Ficlet: "Sunbathing", for Demented_Allure "Summer" challenge
Title: Sunbathing
Author: Sionnain
’verse: My Ideology-verse, so movieverse/AU
Rating: PG
Summary: Rogue takes a few moments to soak in some summer sun.
Word Count: 817
AN: Thanks to Kaz814 for the beta. Written for the Demented_Allure “Summer” challenge.
Sunbathing
Rogue lay on her back on the top of the crow’s nest, soaking in the late-afternoon sun. She was wearing a black bikini and no gloves, and the air on her bare skin felt almost as good as the summer heat. She closed her eyes in contentment, though she’d not be able to stay out here a long time. The metal surrounding her was like a heat conductor, and she didn’t spend a lot of time in the sun as it was, so she’d end up burnt to a crisp if she wasn’t careful.
For now, though, she was going to enjoy it. The breeze was sporadic but enough to be pleasant, and all she could hear was the sea below. There was something to be said about living on a secluded island in the middle of the ocean.
She heard a distinctive low hum just as the doors to the small crow’s nest opened. “Ah. There you are.”
“Mmm.” She was almost too relaxed to open her eyes. “Yup.”
“I hope you’re not planning on staying out here too long,” Erik said severely. “You’ll burn all that pretty skin to a cinder.”
“I’m not, promise. I used to be tan, did you know that? When I was a kid, and could run around all day playin’ in the sprinkler. Was as brown as an Indian, my mama used to say.” She smiled at the memory. It was rare that memories of home made her do anything but wince.
“It looks plebian, I think. Being tan.”
Rogue laughed and opened her eyes to look up at him. “That’s so…Victorian of you, Erik.” She stretched languidly.
He gazed down at her. “Perhaps it’s just a preference.”
“Your last lover was blue,” she reminded him, sitting up. Her back was kind of sore from lying on the hard surface beneath the bath towel. She was also very thirsty. His presence out here likely meant he wished her to do something else than lay about under the sun.
Nothing nice lasts forever. She stood up and stretched, and caught him eyeing her appreciatively as she did so. “What?”
“My dear, you’re parading around half-naked,” he said, moving closer. She backed up instinctively, and his eyes narrowed. “That’s an odd reaction from someone with whom I share a bed,” he said, and his voice was tight.
“It’s not that,” she said quickly, subduing her hair as the wind tossed it in her face. “Just…you know. Half-naked means extra dangerous.”
He smiled at her, moving so she was leaning back against the metal railing, but only just. He wasn’t wearing gloves, but he reached out and traced a finger down her neck lightly regardless. “Mmm. Yes, I know.”
Rogue shivered from both the caress of bare skin against her own and the look in his eyes, her breathing suddenly catching in her throat. “So you should…you know. Be careful.”
“Why?” He cocked his head, pulling his hand back before her powers drew from him. “Are you going to try and kill me?”
“No,” she murmured, watching his hand like a hawk as it reached out again, though this time he ran his finger down the strap of her bikini and was thus safe from her skin.
“Then why should I be worried?” He moved to draw his fingers over the top of her bikini bottom, and she bit back a moan, hot from something other than the heat. He brushed his fingers against her stomach, quickly, and she gave a small gasp.
Unbidden came a memory of a few summers ago, at the mansion. She’d gone outside to swim, wearing a one-piece and a pair of gloves that she didn’t take off until she’d been ready to go swimming. She’d sat on a secluded chair underneath a tree, far away from everyone else. No one had said anything about her swimming with them, but no one had come near her in the pool, either. Even Bobby had kept his distance.
And they wonder why I left.
She smiled at Erik, wondering if he understood exactly how much this meant to her, to have someone find her mutation arousing other than terrifying. “Think I’m ready to go inside,” she said huskily, reaching a hand out and lightly brushing it over his jaw. He didn’t so much as flinch from her touch.
“You are, because you’ve got training with Mystique in twenty minutes.” He smirked at the look on her face. “Ah, but that look of disappointment is most gratifying. Pick up your towel.”
She scowled at him but did as he asked, collecting her things and wrapping her towel around her waist. She’d have to do this again soon.
Author: Sionnain
’verse: My Ideology-verse, so movieverse/AU
Rating: PG
Summary: Rogue takes a few moments to soak in some summer sun.
Word Count: 817
AN: Thanks to Kaz814 for the beta. Written for the Demented_Allure “Summer” challenge.
Sunbathing
Rogue lay on her back on the top of the crow’s nest, soaking in the late-afternoon sun. She was wearing a black bikini and no gloves, and the air on her bare skin felt almost as good as the summer heat. She closed her eyes in contentment, though she’d not be able to stay out here a long time. The metal surrounding her was like a heat conductor, and she didn’t spend a lot of time in the sun as it was, so she’d end up burnt to a crisp if she wasn’t careful.
For now, though, she was going to enjoy it. The breeze was sporadic but enough to be pleasant, and all she could hear was the sea below. There was something to be said about living on a secluded island in the middle of the ocean.
She heard a distinctive low hum just as the doors to the small crow’s nest opened. “Ah. There you are.”
“Mmm.” She was almost too relaxed to open her eyes. “Yup.”
“I hope you’re not planning on staying out here too long,” Erik said severely. “You’ll burn all that pretty skin to a cinder.”
“I’m not, promise. I used to be tan, did you know that? When I was a kid, and could run around all day playin’ in the sprinkler. Was as brown as an Indian, my mama used to say.” She smiled at the memory. It was rare that memories of home made her do anything but wince.
“It looks plebian, I think. Being tan.”
Rogue laughed and opened her eyes to look up at him. “That’s so…Victorian of you, Erik.” She stretched languidly.
He gazed down at her. “Perhaps it’s just a preference.”
“Your last lover was blue,” she reminded him, sitting up. Her back was kind of sore from lying on the hard surface beneath the bath towel. She was also very thirsty. His presence out here likely meant he wished her to do something else than lay about under the sun.
Nothing nice lasts forever. She stood up and stretched, and caught him eyeing her appreciatively as she did so. “What?”
“My dear, you’re parading around half-naked,” he said, moving closer. She backed up instinctively, and his eyes narrowed. “That’s an odd reaction from someone with whom I share a bed,” he said, and his voice was tight.
“It’s not that,” she said quickly, subduing her hair as the wind tossed it in her face. “Just…you know. Half-naked means extra dangerous.”
He smiled at her, moving so she was leaning back against the metal railing, but only just. He wasn’t wearing gloves, but he reached out and traced a finger down her neck lightly regardless. “Mmm. Yes, I know.”
Rogue shivered from both the caress of bare skin against her own and the look in his eyes, her breathing suddenly catching in her throat. “So you should…you know. Be careful.”
“Why?” He cocked his head, pulling his hand back before her powers drew from him. “Are you going to try and kill me?”
“No,” she murmured, watching his hand like a hawk as it reached out again, though this time he ran his finger down the strap of her bikini and was thus safe from her skin.
“Then why should I be worried?” He moved to draw his fingers over the top of her bikini bottom, and she bit back a moan, hot from something other than the heat. He brushed his fingers against her stomach, quickly, and she gave a small gasp.
Unbidden came a memory of a few summers ago, at the mansion. She’d gone outside to swim, wearing a one-piece and a pair of gloves that she didn’t take off until she’d been ready to go swimming. She’d sat on a secluded chair underneath a tree, far away from everyone else. No one had said anything about her swimming with them, but no one had come near her in the pool, either. Even Bobby had kept his distance.
And they wonder why I left.
She smiled at Erik, wondering if he understood exactly how much this meant to her, to have someone find her mutation arousing other than terrifying. “Think I’m ready to go inside,” she said huskily, reaching a hand out and lightly brushing it over his jaw. He didn’t so much as flinch from her touch.
“You are, because you’ve got training with Mystique in twenty minutes.” He smirked at the look on her face. “Ah, but that look of disappointment is most gratifying. Pick up your towel.”
She scowled at him but did as he asked, collecting her things and wrapping her towel around her waist. She’d have to do this again soon.