Thanks to everyone for the reviews – TeenSpirit: I know where you live (hey
gabba gabba baby!!!!). Okay enough of the cryptic messages. Spread the word
please. It's appreciated and all but only two people seem to read this,
which is a little depressing to say the least. Or if you haven't reviewed,
please do! Oh and if you haven't guessed already: I'm English and VERY
patriotic – Rule Britannia! No offence intended to any Americans of course,
I love you too; after all, you brought us Nirvana and WWE.
Joining Forces
Chapter 10 – Load Up On Guns And Bring Your Friends
When the plane was landing, Lady Croft was filled with an uncommon surge of patriotism. Perhaps it was the returning home, finally at peace. Even more likely though, it was because of the American next to her – she could show him that it wasn't all "God Save the Queen" and tea and cucumber sandwiches on the croquet lawn.
'Y'know, I always thought of England as like America, only duller and wetter.' Said Kurtis, to see Lara's reaction.
She raised an eyebrow. 'Some shops in my country have been in business longer than your whole country. When you have a history worth discussing, come back and insult my country.'
Twenty Minutes Later Kurtis stood back and watched Lara. As went to fetch her bag off the conveyer belt, she was flooded by a gang of at least twelve journalists, some with cameras. He could see the panic in her face as they sent round after round of questions at her. 'Why were you back in Prague?' and 'Is it true you and Werner had a child?' Kurtis found himself laughing out loud at that one – he could clearly remember everything she had told him at his bedside – not that he'd tell her that. Suddenly her saw her eyes fill with tears. The fierce, strong woman of half an hour ago had disintegrated in a second. She looked so afraid and vulnerable. To his surprise, he hurt for her, and couldn't watch this happening.
'Hey – p--- off! Leave the lady alone.' He saw a grateful look sparkle in her eyes. Kurtis marched over and wrapped an arm around her – an arm he knew that if found in that position in normal circumstances would be ripped off. It was an even grater surprise when she turned and buried her head in his shoulder, he hugged her tight. The camera wielding journos almost exploded with delight.
'Take me home Kurtis, just please take me home.' She whispered. He picked up her bag and pushed his way past the press, and outside, to a waiting car.
Kurtis lay back on the huge king sized bed, the comfiest he had ever felt. As he gazed around the beautiful and massive room, he realized how much things had changed recently. He could never have thought that his distant father's death could ever bring him here, to Croft Manor, one room down from the infamous Tomb Raider's bedroom.
He hoped it wasn't too obvious that he was attracted to her. He had heard of her before he met her, everyone had. She was rarely out of the news for good reason or bad. Before Paris it was because of her "death". She was quite a celebrity. Loads of his mates fancied her and had pictures of her on their walls, for obvious reasons. One had even met her and had said that her aurora was that of approachability and yet power. He now knew exactly what he meant, and was glad he had earned her trust.
A knock at the door snapped him back to the real world.
'Come in.'
Lara's butler, Hilary, entered carrying a bottle of whiskey and two glasses.
'After what Lara has told me, I needed a drink. By the sounds of it you could do with one too.' Hilary grinned sheepishly. Kurtis swung his legs to the ground and gestured for the butler to sit down as well.
Half a bottle later the pair were laughing their heads off and acting like old friends. Suddenly several gunshots sounded, ringing through the halls and making the two men drop their glasses.
'Christ! What the hell was that?' Kurtis asked, heart racing.
'Oh that'll be S.I.M.O.N, Lara's favorite toy. I told her not to play with him in the house.' Hilary got up and looked mildly amused by Kurtis' bewildered face.
'Am I right in thinking that he is not a teddy-bear?'
Hilary crossed the room and opened the door, gesturing for Kurtis to look. His jaw dropped when he leaned over the banister and saw Lara running across the hall below, clad in trademark shorts, t-shirt, boots and holsters, closely followed by a massive metal monster. He watched in awe and terror as she swan dived over a coffee table to retrieve one of her Colts, which he presumed the creature had knocked away. She fired at it with both hands simultaneously, as it flew over her ducked head. He stared as S.I.M.O.N crashed inelegantly into the floor, having misjudged the distance. In that split second she was on top of him, yanking away metal plates and snapping wires. The druid crumpled and Lara jumped off, catching sight of the men and waving.
'How's the view?' She called.
'Awesome.' Kurtis gulped back.
Lara flicked several switches on the druid's front and the sound of 16Volt's "Suffering You" shook the walls around them. Lara jogged up the stairs and pulled a face as she smelt the alcohol on Hily and Kurt's breath.
'You boys can stay and get hammered but I'm going to get in the shower before Bryce sees what I've done to S.I.M.O.N.' she beamed, herself again. 'Dinner is at eight.'
Joining Forces
Chapter 10 – Load Up On Guns And Bring Your Friends
When the plane was landing, Lady Croft was filled with an uncommon surge of patriotism. Perhaps it was the returning home, finally at peace. Even more likely though, it was because of the American next to her – she could show him that it wasn't all "God Save the Queen" and tea and cucumber sandwiches on the croquet lawn.
'Y'know, I always thought of England as like America, only duller and wetter.' Said Kurtis, to see Lara's reaction.
She raised an eyebrow. 'Some shops in my country have been in business longer than your whole country. When you have a history worth discussing, come back and insult my country.'
Twenty Minutes Later Kurtis stood back and watched Lara. As went to fetch her bag off the conveyer belt, she was flooded by a gang of at least twelve journalists, some with cameras. He could see the panic in her face as they sent round after round of questions at her. 'Why were you back in Prague?' and 'Is it true you and Werner had a child?' Kurtis found himself laughing out loud at that one – he could clearly remember everything she had told him at his bedside – not that he'd tell her that. Suddenly her saw her eyes fill with tears. The fierce, strong woman of half an hour ago had disintegrated in a second. She looked so afraid and vulnerable. To his surprise, he hurt for her, and couldn't watch this happening.
'Hey – p--- off! Leave the lady alone.' He saw a grateful look sparkle in her eyes. Kurtis marched over and wrapped an arm around her – an arm he knew that if found in that position in normal circumstances would be ripped off. It was an even grater surprise when she turned and buried her head in his shoulder, he hugged her tight. The camera wielding journos almost exploded with delight.
'Take me home Kurtis, just please take me home.' She whispered. He picked up her bag and pushed his way past the press, and outside, to a waiting car.
Kurtis lay back on the huge king sized bed, the comfiest he had ever felt. As he gazed around the beautiful and massive room, he realized how much things had changed recently. He could never have thought that his distant father's death could ever bring him here, to Croft Manor, one room down from the infamous Tomb Raider's bedroom.
He hoped it wasn't too obvious that he was attracted to her. He had heard of her before he met her, everyone had. She was rarely out of the news for good reason or bad. Before Paris it was because of her "death". She was quite a celebrity. Loads of his mates fancied her and had pictures of her on their walls, for obvious reasons. One had even met her and had said that her aurora was that of approachability and yet power. He now knew exactly what he meant, and was glad he had earned her trust.
A knock at the door snapped him back to the real world.
'Come in.'
Lara's butler, Hilary, entered carrying a bottle of whiskey and two glasses.
'After what Lara has told me, I needed a drink. By the sounds of it you could do with one too.' Hilary grinned sheepishly. Kurtis swung his legs to the ground and gestured for the butler to sit down as well.
Half a bottle later the pair were laughing their heads off and acting like old friends. Suddenly several gunshots sounded, ringing through the halls and making the two men drop their glasses.
'Christ! What the hell was that?' Kurtis asked, heart racing.
'Oh that'll be S.I.M.O.N, Lara's favorite toy. I told her not to play with him in the house.' Hilary got up and looked mildly amused by Kurtis' bewildered face.
'Am I right in thinking that he is not a teddy-bear?'
Hilary crossed the room and opened the door, gesturing for Kurtis to look. His jaw dropped when he leaned over the banister and saw Lara running across the hall below, clad in trademark shorts, t-shirt, boots and holsters, closely followed by a massive metal monster. He watched in awe and terror as she swan dived over a coffee table to retrieve one of her Colts, which he presumed the creature had knocked away. She fired at it with both hands simultaneously, as it flew over her ducked head. He stared as S.I.M.O.N crashed inelegantly into the floor, having misjudged the distance. In that split second she was on top of him, yanking away metal plates and snapping wires. The druid crumpled and Lara jumped off, catching sight of the men and waving.
'How's the view?' She called.
'Awesome.' Kurtis gulped back.
Lara flicked several switches on the druid's front and the sound of 16Volt's "Suffering You" shook the walls around them. Lara jogged up the stairs and pulled a face as she smelt the alcohol on Hily and Kurt's breath.
'You boys can stay and get hammered but I'm going to get in the shower before Bryce sees what I've done to S.I.M.O.N.' she beamed, herself again. 'Dinner is at eight.'