Just Friends… Right?
475 Hours until the death in the Engine room
Alek Sat down on his bed across from the midshipman. They sat in silence for what seemed like hours, but in reality it was twelve minuets and thirty six seconds. The two stared at each other as realization sunk in as to what had happened not fifteen minuets. For Alek it was guilt and self-directed anger over his in ability that he could not control himself, he possibly ruined his friendship with Deryn. What the hell was he thinking?
While Alek was arguing with himself, Deryn was analyzing the possibilities this gave way to. She thought that Alek would express his love to her. She certainly hoped this was the case. But the look of guilt that adorned his face, told her that he needed some comforting. She was about to get up when in Gaelic Aleks voice glided through the air.
"I'm sorry, Deryn. I have jeopardized our friendship, half of me relishes in that moment, and the other half regrets the situation I've put us in." He looked at Deryn as if seeing it for the first time. This put off Deryn a bit. 'It was only a barking kiss!' Deryn thought to herself why was he making so much of a fuss about, but then the exact context of their first kiss. 'I guess that was a bit much for him… and me as well."
"Alek I enjoyed that kiss, for my first kiss I think that's best kiss one can receive as there first." Deryn said. "What was your first kiss like Alek? As a prince I'm sure you've kissed your fair share of maidens." Aleks brow furrowed, mild confusion replacing the guilt on his face. Alek opened his mouth to say something, and then closed it.
After a moment he got up, walked across the room and sat next to Deryn on her newly installed bunk. "Deryn I've never even talked to a girl till I met you, let alone kiss, or showered with one." Alek was blushing again. "I do hope this doesn't ruin our friendship. I'd hate to lose someone I care so deeply about." Alek was desperately trying to tell Deryn he was in love with her, but he couldn't get the words out. He tried, but it didn't work.
Meanwhile it was Deryns face that wore a look of confusion. 'He hasn't kissed anyone but her before?' she thought to herself, 'that kiss was barking amazing; his lips must have been fabricated to be that delicious, and damn! He looked barking amazing in the shower, and he's still shirtless.'
"Alek, you mean to tell me that I'm not only the first girl you kissed, but met as well?" Deryn asked. Alek nodded his head slowly. "Then how do you know to kiss like that? You seem very experienced, well I should know. You're my first kiss" Aleks eyes widened.
Deryn smirked at this, committing his face to memory like she did to his body in the shower, memorizing every detail for sketching later. "I used to read a lot of books in my spare time, one was on the art of kissing." Alek laughed. When my mother caught me reading it, she made me read entire chapters aloud after dinner, in front the staff and everything!" Deryn and Alek laughed together, Alek at the memory and Deryn at the thought of Alek in his Clanker uniform reading about kissing in front of an army of soldiers and walkers. That's how Clanker royalty ate right? In front of a small army to defend them? In a big elegant ballrooms surrounded by officers and soldiers ready to be told who to invade? Well that was how the brass portrayed them as. Power hungry rulers
Deryn asked Alek this and he was silent for a moment, he looked alarmed "You have spies in my palace?" he said. The two stared at each other for a moment before bursting into a fit of laughter. Laughing so hard they fell out of Deryns bunk and onto the floor.
As the laughter died down the two locked eyes again, they both gazed into each others eyes, just enjoying the moment. Both Alek and Deryn were thinking the exact same question. "Dow do I express that I'm in love with you?" they both opened their mouths to speak but at that moment a message lizard fell from the ceiling, it looked at Alek, its pink eyes staring up at him. "Can you keep it down please? I'm trying to get some rest before we land tomorrow, I have to coordinate the ground men and I really need my rest, thank you, Alek." a hardy and tired voice came from the message lizard said. it looked at Alek for a moment, slowly blinking. After a moment it scampered off and up the wall to its pipe and disappeared.
"I think that's our cue to hit the hay." Alek said, suddenly extremely tired. "It seems so, goodnight Alek" Deryn replied. They both got off the floor and once again found themselves in eye contact with one another. "Alek…" Deryn started, taking a small step forward. "Do you suppose I could get another one of them kisses?" She said, blushing like a mad fox.
Alek smiled at this and leaned in slowly, pressing his lips softly against her, following the books instructions to the letter, he brought his hand to the base of her skull and slightly scratched the back of her neck, sending shivers up and down Deryns spine as of her wine cellar was trying to send a telegraph to Alek. Alek brought his other hand to her waist, slightly squeezing her side.
This, caused Deryn to open her mouth slightly and closing it again against Aleks lips and grab a handful of his hair and pull him deeper into the kiss, sending an electric shock the equivalent of a lightning bolt through Alek. Constricting his chest and tensing his muscles all throughout his body.
Alek felt as if he was putting himself into this kiss, as if he was telling her he loved her with his lips. Alek decided the French method was appropriate for this moment and the next time Deryn opened her mouth, he slipped his tongue inside it.
Deryn took this well and started rubbing her tongue against his, awkwardly at first, but after a solid minuet she felt like she had it down perfectly. She was thankful for living on an airship, the lady boffin had old her that living at high elevations caused the body to produce more red blood cells, thus meaning one could hold their breath for up to five minuets with no problem.
But eventually they had to stop. The duo reluctantly withdrew from each other, each begging silently for the other to ask for another round, but to embarrassed to say anything. Alek blew a few notes and the cilia lanterns went out, he sat on his bed and settled in, he could make out Deryn moving about and then approaching him.
"Just so you know your princlieness, now that I'm not bunking with Newkirk." She said in that mischievous voice of hers. "I can go back to sleeping in the nip." Alek didn't have to grow up in Westminster to realize that she was naked.
"Goodnight Sweet Prince" Deryn said.
Authors note:
In my personal head cannon Deryn was raised in Westminster, Ireland until her father died, she speaks both Celtic and Gaelic, and uses mainly Irish slang and has that accent. I just got that vibe from her so I hope to clear things up. Sorry for the short chapter but I promise the next will introduce pivotal characters and broaden the world a bit. Ad Victoriam!