Yet Another NaNo Snippet

[allichaton]

Once again, I threw myself forward, but this time I braced my weight on my leg, keeping myself standing. I threw a punch at Jern, aimed for his face. He ducked; my fist swung over his head. He caught it and pulled me towards him, knocking me off balance and throwing me over his shoulder. I landed on my back, hard, all the wind knocked out of me. Stars danced across my vision; I lay where I had fallen, breathing heavily and waiting to be able to see again.

Someone roared, a sound of pure fury. I scrambled up, my heart racing, still half-blind and out of breath. Hands that didn't belong to Jern and had nothing to do with helping me to my feet grabbed me, pulled me to the side. I shook the last of the stars from my vision.

Kyl filled the room with his presence, livid. He'd grabbed Jern and shoved him back against the wall, one hand fisted around the surgeon's throat.

"Kyl!" I ran forward and grabbed his arm, pulling on it. I might as well have tried to alter the Windrider's course with my own strength. "Damnall, Kyl, let him go!"

"Leave me be, Riannen." He shook me off as easily as a mutt shakes off a bothersome fly, then turned his attention back to Jern. "What in the name of the gods possessed you to lay a hand upon her? You heard my edict. I'd not have expected insubordination from you, of all people." He tossed Jern to the ground with a careless gesture. "Your lover's ways seem to be rubbing off on you."

I stared at both of them. "Kyl. That was a cruel thing to say. He hasn't harmed me."

Kyl turned to me then. I nearly shrank away from the fury naked in his eyes. "I'm glad to hear it." His voice was harsh, brusque. "I'm certainly glad to know I got here in time to prevent you from being injured. Might I ask why you seem to be upset with me for this?"

"He wasn't going to hurt me!" I stalked forward, not stopping until we stood toe-to-toe. I glared up at him. "He was helping me, you fool!"

"Helping you." Kyl's tone was completely flat. "By throwing you on the ground?" He pulled me forward and grabbed my arm, extending it. His fingers traced the line of my stitches; a few had popped open. Tiny drops of blood oozed around the black thread, glimmering dully in the dim light. I hadn't noticed; I told Kyl that. He groaned. "You didn't notice. He fucking threw you across the room, and you didn't notice."

"I told you. I asked him to. He was helping me, Kyl; don't toss him around for that."

"Helping you with what?"

I simply looked at him for a moment. His hands were clenched into fists, his chest heaving as he breathed heavily. He was still furious, still ready for a fight. I shook my head. I wasn't going to be fuel for his fire. "That's not really any of your concern, is it, Kyl?"

His eyes widened. "I am the captain of this ship. Anything that occurs within this vessel damn well is my concern, and you know it."

"No. I don't know that, Kyl." I leaned towards him, almost pressing against him. Our faces were close, our cheeks nearly brushing. "I do know that you're damn near vibrating with jealousy. So here's a suggestion. Go back up to your cabin, take a shift or two to cool off, and when you're able to face this rationally, maybe then I'll tell you what I asked him for help with." I stepped back and looked up at him. I waited until he'd made eye contact with me. "But keep this in mind. It's my choice, my decision. I don't owe you an explanation. This matter has nothing to do with you at all. You're involved because you made yourself involved, not because you were invited. Understand that right now."

He snarled. "Gods above, Rin. What has gotten into you? First you try to pick a fight with Morthen, and now I find you down here letting Jern pound on you, and you expect me to just shrug and walk away." He shook his head violently. "It doesn't work that way. I don't run my ship that way."

Pain sliced through my heart. "Good for you." I pushed past him. He caught at my arms, restraining me. I growled and spun back towards him. I let anger overtake me. It was better than the pain that made my heart throb, my eyes burn with unshed tears. "Let me go!"

"You've been avoiding me for days. I'm sick of it, Rin. How long are you going to keep running away from me?"

I stared up at him. "Get your hands off of me."

Something alien and painful crossed his face. His hands sprung open, releasing me. I staggered back, just out of reach. He'd still be able to grab me if he truly wanted me, but I felt safer. His voice dropped to an intimate whisper. "You didn't have any problem with me touching you yesterday." His words were hollow, his voice wounded.

Bloody hells. I did not have the patience to soothe his ego. I stared up at him, my eyes narrowed. "That's completely different."

"Really? Enlighten me."

"We're not in bed right now, are we, Kyl?"

The men around us erupted into loud laughter. A few men called out dirty jokes at Kyl. He ignored them; his gaze never wavered from my face. I bit my lip, then turned my face away. My voice dropped to a whisper. "I am not having this conversation. Not here."

"Fine. We'll go wherever you want. But these things need to be said. You can't hide from me forever, Rin."

"Don't call me that." I pressed my eyes closed and shook my head. "I am not having this conversation," I said again. "I'm just not. Deal with it."

"Why?" I tried to retreat, to back up. He followed me, crowding close to me, encroaching on my space. Tremors slid across my skin, something between desperation and fear. "Why do you refuse to talk about things that must be said?" He shook his head. The sound he made was pure disgust. "I never took you for a coward, Rin. Many, many things, but never that."

"Damnall, don't call me that!" Pain burned at my heart like acid. I bit my lip, keeping my eyes wide open to prevent tears from falling.

"Call you what?" He pressed even closer, crowding me. His heat was uncomfortable, cloying, making it hard to breath and harder to think. "Rin? Or a coward?"

"Either. Both. Gods." I pressed my eyes closed, shaking. "Damn you. Gods damn you."