Private Tales Brothels and Broken Things

[Cassian]

“It’s not much of a story, lass. I couldn’t hack it and started gettin’ drunk a lot. Makes me bad company and a worse recruit. That’s about the weight of it.” he huffed and scratched Red’s ears as she hopped up onto his chest, but he scooped her up and got himself back up again to take her over to Lexi’s lap. She seemed to content the woman.

“Get some sleep, lass.. we can swap stories on the road home.”

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

And the walls came up again. Lexi sighed quietly under her breath but she couldn't say she blamed him. She finished off her cup of tea and set it on the side. Sleep was what she craved but the mood of the room told her that he was going to find it hard to find such a comfort. It wasn't just a Commander's job to care about the physical wellbeing of their soldiers but their mental health too. Cassian was one of her men until she paid him the rest of his money and he decided otherwise.

"It's ridiculous sleeping on the floor, the bed is big enough," she pulled back the covers on the other side of the bed. "You'll be able to tell if I have a seizure better from here anyway," Lexi wriggled down into the bed again and plumped the pillow around her head. "Don't look so scared I promise I won't bite, at least not tonight," she yawned as Red curled up against the hollow of her throat on the pillow.

 

[Cassian]

She had a point, but he’d wanted her to get a decent rest and the floor would stop him from sleeping. “I won’t be sleepin’ anyway.” he smirked, watching her as she made room. It’s been the first time in Cassian’s life that he’d ever hesitated to accept an invitation into a woman’s bed, but now she was his commander and he respected her unlike any of the other woman’s beds he’d frequented. He groaned inwardly and kicked off his boots and climbed in beside her, though he sat up against the headboard to make sure he stayed awake.

“Told you I’d get into your bed.. The whole thing has been your plan from the get go..” he tskd at her and shook his head with a roguish grin.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi closed her eyes when she heard him curse and begin to kick off his boots. As long as it wasn't said that she made a man sleep on the floor when there was a comfortable bed. She had seen the way he had been kicked by that creature - oak panels for a bed would only make the whole situation a lot worse. The loud purr against her chest and throat was a comforting thing and she quietly petted the bundle of fluff.

"No my plan was to take your cat like I said right at the start. Check. Mate," she murmured sleepily. "Try and wake me up if my skin gets clammy that's the beginning signs, if you can't wake me up get Kain," another yawn. She was confident but not cocky. Spells had a price.

 

[Cassian]

Cassian blinked down at the cat and shook his head with a huff. “Well played lass.. well played.” he laughed quietly and got himself comfortable beside her. It was definitely a better option than the floor, as soon as he started to relax he was aching.

“Aye.. I’ve got you.” He rested a hand gently on her head and brushed his thumb over her brow absentmindedly.

A couple of hours listening sound of the crackling fire, soft breathing and cat purring had him fighting sleep, but he watched her sleep and every twitch she made caused minor panic enough to keep him wide awake for another while.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi was asleep before Cassian finished his final sentence. It had been a bigger fight staying awake than the Demon Prince had been but it was a fight she was willing to concede to. In the end she slept for nearly 20 hours straight. Alec was much the same though he had a wobbly spot in the middle of the night, though nothing as bad as it could have been. Peter came to relieve Cassian of his duty after getting some sleep himself before relinquishing it to him once he had slept a suitable amount to go and relieve Kain for a little while.

When she finally did wake Lexi felt as though she had been run over by a stampede of elephants. She had lost muscle and a bit of weight but it seemed that was all the spell had claimed after a careful mental examination.

"What day is it?" her words were sluggish and she rubbed at her eyes trying to force herself into a sitting position. "How long have I been out?"

 

[Cassian]

He was fighting sleep when Peter came in to let him get some sleep, and he’d given Cassian a teasing grin. He didn’t bother to get up, and let Peter keep watch over Lexi as he slept for a few hours where he sat.

It was his watch again, and Cassian looked down at her as she finally woke and offered a light smile.. “She lives.. you’ve been out an entire day almost. How you feelin’ lass?”

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

His answer was her groan and she gave up on sitting in favour of rolling over onto her stomach to hug the pillow to her. After a few more minutes she turned her face towards him. She had a little more colour in her cheeks rather than the grey tone her skin had had a day ago but there were bags under her eyes and her cheeks looked a little hollow.

"Like I have been on a week bender and am now suffering a seven day hangover but with none of the good memories that come with that," she laid there for a moment more trying to get her bearings and wake up. "My stomach thinks my throats been cut. How are you doing? Alec? The others?"

 

[Cassian]

Cassian snorted “Aye.. I know that feelin’, it’s a way of life lass.” he laughed and gave her shoulder a squeeze. “They’re fine. Here..” he reached for a plate of bread and cheese that Peter had brought in. He’d already eaten his.

“The tea is cold but I didn’t want to wake you. I’ll go get you another.” he stretched his arms and groaned, grimacing.. “I need a stiff drink..” he huffed.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi snorted at his joke but it was the sight of food finally got her gears going and she managed to sit up in the bed to take the plate with only a slight tremor to her hand. The relief was clear across her face when he updated her on the others and then she began to clear the plate of its contents with a surprising swiftness. She hadn't been joking about the hunger.

"Thank you... though a drink sounds good. Maybe a warm cider instead?" She quirked an eyebrow and fed the last of the cheese to Red.

Once he had left the room she peeled herself from the bed and stripped off the rest of her under clothes. The tub in the corner has long gone cold but it only took a small spell to have it back to the right temperature and she slipped into the copper bath with a soft moan.

 

[Cassian]

Cassian had given the woman a small smirk as she devoured the food and nodded at her request “As you wish.” He didn’t bother to pull on a shirt, even the weight of fine linen on his chest would feel irritable.

He stopped by to check in on the others on his way downstairs, and paid for a round of drinks and a few more plates of food for the group. He managed four shots of whisky whilst these were being prepared, and slowly everything started to numb a little.

He returned to the room a short time later and almost dropped the tray. “Fuck me, woman! Bit of fuckin’ warnin’ , ever heard of hangin’ something’ on the door?” he shook his head. “Kain mighta shit his pants if he walked in.”

He set the tray down next to the bath, another large plate of bread and cold meats, another two shots of whisky, two large ales and one warm cider. He lifted the cider and held it out to her, trying not to let his gaze fall below her face for fear she might murder him in his sleep.

Then he sat, his back against the bath tub, and chewed on some meat and washed it with cold ale before giving the happiest sigh he’d given in a long time.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi dipped her body below the surface of the water when she heard the footsteps on the landing outside so it came up to her collarbone. His reaction despite this was absolutely priceless and she covered her laugh with a cough. She moved the soap across her arms scrubbing the dirt and grime and sweat from her skin. It was beginning to make her feel a bit more human.

"Kain has seen me naked I don't think it would bother him. When we were cadets we all used to go skinny dipping at the river near our city. You should know nothing is sacred in the army," Lexi ran the jug that had sat on the edge of the bath through the water and poured it over her shoulders to wash the suds away. Once she was done she took the cider and settled in to enjoy that and the warmth seeping in to her bones.

 

[Cassian]

Cassian laughed “Oh he has, has he?...Well this is a new low for me. Never thought I’d be jealous of old blue balls.” He took a long drink and let his head fall back against the tub.

“Aye, but we didn’t have women like you in the army, lass. We wouldn’t have survived long with all that distraction.” he grinned with a glance over his shoulder at her face. He groaned quietly and returned his attention to his ale. “I’ll go bother Kain and let you bathe in peace, lass.” he muttered into his mug.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi gave a soft chuckle at his comment about Kain but shook her head slightly. Perhaps it was not wise for the poor man to join the White Ravens. There weren't many women who chose the life of a 'Battle Librarian' as Rose had once called it, but they were all as tough as Lexi was. Perhaps they didn't have the physical strength to throw a grown man like she had Cassian but they would definitely bring him to his knees.

"Don't you have Dreadlords in the Anirian army? Those women are terrifying," she thought over the few she had crossed paths with. As a human she wasn't shot on sight at least but they still gave her goosebumps. There was just something about the detached way with which they fought. She finished the ale and there was the sound of moving water as she put the empty mug down on the floor beside Cassian.

"You can leave if you want or you could get in the tub."

 

[Cassian]

“Aye that’s true..” he shrugged a shoulder indifferently. “Never seen a naked one though.” he snorted.

He’s been mid gulp as she spoke again and he choked and sputtered his ale into the fire. It hissed, and so did Red, who took herself up into the empty bed to bathe herself furiously. He turned himself around to kneel in front of the the bath his chin resting on his arm as he stared at her. “First you invite me into your bed now into your bath? Lass you’re cravin’ me hard ent you?..” he grinned, and his eyes wandered. Another groan..

It wasn’t an offer he had the strength to resist, and he gave her another mug of ale before standing and unbuckling his belt, undressing and stepping in to lower himself into the water opposite her. “Beats the last bath you made me have.” He lifted his brow, understatement of the century. He reached for his ale without taking his eyes off of her. How could he? He sighed deeply, enjoying the heat and the view and the ale... life. was. good.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

As he turned towards her and rested his arm across the rim of the bath Lexi returned the look with a sinful one of her own. Slowly a smile crept across her face that promised nothing less than what her eyes already spoke of. At his groan she turned her gaze away though to stop herself from laughing. It hadn't been hard to tell what he had wanted from her from the moment that they met but Lexi hadn't been lying when she said she preferred to know a man could handle what she would demand before such invites were made. Cassian had at least taken a few steps in that direction over the past week.

Taking the mug she settled back into the water and sipped at it casually as if she had asked him nothing more than to tell her what the weather was like outside. When she heard him finally relenting she lowered her shoulders back under the water with a soft sigh and shifted her legs so that there was room enough for him. A little of the water sloshed over the rim as he lowered himself in opposite her. Once he was settled she laughed into her mug over his comment.

"I told you, I have a sensitive nose. I'm surprised the cat can put up with being that close to you half the time."

 

[Cassian]

The alcohol had started to take its desired affect, his aching muscles relaxed and his mind eased. Being in a warm bath with a fine woman also helped a fair bit, and his smile was irremovable. He laughed at her words over his mug of ale and set it down ..

“Aye.. well I spose I work hard at keepin’ folk away don’t I?..” he agreed and reached for the soap. He touched it to his chest and winced. “Think I’m gonna need your help, lass.” he grimaced, though he couldn’t help but grin.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

"Come here then," Lexi set her mug down too and motioned for him to sit in front of her. Once he had moved so his back was against the front of her torso she took the soap and gently began to run it over his chest and down his arms in slow small circles. Afterwards she picked up the sponge, dipped it into the water and then wrung it over his skin, wiping the soap away. A peaceful silence stretched before them for a while before Lexi ran the sponge down his neck to the hollow of his throat.

"You know listening to your problems is part of my job as your Commander until this job is officially ended with your final payment," her voice was a low hum against his ear as she gently planted a kiss in the hollow behind his ear. "If you want to talk I can listen."

 

[Cassian]

He didn't need to be asked twice, and he turned to rest gently back against her, sighing at the skin to skin contact. The woman was a drug, her touch driving him into a heady trance and he closed his eyes and let her have all the control she wanted, his fingers gently traced lines up and down the outside of her thighs. It was an odd thing for him, enjoying a woman's company in this way. Not entirely new to him but certainly so rare that he'd forgotten how it felt.

Every nerve tingled in response to her kiss and his brow furrowed at her words. He huffed quietly, talking was most assuredly one way to kill the mood, but she was like a dog with a bone and didn't want to let it go. She wanted him to open up, and his jaw clenched with a growl. Fine, as long as she didn't stop doing all she was doing.

"My older brother.." he sighed out in response to the question she'd asked him the previous day. "I took it badly, my old man didn't. I couldn' continue to serve under a man who didn't seem to give a fuck that his own son was butchered." his eyes opened with an anger in them. "We were outnumbered, he wouldn't call for a retreat, even after Remy was cut down he left the rest of us out there. I called for the retreat myself and it didn't go down well.. He stripped me of my rank for disobeyin' and I stopped fightin' for him that day." he muttered and reached out to pick up the whisky and settled back against her. "I spiralled, my girl left me for another, and a few weeks later I went back to my father drunk and beat the shit out of him and a few others.. If I set foot in Vel Anir again there wouldn't exactly be a welcome home party." he drank.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi trailed kisses down his neck slowly as he spoke but she was most definitely focused on what he was saying. The tension was building in his shoulders and she gently brought the sponge back up and along the broad expanse of his bundled up muscle. Gently she needled them to try and ease the tension. The story explained more than he probably thought it did to a Commander. The reasons why he preferred to work alone, the struggle he had had when Alec had been injured and the concern when she had been injured and thought of him before herself. She would have handled them all differently if she had known.

When he leaned back into her she gently bit down on his ear lobe and then stole the whisky for herself.

"You gave your dad what was coming to him, Cass," she passed the glass back after she had taken a mouthful. "Don't let him be what keeps you back from moving on. From finding a new place that would throw a party when you came home," she wiped the sponge down his arm.

 

[Cassian]

His head tilted to the side to give her lips more room and he gave a low, rumbled sound of approval. The bite however prompted a much more guttural sound, not that he was complaining. Stealing his drink had been as much of a crime to him as stealing his bar wench, and Cassian shook his head as she gave it back "Fuck me you've no shame, lass. Here I am, tellin' you I'm a broken man and you steal the drink right outta my hand?" he tutted at her, and drank down the last of it, letting the cup drop to the floor.

"Please don't make me spend any more time talkin' bout him or any of the rest of it. You wanted to know, now you know, it ent much of a story. But I told you lass, I don't make good company. You're best just havin' your way with me an' lettin' me be on my way." he turned, letting his nose graze her jaw. It took all he had not to reach for her face and pull her into a kiss. But this was her way, and he didn't want to risk that look she'd given him last time he'd presumed it safe to touch her.

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

"This is the way all Commanders in the Templars counsel their soldiers after the trials of battle," Lexi's voice was deathly serious but when he turned to graze her jaw he would have seen the smile. She raised the wet sponge and wrung it over his head as a distraction from the darker conversation as if she were trying to wash it away almost. She understood, she didn't need anymore details. It was his burden to bear but she was there should he need to discuss it further.

"You say you are not good company but the boys have loved you on this trip, even Kain's warmed up to you. And, I have to say though I had my doubts, you are proving to be very pleasant company right now," her fingers traced the line of his jaw, gently urging his face towards her more before she brought her lips down on his.

 

[Cassian]

"Mhmm.." he mumbled dismissively at her words of counsel, his lips curling at her smile as water trickled down his face.

He didn't get a chance to respond to her with actual words as her lips finally found his, they tasted of whisky too. Fucking yes. He smiled and gave another intoxicated groan against her mouth, pressing back a little more firmly as his hand rose to the side of her neck, his thumb gently stroking at her jaw. Tender. He wasn't used to tender, but this had been far more worth the wait. Now she was seducing him and he had not one single complaint on the matter.

His lips left hers only to trace a line of smaller kisses down her jaw and onto her neck, biting gently at the skin there as he breathed her in and rumbled a whisper against her . "You're not bad company yourself, lass."

 

[Lexi Quinzell]

Lexi's husky laugh was the only answer to his compliment before she proved why bad company was actually much, much better.

The room was a wreck.

The bed was only propped up on two legs now and there were shattered pieces of furniture throughout the room, even a slight dent in one wall. Lexi examined the bits of dust and plaster on the floor with a slight grimace from their position on the bed - well he had told her to toss him. She was not to be blamed for that. Lexi wriggled so that she was sitting up in the broken bed wincing at a particularly bad bruise she had got from a move she was pretty certain was illegal in some cities but she wasn't going to kiss and tell. Some how in the wreckage beside the bed she found her pipe and lit it with a contented sigh.

She watched in amusement as a small feather floated down and landed on her exposed chest.

"I might have to take some of the money to repair the room out of your wages."

 

[Cassian]

He was pretty sure his body was broken. His heart rattled hard against his ribs and his chest heaved, trying to catch hold of a breath. Their strength had been a decent match, it made for some aggressive competition, but he was beat to shit and it felt fucking euphoric. He too, winced as he propped himself up onto his elbow, his hands wandering over her skin and squeezing at her curves as he stared at her.

Being lost for words was also new. His mind seemed unable to conjure any to describe exactly what he'd thought about the last few hours, and instead he let out simple, lustful groan and fell back onto his back and stared at the ceiling, wiping at his brow.

"Aye. Keep it. Fuck it." he muttered at her comment and waved a hand dismissively. "Put it toward the next time." he laughed quietly and grimaced at the pain it caused. "Think they heard?...." he asked with a wince... they couldn't not have.