Hand and hand, they walk the familiar streets of Goldenrod. He doesn't even need to look at Lex to know how she's feeling. After so long away, being home must feel like a dream. A temporary slice of paradise made better by the ring worn on her finger.

The golden band is little more than practicality. Lex is devoted to him entirely without it. Yet Killian's chest fills with an airiness capable of lifting him off his feet. They know they're the only ones for each other, but this lets the rest of the world in on the ill-kept secret.

He smiled, squeezing her hand and admiring her as she admired the ring. "I'm sure." more than sure. If it was, then assuredly, she'd have said no, rejected him, and stomped his heart into the ground.

A nightmare this was not.

"What do you say we stop by the Murkrow's Nest?" that dingy old bar, he grinned, recalling the wild nights he and Lex shared inside its walls.

"Perfect place to kick things off, don't you think?"

Alexandra Briarwood

Perhaps dream was the wrong thing to ask, considering most of their dreams are plagued by nightmares. Still, if this is a dream, there’s something sinister lurking waiting to pounce. Lex would choose to enjoy the moment and not dwell on what lies in the shadows, stalking them.

Her hand gently squeezes his in confirmation. Definitely not a dream.

The hand lowers back to her side, though her thumb gently traces the underside of the band in reassurance. Amber eyes flash over to him at the mention of their old stomping grounds. There’s a noticeable pep in her step at the idea of visiting the bar, “I think that’s a great start!” her pace quickens, following a familiar path towards the hole-in-the-wall bar, “We might be a little overdressed,” she grins back at him, obviously teasing. This certainly wasn’t the place for dresses and button-downs but she’s too excited to suggest pausing to change out of their current clothes.

Killian Decker

"You're cute when you're excited."

The thick syrup of oppression drenched them in Hoenn. So much so that it's easy to forget they were happy once upon a time. Seeing that bright grin and peppy step warmed his heart.

"Hm?" Killian glanced down at his attire. Right. They'd been dressed for something fancy. Not a playful romp on the shady side of town. He tugged her to a stop before they got any closer. Killian's eager to indulge in nostalgia, but they'd attracted too much attention dressed like this.

"Let's change. Do you remember any stores around here?"

Alexandra Briarwood

Lex laughs, looking back at him with a little grin. It doesn’t even cross her mind how much they’ve changed since being in Hoenn. Some for the better, some for the worse. Their life here in Johto was definitely simpler than in Hoenn. At least, before her mother got sick. Then it was a nightmare. Both regions held a significant amount of trauma for Lex, but with Killian by her side she could overcome it, without a doubt.

The sudden stop makes her change course. The momentum pulls her back and into him. A hand effortlessly slips around his waist. There’s a small frown, disappointment settling in as he suggests delaying their progress to change. Although unsaid, she agrees they would attract too much attention. With a sigh she accepts it and thinks for a moment, “Hmm, I think there’s a small store this way,” she points towards their left, down another street.

Lex takes the lead this time and tugs him along across the street and down another street. Another half block and they come across a small second-hand clothing store. They wouldn’t find anything fancy here, but that’s the point.

Killian Decker

Touch me more.

The words lingered on unspoken on the tip of his tongue as she slid her hand to his waist. Later. He tells himself, smiling as she sighs. "Don't fret. We've got plenty of time." more if they were careful.

Tugged down the street, Kilian eventually falls into place beside as they arrive at the storefront. "Rebecca's Second-hand Duds" he mutters, "Weird name." but they can't afford to be picky.

He pulls open the door to the sound of a chime and steps inside. Whoever Rebecca is, they don't appear to be around at the moment. In fact, the place is oddly empty. Maybe she's in the back? Killian shrugged, "Let's look around." the digits of his finger break free of Lex's own and wandered through the racks of clothes. Making sure to keep an ear open for the owner in case they show up.

Alexandra Briarwood

His touch lingers even after his fingers slip out from between hers. She misses the warmth but focuses on the task at hand. Lex separates and strolls through the aisle with the woman’s clothing. Her fingers gently run along the various article of clothing, stopping at the ones that catch her eye.

Eventually, there’s a few things slung over her forearm and she’s searching for a dressing room. She spares a glance back as she brushes open the curtain to a small nook with a mirror, “Find anything?” she calls back to Killian before drawing the curtain back behind her to change.

Killian Decker

"Hmm?" Killian glanced back to find Lex heading into one of the changing rooms. He smiled, picking out the nearest outfit that fit his tastes, and called back. "I have."

Killian doesn't waste any time in joining inside the room. What? He can't help himself. There's just enough room for the two of them to fit somewhat comfortably.

"You don't mind if I watch do you?" he winked.

Alexandra Briarwood

Lex is already struggling to reach the zipper on the back of her dress when Killian squeezes into the small room. He’s met with a small grin, playful but knowing, “I don’t mind at all,” A part of her knew he couldn’t stay away. She turns and moves her hair to present the zipper, “If you’re gonna watch, you can at least make yourself useful,” She casts the same playful grin over her shoulder and wiggles out of the dress when he’s finished with his task. A hand grabs for the black skinny jeans she plucked off the rack.

Killian Decker

Killian smiled from the changing room mirror as he unzipped the dress. Watching the black number drop to the floor in a wiggle meant for him, his hands took on a mind of their own. Fingertips ignited by the warm candle of desire gently brushed silken curves.

He'd told himself later, but laying bare before him, Lex felt impossible to resist.

"I didn't see anyone in the store maybe we could...."

The words trailed off, dropped from a cliff with a breath against her ear. There's no need to finish the sentence. The wisps of Killian's desire that danced along her skin spoke for him.

Alexandra Briarwood

Lex catches a flash of his smile in the mirror before she feels the gentle touch of his fingers wander across her bare skin. His hot breath causes goose bumps to rise across her back and down her bare arms. The thought doesn’t need finishing, she knows what he means. He may catch her own salacious grin in the mirror before she slowly turns around to face him.

Her own hands wander, moving beneath the blazer and up to his chest. One by one, her fingers move over the buttons and she slowly begins to undo them, “We could . . .” she repeats softly, grinning up at her fiancé with a familiar, mischievous sparkle in her amber eyes. She slides he hand up his bare chest and wrap them around the back of his neck, pulling him in for a passionate kiss.

Killian Decker

The kiss burns hot like the sun warming Killian from the inside out. He pressed into her lips, stepping to push her against the changing room wall. While enjoying the searing heat from their embrace, his hands work to unbuckle his belt and pants, letting them fall to the floor.

Breaking only for a moment, Killian wet his fingers with his tongue and returned to their kiss. The soaked fingers slipped underneath the fabric around Lex's waist. An all too familiar desire to hear the satisfying gasps of pleasure that shivered his spin fueling their actions.

Alexandra Briarwood

Despite their recent activities at home, her body burns with desire. There’s a renewed sense of longing fueled by a newly placed ring on her finger. She welcomes his passion, returning it equally as he presses her back against the dressing room wall. The shuffle of feet and the soft thump of her back against the wall is quiet. What’s not quiet, is the involuntary gasp of pleasure and soft moan against his lips elicited by his fingers.

“Killian,” she whispers in desire, reaching low to grasp tightly with the hand not tangled in his dark hair.

THUMP THUMP THUMP

The sudden knocking on the wall of the dressing room make Lex gasp in surprise. Her grip around Killian tightens in surprise as her eyes grow wide.

”EH-HEM,” the shop keeper clears her throat loudly on purpose, “ONE per dressing room . . . this is a family place,” there’s an obvious growl in her deep voice before the sound of her footsteps fade away.

“S-sorry,” Lex mumbles, not really that loud. She finds Killian’s gaze, stifling a laugh between tightly pursed lips.

Killian Decker

His name on her tongue never ceased to kindle the fire inside of him. It's whispered mellifluously, hot breath tickling the skin of his lips, drawing him into her own. They've not even begun to make noise when -

Thump Thump

Halted mid-tease, Killian's fingers go slack and slip disappointingly from the wet, warm pool they swam in."Our bad." Bring his forehead to rest against Lex's own. He can't help but chuckle as footsteps echo away from the room.

"I guess we weren't alone after all." he smiled and lifted his fingers to lips. Licking the sweet nectar that coated them away, Killian winked and stepped back. "Later." he growled, grabbing his clothes to get changed in the next room over.

Alexandra Briarwood