For Altair

[blindingtrust]

Ivy was in the Nexus once more. It had been a few weeks for her since she had last seen Altair in his home reality. She hadn't been in the Nexus proper either for quite some time.

In fact today she was back on her way through the Nexus dressed very casually. Jeans and a t-shirt. Not something she would normally wear but it was a very nice shirt. She was also plopped right under a tree in a thick grove of trees with one of her books in brail and a basket filled with food. Because she knew she would be too busy studying to go get food latter.

Her health had also improved greatly since they had last run into each other. And she was still quite serious about what she had said to him. But now she was seeing how complicated it would be to uh, court him. Especially with a few other people in her life that she was also interested in. Let’s not forget the problem with them being from two very different worlds. So Ivy is feeling very grumpy over the entire situation.

So maybe someone can fix her foul mood? Or at least join her in the Nexus for a while. She'll share her food.

Comments

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

She shouldn't talk about the other badthings that happened to her then. He might wisk her away and not let her go home. That would be bad. Maybe.

Ivy nods and gets another cracker. "Thank you." He might not want to start today. Her pants...look like they aren't made for the moving around they'd need to do. Ivy rarely wears jeans.

[bladeinthecrowd.livejournal.com]

Altaïr watches Ivy for a moment as he thoughtfully chews on a blackberry. "When?" he asks simply, referring to when they were to do this. And on another note, "How?" As in, how do we get together when we want? Remember, he can't control his random appearances and disappearances.

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

She thinks about it. Thenremoves a perice of fried chicken that's still piping hot from a container and picks meat off of ir to bite into after she speaks.

"Do you remember that device I had in my coat? The thing with all the little buttons." She has a clever idea.

[bladeinthecrowd.livejournal.com]

He tilts his head to the side curiously. "Yes," he responds.

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

"It...can tell me many things. For instance, when you're in the Nexus. I could have it alert me when you arrive," she explains. "I wish I could explain the science behind how it works. But science was never my strong point. I just know that if I input the right command it should do as I ask. How does that sound?"

[bladeinthecrowd.livejournal.com]

Altaïr nods slowly. "That could work." He wonders why he doesn't try and procure himself one, but then shakes his head. He didn't need the extra worry. It was bad enough randomly disappearing from home as it was.

He plopped another fruit into his mouth and looked at Ivy idly. "We'll do that then. I can think of no better way. And... it will not interfere with my other... interests."

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

That made Ivy blush a little. That and she knew he was looking at her. So she, like a very shy young eoman--which she is, tucked some hair behind one ear. Then began slightly fustrated and pushed the rest of her hair back behind her shoulders. There. Out of the way for now.

Until a breeze came along anow...yeah. Her hair is stick up a little in some places and is totally in her face.

[bladeinthecrowd.livejournal.com]

If Altaïr had been the type to laugh, he quite possibly would have at that moment. As it was he was slightly amused and allowed a thin smile to briefly grace his lips. Then he looked away and wiped the expression off his face.

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

Ivy grumbled softly but she was hiding a smile. Finally she reached back and held her hair in place in one large clump. With her other hand she searched her pockets and pulled out a simple hair tie and secured her hair back, away from her face.

Oh hey. If he's looking? He might see a bubbly scar on a part of her neck he didn't see that one time when he uh, ravished her neck.

[bladeinthecrowd.livejournal.com]

Since he was the type to pay attention, of course he happened to notice. Unfortunately he wasn't the type to say anything. But his eyes did narrow, and he became even more quiet than usual.

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

Ivy could feelthat though. She just let her eyebrows arch up. Then a hand trailed right up to her neck. Crap. "...Angry puppy."

Ivy obviously doesn't want to talk about it she could be pressed to talk about it.

[bladeinthecrowd.livejournal.com]

Altaïr tilted his head to the side. "Angry puppy?" he asked curiously. He gave an odd little twist of his mouth.

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

Ivy felt herself blush. Because of god was this embarrassing. "Actually. I got poisoned here. There was a robbery at a place where people take care of their finances."

A bank.

"They needed a distraction to get away from the guards. So they used a highly dangerous toxin that they had gotten a hold of. The...stabbed me. I was in their way at the time. I didn't mean to. I tried moving but one of them grabbed me."

And now her hands are shaking again. Just like after she woke up the second time. So Ivy takes a breath of air in and lets it out. The fear is gone again.

[bladeinthecrowd.livejournal.com]

Altaïr notes her emotional ties to the experience as he watches her like a hawk. He reaches out and does the only thing he knows is a sure-fire way to comfort her: he lightly caresses her cheek.

"It's okay," he whispers in that husky tone of his, "It's over." He feels his body heat rise at the sudden emotions that pour through him. He doesn't want harm to ever come to her. He feels more resolved than before to teach her. He will protect her.

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

Ivy felt her control slip again. Because she had been so focused on taking care of someone else that she hadn't let it get to her back then. She hadn't let them take care of her and the comfort she got now was nice and made her feel strange all at the same time.

Her mouth twitches a bit and she has no idea what to say. She dips her head and wishes instead that she hadn't tied her hair back. Then she could have hidden this for longer and she'd have her hair to hide behind. In a way she's unintentionally emotionally withdrawing because she doesn't know how to deal with this.

[bladeinthecrowd.livejournal.com]

Altaïr's eyes narrow at Ivy. On the one hand he feels for her deeply, on the other he really hates dealing with emotions. His own confuse and annoy him well enough on their own.

With a small sigh Altaïr removes himself from his spot and drags himself over to Ivy's side. He touches her shoulder hesitantly.

[blindingtrust.livejournal.com]

Ivy almost leapt out of her skin. She had been prepared for him to ignore her retreating emotionally. Because no one ever really had witnessed this or would have approached her on it.

Damn.

She goes even more still like a statue. "Yeah?" But she spoke. Better than her making an excuse to leave.

[bladeinthecrowd.livejournal.com]

"You feel like a startled rabbit--ready to bolt at any moment. Relax." He whispers the last word into her ear. Then he positions himself behind her and begins to message her tightened shoulders.