OFA: Mistletoe gets *everywhere*

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Nikola may not be as observant as James is, but he's by no means oblivious.

That said, he is kind of enthralled by this whole zombie project (that he's continued working on despite his argument with Owen. Damn it for being so fascinating). As such, he's completely failed to notice the sprig of mistletoe the Big Guy managed to put up in his lab.

When he finds out the creep in the room with the hair has been poking about in his lab, he'll probably be irate, but in the meantime...this could be fun?

Comments

[talldarkmilfy]

"You're saying you'll help if I kiss you under the mistletoe in my bedroom," Helen asks, playing dumb.

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"I'm saying it would be a good incentive."

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Helen shrugs gently. "So be it. A small price to pay for your much needed assistance."

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Nikola chuckles. "Lead the way, then."

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Helen nods, turning to leave (though not before grabbing her eggnog). Helen didn't doubt Nikola would follow, after all it isn't as if he'll get an invitation to her bedroom again in the foreseeable future.

Pushing open the door, she gestures to the step ladder near the bed. With the vaulted ceilings, even on the ladder in heels, Helen was at least a foot or more too short to reach the annoying sprigs of mistletoe.

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"Is he this creative every year, or does this represent new levels of deviousness?" Nikola asks as he looks up at the mistletoe, smirking.

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Helen chuckles, peering up at the ceiling. "Bedrooms and bathrooms began last year. This is the first time it's shown up in mine."

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"You really ought to keep him on a tighter leash," Nikola says, turning to her expectantly.

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A brow lifts as she gesture to the ladder. "What's true for one resident is true for all. I'd have to keep a tighter leash on you as well, Nikola. Your mischief is often more hard-wearing."

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"I keep to myself," Nikola argues. "And I'm not one of your employees."

He glances to the ladder and back to her. "I'll take that payment now, actually."

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"He's as much a resident under my protection as you are," she informs.

Helen follows his gaze then looks back to him. She closes the distance between them, her face a stoic mask. Before leaning into complete the transaction, Helen murmurs quietly, "I'll appreciate a kiss that won't rival a porn queen, if you please."

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"But as his employer, you have more control over his actions than mine."

Nikola smiles as he leans in slightly. "You'll have no cause for complaint."

The kiss he gives her, while not quite chaste, is not so terribly inappropriate either. He keeps his tongue to himself, but he does slip an arm around her waist.

[talldarkmilfy]

To say she's surprised by the kiss would be an understatement. After all, she'd been expecting him to use the situation to his full advantage. Then again, Nikola's intelligent enough to wary of risking putting his tongue into a surprised woman's mouth. She does return his kiss, though in a more chaste manner. A deal is a deal after all.

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Nikola pulls back from the kiss, but he keeps his arm around Helen's waist. "Satisfactory?"

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She smiles, giving him a gentle push to free herself from his grip. "Will you take it down now?"

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"That was the arrangement, wasn't it?" Nikola says, smirking as she pushes him away. He turns to the ladder and climbs to the top rung.

He's really not all that much taller than she is, a few inches at most, but his arms are longer, so it's not impossible for him to reach the sprigs.

[talldarkmilfy]

She watches him, moving to stand near the ladder should he require any support. "You know, Nikola..." she begins thoughtfully as he reaches for the mistletoe.

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"I know a lot of things," Nikola says as he stretches to remove the first bunch. "You'll have to be more specific than that."

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Touché. She chuckles lightly, crossing her arms over her chest. "I miss my Celibate Scientist," she admits.

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Nikola frowns slightly as he removes the next bunch. "Why?"

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Helen tilts her head quizzically though he's unable to see it from where she stands. "I found that dedication of yours, that pure, raw passion only for science and nothing else to be enviable," explains she in a matter-of-fact (if slightly awed) tone. "You were uncompromising. I've never had more respect for anything than that."

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Nikola doesn't answer right away, reaching for another sprig instead. When he does speak, his voice is flat, nearly emotionless. "You'd rather I cared for nothing but science."

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"I don't doubt that you still care for nothing but science," she muses gently. "It's merely my observation, Nikola. As passing as if one was to say they preferred me blonde."

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Nikola shakes his head, still looking at the mistletoe rather than at her. "Except that, blond hair or brown, you are still, fundamentally, the same person. You prefer me as I was before I knew who I am." There's no anger in his voice, though there may be a quiet censure.

[talldarkmilfy]

"I prefer you when you respected yourself," she corrects in a low voice. "Either way, it's of no consequence, Nikola. You are who you are and I will still respect your work and our friendship."