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"Oh, Torgal, come on, boy…" Clive muttered while trying to coerce the giant wolf into the cleansing spray of the gentle waterfall.
Clive's nose wrinkled at the absolutely dreadful smell leeching off all of them but it hit poor Torgal worst of all. The giant puppy whining pathetically and biting the fur of his arms as if they personally offended him. Torgal possessed a much keener sense of smell then that of humans so Clive could scarcely imagine how utterly awful this entire experience was for the poor hound.
"I knew that shortcut Gav told us about was a terrible idea… He's as bad as Cid ever was…" Clive couldn't help but grumble a few choice curses towards the man (both living and deceased) under his breath.
While Gav and him had grown to be close friends these past few years after he'd picked up Cid's mantle and mission, Gav possessed a wicked court jester streak in him an isle wide. And knowing Gav as well as he did, the man would probably be laughing his arse off at the thought of them breaking into a nest of morbols in the middle of their egg laying season.
It wasn't until Clive was nearly being digested that he learned that mother morbols protecting their clutch were just as fearsome as a King Behemoth…
"Bloody fucking bastard…" Clive growled, promising himself the man would find a rather nasty surprise in his pint of lager when he return back to the Hideaway next chance he got. The still wriggling morbal tentacle he'd procured in his belongings would make certain of that…
Much coercing and cursing later, Clive successfully pulled the reluctant hound into the surprisingly tepid water located in this inlet waterfall. A variable oasis in the middle of the desert and with the sensation of the soothing liquid splashing across the tapestry of his bare skin, just a smidge of his anger at Gav faded away.
At least his information on this place was legitimate.
Standing near the bank of the water, still undressing from layers upon layers of swamp and morbol gut stained clothing, Jill can't help but bite back her laughter.
The sound of Torgal's whimpering puppy cries combined with the absolutely mortified expressions on Clive's normally stoic face at the horrid smell emanating from the poor hound was rather entertaining. The creative curses and threats towards Gav he let out louder than he probably intended were amusing as well. Rude, but well deserved, for she had quite a few choice words planned towards their Scout ready to go upon their next return home.
Yet she couldn't be too angry at Gav given how wonderful it was to see Clive so at ease.
Jill was still aghast sometimes at how easily Clive stripped himself of every scrap of clothing and jumped into the water during bathing as if it were nothing.
The brazen nudity surprised her even if she'd seen him in such a state (and him in hers) over a few dozen times at this point. Wondering exactly how it got so damned easy to be nude in front of the other to where it became almost habitual for there was not a single shred of modesty left in the shy teenager she grew up with in the duchy of Rosaria. While she herself had been as modest growing up, being royalty forced those idioms on all its compatriots, the fact she easily removed her knickers and stood completely bare on the sandy bank only a few arms-length away from Clive's equally nude form in the midday sun wasn't lost on her.
The duchy of Rosaria would be absolutely mortified at their lack of discretion and blatant disregard for any sense of propriety.
Jill smiled behind her hand at the thought.
A loud splash of water suddenly garnered her attention, "Jill, may I trouble you to toss me my soap? It's the blue bar in the left pocket of my satchel." Clive asked suddenly and she peered over at him to where he was in the water. Kneeling next to the very grumpy Torgal, who gave her the most pathetic whimpering whine she'd ever heard come from him, and that included when he was a mere pup no larger than a loaf of bread.
"Oh hush. This will help you feel better, Torgal. I promise," Clive spoke lowly to the dog, hands latched onto the hound that could bolt at any moment should he dare lose his grip. As flustered as she felt, the water coming up past Clive's bellybutton made it much easier to keep her eyes from traveling any lower.
Turning her back towards him to hide her ruddy cheeks, Jill busied herself to grab what he'd asked for. "Yes, of course!" she stated much louder than intended. Shiva's Dominant cursing inwardly while digging through Clive's satchel to find the soap he requested. Victorious in her search upon opening the third pouch, Jill swiveled back to Clive only to find him staring down at the water as if locked in a heated debate, the scarred cheek facing her stained crimson. Upon realizing her blunder, Jill's parlor soon matched his own.
Perhaps bending down while nude wasn't her brightest moment…
Valiantly ignoring that happened, Jill called out, "Here you go. Catch!" she warned him before tossing the small bar of speckled blue soap in his direction. Clive, of course, caught it without even looking. "Bloody show-off," she muttered fondly before turning back to her own satchel, occupying herself to help push that moment to the back of her mind where it was best left forgotten.
As Clive worked to wash the worst of the offending stink and slime off poor Torgal's fur, Jill was thankful she had other things to keep her engaged. So the young woman busied herself in washing the fight with the morbol off their filthy clothes. Water and soap pellets blended with a stone upon a sturdy leaf before she smeared a thin spread of the concoction over the areas of their clothing that the blood and swamp stains were the most difficult to remove. A smile of relief pulling at her lips as it easily was scrubbed away under the barest brush of her hand.
Jill set herself a mental reminder to thank Tarja for coming up with the recipe.
Clive's face was burning hotter than Ifrit's hellfire upon his cheeks as he lathered and deeply scrubbed the cleansing soap into Torgal's thick fur.
Inwardly cursing himself and his body's embarrassing reactions to Jill was a daily occurrence at this point. The ethereally beautiful young woman was his dearest and closest companion since childhood other than Torgal, and while he still held a massive flame for her, it was obvious now was not the time nor the place to pursue such fanciful things.
…As if there would ever be one...
Yet as often as he told himself that he was nearing 30 namedays and was not a hormonal teenager anymore, his body (and heart) simply didn't want to listen to reason.
The nudity wasn't even the issue for they'd been completely bare before the other for so long given no other choice than necessity. Small shared spaces and lack of privacy a daily occurrence. Even before him and Jill began traveling together, Clive had been bathing communally with men and women for over a decade during his "service" at the Imperial Army. No care to separate the Bearers by sex, they pushed them together regardless so he'd unwillingly witnessed many nude women and never felt even a hint of stirring in his groin so seeing Jill in such a state shouldn't affect him how it did…
Yet in his heart of hearts, Clive knew his feelings towards Jill were anything but lust. The two touched, hugged often and she was always reaching for his hand yet Clive didn't pursue anything further than being her friend and close confidant.
For all those years, Clive's only motivation to continue living was revenge for Joshua, his father and his home. Although he'd been offered many a warm bed and soft body by many beautiful women over the years, even with the damned Bearer's symbol marring his face, he refused all advances. Still not one for cakes nor excessive ale so why would fornication with a complete stranger be any more appealing? All Clive strove for was to survive, to locate and murder his brother's killer. So focused on his task that the mere thought of a fleeting romance or even a quick roll in the hay of the Chocobo pen made him nauseous.
Clive had no physical desires other than revenge…
It was that way - until he saw Jill again. The maiden he'd loved since his youth sitting so soft, beautiful and alive in that infirmary with eyes the color of the prettiest sea glass. His dearest childhood friend all grown and now inhabiting the body of the most beautiful woman he'd ever laid eyes open. In his opinion, Jill was even more gorgeous and radiant than the Dominant of Ice she controlled. The vision of her stopped him in his tracks. In that moment that he'd sat by her side and without hesitation, she wrapped her arms around him. It was as if he'd been struck by a bolt of pure lightening. Jill's warmth, smell and arms felt like a safe haven from all he'd been through. She felt like home and for the first time in 13 years, Clive felt he had something other than revenge to keep living for.
Yet no matter how much he wanted otherwise, pursuing any sort of romance with Jill was a lost cause from the get go.
Clive was too stained, too filthy to ever be able to touch her how he wanted. The blood and viscera staining his hands from all those hundreds (probably more than a thousand by this point) that he killed in service to a kingdom that wasn't his own. Drinking from gutters, sleeping in filth, wearing rags and living a lie for so long made him realize how utterly unworthy he was of any good thing in life. All of that coupled with his own identity as the very Dominant he'd hunted for more than a decade soured any and all desires of his own.
Clive deserved nothing but to get revenge and quietly slip away to either death or obscurity.
Jill deserved so much better than the broken man he'd become…
Torgal whined, nipping at his fingers when he'd become lost in thought. Clive had began gently washing the wolf's face where the green slime began coagulating into his fur. He must have accidentally gotten a bit of soap in the wolf's eye and the guilt immediately washed over him like a bucket of ice water.
"I'm so sorry, Torgal…" Ever so gently he cupped a few handfuls of water and rinsed out those intelligent golden eyes that looked at him so beseechingly as if worried for the thoughts that plagued his mind. Clive shook his head and flashed the wolf a self-deprecating smile. "It's alright, boy. I'm almost done, I promise," he soothed the giant puppy, fingers calm and certain as they brushed through the worst of the morbol's slime and viscera embedded in the wolf's thick fur. Fingertips threading and removing the offending fluids that caused such a rancid stench nearly dissipated into the water and washing away with the current.
Happy that his fur seemed clean of debris, Clive gently pushed the wolf under the spray of the waterfall to rinse him off. As soon as Clive finished brushing bare fingers through the thick scruff around his neck to make sure all of the offending smell was gone, Torgal suddenly slipped out of Clive's slackened hold and shot out of the water like the flames of Hell itself were chasing after him.
Satisfied all of their clothing was now as clean as it was going to get, Jill rinsed the residual soap off in the gentle lapping waters at the bank of the river. Sopping wet but clean, she laid them to dry atop a few low hanging branches of the nearby trees and upon rocks stretched out into the heat of the afternoon sun.
"There we go. That should do it," Jill stated with hands on bare hips. The young woman suddenly jumped at the sound of a thunderous bark, a blur of gray fur sprinting past her in a whirlwind of sodden fur and slobber before quickly disappearing beyond the trees back towards where they'd earlier set up camp.
"Torgal!" Jill screamed after the dog, nearly chasing after him even if the rocky terrain would not be kind to her bare soles.
Clive's voice broke her from her reverie and plans to pursue him, "Don't worry. He'll be alright. He's probably more uncomfortable being clean than anything." Clive stated, instantly soothing her worries with his calm reassurance.
"Yeah, you're probably right," Jill shook her head at the hound before her eyes slipped back towards Clive's voice and her breath instantly caught in her throat.
Clive's back faced towards her where he stood completely naked under the spray of the waterfall and any rational response or further comment she'd been planning died upon her tongue. The water creating small shining streams that trickled down his body from his nape down to where he stood knee deep in the slow rushing current. Jill's face flushed as her eyes followed a few transparent trails as they slipped over the muscular ridges of his powerful back, the dimples in his spine and skimming temptingly over the generous curves of his tight round arse…
"Jill? Are you alright?" Clive asked, turning around to her and flashing her such a look of concern it made her heart ache.
Berating herself for having such obscene thoughts of him, Jill bit her lip and let the shame wash over her. Clive was her dearest friend she kept reminding herself over and over. Having his presence in her life and him always by her side these past two years was more than enough even if her heart disagreed. As much as she wanted more from their relationship, there was no need to keep pushing her overwhelming feelings onto him when it was obvious his mission and its success was far more important than the yearning she held in her heart…
Jill hardened her shaky resolve with a smile, "Of course! I'm perfectly fine! I'm worried about leaving Torgal alone though, what if he destroys the camp?" Jill said, hoping the redness of her cheeks and longing in her eyes could be attributed to the warm temperature rather than her embarrassment at being caught staring so lewdly at him.
Clive's responding grin made her heart flutter regardless, "I'm sure he won't. It's not like when he was a puppy and chewed up my overnight studies."
"I remember that!" Jill giggled at the memory. "Oh Founder, your tutor was so upset,"
Feeling more at ease and braver than she felt, Jill quickly gathered her bathing items as well as his and joined Clive under the warm spray of water. The man averted his eyes at her approach at first, his cheeks gathering a soft rosy hue before he looked at her so softly when she handed him the pouch filled with his bathing items. The radiance of his appreciative smile brighter than the very sun shining overhead.
Did this man have any idea what he was doing to her?
Clive thanked her before continuing his story, "Tell me about it. My mother is the one that hired that vapid harpy so you understand why she didn't believe me when I blamed it on Torgal. I didn't get any bloody sleep that week merely trying to catch up. If my sword lessons with Murdoch weren't on the line I probably wouldn't have bothered." Clive chuckled softly as he began pouring a handful of his favorite sandalwood oil into his hair and lathering it through his short dark locks.
The smell of the amber-colored oil hit her instantly for it was the same one Jill recalled him using since they were young. A scent of home that always reminded her of picnics in the gardens, sneaking into his room to talk amongst the candlelight, being caught in the rain and the time he held her tightly as she sobbed into his chest.
It was comforting in a sense that, with all the chaos surrounding them, some things truly never change…
Jill laughed at the fond memory Clive drudged up. It was easier to focus on happier times and this is one of the rare times she indulged in their shared past. Smile etched on her lips as she reached for her own soap pellets and began lathering them all over her body, already feeling so much better as the smell from the fight with the morbol was washed away with the current.
All was silent for awhile other than the sound of the waterfall and forest filled with life around them until Clive continued speaking, "Thank you by the way."
Jill flashed him a confused look, "For what?" she asked.
"For staying up with me for those long nights. I probably couldn't have done it without you." Clive elaborated with a crooked smile.
Jill peered over at him from where she'd been massaging willow oil into her long silver tresses. A flash of those memories in her mind had her heart hammering against her sternum. Recalling his smile in the candlelight, her fingers grasping at his warm hand as they stayed up well past their bedtime to get his work done. It was those long nights when she'd realized that the feelings she held for Clive were much more than a mere childhood infatuation.
"You're welcome." Jill smiled. The sweet gentle pull of her lips becoming more mischievous when Clive turned around to rinse the oil from his hair and she saw a splatter of morgal slime pasted on the center of his broad back.
Clive peered at her from underneath his sopping wet fringe, "What's that look for?" Clive asked with a furrowed brow as he brushed the bangs out of his face before the water could trickle into his eyes. The water glittered like diamonds on his thick dark lashes.
Not allowing his handsome face to distract her, Jill replied, "Nothing. You just missed a spot."
Clive tried his best to peer at his own back from over his shoulder which had her bite back a chuckle, "I did? Where?"
"Here." Jill clarified, fingers tingling slightly as she pressed her index against the center of his back and into the viscous smear. Not being able to help but slip her fingertips over the curve of his spine and enjoy the feel of rigid muscle underneath his incredibly warm skin.
Clive smiled at her over his broad sun-kissed shoulder, "Figures. Thanks, Jill. It would have itched like the fires of Hell later."
Jill bit back a smile as Clive struggled to reach it. Face pinched in a frown as no matter how hard he stretched and strained, neither of his hands could reach that one singular point on his back. Shiva's Dominant watched him attempt it for a long moment before she couldn't hold her laughter back any longer, "Oh Clive, you're as stiff as a board! You need to start stretching more often."
Clive was pouting and it took everything inside of her not to kiss that expression off of his handsome mug, "You're probably right," he grumbled, still fruitlessly reaching.
"Of course I am," Jill stated cheekily, dainty fingertip poking once again at the center of his back he could never reach.
Clive groaned, arms falling to his side and head falling back in abject misery of her teasing. She couldn't stop the burning in her cheeks while watching, mesmerized, at the water droplets splashed across his flesh, appearing like diamonds sparkling on his sun-kissed skin.
Heart hammering, Jill's hands suddenly moved of their own accord.
Clive abruptly tensed when Jill's fingertips reappeared on his back. Palm placed flat against his shoulder-blade as she slipped completely behind him. Suddenly self-conscious, his shoulders rose at the frigid touch of her skin as if Shiva's diamond dust was scattering ice crystals across his flesh.
"Jill?" Clive asked, his voice wavering a bit and he was suddenly grateful she couldn't see his face from his angle knowing his cheeks matched the parlor of Ifrit's flame at her mere touch.
Did she have any idea the distress she was causing him?
"Stay still," Jill's voice was gentle, perhaps a bit teasing if it wasn't for the slight breathy quality signaling a touch of laughter. "Don't move, I'll get it."
Jill's dainty hands were so much smaller and softer than his own. Slight callouses from her sword and the coolness of ice she yielded but so unbearably gentle it nearly took his breath away. Suddenly, Jill was reaching around him. Pale fingers grabbing the bar of soap he'd been using to wash and the smell of it combined with the freshness of her skin and the intoxicating aroma of the oils she used for her hair made him so unbelievably glad the coolness of the waterfall and her fingertips on his spine was keeping his betraying body in check.
Lathering her hands, Jill hummed a song from their childhood the Royal Bard used to sing in the garden. Her fingers nimble as a musician on the strings as she began washing his back. Dark blue eyes closed tightly at the intensity of her bare skin on his. The warmth of her soft feminine curves brushing occasionally; tingling whenever their skin casually touched as she washed his back. She was so close to pressing those slim curves against his harder musculature and the mere thought was so overwhelming that it took everything in his power to bite back the urge to turn around and pull her into the circle of his arms.
So desperate were these sudden urges he nearly was choking on them.
Swallowing back the lump that clogged his throat, Clive swore Jill could hear the absolute throbbing of his heart as it did its best to vacate the confines of his chest. Yet she said nothing other than her sweet voice humming out the familiar tune he remembered all too well, her hands gently scrubbing the evidence of the fight with the morbol off his scarred skin.
Suddenly self-conscious of all the scars littering his body that never bothered him before in the midst of her perfect porcelain skin that made her look like a marble goddess turned to flesh.
Never before had he met a woman more beautiful inside and out…
It was only his vast reaches of self-control and determination that kept him in check, knowing Jill deserved so much more than his scarred skin and blood-stained calloused hands. That these feelings he harbored toward her must remain hidden. How he hoped at the end of this quest that she would find someone who deserved her, loved her and would give her everything in this world she could ever want and need… The misery of that thought put his heart in a vice grip. Hating himself for even wanting her when he could never measure up, so inadequate compared to all the good she deserved in this life.
"There we are. All clean." Jill's gentle voice broke him from his self-loathing reverie and while Clive expected her hands to immediately vacate from his skin, they didn't.
Brows furrowed slightly in confusion, Clive peered at her from over his shoulder and flashed her a smile he hoped reached his eyes, "Thank you, My Lady." the endearment so easily fell from his lips.
Jill smiled brilliantly, her palms laying flat against his back and when he thought she'd pull away, Jill only pressed in closer. Eyes like radiant sea glass peering so deeply into his own dark ocean depths. Pale cheeks flushed like the softest rose as her hands slowly skimmed down his back, his sides and hips til they finally left his skin for a moment only to grasp at his hands.
Clive was certain his heart stopped as she stood bare in front of him as if she'd never wanted to be anywhere else.
Shiva's Dominant never stopped smiling, her eyes never leaving his own as she intertwined their fingers. Clive shivered from more than the cool water splashing against his shoulders as Jill scooted herself closer to him, their toes brushing under the current of the river. Even if his eyes never left her face, he felt the curve of her breasts skim across his chest, face heating as her hardened nipples pressed into his skin.
Jill's smile softened even as her cheeks bloomed into the color of a crimson rose. With nothing but gentle coercion, he followed her as they stepped into the spray of the waterfall together. The soothing liquid washing over them both as they stood in its depths. Washing away so much more than dirt and grime, as if all the doubts he kept having about this beautiful woman holding his hands began cracking and loosening around his heart.
Jill giggled suddenly, pushing herself all the closer to him until they were chest to chest. Their wet skin pressed against the other til there wasn't even room for a drip of water to slip between them.
"You're warm," Jill whispered as if it was a secret shared in the dark of night. Her fingers tightening around his own and he could do little more then squeeze back.
"So are you," he muttered just as quietly, praying the coolness of the waterfall would hide his body's reactions to her nearness.
Clive's breath got caught in his throat as Jill's half-lidded eyes finally left his, peering further down his face before meeting his gaze again. Heart hammering wildly at his sternum at the look she was giving him. It wasn't possible that she wanted this too…was it?
Yet even as Clive was still contemplating the expression on Jill's face growing slowly closer to his own, Torgal suddenly appeared like a bloody hell hound seeking vengeance. With the bellowing bark, the oversized puppy launched himself into the water and the shock of the sudden outside presence was enough for Clive to lose his footing on the slick rocks.
Fingers intertwined, Jill had no choice than to fall in a wet heap atop of him.
The large splash of their combined weight made a resounding crashing noise before they both quickly began spluttering for air. The first thing Clive saw upon opening his eyes was Jill's frantic face, the worry on her expression apparent as he sat up and spatted out a mouthful of water and her sodden hair.
"Oh my goodness! I'm sorry. Clive! Answer me! Are you alright?" she asked from her spot kneeling on his thighs, her hands brushing along the length of his body. Clive tensed at her exploration even if he knew she was merely looking for injury.
Clive's hand gently grasped hers where she'd laid them upon his hips. "I'm fine." he coughed, "No thanks to Torgal…" he glared over Jill's shoulder at the culprit sitting innocently on the bank of the river where he swore the wolf was smirking at him, those golden eyes sparkling with mischief.
Damned hound…
Jill let out a breath of relief, "Oh, thank the Founder. You could have slammed your head on a rock! Are you sure you're alright?" Jill asked, reaching out to brush his sodden bangs out of his eyes and it was as if the world stopped as she gently cupped his face in her hands. Thumbs gingerly wiping at the tracks of water on his face as she peered into his eyes with such open concern that it felt as if Ifrit released a hellfire straight into his heart.
Founder knows how long he sat there merely preening under her gentle ministrations. Allowing her to check over his body to her heart's content until the worry etched onto her expression faded into a relieved smile.
"I told you I'm alright."
Jill huffed at his blase concern towards his own health before she started wagging a disciplining finger and verbally admonishing Torgal.
The wolf merely panted at them happily from the bank of the water.
Clive chuckled knowing her words were a lost cause but that thought quickly left his mind when he realized Jill was indeed sitting naked on his lap. "You think our clothes are dry enough?" he suddenly asked, desperately hoping his voice sounded calmer than he felt.
Jill looked back towards him and it was rather amusing to watch in real-time her taking notice of their predicament. Cheeks flashed scarlet, Jill stood up on wobbly legs and Clive turned his face to give her even a modicum of privacy as she got her feet back underneath her. Thinking enough time had passed for her to leave the water, Clive peered up and was stunned to see Jill standing right in front of him with her hand reaching out in offering.
Clive flashed her a smile before accepting.
Grasping her hand, and with a bit of her kindly offered help, Clive stood to his feet. The stones slick underfoot had him unsteady for a second before he felt Jill's arms wrapping around his waist.
"Careful there," she giggled, the beautiful chime of her laughter echoing through this small inlet as she suddenly buried her blushing face in his bare chest. Pushing aside the desire to keep this beautiful woman at arm's length to protect himself and the pain of loving her so much, Clive instead wrapped his arms around her.
Daring to want this if for only a moment as he pressed his cheek into her cold wet hair.
Clive shivered, a gasp escaping his lips when he felt the sudden brush of her cool mouth over his sternum, pressing right above the location where his heart hammered in the confines of his chest. Jill only pulled away enough to rest her chin between his pectorals, icy blue eyes simply magnificent as she looked at him with a smile etched on her lips.
The expression Clive knew he didn't deserve she bestowed willing upon him, peering up at him as if he'd hung all the stars in the heavens just for her to enjoy…
All the doubts he'd been living with since she came back into his life suddenly began waning. Crumbling in the warmth of her smile and feel of her hands on his body. Clive's breath caught in his throat as Jill rested her cold ear over his heart. Palms splayed against his back as if she'd never let go and instead of pushing her away like his heart screamed in self-preservation, he didn't.
Clive pulled her closer instead.
His goal of revenge turning into a just cause for all to live free in pursuit of a better world for them all remained his motivations yet as he wrapped his arms tighter around Jill, he realized that perhaps his other lofty dreams weren't as unattainable as he once believed…