bakerstreet | Protect

Protect

♔ｐｒｏｔｅｃｔ♘

You're a someone on a dangerous quest, a hero in a not-so-easy spot, a royal, or maybe even the last of your kind who will bring about the Earth's redemption. Whatever the case may be, you're valuable, and you're in a position that may be a bit dicey if you attract the wrong kind of attention.

And you're the protector, the only person who can keep that erstwhile hero or heroine out of harm's way. Somehow, you've been roped into protecting this person, whether it be through your loyalty to them or someone close to you, a mission, or a promised reward. You'll be rewarded, of course. The work may be cut out for you, but just do your job, keep your head down, and it'll go smooth.

Except, as things get more perilous and truths are revealed, the two of you break the bounds of protector/protected or guide/guided and feelings may begin to flourish. Being in such close quarters may get you to see the other in a different light, and saving someone's life just may be the ultimate form of intimacy.

Could this be the real danger? To feel so strongly for the one you've sworn to protect...are you compromised?

ʜᴏᴡ ᴛᴏ ᴘʟᴀʏ

»1. Comment with your character and preferences, being sure to put if you want to play the protector, the protected, or either. Also, you may want to put if you prefer fluffy, angsty, or smutty interaction - or have no preference.
»2. Comment to others.
»3. Thread.
»4. Some ideas: the beginnings of the relationship, just meeting, getting used to each other/not getting along at first, the obligatory first time, a threat on the protected's life and how their protector responds, how the feelings between the two has changed the protection, etc. Your only limit is you.

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[ While Mulan does not cherish the idea of Aurora wandering around in the night alone, she refuses to treat the princess as a child. At least, knowingly like a child. Sometimes she just can't help it. The line between being protective and being smothering can be a hard one to walk sometimes.

Especially when she is coming to care for the other woman like she is. She can't quite put her finger on it, just that Aurora means more to her than most anyone she has ever known.

But the princess has been gone too long. Far too long for the warrior's comfort. There's a feeling eat at her gut as she moves along the path Aurora had taken earlier. A torch in one hand, her other at the hilt of her sword because the farther along the path she goes the feeling of dread just grows inside of her.

She is right to feel dread because just ahead of her comes an all too familiar scream. There's the telltale snarl accompany Aurora's voice giving away the scene before Mulan has a chance to see it.

Her heart nearly stops at the sight of Aurora scrambling across the ground. There's only one single thought in Mulan's head as she races to put herself between the princess and the wolves - she has to keep Aurora safe no matter what. ]

Get back! [ Her voice is deep, authoritative as she flashes the torch between herself and the wolves. No, she doesn't want to hurt them, but if she must she will. They snarl and bite at the flames for a moment or two before one by one slinking back into the darkness of the forest. ]

Are you alright? Aurora, are you hurt? [ She wants to look back at the princess, but she doesn't trust that they are safe until is sure that the pack as moved on. None of them are lingering for a second chance. ]

[ For a few moments, Aurora is sure she's going to die -- even as she scrambles backward in the underbrush, attempting to put distance between her and the small pack of wolves that slowly emerges from the shadows. She can see their bared teeth and sharp eyes even in the dim light provided by the torch she's long since dropped on the footpath.

It's the voice that sends relief rushing through her in an instant, Mulan a human barrier between she and the wolves. The relief is short lived as the wolfs snap and snarl, and she pushes herself to her feet. ] Mulan! [ She can't help the worry -- wolves were fast and unpredictable, but when she sees the beasts slinking away she feels the stinging of tears in her eyes. ]

No... no I'm fine, just a few scrapes that's all. I promise. [ She knows that they must keep their eyes ahead, in case the wolves turn back and she steps nearer to her friend, reaching to rest a hand on the inside of her arm, just at the elbow, holding gently. She looks around worriedly, her hands trembling. ] Are... are they gone?

[ It's only at Aurora's gentle touch does Mulan finally turn to look at the other woman. Her hear is still pounding away in her chest because she can't quite trust that the princess is okay until she sees it with her own eyes. ] Yes, I think they are gone.

[ As much as she hates to move away from such a gentle touch, she has to to sheath her sword. She can't proper check over Aurora holding a sword and a torch. ] I doubt they will come back tonight. [ But it's clear they are in the wolves's territory and it would benefit them to make sure they are clear of by tomorrow night. ]

Are you sure you're okay? [ She holds the torch slightly towards Aurora, letting the flickering light fall across the princess. Even in the limited light her beautify is striking. It takes a moment for Mulan to push those thoughts aside in favor of studying her, making sure scrapes are just scrapes and nothing more. ]

I... I didn't see them. I'm sorry.

[ Aurora waits for Mulan to sheath her blade before moving to hug her tightly, burying her face against the woman's shoulder. ] I'm fine, I promise. You saved me.

[ She draws back to arm's length, her smile gentle, as she gives Mulan a once over as well. ] Are you all right? You weren't injured were you? I was foolish. I just lost track of time, lost my way. Thank you. [ She can't describe the pang of relief in her chest -- to be both rescued, and to see that Mulan is otherwise unharmed as well. ]

You don't have to apologize. [ Maybe it wasn't the best idea for the princess to wander around alone in the dark, but Mulan can hardly blame her for this. Truly she is just glad Aurora is okay.

When she moves to press against her in a hug, Mulan hardly knows what to do. Especially when she is pressing at her shoulder. It makes her heart race in a way that harder and faster than when she faced down the wolves. She barely gets her arms around the other woman for a moment before Aurora is pulling back some. The gentle smile doesn't do anything but inspire her heart to stay at a racing speed. She only hopes that her expression shows nothing of it. ]

I'm fine, Aurora, they did not get close enough to injure me. You don't have to think me. You know I'll never let anything happen to you. [ Not just because of the vow she made either. ]

Oh, I am so glad.

[ If Mulan had been hurt, she'd never forgive herself. With Phillip gone, who else did she have in the world? Only Mulan, and the woman's company bolsters her confidence and warms her heart. Strange, how her own heart flutters when Mulan completes the embrace, how grateful she feels to have her here, unharmed. The feelings are both confusing and welcome all at once. ]

I will always thank you. You do so much for me. Things I thought I could do for myself. [ And maybe one day she will be able to, but she is not a stronger fighter, certainly. She steps closer for another soft hug. ] I am happy you are safe.

Do you want to learn? [ Of course the thought has crossed Mulan's mind a time or two, teaching the other woman how to protect herself, but she has never been sure if Aurora wants that. Yet after tonight it seems like it might be a necessity. As much as she wishes the warrior cannot always be at the princess's side, nor can she stifle her by keeping her close to the camp all the time. It's a solution that they both can live with. ]

Not as much as I am for your safety. [ Really Mulan is sure that the princess has shaved a few years off her life with this incident. She has no idea what she would do without her, where she would even go or how she would forgive herself. So when Aurora steps close for another hug, it's returned, tighter than the first was.]

I could learn. It... it would be wise. [ she isn't sure how strong of a fighter she will be, but some knowledge was better than none. that way, she could feel a tiny bit safer if she wanted to walk alone again.

she settles into the hug for now, keeping the woman close, burying her face against the warrior's shoulder. she feels so calm with Mulan, feels protected, and it's a nice sensation. she leans her cheek to Mulan's, smiling faintly. ]

I think we must agree to disagree. Though you are a warrior and I a princess, I will always worry for your safety, no matter your skill, Mulan.

Then I will teach you. [ She has no idea how this might go, but if Aurora puts her mind to it then she will learn much. Mulan is a very capable teacher after the war she had imparted some of her knowledge on the woman of her village. The ones who didn't like the idea of being left behind and defenseless. Something she could not blame for feeling.

When the princess presses to her Mulan can hardly control the rapid beating of her own heart. In fact it beats in quite a different manner from the way it did when she thought she was losing the other woman. She isn't quite sure how to hold her, suddenly everything feels awkward and foreign to the warrior.

In the end she presses hand into Aurora's hair and just lets herself enjoy the press of the princess's cheek against her own. It feels her heart with a warmth that she hasn't known in a very long time.] As long as you let me worry over you I can agree with that.

[ strange, how her heart swells at the embrace, how she wants to sink into this woman's arms for the evening and not turn away. she feels so safe here, more so than she has in ages. it creates a swirl of guilt and confusion deep in the pit of her stomach, but she will not deny it, not now. ]

I do not think I have any control over how much you worry for me. It is a fools errand to try. [ she sighs, relaxing in the woman's arms, eyes closing briefly when the hand falls to her hair. the embrace lasts a touch longer than it should, and she finally draws back, hands reaching for Mulan's. ]

I owe you my life and more.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Protect

it's wonderful and perfect. treasuring it.

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