H&M: After a Long Day (locked to Gabrielle) (NC-17)

[iolaus_dw]

Who knew that repairing and sanding floorboards could hurt more than fighting a hydra?

Iolaus had been on his knees most of the day, hard at work on the flooring to the derelict building that would house Herculaneum. Almost a third of the surface had to be replaced with new wood, which required measuring, cutting, fitting, then more sanding until not a single threat of splinters remained. The sun had already set by the time he looked up from his work and realized it was too dark to continue.

It wasn't until he started walking back to the hotel that he began to understand exactly how stiff and sore he was. He'd used muscles today he hadn't used in a long while (especially his bruised knees). His chest ached as bruised ribs only recently healed protested a day's worth of stretching and bending with little respite.

Reaching the door to his room, he fumbled the key from his belt pouch. Gods, he was tired! And he'd glady fight a dozen hydras for a long hot soak inthe bathing tub.

Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to stand a bit straighter as he opened the door. No sense worrying Gabrielle.

Comments

[iolaus-lj.livejournal.com]

As far as Iolaus was concerned, the warmth of the water and the soothing softness of her touch were exactly what the doctor ordered.

"Gods, that feels wonderful," he sighed. Dipping his hands into the water, he caressed her legs, which were about the only part of her he could reach at the moment.

"I think the worst part is over. As of today, the floor's done. Everything else is mostly cosmetic." He turned his head, trying to see her over his shoulder. "I don't want to take you away from your writing. I know how much it means to you."

[potadeiabard.livejournal.com]

Gabrielle moved her arms to Iolaus' chest, blindly washing the muscles, but it was an excuse to put her arms around his body. She was very careful not to venture lower to his abdomen and the bruises.

"I can't wait to see it. I know it'll be beautiful." If for no other reason because Iolaus put his heart and soul into it. Gabrielle placed a kiss on his shoulder. "I can always write in the evening if you need me." She smiled against his skin before straightening back up. "I hadn't realized how much I missed writing until I started up again. I mean I write when I'm with Xena, but that was only our adventures, not made up stories to entertain."

[iolaus-lj.livejournal.com]

As she slipped her arms around him, he gently caressed her wrist and hands. I he hadn't been quite so stiff, he would have tried to lean back into her arms. Or maybe even turned and returned the favor. But for now, he allowed himself to enjoy her minstrations and the sheer nearness of her.

"I don't know if the floor's exactly beautiful," he admitted modestly. "Servicable maybe. And splinter-free." Tracing a pattern in the lather that covered her hands, he said, "The only things left to do is finish painting and building the equipment." Reluctantly, he stopped caressing her hands and started to lather the parts of his body she couldn't reach.

"I'd love to read what your stories when you're finished." He glanced over his shoulder again. "Actually, I'd rather hear you read them. You're a natural story teller."

[potadeiabard.livejournal.com]

She took advantage of Iolaus taking over his bathing, by running her slick hands over his arms as well as sliding the bottom of her foot over the top of his.

"Splinter-free is definitely a good thing, especially since I envision myself spending a bit of time on it." Gabrielle smiled and placed a kiss on Iolaus' cheek. Her smile turned soft at his compliment of her story telling ability. "I'd like to read some of them to you. Stories are always best shared."

[iolaus-lj.livejournal.com]

Nodding his agreement as he lathered his lower abdomin and further down, he said, "There's something about a good story that brings people together, you know? I can repeat stories I've hard well enough and entertain kids, but I could never create one out of nothing." He captured one of her hands and the palm. "Thank the gods for bards. Especially this one."

[potadeiabard.livejournal.com]

"And thank the gods for those that like to listen." Gabrielle gently wrapped her free arm around Iolaus' waist, very careful not to hurt him. "Especially this on."

Her eyes closed for a moment, enjoying the feel of being wrapped around him. "When I was little, I used to make up stories for Lilla. We'd be laying quietly in bed but we couldn't sleep, so I'm make up stories about the animals in our village. They had a secret life when the sun went down, a life we didn't know about."

Gabrielle laughed slightly, "It's the beginning of when I knew I would never fit in in Potadeia."

[iolaus-lj.livejournal.com]

"I never had anyone to tell me stories," Iolaus said quietly, then gave a little shrug. "Mother had to work too hard to keep food on the table, so she wasn't exactly the story-telling kinda woman. Not that it really mattered, since I was hardly ever home. When I thought I was old enough, I was outta there like an arrow."

His hands were in the water again, caressing her thighs on either side of him. Loving the feel of her pressed against him and wishing he felt a bit more agile so that he could turn the tub into a playground. Next time.

"I can't imagine you spending your life in a small village, weaving clothes and farming pigs. You were born to do so much more," he told her sincerely. "And mark my words, Gabrielle. Some day, all of Greece will know your name."