Wine Stains

1

"Run Martha!" Rivers voice hoarse from running came from behind me. The russeling in the woods behind us kept coming, unknown to the both of us who it could belong to.

I threw my legs forward with everything in me. My lungs burning, my face slick with blood and sweat. I can see an opening to the wooded area we were rushing though. I push my body even further, but failed to notice where my feet landed. I suddenly tripped on tree root, my ankle giving way. I fall to the forest floor with a light grunt. River is by my side in an instant helping me up by my elbows. He too is covered and a wet mixture of blood and sweat.

"Cmon darling we are almost home" his mouth close to my ear encouraging words spilling from his lips. "We can take a nice bath, and ice your ankle as soon as we're home"

I stand, putting pressure on my ankle. The deep ache making me take a sharp breath.  I bite my lips to prevent any further noise coming from me.

"Okay let's go" I smile at River the best I can, and reach down to pick up my axe bag I had dropped in the fall.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My caked military boots flake off its dirt as I walk through River and I's house. I peel off my sweat soaked wife beater, and walk to the kitchen to wash the blood off my axe.

River and I don't exchange any words or looks for about an hour until he came behind me and rested his chin in the crease of my neck.

"What's got you all shut up? I know you enjoyed yourself while we hacked the shit out of your old boss." I turn around, his hot breath fanning over my face in light laughter.

"No baby I did trust me it jus-"

"He tried to rape you Martha, if we didn't do anything his filthy body would still be crouching around and harming other women. We did good for the world" His grip on my shoulders tighten in frustration.

"It's not that River" frustrated, I take his hands off my shoulders and walk away from his torso.

"Then what is it?" he turned and followed me into the living room. Where I sat down picking at my nails.

"I'm scared alright?" My jaw clenched and my voice shakes momentarily.

River gives me a lost look. Never had I ever admitted I was scared. It shocks me even to think those words were formed by my lips.

"I'm scared of whatever was chasing us in the woods followed us here, and I can't run anywhere cause my ankle is f*cked up" My body shakes against my will with a mixture of cold bare skin and nerves.  "I'm scared I won't be able to help the world again" I look at River, his legs slowly carrying his body towards me. He kneels next to the chair I'm hunched in and kisses my knee.

"No one has followed us before, and for all we know it could've been a dog chasing us." his hands reach, and clasp mine in his own. "I also think it's silly to worry about your ankle. It'll be okay in no time" he leans forward and kisses my temple. My hands snake in his hair as I twist my head and place a soft kiss on his lips.

"Thank you sweetie" I smile at him, he returning a smile back.

"Now, I believe I promised you a nice bath, and ice for your pretty little ankle if I'm not mistaken?" River crooned. He stands up and bends over in piggyback position.

"Your steed awaits to take you to your bathing quarters" he says formally.

I stand on the chair and hop on his back. I lean close to his ear "onward my white steed" I giggle as he whineys, and runs up the stairs with me bouncing on his back.

~~~~~~~~~~

The suds surround me like a blanket, the water warm enough to melt away all my troubles. I lean back in the tub and close my eyes. The sound of a knock on the bathroom door was the only thing to open my eyes. Rivers soft voice broke through the door.

"Hey Magpie, may I join you?" he pops his head through the crack of the door biting his lips excitedly.

I turned resting my head on the edge of the tub, looking at him in mock disgust. "Ew sorry I don't know you." I lay my head back again and close my eyes.

I hear River get in the bathroom, and close the door. I keep my facade on, not looking at him at all. I hum the tune quietly of Marry Me by Venus and the Moon. The sound of Rivers belt hitting the ground made me grin, but I kept my eyes closed.

I pretended to lean forward to add more hot water to the tub, secretly making room for Riv behind me. The surface of the water breaks and River pulls me tightly against his chest.

"Well you've gotta be the prettiest stranger I ever did see" he whispered in my ear. I giggled and leaned my head back on his shoulder.

"Look at you, did you even wash your hair yet? Your hair is still full of blood" he pushed my neck forward gently to get a better look at my buzzed hair.

"Well it looks like I have a job to do for miss magpie" he kissed my neck and I heard the cap of a shampoo bottle pop open.

"Now sit tall and hold still" he started to massage my head delicately with strawberry shampoo. My eyes shifted to the clock on the sink that read 1:12am. Rivers hands made my eyes shut and I couldn't help my groans every once in a while.

"Now rinse"

I dunk my head underwater, rubbing the crusted blood out of my scalp. I look to see River out of the tub and with a towel already around his waist. He's holding a towel out for me.

"I had it over the heat vent so it's warm" he smiled brightly at me as climbed out of the tub and pumped into the safetly of his loving arms.