The scorching heat of the desert gave way to cooler air as Lorelai, Aeryn, and Thrax exited the ancient dungeon, their footsteps kicking up puffs of fine sand. Each carried the weight of their new acquisitions and their recent wager with mixed emotions. The fading silhouette of the dungeon behind them served as a testament to their resilience and growth. The third floor of that dungeon was several levels above them, but managed to navigate the floor with only minor trouble. The simmering tension between them promised a different sort of trial.
Aeryn strode confidently ahead, her crimson eyes gleaming with victory as she tugged Lorelai’s hand. “Come on,” she said, her tone playful but firm. “We need to find somewhere private for that massage you owe me. Wouldn't want you to even think about skimping on effort, Lorelai.”
The angelic warrior stumbled slightly, her wings ruffling as she retracted them into herself once leaving the privacy of the dungeon, tried to recover her composure. “Aeryn, I—I haven't exactly done this before! W-What if I do it wrong?”
“You’ll be fine,” Aeryn replied breezily. “Just use those strong hands of yours and follow my lead. Honestly, after all the times you’ve knocked enemies halfway across the battlefield, I’m sure you’ve got the strength for a good massage.”
Behind them, Thrax groaned dramatically, his towering frame trudging along with exaggerated reluctance. The girls had settled down in a clearing a few miles into the northern forest, the dungeon lying just south of them. The dragonkin’s golden eyes flashed with feigned irritation as he adjusted Aeryn’s pack on his shoulder. “Oh, sure, she gets pampered, and I’m stuck as her lackey. This is favoritism, I’m telling you.”
Aeryn turned her head just enough to smirk at him. “That’s what happens when you lose, Thrax. Now, be a good servant and set up camp by the pond we passed earlier. Make sure it’s done properly; I expect a fire, tents, and everything arranged neatly. Don’t forget to drain some blood of whatever you kill to satiate my thirst later.”
Thrax’s brow furrowed, but he knew better than to argue. “Fine,” he grumbled, his boots crunching against the dirt as he stalked off toward the pond. “Don’t think I’ll forget this humiliation, Aeryn, I'll pay you back with the next one.”
With Thrax gone, Aeryn turned her attention fully to Lorelai, her expression softening. “Now then,” she said, releasing Lorelai’s hand to begin unfastening the clasps of her armor. “Let’s find a quiet spot in the sunlight and get started. A proper massage requires full freedom of movement, which means...” She let the implication hang in the air as she slipped her tunic over her head, leaving her completely bare under the fading sunlight.
Lorelai’s nostrils flared, her purple eyes widening as she turned sharply away with her heart threatening to beat out of her chest. “Aeryn! What are you doing?”
Aeryn chuckled, stepping into afternoon sun lying down on a smooth patch of springy grass on the ground. “Relax, Lorelai. I'm just giving you undeterred access to my skin. If you’re going to do a full-body massage, you can't have any barriers. Now stop panicking and get over here.”
Lorelai hesitated, her heart racing. She had never been in such an intimate situation before, and Aeryn’s confidence only made her more flustered. Taking a deep breath, she knelt beside the other woman, her hands trembling slightly as she placed them on Aeryn’s shoulders.
The first few moments were awkward, Lorelai’s movements stiff and unsure.As she worked, the tension in Aeryn’s muscles began to melt away, but not her own nervousness. Her hands moved more confidently, tracing the curves of Aeryn’s back and shoulders with surprising care. Aeryn was like a wild cat, lithe and strong. She could feel her toned muscle beneath her hands, a storm began to brew beneath Lorelai's naval as Aeryn would make soft noises and writhe pleasantly beneath Lorelai's touch.
“You’re good at this,” Aeryn murmured, her eyes half-closed. “I might have to make you my personal masseuse.”
“Don’t push your luck,” Lorelai muttered, though her tone lacked any real bite. Lorelai began getting more adventurous with her hands, having never touch a woman before, even herself. Her fingers moved lower, working the knots out of Aeryn’s lower back, and she was rewarded with a soft moan of relief. Lorelai's mind started whirling, her hands now massaging her hips, her hands worked in companionable silence, the gentle rustle of wind their only accompaniment. Then Aeryn broke the quiet, her voice soft and contemplative. “You ever think about freedom, Lorelai?”
Lorelai paused, her hands stilling for a moment. “Freedom? What do you mean?”
“I mean... being free to choose your own path. To follow your heart without anyone else’s expectations weighing you down.” Aeryn’s voice was steady, but there was an undercurrent of emotion that Lorelai couldn’t quite place. “Sometimes it feels like no matter how strong you are, there are chains you can’t break.”
Lorelai resumed her movements, her brows furrowed in thought. “I guess I’ve never really thought about it like that. I’ve always been focused on the next battle, the next challenge, or the next plan. I think I understand what you’re saying though.”
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Aeryn smiled faintly, her expression wistful. “Of course you do. You’re sharper than you let on.”
The cryptic nature of Aeryn’s words left Lorelai uneasy, though she didn’t press for details. She could feel the weight of something unspoken between them, but she chose to focus on her task, her hands moving down to Aeryn’s legs as she continued the massage, Lorelai was paying attention to Aeryn's body language and really honed in on the places she got the most reaction from.
By the time Thrax returned, Lorelai was beat red and flushed. She had to stop Aeryn's massage early because she was getting more hot and bothered than she would care to admit and had to step away. Thrax's keen nose picked up on Lorelai's plight and couldn't resist, "Wow look at you my lil dragon, you look like you could use a massage yourself. May I do the honors?" He said winking, washing away his thoroughly annoyed look. Aeryn was lounging contentedly, her body relaxed and her smirk firmly in place. “Took you long enough,” she teased, sitting up and stretching her arms above her head. “Did you get lost?”
“No, I didn’t get lost,” Thrax snapped, dropping the pack he’d carried over one shoulder. “But don’t think for a second that this makes up for your tyranny. I would have loved to watch Lorelai's massaging skills.”
Aeryn reached for a waterskin he’d brought, taking a long drink before tossing it back to him. “Oh, don’t be so dramatic. You’ll survive.”
Lorelai stood, brushing the dirt from her knees as she tried to avoid Thrax’s curious gaze. Her heart was still racing, though she wasn’t entirely sure why. All she knew was that Aeryn’s cryptic words lingered in her mind, their meaning as elusive as catching the wind with your hands.
Later that evening when night descended over the forest, the dancing shadows casted an eerie aura over the landscape. Thrax had begrudgingly set up camp, the tents arranged in a semicircle around the fire, and now sat cross-legged on a flat stone, his golden eyes gleaming in the firelight. The other two sat on the other side of the crackling campfire, the flames danced against the darkness, casting their faces in flickering light. The tension from earlier had given way to a more relaxed atmosphere, though the undercurrent of teasing and rivalry remained.
“So, Lorelai,” Thrax began, leaning forward slightly, his grin mischievous, “was Aeryn’s massage everything you dreamed of?”
Lorelai’s shifted awkwardly in her seat, and her cheeks turned crimson. “It wasn’t—it wasn’t like that!” she stammered. “I was just doing what I promised. Nothing more.”
Aeryn, reclining against a fallen log, smirked as she lazily twirled a lock of her dark hair around one finger. “Oh, it was plenty more,” she teased, her tone dripping with playful insinuation. “Lorelai has magic hands. I felt like I was floating.”
“Really now?” Thrax drawled, his voice heavy with mock seriousness. He leaned closer, his large frame looming. “Lorelai, you’ve been holding out on me. I think I deserve a turn after all my hard work.”
“You’re not serious,” Lorelai said, her purple eyes widening. She looked between Aeryn and Thrax, her embarrassment growing under their combined attention. “You’re both impossible.”
Thrax chuckled, his laugh rumbling deep in his chest. “Come on, lil dragon, don’t be shy. You’ve got skills, and it’s only fair to share them with the whole team.”
Aeryn’s eyes glinted with mischief as she leaned toward Lorelai, her voice low and conspiratorial. “You know, Lorelai, Thrax might actually have a point. We’re a team, and good teammates take care of each other. Maybe you should start a rotation, Thrax can be nude for his too, just to be fair.”
Lorelai buried her face in her hands, her body quivering as she tried to compose herself. “Why do I feel like I’ve walked into a trap?”
“You’re too sweet for your own good,” Aeryn said, her voice teasing but warm. She reached out to tug gently at one of Lorelai’s sleeves, earning a startled yelp. “And that blush of yours? Absolutely adorable.”
“Agreed,” Thrax added, his grin widening. He rested his chin in one hand, studying Lorelai with an exaggerated air of admiration. “You’re like some kind of mythical creature. Oh, wait—you are one. Makes sense why you’re so radiant.”
“Stop it!” Lorelai protested, her voice cracking slightly as her face turned an even deeper shade of red. She hugged her knees to her chest, her eyes darting to the flames as if searching for an escape.
“Oh, don’t stop,” Aeryn countered, leaning closer with a wicked grin. “You’re getting her all flustered. It’s like watching the sunrise—slow, beautiful, and impossible to look away from.”
Thrax nodded sagely, as if considering Aeryn’s words. “You’re right. It’s rare to see someone so naturally stunning. It’s almost unfair, really. How are the rest of us supposed to compete?”
“Why do I even try with you two?” Lorelai muttered, though her voice carried a note of laughter beneath her exasperation. She peeked at Aeryn through her fingers. “You’re both relentless.”
“Relentless because it’s fun,” Aeryn replied, her smirk softening into a genuine smile. “You’re beautiful, Lorelai. You should own it.”
Thrax reached over to lightly tap her armored knee. “She’s right. We’re not teasing you to be mean, you know. We’re teasing because we like you, and you’re pretty fun to watch when you’re all bashful.”
Lorelai let out a soft sigh, lowering her hands slightly to glance between her two companions. The sincerity in their words made her heart flutter, though she still felt completely out of her depth. “You’re both ridiculous,” she said, her tone softer now.
“And you love us for it,” Aeryn said, winking. “Admit it.”
Lorelai’s lips twitched into a reluctant smile as she shook her head. “Maybe I do. But don’t let it go to your heads.”
Thrax threw his head back with a booming laugh. “Too late for that! Now, let’s focus on tomorrow. We’ve got another journey ahead, and I don’t think the next town is ready for us.”
“Or for Lorelai’s blushes,” Aeryn added with a sly grin.
The three of them laughed, the tension easing as the fire crackled on. Despite their teasing, the warmth between them was undeniable—a bond forged in battle, strengthened by friendship, and laced with the kind of banter that only close companions could share.
Right before the three went to sleep that night, the allocated their free stats from the single level they had gained in the dungeon from earlier that day.