KNEW YOU WERE TROUBLE || KAHLAN

[finnegan malachi odaire]

He was taking her out. He had made the decision, especially because he was bored out of a his mind. He didn't even care what they did, but they were going out for a night on the town. His treat.

He had missed this family while he was in the company of the Russians. He detested the accent that he had picked up from his elongated stay and he had to admit that the missions had felt like a waste of time. He hadn't been able to save Eli because of how delicate his own situation was, and he hadn't gotten the information on the new leader of the Bravta, even though he had gotten substantial evidence on that Russian prick who had led Eli's torture. Konstantine. His very name made Finn want to take him out. They had gotten along when Finn was apart of the Russian mob. It had sickened him to his very core to be that close to one of the people that he had been raised to want to kill, but he had done his job. He had completed his mission, or at least, he had tried.

Konstantine was the one that had saved his life.

Grabbing the blunt that was sitting on his dresser, he took a hold of his lighter and lit up, sucking in the delicious taste and smoke of the drugs that would give him his desired high. He had become rather skilled at hiding his state of mind so Kahlan wouldn't know the difference. He gave himself a rather good high, finishing the blunt, snubbing it out quickly as he looked at the clock. He had told Kahlan to be ready in fifteen minutes and he himself didn't want to be late. If he was, he'd never hear the end of it. They always had something to bicker about and he simply didn't want to fight with her now. Changing quickly, he shimmied himself into a pair of tighter fitting dark wash jeans, buttoning them and pulling his black belt through the loops. Finishing off the look with a black button up long sleeved shirt, he left the top two buttons undone and ran his fingers through his newly cut hair. He had needed to clean himself up after returning home from the hospital. He had felt grungy and used for some reason and grooming himself had honestly helped him.

Taking his leather jacket from the back of his chair, he shrugged it over his shoulders and hurried from his bedroom. Taking the stairs two at a time, he had made his way from the very back of the mansion. He had secluded himself from the rest of the family when he had been given a choice of where he wanted to live. He had always been a solitary person, only socializing when necessary, but he had become even more of a recluse after being with the Russians. He was embarrassed to be perfectly honest. Sighing to himself, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out a cigarette, lighting it up even though he was still inside and Connor would kill him if he subjected his precious pregnant fiance to the smoke. Figuring they would all get over it, the young man limped painfully to the front door, ignoring his cane that he was supposed to be using. He didn't want to look even more weak. Groaning to himself as the pain shot through his entire leg, he reached the garage and went for his motorcycle. Kahlan would probably be a bit nervous about riding on it, but she would have to get over it.

Starting it up, he revved the engine and zoomed easily out of the garage, closing it up behind him. After he did that, he waited patiently in the middle of the driveway, his feet propping the motorcycle up even though his leg was screaming in protest. Distracting himself from the pain, he lit up another cigarette, his blood shot eyes betraying his lack of sobriety at the moment. Grumbling to himself in irritation, he looked up at the door and then grabbed his cell phone from his back pocket. Dialing her number, which he had memorized, he hit send and looked at the screen of his iPhone, hoping the call would speed her along. He wanted to get going. He needed a drink, and he needed it now. She had to understand that Finn wasn't patient, and he had always sucked at sitting still for a long time. His manners hadn't improved since his stay with the Russians. If anything they had gotten worse, and he was sure to hear it from Kahlan. He couldn't wait.

"words" ### "tags" tags <3"notes" hello hello bbby

THANK YOU, DUCK @ CAUTION!

[KAHLAN AIDEEN SELWYN]

[atrb=border, 0, true][atrb=style, border-left: #3A4748 8px solid; border-right: #839175 2px dashed; background: #d8d8d8; padding-top: 16px; padding-right: 16px; padding-left: 16px; padding-bottom: 12px; -moz-border-radius: 10px; width: 368px;] knew you were trouble Round and round I won’t run away this time Till you show me what this life is for Round and round I’m not gonna let you change my mind Till you show me what this life is for ROLLING HER EYES AT HER COMPUTER SCREEN, KAHLAN RESTED HER CHIN IN HER HAND AND SIGHED AUDIBLY. HE WAS SERIOUS. IF SHE DIDN'T CHANGE HER CLOTHES, FINN WOULD PROBABLY JUST SHOW UP AT HER BEDROOM AND DRAG HER OUT IN HER PAJAMAS. SHE WOULDN'T PUT IT PAST HIM. SMILING IN SPITE OF HERSELF, SHE ROSE FROM HER COMPUTER CHAIR, RESOLVED TO WEAR WHATEVER SHE FELT LIKE WEARING JUST TO SPITE HIM. SHE HAD PERFECTLY WONDERFUL TASTE, NO MATTER WHAT HE THOUGHT. ENTERING HER WALK-IN CLOSET (THE ONE LUXURY SHE ALLOWED CONNOR TO AFFORD HER IN THE SURROUNDING OPULENCE OF THE MANSION), SHE PULLED A WHITE SUNDRESS FROM A HANGER, A MATCHING SKIN-TONED BELT, AND A LIGHTWEIGHT BABY BLUE JACKET FOR HER SHOULDERS. BELTING THE DRESS A BIT ABOVE HER WAIST, SHE STRAIGHTENED THE SUNDRESS DOWN OVER HER THIGHS WHERE IT ROSE A FEW INCHES ABOVE HER KNEES. AFTER TUGGING ON HER FAVORITE PAIR OF KNEE-HIGH SUEDE BOOTS, SHE FROWNED AT HERSELF IN THE FLOOR-LENGTH MIRROR ON THE BACK OF THE CLOSET DOOR. RUFFLING HER SHORT BLOND HAIR WITH HER FINGERS, SHE DIDN'T BOTHER BRUSHING IT, AND SHE PREFERRED IT NATURALLY TOUSLED ANYWAY. IT WAS SHORT ENOUGH THAT IT FELL EASILY AROUND HER SHOULDERS AND REQUIRED LITTLE EFFORT TO FIX. HER SKIRT FLOUNCED AROUND HER HIPS AS SHE RETRIEVED THE PURSE THAT MATCHED HER BOOTS FROM THE CLOSET, IGNORING HER PHONE AS SHE SWITCHED ALL OF THE NECESSARIES FROM ONE PURSE TO THE NEXT. WHEN SHE WAS DONE, SHE COULDN'T IGNORE THE PHONE ANY LONGER, AND SHE ALREADY KNEW WHO IT WAS BEFORE SHE ANSWERED IT. CLOSING THE DOOR TO HER BEDROOM BEHIND HER, CAREFUL NOT TO SHUT HER SKIRT IN THE DOOR, SHE ALLOWED THE PHONE TO RING SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE SHE ANSWERED IT. "YOU'RE ALREADY FORCING ME TO LEAVE THE HOUSE WHEN I'M PERFECTLY HAPPY SPENDING ALL DAY IN MY PAJAMAS. I'M COMING," SHE POPPED OFF, HANGING UP THE PHONE WITHOUT SAYING BYE AS SHE OPENED THE FRONT DOOR AND FIXED FINN WITH A TESTY LOOK. HE WAS LIKE ANOTHER BROTHER TO HER, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT SHE PROBABLY TEASED HIM FAR MORE THAN ANY OF HER BROTHERS. SHE HAD A UNIQUE RELATIONSHIP WITH ALL OF THEM. CONNOR WAS THE PROTECTIVE ONE, THE ONE SHE HAD THE DEEPEST EMOTIONAL CONNECTION WITH SINCE THEY'D SHARED SOME VERY TENSE MOMENTS. LENNOX WAS A GROUNDING FORCE TO HER, THE ONE WHO ACCEPTED HER EMOTIONS AND TOOK THEM IN STRIDE. AND ASHER WAS HER SOLDIER, THE ONE WHO WOULD FIGHT ANYONE AND ANYTHING TO KEEP HER SAFE, BUT ALSO THE ONE SHE WOULD FIGHT TO PROTECT AT ALL COSTS. WITH FINN, THINGS WERE DIFFERENT. SHE DIDN'T TIP TOE AROUND HIM, AND SHE WAS PERFECTLY AT EASE WITH HIM AFTER THEY'D LITERALLY LIVED UNDER THE SAME ROOF WHEN SHE'D RUN AWAY TO HER AUNT'S HOUSE IN NEW YORK. REMEMBERING THAT REMINDED HER OF WHY SHE WAS PRETENDING TO BE MAD AT HIM FOR ALWAYS CALLING HER PEACHES, BUT SHE COULD BARELY MAINTAIN THE FACADE OF IRRITATION WITH HIM AS THE MEMORIES CAME BACK TO HER. FIDGETING WITH THE HEM OF HER DRESS THAT BRUSHED HER THIGHS AS THE BREEZE BLEW PAST HER, SHE HALTED AND FIXED HIM AND THE MOTORCYCLE WITH A DISCERNING LOOK IN HER GREEN EYES. "YOU HONESTLY EXPECT ME TO RIDE ON THE BACK OF THIS THING?" SHE ASKED, A HINT OF INCREDULITY IN HER VOICE. tag: finn words: --- template by eliza @ shadowplay & shine

[finnegan malachi odaire]

Sighing to himself, his blue green eyes turned downwards, taking in the sight of his watch as his free hand pushed the sleeve of his leather jacket upwards a bit. She was taking forever and that was the reason as to why he called her. And not surprisingly, she was taking forever to pick up her phone as well. What if it was an actual emergency and he had truly needed her? He was going to inform her of phone call etiquette when she actually did get her little scrawny butt outside. She had another thing coming if she thought she could ignore his phone calls.

When her voice finally reached his ear, he opened his mouth to respond curtly to her, but she hung up before he could. His jaw dropped slightly and he pulled his phone away from his ear, looking at it incredulously. "You little..." He was about to call her something highly inappropriate, but he heard the door swinging open just before he could insult her. "Hey, you." He called out to her to get her attention, his middle finger flipping up rudely, which would have caused Tessa to whack him for his indecency, especially when it concerned her daughter. Tessa was always smacking Finn for one thing or another, and it was obvious that she probably should have hit him a bit harder. Shaking his head at the girl who had become like his best friend, he watched her as she walked down the stairs, taking in the sight of her in the sun dress and light blue jacket. Appreciating the look, but not wanting to admit that, he spoke up once again, the Russian accent casting dominantly over his natural Irish brogue. "Frumpy. Out of all things, you chose that? You need a lot of work, Peaches."

He informed her pompously, raising his chin a little as she came over to him and his bike, basically insulting everything about him with her tone of voice. Looking at her with offense to his gaze, he crossed his arms after he tossed the butt of his cigarette to the ground. "Uh yeah. Unless you want to walk there. But since that's not really an option, get your ass on the motorcycle, Kahlan." After terse moments of bickering back and forth about how she was not getting on the bike, he huffed. "Get on the motorcycle right this instant, or so help me, I'll put you on it myself." When she defied him yet again, as was her way, he shrugged his shoulders. "Suit yourself. I warned you." He informed her easily enough, pulling himself off of the bike rather gracefully despite his leg injury. Shuffling over to her with a limp, he grabbed her around her waist before she could really start to resist and threw her unceremoniously over his shoulder, not caring if her dress and her current state of being left her exposed to the public. She should have thought about that before she decided to be stubborn. He limped painfully back to his bike, still balancing her easily and brought her down gracefully from his shoulder, sitting her on the bike. Quickly clambering on in front of her before she could really react, he grabbed her arms and wrapped them around his waist, linking her hands together with the help of his own.

"Now, for fuck's sake. Behave yourself. I told you we were going to do this, so knock it off, woman."

He huffed to her, keeping her hands together with one of his. Revving the engine back to life, he sped forward, jerking them both backwards, but not letting go of her. Smiling to himself, laughing slightly at the movement, he made sure she would want to cling to him. If she didn't, she would surely fall off. Weaving down the driveway like a mad man, he popped a small wheelie, feeling her arms cling tightly around him without his help. Once he was sure that she wasn't planning on jumping ship, he sped forward at a more natural pace, revving the engine as they ducked into the street. It didn't take them very long to get into town, and after a few more turns, they made it to the Upscale. It was the only bar that Finn would really be caught dead in, but he was worried about seeing anyone from the Russian mob there. Trying not to show his worry, thankful for his high that brought him some comfort, he pulled up to the front of the place, parking the bike in the designated area. Once he turned it off, he helped Kahlan get off of the motorcycle, following suit after her. Gritting his teeth together as he stepped on his leg uncomfortably, he forced a smile on his face. "Ready Peaches? Ladies first..." He indicated with his hand, and then gave up on the formalities. Grabbing her hand in his, he yanked her forward, still surprisingly fast even though he was limping rather badly.

"Let's get you liquored up so you're actually fun. I bet you can't keep up with me, even with that Selwyn blood." He challenged her, knowing she couldn't turn it down. She had never turned down one of his challenges before and he didn't expect her to start now.

"words" ### "tags" tags <3"notes" hello hello bbby

THANK YOU, DUCK @ CAUTION!

[KAHLAN AIDEEN SELWYN]

[atrb=border, 0, true][atrb=style, border-left: #3A4748 8px solid; border-right: #839175 2px dashed; background: #d8d8d8; padding-top: 16px; padding-right: 16px; padding-left: 16px; padding-bottom: 12px; -moz-border-radius: 10px; width: 368px;] knew you were trouble Round and round I won’t run away this time Till you show me what this life is for Round and round I’m not gonna let you change my mind Till you show me what this life is for AS SHE EXITED THE HOUSE, FINN'S VOICE CARRIED EASILY OVER TO HER, AND SHE LOOKED UP JUST IN TIME TO SEE HIM FLIP HER OFF. PETULANTLY, SHE STUCK HER TONGUE OUT AT HIM AND GLIDED DOWN THE STAIRS, HER SKIRT SHIFTING AROUND HER HIPS AS SHE BOUNCED OFF THE FINAL STAIR AND WALKED ACROSS THE PAVEMENT TOWARD HIM. SHE CONSIDERED HERSELF IMMUNE TO HIS GOOD LOOKS AND CHARM THAT HE USED ON THE MANY WOMEN HE SPENT HIS TIME WITH, BUT SHE WASN'T BLIND. FINN WAS GORGEOUS TO SAY THE LEAST, BUT HE WAS LIKE A BROTHER TO HER. ADMITTING HE WAS HOT WAS LIKE SAYING LENNOX WAS MR. AMERICA OR SOMETHING. "WHAT I'M WEARING IS NOT FRUMPY, YOU JERK," SHE RETORTED, CROSSING HER ARMS OVER HER CHEST AS SHE CAME TO A HALT A FEW FEET FROM THE MOTORCYCLE. "SINCE WHEN ARE YOU THE FASHION POLICE ANYWAY? MY SKIRT IS AT LEAST THREE INCHES FROM THE TOP OF MY KNEE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. PEREZ HILTON WOULD APPROVE." SNIFFING IN FEIGNED DERISION, SHE GLARED PLAYFULLY AT HIM DOWN HER NOSE AS HE RAISED HIS CHIN AND FIXED HER WITH AN EQUAL LOOK. "YEAH, NO. I'LL JUST GO WATCH NETFLIX INSTEAD," SHE RETORTED WHEN HE ORDERED HER ON TO THE MOTORCYCLE. IT WAS BAD ENOUGH HE WAS DRAGGING HER OUT TO BEGIN WITH, AND THEN HE DEMANDED SHE RIDE ON THAT BLASTED THING. "NO, I DON'T WANT TO GO ANYWAY. IT JUST GIVES ME MORE OF AN EXCUSE TO CHANGE BACK INTO MY PJ'S AND SPEND ALL DAY IN MY BEDROOM," SHE GRIPED, HUFFING STUBBORNLY AS HE URGED HER TO GET ON THE BACK OF THE BIKE. HER GREEN EYES FLASHED CHALLENGINGLY, "I SAID I'M NOT GOING TO. SO DROP IT." THE HINT OF AN AMUSED SMIRK TEASED AT THE CORNER OF HER MOUTH, AND SHE GLANCED AWAY SO SHE WOULDN'T BUST OUT LAUGHING WHEN SHE WAS PRETENDING TO BE MAD AT HIM. WHEN HE SPOKE, SHE WATCHED HIM AS HE ROSE OFF OF THE BIKE, AND SHE THOUGHT SHE'D WON. FEELING A RUSH OF VICTORY, SHE NODDED SLIGHTLY AND TURNED TO GO BACK IN TO THE HOUSE. MUCH TO HER CHAGRIN, SHE FELT HIS ARMS WRAP TIGHTLY AROUND HER WAIST, SPINNING HER TO FACE HIM AND THEN HOISTING HER THROUGH THE AIR AND OVER HIS SHOULDER. SQUEALING INVOLUNTARILY, SHE FLOUNDERED FOR A MOMENT, DESPERATELY TRYING TO KEEP HER SKIRT DOWN OVER HER BUTT AS SHE SWUNG UPWARD. UNFORTUNATELY, SHE KNEW IF ANYONE HAD BEEN LOOKING OUT OF THE WINDOWS AT THAT PRECISE MOMENT, THEY WOULD'VE GOTTEN A WONDERFUL LOOK AT HER BOYSHORT UNDERWEAR, AND SHE BLUSHED A BRILLIANT RED AS SHE HIT FINN HARD ON HIS BACK AS HE CARRIED HER TO THE MOTORCYCLE. SHE GRIMACED AS HE SET HER DOWN ROUGHLY ON THE SEAT. YANKING HER KNEES UPWARD IN REACTION TO THE HIT AGAINST THE HARD SEAT, SHE GLARED HEATEDLY AT HIM. BEFORE SHE COULD TWIST AND CLIMB OFF, HE SAT IN FRONT OF HER AND YANKED HER HANDS AROUND HIM, TWINING HER FINGERS TOGETHER ACROSS HIS FLAT STOMACH. SHE DIDN'T EVEN HAVE THE BENEFIT OF PULLING AWAY AS HE HELD HER HANDS CAPTIVE WITH ONE OF HIS AS HE CRANKED THE ENGINE AND PUT THE BIKE IN GEAR. "I REALLY HATE YOU," SHE HISSED IN HIS EAR, NOT MEANING IT AT ALL BUT SATISFIED AT HOW IRRITABLE SHE SOUNDED. AS THEY ROUNDED THE CURVE IN THE DRIVEWAY, SHE YELPED AS THE BIKE DID A WHEELIE, HER HEART LEAPING PAINFULLY INTO HER THROAT. HER ARMS TIGHTENED INSTINCTIVELY AROUND HIS CHEST, PROBABLY SQUEEZING THE AIR OUT OF HIS LUNGS, BUT SHE DIDN'T CARE. HE DESERVED IT FOR INTENTIONALLY SCARING HER. SMACKING HIM WITH THE FLAT OF HER HAND AGAINST HIS SHOULDER AS THE BIKE RETURNED TO ITS PROPER OPERATING POSITION, SHE GROWLED IN HER THROAT AND REPOSITIONED HERSELF TO ACHIEVE SOME LEVEL OF COMFORT ON THE BACK OF THE MOTORCYCLE. SHE COULDN'T BE MORE GRATEFUL AS THE BIKE SLOWED AND HE PARKED THEM ALONG THE STREET IN FRONT OF THE UPSCALE BAR. RAISING HER EYEBROWS AT IT AS HE CLIMBED OFF IN FRONT OF HER, SHE FIXED HIM WITH A QUESTIONING GAZE AS SHE GRABBED HER DRESS AND HELD IT DOWN SO SHE DIDN'T FURTHER EXPOSE HERSELF TO ALL OF BOSTON. PULLING THE WHITE FABRIC DOWN FROM WHERE IT HAD BUNCHED UP AROUND HER HIPS DURING THE RIDE HERE, SHE RAN A HAND THROUGH HER WIND-TOSSED BLOND HAIR AND SHOOK OUT THE TANGLES. "YOU REALIZE IT'S LIKE ONE IN THE AFTERNOON, RIGHT?" SHE ASKED, PURSING HER LIPS AND RAISING HER EYEBROWS FACETIOUSLY AT HIM. "I AM REALLY FUN ACTUALLY. YOU'RE JUST A PAIN IN THE BUTT." SHE STUBBORNLY REFUSED TO FOLLOW HIS DIRECTION, AS ALWAYS, AND HE WAS FORCED TO GRAB HER HAND AND DRAG HER AFTER HIM IN TO THE BAR. LAUGHING AT HIS IMPETUOUSNESS, SHE WALKED BESIDE HIM, COMPLETELY AT EASE WITH HIS HAND WRAPPED AROUND HERS. WHEN HE TOUCHED HER, SHE NOTICED THE JERKING OF HIS MOVEMENTS THROUGH HIS ARM, AND SHE REMEMBERED HE SHOULD HAVE HIS CANE AND, OF COURSE, HE DIDN'T. "OHHH, I BET I CAN," SHE ARGUED, HER STUFFINESS FADING IN FINN'S PLAYFUL, PUSHING PRESENCE. SHE HAD THE TENDENCY TO TURN IN TO LENNOX AT TIMES, BUT SHE WAS ALWAYS ABLE TO RELAX AND BE HERSELF AROUND FINN. SHE DIDN'T DRINK MUCH - NOT ANYWHERE NEAR AS MUCH AS HER OLDER BROTHER - SHE WAS IRISH AFTER ALL. ALCOHOL RAN IN HER BLOOD. "WHERE DO I SIT TO PROVE TO YOU THAT I CAN BEAT YOU AT ANYTHING?" SHE ASKED INNOCENTLY, SHRUGGING ONE SHOULDER AND TURNING HER BACK ON HIM TO FIND A STOOL AT THE BAR WHERE SHE SLID DOWN AND LOOKED BACK AT HIM, WAITING PATIENTLY FOR THE CHALLENGE TO BEGIN. tag: finn words: --- template by eliza @ shadowplay & shine

[finnegan malachi odaire]

"I'm sure that even if I knew who Parisi Holton is, he would agree that your clothes are...well, frumpy."

He informed her, giving her a quick, curt nod to show that his words were true. The real truth was that Finn didn't know the difference between a dress and a gown, a pair of jeans or leggings. It was a miracle he could dress himself the way that he did, and he truly didn't have the right to judge Kahlan on her clothes. He always appreciated what she wore anyway, unless it was too sort or too revealing. While he desperately wanted to admire her, it felt wrong because of his relationship with Connor. He had promised the man who was basically his brother that he would keep Kahlan safe. He had pledged his life for the lives of the four Selwyns, and now Eli's as well. He was tied to them. His blood for their blood. It was his way of life, his choice in life. He would do anything to save them even if it meant giving himself up. It was who he was and it was how loyal he was. They would never be able to find another man who would give himself up so willingly. The Selwyns had saved him when he was just a kid. He owed them his life. It only seemed fair.

Shaking the seriousness of his thoughts away from the situation, he ignored the things that were plaguing him simply because it was easier than admitting that he was fucked up in the head. Clearing his throat, he ran a hand over his face as he realized that this was going to be a challenge. Why the girl couldn't just go out and have a good time was beyond him. It didn't matter what time of the day it was. They could still go out and enjoy themselves. Huffing in irritation, he pulled his hand away from his face and fixed her with a hard, authoritative look. "Kahlan Selwyn. Get on this bike. Right now." He ordered her, and then heard her announce that she was going to watch Netflix instead. Fixing her with a murderous expression, he pointed to the seat behind him, watching her. "Get on the bike!" He said once more, listening to her as she continued to protest, as she continued to pick a fight with him. Rolling his eyes, he managed to push himself off of the bike and throw her over his shoulder.

Hearing her squeal made him laugh, and he wrapped his strong, muscular arms around her wiggling form, controlling her as she flailed helplessly in his grasp. "It's no use, Peaches. I've got you now. You should have just come quietly." He told her, knowing she was going to be worried about flashing anyone who could be watching them from inside of the mansion.

Trying not to laugh too hard because he didn't want to drop her, he finally got them both settled on the bike, listening to her as she tried to convince him that she hated him. "Yeah, yeah. I'm know. Don't get your panties in a twist." Waving her words off, he just shook his head and started forward, feeling her hands on his abdomen. Her touch sent shocks up and down his spine, but he paid it no mind. She was like his sister. Nothing more, nothing less. He loved her because she was family. They had grown up together, they had lived together. They were close because of the time she had spent at her Aunt and Uncle's, his adoptive parents, when she had run away from home. Thinking about the couple that he had cherished hurt his heart, and he turned his thoughts away from yet another depressing subject. Sighing softly to himself, he shook his head, not wanting anyone, especially Kahlan, to think that something was wrong with him. He knew what would happen if she even suspected that something was troubling him. Mama Bear attack mode. It was like Tessa reincarnate and it scared the bajeezus out of him.

Not wanting to awake the hibernating, protective beast inside of Kahlan, he focused on pissing her off instead, which he managed to do brilliantly every time. However, his plan nearly back fired as she clasped onto him, her grip vice like as he popped a wheelie. Gasping for the air that he so desperately needed, he groaned, but didn't openly complain. If he did, she would only squeeze harder and he wasn't going to let her get away with that if he could help it. So he silently stomached his pain, as he normally did anyway, It didn't take them very long to reach their destination and he could almost feel her relief when he pulled the motorcycle to a halt and turned it off. Like everything he did, he had driven it hard and fast. Finn was not a stationary individual. He had trouble sitting still for a minute, and the way he drove showed his inability to keep his attention focused for long periods of time. No one wanted Finn driving when they went on long trips because it was truly frightening. He wasn't a bad driver by any means, but he certainly made things interesting. It was amazing he hadn't gotten pulled over, ever. But it was understandable, that Kahlan wanted the ride to be over. Grinning to himself now, watching her stand, he knew that he had made the drive worse than he normally would have.

"Eh, who keeps track of time anyway? I certainly don't have time for that."

He said, his grin lopsided and charming as he looked down at her with his expressive eyes. He normally kept his feelings locked up tight because that was just who he was, but because of his high, they shone brightly with his happiness. Shaking his head at her next words, he just grabbed her hand. "Luckily for you, I'm your specific pain in the ass. You can't get rid of me, Peachy." He raised his eyebrows playfully and dragged her into the bar. As she accepted his challenge, he only grinned and let her pick out a seat. When she finally settled, he limped after her, his hand going down to brace his leg as he shuffled painfully along. Grimacing for a moment as he went to take his seat, he finally found some comfort when he bent his knee and took his leg off of the ground. Looking to the bar tender, he spoke up. "Can we just have your basic appetizers, you can surprise us, and two rum and cokes please?" He ordered for them, not caring if she didn't approve of anything he had just ordered. "The shots will come later, my dear. Don't you worry. Gotta prime up first because I'm certainly not going to clean up your puke."

"words" ### "tags" tags <3"notes" hello hello bbby

THANK YOU, DUCK @ CAUTION!

[KAHLAN AIDEEN SELWYN]

[atrb=border, 0, true][atrb=style, border-left: #3A4748 8px solid; border-right: #839175 2px dashed; background: #d8d8d8; padding-top: 16px; padding-right: 16px; padding-left: 16px; padding-bottom: 12px; -moz-border-radius: 10px; width: 368px;] knew you were trouble Round and round I won’t run away this time Till you show me what this life is for Round and round I’m not gonna let you change my mind Till you show me what this life is for "THAT NICKNAME IS GETTING OLD, YOU KNOW," SHE REMARKED AS HE PULLED HER AFTER HIM IN TO THE BAR. IT WASN'T, AND SHE ACTUALLY LIKED IT SINCE IT REMINDED HER OF SIMPLER, LIGHT-HEARTED TIMES, BUT SHE REFUSED TO LET HIM KNOW THAT. SHE WAS INTENSELY STUBBORN WHEN IT CAME TO FINN. HE BROUGHT OUT A REBELLIOUS SIDE OF HER THAT ONLY HER FAMILY HAD EVER SEEN. SHE'D ALWAYS BEEN OBEDIENT, FOLLOWING HER FATHER'S AND MOTHER'S STRINGENT RULES FOR HOW A LADY SHOULD ACT ALTHOUGH SHE DISAGREED WITH THEM. SHE'D ALWAYS WANTED TO BE A SOLDIER, LIKE CONNOR, BUT THEY NEVER ALLOWED IT. SINCE SHE WAS FEMALE, SHE'D BEEN STUFFED INTO TYPICAL GENDER ROLES AND WRUNG THROUGH EVERY ETIQUETTE CLASS IMAGINABLE. WHILE THE BOYS WERE FREE TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS, HER LIFE WAS ESSENTIALLY MAPPED OUT FOR HER. SHE WOULD BECOME A PROPER LADY AND WOULD HAVE NO PART IN THE MAFIA OTHER THAN HEALER AND CARETAKER. SHE WOULD GROW UP, GET MARRIED, AND RAISE STRONG SONS WHO WOULD EVENTUALLY FOLLOW THEIR UNCLE CONNOR IN TO BATTLE. IT WAS A LIFE SHE WOULDN'T HAVE CHOSEN FOR HERSELF. HAVING TESSA SELWYN'S BLOOD IN HER MADE HER A NATURALLY FIERY AND OBSTINATE WOMAN WHEN SHE SET HER MIND TO IT, BUT SHE HAD HER FATHER'S UNCANNY ABILITY FOR PLANNING. WHILE CONNOR ALWAYS LET HIS HEATED PERSONALITY DRIVE HIM, KAHLAN APPROACHED HER LIFE WITH THE METICULOUS PRECISION OF KYSON SELWYN. THAT WAS WHERE HER FATHER HAD GONE GRAVELY WRONG IN TEACHING HER THE SUBTLETIES OF PROPRIETY AND ETIQUETTE. SHE COULD MANIPULATE A SITUATION EASILY IF SHE WANTED, AND SHE KNEW EXACTLY HOW FAR TO PUSH A DEAL UNTIL IT BROKE. SO SHE'D SPENT THOSE FORMATIVE YEARS SOAKING IN EVERYTHING SHE COULD LEARN, LIKE A SPONGE, AND SHE'D TURNED HERSELF INTO A VERITABLE WEAPON OF SOCIAL GRACE. IT WASN'T UNTIL SHE WAS A TEENAGER THAT HER FIERY IRISH SIDE HAD OVERCOME HER AND SHE'D RUN AWAY TO THE CITY SHE LOVED TO LIVE WITH HER AUNT AND UNCLE, THEIR DAUGHTERS AND THEIR ADOPTED SON FINN. BEING USED TO MEN SINCE SHE WAS SURROUNDED BY THREE BROTHERS AND HER UNCLES FROM A YOUNG AGE, KAHLAN HAD ALWAYS BEEN CLOSER TO FINN THAN TO HER FEMALE COUSINS. SHE WOULD RATHER ARGUE AND WRESTLE WITH HIM THAN READ SEVENTEEN MAGAZINE WITH THE GIRLS, AND WHILE SHE WASN'T A TOM BOY, SHE LIKED THE MORE ACTIVE SIDE OF LIFE. SO SHE DIDN'T FLINCH AT THE CHALLENGE FINN PROPOSED TO HER, CONFIDENT SHE COULD MATCH HIM IF NOT BEST HIM IN THIS LITTLE GAME HE WANTED TO PLAY. "IF I CAN'T GET RID OF YOU, THEN I SUPPOSE I'LL JUST HAVE TO REMIND YOU WHO'S THE BOSS HERE," SHE TEASED, HER GREEN EYES FLASHING WITH AMUSEMENT AND CHALLENGE AS HE SETTLED HIMSELF BESIDE HER. THE THRILL SHE FELT AT BEING CONTRARY TO HIM WAS FAR MORE DELIGHTFUL THAN IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN, AND A HOT WAVE OF CHEMICAL TENSION SWEPT THROUGH HER AS THE GAME BEGAN. SHE LOVED VERBALLY SPARRING, AND FINN WAS ONE OF THE FEW PEOPLE SHE FOUND WORTHY TO KEEP UP. "NO, DON'T SURPRISE US," SHE PIPED IN BEFORE THE WAITER COULD TURN TO LEAVE, FLICKING HER GAZE ACROSS FINN BEFORE SMILING SWEETLY AT THE SERVER. "COULD WE HAVE SOME CHEDDAR BITES, PLEASE? THANK YOU." HER SMILE WAS GENUINELY KIND, AND SHE WATCHED THE WAITER AS HE DISAPPEARED BEFORE TURNING HER PROVOKING GREEN GAZE ON FINN. "DO YOU REALLY HAVE TO BRING THAT UP EVERY TIME?" SHE ASKED, FEIGNING EXASPERATION AS SHE LAID HER ARMS OUT ACROSS THE BAR. "I ONLY ATE TWELVE PEACHES BECAUSE YOU DARED ME TOO, SO IT'S ENTIRELY YOUR FAULT THAT I PUKED. YOU DESERVED TO HAVE TO CLEAN IT UP." tag: finn words: 614 template by eliza @ shadowplay & shine

[finnegan malachi odaire]

"It's a good thing you're getting old too, so at least you match your nickname."

He told her with a grin, watching her for her reaction. He knew that she was not going to be happy with what he had just said to her, but he didn't rightly care. Fighting with Kahlan was like a breath of fresh air. Being with Kahlan was a breath of fresh air. There was no talk of the mafia, no talk of business. Nothing that could get Finn's temper boiling. He needed a break from being a soldier every so often, and this blonde bombshell offered him just the escape he desired. While she was heavily tied to the family and the mafia for obvious reasons, she never brought up anything that had to do with the business, and for that he was grateful. Finn was tired. It was easily seen by anyone who knew him, but the young man didn't have an off switch. He would push himself until he broke, so this outing was necessary to his sanity and his health. He didn't know when to stop because he simply didn't want to. He wanted to be the best that he could be for Connor's sake, for everyone's sake in the family. They didn't understand just how deep his loyalty ran. For him to come back after being shot in the head and the leg by his best friend said a lot. He understood that Connor had been in his predatory, murderous trance, but that did nothing for Finn.

He was still crippled. He was still plagued with the massive head aches that came from the piece of the bullet that had been left in Finn's skull because it was necessary for his survival. He lived with the injuries he had sustained because it was what every good soldier did. But he would never be the same and he didn't know if he would ever be able to go on a normal mission again. He couldn't run if the situation called for it. He couldn't move that quickly because of his leg, but he tried not to think of the repercussions of it all. He would be fine. He would swallow his pain and keep moving on without complaint. Sighing to himself, he settled on the stool beside Kahlan, his hand absently rubbing his thigh as if that would relieve the ache. The cane that he was supposed to carry was of course back at the mansion, but he didn't care. He hated that thing anyway. It just made him more of a cripple in his eyes. Shaking his head slightly, he heard Kahlan pipe up beside him about remembering who the boos was. Snorting in response, he side eyed her and rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. How could I forget who's in charge?"

He hid the bitterness from his voice because he wasn't truly bitter. He knew his place, and he knew their place, but that didn't make it any easier sometimes. He knew that he was appreciated. He knew that he was more like family than any other solider of the mafia, and he knew that he had more privileges because of it. He was one of the only few that could talk to Connor the way that he did and not get in trouble for it. Sighing softly, he raised an eyebrow as she ordered the waiter to bring them cheddar bites. "Gross. Can you bring some fries out too?" As the waiter nodded, Finn settled back a bit on the stool and glanced over to Kahlan. "Zip it, you. Just hush." Knowing her, she would have some remark over the fact that he had told the waiter to surprise them and now he had asked for fries. She had ruined it by ordering cheddar bites in the first place. Disgusting.

"Yes I do actually. I wasn't holding a gun to your head. You didn't have to eat twelve peaches. Now quit talking about it. It's making me sick to think about it, woman." He complained openly, looking up as the bar tended delivered their first drinks. He grabbed a hold of his own glass, pushing Kahlan's toward her so she could reach it better. Picking his up from the bar, he clinked it with hers once she got a handle on it. "Cheers, love."

"words" ### "tags" tags <3"notes" hello hello bbby

THANK YOU, DUCK @ CAUTION!

[KAHLAN AIDEEN SELWYN]

[atrb=border, 0, true][atrb=style, border-left: #3A4748 8px solid; border-right: #839175 2px dashed; background: #d8d8d8; padding-top: 16px; padding-right: 16px; padding-left: 16px; padding-bottom: 12px; -moz-border-radius: 10px; width: 368px;] knew you were trouble Round and round I won’t run away this time Till you show me what this life is for Round and round I’m not gonna let you change my mind Till you show me what this life is for HER JAW FELL OPEN AND SHE GLARED AT FINN, SMACKING HIM HARD AFTER THE COMMENT ON HER AGE. "YOU'RE AN ARSE," SHE REMARKED, STALKING AWAY FROM HIM TO THE BAR. HE WAS, AND HE REMINDED HER OF CONNOR SOMETIMES, BUT SHE ULTIMATELY DIDN'T CARE. HE WOULD NEVER WILLINGLY HURT HER, AND SHE ALWAYS FELT SAFE AROUND HIM. SHE WAS COMFORTABLE AROUND HIM LIKE HE WAS ANOTHER OF HER BROTHERS. ONLY HE WASN'T. SHE HAD TO REMIND HERSELF OF THAT. THE COMFORT SHE FELT AROUND HIM WAS UNCANNY AND POSSIBLY INAPPROPRIATE AT TIMES. CLEARING HER THROAT, SHE GLANCED OVER AT HIM AS SHE HEARD HIS RESPONSE TO HER COMMENTS. SHE'D BEEN JOKING, BUT SOMETHING ABOUT HIS WORDS MADE HER BELIEVE HE MEANT MORE THAN HE LET ON. SHE DIDN'T FOCUS TOO INTENTLY ON HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH HER BROTHER, BUT SHE KNEW IT WAS A STRANGE ONE AT BEST. EVERYTHING WITH CONNOR WAS STRANGE. HE DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO LOVE PEOPLE, SO HE HAD TWISTED VERSIONS OF AFFECTION IN HIS LIFE. SHE WONDERED IF FINN'S RESPONSE WAS RELATED TO HIS COMPLICATED RELATIONSHIP WITH CONNOR, BUT SHE LET IT GO. SHE KNEW HIM WELL ENOUGH TO KNOW HE WOULDN'T TALK ABOUT IT EVEN IF SHE ASKED, SO SHE DIDN'T BOTHER. INSTEAD, SHE BLURTED OUT OVER HIM BEFORE THE WAITER COULD DEPART, AND THEN HE COUNTERED HER BY ORDERING FRIES. SHE SMILED VICTORIOUSLY AS THE WAITER DISAPPEARED AND FINN COMPLAINED ABOUT HER CHOICE OF FOOD. "YOU'RE JUST JEALOUS BECAUSE FRIES ARE BORING...LIKE YOU," SHE POUTED PLAYFULLY BEFORE SMILING, ENTERTAINED, AT HIM. HE TOLD HER TO HUSH AND SHE GIGGLED, THOROUGHLY ENJOYING BEING A THORN IN HIS SIDE. SHE GOT FAR TOO MUCH PLEASURE OUT OF PICKING AND TEASING AT FINN, AND HE KNEW IT. SHE'D MISSED HIM. SHE WAS BROUGHT OUT OF HER THOUGHTS BY HIM TELLING HER TO SHUSH ABOUT THE PEACHES. SHE OBEYED ONLY BECAUSE THEIR DRINKS ARRIVED AND THE TOPIC WAS OVER, BUT SHE WOULDN'T ADMIT DEFEAT TO HIM SO EASILY. SHE REACHED FOR THE GLASS HE PUSHED TOWARD HER, HER FINGERS BRUSHING COMFORTABLY OVER HIS, THE SOFT SKIN OF HERS IN STARK CONTRAST TO HIS WEATHERED FINGERTIPS, AND SHE LIFTED THE SHOT GLASS TO HER FULL LIPS AS HE TOASTED. DOWNING IT IN ONE GULP, SHE FIXED HIM WITH HER GREEN EYES AS SHE THUNKED THE GLASS DOWN ON THE COUNTER. SHE HADN'T HAD ANYTHING TO EAT, AND IT WAS EARLY ENOUGH IN THE MORNING THAT IT WAS PROBABLY A VERY BAD IDEA TO BE DOING THIS, BUT SHE WAS TOO COMPETITIVE TO BACK DOWN. SHE LIFTED ANOTHER, IN TIME WITH HIM, AND SHE FINISHED OFF FIVE OF THEM BEFORE THE FOOD EVER CAME. GLANCING OVER AT THE PLATE OF CHEDDAR BITES THAT WERE ALL HERS THANKS TO FINN'S AVERSION TO THEM, SHE WONDERED IF THE EDGES OF THE PLATE WERE BLURRY OR IF THAT WAS JUST HER IMAGINATION. SHE SHRUGGED IT OFF AND POPPED ONE IN HER MOUTH, HER EYES INSTANTLY WATERING AS SHE REALIZED TOO LATE THAT THE CHEESE INSIDE WAS INTENSELY HOT. WITH THE INSIDE OF HER MOUTH THOROUGHLY BURNT, SHE SWALLOWED AND FELT THE HEAT GO DOWN THE LENGTH OF HER THROAT AS SHE GRABBED ANOTHER DRINK AND WASHED IT DOWN. HER MOUTH BURNED PAINFULLY, AND SHE WHINED BEFORE GLANCING AT FINN WHO WAS PROBABLY GETTING A PRETTY GOOD KICK OUT OF HER SUFFERING. THAT WAS WHAT SHE GOT FOR TALKING A BIG TALK AND REALLY BEING A SISSY. "SSSSHHHUT UP," SHE SLURRED, FROWNING AT THE SOUND OF HER OWN VOICE. DECIDING IT SOUNDED UNACCEPTABLE, SHE SNIFFED AND TOOK ANOTHER SHOT. HOW MANY DID THAT MAKE NOW? TEN? TWENTY? SHE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW. SHE DIDN'T EVEN CARE EITHER. "FINNNNN," SHE DRAWLED, HER IRISH ACCENT TOO STRONG IN HER INEBRIATED STATE FOR ANY OF THE BOSTONIANS AROUND THEM TO UNDERSTAND HER. BUT HE WOULD. HE ALWAYS DID. SHE REACHED OUT AND HER FINGERS WRAPPED AROUND HIS ARM. SHE OPENED HER MOUTH TO SAY WHATEVER IT WAS THAT HAD COME INTO HER HEAD, BUT SHE INSTANTLY FORGOT IT AS HER EYES WERE DRIVEN TO HER HAND. SHE SQUEEZED HIS ARM, HER GREEN EYES WIDENING LIKE AN ADD SCHOOLGIRL. "THAT'S... HOW OFTEN DO YOU WORKKK OUTT EXAAC-EXACTLY?" SHE SLURRED, LOOKING BACK UP AT HIM IN CONFUSION. SHE HAD COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN WHAT SHE WAS GOING TO SAY. TURNING TO BETTER FACE HIM, SHE TRIED TO BALANCE HERSELF ON THE BAR, BUT HER HAND SLIPPED ON THE PLATE OF CHEDDAR BITES AND SENT HER SLIDING FORWARD WITH AN 'OOMPH'. SHE WAS A MESS OF BLOND HAIR AND DRUNKENNESS, FALLING IN HIS LAP WITH A SHEEPISH SMILE ON HER FACE. "GOAL!" SHE YELLED MUCH LOUDER THAN NECESSARY, BURSTING INTO A WILD GIGGLE AT HOW HILARIOUS SHE WAS. LOOKING UP INTO HIS FACE AS SHE CLUNG TO HIS SHIRT AND HIS NECK, SHE FROWNED SLIGHTLY AND POKED HIM ON THE END OF HIS NOSE. "YOU'RE PRETTY FROM UP CLOSE," SHE REMARKED INTROSPECTIVELY, SMILING UP AT HIM. tag: finn words: 614 template by eliza @ shadowplay & shine

[finnegan malachi odaire]

He snorted in laughter as she whacked him for the third time today, raising his arms in defense of her actions. "Stop that. I'm just being honest." Figuring that was going to earn him another whack, he dodged away from her, hurting his leg in the process but not allowing her to see that. Swearing under his breath, he rolled his eyes as she stalked away from him and reached the bar. Wishing that he could get there a little faster than he was, he settled down beside her and heard her next words. Turning to face her a bit, he raised an eyebrow, wondering where she got the nerve to accuse him of being boring when he had to fight with her to get her to come out with him just twenty minutes before now. Fixing her with a victorious expression before he even opened his mouth to speak, he leaned an elbow on the bar and looked at her innocently.

"Is that so? I'm the boring one?"

He questioned her lightly, knowing she knew that he had a rather good comeback up his sleeve or he wouldn't be reacting this way. Resisting the natural smile that wanted to curve up onto his features, he looked at her seriously, not cracking any emotion. "Aren't you the one who wanted to stay in all day and watch riveting programs on Netflix?" He parried easily, but then touched a finger to his forehead, pointing it at her after a moment. "But you're right. You were the one who also flashed the entire mansion, if I recall correctly." He finished, knowing that he was going to get hit for that but taking it like a man because it was worth seeing her facial expression. The truth of the matter was it had been entirely his fault that her underside had been exposed to the high windows of the mansion. He had been the one to toss her over his shoulder in such a way, but it had been her fault for refusing him in the first place. If she had just come along quietly and listened to him in the beginning then this wouldn't be a problem now. But if she thought he was going to let the fact of her revealing her underwear to the entirety of the Selwyn household, she was poorly mistaken. Grinning like a fool, he focused on the drinks that were now delivered in front of them both.

He could out drink her. There was no doubt about it. If not because he had had to keep up with Connor all of these years, it would be because of their physical differences. She was petite, and female. He was much bigger than she was, and a male. It was nothing against her personally, but he always considered her to be a bit of a lightweight anyway, even if it was just to get under her skin. Watching her take the shot back, his eyes were locked to her throat as she swallowed, feeling a strange sensation gather in his belly, especially when his fingers brushed hers. Ignoring it, he knocked the shot back without further hesitation, slowly bringing his glass back down to the bar as she clanked hers down challengingly. "One." He gave her a nod and a grin, knowing he already had her in this competition. She hadn't eaten anything, and Finn knew that the most important meal to his day was breakfast, so of course he had divulged. He was full and ready to accept the drinks, and as she matched him shot for shot, he knew she was going to go down fast and hard. When they reached five, he was going to suggest slowing down, even if it meant that he had to admit defeat. He really didn't want to bring home a wasted Kahlan, especially since Connor was going to be there.

As their food was delivered, he was slightly relieved because it meant that she could get something into her system. However, she took one of the cheddar bites up off the plate, and he could see that she was going to shove the whole thing in. "Lan, it might be......hot." His words were useless as she struggled with the burn that was ultimately in her mouth and he waved the bartender down to order her a glass of water. However, she reached over and took his shot instead and he felt like this was going to be a long afternoon. "Oy, don't do that." He instructed her, removing the shot glass from her hand and giving her the glass of water instead. He had an amateur on his hands, but he had to admit, the entire scenario of her flailing around because of the burn in her mouth made his eyes dance with merriment. Grinning slightly, he caught her slurred tones and turned to her in surprise, his eyebrows shooting up. "What was that? I'm not sure I understood what you said. Can you enunciate more clearly?" He teased her openly, watching as she turned to him slightly.

Feeling her hand enclose around his arm sent shocks through his skin, but he ignored the goosebumps as she said his name, drawing it out in her Irish accent. Grinning softly, he glanced over to her, watching her as she seemed to lose her train of thought. Furrowing his brow, about to question her, he heard her next words and was shocked for a moment. Then, he couldn't help it. He laughed. It was short, but she would have heard it. "Every day, love. Why, are you impressed?" He questioned her, obviously amused. He didn't read anything into her actions because she was so drunk, but how he wished that this could be happening when she was sober. Sighing softly to himself, he was about to help himself to his fries when he heard a clatter. Turning quickly, he managed to catch Kahlan in his lap, although a few strands of her wild blonde hair found their way into his mouth. Quickly extracting them with his free hand, he puffed out a few breaths to get them entirely clear, giving her a look as she yelled goal. Raising an eyebrow, he glanced up to the bar tender who was now staring them down and he gave him a sheepish, yet charming smile.

"She loves soccer." He offered as an explanation, helping Kahlan lift herself up a bit, figuring she would sit up straight once he gave her the correct assistance. However, he was completely wrong, for she was actually now only inches from his face. Smelling the rum on her breath, he felt bad for daring her like this, wishing he could take it back. She would be embarrassed, surely, and he would never want to hurt her like that. However amusing this was, he felt bad. And Finn never felt bad about these kinds of things. But Kahlan meant more to him than just some random girl he met at a night club. He was supposed to be protecting her and Connor would have his head for this. Rightly so. His concern wasn't really directed at what Connor would do to him. It was just about getting Kahlan home now. Hearing her words, feeling her poke his nose, he offered her a small smile.

"Pretty isn't exactly the adjective I was hoping for, but I'll take it. What do you say about getting out of here? We'll go for a ride." He questioned her, hoping she would agree and not be as argumentative as she normally was when it came to dealing with him. He was going to drive her around a bit to get her sobered up a bit more before taking her home. Connor was seriously going to murder him. And maybe for good this time. "Lan? What do you say?" He questioned her once more, lifting one of his hands from her hip to gently tuck her blonde hair behind her ears so it wasn't in her face. This was going splendidly. He had to admit that it was amusing though. At least there was that much.

"words" ### "tags" tags <3"notes" hello hello bbby

THANK YOU, DUCK @ CAUTION!

[KAHLAN AIDEEN SELWYN]

[atrb=border, 0, true][atrb=style, border-left: #3A4748 8px solid; border-right: #839175 2px dashed; background: #d8d8d8; padding-top: 16px; padding-right: 16px; padding-left: 16px; padding-bottom: 12px; -moz-border-radius: 10px; width: 368px;] knew you were trouble Round and round I won’t run away this time Till you show me what this life is for Round and round I’m not gonna let you change my mind Till you show me what this life is for "HOW WAS I TO KNOW MY SUBCONSCIOUS KNEW THAT NETFLIX WOULD BE MORE INTERESTING THAN HANGING OUT WITH YOU?" SHE ASKED, STRESSING THE 'YOU' WITH A FLOURISH OF HER EYES AS SHE SMILED CHEEKILY AT HIM. HE RETORTED WITH A REMINDER THAT SHE'D FLASHED EVERYONE WHO LIVED IN THE MANSION, AND SHE BLUSHED INSTANTLY, HER CHEEKS TURNING A PLEASANT ROSY HUE. HER HANDS SUBCONSCIOUSLY BRUSHED DOWN HER SKIRT, GRIPPING THE HEM AND TUGGING SLIGHTLY IN AN UNCONSCIOUS ATTEMPT TO COVER HER PREVIOUS REVEALING. "AND I'M SURE ALL OF MY BROTHERS ENJOYED IT IMMENSELY," SHE POINTED OUT WRYLY, SULKING FOR A MOMENT AS SHE BEGAN DRINKING. SHE WAS FAR TOO COMPETITIVE TO ADMIT SHE KNEW HE WAS GOING TO WIN AT THIS DRINKING GAME. SHE DIDN'T DRINK NEARLY AS MUCH AS CONNOR, AND SHE WAS PHYSIOLOGICALLY IMPAIRED COMPARED TO FINN'S SIZE. SO SHE GOT DRUNKER AND DRUNKER, MUCH QUICKER THAN SHE SHOULD HAVE THANKS TO THE LACK OF FOOD IN HER SYSTEM. THEN THE BLASTED CHEDDAR BITE HAD TO GO AND ATTACK HER MOUTH. SHE FROWNED IRRITABLY AS FINN REPLACED THE ALCOHOLIC SHOT WITH A WATER GLASS, BUT SHE WASHED DOWN THE CHEESE AND THEN STOLE ANOTHER SHOT JUST TO BE A PAIN IN THE ASS. SHE STUCK HER TONGUE OUT AT HIM WHEN HE TOLD HER HE COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HER BEFORE SHE BURST INTO A HIGH-PITCHED GIGGLE AND ATTEMPTED TO TURN TOWARD HIM. SHE COULDN'T FEEL HER NERVE ENDINGS THANKS TO THE HAZE ON HER BRAIN - WHAT GOOD WERE NERVE ENDINGS ANYWAY? - BUT SHE MARVELED FOR THE STUPIDEST REASON OVER HOW THICK AND HARD FINN'S ARM WAS. SHE HADN'T EVER NOTICED BEFORE, AND HER DRUNKEN MIND WAS IMPRESSED. "PSSSSSSSHHHHH," SHE RESPONDED, HER TONGUE FEELING THICK AND UNUSED IN HER MOUTH, "YOU COULD FR-FRY BACON ON THAT THING." HER EYES WIDENED AND SHE POKED HIS ARM IN FASCINATION BEFORE HE TRIED TO SHIFT HER AND SHE FOUND HERSELF FURTHER IN HIS ARMS THANKS TO HER LIMP BODY. SHE WAS TOO FAR GONE TO CARE ABOUT WHAT SHE LOOKED LIKE, SO SHE IGNORED FINN'S EXPLANATION OF HER OUTBURST. SHE WAS PREOCCUPIED WITH HIS FACE. SHE'D NEVER BEEN THIS CLOSE TO HIM THAT SHE COULD REMEMBER, AND FOR A GUY WHO KILLED PEOPLE FOR A LIVING, HE WAS RATHER ATTRACTIVE. WITH HIS ATTENTION MOMENTARILY DIVERTED FROM HER, SHE REACHED UP AND TOUCHED HIS MOUTH, HER FINGERS TRACING THE OUTLINE OF HIS LIPS AS SHE FROWNED CURIOUSLY AT HIM. "I WANT- I WANNA KISS YOU," SHE BLEATED. IMPULSIVELY, SHE PUSHED HERSELF AGAINST HIM, HER LIPS MATCHING HIS AND SATISFYING HER DRUNKEN DESIRE. SHE WOULD NEVER, IN HER WILDEST IMAGINATION, PICTURE HERSELF KISSING FINN OF ALL PEOPLE. HE WAS LIKE A BROTHER TO HER. SHE'D GROWN UP WITH HIM, SHE WAS CLOSER TO HIM THAN ANY OTHER MALE BESIDES CONNOR. IF SHE WAS SOBER, SHE WOULDN'T KISS HIM. SHE WOULDN'T EVEN ADMIT SHE WANTED TO IF SHE DID. BUT HER DRUNKEN MIND WAS NOT INHIBITED LIKE HER SOBER MIND WAS. THIS DRUNK PART OF HER KNEW WHAT SHE FELT DEEP IN THE SHADOWY PIT OF HER BRAIN, AND IT HAD NO FILTER OR INHIBITIONS. HER BROW FURROWED AS SHE KISSED HIM DEEPLY BEFORE SHE FINALLY SLUMPED AWAY FROM HIM, HER FINGERS GRIPPING HIS SHIRT AND HIS ARMS AROUND HER THE ONLY THINGS KEEPING HER ON HER FEET. "MMM," SHE HUMMED, HER CHEST VIBRATING WITH THE SOUND. "YOU'RE GOOD DAT THAT. WHY HAVEN'T I DONE THAT BEFORE?" SHE ASKED, HER VOICE SLURRING AS SHE SWAYED ON HER FEET IN HIS ARMS. HER LEGS WERE LIKE NOODLES, AND SHE WONDERED WHY HER HIGH HEELED SHOES DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE FROM WHERE THEY WERE ON THE FLOOR. TWISTING IN HIS ARMS, SHE GLARED DOWN AT HER FEET. "HEY! WHATSIT," SHE SPOKE TO HER SHOES, UNAWARE OF THE NEARBY ONLOOKERS BEGINNING TO GIGGLE AT HER OBVIOUS DRUNKENNESS. "STUPID," SHE MUTTERED TO HER SHOES, TURNING BACK TO FINN AS HE MENTIONED GOING FOR A RIDE. HER GREEN EYES BRIGHTENED AND SHE SMACKED HIM EXCITEDLY AGAINST HIS CHEST, BOUNCING IN PLACE SO MUCH THAT HER SKIRT BOUNCED AROUND HER HIPS. "I WANNA I WANNA I WANNA," SHE REPEATED EXCITEDLY, GRABBING HIS SHIRT AND PULLING HIS FACE TOWARD HERS SO THEIR NOSES WERE TOUCHING AND SHE STARED INTENSELY IN TO HIS EYES. "TAKE ME, FINN, PLEEEEEASE," SHE BEGGED HIM, SMILING BRIGHTLY AND PUSHING AWAY FROM HIM SO SHE WAS SUFFICIENTLY FREE FROM HIS GRASP. AND SHE RESOLUTELY COLLAPSED IN A DRUNKEN HEAP ON THE FLOOR. "OW," SHE STATED FLATLY, SWAYING IN PLACE. UNTANGLING HER LEGS, SHE TRIED TO PUSH HERSELF TO HER FEET, BUT HER SHOES WOULDN'T COOPERATE YET AGAIN. FROWNING IN DRUNKEN IRRITATION, SHE UNSTRAPPED THEM AND TOOK THEM IN ONE HAND, NODDING VICTORIOUSLY AS SHE TRIED AGAIN TO STAND UP. "FINNNN! MY LEGS DOON WORKK," SHE GRIPED, CLIMBING ON TO HER HANDS AND KNEES AND PUSHING HER HIPS UP IN TO THE AIR. THIS EFFICIENTLY ALMOST MADE HER SKIRT FALL FORWARD TOWARD HER FACE, EXPOSING HER FOR THE SECOND TIME THAT DAY, BUT SHE HEAVED HERSELF UPWARD JUST IN TIME TO SAVE HERSELF THE EMBARRASSMENT ONLY TO FALL BACKWARD TOWARD THE BAR AGAIN. "UGHHH," SHE GROWLED, TURNING TO GLARE HOTLY AT FINN. "I WANNA GO, BUT THE FLOOR IS MADE OF RUBBER." tag: finn words: 614 template by eliza @ shadowplay & shine

[finnegan malachi odaire]

As she defied him by taking another shot, he looked at her in exasperation because of how drunk she already was. Apparently she didn't know when to stop and that was the most dangerous kind of drunk. It was his fault really for challenging her in the first place. He should have known better. He should have put a limit on the amount but he hadn't really thought this situation through. Even though he had had the same amount as her, he didn't even have a buzz. He had to thank the drinking competitions he got into with his best mate for his tolerance. Connor always beat him without fail because trying to keep up with that Irish man was like trying to keep up with a semi. It wasn't going to happen. But it did give Finn the ability to drive them home even though he had had the same amount as her, minus the one shot she had just taken. Giving her a look, he sighed and shook his head. "No more Kahlan." He announced, watching her as she took a great and total interest in his arm muscle. While normally this would have been a big turn on for him, he wasn't quite sure what to think of it while she was so inebriated.

Upon hearing her words he fixed her with such a look of confusion that it was quite laughable. And the bar tender did laugh, both because of her comment and his reaction. "You've got a fun one there, huh mate?" Finn scowled over at the man, letting him know that he wasn't happy with his explanation of Kahlan being a fun one. "She'll be fine. We were just celebrating." He explained tersely, letting the man know that he had staked his claim over Kahlan and that was off limits to the likes of him. Giving him another penetrating glare, the bar tender let them be and handed Finn the bill for the shots and the food. Focusing back on Kahlan, he watched her. "Lan, what does that even mean? Why would you want to fry bacon on my arm?" He questioned her, knowing he wasn't going to get a straight answer but knowing it was going to be hilarious listening to her try to explain herself.

He broke his attention from her for the time being to handle the bill, still holding her up with one arm wrapped securely around her waist. They were drawing attention, but Finn wasn't going to let anything happen to her. He was her protector, a hired hand, but family above all. He would not let her get hurt by anyone in this bar or anyone period for that matter. He would gladly give his life for her, or any of the Selwyns, but it was in this moment of her vulnerability that he felt the deepest need and desire to keep her safe. It was why he had warded off the bar tender in the first place. Kahlan was not an object to admire. She was a good girl, one that Finn felt bad for infecting her with his sin. He should have thought this over more before challenging her. Angry with himself, he reached into his back pocket for his wallet, pulling out a crisp one hundred dollar bill. He was about to tell the bar tender that it was all set, even with the heavy tip amount, but Kahlan had other ideas to distract him. Feeling her soft fingers danced across his lips, he felt a strong chill run down his spine, diverting his attention from the bill fold, even though he pushed it forward, nodding to the bar tender.

The man asked if he wanted change and Finn shook his head, unable to voice a response at this moment because his attention was fully on the very close and very needed Kahlan. "Lan, don't.." He warned her when she announced in her slurred voice that she wanted to kiss him. "You're really..." But his voice was cut off short as her lips met his, and for a moment, his eyes widened in shock and surprise. He didn't think she was actually going to do it, but here she was, drinking him in through this kiss. He figured it would only last seconds, so he refused to return it. However, she deepened it, forcing him to ride along with her. Closing his eyes, knowing this was wrong on so many levels in so many ways, he kissed her back. It was something that he would hate himself for later, especially because he would feel as if he had taken advantage of her drunken state, but he was too turned on by what she was doing to him, drunk or not. The alcohol on her breath mixed with the taste of rum in his mouth, making him heady from the sensation of the moment.

As she finally pulled away, Finn leaned back, still keeping a steady hold of her swaying form even though the hatred for himself was visible in his eyes even now. He looked guilty, sad even.This would have never happened if she was sober and that thought made him ache with misery. Kahlan was like that forbidden fruit. They couldn't be for so many different reasons and this whole incident was like a tease. As she pushed herself away from him, he let his fingers trail down her arm, stopping at her fingers as he clasped them gently as she inspected her shoes. The people around them were starting to laugh at her inebriation, and Finn's protective mode kicked in, wanting to get her out of here. She was a Selwyn. One who should always act appropriately in the public eye. If there were any press members here they were done for, and he groaned as he watched her as she focused on him once more when he offered a ride up.

"Oof." He groaned out as she hit him in the chest, and he brought his free hand up to gently clutch her fingers. "That's the hundredth time you've hit me today, woman." But she was suddenly bouncing in front of him, telling him clearly, that she wanted to go for a ride. As she said take me finn, he nearly blushed at the double meaning that could be found at her words. Glancing around quickly, he saw that most of the people were returning to their meals and their drinks, and he covered Kahlan's mouth with the hand that had been wrapped around her fingers. "I'll take you. Just hush." He instructed her, watching her with a nod as she spun away from him, ready to go. And that was when disaster struck. He had pushed himself up from his stool to follow after her, and nearly tripped over her as she toppled to the ground. "Kahlan!" He whispered demandingly, wishing she would get up off the floor. She was going to be so embarrassed if she heard about this, and he refused to tell her of such things. He hoped she didn't remember anything. It would just be easier that way. Slapping his hand over his face, he let out a huff of frustrated air and pulled his hand down his skin, watching her with a bemused expression on his features as she struggled to get up.

And then she put her butt up in the air.

Seeing her skirt start to travel the precarious path up her legs, he jumped forward and grabbed the hem of it before it could do any more damage to her reputation. Holding it firmly in face, he grabbed her around her stomach, hearing her words and feeling her glare. "I know, I know. Mine work though, so I'm going to carry you out. Just hold onto me." He instructed her softly, whispering in her ear as she stayed doubled over for a moment, his hands flat across her belly. Moving swiftly so as not to make her too dizzy, he scooped her up into his arms and glared at anyone who dared to get in their way on their way out. As a patron of the restaurant dared to step in their path to ask if she was really alright, Finn bristled. "Just fuck off already, bloke. I've got her." The man was questioning Finn's ability to drive just then and he sighed in frustration. Gently dropping Kahlan to her feet, still supporting her by her waist, Finn hauled off and punched the guy straight in the face. "Oh look, I can see perfectly. Now piss off." He snapped, gathering Kahlan in his arms again even though the pain in his hand blossomed.

Extremely irritated now, by no fault of Kahlan's, he reached his bike and unclipped the helmet from the back. It was his, but she needed it more than him at the moment. Shoving it down over her head before she could protest, he strapped the chin strap tightly. "Just wear it and don't argue, alright?" He had her propped up against his chest for the time being as he managed to lean back and adjust the helmet so that it fit her. Pulling down the visor, he kept a steady hold on her and mounted the motorcycle, turning to the side and helping her on even though she was like a noodle. Once she was situated, he clasped her hands together over his abdomen again. "Don't let go, okay Kahlan? And if you feel sick, you've got to tell me." He told her gently, revving the bike to life. He drove as fast as he could, as well as he could with her in tow, not wanting to make her feel even worse. As the mansion came into view, he exhaled with relief, glad that Connor's car had been gone when they had left before. Pulling to the gate, he announced who they were, zooming through the small opening that had been created for them.

He raced up the driveway smoothly, opening the garage port for himself and pulling in. Kicking the bike into place, he turned it off and turned around to Kahlan. "Alright. We have to get you set, okay?" He finished, basically lifting her off of the bike and to her feet. Unclipping the helmet, he nearly laughed at how messy her hair was as he freed her. Tossing the helmet to the ground, he looked her over to make sure she was alright. "Oh Lan, you don't know when to quit, huh?" He spoke in a whisper, mostly to himself. Sighing, remembering the kiss from only minutes before, he cleared his head quickly and groaned as she fell against him. It was then that the garage door started opening. It was then that he saw his life flash before his eyes as he recognized Connor's car. And it was then that he wished he didn't feel the dread well up into his chest. There was nothing that he could do now. Connor was going to shoot him. Again.

-----

Eli sat companionably beside Connor as he drove them back to the mansion. They had just come from one of her many doctor's appointment, and they had been pleased to find out that both of their babies were doing splendidly well. Everything was going according to plan, and she was due in two months' time. She needed to start taking it even easier because of the strain the two children were putting on her thinner body, but other than that she could continue on as normal. Taking a deep breath, she let it out slowly, not able to resist the smile that worked its way onto her features as she looked over at her fiance. "Two more months. That's all you need to deal with." She told him playfully, knowing her hormones were driving him crazy. She had gotten better in recent weeks so she wasn't as bad as she had been in the beginning, but she knew he wasn't sleeping as much as he should have been. The smile she wore hid the worry that welled in her chest. She didn't know if she would be a good mother. She had only killed people, not given life, and that terrified her as she knew it scared him as well. Trying not to let her fears ruin their good day, she settled into the seat as they came in sight of the mansion.

When they reached the garage, she sat up straighter, unbuckling herself as he pulled in. Lifting her gaze as she caught movement out of the corner of her eye, she tensed, until she recognized the blonde hair and the form of the man who was Connor's best friend. Her eyes widened in shock and she couldn't stop the smile that worked its way onto her features. Covering her mouth quickly so Connor wouldn't see that she found this extremely amusing, she stifled her laugh and looked over at him. He looked absolutely murderous, and she shoved her own door open as he steamed out of the car. "Connor...Connor, just stay calm." She urged him, trying not to let the humor escape into her tone. But it was at that precise moment that he completely lost it, and she winced, watching Kahlan and Finn with a now unreadable expression.

"words" ### "tags" tags <3"notes" hello hello bbby

THANK YOU, DUCK @ CAUTION!

[KAHLAN AIDEEN SELWYN]

[atrb=border, 0, true][atrb=style, border-left: #3A4748 8px solid; border-right: #839175 2px dashed; background: #d8d8d8; padding-top: 16px; padding-right: 16px; padding-left: 16px; padding-bottom: 12px; -moz-border-radius: 10px; width: 368px;] knew you were trouble Round and round I won’t run away this time Till you show me what this life is for Round and round I’m not gonna let you change my mind Till you show me what this life is for KAHLAN FROWNED VEHEMENTLY UP AT HIM AS HE COVERED HER MOUTH WITH HIS HAND. STICKING HER TONGUE OUT IMPETUOUSLY, SHE LICKED HIS PALM AND GLARED AT HIM IRRITABLY WHEN HE FINALLY REMOVED HIS HAND. WITH THAT, SHE TURNED TO HEAD TOWARD THE DOOR AND FOUND HERSELF IN A PUDDLE ON THE FLOOR. HER LEGS REALLY NEEDED TO LEARN HOW TO BE MORE OBEDIENT. AS SHE POUTED IN A PILE, SHE DIDN'T NOTICE WHEN HE ALMOST TRIPPED OVER HER, AND THE SOUND OF HER NAME WAS LIKE A DISTANT HISS IN THE BACK OF HER MIND. UNAWARE OF FINN'S EXASPERATION ABOVE HER, SHE FROWNED IN CONCENTRATION AND SITUATED HERSELF SO SHE COULD STAND. THE ONLY METHOD THAT WORKED WAS USING THE STRENGTH IN HER ARMS - WHICH WERE THE ONLY PARTS OF HER THAT WEREN'T QUITE TURNED TO JELLO YET - AND SHE HOISTED HER HIPS UP IN THE AIR WITH SATISFACTION. FINN'S KNIGHTLY ACTIONS TO KEEP HER FROM EMBARRASSING HERSELF WERE LOST ON HER AS SHE LOST HER BALANCE AND COMPLAINED THAT HER LEGS HAD STOPPED WORKING. WHY WAS HER BODY BEING SO DISOBEDIENT ANYHOW? IT WAS FRUSTRATING. SHE SHOULD GET A NEW ONE. "WELL, GOOD, 'CAUSE THIS FLOOR IS CROOKED," SHE REMARKED HUFFILY AS HIS ARM SUPPORTED HER AROUND HER WAIST. HE HAD TO PRACTICALLY CARRY HER FROM THE BAR SINCE THE LITTLE SUPPORT SHE HAD ON HER LEGS WAS BARELY ENOUGH TO HELP HIM, AND HER ARMS WRAPPED AROUND HIS WAIST FOR THE EXTRA STABILITY. HER FEET BARELY SKIMMED THE GROUND BECAUSE OF THE WAY HE TOTED HER, AND SHE TWISTED AROUND IN HIS GRASP AS HE RETORTED AGAINST THE MAN WHO TRIED TO STOP THEM. SHE WAS PREOCCUPIED BY FINN'S MOTORCYCLE, AND WHEN HE SET HER ON HER FEET, SHE TRIED TO PULL AWAY FROM HIM TO GO TO IT LIKE A CHILD TO A CANDY MACHINE. HOWEVER, THE RESOLUTE SMACK OF FINN'S FIST AGAINST THE OTHER MAN'S FACE DREW HER ATTENTION AROUND, AND SHE SNIFFED BEFORE LEANING AGAINST HIM, POINTING HER FINGER IN THE DIRECTION SHE THOUGHT HE FACE WAS. SHE FOUND HERSELF FACING HIM NOW THANKS TO HER WIGGLING, AND SHE ATTEMPTED TO FROWN DISAPPROVINGLY UP AT HIM BUT FAILED MISERABLY. "YOU SHOULD BE NICCCER TO PEOPLLLE, FINNN," SHE POINTED OUT, HER VOICE SLURRING ALL OVER THE PLACE. SHE STUMBLED BACKWARD AS HE TOOK HER IN HIS ARMS, PINNING HER ARMS TO HER SIDES IN HIS IRRITATION WITH THE INTERRUPTION. SHE SQUEAKED AS SHE WAS CARRIED BACKWARD TOWARD THE BIKE, HER GREEN EYES WIDENING IN SURPRISE AS HER FEET FOUGHT FOR PURCHASE AGAINST THE GROUND. SHE DIDN'T GET IT UNTIL HE PLANTED HER ON HER FEET ONCE MORE, AND SHE SLUMPED AGAINST HIM. "HEYYY," SHE MUTTERED, PLANTING HER HANDS AGAINST HIS CHEST TO SUPPORT HERSELF AS SHE STARED AT THE THREADS OF HIS SHIRT AND PLIANTLY STOOD STILL AS HE SHOVED THE HELMET DOWN ON HER HEAD. SHE COULD FEEL HER HAIR CRUMPLED UP BENEATH IT, AND SHE WRINKLED HER NOSE AT THE SENSATION, REACHING UP TO MOVE IT AROUND. HE INTERRUPTED HER ATTEMPTS BY MOVING, AND SHE ALMOST FELL FLAT ON HER FACE ON THE SIDEWALK. "OHHH HIIII," SHE MUSED DOWN AT THE PAVEMENT, CAUGHT AS HIS ARM SNAKED OUT TO SPIN HER AND PULL HER ON TO THE BIKE BEHIND HIM. DIZZY FROM THE MOVEMENT, SHE FELL LIMPLY AGAINST HIS BACK AND HE EASILY TOOK HER ARMS AND WRAPPED THEM AROUND HIS WAIST. HUMMING TIREDLY, SHE TURNED HER HEAD AND LAID AGAINST HIM, HUGGING HERSELF TO HIM. SHE DISTANTLY HEARD HIM ORDER HER TO TELL HIM IF SHE WAS GOING TO BE SICK, BUT THAT WAS SILLY. SHE FELT FINE. SHE WAS A LITTLE DIZZY AND HER MOUTH STILL HURT FROM THE HOT CHEESE WHICH HAD BURNT HER, BUT SHE WAS FINE. HE WAS BEING SILLY. KAHLAN BEGAN SINGING AN IRISH FOLK TUNE AS THEY RACED THROUGH THE COUNTRYSIDE TO THE MANSION, AND SHE RELEASED HIS WAIST TO WAVE HER ARMS IN THE AIR AS THEY STOPPED AT THE ENTRANCE GATE. HOWEVER, AS THE BIKE TOOK OFF AGAIN, SHE SQUEALED AND CLUNG TO FINN'S WAIST IN A PANIC AS SHE ALMOST FELL OFF ONTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE SURPRISE DID NOTHING TO SOBER HER, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT HER GREEN EYES WERE WIDE AS FINN CLIMBED OFF OF THE BIKE AND TURNED TO FACE HER. "FINN, I DON'T THINK-" HER SPINE FELT AS IF IT WAS MADE OF PUTTY, AND SHE BEGAN SLUMPING TOWARD THE SEAT OF THE MOTORCYCLE, BUT HE HAULED HER OFF BEFORE SHE COULD PASS OUT. HE UNSNAPPED THE HELMET WHICH FREED HER HEAD - AND HER HORRIBLY MESSED UP HAIR - AND SHE SMILED IMPISHLY UP AT HIM AS SHE SWAYED ON HER FEET. HER SHOES HAD MIRACULOUSLY STAYED IN HER HAND, AND SHE WAS INTENSELY PLEASED AND IMPRESSED WITH HERSELF, SO SHE BRANDISHED THEM TOWARD HIM LIKE SOME SORT OF TROPHY CATCH. "I BROUGHT MY SHOOOES," SHE POINTED OUT PROUDLY, WAVING THEM IN THE AIR AND SWAYING HER HIPS IN A LITTLE VICTORY DANCE THAT SUCCESSFULLY PITCHED HER OFF BALANCE AND SENT HER FALLING INTO HIM YET AGAIN. "STOP CATCHING ME," SHE COMPLAINED, FROWNING PETULANTLY. "I KNOW WHEN TA QUIT. THANYOU VERR MUCH," SHE ADDED, GLARING UP AT HIM. HER STOMACH AND HER HEART DID A FUNNY LITTLE RIVERDANCE IN HER CHEST AS SHE FIXED HIM WITH HER EYES, BUT IN HER DRUNKENNESS, SHE DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING OF IT. DISTRACTED BY HIS CLOSENESS, HER EYES FOUND THEIR WAY TO THE FINER FEATURES OF HIS FACE, HIS NOSE AND HIS LIPS AND HIS CHIN, AND HER LIPS PARTED AS SHE BECAME FASCINATED WITH HIM ONCE AGAIN. SHE HAD NEVER STARED AT HIM THIS CLOSE BEFORE, BUT HE WAS RATHER FASCINATING. "DO YOU WAN' TA KISS ME AGUN?" SHE ASKED, BLINKING HER DOE-LIKE EYES AS SHE WRIGGLED IN HIS GRASP AND REACHED FOR HIM, HER FINGERS BRUSHING THE LENGTH OF HIS JAWLINE. SHE TRACED THE CURVE OF HIS CHEEK FROM HIS CHIN AROUND HIS MOUTH, DRAWING A LINE ALONG HIS BOTTOM LIP. THE ENTIRE WHILE, HER LIPS GAPED OPEN SLIGHTLY AS SHE WATCHED IN FASCINATION AS HER FINGER TRACED THE ARTISTICALLY PERFECT LINE OF HIS MOUTH. EVERYTHING ABOUT HIM WAS HARD AND FIRM, BUT HIS MOUTH WAS SOFT AND WARM, VERY UNLIKE THE REST OF HIM. "YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW RELIEVED I AM TO HEAR THAT," CONNOR TEASED AS ELI REMARKED THAT THEY ONLY HAD TWO MONTHS LEFT OF HER PREGNANCY. HE CHUCKLED AS SHE SURELY RETALIATED AGAINST HIS REMARK. HE HIT THE DOOR OPENER TO THE SECTION OF THE GARAGE WHERE HIS PASSENGER CAR WOULD REST, AND HE SCOWLED DISAPPROVINGLY AS HE NOTICED HER RELEASE HER SEATBELT. KAHLAN STOOD ON HER TIP TOES, HER FINGERS FALLING FROM FINN'S MOUTH TO HIS CHIN WHERE SHE GRIPPED HIM AND PULLED HIS FACE TOWARD HERS. SHE MET HIS LIPS ONCE MORE, THIS TIME MORE FORCEFUL THAN THE LAST, MORE TENTATIVE KISS. SHE ALREADY KNEW WHAT HE FELT LIKE - ALTHOUGH SHE WOULDN'T REMEMBER IT LATER - SO SHE WANTED TO FEEL IT AGAIN INSTEAD OF INVESTIGATING. HER ARMS WRAPPED AROUND HIS NECK AND SHE PULLED HERSELF AGAINST HIM, COMPLETELY DISTRACTED IN HER INEBRIATION THAT SHE DIDN'T HEAR THE CAR PULLING IN TO THE DRIVEWAY AND THE DOOR OPENING. "WOMAN, WHAT HAVE I TOLD YOU ABOUT WAITING UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS COME TO A COMPLETE STOP BEFORE YOU TAKE OFF YOUR SEATBELT?" CONNOR ASKED, NOTICING HER DISTRACTION AND TENSING BEFORE HE SAW WHAT SHE HAD SEEN. FROWNING IN CONFUSION, HIS INSTINCTS INSTANTLY PRICKLING FOR DANGER, HE GLANCED THE DIRECTION SHE WAS LOOKING, AND INSTANTLY TENSED. HIS GREEN EYES SOAKED IN THE IMAGE OF HIS SISTER - HIS PRECIOUS KAHLAN, THE HEART OF THEIR FAMILY AND THE MOST INNOCENT OF THEM ALL - WITH HER ARMS WRAPPED AROUND FINN'S NECK, THEIR LIPS PARTING AS FINN TURNED TOWARD THE SOUND OF THE CAR. "HOLY FUCKING SHIT," CONNOR CURSED VEHEMENTLY, THROWING THE CAR VIOLENTLY INTO PARK. HE HEARD ELI'S VOICE OUT OF THE CORNER OF HIS MIND AS HE WRENCHED THE KEYS FROM THE CAR AND ROSE FROM THE BENTLEY IN A FLOURISH OF ANGER AND BLACK CLOTHING. HIS FIRST REACTION WAS TO THROW THE KEYS AT FINN, AND THEY FLEW THROUGH THE AIR TOWARD THEM AS FINN PULLED AWAY FROM HIS SISTER. UNAWARE OF WHAT WAS GOING ON, KAHLAN BLINKED AS FINN PUSHED AWAY FROM HER, CONFUSED AS TO WHAT WAS HAPPENING. AS SHE STUMBLED BACK AWAY FROM HIM, A SET OF CAR KEYS COLLIDED WITH THE SIDE OF HER HEAD. "OWWWW," SHE MOANED, HER HAND GOING TO HER HEAD AS THE KEYS FELL TO THE CEMENT WITH A METALLIC CLATTER. "YOU FUCKING LITTLE SHIT, I AM GOING TO KILL YOU," CONNOR HISSED HOTLY AS HE ROUNDED THE CAR SEPARATING HIM FROM HIS BEST FRIEND AND HIS SISTER. HE DIDN'T HAVE A MOMENT TO FEEL REMORSE FOR BEANING KAHLAN WITH THE KEYS BEFORE FINN TURNED AND TOOK OFF RUNNING THROUGH THE OPEN GARAGE DOOR. "YOU PUSSY, YOU GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE!" HE YELLED AS HE TOOK OFF IN A SPRINT AFTER THE OTHER IRISHMAN. THANKFULLY, FINN DIDN'T HAVE MUCH OF A CHANCE OF OUTRUNNING HIM, AND HE CLOBBERED HIM TO THE GROUND ON THE FRONT LAWN, DRIVING HIS FIST IN TO THE OTHER YOUNG MAN'S LEFT EYE. SEEING A BLUR OF MOTION OUTSIDE THE LIVING ROOM WINDOW, LENNOX RAISED HIS EYEBROWS AND STOOD FROM HIS SEAT TO SEE FINN AND CONNOR STREAKING PAST BEHIND HIM IN HOT PURSUIT. "WHAT THE HELL..." HE MUTTERED, HEARING CONNOR'S OATHS AS HE FOLLOWED THE OTHER MAN, BUT UNABLE TO DISCERN WHAT WAS GOING ON. HASTENING FOR THE DOOR, HE EXITED THE HOUSE AND RACED AFTER CONNOR WHO LANDED ON TOP OF FINN AND HIT HIM SOUNDLY ACROSS THE FACE WITH HIS FIST. "IF YOU EVER TOUCH HER AGAIN, SO HELP ME I WILL SHOOT YOU SO YOU WON'T SURVIVE IT NEXT TIME, YOU FUCKING PRICK," CONNOR RAGED, HIS FIST RAISING TO HIT FINN AGAIN. LENNOX CAUGHT HIS HAND AND PULLED HIM HARD BACKWARD, SENDING CONNOR OFF BALANCE AND ROLLING INTO THE GRASS IN AN ANGRY HEAP LIKE A TASMANIAN DEVIL WRAPPED UP IN HIS OWN COAT. REACHING DOWN, LENNOX GRABBED FINN'S HAND AND HAULED HIM TO HIS FEET BEFORE CONNOR COULD DISENTANGLE HIMSELF, FIXING HIS OLDER BROTHER WITH A COOLLY DEFIANT GLARE AS HE FINALLY ROSE AND BRUSHED HIMSELF OFF. "GET OUT OF MY WAY, YOU COCK JOCKEY," CONNOR SPAT RUDLEY AT LENNOX, MOVING TO PUSH PAST HIM TOWARD FINN. LENNOX'S ARM STIFFENED, THE FLAT OF HIS FOREARM CONNECTING WITH CONNOR'S CHEST AND BARRING HIM FROM CATCHING FINN AGAIN. "CALM DOWN, CONNOR." HIS VOICE WAS CALM AND FOCUSED, AS ALWAYS, HIS TONE PIERCING THROUGH HIS OLDER BROTHER'S RED HOT RAGE. CONNOR'S IRRITATION REFOCUSED ON HIM, AND HE GRIPPED HIS ARM, BUT LENNOX MOVED SWIFTLY, HIS FREE HAND SLIDING SWIFTLY BENEATH CONNOR'S COAT, HIS FINGERS PINCHING STRONGLY IN THE INDENTION WHERE HIS NECK MET HIS SHOULDER. CONNOR CRIED OUT, A STRANGULATED, ANGRY SOUND, AND HIS GREEN EYES BLAZED AT HIS BROTHER, BUT HE WAS HELPLESS AND HIS ARM WENT LIMP AS LENNOX GRABBED HIM TO KEEP HIM FROM FALLING TO THE GROUND. "YOU WILL NOT DO THIS HERE. YOU'RE ON THE FRONT LAWN FOR HEAVEN'S SAKES," LENNOX CHIDED HIM, RELEASING HIM BY SHOVING HIM ROUGHLY AWAY AND TURNING TO DIRECT FINN INSIDE. KAHLAN FOLLOWED ELI OUT OF THE GARAGE, STUMBLING AND WEAVING ACROSS THE PAVEMENT, TRYING VAINLY TO GET HER EYES TO FOCUS ON WHAT WAS GOING ON. SHE SAW BLURRED MOVEMENTS, CONNOR, FINN, AND LENNOX, AND SHE HEARD CONNOR'S HATEFUL SLURS AT FINN AND THEIR BROTHER. HER IRISH TEMPER FLARED UP, AND SHE STEPPED PAST ELI TOWARD CONNOR AS LENNOX PUSHED AWAY FROM HIM AND POINTED FINN INSIDE. "HEY! YOU'RE RUDE!" SHE SQUEALED AT HIM, HER VOICE SOUNDING TOO HIGH-PITCHED IN HER OWN EARS. SHAKING HER HEAD, TRYING TO FIX THE SOUND, SHE SUDDENLY REALIZED THE DIZZINESS FROM BEFORE HAD RETURNED. "CONNOR...I..." HIS EYES WIDENED, REALIZING A MOMENT TOO LATE WHAT WAS HAPPENING, JUST AS SHE PUKED ALL OVER HIM, DRENCHING HIS COAT AND SHOES. HE FROZE IN PLACE WITH HIS ARMS OUT AT HIS SIDES, HIS NERVES PRICKLING WITH THE DESIRE TO BE CLEAN AND TRYING NOT TO MOVE SO AS NOT TO MAKE IT WORSE. "HOLY...SHIT... KAHLAN..." HE MANAGED, SHAKING IN DISGUST AND PENT-UP ANGER. HIS GREEN EYES FLICKED PAST LENNOX TO FINN WHO STOOD SAFELY CLOSER TO THE HOUSE, AND HE DROPPED HIS ARMS, POINTING UP AT FINN BEFORE POINTING AT KAHLAN. "YOU. YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF THIS," HE ORDERED. REMOVING HIS SOILED COAT, HE TOSSED IT IN FINN'S FACE, PAUSING BESIDE HIM BEFORE HE ENTERED THE HOUSE. SMILING MALEVOLENTLY, HE SPOKE, "AND THEN I'LL KILL YOU." PUSHING VIOLENTLY PAST HIM, CONNOR MADE A BEE-LINE FOR THE SHOWER. tag: finn words: a ton template by eliza @ shadowplay & shine

[finnegan malachi odaire]

He shook his head slightly as he pulled up to their gate, remembering her chide him when it came to being nicer to people. Finn wasn't nice. There was no simpler way to put it. He didn't like other people and he usually didn't put himself in social situations where he knew he was going to get easily irritated. The problem with everyone else was that they were incredibly stupid. He wouldn't put it mildly. They were annoying and obnoxious and he didn't feel they were worth his time. If the drunk girl behind him was anyone but Kahlan, he would have left her in the bar for some other shmuck to deal with. As it were, the drunk girl was Kahlan, and her current state of being was his fault, so he felt extra responsibility for her outside of the fact that she was who she was. He had pledged his life for them, but he couldn't deny that slowly, feelings for the young Irish woman behind him were starting to take shape. But that couldn't be. Finn was immune to emotions such as that. He didn't get attached in a romantic way to any girl.

Especially not Kahlan Selwyn.

Sighing to himself, he realized a moment too late that her hands were no longer clasped around his abdomen and he inhaled sharply as he heard her squeal. Reaching around to catch her, his rough fingers closed around the soft skin that was her thigh, and he held her steady until she managed to re-balance herself behind him. As she clung to his abdomen once more, he slowly brought his hand from her thigh, his fingers brushing across her skin naturally in his attempts to take the handle of his motorcycle again. Trying not to think about how her skin felt to his touch, he shook his head and floored the bike forward, not realizing that his best friend was only minutes behind him. He didn't want to think about the fact that he didn't know when Connor was going to be home, but his rather skilled intuition told him to hurry. But hurrying with a drunk Kahlan was going to be a lot easier said than done, especially since she was even more defiant in her drunkenness. Lucky him. Resisting the urge to roll his eyes at his thoughts, he pulled into the empty bay and was trying to get her situated.

Seeing her nearly pass out as she slumped forward, he caught her quickly, gently, swearing to himself under his breath. God, how did she get so fucked up? He was clearly worried about her, and he lifted her carefully to her feet, trying to get her to steady herself. But of course, she had to be challenging. Looking down at her, he wrestled the helmet off of her head, leaving it to come to a stop on its own on the ground and he studied her features as she looked up at him. It was then that she seemed to realize what was in her fingers, and he watched her pull away from him, dancing a bit in celebration. Grimacing as she lost her balance, he put his arms out as kind of a block if she decided she had the urge to meet the ground again, but she fell into his clumsily. His chest caught her yet again, and he made an 'oomph' sound. While Kahlan was a petite little thing, she had hit him repeatedly in the chest today, either with her hand or her entire body, so he was starting to feel it a bit more every time she did it. Sighing openly, he looked down at her as she ordered him to stop catching her. "Well stop falling into me and we wouldn't have a problem, woman." He told her, trying to hide his irritation. His nerves were on end and he simply wanted to get her inside. Maybe Lennox would help him.

He was distracted from that line of thinking though, for she was busy investigating his face yet again. But by investigating, he meant staring, for she was open mouthed gazing at him. Furrowing his brow, he watched her with his own vibrant blue eyes, wondering why in the world she seemed so fascinated by his face. When she wiggled in his arms, he shook his head, trying to get her to still, but she reached for him before he could really even think to stop her. Her touch stopped him immediately and he stared down into her pretty green eyes, wondering how in the world he had gotten them into this situation. As he heard his question, his eyes widened involuntarily and he tried to jerk away from her touch. But if he did that, she would surely fall and he didn't want her getting hurt. Forcing himself to stay still, even though he was as tense as a board because of her touch, he shook his head. "No, Lan. Not like this. Stop, okay?" He tried convincing her, but she didn't seem to really register what he was saying to her, what he was trying to get her to do. His hand came up to hers as she pulled his chin forward and he tried his best to stop her from what she was about to do, but she met his lips with a determination this time.

A small whine of disapproval left his lips, but he knew what he felt in his heart. He wanted to kiss her, but not like this. However, in her state, she could have mistook his whine for approval and he nearly kicked himself for making a sound at all. When she wrapped her arms around his neck, he dropped his hands to her waist, trying his best to push her away in a manner that wouldn't cause her to lose her balance. He wasn't given much of a choice as Connor's car suddenly pulled into the garage, and he knew that the man had seen what Finn wish he would never seen. To him, Finn would be the predator. Connor knew Finn's history, he knew he was a womanizer. They had been the same with women growing up. Use them, then get rid of them. He didn't blame the man for his hatred, for he knew it would surely come after seeing that. He didn't have much time to extricate himself from this situation though, but his instincts told him to run. "Lan, stop. I have to.." It was then that Connor tore himself from his car, with Eli getting out slowly behind him.

---

Eli fixed her husband to be with a look as he chided her for removing her seatbelt before the car was totally stopped. "Connor, you can't be serious. We're in the garage. Unless you plan on driving through the back wall, I think it's safe, you arse." She informed him pointedly, her words sharp. They resembled the tone the old, not pregnant Eli would take on when she was arguing with him. Having already slapped on the shoulder for his comment about his relief in her pregnancy almost being over, she fixed him with a glare now. But it was all short lived as she took in the scene unfolding before her. Connor was going to flip his lid. Kahlan was his precious baby sister, the family jewel that all of them tried to protect from the outside world. She was the definition of innocence and to see her making out with the notorious bad boy Finn was definitely something that would soil her image. Huffing as Connor got out of the car and threw his keys, she followed after him, watching with a grimace as they hit Kahlan instead of Finn. "Connor! Seriously? You're such a child." She chided him, watching in disbelief as Finn suddenly took off, followed by a raging Connor. Trying her best not to laugh, she rolled her eyes and made her way slowly over to Kahlan, weighed down by the twins she was carrying.

"Come on Kahlan. We should get inside, okay?"

Obviously the blonde Selwyn didn't feel the same way, for she was stumbling out after her brother and Finn. There wasn't much that Eli could do because of her current state of being, and she went out after her, trying to keep up with the men that were acting like children. Steadying Kahlan with her hand as they traveled after the two men, she watched in relief as Lennox appeared to separate the two that were battling on the ground. Strangely enough, Finn wasn't retaliating, and she could feel the guilt radiating off the young man as he laid there in a rather prone like state.

---

Finn saw the keys flying across the space between them and he took that as his initiative to run. However, his crippled leg didn't allow him much purchase, and he barely managed to streak by the front grand window before his leg was shooting with pain. Resisting the urge to cry out, he pushed himself forward, but his leg buckled out of weakness and agony at the precise moment Connor tackled him to the ground. Grimacing, he dug his forehead into the ground as the pain hit him like a ton of bricks. Breathless, he panted in his agony, nearly crying out but refusing to. His hands left his faced unguarded as Connor flipped him over, and he faced his consequences without trying to fight back. His face was already pale from his silent agony, and he brought his knee up to his chest, clinging to his leg as the pain shot through him like a ton of needles. And that was when Connor punched him. Nearly crying out from the combined pain, he felt his eye swell immediately from the hard hit. Groaning, unable to help himself, he turned his face away from Connor, expecting another hard punch but doing nothing to retaliate.

It was then that the Irish man's weight and rage were lifted off of him and he was glad, for the pressure from the head ache and his leg made him feel sick to his stomach. As Lennox's voice filled his ears, he was silently grateful for the calmer Selwyn's presence that resulted in Finn being saved from getting the shit beaten out of him. Driving the side of his head into the ground once more, he rolled over onto his stomach, pushing himself to his knees. Cradling his head in his hands, he felt the overwhelming pain rising in his head and he knew what it was from. The doctors had said that any trauma could and would cause a tremendous amount of pain to shoot from the bullet, but it was too lodged in there to move at all. He groaned out loud, spitting out on the ground when he felt himself about to throw up. However, spitting kept him from doing just that, and he felt Lennox's hand grasp his as he was blindly pulled to his feet. Barely able to put any weight on his leg, he doubled over as he stood, bracing himself with his hands on his thighs. Knowing his current state would please Connor greatly, he didn't even bother hiding his discomfort and tried his best to catch his breath.

However, that was when Kahlan decided to make the situation ten times worse.

He heard her throwing up before he saw it and that was a good thing too, for he would have lost what he had in his stomach as well. As it were, he remained doubled over, only shuffling painfully to the side when Lennox urged him to do so. He would have to thank the man later, definitely. As for now, he clung to Lennox's arm for support as they moved over, watching as Connor faced his puking sister. Yup. This was just great. Sighing in response to it all, he looked at Connor as the man came over to him with his vomit covered jacket in his hand. Seeing the malevolent smirk plastered upon the man's face made Finn want to punch him, but he kept himself under control. "It's not what it looks like Connor. You know me. This wasn't meant to happen." He defended himself hotly, watching as the Irish man fiddled with his jacket in his hand. It was suddenly in his face before he even knew what to do, and he batted it down and away before the vomit could really settle over him. "Oh fuck you and your high horse, you stupid prick." He said hotly, remembering the man's words of shooting him so he died this time around. It bothered him, but he would never admit that out loud.

As Connor threatened him, Finn set him with such a deadly look that it chilled even Eli to the bone. "Then make sure you don't miss this time, you bloody fuck." Finn braced himself against the hit that came from Connor and he shoved him roughly in response, infuriated at the man that was his best friend.

Finn had pledged his life for Connor's. He had protected the man time and time again in battle and he was written off for this? This was bull shit and Connor knew it. Furious beyond belief, he shook Lennox's protective grip off of him, hurt more than he wanted to let on. Limping painfully forward, he took Kahlan by her hand, tugging her away from the group so that he could figure out what to do with her.

---

Eli sighed as she watched the two part ways, looking at Lennox with a 'what now' kind of expression. Shaking her head, she just shrugged to the man who would soon be her brother in law. "Thank you for helping. I don't know what to do about them now." She said honestly, knowing he would understand. She listened to him when he gave his reply and just shook her head again. "I'll go help Connor." Bending with a lot of difficult, she managed to grabbed her fiance's soiled jacket, walking into the house after the man she loved to help him get cleaned up from the fiasco that just took place. Dumping his soiled jacket into the laundry basket, writing a note for the maid with an apology, she managed down the hall and to their shared bedroom, closing the door soundly behind her so that they could have privacy.

"Do you want to talk about it? Connor, he's your best friend." She knew he would be blinded by his rage, but she was a pro at taking him at his worse. She would get him to calm down by allowing him to yell it out. It was as simple as that.

---

Outside, Finn's rage was in control as he scooped Kahlan up into his arms. He let one arm rest beneath her legs, the other holding her around her back, cradling her to his chest as his entire body pinged with pain. "I'm in a lot of trouble, I hope you know. No more kissing." He finished hotly, reaching the swimming pool before he even had a chance to really think this through. Connor wanted him to fix this? Well he would fucking bloody fix it then. Enraged, he studied the pool for a moment and then limped painfully down to the low end of the pool. He didn't need her drowning because that would just sign his death warrant. Reaching it, he looked down at the absolutely smashed Irish woman in his arms.

"Hold your breath. You're going for a swim."

He announced to her, not really giving her a moment to react. He pushed her away from his chest, tossing her a safe distance away from the ledge so she wouldn't hurt herself. However, throwing an absolutely obliterated woman into a pool was not the brightest idea he ever had and he watched her flounder around a moment before he started thinking that he would have to go in there after her. Giving her a minute to try and right the situation, he realized that it wasn't happening. Grumbling in absolute frustration, he ripped his shirt over his head, knowing the water below would be heated and the chill wouldn't be so bad. Kicking off his shoes, he stood there, bare chested except for the cross that hung around his muscular neck. Huffing in irritation once more, he launched himself into the pool, being careful not to hit her on the way in. He went under instantly, but stood up on one leg as he floated his injured one in the shallow water beside him. Wiping his eyes, he slicked his hair back, his eyelashes dropping with water now and making them appear even thicker than before. ignoring what he might look like, she spoke out. "Lan, stop. Stop moving. LAN!" He finally shouted, his patience worn thin. Wrapping his arms around her from behind, he helped her stand, then floated backwards with her so she was still leaning up against his chest. "You're alright. I'm right here. Just calm down. I won't let anything happen to you, okay?"

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THANK YOU, DUCK @ CAUTION!

[KAHLAN AIDEEN SELWYN]

[atrb=border, 0, true][atrb=style, border-left: #3A4748 8px solid; border-right: #839175 2px dashed; background: #d8d8d8; padding-top: 16px; padding-right: 16px; padding-left: 16px; padding-bottom: 12px; -moz-border-radius: 10px; width: 368px;] knew you were trouble Round and round I won’t run away this time Till you show me what this life is for Round and round I’m not gonna let you change my mind Till you show me what this life is for CONNOR WAS NO LONGER REASONING AS A PERSON SHOULD. ALL HE COULD SEE WAS FINN PREYING ON HIS YOUNGER SISTER, HIS PRECIOUS, INNOCENT KAHLAN. SHE'D ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR HIM, SHE WAS THE ONLY PERSON HE'D TRUSTED IN HIS YOUTH WHEN HE'D MADE THAT FATAL MISTAKE WITH THE ITALIAN PRISONER, AND SEEING FINN TOUCHING HER ENRAGED HIM BEYOND BELIEF. HE KNEW HOW FINN WAS. HE KNEW HIM BECAUSE THEY WERE SO ALIKE. CONNOR DIDN'T RESPECT WOMEN, AND HE SAW THEM AS POSSESSIONS INSTEAD OF HUMAN BEINGS. HE KNEW FINN WAS THE SAME WAY, AND HE DIDN'T HAVE A WOMAN IN HIS LIFE TO TEACH HIM OTHERWISE. KAHLAN WOULD NOT BE THAT WOMAN. NOT IF HE HAD ANY WORD IN THE MATTER. AS FINN ATTEMPTED TO APPEAL TO HIM, HIS FRIEND'S WORDS DIDN'T MAKE IT THROUGH THE HARD SHELL OF HIS ANGER. HE GLARED AT FINN AS HE RETORTED. HE SMIRKED WICKEDLY AS HE BRUSHED PAST THE MAN. DEEP DOWN, HE KNEW HE WOULDN'T KILL FINN FOR TOUCHING KAHLAN. HE KNEW HE WAS OVERREACTING, BUT HE COULDN'T HELP IT. THE RAW RAGE SIMMERING BENEATH HIS SKIN MADE HIM GRIND HIS TEETH TOGETHER AUDIBLY AS HE DISAPPEARED TOWARD HIS BEDROOM. AFTER KAHLAN OBEDIENTLY FOLLOWED AFTER FINN, LENNOX SIGHED AND GLANCED AT ELI AS SHE THANKED HIM. "THEY'LL GET OVER IT. THEY ALWAYS KISS AND MAKE UP EVENTUALLY," LENNOX NOTED WITH A SMIRK, NODDING AFTER ELI AS SHE WENT OFF AFTER HIS BROTHER. CONNOR STOOD IN THE BATHROOM, HAVING ALREADY REMOVED THE SOILED CLOTHING AND WEARING NOTHING BUT HIS BOXERS AS HE GLARED AT HIS REFLECTION IN THE MIRROR. THE MUSCLES IN HIS SHOULDERS TENSED AND TIGHTENED AS HIS HANDS GRIPPED THE EDGE OF THE COUNTER WITH SUCH FORCE HE WOULD BREAK IT IF IT WASN'T STONE. "OF COURSE I DON'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT," HE SNAPPED CAUSTICALLY AS ELI ASKED HIM ABOUT FINN. HE NEVER WANTED TO TALK ABOUT ANYTHING. IT WASN'T HIS STYLE. HE DIDN'T OPEN UP, AND IT EVENTUALLY ALL WENT AWAY. KNOWING HE WAS BEING AN ASS, HE CLOSED HIS EYES AND SIGHED, HIS BACK MUSCLES SPASMING WITH HIS ANGER AS HIS ARMS TIGHTENED AGAINST THE COUNTER AGAIN. "IT'S... KAHLAN..." HE STATED SIMPLY AS IF THAT EXPLAINED IT ALL. HIS EYES OPENED AND HE LOOKED UP AT HIS REFLECTION IN THE MIRROR AGAIN. HIS OWN ANGER WAS OPENLY DISPLAYED, TURNING HIS FACE INTO A TWISTED ENRAGED VERSION OF HIMSELF. "IT'S... KAHLAN," HE REPEATED MORE FORCEFULLY, REACHING OUT AND SNATCHING THE CUP FILLED WITH THEIR TOOTHBRUSHES OFF THE COUNTER AND THROWING IT ANGRILY TOWARD THE SHOWER. IT EXPLODED INTO A HUNDRED PIECES, CLATTERING TO THE FLOOR AS HE STOOD, HIS SHOULDERS HEAVING WITH DEEP, ANGRY BREATHS. -------------------------------------- KAHLAN WAS MISERABLE AS SHE FOLLOWED AFTER FINN, AND WHEN HE LIFTED HER INTO HIS ARMS, SHE SANK AGAINST HIM, HER HEAD THROBBING AFTER SHE'D GOTTEN SICK ON HER BROTHER. SHE GROANED IN AGONY, ONLY DISTANTLY HEARING HIM TELL HER HE WAS IN TROUBLE. HE TOLD HER SHE COULDN'T KISS HIM ANYMORE, AND DESPITE HER HEADACHE, SHE SMILED IMPISHLY UP AT HIM, SHRUGGING HER SHOULDERS BEFORE LAYING HER HEAD ON HIS SHOULDER. "I DO WHA TIE WAN," SHE MUTTERED, TOO TIRED AND SICK TO EVEN BOTHERING HITTING HIM AGAIN. IT WAS TOO LATE WHEN SHE REGISTERED WHAT HE WAS TELLING HER. SUDDENLY, SHE WAS PLUNGED INTO THE POOL, AND SHE SCREAMED, BUBBLES ESCAPING HER MOUTH AS SHE FLOUNDERED IN THE WATER. SHE WAS DRUNK ENOUGH THAT SHE DIDN'T REALIZE SHE COULD JUST STAND UP AND BE FREE OF THE LIQUID, AND HER FEAR OF SWIMMING OVERWHELMED HER. SHE KICKED WITH HER LEGS AND DUG WITH HER ARMS, THE SOUND OF HER SHRIEKING MUFFLED BY THE WATER AS HER CLOTHES BUBBLED UP AROUND HER AND SHE BECAME DRENCHED TO THE BONE. SHE SPLASHED ABOUT DRAMATICALLY, SLINGING WATER EVERYWHERE AS SHE PUSHED THROUGH THE SURFACE ONLY TO SLIP THANKS TO HER NOODLE-LIKE LEGS. "AH! AH! AHHH!" SHE YELPED, EMERGING FROM THE WATER WITH HER BLOND HAIR PLASTERED TO HER NECK AND FACE, HER GREEN EYES PANICKED AS SHE TRIED TO FIND THE SIDE OF THE POOL. SHE HEARD FINN CALLING FOR HER, URGING HER TO CALM DOWN, BUT HER HEART WAS RACING AND SHE WAS OVERCOME WITH THE MIXTURE OF DRUNKENNESS AND PANIC. SUDDENLY, HE GRABBED HER FROM BEHIND, HAULING HER THROUGH THE WATER SO HER FEET WERE NO LONGER TOUCHING, AND SHE SQUEALED IN FEAR AS SHE WAS CARRIED BACKWARD WITH NO WAY TO SUPPORT HERSELF. HIS ARMS AROUND HER WAIST WERE THE ONLY THING KEEPING HER FROM LOSING HER MIND, AND SHE WHINED OBJECTIVELY, SHIVERING VIOLENTLY IN THE WATER AS HIS STRONG ARMS FORCED HER TO STILL HERSELF. "FINNNN, YOU KNOW I CAN'TTT SWIMMM," SHE STUTTERED, HER TEETH CHATTERING TOGETHER VIOLENTLY AS SHE SHOOK IN HIS ARMS. PUSHING AGAINST HIM, SHE FORCED HIM TO LOOSEN HIS GRIP JUST ENOUGH THAT SHE SPUN IN HIS ARMS AND CLUNG TO HIM, TRYING TO DRAG HERSELF UP OUT OF THE WATER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. SHE SHOOK VISIBLY. SHE WAS IRRATIONALLY AFRAID OF SWIMMING. IT WAS STUPID REALLY, BUT SHE'D NEVER BEEN TAUGHT HOW TO DO SO. HER BROTHERS WERE ALL LIKE FISH, BUT SHE WAS QUITE THE OPPOSITE. HER SKIRT BILLOWED OUT AROUND HER IN THE WATER, AND SHE CLUNG TO HER CHILDHOOD FRIEND LIKE A LIFE RAFT. "I'M S-S-SSORRY," SHE APOLOGIZED, HER JAW TIGHTENING SO SHE COULD BARELY SPEAK. SHE FELT HORRIBLE, HER HEAD POUNDING FROM THE HANGOVER AND THE FEAR OF THE POOL. THE WATER HAD OFFERED HER AN OUNCE OF SOBRIETY, BUT SHE WAS SO DIZZY AND SICK FROM IT ALL THAT IT DIDN'T MATTER MUCH. "I'M T-TIRED," SHE ADMITTED, PRESSING HER NOSE IN TO THE CROOK OF HIS NECK AS HE SUPPORTED HER IN THE WATER. THANKFULLY, THE POOL WAS HEATED OR SHE WAS AFRAID SHE MIGHT FREEZE TO DEATH. HER SKIRT AND CLOTHES WERE SOAKED NOW, AND SHE ONLY VAGUELY NOTICED THAT HE WAS WEARING NO SHIRT. HER EYES CLOSED AND THEN FLICKERED OPEN AS SHE PULLED BACK FROM HIM SLIGHTLY, HER GREEN GAZE LOOKING UP AT HIM. "I THREW UP ON CONNOR, DIDN'T I?" SHE ASKED, HER CHEEKS GLOWING RED AS SHE REMEMBERED GETTING SICK ON HER OLDER BROTHER. SURELY HE HADN'T BEEN TOO THRILLED ABOUT THAT. tag: finn words: a ton template by eliza @ shadowplay & shine

[finnegan malachi odaire]

Eli sighed s she watched Connor and Finn part ways, eying Lennox as he said they would kiss and make up. Furrowing her brow, she had to admit to herself that she wasn't so sure this time. Glancing after Finn, she shook her head and glanced back at Lennox. "This time it might not be so easy, Lennox. I don't think I've ever seen him react that way. At least not without smiling once." She said, indicating after Finn with a nod of her head. She hated to see Connor at odds with his best friend but there was seriously nothing that she could do other than be there for him, even though he was going to yell at her. She was used to him. She could handle him. She just wasn't sure how things were going to go over with the two men that were more like brothers than anyone else. Sighing, she looked at Lennox. "Wish me luck then." She gave him a wry smile and ducked into the house after Connor, reaching the room and leaning against the doorway to the bathroom. Staring at him in just his boxers, she had to admit that he hadn't lost any of his good looks. In his anger, he was even more good looking, but she forced those thoughts away as she focused on his rigidity.

Listening, she let him snap at her, not even batting an eyelash as he ranted at her. She knew what his answer was going to be, but she knew that eventually, when he settled down just a little bit, he would talk. She didn't know what he would say, but he would say something. Usually.

Watching his muscles tense and tighten with pain, she gave him a moment to cool down, listening as he announced that it was Kahlan. Fixing him with a look in the mirror, she met his eyes with her own, crossing her arms over her massively pregnant belly. "Yes, it is. And you can only protect her in so many ways, Connor. You know that." She explained to him, telling him the thing that would probably set him off. And she was right. Watching him throw the container their tooth brushes were in, she didn't flinch as it burst into a million pieces. Instead of hurrying over to him and comforting him, she pushed herself up from the door frame and managed to kneel down beside the broken pieces. Grabbing the trash can that was on the opposite side of the toilet, she started picking up the shards, not looking at Connor as he seethed. "I rather liked this cup, you know." It was the mundane thing to say, but she didn't care. Eli had gathered control over her hormones, and she was much more like herself lately than ever before, which was a nice change for everyone involved.

Once she was done picking up the pieces, she used the top of the toilet to lift herself to her feet. It was a good thing she was still fit because the babies were actually really heavy. Getting to her feet, she huffed out a breath, pulling her hair back from her eyes and looking at her husband to be. She knew that it wasn't the best idea to touch him, so she still kept her distance. "Connor, you know you didn't need to say what you said. You know him better than I do and I could even tell how bad he felt about the entire situation." She sighed, watching him in the mirror. "Finn is the best soldier that you have. You know that without a doubt he would give his life for anyone's in this house. Even yours after that. He's like your brother." She knew that she needed him to get his anger out entirely now, before he faced anyone else in the house, and this was the way to do it. She wasn't afraid to tell him things that he might not want to hear. It was her job as his soon to be wife.

---

Finn was furious.

There was no other way to put it. He was hurt, he was mad, he was a lot of things all wrapped up into one, and he was about as good at handling his emotions as Connor was. They had spent too much time together growing up, and they were too similar in their ways. But what his best friend had said cut him deep and it brought up memories that he didn't really want to remember. The head ache that filled him wasn't passing, and his face continued to pale as he tried to decide what to do with Connor's sister in his arms. He didn't want to think about what had happened to him after he had been shot in the head. He didn't want to think about how he had dragged himself to the hospital, he didn't want to hear the staff screaming, the doctor's disbelief...nothing. He just didn't want to think about it anymore, and as they reached the pool, Finn was glad for the opportunity to toss Kahlan in so that he could punch something.

His target was the pool house, and he punched the wood boards so hard that he nearly broke through them. It seemed his temper was not the only thing that was similar to Connor. Pulling his now bloodied hand away, he shook it out, and then seemed to realize that Kahlan was still flailing about, now screeching and basically drowning herself in the low end of the pool. Wonderful. That was all that Connor needed to hear about.

Ripping off his clothes, he jumped in and grabbed her, making sure she was leaning against him even though she was still struggling in his arms. "Lan, shhh. It's alright. You're not going to drown, it's the low end of the pool, love." He finished, trying to bring her some type of comfort through her fear. As she seemed to settle down slightly, he watched as she flailed about until she was facing him and leaning against his bare chest. He felt her heart beating erratically against his skin, and for a moment he felt bad for tossing her unceremoniously into the pool. Sighing against her, he gently combed her hair back from her face, watching as she was too drunk to really get a hold of herself. Feeling her face against the crook of her neck, he buried his face into her hair, ignoring the aching behind his eye and the sting of his hand as he gently pet the back of her head. He knew that she was sick, and probably tired, and the pool seemed to be doing a good job of sobering her up. Not able to stop himself, he gently kissed the side of her head, his guilt overwhelming him as he held his best friend's sister in the middle of the shallow end of the pool after just being decked for touching her.

Not caring at the moment because Connor had instructed him to take care of it, he watched as she pulled back from her, seeing a bit of clarity in her eyes as she asked him if she puked on Connor. Just then, the first grin since they got home split his stormy facade, and he nodded. "You have great aim, might I say. The prick deserved it. Don't feel bad." He finished bitterly, the tone in his voice apparent and real even though he wouldn't explain himself to her. She looked embarrassed as she looked up at him and he shook it away. "Come on, you're tired. Let's get you upstairs." He told her softly, pulling himself from her when he took her hand and brought her to the steps that would lead them out of the water. Once they were both on the stone slabs surrounding the pool, Finn left his clothes and gathered her in his arms once more. He dipped his arm under her knees once more and cradled her against him to keep her supported. While his leg was on fire, he ignored his own pain and thought about how she must be feeling. What she needed now was a warm shower, for he could feel her shivering against him. Knowing that it was partly out of fear, he looked down at her as he dipped with her inside the side door to the house.

"We gotta teach you how to swim Lan." He said softly, bringing her up the stairs with difficult because of his leg. He had to shuffle up them, taking them one at a time with both feet. Grimacing painfully as he reached the top, he grunted out in his discomfort, but soon reached the landing. Gasping up with a short breath, he carried her to her room, foregoing her bed and taking her straight to the bathroom. Still cradling her, he reached inside for the shower handle and adjusted the water to a warm stream, depositing her softly onto the ground and leaning her against the wall. "Stay there for a second." He told her softly, going to the bathroom door and grabbing the robe that was on the back of it. Leaving it where she could reach it, it only took him a moment to realize that she would never be steady enough on her feet to shower by herself. Sighing at his absolute horrible luck, he shut the bathroom door and locked it so that no one could walk in on them. He wasn't planning on doing anything bad, but that didn't mean someone else wouldn't think that.

Going to her sink, he grabbed her toothbrush, squirting tooth paste on it as he went back to the shower. Climbing in, still dressed in his sopping jeans, he held her up against his muscled chest once more, reaching around her to hand her the toothbrush. "Here."

"words" ### "tags" tags <3"notes" hello hello bbby

THANK YOU, DUCK @ CAUTION!