BloodyKitsune: It's an OCD…I can't help it.
shadow0015: 'She raped you?' I love that line too. It seems like something evil Vicky would do. They are a strange couple. There relationship is pretty much summed up by something my best friend once said, "You see, no one likes her because she's a meanie. And no one likes him because he's a butt. So if they start dating, it'll be meanie-butt love!"
Chapter Seven
"SARONAX!" Viconia screamed as the fighter sank to his knees. The bandit grinned at her. "Whatcha gonna do without yer guard dog now, lass?"
"Eliminate you, male." she replied and shouted a spell. The bandit let out a strangled scream as an invisible force gripped his heart and crushed the organ.
Viconia knelt down next to Saronax. He was unconscious. The wound on his back was several inches deep and stretched from shoulder blade to shoulder blade. Viconia's sense of hearing—sharpened by the adrenaline coursing through her veins—picked up the sound of his heart, getting slower by the minute.
She cast spell after spell on him but his breathing remained ragged and his pulse, irregular. "Don't you dare die, you foolish bastard." She choked out. It was obvious that she was on the verge of tears. "If you join Valas, I swearby Shar I willnever forgive you."
The drow didn't know how long she sat there; she was too deep in concentration to notice the passage of time. Minutes or perhaps hours later, the sound of footsteps fell into Viconia's range of hearing. Yoshimo, Aerie, Jaheira, Jan, and Minsc came into view.
Aerie gasped when she saw Saronax. "Oh…oh no!"
"That appears to be a highly serious wound." Yoshimo commented.
Jaheira crouched down next to Viconia. "By the horns of Silvanas! What happened?"
"Bandits." Viconia replied, not looking up from the injury.
"Step aside, Viconia." Jaheira commanded.
"No." the drow snarled.
"I am aware of your feelings for him but if you don't stop now, you'll poor your life-force into your spells! Step aside!"
Viconia glared at Jaheira but moved.
Jaheira began casting spells on Saronax. "Aerie! Come here, girl, and help me!"
XXXXX
With some careful planning, the group had managed to bring Saronax back to the inn. Viconia had not left Saronax's side once since they arrived, determined to stay with him. Jaheira glanced over at the cleric. Her arms and legs were crossed in an unyielding manner and her jaw was set in a grim line. Her grey gaze flicked over Saronax, looking for signs of improvement as well as signs that his condition was worsening.
Jaheira recognized the expression. It had adorned her face many times when Khalid was still alive. The druid was surprised by the change in Viconia; it seemed so unusual for her to act like this. Love. That has to be it. Only that could give someone as selfish as Viconia maternal instincts and compassion for someone else.
Jaheira checked the time. It was three hours past midnight. "You should get some sleep, Viconia."
"Leave me alone, half-breed."
Jaheira gritted her teeth at the insult but caught herself before she said something she would regret. "You won't be of much use to him if you're exhausted."
"I am not leaving."
"You love him, don't you?"
Viconia blinked, clearly surprised by the directness of the question. "I...that is not your concern." she said harshly.
"Well then, get some sleep. I don't believe that Saronax would be pleased if he learned that you were exhausting yourself for his sake."
Viconia narrowed her eyesand left.
XXXXX
Saronax slowly opened his eyes. He started to sit up but stopped for a moment. His back was rather stiff so he sat up more cautiously the second time he tried.
Minsc was sitting on a stool across the room. The ranger grinned at Saronax. "Saronax! I knew you would be alright! Boo told me so."
Saronax smoothed several strands of hair away from his face. "How long have I been out?"
"Boo says that Saronax was out for two days."
Saronax's eyes bulged. "TWO DAYS?" He immediately sat up. "Let's go."
"But you just-"
"NOW!"
XXXXX
Saronax sat at the campfire, sharpening and talking to Zake at the same time. Zake was in the middle of speaking. "…So anyway, there is no Sir Nicolas."
"Really? I had no idea." Saronax replied sarcastically.
"It's a scam created by the toy industry to get kids to beg their parents for presents at Midwinter. The real Sir Nicolas is called Chris Cringle. He's the head of all the major toy corporations in the world. And the little helper elves? They're all workers in his elfling sweatshop."
"…Right."
Their conversation was abruptly cut off by Viconia stepping out of her tent and coming towards them.
"I think I know a certain twisted drow female who wants to do the horizontal mambo with a certain human-" Zake was silenced by Saronax sheathing him.
Viconia sat down and sighed. "I...I cast my white flag before you.I can struggle no more. You have...you have defeated me."
"Ohhh no, I'm not falling for this again. Just stay away from me, you crazy bitch." Saronax spat.
"I...I understand, Saronax.I shall simply apologize for my behavior, then, and leave you alone from now on."
"Wait...maybe I've spoken too quickly. Tell me what you mean by 'defeated'...I don't understand." Saronax said warily.
"Yes, defeated me.I do not know what it is about you, Saronax, but I opened up to you...I let you inside with honesty and candor. I am not used to such. Trust is death.I have been betrayed again and again, and yet I began to trust in you. I...I could not allow it to happen.I was confused, I tried to drive you away. Those...things...I said when we last spoke? Lies. I told you the truth of things the first time.You saw through my deception, and would not be driven away. I owe you...so much.You are safe harbor in a storm of terrifying power. I begin to feel that I need you...and this enthralls me and enrages me all at once... If you will have me, I shall not push you away again..." Viconia reached out and stroked his cheek. "Stay with me tonight, Saronax, let us be together in earnest. Let me savor the unfamiliar fear that goes with this trust."
Saronax pushed her hand away and growled, "I don't trust you, Viconia. Not after the last time. Why should I trust you now?"
"You would not let me repel you, no matter how I tried. I am defeated by your stubborn will and strange regard. My need is real, Saronax...stay with me tonight."
Saronax wrung his hands, unusually nervous. "I don't think the time is right for this."
"There is no right time for such as us: tomorrow could bring death. Allow my need, Saronax. Allow my honest submission. Refuse... and I shall bother you no more."
Saronax gave her a rueful smile. "And you say I'm stubborn." He pulled into his arms and gave her a passionate kiss.
Viconia broke away after several minutes. She startled Saronax by grabbing the front of his shirt and pulling him so that their faces were only centimeters apart. "Come to me, then, my mrann d'ssinss.You have defeated me...now taste your victory..." She pressed a forceful kiss to his mouth.
Saronax met her with equal aggression, crushing Viconia against his chest and continuing the kiss. Lust burned in the drow's eyes as she grabbed Saronax's arm and led him to her tent…
XXXXX
Saronax slept, the first deep sleep he'd had in a long time. When he woke, a pair of grey eyes stared back at him. Viconia smiled and laid her chin down on Saronax's chest. "A good morning to you.Or, at least, as close to morning as we come with these strange hours that we keep. I trust your exertions were...worthwhile?"
"Is this a lead up to another round of verbal abuse?" he asked suspiciously.
She chuckled. "No, Saronax, do not worry. Besides, I enjoyed myself immensely. For whatever you lack in experience you make up in enthusiasm…experience will come in time."
"Glad to hear it."
Viconia gave him a soft smile. "I…I am lucky, Saronax, to have found you on the surface. To think that I would need to come so far, to such an alien place, to find someone that I could…trust. You are not so terrible, Saronax…for a male."
"What did I do to deserve such grudging words from you?"
"Do not pout so, Saronax. I meant no barb by it. This unfamiliar for me, as a drow…although, with you, it does seem as bad as it once did."
"Viconia, I was only joking."
She glared at him. "When did you develop a sense of humor? Never mind that. If you keep teasing me however, I will make you suffer."
"Perfect." He replied and pulled her closer into the position for a kiss. When they finished, Viconia smiled and slipped her arms around Saronax's neck. "We can wait a few more hours to continue our travels, can we not?"
He grinned. "Of course." He leaned towards her.
"GET AWAY FROM ME YOU DAMN DIRTY NOT-SHINY APES!" A familiar voice screamed outside the tent.
Saronax sat up in surprise. This caused Viconia to accidentally roll off of Saronax and fall to the floor, dragging the bed sheets with her.
Saronax sighed. "Never mind." He stood up and started hunting around for his clothes.
Viconia frowned. "One of these days I am going to…'convince' you to throw that blade in a river."
"Vicky, you don't need to seduce me to get me to do that." Saronax responded, flashing her a wicked grin.
"I'll hold you to it then." She began fishing around for her clothes. Saronax handed her clothes to her. Viconia donned them and stood up.
Saronax began smirking as the drow headed towards the door. Viconia turned around, gave his backside a brief squeeze, and continued towards the door. Saronax gave her a look of mock-indignation and followed.
