Disclaimer: Own? No. Sue? No.
Castle Dawnguard, 1 day post-argument
Tucker and Isran had not spoken since their argument at Dexion's request. Isran had spent the day organizing the Dawnguard members from across Skyrim. Deciding which patrols and groups would stay with their regular duties and which ones would come to Fort Dawnguard to either join the assault force or replace the usual guards of Fort Dawnguard that were joining the assault force. This had kept him busy for the whole day.
Tucker had spent the day recuperating from his injuries. They weren't too bad, a mixture of health potions, cheese wheels, healing spells, and rest had already done wonders for him. In fact, he was pretty much all done with his recovery, he was very sore but ready to go. Of course he was going to take tonight to rest more since Isran was busy with the logistical nightmare of forming an assault force of sufficient strength while keeping enough Dawnguard at the fort and the rest of Skyrim to keep the realm safe should they fail in their assault. Even if that weren't the case Serana had been keeping him on bed rest for pretty much the entire day. He had considered trying to talk to her about not going to face her father but he knew that it was what she needed to do. He also knew that nothing he had to say would convince her and he could hardly stop her from going.
Serana, for her part, had been ensuring Tucker took it easy and insisted on helping with everything and anything that would make his recovery go by faster and helping the Dawnguard with odd jobs here and there around the fort. Couldn't hurt to try and build some rapport with the people that were going to help her murder her father and the only family she had ever known. She was currently reading a book while Tucker scarfed down another cheese wheel in his bed. Seeing that he was done she closed her book and started walking towards him.
"Alright, time for another healing session. It's been a few hours since we used a restoration spells on you. Your body should be good to go so long as we don't do too much. Then we can put you in the bath to help ease the sore muscles and you're going to bed."
Tucker smiled at her.
"Thanks, you're the best nanny ever."
Serana rolled her eyes at his comment.
"Look, I take your health seriously. If you didn't want a companion that cared so much you should have just hired a sellsword."
"Psh! Like you would have let me. As soon as we met you were insistent on travelling with me."
"I never noticed any protests from you."
Serana smirked at her comment. In fact, Tucker had seemed rather happy to have somebody along for his adventure.
"Well, I needed somebody to watch my back on this adventure and you're fun to be around."
"Thanks. Such high praise reminds me of why I follow you through blistering sunlight and freezing mountain passes."
"Well excuse me. Let me make it a bit more flowery for you."
He cleared his throat loudly and spoke in a fake eloquent voice.
"My dear Lady Serana, were it not for you I have no idea how I could have ever managed the sojourn across these frigid lands in the quest to unravel the mystery of the tyranny of the- ow! Hey! You could have warned me before you started!"
Serana smiled at Tucker's whining over the healing spell. It helped mend his bones and though it made him feel better having one's bones forcibly realigned and repaired by magic in second was hardly a comfortable experience. She was actually quite proud of herself for how well she was doing with healing spells. They were very different from her usual destruction spells but it was a nice change. Getting to repair what was damaged rather than only causing more destruction.
"Alright, alright. I think that's as much as we can do for now. Go take your bath and get to bed. Remember, if you try weapons training or smithing or anything other than a bath I will forcibly bathe you myself."
Serana felt her cheeks turn hot and turned away from Tucker at the thought of forcibly rubbing water and soap on his naked, toned body. Gods she hoped he hadn't noticed. Tucker, for his part, was equally embarrassed at the thought of her manhandling his naked body and was even more embarrassed by how enjoyable the thought was. He cleared his throat awkwardly as he got up and headed in the direction of the baths.
"Uh, yeah. I wouldn't want you to uh… do that. I shan't be long."
"You better…. not be long…. or do anything else. Um, yeah."
Fort Dawnguard Bath
Tucker reached for the spot on his lower back and, yet again, felt his sore muscles scream in protest which drew a pained grunt out of him.
"By the nine, damn it!"
"Hey Tucker, are you alright in there?"
He recognized it as Serana's voice which made sense since she had been forced to carry him here when he fell halfway out the door. Though he was mostly recovered he had a few bouts of pain and weakness. He was fine but she insisted on helping him here and waiting outside in case he needed help back to his bed.
"Yeah, I'm fine! There's just a spot that I can't quite reach."
"... Do you need help in there?"
Serana cursed herself for offering. This was probably going to make things weird between them and he would refuse and thing would just be uncomfortable.
"Uh ... sure. If you're certain."
Serana was taken aback. This was unexpected.
"But, it's okay if you feel uncomfortable or were just trying to be nice."
"No, no! I'll come in and help."
Serana walked in with a hand over her eyes.
"Uh, it's okay. I've got the bubbles covering anything uh….. you haven't seen before."
Serana opened her eyes. He really had managed to get the bubbles covering everything below his waist. He was sitting in the tub and just his torso was visible and she had seen his bare torso during their travels. Plenty of times he had to change armor or treat a wound or was just feeling warm at night. She grabbed the bar of soap next to the tub.
"Alright, where do you need it."
"My… lower back. When I try to reach-ow!"
"Alright, don't try and reach. I've got this."
Tucker felt his heart nearly stop when Serana's cool, almost cold hands touched his warm body and started rubbing the soap and water into his lower back. He could feel her hands working his tight and knotted muscles. He could feel the urge to groan growing the more she touched him. Gods did he want her to keep this up. Hell he wanted her to rub her hands across his entire body. Something that he became acutely aware of with one particular part of him.
Serana rubbed the soap and water in to the best of her abilities. She made sure to push down to try and help relieve the muscle knots she could feel. Gods, his body was so warm and his muscles were just the right balance of toned while not being frighteningly large. She was enjoying this a ton, his warmth was so nice and…. intoxicating. She knew part of it was probably vampiric instinct, he was warm and healthy and so was his blood but it was more than that. She really just wanted him.
The pair continued like this, each trying to maintain their composure until finally Tucker spoke up.
"Thanks Serana, I-I think I'm good now."
"O-oh! Of course! You should probably get to bed. Um, I'll step outside while you get dressed and I'll help you back."
"Yeah! That sounds excellent, um thanks! I'll be right out!"
Serana stepped outside and let out a large sigh. Gods she needed to confront whatever was going on with her when it came to him. After the coming battle she would deal with it. She needed to keep her mind on what was to come for now.
Inside the room Tucker was having much the same thoughts as he put his pants and shirt back on. By Sovngarde this woman would be the end of him if he didn't deal with his attraction to her. Oh well, that would have to wait until after they battled Harkon. That had to be his primary focus for now.
Alrighty, next chapter will be a battle I swear. The fleshing out of their relationship has taken far too long and I do apologize. Next chapter, battle for sure! I plan on getting that done by the weekend. Thanks for sticking through all of this. And please feel free to review! Also, I saw the person that followed this story and thank you so much! It means a lot! Have a good day y'all.
