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Disclaimer: Twiknham doesn’t own any rights to Last Exile

Disclaimer:  Twiknham doesn’t own any rights to Last Exile.  Those belong to Geneon, and Chiaki Koichi, Tamioka Katsuhiro, and Yamashita Tomohiro.  I earn nothing, nada, less than the smallest positive number.  Zero to Infinity.

 

Chapter 2: Theoretical Territory

 

Alex was waiting for Vincent when he arrived in the hanger.  “The Silverna will start monitoring the Grand Stream in three days.  At first sight of a Dissive ship, we will disengage and head in for repairs.  This ship is not part of your conflict, and we would not presume to make it so.”

 

Vincent turned towards his carrier.  “I understand.”  As he started to leave, Alex’s hand shot out and captured his forearm in a painful grip.

 

“Leave her alone.  She has difficult enough decisions to make without the added pressure of your uncharted emotions.”  He released his arm and turned to leave, his black cape flowing behind him like a macabre shadow.

 

“That’s a personal first.”  Vincent talked louder as the distance between them continued to grow.  “You’re actually jealous of me.”

 

Alex froze and turned to look at Vincent, anger clearly visible in every line of his body.  “You have no ground to stand there and state anything.  You know less than nothing about me.”

 

“I know that you’re so afraid to lose another woman you care for that you’ll push her away until she leaves you.”  Vincent walked up to him, lowering his voice to a threatening whisper.  “And when she does, I’ll be there to catch her tears.”

 

Deciding that silence was the better part of valor, Alex turned and stalked to the elevator shaft, leaving Vincent to hope that he never had to face Alex across a battlefield.  Shrugging his shoulders and hoping that acting collected brought true calm, Vincent climbed aboard his craft and returned to the Urbanis.

 

ssssss

 

Sophia was back on the bridge when Alex arrived.  Without saying a word, he turned towards his chair, the black cape swirling around his knees before settling.  As he started to sit, Sophia had an instantaneous wish that his cloak would catch and choke him as he sat.  He merely slumped against the back of the chair, knees sprawled wide; and stared at her in assumed boredom.  Blushing at the thoughts his pose caused to run through her mind, she turned back to the helm.  “Ship’s rudder, seventeen luft, six fathoms.”

 

Campbell, as astute as ever, raised an eyebrow at her bark of an order she’d already given gently.  Without a word, he nodded and pretended to turn the wheel.  Alex was glaring so intently at Sophia, neither of them noticed that the ship did not list and take the turn.  As the temperature in the room steadily climbed, the other members became restless.  Finally Campbell turned and glared at Alex.  “For God’s sake, go find a room, you’re distracting the rest of us.”

 

Alex stood as if Campbell had shoved a prod in a sensitive spot and stalked out of the room, his cape waving mockingly as it flicked out of view.  Sophia turned confused eyes on her Helmsman.  “What was that about?”

 

He grinned, teeth showing in a display of evilness.  “Exactly how close DID you and Vincent get earlier?”  He watched as confusion was slowly replaced by dawning understanding and quickly exchanged for spitfire anger.  As she turned and stomped out after Alex, Wina Lightning looked at Campbell, who shrugged his shoulders.  “Better than a soap opera.”

 

Sophia stomped down the hall, her boots ringing solidly against the metal deck.  Stopping in front of his door, she banged twice, not waiting for permission to enter.  Alex’s cloak was slung over the back of his chair, and he was standing at the bookcase putting the crystal stopper back in a decanter.  Not stopping to think about the possible folly of her actions, Sophia stomped over to him and grabbed him at the second top button of his jacket. 

 

“Who the hell do you think you are, to make sweeping assumptions about my private life?”

 

He raised the single eyebrow that could set her off quicker than a bottle rocket.  “I’ve not said a word.”  He raised the glass to his lips, but she pulled it away from him before he could take a sip.  Turning it up, she swallowed the contents whole, sputtering as the fire licked down her throat.

 

Coughing, she released his jacket.  Tears welling in her eyes, she looked at him.  “What IS this stuff?”

 

“Rotgut whiskey, Walker makes it himself.”  He poured a second glass and took a deep sip, enjoying the bite.

 

She coughed again, for effect.  “With what, Claudia fuel?”

 

“Very likely.”  He scowled at her.  “Walker’s finest is not to be chugged like you’re some bar wench.”

 

Sophia had taken enough from him today.  First he accused her of making time with Vincent, then...  Her honor had taken all the abuse it could stand.  Not caring about the repercussions, she smacked him with every bit of anger transferred to her open palmed hand.

 

As his head whipped back under the force of her slap, something inside of him snapped.  Setting his glass down with a sharp clink; he wrenched her close, slamming his lips against hers.  It was a furious battle.  Her glass dropped unnoticed onto the floor as Sophia pushed back, trying to break free.  However, Alex countered by putting a hand behind her head, fisting his fingers into her hair as he turned them so their mouths fit tighter. 

 

Tears running down her face from the pain of having her hair pulled ever more tightly by his fist, Sophia gasped for breath before driving her teeth into his lip.  At the taste of copper, she hesitated.  As angry as she was, she had no true desire to hurt Alex.  Sure, he trampled on whatever heart she allowed him access to; but he did it out of pain, not malice.  She was starting to back away when he reacted.

 

Realizing she’d drawn first blood, he forcefully inserted his tongue; making sure she understood exactly whom she was fighting with.  He pulled her head back further, robbing her mouth of leverage and giving him better access.  Breathing heavily, he explored the inside of her cheeks and the ridge of her teeth.  Gasping for breath, he broke away long enough to look at her.  “Fight me back, damn you.”  Seizing her mouth again, he held her immobile while his other hand worked buttons free on her jacket.  As her tongue rushed in to dual with his, he wedged a knee between her thighs, wrapping his hand around her back and pulling her tight so that she was riding his leg.

 

The feeling of her feet leaving the floor was the trigger that unclouded her mind.  Pushing furiously, she broke free and fell to the floor, jacket unbuttoned and thighs exposed by the skirt that had ridden up her legs.  Gathering all of her courage, she stood and glared at Alex.  “I’m not Yuris.  Don’t think to use me as a substitute.”  She buttoned her jacket before turning towards the door.  “I’m Sophia Forrester.”  Running her hands down the outside of her thighs to straighten her skirt, she stepped out the door, making sure the latch clicked.  As she gathered her wits, leaning against the wall outside of his quarters, she distinctly heard the sound of crystal smashing against the door.



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