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ŠJuly 1997
The following is a bit of alternative fiction based on certain characters from the Xenaverse. It is not meant to infringe on anyone else's rights. If you don't agree or disapprove, please go read something else.
Heavy conversation and a little tease alert
She scooted off the bed, and managed, somehow not to disturb her lover in the process. Then, ever so carefully, she stealthily crossed the floor, grabbed some clothes and a robe, put the robe on and exited the room with the barest click of the door shutting. Kalai smiled at the new sentry and then hastened to the privy.
It was early enough in the morning that the only individuals stirring were the cooks and a few early risers, so after Kalai finished with the privy, she decided that maybe a bath was in order and she totally didn't expect anyone else to be in there. That is why she stood for a full set of seconds with the door ajar and her mouth gaping while staring at a not so dressed Xena who was just in the process of entering the bath herself. Xena, who had barely finished an intensive practice session (she had a healthy sheen of sweat) and who had no qualms about her body allowed the seconds to pass then arched her eyebrows. "Come in, go out, but whatever you do shut the door. It's too drafty to leave open."
Now communal bathing was a part of everyday life and Kalai was no child to be getting all googly eyed (but Xena just had that effect on people), so she had the grace to blush and then stepped in and shut the door. "Sorry, Xena." Then she looked a the other bath, which was also sizable and thought about filling it.
Xena settled in the pleasantly hot water, causing it to lap against the edge gently. She smirked and held up a dripping hand and crooked her finger at the young Amazon, "Kalai there is no sense in starting up another tub. The water is clean and warm. This tub is huge. Join me." She patted the water to show it was safe and grinned, "I promise, I won't bite, no matter what Gabrielle told you."
Kalai blushed again, remembering one of the stories that Gabrielle told at the feast the other day. Then she got herself together, nodded at Xena, placed the clothes on the bench and stripped out of the robe quickly. She paced to the tub, looked into the clear water and carefully lowered herself into the tub. It looked deep, but Kalai found that there seemed to be a seat that wound its way around the tub. She sighed with happiness as her body connected with the water.
For a bit there was silence as the two women enjoyed the serenity of the bath and the privacy of the moment. Kalai found herself relaxing to the sound of the waters soft lapping and Xena's even breathing. In fact, she floated on the edge of sleep again, and probably would have fallen asleep were it not for Xena's warm rich voice asking her if she'd had a good night. A grin automatically filled Kalai's face and somehow she managed to peel her eyelids open and nod.
She received an answering grin in return and a bar of soap. Xena teased her gently, "Can't have you drowning in the bath while I'm here. Wouldn't look good." Kalai gave a little laugh and suddenly felt a different kind of relaxation settle upon her.
After that Kalai found it easy to talk to the warrior princess and they settled into a conversational rhythm that matched their bathing. At one point Kalai looked up at the taller woman and said, "You know, I thought Gabrielle did all the talking, but you hold your own don't you." Then she had to clap her hand to her mouth, realizing that she might have said something to offend.
Xena laughed, reached forward and removed the hand from Kalai's mouth and replied, "Just because I listen well, doesn't mean I don't know how to converse or orate. I'd be a pretty poor commander if I couldn't speak my mind, hmm. A commander should be both a person of action and capable with words. They just need to know when to use which." Kalai looked thoughtful and grinned. She hadn't thought of that and since she'd brought the topic up, she found herself continuing with it.
"So you don't have problems expressing yourself, uhm, emotionally I mean." This, for some reason, was one of the great rumors of the Amazon nation. Xena had to have Gabrielle to express her emotions for her. Kalai had always been curious about that, wondering how anyone would express an emotion for another person.
Xena shook her head and smiled to herself as she washed her upper body. Xena pointed at Kalai with the soap and the warrior princess' face went absolutely expressionless and unreadable, then she lit up into a delighted smile that caused Kalai's mouth to lift at the edges. "You should know this, since you are an Amazon, but don't confuse the warrior's mask for an inability to feel or express. Just because I don't want the whole world to know something, doesn't mean I can't express what I feel when I want to." She leaned forward and spoke softly, "Don't get me wrong, there are some emotions I find," she paused and seemed to look at something faraway, "difficult to share, but everyone is that way. Even Gabrielle." The the raven haired beauty sat back and began soaping her other arm.
Kalai nodded and looked thoughtful, "Yeah, but your's is different."
Xena rinsed, "My what is different?"
"Your warrior mask." Kalai set the soap to the side of the tub. "Here I'll show you." The young warrior's face took on the look of stoicism. "That's how we do it, like we're bearing something bravely. But you," Kalai tried to approximate it, but didn't think she got very close, "Your face is simply neutral, not passive, not active, not bearing anything, just," she tried to find the right word, "there."
Xena grinned, "That is because that is how I feel at the moment. I become," her arms stretched out and she did the face, "there." Then she smiled pleasantly again. Kalai thought it was a fascinating thing. "Present, but not investing any emotion. You understand?"
Kalai squinted and looked and tried her best to emulate, without looking slack jawed.
Xena laughed, "well that was closer." She handed Kalai the soap and a washcloth, "Here, do my back."
Kalai grinned and took the bar and cloth, "Okay." She felt a jolt of energy as soon as she touched the warrior's skin and almost had to back off, but somehow managed to start up the swirling motions of washing Xena's back. She bit her lip and wondered if Xena had felt that. Kalai found it suddenly difficult to concentrate on just washing Xena's back.
Who knows why it happened, but Kalai felt an unaccustomed bravery. Perhaps it was the ease of conversation which they'd had or a burst of curiosity, but she found herself wanting to ask Xena a very important question, "May I ask you a," there was a pause, "personal," an emphasis, "question?"
Xena's expressive face remained good humored though she wondered where this was going. She kept her answer simple and shot a look over her shoulder, "Yes." Then she leaned back against Kalai's scrubbing hands.
Kalai's mind remembered the excitement of the joining day and its interesting twists and turns (and she gave herself a reminder to ask Arete what it was her mate was planning on telling her.) She also thought about the conversation she and Arete had previous to the joining day and that was what led to the question, put more bluntly than she'd intended and certainly more bravely than she would ever have approached anyone else, "Do you and Gabrielle share?" She stopped scrubbing and began rinsing by splashing the water against Xena's back.
Xena, being quick of mind and heart, let her expression go immediately neutral. She assessed Kalai's behavior as one of curiosity, therefore the warrior kept her voice even, but pleasant, "How do you mean?"
Kalai wondered if maybe she'd made a mistake, but decided to press on, now that she'd started. The trick was to explain it well. "Well, we, I mean I wondered about how, I mean this arrangement," she quit splashing and Xena ducked into the water to get the rest," would work. Arete thought, well we weren't sure," So much for the good explanation part, "Anyway, we're not opposed," Kalai found her voice drifting and thought her face would burn right off, "to sharing."
Xena turned around and smiled kindly. For an obvious first time approach, Kalai had done very well, but there were things to consider. "Turn around, I'll do your back now," she ordered. Kalai, somewhat shyly turned around. Again there was that tingle as Xena's hands brushed against her skin. Xena's voice was thoughtful, "Well, that is an interesting question Kalai. Gabrielle and I have discussed it some," Kalai's expression lightened considerably. She closed her eyes in relief and suddenly realized how good Xena's hands felt, "though we haven't nailed down any specifics yet." Her voice was almost, but not quite hypnotic. Kalai felt a finger under her chin and opened her eyes.
Xena grinned down at her, "This isn't something we need to rush into or even do, Kalai." She nodded at the door, "You're very happy with Arete and I wouldn't spoil that for all the world and its riches." Xena dropped her hand into the water, wrapped her arms around the woman's abdomen, just under her breasts. Kalai could feel the warrior's body press against hers and gasped as warm hands cupped her breasts and a warm mouth claimed hers. The kiss seemed to last for an eternity, but really was only for a few moments. Xena pulled back softly, "Think about it carefully Kalai, can you tell Arete what we just did? Will she be upset, will you be upset, how many people would it affect? How would you feel if this were Arete and she had to tell you? How would Gabrielle feel if she found you and I in a clinch? How would you feel if Gabrielle walked in, right now? There are ramifications to any relationship."
Xena kissed Kalai softly again, "Please understand something, I'm not saying I'm opposed. I have certainly had my portion of," she smiled gently, "experiences with multiple partners," Her smile turned wicked, "Of course I was a warlord then, I'm not sure if they count in quite the same way. Still, I've seen enough to know that some relationships go very well and some end very poorly. And I emphasize, *Very poorly*. We should be careful with this, very careful." Xena let go the embrace and then began scrubbing Kalai's back again. Kalai thought she'd been given enough food for thought to last for weeks, plus her whole body tingled. Xena continued, "If I understood the ceremony, we will have a long time dealing with each other, I'd rather it be with a happy understanding, rather than a bitter misunderstanding." Xena grinned wickedly, "Not that we have to plan or think through everything in advance. Take a breath Kalai." Kalai was barely able to catch one before she was completely immersed, turned around and lifted back out. She felt Xena wipe the water away from her eyes and then a light, friendly kiss to the cheek. Kalai opened her eyes. The warrior princess grinned evilly, "Trust me when I say this, I can be the raving jealous type like anyone else. Had someone else asked that question, they would be a bloody spot on the wall." She tapped Kalai on the chin, "Lucky for you, we're married, I think." Xena narrowed her eyes in thought. "Maybe."
Kalai grinned despite Xena's scary words, "So you were confused about that too?"
Xena arched an eyebrow, "Me confused?" She scoffed, "Never. I am after all, Xena." She said it with a prideful twist to her mouth and then laughed out loud, mocking herself. Kalai was liking the warrior princess more and more. Xena's grin turned playful and she waved the washcloth, "So tell me, Kalai, what you got growing behind those ears?"
The tub experience degenerated from there.
ŠJuly 1997