Logan:
Logan slid himself down into the cool water, sliding down the muddy riverbank and immediately emersing himself, diving under the water and doing a quick barrel roll to the left to avoid a patch of seaweed, before surfacing with a rare smile. He did enjoy swimming - as he was sure all otters did. Jedidah certainly seemed to, from the few times he'd seen her swimming. He glanced over to the female, his smile growing just a little wider. She was safe now - he was constantly having to remind himself that she was here with him, safe from that monster that had previously owned her. He occasionally worried for Connor, as he knew she did constantly, but the angelic boy seemed to be able to take care of himself, so Logan left him to it.
Chewing on some dry grass, he laying himself on his back, a slight grin crossing his face as he floated close to where Jedidah was, innocently enough. His chestnut brown eyes glanced over at her, regarding her rather boredly, before his tail suddenly flicked droplets of water at her, showering her in a misty spray. He chuckled as he did so, rolling back onto his front afterwards as he watched her curiously, head cocked to the left. "You alright, bub?"
Jedidah:
Jedidah watch Logan swimming about, lying on her stomach upon the bank with her head resting on her crossed paws. It was so... peaceful here. She never would have been able to imagine a place like this. No more sneaking about for snacks to keep her parents from catching her, no more having to deal with him... She didn't have her sister or the young otters she could almost call her own children, but... She couldn't have everything. And being free and safe with Logan...
It was enough.
Jee watched him paddling about on his back, a small, amused smile on her features. He tried to look innocent, but she saw straight through that. Innocent her paw. She was sure he was up to some-
Water drops splattered against her face and her head jerked back, eyes reflexively closing.
"Logan!" she exclaimed in a tone that had tried to be indignant, but failed with her short laugh. She wiped at her face, rubbing her red eye as she considered him with the blue.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just thinking, mostly."
Logan:
Her laugh...it was so happy. So different from the defensive, scared otter he'd first ran into all those weeks ago. She was a new otter, transformed. And he much preferred her like this - happy and laughing. He continued to chuckle as he moved towards the bank, claws gouging the soft mud as he dragging himself out, shaking himself dry away from 'Di - he didn't want to get her any more wet. She seemed irritated enough already, although he knew it was just play. He liked her happier for that reason, too - she was much brighter and more playful. He could tell this was the real Jedidah, the one that had been beaten into submission and hidden in that defensive shell. He growled for a moment - he'd bring that pathetic excuse of an otter to justice, he would.
"Thinking?" he repeated, turning to face her with a warm smile, sitting himself down beside her, "What about"
Jedidah:
'Di rolled over onto her side when Logan walked over so that she could paw at him. Her smile turned soft again, equal parts happy and sad.
"Everything. What I have here and now, and what I miss, for the most part. I understand why I can't see them, but I miss my family, and Connor and Artemis." She stopped there to look up at the older male. Whenever she missed her family, she looked to him, reminding herself that she had him, she wasn't alone. The smile lost most of its sadness.
"And having you here with me. How... surreal it seems, almost. Before... I never would have imagined being like this, this happy, this free," she explained, leaving off with a small shrug. She pawed at him again, her smile taking on a more playful hint.
Logan:
Logan's smile lessened a little as he spotted the hints of sadness in her smile, his head tilting to the left in a concerned manner, almost asking her what was wrong. She spoke, and he sighed lightly. He knew it was only natural to want what you couldn't have, but he did feel a slight pang in his chest. He was trying so hard, to make her happy and keep her safe. He had kind of been...hoping she'd be happy with that. He didn't blame her, not at all. He blamed himself, for not being able to make her happier. But he didn't know what he could do. Connor had to stay with Angelus, so 'Di was kept safe. Despite her protests, the little angelic otter was stronger than she was.
Her smile brightened and became less sad, and his did the same in response. Surreal? He chuckled a little, nodding. He understood completely. It didn't seem real, and he could tell just how happy she was. "I'm glad you are here, though." he spoke, daring to reach forwards a little and nuzzle her belly, swatting away her paws with a grin. "I'm...I'm sorry I can't get you your family, 'Di. It's just...too dangerous. For you and for them."
Jedidah:
'Di wrapped her paws around his neck in a hug, not letting him get away after giving her nuzzles. She tilted her head a bit and sighed. Her paws loosened should he want to move away, though didn't fall.
"Believe me, I know. I wouldn't want them here, either, if it jeopardized their safety," she said and moved her head so that she could smile at him in a way that asked him to forgive her for being silly.
"But everyone has irrational thoughts sometimes, especially girls. What with us being all emotional and lacking in rationality all the time," she added, giving a short snort of a laugh at her self-poking.
Logan:
He was somewhat surprised by the affectionate gesture, but didn't complain as he wrapped his own paws around her waist, nuzzling her cheek once more. This all felt so new, odd, exciting. He wasn't sure what to do, or what to expect. Usually he'd plan ahead, but since being around 'Di he'd learnt to be more impulsive. Go on instinct. He smiled at her comment, nuzzling her gently yet again, as a way to show he forgave her. He'd always forgive her - that, he already knew. He tried to keep himself detached. Separated. But 'Di had won him over, utterly and completely.
He chuckled at her jokes, gazing into her heterochromic eyes with his own chestnut ones, smiling warmly as he did so. "You make some very good points, Jedidah."
Jedidah:
"Yeah, well, that's only because I'm the only one that can make them. You are most certainly not allowed to pick at me," she shot back, her following giggle spoiling the serious tone she had tried to keep with the command. She gave him a bit of a squeeze and sighed. A question had been nagging at her, for probably as long as she had known him. She wanted to ask... but she wasn't sure if it was a touchy subject. And she didn't want to upset the male that had come to mean so much to her.
"Logan... your claws, were you born with them?" she finally asked, though if it was loud enough to be heard would determine if it really was or not. If a question is posed and no one hears it, does it really exist, after all?
Logan:
"And why not, hmm?" he teased, smiling as she gave his a squeeze, pawing at her nose somewhat playfully. She fell quiet, and he sensed she was thinking something. Pondering on a subject. He was about to ask her to speak her mind before she spoke herself, and his expression faded a little, becoming unreadable as he glanced at the ground. It wasn't anything he'd expected, and had thrown him a little. He had to hold back a growl, the usual reaction he gave when they were mentioned. They weren't something he liked talking about - talking about meant remembering, and it was a somewhat painful memory.
But...'Di had already given up so much. She deserved to have her questions answered. Angling his paw carefully away from her body, the three blades each crept out slowly, and he watched them. There was silence for several moments, perhaps awkward, but more comfortable for Logan. "I....I wasn't," he started, pausing again afterwards. The length of the pause made it reasonable for 'Di to assume he wouldn't continue, but he eventually did, "I don't remember much. My memory was wiped...I just remember pain. A lot of pain."
Jedidah:
'Di immediately regretted the question when he fell silent. She was about to take it back when he moved his paw, letting the long claws slowly slip out for emphasis to his explanation. When he paused, she opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off by the rest.
Pain. It was something she knew, and hated. Hated having it, hated inflicting it, hated seeing it upon others. Her paws slipped away from the hug to help her move better. She leaned her head up and nuzzled his paw, careful of both sets of silver claws.
"I'm sorry... I wondered for a while, but... I didn't want to upset you. Whoever did that, I hope they got what was coming to them," she whispered in return, closing her eyes as she continued to press her cheek to his paw, giving what little comfort she could.
Logan:
He watched as she lifted her head, having to move a little in order to get into a comfortable position with which to press her face to his paws. His eyes widened a little, somewhat surprised and confused by the gesture, but his smile returned as the claws slid back into his paws, the skin healing before blood could be spilt as he used the now-safe paw to stroke 'Di's cheek, soon moving his own cheek down to press into it. "I'm sure they did, 'Di. I'm sure they did."
Jedidah:
'Di hummed at the nuzzled, pulling back and opening her eyes to look at him when he agreed with her.
"Do you think that's wicked of me, hoping something bad upon another even if they did something horrible?" Whoever did that to Logan, they weren't the only ones she had those feelings towards. Angelus, the humans that hurt her father... Well, those were the only ones she came up with, but she was sure if she really thought about it, she could find more. Or maybe it was just that she didn't know so many evil creatures. Which was most definitely a good thing.
Logan:
He watched her carefully, considering her question. Wicked? He frowned a little, a thoughtful expression crossing his face as he paused the think through his answer, phrasing it carefully as he finally answered, "I don't. It's natural to wish ill-fortune on someone that's hurt you or someone close." He paused, wondering if he should add anything else. He snorted a blast of air from his nostrils, nuzzling her cheek as he spoke again, "I have the same fault. I can only wish at the moment, but mark my words...I will make Angelus pay. People or Otters that evil...they don't deserve the beauty of life."
Jedidah:
'Di's ear twitched when he snorted, giggling at the tickling sensation of the air on her ear. Which was completely at odds with the current conversation, but she couldn't avoid it.
"Mmhmm. I know you want to..." She paused, pulling back from the nuzzle to look at him again, a concerned frown on her features.
"But I don't want you to go after him... I don't know what he'd do. He'd use whatever he could against you and he might- you could..." she stopped again, pressing her face into the crook of his neck, eyes squeezed shut. God, she was scared. Logan seemed so determined to kill Angelus for what he had done, had made her do. But she knew how powerful the crazed vampire could be, at least in so much as she had witnessed. She didn't know what the outcome would be. And that scared her more than Angelus himself had.
"I don't want anything to happen to you..."
Logan:
Her giggle made him smile, despite it's unusual place in the conversation. He looked down at her with concern of his own, surprised to see worry of her own shining in her eyes. Why was she worrying? She shouldn't...not for him. She was the one that needed looking after, protecting. He was the one who had to give the service - he was strong. He had to be, for 'Di.
He hugged her tighter, nuzzling her cheek whilst whispering gentle hushing noises, speaking quietly and meaningfully, "Sssh. I won't go anywhere, 'Di. Not for a while - I won't leave your side, I promise. And when I do go, I'll be careful. Nothing will happen to me - I promise."
Jedidah:
"Better not. I swear to God, Logan, if something happened to you 'cause of me..." 'Di started that sentence out with a confident and partly threatening tone, but her voice cracked at the end and she shuddered. She had thought to say she'd beat some sense into him, only in jest of course, but the thought of him being hurt, or even worse killed, all because he wanted to make Angelus pay for hurting her...
She closed her eyes again and shivered a bit against him.
"I don't know how I could ever forgive myself..." she whispered. She needed him now. If she didn't have him... she was alone. She couldn't go back to her family, Connor couldn't risk coming to her, she couldn't even risk Amorpho knowing she was still alive. She knew it wasn't the best thing to be so dependent on Logan, but what was best didn't change what simply was. She needed him.
Logan:
Logan continued making hushed noises, trying to reassure the shuddering female in his arms as he hugged her tighter still, pressing his forhead firmly to hers as he touched their noses briefly, gazing straight into her eyes. There was no looking away - this was too important. It was important that Angelus got what he deserved. Hurting someone like that, not only physically but emotionally...it made his blood boil just to think of it. But there was someone far more important here. 'Di. 'Di was more important than Angelus, more important than Logan himself. He didn't think he'd ever thought that way - he'd always looked out for number one, himself. But times were changing. So was his outlook.
"'Di, it's your choice. I can make Angelus pay, or I can stay here with you. I won't go if you don't want me to," he whispered, never once raising his voice nor looking away.
Jedidah:
'Di's eyes opened when his nose touched hers and she held his gaze for what seemed forever. How had she fallen so hard so quickly? It couldn't have been how much she needed him or how kind he had been to her. If that was the case she might have fallen for Connor, though she saw him as her son. No, there had to be something deeper than that. She was accepted, by someone who needed her acceptance just as much as she needed his. Logan was different, she knew this, saw this. And she only saw that as something unique, special. She hated what had happened to him, and yet it made her feel better. He had a greater advantage against any who would oppose him.
"He'll get what he deserves, soon, I know it. I know how much you want to be the one to dole it out, but... I need you here... Does that make me weak?"
Logan:
Weak? Oh, how could she think that? Sadness flashed in his eyes, but it wasn't his own. He was sad for her, upset that she thought so little of herself. He'd known it for a while - he'd fallen for 'Di, and fallen hard. Right here, right now he knew there was nothing he wouldn't do for her, no matter how much pain it caused him. She needed him, and he would always be there, right by her side if necessary. In a way, he needed her, too. She wasn't disgusted by his claws, or at least didn't seem to be. It seemed more like a reversal of roles - she was upset for him, for having gone through such pain.
He made a purring sound as he finally moved forwards a little, running his tongue over her face in small, precise movements, grooming her face in a rather intimate manner. He didn't know it had happened, or how, but he knew. He knew he was in love with this otter before him, and that he'd die before he let anyone hurt you. "No, 'Di. It makes you strong. You may need me here, but whether I'm here or not you're stronger than I could ever be."
:: The Otter Oasis Guild ::
