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Post by Miss Jack on Aug 13, 2008 21:06:04 GMT -5
No killing. His chest seared with the weight of his promise every time Armand’s familiar visage floated through his mind. Which was a lot. Bested by the crown prince, even in freedom. For years, decades, centuries, Armand had been his penitentiary, a living, breathing prison which he could not escape. There was no image violent enough, dark enough, to describe the absolute hatred he held for Armand Ira.
The price of his freedom had been Armand’s life. A steep price, but one he had been willing to pay. Perhaps, though, Zizzy had given him a gift in disguise. For what was worse than death, but a miserable life?
I cannot take your life, Armand, he thought. But I can take your happiness.
He shifted into Armand’s form at the last possible moment, not wanting to occupy the habits of this familiar body any longer than necessary. Armand would forever be his easiest quarry to imitate, having been him for so long. Each facial expression, every gesture and mannerism, came as naturally as breathing.
He knocked on Zizzy’s door, twisting a lock of Armand’s midnight black hair over his shoulder. Why did he keep it so long? It was annoying.
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Post by Jules on Aug 13, 2008 21:13:52 GMT -5
Zizzy came to the door quickly, because she'd been doing absolutely nothing. She'd just returned from grocery shopping (for once) and had finished putting everything away before collapsing on her bed for a breather. Seventeen trips to bring up and down every single bag had been a little bit exhausting.
But it went away when she opened the door and saw Armand. She smiled happily. "Hey you."
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Post by Miss Jack on Aug 13, 2008 21:18:15 GMT -5
His answering smile held a touch of shyness, his eyes sparkling at the sight of her. "Hi," he said and brushed his lips over her cheek.
He glanced over her shoulder into the empty apartment, then back to her. "Are you busy?"
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Post by Jules on Aug 13, 2008 21:22:03 GMT -5
Zizzy shook her head. "Nope. I finally got some groceries, since you didn't seem to fond of sauceless noodles." He seemed a little hesitant, but she passed it off as just Armandism. Although after everything, you'd think he'd get over his shyness around her.
"Did you want to do something? Or we can just stay in." She grinned.
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Post by Miss Jack on Aug 13, 2008 21:28:08 GMT -5
Stay in. Something inside Iker hummed at the prospect. Perhaps his cold cut plan could veer off schedule, a bit. And how much sweeter would his victory be to have this, now.
"I'm glad you've regained your appetite," he said softly. He stepped into the threshold and ran the back of his fingers along her jawline, something indecsive about the gesture, and then he pulled her to him and kissed her, hard, his lips hot and urgent against hers.
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Post by Jules on Aug 13, 2008 21:33:43 GMT -5
"Me too. I missed food."
She leaned into the soft touch and then gasped as he kissed her. The depth of it sending a shock down her spine. Zizzy wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back. She wouldn't mind if this was how he always greeted her at the door. Even if there was almost bruising force behind the kiss.
Although talking at some point would be nice, it didn't have to be now. Or today, really.
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Post by Miss Jack on Aug 13, 2008 21:40:45 GMT -5
As he hoisted her onto his waist, carrying her to the bed, he had to wonder if this sudden excitement and need was entirely a vendetta against Armand. Certainly, Zizzy was appealing because she belonged to Armand, but there was something else. She, who had once claimed to love him without inhibitions.
He pressed her into the mattress and kissed her neck, running his hands along her arms, over her collarbone down to her stomach. He liked touching her like this, the reality, the solidness of her. "Do you love me?" he asked huskily against her skin.
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Post by Jules on Aug 13, 2008 21:47:53 GMT -5
Zizzy moaned, sounding like the crackling of a happy storm. Her hands where in his hair, and then roamed down his back, she kissed where his pulse thumped in his neck before answering.
"Of course. With everything." She murmured and smiled. It was sweet that he would need reassurances, even now. She arched her back and kissed him again, hard and deep. "Always." She murmured into the corner of his mouth.
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Post by Miss Jack on Aug 13, 2008 21:56:44 GMT -5
A quiet, possessive growl escaped and he clutched her tighter. Hearing the words did unpleasant things to his system; like the tremor of excitement and fear and envy that zipped down his spine like ice. He almost wanted to hurt her for eliciting this unexpected reaction, but he softened his hands, his mouth, and guided her deeper.
Several times through the course of their actions, he made mistakes; his true self slipping through his facade. It was uncontrollable and natural... and wonderful. Not knowing he was mimicking Armand's own words their true first time, his teeth grazed the edge of her jawline and he murmured, "Mine."
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Post by Jules on Aug 13, 2008 22:03:34 GMT -5
A few times he'd come close to causing her actual pain, he'd been rougher. But it had only been momentary and she hadn't thought too much about it. Afterwards, she smiled against him and nodded faintly.
"Yes." she agreed. She was his, completely. It scared her a little, but she'd had little choice in the matter. You couldn't help who you loved. Again, she was glowing faintly. "You always do that to me." She faux-complained.
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Post by Miss Jack on Aug 13, 2008 22:08:11 GMT -5
He pulled away, a frown creating a little crease between his brows. He blinked once. "Do what?" he asked.
He reminded himself to proceed carefully. Here was the one territory Armand had never ventured into while they shared a body. If there was a time when it would be possible to make a mistake, it was now.
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Post by Jules on Aug 13, 2008 22:13:33 GMT -5
She held up a luminescent hand, "Make me glow." Perhaps he simply hadn't noticed. Maybe her joking tone hadn't been caught. Oh well. "It's a good thing, remember?" Hopefully he wasn't going to start being weird about it. She already thought it was kind of strange.
"You've got a nice way of saying hello." Zizzy teased.
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Post by Miss Jack on Aug 13, 2008 22:17:19 GMT -5
Ah, the glowing. He bristled. Always made her glow, did he?
He smirked and leaned down, pressing a kiss to her slightly swollen lips. "You're irresistable," he said, and from the tone of his voice, he could have been insulting her as well as complimenting her.
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Post by Jules on Aug 13, 2008 22:24:48 GMT -5
She was slightly taken aback by the tone of his voice. There was something harsh in it that she hadn't ever heard before, but combined with the kiss, she didn't dwell on it. "You never did tell me about your tattoo."
This was kind of perfect. Just lying here with him, talking softly, feeling a yummy ache in her muscles. "What does the inscription say?"
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Post by Miss Jack on Aug 13, 2008 22:33:40 GMT -5
He recalled the image of the tattoo in his mind, the French saying laced around the swan. "Plus que ma propre vie," he repeated the words. "It means, 'more than my own life'."
He was stalling. He could tell he was stalling, and yet, he was still doing it. Perhaps he just needed the right moment to strike. Soon, though. Soon.
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