A/N: Prepare yourselves for a teensy dash of angst here... this is our last chapter before we wrap up Flashover, aka Part 1, so y'all know I had to make this one hurt a lil.

On a happier note, HAPPY NANOWRIMO! I hope anyone participating is having a fun go of it. 1 week in and I am Struggling, but it's okay because I'm finally writing in Part 3 and I do so love when they suffer :))

Chapter 23 Content Warnings: playful sparring, sexual content (blowjob)

Chapter 23: religion's in your lips

Caspian

When Addie suggests he show her how to hold her own in a fight, Caspian's first reaction is he should have thought of that weeks ago. His second is that she never should have needed to worry about this.

They agreed they'll leave together, but it seems tenuous - fragile, like his quill before his patience for note taking snaps.

Allowing her to stay and wait with him borders on foolish. Caspian knows he should send Addie to safety no matter her refusal, no matter their agreement, no matter their promise.

He can't.

He can't send her away where he can't protect her. So Caspian agrees and spends the better part of his evenings teaching Addie how to move, how to watch for an attack, how to jump out of range, how to use the environment to her advantage. It's good progress when Addie shoves his armchair between them and picks up a book to throw.

"Good, that was good," Caspian says. "Now what?"

Addie's eyes flit to the book, appraising its value. In her moment of hesitation, Caspian lunges for the chair and shoves it at her legs. The legs scraping on the floor alert Addie in time; she jumps back two paces into the bedroom and swings the door closed, stopping the chair and toppling it back as he runs after her. The chair's back hits the top of his thighs, neatly stopping him with a grunt. The door rebounds and swings back open.

"Good thinking." Caspian smiles up at her through his grimace, but he doesn't let go of the chair. She still has hold of the book - one of his many Telmarine histories, if he's remembering the cover accurately.

Addie glances him up and down. "Are you okay?"

"Perhaps a bit of a bruise," he admits, tilting the chair back onto all four legs. "But well worth it."

"I have a good teacher." Addie lowers the book and steps closer, the book held loosely in her left hand.

Caspian grins, tightening his grip on the chair. "Flattery will not win a fight."

Addie smiles, but he knows better than anyone how smiles like that hurt around the edges. She's ready when he sends the chair sliding toward her; she jumps out of the way and throws the book at his head, spinning sideways so the corner almost clips his throat before he jerks back. Caspian compliments her again as he relaxes his stance, turning his palms outward in a truce. Addie's reflexes are better than he was expecting.

Addie shrugs. "Alfonso's been training me, too. I'll pass the good word along."

Caspian's brow furrows before he thinks better of it. "The same guard you asked me to investigate?"

"You said he's a good one," Addie answers, folding her arms over her chest as she leans with her hip akimbo. "It's nice to spend time with him and Lola. After all, he reminds me of you."

Caspian steps around the chair and reaches for her. This Alfonso may be a good man from what he could find out, but he'd rather have Addie here, with him. They already meet on borrowed time.

Addie slides into his hold so easily, like there's no place she'd rather be. Caspian drags his hands over her hips and dusts two kisses across her forehead, warm from the exertion.

"And does he do this when you've impressed him?"

Addie huffs. "I don't impress him, he's just doing me a favour. Lola's there too."

Caspian can't resist turning to kiss her palm as she cups his jaw. "You impress me."

"Is that so?" Addie's fingers curl to play with his hair, her breath a delicious thing against his lips. "In what way?"

"Every way." Caspian falls into the heat of her mouth like a drowning man, swallowing her moan as he tries to coax another from her. She likes it when he holds her so tightly she'll wobble if he lets go, and it is so very nice to be needed.

Addie sighs, her hand slipping from his hair to trace his lips. "I'm sorry."

Caspian pulls back, the taste of her lingering on his tongue. "Why? What's wrong?"

"We've had less time," she whispers, her other hand tight against his back, drawing him closer. Addie kisses him lightly, her lips more phantom wish than reality. "I've been busier. And I know we're running out of time."

Caspian weaves his fingers through her hair, coaxing the day's tangles free as he kisses her long enough for her warmth to mark his lips again.

"Soon we'll have all the time in the world," he murmurs. "Though the accommodations won't be quite so comfortable."

The attempt at humour should bring her smile to the surface. It should spark that playful glimmer in her eyes, the one Addie gets when he's said something silly and she's moments from either teasing him or kissing him until his head spins.

This flickering, sad little smile isn't right. It's not her. Caspian smooths his thumb along her cheek, but Addie won't meet his eyes.

"Addie?"

When she finally looks up, Addie's eyes are distant behind a film of water. "You know I love you, don't you?"

Caspian freezes.

He knew. He felt it in the fervent press of her kisses, heard it in the peaceful quiet when they're reading together. He knew it in the new desperate edge sharpening in her over recent months, the way Addie ran to him whenever he returned late and held him until her arms shook.

He knew, but she never said so outright. Somehow, it's entirely different to hear it aloud.

Too late, Caspian realises he hasn't replied. Addie's hands tremble as she looks at him with parted lips, her eyes flitting away.

She's retreating.

Caspian pulls her back and claims her mouth before she pulls free from his hold. He kisses Addie until her back loosens and she sighs, her body moulding to his exactly as it should. Until he's sure she knows how he feels, too.

But it's different, to hear it said. Caspian withdraws only enough to catch his breath and whispers it back.

"I love you, too."

Addie smiles at once, as bright and flickering as a candle flame. "I know you do."

But for all the sweetness in the words and her smile, there's bitterness hiding in Addie's mouth when Caspian kisses her, something persistent and sticky that he can't chase away with blazing kisses or gentle touches or eager explorations where she likes his hands best. The feeling winds tight between them like a rope ready to fray.

Addie walks them to the bed with practised ease, though usually it's her walking backward and not him. But Caspian has never minded when Addie has her way. So long as he has her, he'll happily be the one to fall back onto the bed with her astride him; her body is a benediction either way.

Addie's hands slip inside his shirt at the same moment his knees find the bed. Caspian flings the fabric somewhere across the floor as Addie's hands move to his trousers. She has those off in short order too, shucking them down his legs so swiftly he topples onto the bed unprompted, naked and aching for her. Caspian tries for her name, but it comes out strangled and half-spoken when she takes him into her mouth without warning.

In the back of his mind, Caspian feels the edge in her even now. Addie's desperation is heavy in the wet warmth of her tongue, sharp in her hollowed cheeks as she sucks hard enough his vision spins. It's nearly too much, it is too much, but Caspian has no voice to beg her to slow down, let him undress her too, let him kiss her and relearn the smooth expanse of her skin until the tremors deep in her chest ease.

A drop of water sears beside his hipbone. Caspian's hands find her hair, tangling in the smooth curls he just unknotted as he tries to coax her up. But Addie is stronger than she looks - a detail he forgets more than he ought. She swirls her tongue around his tip, over the sensitive skin along the under vein and it's all he can do to keep hold on her.

Another drop lands, and the sniffle that follows isn't the short, playful one Addie gets when she's taken him in too deep. This is the whispering shudder he's only heard a few times - only ever after a nightmare.

Caspian tugs again, and Addie lifts her head with a soft pop. He smooths his thumbs over the tears on her cheeks, murmuring any sweet nothings he thinks of. He calls her sweetheart, darling, angel, croons how much he loves her. Every word sends a fresh wave down her cheeks until the tears fall faster than he can wipe them away.

"Tell me I won't lose you," Addie whispers, the plea a phantom skirting around her wet, shivering breaths. "Tell me we'll get out of here. Tell me we'll be alright." Her hands shake where they hold his hips, her fingertips cool against his skin.

This time when Caspian tugs her closer, Addie comes to him as easily as flowing water, settling into his lap with her legs bracketing his hips.

"You won't, Addie," he murmurs, still wiping her tears. "We'll be gone before anyone can stop us. I won't let anything happen to you."

Addie stiffens, her hands halfway to his shoulders. "You know that's not what scares me," she says.

"To us," Caspian amends quickly. "We'll be alright. You have my word."

Addie's palms find his jaw, her arms awkwardly folded between their chests. Her watery eyes meet his and stare, first into his right eye, then his left. If she's searching for truth, she'll find it. If she's searching for reassurance, he'll give it. Caspian tightens his fingers in her hair and brushes a kiss over her still mouth.

"You have my word," he repeats.

Addie stares at him a moment longer when they separate. The promise dances across Caspian's tongue again with a dozen others, but whatever she finds seems to be enough. Addie kisses him hard enough to bruise, sending them tumbling back onto the bed. Her mouth is a frantic thing, something born of need and goodbyes and fierce, fiery grit. The bitterness on Addie's tongue fades to nothing, swept away by the sweet musk of promises and love.

Love. Addie's love is bright in every flash of her eyes, the sweep of her hands over fevered skin, the wet heat of her as she grinds against his length. The need coiled in Caspian's belly had faded at her tears, her pain, but it washes back over him in a wave now, swelling until his skin prickles raw.

In three long rolls, Addie's covered him in slick. On the fourth, she cants her hips and Caspian groans as he slips inside, curses falling from his lips like prayers as she moves. If only Addie will keep clenching around him just so, he'll never complain that her mouth has abandoned his and the only other connection between them is her hands braced on his chest and the blaze of her eyes as they burn into his.

Belatedly, Caspian remembers Addie is still dressed. He forgot for a few moments, but now the brush of fabric against his bared skin seems like a barrier, like distance that shouldn't be there. He leans up and fumbles with the laces across her back.

Addie pins him to the bed quicker than he can blink, bearing down with all her weight - not enough to keep him from moving if he truly wanted to, but enough Caspian doesn't insist on undressing her. Her mouth descends again, her tongue soothing away the temptation of protest. Addie's tight heat makes up for the roughness of her dress, somehow turns the annoyance into added stimulation.

Caspian still prefers her bare. But there's something to be said for Addie astride him like this, holding him down with the strength in her legs and kissing away his stillborn overtures for her to please get out of her clothes, too.

Addie tightens around him again as she rolls her hips upward. When she pulls back and looks into his eyes with her "I love you" sweet as honey on her breath, Caspian tips over the edge in white-hot relief, clutching her hands so tightly he dimly wonders if her fingers are alright.

She kisses him softly as he chases the high and drifts down again, slow and languorous as a falling leaf on an autumn breeze. Caspian gets his wits about him enough to kiss her back, but only just. The world always seems distantly aglow in the aftermath.

Then Caspian realises he didn't feel her finish. He can't recall if Addie made her usual pleasured sounds; she seems too calm, her heart too steady for the situation. When Caspian tugs his hands free, Addie withdraws.

"Just hold me," she whispers, dusting her lips over his brow. "Please."

He's never been able to deny her. But after she's fetched the clean cloths he keeps by the bed, after she's cleaned herself and him even with that infernal dress in the way, after Addie has curled into his side and rested her hand over his heart, Caspian tastes the bitterness in her kiss stronger than before.

Addie

Over the next few weeks, Addie gets more comfortable with the strange new way of moving. Defensive moves especially are a confusing mix of slow calculation and instinctual speed; she prefers the offense, but both Alfonso and Caspian warn her against attacking. Alfonso drills specific moves to dodge arrows, a sword, and a thrown dagger or knife. Caspian helps with the more intimate basics - quick strikes to get space between her and the attacker to buy her time to run. Repeating the moves isn't as fun on the fiftieth try, but the frantic lovemaking they fall into afterward makes the whole thing worth it.

Caspian sleeps soundly after those nights, always with arms tight around her middle. Addie stays up later than she should stroking the hair back from his face and counting his breaths, re-memorising the pattern of his heartbeat. It's so much slower when he's asleep. When it spikes under her fingertips, it usually means he's dreaming.

Tonight, Caspian's heartbeat is erratic and thunderous as he twitches in her arms. No mumbling this time; if the usual pattern holds, then he'll jolt awake in a few minutes. Then she'll soothe him back asleep with hands in his hair and gentle kisses.

Sure enough, when his breathing speeds up, Caspian jerks and his eyes flash open. Addie kisses his forehead before he can apologise.

"Did I wake you?" Caspian asks, voice warbled and croaked.

Addie tucks a lock of hair behind his ear. "You didn't," she says with a kiss. "Don't worry."

Caspian rolls onto his side and takes her right hand in both of his. His lips are feather-soft against her brow, his breath warm over the creases between her eyebrows she can never quite banish these days. Addie lets him pull her in close and tuck her head under his chin, because it's nice and he likes it and she likes it and she intends to enjoy every night they have left.

It's not long before Caspian's breathing evens out again, his heart slowing to its sleep rhythm. Addie almost nods off with him, even though the room is a few shades lighter and she'll be more tired if she falls asleep in this last hour or two before dawn.

She's moments from slipping under when the door clicks open.

Addie's awake in an instant, her breath catching before she recognises the soft shush of Doctor Cornelius' cloak along the floor. Caspian's astronomy lessons aren't as frequent as they were when news of Lady Prunaprismia's pregnancy first broke, but they're still a regular occurrence.

Addie inches downward and slips from Caspian's hold, replacing the empty air with a pillow. Caspian should stay asleep long enough she can talk privately with the Doctor.

Tonight, the portly old scholar comes bearing three bags. Two with clasps on the front, and one with cross-straps that ties closed. Doctor Cornelius buries the first two in the bottom of the wardrobe as Addie eases off the bed and pads into the study. The Doctor follows moments later and holds out the third bag.

"You'll find a good cloak, travelling boots, a dagger, soap, flint and steel, and a pack of dried meats and fruits. You'd do well to add bread and extra clothes, if you have them."

Addie takes it, careful not to rattle the contents. "Thank you, Doctor."

He hums and strokes the end of his beard. "You have a clear path out?"

"Yes, on foot. The city has good streets for hiding." Addie crosses to the bookshelf and pulls out the map and extra notes she made in the nights Caspian came back late. The Doctor is silent as she tucks the papers into the bag. "I'll slip out with the morning crowd."

Doctor Cornelius is frowning with both hands folded over his belly, his eyes small and skeptical through his spectacles. "You must leave as quickly as you can; Lord Miraz will lock down the city. Do you have friends who can hide you?"

"Yes, but I'll be out before then," Addie says. The attempt of a smile leaves her mouth dry. "I'm not really the one they're after."

"I must urge you against this." The Doctor adjusts his spectacles and strokes his beard. "Caspian will go after you."

The room's chill burrows under her skin.

He'll try.

"Tell him whatever you have to," Addie says. "Just get him out. And I'll give them something to chase."

"My lady -"

"I'm not asking, Doctor."

The professor's frown tightens. A long-suffering exhale, then, "I will ensure the prince lives. But you must give your word to survive."

Addie crosses her arms, heart thundering in her ears. Just because she's a liability for Caspian doesn't mean she can't take care of herself. "You have it. I've no intention of dying."

The Doctor's mouth presses into a thin line hidden by his moustache, but he doesn't argue further. He returns to the bedroom and wakes Caspian for whatever secrets of Old Narnia they need to trade tonight.

Addie waits until Caspian's sleepy grumbles fade into the rustle of covers being pushed aside and soft footsteps pad toward the study.

Caspian steps inside, blinking sleepily with his hair stuck up at odd ends even after she spent hours smoothing it. "You should be asleep," he mumbles.

Addie kisses away the familiar worry always edging his words nowadays. "I'm not tired," she says. "May as well read."

With one more kiss, Caspian disappears back into the bedroom with Doctor Cornelius. When the door closes behind them, Addie lifts the window seat cushion for the last paper she hid. It's written on a parchment scrap in her messy handwriting, on thicker paper than the notes.

She crisps up the half fold hiding her words as she makes her way back to the bedroom and finds the bags Doctor Cornelius hid in the bottom of the wardrobe. She slips her note inside, tucking it against the side of the bag so Caspian won't find it before he should.

Addie finds herself back in bed with her face buried in Caspian's pillow before she can listen to the reasons she should abandon his bed and get an early start.

He'll forgive her. Even if it takes a little while, at least he'll be alive to do it.

A/N: Last chapter before the Ish Hits The Fan. Personally, I can't wait! But I am also a nefarious shrivel of a writer so I feel I should also offer my (mostly) sincere apologies for where I'm taking us next.

Chapter 24 Preview:

Caspian strides to the Professor's desk and leans in with his hands in fists between the piles of scrolls. "I will not sit here and wait any longer. There's been enough watching and waiting, Professor."