Fair warning but this one is a little spicy.

Over a day had passed since I left that stairwell. Nothing says happy name day like crying oneself to sleep over an idiot man. I awoke the next day with puffy eyes so I made no attempt to leave my chambers the entire day. Not only did I not leave, but I received no visitors. An apology was the least I was owed. It did not come. Leaving the city was on my list of things to consider. If he wanted me he could find me. The terrible thing I realized is I was not sure where I would even go. There was always Garlemald with the twins, but they would sense my hurt. Sharlyan was also another option, but I cared little for the city. G'raha was likely too busy for me. Ishgard was not an option for obvious reasons. All of the possibilities left me to wonder if it would be best to seek Thancred and Urianger out.

Another night passed with silence. By morning I was past hurt and careening towards white, hot anger. Outside of town held several training dummies. I dressed in a pair of leggings and a sleeveless top before making my way to burn off some emotion. The dummies were free of anyone else training. This relieved me greatly as I knew that tears were a possibility. I spun my lance above my head before attacking the first dummy. One attack quickly turned into an all out assault as I stabbed my frustrations out. Tears ran down my face the more work I put in. I thought of the loss of Haurchefant, being stalked by Zenos, the Scions disbanding, the spark of hope that I could feel something again. I attacked until my arms could hold my weapon no more before collapsing to the ground.

"Who angered you so?" a voice asked from behind me. Estinien was standing with his arms crossed over his chest.

"Go away," I huffed out. My hope was that the sweat was enough to hide the tears.

"Isolde," he said. His tone was almost that of a begging man.

Without turning to face him due to being afraid he would see my tears I rasped out, "As soon as I make a plan I will be leaving this place. And you." I tried to leave, but he grabbed my arm to stop me. I swung around, planted both hands in his chest, and shoved him as hard as I could. The push did not have the desired effect as he barely budged. "No! I have grown so weary of being hurt."

"That was not my intention. It just all happened so quickly," he explained.

"Quickly? You have known me for years!" My resolve was softening.

"Your tears merely days ago were for another man. Excuse me if I felt as if it was too sudden for you."

"Tears are a normal part of grief. I've just now been able to grieve the loss as there has been no free time since he passed."

His mouth was downturned into a deep frown. His sharp features looked exhausted. A hand ran through his already disheveled hair. "I know not what to say."

"For once we are of like mind." I gathered my lance. "I am tired. Enjoy your training, Ser Estinien."

A hot bath was what I needed to relax my tense muscles. A pact with myself was made then and there. I was going to stop crying and try to remember who I was before the sadness set in. My fingers found their way to my temples just as there was a knock at my door. I was tempted to sink under the water but I quickly remembered what happened the last time. Another urgent knock rang out through the room.

"Unless this is an emergency I am busy," I called toward the door.

"There are blasphemies headed towards the city. I could use your assistance," Estinien responded from the other side of the door. Since when did he respect boundaries?

"I need a few moments. I'll meet you at the gate shortly." I heard him groan in annoyance as I hauled myself out of the tub. Within minutes I was dry, in my armor, with my lance strapped to my back.

Estinien was waiting at the gate, lance drawn, with a few guards. That was my cue to draw my own weapon. We charged forward hoping to head off the creatures. There were no little spriggan like monsters this time. They were all big, ugly, and had gnashing teeth. I went for the one with multiple heads which meant multiple mouths for extreme damage first. Diving through the top of the first head stunned it long enough that I was able to skillfully disembowel the creature. It exploded into a puff of black smoke. Before I could catch a breath another swung at me so fast I had to backflip out of the way. This out enough distance between us that I could get in a series of stabs quickly. As quickly as it swung at me it exploded into smoke.

While turning to survey the situation I was hit by what felt like an entire airship. As I rolled an entire storm of dirt kicked up around me getting in my eyes, mouth, and saturating my skin. After I finally stilled I realized there was silence and a crushing weight on my chest. Was I dead? Was this how it ended? Whatever the crushing weight was groaned loudly.

"What just happened?" I coughed.

"That thing threw me, got one last hit in while I delivered the killing blow. Unfortunately for you it threw me directly in your path," Estinien croaked. That was the moment I registered I was pinned to the ground under his heavy body. Our eyes caught causing us both to freeze at our close proximity.

"Could you get off me? You are close to ending my life with your fat arse." I futilely shoved at his large form.

"Fat? Woman! I am no such thing!" He hopped up indignantly.

"Tell that to my ribs and backside," I whined. "I think my arse is broken."

He growled, "Stop being a baby!"

"Stop eating so much and drinking so much whiskey!" I hollered. "Or learn to land better!"

"I already told you…" I held up a hand to silence him. Shaking my ahead slowly I wandered back to the city with an exaggerated limp. Was I actually hurt? Not really. The worst of it was I would be sore, but I enjoyed annoying him.

To my shock, the dress I was admiring in marketplace was laying on my bed when I returned to my room with a note that read, "Enjoy your life. Forget what others think." A big smile spread across my face. That old woman was right. It was a scar. Part of my story. It was unfair to let a (hopefully) dead man hold so much power over me. The ugly scar wasn't my real problem but rather the reminder of how much trauma Zenos' constant stalking and torment had caused me. Months had passed since our battle that finally ended his life. If I had learned anything over the years death did not seem to hold permanence for him. No matter where I went I constantly looked over my shoulder for him. Sure, I could save the world but I was still a woman. No woman could live through that kind of obsession without some level of fear.

"Enjoy your life" played through my head again. Yes, I would do just that. I quickly washed all of the dirt from the battle off. My hair was pulled up off my neck save a few tendrils hanging around my face. I pulled the dress on and nearly took it right back off. The front was a v cut while the back straps were thin and criss crossed while the rest of the back was open save for the thin straps. The skirt ended just above the ankles. It was made of a beautiful dark shimmery red fabric that look pink in the right light with gold adornments. A fine seamstress should be proud of this work. A low whistle left me as I turned in the big mirror in my room. I scarcely recognized the woman looking back at me. Never had I worn anything so beautiful.

Meyrhyde's Meyhane was unusually busy on this evening. The bustle of the crowd made me regret my bold attire choice. Luckily for me this was a normal outfit for most Thavnarian women on a summer night so I did not stand out much. After ordering my drink I found a small empty table. Determination was the only thing that kept me from turning back towards my room to change. The Au Ra man from the dance troupe the night before smiled at me brightly from the bar. His drink was handed to him before he made his way to my table.

"May I?" he asked politely.

"Certainly," I responded hoping to sound polite as well.

"I am Ajir. Your dancing last night was wonderful! None here knew that Eorzea also had such talented troupes," he warmly said.

The breath I had been holding finally exhaled. "I'm Isolde. Thank you! I only trained for a short time. My chosen trade is usually dragoon."

"Ah like the big, scary Elezen man who is working for the sartrap?" he asked.

"Yes! He actually helped with some of my training," I giggled. "He just pretends to be scary."

Ajir's gaze turned from curious to uncomfortable. "I am not sure you are right about that. He is at the bar looking very scary right now." Sure enough there the subject of conversation stood burning into me with his gaze. I raised my fingers into a dainty wave while rolling my eyes at him.

"Pay him no mind. He always looks at me like that." I sneered when explaining this.

"So you are not his?" His gaze upon me hopeful. I wasn't interested but it still felt nice to know I was desirable even with the old wounds.

"What? Definitely not." Even if there were visible marks on my neck from our brief entanglement a few nights before. It was infuriating that I could still feel the burn of the fire he had lit across my skin.

"That's not the impression I got in that stairwell," a voice growled from behind me. "Where are your clothes?"

"Go away," I snapped.

Sensing the impending argument Ajir muttered, "Perhaps it would be better if I left you two alone…"

At the same time I told him to stay Estinien barked for him to leave. Clearly he was going to listen to the party with murder in his eyes. He gathered his drink while mumbling something about "crazy Eorzeans" under his breath. If I had my weapon he would really see true crazy. Red blurred my vision.

"This is a dress. No different than what any other woman here is wearing," I spat.

"Did you wear that to antagonize me?" he asked in a low, warning tone.

I shrugged my shoulders. "That was not my intention but I suppose it is a bonus if that is what is happening."

"Go change or I will remove my shirt to cover you," he warned.

"I ignore idle threats." I folded my arms over my chest. This accentuated my cleavage. He quickly undid the buttons of his white shirt, pulled it off, and wrapped it around me. "You are insane!"

He stood before me bare chested covered in more scars than me. There was no denying his beauty especially not with more than one woman in the place staring openly. Now I was growing jealous. Before I could open my mouth to speak another biting remark he hauled me over his shoulder and marched out of the place.

"What in the seven hells do you think you are doing?" I yelled while trying to squirm out of his grasp. He swiftly struck me across my backside. My jaw dropped. "Did you just hit me?"

"I will do it again if you keep acting like a wild beast," he told me gruffly.

"What if I want you to do it again?" I asked boldly. This earned me another strike a bit harder this time. I yelped in response.

The hallway where both of our chambers lie ahead. Instead of stopping at my door he continued down the hall and veered left. He kicked his door open, entered, and kicked it shut faster than I could process where we were. His room was nearly identical to mine save for the large table and chairs in the room. I was sat on that very table more gently than I expected. Fear kept me from looking up at him. Rejection was not something I was prepared for again. He removed the shirt from me and looked me over.

"Where did you get that?" His eyes raked over me.

"From a woman in the markets," I squeaked.

"Hmm," the noise came from him in a throaty, thoughtful manner. His hand traveled from the thin strap to touch the fabric above my breast. "It is quite nice." His hand slid lower to the fabric over my breast. My nipples were already hardened in excitement. His thumb lightly grazed over one. I quietly moaned earning the smallest smile from him. At the sound of my pleasure he moved his hand away.

"What is happening?" I whispered. My entire body was on fire. "I can take no more confusion."

Instead of answering he pushed me back onto the table. One hand pinned my hands above my head while the other slid my skirt up my legs agonizingly slow. Rough fingers grazed my exposed thighs before gently brushing my sex through my bottom smalls. My back arched causing me to scoot to try to get more contact. He pinned me in place with his gaze. Faster than I could process my undergarment was ripped from my body. I closed my eyes in anticipation.

"Open your eyes. Do not take them off me," he commanded. My eyes shot open and locked on his. "Very good."

A loud gasp escaped me as he entered two fingers inside me. His palm rubbed against my most sensitive of places as he began to slowly move in and out. My eyes threatened to close from the bliss. No one had ever made me feel like I could burn into a pile of ashes at any moment while simultaneously thanking them for it. I toed the edge of falling off the cliff into oblivion. My little moans and mewls had to tell him that. His pace increased and I came apart loudly. If anyone was near the room they surely heard it.

"That was music to my ears," he growled. I was hauled off the table and onto my feet. He gently slid the straps of my dress letting it drop into a puddle on the floor. Delicately he ran his finger over the scar that wrapped around me. Shame filled me as he touched it. As I began to pull away he picked me up. His lips captured mine savagely. "There will be nothing gentle with what happens next."

"I did not hear anyone ask for anything gentle," I taunted. He swatted my bare backside earning a noise akin to a yelp and a moan all at once.

Suddenly I was tossed to the bed like a rag doll. I scooted back and watched him finish undressing with hungry eyes. He was beautiful. And for the moment mine. The bed shifted with his weight as he crawled toward me. He slid his hand across the back of my head and gripped my hair to tilt my head and expose my neck. The soft skin was assaulted with a series of kisses and bites. This carried down to my collar bone and then to my breasts. His hand slid out of my hair to free it to fall over my shoulders.

"Please," I begged. I know not what I was begging for. Anything. Everything.

"Say it," he groaned.

"Say what?" I asked.

"My name," he instructed. His fingers found their way between my legs causing me to moan out his name. "I will be hearing that over and over tonight."

He flipped me onto my stomach and dragged me to sit on all fours. His fingers dug into my hips as I felt his member drag along my slit. I tried to back into him, but I was secured in place. He let out a low laugh at my impatience. In one swift motion he was buried inside of me all the way to the hilt. A surprised scream left my lips. It hurt and felt good all at once. I only knew tenderness when laying with another. He stilled allowing me to accommodate his length. A low hiss left his lips. The fire on my skin was a raging inferno. I let out a low moan as he began moving in and out of me. His grip tightened on me. The feeling of my skin bruising caused me to lose control again.

Abruptly he stopped and withdrew from me. I cried out in surprise. My body already missed him. It didn't have to wait long as he rolled me over and climbed on top of me. This time he entered me much more slowly. One of his hands pinned mine above my head as he leaned in to kiss me roughly. He bit at my lips in between deep kisses. When he pulled away to look at me his eyes held a tenderness I had never seen in them. My hands were released and he cupped my cheek gently. He ran the pad of his thumb across my lips and I nipped at it. This earned a gravelly laugh. Gone was the savage man acting as if he was starving for my body replaced with a softer version. His movements were slow and calculated. A hand was hooked around my leg to hike it up for better access to the most pleasurable angle I had ever thought possible. The sounds leaving my mouth encouraged him to pick up the pace. My small hands raked scratches down his back as I lost myself again. There was no way I sounded any less than a wounded animal. With one final thrust he released with a roar likened to that of a dragon before collapsing next to me.

"I should make you jealous more often," I giggled.

"If you ever wear that dress in public again I cannot promise I will be able to stop myself from bending you over a table and having my way with you no matter who is there," he groaned.

Slowly I climbed over to lay on top of him. I lay on my arms to prop my chin up to gaze upon him. His eyes were shut peacefully, his lips red and swollen from our kisses.

"It is rude to stare," he said.

One of my hands found its way to his face to brush tendrils of hair away. "Then stop being so easy to stare at." His arms came around me to crush me against him. "So… now where does this leave us?"

Without opening his eyes he mumbled, "You are mine. Now go to sleep because you will need rest for when I take you again."

"Pig," I yawned as my eyes slid shut. A laugh rumbled in his chest as I drifted to sleep.