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Title: Damsel in Distress
Author: jspencer1986
Rating: R
Pairing: Cara/Kahlan
Disclaimer: I don't own any part of Glee OR Legend of the Seeker. Oh how I wish I did. No profit being made here, only a loss of respect from most of my friends.
A/N: Fluffy Glee/LotS crossover. Set just before Kurt tried out for the football team. This is my first fic in either fandom, and I haven't written in a reeeeally long time, so I hope I haven't messed anything up ridiculously. Enjoy!
Cara shot a warning look in Dahlia's direction. "No," she said flatly.
Dahlia almost tried to argue. She almost tried to point out that Cara was miserable, and that her duty as a friend was to find out why and make life hell for whoever was responsible. But when Cara says no, she means 'If you ask if I'd like to talk about it one more time, I won't hesitate to use force'. So instead, Dahlia glared at her lunch tray in silent protest of her friend's attitude.
The cafeteria was crowded and Cara's eyes were making covert sweeps of the room while she thought Dahlia was too busy sulking to notice. When multiple glances failed to find what she was looking for, she slumped forward, and pushed a rogue tater tot around with her fork.
It was only when Dahlia cleared her throat pointedly that Cara looked up.
"What?"
"You like someone. Who is she?" Dahlia said with a smirk.
Cara's defenses shot up immediately, but even as she denied the accusation she sounded guilty.
She briefly thanked her lucky stars that Santana was busy elsewhere making out with Brittany. If she'd seen this almost-admission, she'd have found out who was on Cara's mind and it would be halfway across the school before the end of the day.
Looking back down at her tray of barely-touched food, she huffed.
"I still don't want to talk about it."
*********************
Kahlan stood by the piano with Kurt and Mercedes, whispering furiously. She held the other two in rapt attention, regaling them with the story of how Richard Cypher asked her for a blowjob after the game last Friday night.
"I told him he wasn't putting that thing anywhere near my mouth!" she said with an air of distaste.
"Next time, tell him I'm available," Kurt chimed in.
Mercedes laughed. "Kurt, you've never even given a blowjob."
"Sadly that's true," he replied, "which means it's high time I learn. And who better to practice on than one of the hottest guys in school? I can't believe you turned him down, Kahlan. I don't think anybody has turned him down, ever. His ego will be feeling that one for a while."
Kahlan's laughter trailed off when she caught sight of a blonde in a Cheerios uniform retreating from the door. A sudden blush burned against her cheeks as she bit back the real reason she told Richard to go find one of his bimbos to do the job for him. Saying it aloud would make it real, and there would be no taking it back. Kahlan wasn't sure she was ready for that.
Following her gaze to the door, Kurt raised an eyebrow. "Are you going to tell us, or do we have to ask?"
A look of guilt swept across her face and her cheeks flushed an even deeper red, but she was spared the embarrassment of having to explain herself by Mr Schuester's entry. After a brief 'inspirational' speech it was business as usual - song selections, practice, a whole lot of goofing off - but Kahlan couldn't concentrate.
"Honestly, Mr Schue, if Kahlan can't remember her part, she should give it to someone who can. I, for one, would be happy to take it on."
The teacher sighed.
"You already have a part, Rachel."
"Yes, but I'm completely confident I could do both-"
"The answer is no," he said. "I'm sure Kahlan's just having an off day, right?"
All eyes turned to Kahlan as she offered up a weak nod.
"There, it's settled. Kahlan is keeping her part," he said. "Now, everyone's hitting the chorus but some of you aren't quite making the bridge, so let's go from there."
With another raised eyebrow, Kurt mouthed a message: Spill. After school.
***********
The halls were full of people, the air almost thrumming with the excitement of finally getting to leave for the day. Students laughed and talked about their plans, whose party they were going to that coming weekend, and whether they'd be there to watch the football team get killed on the field yet again on Friday night.
Cara stood by her locker, listening to Dahlia and Denna make fun of some song she'd never heard while they waited for Santana and Brittany. She saw them walking arm in arm down the hall, Santana stretched up slightly to whisper something that made Brittany giggle, at the same time as she heard the whimper and the sound of a body being slammed hard into the lockers.
The face she saw when she turned around was full of panic, and she could see the guy was too scared to even look for a way out. He was familiar though - one of Kahlan's friends from glee club. Cara recognised him from when she was...well, she wouldn't call it spying really, just doing her homework.
Tears were welling up in the boy's eyes, and as much as Cara hated to get involved in other people's business, her hatred for that total brute Karofsky was much more prominent.
A tap on his shoulder made the jock turn, fist in the air, ready to strike whoever was interrupting his bullying. Cara just looked bored and crossed her arms.
"Leave the kid alone," she said.
Karofsky laughed his little weasel laugh and dropped his fist. "Or what? You're gonna cheer me to death?"
Cara's foot hit his groin so fast he never even saw it coming. Seconds later, Karofsky hit the floor. Kurt stood motionless with his back against the lockers trying to take in what he'd just witnessed, not sure whether he felt relieved or terrified.
The look on Cara's face said she was pleased with the effectiveness of the move as she stared down at Karofsky. He was still cupping himself and trying to breathe through the pain, and his face was red and starting to sweat.
"I hear the football team needs a kicker. Maybe I'll try out," she said casually. "Feel free to stick around. I could use the practice."
He looked around to find everyone in the hall watching and trying to hide their grins. Rising to his feet as quickly as he could manage, Karofsky painfully shuffled past, muttering under his breath. Cara gave a small nod to Kurt and turned, intending to make a swift exit, but ended up almost nose to nose with the one person she wasn't sure she was ready to have a conversation with.
Kahlan Amnell. Math geek, member of glee club, and the single hottest girl Cara had ever seen. Not only was she smart and talented, she had a body that made Cara want to do things that she was sure were still illegal in some states.
And there she was, right in front of her. All piercing blue eyes and long, dark hair, and that nervous smile that promised a little more than Cara dared hope for. In her experience, girls like Kahlan usually weren't interested in girls at all, let alone girls like her. She was stubborn, blunt and liked to fight - even in a Cheerios uniform she looked imposing.
This was the first time she'd ever tried not to be.
"Thank you. Nobody has ever done that for Kurt before," Kahlan looked down and flushed a little as she added, "or for any of us."
On the outside, Cara looked indifferent. Relaxed even. But inside, she was freaking out.
'Fuck,' she thought, 'She's talking to me. Kahlan fucking Amnell is talking to me. What do I say? What did she say? Something about Kurt, right.'
"It was nothing. Karofsky had it coming."
"Still. You didn't have to help him, nobody else ever has. But you did. So thank you."
She offered up a smile, daring to look Cara in the eye for a moment before panicking and looking over at Kurt, who seemed decidedly more calm than he was a minute ago.
"Uh, no problem," Cara said. "I've got to..."
She motioned over her shoulder at the other four Cheerios behind her, and gave what she hoped was a sufficiently apologetic look. The flush of pink returned to Kahlan's cheeks as she said, "Sure, okay. I'll see you around?"
Cara's eyes darted back up from where they'd landed on the swell of Kahlan's breasts and she swallowed hard. Nodding awkwardly, she turned and walked back to the group of girls waiting for her. She didn't look back to see Kahlan's eyes sink down to her ass as she walked away.
***********
"I sure as hell didn't see that coming," Dahlia said.
Cara scowled in her general direction and walked ahead in a huff. There was only one thing worse than being caught out by Dahlia, and that was knowing that she would tell Santana - who spends a lot of time in glee club with Kahlan. This was going to end up being disastrous.
All the way to the gym, Cara could hear the other girls whispering behind her. She knew what they were doing, and she was not pleased. The scheming had begun and bets were being placed. As far as hobbies went, Cara thought theirs was entirely lame. She was perfectly capable of asking Kahlan out if she really wanted to. She didn't need them to play matchmaker.
Of course, it wouldn't hurt to let them feel out the situation. Then, once Cara was sure Kahlan was interested, she could make her move. 'Maybe I'll play along,' she thought, 'just for a little while.'
***********
Once Kurt had regained his composure, his focus turned straight to Kahlan. It had taken her a moment to realise that she was still in the hall at school, surrounded by people, and by then it was too late. She knew Kurt and Mercedes had seen her nervousness as she'd talked to Cara, but that could almost be passed off as fear. Everyone knew Cara's reputation and, all that aside, anyone who had the guts to kick Karofsky in the family jewels was either fearless or crazy. Possibly both.
But the ass-staring? That one she couldn't play down. They'd seen it, and she was busted.
"I was almost prepared to bribe you with shoes, but I'm pretty sure you just gave yourself away," Kurt said with a smile. He took a fleeting glance back to where Cara had just disappeared down the hall, then added, "I never pegged you for the bad-girl type."
Kahlan felt her face turning an exceedingly bright shade of pink and refused to look at anything but her feet. All of a sudden Mercedes was hugging her, and then Kurt was too.
"Come on, Kahlan," Mercedes said, "you didn't really think we would have a problem with it, did you?"
Sighing, Kahlan wiped a few stray tears from her eyes. She shook her head, still not meeting their eyes, but managing a small smile.
"I just didn't think I was ready."
Kurt looked at Mercedes and a devious smile formed on his face as he spoke.
"Well, get ready. Because we're going to help you."
***********
Days passed without another word between Cara and Kahlan, and Cara was beginning to resign herself to the fact that maybe her Cheerios just weren't making any progress. In all the time she'd known Denna and Dahlia, they'd never failed to get someone a date. But there's a first time for everything.
Cara had seen Dahlia awkwardly hanging around Kurt and Mercedes a few times, but whatever it was they were planning, she'd decided it obviously wasn't working. Kahlan just wasn't interested. Usually that wouldn't be a big deal. Cara would just go find some other nameless girl, have her way with her and slip out quietly before she'd even realise Cara was gone.
Something told her it wouldn't be quite so simple with Kahlan.
It was Friday afternoon, school was almost done for the day, and Cara and Kahlan were in one of the few classes they shared. A woman knocked on the door to the classroom and quietly delivered a message to the teacher.
"Kahlan," the teacher said when he returned, "your dad had to go in to work and can't make it to pick you up this afternoon. I suggest you take the bus."
Groaning, she slumped down in her chair. She hated taking the bus. It was crowded and she always managed to end up sitting next the guy who smelled like some kind of vintage cheese. Kahlan decided the walk would do her good.
When the class was dismissed, Kahlan was in no rush to get out. And neither was Cara, so it seemed. She could feel the blonde staring at her as she slowly gathered her things, and turned to find her still sprawled a little haphazardly in her seat and absently running a finger along the hem of her Cheerios uniform.
Kahlan was at a loss for words, and somewhat panicked as she noticed the rest of the class had already filed out.
"I could give you a ride," Cara said offhandedly. "If you want."
It seemed Kahlan's body was doing things without her consent. Her eyes were following the slow movement of Cara's fingertip along the material of her skirt, her breathing getting progressively more shallow and her mouth feeling more dry than ever. Swallowing hard, she found herself nodding, even though she was still not sure it was the right thing to do. Telling herself that it was just a ride, she shook off her nerves and gave Cara a smile and a 'thank you'.
Cara just nodded.
"Come on."
**********************
Cars had never been Kahlan's thing, but this was a nice car. It was deep red and in perfect condition, small and sleek, the engine smooth and quiet - it reminded her of Cara. Almost afraid to touch anything, she sat stiffly in the passenger seat and gave directions as Cara drove.
As they got closer to her house, Kahlan was starting to feel like she'd wasted an opportunity. She was alone in a car with a girl who was making her feel exactly the way she always thought she should about boys and she was just sitting there, silent unless she needed to give an instruction.
"I'm just up there, the white place," Kahlan said, and motioned for Cara to park in the driveway. They parked, and Kahlan hesitantly unbuckled her seatbelt. She could feel Cara's gaze on her.
"Thank you, for the ride."
"No problem. I like that you didn't try to make small talk."
Kahlan's eyes shot up to look at Cara, who was trying, and failing, to suppress a smirk.
"Seriously, am I really that intimidating?" she said with a grin, and Kahlan finally laughed. It was a sound Cara quickly decided she could get used to.
"Actually, you're not nearly as scary as I thought you'd be," Kahlan admitted. "Do you want to come in?"
Once she realised the question that had just slipped out, she panicked. But before she could say anything more, Cara gave a shrug of her shoulders and said, "Sure."
They got out of the car, Cara pushing the button on the key to make sure it was locked, and she followed Kahlan to the door. The house key shook a little as Kahlan slipped it in the lock, and Cara realised she was shaking. Was she nervous? Was she scared of being alone with her? Was she regretting asking her inside?
Motioning for Cara to follow, Kahlan led them inside and down the long, narrow hall to her room. It was bigger than Cara expected, but other than the size, her mental image of it had been right on. Everything was tidy and had its place, the bed was neatly made, she had a stack of completed homework on her desk, and a good deal of her stuff was baby pink. As Cara walked around and took in the new surroundings, Kahlan tried not to watch. She threw her backpack in her closet and took off her sweater, tugging the bottom of her thin white shirt back down once it was off.
It took a few moments for her to realise that Cara was no longer moving around the room and was watching her with a look Kahlan had never seen on her face before. She looked slightly flushed, and as she noticed the brunette's eyes on her, her gaze slowly moved back up Kahlan's body to look her straight in the eye.
'Think of something,' Kahlan's mind screamed.
"So, what do you want to do?" she asked. Yeah, that seemed safe.
Cara raised an eyebrow and shook her head. "You don't want me to answer that."
The lump in Kahlan's throat was making it difficult for her to swallow. She was scared of the way events seemed to be hurtling forward out of her control, and even more scared that she found herself wanting to speed things up some more.
"Maybe I do," she said softly as she leaned back against her study desk. She gripped the edge to stop her hands from shaking, hard enough that it almost hurt.
Cara started walking slowly towards her, smoothing down her uniform as she sauntered over. "I'm sure you've heard around school what usually happens when I get a girl alone in her room."
Talking was no longer on the list of things Kahlan was capable of doing. The nod she gave was quick and jerky, and she breathed out shakily and bit her lip as Cara stopped in front of her. Hands were splayed out on the desk to either side of Kahlan, and Cara moved ever so slowly, not toward her lips, but to the smooth skin under her jawline. Almost there, she stopped to give Kahlan one last chance to back out. Neither moved.
Placing gentle kisses to the side of Kahlan's neck, she was rewarded with a soft moan, and a hand on her hip, pulling her in closer. Kahlan had the distinct feeling that this should not have been happening so soon, and especially not like this, but she couldn't stop herself. The lips on her bare skin, the scent of Cara's hair, the warmth of her body - it all just felt so good.
All of a sudden, there were hands sliding around under her ass, hoisting her up to sit on the desk. The hands came back around, over Kahlan's skirt and down her thighs, only to slide back up under the edge of the material. Legs parted slightly to allow Cara the space to stand between them.
Then her lips were on Kahlan's, tongue already pushing its way inside. She wasn't being gentle, wasn't treating her like something breakable, and the way Cara was kissing her was already getting her hot.
Nothing mattered but the way Cara's mouth and hands were on her, thumbs stroking soft flesh and making her moan softly every time she found that deliciously sensitive spot on the inside of Kahlan's thigh. Arms wrapped around Cara and pulled her close.
The heat was building in both of them, their kissing becoming feverish, and Cara's fingers were moving further and further up under the material covering Kahlan's thighs. Teeth bore down a little roughly on Kahlan's bottom lip, just as the side of Cara's thumb brushed against her panties.
"Fuck," Kahlan breathed out as she broke the kiss. Her eyes slid closed as she concentrated on the gentle pressure of the thumb teasing and rubbing at her through her underwear.
"Kahlan?"
Both girls froze.
Cara looked horrified. "Your dad?"
Kahlan nodded, an apologetic look on her face, and quickly pulled herself down off the edge of the desk. The friction caused a sudden jolt of pleasure to course through her body and Cara grasped onto her as her knees almost gave out.
They made themselves as presentable as possible in what little time they had, and they just managed it before Kahlan's father opened the door.
"Hey sweetheart, you got company?" he said before he peered around the door and into her room. "Oh, hi there. That's a very nice car you've got." He gave Cara an easy smile.
"Thanks. I was just leaving," Cara said hurriedly. She turned to Kahlan. "I'll see you at school."
Slightly embarrassed, and more than a little turned on, Cara showed herself out. She sat in her car with her forehead resting against the steering wheel, going over and over what had just happened, trying to make some sense of it. Not only was Kahlan interested, she was practically begging Cara to do all the things she'd wanted to do but had thought would never happen.
The world made absolutely no sense once again.
She would remember for a very long time exactly what it felt like to have Kahlan trembling under her touch, and as she squirmed a little in her seat and shuddered, she knew exactly what she would be taking care of when she got home.
**************
All of the next day, Cara avoided Kahlan. Not once did she look at her during the classes they shared, nor did she pass by the choir room when she knew glee club was rehearsing. She made a point of being anywhere but where Kahlan was at any given time, and that had worked - up until Cheerios practice.
Miss Sylvester had left Quinn in charge while she went to procure whatever it was she needed for her latest ridiculous (and probably dangerous) stunt, and everyone was glad for the break. But when Kahlan strode into the gym with a determined look on her face, Denna did her best to hide her smile, and Cara just wanted to run far, far away.
But she was Cara. And she didn't run. She strolled over to where Kahlan had stopped and eyed her suspiciously.
"You've been avoiding me," Kahlan said simply.
"I've been busy."
"Yesterday..." she looked over Cara's shoulder to see the whole Cheerios squad watching and listening intently, and lowered her voice so only Cara could hear.
"I'm sorry," she started again. "I'm sorry my dad came home and messed everything up. I thought, well, I guess I thought it meant you liked me. But if I'm...if you just wanted..."
Cara's hands were on Kahlan's hips and pulling their bodies flush before she even registered what was happening. And then they were kissing. Heat radiated between them, lips quickly parted and tongues crashed together, and the small moan from deep in Kahlan's throat sent shivers through Cara's entire body. Only when breathing was starting to get difficult did they finally break the kiss, to the cat-calls of every Cheerio in the gym.
"Does that answer your question?" Cara smirked.
Kahlan just stood there, breathless and, if she dared admit it, wet.
************
They had been together for two weeks. With Brittany, Santana and Quinn in glee club as well as the Cheerios, the two groups held no animosity towards each other. But with Cara and Kahlan now an item - and the hottest news in school - it seemed more and more often that their lunch table was being shared with Kurt and Mercedes, as well as Cara's usual entourage.
Every once in a while, they would hear the telltale gasp of surprise that meant Cara was treating Kahlan to something a little naughty under the table, although she never went beneath the clothes, and never let Kahlan get too carried away.
Dahlia looked at them distastefully. "Get a room already."
"We tried that the first time. Didn't work," Cara pointed out.
Kahlan laughed and added, "Yeah, remind me to thank my dad for having to work that day. If it weren't for him, we wouldn't even be together."
Cara and Kahlan both failed to notice the meaningful looks between their lunch companions. When they couldn't hold it in anymore, all six of them burst out laughing simultaneously.
"Seriously," Kurt said through fits of giggles, "you guys are so clueless."
The looks between the two girls became increasingly more confused, so Dahlia started to explain.
"It was just too easy to get you two together. We know you, Cara. And they," she said, pointing to Kurt and Mercedes, "know Kahlan."
An 'are you crazy' look crossed Cara's face as she said, "Sorry, but getting together was all our own doing."
Again, the table went silent, then erupted in laughter.
"Afraid not," Kurt said. "You do know Kahlan's dad works at my dad's garage, right? It really wasn't hard to convince my dad to come home early and call him in." He made a show of coughing, and moaned, "Please dad, come pick me up from school. I'm very sick."
Denna added, "And honestly, Cara. You totally go for the damsel in distress thing. Kahlan couldn't get home, how sad. We knew you'd be all over that. Of course, we had to make sure the message got delivered while you two were in class together. But the plan was very simple. You two were probably the easiest marks yet."
Both Cara and Kahlan sat there completely stunned. They had no idea they'd been set up, and now both held a newfound appreciation for how devious their friends could be.
"Alright everyone," Denna went on. "They fell for it, and neither figured it out. I win. Pay up!"
With groans of disappointment, each of the others handed over the money they'd bet, and for once, Cara didn't hold quite so much contempt for their little game of matchmaking.