OFA: Mistletoe gets *everywhere*

[ps_you_look_hot]

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

[ps_you_look_hot]

"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."

[talldarkmilfy]

"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."

[ps_you_look_hot]

"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.

[ps_you_look_hot]

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

[talldarkmilfy]

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

[ps_you_look_hot]

"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.

[ps_you_look_hot]

"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."

[talldarkmilfy]

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

[ps_you_look_hot]

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

[talldarkmilfy]

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."

[ps_you_look_hot]

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."

[talldarkmilfy]

"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."

[ps_you_look_hot]

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."

[ps_you_look_hot]

Nikola says nothing as he removes the rest of the mistletoe. He descends the ladder and hands her the last sprig.

"Do with it as you will," he says and turns to go.

[talldarkmilfy]

Takes the last sprig and nods, her face a mask of neutrality. "Thank you..." There's no sense in trying to stop him or explain further. Anything more she'd have to say would only trouble him more. He's hardly ever been good with perceived criticism. It's times like these Helen wonders if she can even say she knows him at all anymore.

[ps_you_look_hot]

Considering she's just said she thinks he doesn't respect himself, the answer to her question is quite likely 'no.'

He waves off her thanks as he heads back to his lab.

[talldarkmilfy]

Of course, on the deeper side of it, Helen's also just explained to him why she thinks he doesn't respect her. There's certainly less gentler ways of saying such things.

She sighs softly, failing yet again at connecting with Nikola. Whatever she'd been thinking on, though, flies to the wind when an alarm sounds. ((and off I go into Henry's post...woooosh!))