Of Wind and Wood
Summary: Some things should just never happen…taking Brennan camping is one of them. B/S.
Gender: Action/Romance
Disclaimer: Not mine! Mutant X belongs to Tribune and Marvel.
Rating: PG
A/N: This is the continuing story of the slightly AU world of Brennan and Shalimar following "A House of Dreams" and "While All Was Still." Although each story is separate enough that you would not need to have read either one to follow along in this one, I would love it if you read those as well! As always, reviews are greatly appreciated!! Thank you!!
Of Wind and Wood—Chapter One
Shalimar's heart pounded in her chest as she perched atop the stout branch that swept in a graceful arch twenty feet in the air. Cold air stung her nose, and she silently swept the barren land with searching eyes before allowing her tense body to relax. One gloved hand remained wrapped securely around the trunk of the tree while the other carefully lifted to brush blonde strands back over her shoulder. Her nose twitched and burned as the wind again picked up, stirring frozen branches into a reluctant bow. Long moments passed and still she waited; watching. Her prey could not remain hidden forever, and she knew the art of hunting better than most.
Knees stiffened beneath her, and
cramped toes voiced strong complaint, but still she remained unmoving.
Tiny icicles formed on her lashes as warm breath clashed with brutal air.
She blinked rapidly and sniffled, narrowing her eyes as a squirrel chattered at
her in a nearby tree. Her head turned slowly, purposely toward the noisy
creature and eyes glowed golden. With a sharp chirp the squirrel hushed
his chiding and froze on the branch. She could hear the tiny heart
thumping in fear before he suddenly darted in a long swoop down the trunk and
scampered off, chattering a strong warning to his friends. Lips curved
upward as she sniffed again, shivering as a rush of cold hit her.
According to the calendar, it was supposed to be spring by now, but the land
seemed to have other ideas, and she began to grow grumpy at its unwillingness
to conform as cold clung stubborn and strong. But still she waited.
She wrinkled her nose as it began to drip, before sighing and pulled her glove
off with her teeth. She leaned to the side, digging through her pocket
until finally coming across a scrunched up tissue and blew her nose as quietly
as possible, cringing as the sound seemed to carry far and fast on the
wind. Job done, she again leaned to the side, trying to stuff the tissue
back into the pocket it came from. She struggled for a moment, leaning
further to the side in her search for the pocket when she felt her toes give
way on the iced branch and gasped as she clutched the trunk, regaining her
balance. The thick glove slipped from her teeth and floated to a lazy
stop on the snowbank below. She swore under her
breath as the bright red garment only sunk a few inches into the fluffy bank
and remained a gleaming beacon to her position. She debated moving but
knew it was too late as her prey finally appeared on the horizon beyond her
perch. With a final glare at the
offending glove, she bit her lip as her heart again began to pound in
anticipation. The hunt was finally picking up, and her eyes danced as
limbs tightened in readiness; her waiting had paid off.
The figure in dark slowly shuffled along the snow beaten path, hesitating as
various footprints veered off in different directions. She smiled in
triumph at the obvious confusion she had created. The figure sighed
heavily before resuming toward her. She held her breath as a shadow fell
across the downed glove and waited to see if she would be discovered. The
shadow passed under her and by the glove, and her eyes widened in disbelief she
hadn't been found. She smirked silently as the figure again paused a few
feet past the tree trunk and right under the branch where she perched.
With a roar, she sprang off the branch and flew spread eagle down upon her
prey.
Nerves tingled as cold air pushed up against her and she reveled in the rush
and glory as the hunt neared its final, determined end. She heard the
hitch of breath and waited for the sense of fright to emanate from the
figure. Her brows drew together as
instead of the anticipated fear, her prey stood calm, head not even turned
toward her as she rushed down. Fingers twitched as her prey was almost in
her outstretched hands, and then suddenly there was nothing but looming ground
as the figure sprang into a roll and disappeared. Her eyes widened just
as her body slammed face first into the snow.
For a second there was only cold darkness as snow pushed into her ears and then the sound of laugher, rolling in resounding waves as she grumpily lifted her head and blew strands of disheveled hair out of her eyes.
Brennan's eyes sparkled back at her as he pushed himself off the ground and brushed the caking snow off his wet jeans. "I got you that time."
She glared back even as he approached and offered her a hand in rising. She stubbornly smacked it away and jumped to her feet, frozen fingers jamming into her hips. "How did you know?"
He smiled and shrugged innocently, raising his hands in a gesture of surrender as she studiously stalked towards him. "Ok, Ok," he pleaded laughingly, "I give up this time."
"I almost had you," she muttered.
"No you didn't." He took a step closer.
"Yeah, I did." she countered, brows raised.
"Unh-uh." He shook his head.
"Uh-uh," she crossed her arms.
"Come on, Shal," he bent down and retrieved the glove, waving it under her nose. "I'm not that blind." He couldn't help it; he had to laugh at her crestfallen look.
"That was a technicality," she pouted, "I would've had you otherwise."
"Maybe," he stepped closer. "Maybe not."
Her eyes flashed back in answer.
"Ok, maybe," he conceded with a grin, reaching out and tweaking her red nose.
She caught his hand and pulled him close, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Want to play again?" she whispered into his ear, pulling back and flashing him a ready smile.
"How about a different game," he husked back, leaning down and capturing her lips.
After a moment she broke away. "Yeah, I think I know what kind of game you want to play," she giggled against his mouth before dunking around behind him and dancing just beyond his reach as he whirled around and swiped a hand at her.
"Seriously, Shal," he entreated, "Come back here." He pulled something out of his pocket and hid it behind his back. "I have something for you."
"Oh yeah?" she paused in her near flight and raised an eyebrow at him.
"Yeah," he inclined his head, "Get back here."
"Truce?" she called, not moving a step.
He smiled. "Oh yeah."
She cautiously approached him, ready to dart away at the first hint of a tease. "What do you have?"
"Close your eyes," he instructed as she stopped in front of him.
"Unh-uh."
"Uh-uh."
She studied him a moment more. "Fine," she closed her eyes. "But you realize you do something and you owe me big time?" She peered one eye open at him.
He grinned, "Agreed."
"Good." Her eye fell shut again.
He took a moment to study her. The cold had brought a rosy tint her cheeks and tiny puffs of fog steamed out between smiling lips. Her hair had been dampened by the fall into the snowbank and now hung in a riotous mass of curls down her back and shoulders. He loved how her curls tightened when wet. She was glowing with health and veracious energy; she was beautiful. Her temple wrinkled slightly in question; he had stood silent for so long a time. He chuckled and brought his hand from around behind his back and stepped around behind her, stilling her attempts to turn around and follow his movements.
"Shh, it's ok," he soothed, bringing both arms out and around her and kissing the top of her head. "Lift up your hair."
Two slender arms reached up and piled the shiny curls up on her head. He couldn't resist himself and paused to place a tiny trail of feather light kisses down her exposed neck, feeling her shiver in response. He smiled and pulled back, opening his fist and dangling a necklace in his grasp. He bit his lip as he attempted to fasten the tiny clasp with clumsy fingers. Shalimar gasped as she felt the smooth slide of slender gold against her neck and released her hair, hands dropping instead to finger the tiny filigree heart that lay delicately against her collarbone. She felt his hands squeeze her shoulders through her thick coat, and she turned towards him.
"But why?"
He smiled at her, raising a hand and fingering the tear shiny in her eyes. "Because," he whispered tenderly, "it dawned on me that we've been together for six months now, and that I love you, and do I really need a reason?" he sheepishly shrugged.
"Of course not," she reached up on tiptoe and placed a soft kiss on his cold lips. "Thank you."
He smiled cockily. "Close your eyes again."
She grinned in anticipation. "There's more?"
"Just close your eyes."
She did so without hesitation, and he smiled wickedly, bending down and closing his fingers over a lump of snow.
The crunch of ice and snow fell on her ears, and a warning tingle slivered down her back a moment before a cold ball landed splat in her face.
"Brennan!" she protested loudly, whipping around with eyes wide in disbelief at the smirk spreading across his face.
"Gotcha again," he laughed. "I don't know, Shal, I think you're slipping."
Her eyes narrowed at the clear challenge and with a laugh, she accepted, suddenly springing into a back flip and bringing her own handful of snow back up with her. "Oh yeah?" She tossed the ball into the air and deftly caught it again.
He suddenly gulped, knowing he was in trouble. Their eyes met for a brief moment, and then the chase was on. He dived behind a tree just as her missile struck him in the chest. She laughed in delight and launched another at him, ducking as he quickly poked his head out from behind the tree and threw a chunk of snow back at her.
"Ha!" she goaded him, "You missed!"
"No I didn't," he countered as another ball came flying out from behind the tree. "Ha-ha!" he laughed in triumph.
"Ooh," she groaned loudly, "You're so going to regret that one." She suddenly jumped straight up and out of sight. His gaze searched the trees, studying the bare branches in wonder as she seemingly disappeared from his vision. A sudden tap landed on his shoulder, and he whipped around to see her cheeky smile right before she mashed a wad of snow over his head, and flipped back up again into the trees.
Snow flew heavy through the air for several minutes as grunts and groans rivaled laughter for dominant sound. A tiny squirrel paused in his return approach and stared at the creature that had earlier invaded his territory. It was involved in some sort of bizarre mating dance, and he shook his head and chattered a lecture at them, demanding they find their own space. They ignored him, and he climbed his tree in righteous indignation, sharply eyeing them from the safety of the branches above.
Shalimar squealed loudly as another of her carefully aimed snowballs hit home, quickly bending down and snatching more weaponry as he threw one back at her.
"Hey! No fair!" she screamed when Brennan suddenly melted her next ball with a quickly aimed zap.
"You know what they say," he raised his eyebrows, "All's fair in love—" He ducked her next throw, "And war." He smirked at her, well-pleased with himself.
She suddenly launched herself at him, and he blinked in shocked surprise when he found himself flat on his back. Her face loomed in his vision.
"You want to repeat that?" she grinned down at him.
He squirmed as coldness began to seep in through his damp clothes, and a sharp wind suddenly whipped up a cloud of snow that swirled through the air around her. She sank down into his arms, snuggling into his embrace.
"You do realize you owe me now, don't you?" She sighed happily as she laid her head against his chest.
His frozen fingers rose and tangled into her hair. "I think I can handle whatever you have in mind," he confidently grinned.
They started when footsteps suddenly crunched near them.
"Don't you too ever stop?' Lexa's voice carried on the wind.
Brennan squinted up at Jesse and Lexa as they came to a stop next to where Shalimar lay sprawled across his chest.
"Dude, you couldn't find a warmer place?' Jesse had to laugh.
Shalimar shrugged her shoulders, not caring enough to move.
Jesse shook his head, grabbing Lexa's hand and leading her away. "I think some people are in desperate need of a vacation." He called back after them over his shoulder, still chuckling.
Shalimar's eyes suddenly lit up and gleamed back down at Brennan. "Hmm, a vacation," she mused to herself in revengeful delight.
Brennan swallowed hard; suddenly, he didn't feel so confident after all.
