swimming

[pokerplayereyes]

"I can't swim," said Ned, for just about the thousandth time as they walked down the narrow path. He had his fingers twisted around Rogue's, something which still felt old, made his hand feel like someone else's but which at the same time he wouldn't have been willing to stop doing, either

Comments

[un_gloved]

"You are such a baby," Rogue muttered, shaking her head head and looking skyward. "I won't let ya drown."

Her own suit was significantly less garish, and she'd foregone shoes altogether, content to enjoy the warmth of the day. The hand-holding was strange, and she felt a little silly about it sometimes- it was an odd thing to do, walk around holding someone's hand, but she was pretty sure she only felt that way because she'd never done it before. One thing she'd learned so far about Ned, though, was that if she showed any hesitation toward something he would cease, immediately, sometimes before she'd actually worked out if she wanted him to. So when he reached for her hand, she would offer it, enjoying something as simple as the feel of their palms sliding together, the grip of his hand, callouses, nails against her skin. It hadn't stopped feeling new, yet, not in the slightest.

[pokerplayereyes]

Ned gave her a sideways glance, a slight smirk playing around his mouth.

"Maybe I'll have to pretend to drown, then. Just t'see what happens."

[un_gloved]

"Yeah," she said challengingly, shooting him a look, eyebrows up and corners of her mouth curling, "I'm kinda curious m'self."

[pokerplayereyes]

Ned rolled his eyes and jerked her by her hand, her shoulder brushing his bare chest for a second.

"I'm gonna find someone else to waste all my time with."

[un_gloved]

"Nuh uh," she protested, grinning, stumbling a little at the tug and not minding, "you love it."

[pokerplayereyes]

"Maybe I do," said Ned, rolling his eyes and keepng her close, as they got closer to the waterfall. "An' maybe I don't."

[un_gloved]

"Betcha do," she said, poking his arm a little and watching his face, not bothering to watch where her feet were going. He fascinated her.

She looked over when the sound of the water got louder and grinned, breaking away.

"Ooh, I wanna climb t'the top."

[pokerplayereyes]

Ned raised both eyebrows and then shook his head, tugging her against him and wrapping both arms around her.

"No."

[un_gloved]

She blinked, blushing at the contact of her back to his chest, hands coming up to rest along his forearms. She tipped her head back against his shoulder to look up at him.

"No?"

[pokerplayereyes]

Ned shook his head and ducked to kiss the dip between neck and shoulder, a short contact of lips and skin.

"Nope."

[un_gloved]

She swallowed, breath catching, letting her head fall just slightly to one side, exposing the line of her neck.

"Well," she said, absently biting her lower lip, "I guess I could do it some other time..."

[pokerplayereyes]

"You mean I'm gonna have to keep you totally occupied?" said Ned, with a little grin, kissing her again, and steering them in the direction of the pool, keeping his arms firmly around her.

[un_gloved]

Don't get all shook up, now. You've gone toe to toe with professional charmers.

"Think you're up for it?" she questioned back, tripping along with him toward the water.

[pokerplayereyes]

"Watchman always rise to a challenge," said Ned, as they entered the waterfall clearing. "Promise you that."

[un_gloved]

"I suppose I'm inclined t'believe you," she said in a tone of voice that implied it would take some due consideration.

[pokerplayereyes]

Ned skimmed his hand over her bare belly and then stepped smoothly away from her, walking ahead and grinning back over his shoulder.

"Believe what you want."