We had barely touched down in Ravnica when I shook off Tezzeret's hand. Silently he watched as I started to make my way back to the house I called home, finding that I was only a block or so away from it and as I walked slowly back I heard footsteps.
"Ailis, where are you going?" Tezzeret sighed, falling into step beside me when I didn't answer. For the next few minutes Tezzeret watched as I clenched my fist each time he tried to reach for my hand so after a third attempt I finally stopped walking, spinning around and he froze as I narrowed my eyes.
"Don't you dare touch me! Not after what you did to my parents!" I snapped at him, my eyes glowing white as he stared at me. Hearing the rage in my voice I blinked, pulling out of range as my hands shook and hot tears of frustration welled in my eyes. "I just...I need to think for a while. I'm going home to take a shower." I muttered, turning back and as I started to walk away I noticed that Tezzeret didn't try to follow.
Running a hand through his dreadlocks Tezzeret watched on as I turned the corner, disappearing from view before he let out a sigh. "Ailis, I wasn't trying to cause you anymore pain but those zombies would have..." He trailed off with a grimace, seeing the look of pain and hurt in Ailis' eyes when he destroyed the shells of her parents.
Shaking his head Tezzeret headed after me reaching my side as I stared up at my house, chewing my lower lip as I did. The moment he stepped into view I tensed until he raised both palms and I relaxed once I knew it was him and not someone else following me.
"You just can't leave me be can you?" I sighed and he nodded, giving me a slow smile when I forced one onto my lips. "Fine but I'm taking a shower first." I told him, slipping the key I carried out of my cloak's pocket. After I unlocked the door I pushed the door open before I looked back at Tezzeret who had both of his eyebrows raised at me. "Are you going inside?" I asked with a sigh, watching on with a thin smile when he moved past me entering the house without looking back.
Rolling my eyes I followed him, making sure to lock the door behind us. "Okay well you can wait wherever. I'm going to grab some clean clothes and then I'm heading for the bathroom." I told him, heading towards the hallway before Tezzeret could open his mouth. It took me a few minutes of rummaging before I found a shirt and a pair of shorts that ended below my knees that hadn't been worn and as I headed towards the bathroom I made a mental note to sort out my clothing when I had some spare time.
Slowly shaking his head the artificer made his way towards the couch sitting heavily in it with a loud sigh. "Doesn't Ailis understand that once they were brought back as zombies they wouldn't know who she is? Other than a meal?" Tezzeret muttered to himself, running a hand through his dreadlocks after a pause.
While Tezzeret waited on the couch I turned the water on, adjusting it until the water was hot but not scalding. As I began to strip my clothes, making sure to hang the cloak on the hangar next to the clean towels, I wondered what Tezzeret was doing.
Probably complaining about how I keep blaming him for everything bad that happens to me. Who can blame me? I mean he murdered my...
I swallowed a lump in my throat, hurriedly shaking my head before I stepped under the shower hoping that a hot shower would clear my head as well as my body.
When I emerged from the bathroom Tezzeret looked up at the sound of my footsteps looking curious when he noticed the shorts. "They're new and clean before you ask. There are clean towels in the bathroom and I left you a shirt and pants. Not sure if they fit but I had to guess at your size and I doubt you want to wear clothing covered in stains." I told him, nodding towards the visible stains on his pants and shirt.
Tezzeret made the mistake of taking a whiff only to recoil and I forced myself to frown, hiding a smile that nearly crept onto my lips at seeing him grimace. "Told you." I muttered as he climbed from the couch and I frowned at the dark mark he'd left on one of the cushions.
"Thank you." Tezzeret replied, moving towards the bathroom without noticing the eye roll I gave him. Once he left the room I moved to the cushion, grabbing it before I started to head towards the kitchen and the dustbin. Tossing it inside I swallowed, trying not to look at the dirt stains and what looked like partial fingerprints.
"Need to stop thinking about them." I whispered, heading towards the cupboard where I kept the bowls. After a quick search I pulled out a bottle and after a slight hesitation I grabbed the only two wine glasses I owned, a gift from the Orzhov guild. With a tiny smile on my face I carried the bottle and the glasses back to the couch as Tezzeret walked into the bathroom.
"She's so angry at me. Now what am I supposed to do?" Tezzeret grumbled as he adjusted the water before he stripped and now naked stepped under the water. The instant he felt the water hit his body he sighed, content as the water washed the sweat and dirt from his body along the remains of the zombies that attacked him.
As he reached for the washcloth I'd left him I popped the cork from the bottle, carefully setting down one glass before I filled my own glass. Gently setting down the bottle on the table I raised the glass to my lips, breathing in the scent of strawberries and after taking a cautious sip I grinned at the sweet taste.
"Sweet like fruit." I observed as I took a longer drink, a warmth feeling my stomach and I sighed. While I waited for Tezzeret to return I took a second drink and a third, liking the way it made my head feel light.
Tezzeret eventually emerged from the bathroom, wearing the shirt and pants I had supplied him. "They're a little tight but I can live with that." Tezzeret said as he wandered into the room only to stare as I leaned back on the couch, a smile on my face. "Ailis, have you been drinking?" He asked, blinking when I hiccupped giggling as he walked over to the couch.
"A...bit, yes." I giggled, glancing up when the couch sank slightly. "Huh...must have drunk it all."
"Yes I believe you did." Tezzeret answered, finally looking at the empty glass resting next to the bottle which he noticed was three-quarters full. "I'm not sure you should be drinking in your state." He pointed out, raising an eyebrow when I giggled again reaching for the bottle with slightly shaking fingers.
"N...no I'm fine!" I laughed and he snorted, grabbing the bottle when I nearly knocked it off the table. "Mm...want to try some?" I asked and he sighed, lifting the empty glass before he filled his own.
"If you're going to drink you shouldn't do it alone." Tezzeret finally agreed, refilling my own glass when I thrust it towards his face. "Be careful, Ailis. Otherwise you'll be stuck with wine stains all over your floor." He warned, being very careful not to splash the wine on me when my hand tilted slightly.
"G...got it, Tezz." I giggled and he rolled his eyes with a tiny smile as I tipped the glass towards my mouth taking a swallow before I coughed. "Ohhh...that hits the spot." I sighed and he cracked a grin taking a slow drink his eyes on me the entire time.
"Yes...it does taste nice." Tezzeret agreed once he swallowed, swirling the remaining wine around in his own glass. "Still you should savor it." He added as I stared at him and he chuckled at my slightly crossed eyes. "Ailis, you're drunk aren't you?"
"I...don't know. Do you think I...I'm drunk?" I hiccuped and Tezzeret rubbed the bridge of his nose with one finger deciding to refill his own glass while there was still wine available. After he did he stared as I leaned over, resting my head on his shoulder. "You smell nice you know?" I pointed out as Tezzeret tried to focus on his own wine, vaguely aware his head felt oddly fuzzy.
"Yes well I did take a shower." Tezzeret finally responded, blinking when I nuzzled his neck burying my nose in the crook of his neck. "Ailis, maybe you shouldn't drink anymore." He said, glancing down at the wine bottle only to notice that it was empty. For some weird reason he found that funny and I lifted my head, tilting it back when he chuckled.
"Tezz, it wasn't that funny." I muttered, burying my head back in his neck when his laughter abruptly cut out. "Still...you do smell really good. Strawberries...or maybe that's your breath." I mumbled my breathing out before I giggled. "Or it could be mine."
"Ailis, now would be a good time to confess that I may be drunk too." Tezzeret finally admitted, running his right hand through his hair as he did unable to figure out why he felt a warmth in his stomach. Or why it grew so much stronger when I kept nuzzling his neck. "Yes I think I am. Should not have helped you finish that wine."
"Helped? Y...you dran,,,drank most of it, Tezz. Don't mind though." I replied, kissing his neck and Tezzeret tensed unable to keep his right hand from trembling slightly when I licked his throat next. "Were we fighting about something? Can't remember what the argument was about after I started to feel tipsy." I whispered, running the tip of my tongue along Tezzeret's neck until he shuddered, clutching at his knees in an effort to ignore the growing warmth spreading through his lower belly and parts further down.
"I...really don't know, Ailis." Tezzeret answered and I lifted my head locking eyes with me for several seconds before he leaned in, kissing me hard on the lips. Once we broke apart I blinked back at him and he cracked a smile, weaving slightly on the couch before we closed the gap.
This time the kiss was much softer and after a moment Tezzeret carefully slipped his right arm against my back, gently pushing me down onto the couch both of us still locked into the kiss.