Let Me Love You

Rose awoke to an eager knocking on the door. Her hands immediately went to her eyes, shielding them from the glaring sunlight from the window.

“Mister Dart!” came the voice of Kayla from beyond the door. “Please wake up! Rogue is not far off.”

The little girl did not wait for a reply. Her quick scuffling footsteps were heard soon after she spoke. Letting out a quiet groan, Rose propped herself on her elbows. The sound of waves crashing and men yelling was faint, yet present enough to annoy the woman.

“So much noise this early,” she groaned, glaring at the ceiling. Sitting up straight, she froze as the bed's blanket fell and exposed her nude torso. It wasn't until she spied her armor laying on the ground that she remembered the events of the night. Sitting next to her neat pile were larger pieces of dark red.

'That's right,' she thought. Her head slowly moved from the floor to the body laying beside her. 'Last night, Dart and I...”

She stopped herself from finishing the thought, a small headache forming on her temples. Staring at his sleeping form, she felt the slightest tilt of her lips into a smile; not unlike the last time she had seen him unconscious, he lay on his back with his arms slightly spread. There was a gentle, peaceful expression upon his face. Trailing her eyes down, she felt warmth rush to her face. His tan body was all but completely exposed, no doubt Rose's doing when she first sat up. The only body part that did not grace her view was his left leg. After enjoying the view for a moment, she slung her legs over the bedside, throwing her side of the blanket over Dart's bottom half.

For a long time, Rose just sat, staring at her pile of armor. She ran a hand through her hair, cringing as she was met with countless knots and tangles. She clicked her tongue, taking a small piece of her hair to brush with her fingers. All the while, she practically glared at the her clothes. A part of her didn't want to put them back on. Though she knew it a foolish notion, she couldn't help but think that the moment they got dressed and the moment they left the cabin, everything would return to as it was. Dart would continue his role as the leader, Rose as the silent one they consulted when they wanted questions answered. Back to their normal roles as warriors on the same journey.

Rolling her eyes, Rose tried to banish the idea. “I sound like such a girl,” she groaned. “Another loud set of knocks startled her.”

“Dart! Are you awake?”

'Meru,' she smirked. 'Wonder if this one will open the door.' As the Wingly continued her incessant banging on the door, Rose crossed her legs, still trying to untangle her long hair. She was so amused with the situation, she didn't hear Dart stirring behind her. Groggily, he stared at her bare back, quickly awakening as his eyes traveled over her pale skin; clearing his throat, he reached out.

Rose gasped sharply as she felt his hand slide up the curve of her back. Jerking her head back, she watched as he struggled to awaken.

“You...” Rose whispered, her eyes trailing up and down him as he stretched, “... look terrible.” She raised a brow as he let out a deep chuckle.

“We all can't wake up like a spring flower,” he sighed out. Blinking his eyes, he gave her the familiar weary smile. “Or should I say spring Rose?” He laughed as she rolled her eyes.

“You should answer that door,” she returned to facing the door once more. “Meru's been at it for a while now. You may have to pay for a replacement door if you-” She stopped at the feel of his hands upon her waist. Feeling them slide across her stomach, she closed her eyes.

“Rose, are you okay?” he breathed, pressing his chest against her back. “I didn't expect you to change much, but...” He leaned his chin upon his stiff shoulder, his short stubble poking her skin. “...how do you feel?”

Rose was silent as she pondered his words. She glanced down at her nude body, her eyes pausing at the large hands that rested on her stomach. She watched as he trailed up his right hand, passing over her breast, to her neck, and resting on her left cheek. She breathed out slowly as the tips of his fingers caressed her skin.

'How do I feel,' she repeated his words. 'What a stupid question. You know how I feel, idiot.' Re-imagining the night's events, she tried to envision how she must have looked, clinging to him desperately, moving her body against him in their lust. And those three words she had whispered as they reached their climax.

A wave of embarrassment suddenly swelled within her, and she opened her eyes with an annoyed scowl. Dare merely stared at her with his worried expression. His hand had moved once more, now resting on her right thigh. Slowly, Rose's frown faded into melancholy.

“Please, Rose,” Dart whispered, slightly alarmed by her sad look. “I don't want to force you to talk, but I have to know.” He leaned forward and pressed his lips against her forehead. “Do you regret this?”

She wanted to hit him, to yell at him for suggesting such nonsense. Instead, she just stared back at him. Once more, she found herself lost in his blue eyes.

'I don't regret this. I would never regret this.'

Slowly, she breathed in through her nose, readying herself for what felt like the hardest battle of her life.

“I... don't regret this... I would never,” she repeated her thoughts. “Dart...”

“Yeah?” he whispered. His eyes seemed to smother her, or so she thought. Those piercing blue eyes, always earnest, always sincere. Clearing her throat, Rose gave a gaze of her own, hoping he would read the proper emotions as always. When he he responded with a small sigh and his hand running through her hair, she closed her eyes in silent reverie. She slid her hands from her lap up his arms. Dart followed her actions, instead moving around her waist.

Reaching around his neck, Rose pressed herself against him, mirroring him as he brought his lips to hers.

“DART! If you don't wake up, I'll knock this door down and drag you out of bed myself!”

The two stared blankly at each other before sighing in unison. Dart gave Rose an apologetic look as he released her. She watched him search the floor for his trousers.

“I'm up, I'm up,” he called out as he neared the door. “You don't have to yell.” He opened the door just enough for him to slip out. Rose heaved a frustrated sigh once he had shut the door, laying back on the bed. She didn't stay that way for long, deciding to out to get dressed while Dart and Meru argued outside. As she slipped on her undershirt, she couldn't help but notice a small purple bruise on her right breast.

“Figures,” she snorted, pushing the shirt down hastily. There was no way she was going to let him see that. '...unless he already did.'

“How unbecoming of me,” she groaned. On her last word, she heard the door open once more. “Did you manage to run her off?”

“Something like that,” Dart smiled. “Apparently, we're the only one's missing. It's actually almost noon.”

“Is that so?” she breathed, folding her arms and leaning on her hip. “Well then, I suppose we should make our appearance.” With that, she returned to her work, ever aware of his gaze on her back as he did the same.

“Hold on, Dart,” Rose murmured as they reached the stairs to the deck. Stopping his climb, Dart looked over his shoulder curiously.

“Yeah?” he asked plainly. Seeing the forced stoic look she sported, he couldn't help but smile a bit. “Not gonna dodge the question anymore?”

“I wasn't trying to dodge anything,” she growled defensively . “Meru was-”

“Relax, Rose,” he chuckled, placing his hands on her shoulders. “I was only joking. Again.”

Rose kept her glare, though she could feel her face becoming flustered. With a haughty snort, she looked around the area, making sure nobody was watching when she grabbed his left hand and started pulling him along.

“R-rose! Where are we going?” Dart stammered in surprise.

“Some place to be alone.”

“Couldn't we just go back to the cabin?”

“Just shut up and follow me.”

“Hmm. Not much of a choice if you're pulling me, you know?” Dart raised a brow as he recognized the path they were taking. Quietly passing by the busy sailors and into the commodore's station, he smiled endearingly, following her up the mast's metal ladder.

“You really like this place, huh?” he noted once they reached the top.

Rose wasn't listening, instead looking out at the view of the ship. She could see the gang gathered on the deck, no doubt waiting for the two of them. She wondered if they had figured it out. If they guessed that the two of them were together now. It was probably obvious, with as much as time as they already spent together. Dart was the only one she talked to regularly. They had to know it wasn't because he was their leader, but because she cared the most for him.

“Sorry,” Rose sighed, letting her head fall. “I know I seem neurotic right now, but...” She trailed off as she heard his footsteps near.

“I think I'm the one who should be sorry,” he muttered, wrapping his arms around her waist. Immediately, Rose shook her head. “Even if you say so, I feel as if I pushed you-”

“Just shut up,” Rose groaned, turning around in his arms. She practically threw herself against him, claiming his lips as forcefully as he had hours before in this same spot. Once past the initial shock, Dart returned the kiss with equal passion. It lasted many moments, uninterrupted even as the sounds of the ocean and those aboard the ship grew.

“Dart,” she finally whispered after pulling away. Sh leaned her cheek against his shoulder. “I'm not sure what comes next.”

“I know.”

“I still have so much guilt.”

“I figured.”

“We should hold off telling the others about us, if we even tell them at all.”

“I agree.”

“... Dart?” She lifted her head to face him. He stared at her intently, sliding his hand gingerly through her still tangled hair. It was then that Rose recalled the night in Fletz when she watched as Dart held Shana in the same manner. How she had envied the girl, longing to be the one he was holding, to have him caress her as gently as he had her. Standing atop the peak of the Queen Fury, the sun beating down and the salty wind whipping at their faces, though was obviously less romantic than a cool, starry night, she couldn't help but feel her happiest in eleven millenia.

“I love you Dart.”

He answered with a gentle kiss.