Veronica went off for a swim. There were a few swimming holes she hadn't shared with the others, where she could strip off and swim in peace. She still resented having to be dressed all the time in her own home.
"Hey." Finn called from the rocks. "Whatever I did, I'm sorry." Finn apparently noticed Veronica's lack of clothing at the same moment Veronica caught sight of her. "Oh man, and sorry about this too, I wasn't creeping around to perv on you, I promise. I'm going for my run, sorry, bye."
"Finn," Veronica called, and Finn turned, covering her eyes as Veronica got out of the pool, slipping her clothes back on. "Finn, you didn't do anything wrong," Veronica said, reaching out to pull Finn's hands away from her eyes, noting Finn's blush with interest. "Okay, maybe tracking me down wasn't the best idea, but before that. I just don't... I wasn't able to concentrate on the target. Wanted to leave it on a good note. Wanted some time to myself."
Finn's hands held Veronica's, palm against palm.
"So this is where you come to bathe. I can see the appeal," Finn said lightly.
"I'm heading back to the treehouse, so you're welcome to use it now," Veronica said, trying to smile.
"I'm sorry. It's too much, isn't it? I am. I'm too much." Finn looked crestfallen. "I just... you're always... you know everything, and this was something you didn't know and I could impress you with, because you always impress me and I worry I don't have anything to offer..."
"Finn, calm down." Veronica ran her thumbs over Finn's wrists. "You're enough. You're impressive. I've seen you drop a raptor at 80 paces. You're a courageous woman, and the Amazons would adopt you in a heartbeat. But that's the thing. I've been an Amazon. And we're not... Close, like that, like we have been lately, with people we aren't partnered to."
"I'll be your partner," Finn said immediately.
"No, you don't... um. Not like... business partners or hunting partners." Veronica said, hoping she wouldn't need to spell it out any further. Finn looked confused.
"You mean like... Romantic? Romantic partners."
"Yeah. I know you don't mean anything by it, and I'm sorry but where I come from makes me assume that you're..."
Finn's hands didn't move out of Veronica's as she processed this new information. Her head tilted to the side and her eyes swept up and down Veronica's body for a moment, appraisingly.
"You think I'm seducing you?" Finn asked finally. Veronica blushed.
"I know, it's conceited and silly, but in Amazonia the... signals you're sending would be..."
"I see." Finn looked down at their hands. "And you're upset because you think I don't mean to seduce you?" Finn asked quietly. "Or are you upset because you think I'm trying to seduce you, and you want to turn me down gently?"
Veronica looked away. "I know you didn't mean anything by it," Veronica said again, a little confused by Finn's question.
"I didn't at the time," Finn admitted. "Well, not in the way you mean. I didn't know... but there was a reason I asked you to teach me to read. There was a reason I'd curl up to you in the couch. There was a reason your crossbow lesson was so... intense. And I think it's the reason you think it was. So if you're going to turn me down, please do it quickly." Veronica swallowed, eyes brimming with tears. Finn's eyes welled in sympathy, and she finally let go of Veronica's hands to cradle her cheeks, to brush away her tears. Veronica's breath caught, and she looked down at Finn's lips.
Considering Finn had been making all the moves, she waited this time, and slowly but surely Veronica leaned in to press her lips against Finn's in a sweet and gentle kiss. Finn heated it up immediately, pulling Veronica into her, tugging at her shirt until it came undone, running her fingers over the exposed skin, pulling Veronica tight against her, hands now wandering across the back of Veronica's skirt. And Veronica never backed down from a challenge, her hands tugging the thick belt out of Finn's shorts, pulling the cotton singlet away from Finn's skin to slide her hands beneath.
"Partners, huh?" Finn said finally, pressing another kiss against Veronica's cheek. "Do you think you can deal with us being partners?"
"I'm going to teach you how to write too, aren't I?" Veronica groaned laughingly against Finn's neck.
"Why?" Finn asked, bemused.
"There's paperwork for partnerships," Veronica said, smirking. "It's legally binding," she added, kissing Finn again
And that's it for this one! Please leave a review if you enjoyed it, or if you enjoyed the show, or if you enjoy Jennifer O'Dell's shoulders.