WIP Wednesday
Here is a snippet from an upcoming Vericho fic that @hedwigoprah and I are working on, and extremely excited about!!
The couple in the groundskeeper lodging had been kind enough, though they spoke no common. The muddy duo approached the house with caution, a quick rap on the door brought an older man out onto the front stoop. It was late, and their conversation was a bit rushed, Jericho seemed to be explaining their plight. Veryl only picked up one or two words of the language that swapped so fluidly between them, though she appreciated it on her companion's tongue.
At one point the man's wife came to the door and they began gesturing to them while they spoke to each other. Jericho was quick to wrap his arm around Ver's waist and hug her close, tucking her into his side. The sudden shift surprised her but instinctively she brought a hand to his chest, trying to fit the image he was creating for the couple in front of them. She gave him an adoring smile when his hand came up to tuck a stray hair behind her ear.
It must have worked because the couple cooed over them and started waving them away. Jericho led her back the way they had come, keeping a hand on her hip as he guided her toward the outbuilding on the other side of the small property.
"What was that all about?" she whispered quietly. They didn't make a habit of flaunting their relationship so openly, worried it could be used against them as a point of weakness. His display of affection for her had her head suddenly filling with fluff.
Jericho peeked over his shoulder to see if they were still being watched. Veryl surmised they must have been keeping a close eye, because he nuzzled his head closer to hers. "I'll explain in a minute, do you mind limping a little?" He spoke lowly into her ear.
She did as she was asked, exaggerating her gait and leaning on him. They made it across the yard, but before she could make it up the first steps to the little cottage, Jericho made her stop. She stood still as he opened the door and came back for her.
Veryl gave him a curious look, anticipating his next move, and he returned it with an expectant eyebrow raised and roguish grin. Then, Jericho Mercar was sweeping an arm under her knees, banding an arm around her back, and carrying her full bridal style across the threshold of the little house. Ver threw in a few over the top girlish giggles to help sell the stunt. Only half of them were fake.
He kicked the door shut behind them, hiding them safely away from the watchful gaze of their hosts. He set her on her feet and immediately went to the window, peeking from an odd angle so as not to be seen.
"Amata, huh?" She asked around the dying laughter. It was the one word she'd been able to pick out amongst the hasty language. She knew it had something to do with couples, having come across it in her studies of ancient Tevene, but not the exact definition.
"Sorry about that, I needed to think quick." His eyes flicked to her in a sincere apology, as he let the curtain fall. "With the cemetery having old Venatori ties, I didn't want to risk blowing our cover."
"Don't worry about it, Jer, I know the score. Do you think they bought it?" She asked, lifting his pack from his shoulders. Together they worked to remove it, and it found it's home on a chair next to a small table.
"We can hope." He gave her a smile, "shouldn't be too hard a sell, I'd think." He chucked her under the chin as he passed to survey the room. The idea left a blush creeping up her cheeks, suddenly she was grateful for the mud. Jericho swung back around to spread his arms wide, "Well, it's no Shadows safe house, do you think you can slum it for a night?"
