ronin even wants her on sunday morning (wantheronsunday) wrote in _fracture_, @ 2014-02-05 12:21:00 |
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Entry tags: | ash, chapter 1, mai, ronin, the regent hotel |
No Mistakes & Slightly Irrelevant Conversation
Who: Mai and Ash, later Ronin
Where: Mai’s Room
When: Early morning
Ash woke and almost startled to find someone else in the bed with him. Then the memories of the evening before flooded in and he felt a slow smile spread across his face. It was definitely strange to wake up spooning someone when he hadn’t shared a bed for years. But he liked it. Because it was Mai. She had awakened things in him last night that he’d thought were long forgotten or dead. And she’d definitely jump-started his libido again. He couldn’t wait to find out what else she would bring to the surface. It could only be good things. He lowered his face then and pressed a kiss to the back of her shoulder, not wanting to wake her but feeling the desire to bestow some sort of affectionate token on her while she slept.
Mai had fallen peacefully asleep, which was good considering just the afternoon before she’d been plotting the demise of her career with one missed photoshoot. But then there had been Ash. And he’d just taken all the fear and the worries away. How could she be worried when he was there, when he seemed to capable. When he kissed her shoulder she shifted in her sleep, stirring slightly. She stretched a little before turning to see him there. Unlike him, she’d shared a bed with someone recently, but didn’t always wake up as clothed as she was right now. Still, she wasn’t surprised to see him over her shoulder, just pleasantly amused that he was still there. “Morning,” she greeted softly, turning so she was facing him, head tucked under his chin.
Well he didn't like not being able to look at her but the fact he could feel her there as she turned toward him was enough. He smiled, trying not to feel sort of awkward about this. Should he have left before she woke up? It wasn't like they'd had sex. He thought he was supposed to stay until she woke up if they had sex. But they hadn't. Was it weird that he was still there? It was way too easy to begin second-guessing and over-thinking so he chucked it. "Morning," he replied quietly. "It's still early and we're still here. Should I go so you can get more rest?"
Mai wrapped her arms around his waist, glad he was still there even if she didn’t say it. It made the whole thing feel like less of a dream. She’d been worried it had been a dream. An a dream might be too much to handle considering how real it felt. “At least we’re still here I guess.” She pulled back enough to see him and shook her head. “You don’t have to go. Do you want to go?”
Ash shook his head at her question. "No, I don't. I just wanted to be sure, like I said before… that you don't regret it in the morning." He was smiling a bit, glad she'd moved back a little to look at him. Because he was able to kiss her then. Which he did a little self-consciously after he realized he'd given in to desire without thinking about reality. Like morning mouth.
She shook her head slightly. “Nothing to regret,” she promised and despite the slight uncomfortableness of morning kisses, she went with it, kissing him back and drawing it out naturally. “How could I regret you?”
There was something so sweet in what she said. How could she regret him. And that she'd kissed him in spite of the fact he almost certainly had stink breath. He didn't notice if she did. He was busy being pleased. His response was to kiss her jaw gently a few times.
Mai tilted her head back, giving him more room to kiss her skin. “Do you regret it?” she asked, pretty sure he didn’t, but maybe he was projecting his concerns on to her.
He took advantage this time, his lips trailing softly along her throat. "No," he murmured against her skin. "Not a chance."
Mai let out a happy murmur as he continued to kiss her skin. “Good. I’d hate to be some sort of mistake.”
"You? A mistake? Though I guess I get that. It's the last thing I want too," he admitted, running the edge of his teeth along her jaw before looking into her eyes.
A tiny sigh got caught in her throat when his teeth grazed her skin and when he looked in her eyes it took a moment for her to really open hers and focus on him. “No mistakes then.”
Ash hadn't realized he'd stacked the deck with how he'd gone toward her until he heard her. Then he looked a little sheepish and kissed her cheek. "No mistakes."
Mai turned her head to catch his lips, kissing him harder, not able to say what she was thinking but able to put it into her kiss. She wanted more of him. Just like this and right now.
Ash was slightly surprised by what he felt coming from her when she kissed him but he answered her in much the same manner. He pushed his fingers into her hair letting them tangle there.
Mai let out a tiny moan into the kiss, pulling him closer and really drinking him in. There was something incredible, knowing he was feeling the same way and being able to really feel it in the kiss.
Ash smiled a bit against her lips at hearing her, his body shifting unconsciously closer if that was possible. When he finally pulled back it was slowly, his face still close enough to hers to feel her breath against it. His heart was just about racing and he breathed a laugh. "You make me want to wake up more often with you right there."
She smiled at him, eyes watching his. "That's something that could be easily arranged." All he had to do was ask really and she'd probably make it happen. Her parents and Kai would kill her, but Mai knew what she wanted and right now she wanted Ash. It was fun to be impulsive.
Ash shook his head, his eyes a bit amused. "You make it very difficult to leave. Which I do need to do, unfortunately. I have medication I need to take and it's in my room. But before I go," he said and kissed her again, long and lingering, not really wanting to go but knowing he needed to.
Medication? That was troubling, but Mai went with the kiss, giving him just as much longing back. "So it's dawn that gets you out of my bed..."
Ash sigh pleasantly into that kiss, making it last. Then he slid from under the covers reluctantly and gave her a full smile at her words. Had he known he was staying over he would have brought the pills with him. There would have been no need to leave. He bent down to kiss her once more, finding it nearly impossible to go. "This time," he said, his tone a promise.
Mai sat up as he got up, not able to help wondering what he needed the medicine for. "So there'll be another time?" She asked liking that despite the niggling concern.
"Only if you want there to be," he said positively. He knew that he wanted to have another night with her like that. And another. He was going to be thinking about her until then, her kisses, her softness.
"Of course I want there to be," Mai said, getting up with him, finding his shirt and handing it to him. "Plenty more if you'll let me." She paused for a moment, thoughts getting the better of her before she blurted out the question she'd been trying to avoid asking. "You're okay though right? The medicine..."
Ash nodded. "Of course I'll let you," he said with that same promising tone. He felt kind of like a teenager leaving through her window or something as he pulled his shirt on and prepared to slip out into the hall. He stopped, his hand on the door knob when she asked him about his medication. "Oh, right. I'm fine. Or at least I am when I take it," he said honestly though he didn't really want to explain the nature of the medication to her. He hoped she would take him at his word.
Mai followed after him, even if he was leaving. That answer gave her pause, opening her mouth to say something, but not sure what. After a moment she closed it before starting again. "Well, just so long as you're okay then," she said leaning in to kiss him again trying to push any concerns away.
"I promise I'm not dying of something," he said, hoping that might reassure her some. And that was true too. He pressed his lips to her, returning her kiss in a way that he hoped would reassure her even more than his words. Then he opened the door, stepping into the hall though his eyes were still on her. "See you later, Mai-Anne," he said.
That did help to reassure at least some of her fears. The last thing she needed was him dying of something on her. When he stepped out, she followed, just briefly, wrapping her arms around his neck to kiss him again. "Very soon."
Ash wondered if she'd be so keen on seeing him again if she knew what he was running off to take and why. It was too soon to find out though. He smiled as she followed him out, wrapping his arms around her middle briefly to kiss her once more. "Mm, yes," he said though she made it so difficult to go in the first place.
Ronin had started to open the door to Kai's room when he thought he heard someone in the hall. He opened it just a hair, as silently as he could, and caught sight of Mai with tall, dark, and beefy. He glanced back at the bed where Kai slept and then slid into the hall as Mai's mystery guy took off down the hall in the opposite direction. He door shut and leaned against the wall before clearing his throat, one brow lifted.
Mai was still in her doorway, half dreamily watching Ash walk away, trying to quell that nervous bit in her that wanted so badly to just ask what was wrong with him, but at the same time not wanting to ruin the moment. She was liking the moment. At least she was until Ronin cleared his throat and she actually yelped and jumped turning around to see him there. "Damnit Ronin!" She reached out and hit him, not hard, but hard enough. "Way to be fucking creepy!" Mai looked at where he was, then the door behind him, her mouth opening wide. "Don't tell me you set this up. Can't you just ask her out on a normal date!"
Ronin burst out laughing at her reaction to him, always enjoying startling someone if he got the chance. "Way to be fucking classy. You've only been here a day." He gave her an appraising look, still chuckling a little. His tone with her wasn't hard, more teasing the way you'd tease a little sister. Which she sort of was. "Set what up? Ask who on a normal date?" He was only being half obtuse about that. He didn't understand what she meant about setting this up but he definitely knew who she meant with regard to the date.
"So? You meet girls at shows that's a few hours," Mai pointed out, giving him a look. "And it wasn't like that. I know him from home." Which was sort of a loose thing, but if Ronin was going to accuse her of being trashy she was going to use it to her advantage. She smacked him again for being obtuse. "This weird as hotel. And her you dolt. Just ask her out."
That look only served to amuse him and he grinned at her, rubbing at the overnight scruff on his jaw. "Really. Kai said you found him here. But he's from home, you say?" He was still giving her the business like a big brother. He laughed when she smacked him and pushed her hand away. "You think I had something to do with us all being in this weird hotel? Hardly. This isn't my idea of any kind of date. Why do you want me to ask Kai out?" he asked, giving her a curious yet pointed look.
"She did not tell you! Oh my god she's supposed to be my sister." Mai made a face. Of course Kai told Ronin. She told Ronin everything. "But yes, home. He lived there when we were younger. I just never talked to him." Which was probably at least half the problem. "And nothing happened." Though she guessed it didn't quite look that way. "I don't know, someone had to have come up with it. Why not you?" It was safer if it was him. "Why haven't you asked her out yet?" she asked instead of answering his question why.
He smirked and shook his head. "She didn't tell me," he fibbed to cover for Kai. She'd told him Mai knew the guy from a long time ago, but he'd simply been teasing Mai. "You just did though so ha! And do you really think I'd make sure you were here if I set this up, ya brat?" he asked almost affectionately, chuckling. "I had nothing to do with this, swear. Though if I did, you should at least be thankful for bringing along Mr. Shoulders for you." He looked at Mai for a minute, thinking back to the night before. The things that had happened in the dark. That wasn't Mai's business though. "We're best friends, Mai. Why would I ask her out?"
"Liar," Mai said shaking her head. "And no, but you'd have to get rid of me somehow." She leaned back against the wall and stared at him, really taking him in. "Do you have to ask that question? I mean...Really? Because if you haven't figured it out you're gonna have to figure it out or walk away before I take her away. I won't let her waste her life on you if you can't get your head out of your ass." Mai's tone was friendly enough, but there was true meaning behind it.
"I'm glad you give me such credit as being able to perform magic like the whole not being able to leave thing. But if I could do that, I would also know how to get rid of you, as you put it." His expression turned serious. He felt a very unpleasant pang of guilt when she hit the nail so hard on the head. He'd worried he was the reason Kai wasn't dating. That, like how he lost relationships because of his friendship with her, she was having the same trouble because of him. "Kai's life isn't wasted. On me or anyone. If she thought I was a problem she'd kick my ass like she always does."
"Isn't some sort of trick better than this being real magic?" Mai asked, wrapping her arms around herself. It was cooler in the hall in just the shirt and boxers. And it wasn't like she had any scores padding on her to keep her warm. "She'd never say that it is because she can't but I can. She wouldn't kick your ass over this." Mai stared at him then rolled her eyes. "You're blind. And kind of stupid sometimes Ronin."
"Seriously? I don't have the creativity or the money to come up with something like this," he said though he sort of wished he did. What an elaborate prank if that was what it was. He listened to her talk about Kai. "Blind to what exactly?" he asked, folding his arms across his chest. She obviously had some strong opinions about his relationship with Kai. He wanted to hear them and any other insight she thought she had.
Mai frowned, wrapping her arms more around herself. "Then what the hell is this?" she asked, really wishing he'd just laugh and say it was all some joke. It was easier to ignore how terrifying it was if Ash was there. "To her. To how she feels about you and I guess to how you feel about her too."
Ronin shook his head. "I honestly don't know. I wish I did." He'd have protected the two of them, Kai and Mai, if he could have from something like this if it was definitely real. Oh this was good. "How does she feel about me? How do I feel about her?" he asked as though he didn't know. He really wanted to hear Mai's take.
"Ronin you moron, you write songs about her. You crash at her place, you're walking out of her room right now which I wish meant you two hooked up but I know better. She's the one you always come back to. If you were watching a movie who would you wind up with at the end? The groupie or her? Just own up to it before you knock some other girl up by accident and you can't be with her." Mai didn't tell him how Kai felt. That wasn't her place. But she could rip on Ronin about how he felt
Well that was interesting. "Contrary to your opinion, I don't randomly hook up with groupies. But you didn't answer half of that. You can't say I'm blind to how Kai feels without clarifying that somehow. All you've really said is that I write songs about her and, in general, behave like a best friend. Which is what I am. So is there some hidden bit of information that I'm missing about Kai?" He knew, of course. He was giving Mai a hard time now because she was giving him one.
"Well if you aren't hooking up with groupies you're either shit at being a Rockstar or you're in love with someone else," Mai said, not taking his lip. "And your acting like a best girl friend. Since you're a guy you're acting like a boyfriend." She rolled her eyes at him. "She deserves to tell you herself but she's not gonna turn you down. So grow a pair and do the right thing."
Okay, he needed to turn the tide a little here. She was a little too up on her high horse and Ronin would much rather be amused. He took a few steps toward her and leaned against the wall near her. "Mai, what if... I mean. What if the issue is that I am in love with someone else. Except loving that person," he said and looked away, appearing nervous. "Loving that person could cause a real problem with Kai." He looked back at her and half reached a hand toward her and then let it fall again, shaking his head.
Mai froze when he moved closer because he could very well make her shut up, not that he would but she was kind of a pipsqueak compared to everyone. And sure, he was handsome enough to send that tiny little thrill at the suggestion but she knew better. Mai stared at him, trying to pull her brain back to logic and away from the part other that wanted to be liked by anyone. Then she shoved him a little and rolled her eyes. "Oh shut up. You still see the middle school version of me. You're an idiot."
Ronin saw her blip and bit the insides of his cheeks to keep from laughing. Instead he forced himself to look slightly hurt. "Come on, Mai. Don't be like that. I know I'm not tall and muscle bound. I don't have good hair and chiseled cheekbones but I have other things. And what makes you an expert on what I think about you or anyone really?" he asked, his tone turning a little more toward being serious about what he was asking at the end.
"You do. You have a smell. And you're being mean and lucky I'm not seventeen anymore." Sure, she'd had a crush on Ronin at one point. He'd always been around, he was charming and a musician but it was just a crush. She was over it. "If I'm not an expert tell me I'm wrong." Mai raised her own eyebrow at him, daring him silently.
Ronin had to laugh at that. "I have a smell. That's called cologne. Pshh. I think you're lucky you're not seventeen anymore." And he really wasn't that mean. He'd known she had a crush and he'd made sure not to encourage it or even bring attention to it back then. If he'd thought there was a chance it was lingering he wouldn't have teased her. It was his turn to roll his eyes though. "You're wrong to be so nosy," he replied, not giving her the satisfaction by giving anything away.
"Why because I still thought you were cute then? Glad I've moved on," Mai said rolling her eyes again. She smiled though at his comment. "I'm not being nosy. You brought it to my door. And I'm right. Or you'd have adamantly told me I'm wrong. You're just as bad as she is. She can't even lie about it anymore."
"No," he said and shook his head at her pure negativity. "Because you're a lot more interesting than you were back then. Though you're more of a brat now. Funny that." He sighed and scratched his chin. "Please. You were raring for a good tell-off as soon as you saw me and you know it. Like you were saving it up." Which struck him as funny though her meddling in his friendship and trying to lay down the law was annoying. "So my question to you is, do you like me, Mai? I'm not asking if you're interested in me, but do you actually like me?"
Mai glared at him a little but shrugged. "Maybe. We were talking about you yesterday and it got me thinking. And here you are calling me trashy, only fair." She looked him over, considering him before shrugging. "I guess I do. You haven't done anything to make me hate you yet."
"You both were fully clothed and how do I know he didn't just deliver your room service? I was only teasing about that since you called me creepy." He felt the need to defend himself because of the reason he'd asked her if she liked him. "Okay, so if I ever did ask your sister out you wouldn't start trying to split us up?"
"And I called you creepy because you were lurking," Mai said making a face at him. The face changed to a look and she stared at him almost appalled. "Who do you think I am? No Ronin I wouldn't try and break you up unless you treated her like crap and then I'd have a reason to break you up. Or you got in the way of her being my photographer." Maybe that was selfish, but Mai knew her sister was her best and she needed that until she broke it big.
"I was standing in plain view in the hallway," he said with a laugh at the look she gave him though it died as it shifted. "I don't know, Mai. You just told me that, after years of friendship with Kai, you're going to take her away from me because I haven't asked her out yet. How do I know what you'll try to do if we did start dating if I don't ask you?" His tone was simple, matter of fact. He wasn't trying to make her mad, just trying to understand where she was coming from.
"Because she deserves to be happy Ronin. If you can't do it, or you won't do it, then there's no point in her continuing to wish that she could be with you." Mai didn't like her sister most of the time, but she wasn't about to wish terrible things on her. Or not long lasting things. Sure maybe once in a while it might be nice to see her stumble, but Kai didn't deserve to be strung along for a lifetime. No one did. "I'm not going to do anything other than demand I get to be in the wedding. And kick your ass if you hurt her."
"She does deserve to be happy. But why does a years long friendship have to end if the feelings are one-sided? Feelings go away, you know. It's not like I have done anything on purpose to cause those feelings either." His mind flashed to the night before, thinking he wasn't quite lying to Mai here. Before last night he had never done anything purposefully to cross the line beyond friendship. "If I ever hurt her for any reason I would hope you would kick my ass. Anyone who hurts Kai deserves no less," he said firmly, remembering the night he'd beat the shit out of his own best friend and nearly gone to jail over it. All to protect Kai. He didn't know how much about that Mai knew though.
"Feelings don't go away if you're loitering around all the time Ronin," Mai said, but she paused, feeling her own heart sink for her sister's case. "You don't do you? You don't at all." Instantly she felt bad for Kai. Was she supposed to tell her sister? Or was she just supposed to keep her mouth shut and let her sister figure it out on her own and maybe eventually get over him? Or never get over him and settle for someone else. "I'll let you go Ronin," she said, moving back towards her door. If she stood out here any longer she was going into Kai's room to tell her the truth.
"Sure they do. Feelings ebb and flow. I've had feelings for her in the past but I knew it would damage our friendship. So I let them go." Or so he thought he had. But really, they were always there under the surface weren't they? Implicit in everything that he did or said though they'd both been fairly oblivious until they'd thought they might have lost each other. "I do, actually," he told her simply. He watched as she started to move away, curious how she drew conclusions so quickly. First he was an idiot for being blind to how he felt about Kai. Now he didn't have feelings for Kai at all. She was kind of funny though not as much as she could have been if she'd been talking about something other than his relationship with her sister.
"You just said you let them go," Mai pointed out as she turned back to look at him. "You're...you really are confusing." No wonder Kai didn't have answers to questions either. She shook her head and opened her door.
"Yeah, in the past. Years ago I had feelings that I let go of. Then." He wasn't sure why he was explaining this to her other than the fact she was Kai's sister and she was bound to find out eventually anyway. Not to mention she'd decided she needed to come between them if they didn't get their act together. That was one idea he wanted to relieve her of if he could.
Mai looked at him, waiting for more, but he didn't go on. "And now?"
"I'm not as much of an idiot as you think I am. And you don't need to take Kai away," he answered, still leaning against the wall watching her.
Mai gave him a hard look, studying his face, wishing he'd give her more. "Don't hurt her." She could blast her sister all she wanted, but no one else was allowed to hurt her. Not even Ronin.
"Believe me, it weighs heavily on my mind. Hurting Kai is the last thing I ever want to do. It's why I protect our friendship from feelings." I love her too much to lose her. He smiled slightly, glancing toward Kai's door. "She's special, your sister."
"You guys both sound ridiculous when you talk like that." Mai sighed and fought the urge to roll her eyes. "Sure. Whatever you say. I think she's just Kai."
"I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that you've never had a friendship like ours. So you don't know what it's like to feel the lines blur but know it could completely change your life if the timing isn't right," he said in their defense.
"The timing might never be perfect," Mai posed, playing the devil's advocate. "Just don't fuck it up." Mai opened her door, but didn't go inside just yet.
"I think you missed the point. But you do have a point with that. Sometimes the timing does end up right though." He pushed away from the wall, thinking on walking back to his room which was where he'd been headed earlier. "Good advice. You either, hm? With Mr. Muscles, I mean," he said, grinning.
"And sometimes you waste your whole life waiting on it," Mai said. "Maybe I did miss the point but maybe you missed a point too." She smirked a little about Ash. "I think I got it under control. No need to worry."
"Hm, there's that. But you know what they say. Good things come to those who wait," he replied with his own smirk. "Be careful about that control you like to exert over the people around you. Some guys don't appreciate it." He tapped two fingers to his forehead in a salute to her before heading down the hall.
"You're making excuses," Mai called after him, but not enough to bring him back. She didn't comment on Ash either but she filed it away. She was pretty sure she wasn't controlling Ash in anyway, but that was her take on things.
"No, I'm not," he called after her in a sing-song voice with a grin as he unlocked his door. Before going into his room he added, "I told her last night." He chuckled and shut the door.
Mai had her door open when he said the last part and if he'd been looking at her and see her wide eyed and staring. Told her what? She almost went after him but decided she didn't want to be in Ronin's room. No she'd just ask Kai later.