Robert's Recovery

[ROBERT SNOW]

“Sorry to disappoint but he hasn’t done a whole lot.” Robert was disappointed by that indeed, though maybe he should have been more relieved. Shouldn’t that signal that his judgment of the man hadn’t been far off? “He hasn’t changed any policies, though he had been working with the other leaders. He seems more interested in building relationships between species than you were. I know he’s looked into aiding the refugees by finding them safe places to stay until things settle in the community. The Avisailles and Therianthropes haven’t been hunted down, and many have fled the city, but most still live in fear of recapture. Peter has worked on relieving some of the burden those leaders face. He doesn’t seem to share your views of species superiority.” Peter never really had shown a lot of support for his beliefs on Gargoyles being far superior than any other species, but he had always assumed that meant he just didn’t believe in it quite to the extent that Robert did. While it wasn’t what he would have done, he couldn’t fault Peter for his actions. It would generate more support for the Gargoyles if Peter continued his humanitarian efforts, which would in turn perhaps gain their opinions higher weight in the leaders’ meetings or at least earn them some favors in return. Peter was certainly shrewd enough to think that way…but perhaps there was more to it than that. Robert’s eyes were glazed as he considered this, running his hand over his chin in contemplation.

“What makes you think he is to blame?” Cadence’s voice interrupted his thoughts and his eyes sprang back to hers before he gazed off out the window again. His hand gripped his chin, his icy eyes appearing to be studying something very far off. “Just a feeling, I guess…” he said softly, though his deep voice carried well. “He acted so dower that day…even as I looked at him while I was walking over to him…it almost looked like he was upset. I suppose if he’s sympathetic to the plight of the Avisailles and the Therians, though, he would be upset…” The memories of that day were coming back in fragments, but the look on Peter’s face had stuck with him. Even that day as he looked at him, he wasn’t exactly sure why he was upset. With a heavy sigh his hand fell from his chin and he looked down at his hand on the armrest. “Or perhaps I’m just paranoid. Perhaps it really was an accident. Either way, it was a lucky break that I survived it.” Robert didn’t generally believe in luck or chance. He didn’t even know that he believed in destiny, but after his unlikely survival, maybe he would become a believer. There were stranger things, he supposed. Looking up at Cadence, he was certain she didn’t believe he would find anything out of the ordinary with Peter. If he had tried to have Robert killed, Peter would most certainly have covered his tracks with a fine-toothed comb. Peter was brilliant when it came to tactics and intrigue—he was the most feared Guardian for a reason. But while the older man was smart, Robert liked to think her was smarter.

Looking over at Cadence again, he nodded. “Well, perhaps more evidence will come to light later on, though I doubt it. Perhaps I should just continue to treat this as an accident like everyone else will.” The words were spoken half to himself and half to Cadence, as though he were trying to come to a decision. “Either way, I plan to call Peter tomorrow and notify him of my progress. Once I speak to him, I will reach out to Penelope. Please expect many visitors and perhaps some reporters wanting to ask questions for the species newsletters.” It wouldn’t be the first time Cadence would have to run interference for him with overzealous visitors, but he was certain the number of people she had dealt with in the past would pale in comparison to the number of people coming to marvel at his recovery. “You will probably have to guide in the visitors and escort them out. And as to whether you will still be compensated for being my assistant, I have every intention of keeping you as my assistant even when I gain a position on the Council once more.” It wasn’t a question of whether he would get a position on the Council, just a question of what position and when. He didn’t see that as arrogance, just simple fact. His icy eyes turned back to the lean, beautiful form beside him. “Do you have any questions?”

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

Cadence watched Robert with great interest as he looked off out the window. It was still dark out and her eyes wandered to where he was looking as he contemplated more of an answer. “Just a feeling, I guess…” She looked back at him, no emotion on her face as she simply listened. “He acted so dower that day…even as I looked at him while I was walking over to him…it almost looked like he was upset. I suppose if he’s sympathetic to the plight of the Avisailles and the Therians, though, he would be upset…” Cadence hadn't noticed anything different about Peter, but she rarely paid him any attention, even when they worked together. The man didn't like her and didn't trust her, and honestly Cadence felt like he had good reason to feel that way. She hadn't been trustworthy. She still had a pile of notes on things that could hurt Robert's image if she wanted to, things she had been collecting about him from the day she walked into his office. Not that she herself trusted Peter, but he seemed to be Robert's shadow, idolizing him. Which she supposed did actually make him a suspect even if she hadn't thought he was capable of doing something like this before Robert mentioned it.

Robert let out a long sigh and she cocked her head gently to the side, her slightly curled hair cascading down her shoulder. “Or perhaps I’m just paranoid. Perhaps it really was an accident. Either way, it was a lucky break that I survived it.” Cadence neither agreed nor disagreed, watching him as he tried to put the puzzle pieces together. He knew Peter better than she did, so he would know if Peter was capable of something like this or not. Either way it would be difficult to find out and Peter would never be stupid enough to leave an obvious clue behind. She would need to dig deep to find something, if there was anything, and even then it was a crap shoot.

His eyes came back to her and he nodded. “Well, perhaps more evidence will come to light later on, though I doubt it. Perhaps I should just continue to treat this as an accident like everyone else will. Either way, I plan to call Peter tomorrow and notify him of my progress. Once I speak to him, I will reach out to Penelope." What Cadence would do to be a fly on the wall when Peter got that phone call. Surely they all knew Robert was in a coma, but she doubted anyone would expect such a rapid recovery once he woke. He had suffered serious head trauma and was lucky to be alive. To not need some sort of physical or occupation therapy was a small miracle in itself. "Please expect many visitors and perhaps some reporters wanting to ask questions for the species newsletters.” She nodded, retaining everything he said. "Yes, sir." She offered softly, sitting up a little straighter now that he was back to giving her instructions. “You will probably have to guide in the visitors and escort them out. And as to whether you will still be compensated for being my assistant, I have every intention of keeping you as my assistant even when I gain a position on the Council once more.” She noted how he said when and not if. There was no question in Roberts mind whether he was going to be back on the council or not, which somehow amused a little. He was a cocky son of a bitch, but it sure got him places!

“Do you have any questions?” She was silent for a second, mentally running down the list of things she was expected to do. "Yes." She said after a moment. "What is it you'd like for me to do today? Moe importantly right now?" He was planning to see Peter and then speak to Penelope himself. The visitors would pour in sometime tomorrow, which left today.

[ROBERT SNOW]

Robert waited patiently for Cadence to think over all that he’d said so far. There would be a lot to do in the next several days and he was certain she would have questions about it. “Yes.” As predicted, but he knew he’d been vague. He studied her until the green of her eyes met the icy blue of his. “What is it you’d like to do for me today? More importantly right now?” Ah, he’d left that part out, hadn’t he? A wicked smirk came to his lips as he gazed over at her, leaving nothing to the imagination. Right now he had big plans for her. It had been far too long since she’d pleased him and vice versa. Being the cocky bastard he was, he simply knew she’d been dying for his rough hand for the past month. With how satisfied she always was when they finished their romps, he was certain she wouldn’t deny him now. “Well, for that, you’ll have to come closer.” He got to his feet slowly, watching her with blazing eyes as he did so. She seemed to hesitate, but he had every intention of having her today, whether she did so willingly or not. Slowly but deliberately he came around the coffee table between them and held out a hand to her, pulling her to her feet in one swift motion. He caught her in his arms and brought his mouth to hers, sealing her fate.

His kiss was deep and slow, exactly as he intended to fuck her, and one of his large hands slipped down her backside. The pencil skirt she was wearing left little to his imagination, not that he needed his imagination to know what was beneath the tight black material. His other hand gripped her skinny side, keeping her firmly against him. There was no denying how he lit her on fire from the way she reacted to his touch. The hand on her ass squeezed hard as he nipped her lower lip and tugged it. When it sprang back into place, he watched her face as he pulled her skirt up to touch the bare skin of her olive-skinned thigh. His hand gripping her side slipped into the top of her skirt, tugging her blouse from it with his eyes intent on hers. It was as if he dared her to stop him, his eyes betraying how much he was starved for her. He didn’t know what it was about her that made him burn so, nor did he care at the moment. All he knew was she was gorgeous and there and willing to please him.

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[CADENCE HIGGINS]

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When he finally pulled away, his teeth caught her lip briefly, pulling it with him as he moved back and her stomach twisted with need. Her Jade eyes caught his, seeing the question in them. “Here I thought you wanted me dead or worse." His words surprised her a little and she simply looked at him with the same emotionless look she always did. She did, didn't she? Well, she did at some point. Maybe not anymore.. "Why bother taking care of me when you could have just let me die?” What could she even say in reply? She simply stared at him for a long moment, wondering what he was trying to figure out from her. Did he want her to admit that maybe there was something more between them than there was? Was there? Was Robert Snow digging for understanding from her? She couldn't give him what he wanted, she wouldn't allow herself to, but would it really be so bad to be kind? Once?

"You wouldn't have died." She offered after a pregnant pause. "You had nurses caring for you from the moment you were hospitalized. You were fortunate enough to have received medical attention from the second you dropped at the camp. None of that had anything to do with me." She explained in her own matter-of-fact voice. She wasn't going to take credit for this. She didn't want him in her debt, to hold something over him. She wanted things to stay as they were. "The only thing I did was make sure you were kept comfortable and not taken advantage of by the help. I've already told you this was because I was suddenly out of work and I knew you would need someone to take care of things for you. Unfortunately I make an excellent personal assistant and I know what you like." She pulled away from him, taking her eyes from his and not wanting to give anything away with them. They were her weakest asset, and she knew it. "Don't think too far into it, Robert." She warned gently, sweeping her hand through her hair to try and fix it, her back turned slightly to her boss. "I was simply doing my job." But even as she said it she knew she wasn't doing just her job, and she worried her voice might have given this away just a little.

[ROBERT SNOW]

There was a long moment of silence before Cadence answered Robert’s question, but during the silence he never took his off hers. It was obvious they were both trying to find an answer from the other. Robert didn’t know why he was even asking such an emotional question; he didn’t want anything emotional with Cadence…did he? He had never been in this confusing situation with any other woman. It was so clear cut with other women: they were for fucking and then he was done with them. Cadence, though…he couldn’t deny that she was more than that. She was also more than his employee because she was the little sister of the only friend he’d ever really had. But was she even more than that? It would depend on what he was to her and he knew better than to expect her to reveal that much to him. “You wouldn’t have died. You had nurses caring for you from the moment you were hospitalized. You were fortunate enough to have received medical attention from the second you dropped at the camp. None of that had anything to do with me.” She wasn’t taking credit for any part of his survival, but perhaps she was right; perhaps there was no credit due to her. “The only thing I did was make sure you were kept comfortable and not taken advantage of by the help. I’ve already told you this was because I was suddenly out of work and I knew you would need someone to take care of things for you. Unfortunately I make an excellent personal assistant and I know what you like.” He smirked, silently agreeing that she was an excellent assistant, but…why was it so hard to admit he was a little disappointed with her answer? Because admitting that had too many implications, left him open for too many different things that he would rather not think about or pursue. He couldn’t want anything more from Cadence; it was out of the question.

Cadence pulled away from him and he frowned as he watched her. “Don’t think too far into it, Robert. I was simply doing my job.” He didn’t like the way her words made his stomach drop slightly. It made his blood start to burn and he couldn’t understand why, which only irritated him further. He didn’t know what he wanted, but he could hear the way her voice wavered slightly. Or maybe he was imagining it…No, he couldn’t be. She was smarter than to think that her job description included a clause about caring for him if he ended up in a coma. That meant she hadn’t answered his question of why; why stick by him? He pushed himself up, forgetting how much his body was aching and he took her chin between his thumb and forefinger to make her look at him. His eyes were stern but far from cold as he searched hers. There was definitely uncertainty there and he frowned as he gazed into the green of her eyes. “I don’t recall telling you that should I end up in a coma you were still bound to me. At any point you could have left and gotten another position. The Council certainly would have offered you a job. But you stayed. I know you were there often because I could hear you. I told you I could hear you. There were so many opportunities for you to exact this revenge on me, but you let all of them slip away.” So tell me why. He didn’t finish the thought. Robert realized again that he had little interest in knowing why. It was a question he had regretted in the first place. So instead he let his points hang in the air, as nervous about this subject as she appeared to be, even with her subtle mannerisms.

Robert leaned in and mashed his lips against hers in a silent way of thanking her. He didn’t like to think of how it would have been if he’d woken up with her, finding that she had found other means of employment and left him to heal on his own. It wasn’t a pleasant thought, though he liked to think he would have managed just fine. He knew a large part of his speedy recovery was thanks to her, however. His hand held firm to the back of her neck as he kissed her long and deep, his tongue gliding its way along hers. When he pulled away, he felt annoyed with himself for how much he was revealing to Cadence, even if he didn’t say it directly in his words. What was even more annoying was how close he was getting to internally accepting that perhaps Cadence was much more to him than he had ever intended for her to be. One more look in her eyes and he heaved a heavy sigh, falling back to the bed and running a hand over his face. He didn’t even know what to do or say. But he did look at her again, the long lines of her back drawing his eye. His fingers reached out and gently traced over the olive skin along her spine. Though he was exhausted, the goosebumps he saw forming on her skin sparked a deviousness in him and he smirked, his heavy feelings slowly fading away. “Well if you’re going to stay, perhaps I could exceed your expectations again.” It was a tease, but he could already feel that familiar need stirring in his gut. He would regret this come tomorrow…

[CADENCE HIGGINS]

She felt him moving to sit before she saw him, but the fingers grasping her chin forced her eyes up to meet his, her own blazing fiercely. Why was he doing this? Why was he pressing her? What did it matter? She was there and she was caring for him and honestly that was all he should care about. What did he need an explanation for? The firm gaze he offered made her stomach twist anxiously; not because she was afraid of him but because she learned to like that hard look he offered her. “I don’t recall telling you that should I end up in a coma you were still bound to me. At any point you could have left and gotten another position." Her lips went into a thin line as she tried not to glower at him. The Council certainly would have offered you a job. But you stayed. I know you were there often because I could hear you. I told you I could hear you. There were so many opportunities for you to exact this revenge on me, but you let all of them slip away.” Her lips pursed and her brows lowered gently over her jade eyes. He was telling her she should have gotten the revenge she so sought when she had the chance, and he wanted to know why she hadn't the arrogant prick. Cadence herself didn't know the answer.

Everything changed with his confession. Cade didn't know if his words were true or not, but she figured Robert would have no reason to lie to her. In many ways he was still to blame for Jude's death, but in the same respect he was to blame for her birth as well. Had it not been for Robert she wouldn't be there now, watching over him while he was vulnerable to the world and pressing his buttons to get hot, rough sex from him. In a way it was fucked up, but then again Cadence was a little fucked up.

Still, she was more than annoyed with his questioning. She didn't have a solid answer and she didn't know what he expected her to say. She would never admit she had any sort of feelings for him, that would be foolish on her part and she wasn't interested in looking foolish. Especially in front of Robert, but he wasn't pressing her anymore. Not to talk, anyway. His lips moved forward and he kissed her hard, and though she now had the urge to resist him, she stayed put as she had always done, allowing Robert to take the lead as he'd always done. She couldn't fight it, and she wouldn't. Besides, as angry as she was with him, she liked it which only angered her more but at herself and not Robert. Besides, she couldn't pull away even if she wanted to with the way his hand held her neck so firmly in place, forcing her to accept his love like it or not.

Finally the man pulled back and Cadence swallowed hard, her eyes opening to meet his cool gaze and she warmed slightly. It was hard to be angry when he looked at her that way and again she felt her insides twist. She watched as the man slumped back with a sigh, running a hand over his angular face. Her head turned to watch him over her shoulder, her back facing him still, her mouth almost hidden from him by her thin shoulder and cascading golden hair. His hand moved to her back, his finger trailing up her spine and though Cadence was a master at not showing her feelings usually, her body often deceived her and now was no exception. Goosebumps rose over her entire body from that simple touch of his and the smirk on his face told her that he was pleased with her reaction. Her lips slid into a tight line once more with annoyance, hating how smug the bastard was.

“Well if you’re going to stay, perhaps I could exceed your expectations again.” She despised how that sentence sparked something in her stomach. She had been satiated by him already that morning and degraded to boot. Of course she would go for another round but damned if she would ask for it. Turning her head away from him she looked towards the window, the curtains closed. "If that's how you wish for us to spend our day, sir. It's on your dime, but I think your main concern right now should be getting yourself healthy and if you're overexerting yourself to prove a point to your assistant you'll never heal." It wasn't exactly a rejection nor was it an invitation. She was letting him know she was unbiased and if he intended to fuck her again then so be it, but if not she would deal. It wasn't as though he wouldn't have his way with her the next day or the day following. She silently fought with herself, trying to decide how she wanted things to go, but in the end she had nothing. She had no plan anymore and was essentially lost. She looked over her shoulder at him once more, stoic as ever. "What shall you have me do, sir?"

[ROBERT SNOW]

Robert watched with mild annoyance as Cadence turned away to look at the curtained window. Why couldn’t she just look at him? “If that's how you wish for us to spend our day, sir. It's on your dime, but I think your main concern right now should be getting yourself healthy and if you're overexerting yourself to prove a point to your assistant you'll never heal." His mild annoyance shifted in to full on boiling anger. What made him the angriest was the fact that she was right; he needed to rest and even if they did go for another round, she would have to be on top. He wasn’t as strong as he was pretending to be and his muscles ached just from one round of sex. It was infuriating and she was only rubbing it in how weak he was right now. If he ever found out who shot him, he was going to kill that bastard for all of the damage he had done not only to Robert but to his pride. Right now he wanted to slap Cadence for damaging that pride again. She had taken such good care of him and now she was wounding him all over again and he didn’t like to admit—and would never do so verbally—that she had the power to do that to him. Those beautiful jade eyes of hers turned back to him over that thin shoulder and he was certain the look on her face would make it clear not to test him any further. “What shall you have me do, sir?” His teeth clenched together as he fought the urge to take her over his knee. She could never just agree to anything.

With another heavy sigh he looked away, begrudgingly admitting defeat. He was exhausted. Even if he wanted to please her again, please himself again, he didn’t have the energy. He was seething at his own god damn weakness. “Go home. Tomorrow we’ll have several calls and I need to recover. There’s a robe in the closet should you require something to walk down the hall in. Be here promptly at five tomorrow evening.” His eyes stayed focused on the chair he’d woken to her sitting in yesterday as she got off the bed and moved toward his closet. As weak as he was, he refused to look at her. He hated feeling this way. He felt as meek as a fucking child and it put him in a foul mood. A flutter of movement caught his eye however and he couldn’t help but glance over at Cadence slipping the robe over her thin shoulders. How could a creature so beautiful be so frustrating? Before she turned, he looked away again and tried to ease into a more relaxed state. He’d just sated his sexual need for his assistant and he needed to be content with that.

As Cadence slipped out of the door, however, he suddenly felt an odd pang in his stomach. It had been far too long since he’d fallen asleep with her nestled against him. Perhaps he should have asked her to stay…He sighed heavily, letting the annoying thought go. That would have gone against his pride, and his pride always won out in the end.

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