Chapter 18
For the love of Azeroth it hurt all over. Fox groaned and rolled on her bed. Thirst was the second realization to come to her. She opened her eyes and the familiar objects in her small barracks room started to take shape.
"Are you awake?" The voice was what she had come to identify with a female gnome.
Fox sat up and pressed the palms of her hands into her eyes. "It's either that or I am dead." her voice was gravelly as she spoke, "I haven't decided which yet."
The voice came again, "Oh, I am most certainly going to mark you as alive!" The sound of a chair sliding and little feet moving across the room. "Which means I am off to tell Mathias Shaw, and that will relieve me of my duty!" Then a door clicked shut.
Another groan had Fox falling back on the bed. She wanted to go back to sleep, but she needed to get something to drink. Not only that. She sniffed the air. By the Light, she needed a shower. She had smelled better corpses in Icecrown. A foot hit the floor, and then another. She sat up only to find her head swimming in a wave of dizziness. Forehead dipped to knees. She reached down to cradle her legs. Instantly she felt the tattered leather of her pants. Once again realizing they were ruined. Had she mentioned they were her favorite pair? Part of the Slayers set from her time in Black Temple. A deep sigh as she promised herself to replace them when she got the time.
Standing up she waited to see if the world was going to swirl around her again. After a few seconds she realized it was not. Good. Moving stiffly to her wooden chest and pulling out the bag that contained her shower supplies. Then resting a hand on the duffel bag containing her Bloodfang armor. She was hesitant to wear that particular set. The Slayer's inspired fear and respect, with it's blood vials. The Bloodfang, well it inspired a completely different reaction. Fox had stopped wearing it when it proved to gather more attention then her stealthing skills could evade. There was nothing worse then to be in a crowded auction house and have some random stranger pat your rear. If she had a single idea who had done it she would have broken every single bone in their hand.
Shrugging because she had no choice. It was the only formal uniform she had on hand. Shame on her for being in this predicament. If she had gone with practicality rather then keeping her just in case gear with her. She was getting older and her parents were still holding out for Mr. Wonderful to come sweep her off her feet. She didn't have the heart to tell them the last male too actually do that was a Troll druid who had cycloned her in a battle ground. They didn't know what she did for a living and they never would. Myles and Gracie Fulbright still thought she was a talented leather worker currently looking for fine skins and selling her wares in Pandaria.
She pulled the two bags over her shoulder, and headed out to the showers. A sense of guilt always ate at her when she thought about her parents. But what choice did she have? Just walk in to their little Stormwind town house on the canal side of the Trade district and say, "Mom, Dad, just want to tell you that your only child has been an active agent of the SI-7, killing horde in open combat, and going on suicide missions to kill people for the last seven years. You are okay with that, right?"
Myles Fulbright would accept it with gentle dignity, and worry himself into a heart attack. Her mother, Gracie, would bash Fox's head in with a skillet. But then Gracie had always held out hope that her daughter, Eloise Carmine Fulbright, would have the bearing of a high lady. Which Fox did have, up to the day one of Stormwind's young noble men had pushed her temper to far. Taunting her over the fact her father was a lowly dockworker, and there for not acceptable to own a home within Stormwind's walls. The teenage Eloise, who had always been nothing but a credit to the Fulbright name, had been unable to stop her fist from flying into the dandy's jaw. She had not only knocked him out, when she bashed him off the cobblestone road. She had broken his jaw, knocked out quite a few of his teeth, and left him with a minor concussion. All of which had not upset her in the slightest. In fact after that she had felt great and was more then willing to do so again!
Fox shrugged to herself. There was nothing to be done to change fate. She was destined to be what she was, and the only ones who would ever know the truth would be Besty, Shaw and herself.
"Are you wanting a shower, rogue?" One of the apprentice mages came out of her chair.
Fox nodded to the woman, "Yes thank you."
"I will heat the tanks right away."
"Could you keep an eye on the water level as well? I really need to drown myself in there today."
The woman smiled knowingly, "Not a problem. Summoning water and heating it is becoming my specialty. Although I can tell you it will be the happiest day in my life to graduate beyond these kind of tasks."
Fox snorted, "More position is nothing but more thankless work. Trust me, when I tell you this. The higher up you get the more you deal with the arrogant, self entitled, bossy..." Fox could have trailed on forever, as she was assaulted by the image of Besty cuddling into Varian. The nerve of that man! Besty was her gryphon. He touches her mount again, Fox swore to herself she would take action. Possibly kick him in the shin. Taking a deep breath she moved into the changing area of the showers. Soon she would be in sheer heaven. What could be better then a long hot shower? It was a safe haven, where no one would intrude. In a word, bliss.
O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0
His headache had returned. Varian paced the floor in front of his desk looking down at the papers in his hands. Letter upon letter of requests for aid, supplies, and various other resources. They ranged from Stormwind herself, to the rest of Eastern Kingdoms, Kalimdor, Northrend, and Pandaria. Luckily for him, Velen was currently handling these issues from the Exodar for Outlands, including Shattrath. Maybe he should pen Tyrande and alleviate himself of some of this burden. Something he would hate to do, but at this point was starting to prove necessary.
"Good news!"
Varian looked up to see Shaw walking into the room. The papers were stacked in one hand and tossed on to the desk.
"Your second favorite rogue is awake. I just received word from the agent I had watching her."
"You do realize that Fox is my favorite rogue, right?" Varian looked over his desk. Was there a desk there any more? There was so much paper he couldn't tell.
Shaw cocked up an eyebrow, "After all we have been through, and you replace me for the first pretty face to come down the pike? Now that's just cold."
"It's not Fox's appearance that got you replaced. It's that she wasn't the one who brought Sheylann into my bedroom."
"That is debatable," Shaw drew the word out thoughtfully, "But my Shey did find out why Fox collapsed, and have Goldenleaf sent to gather the intelligence you requested."
"Not that I need it now. Fox is awake." Varian smiled over at Shaw, "Why don't you go gather her up for me. I haven't had dinner yet. She can explain what happened to me while we eat."
"Dinner two nights in a row? I knew you still liked me best." Shaw turned to exit the room.
Varian called after him, "I didn't invite you. I was inviting her."
Shaw was out of sight when his voice echoed back into the room, "Then I stand by my earlier statement that you are one cold man, your Majesty!"
Varian felt vast amounts of relief. This morning's events had awakened painful memories. All day he had been haunted by the thought that Fox might never wake up, now she was. It was far to late for them to go fishing this evening. As amusing as the adventure in Paw'don was, he wasn't ready to repeat it. Then again, if Fox had been a little more susceptible to his charm things could be different.
Varian froze and contemplated his last thought. Was he really upset that he had failed to seduce Fox? Of course not! He hadn't really tried. If he were, surely he would have succeeded. He simply didn't want to. There is to much work to be this distracted. "Blasted woman. I need to figure out why she keeps popping up in my head."
Walking over to the door he motioned for one of the guards, "Go tell the chef that I need dinner for two again to night. Nothing extravagant, but palatable enough to a woman." He turned away and then back "Oh and make sure it's served in the informal dining room. I don't have any desire to shout across the banquet hall. That will be all."
The guard blinked. Unsure he had heard the King right. Looking to his fellow guard he questioned, "Did he just asked for a secluded romantic dinner for two?"
"Make sure they set out wine and candles. I do not want to get in trouble for being lax in our duty." The other man offered.
"Okay. Who am I to argue?"
O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0O0
Shaw stood outside the sectioned off showering facility. Hand on his hips and a serious look of concentration on his features. "Who is inside?"
"I already told you three times." The mage flipped through her steamy romance novel without paying a moment's attention to the Leader of the SI-7.
"Humor me and tell me again."
"A rogue with black hair and brown eyes. She didn't give me her name, but she did tell me to avoid anyone with an advanced title." Looking up she narrowed her blue-green eyes on Shaw, "I am beginning to see why."
That did it. Shaw was not going to stand outside the showers all day being chastised by a baby mageling. He started forward. That got the girl off her chair.
"That is the woman's side, sir! You can't go. in. there." Blinking as the man blatantly ignored her words. What was she to do about this? No one had ever even suggested such a thing could happen. She lifted her book to cover her mouth. Being a mage she was intelligent enough to know there wasn't anything she could do. Let the rogues work it out between themselves.
Shaw ripped back the shower curtain in one swift pull. The prize he sought standing with her arms resting on the wall before her. She had her head lowered so the water was rolling down over her shoulders and back. What shocked Shaw was that she was not harshly cut in form as he had been expecting. The smooth skin covering soft feminine curve to feminine curve.
The cooler air alerted Fox that something was wrong and she looked to see Shaw standing before her. His arm holding back the curtain and a look that could be described as nothing better then male approval. At first Fox had a moment of confusion. Shaw should have taken that moment and dropped the curtain, but he was still to caught up in admiring what was on display.
Instinct would have driven a forceful kick to Shaw's nether region. Some where in her unconscious mind there was the fact the man staring at her had been her boss for the last seven years. Taking her orders from him tempered her reaction. She reached out and pulled the curtain toward her body. The hooks breaking free as she let loose a very strong, "Son of a ….." The material clinched to her chest as she turned from side to side spraying water around the stall.
"Calm down, Fox. It's just me. It's not like I haven't seen tons of other women naked before." Shaw smirked. He was actually feeling a bit amused by the situation.
That all ended when Fox's palm connected with his jaw. "Pervert!"
Shaw was knocked off his feet and landed hard on his back. The impact causing him to bounce and skid across the soaked stone floor. "Damn Fox!" He shouted as he tried to sit up. Only to get her foot pressed down on the side of his head. Unable to move, and there for unable to so much as peek up at her. "Alright, Alright, I over stepped. I'm sorry."
"Apology is not accepted!" Fox's voice growled out. She continued holding him down. Looking around debating on grabbing her clothing or a towel. She went for her armor. Shaw did not deserve to see her in a towel.
She threw the curtain over Shaw as she lifted her foot. ""If you so much as twitch under there before I'm clothed, I will kill you!"
"In that tone, I almost think you mean it." Shaw's voice was clearly settled on the verge of laughing despite the pain to his jaw. A sharp kick in the side had him curling into a fetal position. "Ow, gods, watch the ribs."
Fox pulled open her pack and started hopping around the room. Getting dry leather over a wet body was hard work. Trying to do it with any speed was futile. "Why are you in here? Someone had better be dying."
"King Wyrnn has sent for you."
Fox pulled hard on her shirt trying to get it down over her chest. Damn, she had forgotten her bindings. This was turning into work! "Is he sick?"
"No." Shaw rolled his eyes just before another strike came to his side again, "AH! You keep kicking me and I will stop being compliant to your interrogation."
Fox pulled her pants up. With them, and her shirt on she was more then agreeable to pulling the curtain off Shaw. As she did, he rocked painfully into a sitting position. She curled up her top lip at him and shook her head. Then reached over to grab hold of her boots.
"Bloodfang? Someone is dressing to impress." Shaw noted.
"The Slayers is ruined. This is all I have and I am not happy about it." Fox pulled on the boots before reaching for the shoulder pads in a rush. She certainly was in a fine snit now.
"You should be. Varian has requested you join him for dinner. I am pretty sure if you go in looking like that, you could walk out with half the gold in the Alliance Treasury and the deed to Elywnn Forest."
"If I wanted the gold, I could have stolen it long ago, and Elywnn is way to big for me to govern alone. I would settle for a rain check and sent back to my barracks to sleep." Fox had fitted her gloves over her hands. Sadly, she was forced to readjust her chest piece to align her breasts. Thanks to the missing binding.
"You are going to skip dinner?"
"Are you crazy? I haven't eaten anything since I had tea with Mrs. Mudclaw!" Fox tossed back. The brown eyes pinning on Shaw. "I can grab something they have on hand in the chow hall, and then dive back into my bed."
"You have to eat anyway, just humor him. He wants to hear what happened with you." Shaw watched her slamming things into her pack.
"I will go tell him a very edited version of events, then food, then bed."
"Seeing you in that set, he just might agree." Shaw came to his feet and tossed the curtain to the floor. Looking up to realize Fox had been waiting for him to do just that.
The loud crack of her hand across his cheek was done with all the flare of an enrage high Lady. The red imprint she left caused her to nod in approve and exit the shower.
Author Note: Just want to take a moment to thank you for stopping by and reading. I am doing my very best to get this updated daily so check back often. You can also follow for email updates. Favoriting would just end up making me happy, can't have that can we? Reviewers, you have been so kind. It's great seeing what you think and giving me motivation. Oh, and tomorrow's chapter is already done, thanks to a local football game! Who says you can't take Warcraft with you?