Due to massive over-whelming demand, I've written another chapter to add to the cabin/sunset PrizeFic.
This is being posted since everyone who answered the quiz question in Joes on Vacation correctly voted for a new chapter here as the Prize. The quiz was "How many missiles does the Wolverine tank carry?" Correct answer is 12 !! YAY for Joe fanatics!
You may note that Snake Eyes does not sign nearly as much in these early days. He writes more notes, because he doesn't know ASL quite well enough to sign to communicate all the time. Thus he's much quieter, until he gets rolling with pen and paper.
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After the sunset, back at the cabin...
Scarlett put another piece of wood on the fire, and shifted the pot a little further into the fireplace. "Will this be enough wood for the night?"
Snake Eyes glanced at the pile he'd brought in and nodded. She ran her hand over the rocks that made up the hearth, mortared into place. It wasn't perfect, but it was solid.
"I can't believe you built this yourself. It's pretty amazing."
He shrugged and then took a deeper breath, turning to look at the fireplace. The firelight wasn't kind to the scarring on his face, turning it more ragged than daylight. He'd needed minor surgery on his right cheekbone a few weeks earlier, loosening a thick band of keloid scarring that was dragging his lower eyelid down. The still healing wound looked raw and she stood and looked at it.
"You need to clean this.." When she reached towards his face, he pushed her hand aside, turning away. "Snake Eyes.. it's okay, do you want me to do it? It'll only take a second."
He shook his head, then pointed at the pot before walking across to his pack to rummage in it. She sighed and stirred the stew, making sure to dip all the way to the bottom so it wouldn't stick and burn. She watched over the canned stew while her friend cleaned the wound on his face, although she heard him hiss in frustration a few times. Finally she looked over to see him sitting and holding a gauze pad over his cheekbone.
She gave another stir to the pot and pulled it further from the fire. Walking over, she squatted down in front of him. "Let me see." He turned his face away and she reached to take his chin, moving his hand out of the way and looking dispassionately at the seeping cut. "Here.. give me that." She cleaned it gently, wiping disinfectant over it. He winced at the sting. "Sorry. This looks like it will be much better. They must have removed a lot of this scar."
He tightened his jaw and then signed. *Take face lots*
She shook her head. "No, I don't think they took a lot of your face. Just this scar that was getting bad."
He snorted. *Face bad* He sat still while she put antibiotic gel on his face.
She smiled at him. "There. And it's not that bad to me. I don't mind." He shrugged at her, and almost smiled in reply. "Oops.. let me get the stew.." He watched her go to rescue their dinner before it burned.
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Snake Eyes put the dishes and pot into a bucket. He motioned to the bucket and then vaguely towards the lake. Shana looked as if she understood him.
"Do you want me to come help wash?" He shook his head, and walked out. The path to the lake was barely lit by moonlight, and he followed it more by memory and training than by his eyes. Ninjas felt the path with their whole body, instead of looking at it with only one sense. Scrubbing the dishes in the edge of the water took only a few minutes and he looked at the lake, thinking about how refreshing a swim would seem. He didn't want to be gone too long. She might miss him and try to come find him. If she tripped and hurt herself on the path he'd never forgive himself.
He sighed and started back up the path slowly. What was he thinking? Did he really want her up here, looking at him with pity in her face? Why had he invited her up here? Why had she accepted? He stopped and looked up at the rising moon.
He knew he really wanted to continue the tenuous relationship they'd been building before the accident. He'd tried to cut it off, just ignore her attempts at friendship, push aside her feelings for him. Even though he knew she blamed herself for his injuries, he never did. It had been an accident. It had been his choice to risk staying in the chopper to free her, and he'd do the same thing now, if he had a chance to do it over again. His face for her life. His voice for her existence. It was an easy trade in his mind.
Maybe she did still have feelings for him. Feelings more than pity or guilt? Did he want to put her through the pain of loving someone who didn't have anywhere to go other than being a killing machine for the army? She deserved a man who could be part of her family, part of regular life. Be a father, a husband. Be someone who could just go have dinner in a restaurant without sending the other patrons screaming into the night.
He looked at the cabin, flickering firelight showing around the door. Who was he to make her decisions for her? He knew that he loved her. He sighed. Even if he wouldn't admit it to her.. he knew it deep down inside himself. Before the accident, he'd been terrified both that he would be rejected, and that somehow his poor luck would infect her, and something terrible would happen. After the accident, he'd wondered if the bad luck that followed him was rearing it's ugly head.. but the terrible had happened to him, not to her. Unless he counted the fact that she was trying to date someone with a face like hamburger.
He puffed out a deep breath and headed back into the cabin. He would let things progress however they progressed. If it was pity and guilt, the feelings would pass. When he stepped inside, he saw Shana seated by the fire. As he watched, she shivered a little and he picked up one of the blankets to drape around her shoulders.
"Thanks. Dishes all washed?" He nodded and found his notepad. "Hmm.. what?"
He wrote quickly. I was thinking of a swim, but it's cold, you might not like it.
She smiled. "Well, if it's too cold, I can come back here and warm up." He smiled at her. "You didn't mention swimming when you invited me though.. uhh.. will it bother you if.. "
He rushed to scribble another note. Shorts? He knew she was going to suggest nude swimming, and he wasn't sure that he could stand against the temptation. She gave a little sigh and nodded.
"Yeah.. I can borrow some of your shorts. One of my teeshirts will do fine." She got up and watched him pull out towels. She changed quickly and joined him outside, noting that he didn't seem cold even though he wore only shorts, with the towels hung over his arm casually. "Aren't you cold?"
He shrugged then pointed at her. She shook her head and waved for him to go. He offered her his arm, and she took it gratefully. She quickly realized it was a necessary gesture, and not a romantic one. Even with the moonlight, the path was hard to see. Snake Eyes led her unerringly to the water's edge, laying aside the towels. His grand motion offering to let her go first made her grin.
"I think you should go first... it's looking colder than I thought." He smiled and stepped backwards into the water. He reached out a hand, and she took it, but he still had to tug to get her to step into the water. "Oh.. my god.. it's freezing!"
He tugged again, stepped back into thigh deep water. She closed her eyes and followed, shivering. He turned loose of her hand, and backed off the edge of the shore ledge, dropping under the freezing waters. The shock of the cold made him jerk, and he surfaced with a gasp. She had her hands over her mouth looking for him, and he stroked over easily, getting his feet under him.
"Are you okay?" He nodded and smiled at her concern. Motioning out to the lake, he spread his hand in a question. "Oh.. no. It's freezing.. you're crazy." He suddenly grinned and gave her a push. She staggered deeper and whirled to splash at him. "Stop that! Oh you're evil! Don't you do it!"
He splashed water on her again, and then slid past her, stroking out a few feet and then stopping to wait for her. In the very dim lighting provided by the moon, he relaxed, knowing she couldn't see his scarred face very well. Despite her hesitation and shivering, Shana pursed her lips but walked out and paddled after him.
"Oh god.. this is sooo cold!" She gamely swam after him. He smiled and rolled over in the water, finding it invigorating. She finally caught up to him and dunked his head. "Take that!"
He came up sputtering and let her hang onto him. She laughed at him, and clung to his chest, shivering. Snake Eyes wrapped his arms around her and felt her shaking. He pointed to shore and she nodded. "Sorry.. I'm not a polar bear like you.."
He snorted and swam easily, only to have her grab him again. "How are you so warm?" He twisted and let her lie against him. Her skin felt so chilled.. and he still felt himself responding to it. They reached the shelf and climbed out onto shore. With only the dim moonlight, she had to wait for him to locate the towel to hand to her. She wrapped up in it. "Thanks."
He rubbed himself down, and reached to rub her as well as she shivered. He pointed at the cabin and she nodded.
"Y-y-yeah.. in-in-inside.. " He led her back up the path to the cabin, getting her inside and wrapped in his favorite thick comforter. She settled right next to the fire, and he put a little more wood on. "Oh that was s-s-s-so cold.. how d-d-do you s-s-s-stand it?"
He shrugged, and found his writing pad. Writing for a few seconds, he handed her the pad and went to find her sweatpants and shirt.
She tilted the pad to read by firelight. I'm sorry, I thought it was nice. I'm sorry you are so cold, I didn't think it would be that bad.
She sighed. "That lake is freezing. But it's fine. I can see it doesn't bother you." He sighed and handed her the clothing. "Thanks.."
He motioned for her to stay and turned his back deliberately. She smiled to herself and stripped off the wet shorts and shirt, drawing on the sweats instead. She supposed it was nice that he was so considerate, even if it was maddening that she couldn't get him interested.
"Okay.. I'm decent again.. it's safe for you to look." He turned and hesitated before he motioned towards her. "What?" He considered a second, then walked away to change. He came back in dry sweat pants but had left the shirt off. She smiled at the gleem of light on his body. He already had scars over his entire torso. Most looked like cuts, crisp and clean lines marring his light skin. There were the pock marks of bullet wounds scattered in a few spots.
"Snake Eyes... could I ask you something?" He lifted a shoulder in a noncommittal way. "Well, you don't have to answer.. but.." She poked a hand out to point at him. "How did you get so many scars?"
He looked down in seeming surprise. He supposed he was covered in scars. Seating himself beside her, he poked himself in a few places and then signed to her. *Knife* Then he searched out and poked several more places. He stalled a second. Then he signed *Knife big*. He looked at her.
"A big knife?" He held his hands in front of him as if he held one of his katana swords. "Ahh.. a sword. Okay.." She boldly reached out and touched the few pock marks. "These are bullets.." He nodded. Then she stroked a large ragged scar on his side, making him twitch in reaction. "What about this one?"
He twisted as if he were trying to look at it, before he fingerspelled at her. *B.o.m.b.* She stroked it again to make him squirm.
"You've been put through the wringer already in life." She reached to stroke his jawline. "And then I had to come along and add to it." He shook his head. "I know.. accident. But if I had moved faster.. or.. "
He held a finger to her lips. "Ssshhh." She saw the wince he tried to hide.
She kissed his finger. "Don't.. I know it hurts your throat.."
He swallowed and nodded. *Sleep you bed blanket*
She narrowed her eyes. "Umm.. will I have enough blankets?" He shook his head. "I'm sleeping in the bed?"
He held up his hands, then nodded.
She tapped his knee. "You're sleeping in the bed too. We discussed this. Don't worry, it'll be fine. Besides.. I'll need you to warm it up for me, because after you're little ill-conceived swim, I'm still freezing."
He signed *I'm sorry* then repeated it a few times. He threw his hands in the air dramatically and repeated the sign, beginning to smile at her.
She laughed at him. "Stop it already. Here.. get under the comforter with me." He sighed and gave her a look. "What? It's either sitting here for a while, or going to bed now. Either way, you're gonna be under the covers with me keeping me warm."
He motioned to the fire. She raised an eyebrow and then lifted the end of the blanket. He scooted over and sat next to her and she wrapped the comforter around his shoulders while he slid one arm around her waist. "Better.. you're so warm." Scarlett shifted herself as close as possible.
Snake Eyes twisted himself so he could rest his chin on her head, letting her snuggle into his chest. His eyes drifted shut and they simply sat, Scarlett watching the flames dance, and Snake Eyes feeling her even breathing.
Eventually she began to fall asleep and he jostled her slightly. "Whaa?"
Smiling at her sleepy voice, he nudged her again, then encouraged her up. She yawned and wandered over to his bed and got in, dragging the comforter onto the bed with her and kicking it around to spread it out properly. "You're comin' to bed.."
He nodded and got the fire banked for the night. Finally he came back to the bed and stood watching her sleeping. Her face relaxed into a slight smile and the waterfall of red hair framed the curve of her cheek so perfectly. He picked up one of the extra blankets to toss onto the floor and she grunted.
"Come ta bed.. dun make me get up.."
He sighed and stood for a few seconds, then put the folded blanket on the floor and sank down onto it. What would she do? She was all but asleep. He got his answer when she rolled up to get out the bed and stagger over to him. Taking him by an arm, she tugged him to his feet.
"Can't see ya arguein' if ya are.. so come ta bed.." Since she was correct that he couldn't sign to her in the dark, he sighed and laid down in bed. She crawled in next to him and flopped down. Once she wriggled around a lot, they ended up spooned together, with him next to the wall, and her back to him. He tried to stay separate from her, but she simply backed up until she was pressed against him. So much for 'plenty of room' and 'slept that close to each other in the field'.
Laying on his side, with the woman pressed against every curve of his body, Snake Eyes tugged the covers up over them both, and tucked the edge in snugly. He lay still, with his face in the tumbled curls of her hair, still damp from the lake. He was trying mightily to not to become embarrassingly aroused by the feel of her body against his. The cold dousing of earlier was helping that. Closing his eyes, he invoked his meditation routines.. running the chanting through his mind over and over. Eventually, he fell asleep.
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End chapter: There's one more chapter, I'll post it as a Prize in another quiz most likely! Hope you enjoyed!
