(no subject)
The conversation had gone something like this:
“Hey, Mor!” It was hard to ignore Aladdin, even if he called her weird names.
There were things Alibaba looked forward to when he came back from any kind of trip-especially a trip that involved him getting remarkably torn and beaten up, but in a good way. A very good way-he always felt good after training. But though mentally he was thrilled with the results of his weeklong training exercise with Sharrkhan, physically his body ached. Fortunately, though, there were several ways to cure an aching body, and most of them were on Alibaba’s list of must-do-after-an-extended-trip list. First off: getting clean. And tending to any injuries-most of which were minor and really didn’t need any tending to, but it wouldn’t hurt to make sure every little bit of him was in mostly good health. The bathing part took much longer
“Sit up more.” There are lots of things Alibaba admires about Morgiana. The way she can uproot trees without a thought and then use them to bludgeon thugs, for instance. The tree probably didn’t deserve the uprooting, but the thug did deserve the beating; Alibaba secretly hoped that the bastard had splinters where the sun didn’t shine, amongst other things. But even if Morgiana didn’t have freakish strength, agility, and intuition, Alibaba would still admire her desire to help her friends. Leaving behind the chance to return to her home… but he was glad, even if it was a little selfish of him. Because if she had left, who would be so gentle with him?
“Alibaba,” she called his name, trying to get his attention again, “sit up.” He tries-it seems to satisfy her. Whatever the hell that thug had used-it was powerful. Broke two ribs and did a number on the wall right next to him. The doctor, grateful to the trio for taking care of the thug that had haunted the little village for months, said the though Alibaba’s injuries weren’t necessarily life threatening, he should be careful for the next week or so and rest. Then he prescribed some sort of medicine that was supposed to help with the pain. Whatever it was made Alibaba feel light headed and very odd-not drunk, but he really couldn’t quite feel his toes anymore, either. The doctor said it was normal, so Morgiana had carried him back to the room they had rented, Aladdin trailing alongside her, feeling remarkably subdued himself.
Now Aladdin was asleep, lulled by the small fire and food in his belly. Morgiana had tried to feed Alibaba, but he was too fussy to eat more than a few bites. She worried, but didn’t press. He could eat in the morning when the medicine wore off. It might hurt more, but that was besides the point-a little hunger wouldn’t kill him. There were more important things to tend to-like Alibaba’s back. The doctor had offered to finish cleaning and bandaging Alibaba after the initial examination, but Alibaba hadn’t been the only one injured in the fray. She could do it, Morgiana told the doctor, carefully picking Alibaba up. And so she had set up a little basin for warm water, had brought bandages to protect and rags to clean his injuries. She was grateful that nothing would need stitches.
Morgiana sat him on a small stool, close to the fire so she would have light. Alibaba was mostly able to sit up, though sometimes he’d bring his foot up to examine, poking at his toes with an almost delirious fascination. But when he’d sit up, sit still, she gently washed his back, first carefully edging around his wounds, the cleaning the scrapes and cuts. Alibaba grunts on occasion, sometimes leans to one side or the other, but never really fusses. “Up,” she says again, trying to adjust him. He follows the hand on his side-first up, but then suddenly back. Morgiana reached out to balance him, to stop him from falling off the stool, but he wasn’t falling. Alibaba rested his head on her shoulder; her hand rested on his stomach. She turns to look at him, and found herself much too close to his face to properly speak.
In the firelight, his eyes seemed to glow.
“Morgiana,” he says, smiling. Morgiana swallows-his breath on her neck gives her goosebumps. His eyes are half-lidded, making his expression almost dreamy. It might be. Alibaba reflects for a moment, thinking about the other things he admires about her. Thoughtlessly, he begins to murmur against her neck. “Gentle, better than Lizzie…” Morgiana freezes-partially because the goosebumps are spreading, but also because she has no idea who this Lizzie is. He continues on for a moment, mumbling too lowly for her to make out the words. She hesitates for a moment, unsure of herself, then raises the damp rag in her free hand to his face, gently wiping off his brow. Alibaba’s smile widens, and his eyes slide shut. He hums softly, and Morgiana continues to clean his face, his neck-but stops before his collar. Her face is too warm to continue, and besides, she really does need to bandage his back. She nudges him with her shoulder; he’s half asleep by this time, and only grudgingly lifts his head to acknowledge her. It takes some more convincing to get him to sit up, and she tries to ignore his complaint that it’s much warmer lying down.
Though by this time the fire is low, it doesn’t take long to finish cleaning his wounds. Though sleepier than before, Alibaba is more compliant is sitting up just straight enough for Morgiana to apply the bandages. Carrying him to bed is relatively easy, though Alibaba seemed to cling to Morgiana more tightly when she tried to lay him in bed. Morgiana tries to ignore it-but she stays by his side, sitting on the edge of the bed and watching him until the fire dies out. For a time, he watches her, too meeting her gaze and smiling in the same sort of dreamy way as earlier. Before he drifts to sleep, he manages mumble out one last thing-thank you. Morgiana says nothing, only adjusts the blanket around him.
In the morning, Alibaba will think it’s a dream and Morgiana will pretend that nothing happened.
“Hey, Mor!” It was hard to ignore Aladdin, even if he called her weird names.
There were things Alibaba looked forward to when he came back from any kind of trip-especially a trip that involved him getting remarkably torn and beaten up, but in a good way. A very good way-he always felt good after training. But though mentally he was thrilled with the results of his weeklong training exercise with Sharrkhan, physically his body ached. Fortunately, though, there were several ways to cure an aching body, and most of them were on Alibaba’s list of must-do-after-an-extended-trip list. First off: getting clean. And tending to any injuries-most of which were minor and really didn’t need any tending to, but it wouldn’t hurt to make sure every little bit of him was in mostly good health. The bathing part took much longer
“Sit up more.” There are lots of things Alibaba admires about Morgiana. The way she can uproot trees without a thought and then use them to bludgeon thugs, for instance. The tree probably didn’t deserve the uprooting, but the thug did deserve the beating; Alibaba secretly hoped that the bastard had splinters where the sun didn’t shine, amongst other things. But even if Morgiana didn’t have freakish strength, agility, and intuition, Alibaba would still admire her desire to help her friends. Leaving behind the chance to return to her home… but he was glad, even if it was a little selfish of him. Because if she had left, who would be so gentle with him?
“Alibaba,” she called his name, trying to get his attention again, “sit up.” He tries-it seems to satisfy her. Whatever the hell that thug had used-it was powerful. Broke two ribs and did a number on the wall right next to him. The doctor, grateful to the trio for taking care of the thug that had haunted the little village for months, said the though Alibaba’s injuries weren’t necessarily life threatening, he should be careful for the next week or so and rest. Then he prescribed some sort of medicine that was supposed to help with the pain. Whatever it was made Alibaba feel light headed and very odd-not drunk, but he really couldn’t quite feel his toes anymore, either. The doctor said it was normal, so Morgiana had carried him back to the room they had rented, Aladdin trailing alongside her, feeling remarkably subdued himself.
Now Aladdin was asleep, lulled by the small fire and food in his belly. Morgiana had tried to feed Alibaba, but he was too fussy to eat more than a few bites. She worried, but didn’t press. He could eat in the morning when the medicine wore off. It might hurt more, but that was besides the point-a little hunger wouldn’t kill him. There were more important things to tend to-like Alibaba’s back. The doctor had offered to finish cleaning and bandaging Alibaba after the initial examination, but Alibaba hadn’t been the only one injured in the fray. She could do it, Morgiana told the doctor, carefully picking Alibaba up. And so she had set up a little basin for warm water, had brought bandages to protect and rags to clean his injuries. She was grateful that nothing would need stitches.
Morgiana sat him on a small stool, close to the fire so she would have light. Alibaba was mostly able to sit up, though sometimes he’d bring his foot up to examine, poking at his toes with an almost delirious fascination. But when he’d sit up, sit still, she gently washed his back, first carefully edging around his wounds, the cleaning the scrapes and cuts. Alibaba grunts on occasion, sometimes leans to one side or the other, but never really fusses. “Up,” she says again, trying to adjust him. He follows the hand on his side-first up, but then suddenly back. Morgiana reached out to balance him, to stop him from falling off the stool, but he wasn’t falling. Alibaba rested his head on her shoulder; her hand rested on his stomach. She turns to look at him, and found herself much too close to his face to properly speak.
In the firelight, his eyes seemed to glow.
“Morgiana,” he says, smiling. Morgiana swallows-his breath on her neck gives her goosebumps. His eyes are half-lidded, making his expression almost dreamy. It might be. Alibaba reflects for a moment, thinking about the other things he admires about her. Thoughtlessly, he begins to murmur against her neck. “Gentle, better than Lizzie…” Morgiana freezes-partially because the goosebumps are spreading, but also because she has no idea who this Lizzie is. He continues on for a moment, mumbling too lowly for her to make out the words. She hesitates for a moment, unsure of herself, then raises the damp rag in her free hand to his face, gently wiping off his brow. Alibaba’s smile widens, and his eyes slide shut. He hums softly, and Morgiana continues to clean his face, his neck-but stops before his collar. Her face is too warm to continue, and besides, she really does need to bandage his back. She nudges him with her shoulder; he’s half asleep by this time, and only grudgingly lifts his head to acknowledge her. It takes some more convincing to get him to sit up, and she tries to ignore his complaint that it’s much warmer lying down.
Though by this time the fire is low, it doesn’t take long to finish cleaning his wounds. Though sleepier than before, Alibaba is more compliant is sitting up just straight enough for Morgiana to apply the bandages. Carrying him to bed is relatively easy, though Alibaba seemed to cling to Morgiana more tightly when she tried to lay him in bed. Morgiana tries to ignore it-but she stays by his side, sitting on the edge of the bed and watching him until the fire dies out. For a time, he watches her, too meeting her gaze and smiling in the same sort of dreamy way as earlier. Before he drifts to sleep, he manages mumble out one last thing-thank you. Morgiana says nothing, only adjusts the blanket around him.
In the morning, Alibaba will think it’s a dream and Morgiana will pretend that nothing happened.