Comments | iolaus_lj: H&M: After a Long Day (locked to Gabrielle) (NC-17)

iolaus_lj

H&M: After a Long Day (locked to Gabrielle) (NC-17)

Jul 23, 2006 12:37

Who knew that repairing and sanding floorboards could hurt more than fighting a hydra?

Iolaus had been on his knees most of the day, hard at work on the flooring to the derelict building that would house Herculaneum. Almost a third of the surface had to be replaced with new wood, which required measuring, cutting, fitting, then more sanding ( Read more... )

Leave a comment

Back to all threads

potadeiabard July 27 2006, 12:49:59 UTC

She was silent, thinking of Iolaus' childhood and how very different it was from her own and yet how similar. "I wasn't very good at the weaving clothes and farming pigs. Everyone thought, I thought, I was too good for it so I didn't put an effort into it. I was just bad. You escaped through physical means and I escaped in the stories in my head. Then when Xena came, I was outta there like an arrow."

Her lips were soft as a butterfly's wing as she pressed them against his skin and her hands caressed his chest. If she could suspend time, keeping them just like this, she would. When they were wrapped around each other, was one of her favorite times.

"I don't know about all of Greece knowing my name, a few cities would be nice though. I'm glad you think I was born for more." It humbled her greatly that both he and Xena saw something in her that went beyond the village girl from Potadeia. "Maybe I'll be in the same sentence alongside the mighty Iolaus, with the generous heart and brave soul, that fights beside Hercules."

iolaus_lj July 28 2006, 00:01:38 UTC

Iolaus wondered what Gabrielle's life would have been like had she stayed in her little rural village. But no, in his mind's eye, he simply couldn't imagine her there.

He wrapped his arms around her arms as where they encircled his chest, hugging what small portion he could reach of her.

"I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for stories about the mighty Iolaus," he said, chuckling at his own expense. "Maybe stories about 'that short guy' standing next to Hercules. Or maybe 'that blonde guy' over there. Guess it's a good thing Joxer isn't a bard, because he keeps calling me Ioafus."

potadeiabard July 28 2006, 00:45:24 UTC

"Ioafus?" Gabrielle grinned, glad he couldn't see her. "Did he ever tell you of the time Aphrodite enchanted my scroll?" Her grin turned into a wide smile at the memory of that day, though at the time it wasn't funny. "Next time you see him ask him about the three dancing versions of me." It still embarrassed Joxer when she would mention his conjuring her. "You might threaten him with bringing that up the next time he calls you Iofaus."

She slid her body back from his just for a moment and reached for a clay jar on the ledge above the bathing tub to wet his hair.

iolaus_lj July 28 2006, 02:17:02 UTC

"Three dancing versions of you?" he repeated, eyes widening. "Really?" Grinning, he tried to imagine what he would do with three dancing Gabrielles. No, he didn't need to imagine. He knew exactly what he'd do with them.

"I don't suppose you still have that enchanted scroll lying around," he teased, then laughed. "No, on second thought, knowing 'Dite, I'm betting it caused you more trouble that it was worth."

potadeiabard July 28 2006, 02:52:16 UTC

"It was." She agreed with a laugh and dipped the jar into the still warm water to carefully pour of Iolaus' hair. "Though hindsight it was very funny. Ares and 'Dite lost their god powers and all I'll say is they didn't understand the concept of bathing as well as we do."

The warm water slid over Iolaus hair, turning it a shade of dark blonde. "She enchanted the scroll so that the spell wouldn't end until I came to the end of the parchment." Gabrielle replaced the jar to the shelf and picked up the shampoo. Gently, she began to rub the liquid soap into his locks. "Thank the gods, I didn't do a lot of damage. Though watching Xena defeat a warlord with a wagon full of seafood was almost worth it."

iolaus_lj July 28 2006, 03:11:00 UTC

"Seafood?" He laughed out loud. "Don't tell me. It was a wagon full of swordfish, right?"

Tilting his head back so she could gain better access to his hair, he closed his eyes, loving the feel of her fingers working their magic against his scalp. "You know, if I were a cat, I'd be purring up a storm right about now," he sighed.

potadeiabard July 28 2006, 10:44:23 UTC

Gabrielle laughed as her fingers continued to work the lather in his hair. "The deep in your chest, truly content purr?" Reaching behind her, she picked up the jar of water and rinsed the suds away, being careful not to get any in his eyes.

"Don't let momma mouse hear you compare yourself to a cat." Her lips twitched at the resulting imagery. "And the wagon wasn't full of sword fish but she did use one. Only Xena would think to use fish as a weapon."

iolaus_lj July 28 2006, 12:04:07 UTC

"Truly content," he confirmed, head tilted back. "Kinda like this . . ." and demonstrated. His immitation of a cat's purring left quite a lot to be desired and sounded more like a lecherous old man than feline contentment. "Okay, well, so I'm not an actor, either," he laughed at his poor attempt at mimicry. "Mama mouse is more likely to laugh her little gray tail off at that."

"Ya know, I actually fought with a fish once. Just for the --" He grinned, "Halibut."

potadeiabard July 28 2006, 16:02:39 UTC

Gabrielle groaned, "You know, you're lucky that you are sore or I would have pinched you for that one." She finished washing the suds away and leaned in to place a soft nip between his shoulder blades, "Okay, only you and Xena would think to use fish as a weapon."

She twisted her torso and replaced the jar on the small shelf behind her before returning to wrap her arms around Iolaus' chest. "I feel like a deep chested purr of true contentment myself at the moment." Gabrielle didn't know how she could be so lucky, but she would enjoy it for as long as it lasted.

iolaus_lj July 29 2006, 00:42:16 UTC

"Sorry, couldn't resist." Caressing her arms where they hugged him, he then reached backward with both hands and tried to hug her from behind. He felt completely warm and content but, more than even that, he felt loved, and that was a rare and wonderful feeling.

"It is kind of nice, isn't it?" he agreed. "At the risk of repeating myself, I could really get used to this."

potadeiabard July 29 2006, 01:06:13 UTC

She didn't want him to stretch his abdomen muscles to hug her behind his back, so she placed a kiss on his neck before gently disengaging their arms. "Don't move. I'm about to show you how agile I am." Gabrielle grinned as she stood up very carefully and stepped out of the tub.

Before Iolaus could protest, she gingerly entered again, though this time she faced him. "Not quite acrobatic, but minimal spillage of water and now you won't have to stretch your abdomen muscles." She sat back into the warm water, sliding her legs on either side of his once again.

iolaus_lj July 29 2006, 01:22:36 UTC

For a brief moment he felt disappointment and resignation at her leaving the tub, but that quickly vanished when she stepped back into the water, facing him.

She was so close he thought he could feel the heat of her body, or was that just the water? Reaching out, he gently brushed her cheek with his fingertips then softly traced her lips.

"The view's just improved dramatically."

potadeiabard July 29 2006, 01:37:15 UTC

She smiled before kissing the pad of his finger as he softly traced her lips. "I'm glad you're enjoying the view." Gabrielle's eyes softened as she looked at the man opposite her.

"I had it lucky, the view was just as beautiful where I had been sitting as it is where I'm sitting now." Her eyes slowly roamed from his eyes down the column of his throat to his chest and lower until she returned her gaze to his eyes with a grin. "Well, maybe it is a bit better."

iolaus_lj July 29 2006, 01:52:12 UTC

"Thanks . . . I think," he grinned, letting his fingers trail down the line of her jaw to just under her chin. "Maybe you just need a closer look." He inched nearer, bending his knees under water so he could gently hook his legs around her (and so he wouldn't have to lean forward at the waist).

"How's this?" he asked, brushing her lips with his. "Better?"

potadeiabard July 29 2006, 02:30:35 UTC

"Much." Gabrielle agreed as her lips brushed his as she spoke, then pressed harder in a gentle kiss. She fell into it, enjoying his taste before she pulled back with a smile.

Inching forward, she slid her legs around his body making it easier for him to reach her and for her to reach him. Gabrielle's fingertips stroked along his jawline, loving the feel of his skin under her touch. "I can definitely get very used to this."

iolaus_lj July 29 2006, 02:53:10 UTC

Finally able to reach her properly, he slipped his arms around her, drawing her close as he gazed into her eyes. "I still haven't decided if this village is a blessing or a curse. But being here with you is the greatest gift the gods could ever give me."

But though he did not voice it, he also knew the time would come when they would find their way home and resume their old lives.

"The truth is, I've already gotten used to this. To wake up every morning, knowing that the first thing I'll see is you beside me and that's . . . it's a wonderful feeling. I've never felt quite this way before. This . . . complete."

Back to all threads