Stories of the Silent Man

His eyes were intensely on hers and she actually felt them go through her, causing her to become… small… scared and insecure… but yet, also excited and, strangely, enkindled. Her conscious mind wouldn’t allow her to understand what Longshot was conveying...

Longshot's lips left hers reluctantly, briefly looking around them. The rain has slowed, still trickling over their skin, sky grey, the forest dark. This was dangerous, at the least right now. Or maybe it was dangerous overall, hi thoughts whirled, guilt invading his heart. Longshots eyes seemed to be sad in themselves, knowing that this creature in front of them would soon leave their sight. He looked down at their hands, squeezing hers, swallowing, finding his voice, "I'm... Sorry," he muttered.

Une Tête-à-tête || Crossfire

His eyes were intensely on hers and she actually felt them go through her, causing her to become… small… scared and insecure… but yet, also excited and, strangely, enkindled. Her conscious mind wouldn’t allow her to understand what Longshot was conveying to her, but deep down she knew, just… not yet. She saw what Longshot was about to do again, and her pulse started racing, knowing full well he’d go through with it this time. When their lips met, it took her a second to react. One of his hands covered a clenched fist on the ground, relaxing her hand out of it’s tense form. His fingers gently squeezed hers, his thumb stroking her palm. It was then she began kissing back. Her other hand gripped on to his forearm to support herself as her lips pushed his apart. 

Everything was a blur for a matter of seconds, soon enough the sensation of rain on his face returned, his hat pushed backwards. The feeling returned in his arms, suddenly feeling of her hand, shivering slightly. Longshot looked down at his hand, his thumb and moving back and forth on  hers. His dark eyes floated back up to hers, thinking in the back of his mind, I'm sorry, but he knew she wasn't, neither was he. His eyes closed again as his face slowly approached hers, parting her lips with his.

Une Tête-à-tête || Crossfire

And then, suddenly, Longshot was right in front of her, hands on either side of the ground where she sat, close enough for her to sense the little heat radiating off his skin, to catch his scent. Smellerbee knew what he was about to do and braced herself for it; she shut her eyes, tensing up, and… slightly parted her lips, a small shuddered gasp escaping them in shock, preparing for their contact. After a moment when what she was expecting didn’t happen, her eyes fluttered open, finding Longshot’s cold, dark, and sharp eyes piercing hers to their very core. “I-I.. uh-uhm,” she stuttered, her eyes half-hooded and out of focus, “y-you… I-I-I…” She felt his hot breath caress her lips, causing the surface to warm and pucker outwards. In reaction, she exhaled a small, soft breath of her own on to his lips, the sides of their noses brushing ever so slightly. Her eyes drooped further downwards, mouth tingling at the sensation of small electric pulses bouncing off the tiny, raised hairs around each of their lips in anticipation. She wondered how he managed to stay so warm, how his lips stayed so red and full and smooth, how he stayed so collected through all this, where she was a mess… how they were only a few inches away… maybe if she were to just - the thought was interrupted by a crash of thunder, snapping her out of whatever had come over her. Eyes flying open, she realized that, however little, she had started to lean further into his presence, causing her to clumsily scramble away from him. “I-I kn-know what y-y-you’re t-trying t-to d-do!” She pointed a finger at him accusingly, somewhat wild, still struggling to move away, “th-this is s-some sort of re-revenge th-thing, t-to m-mess w-with m-m-me!” Coming to a stop, she half sat, half laid, on her elbows to support herself, chest heaving rapidly and her expression frantic. “Bu-but l-let me t-tell y-you,” she warned, voice shaky, “I-I’m n-n-ot gonna f-fall f-for it! I-I’m n-not gonna f-fall f-for -” you, she almost said, but, catching herself, she swallowed back the word with an audible gulp, her heavy, panted breaths now filling the air over the rain.

Une Tête-à-tête || Crossfire

Her eyes went wide and the pink on her cheeks turned red, rapidly spreading across her skin. Smellerbee understood this message from him very clearly. “I-Idon’tknowwhatyou’retalkingabout,” she replied, her words sputtering and rushed - immediately giving her away. She wrapped her arms a little more around herself and clung to her soaking shirt protectively, shifting her weight unintentionally on her heels now.

Longshot's mouth moved sideways, not knowing what else he expected from her. Denial had always been her naive way of disregarding tasks at hand that she didn't want to give her attention to. He'd need a shock factor, showing her that he wasn't going to let this topic die down, it was time to face it head on. Longshot leaned toward her, as he relaxed his body. So he wouldn't give himself away, he looked down at his knees, before he threw himself in her direction, his lips stopping only a few inches in front of hers, there noses hardly an inch apart.

Une Tête-à-tête || Crossfire

Longshot was most always silent, she knew that, so it was difficult to tell when he came and went. Thinking he did the latter, she was surprised to find that he had walked over and sat himself right next to her, their bodies almost touching. Smellerbee watched him as he approached her and inwardly squinted; what game is he playing at? Now unable to repress the shivering, seeing as her body was losing vital energy in trying to do so, she visibly shook with miniscule tremors. It was silent… eerily silent - as if the silence spoke for them; tension in the air. And it was a different tension too - where normally it’s source stemmed from their utter disdain for each other, this one… This one conveyed feelings of… longing and… closeness, desire - “whad’you-u w-want?” She grumbled, still freezing, still shaking, and teeth now rattling, in an attempt to interrupt those stupid, uncalled for and out-of-no-where ideologies that she sensed there was something more to… this, whatever it was. She was probably imagining things, she figured, being out in the cold for so long was causing her brain to malfunction. He was still looking at her, though… and she was still looking at him… and the space between them felt as if it was shrinking, or that they were getting smaller, even though neither of them had moved. “W-why a-are y-y-you he-e-e-re?” she hastily questioned, stumbling over her words along with the shivering affect. His face - his eyes - kept intensly steady on her, his thoughts begining to trickle through to his expression. It made her feel uneasy, the message she partially recieved from him. “S-sin-nce wh-when w-wha-a-at-t?” Her cheeks minutely pinkened again, with nervous, stomach flip-flop feelings arising while she watched her breath become little puffs of fog.

The archer looked away from her, down at his knees in front of him. Longshot's eyes were probably most likely screaming at her for answers. He swallowed, suddenly growing nervous, under obvious scrutiny, having her attention all on him. The inside of his mouth moistened, in preparation for speaking, but never carried out words. Longshot's dark brown eyes met hers, hoping her eyes were screaming too, only met with a curious stare. Her clothes were darkened, drenched, shivering despite their weight. Her lips quivered, only drawing the attention away from her eyes, to her lips. His eyes flicked up, Why did you kiss back?

Une Tête-à-tête || Crossfire

Smellerbee blinked and lifted her head, confused as to why the rain suddenly stopped pouring over her, along with feeling a dry, warm blanket - no, scarf - wrapped around her. “…Huh?” Her mind played catch-up quickly once she turned her head in the right direction and saw Longshot standing a few feet away with an irritated and expectant expression. “Oh,” her face and tone fell, “it’s you.” Determined to keep her shivering to a minimum, she clenched her muscles together as she looked forward, out into the forest. “What do you want?” She grumbled, somewhat embarrassed he showed up out of no where when thoughts of him occupied her mind, irrationally worried he could see into her head. Her cheeks, tinting with pink, she added, “I don’t need your help.” She wanted to shove his things back at him, but she found that, with the hat blocking the rain and his scarf, if only barely replacing some heat (in more ways than one - though she pretended not to notice), she actually really just wanted to keep them. Smellerbee shifted her body slightly, resting her chin on her knees and despite herself, much to her internal shame, tugged the fabric closer to her. It smells like him… Her thoughts mused before she beat them into oblivion, a deeper scowl forming on her face.

Longshot allowed his eyes gloss over her posture, a tinge of sympathy arose. It was a little colder than usual, she was small, not much would keep her warm. His brow furrowed, I don't need your help, fine, he thought to himself. Behind her, a hand outstretched to take his things back, he withdrew it, seeing an almost unnoticeable action, she pulled his scarf closer to her. A smile smile appeared on his lips, however oblivious to her thoughts, at least she will be warmer than she was, used to her independence. Longshot stood silently for a moment, watching her eyes purge empty space with a scowl, wondering whether it was her thoughts or this weather that brought it along. He watched the raindrops trickle and drip of the brim of his hat, cascading away from her face. He had hardly noticed the rain dripping from his own, and he was drenched, no longer paying attention to the direction of the rain. Apart from his common silence, this was new, he wanted to leave, but... Noise of wet ground from under his boots, he approached her slowly, sitting by her crossing his legs and bringing them closer to his body. Longshot needed to know, ever since the kiss, he... He looked at her in a different light. More than a team mate, and obvious interpretations, now, now he admired everything he simply knew before. Her cheeks were pink, most likely being stung with cold, thoughts raced through his mind, why did he do it? Why then? Why never before? She kissed back...

Out to Scout || Smellershot

A small growl escaped him, she was infuriating. Without thinking, Longshot reached up, plucking a lychee nut and flinging at the back of Smellerbee’s head. When she whirled around, he scowled down to her, Why can’t you just grow up?

She scoffed, “ME grow up!? YOU grow up!” Smellerbee grabbed a handful of berries and threw them at him in retaliation. “I swear Longshot,” she snarled, digging her feet into the ground, standing defiantely, “if you keep bugging me with your stupid looks and your stupid faces and your stupid comments I’m going to knock the stupid right out of you.”

Out to Scout || Smellershot

The smile vanished from his face, fabricating a glare. Longshot crossed his elbows, as if to imply he didn’t know what she was talking about. She was arrogant, he knew that, but this was almost infuriating. They both saw and felt what happened, big deal, no need to deny that it happened for… reasons. Frankly he didn’t know the reasons either but he wasn’t denying like a naive child.

Her stare intensified, her eyes becoming like slits. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. You had that same stupid look just now like back when we were in the river. What gives?” She bit the inside of her cheek in frustration. “Never mind,” she grumbled as an after thought - maybe she didn’t want to know. Or maybe Longshot was too weird to ever understand. “It doesn’t matter. Whatever.” Her head had turned back to the path in front of her, focusing her eyes ahead and did her best to try to ignore her companion.

A small growl escaped him, she was infuriating. Without thinking, Longshot reached up, plucking a lychee nut and flinging at the back of Smellerbee's head. When she whirled around, he scowled down to her, Why can't you just grow up?

Out to Scout || Smellershot

Longshot moved calmly as he usually had, catching Smellerbee scrambling around in side glances. They walked, Longshot thanked her in his mind for her being stubborn, she refused to look at him. She wouldn’t catch his numerous glances. Walking on without a word, she finally spoke. He rolled his eyes, the color in her cheeks said it all, her determination to stare everywhere elsewhere just to look at him gave her away. Longshot smiled.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw the slightest of the slightest of movements. After trailing off, she caught Longshot’s side glance towards her…. his lips forming a smile. She frowned and turned her head to the side, glaring up at him, “what’s that look for?”

The smile vanished from his face, fabricating a glare. Longshot crossed his elbows, as if to imply he didn't know what she was talking about. She was arrogant, he knew that, but this was almost infuriating. They both saw and felt what happened, big deal, no need to deny that it happened for... reasons. Frankly he didn't know the reasons either but he wasn't denying like a naive child.

Out to Scout || Smellershot

“R-right, of course.” She practically ran and got all her things, haphazardly throwing things on just she could back easy enough. She didn’t care if a gang of bandits suddenly jumped down from the trees and attacked them, unable to have her knives easily accessible to defend herself -actually, right now, she’d welcome it. “Let’s go,” she gumbled, rushing past him. After several more awkward silent minutes passed as they walked Smellerbee said aloud, “when I… before… After you… Then I… It was payback. Now we’re even. So don’t think it was….” Her face was burning, staring straight ahead, not even acknowledging Longshots existence otherwise. She was rationalizing it that way more for herself - it was the only explaination for why she had done what she did.

Longshot moved calmly as he usually had, catching Smellerbee scrambling around in side glances. They walked, Longshot thanked her in his mind for her being stubborn, she refused to look at him. She wouldn't catch his numerous glances. Walking on without a word, she finally spoke. He rolled his eyes, the color in her cheeks said it all, her determination to stare everywhere elsewhere just to look at him gave her away. Longshot smiled.

Out to Scout || Smellershot

Longshot had left himself now, not even thinking normally. The thought of getting under her skin had disappeared, now only impulses remain. A shock on his lips brought him back into his mind, he opened his eyes to see hers. His lips had glued themselves to hers, moving only slightly around them. Longshot lifted his lips from hers, only shifting his eyes this way and that. No words, not even a sound.

She didn’t know when or how it happened, but they were kissing. Smellerbee didn’t expect that she would kiss Longshot back - but she was. And suddenly the warmth on her lips was gone. Her eyes fluttered open to see his, the realization of what had just occurred sinking in. She took a small gulp, letting out a shaky breath, “no one,” she started, her voice low and serious, but surprisingly not angry, “finds out about this.” And for some reason, her head lifted to capture Longshots lips with hers again.

Longshot's lips moved around hers, a little more active this time around. His thoughts returned, forcing him back to reality. Breaking the kiss he stood, and nodded in agreement. He rubbed the side of his arm, not able to lock eyes. Longshot glanced at her, she was still practically naked. They kissed on the back of a river, willingly, naked... The world is ending. He was being ridiculous, he thought to himself. Glancing up o the afternoon and setting sun, he looked to Smellerbee, she wasn't looking at him either. "Bee," he said allowed. Longshot froze slightly when her eyes locked on his, We should be heading back.

Out to Scout || Smellershot

Longshot rolled his eyes, she acted like she didn’t talk like this everyday. Usually he tuned it out, yet he remembered everything she said, and unfortunately the voice that had said the words with it. He had seen her face before without her make up, but… not ever this close in proximity. The red stripes she wore were the focus of her cheeks, but now he can see what they truly are. He wondered if it was just her frustration bubbling, or if her cheeks were always that pink. Longshot stifled a chuckle, he had succeeded in getting under her skin, was he stopping now? He dipped his face a little lower, inches from their noses touching.

Smellerbee’s mind was abuzz. “Y-you… it… I-I…” She could feel Longshot’s breath on hers which caused her to lick her lips and then gulp. He was so… close…. Had his eyes always been that dark and deep? His cheekbones that high? His lips that… full? Her heartbeat sped up and her breaths became shallow. She was going to add something to her retort but she couldn’t remember now. With her eyes glazed over and hooded, she was searching his face trying to figure out what was making her so…. like this.

Longshot had left himself now, not even thinking normally. The thought of getting under her skin had disappeared, now only impulses remain. A shock on his lips brought him back into his mind, he opened his eyes to see hers. His lips had glued themselves to hers, moving only slightly around them. Longshot lifted his lips from hers, only shifting his eyes this way and that. No words, not even a sound.

Out to Scout || Smellershot

Longshots expression remained plain as Smellerbee looked for a way out of her position. When she couldn’t a smug smile spread once more when she relaxed. There was nothing fancy about his hold, it was a cheap shot. “Not thanking you for a thing, Bee,” Longshot said as he lowered his face. His eyes focused onto hers, which were fixed onto his, he thought, you can thank me anytime.

She glared at him, "For what? Constantly being an asshat?" Smellerbee snorted, "I think not." She stuck out her chin indignitly, "at least I put up with you, as hard as it is. Who else would you bother? You should be thanking ME for having to deal with you day after day." She bit back her tongue - trying not to say anything more that might make things worse. But why did it hurt HER that she was saying these things...?

Longshot rolled his eyes, she acted like she didn't talk like this everyday. Usually he tuned it out, yet he remembered everything she said, and unfortunately the voice that had said the words with it. He had seen her face before without her make up, but... not ever this close in proximity. The red stripes she wore were the focus of her cheeks, but now he can see what they truly are. He wondered if it was just her frustration bubbling, or if her cheeks were always that pink. Longshot stifled a chuckle, he had succeeded in getting under her skin, was he stopping now? He dipped his face a little lower, inches from their noses touching.

Smellerbee snorted, “you set yourself up, Snotty.” A few more chuckles escaped her, “you made it too easy. I knew you were lying I just wanted to catch you in it.” She saw Longshot head in the direction of the...

Longshots expression remained plain as Smellerbee looked for a way out of her position. When she couldn't a smug smile spread once more when she relaxed. There was nothing fancy about his hold, it was a cheap shot. "Not thanking you for a thing, Bee," Longshot said as he lowered his face. His eyes focused onto hers, which were fixed onto his, he thought, you can thank me anytime.