Kris couldn’t resist the temptation to run a hand along Harry’s ankle, enjoying the feel of the leather against his skin. “What changes aren’t acceptable?” he coaxed.
Henry tensed along the touch, watching his hand cautiously. “I know not of what…
“Though hiding a goat from a family of wolves will have the elders starve. I cannot simply hide; I do not want to lie to him. He is to be the person to put the crown on my head—there, I will stand differently.” He muttered, trying not to move away, the young prince sighed, averting himself. “I cannot simply forget the person I had known for longest. I am my own, though I am also his flesh and blood, a first born, heir and a brother.”
“Oh, aye, shape yourself to his desire alone, and lose track of who you are in the process,” Kris half-sneered. “The pitiable life of a prince of the realm, lauded by whores and thieves and half-drunken, Henry’s golden son. I could hate you for this.”
“I am to set a good example, I know who I am.” He frowned, looking elsewhere as he moved to lean back a bit more. “But not a prince of this ‘realm’ alone. Just a Prince of Wales. This whole realm, I do not think it needs a single kingdom of these persons. Then, what makes keep you from hating me?”
“You’re too damned charming, Harry.” Kris clenched his fingers around Harry’s ankle. “Hard to hate what you like so much.” A drawl filtered into his words as he spoke. “You’ve got it all. Loving father, brothers, girls at your feet, a kingdom to inherit … “
Summer Rainault. *looks around, mostly up* This is a nice place you have here.
It’s a pleasure to meet you, Summer. And yeah, I know it is. [Smirks]
*places hand over heart and bows a little* It’s a pleasure to meet you as well, sir. Do you suppose, as long as I’m here, I could maybe … get a little tour?
She didn’t want to wake up. Awake was pain, and flame, and trying to do far more than she’d ever been capable of on her best day. She cried out intermittently in unconsciousness, something in her still trying to resist the seizures.
Steve was no experienced medic, but it would take too long to get a SHIELD medical expert over here. Using what few tricks he picked up over the years, he fumbled around for his first aid kit, a bottle of water, and a damp towel. He applied the cool rag over her brow and tried to offer her some fluid from the water bottle. Hopefully she would drink.
Coolness. There was coolness. Someone wanted. Worry. Hope. Urgency? She swallowed, and consciousness crawled closer even while she tried to hold it off. Awake was failure. She couldn’t fail.
She drank more, and something inside relaxed with a shudder, putting an end to the seizures.
Kris couldn’t resist the temptation to run a hand along Harry’s ankle, enjoying the feel of the leather against his skin. “What changes aren’t acceptable?” he coaxed.
Henry tensed along the touch, watching his hand cautiously. “I know not of what…
“Though hiding a goat from a family of wolves will have the elders starve. I cannot simply hide; I do not want to lie to him. He is to be the person to put the crown on my head—there, I will stand differently.” He muttered, trying not to move away, the young prince sighed, averting himself. “I cannot simply forget the person I had known for longest. I am my own, though I am also his flesh and blood, a first born, heir and a brother.”
“Oh, aye, shape yourself to his desire alone, and lose track of who you are in the process,” Kris half-sneered. “The pitiable life of a prince of the realm, lauded by whores and thieves and half-drunken, Henry’s golden son. I could hate you for this.”
“If I have offended, please accept my apology.” Too late, she tried to check her steps and failed, nearly crashing into him.
He instinctively held out his arms for her, taking her arms carefully in his as he looked at her, concern in his blue eyes and with a questioning gaze.
“Are you well?” he asked her.
Summer felt her face heat and had to duck her head away from those eyes. “I just … tripped over my own feet.” This was not good. This was very not good. “I’m fine,” she lied, even though she could feel her ankle starting to throb a bit. She made herself pull away from him, and gave a gamine smile. “I think I owe you yet another apology now, for my clumsiness.”
Summer rolled her eyes hard, disentangling her arms from his neck. “Why does everyone assume I’m going to go rummage in their head? I can’t help but hear what you broadcast, hon. I’m not interested in changing it.” She ran a hand through her hair, resettling it, then cocked an eyebrow at him. “Letting you share what I’m feeling … oh, say, by way of desire? Passion? That intrigue you any?”
“It’s a thing. I’d imagine that having to hear all that shit gets rather annoying. And to be honest, I don’t even like half of what’s going on in my head, so having to listen to it must be worse. But…desire and passion are feelings that I can get behind. Or in front of. Whichever, really.”
He let go of her and brushed a stray piece of hair out of her face, suggestively smiling. “Sorry if I killed the mood there.”
She shrugged. “Don’t fool yourself; what I get off you is no more or less bad than what goes on in my own head. We all like to think we walk in our own personal darkness, unrivalled by anyone else.” Summer blinked, smiling with a tinge of bitterness. “Never mind.”
Cocking an eyebrow again, she added, “I’m sure someone as … experienced as you can bring the mood back, if you’re so inclined.”
“You might to sit down for this one, I’m not sure you won’t melt into a puddle if I keep going,” Tony admitted with a smirk. “I do have half a mind to just push you against that wall though….”
Summer had to laugh at his arrogance. “You could not be more arrogant if you tried, could you? Well.” Smirking back at him, full of confidence, she went on, “Please, please, Mr Stark, have your wicked way with me.”
