Author's Note: I felt so bad for not updating in ages that I stayed up late just to write this. And because I suddenly got the urge to keep writing. Now I need to sleep, but I hope you enjoy!
When Ivy awoke, the first thing she was aware of was pain. Her arm hurt and there was a stabbing pain in her side. She groaned, opening her eyes and looking down to see that she had been bandaged up. She was also lying in a bed. She looked around, alarmed. Where was she? Who had found her?
"You're awake."
She would know that voice anywhere. She turned her head to see Guy leaning against a wall on the other side of the bed. She opened her mouth in surprise. "You."
"Yes, me. I'm the one who rescued you after you so stupidly attacked two of the Sheriff's guards. What were you thinking? You could have gotten yourself killed or arrested!"
He was angry too. Ivy was tired of everyone being angry with her. "Self-preservation," she replied sulkily.
"No, impulsiveness. You never think before you act."
"You're hardly one to judge me. You don't question what the Sheriff tells you to do; you just do it."
Guy narrowed his eyes. "You might show more gratitude toward someone who saved your life. I could have left you to bleed to death, but I didn't."
"Ah, but I'm sure the Sheriff's men are on the way as we speak, ready to take me off your hands and hang me by the neck until dead."
"Do you always have to be so dramatic?" he asked, sounding exasperated. "I didn't tell anyone that you're here, and I don't plan to. I also don't plan on letting you leave until you heal and until you promise not to do anything rash like that again."
"I can't promise such a thing," Ivy retorted.
"Then you're stuck here," Guy replied. "Unless you want me to turn you over to the Sheriff. You'll get there eventually taking risks the way you do. Why did you attack those guards anyway? Did they harm you?"
"No. I started the fight. I just… I needed to let out some anger."
Guy narrowed his eyes. "And why did you need to let out some anger? You couldn't think of a safer way to do so?"
"I just had a… disagreement with-" She stopped talking. She didn't really want to be telling Guy this. He was looking at her knowingly though.
"With Hood. You had a fight with Hood." He smirked.
"His name is Robin, and that's not really any of your concern."
"What did you do to make him angry?" Guy asked, his smirk still in place.
"What makes you think I made him angry?" she asked indignantly.
"Because you speak without thinking and act without thinking. Hood doesn't like that kind of impulse. He wants to know he can trust his men to do what he wants them to do."
"He's not like that. We're not his dogs; we're his gang. We work together."
"But you go against that. Asking for my help proved that. Hood would never willingly ask me for help."
"I didn't tell him about that." Ivy looked away. It bothered her that Guy seemed to know her better than she did. "Alright, fine, I was negligent and didn't come back to camp right away after… after we… after we spoke. He was upset. I might have said a few things I regret. He might have been very angry with me. And yes, I do speak and act without thinking. I can't help it. Sometimes I feel so helpless like I can't make a difference or help anyone. But you wouldn't get that would you? You just do what the Sheriff tells you to do, no questions asked. You don't even think for yourself. At least I think for myself, but I get the feeling Robin doesn't like that. Maybe I'm just making that up, maybe…" she broke off when she realized that she was rambling and that Guy had come across the room to sit on the bed next to her.
"Didn't saving you prove that I can think for myself?" he asked softly. Ivy eyed him tentatively. She had a feeling he was glad of the fight between Robin and her. She didn't entirely trust his motives, but right now she couldn't think of a reason to tell him to go away. She couldn't find the words to speak anymore.
"Why did you save me?" she finally asked, her voice hardly above a whisper.
"Surely you must know the answer to that already?" he asked, leaning closer. He stopped when he was a breath away from her. She could see the restraint in his shoulders. He closed his eyes, pulling away slightly. The fight between Robin and her was still playing on repeat through Ivy's head. She wanted to forget that. She wanted to stop thinking. So without thinking, she closed the gap between her and Guy, pressing her lips against his and running her fingers through the hair at the nape of his neck. She felt the tension leave him as he kissed her back. She could feel the desire in his kiss, his touch, the way his hand gripped the back of her tunic as he pulled her closer into him. Ivy's side ached with pain, but she didn't care at the moment. She lay back down, pulling him with her, her lips not leaving his. For a moment she did forget her anger, her frustration, the fight. She lost herself in Guy and the feel of his hand on her back and his mouth on hers. Then he pulled away, breathing faster than usual. Her eyes fluttered open and she gazed up at him.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
He looked down at her, his blue eyes rimmed with worry once more. "I shouldn't take advantage of you," he said.
"That's what you're worried about?" Ivy asked, sitting up and putting a hand on his cheek. "But I want this," she whispered.
"As do I." He rested his forehead against hers, putting a hand on her uninjured arm. Ivy smiled at the memory of how much she had hated him when they'd first met.
"Do you remember when we first met?" she asked. Guy smiled, pulling away to look at her.
"You resented me from the start," he said.
"We didn't get off to a very good start," Ivy agreed. "But then again, you did arrest me."
"I still could. Your crimes are no different than before." She could tell that he didn't mean it.
"Maybe it's the outlaw in me that draws you to me," Ivy suggested, smirking.
"And maybe it's the risk of being caught that draws you to me," Guy replied.
"I'd never get caught," she murmured.
"You think you're invincible, but you're not. Hood thinks that too."
"I'm not invincible. But I'm difficult to catch."
"I seem to have managed it a few times," Guy said, running his hand down her arm until his fingers were entwined with hers.
"But you always let me go." She leaned forward letting her lips brush his. It felt good to finally let go, to quit fighting the feelings that had been pushing her toward him. He seemed to feel the same way. She felt the tension leave his shoulders. She lay her head against his shoulder, feeling safe when he wrapped his arms around her. Her red hair stood out like a beacon against his usual black. The rational part of her mind reminded her how crazy this was, but she was done listening to the rational part of her mind. Her heart felt safe, like it belonged here. Maybe it had belonged here all along. "You always let me go," she murmured feeling freer than she had felt in a long time.
