The Burly Husband, and the Clingy Wife
A/N I have written Gabrieel far too many times. Readers, please take a second to imagine that lol. :)
Xena was dressed in robes that hung off her, playing the part of the devoted husband. Whilst Gabrielle had the overly handsy, loved-up wife act down like it was old hat. Xena looked down at Gabrielle on her arm and wondered whether they could keep this ruse going any longer than they had to. The way she smiled as she was talking - telling their 'story' - to the people around them, Xena melted watching Gabrielle's eyes light up just looking at her. Love trickled through her veins.
"Isn't that right, honey?" Gabrielle said expectantly, her emphasis on her new pet name only for the effect of making the warlords in front of them convinced they were in fact, a newlywedded couple. Their plan had been to sneak past them in the tavern, acting all lovey-dovey and avoiding an altercation altogether as they went up to their room.
They'd been standing outside the inn, Xena's hands on her hips. "The problem is if Zagreus sees us we're done for, and I really don't want to run into any trouble." She said, peering in through the window to see what the warlord and his band of thieves were up to.
Gabrielle frowned, a line appearing on her forehead. "We need a disguise," she said, searching around the market. Her eyes landed on a stall selling all sorts of fabrics, "here Xena look." She walked over and spoke with the merchant for a few minutes and flirting enough that she only had to hand over a few dinars for the cloths. She came back with different layers in all different colours. "Put these on," she said, handing over a pair of pants and a tunic that was four sizes too big. "You can be my husband." She winked cheekily and wrapped a large strip of unsewn fabric around her to make a sort of dress.
"Fine, but just so you know, I would be a great husband." She reluctantly pulled on the clothes. She'd never dressed as a man before, it was certainly different. Usually she used her more feminine attributes to lure in men, not masculine ones to push them away. When she looked back up the Gabrielle that was standing before her was the image of a blushing bride. She had her hands pressed together, the pink fabric draped around her curves in the most satisfying way. She looked perfect. Though another thought crossed Xena's mind, "what if they can't take their eyes off you?"
Gabrielle looked up, quirking an eyebrow, "what?"
Xena found something really interesting to look at in the market, "well, I just mean that, with you looking like that."
Gabrielle found it hard not to blush. But quickly brushed it off, taking Xena's arm, she pointed them towards the door. "Come on, let's get this over with."
That was how they'd ended up at the bar, Gabrielle vividly telling the fake story of how'd they met and fell in love, and how beautiful the wedding had been, and how they were staying here for a few nights before moving on to Athens for their honeymoon. Though the bard was a talented storyteller, and Xena loved to hear her spin words for others, she was beginning to think this had gone on a little too long. They were dressed like this as a small diversion only, but it was turning into a bit of show. Everyone in the tavern had tuned into their conversation to hear Gabrielle talk, even the barmaid had stopped cleaning the tankards to look over.
There was a lull in the conversation where Gabrielle looked down at Xena's hand - placed besides hers on the bar - and covered it with her own. Then she leaned back into Xena's shoulder. Xena felt her whole body stiffen, not moving for fear she would dislodge the bard from her cosy spot. Then the barmaid leaned over the counter and said, "so how did you know he was the one?"
Gabrielle sighed lovingly, turning up towards Xena and catching the corner of her eye. "I just knew, from the moment we met. Sh-He er let me travel with him, even though I was just a little girl from Potidaea, he didn't have to, but he took a chance on me." Gabrielle hesitated, a small smile overcoming her lips. A smile Xena knew was truer than anything she'd said all night. Then after a moment it faded and Gabrielle slipped back into character, "that and he's so handsome." She leaned up and cupped Xena's cheek ever so gently, kissing her like it was the most simple and ordinary thing in the world.
Xena ignored the rising butterflies in her stomach and looked down at the girl in her lap, it had been a few years, but she was still just a girl. With a few drinks down she was getting tired, and Xena knew if this continued any longer she was going to have to put her back into the role of 'burly husband' and carry her up the stairs to bed. Not that minded the thought if she was honest with herself. The more she thought about it and the repercussions and the consequences and all the other really long words, she decided it was giving her a headache. Sometimes she didn't want to have to think about how this would affect both of them, she just wanted to let her heart take control.
She felt Gabrielle's head slipping down the side of neck as she 'rested' her eyes. Putting her hand flat on the bar and pushing up - careful to hold Gabrielle in place - she said, "right, I think we should be getting off to bed," in the manliest voice she could muster. She shook Gabrielle lightly by the arm until she opened her eyes. Her hand going to her cheek, "hey honey, I think we should be going upstairs now." She tried to hint as much as she could with her tone, but Gabrielle wasn't getting the message. She was sleepy, and a little drunk, and couldn't quite remember the ruse they were trying to keep up.
"Xena?" She whispered softly, her eyes falling shut again. Xena managed to catch her and hauled her up into her arms.
"Come on, let's go to bed eh?" She said, carrying her carefully out of the tavern and up the stairs to a room they'd agreed with the owner about earlier. As Gabrielle's head fell into the crook of Xena's neck, she managed to kick the door open with her foot. Inside the room was two single beds and a bag that'd been brought up. Xena gently laid Gabrielle down on the nearest bed and shrugged off her costume, leaving her in her usual leathers. She lit a candle and took her hair down, letting it flow down past her shoulders as she un-braided it.
Gabrielle opened her eyes softly, waking herself up a little when she realised she was no longer in the bar. "Hey," she said, noticing Xena on the other side of the room. "Do you think we fooled them?"
Xena nodded, "yes Gabrielle, I think we were a pretty convincing couple." She winced at her choice of wording, not knowing how to continue. How would Gabrielle take it?
"Yeah, I guess we are." The bard replied, not moving to take off her dress costume, preferring to stay in it for a while. The longer she got to be Xena's wife, the more she didn't want it to stop.
Xena got up and walked past her, heading for the other bed. She patted her hand on Gabrielle's knee, "get some sleep huh, we'll set off tomorrow and get out of this place. Try not to run into Zagreus again."
"Xena?" Gabrielle said as soon as she laid down, her hands resting behind her head. Xena mumbled back, so she got up and walked over to her bed. "Xena?" She said again, shaking her arm, "I just- I don't know what came over me tonight. I had fun, I guess I just didn't want it to end." She reached down and wrapped her hand around Xena's, like she had done at the bar. "I meant what I said, I just knew-"
Xena leaned up and interrupted her with a finger to her lips, "Gabrielle, shh. It's okay, you don't have to explain."
"But I-" she started again, her hands out wide, gesturing, Xena's eyes were down, focussed on the bedsheets. "Oh Xena, look at me." The warrior princess obeyed, meeting her eyes, "Xena-" In fact she did more than obey, she leaned up and claimed the bard's soft lips in a tender kiss. The butterflies returned, skimming the edges of her stomach, but she ignored them, her hand warm against her partner's.
"I love you too, Gabrielle."
