Perfect Day for Red Cheeks [Josh]

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The morning was still early, but Rhiannon sat upright in her bed, her heart beating a mile a minute. It had taken her nearly a month to think about, nearly a month after Jason put that idea in her head. The idea that she liked Josh as something more than a friend. She didn't know what was going to happen, she knew he probably never thought of her that way. She had not for sure, they had always been together and her feelings towards him bordered that of a family member. The ugly feelings Jason brought to the surface pushed her feelings for Josh off that border, she knew she had to tell him. It was not her way to keep things to herself anyway, she told Josh anything. Staying in the shadows, hiding ones feelings, stupid things like that were not for Rhiannon. She didn't even think they were for any roman.

People began to rise around her, surprised to her her awake, and cognitive. Finally she got out of bed, and looked down at a pile of make up and hair ornaments she had gathered over time. Mostly it was just things that suited her fancy, and even a few others offered or bought her. She had tested them out in secrecy, and tried applying what little she knew to her face. Light natural looking was supposed to be the best, but that did not last long. A few daughters of Venus saw her, and in their excitement did her make up and her hair. Rhiannon had always been a tomboy, not dressing up or even seeing reason to unless for some special event, which she normally avoided anyway.

When the girls were done with her they helped her sneak out, and though Rhiannon had a naturally low respect for the children of Venus she did feel thankful for them today. Looking at herself in the mirror she knew by herself she'd have never pulled off what they had. Just before she left she gave Inek orders to find Josh, and bring him to the lake. If she was going to confess she had to do this thing right, no half thought plots for this or anything else. She doubted he saw her as a woman, and this was the best idea she had to change his view of her if even for a moment. Then he could say whatever he wished, which for the most part she had resigned herself to be a let down. She had been his little sister so long, she was pretty sure he would see her as nothing more.

Standing by a secluded part of the lake Rhiannon looked at her own reflection in the crystal clear waters. A warm wind blew for the first time in a long time, and she wondered if some god somewhere had done it on purpose. It was the perfect day. It could have also just been the mother daughter reunion from the underworld was going well. The yip of her small fox came to her ears as she spun around, her dress floating around her. Her cheeks did not need the blush that had been put on them, she blushed as she smiled at Josh. “Hey, hope you don't mind playing hooky with me for a little while.” her heart speed up, and she wondered if the tightening feeling in her throat would actually allow her to talk today.

.:Dress:.

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Before the magnificent Apollo rode his carriage over the horizon and brought with him the warmth of the Sun with him, a young man was already practicing all what he already knew. The obstacle course was most of the times what people feared, specially those that weren't agil enough to deal with it. But for a son of Mercury that place wasn't a nightmare, it was an amazing play ground, and in some ways also the perfect place to release some steam. If something was bugging ones mind, the better thing to do was to go and burn as many chalories as one could and the anger or bad thoughts seemed to leave one's body with the sweat.

The son of Mercury was Josh, well known in the camp for being a thief, a trouble maker, someone that never respected the laws of camp and that always was going out of Camp instead of being training with his cohort. But let's face it, the fifth cohort had never been known for being the one that trained the most of the time. Campers knew it as the most lazy one, even when it wasn't like that. Josh trained from 4 in the morning for two hours and then he used to leave to the baths. Then he came back by the time everone was having lunch and then when they had dinner.

Why he acted like that? It was just that he didn't want them to have high expectations of him. He was ready to fight if it was necessary, he had proved it before, the most recent battle had been the Mt.Othrys one, where he helped the legion and saved several lives with his daggers, his bow and his skills. Yet, if everyone thought he was a shame to the legion it was ok with him, he didn't care. He was sure the ones he cared about knew who he really was, his brothers Rick and Lance, his father Mercury, his best friend Rhia... Rhia was the one who knew him te best... maybe even better than Mercury, which was difficult.

just after he jumped over an obstacle and rolled on the ground to keep his head attached to his neck, he heard the slight growl of Inek, Rhia's little white fox. "Hi Inek..." he smiled and walked to where he was. "what's up buddy?" he asked and then Inek pulled his jeans. "ok... ok... want me to go with you..." then he frowned and tilted his head. "is Rhia fine?" he started to run after Inek. The fox was fast, for Josh it was difficult to keep his step by his side, for any other would have been even more difficult.

The fox led him to the lake. Josh ran after him thinking that something could had happened to Rhia, but when he got there he saw a beautiful young woman by the lake. He looked around and wondered where Rhia could be. then inek jogged to the woman that was by the lake. Josh followed it and heard Rhia's voice. He looked at the beautiful woman and opened widely his eyes. Her always messy brown curls were now delicately arranged around her face and shoulders, making a nice mark for her face. Those beautiful blue sapphires that she has as eyes, were brighter that day with her lashes wearing mascara.

"Rhia?" he asked and his voice sounded like a squeak. He frowns and looks at her again, from feet to head. "what's... going on?" he asked and then walked a couple of steps closer to her. He was all sweaty and dirty from practicing, so why was she so clean, perfumed and... wearing make up and a DRESS!!

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The little white ball of fluff that was Inek could be seen a mile away, if you didn't assume he was simply a cloud. He seemed to be running full tilt, and Rhiannon couldn't help but wonder if the little fox was picking on him for a reason. Inek would know that his speed would make Josh think something was wrong. It seemed it took him a minute to realize who she was. Rhiannon couldn't blame him, looking down at her dress and the hair in a neat curl around her neck even she didn't know her hair could do that. She could feel the warm blood in her face, the unsettling feeling in her stomach and the awkward smile that spanned her lips. Her heart beat, pumping blood and adrenalin through her body. It was so different from any other time, and exactly what she had been aiming for. If he turned her down it should be easy enough for her to go back to normal if she associated it with these feelings, this atmosphere. She had hoped anyway.

Josh came running up out of breath, and it didn't seem to get any better even after he stopped to stare at her. It was pretty obvious Josh had just come from training, and he had always been a morning person. Rhiannon could tell you why, but she always liked the messed up look on him. Perhaps it seemed more manly, though she had hoped to catch him after his shower. He might have been more comfortable, however now was too late. They were here and Rhiannon had made a commitment to the cause.

“That's....that's a very good question Josh. I know you've been a bit worried since I haven't exactly been hanging out with you as much, but I was preparing for today.” Rhiannon brushed some hair from her face and bit her lip. She had made sure to plan everything out before hand, but it all seemed to run together at this crucial time. She tried to calm herself down, and took a deep breath. “I was planning on telling the guy I like, that I'm in love with him.”

She messed up, she was supposed to tell him she liked him. Her heart beat steadily in her chest, and her lungs threatened to push all the oxygen from her. She had done so much to prepare, talked to herself a million times and yet here she choked. Her eyes still watched him, waiting for a response and she hated it. The only response he should have needed to give was, whatever you're supposed to say when you turn someone down. If she wanted to make another try she'd have to wait for her heart to slow again, for the breath that caught in her throat to move again. It was painful, and exciting at the same time.

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When Josh looked at his friend, for a second he couldn't remember her at all. not that he had gotten amnesia at the last minute, no, it was deeper than that. Since he met her, she had always been somewhat a tomboy, always being able to do all what he did, their first year, he was 9 almost 10 and she was 8, but both of them went to climb trees and made fool races from the cohorts to the arena or stuff like that. when they were put in different cohorts they didn't feel discouraged on their friendship, in factthey liked the fact they weren't in the same cohort, then they kept racing and being as always, besides they always had new stuff to talk about.

Now he couldn't pcture his best friend when he saw that stunning lady in front of him. She was so clean, so femenine, so perfect! He looked at her again, and for a second he forgot he needed to breath, then he breathed deeply to get the air that he had forgotten to breath before. He frowned at her and then she talked to him she told him he had done a very good question, that she had been preparing for that day. "Preparing?" he asked again and then looked at her dress once more, for some reason he couldn't take his eyes off her legs, he thought he hadn't seen them before, maybe only twice in 8 years!

Then she told him that she was ready to talk to him about the guy she loved. "Love..." he repeated in a low voice and felt his heart skipping a beat or two. then a wave of rage and an acid liquid running through his veins. It was like when Felicity told him she had chosen Remus, but this time it was different, he didn't feel it only in his mind, but his stomach, his heart, his mind! He could beat up the lucky one... Lucky one?! what was he thinking about?! it was RHiannon!! his best friend! Why would he be jealous?!

But then he realized when he looked into her eyes again, that Jason's words less than a month before that day, were real. He felt for Rhia more than a common friendship, he wanted t be more than a friend to her. Yet, he knew it was impossible! Even more now that she was in love, maybe it was that crazy good guy of Gideon, or maybe it was that other guy... the Ceres kid that messed with some special and magical herbs. Well... it didn't matter who it was, he was already wanting to kill them all and at the same time he would do anything to make her smile, even if that had meant him to help her with those guys.

"i see... and you're having a date today?" trying to smile as always, trying to be the happy best friend that would be always there for her. But his words were burning him from the inside.

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Rhiannon tried to calm her churning stomach, and if not for the lip balm they put on her lips Rhiannon suspected they would be dry, because her mouth certainly was. Her head swirled, and she knew she would be in trouble if she continued to let it go. She tried to moisten the inside of her mouth, looked Josh in his face and forced herself to calm down. He smiled, and spoke almost normally, but Rhiannon knew he wasn't taking it very well. "I...I'm kind of hoping for a date, but I...it might not happen." she said with a smile, even if Josh did agree to date her, which was near impossible, he might have to clean up. She liked the dirt on his face, and his messy hair but it would be up to him. She couldn't let her hopes get up, she didn't want to think he might actually answer her positively. She didn't want hopes to be dashed.

Once more Rhiannon took a deep breath and braced herself. "I wanted... I wanted to tell you Josh, to...to say that...I love you." she had her hands gripped behind her back, and trembled only slightly. She tried to maintain eye contact with him but looked away, the red of her face grew even deeper as blood rushed to her head. "I know we've....always been friends." she said attempting to keep herself from shaking, still her body shook. She did not know why, and she did not want to stop talking. "I'm not sure when it...it started. I don't know when, but you're the only one...I've ever, ever felt this way about. I love you, I love you Josh and I don't want you to run away...because....I told you....."

Rhiannon wasn't sure what to expect, if he would try to laugh it off or if hes give some kind of apology. More importantly what would she do? This was the end of her thought process, no it had ended a while ago. All her preparations came only until the confession. She wanted to talk more, she wanted to not give him time to speak or answer, but that would have been rude. Instead she kept quite, looking away from him. She wanted to know what face he was making, but even more than that she was scared. She admitted it, the reason she shook was fear. She forced herself to let go of her dress, and was glad it was something that was supposed to be wrinkled. If it had not, then she was sure to have permanently wrinkled it with the tight grip she had on it.

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Josh didn't know what to do with rhia's words, she accepted that she wanted a date! she was hoping to go on a date with who ever that was the lucky one to be with her!! Well yes, jason was right, Josh was madly, deeply and truly in love with Rhia, but what could a sneak thief may offer her? She was safer with someone more... legal! someone that wasn't in detention with remus every other day! He looked at her again and smiled a bit more, trying not to ruin that special moment to her. "well..." looking how she looked with that dress, he breathed deeply and continued. "If the guy you love, doesn't accept a date, he is a fool blind..."

Jason was right! if he didn't tell her about his feelings, then someone else would steal her from him... then he laughed sourly in his mind and remembered a say... 'Thief that steals from a thief, has a hundred years of forgiveness' and it completely went there. He was used to steal whatever he wanted from others what they wanted and loved, well now someone else had stolen from him what he loved... Rhia's heart.

But her next words were more than his mind could handle...

"love you"

He stood like a statue, and felt as if he couldn't breath, his heart was beating a thousand per second and he felt all his blood hitting his brain and then going to his heart at an undescriptable speed. for a second he felt he was going to fall to the ground. But something kept him on his feet. "you... you what?!" he wasn't screaming, his voice was the same volume, in fact a bit less loud than before, as if he couldn't breath yet, tried to talk. he shook his head slowly as she kept talking. he looked into her eyes and frowned a bit as he tilted his head to a side. Was he just falling from the sanity's ship?

"Rhia..." he breathed deeply and looked into her eyes. "why do you love me?" he asked and then looked down at his feet, then back at her, he needed some water, his throat was dry so as his mouth. "I'm the worst person to be with!" he said and shruged then continued talking. "I definetely love you, but you would be in danger, you would be the thief's girl, the one they would bother just to give me a lesson... the one that if they ever talk I would be able to kill for!!" his speed was incredible, maybe only Mercury kids and Rhia who knew her for 8 years would be able to decode what he had just said. His heart beated faster than ever, even faster than when he was running at top speed, any apollo kid would think he would have a heat attack at that moment!

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Rhiannon rubbed her arms, she could feel tears already welling up behind her eyes. For a long time she had practiced holding them back, but it never worked very well when Josh was around. Pain spread through her chest and she realized she hadn't been breathing. Forcing air into her lunges Rhiannon took long slow breaths, completely forced, because it seemed whatever part of the brain that controlled her breathing has stopped. While she tried to control it, keep it steady, still her breath shook with her body. Finally she looked to Josh again, searched his eyes. He had been so quiet, and he looked like he was still in shock. For a moment Rhiannon wanted to say she was joking, that the just loved him as a brother. That was not something she could do, they had no secrets and Rhiannon wasn't about to start now. Friendships were made or broken on things like this. Truth and lies. She wanted their based on truth.

His voice was soft, careful and unbelieving. Rhiannon looked at herself in the lake again, she could imagine that it would be difficult to believe. Her eyes went back to Josh, and tried to catch his every movement. She searched for something more, he had been so quiet. "I said that...I love you." she replied, almost matching him for tone and volume. Her voice was higher, more feminine and sounded quieter when she spoke despite speaking just as loudly. Her heart felt like it would give out at any moment. The question as to why she liked him so much, wouldn't it have been the same as why she was his friend. She smiled softly, painfully at him. "Isn't it for the same reasons I've always stayed by you? You make me smile, laugh, and...feel safe. I feel like I can be myself around you. Then...then there's also....I...I find you physically attractive. You're handsome, and kind and....everything else. Even the things I sometimes complain about, I like your quirks. I don't think there is anyone better than you Josh." she poured her heart into every word, at times forcing her breath to start again, as it seemed to continue to be obstinate about not working correctly. Her eyes locked onto his, and she could see the answer coming.

"I didn't think you would see me as someone to date but you don't have to say that about yourself. It's okay, even if you don't like me we can still..." Rhiannon stopped talking, and thought back on what he had just said. She covered her mouth, she couldn't have heard it right. Her hands made a triangle over her mouth and nose, as she stared at the person in front of her. "I...wh...what did you say?"

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Josh was still standing there, right in front of her as if he was a roman statue! He could not only feel his heart beating fast and even a bit painfully in his chest, but he could also listen to the blood running up and down, going in and out that heart of his that in any moment would stop or explode. rhia confirmed what he had heard, she had told him she loved him, but how could she love someone like him?! He shook only twice his head and in a very slow motion. He looked into her eyes and felt he was the greatest jerk on Earth! Jupiter should strike a lightning at him in that very moment!

"Rhia, please, please don't cry..." there were few things that could make him feel really bad, it wasn't to know that he was a thief or that he wouldn't be a pride for his father, but the tear of a woman that he cared about, his step mom, his close friends, but Rhia's tears were the worst in his list. Her tears could make his heart break in a thousand pieces and he would want to kill to anyone who had hurt her, in this case it was himself.

she also told him the reasons why she loved him, how could she think he was so special?! was this his third time on Earth after being in sent to Elysum and decided to come back to Earth? or why was he rewarded with such blessing as she was?! He looked at his reflection on the lake and saw himself, a sasquatch covered in mud and sweat. Still she thought he was handsome. Looking at his reflection he remembered all the bad things he had done in his life, still she thought he was a good man, a man who deserved to be blessed with her love and company!

He looked back at her and and shook his head. "there are a lot better than me... you know that, Rhia..." he said but she told him that she was sure he didn't like her in that way, that if he didn't like her in that way then... but she didn't finish the sentence, she looked at him and covered her mouth and nose. What dd he had just said to make her do that? Hadn't she ever thought about that? about people picking on her just because she would be with him?! or was it what he said about being able to kill if someone hurt or talk to her? Maybe she finally saw the monster he was!

But then she asked him to repeat what he had said. "what?... that people can pick on you? or the part where I told you that I could hurt someone if they ever talk to you in an unproper way or I could kill if they ever hurt you, because you are the most important person for me?" Mercury's speed in his tongue once more, he was too nervous to talk in a normal speed. then he realized what he had just said, then breathed deeply and bit his lower lip, then shrugged and wanted to drawn himself in the lake, maybe Alistair could help him on that task, he had said what he didn't want her to know, A secret that could hurt her at long term.

He walked a coupleof steps closer to her. "Rhia..." he breathed deeply and swallowed thickly, you could see his adam's apple moving. "I would die if something bad happened to you, even more if it was because of me..." Jason's voice in his mind was louder than a bell in a catherdral. "I do love you... I do, but..." he lifted his dirty hand and brushed a stripe of hair of her face. "I don't want you to get hurt because of me... I'm not good." he felt how his heart was aching, how it was breaking. "if you'd be with me... what could I offer to you?"

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Rhiannon couldn't move, there was nothing in her mind that had even remotely prepared for what he said. She watched his every move, and it seemed completely unreal. Every word he spoke rang in her ears like a gong, and the world stood still. Her hands moved down away from her face, but still lingered over her heart. She knew he felt strongly about her, and she knew she could always trust him to be there for her, but these emotions what he expressed seemed so familiar. She laughed, that slightly going insane laugh, but only for a moment. She thought her own feelings of jealousy had been ugly, but his were so much stronger. She remembered the Mars blood that ran through his veins, the aggression behind his smile sometimes. Had he always felt that way? He always seemed to gentle, the idea of him getting so mad over her mad her happy for some reason. Rhiannon lifter her hand to her forehead and pushed the hair backwards as she took a deep breath. “This....this can't be real.” she said starring unbelievably at Josh.

Josh stepped closer to her, and she let her hair fall again leaving some in her face. She didn't notice, he seemed a million times closer now than before. She could smell his sweat, see the dirt and dust on his face clearly. Josh was so close, in more ways than one. She had though he would be unattainable, but here he was saying he loved her. She laughed again, nervously, happily, and frightened all at the same time. Looking up in his eyes, so clear and blue, she wondered what he was thinking. “Did I....is this a dream? I...no. Why...why would you like me? I'm not fun, I fly off the handle sometimes. Alot. Why would I ever be so important in your life?”

Rhiannon tried to look for answers from him, why he felt that he was the one not good enough for her. She trembled, her body refusing to obey anything she wished it to do. Breathing was difficult, and painful. She couldn't tear her eyes away from his, and she could do nothing. His hand brushed her cheek leaving a smudge as he moved her hair. His words made no sense, at least not to her. People hurting her, him not being good, some kind of mess about what he could offer her? It made no sense, none at all. “I don't...I don't understand Josh. Wouldn't all that be just the same as it had always been? Making me happy, making me laugh? Aren't you the only one who really see's me laugh Josh? Aren't you the only one who see's the real me and accepts it? I...I don't understand who would be better than you?”

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Josh looked at Rhia into her beautiful blue eyes, it was like looking up at the sky, it was something that had always brought peace to Josh's soul. But now they weren't just blue, but they had a hint of red in them, she had cried and he knew this time it had been his fault, so he felt horrible, he felt like a boogey man, scaring and hurting the purest person on this world! then she asked if she was dreaming, he frowned and shook his head. "Is she laughing?" for the first time in his life, he couldn't understand what was going on in her mind. growing up was messing up with their minds!

He smiled gently and then shrugged when she asked why he loved her. "you ask why I love you?" he asked and lifted his brows knitting them in the middle and then smiling widely. "Rhia... you are fun to be with, you are smart and gentle. you are the only one that stood around this sneak thief to know him..." placing his hands on his chest pointing at himself. "haven't you realized that it is with you with the only one, besides my Mercury's family, who I truly smile, who I'm happy with? It doesn't matter if I had just stolen a bunch of diaries, some jewells from the outside or just a couple of hot dogs from New Rome to share with you at this very place! you always smile at me the same way!"

He breathed deeply and wiped the tears from her cheeks using the inner part of his shirt so he wouldn't stain her beautiful face with make up with his dirty hands. "I can't think a better person to be with! heck! you even threated Jason because he injected that ambrosia to me! you have broken the laws of the camp to be with this crazy thief! and you say you're not fun?!" He laughed and shook his head, then she told him all the reasons why she thought he was the best option for her. He smiled kind of saddly.

He tilted his head and swallowed again, she had asked who would be better for her, he could thought on dozens of good campers, but whenever he imagined them with her, holding her hands, rubbing her cheeks, kissing her lips! he felt that red wrath inside once more and wanted to kill them all! He breathed deeply once more and smiled again, this time in an earnest way. "I could name a dozen at least... but if any of them got close to you in a romantic way I would kill them!" he felt his grandfather's blood running through his veins, he didn't know if it was good or not to be so sure that he was related to Mars.

He bit his lower lip and then smiled at her. "I know I'm not good enough for you... that maybe I can put your life in danger because of my ilegal activities... but I swear to the gods that I will do everything and anything to keep you safe from my personal curse..." he smiled couldn't believe that he could speak such conrish words! Usually he would already have puked, but there with Rhia he felt them right. "I'm blessed to have you love me..." smiled a bit more and leaned closer to her, not touching her fearing to put some dirt on her skin or clothes, he smelt her perfume and smiled, then he did what his mind yelled to him not to do, but his heart was begging him to do for more than a month... "I do love you..."

Josh kissed in a sweet soft way Rhia's pink lips...

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Involuntarily Rhiannon's eye closed as she felt the rough fabric of Josh's shirt on her face. Her eyes tore away from his, her breath hanging on everyone of his. His words echoing in her mind as he spoke, the soft words caressing her ears. The feeling of rough texture on her face was what she needed, what she had to have to make sure this was not a dream. She could feel his fingers gently rubbing her cheek under the fabric. He was always that way, tender and careful. She smiled at the reminder of wanting to stab Jason. He was meddlesome, but she was a bit thankful toward him at the moment. Her smile grew as he spoke about not wanting to let her go to anyone else. The thought of him wishing to keep her to himself seemed cute on him. He was not a person to get angry over things, but the jealousy of even thinking about other men with her caused such a reaction. The though passed through her mind, had Jason talked with Josh also? She'd have to have a talk with him, though she wasn't sure if she wanted to thank him or choke him.

He said he'd protect her, Rhiannon laughed a bit at the thought. Hadn't Rhiannon proved herself more than able to take care of herself? Even Charlie a child of Mars complimented her on her fighting. She was not as good, as powerful, but she was very good. The sides of her lips curled up, he was being so corny. Rhiannon's eye brown knit together as she smiled at him, with a look that almost asked 'what am I going to do with you?'

Josh had already been close, but still he drew closer to her. Rhiannon's smile faded, she felt she knew what was about to happen but she did not expect it. Josh leaned in close and Rhiannon could feel his warm breath on her lips, then the softness of his mouth on hers. Rhiannon was stiff as a board, but felt like she was made of jelly. It seemed like everything was going to melt away in that one sweet kiss. It was so soft, and light that even when Josh pulled away she stood there with her eyes closed. Slowly she opened them, and saw his face. The blood that had slowly been draining from her rose red cheeks came back with more. She looked away, and covered her mouth. She couldn't believe she had her first kiss, and first and only confession. It was almost too much for her heart to bare, she was so happy.

Rhiannon looked up at Josh and smiled under her hand, when she smiled her whole face joined. Even with half her face covered you could tell, she was smiling. “Hey Josh...no secret between us right? I thought I'd tell you I just had my first kiss with this really awesome guy. You told me tell you about these things didn't you?” she said joking a little bit with him, attempting to keep the tears of happiness at bay.

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Josh felt her lips under his. they were so sweet, so warm, so soft. He couldn't have imagined them even if he had wanted to do it. If he would have to compare her lips to something in the world, then he would have to relate to a time where he was younger. He was 14 years old at that time and was going to give a dozen of roses to his step-mom, it was her birthday and he knew she loved those flowers, so he bought them in a stand in New Rome, then he went to give them to her, but a guy ran into him and the roses hit his face. he felt the inner side of a petal and it was softer than velvet, almost as soft as dolphin skin. Well rhia's lips were like the inner part of a rose petal.

Then he pulled back and looked into her bright blue eyes and waited for a second to see if she smashed his face with a demigoddess slap or if she smiled. He needed to know if what he had just done was right or not. If not, then he would understand and accept a punishment for it. He leaned back and half smiled waiting for a reaction, but when it happened it wasn't the one he had waited for. She covered her mouth and looked away, he frowned and bit his lower lip, then she smiled. He knew her face expressions, in fact he had tattooed her face expressions in his memory, so he knew even when she was covering her face, that she was smiling. The wind blew in a soft way, it was almost as if the gods were happy to see at least two of their children, happy and together.

Then Rhia spoke from under her hands. “Hey Josh...no secret between us right? I thought I'd tell you I just had my first kiss with this really awesome guy. You told me tell you about these things didn't you?” He frowned and tried to remain calmed. He had poured his heart in that kiss, she had told him she loved him! and yet she told him that another guy, an awesome one had kissed her and given her her first kiss!? He breathed deeply and swallowed trying to swallow the acid feeling of jealousy too. "a really... awesome guy?..." he asked and then closed his eyes. He was trying not to explode, not to ask her who was the jerk, so he could go and beat him in the Arena! He breathed deeply once more, then he opened his eyes and smiled at her, it was a hurt but true smile.

"what matters, isn't the first kiss that anyone gives you, but the first kiss that the person you love and loves you back gives you" he said trying to stay calm and telling her that his kiss was much better and important that anyother that other guy could have given her.

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Rhiannon's eye brown knit together as she shook her head, this man was unbelievable. Still he made her smile.”You idiot, I meant you.” she said with one hand on her hip, and the other on her forehead. She laughed, it was a strange thing. She had thought she made it more clear, but he was probably not associating himself with an awesome guy still. “The awesome guy is you Josh.” She slipped her hands into his, and let her fingers rest on him. The smile on her face could not be wiped off, and could not be controlled. She felt like a complete goof for smiling the way she was, but if it was with anyone she was glad it was with Josh.

She couldn't help but laugh again at the fact Josh had misinterpreted her. She shook her head, it was silly but she could imagine why. She tried her best not to think about the girls Josh kissed, not to remember how many he flirted with, because this was not time to think about other people. It had been a day everyone was supposed to be scheduled for something, Rhiannon had wanted to be left alone and picked the perfect day for it. She had not expected it to arrive so soon though, or to be so perfect. The sun warmed the air, and wind softly shuffled the leaves. The day itself was perfect, and for once everyone, even the water sprites left them alone. Rhiannon wasn't sure what gods came together to pull this off, but she needed to make several offerings later.

“So....only a fool you said? Wouldn't take me for a date, was that right?” Rhiannon said rubbing her thumbs against his hands, her heart fluttering now light as a feather. All the heavy pressure that had been on her chest, crushing her lungs, earlier was gone. It felt nearly weightless, and for a moment she wondered if she might float off. Once in a while she would look down at his messy dirt covered hands, much more tanned than her own. His fingers where large and bore the long hours of practice he had, despite anything anyone had to say about him. Rhiannon's hands were not the most soft and feminine, she had felt the hands of those Venus girls, but they seemed to delicate in his hands. Looking back into her his eyes that same goofy smile spread across her face again, at least she thought it must be goofy to smile so large.

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Amazing gif!! Thx Rhia!!

Josh was waiting for her to say something like... 'you are right, you kiss is more important than the others...' or maybe something like 'I don't mind about that other kiss now that you have kissed me!' Well, lets face it, he was a proud guy! he didn't like to know that other lips had touched Rhia's lips! it was like acid eating his brain little by little! But then her words weren't what he expected. She told him that she was talking about him. He frowned in that moment and tilted his head. "me?"

He knitted his brows and opened widely his eyes, then she moved her palm to her forehead and smiled, as always as he did something goofy and fool. then she confirmed him that the awesome guy was himself! He frowned and after a second a wide smile crossed his face. He felt how the acid was washed by a new feeling, it wasn't just the love that he felt for Rhia, but also the peace that he felt to know that she was his girl. He did a mental note. "From now on... no more foolish flirts, Rhia is the only one now..."

Then she laced her fingers with his and smiled at him. He felt her soft hand in his rough and dirty hand, but he still smiled. She wasn't like the Venus girls that cared about the looks and just that. She knew he was a roman, he trained and that yes, he was all dirty and sweaty, but she still held his hand. He closed his fingers around hers and looked at their hands together. She had the hands of a warrior, still it looked so delicate in his. He lifted her hand and kissed it. Then smiled at her once more.

She joked with his own words, which made him giggle in the most innocent and goofy way. He nodded and then shrugged. "well, I'm not a fool blind, I'm only a crazy thief." winked at her and smiled a bit more. "i see you already are dressed for a date, but me..." he said and opened his arms so she could look at him. "I will need a shower, you know?" He smiled at her. He was sweaty and dirty. His clothes were covered in dust and his hair was all stick to his head due the sweat. "would my charmed lady marion-rhia, would allow me to get a shower before taking her on a date to New Rome?" he smiled at her and winked.

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The back of her hand was sensitive, just as anyone elses would be, and she could feel the warmth of his breath even before she felt his hot lips. It seemed to match her own warmth against he lips but the coolness of her hand was starkly different. It let her know the different, on her hand she could feel the muscles move behind the skin of his lips and the heat they gave off. She could not help but compare it to the only other kiss she had received, the one on her lips. Their warmth had seemed to let them melt together, the softness of both their lips let her be lost in the feeling of his. She couldn't help but blush at the memory, that only a few moments ago she had kissed those very lips that now lay on her hand. She couldn't help but watch him, and his smile made her heart skip a beat and the breath catch in her chest.

She could not help but laugh at him, his mannerisms and gestured just seemed to fit him so perfectly. It seemed with every move he made she liked him more. He opened his arms to show her the dirt and mud on his clothing, and she nodded with a smile. He really was a mess, and she guessed he wouldn't hold her if he was this way. The thought sent blood to her face again. She had wanted him to put his arms around her, to hug her. It was not something too surprising, but Rhiannon couldn't help the way she was. Physical contact had always been saved for special occasions, and now she wanted to simply fall into his arms and stay there. Looking at the ground off to the side she attempted to cover her face again. It was so embarrassing for her, to want Josh for herself and to want to hold him. She never liked public displays of affection in other people, but now she kind of understood. They just wanted to be as close as possible to the other. Looking back at his face she still couldn't pick her head up. It made her eyes look larger as she looked up through the curled side bangs she had been given. His bright smile was so contagious.

“I suppose you might need a little washing up.” she said with a laugh “I hadn't really thought far enough ahead to think you'd actually want to shower and go on a date with me.”