed a grin before turning to the ladder. Careful not to disturb the slumbering vault hunter, she climbed up and disappeared from sight. 

With one final jaw-popping yawn, Fiona made her way in the opposite direction, towards the front of the wagon. Rhys turned at the sound of her boots scraping against the short steps that lead up to the raised driver’s area.

“Hey,” he said softly with a sleepy half smile. 

Bizarrely, something squeezed in her chest as she nodded a greeting. The unusual echo that lingered from her dream seemed to grow stronger in the moment their eyes briefly met before his attention returned to the task of driving. Caught off guard by the potency of that mysteriously continuing sensation, she brushed her fingers through her bangs and regarded him quietly. As Sasha had mentioned, he must be exhausted; the dark circles under his heavy lidded eyes and the large yawn he tried to stifle behind his mechanical hand confirming it.

“Come to keep me company?” he asked, glancing at her over his shoulder, a strange gleam in his tired eyes.

“As if.” She was quick to scoff at the notion, despite the butterflies that blossomed in her stomach at his hopeful tone. “I’m kicking you out. We’re getting complaints about the ride. Apparently, it’s not as smooth as expected. I’m replacing you.”

“Are you accusing me of being a bad driver?” His tone was full of false shock. “Unbelievable.”

“Not a bad one,” she corrected, tilting her head as she gave him a soft smirk. “Just a tired one. C’mon. Go get some rest.” 

“Ah, all right,” he relented, huffing out a sigh. “If you insist.” 

She stepped closer, putting one hand on the wheel. He unfolded his lanky body from the driver’s seat and edged around her. For the briefest of moments, the pair brushed by each other. Despite sharing the same space for less than a breath of a second, it was still long enough to awaken a lost memory from her dream. 

Although unclear as to the circumstances, Fiona remembered the whisper of his touch against her body and overwhelming sense of security that had flooded her. Shaken by the recollection, she plopped into the driver’s seat unceremoniously, her butt hitting the cracked leather with a plop. 

“You okay?” Rhys asked, “I didn’t trip you, did I? Curse of these long legs,” he muttered jokingly. 

“Uh, no. No, I’m fine,” she reassured him. “Just, uh, lost my balance for a second.” 

As she readjusted herself, she turned to concentrate on the landscape that whizzed by through the windshield, and tried to push the memory of that lingering dream away. 

Beneath her, residual body heat radiated from the seat, warming her along her back and behind. She squirmed, desperately attempting not to dwell on the idea that it was his body that had generated this heat.  Almost as if somehow he knew of her discomfort and was taunting her, he began to stretch nearby, much to her silent dismay. Irritated at her own internal reaction, she pointedly tried to ignore him but that little annoying ache still persisted within her. The temptation proved too much. 

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. The long line of his body, the arch of his back as he reached up towards the ceiling overhead, completely pulled her focus from the road, causing her hands to follow her eyes. The caravan began to swerve to the left. Quickly, she caught herself and corrected the wheel. 

Thankfully, no one, especially Rhys, had seemed to notice. Shaking her head to clear her obviously still sleep-addled brain, she cursed herself for getting distracted so easily.

Beside her, he finally finished stretching with a soft little grunt that set Fiona’s teeth on edge. Reaching the top of the short steps, he stopped. 

“Fi?” 

The sound of her name spoken in his hushed tone sent a zip along her spine. Poker face firmly intact despite the maelstrom of emotions that plagued her, she glanced his way. 

He gave her a friendly little salute, “Thanks.”

Despite herself, she was charmed. The tension that bunched across her shoulders melted as she realized how ridiculous she was being, letting a stupid, fleeting dream get the better of her. She acknowledged his gratitude with a half smile. 

“Sleep well, Hyperion. And, uh,” her cheeks warmed as she uttered, “sweet dreams.” 

[admiralsweko]

For your reading pleasure, I present to you the official compilation of my works completed for Rhyiona Week 2023. I had an absolute blast writing these and each holds a special place in my heart. Let me know which one is your favorite!

[admiralsweko]

Rotten Work

In a few quick strides, his long legs made short work of the distance between them. The comforting weight of his hand upon her right shoulder anchored her slightly amid the tempest that raged within her.

“Fiona, what happened?” he asked. “Are you okay?”

Her thoughts raced, inconsistent and erratic. Befuddled, she opened and closed her mouth soundlessly as she tried to formulate the words needed to answer him. A razor’s edge of panic cleaved through her as she grappled for an explanation that eluded her. Her knees buckled as another surge of vertigo washed over her. Overcome, she reached out to him, desperately clutching at his vest in an attempt to ground herself.

“Help me,” she pleaded weakly.

[admiralsweko]

Stuck in a staff meeting, Atlas' CEO tries diligently to remain focused on the business at hand. Despite his valiant efforts, however, Rhys will soon discover he can't quite resist the temptation of his favorite vault hunter, especially after her woefully long absence. More than once, he'll learn just how distracting and persuasive she truly can be.

“Sorry. I, uh, I’m in the middle of a meeting,” he explained, gesturing over his shoulder to the door. Unnerved by the intensity of her voracious appraisal, he fidgeted, scratching the back of his neck. “I wasn’t expecting you back so soon. What happened? You’d said the end of the week, right? Not that it’s not great to see you, because it is. Great, I mean,” he rambled, unable to stop the stream of words that flowed out of his brain and tripped off his tongue.

She shrugged dismissively, “Plans changed. Doesn’t matter.”

Tilting her head, her gaze met his once more. Her signature smirk relaxed into an easy smile.

“Come here,” she beckoned, her voice like silk.

[admiralsweko]

While making their way home after being teleported by the Vault of the Traveler, Rhys and Fiona have to find something to do to while away the long tedious hours aboard a cargo ship bound for home. A chance discovery of a discarded romance novel opens their eyes to some unanticipated revelations.

“Whoa!” Fiona burst out laughing. “Seriously, what are you reading?” 

“I told you it’s none of your business,” Rhys huffed. Muttering something under his breath about not getting any privacy, he stood up from the couch. 

Before he could bolt, however, she caught his sleeve. “Not so fast,” she said, pulling at his arm. “Let me see.” 

“Hey, watch the suit!" he protested. 

“Rhys, you do realize that I won’t leave this alone until I know what it is you’re reading,” she stated matter-of-factly.

He hesitated, squinting skeptically down at her. He must have seen something in the look in her eye that convinced him she spoke the truth. With an exasperated sigh, he finally showed her the cover of the book. 

[admiralsweko]

Shameless reblog to announce the arrival of a new one-shot! Check it out!

Come one, come all! Check out my Rhyiona fanfiction collection!

On Company Time: https://archiveofourown.org/works/48399910 Burn After Reading (18+): https://archiveofourown.org/works/48217033

Show-Off: https://archiveofourown.org/works/46202014#main

Worries As Big As The Moon: https://archiveofourown.org/works/20621948

Interested In Someone Else: https://archiveofourown.org/works/20291581

Unexpected: https://archiveofourown.org/works/18980332

[admiralsweko]

Honestly,

 I seem to be doing pretty well for someone who spends 95% of their waking hours thinking about fictional characters pressing their faces together. 

[admiralsweko]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Borderlands (Video Games), Tales from the Borderlands - Fandom Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Relationships: Fiona/Rhys (Borderlands) Characters: Rhys (Borderlands), Fiona (Borderlands), Sasha (Borderlands), Zero Additional Tags: Rhyiona - Freeform, Atlas CEO Rhys, Vault Hunter Fiona, First Kiss, Idiots in Love, Kissing, Sasha is a good wingman, Zero does a cameo, Love Confessions, Rhys x Fiona Summary:

Rhys was content with silently pining for Fiona, as he was certain that she didn’t feel that same for him. Sasha, on the other hand, has other ideas.

~This ship needs more content, and they say write what you want to read. Well, I want to read about these two kissing. So here it is, my first fic. I am quite proud of it. Please be gentle.

[admiralsweko]

6, 7, 46, 47💖💞💕💓💗

First of all, I am immensely flattered to receive an ask. Thank you so much!

6. List OTP from all fandoms I've been involved in: This is a tough one because I have so many but I will try my best to not forget anyone.

Tales from the Borderlands: Rhys x Fiona; Vaughn x Sasha; Gortys x LB

Overwatch: Mei x Junkrat; Ana x Reinhardt

Stardew Valley: Farmer x Harvey; Alex x Penny; Shane x Emily

Teen Titans: Beast Boy x Raven

The 100: Clarke x Bellamy

Batman: Batman x Catwoman

Spiderman (MCU): Peter x MJ

Supernatural: Dean x Cass

Voltron: Shiro x Allura; Pidge x Hunk

7. List NOTP for each. This list is a lot shorter because I try to be diplomatic and not get too worked up over other ships. The ones listed below are ones that I immediately click away from if I see content for.

Tales from the Borderlands: Rhys x Jack

Overwatch: Junkrat x Symmetra; Junkrat x Roadhog

46. Recommend one of my fanfictions to someone: Well, that ones is easy as I have only written one to date but I plan on more. This is a one-shot smoochfest for Rhys and Fiona of the TFTBL series.

47. AO3 or Tumblr, which do you prefer and why?

I prefer uploading to AO3 and then linking to Tumblr because I like the accessibility of AO3. Tumblr can get a bit chaotic.

Thank you again for this ask! It made my day!

[elusivexx]

 ‘Sometimes we don’t notice something until it’s pointed out to us, even when it was right in front of us the whole time.”

I had the biggest smile with this line. 🧡 💙 They’re adorable being all soft and cute to each other. And poor Rhys can’t catch a break in the beginning 😂

Also I was super into the dialogue that I had a double take later on with the constellations names. I reread it and was like

I was like holy shit elsive and daxy????

Rhyiona Week Day Three

Prompt: Celestial

Elevation

'Stop the world it's only you

Oh, my heart is waking

Cause I could be your one and only'

- Heavy by Oh Wonder

“Well, I can fix it,” Ellie drawled. She waddled back a few steps from the open engine compartment of the caravan and deactivated the scanning function on her ECHO device with a click, “But it’ll cost ya.”

“That’s no problem,” Sasha breezily reassured the mechanic. “We just had some repairs done recently, so my sister and I made an arrangement with Scooter.”

“Oh, honey, that explains a lot,“ Ellie chuckled. “You see, Scooter’s a smart boy but he’s not nearly half the greaser I am. Don’t worry, though. I’ll get this sorted for ya. In the meantime, I’m sure we can come to an arrangement of our own.” She turned her attention to Rhys and gave him a wink, “How you doing, Stringbean?” 

He was caught off guard by her sudden shift in focus, offering an awkward nod in reply. Half a step behind, his face flushed as the implication in her interest finally registered.

‘Whoa there, Rhysie!’ a digitized voice shouted in his ear. 

Startled, Rhys yelped, turning quickly towards his former boss’ AI construct. His actions drew the attention of the women standing with him. The sisters gave each other a wary look while Ellie eyed him questioningly, “You okay there, Slim?”

Attempting to regain his composure, Rhys scratched at the back of his head. A sheepish grin curved across his face. “Uh, yeah. I just thought I saw a bug. Like a really big and annoying bug,” he looked directly at the digital figment as he emphasized his words. 

“He’s fine,” Fiona stepped in, dismissing Rhys’ outburst with a wave of her hand. “You know these corporate types. They’re all wound a little too tightly for their own good,” she muttered, subtly swirling her finger next to her temple. 

Rhys pouted at the blatant dig at his mental health. Truth notwithstanding, it irritated him. An easy grin slid into place across the con woman’s face as she effortlessly deflected attention back to the matter at hand, “So, Ellie, about that arrangement…” 

His erratic behavior forgotten, the trio of women quickly fell into negotiations. 

“I think she likes you,” Jack’s projection nodded towards the overweight mechanic and leered at Rhys. “Word of the wise, though, bud,” Despite being immaterial, he feigned placing his hand on Rhys’ shoulder as he lowered his voice conspiratorially, “I’ve heard she’s just like her mother, a real wild one. Rumors get around; let me tell you. Apparently, there was this one poor sap who–”

“Um, uh, it– it looks like you ladies have this well enough in hand,” Addressing the group at large, Rhys rushed to talk over his former boss. “I– I think– I think I’ll just step outside. Maybe get some fresh air.” 

Spinning on his heel, he swiftly exited through the garage’s open bay door. Narrowly focused on ignoring the continued prattling of his unwanted digital companion, he barely registered that nightfall had stolen across the sky, shrouding everything in darkness beyond the bright lights of the garage. 

“And things were getting really hot and heavy when she rolled over on top of him and crushed—” 

At his wits end, he hissed at the AI floating doggedly behind him, mindful of the volume of his tone. “Oh my god, will you shu–” Rounding the corner of the building, he almost ran into Athena. The vault hunter pulled up short, halting in her tracks to avoid a collision.

“A-Athena, hi! Sorry. I– uh, I didn’t see you there,” he scrambled to feign an air of casualness.

“Where are you going in such a rush?” She asked bluntly.

“Um, just for some air,” he answered meekly. “I think the gas fumes are getting to me?” Nerves turned his statement into a question. 

Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. Despite having done nothing wrong, her watchful gaze made him feel two inches tall. 

“Hmmph,” she scowled. “Stay close. The perimeter is secure but there’s a colony of spiderants nearby. Don’t go wandering off or you’re likely to become dinner.” She looked him up and down, as if assessing his quality as a meal. The expression on her face made it plain she’d found him lacking. 

“Will do,” he chuckled nervously, fumbling out a weak salute. 

Having said her peace, she dismissed him with a curt nod and continued on her way.

Shaken by the brief interaction with the vault hunter, Rhys realized he was holding his breath, his shoulders tight with tension. Exhaling shakily, he relaxed slightly. To his relief, Jack had vanished, likely spooked by Athena. 

Grateful for the brief respite from the meglomaniac’s incessant chatter, he rolled his shoulders and surveyed his surroundings. To his left a raised platform of solid concrete abutted the building. Taking the few short steps leading up, he leaned a shoulder against the wall and looked into the distance. Mountains of scrap metal clumped with stripped down car frames ringed around the property, forming a protective barrier against the elements. A scattered metallic gleam shining in the silvery moonlight hinted at the maze of rusted scrap heaps and other assorted detritus that stretched for miles beyond. A breeze kicked up, sending sand skittering over the hard packed ground with a soothing whisper. 

Lulled by this pocket of serenity amid the chaos he had found himself in, Rhys began to fully relax for the first time since they had broken down. He took a seat at the edge of the slab, lowering himself down to let his legs dangle over the ledge. Rubbing the tension from his neck, his eyes naturally gravitated to the heavy moon overhead and the H-shaped satellite suspended in front of its fiery glowing surface. 

A pang of homesickness clutched at his heart. Seeing the Hyperion headquarters from this distance reminded him of all that developed since he’d last stepped foot on the space station. The short time that had transpired felt like a yawning eternity.

To distract himself from the encroaching wistfulness, he looked to the stars instead. Billions of tiny points of light studded the night sky like so many diamonds. Comforted by the vastness of space, he began looking for familiar patterns amongst the heavens. 

“Hey, Hyperion,” a woman’s voice spoke behind him.

Lost in concentration, he startled and jerked to look over his shoulder. Fiona stood on the concrete apron behind him; the light from the half shuttered windows at her back cloaking her in shadows. 

“Damn, does working at that cushy office job really make you this jumpy or is it just a natural state for you?” she teased.

Putting a hand to his chest, he tried to calm his speeding heart. “In my defense, the phrase ‘dog-eat-dog’ isn’t quite so literal up there as it is down here. So, forgive me for being a little on edge.” 

“I wouldn’t worry too much about that,” she dismissed his concern with a gentle scoff. “The things that are likely to eat you around here don’t generally try to get your attention first. At least not the animals.”

He winced at her nonchalant reference to cannibalism; his stomach twisting queasily at the thought. Quick to change the subject, he nodded towards the garage. “So how is it going in there?” he asked. A muted cacophony of tools clanging coupled with an off-key rendition of a country tune filtered out through the window. “Did you guys decide on a price?”

Her shrug was noticeable, even in the gloom that shrouded her. “At first Sasha offered you up for an hour but we managed to talk it down to half that.”

“Me?” A cold finger of dread tracked down Rhys’ spine. He swallowed around the lump that had formed in his throat. “Wh–What?”

“I’m kidding,” Fiona huffed a laugh. “Don’t worry, Hyperion. Your virtue is safe. We agreed on a semi-reasonable amount. For cash. She says it shouldn’t take too long and then we can hit the road again.”

“Good, that’s great. Great– Great news,” he mumbled abashedly.

“So what are you doing out here?” she asked, tipping her head inquisitively. “Waxing nostalgic about crappy breakroom coffee and mounds of paperwork?”

“N–No,” Although he was quick to deny it, the kernel of truth in her question stung. “I was…” he hesitated. He faced front again, embarrassment heating his cheeks. “Nothing. I wasn’t doing anything.”

“Aww, c’mon,” she cajoled goodnaturedly. “You mean to tell me you ran out of there like your pants were on fire just to sit alone in the dark? I don’t buy it.”

“I didn’t run out of there,” he said, quick to defend himself. “And I’m not… Well, okay, yes. I am sitting in the dark.” He sighed resignedly. “Fine. I was… I was stargazing, all right?”

“Stargazing?” She seemed genuinely confused.

“Yes.” His eyes rose once more to the ocean of twinkling lights overhead. “I don’t know. It's just… It relaxes me.”

When no obvious derision was forthcoming, he hazarded a glance her way. Unable to make out her expression, he tried to read her body language. That, however, remained just as inscrutable as her face.

In the absence of a reaction, a looming sense of shame hung heavy in his mind, threatening to overtake him. He turned away and hastily explained, “Sometimes when I was stressed, I would visit the observation rooms on Helios and look at the stars. It helped because it reminded me that I’m just a small part of a much larger existence,” he babbled, the need to elaborate forcing the words out of his mouth mindlessly, “and that made my problems seem smaller. Eventually, I started to recognize the constellations and finding their patterns brings me peace when things get hectic.”

Finally, he trailed off, swallowing the stream of words in order to force himself to shut up. Humiliation burned like a stone in his gut as he waited for her response. His inability to keep his mouth shut had, yet again, left him a flustered mess. Internally, he kicked himself for his innate lack of poise. 

Her continued silence dismayed him more than any taunt. Rhys prayed she would let him off easy, tossing her hands in the air in dismissal and walking away. The scrape of her boots against the concrete was his only alert to her movements. To his profound surprise, she appeared beside him and lowered herself to sit, letting her legs hang over the edge in a position that mirrored his own. From this new angle, the light from the garage shone on the left side of her face. A gentle smile tugged at the corners of her lips.

A memory surfaced, one of her wearing that exact quizzical expression as she commented on his sock’s design way back in Old Haven. The remembrance soothed his ruffled nerves, setting him more at ease.

“Can you show me?” she asked, brushing her fingers through her bangs.

“Show you what?” Dumbstruck by this turn in events, he had forgotten what they had been talking about.

“The constellations,” she clarified. “I only know the one that’s supposed to look like a bucket with a long handle. I can never find it though.” She turned her eyes towards the sky.

“Um, sure. That one’s actually really easy to find,” he said as he pointed it out to her. “It’s so small.”

“Okay, Mr. Know-it-all,” she teased, bumping her boot gently against his. “Well, show me the bigger ones.”

“Hmm.” He searched the night sky for the telltale patterns of a constellation.

“Oh, it’s so easy,” Fiona quipped, mocking him amicably when he wasn’t quick enough.

“Give me a break, okay?” he said, amused. “It looks different from down here. Oh, there!” He pointed out in the distance, his arm extended fully. “There’s Ribella, the Muse.”

“The Muse?” she questioned as her eyes followed his finger.

  “Yeah, all the constellations have stories behind them,” Delighted by the possibility of her interest, he warmed to the topic, gushing as he continued, “Each one is based on a myth, likely derived from other folklore brought here by the early Dahl miners who colonized Pandora. There’s also Sansin, the Goat; Elsive, the Emissary; Daxy, the–”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” she laughed, “Slow down. One at a time, okay? Now what am I looking for here?” 

“Right. Uh,” he chuckled nervously, “The overall shape is, well..” He trailed off, struggling to explain the blocky geometric outline that seemed so clear to his own eyes. He gestured ineffectually as he tried to trace the configuration with his hands. “It’s kind of like, um…” Tongue-tied, an idea occurred to him. “Oh, hang on.” 

Activating his palm interface, he navigated his way to a star chart of Pandora’s constellations and made a selection. Ribella’s dot-to-dot celestial formation projected out in brilliant digital blue. Enlarging the image, he attempted to align it as closely as he could to the stars in the sky. 

She scooted closer and leaned into him slightly to get a better view, eyes flicking between the image and the sky beyond. He tensed momentarily, uncertain how to react with her so near. Pointedly ignoring the heat of her body as she crowded into his space, he, instead, focused on tracing the imaginary connection between the stars' alignment with his free hand. 

“See?” he asked. “If you can find these two stars first, the rest follow along.” Once he was certain she had the formation, he turned off the interface and lowered his arm.

She spotted it quickly, her eyes widening in surprise and recognition. A elated grin spread across her face as she looked to Rhys, wonder shining in her gaze. His heart skipped a beat, a warm rush of satisfaction washing over him. 

“It’s funny, ” she said, settling back. “I’ve lived on this planet my whole life and I never thought about the stars before.” 

“Yeah, well,” he shrugged, “Sometimes we don’t notice something until it’s pointed out to us, even when it was right in front of us the whole time.”

A companionable silence lengthened between them as they both drank in the tranquility of the evening. 

“You’re right, you know,” she murmured. 

“I am?” Surprise lifted his brows. “About what?” 

“It is relaxing.” 

A smile tugged at the corners of his lips as he glanced her way. Admittedly, he was intrigued by this glimpse of the gentler side that had remained hidden under her oft times cavalier attitude towards him. With her attention trained on the heavens above, he took the opportunity to examine her. 

Even in the dim moonlight, her beauty was unquestionable. He found himself mesmerized by the reality of her: from the soft slope of her nose, to the graceful curve of her jaw, and down the elegant line of her neck. Fluttering in the breeze, the feathered tip of the scarlet streak in her hair danced against her cheek. An overwhelming urge to brush it aside flooded his senses. His hand flexed with the desire to touch her, to trace a finger along the smooth surface of her skin, to caress the pillowy softness of her full lips. 

Sensing his stare, she looked at him. He flushed, self consciousness heating his cheeks. An apology sat on the tip of his tongue, about to be voiced, when the return of that quizzical smile silenced him. Snared by the soft look in her eye, he was unable to tear his gaze from hers. Despite the resplendent expanse of space filling the night sky overhead, she was the most breathtaking thing he’d ever seen. 

Something intangible shifted within him at that moment. An enigmatic notion unfolded in the back of his mind. However undefinable, the potential of its intensity flickered across his thoughts, frightening him more than any external threat he’d faced yet. Despite his fear, he was powerless to the effect it had on him. An incandescent lightness enveloped his hammering heart. The unfamiliar sensation was almost as painful as it was intoxicating. 

“Rhys?” Butterflies awakened in his stomach at the soft sound of his name from her lips.

“Hey, you two,” Sasha called out from behind them, shattering the expectant calm. Poking her head out of the window, she slapped the side of the building to further get their attention. “We’re all set. Let’s roll.” 

“B-be right there,” Rhys choked out. His response was unnecessary, however. Just as suddenly as she had appeared, the younger woman had popped back out of sight. He was quick to gain his feet. Self consciousness prickled at the back of his neck. He rubbed at the spot, trying to soothe his frenzied nerves. 

“Uh,” he cleared his throat, scrambling to gather his wits. ”Guess we better get going.” 

Strangely quiet, Fiona stood up and brushed at her jacket. “Yeah, um, just give me a minute.”

“S-sure.”

Jittery with some unusual sense of excitement, he stepped away. His thoughts worried at the new bizarre insight that had settled in the back of his mind like a pebble in his shoe. Stopping at the edge of the building, he looked over his shoulder to check on Fiona. Her back was to him, her head tilted up with her face to the sky. The strange ache that had taken up residence in his chest tugged pleasantly as he turned the corner into the bright lights of the garage. 

[rin-bellatrix]

Rhyiona Week 2023 Day Four

Prompt: Temptation

In the Small Hours

Like a devil on my shoulder you keep whispering in my ear

And it's gettin' hard for me to do the right thing here

I wanna do the right thing, baby

- You Should Probably Leave by Chris Stapleton

Beep, Beep, Beep!

Distantly, Rhys registered the sound of his morning alarm chiming. Fighting his way to wakefulness, he automatically turned toward the holographic clock emitting from the surface of the nightstand and dismissed the alert with a swipe. His head hit the pillow once more with a muted thump. Although sleep beckoned invitingly, he knew he had to get started on the day. He rubbed his hand across his face and pushed himself up to seated, trying to shake the last vestiges of rest from his slumberous mind. 

Glancing over, he saw through the soft shadows of neon light glowing from the window that the alarm hadn’t roused his companion. Still sleeping peacefully, Fiona’s eyes remained closed tightly. Her deep, steady breath whistled through her slightly parted lips. A scarlet lock of hair lay across her cheek, inviting Rhys to brush it aside. His caress was tender as he tucked the stray strands in line. These were the moments he treasured dearly, when she was not only her most vulnerable, but completely at peace. His heart brimming with drowsy adoration, he leaned over and planted a kiss to her cheek. She mumbled softly in her sleep; a wordless noise of protest or acknowledgement, of which he wasn’t quite sure.

Swinging his legs over the edge of the bed, his feet automatically found their home in his favorite well worn slippers. A yawn overtook him, followed by a stretch. Arms reaching overhead, his back arched.

“Rhys?” A sleepy voice spoke his name behind him.

Glancing over his shoulder at her, he smiled at the charming sight of her blinking up at him. “Hey,” he whispered. “Good morning. Sorry if I woke you.” 

“Ugh, what time is it?” Never much of an early riser, she rubbed at her eyes before looking to the window. “It’s still dark out?” 

“It’s early,” he replied with a grin. “Go back to sleep.” 

She gave a disgruntled huff. Expecting her to turn over and fall back to sleep, he opened the digital interface of his mechanical palm and began reviewing his schedule for the day. He sighed as he scratched at the back of his head. It was going to be a long day. Mentally plotting out his approach for the task of so many sequential meetings, he barely acknowledged the small hand  that rubbed against his bare back and up along a length of his spine. Soon, the hand was joined by its twin. 

“You’re nice and warm,” she mumbled. 

He felt the bed shift under her weight as she scooted closer. She pressed into him from behind, her knees bumping into his tailbone. Her hands slid up the muscles of his back, coming to rest at his shoulders.

“Whatcha looking at?” she murmured over his shoulder. 

“My schedule,” he replied, absentmindedly. 

“Hmm, busy, busy, busy,” she hummed as her left hand slipped down his bicep. 

“Well, it comes with the–” he trailed off, his entire train of thought fizzling out in the wake of the heated kiss she pressed to his shoulder. 

Awareness of her amorous intentions flooded his body with heat. Her left hand continued its lazy journey down the back of his arm and slipped effortlessly under it, her fingers splayed against his ribs as she made her way towards his chest. Electricity danced across his skin, awakening his nerves.

All the while, she kissed along his shoulder, her lips leaving sweet lingering love bites. Her right hand slid up into his hair and took the short locks in a loose grip. Lost in the sensation of her attention, his eyes fluttered closed as he momentarily surrendered to the pleasure. Her kisses coming up to his neck, she gave his hair a gentle tug, coaxing him to bare his throat for her. 

“Fi,” he breathed her name. Even as he obliged her seductive urging, he knew he shouldn’t give in. He really had no time to spare today. 

She acknowledged him with a nibble at the sweet spot where his neck met his shoulder.

I can’t. I really shouldn’t. I have too much to do this morning. 

She took his earlobe between her teeth and gave it a harmless tug. The litany of excuses grew quieter as his will weakened further.

Trying to gather his wits, he grabbed her left wrist, halting her progress as she smoothed her fingers across his chest. “Fi,” he swallowed, trying to quench his parched throat. “I really need to get up.” 

Her laugh was soft as it fluttered against his neck. “Well, Mr. CEO, it seems to me you already are.” 

As she spoke, she ignored his hold on her wrist, instead trailing her fingers down his abdomen until the tips of her fingers played under the elastic band of his pajama pants. His cheeks flushed as he realized her double entendre.

He stifled a low groan as she moved lower. 

“Stay with me,” she whispered in his ear. “Five more minutes, I swear.” 

Despite recognizing it for the lie it was, he was powerless to resist her. Swiftly, he tugged her wrist as he shifted on the bed, gracefully pulling her into his lap. Her breathy laugh was cut short when his hand slipped under the thin cotton of her t-shirt, finding the smooth warmth of her skin beneath. 

“Okay,” he capitulated. Their noses bumped in the dark before they found the perfect angle. He captured her lips in a hasty, heated kiss. “But we have to be quick.”

[elusivexx]

Rhyiona Week 2023 Day One

Prompt: Dream

Stars Fading

Stars fading but I linger on, dear Still craving your kiss

- Dream a Little Dream of Me

“Fi?” Her sister’s voice quietly prodded Fiona awake. “Wake up. It’s your turn to drive.” 

Slowly awakening from her slumber, Fiona blinked the sleep from her eyes as Sasha gently shook her shoulder. Yawning, she sat up and waved her sister away. 

“You good?” Sasha asked, brows raised. “You were pretty out of it. Twitching and mumbling.”

“Hmm? Yeah,” Fiona replied, stretching as she got to her feet. “Just having a weird dream.” 

Earlier, the steady hum of the caravan in motion had quickly lulled her to sleep. While she dozed, she had fallen deeply into a dream. However, upon waking, she was left with only the vague memories of half formed images as to the events that had taken place. Now a haunting impression of the warmth and intimacy that had permeated her rest lingered in her mind like smoke. The undefinable, but nevertheless gnawing desire to feel the return of that sanctuary she had briefly experienced echoed through her. 

“As long as you’re awake enough to make sure we don’t run into anything,”  Sasha spoke, pulling Fiona’s attention back to the present, “I’d say it’s best if you give Rhys a break. He’s trying to pretend like he’s not exhausted but with all the swerving he’s been doing…” Sasha shrugged. 

“I’m on it.” 

Fiona stepped around the little table that sat in front of the caravan’s couch where she had been resting. Glancing over, she saw poor Vaughn was still frozen in paralysis. They had tried to make him as comfortable as possible, placing his stiff form onto couch cushions, but there was little else they could do. 

Eyes closed and arms crossed, Athena leaned against the rear wall beside the ladder leading to the roof hatch. It astounded Fiona that not only could the older woman sleep standing up, but that she was steady enough to do so in a moving vehicle. 

“I’m gonna check on the bots up top,” Sasha said, pointing a finger to the roof. “Make sure they haven’t blown away.” She flashed a grin before turning to the ladder. Careful not to disturb the slumbering vault hunter, she climbed up and disappeared from sight. 

With one final jaw-popping yawn, Fiona made her way in the opposite direction, towards the front of the wagon. Rhys turned at the sound of her boots scraping against the short steps that lead up to the raised driver’s area.

“Hey,” he said softly with a sleepy half smile. 

Bizarrely, something squeezed in her chest as she nodded a greeting. The unusual echo that lingered from her dream seemed to grow stronger in the moment their eyes briefly met before his attention returned to the task of driving. Caught off guard by the potency of that mysteriously continuing sensation, she brushed her fingers through her bangs and regarded him quietly. As Sasha had mentioned, he must be exhausted; the dark circles under his heavy lidded eyes and the large yawn he tried to stifle behind his mechanical hand confirming it.

“Come to keep me company?” he asked, glancing at her over his shoulder, a strange gleam in his tired eyes.

“As if.” She was quick to scoff at the notion, despite the butterflies that blossomed in her stomach at his hopeful tone. “I’m kicking you out. We’re getting complaints about the ride. Apparently, it’s not as smooth as expected. I’m replacing you.”

“Are you accusing me of being a bad driver?” His tone was full of false shock. “Unbelievable.”

“Not a bad one,” she corrected, tilting her head as she gave him a soft smirk. “Just a tired one. C’mon. Go get some rest.” 

“Ah, all right,” he relented, huffing out a sigh. “If you insist.” 

She stepped closer, putting one hand on the wheel. He unfolded his lanky body from the driver’s seat and edged around her. For the briefest of moments, the pair brushed by each other. Despite sharing the same space for less than a breath of a second, it was still long enough to awaken a lost memory from her dream. 

Although unclear as to the circumstances, Fiona remembered the whisper of his touch against her body and overwhelming sense of security that had flooded her. Shaken by the recollection, she plopped into the driver’s seat unceremoniously, her butt hitting the cracked leather with a plop. 

“You okay?” Rhys asked, “I didn’t trip you, did I? Curse of these long legs,” he muttered jokingly. 

“Uh, no. No, I’m fine,” she reassured him. “Just, uh, lost my balance for a second.” 

As she readjusted herself, she turned to concentrate on the landscape that whizzed by through the windshield, and tried to push the memory of that lingering dream away. 

Beneath her, residual body heat radiated from the seat, warming her along her back and behind. She squirmed, desperately attempting not to dwell on the idea that it was his body that had generated this heat.  Almost as if somehow he knew of her discomfort and was taunting her, he began to stretch nearby, much to her silent dismay. Irritated at her own internal reaction, she pointedly tried to ignore him but that little annoying ache still persisted within her. The temptation proved too much. 

She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. The long line of his body, the arch of his back as he reached up towards the ceiling overhead, completely pulled her focus from the road, causing her hands to follow her eyes. The caravan began to swerve to the left. Quickly, she caught herself and corrected the wheel. 

Thankfully, no one, especially Rhys, had seemed to notice. Shaking her head to clear her obviously still sleep-addled brain, she cursed herself for getting distracted so easily.

Beside her, he finally finished stretching with a soft little grunt that set Fiona’s teeth on edge. Reaching the top of the short steps, he stopped. 

“Fi?” 

The sound of her name spoken in his hushed tone sent a zip along her spine. Poker face firmly intact despite the maelstrom of emotions that plagued her, she glanced his way. 

He gave her a friendly little salute, “Thanks.”

Despite herself, she was charmed. The tension that bunched across her shoulders melted as she realized how ridiculous she was being, letting a stupid, fleeting dream get the better of her. She acknowledged his gratitude with a half smile. 

“Sleep well, Hyperion. And, uh,” her cheeks warmed as she uttered, “sweet dreams.”