Let the darkness be your salvation

[mishaloganovich]

The party was starting to wind down when Misha looked at his watch. Nearly two am. He'd danced with the birthday girl and Mom - the important dances, and Sammy when he could catch her. He recognized the expression on his best friend's face as one of quiet triumph, which matched the possessive look on her date. He didn't tease her about it but

Comments

[shadeblossom]

To the best of her memory, Hana had made good on all the promised dances. And the ones she'd promised herself. In total, she'd ended up dancing with Misha four times. Three more than they'd planned on, but the first had been such fun. And the ones that followed kept getting better.

He was definitely getting bugged for more dancing opportunities. Once her feet stopped aching.

She wandered through the crowd looking for her escort home. She spotted him near the door and waved to show she'd seen him.

"Hey. You all danced out?" She grinned and plucked lightly at the sleeve of his tux.

[mishaloganovich]

"I could be," he said with a smile. "Did you dance holes in your shoes?" He'd loosened his tie an hour before and opened his shirt collar.

He covered her hand with his and automatically tucked it under his arm. "I've said good night to Mom and Anya. Are you ready to go?"

[shadeblossom]

"I think I did." Hana looked down at her shoes and grinned. "They gave their all for a worthy cause, though. I haven't had this much fun in a long time."

She smiled and leaned on his arm a little. "Yup. I said my goodbyes after the last couple dances. I'm ready when you are."

[mishaloganovich]

"You still want to crash with me at Dad's place? There are still rooms upstairs, or I can take you back to institute if you'd rather sleep in your own bed." The offer was ruined by the yawn that followed, giving away how tired he was after the long day.

[shadeblossom]

Hana giggled and beamed a triumphant smile at him. Every once in a while, she won one! Then she pouted at being called mean. She wasn't mean. Just reactive.

"Am not," she said. She reached over and put her non-drink hand over the cold spot she'd made, warming it for a second before letting her hand drop away. "There. See? All better."

[mishaloganovich]

He caught her hand before it got far. "You little sisters are vicious."

[shadeblossom]

"We give as good as we got," she informed him, squeezing his hand lightly. "And you started it."

Her grin was teasing when she reached aside to put the soda bottle down. Then her still cold fingers made 'threatening' gestures at him.

[mishaloganovich]

He grabbed the other hand and quickly had both of hers in his larger hand. He pressed them to his chest to rid her of the chill and tugged on a strand of her still damp hair. "Don't start something you can't finish, honey."

[shadeblossom]

It was worth just about any effort or disappointment to hear him laugh like that. Especially from her position where she could feel every movement and sound vibration through his arms around her. She laughed a little, herself, and closed her eyes to enjoy the moment.

"It was something to see, that's for sure. And if I tried to help her or let her not do it, the whole thing started over. So she had to do it all by herself."

[mishaloganovich]

His ribs hurt from trying to hold it all back. The movie ran forgotten as he inhaled a deep breath and tried to bring it under control. Hana's scent filled him and had the magic ability of calming the mirth and creating another ache inside.

He should let her go and send her to bed. Safe and untouched. Instead he held her closer.

[shadeblossom]

Hana smiled and rubbed her cheek against the warm skin under her head. The heartbeats under her hand had picked up with his laughter and a part of her mind counted them like musical beats. She grinned as she peeked up at him.

"Mmm. Bet that felt good." She hadn't heard him laugh like that in forever. Since at least before the Hand.

[mishaloganovich]

"It hurt too. I think I sprain a rib or something," he joked and resumed rubbing her back. He managed to release his hold on her and used both hands to alternate up and down motions. "It's been a good night all around."

[shadeblossom]

It was difficult to remain embarrassed with him trying so hard to reassure her. Especially since there were nerve endings in her body that she had previously been unaware of that were demanding she relax and enjoy the moment. Her face wasn't going to stop burning anytime soon, though.

"Figures," she chuckled softly as she turned her head to kiss the palm holding her face. "The first time I... do that with a guy, would have to be without either of us knowing it."

Mojoworlder genetics in play. Normal? What's that?

She put her head and her hand back down on his chest, shifting to get comfortable and sighing softly when her now over-sensitive skin moved against him.

[mishaloganovich]

Misha waited for what seemed like hours for Hana to relax. He stopped rubbing her back quite so...intently. This was definitely not his fault. He couldn't be accused of breaking rules when he didn't know the playing field had changed, right?

Damned if he didn't feel protective of her now. More so than before. It was...nice. More than nice.

He could get used to this.

[shadeblossom]

Hana was definitely relaxed. Once the embarrassment faded, there was still a pleasant, warm buzz all through her limbs and the rest of her body.

Her skin felt everything so acutely. Her legs shifted against his, feeling the muscular limbs underneath her, his leg hair tickling against her smooth skin. Another Mojoworld gift, that. Completely smooth skin from neck to toes.

When he breathed in, her head moved up with the motion of his ribcage. Then back down with the exhalation. The way couples climbed all over each other made more sense now, if it felt this good to be so close.

"Thank you," she murmured softly as she turned her head to kiss the spot on his chest where she had been laying.

[mishaloganovich]

Suave Misha Loganovich was at a loss for words. Saying 'you're welcome' would be arrogant, and telling her not to thank him would sound it hadn't meant anything. So he opted for neither.

He hugged her again and kissed the top of her head. The movie was long over. "It'll be light soon. You should get some sleep, honey."