DAY 15
Give a man a fish...
Staring out the kitchen bay window, Selina can't help but grin at her own thoughts, wishing that perhaps she had paid more attention in Sunday school. She could never understand why someone would choose to scrounge for sardines when they could always dine on lobster. The world was her oyster, after all. If only Sister Mary could see her now.
She had woken up to an empty house. Afraid and alone, she searched every room, but there was no sign of Tommy. It wasn't until she passed by the window did she see a small dark figure on the horizon, hunched over a rod and reel. He was outside on the lake, providing for his peculiar little family. Pulling on an old pair of Tommy's boots, she grabs the thermos and blanket and heads out the door after him.
The melting snow groans under her boots as she makes her way towards him, following the path he has already made. With a surprised look upon his face, he turns to greet her. She smiles and sits beside him, throwing the blanket over his chilly shoulders.
"I thought you could use a pick me up." She purrs as she hands him the thermos of coffee. He takes a swig and smiles, steam rising from his frigid lips. "You know, you could have TOLD me you were going out. I was worried sick!"
"Thanks, kitten. I didn't know you cared."
"I don't... Asshole."
Tommy laughs heartily as he throws an arm around Selina's shoulders, pulling her under the blanket with him. Pressing her body to his, they feed off each other's heat. She nuzzles her head into his neck and sighs. Content. He takes a quick peak under the blanket to view what she is wearing and smirks.
"Is that my jacket and boots you're wearing?"
"Sexy, huh?"
"Me-ow..."
Steam rises as Selina laughs into his neck. Her hot breath surrounds him, filling his lungs and tickling his skin, creating goosebumps across his rosy flesh. A growl escapes his lips as he turns his head to meet hers, engulfing her lips in a warm, passionate kiss.
"You know what would really warm me up?"
"I am NOT getting frostbite because of you, Tommy."
"Oh come on... Wouldn't you like a little cream to go with that coffee?"
"HEEL, boy..."
"I can't help it. You and your sexy boots got my blood pumping..."
Slowly, Tommy leads a trail of butterfly kisses down Selina's neck. She closes her eyes and swoons as he softly presses his cold lips against her collar bone, nibbling at her warm skin. Cupping his head in her hands, she leads him back towards her face and stares tenderly into his icy blue eyes.
"First you lived to kill me, now you're dying to kiss me." She says with a heartfelt but wry smile.
With a wicked grin, Tommy leans in for a kiss, only to be denied. Much to his chagrin, Selina smirks and pulls back. Even now, she's toying with him. Making him work for her affection.
"Nuh, uh..." She tuts in response to Tommy's childish and disappointed whine. "Just because I LET you have me all yesterday, doesn't mean I BELONG to you. I'm not a DOG... I won't just roll over and obey you like you're my master!"
"So you'd rather me beg?"
Climbing into his lap, she can feel his excitement. Hear his breath catch as she straddles his lap. See the yearning in his eyes as he awaits her response.
"Mmmmm... Beg. Steal. Borrow... Tell me. What would you GIVE?"
"Anything." It almost scares him at how quickly he had answered. As if the answer took no thought at all. That it was there all along.
"Anything? Oh, I like the sound of that!" She purrs in amusement.
"Money... A million..."
"But I already have all your money, Elliot, remember? Why would I need more?"
Elliot. She only ever referred to him by his last name in a negative light. The name Hush even held a higher standing than Elliot. The word rattles in his head, causing his smile to dissipate.
"Fine, then. Diamonds... Jewels... Whatever you want."
"Whatever I want I can easily steal or afford. No... I guess you have nothing to offer that I don't already have."
With a snobbish shrug, Selina gets up from Tommy's lap and begins to walk back towards the cabin. His heart tightens within his chest as he watches her go. A shiver runs down his spine.
The dance. He had figured the dance between them was over. That he had won the tossup and taken the lead. So why does it feel like he's losing her? Should he even care? The knot forming in his stomach is answer enough. He does. He hates to admit it to himself, but he does. Closing his eyes, he can see her in his mind. The way her jade green eyes sparkle when he looks at her. The way the sunlight fills the room and plays upon her perfect body. Her soft sighs as she drifts off to sleep beside him. Her Cheshire smile.
Where do we go from here?
He still doesn't quite have an answer for that question, but there was one thing he knew for sure. Ignoring the problem would not make it go away. That the thought of her returning to Bruce or any other man for that matter makes him sick. That he is only truly happy when she is near. Perhaps it has always been there. That feeling. Perhaps he was so blinded by his hatred and jealousy of Bruce that he could not see the truth. That he's always had feelings for her. That he's always wanted her by his side. That he loves her.
Love.
Love was not a word he used whole-heartedly. It simply did not belong in his repertoire. Seldom used and always in lies.
Aristotle says "Love is like the sun. Without light, there is no life."
She is the light in the darkness. The light of his life. Without her, there is no life worth living.
Life.
Tommy's fingers wrap around the jade pendant hanging from his neck. It was a gift from his mother. She said that life goes on. That life circles over itself and the good times will come again. The funny thing is, his happiness never truly mattered to her. The loving mother. What a joke. The truth is, she would surely disown him once more for what he was about to do. For claiming his true happiness.
Clutching the pendent in his hand, Tommy trudges through the snow after her. Hearing her name, Selina stops and turns his way. Inches between them. A lifetime apart.
"Selina, if… if I gave you my heart… would you accept it?"
"Tommy… Look, I was just messing around. You don't have to…"
"I'm serious. Would you… have… me?"
Taking her hands in his, Selina can feel the cool jade pressed against her palm. The silence is deafening. The tension palpable. Staring into his eyes, she can see the yearning behind a veil of blue. Pleading. She scans him for the slightest hint of betrayal as she tries to find the words. What do you say to the man who has tried to kill you on more than one occasion? The man who had stolen your heart. Only to find that you have stolen his as well.
Throwing her arms around his broad shoulders is all the answer he needs as she presses her lips to his. Taking her in his arms, he feels happy. Content. Whole. A feeling he has never felt before. He holds her close and whispers in her ear. A confession meant for her and her alone. Tying the pendant around her neck, he hands his life over to her. His heart on a string.
Her eyes glisten in the sunlight. The same color as the pendant proudly displayed across her chest, near her heart. With a bright smile, she takes his hand and leads him back towards the cabin. His heart melts.
"Come on. Let's warm you up."