italy ♔ a promise lives within you now

[romanticidal]

♬ mia per sempre - josh groban

WHO || Rafael, Buffy [Closed]
WHAT || After months apart, Rafael and Buffy celebrate the end of his tour with a private trip to Italy
WHERE || Italy
WHEN || /truck drives by, blaring horn
HOW || Actionspam.

It hasn't been an easy few months, but then again, it hasn't been an easy few years. Following the night of the Grammy's, Rafael's returned to his tour, aspiring to use his concerts as a chance to try and warn people of the dangers inherent in listening to Blade and company's music, even at the risk of looking like a crazy person. It wouldn't be the first time the world thought it, alright. Meanwhile, Buffy's been dealing with the fallout of what the Mind Master did to Finnick, and by extension, Myri, trying to be there for her friend in every way she can.  It would be easier for both of them if they had each other to lean on through it all, but they had to rely instead on numerous phone calls and memories of one night that finally offered them both some hope just when everything had started to seem more impossible than ever.

They also had the promise of this to look forward to: a planned trip to Italy that Rafael insisted be just the two of them, once he was finally free again.  He's arranged to meet her at the Galileo Galilei International Airport in Pisa, and when she gets out, there's some Italian chauffeur guys holding a sign that says "Summers".  

Comments

[romanticidal]

[ buffy's awoken eventually from where she's been drifting through vaguely pleasant dreams to the sounds of shuffling not far from her. when her lashes peel open, she'd see rafael getting dressed on the other side of the bed, a black button down shirt still hanging open as he threads a belt through the loops of his pants, his back to her. he reaches into the suitcase and draws out a pair of holsters, runs his thumb across the leather of them thoughtfully - still doesn't notice she's awake. ]

[slay]

[ The sound stirs her awake slowly, and she shifts around to try and recover the comfort of sleep. Reaching one hand out to his side of the bed, eyes still closed, it occurs to her he's moved, and that's when her eyes open to seek him out across the room. ]

Morning. [ She mumbles the words, still groggily shaking off the last vestiges of sleep. Pushing herself up to sit on the bed, she collects the sheet around her chest with one hand, yawning. ] Clothes time already?

[romanticidal]

[ his head swivels towards her at the sound of her voice, eyebrows raised for a moment in surprise, but it melts quickly into a soft, chagrined smile. ] Only because you looked so peaceful, carina. I could not dream of disturbing you. [ he lets the holster slip back from his hand into the suitcase, moving back towards the bed as he fastens his belt, and then slides onto the opposite side of the mattress, leaning across towards her, and reaching for her hand. ] I thought I might bring some breakfast up, before you woke.

[slay]

Mmm, you're sweet.

[ She curls her fingers in his, taking careful measure of how their hands fit together. Satisfied, she lifts her gaze to him. ]

And you were gonna arm yourself? Planning on getting breakfast from the French Revolution with the rest of the L'ABC?

[ A poignant raise of her eyebrows leads her gaze over his shoulder, to fix on his suitcase. In case he thought she wasn't going to ask about the fondling of his holster. ]

[romanticidal]

You caught that, did you? [ he chuckles, supremely amused, and drops a light kiss on her hand briefly ] Maybe I am just looking forward to these new arrivals of mine, hmm? [ the guns, he's not trying to say that he got you pregnant, buffy. probably. more seriously, though, he adds: ] And I was thinking of what it would mean, to wear them again. [ he drops his gaze, tilting his head, contemplative ] Of how things might be different.

How I would like them to be different.

[slay]

[ She scoots steadily to the edge of the bed beside him, waking up for deep existential weapons talk at whatever AM. Honestly, she doesn't even know what time it is, and she doesn't much care. Disentangling her hand from his, she sets about buttoning up his shirt, all thoughtful precision as she answers. ]

Tell me about it. [ If it's plaguing him enough for him to be romantically stroking his holster, it'd probably help him to think out loud. ]

[romanticidal]

[ one hand slides up and down her arm idly as she works, while he confesses: ] I have thought much about what Wynn said to me, when I spoke to him about becoming a Knight. I have thought about who I have let control me in my life, what forces I've allowed to shape my decisions and why.

The Black Scourge has been buried for years now, and I think that is where he should stay. But that does not mean I am not willing to fight for what I believe in.

But I wish it to be on my terms, carina. Does this make sense?

[slay]

[ A steady smile builds on her lips, and she lifts her gaze from her work to level her eyes on his. ]

If you're pulling the trigger, you want to be the one to decide when and why. [ She closes the final button. ] Makes plenty sense.

[romanticidal]

Exactly this, si. [ his hand comes up to drift through her hair, as he holds her gaze. ] It seems so simple, to say.

[slay]

If you're waiting for it to be all straightforward and simple in practice, you're gonna be sitting on your hands a long time.

[ She moves her hand to rest over his in her hair, tipping her head to press into his palm and embrace the soothing feeling. For a moment, at least. She releases his hand, and pushes up off the bed, slipping out from under the covers with some shy reluctance to expose herself on her way to her suitcase for clothes. But he's sitting on the bedding so I GUESS SHE'S NOT BRINGING IT WITH HER like she'd like to.

Anyway, point being it's time to have clothes on for this conversation. ] Wondering if you made the right call is the nature of the business. If it starts looking simple, that's when you really need to worry.

[romanticidal]

[ there's agreement in his hollowed brief smile at that, but he quickly replaces it with a more genuine smirk as his eyes trace after her and get sort of stuck in the process. ] I am glad there are some things, at least, that can be simpler.

[slay]

Simpler things like — ? [ As she kneels at her suitcase, she turns her head to glance back at him, confusion creasing her forehead until she spots the look on his face. Understanding events it out, her smile mirroring his, but with a hint of wry chastising (wis 20). ] Oh. [ Nod as she looks back to her baggage. ] That.

[ A curtain of blonde hair hides her flush. She pulls a pair of underwear on, then wrestles a clean halter top over her head. ]

When I was on Andres, I thought it must be so easy for you, doing what you do. [ She turns back towards him, pulling her hair over one shoulder to tie the halter strings at the base of her neck. ] I know that sounds stupid; I wasn't feeling super duper cerebral afterwards.

[romanticidal]

I promise you, Buffy. [ he pushes up to his feet, paces slowly around the bed ] It has never been easy. [ he steps up behind her, fingers coasting over her shoulder. ]

[slay]

I know.

[ She leans into his touch, eyes fluttering peacefully shut for a beat. It lasts only a moment, then she turns to glance back at him. ]

And I hope it never is. [ She rubs her hands up the outside of his arms as if to steady him, drawing a breath. ] Kinda heavy for early morning, huh? [ It occurs to her that it's her fault and she tilts her head to acknowledge as much. ] Sorry.

[romanticidal]

Do not be. [ he lays one finger long beneath her chin and gently tilts it further up for him, capturing her lips with his own for the space of a few indulgent, lingering beats. ] I would always hear what is in your heart. There is no bad time for such a thing.

[slay]

The only thing in my heart right now is you. [ Dreamy warmth thick in her voice, she leans up into him, hands slipping around his waist so they can just stand in the middle of the hotel room hugging in her underwear I guess. She smooths her hands up his back, drawing in a breath as if to bask a moment so she can brace herself to tear away. Okay. She's basked. ] How long til we meet your guy?

[romanticidal]

Enough time for us to eat. [ mischief creeps into his eyes, one hand sliding down behind her to appreciate this pantless hug of hers. ] If I ever let you finish getting dressed. [ it sounds like that one's still a toss-up ]

[slay]

[ Buffy's lips twist into a coy smile. ]

Let me. [ Her eyebrows creep up on her forehead, visibly and playfully doubting his ability to hold her. Her teasing words take a different avenue. ] The way I remember it, I wasn't the first one to this clothes-wearing party.

[romanticidal]

You may be stronger than me, carina, but I have more interesting ways to slow you down. [ his eyes glint with humor, even as his hand curves around her ass and draws her hips inexorably closer to his. he tilts his head slightly to trace his gaze across her face appreciatively. ] Maybe I only wanted to experience this new thrill of you undressing me again.

[slay]

[ Well, that earns an undignified little whine from the back of her throat as she shuffles closer to him, suddenly enough that it's obvious she reacted before she could even think to stopper the sound.

Heat pools in her abdomen, turning her to putty under his touch. She rocks up onto her tiptoes, leaning into him, lifting her chin to brush her lips against his and savor the intermingling heat of their breath. Heavy eyelids flutter, and she takes a moment to steady herself. ]

That, [ she declares, as if her voice isn't airy and breathless, as if her first concern is with the ethics of it all, ] Is cheating.

[ But she rolled a hella will save, so she gathers her wits about her. The groan that slips out next whines at the unfairness of his tactics, and she pulls at his waistband like she's disappointed with her own self control that prevents her opening it. She settles back down onto her heels. ]

A really, really bad kind of cheating that sounds ... actually ... pretty good with the thrilling and the— [ She chokes off the words with responsibility. ] No! No undressing. [ foCUS. ]

Pants. [ Drawing a breath to steady herself in her decision, she turns away from him. ] Need pants.

[romanticidal]

[ he chuckles warmly, clearly more pleased with the effect he had on her than disappointed by it not leading anywhere. he moves to close his own suitcase, snap it shut. ] I suppose if we are not to keep my contact waiting many hours, pants are best, si.

[slay]

You are dangerous. And evil. And so gonna pay for that later.

[ She throws a cardigan half-heartedly in his direction, which flutters to the floor halfway across the room before it ever reaches him. Then she wrestles out a pair of capris and closes her suitcase with the rest of her stuff packed away in it.

She wriggles the pants on, pulls her cardigan up her shoulders, and fluffs her hair out of the collar. ]

Your gun guy, is he in town?

[romanticidal]

[ he nods ] There is a man in the city who works with the Resistance, runs a small cafe. He lets us use his backroom for such business.

[slay]

Using his business to supply the Resistance? That's bold, around here.

[ The tone of voice says she approves. She wrangles her hair into a ponytail. ]

[romanticidal]

What some people may consider such small acts of every day boldness are the backbone of the Resistance. We could have made no headway without them. [ there's gratitude in his words, as he picks up his suitcase. ]