WHY LIKE THIS?

WHEN YOU CAN BE THAT?

“THIS TIME,” comes a gruff reply. Next time they won’t be so lucky. That much he swears. It’s a silent vow meant to hit those closest to her. He just doesn’t know it yet. And should she fall in the line of fire. It just means his little doll breaks a bit too easily.

Oh well.

“Same.” Their conversation consists of a few words and ever fewer actions. Fernando takes the first step in, feeling the sudden heat of a hot shower pelt against his pack as an abstract chill crawls down his spine. Every droplet that stings his skin causes him to sizzle, releasing MISTY vapor instead of steam from their glass confines.

The only difference from prison is that they have a freedom to choose. That’s why she’s here now. With him.

It’s because she chose to be.

Lulu Flint

WHY LIKE THIS?

WHEN YOU CAN BE THAT?

FERNANDO STANDS AT ATTENTION IN MORE WAYS THAT ONE. That's how she knows she has his focus. That his world revolves around her and the water that pricks hot holes in his backside. His eyes never leave hers as he lets her attend to him. Lather covers his imperfections with bubbles and cleanliness. It's an uphill battle against being constantly washed away.

"What is this?"

No matter how much she covers him the lessons learned will never wash away.

Lulu Flint

WHY LIKE THIS?

WHEN YOU CAN BE THAT?

"EACH ONE IS A LESSON LEARNED."

Fernando embraces her touch. The attention is nice. A sense of security that lets him close his eyes and feel her fingers against him. His head droops backwards, nestled against her.

"Our mistakes. Our chance to continue down that path or break free. To make a better life for ourselves. To set aside the past and grow into something more."

When he opens them, he turns, face full of water as he stares down at her. His hands rest on her waist, thumbs tracing against the lines of ink that sit underneath his touch.

Lulu Flint

WHY LIKE THIS?

WHEN YOU CAN BE THAT?

WATCHING HER PROSTATE BENEATH HIM DOES NOT BRING THE SAME JOY AS OTHERS. Here, she is subservient, pleasing but far from satisfactory. It is the breakdown and anguish that comes from thoroughly destroying someone that fill his sense of sadism in more ways than one.

He obeys. displacing his weight onto the other foot to keep himself upright. "You don't have to," he says after the fact.

Lulu Flint

WHY LIKE THIS?

WHEN YOU CAN BE THAT?

CLEANLINESS IS JUST SHORT OF GODLINESS. In this hollowed ritual, a silent vow is exchanged. Her service is noted by Tapu Fini and that is enough to curry the Legendary's favor. As for the insidious devil that clings to her shadows. That is a resolution the deity has yet to address. Whether or not it can be is a question left to be contested. But as with all mortals, decisions of the Gods are made among themselves. They're just meant to live through the consequences.

Fernando sets the soap back into the shower's concave holder. What he sees is someone willingly subjecting herself to him, someone he's remolded, and he bears the responsibility by holding her within his arms.

"No." His frown reflects her smile as does the moon reflects the sun.

"Your turn."

He looks to cast away her shadows once and for all. Service is met with gratitude. It's only fair he partakes as well. Nothing he can do will ever remove the paintings of her past. But in action, the metaphor slips between his fingers. To taste her and cover her body in kisses is one thing. To care for it, to nurture what is left, is something else entirely.

Lulu Flint

WHY LIKE THIS?

WHEN YOU CAN BE THAT?

HE TAKES WHAT HE WANTS WITH A MUTED KISS. Hot water starts to taper off into lukewarm from extended usage. The time they spend draws the curtains on their intimacy but Fernando is far from done. Behind the foggy barrier separating them from the rest of the world, he looks to her to relish in a fleeting freedom.

“Whatever?”

There is a challenge in that voice that comes with the authority that dares her to upkeep her end of the bargain. It’s the same gruffness that had snatched her chastity behind a haze of tequila and avoiding questions in true-or-dare.

“I like you,” he answers with the sound of his hand echoing against her. Fernando is ready to take, aligned in position, but waits. Satisfaction only comes from mutual want. He needs the validation.

Lulu Flint