scurlock | (no subject)

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[after this]

When they make their way into the bar, Doc's grateful for the heated interior as a contrast to the cold air that's outside. After a few hours, it gets to the point where you just want to get warm no matter what you're doing or how important it is, which is why they've come inside with their lunch.

His arm is still around her shoulders as he glances down at her. "You want to change first, or just camp out by the fire and get warm that way? I can get drinks from Bar."

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She looks up when she can feel his eyes on her profile.

For a while, all she does is meet his glance. Blue on green.

Like the water in Green Lake.

"You're welcome," she whispers. "Thank you."

He offers her a small smile, and then turns his attention back to the fireplace.

The flames flickering remind him of the night they nearly burned down Lincoln proper, breaking him and Chavez out of the pit, but he shakes his brain away from that and focuses on the shy fish instead.

She watches as his thoughts begin to wander, trying not to look overly concerned or guilty for the serious turn her topic had taken their conversation.

Slowly, tentatively, like an abused animal reaching for a proffered treat, she shifts her body closer to his, shoulder moving under his arm, head coming to rest on his shoulder. Her right arm crosses over her body until her fingers find his right hand, curling slowly around it.

She doesn't say anything as she takes her time settling against him, her hip at his hip, her thigh at his thigh. She sighs, and snuggles close.

Doc ensures that the blanket is still wrapped snugly around her shoulders, as well as his arm, and with their bodies pressed up against each other, the heat from the fire soaks in and helps fight the chill from the earlier ride and the cold feelings in his gut and chest from the topic of conversation.

Not that it was her fault.

His actions, after all.

He inhales gently and then tips his head to rest it lightly against hers.

He has given her a lot to think about.

She wants to say she's sorry again, but she doesn't. She simply sits quiet, letting the heat from his body and the room soak into her flesh.

It isn't long before her eyes fall heavy.

"Must be gettin' tired," she murmurs, blinking very slowly. "Looks like there're fish swimmin' in the fireplace."

He chuckles gently when he hears what she's saying.

"That's not because you're tired. There are fish, in the fireplace. They're kind of shy, though."

Pause.

She tilts her head back until her chin is resting on his shoulder now, looking at him with furrowed brow and big, curious eyes.

Her mouth isn't quite working at the moment, but the general message is probably conveyed.

Milliways.

He smiles and runs a hand over her hair.

"One of the gods or magic folk put them in there, so I've heard...long time ago. I ain't quite sure 'bout the details..."

Doc continues to run his fingers through the blonde strands as he speaks.

"This place has got all sorts of weird things."

"Oh."

It should probably concern her that she accepts this explanation so readily, but she has seen and heard a lot weirder in her time here. And at the moment, she's mildly distracted, anyway, by the gentle motion of his fingers. Her hair hadn't been tied back all that tight earlier, so it won't take much more effort on Doc's part to pull it down completely, if he keeps it up.

"I'd say that's a bit of an understatement," she sighs, smiling softly. "It certainly isn't anything like home."

That's exactly what Doc is trying to do, stealthily of course.

"I like the fact that it ain't like home."

They couldn't do this in Green Lake, certainly. People would talk.

Of course. And it's totally working.

Never mind the slowly growing smirk on Katherine's face.

"Yeah?" she murmurs. And, suddenly, the loose knot breaks, and down her hair comes tumbling, falling around her face in a soft, gold curtain.

"What do you like so much about it?"

"Fact that you and I can sit together like this and don't have folk spreadin' rumors 'bout things."

Doc adds his second hand to her hair to smooth it down, away from her eyes.

Her eyes close briefly with the addition of that second hand, fighting back the chill that thrills through her skin and the soft moan threatening at her lips.

It's a bit of a weak spot.

"Right," she whispers, voice a bit weak. "You got that reputation of yours to protect, after all."

"The teacher from New York City," he agrees, with a slight nod.

(Doc's well aware of what he's doing to her.)

"It wouldn't do to spoil that."

"Heaven forbid," comes the teasing whisper, her head involuntarily leaning into his touch. "What would they all th-think, if they only knew the scoundrel I know..."

Also almost involuntarily, her right hand skates across his chest, fingers stretching up to draw slow, featherlight lines across his collarbone, before stopping at his shoulder.

"...They'd run you out of town."

Doc exhales, but it's a laugh in his breath as he does so.

"Reckon they would, but...suppose I'm pretty well used to that," he drawls, lightly. "'Sides. This scoundrel would likely ride off with their teacher and then they'd be out two educators. Serve them right."

If Doc is trying to woo Katherine, it's kind of unnecessary.

...If not completely effective.

She laughs softly, shivering again with how good his fingers in her hair feels.

"You sayin' you're gonna sweep me off into that sunset? Like my knight in shining armor?" she nips playfully.

"Mmmhmm."

Doc smirks, to himself.

"Steal y'away, find some place t'settle down, you and I."

Settle down.

You and I.

Her mouth is open slightly, soft eyes steadily peering up at him, and she can feel goosebumps rise on her skin.

"Y'know, I think you lied to me," she murmurs seriously.

Doc pauses his hands in her hair and looks at her.

Curiously.

"What about?"

"About who's sitting next to me tonight," she says, one hand skating up to his wrist to encourage his hands to keep doing just what they're doing.

"I'd say there's more'n just a touch of that outlaw here, you silver-tongued devil," she teases.

He honestly laughs at that.

"Well, I'd have to say that this silver-tongued devil's got a heart of gold, where you're concerned, Miss Barlow," he muses, cheekily, as he resumes the motions of his hands through her hair, fingers skating her scalp.

A slow-spreading smile greets his words, and she might have kept teasing him, had her voice not vanished the second his fingers started moving along her scalp.

To her credit, she holds in yet another moan incurred by how good he's making her feel. However, she can't stop the sharp intake of breath that comes in its stead.

"W-why would you say that?" she breathes at last, head tipping back.

Doc slows his hands, but doesn't stop.

"'Cause I want nothin' but the best for you, even if I don't think I'm the best for you...and I still want you anyways. Can't quite make up my mind whether t'set you free or ride off with you in a cloud of dust t'the sunset."

He leans down and presses his lips to the top of her head.

"You make me happy."

She opens her eyes to him, surprised by his words. She isn't quite sure whether or not her heart is beating.

It takes several long seconds before she can move again. She picks up the hand that was on his shoulder, and moves it to his other wrist, so she is holding onto both of his hands now.

"Doc," she murmurs, shaking her head almost imperceptibly. She shifts her body closer to him, claiming his lips in a soft, sweet kiss.

She takes her time.

When they finally break, she hovers close a moment longer, nose brushing his. Her eyes search him out as she struggles to find the right words.

"You don't have to worry 'bout whether 'r not you're gonna be the 'best' for me; that's for me t' decide. And right now? I want you, too."