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Post by River Hughes on May 15, 2020 3:35:42 GMT
River was just as caught up in the heat of the moment as her fiance, maybe even more so as she didn't notice the first flutter of wings. Instead, Penn's abrupt panic was her first indication that something was wrong.
"Penn? What's the matter? She asked, looking around for whatever it was that had startled him. She barely had time to figure out what it was when he was scooping her up out of the chair. Unceremoniously deposited on the ground, she soon stood between Penn and his...attacker? where it had landed on the table. She gave the bird a dirty look, and it flew towards them and landed on one of the wood beams of the balcony's roof. Penn grabbed her wrist and tugged her towards the door, but she shook her head. She wasn't in the least bit bothered by this bird other than wanting to swat it out of the air for ruining the moment. Most things scared her, like phone calls and talking to strangers, and public speaking, but birds and bugs she could handle.
"Penn, honey, I'll keep it from flying at you, go ahead and go inside. Ok? You can trust me, I've got your back." she spoke firmly, definitely telling and not asking him, and slipped off one of her flats to use as a weapon if needed.
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34Age
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Post by Hugh Pennington on May 15, 2020 11:25:12 GMT
Penn was flattened up against the sliding glass door to the room, shaking his head. “No, it’s fine. I’m fine.” He said unconvincingly, still shaking his head. He was the man, he was supposed to be the one protecting her. He also knew logically that there was nothing in this moment to protect her from, but he couldn’t control his reaction.
He was determined to stay firmly rooted to the spot until the bird took a tiny hop forward on the table. He turned around so quickly that he almost smacked his head on the door but just missed as he scrambled for the handle and pulled it open, hurrying inside.
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Post by River Hughes on May 15, 2020 18:34:52 GMT
"Penn," she warned, as she turned to Penn over her shoulder and gave him her best "don't run in the library" look, but he wasn't even paying her any attention--his eyes were on the dove. Thankfully, it chose that moment to move and sent him scrambling into the room. She waited for the door to close, then turned her attention back to the dove.
"You, you spiteful little thing, are just the worst," she told it, waggling her shoe for emphasis. The dove was unfazed.
River sighed heavily and put her shoe back on before she scooped their snacks up off the table. She looked a little silly with the drinks tucked under one arm and the package of Oreos tucked under her chin, but at least it freed up her right hand to open up the slider and return to the crisp air-conditioned atmosphere of the suite. She yanked the door shut behind her, and slid the snacks onto the nightstand as her eyes adjusted to the dimmer lights. Once she could see a little better, she turned to Penn with an apologetic smile.
"Are you alright, sweetheart? I didn't mean to boss you around."
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Post by Hugh Pennington on May 15, 2020 18:51:14 GMT
Penn had hurried into the room, shutting the door behind him. Leaving his woman out there to fend for herself. At least that was how it felt. By the time she came back into the room he was standing with his back against the wall, his shoulders slouched and looking down at his feet.
When she spoke he looked at her, lifting his eyes to meet hers without lifting his head, his expression full of shame. "So...I have an irrational fear of birds, in case you didn't notice." He told her, feeling like a complete idiot. "I got chased by a goose one time as a kid and since then all birds just freak me out. I know it's stupid, I know it makes no sense, but...ya..." He said, dropping his gaze again and rubbing the back of his neck with embarrassment.
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Post by River Hughes on May 15, 2020 19:04:33 GMT
Oh no he looked like a sad puppy, hanging his head like that. Her poor heart couldn't take it, and even before he was talking she was on her way over to him. Her immediate instinct was just to comfort him as much as she could--the way he'd helped to put her at ease about her own fears.
"Penn, my lovely Jedi knight, do you remember who you're talking to?" She asked, although it was clearly a rhetorical question because even as she was talking she had her hands on either side of his face and was pulling him down for a gentle kiss. "It's totally fine. Everyone has fears. Mine just happen to be...not the usual suspects." She laughed awkwardly and stroked her thumbs across his cheeks, her blue eyes filled with love and sympathy as she looked up at him. "I promise, I don't think any less of you for that. Although I definitely think less of doves, now. That one was rude."
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34Age
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Post by Hugh Pennington on May 15, 2020 19:17:27 GMT
As she approached him one of his hands automatically moved to rest on her shoulder and the other went to one of her hands on his face as she kissed him. The best band-aid in the world. She was just the sweetest, kindest, most generous human being on the planet. She was standing here comforting him and telling him that it was okay to be afraid of silly bird.
As he met her gaze, her own expression filled with so much love that he could practically feel it in his soul, he saw no judgement there. And while he certainly felt small after what had just happened and what she had just seen of him, she was still standing here to smooth away all the wrinkles. He leaned down low, his spine curved, and buried his face in her neck. "So rude." He mumbled.
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Post by River Hughes on May 15, 2020 19:31:21 GMT
River chuckled and wrapped her arms around her fiance, stroking her right hand up and down his back as if she could literally smooth his frazzled nerves.
"But you're safe now. So that's good," she told him, turning slightly to the side to kiss the top of his head. "And now that I know, I'll keep an eye out for that kind of thing in the future. She stopped rubbing his back and lifted her hand to lightly ruffle his hair instead. He was just so sweet it made her heartache.
"C'mere." She told him gently, taking hold of him by his elbows and tugging him towards the bed. "Let's sit."
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34Age
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Post by Hugh Pennington on May 15, 2020 19:43:52 GMT
Penn did as she told him and allowed her to move him towards the bed but as they went to sit he moved towards her in a tricky hug that would soon find her on her back on the bed unless she stopped him and then he would scoot down to rest his head on her chest, his eyes closing to listen to her heartbeat.
"You're an angel." He murmured. "You are too good. You were sent from heaven, or else you’re just a figment of my imagination. I hope I never wake up." He said.
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Post by River Hughes on May 15, 2020 20:03:12 GMT
"Eh? River started to question his movement, but she didn't actually mind so she just gave in and let him flop them onto the bed. She was glad she did when he scootched to rest his head on her sternum. She smiled gently and combed her fingers rhythmically through his hair, both her heart and her breathing slowing as she savored the peaceful moment.
"I could say the same thing about you, silly," she argued, although her soft murmur was hardly a protest. "But I'm starting to figure out this isn't a dream. I'm right here, and so are you, and this is happening. We'll be married in a month, and I'll fight birds for you, and you can talk me out of thinking everyone hates me, and together we'll rule the galaxy."
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Post by Hugh Pennington on May 15, 2020 20:21:19 GMT
Penn hummed softly in agreement. Her fingers in his hair felt incredibly relaxing and after such an exciting day, the peace of the moment started to settle on him. He nuzzled softly into her and his hand curled up to rest on her arm, his thumb stroking her skin softly but the action grew slower and slower as sleep threatened to overtake him.
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Post by River Hughes on May 15, 2020 20:48:36 GMT
River couldn't help a yawn; the warmth of Penn against her and the chance to finally be still after this insane day were slowly dragging her eyelids down. She managed to push off her flats with her toes and nudged them off the bed onto the floor, her hand in his hair only pausing when she really had to focus on that before she picked up again. She dragged her free hand through her own hair to get it out of her face and snuggled a little deeper into the bed.
"Love you," she murmured with another yawn.
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34Age
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Post by Hugh Pennington on May 15, 2020 21:10:05 GMT
Penn was too relaxed to move. His muscles settled where they were and he felt the heaviness that’s rests on ones body and mind as they coast along at the edge of sleep. He barely noticed her shifting in order to kick off her shoes.
He smiled at her words, unseen by their position but possibly felt against her sternum. “Love you more.” he whispered before sleep took him.
[END THREAD]
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