curiously_cora | (no subject)

When I heard the people caught in the cave-in had been rescued, I didn't wait. I ran straight to the clinic. I'd been there recently, after the ITF girl had hauled me to the clinic after ineffectively beating at and trying to pull down the rocks of the cave-in. They'd bandaged my left hand which had, surprisingly, become quite bloody, and the ITF girl told me, quite plainly, that I was not go back to the caves without an escort and, no, she wasn't escorting me.

It just wasn't fair. To find love with Coraline, and have her taken away? It just--

So I ran, and I was out of breath when I reached the clinic. And, fortunately, the people let me inside. And then I saw her. She looked... She looked hurt. But she looked alive. The rush of emotions almost made me crash.

"H-hey," I said, my voice cracking a little. I came forward, tentatively, looking at her for permission, worried that I'd hurt her more, and reached out for a hug.

Coraline reached out to touch his hands before nodding at his little tentative look. It was strange to know what that meant, what that intimate little look meant. She wrapped her arms around him loosely and pressed her face against his chest. She let out a little hurt sob, before she buried her face tighter against his shirt and tightened her grip on him a little more.

He didn't smell like blood and death, he smelled like home and warmth and Percy. He smelled alive.

I held her close, and gently, but definitely close. I'd almost lost her, and I wasn't going to let that happen again. "Are you going to be okay?" I whispered.

She didn't know what she would have done if he'd held her tight but he didn't. It was easier to close her eyes, and feel warm hands against her. Not claws, not monsters, not things. Just Percy- just Percy with her.

"It's just- it's not- I'll get better." Coraline murmured, pressing her head against his chest so she could listen to his heart. It raced beneath her ear. It felt human and wonderful and alive. She didn't lie to him and tell him she was okay or that it was just a scratch because it wasn't but she wasn't ready to talk just yet. "Can I stay at yours? I don't want to stay here."

I nodded. "Yeah. Whenever you're ready."

I'd carry her, frankly. But I didn't think she'd appreciate that.

She wasn't ready, she didn't want to go outside but she didn't want to stay here. She tightened her grip on his shirt, making two small fists against his back before she looked up at him. She didn't stretch, it hurt too much to but she tugged him down a little before she kissed him once brief and quick before she took a breath, a breath that sounded more like a sob and kissed him again harder.

It wasn't enough, she kissed him desperately before holding tighter to him.

I met her kisses with fervent ones of my own. The clinging worried me, though. She needed attention, and not the sort the Clinic could provide. Well, I was willing to give it to her, though I knew I had to be careful.

But she was Coraline. I loved her. I would give her everything she wanted.

"Do you want me to carry you?" I whispered.

"Do you want me to punch you?" Coraline asked in return before shaking her head. She could walk, she could walk out of here with him. She just needed a moment. Taking a breath, she used his arms for balance as she stood up and winced only the smallest amount. "No, thanks. I can walk. I can walk."

She took his hand though. That was easier. That was easy as breathing.

I grinned. That was the Coraline I knew.

"Come on, then." I took her hand -- using the one that wasn't bandaged -- and we left the clinic. I didn't care what happened next. The Island could disappear for all I cared. At least Coraline was with me.

"It was-" Coraline began before cutting herself off. She didn't want to talk about it, not tonight or now. She just wanted to go home and be with Percy and leave a light burning all night. Keep away all the shadows and the darkness and the monsters. "How did you hurt your hand?"

There are very few credible excuses one can make up on the fly about a big bandage around the back of your hand. Certainly not 'cut myself shaving', anyway. And I knew that Coraline would know if I lied to her.

"I tried to dig you out," I said, quietly. "The ITF had to take me away."

Kicking and screaming. And I didn't need to add that this Nyana could pack a hell of a punch.

"You did what?" Coraline asked before she stopped suddenly. She looked at Percy with wide, concerned eyes before she ducked her head to kiss him. Wrapping one arm around him, she slid her hand into his hair as she kissed him. She didn't want to stop, she didn't want him to know why she was so grateful that he hadn't reached her. She didn't want him to know how scared she had been.

I held her close, again, suddenly and harshly aware of how close I'd been to losing her. It hurt. But there was a reason why it hurt, and I was going to hold onto that.

"Let's go home," I whispered.

"Okay," Coraline whispered, pressing her forehead against his. She didn't speak the rest of the way, just held onto his arm and leaned against him on her good side. Spotting his place, she tugged him on quietly before peeling away from his side when she heard the familiar greeting of Mrs O' Leary. She moved away quick, letting Percy's dog greet Percy before she slid away to his bedroom. Looking at him over his shoulder, she gave him a very particular look before she held the door open. As if she was waiting for him.

I patted Mrs. O'Leary and gave her a soft smile. "It's okay. We'll be okay, now." Mrs. O'Leary seemed to be satisfied enough with that to settle back in her house, and I looked over at Coraline, and saw her expression. It sent chills down my spine -- good chills, mostly. I gave her a nervous smile, came over, and followed her into the house.

Reaching for his hand behind her, she tangled her hand up with his before she turned and wrapped her arms around him. It was darker in his room but there was still enough light to keep her safe and she was safe here, she felt safe. Burying her face against his neck, she pushed the door to with her hand. Pulling back a little, she brushed her lips against his.

She'd been stupid- she'd been so stupid and she'd almost lost- she didn't want to think of that. Or anything. Just this.

This was getting pretty serious pretty fast. But, then, this was serious. Here and now, nothing else mattered. I tugged her tighter and kissed her deeply. Then I sat down on the bed.

Coraline took a breath as he tugged her tighter to him. Breasts pressed against his chest, she pressed her forehead against his as her lips pressed together in a thin line. She didn't remind him to be gentle, she didn't think she needed to but she didn't want to be separate from him right now.

Looking at Percy softly, she took a breath before pressing her knees into the bed either side of his legs. Sliding slowly onto his lap, she looked at him curiously before leaning forward to kiss him.

"Don't- don't be shocked okay? I'm fine," Coraline murmured against his lips in warning. Parts of her had started to bruise, the bandage on her side was quite large from where she had been clawed.

I knew she'd been hurt, and I could see from the way she handled herself that she was hurt, but her request made my stomach drop. But she asked me not to be shocked, so I promised myself that I would hold it together. I stroked her hair. "Okay," I said

"Okay?" Coraline said, pressing her forehead against his and closing her eyes as he stroked her hair. She could feel him beneath her, every warm muscle and part of him keeping her safe. She didn't mind the darkness behind her eyes so much, she didn't mind the quiet because she could hear him. "Help me with this?"

She touched the hem of the t-shirt, she only lifted one arm to wriggle out of the t-shirt and dropped it down the other side so she didn't have to strain herself on one side.

Yes, serious. There was no question of saying no. I reached out and gently lifted the hem of Coraline's t-shirt and pulled it over her head before discarding it on the floor.

Then I saw the bandages, and for a moment, I froze. I reached out, tentatively, and ran my fingers along the edge, carefully. I looked at Coraline, making sure she was all right with this.

Opening her eyes, she looked at him cautiously as he froze beneath her. Holding her breath, she let out a little gasp before pressing her lips together as Percy ran his fingertips along the edge of the bandage. Shivering she leaned forward and wrapped one arm around him before shifting closer.

Breathing in slowly, she touched the tip of her tongue against his lips before kissing him slow. She just wanted to be with him, she didn't want to lose him. She didn't want to be lost any more.

I met her kiss and I held her close, hyper aware of her closeness, even though I was fully clothed and she had a bra on. I wanted her as near to me as possible, but I felt as though this was more fragile than ever. I was content to kiss her like this all night. I let her make the next move.

She pressed her lips against his, light and quick as she touched her tongue against his and leaned into his body. Wincing, she inhaled sharply and pulled back a little before pressing her forehead against his. Touching the hair at the nape of his neck, she ran her fingertips through it and smiled a little. Just a fraction. This felt right with him.

"Percy?" Coraline began quietly, looking at him curiously.

I looked up. I was so focused on the kissing, I wasn't expecting a question, but looking at her, I could see this looked important. I gave her my full attention. "What is it?" I whispered. I kissed her forehead and cuddled her close.