Disclaimer: I do not own Blackbird
Title: Bath house
Genre: Romance – eek. I tried.
Pairing: Blackbird/Veloce
Rating: PG-13
Blackbird hated the summer.
The sweltering heat was unbearable under her layers of robes. It was clear after her second encounter with Veloce Visrin that she needed to practice and to continue to hone her abilities to the best. She was behind a bathhouse, and was sure no one would see her among the mess. The area was secluded, and her tracks will be washed away by time before anyone will actually encounter this area. All day she fought the trees, attacking frantic animals, performing strategies and summoning concealed weapons from her turquoise brace the best she can. It was late in the afternoon when she realized she reeked.
Raising her arm, Blackbird sniffed her armpit.
"Ugh."
Recoiling faster than a bullet, she grunted - looking for a body of water or some sort to bathe in. Stupidity came at her. Blackbird laughed and slapped her forehead. She was behind a bathhouse! Opening the backdoor, she slipped in unnoticed by the staff.
"Stupid kitty!"
"Dumb Girl!"
Veloce felt her temples throb. The group had been traveling all morning, encountering a small village -Iriel and Weirin had been fighting for... oh, how long? She turned around and raised her fist.
BONK
THWAK
Both Weirin and Iriel yelped in pain, holding their bruised heads. Veloce was about to unleash mortal hell upon the two when Keritzel interrupted her.
"Everyone, perhaps it's time to get something to eat and to rest." A form of acknowledgement came from the group of four.
"Finally, something to eat!" Weirin sobbed in happiness.
"Like you need to eat -" Iriel snorted as he poked her side. "Look at these jelly-rolls!"
"You little ass!"
Keritzel quickly became referee, stepping in between the two as fists and insults escalated. Veloce walked on, unnoticed by the gang. The wind blew in her face, making those white locks dance in their grasp. A moment of silence and the tranquility of the village was pleasure to her. (Despite the yelling of salespeople from their stall about high quality fish, fresh fruits and silk). The sun then appeared from hiding between the clouds and Veloce suddenly felt a damp feeling under her arms. Raising her right arm, and feeling with her left hand, her eyes' widen.
How embarrassing!
Veloce rolled her eyes, turning to her right, she spotted a bathhouse...
Giggling Blackbird had slipped in, unnoticed, and pick pocketing a ticket from a local bathhouse user. She glanced at the wooden ticket with satisfaction. In large letters, it branded:
Gnome bath, extras
'Extras?'
The black/white haired beauty ignored the last word, and haughtily flashed the ticket to the receptionist. The young man nodded and pointed in the back. "Gnome baths come especially with herbal liquid to clean your pores and sooth your aches, madam." He droned on. As she ran to her bath, Blackbird couldn't be more ecstatic.
"Yes, young lady. The Tiger's Balm comes with cleansing purified water-"
"I don't care about what this water do. It's the same with all salesmen; if you want to sell something you make it sound good."
The receptionist lady gulped. "I'm sorry young lady, but I do not understand."
Veloce grunted "Just tell me, how much one bath is?"
"Well, let me see... the tiger's balm, the herbs, the treatments, and extras… that would be thirty thousand rupees-"
Veloce growled, "Are you serious?"
The receptionist lady began to sweat in fear.
"I don't need the 'extras'."
"But miss, they are mandatory!"
Grumbling in spirit language, she threw down the necessary amount of money in exchange for a ticket. 'This had better be worth it.' she thought as the receptionist directed her to the back.
Black and white hair floated to the surface of the water. A moment later, white eyes appeared followed by Blackbird's sly smile. She turned around and rested her head on the edge of the bath, her left arm draped on top of her forehead – the turquoise brace glowing brightly.
'This is bliss.'
She closed her eyes and allowed the water to gently through her body, as if a scarf of purity latched to her torso, cleansing her from top to bottom. The water indeed had its work of magic. Her calluses on her hands and feet had melted away, as if never existed. The small scars she had gotten during her training days had to fade away. (Blackbird mourned a bit over them, as they were once precious memories of training.)
'I wonder... will this heal the cut in my mouth?'
A few days earlier, she had eaten a few sunflower seeds, but in her rush, she hadn't peeled off a seed properly and it ended up digging itself deep in her gum. It took several hours and tears before she finally spat it out. However, each time she would eat something citric, the wound would open. Blackbird tipped her head to the side, and sucked in some of the water, as if drinking soup.
Her white eyes widen with disgust as she spat the foul tasting herbal, unaware that the cut had indeed healed. 'Tasted like ass!' As Blackbird fumbled with her scorching tongue, her senses failed to detect a cloaked person, coming into her stall...
Veloce had folded her clothes and placed them neatly behind her as she slipped into the tub up to her neck. A guttural groan followed sounding similarly ironically like a tiger's purr. She held her nose in a tight grip and dunked underwater, and resurfaced.
'What's wrong with me lately?'
Veloce sighed unhappily. Her temper had been flaring up very often now. Perhaps it was because she hadn't seen Blackbird in a while, and that she was on edge about where and when that assassin will strike again.
That sounded most plausible.
But there was a second reason and she knew it. Keritzel. The boy had been on her mind for some time. But it wasn't that type of attraction for him that she felt. Images of Vocruen and Keritzel overlapped. She embraces Vocruen... And Keritzel giving her the kindness... they were the same feeling. Veloce couldn't picture herself being in love with either one. Vocruen… he was too old, and she left Keri was too young. Vocruen, if he is still alive, could have seen her as a child, a prodigy that he had to take care of. Keri could be seeing her as an older sister perhaps. And Iriel… was it the same feeling? Her protectiveness over Iriel… was it the same as Vocruen taking care of her…?
Suddenly her mind went black, and Blackbird appeared, the details were frightening accurate; from the pins holding her hair in place to the red scarf that bounded her upper torso. The very detail of her sash and the thought of Blackbird's toned arm around her waist, the other on her chest digging into the layers of clothes, gently brushing teasingly on her tender collarbone-
Veloce's eyes nearly popped out of her head. 'Where did that come from?'
Blackbird had left on good terms, and helped her… she had given back her will to fight for herself, the return of her self-esteem and her pride. And before their fight, with the taste of her medicine still fresh on her lips, Blackbird had embraced her. Her arms and words were stronger than Vocruen and Keritzel respectively. Veloce found herself thinking what it would be- to just embrace the young assassin and maybe to have those luscious lips-
'DEAR GOD!' Veloce shrieked in her mind. As a futile attempt to stop – she dunked her head underwater again.
During her metal debates, a human hand slipped through the curtains of the entrance of the stall and gripped her clothes...
Still gagging on the taste of Gnome herbal bath water, Blackbird rose out of the water. Grabbing a towel and drying herself she headed off deep dressing room only to discover one question...
"Eh? Where'd my clothes go?"
Veloce shuddered at the sudden draft piercing her skin. Deciding that her time is up, she picked up a towel and wrapped it tightly against her frail frame. She ducked inside the dressing room. As her eyes focused on the room, she noticed three issues that had sudden arise and taken over her survival instincts.
1) BLACKBIRD! BLACKBIRD IS RIGHT THERE!
2) Where is my clothing?
3) Vocruen had better be alive.
Two solutions ran through her head. She run out in the buff, and survives against Blackbird. The other would be to be dressed and die by Blackbird's hand.
'I-I'm not ready to die yet!'
Blackbird was focused on the dressing room, looking around from the top to bottom for any sign of a red scarf or her robes. Even her pins were gone! The towel which had long used up its usefulness was thrown over her shoulder, giving Veloce a rather nice glimpse of her rump. Flustered, Veloce tried to sneak backwards to escape but the door closed with a resounding 'click.'
Blackbird turned to the source of the sound to see a nearly nude Veloce. "Say, Visrin…"
Veloce could have sworn Blackbird's eyes glittered, and held the towel closer to her body. "…Blackbird…"
"… Have you seen my clothes?" Both women asked at the same time.
"Nope, didn't see you come in. Didn't know you were here." Blackbird huffed, taking the towel off her shoulder and slapped it on her thigh in annoyance. The sound resonated in the small room. She could have sworn Veloce jumped.
The white haired woman straightened her composure. "I… I wasn't aware of the fact that you were here either…" Inwardly she sobbed. 'I would've avoided it if I could… now I'm stuck in a towel dress in a room with a stalker. Just my luck.'
Blackbird shrugged. "Oh well then." Her gaze stared at Veloce. She was still and no doubt-fearful of her- even though the two had left on good grace. How long has it been since they've seen each other? Veloce had gotten paler if possible. Gingerly, Blackbird walked forward to her prey.
Veloce began to back against the wall in fright. It didn't help that she was cornered between a wall, and the door. Blackbird stopped then stopped leaving no more than two inches distance between. She raised her right hand and gently touched Veloce's face. Veloce's mind made an incomprehensible scream. 'She's going to kill me. She's nude. She's going to kill me. She's nude. She's going to kill-'
Blackbird sighed. "Are you eating regularly? Have you been resting at all?" Her hand brushed Veloce's face, noting the exotic difference in their skin tone.
"W-What?!"
"Relax; I'm not going to kill you now, Visrin. I'm not that type of person… What you do you honestly think I was going to do? Kill you here – in a BATH HOUSE?" Blackbird asked with ridicule. "I have my own sense of pride and dignity too-I want a good and satisfying fight, I'm not a low person who'll strike a target when they're bathing, you know."
"Relax, you're getting that fight." Veloce grunted.
Blackbird smiled. "That's more like it girl!" "Now… can you push open the door, or not? It's getting cold in here." 'Damn! She looks so delicious and so vulnerable…-No! Must stay on track!'
Indeed the temperature in the room seemed to be dropping. Both women pushed as hard as they can against the handle, but to no prevail. Blackbird wrapped her towel on the handle and tried turning but the knob remained unmovable. After a few moments both had given up.
"Damn!" Blackbird cursed.
"Should I blow this door apart?" Veloce asked, as she readied into her stance, her right hand glowing with magic.
"I don't know – Try." And with that Blackbird stepped back.
Conjuring up a fireball spell Veloce's hand glowed but then faded into nothingness.
"… What the hell?"
Veloce knew better. The long day, the mental strain and confusion… it took a toll on her. Her mind had to be at ease, or at least in control for her magic to work properly. She was stuck in a cold room, with her enemy who seem to take over her thoughts.
"Ah… I guess I'm too tired." Veloce excused. In the corner of her eye she noticed Blackbird shivering. Blackbird's eyes met hers and shrugged it off with a smile. An overwhelming urge swelled through the younger woman as she embraced the assassin.
"Where do you think she can be?"
The trio had enough time to eat, restock and even rest before they realized Veloce had disappeared without a trace.
Iriel shrugged. "If it was important, she would have told us. Maybe I can sniff her out." He said with a smile, beginning his transformation spell.
Weirin grumbled. "That isn't going to work – you need a canine's nose!"
Iriel stopped. "Well, I don't see you thinking up any ideas, dumbass!"
"YOU LITTLE-"
"Stop!" Keritzel couldn't take it anymore. They were fighting during lunch, they fought even when they were resting and he couldn't take it anymore. "I can summon a locator spell-"
The two turned to him- their eyes burning. "WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SO?!"
Keritzel was thankful for his strong bladder.
'Take her now! No- she means good- Oh, come on, she threw herself at you!'
Blackbird gulped, fighting back the feelings of lust with her dignity. She turned into the white mess of hair, jumping a bit when Veloce rubbed her nose into the crook of her neck. It didn't help either, that she was in her birthday suit- the rough texture of the towel and the warmth of Veloce… dear God- it was driving her mad.
"V-V-v-Visrin?" She also cursed herself for stammering.
"… Thank you." She heard the whisper. Was it from the previous fight? "Ahah!" Blackbird slapped herself mentally. "That was nothing-!"
"It wasn't nothing to me." Veloce sighed. Her grip loosened on Blackbird. "Just… thank you."
"Y-you're w-welcome." Blackbird almost whispered. As Veloce pulled away, Blackbird felt the return of the chill.
An evil idea then occurred to the assassin. She ran to Veloce, and pushed her against the door once again. "You know… we might have this room all to ourselves… and I don't about you, but I don't particularly relish the prospect of waltzing around in my birthday suit. Since we're both here anyway, why don't we...oh, cuddle up for warmth or something? Or, we could head back to the baths after this…"
She expected Veloce to yell, laugh, snort, curse, or push her away.
She didn't expect Veloce to kiss her.
"The BATH HOUSE?" Weirin asked incredulously.
Keritzel nodded. The locator spell had worked; a light emitted from his right hand pointing in the direction of their fourth comrade. "Shall we go?"
Once arrived at the building-at the desk, a receptionist directed the three of them to the dressing room…
Veloce Visrin experience several types of love. The paternal love of Vocruen, the love of friendship between her and Keritzel, the platonic admiration Iriel sees of her… but never the feeling of true love. Maybe she was being silly, but she was being taunted by her thoughts of a childish notation of love between Vocruen, Keritzel and Blackbird. To prove them wrong, she kissed Blackbird.
She has never been more wrong than ever.
The luscious lips, the heated breaths mingling, their limbs, especially their hands intertwining fingers… Oh, it was pleasure beyond words. The cold room no longer had an effect on either woman. Both needed to draw breath as they- with great agony- separated from one another. Shining white eyes gazed into her green ones. Although they were glossy, she can see the emotions in turmoil inside her rival.
"What was that?" Blackbird panted.
It was the first time she had seen a playful smirk from Visrin. "What do you think?"
Once again, the two held on to one another, their lips meeting again in a frenzied fleet. Veloce's hands had become tangled with Blackbird's white and black locks. Blackbird's hands steadied themselves; one placed sturdily against the door, and the other gripping the mage's towel.
As if the gods themselves had seen enough, the door to the dressing room opened. Veloce lost her balance, pulling Blackbird with her. Both women yelped, falling to the ground in a heap; The tangled limbs, the disheveled hair, and Blackbird hugging Veloce in a position that could have appeared from the lustrous Sutra book.
Weirin screamed and covered Iriel's eyes. Keritzel fainted, blood pouring from his nose while the receptionist only shook his head. "That door always has problems…!"
Iriel struggled in Weirin's arms. "What's going on?! I WANNA SEE!"
Veloce sighed looking up, seeing an upside down vision of her two comrades, "Hello…"
"YOU and…" Weirin then looked horrified at the naked assassin. "-and YOU!?"
Veloce gave her a curt look. "…Yes?"
Weirin gaped. "I DON'T BELIEVE THIS!"
At the same time of her outburst, a cloaked figure approached the two young women. "Your clothes, young miss." Blackbird and Veloce stared dumbfounded as the figure – which turned out to be the laundry woman- placed their clothes in a pile. "You two paid for 'extras' Yeeessss?"
"…"
"Weirin…" Veloce turned her head slightly.
"WHAT?" She roared,
"Can you and Iriel please leave?"
"SO YOU TWO CAN SEX UP-"
"-So we can get dressed."
Weirin couldn't turn more red than she possibly was. Growling, she pulled Iriel with her, ignoring his attempts to take a peek. The receptionist returned to his desk, and Keritzel still lay unconscious.
An awkward air hung between the two ladies as they dressed. Blackbird had put on her shoes first, on the corner of her eye; she spotted Veloce absentmindedly sipping on her pants, her chest already bonded tightly under wraps. A smile canine smile tugged at her lips.
Veloce snuck a glance every now and then, her eyes absorbing the way the robes hung on to the assassin's curves – she choked especially when Blackbird was pulling up her undergarment in a slow agonizing manner.
Blackbird knew she was watching, and she was toying with her, the little prick.
Finally pushing in the last pin, Blackbird turned to Veloce. The mage was typing up her hair, the hair bands in her mouth, and the green cloth was where the pile once was, wrapped loosely around her red headband. She chuckled and took the two ribbons in her hand.
"Veloce."
The said mage turned facing Blackbird, her hair was pulled up in the usual ponytail. "Blackbird."
"This was fun, let's do this again some other time!"
Veloce fell over.
Blackbird watched calmly as Veloce's face morphed of humiliation, anger, and eagerness. After a bit, the mage settled on anger. "THIS WAS A GAME TO YOU?!"
The assassin laughed and waved it off. "You know what I mean! You're not like any other person I've been with Visrin! Whether it was a prey, a target, or a date- you're one of a kind! I'd love to encounter you again!"
"… same." Veloce smiled.
Their lips met once again as the turquoise band glowed and white feathers engulfed the room, and Blackbird took flight.
Outside Weirin and Iriel were arguing.
"Why didn't you let me see?!"
"Because it wasn't for little kids to see!"
"How do you know? Have you seen this type of-"
"OF COURSE NOT!" Weirin retorted, her face burning with rage and embarrassment.
"Shut it." A passive voice came from the entrance of the bath house. Both the feline and the archer stopped as Veloce appeared, dragging Keritzel by his collar behind her. Blackbird was no where to be seen.
"KERI!!" Weirin wailed noticing the dried blood from his nose.
"He'll be fine."
Iriel glanced nervously at his mentor. "Veloce… was that Blackbird, the person who is after you?"
"Yes it was."
Weirin spun around to the mage. "She was going to kill you wasn't' she?!"
"No, rather, she was comforting me."
Vivid images ran though the archer's head. None were proper to describe. Shaking her purple hair wildly, she focused her attention on the mage. "Does this mean that she won't try to kill you anymore? Our traveling days are over?" She was on the brink of happiness
But happiness is short lived.
"Silly girl." Veloce's green eyes flashed hungrily at the archer. "You know you should never mix personal life with work."
-FIN-