A quiet night

Posted on Fri Jul 9th, 2021 @ 7:51am by Captain Mattias Richardson [Reece] & Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson

Mission: Darkness Rising - A Phoenix Lalor Sub Plot
Timeline: MD 17 - Late at night?
1191 words - 2.4 OF Standard Post Measure

Lily lay alone in the new bed in her new cabin. She was tired, they were running constantly. They needed a new base of operations to work from. Sasha was still looking, and Lily was trying not to hurry her along.

A gentle, familiar, knock sounded on the closed door.

She sat up. "Matt! Come in!" She called pushing back the covers and getting out of the bed.

The doors slid apart, revealing the man who always grinned at her with love in his eyes. "Hey you." Though it was clear that he wasn't at his full level of readiness, he still tried to be charming for the woman he loved.

Lily moved swiftly and pulled him gently into the room, the door sliding shut behind him as she did so. Then she took his face in her hands and kissed him deeply. "Good to see you back on your feet!" She said when she broke the kiss.

Mattias breathed in Phoenix's perfume as she kissed him, it seemed to give him more vitality as they kissed. When the kiss ended, he replied. "Not fully, but enough that Kara released me from the medbay. She gave me strict instructions that I am to rest and not partake in any shenanigans."

"I am just glad you are out of medical." She said softly. "I have not unpacked your things, but they are in here. Including your weapons locker." She pulled him further into the room.

Mattias allowed Phoenix to pull him closer and deeper into their new room. Looking around, he nodded. Very nice digs we've got here. Bed looks comfortable."

"Hmm, it's very comfortable, Thiramen" She said. "Much better than the bunk on the Old Black Watch. And this is just a normal cabin."

Reaching out and pulling her to him, Mattias replied. "Anywhere that you are by my side is home to me, my queen."

"My king" she pressed her lips to his cheek. "Come to bed, rest, get better."

Mattias made a small purring sound when Phoenix kissed and spoke to him. Slowly, as he was still quite stiff and sore, he started to undress, the scars on his back healing, but still a bit angry looking.

Phoenix watched him and smiled faintly. "Good thing I am alone huh" she teased. Stepping up she helped him disrobe. "I'd hate for you to open those up again."

Mattias stayed still, allowing Phoenix to examine his sealed and healing wounds. "Same here. They hurt like hell when they ripped open during the attack."

"I know I promised not to break our cover... Part of me wishes I had, not because of Kara, i know she is a great doctor but our supplies are limited." She kissed his back gently.

Turning to face Phoenix, Mattias reached out and pulled her to him. "Don't be sorry, my love," he spokeing in a soothing voice. "I understand fully. This mission must come first." He held her in a warm embrace, gently running his fingers through her hair.

"I was so close...to breaking it." Phoenix said. "Between you and Arri... I was and still am sorely temped."

Moving her away to look in her eyes, Mattias spoke slowly and clearly. "No. You can't do that, Phee. You do, and we lose him and Josie, forever. You'd never be able to forgive yourself for that. She is a member of your crew, on Elysium. We have to stay the course. No matter the cost along the way. This started with just stopping these scumbags. Now, the goal is twofold. One, we still stop them. Two, we bring all of our people home. Alive or dead. We don't leave them lost out there. Do you understand me?"

Phoenix nodded. "I do." She said softly. "I am just glad you are here with me Matt." she leaned into him. "Had... had you..."

He pulled her into his embrace again, holding her to his chest securely. "It's gonna take more than an rpg round to my back to free you from me, my love. I'm afraid, you're stuck with me, until we are both very old and very grey, with our children, grandchildren and possibly even great-grandchildren standing around us."

She leaned into him, drawing on his strength. Most looked at them like they were an odd pair, and maybe they were, but it worked. She could be as strong as she needed to, knowing he was there. The past few years without him had made her able to stand on her own two feet, and lead, but with him she could just be Phoenix, not Captain Lalor, Not brave Phoenix, just Phoenix, a normal person who needed comfort from someone she loved. "Bed time" she said softly. "You best rest or Kara will come after me."

"Hell hath no fury like the doctor who is also your sister." He chuckled softly as he continued to undress. He was having an issue with his boots, as he couldn't bend all the way down yet. Looking over at Phoenix, he said, "I'm sorry, honey, can you help me with these? Kara put them on me, but I can't get them off."

Laughing she assisted with the boots. "Oh I must remember this one day" She laughed as she finished helping him.

"Easy now, your highness, this is your knight in green armor you're teasing." He stuck out his bottom lip, pouting playfully.

She dropped him an elegant curtsey. "Apologies My lord" she said with a smirk. "Now let's get you into bed so I can snuggle."

Pout quickly changed to lop-sided grin. "That's the best idea I've heard all day. After standing, he undid his pants and carefully stepped out of them. Then, slowly, he crawled into their new bed. "Oh! It is more comfortable than the bunks that were on the Black Watch! Why didn't we just use this ship the whole time?"

"Because this one was not available." She said with a smile as she turned off the lights and slid in beside him.

Laying on his back, Mattias wrapped his left arm around Phoenix, pulling her in to him. He took a moment to breathing the soft aromas that were in her hair, from her shampoo and conditioner. They always complimented the soft sweetness that her skin seemed to give off. It was a smell that he could never get enough of. It smelled like home and happiness to him.

Phoenix snuggled into his side comfortable and content. "Get better" she muttered to him.

"I'm doing my best, My Queen." He said, then kissed her gently on her forehead.

"Good" so saying she curled against him and closed her eyes to sleep.

Mattias smiled softly. As he softly ran his fingertips up and down her spine, he felt Phoenix slowl fall asleep. He tried to follow her into slumber, unfortunately, his mind was busy replaying the events from the attack on Cragen's palace, to the attack on the Black Watch. His back throbbed slightly as both events moved through his thoughts.

Finally, a few hours later, his exhausted mind finally succumbed to unconsciousness.

***OFF***