As though he had been watching and waiting, the moment Oxyi swallowed the last of their 'starter' the waiter zoomed over to their table. He carried a large tray high above his head, practically as big as the table.
Both Wex's and Oxyi's eyes widened. It was as if a bomber was flying overhead.
"Was everything okay for you?" He asked, placing their mains down and sweeping up the empty plates.
The sheer amount of meat laid in front of them was nothing short of an entire cow. Apparently, a single T-bone was considered a main for two people here - which explained the waiter's surprised look when Wex ordered one too. They had one each. Copious amounts of sides were provided along with the seared steak, forming a barrage of food fit to feed the Fang, nevermind just these two.
Considering Wex's stomach had already signalled to halt the festivities, this mountain of a meal was looking more and more insurmountable with each passing second.
Thankfully, Oxyi seemed less intimidated and was glancing around the table with an excited glimmer in her eye.
"Wow! This looks incredible! Thank you!" She grinned as the waiter turned and left once again, before grabbing her steak knife and making for the T-bone placed in front of her. Wex stared at her, then down at his own steak for a moment, before forcing his hands to do the same.
Oxyi happily dived into the food. Her face lit up with each chunk of steak she pushed into her mouth. When she said she was hungry, she apparently meant it.
For Wex, this meant keeping up with her the best he could. Matching her pace was impossible, not because she was particularly ferocious, but more because his stomach had moved from feeling uncomfortable, to feeling outright sick.
"A-Are you okay, Wex? You look a bit… erm, clammy?" Oxyi asked as her date picked at his food, leaning slightly towards him.
"N-No, I'm fine! Never better! It's just more food than I'm used to!"
"I haven't ordered too much, have I?" She began to look worried, but the captain jumped in straight away rather than letting her mind run away with the thought.
"No! Not at all! I'm just… pacing myself." Wex shrugged. "We've got dessert coming, after all."
"As long as you're okay." Oxyi nodded, going back to her food.
Beads of sweat started to drip down Wex's fringe and into his eyes. He wiped his forehead as subtly as he could as Oxyi glanced back up at him.
"So! I've got some more questions for you!" Oxyi grinned.
"What do you want to know?" Wex replied, a little more short than he'd intended to.
"What does the average day as a pirate captain look like? Are you off swashbuckling bad guys all the time? Stealing treasure, marking things with big red X's -"
"It's not as interesting as you'd think." Wex interrupted with an unconvincing laugh. "Honestly, it's a lot of admin and choices on the daily. Most stuff is sorted by making the right choices several months in advance."
"Awh, come on." Oxyi teased him. "You were raving about being a pirate earlier!"
"It's not like I dislike it, it's just that the day to day stuff is not really why I do it. It's the freedom and the outcomes."
"Oh… So it was a bit of a crap question then?" Oxyi sounded deflated, glancing around the table.
"Yeah. A bit. It would be like me asking you for a play by play of your dressing routine." The captain stopped and closed his eyes, wiping his forehead once more but more obviously this time. "Sorry. I didn't mean that. It was a reasonable question to ask. I'm… I'd like to know more about you. You've proven yourself to be pretty illusive over the last week. I was starting to think you're a honeypot operation!" He joked.
"A what?" Oxyi's face went blank.
"A honeypot..?"
"What's that?"
"O-Oh, it's when you use a beautiful woman, or man I suppose, to seduce someone of interest and get information from them. You did say you wanted to be a spy earlier!" Wex tried to laugh, but his joke clearly had not landed. The lioness' face twisted up.
"Yeah, but not by using my vagina!" She blurted out, far too loudly. "I'm not a prostitute with a gun!"
Oxyi looked around the restaurant to see most of the other customers looking, or pretending they weren't looking, at her. The two of them both reached for their napkins and dabbed their foreheads in unison.
"Sorry, Oxyi. I didn't mean to imply anything of the sort." Wex cleared his throat softly and tried to swallow another small bite of steak, which felt like a tank trap as it slid down his gullet. "For the record though, there's nothing wrong with doing that. In terms of skill. I don't approve of blackmail." Wex quickly clarified. "Or deception. So I guess there is something wrong with it. But not because the agent isn't skilled." He sighed in frustration. "You know what I mean."
Oxyi blinked. She looked somewhat lost. "Yeah."
"I just feel like I know nothing about you." Wex said. "You've spent the last few weeks literally living my life. I don't know where you come from, or anything about your crew, what sort of stuff you like to do!"
"I didn't think there'd be all that much interesting about me." Oxyi said. "I've known Geralt for years, his family's always been close with mine, everyone else though I met through Seeth and Diego… I didn't mean to keep things from you, your life is just so much more exciting than mine, y'know? You know so many different people, your crew are so varied, and kinda crazy. I wanted to find out about you." She smiled sheepishly.
"Well, if that's the case… Why have you spent the last week avoiding me?" Wex asked with an undertone of frustration. "I mean, did you even want to come here tonight? Did you even want to ask me out?"
"What?! Yes of course I did!" Oxyi replied quickly. She looked taken aback, and was no longer smiling.
"Then why did you avoid me afterwards? Do you have any idea how weird and awkward this last week's been for me?" He looked exacerbated.
"Hey, it's been weird for me too!" Oxyi found herself snapping back. "After I asked you and we realised the date wouldn't be for like another week… I panicked, okay?! I didn't know what to do! I felt really stupid asking you on a date and then hanging out with you for ages before going!"
"What? Why? We could've gotten to know each other!" Wex replied incredulously. "You weren't even going to the training sessions, to work-related stuff, you were eating by yourself! I really like you, Oxyi, I was… I was so happy you asked me. But then you disappeared like you wanted nothing to do with me! I thought I'd done something wrong, o-or misunderstood. Or hells, maybe even someone made you do it."
"Of course not! There was just too much pressure!" Oxyi hesitated. "I… I wanted to have the date first, I wanted to do things properly, you guys all… sleep together a lot and I was worried… that…" Oxyi could feel frustrated tears welling in her eyes; she'd been so anxious all day - week - for this?! Oxyi dragged her fingers down her face. "I… I didn't know what to do. What I was supposed to do. I was scared! So I… So I hid. I felt silly. I felt like people would laugh or judge us if we were together before the date… I don't know why I just… completely overthought everything."
"You want to know something about me? I really don't like being messed around." Wex was trying to calm down, but his clothes were pressing tight against his stomach and his hair was slick with sweat. His belly was stuffed with food, and it was making him disagreeable. "My crew - my friends - asking me how things were going between us for me to have to tell them I hadn't seen hide nor hair of you for days…"
"You felt like I was messing you around?" Oxyi asked quietly. She wanted to bite back at him - things had been going well! I mean yeah there was the whole thing with his dead parents buuuuut other than that…
"A little, yeah." Wex mumbled. "My lot said it was fine and you were just nervous, but I couldn't help feeling awful about it. I was stuck between thinking you were messing me around, or that I'd fucked it up somehow."
They slipped into silence. Oxyi's half-eaten steak didn't look quite so appetising now. Her stomach tightened, finally feeling the effects of the massive amount of food she'd eaten. She pushed her fork around the plate, but didn't eat any more. Wex didn't even try.
"Are we done, guys? I've got dessert ready to go!" The waiter suddenly materialised, only waiting for the briefest nod before whisking the mains away. He returned in record time with two enormous sundaes, topped with whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles rising high into the air.
Oxyi managed to put a few spoonfuls away before admitting defeat, but Wex couldn't even bring himself to pick up the spoon. He looked like he was about to pop.
"Oh, and the bill!" The waiter was smiling genuinely for the first time that evening as he placed the little slip of paper onto the table before Wex. "We've automatically added a twenty-percent gratuity, but feel free to tip extra!"
Wex's eyes widened as they scanned down the bill. Oxyi noticed and then, for the first time that day, turned pale. She glanced over at the waiter, all but skipping back towards the kitchen, then back to Wex.
"I-Is it a lot?"
Wex cleared his throat. "It's fine, drop in the bucket, that's all." Big drop in a small bucket maybe…
I-I might have some money left over from shopping!" Oxyi went to reach for her purse - which was still in her rucksack, which she'd explicitly been forbidden to take with her on the date. "Awh fuck! I left my purse at home!"
"It's fine, Oxyi, I got it."
It's not fine! I'll have the T-bone steak, please! I left my purse at home! I promise I'm not messing you around!
"I can pay you some back when we get back to -"
"Oxyi, please?" Wex placed the bill back down, then rubbed his face with his hands. Oxyi looked worried. She fidgeted with her hands, not really sure what to do.
"Can I help?"
"No, no. I just -" He ran his hands through his hair, then sighed as they came to rest on the table. He wouldn't look at her. "I feel really hot, really full, and really fucking uncomfortable…"
He pulled out his wallet and paid the bill. Oxyi cringed away from the amount of money he left. "I just wanted to do the date first." She whispered. "I shouldn't have asked you so early, I should've waited… but I was so nervous to ask you, Wex. I… really like you too… And if I didn't ask you then, I don't think I ever would have…"
Wex stared at her for several long moments. Then, slowly, he pushed himself to his feet. Struggling slightly, he managed to pull his jacket on. Oxyi stood up with him, the moment she did her feet immediately started to protest. She wobbled and swayed, and her stomach rolled. She quickly put her hands on the table for support, but the sudden weight shifted the balance, rattling the towers of ice cream loudly and sending them toppling to the floor. The glass thankfully didn't shatter, but they did project lashings of cream straight into the air and all over Wex… And everyone saw.
"Awh fuck! Sorry!" Oxyi cried out, stumbling over to Wex with a handful of napkins, as did a barrage of waiters. Wex quickly flapped them all away, glanced around the restaurant and ducked his head, beckoning Oxyi towards the door.
"Let's just… go home."
I think I've fucked this up…
He walked just behind her as they left, hiding her from the prying eyes of the other restaurant goers. He pushed the door open for her.
They started the long waddle home… and didn't get far. After about five minutes they had to stop and both collapsed against a park bench. Wex glanced back and winced as he realised they could still see the restaurant. At this rate, the sun would be up before they made it back to the ships.
He had never felt more disgusting in his entire life. He had a really bad case of the meat sweats going, it was so bad the collar of his shirt was damp. He could smell himself and it was gross, a horrific sweaty combination of anxiety and far too much food, and it was so strong that he was certain Oxyi must've been able to smell it as well. His fringe and coat were sticky with cream, matting his usually spotless hair. He spread his legs out and unbuttoned his jacket, letting it flap at his sides as his body tried to find space for oxygen. After a moment, he gave in to the disgust he was feeling and unbuckled the belt on his trousers, sighing softly in relief as he did so.
"Ooooh, kinky!" Oxyi giggled hysterically from the other end of the bench. She felt just as bloated and sweaty as Wex did, and her feet were absolutely killing, but her mouth was still anxiously yapping away. Her eyes darted from his beltless crotch to his face, and felt her face go cold as he stared at her with a 'pleasejust shut the fuck up' expression on his face. She turned away.
She stared out across the park instead. A ways away from them, she noticed another couple. They were making out on another park bench, underneath one of the street lamps. While they weren't… indecent, the couple were all over one another, as one pulled the other into their lap and continued their passionate kiss. Oxyi felt her stomach grumble and roll and ache at just the thought of executing such a manoeuvre in her current bloated state.
"Wow, I cannot think of doing anything worse right now." Someone said, out loud, then froze and gripped the sides of the bench. Wex followed Oxyi's gaze, noticed what she was talking about, then slowly turned back towards her. Oxyi didn't have to look up at him to know he was shooting her that 'shut the fuck up' look again. If she had looked though, she would've also seen the slight hint of hurt in his eyes, even though he knew what she was talking about… right? He glanced down at himself, self-consciously, and quickly tidied himself back up, even though his belly greatly protested as he re-tightening his belt.
"Let's, uh, carry on our way, shall we?" He said, standing. "If we want to be home before morning."
"Okay." Oxyi murmured.
Wex didn't offer her his hand this time. She winced as she got to her feet. The rest of the way, they walked in silence.
*
The walk back took them significantly longer than the walk out. It was close to an hour before they were finally greeted by the Fang's silhouette - and it was a welcome sight indeed.
The walk, however, had actually helped the both of them. They were still quiet, but their stomachs were feeling much less bloated and uncomfortable now.
Wex actually seemed in good spirits now, or at least better ones, now that they were back. Either way, Oxyi was relieved. She expected him to leave her there, but instead he gestured towards the Minitaur, and he walked just behind Oxyi as she led the way towards the ship's sleeping quarters. Her heart quickened slightly, as her mind began to wander, and wonder. But deep down she knew nothing was going to happen. Wex still hadn't said anything to her. He was just being polite, making sure his date got home safely.
His date… She couldn't imagine he'd ever call her that again. Her heart sank a tiny bit more with every step they took. All too soon, they'd reached Oxyi's room.
"Well, this is me!" She tried to sound positive, but she barely produced more than a mumble. The last hour's silence sat heavily on her tongue. She hovered uncertainly outside the bedroom door, standing stiff as a board. "Umm…" finally, she thrust out her hand towards Wex, as though in an attempt to shake, but what actually happened is that she thrust her arm out at an awkward, robotic ninety-degree angle. "Thanks for uh, taking me out." She tried to smile, but it came out more of a grimace, like she was trying to hold back a burp.
Wex glanced down at her hand, then back at her face quizzically. He seemed confused, maybe with her, maybe with himself. He hadn't decided. After a few seconds, she dropped her hand. She continued to hover, fiddling with her wrists, practically vibrating on the spot in the tension. She wasn't sure what to do next, when -
"You are such an enigma, Oxyi!"
Wex started to laugh. He clutched his stomach as the laughter rolled through his belly. "What the fuck was that?!"
"Wha-What do you mean?" Oxyi replied defensively, but she was fighting her own smile. His laughter was infectious.
"The way you just stood there, like you'd just fucking wet yourself!" Wex leaned against the wall, trying to breathe as he wiped his eyes.
"At least I did something!" Oxyi snapped back playfully. "You just stood there like a right bellend! You'd probably still be standing there tomorrow if I'd gone inside."
"Ha! You know, I don't even know if that's wrong… Oh god I've made a mess of this whole thing, haven't I." Wex sighed, but his smile was hesitant to leave his face. "I'm not like a bellend, I am one. I'm so sorry, Oxyi. I shouldn't have lost my cool at you like that. There's no excuse for how I behaved."
Oxyi stared down at the floor. "You were perfect." She murmured. "I… I'm sorry, Wex."
He glanced down at her. She looked so distraught. There were sauce stains all down her dress, and her makeup was smudged. Her hair had started to frizz and wild out from the tidy curls she'd started the evening with.
And yet, his heart fluttered when she glanced back up at him.
"Maybe next time we should eat before we go out." Wex chuckled lightly. "Go to a bar or an arcade or something, do some activities instead of just sitting around. I feel like you'd enjoy axe throwing. I don't think either of us were in our element tonight."
"Next time?" Oxyi couldn't hide her surprise. "You… want there to be a next time?"
Wex blinked. "I…" The words had just sort of slipped out, he hadn't even realised what he'd said. But as he mulled the words over now, his stomach tingled with little butterflies. "I think I do." His surprise wasn't as obvious as Oxyi's, but it was there. He smiled. "Look, as far as first dates go -"
"- This was a disaster." Oxyi finished, but she was smiling through her embarrassment.
"BUT - I've had worse dates. Much worse." Wex grinned.
"Really?" Oxyi raised an eyebrow. "Forgive me if I don't quite believe that."
"Maybe I'll tell you about them sometime. Get me drunk enough and I'll share all my dirty secrets." Wex winked at her, then blushed gently. Oxyi blushed with him and glanced away, tucking her loose curls back behind her ear.
"There's something about you, Oxyi." Wex murmured. He reached up and gently moved her hair back, all fluffed and messy. "I can't explain it. I've made a living out of being charismatic and confident. Being around you, all of it goes out the window. I feel like a teenager again, asking my crush to prom."
"I'm sorry." Oxyi sighed. "My nerves are infectious."
"Don't be sorry for being yourself, Oxyi." Wex smiled. His hand was still hovering around her hair. "It's… kinda nice. It's different. And you weren't the only one that was nervous." He shook his head in gentle disbelief. "Oh, and for the record, you're more interesting than you think. Stop putting yourself down." His hand drifted away, and Oxyi felt her heart drop slightly, but then he took her hand in his, and brought it to his lips. "Don't avoid me for a week this time before coming to speak to me again." He said softly as he returned her hand to her side.
"O-Okay." Oxyi stammered, her heart pounding, her knuckles tingling like they were electrified where he had kissed them.
"Well, I should go, leave you be before I inevitably embarrass myself again." Wex quickly tidied himself, pulling on the collar of his coat and straightening himself out. "Goodnight, Oxyi."
"G-Goodnight, Wex..."
She had no idea how long she stood there, praying for him to come back. But then she'd found herself sagged on her bed, so she must have moved at some point. She sat there, face in her hands as she watched him leave in her mind's eye, the way his coat had swished back round the corner, and out of sight. She kept replaying it in her mind. It all felt a bit like a fever dream now, had any of it really happened? Judging from how sweaty she was, and how much her feet were aching from those horrible shoes digging into them for the last few hours, she'd say yes, it probably had happened… She sighed, kicked off said shoes and pulled her dress off over her head, with no regard for her hair or makeup now, and then unclasped her bra. No amount of shame and embarrassment could stifle her sigh of relief as she pulled it all off. After that, she bundled herself up in her duvet. It was warm, soft, and comforting. The feeling of its gentle embrace wrapped around her shoulders broke her in mere moments. Tears pricked in her eyes, and she buried her face in her hands.
He was so kind. He hadn't deserved any of the mess she'd made tonight. She wasn't good enough for him. He'd planned the entire date, she dreaded to think what the final bill had come to, and he'd paid for all of it. All she'd managed to do was make a fool of herself and make a fool of him, and that was without considering the nightmare she'd been all day, to his crew as well as her own. Oxyi could only consider herself the luckiest girl in the world that she'd managed to find herself with some of the most patient people in the world.
And so, what now?
Everyone would wake up tomorrow and ask her how the date had gone. She felt her heart shatter in her chest, and tears poured down her cheeks, trickling between her fingers.
She couldn't bear the thought of tomorrow. Tomorrow without him.
After a few minutes the tears slowed. Although her mind still raced, she managed to calm herself down somewhat. She sat with her hands clasped in her lap, staring at the glistening trails her tears had left across them.
It was okay. She still had time.
"ahhh…."
Maybe they could try again, like Wex had said. Maybe she could arrange it this time.
"oh my god…"
Maybe they could double date with Diego. Or all go out as a group. Just to help keep conversation light, and her mouth in check -
"fuck!"
Oxyi froze. A low moan escaped through the floor above, and pricked her ears. Oxyi felt her whole body tense, unsure if she'd actually just heard… but then she heard another. And another.
She hadn't heard them before. Seeth's ship was well soundproofed, but apparently not well enough to proof against the three of them…
Her stomach clenched. She felt her body loosen, her nethers tingle…
"You're milking me dry!"
NO!
Oxyi bolted off the bed, throwing the duvet off her shoulders.
I WILL NOT BE THE ONLY PERSON NOT GETTING LAID TONIGHT!
Her pulse quickening, Oxyi dashed into the bathroom for the quickest shower of her life. Careful not to get her hair wet, she scrubbed the makeup from her face and the sweat from her skin.
She wasn't sure how long this burst of confidence - stubbornness - was going to last. She had to move, fast. She must not stop to think. She towel-dried herself quickly, trying to brush her teeth and her hair all at the same time.
The sleek little lingerie piece Ceri had helped her pick out was still folded neatly in its paper bag on the floor. She pulled it out and held it up in front of her.
I have to try. I can't just leave it like this.
She pulled the piece on, through her legs then over her body, the silken straps sliding along her arms, the dress floated gracefully around her hips. As she tucked herself in and adjusted, she almost froze.
She didn't tell me it was fucking crotchless!
She forced her brain past the freeze, forced her body to keep moving as she made herself as comfortable as she could.
This will help, it can only help.
She moved quickly past the bedroom mirror - catching even a glimpse of herself would derail the entire thing, she was certain. They'd also bought a nice satin dressing down to go with her lingerie, and Oxyi quickly pulled it on, tying it tightly around her waist. She thought momentarily about shoes, then decided her slippers would probably mess with the look and she was not about to put those heels back on, so barefooted it was. Her heart still pounding, her mind blank and full of concentrating on remaining blank, Oxyi pulled the bedroom door back open.
One foot in front of the other. Left, right, left, right.
Oxyi firmly made her way down the corridor. The metal tiles were cold against her feet, which was shocking at first, but then soothing. It helped ground her, distract her from her quickly-building anxiety.
It can't have been long since he left, thirty minutes maybe? He'll still be awake, he has to be.
The corridors, both of Seeth's ship and the Fang's once she'd legged it across the docking bay, were thankfully deserted. Jeez, I really would've been the only one not getting laid, she thought with a hiccuping chuckle as she made her way down the sleeping quarters.
So much had gone wrong today. She was so grateful that there was no-one around to see her. She deserved something to go her way, finally.
A perk of going on a date with the captain also meant that his room was easily identifiable. The majority of the doors in the sleeping quarters were identical but leaned even heavier into the pirate aesthetic than the rest of the ship, featuring faux wooden panels and aging bolt-locks, but still functioning like traditional sliding doors. Wex however, had thecaptain's quarters. Right at the end of the corridor, a larger pair of charred oak doors beckoned her closer. There was a decorative silver bell and pull rope bolted to the side, and elegant detailing stamped on the yoke in thick red wax. As her legs brought her closer to the door though, her body started to tremble. The cold floor sent unpleasant shivers up her legs. She was breathing heavily, her nerves threatening to spill over.
This had better be Wex's room now. She tried to make herself laugh. If the door opens and it's fucking Hammond I might just kill myself. The thought didn't help though; in fact, it just opened a whole new can of 'what could go wrongs' for her. What if for some incredibly unlikely reason half his ship was sitting inside his bedroom, right now?!
I can't do this.
But her feet were still moving, one in front of the other, towards his door.
What do I even say to him?!
Her claws tip-tapped softly against the wooden floorboards.
What am I supposed to do?!
And then her feet stopped.
They couldn't go any further. She was here, outside his door. She raised a shaking hand - the same one he'd kissed.
He told me not to wait.
She clenched her fingers into a shaking fist.
He said he wanted a second date - and he never said the first had to be over!
Her lips were dry. She tried to swallow, tried to breathe, tried to calm her heart, tried to stop her legs from trembling.
She couldn't do it.
Apparently though, she could - as suddenly, she found herself knocking.
Oxyi barely heard it over the roar of her own blood in her ears, but she felt the wood against her hand, and the impact, the sting from where she'd hit too hard.
Ohmygodohmygodohmygod.
A second passed. Then two.
It's all going wrong.
Three.
I can't do this.
Four.
I need to leave.
Five.
This was a mistake.
And as she started to twist, prepared to run -
- the door slid open.
A gentle gasp escaped from Oxyi's lips.
Wex stood in the doorway, his hands resting against the frame. He looked like he'd just come out of the shower, water droplets clinging desperately to his skin, tussled hair still damp, hanging loose and long across his shoulders. Remnants of steam danced across his bare skin, which was all bare, save for the towel wrapped loosely around his hips. Her eyes flickered from his face, down across his chest, his arms, his abs, further down to his hips, so teasingly covered up by the towel, so easily removed if she just reached forward - then quickly darted back up to his face. He looked surprised, but… pleased. He opened his mouth to speak, and for some reason, this kicked Oxyi's brain into gear.
"Don't!" She blurted out. "Please, just, let me speak, before I lose my nerve!" She took a deep breath as Wex closed his mouth, a small smile on his lips, and nodded.
"I… I don't want tonight to end like this." Oxyi said. Her brain was moving at a million miles an hour, trying to pluck words from… everywhere. "I know you said I don't have to apologise for being nervous, but I am sorry. I'm sorry for how badly things went tonight. I'm so sorry for avoiding you. I could've been better, and I should've been. But, when I wasn't dying from embarrassment -" she laughed - "I was actually really enjoying myself. I loved getting to know you. I never thought I could bond with someone so much over guns!" She really laughed then, and Wex chuckled too. "I'm incredibly new to all of this. I say stupid things without thinking - or maybe from thinking too much - but either way, it all seems to come out wrong. But I think we can salvage it. I think we can still have a really good night… if you'd like to. You're really hot. If you're not interested, I get it, but here I am, so if you want some please just take it." Her fingers shaking, she dug her nails into the knot on the rope of her dressing gown. She let the fabric slip off her shoulders, off her body, and onto the floor.
"I'm all yours… Captain."
A gentle growl from the back of his throat escaped between his lightly parted lips.
He stared at the lioness, his gaze sweeping over her curves, her hips, her breasts, her slender but strong figure, the way her hair curled and caressed around her shoulders.
He pulled her towards him, stepping back into the bedroom and sliding the door shut behind them.
He pressed softly, gently, his body against hers, pressing her back against the door. He could hear her breathing, feel it hot against his face. One hand felt upwards, for her hair, grasping softly with his fingers. The other teased downwards, tentatively stroking her hips.
Finally, they found each-other's lips.
She let him lead her over to the bed. His mouth was soft but hungry against hers and gently he laid her down, and rested on top of her. The duvet beneath her was soft and silky, and quite possibly the most comfortable thing she'd ever rested against. It was almost distracting from the chiselled abs pressing down against her torso, and the firm, desperate lips pressed against hers.
Almost.
She could feel him, hard between her legs. Her breath was hot, but so was his. She was spared only a few precious seconds of steamy air before Wex would pull her back in, and onto his lips.
She felt clumsy. She hoped he couldn't feel it. She tried to follow her body's lead, and what it wanted. She arched her hips, her back, she racked her hands through his hair, shivered as his went exploring, and desperately kissed the lips before her.
As she broke off again, gasping for breath, Wex's lips went exploring too, pecking and nibbling at her jawline, then down her neck. She kept her eyes closed, lips parted as she sunk into the bed, into his grasp, his tickly little kisses along her neck sending further little shivers along her body.
Until his lips teased down her collarbone, and she moaned.
She gasped as soon as the sound came out, covering her mouth with her hands. As she blushed red, she started to giggle. And then she couldn't stop giggling. She felt Wex stop, then lift himself up to look down at her. I've fucked it, she thought, still unable to stop her nervous little giggles. Hesitantly, she opened her eyes.
And Wex started giggling too.
They laughed. Oxyi moved her hands away from her face and Wex pressed his forehead against hers, their snouts resting against one-other. Their bodies trembling with laughter and silliness and an untempered desire, Oxyi wrapped her arms around his neck, and nuzzled against his face. His hands were still against her body.
"Did I… come on a bit strong there?" Wex finally asked. He looked down sheepishly, but his ruby eyes shone as he looked at her.
"N-No!" Oxyi replied quickly. It had all been very intense… but she wasn't complaining. Not with him anyway, as she internally berated herself for ruining the mood. "Sorry, I'm just… a bit rusty."
"Rusty? After you walked all the way here in just your lingerie?" Wex twirled one of the straps around his fingers. "I was just trying to match your game."
"Beginner's luck I guess."
Wex sat up on the bed, pulling Oxyi with him. She allowed herself a few seconds to scan the room - the scarlet bedsheets, dark and smokey in the low lighting, the black canopy drapes, an impressive golden chandelier and several sets of wall-mounted, decorative guns - before focusing back on his face.
"What do you want to do, Oxyi?" He asked gently, brushing a finger against her cheek. "No pressure, no expectations."
"It's not that. I… I'm just worried I won't be very good." Oxyi replied, hiding her face against his chest. It was warm, and his heartbeat was strong and fast.
"Are you a virgin?"
"What?!" Oxyi leered away, looking at Wex with horror and embarrassment. "No!" She almost shouted. Oh my god, is it that bad? I literally look like I don't know what I'm doing at all?!
"Okay, okay, sorry." Wex chuckled, his hands gently trying to coax her back in. "I just wanted to know what you're comfortable with, what you've done before. I want this to be good for you."
Oxyi looked him up and down as she went to reply - then noticed, somehow for the first time, that during their little makeout Wex had lost the towel around his waist. She really blushed then, and had to clasp her hands together so as not to instinctively cover her face.
Okay, I can see why he thought I was a virgin.
"It's… been a while." Oxyi admitted. "I had a boyfriend out of high school. We were together for a couple of years, but it was… Oh god it was awful." She shifted. "Look, I've already ruined the mood once, I don't want to -"
"- You haven't ruined anything." Wex placed a hand gently on her thigh. Desire throbbed through her otherwise tense body. "Tell me."
"We… We dated for a couple years." Oxyi continued hesitantly. "We slept together a few times - or we tried to, anyway. That was the intention. But it was just… rubbish. I didn't like anything he did. And he wouldn't really do that much with me. He was also a really slobbery kisser." Oxyi laughed half-heartedly. " The… sex we had -" she struggled even to say the word - "was painful, and when it wasn't that, it was far from pleasurable. Eventually he called it off. Made me feel like there was something wrong with me. Apparently his previous girlfriends hadn't had any complaints." Oxyi fidgeted with her hands.
Wex rolled his eyes and draped his other arm across her shoulders. "A likely story. He sounds like a selfish dickhead. And a terrible fuck."
"He was!" Oxyi giggled, and smiled at Wex. "B-But, yeah. I'm… inexperienced. And I don't want things to repeat themselves with you." Oxyi glanced down at his chest, then back to his face before her eyes could stray too far down. Wex looked thoughtful for a moment, then leaned in towards her.
"Do you trust me, Oxyi?"
Oxyi's lips parted to accept his kiss. She followed him as he leaned back, upwards, shifting from cross legged onto her knees so as not to break their kiss.
"Yes." She breathed around his lips.
"And would you… like to try with me, tonight?" He murmured. His fingers were creeping away from her thigh… "No pressure, no expectations?"
"...I want to."
He kept her occupied with his lips, and gentle, teasing flicks of his tongue. But she heard him rummage behind him for a moment, with his free hand into the bedside table. He paused for a moment, moving away slightly, squirting some lube onto his fingers.
"Still no pressure, but just so I don't have to interrupt us again - do I need condoms?"
"N-No." Oxyi almost giggled again. The way he'd asked, it was so matter of fact, so mature…
And surprisingly hot.
"I'm on birth control, i-it's okay." She stammered. But she wasn't scared. She was staring down at Wex's fingers in desperate anticipation. She'd known it, but hadn't known it… how long she'd wanted this for. How long she'd wanted someone to touch her, but she'd been far too shy to make a move on anyone. How touch-deprived she was. Living with Seeth hadn't caused it, it had been there long before, but being around her, and then Plasia too for so long with no relief, nothing…
He pulled on her chin, turning her gaze back to his. His fingers slipped inside her.
He was slow at first, gentle, moving curiously, figuring out what she liked, what she reacted to. He could feel how tense she was, that she was still hesitant. He placed his other hand on the small on her back and, just gently, encouraged her to move with him. His lips refused to part from her body.
He treated her with patience, and experience. While his fingers played, explored, rubbing softly, penetrating deeply, he caressed her, running his lips across hers, before moving again down her neck, her chest, teeth teasing at the straps of her lingerie. He listened instantly for her every breath, her gasps, when she shivered and when she arched. "I feel like I'm being selfish." She laughed breathlessly. Her hands were firmly on Wex's hips, and when she'd tried to play with him, he'd moved her hands back.
"Don't worry about me. Just focus on you."
Oxyi relaxed. Before long, the lube was no longer required.
Oxyi's body was responding to his touch in ways that she had previously only imagined. In those moments, in the dark when she couldn't sleep, as moans echoed up through the floorboards of her flat. When her body had screamed at her to touch herself, but fear and doubt had frozen her hands by her sides.
Her body had taken charge now.
Despite the pleasure she was feeling though, he was still just teasing her. And when she tried to tell him as such, he purred. "I don't know what you're talking about," he whispered with a wink, before thrusting his face into her neck. "We need to warm you up, don't we?"
Oxyi was plenty warm. Warm in her chest, in her stomach, between her legs as warmth and wet started to trickle down her legs. Wex didn't say anything, but a tiny, satisfied sigh escaped his lips.
Was he waiting for her? As Wex's fingers slowed, she was graced with a moment of clarity. She hadn't been allowed to touch him, but he had been hard, the entire time. When he pressed up close to her, she felt him. Haven't I done enough, she thought, as she twisted her neck upwards and kissed Wex's neck. I asked him out, I came all the way here in my fucking underwear, do I have to mount him too?! She wasn't sure where this burst of frustration, of anger, of confidence had come from (although she imagined it might have had something to do with the desperate aching between her legs) but she decided to take advantage of it. It had worked the first time, after all.
The second we're done here, I'm burning his precious Pirate Code.
Oxyi hooked her leg out from underneath her and wrapped it around Wex's hips. She fell back, pulling him with her until she hit the bed. The tingling between her legs faded as Wex placed his hands out to stop himself from landing on her, a look of amused surprise on his face.
"Is someone getting impatient?"
He ran a hand through her hair, locking her head in his arms.
"Do you want me to fuck you now?"
The air left Oxyi's lungs, her answer choking in the back of her throat. Her body tensed again, but he felt so warm, so strong, so solid above her. His hands were soft, his kisses tender. His tail flicked, and started to coil around her thigh. Her leg, trembling a little, was still hooked around his waist.
Maybe… Maybe it was a different kind of tense she was feeling.
"Yes." She whispered, into the dark.
Oxyi gasped as he entered her.
It did hurt, at first. His movements were slow, though, and he guided her leg back down to his side. She shuffled around, down the bed slightly, tilting her hips upwards until she was more comfortable. Wex moved with her, his forehead resting against hers. "Relax," he whispered, the words tickling over her lips.
And she did.
Slowly, his thrusts became longer. Deeper. His breathing came in gentle gasps as his body rocked.
She felt his body tense around hers, his hands gripping at her hair. He wanted more.
He grabbed the straps of her lingerie and pulled, the stitching popping as he yanked them down her arms. Oxyi immediately complied, threading her hands free and shifting her body as he pulled the piece down her torso.
He pulled out, only for a few seconds as he tore her underwear over her hips and down her legs, but in those seconds, Oxyi was overcome with a feeling of emptiness. She kicked desperately, flinging the lingerie away as he sunk back inside her.
And it felt wonderful. She welcomed him back with a loud moan, and wrapped herself tightly around him. Wex immediately moved downwards, onto her breasts, kissing, teasing, sucking her nipples. Resting on his arms, he moved his hands onto her breasts, squeezing firmly, drowning in her. It had been one of Oxyi's many worries, but perhaps a little less unfounded than most. She wasn't particularly curvy, or busty. She had a tall, athletic build which, after being around the Controllers for so long, couldn't help but leave her self-conscious over her body. Even amongst his crew, Wex wasn't exactly in short supply of curvaceous women.
Her worry had been unwarranted though.
He devoured her.
Oxyi moaned with every thrust, fingers gripping desperately onto his shoulders.
Every motion sent tingly pangs of pleasure cascading through her body. She felt a slow fire pooling in her abdomen, collecting and growing in intensity with his every movement.
Oxyi had to stifle a frustrated sigh as she felt him slow down. He was breathing heavily, panting softly into her cleavage.
"Why are you -" she started, then paused. "Did you - did you… finish?"
"No!" Wex sounded offended. As he lifted himself up slightly, he opened his eyes and grinned down at her. "That's hardly a way to treat a lady, is it Oxyi?"
"What do you mean?" She breathed.
"A gentleman lets his partner finish first." He said, his smile twisting into a cheeky smirk.
"But aren't you - can't you… y'know, keep going?" Oxyi asked.
"I can have multiple orgasms, yes. But I'm a man of manners and principles, Oxyi, you know that."
"B-But what if I can't?!"
The question came out more panicked than she meant it to. Wex stopped. "I-I-I mean, I'm… this feels absolutely amazing," she stammered, "But I haven't… done this before. I can't… I don't know if I can. I don't feel like…"
She wasn't lying. The way that Wex was making her body feel was incredible, somewhat surreal after so many years lacking sexual gratification. But she hadn't been able to come. Maybe there was still some anxiety there, she wasn't sure, but she didn't want to stop Wex from enjoying herself, just because of her.
Wex sighed. He straightened himself up, so that he was on his knees. Oxyi panicked for a moment, that she'd ruined it again - but he was still inside her.
"Oxyi."
His hand, again. He slipped it between her thighs.
"Didn't I say to stop worrying about me?"
Oxyi's eyes widened as he started to thrust, and then started to rub her too.
He bottomed out immediately. He wasn't there for Oxyi to hold onto anymore, so she stretched her arms across the bed, gripping tightly onto the sheets instead. Wex watched her, an intense look in his eyes. They didn't once stray from her face, not even as his other hand gripped her leg, and lifted it onto his shoulder.
FUCK.
He was deep. Oxyi's heart was racing. Her hips moved to meet his thrusts. His fingers sent sparks rippling down her legs.
"Come for me, Oxyi."
He might have whispered it. He could have shouted it in her ear. She barely heard. Her gasps were coming quicker, interrupted only by her moans.
Her vision went dark. The rest of the world ceased to exist. It was just her, and him.
And… And…
"Oh my god!"
Her eyes rolled back.
It was like nothing she'd ever felt before. An explosion between her legs, a strong, tingling shock like electricity running across her stomach, to her chest, down her legs, everywhere. It had all been so sudden. She'd expected some… warning, she guessed, but… but holy fuuuuuuck…
She clenched around him, wrapped her legs, refusing to release him. This feeling, this moment, she could not let it go. This was how she wanted to feel, forever.
When she finally returned to her body, her chest rising and falling dramatically, she pried open her eyes. She'd squeezed them so tightly shut, they had to blink and readjust to the low light of the room. She glanced down at Wex. He wasn't looking at her anymore. His head was down, and he was panting just as hard as she was. She could feel his legs trembling against her own.
He seemed to sense her. After a few seconds, he glanced back up. Gently he slipped her leg off his shoulder, and back to the bed. He crawled forward, so he was on top of her again, and gently planted a kiss against her lips.
"So… how was that?"
Oxyi burst out laughing. Her post-orgasm trembles doubled us as laughter shook through her body. Wex tried to keep it together, but quickly broke too with a snort, burying his face into her neck as he laughed with her.
There was no embarrassment this time, though.
Oxyi didn't realise she was crying straight away, warm tears rolling from the corners of her eyes and down her cheeks. Wex felt it hit his skin, and he briefly looked up, his laughter fading with concern, but then he saw that she was smiling, and he relaxed.
"I'm sorry!" Oxyi managed to say between hiccupy sobs. "I… You… Fuck that was amazing." She covered her face with her hands, trying to calm herself down. "I think it was just a bit…"
Wex rolled off her, but stayed lying next to her. He moved her hands away from her face and stroked her cheek. "Overwhelming?"
"Yeah!" The word shuddered through her as she laughed. "I'm okay, I promise."
"We're gonna have a problem if the first thing you do after sex is apologise to me, by the way." Wex brought Oxyi in close, tucking her under his chin. "You can cry as much as you like - so long as they're good tears - but you gotta stop apologising."
"S-Sorry - I-I mean, okay!" Oxyi laughed into his chest. "She tucked her arms in close as the shudders through her body finally started to ease. "Did you come too?"
"Yeah." Wex ran a hand through her hair. "Not before I got to watch you come, though." He wrapped his arms around her and rolled her on top of him. Oxyi squealed and giggled. "Whatd'ya think then?" He sat her across his chest. "You wanna keep going? Or you done there?"
"I… I think I'm done." She glanced down at him, suddenly nervous again. "Is that okay?"
"'Course it is, silly!" He ran his hands through his own hair then. It was slick with sweat. "Might have to go take another shower." He laughed. He scooped Oxyi up and sat up, making to carry her off the bed. It was all a whir and a daze, but she managed to break through it enough to shout "No! No, not yet!"
Wex glanced down at her. "What do you mean?"
"I…" Oxyi hesitated. "I'm done right now… but maybe we could carry on in a bit?" She looked at him shyly.
Wex studied her for a moment. Then his face broke out into a grin as he threw her back onto the bed.
Afterwards, they lay together for hours. They talked and laughed. It was a complete one-eighty compared to the restaurant. Conversation came easy, they flirted, they teased. Before too long, Oxyi had rolled herself on top of him.
Eventually, they dragged themselves away from the bed and into Wex's ensuite shower. It was big enough for two, but still pressed them close together. So, Wex pressed Oxyi against the tiles and lifted her up. She swung her legs obediently around him as he entered her once more. This time was shorter though. It had been… one hell of a day, and between the high-strung emotions and the sex, both were exhausted.
Afterwards, as she watched him wash himself off and pressed her palms against their handprints, left on the glass, Oxyi couldn't help but wonder how many other girls he'd had in this shower, in his bed. The thought only lasted a moment though, before she realised, she didn't fucking care. It was her now. She'd fought damn hard for this, and she would just dare another girl to try and take him away from her now. The fire brewing inside her belly surprised her, but the warmth was pleasant. She smiled at Wex as he hopped out of the shower. She hadn't had the opportunity to notice it before, but Wex had a magnificent ass. He noticed her grinning as he turned back to face her.
"What you smiling at back there?" Wex teased, handing her a towel.
"Oooh nothing." Oxyi teased back, wrapping the towel around her. It was warm and soft. "I was just… thinking."
"About..?"
Oxyi was silent for a moment. "Oh, you know, nothing really… just, something you said… about gentlemen letting the girl finish first?"
"Yeah? What about it?" He asked. He turned towards the sink and filled a beaker with water.
Her lips twitched. "I feel like someone should tell Diego that."
Wex snorted, water launching straight back out of his nose. "Why are you all so adamant on telling me about my brother's sex life?!" He spluttered as Oxyi doubled over in hysterics. "I DO NOT need to hear it!"
Back in his bed, thoroughly satisfied and satisfyingly sore, Oxyi and Wex curled up together. She rested her head against his chest. He held one of her hands in his, stroking her fingers, and ran his own through her hair with the other.
It didn't take long for either of them to fall asleep.
*
BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG
Oxyi and Wex woke with a start, Wex's heart pounding in his chest to the exact same rhythm as the banging. He was scrabbling up the bed when his brain finally kicked in enough to be able to understand the voices.
"WAKEY WAKEY, CAPTAIN!"
"What the - What the fuck?!" Wex blinked heavily, fumbling around to check the time. "It's six a.m.!" They'd probably only slept for a few hours. "What's going on?!"
"IT'S PILATES ME HEARTIES TIME!"
Laughter roared from the other side of the door. From the sounds of it, the entirety of Wex's crew was standing just outside his room!
"Ah shit, I forgot it was pilates Thursday." Wex mumbled. "Should've timed this better."
"Pilates what?!" Oxyi was struggling to wake up. At the sound of her voice, a resounding cheer went up from the other side of the door, along with a fresh round of laughter. "Are these rooms not soundproofed?!"
"Yeah they are, but I had to set it to switch off for Pilates Me Hearties mornings, otherwise no-one wakes up for it." Wex replied. There was a slight blush to his cheeks. "I've finally been caught out by my own creation."
"Now you know how it feels! Sorry it had to be you, Oxyi." That sounded like Diesel. "But this is something of a ritual around here."
"W-Wait, I don't have to come with you, do I?!" Oxyi suddenly looked panicked. She felt so tired she wasn't sure if she could stand, nevermind exercise right now.
"Don't sound so worried, Oxyi, I'm sure you're an absolute pro at that now!" That was Ceri - of course it fucking was. "Get your butts out here! We're all eager to get started!"
"This is a thing you do?!" Oxyi turned to Wex incredulously. He was across the room, pulling some still fabulous but more exercise-suitable clothes on.
"Yeah." He grinned. "Sorry, I should probably come with a warning; if you're sleeping with the hearties, you gotta pilates with the hearties."
"No exception for the captain?" Oxyi could feel herself smiling, despite herself. She looked over at the door, which was being pounded against again. "Let me guess, it's in the Pirate Code?"
Wex burst out laughing. "I was under duress when I added it, but yes, it is actually in the code."
Oxyi smiled at the captain - her captain - as she watched him dress. Although it made her heart sink to watch his hard, ebonite skin disappear, she could not deny that this man had a fantastic sense of style and he wore it well, and even watching him dress on very little sleep was stirring her body to life. She wanted to pull him back into bed. His crew would get bored eventually - or let them fucking listen if they really want - but she couldn't help but admire their comradary. It was like she'd walked into a large, crazy, dysfunctional but incredibly loving and loyal family. And no amount of naughty tingles was going to make Oxyi be the one to disrupt that.
It was only as Wex finished buttoning his cotton shirt that Oxyi suddenly stiffened. She half-leapt, half-fell out of bed and scrabbled around the bedroom floor. "Fuck, fuck, FUCK!"
"What's up?"
"My dressing gown!" Oxyi hissed between her teeth. "When I took it off I… must have left it outside…"
There was silence between them for a moment, then Wex snorted and did a bad job of stifling a laugh.
"Wex this is serious, I don't have any clothes in here!"
That got another roar of laughter and a fresh round of whoops and whistles from outside the door.
"Well, I mean, you could always…" He gestured towards her lingerie set, elegantly discarded on the floor beside the bed.
"ABSOLUTELY NOT!" She couldn't believe it. Wex Harley, five-hundred-year old distinguished pirate captain, gentleman, sharp shooter, charismatic and kind, was also one of the fucking lads. She turned her attention back to the door. "Could y'all maybe… leave for five minutes?" She pleaded. "I'll come back!"
"ABOLSUTELY NOT!" They mimicked and laughed.
"Awh, cut her some slack guys, this is Oxyi's first walk of shame!"
Oxyi froze. She knew that voice. She'd known that voice for a very long time…
"GERALT?! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU DOING OUT THERE?!"
"Same as you, I hope!"
There was more laughter, and Wex laughed too. "Geralt's become quite the regular at Pilates Me Hearties." He winked at Oxyi's stunned face. "Didnt't he tell you?"
"HE - HE'S - YOU MEAN - HE'S…" Oxyi couldn't even get the words out.
"Getting back in the saddle?" She heard Geralt chuckle. "Isn't that what you called it?"
"Oh my god." Although she was still shocked, slowly her face broke out into a smile. Then, she started to laugh too. Wex came over and draped one of his own dressing gowns across her shoulders, holding her close and smiling as she pulled her arms through the sleeves.
"You're not gonna get me out of this are you?" Oxyi grinned up at him.
"Nope." He grinned back, but his eyes were soft. Despite the heavy bags under them, they sparkled a vibrant ruby red when he looked down at Oxyi's face. He planted a kiss on her forehead. "I'm sure they'll allow us to walk to your room and get you some clothes - although I imagine they'll all accompany us there. There's absolutely no wriggling out of Pilates Me Hearties, I'd lose all credibility amongst the crew."
"Aww, and we couldn't have that could we." Oxyi teased, burying her face in his chest. Her hand reached for his and squeezed it tight.
"Who knows, maybe you'll enjoy it so much that you become a regular, too." Wex squeezed hers back.
Oxyi's heart skipped a beat. "W-Would you like that?"
"I would." The captain murmured into her hair, kissing the tip of her ear. She shivered. "Would you?"
"I… I would." Oxyi blushed hot against Wex's chest. Her face was breaking out into a silly, excited grin. "I really would."
Wex stepped back and grinned too, looking down at her happily. Still holding her hand, Wex turned her around the room so she was facing the door, and stepped towards it. His free hand hovered over the control panel.
"Ready?"
Oxyi quickly pulled the dressing gown around her front, and gripped it tightly.
"Ready."