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The road back to their cabin was silent.
Felicity was limping at his side, using him as a living crutch. It was almost impossible to see through the snowing, the wind was icy cold and stung against their faces.
"What are we going to do?" Her voice brought him back from his thoughts just when they reached the door. He opened it and the warm of the fire made him sight in delight.
"With this snowing we cannot do anything. The storm is here now and giving the condition you're in- I don't know."
They made their way in front of the fireplace and she settled on the mattress, a few noises of distress escaping her mouth.
"I'm not the only one to be injured, you know? No offense Oliver, but you look horrible too."
He huffed a laugh. "None taken."
"There's not much we can do, though."
"We must regain our strengths, rest, eat…"
"Okay…and then what?"
He added wood to the fire.
"The map said this area is only reachable on foot or on horseback, right?"
She nodded.
"But this is a children's camp. It can't be too much far away from some kind of build-up area…or it would take days to climb up here. They wouldn't make children walk for that long. There has to be a path to follow somewhere."
"Makes sense."
"I'll go search it-"
"Oliver-"
He stopped her immediately. "Not right away. I'm fine, Felicity. I swear. It's you I'm worried about-"
"Don't. I'm fine, too."
He crouched before her, searching her eyes while he brushed a strand of blond hair away from her face.
"Liar."
His voice was low and teasing, even if she knew he was terrified for her. But she was terrified for him, too.
She watched him for a moment, and then she rested her hand on his chest.
"You're jaw stiffens every time you take a breath, your ribs—"
Felicity's hand twitched on his chest, and her eyes clouded with worry.
Oliver's hand covered hers.
"I'm fine, Felicity."
Her lips curved a little at the edges, and she moved closer to him, her lips brushing his ear.
"Liar."
He shivered.
Felicity leaned to his shoulder with her forehead pressed under his neck, and he just held her tight against him. He buried his face in her hair, breathing her in.
"Why don't you laid down for a while? I'll set up the bath."
He kissed her hair and after he helped her settling on the mattress, he went to the kitchen.
"If you use all the soap I'll find a bear that's willing to use you as dinner."
His laugh reverberated through the space, lulling her to sleep.
By the time he had detached the tub from the bathroom and brought it more close to the fire Felicity was gone to the world.
Oliver filled it with hot water and got undressed. The moment his limbs relaxed in the water, he closed his eyes in bliss.
It was one of the most beautiful moments of his life.
Literally.
He scrubbed every inch of his body twice until his skin was red. When he was finished, he finally smelled good for the first time in days.
After putting his trousers on and changing the water clean and hot, Oliver walked slowly to Felicity's lying form. She was still ghostly pale, the bags under her eyes even more dark and evident from the light of the fire.
He brushed his fingers from her hair, her cheeks, her neck…down to her hand.
She mumbled something, seeking his touch even in her sleep. His heart skipped a beat in his chest at that.
Her inviolable trust in him. No matter what.
He kept caressing her skin, mapping her lines in his mind. Every injured part of her, every bruise, every mole, every skin mark.
God, she was beautiful.
And so, so strong.
Even like this, hurt and with clothes that deserved to be burn after ten days like this. She was still the most beautiful person he had ever seen, the most amazing, and powerful, and loving woman he had ever met.
She was just…perfect.
Felicity's eyes fluttered open.
She blinked a few times. "Hmm. You smell good."
He smiled.
"I washed. Twice."
Her eyes glowed. "Me too." She raised her arm, waiting for him to pick her up.
He deposited her near the waiting tub. At the sight of the bubbly hot water waiting for her, she almost squealed in excitement.
"You're arm is going to swell."
"I know."
"It's going to hurt."
She smirked a little. "More than this?"
He watched her get steady, gripping his arm.
"You need help getting in?"
His voice was soft and calm and soothing. Felicity didn't know if it was the cabin and the fire, the fact that they escaped death more times that she could count in the span of only ten days - because yeah, she was alive literally by mistake at this point - or simply the fact that she was done denying what her heart has been yelling at her for years now, but the thought of him seeing her…completely vulnerable, beaten up, and bruised...didn't scare her.
And that awareness was comforting.
She smiled a little, placing a hand to his chest.
"Please."
He kissed her forehead.
He helped her out of what remained of her pullover, careful not to jolt her arm, and then he kneeled in front of her, reaching the waist band of her pants, tearing it down her legs.
When he raised, his eyes were glued to hers.
She turned her back at him, grasping the edge of the tub. "Can you?" His eyes focused on her bra.
She felt him shiver behind her, and that brought a complete new set of emotions floating through her veins. His fingers touched the skin of her back, and with a sure movement he unhooked the piece of garment.
She didn't want to think about how many women he had to help undress to master the gesture.
Because, no.
She didn't want to go there. Ever.
He nuzzled the back of her neck, a smile evident on his lips.
"Not as many as you think."
She cursed under her breath. Shut up, damn it.
He took hold of her arm, making her turn again to face him. His eyes never leaving her face, never travelling away from hers. Gentleman.
They stared at each other in silence for what Felicity felt were hours, until she hooked a finger under the waistband of her underwear and dragged it down, shimmering out of it.
She was playing a dangerous game, but hell, she didn't care anymore.
She was so tired.
If this was their end line, she didn't want any regrets.
Felicity saw his eyes faltering for a moment, only a moment, but he stayed focused on her face.
His eyes were dark, his pupils dilated, sparkling with desire…and something far more deep. Every emotion was bare for her to see, just like she was letting him see…her.
Nothing like a plane accident to lose all the barriers. She almost giggled at the thought.
He took a deep breath, his chest expanding and almost brushing against hers, and then he touched his forehead to hers.
"Felicity-"
She closed her eyes, overwhelmed by emotions. He dragged the sound like he was cherishing her only by saying her name.
And that made her emotional again.
She was so intertwined with all these feelings and the moment they were sharing that she forgot for a moment her bad leg, the hiss of pain escaping her lips before she could stop it. He immediately stiffened, grasping her arms to keep her steady.
She brushed her hand to his cheek. "It's just my leg."
He kissed her hair and her forehead, before helping her slid into the tub.
"Come on, let's get you in before the water runs cold."
She could think of a way to make it hot again.
His little laughter startled her a little, until she realized her latest slip up.
She covered her face with her good arm. "This is ridiculous. I must have a disease or something, because this can't be normal."
He positioned her broken arm so that it rested on the side of the tub, away from the water, and she raised her bad leg to keep it straight.
"You're perfect."