A/N: First, thanks for the beta work Ashtwi. Second, enjoy peeps. I know its been awhile.
Disclaimer: I still don't own Twilight or its characters. I think you know this by now.
Chapter 9 Swagger Like Us
The newer, calmer, coffee-filled Nate never backed down on calling me a piss poor fighter and began his training regimen with me when we returned from Oregon. Yup, some random forest in Oregon is where he and Huilen stashed their travel packs on the way to the big show down. Alice encouraged them to leave the few belongings they had carried on their backs in the forests of the Oregon. She had a strange inkling that they would not be subjected to Aro's touch. It was a precaution to try to maintain some of their anonymity.
On the trek there Nate talked extensively about the tiring journey on foot from Chile. He was already exhausted by the time he arrived in the clearing. I have to admit it gave me butterflies when he said, "How could I sleep after finally catching a glimpse of you? There are no dreams that can compare." Then I crashed equally hard when he added, "When I realized you were borderline suicidal I simply could not risk being incapacitated for hours on end."
When we reached his stash in the hills he asked, "Would it be possible for us to spend this evening out here, away from the constant seeking of danger?" Being so far from my pack had me reluctant to encounter the dangers this forest could hold for us. My hesitation prompted him to virtually plead, "Leah I will never allow anything to harm you again. I have recovered fully. Do you trust me to keep you safe? Will you stay with me?" He pleaded as though I would really say no, as if I didn't know how far he would go for the likes of me.
I checked in with Jacob to make sure the pack would be okay without us, but after Nate's low caffeine display I think he was more worried about me than the safety of the pack. With my responsibilities covered we hunted together for the first time. We made a good Jack Sprat and wife sort of team. We took down a buck deer; Nate drained it and I ate it. Even my wolf found it more bearable with the flesh less squishy. Still gross though, no getting around that.
We made camp around a small fire Nate built before settling me in his arms on his bed roll. We talked for hours on end, nothing life shattering, just chit chat. We let the conversation flow naturally. He voluntarily explained his coffee addiction's most mundane origin. He picked it up at working on various plantations and ranches. The work day started with a cup of the strong brew. To fit in, he drank the coffee, finding that if he took it slowly, nursing a cup or two, he could avoid conversation altogether. Repeat for decades on end and he became a classic coffee case. It was almost exactly like my mom, picking up the habit working at the hospital. It seemed bizarrely normal on him. I recounted tales of never mess with Sue Clearwater until after the second cup. He nodded in understanding saying it was a wonder he didn't kill someone considering how long he had been without his coffee. Naturally I pointed that he had actually killed three times. No wondering involved. He brewed a small pot of his favorite blend over the fire. I was convinced I wouldn't fall asleep after tasting it but eventually I drifted to sleep cuddled safely in his arms.
During that evening he asked me to give up patrolling several times at sporadic intervals woven naturally into the conversation. When he realized I'd be as stubborn about keeping my patrols as he was about staying awake all that time, he insisted we start training right away.
Training with Nate was not at all like training with the pack. It never occurred to me that maybe the guys were holding back because I'm a girl. If anything, I thought they were trying to do me in since I had insulted each and every one of them, including Seth, the former bed-wetter, in every way humanly possible. They probably weren't going easy on me on purpose; it was more than likely a subconscious or a Sam-conscious thing.
Nate had no problems of the sort. He'd spent his whole life sparring with his aunt. She was harder than rock and cold as ice but she too was female like me, although she probably didn't bruise like me, curse like a sailor, or inadvertently insult his mother. Regardless he didn't cut me any slack for any reason and I had the black and blue marks to prove it. I wanted to be his tough warrior chick, you know, take it like a man, silent and strong but the truth is that shit hurt. A lot.
I asked him, in order to stall while we took a brief water break, "Did all of your technique come from fighting Huilen?" If so, I could understand why he was not inclined to worry about her traveling alone.
"No, not all of it. I owe a great deal of my fighting knowledge to Joham."
I was surprised by his answer. "I never took Joham to be that kind of dad. Showing you how to survive and what not." I took a small sip of water, trying to make the pain-free moment last.
"Ah, you are right. Joham is not that type of father. Early on, before he had given up hope of me joining him, he did put forth the effort to teach me a little of what he knew. He wanted me alive on the possibility I would change my mind. He has since given up, but on those occasions that I do visit my sisters he does try to kill me. It has kept my skills sharp."
His delivery was so calm, making his statement seem rational. I had to play it back in my head 'does try to kill me.' Once I was sure all the words were in the right place I exclaimed, "What?"
"He claims he is keeping my skills sharp but I know better. He would not mind if I were dead. That is simply his way." Nate took a swig of water and rested his arm across my shoulders, pulling me close to place a kiss above my ear, "I am glad you had a good father who cared for you." In his far away gaze I saw many memories I could not even wrap my head around. He stared out over the back lawn to the river rushing by, the last rays of sunlight danced on the water and enhanced the faint glimmer of his skin. His expression placed him many miles away, in another time and place. There was something poetic and timeless about the moment, something that said sit still, think deep thoughts, pose for a postcard and let the man have his moment of reflection. I wanted to respect the moment but not as much as I wanted to hear more about this Joham and why I shouldn't go kill the mutherfucker.
"Back up, how is it his way to want you dead? How is it that you haven't killed him? If I ever meet him I intend to, right after 'Hello'. I don't know maybe even before 'Hello'." I needed at least some sort of an introduction just to know who he was. Then again, we were killing unknown vampires on sight so before 'Hello' was the way to go. I was resolved, kill Nate's father on sight and feel the satisfaction later when Nate identified the body.
"You would try it, wouldn't you?" Nate chuckled easily. "Then my hand would be forced and I would have to destroy him. However, as much as Huilen has watched out for me all these years, Joham has watched over my sisters. To him I am little more than a failed experiment; I will not join him and I refuse to procreate. He wishes to abort the experiment. Obviously he waited far too long."
I was trying to figure out how one hadn't killed the other. I couldn't see a friendly resolution. "That makes sense somewhat but...how do these fights end where you both come out alive?"
"Leah, did you notice how the two males that I killed remained standing?"
I could remember it now; the bodies were rooted firmly to the ground like trees. It actually hadn't seemed too odd at the time, Nate's speed had all of my attention, but now on closer examination it was off. Just the force of Nate propelling himself away should have knocked their bodies to the ground.
"My venom affects them. It appears to act on what passes as their central nervous system. Joham likes to say I am tainted as though it's an insult. As if, were I a good son, I would let him kill me. I learned this from my early encounters with trying to leave Joham alive. My venom leaves him incapacitated for a few hours. My sisters and I visit in peace while Joham fumes helplessly. I rather enjoy his impotent fury."
Daintily, I took another sip, preparing to ask him anything whatsoever that might keep him off my ass. "So...um...what do you and your sisters do on these visits?"
"No more dallying," Nate announced and sprang to his feet, "we have a few more minutes until dinner."
"Maybe we should hit the shower now." I tried to divert his attention but just like every other tactic I tried to forestall training, it didn't work. If I said I was tired he would respond, "And sometimes you will be Leah but remember, vampires do not tire, you will have to fight through it." When I complained that he came at me too hard he said, "That's how fights go, Leah, hard until someone dies. Now get up and come at me again." When the rage took over and I lashed out with everything I had in me, Nate wasted no time putting me in check, physically in check, embarrassingly in check. "Anger, rage and any other emotion," he contended, "clouds the judgment. Unwavering focus requires a coolness and calmness of mind." I longed to fight a real vampire because I was pretty sure it had to be easier than fighting this freaky fast monster, and no matter the outcome with a hostile vampire there would be no lecture at the end. When I shared this brilliant insight with Nate he objected playfully with the logic that vampires are, if nothing else, dramatic, "Beautiful, they can't help monologuing. If you lose, the lecture could go on for hours and hours."
It took some time and effort to get past my awe of him and my concern for his physical well being, but once I did I found out I was indeed physically stronger than him. On the rare occasions that I landed a solid blow on my imprint two things happened; I was hit with mental recoil of pain so severe I could barely function, and Nahuel became ecstatically happy, rejoicing with pride to anyone who would listen. I complained about the backlash of pain, but again he would say, "Leah you will have to attack through pain too. Remember it is all in your head, so hone your body to keep fighting. Always be prepared to separate mind from body. It is not an easy task but it will give you an advantage against vampires who use mental attacks. I have found they lack skill in hand to hand combat." He had an answer for everything and that answer seemed to be 'Leah, I will be whooping that ass repeatedly until you can stop me. Comprende?'
I did perchance say one day under my breath, "Shouldn't there be some sorta wax on, wax off routine first?" To my surprise he responded, "I do not have a car and your problem is considerably more dangerous than a bunch of human teens." Karate Kid, he explained, was part of his pop culture curriculum in the intense training the Cullens were providing. He tried to convince me his training was just as grueling but somehow I had trouble believing watching movies half the morning and playing video games the other half could not truly compare.
We sandwiched workouts or 'brutal beatings' as I affectionately called them, in after I got off work from my new job at the reservation school. There happened to be an opening for a teacher's aide in the pre-school class, because the previous aide did not return after winter break. Having met the kids I could see why. Although I had no credentials I got the job solely on Sam's recommendation. I never even applied or interviewed. The school secretary simply called me to come in to complete paperwork and next thing I know I'm zipping coats, wiping noses and enforcing naptime. Getting a job based on who I slept with never figured into my life's plan, but whatever, it was a job.
Our life had a semblance of routine. Work followed by practice on the Cullen's back lawn, then a huge meal with my pack around Esme's dining room table or off to the side in the private room with my imprint. If we were lucky we could catch a private moment at our tree or in the golden room. Then I would get home a.s.a.p. to get in some actual sleep before going in to battle with the three and four year olds. The routine was exhausting but there was no point in complaining. Jared, Sam, Paul, those of us out of school and holding down full time jobs, had to work some sort of private life in where it could fit. Even the pack members in school, which now included Jacob due to a conversation I had with my little buddy Nessie, had a rather tight schedule. My latest theory was 'imprinting: because wolves don't have time to date'. Impatiently we waited for the new wolves to mature because there was no option of reducing patrols; they had become more vital than ever.
In the two week period after Nate's collapse we had seen four more instances of vampire activity. By we, I meant Nate and me. A definite pattern had emerged; all vampires were coming straight to Nate. No matter where the new scent was picked up, it became clear that the path would deviate and come in a direct line towards us. It would seem that vamps looking for werewolf action would at least follow the wolf smell that permeated the forest. But no, our scent was abhorrent and unknown to them. Nate's smell, although unknown, was alluring and the greedy bastards fell for it every time.
Nate and I weren't so much a patrol team as we were bait, in other words we were the envy of our warrior friends. Envy. Emmett brought me a purse I left behind at Cullen Arms; I don't carry a purse and certainly not a Coach bag, it was Rose's. What the hell was I gonna do with a purse in my wolf form...at 2 a.m in the middle of the forest? Rose showed up on his heels to retrieve it dressed in black leather with her hair in a ponytail stuffed down the back of her jacket. All she needed was some hoop earrings to remove to make her intentions clear. They ran with us the rest of the night with no further word of explanation. Jasper and Edward came at least twice together to 'check on us'. Edward cleverly brought a thermos of coffee and sandwiches making his intrusion welcome. They stayed on our heels all night, I guess making sure the digestion went okay to be on the safe side.
My wolf brethren were even more transparent. Jacob said I looked tired and offered to run with Nahuel in my stead. I had to remind him that Nate didn't actually have patrol duties; they were mine. Jacob pulled rank and ran with us anyway. Seth insisted that Mom asked him to keep an eye on me and followed us an entire evening. Paul however took the cake. After a little pack meet up in the forest he tried to pass himself off as me, since we have the same wolf coloring. He took my place at Nate's side while I pulled a burr off Kara's back. Nate was not fooled but he was amused and rode Paul's back for a good hour while calling him a "Good Dog" and scratching behind his ears. I ran with Kara during Paul's shenanigan which represented real progress for Nate and I. I was out on patrol and he was not at my side or even on my back. He was gaining some confidence in my skills, not enough to let me fight, but enough to not watch me like a hawk.
Nate
I eased the door open, not wishing to startle her sleeping form on the bed. She was, as always, a vision of loveliness, my little Leah. So innocent and so delightfully unsweet. She even had a wrinkle between her eyebrows like someone had angered her in her dreams. I smiled for she was probably dreaming of me. I was ever so tempted to smooth her brow with a kiss but resisted the urge. My Leah, I had observed, was her happiest when she had a little anger about her. I should not linger.
The carpet further dampened my already silent footsteps as I crossed her room to the bed. I could hardly believe I was actually here in Leah's bedroom, her inner sanctum, one of the many places where I could not be by her side. I wondered about her entire childhood that had passed in this room, in this house, in this tiny village where she seemed to make enduring enemies. As tempting as the prospect of exploring was, it could not compete with the temptation of Leah lying there pliant in a thin pink shirt that barely reached the curve of her luscious bottom. A wisp of white cotton hid her perfection from my sight. Finally at her bedside, I hesitated on calling her name to wake her, wanting to prolong the exploration of my Leah.
The sheet lying only across her calves was offensive to me. I found every inch of her fascinating; I whipped the offending cotton away before giving in to the urge to caress. I traced a path with a single finger starting at her delicate ankle over the smooth skin of her lower leg to her firm calves. I did not rush the stolen moment as I should have, instead drawing it out. By the time I reached her upper thigh, my touch had changed from one finger gentle enough to caress a bubble to three fingers pressing in to soak up her delightful heat. Vampire women were frigid, human women were tepid like coffee cooled beyond its peak. Leah was just right, like espresso - hot and strong. My hands stretched open greedily in anticipation of gripping her ass. Soft skin, firm and rounded; I could get lost in every part of her. I chuckled quietly. Could? I was lost; drowning was a more apt description. I massaged her smooth warm skin, leaning in to kiss each crescent.
"Umm," Leah moaned and I jumped back like a thief caught red-handed. She had not awakened, slightly roused she rolled onto her back mumbling, "Nate" her name for me. I reveled in her claim of me on her lips. 'Nate' was a man, not a monster living a ghost of a life. Nate had a future with this beautiful, lush, warm woman. If I could just keep her alive for it, but even in that she was progressing. Every day it was easier for her to focus beyond all distraction and battle me fiercely. I gloried in the strength of her blows; each one was a promise of her longevity and mine too, for I doubted my ability to exist without her. NaLeah was an apt description.
My eyes drank her in. The touch of a frown was gone, a hint of a smile in its place. The thin cotton shirt was still there, stretched across taunt nipples. My mouth watered in anticipation of tasting the wonder twins as she called them. I didn't want to tell her they were not exactly twins, each had a distinct flavor and the right was at least a whole gram heavier than the left.
However not even the wonder twins could compete with the most enchanting aroma of all, the smell of Leah's arousal. Her earthy essence permeated the air with the sweetest perfume I had ever known. There was no blood that could compete with this smell. That was the trade off; Leah was mine as long as I could control myself and never indulge in human blood again. If I slipped just once I would forever be cut off from her. I breathed her in again, the trade off was a fair one. Leah wanted me; even in her sleep she wanted me, just as I am. Vampire allurements were not necessary; all she wanted was me, for no discernible reason.
How could she think she was not made for me? Leah was even infertile; therefore I would never have to see my monstrous offspring claw its way free, poisoning her blood with certain death. Leah was just right.
I leaned in closer to her core, running my nose along the thin cloth covering her sex while inhaling her deeply into my lungs and I was powerless in the grip of the call of my body to hers. My good intentions upon entering crumbled to dust. My tongue replaced my nose, wetting the cotton, knowing it would not be enough. I disrobed her quickly but stealthily for I knew her wrath would be great when she caught me here. I did not want to hasten her full anger; I needed a little more time.
Spreading her lean brown thighs, I inhaled deeply yet again before using my thumbs to grant me full access to her sex. I endeavored to do that which I had never done before. My tongue touched her velvety folds obliterating all else as her taste exploded in my mouth.