#ixhavenoidea

She probably could have stepped in sooner and spared him some of the discomfort. But the truth was, it was far too entertaining a sight to break up so quickly.

They were seated around the fire when she found them, amongst what was left of the great banquet they’d enjoyed that evening. It would have been a pleasant scene if it weren’t for the look on Daniel’s face. Her father and two of the other Elders - Harkhaf and Setau- seemed to be explaining something to him. In enthusiastic detail. Or rather, the others were explaining while her father maintained stern eye contact with her husband. And Daniel looked faintly horrified. She couldn’t quite hear what they were saying, but from the shade of red his cheeks were turning, it wasn’t difficult to guess. Sometimes she could honestly kill her father.

Finally, Daniel glanced her way. A look of relief washed over his features, quickly replaced by a look of silent pleading. She could almost hear his voice: For the love of god, get me out of this? Sha’uri had to bite the inside of her cheek to stifle the laugh that was threatening. Enough amusing herself, now to rescue him.

She walked purposefully towards the group of men. Their conversation quickly halted when they caught sight of her. With a touch of satisfaction, she noted that her father’s expression turned rather sheepish. Doing her best not to show she’d been watching them, Sha’uri laid a hand on Daniel’s shoulder and smiled.

“If you’ve all quite finished with him, I’ve come to claim my husband.”

There was a moment she could see Harkhaf and Setau restrain themselves - the urge to make a joke obvious on their features. But there was no time. Daniel - almost literally - leapt at the opportunity to make his escape. He quickly got to his feet and took her hand. A few hasty goodbyes later, the pair was heading out of the main square, back towards their home.

“What took you so long?” he said once they were out of earshot. “I’m not sure how much longer I would have lasted.” Daniel shot her a look and she could see the embarrassment giving way to amusement. “They were filling me in on all the details of - uh - husbandly duties…” he finished awkwardly.

She didn’t even bother not to laugh this time. “I don’t doubt it! They rarely resist the opportunity to tell anyone anything… But don’t worry --” Sha’uri leaned in and pressed a lingering kiss to the side of his mouth. “You’re doing just fine on your own.”

    She had long been meaning to bring him up there. It was one of her favorite spots in Nagada, but life had had other plans. Things had been so hectic, there was hardly a moment to breathe, let alone show him the sights the way she intended. After the men from Earth had left, there was much to do. Ra’s wrath had left the city in shambles - they needed to rebuild, they needed to bury the dead. But it was more than that. They needed to come to terms with the truth about who they were and where they came from. This meant talks and arguments amongst the people about how they were to go on now they had their freedom, no false god to dictate their purpose.

    But finally, there was a calm night. After the sun had set and their evening meal was done, she firmly instructed him to put aside the notebook he was scribbling in and follow her, grinning when he promptly did as she asked. Tangling her fingers in his, she led him through the now-quiet streets, towards the city gates. Instead of leading him outside, as he likely expected, she tugged him off to the right and up the old, worn steps to the parapet atop the wall. They offered friendly nods to the watchmen and continued on to a more secluded spot. She set a hand on his arm to stop him once they reached her intended destination.

                         “Look.”

    It was her favorite view. From this part of the wall, the top of the great pyramid was just visible, framed by the three moons whose glow cast a pale light across the sand. Above it all, stars she knew he didn’t recognize winked in the sky. She looked at him then. His face was sufficiently awed. Sha’uri smiled, pleased with herself. She could already see his mind trying to work out the patterns, find anything familiar, perhaps even that matched the symbols on their gate. She loved that about him - he was always seeking logic and reason, always looking for the truth of a thing. But sometimes, the beauty alone was truth enough.

    She let her head rest against his shoulder and he wrapped his arms around her. The night was getting chilly and they kept each other warm against the breeze coming off the desert. Neither spoke for a few moments, simply enjoying the view and one another’s company. Finally, she broke the silence, almost sorry to do so. Quietly, she began to tell him about their sky. She started with the moons, pronouncing the names carefully for him and smiling as he repeated them under his breath. Edfu. Dja’net. Nuturo. Then she moved to the constellations, explaining the legends her people had built around them. She wondered if they resembled those of her Earth ancestors and knew Daniel would tell her one day.

//I just had to explain this saying to Mini-me. 

It's weird when you think that when I was his age, I had no idea what 'I have no idea' meant either.

Your muse has been missing, presumably dead, for over a month, then shows up at my muse’s door.

Numb.

There was no other word for what she felt. It had been weeks since he'd left, since he'd kissed her goodbye, given her smile and closed the door behind him. She relived those moments over and over, searching for something she might have done differently -- for some sign of what was to come. But there was nothing, and she felt empty. 

It was a local legend that had drawn him out into the desert with only a mastadge and guide. Stories of caves that held more of their people's history had been too enticing for him to ignore. And if she hadn't been so curious herself, she might have argued harder against him going. How could she have known he wouldn't return? Regret gnawed at the pit of her stomach and loneliness began to infect every moment.

The fire was almost out and the night air had turned chilly. Sha'uri was tired. She always felt tired these days. Pulling her shawl tighter around her shoulders, she stared into the dying embers. She knew she ought to sleep, but she would only toss and turn. She couldn't sleep without him anymore. The tears were less frequent now -- she had to go about her life somehow. But every moment ached and the pitying looks from her friends only made her feel more alone. As if that was possible...

She almost didn't hear the door open. She was too deep in her thoughts. But movement out of the corner of her eye startled her. She stood quickly. And when she saw who it was, she gasped aloud. 

Daniel.

He was dirty - disheveled. And he looked like he was about to fall over from exhaustion. Whatever had happened to him hadn't been easy. And Sha'uri could hardly believe he was standing there. She stood frozen to the spot for a long moment, trying to convince herself this wasn't an hallucination. But finally she made her feet move and seconds later, she was wrapped around him, her face buried in his neck, grateful tears falling on his skin.

send me five times kissed for a drabble about five times our muses kissed

i. 

The first kiss was a promise. It was soft, gentle, and chaste.She had been embarrassed and unsure. He didn't want her.At least not as a lover - that had been clear, even if she hadn'tunderstood the words he'd said. But now he was here, lips onhers, hands caressing her cheeks. His eyes were telling quitea different story. She opened to him, returned the kiss. It saidfar more than words ever could.

ii.

She kissed him after the gate closed. He stood  there for along moment after his friends vanished. Like he was sayinggoodbye to a life left behind. She let him be, let him have thatmoment to himself. After a time, she quietly came up besidehim and slipped her hand into his. He wasn't alone and neverwould be. His eyes met hers and the smile she'd quickly cometo love spread across his face. In the kiss that followed, shecould see her future spread about before her.

iii.

They kissed after a fight. This time had been especially bad.The worlds they'd come from were so different, there was somuch they still didn't understand about each other. And therewere moments when words left cuts neither had intended. Itmeant raised voices, it meant the occasional tear, it meant hurt.But it always held a tender reconciliation. Murmured apologies in a mix of languages, the reassurance of skin to skin. And there would always be a kiss. 

iv. 

She never tired of kissing him in public. His cheeks wouldburn and she would swell with pride and affection. The oddsthat they should have found each other -- that they wouldhave this life -- were so small, the thought took her breathaway. Why should she bother to hide it? The world they livedin was changing and she would embrace it. So, in the firelightof the banquet, she pressed her lips to her husband's, ignoringthe good-natured laughs and jeers from the others. Quickly,they faded away, leaving only him. Only them.

v.