Private Tales Brothels and Broken Things

[Lexi Quinzell]

"Let's find out!" Lexi clapped her hands together in glee, the same longing Cassian felt reflected in her eye. Even the misty one seemed to swirl with eagerness for release. But before Alec or Cassian could protest, it was Kain who threw an arm out to stop her from getting past him.

"Absolutely not," he scowled, using the whole inch he had on her to draw himself up. "The Doctor told me - you're allowed to walk. Nothing else, not for another month and then it's light exercise."

Lexi gaped at him. Never before had Kain told her no.

"Why don't you come take a swing at them?" he turned instead to Cassian.

 

[Cassian]

Oh dear fuck no..

Cassian's hands oh-so-slowly rose to cover Daphne's fragile ears as he expected an outburst in response to Kain's refusal, his expression a grimace of expectation. But when there was, surprisingly, nothing, he eased.

Kain's offer caused his brow to rise and a fleeting flash of excitement to cross his face, but he schooled his features into something more nonchalant in effort to be more understanding of Lexi's debilitation. "I can wait until we're both fit." he glanced briefly at the woman by his side.

"I trust you can have them ready by then.." he smirked.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Alec tentatively put a hand on Lexi's shoulder, sensing the building explosion incoming. Kain seemed to sense it too. He had worked with Lexi since they were children; he knew full well that silence was never a good sign. So before she could explode at him he quickly plucked Daphne from her carrier and pressed her into Lexi's arms.

"Nonsense! Come on," he grinned, clapping Cassian on the back and then all but dragging him towards the recruits who had paused in their movements to wait nervously to see if their Commander would be joining them. "Cadets, you're in for a real treat today!"

Kain's gambit seemed to have paid off. Lexi's simmering rage had subsided when her daughter was placed in her arms and she let Alec guide her to one of the benches to watch.

 

[Cassian]

Cassian rubbed at the back of his neck as he accompanied Kain onto the training ground, his throat clearing as he turned to give Lexi a smiled that was still more of a grimace than anything. "She's goin' to beat the shit out of you for that, as soon as she's allowed to.. You know that right?" he murmured.

He grinned at his announcement and casually sized the recruits up as he went to pick up his weapons of choice. His shoulders rolled and his hands grasped the two, wooden short swords as he wandered to the centre.

"They all look a little wet behind the ears.." Cassian commented, noting the anxiety on some of their faces, but they quickly composed their faces in effort to look more determined. "Think they can bring me down?" he challenged with a smirk.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

"Oh, I know," Kain shared a grimace with Cassian before turning to the cadets. He would deal with the fall out as soon as the doctor gave her the all clear, which would be for a few months at least. He had time to organise a strategic mission that took him away just as that happened. In the meantime, however, he had no qualms of using the small babe as a metaphorical shield.

He looked back over the cadets and let his lips lift at one side, forming a crooked smile.

"I might have told them a few stories about you," fear could be healthy in certain doses. The cadets had been getting cocky with him, he wanted to see how they did with Cassian. "Brock and Jared. you're up," he nodded to two of the lanky looking lads who nervously stepped forward.

 

[Cassian]

"Stories, eh?.." Cassian cracked his neck from side to side and flourished his swords with a smug grin as he watched the two lads step forward. "Some say I'm a God.. Physically...Sexually.." he looked to Lexi and waggled his brows, then he sighed as though it were the heaviest of burdens to carry.

"It's true. I am, somewhat of an Adonis, but I'm not a God. We all have to have somethin' to aim for." he grinned, and beckoned them forward.

"Anyone gets a kill shot, or manages to bring me down, I'll buy your ale for a month." he offered, piquing their interests. They ran at him, loud and clumsy and instantly clotheslined to the ground. They scrambled to their feet and flanked him..

"Fuck me, Blue Balls, what shite have you been teachin' them?"

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Kain scowled at the use of the nickname in front of the young cadets. They glanced briefly to their commander before refocusing on Cassian. A little more determination seemed to steel their spine.

"If you can't even pin Cassian, you're both in for a world of hurt when the Commander gets the all clear to return to training. You've trained for this. Focus."

This time their pattern of attack seemed more coordinated and more sure, lunging at the same time towards Cassian.

 

[Cassian]

As Brock and Jared lunged at Cassian in a more coordinated fashion, their movements were still marked by a hint of hesitation. Cassian anticipated their approach with ease. With a fluid motion, he sidestepped their attacks, his wooden short swords moving with precision as he deflected their strikes.

The cadets pressed on, their determination evident in their gritted teeth and furrowed brows. They were eager to prove themselves, to show that they were worthy of their place among the White Ravens. But despite their efforts, Cassian remained elusive, his movements graceful and calculated.

As they closed in, Cassian saw an opening. With a swift motion, he disarmed Jared, knocking his wooden sword out of his hand with a well-placed strike. Before Jared could react, Cassian had him pinned to the ground, his own sword pressed against his chest.

Brock, seeing his comrade bested, hesitated for a moment, his resolve wavering. But Cassian was quick to capitalise on the opportunity. With a swift move, he disarmed Brock as well, leaving him defenceless.

In a matter of moments, both cadets found themselves on the ground, defeated but unharmed. Cassian stood over them, a smirk playing on his lips as he offered them a hand up.

"Not bad, lads," he said with a nod of approval. "But you've still got a long way to go. Keep trainin', and one day, you might just give me a run for my money." he grinned with a wink, and rose back up to flex a little.

Brock and Jared looked at one another their expressions a mix of exhaustion and determination. They knew that they had been bested by a master, but they also knew that nobody had said the fight was over, and with a sweep of their legs, the Adonis was on his back in a cloud of dust.

"Fuck."

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

"That's what you get for dancing about!" Lexi heckled from the sideline's causing a few of the cadets in the group to snicker or smile behind their hands. Emboldened by their Captain's hollering, Jared and Brock made the most of their advantage. Guessing that Cassian would attempt to roll back to his feet they took either side of him, ready to swing their wooden swords down to cut off any retreat he tried.

 

[Cassian]

Cassian laughed and huffed with a nod as he lay panting for breath on his back. "Aye.. I was merely teaching the lads a lesson.." he grinned, holding up his hands, now unarmed.

"I yield. I yield." he grumbled, and gave the boys a playful shove as they helped him to his feet.

"So about our ale. Do we get it in installments, or in bulk?" Brock asked, much to everyone's amusement. Cassian made a mocking face.

"Alright, who's next?" he asked, picking up his twin swords and waiting his next opponents. The next few rounds were not going to be as easy for them, now he'd stopped 'dancing around', and at the prospect of free ale, the recruits were far more eagre to come forward.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

By the end of the session most of the cadets were groaning and rubbing sores the likes of which they'd never felt, but every one of them left the arena grinning and excitedly chatting about what they had learnt. Lexi watched them go with a smile, Daphne babbling away. The baby had been quite animated watching her father fighting, gurgling and giggling away. Born fighter, Lexi had thought proudly.

Once the last of the Cadets were gone Lexi finally decided she could try her luck going into the ring to talk.

She gently rubbed the blood from the corner of Cassian's lip then pressed a kiss there.

"Perhaps you should be training again, no need to settle into the Dad Body yet."

 

[Cassian]

His body was slick with sweat and dirt, his chest heaved with the exhiliration of a decent workout, and he grinned from ear to ear as Lexi approached him, Daphne babbling at him, and so he answered her with his best doting-father-talk. He let out a low rumble as Lexi wiped at his split lip and kissed him, his shoulder rolling.

"Dad b--" Cassian cut himself off with a look of indignation. "My good lady. I am in my fuckin' prime.." he looked down at himself, puffing his chest out before dipping to scoop up her and Daphne both.

"Just another few weeks and I'll show you just how fit I am." he winked, waggling his brows with a wide grin.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

"If you get me pregnant again I swear to the Old Gods and New..." she muttered over Daphne's delighted gurgles. The babe was but a few weeks old but had already formed a deep love of being near both of her parents. There were some nights the fussy girl would not settle unless nuzzled between them on their large bed.

Kain cleared his throat and Lexi flashed him a smirk as Cassian set her back down.

"Oh I'm sorry, this is what you've really been waiting for isn't it?" she held Daphne out and Kain's face lit up. Eagerly he took his goddaughter and cradled her close.

"Why don't you two go have some time to yourselves? Get a drink, some food. I'll watch Daph."

 

[Cassian]

Cassian grinned and waggled his brows as he set them down, a growl muffling as he nuzzled a kiss into Lexi's neck.

The grin on his face faltered slightly as Daphne was handed over and Kain insisted they leave her.
"She's... too small." he stammered, his voice tinged with anxiety.

"And, I haven't had time to teach you the songs that she likes.. Or how to settle her when she's restless. It's just a slight bounce from the knees, it has a certain rhythm to it." He mimed a gentle bouncing motion, his expression a mix of concern and reluctance.

"Besides, what do you plan to do if she's hungry - pretty sure those tits of yours are useless.."

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Alec make a hacking cough noise that was a poor attempt at hiding laughter. It came out sounding like a goose was being strangled. Lexi threw him a bemused look as Kain fixed her fiance with a scowl.

"There's bottled milk in the fridge at yours," Lexi really didn't like storing human milk in the fridge but it meant Cassian could take some of the night feeds whilst she slept. Still, she scrunched her nose at it being discussed so openly.

"Yes, yes, everything you need is at the house," she placed a kiss on her daughters fuzzy head then took Cassian's hand before he could snatch Daphne back. "Come on. I believe you owe me several drinks for having to endure being pregnant."

 

[Cassian]

Cassian’s eyes flicked longingly back toward Daphne, but Lexi’s grip on his hand pulled him back to the present. He chuckled nervously, scratching the back of his head. “Right, several drinks,” he muttered, trying to sound more enthusiastic than worried.

He hesitated for a moment, then let out a heavy sigh of surrender. “Alright, alright.” He shot Kain a serious look, his voice dropping an octave. “But if she so much as hiccups weirdly, you come get me.”

Kain rolled his eyes, bouncing Daphne gently in his arms. “Oh hiccups are no laughing matter. I'll report to you immediately.” he teased, mimicking Cassian’s concerned tone. “Now go. Enjoy your drinks.”

Alec, still grinning like a fool, couldn’t resist another jab. “Several drinks, huh? You sure you can handle that, Cass? Maybe you’ve gone soft now that you’re all domesticated.”

Cassian threw him a mock glare and groaned as he allowed himself to be led away, the tension finally easing from his shoulders as they made their way toward the tavern.