Dust Devil

Faeries, Come take me out of this dull world, For I would ride with you upon the wind, Run on the top of the disheveled tide, And dance upon the mountains like a flame. Winona-Grace Ansel | Aeromancer | 25

[superman-jin-lee]

His smile got bigger as he leaned in and kissed her forehead and started wiping the tears falling from her eyes.  “Yeah it is, Win. Looks like the little champ is doing well huh? I’m gonna have to tell Mom. She’s going to be excited. She’s already carrying around one of those little pictures I sent her of him.” 

[winona-windwaker-blog]

Humming, distracted with her hands on her belly, mesmerized by the dancing beneath her skin, Winona barely heard him. She leaned into his touch though, and her voice was breezy when she spoke. 

“I think I want to name him Benjamin.”

[kai-leventis]

She took the picture, pale fingers holding it carefully to not damage it in the slightest. “Benjamin,” repeated she, tasting the name. Her eyes scanned the image, and then she gave it back, eyes focusing on the witch. “Legal questions, alright. Do ask, then.”

[winona-windwaker-blog]

“I like it.”

It was foolish probably, to be so proud over the grainy image of an overgrown tadpole. Still, Winona grinned, taking the image back with gentle fingers, slipping it back into the envelope. 

“Legal stuff. The father was-is...Jin uses the word abusive, because he would get violent? I don’t want him to have access to my son, but I don’t know what to do.”

[superman-jin-lee]

“What? Winnie are you okay? What’s going on?” He let her take his hand putting it on her stomach. “What did you want me to just keep talking? I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be saying are - oh” He felt a kick right under his hand and a smile came back.

“Is that the baby? I didn’t realize they kicked this early. Oh.”

[winona-windwaker-blog]

“Oh, oh oh, Jimmy, this is the ba-this is our baby.”

She was crying then, torn between the laughter on her lips and the tears that slipped down her cheeks. It was strange, a fluttering feeling both beneath and inside her skin, and she’d never known anything like it before. 

[superman-jin-lee]

“My fragile one. Everyone has one right.” 

He buried his face next into the bed looking at her. After all given her stubbornness and his own he would be here for awhile. At his name he raised his head  worried. “ Are you okay Winnie?” He started to untangle his legs from her so she could move. 

[winona-windwaker-blog]

Hazel eyes wide, lips gaping, Winona felt for his fingers with her own, pulling him to her when he tried to roll away. Setting his hand on her swelled abdomen just as the movement stopped, she whined, shaking her head. 

“Shut up, I’m fine jus-no, no don’t shut up. Jin keep talking, just keep-”

“Keep talking, please just keep talking. Trust me, okay?”

[kai-leventis]

She took a seat too, once Winona did, eyebrows and the tip of her nose rising curiously with the file in the other’s hands. “Yes?” She spoke turning her head with a soft smile touching her lips. “You know the sex of your child?” Questioned she, amused slightly. Well, at least that lifted her mood a little.

[winona-windwaker-blog]

Nodding, grinning in quiet delight, Winona pulled one of the pictures out, smoothing her fingers over the ultrasound image before sliding it across the desk. 

“Little boy, and I’ve-I like the name Benjamin. Strong name for a little boy, and I was...well, I have legal questions?”

[superman-jin-lee]

Jin laughed, a low bark of one at the absurdity of the situation. Still he pulled her gently closer being ever cautious that she could be easily hurt. It felt like they were younger, as if the last five years hadn’t happened. He had missed this feeling, and he quickly kissed the top of her head. 

“Well Ms. Ansel you’re going to have to get comfortable. You’ve hurt my fragile ego.” 

[winona-windwaker-blog]

“Ego, what ego do you have? You’re practically naked.”

Patting her fingers on his bare thigh, she plucked at where the soft black of his boxers had ridden up. His skin was pale there, paler than hers, and she tapped her nails against the skin she found.

“Jimmy, I don’t think you have much of a le-Jin.”

[superman-jin-lee]

“It’s my bed I’ll get it wet if I want to.” He went towards her although ultimately being more gentle then anything. After all he didn’t want to hurt her. But he did end up tipping her back. Climbing in next to her he wrapped his arms around her sideways as well as his legs.  “You keep telling me I won’t, Win. Now you pay. I’m not letting go until you apologize.” 

[winona-windwaker-blog]

They bounced on the bed as they fell, and her breath left her in a rushing gasp. The mattress was soft beneath her, and with her back arched to accommodate for his arm beneath the curve of her spine, Winona tuned her head until she could see him.

“Then we’re going to be here a while, Mr Lee.”

[superman-jin-lee]

A quick “Two” was said as he ducked into the hallway after her. She was quick, but Jin had longer legs then her so it really came down to the fact he was still slippery from the water. Laughing he got to the door and held it open with his foot.  “No no you don’t, Winnie. Come here. Hug now.” He was still laughing, but he tried for a serious face that didn’t last long. “I told you this would happen accept your fate.” 

[winona-windwaker-blog]

“No, no, no you-stay back, Jin, I swear t’God!”

She was laughing though, a breathless sort of giggling squeal. Shaking her head at him, wild hair flying, Winona took a stumbling step back. 

“You wouldn’t! We’ll get the bed wet!”

[superman-jin-lee]

He watched her flicker down and an eyebrow went up as he realized she looked a bit disappointed. Jin stepped forward a laugh going across his mouth. “ Oh? Why not. You’re a whirlwind you’ll be fine. One-” He dragged out one as he got ready to run. 

[winona-windwaker-blog]

He was actually going to do it. 

Screaming, twisting around, Winona took off down the hall in a slippery sprint. Sock-covered feet weren’t ideal for running, let alone on hardwood floors, and the young aeromancer barely made it to his bedroom without falling. Still, she tried to close the door behind her, breath a giggling squeal. 

“Jimmy!”

[superman-jin-lee]

He looked shocked for a moment, before a laugh came falling out. “Oh woah someone’s being serious.” He took his hands off his hips and the pants fell. After all they weren’t originally his they were his dad’s who was about three sizes too big. His boxers thankfully were just basic black, not the star wars ones he’d gotten a few weeks before. 

He stepped out of them and winked at Winnie. “You have about two seconds to run before you become my towel.” 

[winona-windwaker-blog]

Watching as denim fell, Winona couldn’t help the disappointment that she felt when the plain, simple cotton stayed. Her eyes snapped up to his though, hazel color bright and narrowed on him from across the room. 

“You’re lyin’.” Still, she took a step back from him, then another, edging into the mouth of the hall. “You wouldn’t chase a pregnant woman.”

[superman-jin-lee]

He winked at Winnie his hands going to hips his. “Nobody calls me a chicken, Winona.” He went to slip out of his pants unbuckling his belt. “Last Chance Winnie.” 

He was waiting for an opportunity. Just a small one. After all if he was going to be drenched she was too.

[winona-windwaker-blog]

As much as she loathed it, the island had been good for her, with influences that she couldn’t ignore. Such influences, friends, were the reasons for the words on her lips then. The purse of her mouth turned into a smirk, slow and sharp, and she mocked him with her hands on her own hips.

“You going to be a pussy?”

[superman-jin-lee]

“Really? I didn’t realize you could keep my close on.” His grin didn’t leave his face as he threw the shirt down. He was having way to much fun making her flustered - although he didn’t understand it himself. 

“I have tattoos Winnie that’s why I don’t go to public pools. ” He was walking slowly towards her a grin still on his face. After all he wasn’t going to actually take his pants off. It was just fun to see her so flustered. After all she’d seen him shirtless when he slept.  “Winona I’m serious. I’m taking them off before they stick to me.” 

[winona-windwaker-blog]

He was a child, by the grin on his face and the blue of his hair, but she loved him. Loved him for his dark eyes and his laughter, the warmth of his hands and the low rumble of his voice. 

“Then take them off, Jin,” Voice crooning, she shook her head at him, full, freckled lips pursing. “Unless you’re chicken.”

She was a full grown woman, expecting a child even, but she suddenly felt like she was fifteen all over again. 

[superman-jin-lee]

He started to un-button his shirt carefully. “Oh? Who said I wouldn’t.” To be fair he hadn’t in the past because Winnie hadn’t exactly known about his tattoos. 

He laughed and suddenly he pulled the shirt over his head. “Winnie can I have a towel now. Or I’ll take off the pants.” 

[winona-windwaker-blog]

Her refusal to be flustered by him wavered as Jin approached, fingers working at the buttons of his shirt methodically. “Me, I said you wouldn’t.”

“Because you wont,” Pausing, distracted then for a moment, Winona’s slow steps back stopped for only an instant before she took another, matching him step for step in a slow, steady retreat. “Won’t-stop it, you will not, you don’t eve-you won’t go to a public pool Jimmy.”

[superman-jin-lee]

Jin gave her a face of mock horror. “In my greatest time of need you’d leave me out to dry. Now am I to go on.” His face didn’t last long before turning into a smile. 

“Hey Winnie, You don’t mind if I give you a hug do you.” He was teasing but slowly going towards the witch. “I could also just strip right here in the view of the neighbors. Or I can get a towel.”  

[winona-windwaker-blog]

Wide eyed, giggling still, Winona took a step back from him, then another. “You wouldn’t.”

“You wouldn’t dare, the neighbors will never let you live it do-Jimmy, don’t you dare!”

[superman-jin-lee]

He laughed at her reaction. “Hey now I didn’t think it was that bad.  I was only outside for a second. Seems like mother natures angry at something. Winnie, I’m cold can I please have a towel. Please? I don’t want to get everything wet.”

[winona-windwaker-blog]

“Maybe I should just leave you wet, Jimmy!” She was laughing at him, couldn’t stop herself, and one arm curled beneath the swell of her stomach while the other fell to her side. “Told you not to go outside, didn’t I?”

[superman-jin-lee]

“Uh Winnie I think there’s literally a flood outside. So I’m going to say we don’t take down the decorations yet. And maybe get some towels.” 

@winona-windwaker

[winona-windwaker-blog]

He was dripping wet all over the entry-way, but she couldn’t help laughing at him. One hand pressed to her mouth, the other tangling in her wild hair to push it back from her face, Winona hesitated. The air felt wrong, sick and cement thick within her veins, and she’d told him something was wrong.

“Why did you go ou-Jin Lee!”

[kai-leventis]

She was not busy, just mildly tired. Kaitleen wasn’t even sitting at her desk, as almost always, but staring through the window, her back to the door. She could hear both heartbeats and the person coming towards her office was identified in a matter of seconds. “Come in, Winona,” said she, one hand in the other behind her back, she did not move from her place.

“Is anything the matter?” Only then her brows furrowed ever so slightly and she first turned her head just a bit, as if trying to get a better sense of the person. And after that, she turned to her completely, cerulean eyes greeting hers. 

[winona-windwaker-blog]

Clicking the door shut behind her, Winona held the manila folder in her arms a little tighter. The contents crinkled quietly, and she winced at the sound before crossing to sit in the chair facing Kai. 

“No, no nothings wrong. I just-had an ultra sound, Friday? And I just thought, well, I felt like sharing, I guess. Because I know you’re my boss, and this might be...unprofessional, but I’ve also come to think of you as my friend, Ma’am.”