Fic: Offering | DCU | Diana/Steve | NC-17 | 1/1
Title: Offering
Fandom: DCU
Pairing: Diana Prince/Steve Trevor
Rating NC-17 (for the Great Rite, such as it is ^_~)
Word Count: 1,774
Prompt: For the 2008 DCU Free For All Autumn Challenge: Autumn Leaves, Priest/Priestess; For bradygirl_12's 2008 DCU Fic/Art Halloween Challenge: Apples, Red, Orange, Pumpkin, Ritual, Moon/Moonlight; For the 2008 Wonder Woman Love Fic/Art Calendar Challenge (November): Feast
Summary: Steve takes Diana on a special trip just a few days after Halloween.
Disclaimer: DC and WB own it. I own nothing. Darnit.
Author's Notes: Belated birthday gift for bradygirl_12. Happy b-day, hon! :D Also, once again with the multitasking of fic, even though one is already past its 'official' end date. ^_~ This is a sequel of sorts to Ritual.
Offering
Diana watches the sun dip toward the horizon as they drive west, the rolling hills of the countryside growing to domed peaks painted in fiery red and orange of autumn leaves lit up with the approaching sunset. She's still not sure where Steve's taking them, but trusts his promise that it'll be the best vacation she's had since the late spring, when they spent the weekend at a rented cottage off of Cape Cod. Something about the way his eyes sparkled as he'd surprised her with the mid-week getaway had sparked a blaze within her, that she hadn't had time to feel in many months.
The man knows what he's doing, for sure, and Diana can't find one bit of fault with that; she adores the way he seems to know her desires so intimately.
Reaching across the center console of the rented car, she places a hand on his knee and studies his pleased expression, his skin golden and eyes gleaming in the late afternoon light. "Are you going to tell me yet, or do I have to wait until we're there?" she asks coyly.
His smile widens as he glances over at her. "We're almost there, but I suppose I can tell you now. I rented a cabin in the Berkshires not far from the Appalachian Trail. Thought you might enjoy some peace and quiet in the woods, and some of the best views for miles."
Diana's heart leaps at his revelation, and she can't help a grin of her own, leaning over to plant a quick kiss to his temple. "Oh, Steve, that sounds wonderful!" Indeed, she hasn't had the chance to commune with nature since that weekend at the beach, and this is the perfect time for a ritual to both honor the fallen and thank the Goddess for the bounty of the past year. With her body already singing in anticipation, she can hardly wait until they get there.
* * * * *
It has to be the best view she's seen outside of Themyscira, the broad field stretching away from the cabin and the treeline, giving way to the valley to the west, the lights of farmhouses and small towns coming on far below, twinkling in the clear dusk. The muted colors of the fall foliage blanketing the land is a warm reminder of the season past, with its abundant rainfall and rich harvests. She's not sure she'd ever seen so many varieties of apples and other fall fruits and vegetables as they'd found at the farmer's market before coming to the cabin, and she's grateful and excited for the feast they'll prepare later in the evening with all they purchased.
But now is a time for a different sort of magic. With a circle drawn in stones gathered from the woods and a small blaze lit in the existing fire pit, Diana tosses a bundle of fresh herbs and spices into the flames, breathing deep as the aroma hits her. Rosemary, cinnamon, pepper, basil, cloves, and lavender waft up in the cool November breeze, rich, earthy, sweet, and evocative. She thinks of the blessings of the year, and the losses they've all suffered, her heart both heavy and light, and the ritual begins to takes shape. At each compass point she calls to the Guardians, pouring a libation of mulled cider onto the ground, welcoming them and thanking them in turn, then invites deity to her circle, first the Goddess, then the God, and finally great Gaia, in all her forms, the All, the universe itself. Her voice echoes in the darkening night with her incantations, and magick in its truest form fills the circle, flowing around her, tingling in her limbs.
She's home between the worlds, her tether to the Earth and the sky tangible and strong.
With reverence, she begins her offering to the fallen, drops of blood slipping from her palm to soak into the ground as she names those that have left the realm of the living. Her sisters that fell in battle, the loved ones of her friends that have passed, and finally her teammates who gave everything in their service to this world. The last name she almost can't say, her throat tightening as she chokes out, "J'onn, my friend, the last of his kind, beautiful soul." And with that, she takes her final offering up from the small altar, a single cookie, two black layers held together by white cream, and crumbles it into the fire. "I miss you, your boundless wisdom, and your gentle grace and humor. Rest well beyond the veil, my friend."
A quiet moment descends upon the circle as she remembers her friend, stray tears sliding down her cheeks as she lets the weight of her grief crest over her and fall away. Watching the lights in the valley below, she thinks of a time when they had gazed at the horizon over Washington, DC, taking refuge from their hectic lives together, sharing the peace of a moment without war or death or pain, and suddenly, Diana knows that J'onn is there with her in the circle.
Her heart feels lighter, and she smiles, glancing upward to the moon as the gently upturned bow of the Goddess for which she was named dips toward the southwest. After all the hardship of the past year, it is a time for new beginnings, indeed.
Giving thanks to great Gaia for the bounty of the season, the blessing of the man she loves, and the turn to the new year, Diana presents her offering of apple bread, milk, and honey in a small hollowed out pumpkin, setting it before the fire. The magickal beings of the forest, both animal and ethereal, will partake of their share this night, and she knows there will be nothing left come daybreak. A warm feeling of gratitude and peace settles upon her at the thought, and she raises her arms to the moon to draw down the light of the Goddess, promise singing through her with each pulse of her heart. Nearly to first quarter, the moon's new light is strong and bright, alive.
For the first time in months, Diana feels truly connected to the cycle of the universe.
* * * * *
Inside the small cabin, Diana slips off her cloak and folds it over the back of a chair at the kitchen table, watching Steve as he checks the roast in the oven. He's a blessing, indeed, and in so many ways.
"Your ritual go well, my love?" he asks, stepping away from the dinner preparations to wrap her up in a warm hug and give her a long kiss.
"Mmm, perfectly," she answers afterward, following him back to the counter to stand behind him and press in close, encircling his waist and leaning her head on his shoulder. "Thank you, Steve."
He turns slightly to drop another kiss to her hair. "Anything for my beautiful Amazon. I know it's been a rough year."
"Yes, it has," Diana agrees. "But it's much better now, thanks to you."
"Flatterer," he grins, slicing apples for the pie they'll have later.
"Well, it's true." Laughing easily, she kisses the shell of his ear, then moves away to help with dinner. Anticipation for the meal to come has her stomach growling already.
* * * * *
Sated after their feast of savory beef roast, carrots, acorn squash, garlic mashed potatoes, and buttered rolls, the couple lounges on the plush couch in front of the fire in the hearth, limbs entwined as they trade light kisses and discuss their plans for the next day.
"A long hike along the Appalachian Trail seems in order for the morning, I think," Diana suggests, lacing her fingers with Steve's.
Kissing her jawline, he smiles against her smooth skin. "I couldn't agree more. There's an access point about a half-mile from here, and we can hike up to the next peak, take in the view, make out a little..."
"Steve!" she chuckles, rolling her eyes. But she knows that's likely exactly what they'll do - find a quiet spot off of the trail, commune with nature, and enjoy their time together, lost among the dappled colors of the forest.
Laughing with her, Steve shifts, maneuvering them to lay her back across the couch and hover over her. "I know, I'm incorrigible," he grins down at her.
"Just the way I like you," she breathes huskily, pulling him down to kiss him thoroughly.
Moaning in appreciation, he slides a leg between hers, and they begin to move against each other slowly, Steve presenting his own offering to his goddess. His hand slips beneath her sweater, fingers caressing warm skin, and at Diana's arch against him, he moves to clutch her hip, bringing them closer together. "Anything for you, Goddess," he murmurs against her throat as he kisses his way down.
"Make love to me," she whispers, fingers twining into his golden hair.
In a few minutes, their clothing lays discarded on the floor, their skin glowing with the light of the fire, and the cabin is filled with the sounds of their worshipful rite. Her legs wrapped around his waist, Diana takes her lover deeply into her, rolling her hips in time with his thrusts, rhythmic and deliberate. She clenches around him with each movement, the sweet friction drawing sighs and mewling cries from them both as they climb toward release. Fire courses through their veins, bodies aflame with the heat of their connection, Goddess and God marking and celebrating the turning of the wheel of the year.
Mouths crashing together, they taste each other's reverence, sweet and pure as hands slide over breasts and biceps and shoulders and sides, and their rhythm increases, breaths coming faster and harder. It doesn't take much longer for moans to become whimpers of need and approaching climax, Diana writhing beneath her lover as he thrusts even deeper, harder, his movements becoming erratic.
He slams over that sweet, bright spot within her, and the friction there and in other places is enough to send her flying over the crest of ecstasy, her vision blanking as she cries out with her pleasure. Steve isn't far behind, his body tensing as he releases his offering, still buried deep, and his guttural cry comes between clenched teeth.
The wave of their magick ebbs slowly as they ride the high it offers, breaths heavy and bodies still on fire, and for a long time they lay tangled together, watching each other and dropping reverent kisses on flushed skin and mussed hair.
Settling into a comfortable position, Diana holds her lover and is held in return, thanking the divine for the peace, relaxation, and rejuvenation of the surprise trip. This time away from the worries of the world is a new beginning that neither of them will ever forget.
* * * * *
Fandom: DCU
Pairing: Diana Prince/Steve Trevor
Rating NC-17 (for the Great Rite, such as it is ^_~)
Word Count: 1,774
Prompt: For the 2008 DCU Free For All Autumn Challenge: Autumn Leaves, Priest/Priestess; For bradygirl_12's 2008 DCU Fic/Art Halloween Challenge: Apples, Red, Orange, Pumpkin, Ritual, Moon/Moonlight; For the 2008 Wonder Woman Love Fic/Art Calendar Challenge (November): Feast
Summary: Steve takes Diana on a special trip just a few days after Halloween.
Disclaimer: DC and WB own it. I own nothing. Darnit.
Author's Notes: Belated birthday gift for bradygirl_12. Happy b-day, hon! :D Also, once again with the multitasking of fic, even though one is already past its 'official' end date. ^_~ This is a sequel of sorts to Ritual.
Offering
Diana watches the sun dip toward the horizon as they drive west, the rolling hills of the countryside growing to domed peaks painted in fiery red and orange of autumn leaves lit up with the approaching sunset. She's still not sure where Steve's taking them, but trusts his promise that it'll be the best vacation she's had since the late spring, when they spent the weekend at a rented cottage off of Cape Cod. Something about the way his eyes sparkled as he'd surprised her with the mid-week getaway had sparked a blaze within her, that she hadn't had time to feel in many months.
The man knows what he's doing, for sure, and Diana can't find one bit of fault with that; she adores the way he seems to know her desires so intimately.
Reaching across the center console of the rented car, she places a hand on his knee and studies his pleased expression, his skin golden and eyes gleaming in the late afternoon light. "Are you going to tell me yet, or do I have to wait until we're there?" she asks coyly.
His smile widens as he glances over at her. "We're almost there, but I suppose I can tell you now. I rented a cabin in the Berkshires not far from the Appalachian Trail. Thought you might enjoy some peace and quiet in the woods, and some of the best views for miles."
Diana's heart leaps at his revelation, and she can't help a grin of her own, leaning over to plant a quick kiss to his temple. "Oh, Steve, that sounds wonderful!" Indeed, she hasn't had the chance to commune with nature since that weekend at the beach, and this is the perfect time for a ritual to both honor the fallen and thank the Goddess for the bounty of the past year. With her body already singing in anticipation, she can hardly wait until they get there.
* * * * *
It has to be the best view she's seen outside of Themyscira, the broad field stretching away from the cabin and the treeline, giving way to the valley to the west, the lights of farmhouses and small towns coming on far below, twinkling in the clear dusk. The muted colors of the fall foliage blanketing the land is a warm reminder of the season past, with its abundant rainfall and rich harvests. She's not sure she'd ever seen so many varieties of apples and other fall fruits and vegetables as they'd found at the farmer's market before coming to the cabin, and she's grateful and excited for the feast they'll prepare later in the evening with all they purchased.
But now is a time for a different sort of magic. With a circle drawn in stones gathered from the woods and a small blaze lit in the existing fire pit, Diana tosses a bundle of fresh herbs and spices into the flames, breathing deep as the aroma hits her. Rosemary, cinnamon, pepper, basil, cloves, and lavender waft up in the cool November breeze, rich, earthy, sweet, and evocative. She thinks of the blessings of the year, and the losses they've all suffered, her heart both heavy and light, and the ritual begins to takes shape. At each compass point she calls to the Guardians, pouring a libation of mulled cider onto the ground, welcoming them and thanking them in turn, then invites deity to her circle, first the Goddess, then the God, and finally great Gaia, in all her forms, the All, the universe itself. Her voice echoes in the darkening night with her incantations, and magick in its truest form fills the circle, flowing around her, tingling in her limbs.
She's home between the worlds, her tether to the Earth and the sky tangible and strong.
With reverence, she begins her offering to the fallen, drops of blood slipping from her palm to soak into the ground as she names those that have left the realm of the living. Her sisters that fell in battle, the loved ones of her friends that have passed, and finally her teammates who gave everything in their service to this world. The last name she almost can't say, her throat tightening as she chokes out, "J'onn, my friend, the last of his kind, beautiful soul." And with that, she takes her final offering up from the small altar, a single cookie, two black layers held together by white cream, and crumbles it into the fire. "I miss you, your boundless wisdom, and your gentle grace and humor. Rest well beyond the veil, my friend."
A quiet moment descends upon the circle as she remembers her friend, stray tears sliding down her cheeks as she lets the weight of her grief crest over her and fall away. Watching the lights in the valley below, she thinks of a time when they had gazed at the horizon over Washington, DC, taking refuge from their hectic lives together, sharing the peace of a moment without war or death or pain, and suddenly, Diana knows that J'onn is there with her in the circle.
Her heart feels lighter, and she smiles, glancing upward to the moon as the gently upturned bow of the Goddess for which she was named dips toward the southwest. After all the hardship of the past year, it is a time for new beginnings, indeed.
Giving thanks to great Gaia for the bounty of the season, the blessing of the man she loves, and the turn to the new year, Diana presents her offering of apple bread, milk, and honey in a small hollowed out pumpkin, setting it before the fire. The magickal beings of the forest, both animal and ethereal, will partake of their share this night, and she knows there will be nothing left come daybreak. A warm feeling of gratitude and peace settles upon her at the thought, and she raises her arms to the moon to draw down the light of the Goddess, promise singing through her with each pulse of her heart. Nearly to first quarter, the moon's new light is strong and bright, alive.
For the first time in months, Diana feels truly connected to the cycle of the universe.
* * * * *
Inside the small cabin, Diana slips off her cloak and folds it over the back of a chair at the kitchen table, watching Steve as he checks the roast in the oven. He's a blessing, indeed, and in so many ways.
"Your ritual go well, my love?" he asks, stepping away from the dinner preparations to wrap her up in a warm hug and give her a long kiss.
"Mmm, perfectly," she answers afterward, following him back to the counter to stand behind him and press in close, encircling his waist and leaning her head on his shoulder. "Thank you, Steve."
He turns slightly to drop another kiss to her hair. "Anything for my beautiful Amazon. I know it's been a rough year."
"Yes, it has," Diana agrees. "But it's much better now, thanks to you."
"Flatterer," he grins, slicing apples for the pie they'll have later.
"Well, it's true." Laughing easily, she kisses the shell of his ear, then moves away to help with dinner. Anticipation for the meal to come has her stomach growling already.
* * * * *
Sated after their feast of savory beef roast, carrots, acorn squash, garlic mashed potatoes, and buttered rolls, the couple lounges on the plush couch in front of the fire in the hearth, limbs entwined as they trade light kisses and discuss their plans for the next day.
"A long hike along the Appalachian Trail seems in order for the morning, I think," Diana suggests, lacing her fingers with Steve's.
Kissing her jawline, he smiles against her smooth skin. "I couldn't agree more. There's an access point about a half-mile from here, and we can hike up to the next peak, take in the view, make out a little..."
"Steve!" she chuckles, rolling her eyes. But she knows that's likely exactly what they'll do - find a quiet spot off of the trail, commune with nature, and enjoy their time together, lost among the dappled colors of the forest.
Laughing with her, Steve shifts, maneuvering them to lay her back across the couch and hover over her. "I know, I'm incorrigible," he grins down at her.
"Just the way I like you," she breathes huskily, pulling him down to kiss him thoroughly.
Moaning in appreciation, he slides a leg between hers, and they begin to move against each other slowly, Steve presenting his own offering to his goddess. His hand slips beneath her sweater, fingers caressing warm skin, and at Diana's arch against him, he moves to clutch her hip, bringing them closer together. "Anything for you, Goddess," he murmurs against her throat as he kisses his way down.
"Make love to me," she whispers, fingers twining into his golden hair.
In a few minutes, their clothing lays discarded on the floor, their skin glowing with the light of the fire, and the cabin is filled with the sounds of their worshipful rite. Her legs wrapped around his waist, Diana takes her lover deeply into her, rolling her hips in time with his thrusts, rhythmic and deliberate. She clenches around him with each movement, the sweet friction drawing sighs and mewling cries from them both as they climb toward release. Fire courses through their veins, bodies aflame with the heat of their connection, Goddess and God marking and celebrating the turning of the wheel of the year.
Mouths crashing together, they taste each other's reverence, sweet and pure as hands slide over breasts and biceps and shoulders and sides, and their rhythm increases, breaths coming faster and harder. It doesn't take much longer for moans to become whimpers of need and approaching climax, Diana writhing beneath her lover as he thrusts even deeper, harder, his movements becoming erratic.
He slams over that sweet, bright spot within her, and the friction there and in other places is enough to send her flying over the crest of ecstasy, her vision blanking as she cries out with her pleasure. Steve isn't far behind, his body tensing as he releases his offering, still buried deep, and his guttural cry comes between clenched teeth.
The wave of their magick ebbs slowly as they ride the high it offers, breaths heavy and bodies still on fire, and for a long time they lay tangled together, watching each other and dropping reverent kisses on flushed skin and mussed hair.
Settling into a comfortable position, Diana holds her lover and is held in return, thanking the divine for the peace, relaxation, and rejuvenation of the surprise trip. This time away from the worries of the world is a new beginning that neither of them will ever forget.
* * * * *