"Sometimes," Gabrielle said. "I think you let yourself get hit on purpose."

"Don't know what you're talking about." Xena let her armor fall to the ground, and started to peel off the leather underneath. There were more old scars than she could count, adding a unique and interesting texture to Xena's skin.

Gabrielle tore her eyes from the taut muscles of Xena's back, coming over and brushing her fingers across a dark bruise on her side. It was just one of many. Gabrielle could make out a dozen bruises across Xena's back and sides and figured there were just as many on her front, arms and legs. "You're black and blue all over. That has to hurt." Either the spot was sensitive or Gabrielle's touch too hard, but she did catch the slight sound of Xena hissing in pain.

"It's fine, nothing a hot bath won't help."

So Gabrielle jabbed her finger into one of the bruises.

Xena yelped, whirling around and grabbing her hand, "What do you think you're doing?"

"Hurts, doesn't it." Gabrielle grinned up at her, snatching her hand back, "And a hot bath might help but I think you're going to need more than that."

Sighing, Xena regarded her a moment, "There's a salve we can make."

"Great! Just tell me how and I'll get started while you rest." Gabrielle planted her hands on her hips, jutting her chin out defiantly. If Xena thought she was going to let her do anything but rest, she had another thing coming. It had been a couple of weeks since either of them had had a good night's sleep and Gabrielle thought they were both getting cranky.

At least, she was the one feeling somewhat cranky. That hot bath did sound like a good idea.

"I don't need rest," Xena complained, but she sat there anyway, occupying herself with cleaning her weapons while Gabrielle made the salve. She occasionally snuck glances at Xena and the way her skin glowed in the firelight. Even bruised and battered, she cut an impressive figure, all hard muscles and soft curves, a combination that often left Gabrielle's stomach fluttering.

"Okay, it's ready," Gabrielle said, coming over and sitting behind Xena. "It smells like a room full of gladiators after a fight, but it's ready."

"The smell is what makes it work."

Gabrielle stuck her tongue out at the back of Xena's head before she dipped her fingers into the warm salve, "Sit still."

Xena snorted, "Yes ma'am."

Smearing some of the concoction onto Xena's back, Gabrielle set to work rubbing it into the bruises, moving her fingers slowly as she slathered the substance on Xena's skin. Hard muscles under soft skin and Gabrielle wonders how Xena could be both. Maybe she was a Demigod. An Ares with a bit of Aphrodite in her. Maybe not the soft pettiness (though Xena could be petty at times), but the spite and even the anger. Love could be petty and spiteful and angry after all. Gabrielle was worldly enough now to understand all of that, and more.

She caressed her hand across another bruise, leaving a trail of the salve in its wake and drawing a sharp inhale from Xena. Before long, she had finished, her touch hopefully soothing even if she wasn't quite done yet. Gabrielle made Xena turn around and promptly stared down at bruised abs and thighs and the swell of breasts and maybe this either was or wasn't the best idea she'd ever had.

"I think I can handle the rest," Xena said, and Gabrielle's eyes flicked up to meet the sea-grey gazing at her. They were somehow darker than normal, beautiful as a storm.

Gabrielle shook her head, "N-no, I'm good, I've got this." She blew air out of her nose, and patted her hands onto Xena's thighs, "I've got this."

"Yeah, great." Xena's nostrils flared as her muscles tensed up, even her thighs becoming like steel beneath Gabrielle's hands when she brushed her fingers up her skin.

She was supposed to be doing something she was pretty sure but it wasn't until she got a whiff of a sour smell and gagged that she remembered the salve. Not quite as effective as a cold shower, but it would have to do.

Methodical, Gabrielle reminded herself, getting some more salve out of the jar and lifting her hand to rock hard abs. Professional. Be the healer.

The bruising on Xena's stomach wasn't as bad as she thought it might be, which actually made sense. Xena had taught her ways to redirect the impact of fists and staves by tightening up her muscles just before a blow came. Even without armor, the human body still has some defenses and can take a licking she'd told her.

Her eyes focused on a bead of sweat trailing down to Xena's belly button and she licked her lips. But she'd finished the abs and so she scooted over to Xena's left side, "Almost… done. Let me just get this arm next."

As she started to lather in the salve, she could have sworn she felt Xena flexing. Which was not fair and also cheating.

"You might be right," Xena said, glancing at her and smiling. "I might maybe let them get a few licks in. Make 'em feel like they earned their beating, you know what I mean?"

"Uh huh." Gabrielle stuck her tongue out at Xena as she pulled away, grabbing a cloth to clean her hands, "There, now maybe this will help with the bruising."

"Thanks, Gabrielle." She reached up with her left hand, tenderly touching a bruise on Gabrielle's lip, "Now who's the one who should try dodging a little better, huh?"

She flicked her tongue out, tapping the bruise with it, "There were like thirty soldiers and they hit you a lot more than they hit me."

"That's cuz you're real squirrelly." Xena grinned at her, then twirled her finger, "Your turn to get lathered up."

"Is that a crack about my height?" Feigning offense, Gabrielle turned her back to Xena and peeled her tunic off. She felt Xena's fingers trail down her spine, sending more of a shiver through her than the air did before Xena found a bruise on her side. The soothing feeling was stronger than the sting and she sighed lightly when Xena started to rub the salve into the bruise.

Gently, Xena said, "You got hit less than me, but that's because I make sure they're focusing more on me than on you."

"I can handle myself, Xena."

"I know." Xena leaned in, her lips brushing Gabrielle's shoulder, "I count on it."

"You distract 'em, I hit 'em?" Gabrielle's eyes closed as Xena's lips brushed the back of her neck, and she leaned back against her as she looped her arms around Gabrielle's waist.

"Exactly."

Gabrielle smiled, snuggling back against Xena with a little more obvious fervor. She felt Xena's lips against the back of her neck again and then the shell of her ear and suddenly she wondered just who Xena was trying to distract this time, "…Xena…"

"Yeah?" Xena's purr sent something rippling through Gabrielle, and then she felt hands on her thighs. It was a strong grip, fingers digging into her skin and nearly making her lose all sense and reason.

"Gods, don't stop."

And then Xena nibbled at her ear and Gabrielle did in fact lose all sense and reason.