Author Note: So I have a bunch of little one shots running around in my head, most of them about Anthony and Edith. So that's what this will be, a series of unrelated one shots, some in the canon, some in my story verses (Obstacles, Temporary Partnership), and some complete au. If you have a prompt, feel free to share. Ratings will vary; I'll let you know if we're going to hit M territory. Enjoy.
Warmth – Obstacles 'verse
Anthony felt embarrassed for thinking such things… But it was cold; the rain had soaked through his uniform during his half hour in the yard. His captors acted as though it was a great favor, allowing their prisoners to mill about in the small square for thirty minutes. Truth be told, on days when the sun was out, he did consider it to be a great favor. The warmth would beat down on them before returning to a basement cell or the interrogation room. But when he felt the coldest, when all hope disappeared from the world, Anthony Strallan would think of Edith.
Sometimes it was her smiling that day they went for a drive, the world was green and yellow that day, the sun shining as brightly as Edith. Then there was the night of the concert, when she permitted him to give her a small chaste kiss on those grinning lips, how her slender hand took his as he helped her out of the car, how she hadn't let go until she was required to shake hands with his friends.
But mostly he thought of that afternoon when he called to invite her. How she tried to hide her expression of disappointment when she thought he was talking about Mary, but how it melted into disbelief when she realized that he was there for her. That was the most beautiful he had ever seen her, cheeks slightly flushed with surprise. Her dress that fitted to her small waist, gauzy material covered her arms, the rest of them hidden away with white gloves. Her curls pulled up leaving her neck exposed…
It always flummoxed Anthony that for as restrictive as women's clothes could be they always managed to highlight some of the more delectable parts of the female anatomy. The dress he recalled her in had done that beautifully. Her pale skin glowing in the afternoon light, he felt less than a gentleman for how fondly he pictured her chest heaving slightly as he made his request for her company.
When he got home, when this damn war was over, he would go home to Edith. Make good on his proposal, make her Lady Strallan… further explore what other delights were hidden… take more time than he was able to the night before he left…
"Strallan!"
Anthony sighed, pulling himself to his feet. The Edith in his memories would be waiting when the interrogation was finished… the woman herself waiting for him when he got home…