Chapter Text
At the end of the day, it's only a piece of leather. A few strips of animal skin from 85 million years in the future. It shouldn't affect her this much.
It's soft to the touch, well-worn, well-loved. She knows as much from the times she's helped him into it; the innocent moments of easing him into its confines when he was still recovering from an injury, to the... less innocent ones where she used it to tug him closer to her when their lips met.
Nathaniel finds her sitting at the counter in the kitchen of his quarters, a month or so after they retook the colony. (And she, how did Elisabeth put it so poetically? Rose like a phoenix from the ashes. A phoenix with a few missing feathers and a massive dent to its pride, but she supposes the analogy works.) He walks up behind her and encircles her with his arms silently, resting his chin on the top of her head.
They stay there quietly, just enjoying each other's presence and the freedom they now have to do so. It took them a while to get back to where they'd been before – seeing eyes so like the ones you love can be soothing at your time of death, but when you then don't die, they only serve to remind you of the moment you thought you would – but they managed it eventually. Now, they were closer than ever. (Sickeningly so, Jim says. Regularly. Such a shame he seems to unfortunately walk in on them with regularity as well.)
Nathaniel looks down to see her threading the leather straps of his empty holster through her fingers and she can feel the confused quirk of his lips against the back of her head. "You okay?"
"Yeah." She says quietly. "Good memories."
He smiles properly this time, arms tightening around her. "Can't argue with that."
She feels his grip change and prepares herself for him turning her, spinning her on the top of the stool so she now faces him. "Come back to bed, Wash."
She smiles when she sees his bare chest, lets the holster sit on her lap and runs her hands up over his heated skin. She catches his eye and leans forward to press a kiss to his sternum, tongue flicking out to taste. "Why?"
"Believe it or not, I only meant to sleep."
She grins against his skin and shakes her head a little. "No, I don't believe that."
"Well, it's not true now." He grumbles, reaching out to thread a hand with one of hers. "Come on." He says, pulling a little.
She picks up the holster and hops down from the stool, trailing after him. It's only once they reach the bed that he realises she still has it with her and he raises an eyebrow in askance. "Put it on?" She asks.
He complies without asking why, looking glad he did when her breath rushes from her body at the sight of him and her eyes darken dramatically. "Wash?"
"You look..." She groans, wrapping a hand around the strap that crosses his chest. "I love this thing." She mutters, her other hand moving up and over the strap on his shoulder.
He laughs. "I can see that. How long?"
Her eyes meet his and she manages a small smile. "A long time."
"Is that so?" He asks, walking her backwards to the bed. "Why?"
She shrugs one shoulder, lowering herself to the bed and pulling him with her. "Purchase." She says seriously, but it's broken with a laugh when he settles over her and looks entirely too pleased with himself. "You're never going to let me forget this are you?"
He pretends to consider it for just a moment. "No, I don't think so."
She winds her hands tighter in the leather, wraps her legs around his hips and gasps when she feels him ready against her through their limited clothing. "So worth it."