((Loosely inspired by the waterfall scene in The Lion King. :D Bonus points to whoever finds the Lion King reference! Hint: It's from the same scene. ;) ))
Sometimes, it's hard to find words to tell you how much you mean to me. A lot of times, I don't say anything at all. But I hope someday, you'll understand, having you is what I live for.
"Are you just going to leave me in here by myself?" The tint of alluring innocence was almost enough to tempt him. It had nearly worked and he suspected she knew it. He sat on the bank still fully clothed with Lucilla's dress in a bundle in his lap, just opting to watch the younger female who watched him in turn.
"I'm more than happy to just watch, little dove." He responded with a smile tugging on the corner of his lip, something that didn't escape her notice. If he joined her, he wouldn't have the same vantage point from which to survey her slowed movements in the water, the stray droplets decorating her ivory skin and how her hair floated listlessly behind her.
"For the first time in your life." She countered him teasingly which provoked a huff of laughter from the redheaded male; only she could elicit such responses. The shallow lagoon had been very slightly pricking to the body temperature at first but since she immersed herself, it was perfect.
"The view from here is far too pleasing to give up." The top of her head was still mostly dry and the water seemed to ebb halfway up her chest though there were scatters of moisture up her neck and shoulders from when she meandered close to the waterfall.
"But surely feeling would be better?" Teasing wasn't working so she decided to try inviting. With it he felt the familiar squirm only Lucilla gave him and he felt himself closer to giving in but still managed to hold his nerve.
"How often do I get to enjoy seeing you in such a way? And I'm not talking about the obvious, physical appeal." There was a hint in the admission. "But I rarely see you so happy, little dove. So alive. I want to retain it for as long as I can to picture when you're not with me."
Lucilla broke the rigorously consistent eye contact with a casual shrug, seemingly giving up on trying to entice him into the water. Turning away, she took a few sauntering steps through the water. Some parts were slippery, others not so much but she took great care. However, when Lucilla stumbled, Hux was on his feet.
"Lucilla?!"
"Something bit me!" Looking through the water for the culprit, her General had never undressed so fast nor did he take the time or care to fold his uniform. It lay abandoned on the bank as he thrashed through the otherwise peaceful water and straight to his companion.
He gathered her guardingly to his chest where her arms encircled his neck almost automatically. He could see no blood nor could he see any strange fish-like creatures or any offending object that might have hurt her.
"What bit you?"
"Nothing. I just wanted to get you in here." He knew Lucilla was clever but he didn't think she was deviant. If this could be called deviance. Rolling his eyes in his obvious defeat, the significantly taller male leaned down and nudged his companion's forehead with his nose through the new soft ripples and heaves of laughter.
She knew what that meant and she was more than happy to comply. With a few sweet strokes of amusement herself, Lucilla lifted her head to allow her lips to be claimed and of course, the action was returned with everything that had been given in it.
"I should appoint you to my strategy division." It was his turn to tease when they parted ever so briefly. He brushed a hand through the raven locks with the utmost respect and affection before his lips pressed to hers again.
Don't let anyone tell you kissing under a waterfall is romantic. The couple tried it; the pressure of the cascade was too much. They both ended up spluttering and dashing away from it as quickly as their wading pace would allow them; as you can imagine, it was extremely undignified and Lucilla's hair weighed her down.
Paradise. Such a word can have many definitions depending on the user's interpretation. A year previous, General Orion Hux did not have a definition for paradise. He disregarded the mere concept as a waste of time and an escape for the weak minded. To be anything other than regimented and callous was to be a burden, an idea he truly believed.
Lucilla was neither of those things. A year later, that entire way of thinking had been overhauled. When those foreign feelings for another person had started to creep in, he had been confused. When she expressed worry and care for his wellbeing, he had lashed out. When she was weak and defenceless as a result, he had tried and, by some miracle, been successful. However, he knew that it was not everyone would have been so forgiving with such behaviour.
As he held her in the acclimatized warmth of the natural pool, both arms wrapped around her and his cheek resting against the top of her head; the nakedness of both didn't seem to matter like it would have before. This was far purer. That, Hux decided, was his definition of paradise. Eyes closed and breathing deep, he could never recall being so vulnerable.
This vulnerability would not leave Naboo. As much as he adored Lucilla and had no qualms sharing this with her, he could not afford to be seen this way. Not by his officers, not by his staff and certainly not by any of those who opposed the Order. That was probably an unconscious motive for coming here; to be with Lucilla as he should be without the confines of their quarters.
"It's getting dark." He hummed in her ear; the observation was obvious from the little fireflies starting to gather around the lagoon in the sweet caress of twilight. Her fascination resumed when one of the insects got close; they didn't seem to fear the humans. "We should get dried and rest. The com this morning was trying for both of us."
"Ready when you are." Lucilla was happy to do as her General did. She reckoned if she stayed in the water any longer, she would start to get pruney which would hardly be comfortable. She brushed a pale hand through his fiery strands though her eyes were closed in pure relaxation. The water was starting to cool around them.
The evening times on Naboo, especially around their waterfall were breath-taking. With no unnatural light, the billions of stars overhead and the two moons gave them all the light they needed. Not to mention the little fireflies they had become accustomed to and fond of. The air was warm and the grass beside the gentle splashes of the waterfall was as close to velvet as nature could produce.
Showered and dried, Hux had never had to wait for Lucilla to dry her hair (that was usually done while he was on the bridge) but when she finally joined him outside on the grass and collapsed into his open arms, it was more than worth it. The scent of berries was at its strongest with the fresh shampooing and they seemed to just melt into each other.
There had been no disturbances, human or animal. However, when the little pool started to glow, Lucilla sat up in curiosity and peered into it. To her captivated surprise, several small little fish had appeared, seemingly from the cracks in the bank. Fascinated, she watched and jumped with exclamation when the fish jumped, snatching the fireflies from just above the water's surface.
"Will the bed be big enough for the two of us?" She asked as she sat back into her master's arms, her cheek resting just below his collarbone as she continued to watch the fish leap into the air; sometimes grabbing a meal, sometimes not. "It seems quite small."
"I quite like the smaller bed." Hux confessed with his companion cuddled close to his chest. "Though I fear injury during the night when you kick about like you usually do." They honeyed giggle from the smaller female infected him with a chuckle of his own; the smaller bed would ensure closeness though they usually woke entangled anyway.
Hiux
"I don't kick about!" Lucilla protested, jokingly offended and scrunching up her face at the random kiss he pushed to it. "I'll have you know I'm an incredibly still sleeper! At least I don't snore!"
"You do kick about and I do not snore." Came the contented mumble as he tucked her tighter to his chest. He was calmer than her and matter of fact but no less playful than she was. "I would know if I snore, little dove."
"Sometimes you do. And you wouldn't know because it's impossible to wake you."
"Is that so? Such as when? I am a light sleeper; I wager it is not possible for me to sleep through a waking attempt!"
"After Whyren's. And yes, it is so! I cannot wake you after whiskey!" The light-heartedness of the conversation and its content was somewhat uncharacteristic for the General. His sleeping patterns and habits were a tiny detail that he would never have discussed with anyone, barely his medical staff. And yet, he joked about it with Lucilla.
"How observant of you!" He chortled and rolled over, sandwiching her between him and the springing grass to a delighted squeal from beneath. He didn't do anything. Just gazed at her. In all the beautiful wonderment they had taken in during the day and now, she was his favourite.
"Are you just going to stare at me?" She asked with her eyebrow kinked as though trying to provoke him into action and her smile immovable. This place truly had brought out the best in them; him especially. "Or are you going to do something?"
"Possibly." He answered quietly with the proximity of her face to his. He didn't have to go very far for his lips to find hers. Slow and almost agonizing, it was reciprocated like any lover would. "Although I would be perfectly justified if I did decide to simply stare at you."
"Oh?" The eyebrow remained kinked while she waited for a satisfactory answer. He didn't really have one. He would have been content to just stare at her. There were several other options he could explore. He could continue to just lie there with her, he could kiss her or he could make love to her to name but a few. "And why might that be?"
"Because I am surrounded by natural beauty." Hux answered after a moment's deliberation, still holding his little dove to the ground with his forehead now pressed against hers. "But by far, the most beautiful thing here is beneath me. Why would I not stare?"
Lucilla's hand cupped the face hovering only a few centimetres from her's with the utmost affection and devotion. His cheek was stroked amicably with her thumb and the concept of paradise reoccurred to him. He didn't need to be here to have it. He just needed her. The beautiful setting, the tranquillity, the forgotten responsibilities; it all meant nothing. It was all about her.
"Are you going to prove to me that the bed is big enough for the two of us?" Lucilla asked, captivating as usual. "Because if it isn't, you're sleeping in the pilot's console." He took it as a challenge. His dark haired darling's glee from a few moments earlier resumed when he swept her up into his arms; one arm supporting her neck and the other under her knees.
Three times. It took three times before Lucilla couldn't take anymore. Panting, exhausted and spent; the worn out female crumbled for the umpteenth time onto her lover's chest where immediately she was grabbed and held. He always behaved as if someone was about to kick in the door and steal her from him. She seemed to even be too weak to return the kiss he gave her.
With the bed well and truly soiled (and only on their first night), it appeared that night was a success. Not that he had brought her there for that. She had declared once or twice before that she was too tired or that she didn't feel well and he had respected it; he would have done the same on Naboo. He didn't have time to ask if the bed was big enough; she was already fast.
Hux stretched out (or at least as much as his confines would allow him) and felt around. The bed was empty. Sitting up as had become a habit on Crucival, he waited. As he did, he could hear her. Curiosity got the better of the General and he left the bed and padded to the source of the faint noise; it was coming from the refresher.
"Lucilla? Lucilla, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Go back to bed." Not bloody likely. Her answer was choked and breathy with several coughs thrown in. She wasn't fine.
"Lucilla, open the door."
"No."
"Lucilla, open the door." His patience was beginning to wane.
"I said I'm fine!"
"Lucilla, open the door or I'll override the panel." That worked. Supported against the sink by both arms, she was paler than usual with the tell-tale trails of melancholy on her cheeks. She didn't look up when the door opened and yet, he couldn't tear his eyes from her.
"Darling, what's wrong?"
"Nothing. I said I'm fine."
"Lucilla." He was firmer now with his arms folded over his chest and his gaze unwavering. "You know we don't lie to each other. What is it?" He wasn't sure if he was prepared for the answer. Of all the things it could have been, he didn't expect it but probably should have.
"I keep thinking about what he said." Lucilla broke down into fresh tears when she finally voiced it. Attempting to keep her voice steady was futile but she tried anyway as she recalled the conversation of the morning previous on the com.
"Little dove, you know I wouldn't let him harm you. Not in a million years, not for-"
"I'm not talking about that." Truly, the threat against her wasn't the reason for her current state. Well, not the immediate threat of his father. "He's right! I can't give you what you need! I will never be able to! And I dread the day when you realize it and you won't want me anymore!"
Slightly dumbfounded, Hux elbowed his way into the restricted space and Lucilla's silk clad form was gripped tight to him. If he knew these kinds of doubts were bubbling, he would have taken extra precautions to assure her. One large hand rubbed her back while the other held her waist and a kiss was pressed to the side of her head. He tried to ignore the quakes of her chest against his but it wasn't so easy.
"Little dove, listen to me. Listen to what I'm about to say." Her wracking sobs died away to mere whimpers so he assumed he had her attention. His hold was maintained and his voice was low, right by her ear. "You. Are. My. Everything. You are everything to me. Not Finalizer. Not Starkiller. Not the First Order and certainly not my father. Without you, Lucilla, there is nothing."
"What you can't give me doesn't matter; you give me more than enough, I thought you knew that? You haven't failed me in any way." Her eyes still leaked onto the bare flesh of his chest, but he pressed on. "Little dove, a line is not the be- all and end-all of everything. It's not your fault you don't have a womb, no one would ever suggest such a thing. It's just not to be, my empress."
"But…. Don't you want children?" His answer was a terrible silence and she lifted her head from his chest to greet it. She knew. They both knew. Of course he wanted children. Romantic notions aside, he still had the bred-in desire to pass on his name and his accomplishments. But if he could only have one or the other…. Lucilla won every time.
"Before, yes. They probably would have come from a loveless marriage as mere insurance policies; bearers of a name and a legacy. But now…. Now that is not important. I am capable of making and carrying my own legacy; it doesn't need to be passed on and inhabited." That may have only been a partial truth.
"You still do, I can hear it in you. What happened to not lying to each other?" Lucilla shook her head and tried to pull away but his grip was relentless. When she realized he wasn't about to release her, she sank back into him. "I do. I want them too. More than anything. I want yours."
"This is what is going to happen." Hux was decisive. "The moment we return to Finalizer, every ounce of energy I have and every resource at my disposal will be dedicated to finding our solution. And it will be our solution. I promise you this, little dove. I promise you will have everything you want."
((As promised! The first chapter of little Lucilla's story.
s/11942027/1/Whores-and-Virgins-Pre-Pristine-Condition ))