Arranged Marriage

[bostonhowler]

It's a trope near and dear to our hearts. Arranged marriage.

Maybe it's for the family. Maybe it's for a friend. Maybe you know the person and have been expected to marry them for years. Maybe it's the wedding day and you have no clue who it is you'll be tied to for your natural life. Maybe you've been married a while, and you're just now starting your life, away from the expectations of others. Or maybe, the "others" are watching, waiting, making sure this marriage sticks.

Prompts for those who need them:



Reasons:

1. Station → You come from a royal, noble, or otherwise distinguished family who has chosen a suitable spouse for you.
2. Feud → You are being married to put an end to the bitter enmity between your two families.
3. Economics → Your economic state and/or your station will improve through the union, though one of you may be marrying down.
4. Empire → You and your spouse are merging your businesses and/or property to create something more influential or profitable.
6. Tribute → You have been offered as a gift or appeasement, alternately you're the spoils of war.
8. Bloodline → Carrying on your distinguished family name has fallen to you and the equally well-bred spouse of your family's selection.
7. Disapproval → Your marriage has been arranged to keep you away from the person with whom you truly wish to be.

Scenario:

1. First meeting → This is the very first time you're meeting your future spouse.
2. Courtship → To get to know each other and encourage affection, your family has approved of you going on dates.
3. Engagement party → Be it a huge, formal affair or a small, intimate get together, you're celebrating (or pretending).
4. Wedding day → The big day!
5. Reception → The big party!
6. Wedding night → Every meme needs a smut prompt, right?
7. Honeymoon → Where will you go with your new spouse and what will you do there?
8. Been at this a while → Just starting to get to know the other person

Comments

[goingthroughaphase]

With a small smile, she nods, curving into him as she combs her fingers through his damp hair.

“Sure,” she says softly.

[southernreaper]

He reaches for the shampoo and slowly starts with her hair. He has no problem washing her, if she wants. But right now, it's not about sex, or even teasing. It's just about that physical closeness that Kevin usually craves and is denied so far.

Once the conditioner is in her hair, he starts on the rest of her.

[goingthroughaphase]

She gives a soft sound as he massages the shampoo into her scalp. While he does that, she lathers the soap and gently scrubs his body. When he starts on hers, she combs her fingers through her hair to rinse out the leftover conditioner.

[southernreaper]

He washes her. Not because of any desire to own her, or to possess her, but because... he wants to touch her. Not sexually, but intimately. He wants to explore all of her skin and just learn about it. He wishes they had more time.

But they don't. So, when he finishes up his ministrations, he washes his hair real quick, then kisses her. "Come on. We'll get dressed then go to breakfast. We'll take the pizza for lunch or something."

[goingthroughaphase]

She returns the kiss while she can, then nods as she finishes cleaning up. "Sounds good. I could go for an omelet or something."

Not that she minded cold pizza, but a warm breakfast also sounded nice.

As she turns the water off, she glances at him, her eyes briefly going to the suppressor ring. "How're you doing?"

[southernreaper]

"Omelet it is. Maybe IHOP?" Because IHOP has excellent pancakes, and that's really what Kevin wants.

He looks down at the suppressor and steps out of the shower, dragging a towel around his waist. He offers her one, since her robe is out in the room. "I'll be alright." He says after a moment. "It's gettin' time though." He admits. He touches her face, and leans in to brush his lips against hers. "I'll leave it off for the drive and then some. It'll be alright."

[goingthroughaphase]

“Sure, IHOP sounds good.”

Taking the towel, she wraps it around her body. Looking up at him, she leans into his touch and returns the light kiss. “Mm, okay,” she says softly.

[southernreaper]

He smiles a bit sadly. He doesn't want to take it off. He'd warned her, the night before, that he always wants to wear it. He wants to be able to touch and be touched. He wants to wear it until it blinds him with pain.

But he won't do that to her. Were it just him and Mimsy on this trip, he might. But he won't put someone else through that. So, instead, he walks out of the room and starts to get dressed in his many layers. Lastly, he pulls his gloves on, and removes the suppressor, putting it back in its box, that had fallen on the floor. Then he slips that final glove on, and once again, he's Wither, the untouchable guy with a deadly power.

He sighs and offers her the box. "Keep this safe?" For him, for both of them.

[goingthroughaphase]

Following him into the room, she watches sadly as he puts on all his layers. Hidden away once more.

After getting dressed herself, she turns to him as he holds out the box to her. With a nod, she carefully takes it from him.

“I will,” she says softly. Then, looking up at him, she suddenly hugs him. She’s careful, making sure she can only feel the clothes that covers him, which only makes her feel more sad for him.

[southernreaper]

He may be hidden away, but she's a member of a very elite club: seeing him without the layers. There are very few people who have: her, Josh, and Dr. McCoy.

He's surprised by the hug, but hugs her back. He wants to kiss her but doesn't dare. He can't even rest his head against hers. Still, he holds onto her for as long as she wants to stay where she is. Kevin is a man starved of physical affection.

[goingthroughaphase]

She holds the hug for a long moment, but eventually she does pull back. Just enough to look up at him while still staying in his arms.

Then she offers him a small smile. It’s not much...but she hopes it can be enough for now.

[southernreaper]

He brushes gloved fingers against her cheek. It's as close as he can come to anything more like what they both want. "Come on, breakfast, then we'll hit the road." He says, softly. It's not that he doesn't want to spend time with Kitty, but that's what two plus weeks at Disney is for. He can cover up during the day, wear his layers and at night... well, that's hopefully going to be an exploration of a different sort.

He smiles back, crookedly. He can't fully smile while covered like this. It's emotionally impossible. He just doesn't have it in him to be happy while in this state.

[goingthroughaphase]

She nods, leaning into his touch for another moment. “Yeah,” she says softly, before finally drawing away to finish packing up their things.

She can definitely understand that it’d be difficult for him this way. She can only hope she can be optimistic enough for both of them.

Once she’s gotten everything ready, she goes to grab the pizzas from the fridge.

[southernreaper]

He finishes packing his bag. Unlike some other guys - Josh - he's neat about it. He tucks everything away and picks up the bags. They'll probably need to send laundry out once during their stay, but that's a worry for another time. He waits while she grabs the pizzas, and then holds open the door for her.

In less than twenty minutes, they're back on the road, heading south toward Disney. He offers her a gloved hand - a big step for him. Normally he just curls in on himself, very few people able to bring him out of his shell. But he'll try. For her.

"We've got about six hours to Disney. Figure we'll be fine to do most of it straight through, if you want?" He'll stop for her, but he generally doesn't need to.

[goingthroughaphase]

As she settles in the front seat, she glances at him as he offers his hand. She smiles, placing her hand in his, appreciating that he’s trying.

“That sounds fine,” she says with a nod. “We might wanna fill the tank then, if we wanna do nonstop.”

[southernreaper]

The thing about Kevin is he won't do it for himself. He'll do for other people. Because he has so little self-worth, that he feels he has to do for others, so they see some worth in having him around.

He glances at the tank and nods. Might as well stop. He finds IHOP first. That's important because he, at least, is starving. "Breakfast first, then we'll worry about gas." He says, with a crooked smile.

"Have any idea what you want to eat?" He asks as he parks the car. The IHOP isn't busy and that's good for him. He can handle some things, but being so fresh off the suppressor, he's not sure he could handle a crowd.

[goingthroughaphase]

Maybe they were a good match after all. While she isn't perfect, Kitty cares a lot about other people, and always tries to find the good in other people, no matter how hard it may seem. So even if Kevin himself doesn't see the value in himself, Kitty will.

With a giggle, she nods. "Right. I think a spinach omelet sounds good. Though they always make it so big, I can never finish it in one sitting."

[southernreaper]

He chuckles. "I'm gettin' one of their poblano omelettes. Remy was sayin' they were really good." He shrugs. Kevin talks more with the senior members of the team, than he does the kids his own age. Has to do with him being a decent cook. Remy's put in a few requests at times.

He gets out and takes her hand again. In short order, they're seated in a booth in a back corner away from everyone. It's a comfortable place for Kevin, and he appreciates it.

When the waitress comes to take their order, he lets Kitty order first then has his omelette with a side of wheat toast. He also orders sweet tea. Because while he loves his coffee, he almost never drinks it anywhere but at the mansion, or Miss Amelia's house.

"Ya know, I was thinkin'." He says, once the waitress is gone. "Maybe once we've had time at Disney, we could go to Atlanta?" He wants her to meet Miss Amelia.

[goingthroughaphase]

After ordering an iced coffee and spinach omelette, Kitty glances at him after the waitress leaves.

“Atlanta?” she repeats. While she knows that he’s from the south, it occurs to her that she doesn’t know exactly where.

[southernreaper]

His smile goes crooked again. "I grew up in Atlanta." He explains. He sits back as the waitress brings their drinks back for them. She sets the lemon in front of Kevin, and he just plops it in the drink, and sips it through the straw, because at least then he's not drinking ashes.

"Miss Amelia still lives there." He toys with his straw. "I thought you might like to meet her?" He doesn't look up at her. "We don't have to, of course, but I thought it might be nice."

[goingthroughaphase]

"Oh," she replies softly. Then, placing her hand on his arm, she smiles. "I'd love to meet her. And Atlanta sounds fun. I've never been before."

[southernreaper]

"Atlanta is boring. Sure, there's museums and stuff, but not a lot of 'fun' stuff to do." He shrugs, but his gloved hand covers hers. "I'd like to introduce you to her, though. She'll say you're too skinny, but, that just means she'll shove me in the kitchen while you two talk." He smiles a bit. "Her grandsons might be there, not sure."

[goingthroughaphase]

She giggles softly. "Well, I'd still like to meet her anyway. We can leave Disney a little early and head to Atlanta on our way back."

[southernreaper]

He sits back as the waitress brings their food. She smiles at them holding hands, but doesn't say anything, going back to her work. "Why leave early?" He asks, genuinely curious. "You think anyone back home is going to say anything if we don't show up right on time? We'll call, and explain, certainly, but we can take the time." Really, this is the most anyone ever gets him to talk. He's the perfect model of 'says nothing' back at the mansion.

[goingthroughaphase]

It’s definitely the most she’s ever heard him talk, and honestly, she likes it.

“Well, I don’t mind taking some extra time,” she says with a playful smile. “But I also wanted some time when we got back to look up some college classes before enrollment. Mr. McCoy was going to help me look into that.”

With everything that they’ve all been through, it’s sometime easy to forget how young Kitty actually is.