Chapter Text
Strutting along the rocky path, her trusting staff in one hand and the other one in her side, the young bard of Poteideia hobbled after the fierce warrior princess.
"So..." The blonde began, attempting to start a conversation. Not like the raven haired woman would ever do such a thing. Oh no, warriors don't talk. They converse with fists.
"The strangest thing happened the other day..." The young bard continued.
"As we were in the village, helping the poor and whatnot, being heroes, as we are, this village boy, about uh, the same age I was when I first met you two winters ago, actually. Anyway, well he... He was very taken with you." Gabrielle stammered. "As in... Well, he seemed smitten! I mean, can you believe it?" Gabrielle released an awkward chuckle. "/You/? The famous Warrior princess? Settling down for a village gir- Boy! Ha! What a joke!" Gabrielle closed her eyes at her subtleness, or rather her lack thereof. She bit her lip in nervousness, awaiting the warrior's reply.
"Hmm." Was all Xena uttered, the warrior princess being a women of few words and all.
"Hmm? That's all I get?" Gabrielle mumbled, not expecting the warrior to hear her complaining. Once again she underestimated the ex warlord's superior hearing.
Many skills indeed.
"So? He's just a village boy. What does it matter to ya?" The warrior playfully raised an eyebrow at that, turning her head to glance at the blonde bard.
"Well... It doesn't... It was just a thought, Xena. I mean, it's not like he's the first one to fall for you. It's the blue eyes, the leather...." A small sigh escaped Gabrielle's lips. "Well, frankly, it's getting a bit annoying. I mean, you're not there to serve as eye candy for these guys. You're there to save the village! To be the hero! It's disrespectful, is what it is."
"Hmm..." Xena replied, only half listening to the bard's jealous rant. "You're right, I should watch out. One of them might show up in my room one day, begging me to take them with me, to teach them everything I know." The warrior smirked. "Can't have that now, can we?"
"Xena, you're not possibly comparing me to these love sick boys. That's crazy, even for you."
"Hmm..."
"Besides, they don't deserve you. They're just smelly, nasty boys, wi-"
"Why, Gabrielle, if I didn't know any better, I'd say you were jealous." The ex warlord uttered, mostly joking.
"Jealous? Ha!" Gabrielle laughed, attempting to convince both Xena /and/ herself that she was NOT jealous. Why, she couldn't be. She's a girl, and Xena's a girl. Two girls couldn't- And... Those boys just don't deserve Xena!
"Xena, don't go thinking everyone's in love with you just 'cause some village boy showed interest in you."
"Hey, I didn't say anything about anyone bein' in love with me. Now, where'd ya get that from, Gabrielle?" Xena, suddenly very intrigued in this conversation, halted to walk next to the now nervous bard, eager to see where this conversation would go.
The bard scoffed, avoiding eye contact with the warrior as much as possible as she held a deadly grip on her staff. "I didn't... I was just saying-"
"What were you saying?"
"Well, just..." The bard let out a defeated sigh. "I don't know..."
"Just admit it, Gab. You're jealous of smelly teenagers swooning after me." The warrior grinned.
"Oh, no. I'm not admitting anything." Gabrielle said, a grin forming on her lips as she looked up into those heavenly blue orbs. "You'll have to kill me first."
"I might just do that..." The warrior dared.
Gabrielle, giggling already, attempted to throw the warrior off by swinging her staff at Xena's chest. The warrior easily avoided the blow, and Gabrielle playfully ran to the trees, followed by a grinning and giggling warrior princess.