five.

[sicharia]

Characters: Claudia Hortensia & Urotsuki; Claudia Hortensia & OPEN
Setting: Floor 7
Format: Brackets
Summary: Claudia promised Urotsuki that she would let her teach her how to swim. ...But others are welcome to walk in on her in the locker room or find her by the pool, too.
Warnings: Talk about scars.

[Claudia eats lunch early and arrives on Floor 7 shortly after noon, in order to give herself time to change. It's a good thing, too—she feels awkward and embarrassed stripping out of her clothes only to put on something that leaves so much skin exposed, and she has to take a few minutes to work up the nerve to do so. Frequently, she looks toward the door of the locker room, anxious at the thought of someone walking in on her like this.]

[It's not some sense of modesty that leaves her feeling this way. It's her scars. They're stark and unsightly, branding her body and creeping down her limbs. And if she's going to swim, she can't even keep her eyepatch on, leaving the ones marring her right eye plain for anyone to see. She tries to find a swimsuit that covers as much of her body as possible, and though she succeeds in locating a plain one that covers the majority of her torso well enough, it's not possible to conceal everything...]

[There's also the matter of her right hand. She has kept it wrapped in bandages until now, but she can't keep those on while swimming. Without them, her remaining Command Seals are plainly visible, bright and red on her pale skin. She supposes she'll just have to hope that no one she has been lying to about her involvement in the Grail War sees her like this... Though, really, what are the chances of her meeting one of them now, during this one opening? She makes herself feel a little better, thinking like that.]

[In the end, she winds up curling up where she sits in wait beside the pool, swathed in a large towel as though it were a cloak. Her legs are drawn up to her chest, and the towel is pulled over her head like a hood, but there's only so long she can keep her body hidden like that...]

Comments

[sicharia]

[Normally, Claudia is a private person, preferring to keep this kind of affection for a less public place. Now, though, she's so swept up in her feelings that she isn't thinking about their surroundings at all. Eye falling closed, she accepts the feeling of his tongue slipping into her mouth with nothing but enthusiasm, breathing out a faint sigh as her lips part further for him. One of her hands comes up so that she can slide her fingers into his hair.]

[wormless]

[Kariya isn't thinking about where they are, either. He isn't thinking about anything much except being with her, keeping his hold on her. She feels warm and real. She smells sweet. Even if their bodies aren't real and none of what's around them is real, that doesn't change the fact that he's here with her and they're real. He keeps kissing her in a kind of desperation. He feels like he'll never stop. He makes a quiet noise into the kiss at the feel of her fingers in his hair.]

[sicharia]

[He makes that little sound, and almost unthinkingly, she strokes his hair, feeling it running between her fingers, before letting that same hand drop down to cup his left cheek instead. The skin there is smooth and unmarked. It's almost surreal, realizing she doesn't have to avoid touching any part of him. Tongue sliding against his, she abruptly finds herself kissing him harder, leaning up on her toes and against him as the hand still resting at his shoulder fists into his clothes.]

[wormless]

[It's wonderful to be able to do this without feeling any pain, to feel like himself again, his mind clear. His hand comes around to stroke the back of her neck, his own hand moving through her hair as hers moves through his. When she kisses him harder, he responds in kind, tilting his head so he can slip his tongue farther into her mouth. He hopes they can just stay here forever. He never wants to go anywhere else.]

[sicharia]

[Breath hitching, she makes a small noise into his mouth. Like this, it's easy to let herself forget about most everything else, instead focusing entirely on Kariya and being kissed and held—]

[But as focused on him as she is, she's equally aware of the fabric of his pants brushing against her bare legs, the feeling an odd distraction. It's a reminder of her state of dress and, by extension, exactly who she's waiting for. Claudia pulls back, but she doesn't go far, not disturbing his arms where they're wrapped around her. Her face is close to his.]

Ah— I'm sorry, I'm supposed to be waiting for someone right now.

[She smiles, the expression sheepish but bright, a faint hint of color rising to her cheeks.]

[vermicompost]

Oh--

[Kariya pulls back as well, but keeps his hold on her, smiling at her even as his face burns. His heart is beating fast, and he wishes they could be alone together. Somewhere. Somewhere more private than this.]

I didn't realize, I'm sorry. I was just so excited to see you. I missed you, and--I love you.

[He blurts out the last, still fiercely flushed.]

[sicharia]

Ah— No, no! You didn't know. [She laughs for no particular reason, then, cheeks warming further. Her heart skips giddily in her chest.]

[Hearing him say he loves her now, there's still the sense that she doesn't deserve that—but this time, rather than guilt, she feels happiness and gratitude in reply. She's...so blessed. She can't stop smiling, clinging and resting her head against him.]

Mm, I love you too. [Then, teasingly, she adds:] So if you miss me, don't be shy, alright?