Blast from the Past ((Brad))

[mailynnclarke]

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Mai watched his face carefully, seeing the emotions flow over his face. She felt the change of his body as his mood shifted greatly. She grinned before asking her own question. She watched the shock flow over his features. She laughed, leaning her head back as she did, looking back at him she watched him to see what his next move was. Would he kiss her now or wait? She let him pull her into his arms and wrapped her own arms around him.

She nuzzled her face against his neck, breathing in his scent. It was one she had never forgotten. It was too unlike any other. She let her body relax as she held him and he held her. Feeling his arms around her and his chest pressed against hers she had to admit that he had filled out over the years. He had filled out well over the years she thought. The last time she had hugged him had been when they went their own ways. It had been very brief then but she could still remember his scrawny frame. He had the muscles back then; they had just not had the definition they had today.

Reluctantly pulling away from him she looked up at him, some of her hair hanging in her face. She smiled at him and glanced around his apartment. “Do you want help unpacking?” She asked looking back at him. She didn’t know how much help she would be considering she didn’t know where he wanted everything but she didn’t want to just sit there and be useless.

[brad]

As he held her he didn't want to let go, ever, he wanted to sit with her like this forever and never let go, he felt so different when she was around, like nothing could go wrong, like everything in the world was perfect. He felt her pull away softly and reluctently let go, allowing her to sit back a bit but keeping his hand gently resting on hers.
"You wanna help me pack huh?" He said with a small smirk before standing up and looking for a box, he seemed to find what he wanted and quickly glanced back at Mai, his smirk growing. He picked up the box, holdign the label owards his body and walking toward the couch before dumping it next to her.
"Well, take this as a gift for you, been killing me to save them over the years." He said before taking a small pocket knife out of his pocket and slicing the tape that held the box closed.
He opened it and was met with a small puff of dust, causing him to sneeze. He paused as he got his normal breathign back than put his hands into the box and pulled out a small pile of books. "Here, I've been collecting them, hoping we'd meet again, grabbed a few I thought you may like." He said, showing her the box filled with different books from many different places.
"You probably have most of them, but you can have these either way." He said with a small smile.

[mailynnclarke]

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Nodding Mai watched him smirk and stand up. Watching him with curiosity she let her eyes follow where his landed. Tilting her head at the box she blinked. It was dusty and looked well used. Her eyebrow raised at him as his smirk grew. She was only slightly worried about what was in the box. A smile spread across her face as he said it was a gift. And one he had been saving up for years. What could it be?

She waved away the dust that puffed up from the box. His sneeze caused a smile to spread across her face. When the dust settled and cleared she looked into the box and at what he pulled out of it. Books. How had he known? She had had only two books back then and she had read them over and over though out the years. She hands gently took the books from his hands, her fingertips brushing and lingering a little longer than needed on his palm. When she touched him or he touched her so gently like that it felt like sparks between their skin.

Pulling the books into her lap she started to look through them. There was a few that she had read but didn’t mind having more than one copy of. But there were even more that she hadn’t gotten a hold on. She started looking through them, engrossed for a moment before realizing she had completely ignored him then. “Thank you. This means a lot.” She said setting the books back in the box and taking his hand and squeezing gently. She wondered just how long he had worked on saving those books up for her. How long had he hoped to see her again? Shaking the thoughts away she looked around the room once more. “So…what can I help with?” She turned back to him as she spoke. “Or would you rather I get out of your hair for a bit so you can get things set up on you own?” She didn’t really want to leave, but even if he did want to do it himself she would let him and go for a walk in the rain.

[brad]

He loved how it felt to be around her, and to see that he put a smile on his face just filled him to the brim with joy, he couldn't believe that they were now living so close together and were with each other, every moment felt like a dream to him.
Her thanks really weren't needed, he'd gotten the books simply to reminds himself about her at every stop, he never earned much money, but what he did he'd save, or buy anything he needed, he was also lucky that a few of his old masters had given him a few special books and hoped Mai would like them once she found them hidden at the bottom of the box. He never really thought he'd have a chance to give it to her, and it didn't even start out as the idea of a gift, he just wanted something that would remind him of her, and buying the books he saw her reading allowed him to remember every time he saw them.
Brad frowned as she thought of leaving, why so soon? And why did she think she had to work or leave?
"No, it's okay, I'll pack later." He said with a little smile. Suddenly he felt how cold his apartment was and rubbed his arms softly, he looked at Mai with slight worry before reacher for his jacket and draping it over her. "There." He said with a soft smile, he truly did care about her more than he could even believe, he didn't mind having to remind her every now and then about the heat, and having to check her over for injuries would never be a chore, he snickered lightly at the thought, staring at Mai with a smirk still plastered on his face.

[/blockquote]

[mailynnclarke]

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Mai smiled and shook her head at him slightly. She had always kept busy before. Not doing something felt odd to her. Though she knew it was something she would have to settle down and live with. Being where she was in life made it so that she would have to take time to let her world slow down. Starting with Brad. She laughed as he rubbed his arms and put his coat around her. Thinking on her condition she thought back to when she was young. Her mother had been so freaked out because she had always run hot. Fever hot. She made a face thinking about her mother. She loved the woman but was as glad as hell she never had to speak to her.

Mai shifted herself so that she was sitting with her back against the back of the couch. She ignored his snicker, whatever he was thinking, if he wanted to tell her he would. She had come to learn that much. Though it might take him time, he would tell her if it was important. Settling back she pulled his jacket close to her, breathing in his scent as her eyes moved to the flickering TV. She knew what it was; she just never saw a point in it. Glancing at Brad she scooted just a little bit closer to him and leaned her head against his shoulder. He was warm, she knew that and at that one moment she hated her condition more than ever. She wanted to feel his warmth, not just know it was there. Brushing the thought off, knowing she couldn’t change it she asked him, “So what is this? The show I mean…” She said, stopping him before he said anything about the TV and made a smartass comment about her dislike of technology.

[brad]

He turned to look at the tv, he wasn't really watching, just staring at it, he never understood why people liked it, or why HE liked it, it was just a nice thing to take away silence. He felt her head rest against him, he turned to face her andrubbed his check on the top of her head, taking in a deep breath and smelling her hair, a smile playing on his lips. He put an arm around her and huged her tightly, looking down as she asked her question.
"Hmm? oh, uh," He turned to the tv, it seemed to be some kind of geographic programme, Brad just pulled a face and looked for the remote, seeing it laying on the other side of Mai.
He smirked and bent over her, actling like he slipped untill he was laying on top of her , stretching to reach the remote.
He turned over so he was laying on his back on her lap, looking up at her. He smiled softly, but it slowly turned to another smirk as he began to plot somthing. He sat up on his spot again and put the remote down, then quickly turned to mai and grabbed her, pushing her down so she was laying on the couch and wrapping his arms around her, holdiner her down.
"Mwahahaa you are my prisoner!" He yelled out, he moved his hands to her sides and began tickling her viciously, laughing as he did so.

[mailynnclarke]

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She snuggled against him as he put his arm around her. She was actually beginning to let herself relax completely around him. She blinked as he lay sat up some and reached across her to get to the remote. She grinned at him as he pretended to slip and lay across her lap. She looked down at him and smiled, brushing a hand through his hair gently before he sat up suddenly. She watched the smirk on his face wondering what he was up to when he grabbed her and pushed her over on the couch.

Laughing lightly she smiled up at him. She squirmed slightly to get out of his grip, not trying very hard when he started tickling her. A yelp slipped out of her mouth and laughter caught her off guard as she squirmed under his touch. She didn’t know why but she just couldn’t stop smiling and laughing at him. Finally she was able to get enough breath to shout to him. “I yield I yield!” As he stopped tickling her she breathed out heavily and took a few deep breaths to calm herself after the excitement. Her hair had gotten into her face as he tickled her, but seeing as how he had her arms pinned she could do nothing about it. She looked up at him into his chocolate eyes. They were close to the same color as hers, a little darker than her own but still that wonderful chocolate color. Her eyes searched his, trying to read him, trying to see what he would do next. She knew she could easily push him off her if she wanted to but she really didn’t. She liked him being this close on top of her.

[brad]

She squirmed under his hands but he continued tickling, enjoying ever moment of it, her laugh thrilled him and caused him to laugh even louder. As soon as she yelled out her defeat he stopped but simply held her hands in place, staring at her for a minute, he knew full well she was strong enough to pick him up, but she seemed to enjoy this moment just as much as he did. He lay there for a minute, just sharing her gaze, watching her, trying to share her thoughts for a brief moment, hoping to see some kind of invitation, and there it was, a softness in her eyes, it seemed to pull him in, he couldn't wait anymore.
He leaned his face forward slightly, slowly, being careful not to force himself onto her, intil finally his lips found hers, pressing gently.
After a few moments he pulled back, opening his eyes and looking down at her, searching for a reaction to what he'd just done. Realizing he still had her pinned he moved his arms to the arm rest just behind her head, leaning over her and waiting for her to either react back, or push him off, either way he'd do what ever he wanted. It was always like that to him, when they were kids she'd reject a ton of his ideas, but if she said anything, wanted anything, he'd go with it, he'd agree that the sky was purple if she told him so, for some reason, he really didn't understand why, it was like she could do nothing wrong, like she was perfect, and even if she had a flaw, it jsut added to her perfection.

[mailynnclarke]

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Mai watched him carefully. She knew what he was going to do and she wasn’t all together sure how she would like it. She kept her eyes open as his lips touched hers. She lay still as she felt his lips press gently on hers. Part of her was screaming to push him off and run. This was too close to someone for that part of her brain to accept it. But there was another part of her that was soothing her into relaxation, telling her to go with it, to accept it. That this would be one of the best things for her. Her eyes closed and her body relaxed just a second before he pulled away. She could feel his eyes on her, searching her. She kept hers closed not wanting to look into his eyes, knowing there would be raw emotion there. She could feel it coming off of him in waves.

As he lifted his hands away from her wrists she stole a peek at him. Opening one eye she skimmed his face, trying to avoid his eyes, but they caught her. Slowly both her eyes opened and she stared up into his eyes, deep and drowning in them. “Brad….” She breathed, not knowing what to say to him. She racked her brain, trying to think of the right thing to say to him. She feared he may get the wrong idea from the way she had acted. It wasn’t like she’d never been kissed before. But it had never been like his kiss, never been more than an action that came from passion for one of the most simplest things.

[brad]

He felt her stiff body beneath him, but he stayed with his kiss a while longer until he pulled back, feeling her relax a little bit. After releasing his grasp he watched her intently, she hadn't reacted, but this didn't really scare him, he expected something, and this was along those lines, he caught her eyes as she peeked out for a moment, and the second he had them he wouldn't let them go, he could see the turmoil in them, she didn't know what to do, and the way she said his name made his hart ache in the strangest of ways. It was like she wanted to, but she didn't know how to love him.
"Shh, it's okay, I moved to fast." He said, sitting up and letting her go before leaning back on the couch and trying to relax, but his muscles remained stiff.
"Next time I'll ask." He said with a light chuckle, trying to smile at her but his mouth remained in a tight line. He wanted to be happy, and understand it, but part of him felt like it was wrong that he even tried it. He closed his eyes and turned to the TV, picking up the remote and changing it to a music channel, he wasn't even listening to it, seemed like some kind of techno song by all the flashing lights and loud noises. He peeked at Mai through the corner of his eye, wondering how he should act from here on.

[mailynnclarke]

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Mai frowned at his words. He hadn’t moved too fast. She was just lost with it. She had never loved anyone. She didn’t know what to do. She stayed lying on her back on the couch. As he sat up she moved her legs to drape over his. Her eyes watched him carefully. She had hurt him and that tore through her. She hadn’t meant to hurt him. He had stiffened and it was all her fault. ”Next time I’ll ask.”

[/b] The thing was she didn’t want him to ask she wanted him to steal the kiss as he had. She just hadn’t been ready for it. His laugh didn’t reach his eyes or cling to him mouth.

Thinking about it she sat up, swinging her legs around to touch the floor. She leaned over and kissed his cheek softly before making for the front door. She glanced back at him, if he managed to catch the look in her eyes it would have told him what she was thinking. Come after me you fool. She opened the door and stepped out into the cool air. Closing the door behind her, she shot him one last look through the boxes. Turning she stepped out into the rain and stood at the bottom of the small set of stairs that lead to his apartment. She turned her face up to the sky and waited. Her senses reached out all around her, listening for him to come for her and for any trouble that might be lurking nearby.
[/center]

[brad]

He sat quietly until her legs flung over his, he put a hand on top of them and rubbed them softly, waiting for ner next move. They sat for a minute like this until suddenly she threw her legs off him, he instantly sat forward but paused as he felt her lips touch his cheek, he stared in shock as she began to walk toward the door. As she opened it he shot up and began adfter her, as soon as she shut the door he opened it quickly. He saw her waiting at the bottom of the stairs and ran full speed down to her, wrapping his arms around her as soon as he could, if she had been human he might have tackled her to the ground, but he knew she'd listen well enough to brace herself, so he he hoped.
He wrapped his arms tightly around her, grippign her from behind. He pushed his face into her neck, nuzzling her gently.
"Mai," He spoke softly into her neck, his eyes clenched shut.
"Don't go, please." He said softly before turning her around, searching for her eyes, trying to figure out what was making her act this way, had he really moved that fast, or didn't she truly want to be with him and didn't know how to tell him now?
He stood outside in the cold, still searching her until finaly he just gave up and wrapped his arms around her again, one around her waist, the other gripping the back of her head, he folded himself around her, he never wanted to let her go, he'd lost her once before and that was enough for him

[mailynnclarke]

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Hearing the door open so soon after she had closed it brought a smile to her face. She braced herself for his embrace as she heard his feet running towards her. She moved her hands to rub along the arms that he wrapped around her. He cared, she knew that for certain and she cared for him, just didn’t know how to say it. Feeling his face nuzzle against her neck she leaned her head to the side to nudge his. His words brought made her eyes water as he turned her around. She blinked quickly, in all her years she had never cried, not since she was a baby.

She held his gaze, water dripping off her nose as she stood there not knowing what to say to him. She couldn’t find the words to say to him. Finally he broke the gaze and wrapped his arms around her again and held her close. Mai buried her face into his neck, breathing in his scent as she wrapped her own arms around him. She let them stand there holding each other for a few moments. Kissing his neck softly, Mai pulled her face away from his neck and looked up at him. It only took her a moment to decide once she saw his face. She leaned up and pressed her lips to his as her eyes closed. She held the kiss for a few moments before pulling back from him but staying in his arms. “I won’t if you won’t.” She said softly staring into her eyes. She was drenched from standing in the rain. As was he and she was certain it was cold out considering the month. She bumped her forehead against his and kissed his nose lightly. “We should go back inside I think….” She said rubbing her nose against his.

[brad]

He held her gaze for a moment, seeing the tears slip down her cheeks, he held her tight, holding her head where she placed it tightly against his neck, feeling her kiss it softly. He bent his head down and softly kissed her hair until she pulled back, he watched carefully for a second before she moved forward and placed her lips on his, he moved his arms tighter around her, returning her kiss until she ended it.
He smiled down at her as she began to speak, he was glad things seemed to change, but her reactions were jumping all over the place and he barely knew how to react to her anymore, but as she placed her forehead on his he just smiled sweetly. Feeling the water on her drip onto him, he pulled away slowly.
“We should go back inside I think….”
he moved his hands to grip hers and slowly walked her back into his place.
"I'll get you a towel." He said softly as he walked to the bathroom, luckily he had already taken a few clean towels out that morning. He returned with an extra fluffy light blue towel and gave it to Mai. "Dry yourself off before you get sick." He said with a light chuckle before gently kissing her on the forehead and moving to his boxes.
"Now...help me find the kettle, and the tea and coffee...and there's hot chocolate here somewhere too." He said before picking up a pile of boxes all labeled 'kitchen'.
He placed two boxes on the ground and one of the couch next to him, making sure there was enough space on the other side of the box for Mai.

[mailynnclarke]

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She held his hand as he lead them up the steps and back into his place. Her eyes followed him as he walked to the bathroom and then came back with a fluffy towel. She accepted the towel and smiled softly at his kiss to her forehead. She began drying herself off as much as she could, her clothes were still soaked through though and her hair was a wet, matted mess. She walked over to the couch and used the towel to wipe water from his face. “You should dry off too.” She said handing the towel over to him and looking at the three boxes he had moved to the couch area. She opened up one of the ones on the ground and pulled out the coffee and tea. They were easy enough to find with their scent. Taking the coffee out of the box allowed the smell to be stronger. She breathed it in an felt muscles relax in her. She loved the smell of coffee. She always took it black which was strange since she loved sweets so much.

Setting them down, she sat on the other side of the box and dug through it looking for the kettle. Tugging it out, she handed it to him as he finished with drying himself off. She smiled at him as he took the kettle from her. She stood up after that, not wanting too much of the water from her clothes to seep into the couch. Taking the towel from his hand she dropped it on the couch and grabbed the coffee and tea and his hand, pulling him towards the kitchen. Since she had smelt the coffee her mouth wanted the bitter taste.