HL50 Prompt - Candle
Summary: Richie tries to focus his Qi before a challenge...
Beauty and the Beast
Richie stared into the flickering flame and tried to focus his attention on it. His previous attempts at meditation had been less than successful, and he really needed to focus his mind for the coming fight.
As he continued to stare, his eyes wandered down the candle, taking in the melted wax running down the side, and his mind also began to wander…
Kristin grinned and picked up the candle. She straddled Richie, pinning him to the bed and slowly tilted the candle until the wax dripped onto Richie’s chest. He drew a sharp intake of breath as the first few drops hit, but then the sensation became pleasantly warming as the wax cooled and solidified. This woman was a goddess, knew how to make him tingle in places he didn’t know existed, he could definitely see himself spending a few decades with her. Or perhaps they could have a ‘friends with benefits’ arrangement, like the one Duncan and Amanda seemed to keep. He was brought back from his thoughts as Kristen nipped the flesh of his chest before slowly wrapping her lips around his nipple.
He snapped out of his recollections and returned his focus on the candle. He had to clear his mind, focus on the challenge ahead. It was obvious from his attitude that this guy had at least a century or so under his belt. Richie didn’t have much more than a slim chance; and that would evaporate if he couldn’t focus. Perhaps the candle was a mistake, he thought, and turned his attention to his breathing instead. He took a long slow breath in, and then exhaled it with deliberate care, picturing the molecules of air as they passed down his windpipe and into the lungs.
He was panting hard as he rolled back onto the bed. Melissa rolled onto her side and grinned at him. “Where did you learn to do that?” she asked. Richie grinned and kissed her.
“That’s not all I’ve learned.” He said with a growl, as he pulled her closer.
No, he can’t think of that. That was how he had ended up in this mess in the first place.
He stopped as he felt the approach of another Immortal and groaned.
“Richie what’s wrong?”
“I think your husband is back.” Melissa jumped up and started grabbing Richie’s things.
“You have to hide, go! He can’t find you here!” Richie grabbed her hand gently.
“It’s a little late for that, he knows I’m here.” Melissa looked at him warily.
“Oh, you’re like him aren’t you? Oh Richie I’m so sorry, he’s going to take your head for this.” Richie looked at her. Well if he trusted his wife, this guy couldn’t be all bad, but just in case he went to his jacket and withdrew his sword before pulling his pants back on. He was just in time as Melissa’s husband came bursting through the bedroom door, his cavalry sword drawn. He was a bear of a man, seven feet tall if he was an inch, and almost as broad.
“You son of a bitch! You dare lay a hand on my woman? I’m gonna have yore head boy!” He raised his sword and pointed it at Richie, who raised his own in defence, but raised a hand at the same time to try and placate the brute.
“Look, is this really worth someone losing their head over? I’m really sorry; I didn’t know she was married.” Melissa ran toward her husband and grabbed his sword arm.
“Don’t you dare kill Richie.”
“Richie? Oh it’s Richie is it?! You whore!” With his free hand he punched her before picking her up and throwing her across the room like a rag doll. Richie’s first instinct was to charge in, sword blazing, but he knew his priority had to be getting Melissa away from this guy. If he left she’d end up dead, if he lost, she’d end up dead.
“You bastard! I’ll fight you, but not here, not now.”
“Okay boy, we’ll settle this the old fashioned way. A duel, at dawn, tomorrow in the park two blocks from here. Agreed?”
“Agreed.”
“And you’d better show or I’ll hunt you down like the dog you are.” Richie nodded and gathering up the rest of his things he went over to Melissa. “You can take that piece of trash with you.” Richie helped Melissa to her feet and walked her out of the house, keeping his eye and sword trained on her husband.
“Come on, let’s get you to a hospital.”
Richie sighed and glanced at the clock. There was still an hour until he had to go to the park and this was clearly getting him nowhere. Perhaps some practice to warm up. He got up from the floor and picked up his sword, then blew out the candle.
The sequel/epilogue to this is The Beast Within