Never Surrender

"You're so evil...." he muttered, glancing back with a cringe that overrode his usual glower.

She sighed contentedly, leaning back against whatever part of him was closest, and grinned toothily out at the tide. "Yep."

Not appreciating her unabashed answer, Rhyldaer squirmed. "Get off."

"Oh, get off yourself." She smirked. "I like it here."

"Your elbow is in my ribs!" he growled, shifting so he was returning the favor.

Tsunami moved hers so it was under the side of his jaw instead. "Better?"

Figuring she couldn't possibly lick his forehead in that position, as she had threatened to do earlier, he almost said yes, but dignity would not have it, and he managed to squirm his head away and bite her arm, effectively delivering his opinion.

She half pulled her arm away. "Ooch, toothy one!" She wrinkled her nose. "I'll bite yeh back, you know."

"No you won't!" he snapped, giving a defiant grin.

"Oh, won't I?" She reached her head down toward his shoulder as if to bite him.

"You'd BETTER not... because I WILL get you for it."

She leaned closer to his shoulder, her face a hands breadth from it.

Bonk! Head impacted head, and he took the opportunity to shove her off of him and try his luck at pinning her, instead of the other way around.

"Ow! Son of a kelp-chewing..." she went to rub her head instinctively and dropped her hold for a moment.

*POUNCE* and full-grown male drow tackled the captain to the sand.

"Oof!" she hit the sand with a solid thud, knocking the wind out of her for half a second. "Nyrr.." She wriggled beneath him, wrinkling up her nose as she looked up at him, though she still smirked.

He had no idea what he was doing... why he had any need at all to wrestle this female to a standstill over... what was this about anymore anyway? A slip of the tongue? He wasn't sure. But he was GOING to WIN! Finally, he managed to sort of pin her, bracing one forearm across her collarbones, the other holding down one arm. One leg steadied him, the other aided his efforts in pinning her down. "THERE! Surrender?"

Her eyes glistened with a sly glee. She mouthed something, barely a whisper, and drowned out of even his drowish hearing by the waves and wind. His momentarily triumphant grin turned into a furrowed, curious scowl. He cocked his head, turning one ear to listen. "Huh?" She mouthed it again, her sly twinkle flickering dangerously, just out of hearing. He wasn't aware of it, but he had leaned closer, out of instinct, to hear her. A suspicious glare passed over his features. She was up to something sneaky...

She whispered, leaning her chin upward slightly, her eyes flashing. "..Never.." the breath left her mouth, and her chin tilted higher. She fought the instinct to strike, to jerk forward and plant a fierce kiss on any part of his face within reach.... betrayed, he might feel. Tricked? He would recoil. She should withdraw. Or she should continue the playful wrestle. But her chin lifted an inch, and she lingered there, staring up at him, her lips not touching. She felt the maddening pull, but fought it.

Rhyldaer felt a tingle go down his spine.... damn, she was so close... he could feel her breath on his lips... this was torture... but maybe if it was torture for him.... it was torture for her.... he leaned a little bit closer... not... quite... touching... "Oh really...?"

The corners of her mouth twitching upward slightly in a ghost of a smile. "Never," she uttered again, her voice not in it but the whisper audible. "I don't... surrender..." she breathed. Just a twitch of the muscles in her slender neck would do it. One small movement. She battened the thought down like loose rigging, knowing that if she let it slip, it could all be lost in a gale.

Damn, thought Rhyldaer. She was going to stick this out... Determined to be every bit as stubborn and at least as infuriating, he shrugged and then pulled away, flopping over into the sand, tucking his arms behind his head to watch the stars. "All right. You win."

Her eyes widened as he pulled away, and she threatened to jerk forward with the sudden lack of weight on her and the strain of holding back. But she narrowed her eyes calmly, and folded her own hands over her stomach. "Yup." She said with a calmness that denied the blood racing through her. She added just as calmly, though a shade quieter; more to herself, "...I always win..." She cursed herself up one side and down the other, for not taking the chance and equally for putting herself into such a situation so recklessly in the first place. Mostly for not taking it. But then, she sighed, breathing in the cool air and keeping her eyes locked skyward, at least she'd avoided triggering his temper this time. Blast his pride, she thought. She bit her lip. Blast hers as well.


* * *

A brief excerpt of story written between myself and of my irascible drow male Rhyldaer, and her eccentric female drow pirate captain, Tsunami Nightwind. Tsunami kidnapped Rhyldaer on a whim, and is now hauling the unwilling cave flower around the seven seas with her. He does not appreciate this turn of events, and often sulks or has outbursts of his incredible temper. And yes, they bicker like this all the time.

No, they're not romantically involved. At least, not yet, as you can see.

Picture done with marker and colored pencil on smooth Bristol, please no stealy either character or this image or section of story, thanks.