This story uses copyrighted characters that belong to MCA/Universal and Renaissance Pictures. No copyright infringement is intended and no profit is derived from this use.
Adult Sexual Content: Certain scenes in the following story portray Xena and Gabrielle in a romantic and sexual context. If this kind of scenario distresses you, is illegal where you live, or if you are underage, please do not read any further.
This vignette may offend your sensibilities, but only if you have a very lively imagination....
In the Dark
An homage to bardly clichés
Gabrielle: So, where are we?
Xena: In the dark.
Gabrielle: I can see that! Or rather, I can't....
Xena: At any rate, we'd better stay in this cave until the storm blows over.
Gabrielle: Storm? I thought we were escaping a warlord?
Xena: Either, or... Does it really matter?
Gabrielle: It probably should, but no, it doesn't matter. If only I weren't so cold.
Xena: Cold? I thought we were wet, drenched in the storm.
Gabrielle: I wish you hadn't said that. Now, all of a sudden, I'm cold and wet.
Xena: There's no wood for a fire, so we'll have to find another solution to getting warm.
Gabrielle: Please hurry, because I'm—oh...Yes, that would work.
Xena: Only as an emergency measure, you understand. Until the warriors are gone.
Gabrielle: Or the storm lets up.
Xena: Whatever...but it's the only sensible thing to do. Feeling warmer now?
Gabrielle: Yes. Much.
Xena: Good.
Gabrielle: In fact....
Xena: Yes?
Gabrielle: ...it's suddenly quite warm in here.
Xena: You're not running a fever are you? Here, let me check.
Gabrielle: Is that another of your medical techniques? Testing for a fever with your lips?
Xena: It's a tried and true method. Lips are very sensitive to heat, more so than hands.
Gabrielle: Oh, really. So, if I put my lips here....
(long silence)
Xena: How...interesting. I've never tried testing that place before.
Gabrielle: What about this one?
Xena: Oh, yes! I mean, no...not that one either.
Gabrielle: Are you sure hands aren't sensitive enough? I can feel warmth beneath my fingers.
Xena: Yes...oh, yes....
Gabrielle: I thought so. Fingers can be just as sensitive as lips.
Xena: Gabrielle, there's another place you haven't checked.
Gabrielle: You mean this one?
Xena: Oh my...you know about that already.
Gabrielle: I'm naturally curious. And it wasn't that hard to find.
Xena: Now that you've found it....
Gabrielle: Don't worry, I won't stop.