Chapter 16; Not so Alone
Bow lay silently, cradling Adora in his arms, watching the play of light dance over her hair as day pierced the crimson sky above for a few brief moments, before retreating from the inhospitable domain of waste. Her porcelain cheek lay pressed against his chest as she lay half over him, one arm slung around his middle, the other resting beneath his shoulder. Her warm breath blew gently and evenly over his skin. A strange and protective surge of warmth rose up in his chest, forming a lump in his throat as he held her.
It was unfamiliar but not unwelcome.
Never before had Bow felt like this. He loved women. He loved beautiful women- loved watching the way their bodies moved and arced and bounced in all the right places; the way their hair fell over their shoulders and swayed in a gentle motion- opposite their curved and sensuous backside; the way they walked, fluid and smooth and full of grace or bouncy and bubbly and bursting with energy. He adored the way they always smelled clean and fresh and often scented with some floral mist, feminine and exotic. He enjoyed the way they were shaped and formed, slender and lithe, rounded and soft, small and delicate- but strong; he enjoyed being with them. But he never felt with another as he did now with Adora.
Impatiently awaiting her return to her chambers the night before so he could convince her of her madness, her folly, the insanity of her course of action, he vowed if she did not leave willingly he would take her out of there, forcibly if necessary. Then she stumbled over the threshold and into her room, a look he couldn't understand painting her face in human drama. Pain. Despair. Denial. Grief. He watched from the shadows as she crawled a few paces, struggling to rise, he wanted to go to her but was unsure of her problem. Then she gave up; she quit, curling into a small ball she became still and lifeless and fragile. He would never forget the panic, the overwhelming sense of wrongness filling him the moment she stopped moving. It was eerie, he felt as if someone in the room with him was urging him to take action.
Rushing to her side, he scooped her into his arms, shocked to find her body frigid to the touch. He tried reviving her, calling her name, slapping her lightly, to no effect. Quickly he stripped her of her clothes and taking off his boots and breastplate climbed into bed with her beneath the thermal blanket. He tightly wrapped her in the cocoon of his embrace, offering every ounce of his own warmth to heat her, chills racked his muscular body as he prayed to a god he didn't really believe in to revive her! Never giving up, he rubbed her chilled skin with his hands, massaging her limbs roughly with his own, hoping the friction would add to the warmth of his body. She seemed to sense his desperate need, briefly, then she died; no breath, no movement, no life, no heartbeat.
In anguish, Bow cried out her name, begging her to return, but there was no one to hear his helpless plea. He shared his breath with her, willing her to absorb his life force as her own, his warm smooth lips pressed over her cool airless mouth in a vain attempt to retrieve her from the darkness that had stolen her from him.
To no avail.
Looking on her beauty, as perfect in death as in life he realized he never told her how he felt. Never told her because even he himself had not realized the extent of the emotions churning through him.
He loved her.
Deeply, passionately, to the exclusion of all else. She was his first thought as he woke in the morning and his last as he settled to sleep. When he closed his eyes hers was the smile he saw in the dark behind his lids.
Tears fell in a salty, fiery flood of heart-hurt distressed denunciation as he rocked her lifeless form, smacking and shaking and rubbing her body, willing her to wake, to rise to live, to be aware! He called her name; an invocation of defiant denial, he demanded first then begged whatever force oversaw such things to return her to consciousness, to life, to him!
Sadly, as too often's the case, his prayers, wishes, heartfelt pleas and angered demands met with unfeeling silence that seemed to rebuff him making the request. With the most tender care, as hope fled his heart leaving him raw, aching, empty of all save sorrow and shocked suffering he smoothed away an errant strand of golden hair stained bronze with dried blood from her porcelain features. Using the blanket as a cloth he gently swabbed the sienna streak of dried blood- moistened by his heartache, from her angelic face, leaving it pure and clear in tragic nobility. Reverently he placed the gentlest of kisses upon her smooth brow; shattering inside.
Then she inhaled. Her eyes barely flickered open as warmth slowly returned to her body and hardly aware of him she snuggled into his embrace to fall into a tranquil sleep.
He knew not what miracle brought her back to him, but by the first ones he would not waste the opportunity to win her heart. Holding her now he felt complete somehow. There was a rightness to it. Their future was uncertain, but one thing was not. The love he held in his heart for the woman he held in his arms.
She inspired him to reach further, to try harder, to dig deeper and see clearer than he otherwise would. She was his highest reverence. She made him more than he was without her. His brow furrowed in anxiety and a frown darkened the joy that had previously lit his eyes with fervent flames of ebullience. Her logic regarding her loyalties was flawed- in this, she was wrong. He had to convince her.
Though he adored her, though he would give his everything for her, in striving to be worthy of her he realized his world took precedence over his feelings. The freedom of an entire planet was at stake. He eased himself from beneath her. His body cried out, his stomach knotted, protesting his actions, yearning for her presence once more. He ignored it, pulling on his cape and breastplate and lacing up his boots. He waited for his woman to awake.
He grinned at that thought- Adora would probably never take kindly to being labeled anyone's woman. She was simply too independent for that. Placing his hands behind his head he leaned back in his chair to wait for her to rise. He decided he admired that most about her. Her strength, her willingness to do what her heart told her to do- even when the world told her she was wrong. Adora allowed none to command her. Bow just hoped she would allow him to walk at her side.
Adora slowly cracked open one sleep encrusted eye, then the other. Moaning softly she stretched her arms up over her head, extending her legs as far as they would go and arching one foot into a delicate point. She felt the sleepiness in her limbs ooze slowly out of her and brought one hand up to pick the sleep from her eyes. A breeze moved over her bare shoulders and leg and she shivered in delicious delight at its cleansing feeling. Her eyes popped wide in alarm as she realized she was naked. She looked to her side, releasing a soft squeal of surprise as her eyes landed on Bow's smirking face. Her brows drew together sharply in wrath. She didn't recall how she ended up nude, but she didn't like Bow's knowing smile.
She decided to rid him of it.
Clutching the sheet tight against her breasts she slid from her bed to the floor and in one swift, fluid motion knocked the chair from beneath him. Falling backwards he landed with a jarring crash as she arose from the floor.
"Owww! By the first ones- Adora what did you do that for?!" Bow clumsily rolled over to his knees, smiling wickedly at the sweet taste of revenge she placed a dainty, naked foot on his rear and sent him face-first into the floor. He rolled to his back, angry now, ready to object vehemently to her unkind behavior when the words stuck in his throat as his eyes feasted upon her golden splendor.
She stood legs braced apart, wrapped in an ivory sheet barely hinting at the beauteous curves beneath it, her hair in tangled disarray, hung enticingly over one sapphire eye and stuck up charmingly in the back, her cheeks flushing in indignation and rosy lips full from sleep made her appear pixie-like and sinfully piquant; eyes blazed in irritation as she questioned him.
"Bow," she snapped, "where are my clothes and how in the hell did I end up out of them?" She arched one brow at him imperiously. She appeared pagan goddess and innocent maid all at once. The love in his heart flared to fullness inside him once again, but he merely stood, so she could not look down on him. His cocky smile back in place.
"I removed them for you." Adora, gritting her teeth in outrage, kicked him. Hard. In the shin. He began madly hopping on one foot, cursing softly, massaging his outraged leg in an effort to alleviate the pain. This was not going at all as he had imagined. He had assumed Adora would awaken and fall into his arms, thanking him for saving her life, instead she was beating him up for taking off her clothes. He hopped over to her bed and sat down.
"Adora, stop being so violent, I don't think I can handle it. I saved your life." She wrinkled her nose in confusion.
"What? How is you getting me naked saving my life?"
"You were in shock when you came to your quarters last night. I had been waiting for you, I had every intention of reaming you up one wall and down the other and making you see the error of your ways so you would come back to the rebellion. But you were freezing and fast losing consciousness. The quickest way to warm someone is to use body heat. So I did that." He looked away, slightly miffed at the look of dawning horror on her face.
"Ohmygosh! You mean you- and I- oh god!" She sat next to him putting her burning face in her hands. "Bow I-I-"
"Adora," Bow snapped, "I'm your friend. I wasn't about to let you die." She seemed to come to herself.
"I know…It's just… I'm a little embarrassed you saw me so weak. I have to be strong. I can't afford to show any weakness. Especially now." She seemed to be talking more to herself then him, he gripped her shoulder, forcing her to look at him.
"Adora, that's ridiculous. Your human, your not a machine. You can't be strong all the time." Looking at him she realized he didn't know why the desperate misery nearly stole her will to live, why she had almost died. Unexpectedly, tears flooded her eyes.
"Adora, what's wrong?" Bow asked in concern. She reached up, angrily wiping the tears with the back of her hand.
"Flutterina is dead." She uttered harshly. Bow's face whitened. His jaw tightened.
"Why? How?" Adora laughed, a dry mirthless sound that ended on a choked sob.
"Melog. She-ra gave her life and she has used it to serve Hordack. Before I quit the rebellion I told Flutterina to find Melog and bring her back to us…It's all my fault… she's dead and I may as well have killed her myself." Bow stiffened angrily.
"Dammit Adora, I am getting a little sick and tired of you always blaming yourself for things beyond your control." Adora's eyes flashed angrily and she tried to pull away from him, but he was having none of it, his fingers gripped harder. "I want you to listen and listen good! You are the kindest most compassionate person I know. You take responsibility for the lives of those you have no right to take. Flutterina was a rebel. If she is dead, she died for what she believed in! For what she fought for and thought was right. Those children did not die because of Adora, they died because of a monster named Leech!"
"But I underestimated him, it was my fault he went for them-"
"Oh Adora, grow up! Your only human, you are not a god! Do you think in joining the Horde you honor their memory? Do you think you do what they would have wanted you to do by betraying your friends and leading your enemies to victory? How are you any different than Melog?!" He was yelling at her, his eyes spitting sienna sparks. She smiled. Her first real smile in weeks. Reaching up she cupped his face in her hand. She had only meant to connect with him as a friend, but when her skin touched his a current of awareness shot through her hand, up her arm and throughout her body. She could tell by the way he had stopped breathing and his eyes widened he felt it as well.
"Oh dear…" she uttered breathlessly, cheeks flushing at the unexpected bolt of desire.
He leaned forward, claiming her lips in a hungry kiss of repressed passion and energy. Time stopped for Adora, lost all meaning. The world seemed to melt away as her arms snaked around his neck and he pulled her tightly to him, rolling her to her back.
His lips were warm and soft against her own, his breath, ragged, his taste, tangy. Sparks of sensation shot through her entire body, radiating out from her stomach, her chest, racing up and down her limbs with fevered longing, where his skin touched hers she came alive with want, with desire. Tentatively she traced his upper lip with her tongue. He moaned softly, she giggled into his mouth, the wonder of the experience washing over her in waves of passion and pleasure and tingling. Her toes curled in mystified delight at the unfamiliar sensations. He pulled away from her to gaze into her eyes. He looked on her with such tenderness she wanted to weep at the pleasure.
To be cherished like this was bliss. Then he stood. Rising swiftly, Bow began gathering her stuff in a bundle; she frowned, the fog of desire clearing quickly as she watched him in confusion.
"Ummm, Bow, what are you doing?" She asked him curiously. He didn't look at her as he answered.
"I'm packing your gear so we can get out of here." She sat upright, the sheet fell from her chest, she gasped, he didn't notice, she sighed in relief and tugging the material back up she stood and placed her hand on top of his, he looked to her in confusion.
"Bow I'm not going anywhere." His mouth dropped in surprise. She continued. "Bow I have a job to do. I will unite Etheria. Already word of what I have done has spread. The rebellion is even now fanning out across the planet recruiting more freedom fighters to their cause. The time for action has come."
"Adora," Bow groaned, a frustrated growl escaping him, "Hordack is the bad guy, you are the good guy, if you want to free your people then you must fight with the good guys- that's me." He spoke to her in exaggerated patience, she frowned her eyes flashing.
"I won't debate the point with you Bow. My mind is made up. If I lead Horde forces I can ensure minimum casualties. I can also teach the people a much needed lesson."
"What's that," Bow sneered, angry at her obstinacy, "do it Adora's way or no way?" Her eyes flashed a warning at him.
"Don't be an ass! Etherians won't fight together for something they don't believe in. Right now they don't believe in their freedom because those who have it take it for granted and those who don't have lost all hope. If we are going to win this war against the horde we must be united as one people. Fighting for our collective freedom and not squabbling over petty differences. I intend to show those who take freedom for granted what life as a slave to the horde is like. Once they have lost their freedom, it will become precious to them then they can be roused to fight. Those who have lost all hope," here she smiled at Bow, "well, it is your job and that of the rebellion to rekindle it for them."
"Adora," Bow said quietly, seriously, "I love you. You mean more to me than any person in my life, I have never loved anyone this much since my parents-" he frowned thoughtfully before amending himself- "except Cowl; but I won't allow you to steal the freedom from my people, my planet, my world." Adora stood. Her voice deceptively soft.
"You won't allow?" Bow broke out in a sweat realizing his mistake.
"What I meant was-"
"You have no business allowing or disallowing me anything! I have told you my reasons for doing what I do. It is your choice to accept them and believe in me or not. But I will not be moved. My course is set; my destiny clear, and you- you overbearing lout, you can just allow yourself out of my room so I can allow myself into my clothes!" Her breasts were heaving in anger, her face flushed in fury.
"Adora-"
"Get out! If you can't believe in me- fine! But I know what I do is right! For the greater good! I believe in you Bow, I believe in the rebellion, but most of all, I believe in myself. I am doing more good here than I could do leading a half-hearted rebellion in a half-hearted attempt to reclaim their world from a whole-hearted tyrant." Bow's face flushed angrily at her calling the rebellion half-hearted when he had put his entire heart and soul into it for six years.
"I can see there is no reasoning with you right now, but I won't give up on you Adora!" Frustrated tears welled up in her eyes as she was at once moved and outraged at his remark. She stomped her foot angrily.
"Just go!" She snapped. Bow walked to the window of her quarters, preparing to climb down the rope when Adora grabbed his cape. He turned to her in surprise. She pressed her lips to his. Hard. There was nothing gentle in that kiss, it was hard and quick. She pulled back.
"Be careful, Bow." He grinned a cocksure smile, his lips tingling from her brief contact.
"I will." His smile faded. "Adora, if we meet in battle for the freedom of our people, I will fight you." Adora smiled sadly and nodded.
"I would expect no less my gentle warrior." He branded the vision of her into his mind so that he could always keep this moment in his heart. She was so pretty, hair tousled from sleep, lips swollen from his kisses. He sighed before disappearing out the window.
Adora watched him go. As he left she shook the stardust from her eyes and began to dress. As she did so she felt herself slipping into the background of her mind and Onyx taking over. She knew she had to endure this. The first ones understood and agreed, the children were watching her. She was not as alone as she had thought. Briefly her mind entertained a vision of Bow bare-chested. Warmth arced through her. She grinned. Not alone at all.
Bow lay silently, cradling Adora in his arms, watching the play of light dance over her hair as day pierced the crimson sky above for a few brief moments, before retreating from the inhospitable domain of waste. Her porcelain cheek lay pressed against his chest as she lay half over him, one arm slung around his middle, the other resting beneath his shoulder. Her warm breath blew gently and evenly over his skin. A strange and protective surge of warmth rose up in his chest, forming a lump in his throat as he held her.
It was unfamiliar but not unwelcome.
Never before had Bow felt like this. He loved women. He loved beautiful women- loved watching the way their bodies moved and arced and bounced in all the right places; the way their hair fell over their shoulders and swayed in a gentle motion- opposite their curved and sensuous backside; the way they walked, fluid and smooth and full of grace or bouncy and bubbly and bursting with energy. He adored the way they always smelled clean and fresh and often scented with some floral mist, feminine and exotic. He enjoyed the way they were shaped and formed, slender and lithe, rounded and soft, small and delicate- but strong; he enjoyed being with them. But he never felt with another as he did now with Adora.
Impatiently awaiting her return to her chambers the night before so he could convince her of her madness, her folly, the insanity of her course of action, he vowed if she did not leave willingly he would take her out of there, forcibly if necessary. Then she stumbled over the threshold and into her room, a look he couldn't understand painting her face in human drama. Pain. Despair. Denial. Grief. He watched from the shadows as she crawled a few paces, struggling to rise, he wanted to go to her but was unsure of her problem. Then she gave up; she quit, curling into a small ball she became still and lifeless and fragile. He would never forget the panic, the overwhelming sense of wrongness filling him the moment she stopped moving. It was eerie, he felt as if someone in the room with him was urging him to take action.
Rushing to her side, he scooped her into his arms, shocked to find her body frigid to the touch. He tried reviving her, calling her name, slapping her lightly, to no effect. Quickly he stripped her of her clothes and taking off his boots and breastplate climbed into bed with her beneath the thermal blanket. He tightly wrapped her in the cocoon of his embrace, offering every ounce of his own warmth to heat her, chills racked his muscular body as he prayed to a god he didn't really believe in to revive her! Never giving up, he rubbed her chilled skin with his hands, massaging her limbs roughly with his own, hoping the friction would add to the warmth of his body. She seemed to sense his desperate need, briefly, then she died; no breath, no movement, no life, no heartbeat.
In anguish, Bow cried out her name, begging her to return, but there was no one to hear his helpless plea. He shared his breath with her, willing her to absorb his life force as her own, his warm smooth lips pressed over her cool airless mouth in a vain attempt to retrieve her from the darkness that had stolen her from him.
To no avail.
Looking on her beauty, as perfect in death as in life he realized he never told her how he felt. Never told her because even he himself had not realized the extent of the emotions churning through him.
He loved her.
Deeply, passionately, to the exclusion of all else. She was his first thought as he woke in the morning and his last as he settled to sleep. When he closed his eyes hers was the smile he saw in the dark behind his lids.
Tears fell in a salty, fiery flood of heart-hurt distressed denunciation as he rocked her lifeless form, smacking and shaking and rubbing her body, willing her to wake, to rise to live, to be aware! He called her name; an invocation of defiant denial, he demanded first then begged whatever force oversaw such things to return her to consciousness, to life, to him!
Sadly, as too often's the case, his prayers, wishes, heartfelt pleas and angered demands met with unfeeling silence that seemed to rebuff him making the request. With the most tender care, as hope fled his heart leaving him raw, aching, empty of all save sorrow and shocked suffering he smoothed away an errant strand of golden hair stained bronze with dried blood from her porcelain features. Using the blanket as a cloth he gently swabbed the sienna streak of dried blood- moistened by his heartache, from her angelic face, leaving it pure and clear in tragic nobility. Reverently he placed the gentlest of kisses upon her smooth brow; shattering inside.
Then she inhaled. Her eyes barely flickered open as warmth slowly returned to her body and hardly aware of him she snuggled into his embrace to fall into a tranquil sleep.
He knew not what miracle brought her back to him, but by the first ones he would not waste the opportunity to win her heart. Holding her now he felt complete somehow. There was a rightness to it. Their future was uncertain, but one thing was not. The love he held in his heart for the woman he held in his arms.
She inspired him to reach further, to try harder, to dig deeper and see clearer than he otherwise would. She was his highest reverence. She made him more than he was without her. His brow furrowed in anxiety and a frown darkened the joy that had previously lit his eyes with fervent flames of ebullience. Her logic regarding her loyalties was flawed- in this, she was wrong. He had to convince her.
Though he adored her, though he would give his everything for her, in striving to be worthy of her he realized his world took precedence over his feelings. The freedom of an entire planet was at stake. He eased himself from beneath her. His body cried out, his stomach knotted, protesting his actions, yearning for her presence once more. He ignored it, pulling on his cape and breastplate and lacing up his boots. He waited for his woman to awake.
He grinned at that thought- Adora would probably never take kindly to being labeled anyone's woman. She was simply too independent for that. Placing his hands behind his head he leaned back in his chair to wait for her to rise. He decided he admired that most about her. Her strength, her willingness to do what her heart told her to do- even when the world told her she was wrong. Adora allowed none to command her. Bow just hoped she would allow him to walk at her side.
Adora slowly cracked open one sleep encrusted eye, then the other. Moaning softly she stretched her arms up over her head, extending her legs as far as they would go and arching one foot into a delicate point. She felt the sleepiness in her limbs ooze slowly out of her and brought one hand up to pick the sleep from her eyes. A breeze moved over her bare shoulders and leg and she shivered in delicious delight at its cleansing feeling. Her eyes popped wide in alarm as she realized she was naked. She looked to her side, releasing a soft squeal of surprise as her eyes landed on Bow's smirking face. Her brows drew together sharply in wrath. She didn't recall how she ended up nude, but she didn't like Bow's knowing smile.
She decided to rid him of it.
Clutching the sheet tight against her breasts she slid from her bed to the floor and in one swift, fluid motion knocked the chair from beneath him. Falling backwards he landed with a jarring crash as she arose from the floor.
"Owww! By the first ones- Adora what did you do that for?!" Bow clumsily rolled over to his knees, smiling wickedly at the sweet taste of revenge she placed a dainty, naked foot on his rear and sent him face-first into the floor. He rolled to his back, angry now, ready to object vehemently to her unkind behavior when the words stuck in his throat as his eyes feasted upon her golden splendor.
She stood legs braced apart, wrapped in an ivory sheet barely hinting at the beauteous curves beneath it, her hair in tangled disarray, hung enticingly over one sapphire eye and stuck up charmingly in the back, her cheeks flushing in indignation and rosy lips full from sleep made her appear pixie-like and sinfully piquant; eyes blazed in irritation as she questioned him.
"Bow," she snapped, "where are my clothes and how in the hell did I end up out of them?" She arched one brow at him imperiously. She appeared pagan goddess and innocent maid all at once. The love in his heart flared to fullness inside him once again, but he merely stood, so she could not look down on him. His cocky smile back in place.
"I removed them for you." Adora, gritting her teeth in outrage, kicked him. Hard. In the shin. He began madly hopping on one foot, cursing softly, massaging his outraged leg in an effort to alleviate the pain. This was not going at all as he had imagined. He had assumed Adora would awaken and fall into his arms, thanking him for saving her life, instead she was beating him up for taking off her clothes. He hopped over to her bed and sat down.
"Adora, stop being so violent, I don't think I can handle it. I saved your life." She wrinkled her nose in confusion.
"What? How is you getting me naked saving my life?"
"You were in shock when you came to your quarters last night. I had been waiting for you, I had every intention of reaming you up one wall and down the other and making you see the error of your ways so you would come back to the rebellion. But you were freezing and fast losing consciousness. The quickest way to warm someone is to use body heat. So I did that." He looked away, slightly miffed at the look of dawning horror on her face.
"Ohmygosh! You mean you- and I- oh god!" She sat next to him putting her burning face in her hands. "Bow I-I-"
"Adora," Bow snapped, "I'm your friend. I wasn't about to let you die." She seemed to come to herself.
"I know…It's just… I'm a little embarrassed you saw me so weak. I have to be strong. I can't afford to show any weakness. Especially now." She seemed to be talking more to herself then him, he gripped her shoulder, forcing her to look at him.
"Adora, that's ridiculous. Your human, your not a machine. You can't be strong all the time." Looking at him she realized he didn't know why the desperate misery nearly stole her will to live, why she had almost died. Unexpectedly, tears flooded her eyes.
"Adora, what's wrong?" Bow asked in concern. She reached up, angrily wiping the tears with the back of her hand.
"Flutterina is dead." She uttered harshly. Bow's face whitened. His jaw tightened.
"Why? How?" Adora laughed, a dry mirthless sound that ended on a choked sob.
"Melog. She-ra gave her life and she has used it to serve Hordack. Before I quit the rebellion I told Flutterina to find Melog and bring her back to us…It's all my fault… she's dead and I may as well have killed her myself." Bow stiffened angrily.
"Dammit Adora, I am getting a little sick and tired of you always blaming yourself for things beyond your control." Adora's eyes flashed angrily and she tried to pull away from him, but he was having none of it, his fingers gripped harder. "I want you to listen and listen good! You are the kindest most compassionate person I know. You take responsibility for the lives of those you have no right to take. Flutterina was a rebel. If she is dead, she died for what she believed in! For what she fought for and thought was right. Those children did not die because of Adora, they died because of a monster named Leech!"
"But I underestimated him, it was my fault he went for them-"
"Oh Adora, grow up! Your only human, you are not a god! Do you think in joining the Horde you honor their memory? Do you think you do what they would have wanted you to do by betraying your friends and leading your enemies to victory? How are you any different than Melog?!" He was yelling at her, his eyes spitting sienna sparks. She smiled. Her first real smile in weeks. Reaching up she cupped his face in her hand. She had only meant to connect with him as a friend, but when her skin touched his a current of awareness shot through her hand, up her arm and throughout her body. She could tell by the way he had stopped breathing and his eyes widened he felt it as well.
"Oh dear…" she uttered breathlessly, cheeks flushing at the unexpected bolt of desire.
He leaned forward, claiming her lips in a hungry kiss of repressed passion and energy. Time stopped for Adora, lost all meaning. The world seemed to melt away as her arms snaked around his neck and he pulled her tightly to him, rolling her to her back.
His lips were warm and soft against her own, his breath, ragged, his taste, tangy. Sparks of sensation shot through her entire body, radiating out from her stomach, her chest, racing up and down her limbs with fevered longing, where his skin touched hers she came alive with want, with desire. Tentatively she traced his upper lip with her tongue. He moaned softly, she giggled into his mouth, the wonder of the experience washing over her in waves of passion and pleasure and tingling. Her toes curled in mystified delight at the unfamiliar sensations. He pulled away from her to gaze into her eyes. He looked on her with such tenderness she wanted to weep at the pleasure.
To be cherished like this was bliss. Then he stood. Rising swiftly, Bow began gathering her stuff in a bundle; she frowned, the fog of desire clearing quickly as she watched him in confusion.
"Ummm, Bow, what are you doing?" She asked him curiously. He didn't look at her as he answered.
"I'm packing your gear so we can get out of here." She sat upright, the sheet fell from her chest, she gasped, he didn't notice, she sighed in relief and tugging the material back up she stood and placed her hand on top of his, he looked to her in confusion.
"Bow I'm not going anywhere." His mouth dropped in surprise. She continued. "Bow I have a job to do. I will unite Etheria. Already word of what I have done has spread. The rebellion is even now fanning out across the planet recruiting more freedom fighters to their cause. The time for action has come."
"Adora," Bow groaned, a frustrated growl escaping him, "Hordack is the bad guy, you are the good guy, if you want to free your people then you must fight with the good guys- that's me." He spoke to her in exaggerated patience, she frowned her eyes flashing.
"I won't debate the point with you Bow. My mind is made up. If I lead Horde forces I can ensure minimum casualties. I can also teach the people a much needed lesson."
"What's that," Bow sneered, angry at her obstinacy, "do it Adora's way or no way?" Her eyes flashed a warning at him.
"Don't be an ass! Etherians won't fight together for something they don't believe in. Right now they don't believe in their freedom because those who have it take it for granted and those who don't have lost all hope. If we are going to win this war against the horde we must be united as one people. Fighting for our collective freedom and not squabbling over petty differences. I intend to show those who take freedom for granted what life as a slave to the horde is like. Once they have lost their freedom, it will become precious to them then they can be roused to fight. Those who have lost all hope," here she smiled at Bow, "well, it is your job and that of the rebellion to rekindle it for them."
"Adora," Bow said quietly, seriously, "I love you. You mean more to me than any person in my life, I have never loved anyone this much since my parents-" he frowned thoughtfully before amending himself- "except Cowl; but I won't allow you to steal the freedom from my people, my planet, my world." Adora stood. Her voice deceptively soft.
"You won't allow?" Bow broke out in a sweat realizing his mistake.
"What I meant was-"
"You have no business allowing or disallowing me anything! I have told you my reasons for doing what I do. It is your choice to accept them and believe in me or not. But I will not be moved. My course is set; my destiny clear, and you- you overbearing lout, you can just allow yourself out of my room so I can allow myself into my clothes!" Her breasts were heaving in anger, her face flushed in fury.
"Adora-"
"Get out! If you can't believe in me- fine! But I know what I do is right! For the greater good! I believe in you Bow, I believe in the rebellion, but most of all, I believe in myself. I am doing more good here than I could do leading a half-hearted rebellion in a half-hearted attempt to reclaim their world from a whole-hearted tyrant." Bow's face flushed angrily at her calling the rebellion half-hearted when he had put his entire heart and soul into it for six years.
"I can see there is no reasoning with you right now, but I won't give up on you Adora!" Frustrated tears welled up in her eyes as she was at once moved and outraged at his remark. She stomped her foot angrily.
"Just go!" She snapped. Bow walked to the window of her quarters, preparing to climb down the rope when Adora grabbed his cape. He turned to her in surprise. She pressed her lips to his. Hard. There was nothing gentle in that kiss, it was hard and quick. She pulled back.
"Be careful, Bow." He grinned a cocksure smile, his lips tingling from her brief contact.
"I will." His smile faded. "Adora, if we meet in battle for the freedom of our people, I will fight you." Adora smiled sadly and nodded.
"I would expect no less my gentle warrior." He branded the vision of her into his mind so that he could always keep this moment in his heart. She was so pretty, hair tousled from sleep, lips swollen from his kisses. He sighed before disappearing out the window.
Adora watched him go. As he left she shook the stardust from her eyes and began to dress. As she did so she felt herself slipping into the background of her mind and Onyx taking over. She knew she had to endure this. The first ones understood and agreed, the children were watching her. She was not as alone as she had thought. Briefly her mind entertained a vision of Bow bare-chested. Warmth arced through her. She grinned. Not alone at all.
