The Early Bird Gets the Worm

[Lillia St. James]

She was going to beat him. Today was going to be the day that Nicholas Cawdor regretted ever fucking with Lillia St. James. Err- DeGraff. The rivalry had started almost instantly once it was revealed they both had a competitive streak, and Lillia refused to let the idiot boy think he was going to get the best of her. That he was better than her.

She wasn’t weak. Not anymore, and she never would be again. Jareth DeGraff had seen to that. Her adoptive parents had merely pulled her and her twin sister up off their asses took their talents and made them shine into the women they were today.

Maeve has given Lillia her first real blade, hell, had even shown her how to use it and properly the first time at 14. It was how she’d learned to trust the woman. Now? Lillia had at least three on her at all times, and they were her favorite weapon.

She’d left the DeGraff townhome before dawn, determined to be at the barracks and ready to go before the morning training began. It was a cold winter morning, but she could tell spring was on its way. She blew in her hands as she walked down the barrack hallway, rounding a corner, and found the training yard was empty. She couldn’t stop the smug look on her face as she reached up to tighten her high ponytail, letting the long strands hit the middle of her back.

The hallway was covered and outside, with a small wooden fence separating the yard. The main training yard was several miles outside the city with the main force of the army. Far larger than the one here at the main barracks here in the city, where Lillia was stationed. Unlike her sister Lacey, and her older cousins, she hadn’t wanted to be in the city Guard. She wanted to forge her path, and thus...she’d become a soldier. She’d make a name for herself here without the DeGraff influence that would have happened within the guard.

Approaching the yard, she stopped at the fence, throwing a leg up on the wooden railing, and grabbed her ankle with both hands. Starting her morning stretches. She leaned forward into her leg, feeling the muscles in her hip and leg pull at the motion. She rested her forehead on her thigh, breathing in through her nose and slowly out through her mouth. She counted to ten before switched legs. She could hear voices coming down one of the hallways and forced herself not to grind her teeth together in annoyance when she recognized one.

Just ignore him….just ignore him….

Today was going to be a long ass day...

[Nicholas Cawdor]

Nicholas Cawdor was usually surrounded by people. He was on good terms with most of his division, though they often complained about his ego. He didn't let it bother him, though, he just agreed that it was huge and moved forward. No need to get hurt feelings when everyone was ribbing on each other. All in good fun.

He laughed at a comment made by Jason about how it was too bad his dick wasn't as big as his ego. "Oh yeah? If it was, I wouldn't' be able to fit it in this uniform, now would I?" He retorted, shoving his friend off the path so his boots squelched into a mud puddle. While the other private groaned and complained, Nicholas was distracted by movement up ahead. Oh, look! His favorite teammate had gotten here early. He grinned immediately. The constant back and forth between him and Lillia was one of his favorites--she was good, whether he'd admit that to her or not, and he liked the competition. The best way to be better is to have someone to push back. Plus, getting a rise out of her was just too fun to give up.

"Catch you guys in a minute, I've got a bear to taunt!" he called to the others, jogging off to catch up to Lillia.

As he got close enough, he snagged the end of her ponytail and tugged it lightly to get her attention. He used the fence to catch the rest of his momentum and turned to her with a grin.

"Look at you, Creme-puff! You're here bright and early!" he teased, faking shock. "What, you think a little extra time to stretch is gonna give you the boost over me? Hate to tell ya, but it's gonna take a lot more than warmups to get ya there."

[Lillia St. James]

...7...8...9...10.  As soon as she lifted her head from her thigh, she felt the end of her ponytail tugged. He certainly had her attention. Try as she might to ignore Nicholas Cawdor, him and his ego just begged for Lillia to give him her full attention, and she frustratingly gave it to him. She was already rolling her eyes, as she pushed of the fence. Bringing her leg down, she rested on hand on the railing to steady herself as she grabbed her ankle to the leg she'd just brought down, and stretched her thighs, pulling her foot towards her hip. She was quiet for a moment, seeing that stupid grin of his from her peripherals. 

Creme-puff. So that was the name for the day huh? She instantly scowled, turned her face to glare at him, as she silently sneered at the nickname he called her. The fact his eyes were that ridiculous shade of sky blue just made her more irritated. Don't let him get you. Don't let him get you... She told herself. Releasing her ankle and bringing her leg down before she reached for the other one, repeating the stretch. 

"Keep telling yourself that Goldilocks." She grimaced internally. Cursing herself for even acknowledging him. "Just remember who can run circles around you. Or do we need to run a few miles again to prove I'm faster." She said. A smug smile curled on her lips as she narrowed her eyes at him. Restraining herself from giving him a once over. Cawdor was certainly big, taller then Cian, but nearly as broad as Rowan. They both knew when it come to physical strength he'd win every time, without a doubt. But Lillia was thinner, lithe, and agile. She was quick too. 

She dropped her leg and then held her arms above her head, leaning side to side slightly. "Surprised your not still snoozing away in bed, or did it just not feel right?" She asked with a raised eyebrow. 

[Nicholas Cawdor]

Nick made a face and fake gagged at the nickname Goldilocks. He was no child with a head full of ringlets! He was a (lightly) seasoned warrior!

"Slow and steady wins the race, Creme-puff. You can be as fast as you want, but I know you're not just going to run away from me. You're not a coward, right?" He grinned as he felt he had regained the upper hand.

Or he did until he got a little distracted by all the stretching. He managed to ignore it most of the time, but hey, he was still a guy, and Creme-puff was still a girl, and a pretty one, at that. She didn't have all the extra frills and bells and whistles, but he kinda liked that. She was attractive in a rougher way. She spoke up again, and he recalled his gaze and attention from her hips back up to her face.

"Who me, oversleep? You wish! I've got chores to do before I even make it here, you know. Nobody's gonna do my laundry but me." He raised his own eyebrow in return, echoing her challenge. He'd bet she'd never made her own bed, let alone washed her own laundry. He was sorely tempted to make a comment on that particular sore spot, but decided he didn't really want to take that particular road first thing in the morning--he'd be in a crappy mood all day if he started out that way.

"C'mon, quit jabbing and put your money where your mouth is," he goaded, headed for the practice ring to grab a wooden staff, then tossed another one toward her, assuming she'd catch. "The first one to three torso hits wins. If I win, you've got to announce to the whole group that I beat you. You can pick what happens if you win."

[Lillia St. James]

Lillia narrowed her dark eyes at the blonde Gargoyle. "'Course not, I gotta be one step ahead of you to make sure you don't quit on me." She said simply. Though, Nick Cawdor quitting anything would be a cold day in hell. Still, she couldn't help but try and poke back at him. She focused back on her stretching, not wanting him to distracted her further as she finished loosening up. She rolled her shoulders and then popped her neck before reaching up to tighten her ponytail before finally giving him her attention again.

She caught his raised brow, and knew he was lightly poking at her. As far as these privates and everyone else knew, she was a DeGraff. Which meant she was of "noble" blood. She wondered often what sort of face Nicholas Cawdor would make if he learned that Lillia had been born a farm girl. That she'd once had her own chores that required her to get up far earlier then this. That she'd hadn't had her own before years. But what could would that do? She didn't want a medal for who had had the roughest life. It was in her past. She wasn't that low to try and one up him on everything. Let him think what he wanted. 

"Is that why you're uniforms are always wrinkly?" Oh Lillia.... And there was the prickly edge. That banter that she couldn't resist. She usually knew when to stop, but sometimes her mouth got the better of her. It was her turn to arch a brow at him, and she rolled her eyes, but followed. Like she always did. "Funny, you're the one that won't shut up." She mumbled. She caught the wooden staff he'd tossed at her easily enough.  Her dark eyes narrowed at him as he placed the bets. She would never hear the end of it if he made her do that. Not just from him, but from the others as well, and there was dread starting to set in. That pressure to do well or reap the consequences from her peers. Lillia felt like she had to earn the DeGraff name, and keep it. They had a standard, and she was terrified if she tarnished it just a smidge....Maeve and Jareth wouldn't want her anymore. They'd seen potential in her but what if they were wrong? 

Her gut twisted almost to the point she was sick, but she forced herself to chill. To be calm. She'd already gotten the nickname of "Devil woman." She considered a compliment, and she fully intended on using those horns of hers. "Deal." She called, walking into the ring to her corner. She twirled the staff expertly. It being one of her favorite weapons next to the knives. She took a readied stance, and then smirked lightly at the Gargoyle. "Ladies first Goldilocks." She beckoned, inviting him to make the first move. 

[Nicholas Cawdor]

Nick grinned as she took the deal and followed him into the ring, twirling the staff like it was part of her. Good. He liked a challenge, and Lillia Degraff was sure to give it to him.

"You know full well I'm not a lady, Creme-puff. After all, haven't you seen my stunning hero's physique?" He teased lightly, even as he flipped his own staff so that half of it rested up along the back of his arm, and the other end hovered near his ankle as he paced around her. He may have the personality of a hound, but he'd learned his fair share of tricks watching the stray cats around home take out rats. Circle slow. Take in every angle. Don't rush in unprepared.

Taking in every angle, though, had its downsides. Degraff had plenty of good angles, and he was not meant to be noticing that right now. If he wasn't fully on display, he'd whack himself in the head for good measure, to knock that nonsense out of his head. But c'mon, that smirk? Inviting him to make the first move? If this were any other girl he'd take that a whole other way. But nah, Degraff wanted his head on a platter, not anything lower than that. Well, actually, she'd probably like that bit removed too. He almost grimaced at the thought, but he was rounding the other side of her already.

"But hey, if you're dumb enough to offer me the first move..."

Quick as a snake, he lashed out towards her ribs, but not with the front of the staff--he bent his arm as he turned, swinging with the part that had been along his arm before he twirled it the other direction.

"I'm smart enough to accept."

[Lillia St. James]

Oh she’d seen the stunning hero’s physique. It was just something she chose to ignore. He wan’t the only one fit around here either, Cawdor just seemed to want to flaunt his more then some of the others. Still, Lillia made points not let her eyes wander because that would be dangerous. All men were dangerous in her eyes but especially the gargoyle moron before. She couldn’t affor distractions so she made no comment.

Lillia’s followed Cawdor around the circle as he moved around her. Her fist tightened their hold on the staff, her muscles growing tense with anticipation as she waited for him to move. Her expression gave nothing away to what she was thinking. She was merely watching, waiting…

He struck out then, quick as he maneuvered his staff aiming for her ribs. Lillia was often compared to a cat at home, and a feral one at that. She twisted her body to the side, bringing her staff up to block the attack, before the other end of his staff twisted around and came at her. She made sure to keep her elbows bent as she braced for impact she him with another block. She gave no time for recovery before she was on the offensive. She spun her body to go with the direction his attack had been in before gripped the staff more on end and brought it down across the front of her body in a diagonal down angle. Aiming to hit his chest.

[Nicholas Cawdor]

"Shit," Nick swore under his breath as she came back at him just as fast as his attempt had been. He jumped back clumsily, heels dragging on the dry, still frozen ground. Ok, maybe she really was quicker. Quicker was trouble. He soon found his footing, though, and chuckled. Alright, he could keep that in mind.

"Alright Creme-puff, maybe you're not as creme-filled as I thought. That was pretty good." He grinned at her as he paced slowly in the opposite direction of his last circle around her. "Maybe we'll upgrade you to a Beignet. No filling in those, but plenty of powdered sugar on top."

As he came up behind her, he slid the staff between his two hands so he was holding close to each edge, and crept quietly up behind her, then tried to put it up over her head and hook her backward with it to pull her against his chest. He was hoping the creative hit would count, plus trapping her like that, even for a moment, would put her even more on edge, maybe throw her off her game.

[Lillia St. James]

Lillia's nose scrunched in annoyance as she missed him. But she did take satisfaction at seeing him stumble backward. That's right Gargoyle, you gotta work for it. She thought as she straightened. She narrowed her eyes as he said she was promoted to Beignet. It was no way better then a creme-puff. 

She bit her tongue from saying anything, trying to keep herself focused despite how much she wanted to wipe the grin from his face. Later she told herself. Just focus. She'd been keeping her eye on him again, but he somehow managed to get behind behind her. She expected him to come up her side, and she turned her head to anticipate him when she suddenly had a staff coming over her head, yanking her backward. 

She gasped, almost expecting to fall on her ass, but on the contrary…. Dear sweet lord in heaven. Lillia's eyes went wide as she felt the broad chest behind her. There was a flood of heat suddenly going to down her spine and her skin exploded into a tingling sensation. Her breath hitched as Cawdor caged her in against his chest. He got his point, and for a brief moment he almost had a hyperventilating Lillia on his hands. She nearly dropped her own staff as the panic set in. It's Nick, it's Nick, it's Nick your fine. Her brain told her frantically. He's getting you off your game. For a split second he might have succeeded, and if he wanted to play in close quarters....then by all means, let the woman who proffered close quarter fighting show him how it was done. 

Lillia allowed herself to lean back into his chest, almost as if she was relaxing into him. Ignoring the way the heat she felt just intensified and she could smell whatever soap he used. The hand that wasn't holding onto her staff reached back to gently rest on his hip, as if to steady herself,  before she used it to lightly push off of him, and turn in his arms quickly, she twirled her staff behind her before her arms came around to wrap around his waist. Then, much like he had done to her, she gripped her staff with both hands and pulled it towards her so her staff hit him in the small of his back. "What do you think you're doing?" She all but purred as she tilted her head to the side slightly. Ignoring the fact she was pressed up against her arch-nemesis and rival. In fact it was probably the closest she'd allowed a male to get to her in years. She didn't think she'd be this close to another, let alone him. From this distance, she was forced to crane her head back in order to look up at him, and from this angle, his eyes were even more blue then she thought. 

Her stomach twisted and fluttered and for a moment, her breath hitched. Focus Lillia. Don't let your guard down... A voice warned. 

[Nicholas Cawdor]

HA!

Triumph widened Nick's grin as he managed to snag her. One point Cawdor.

He felt her tense, confirming that he'd caught her by surprise, and he almost crowed his satisfaction. Take that, Miss "I'll run circles around you."

Thing is, he wasn't expecting her to lean into him, let alone put her hand on his hip. Now it was his turn to be surprised. His grip on his staff loosened and he almost stepped backward as she tucked her head under his chin. Ooookay, he wasn't sure if this was good or bad, because it was scrambling his brains faster than he could keep up with. She was leaning into him, her hand was on his hip, and she smelled like roses.

By the time he'd realized that much, she was already moving, using the distraction to her advantage as she twirled, whipped him in the face with her ponytail, and slammed her staff across the small of his back.

He found himself looking down into those nearly-black, bottomless eyes of hers (he'd found them a little unsettling when they first met) with an expression of dumb shock all over his face.

He was only caught like that for a moment, though, before his wits returned, and he leaned so close their noses almost touched.

"I thought I was getting a point...but I guess this makes a tie, eh?" He raised an eyebrow, the side of his mouth following suit as he smirked down at her. For a moment, he considered trying to duck out of her hold, but that wasn't going to get him anything except a face full of--yeah no. Bad plan. She'd cut his dick off in his sleep if he did that. Deciding he'd better admit to a good move on her part, he slowly lifted his arms free of her, so that he was holding his staff above his head.

"That's one and one. Care to let me go so you can get your other two, Beignet?"

[Lillia St. James]

Whatever wind in her sails she'd gained back from her own surprise on him was quickly lost. Lillia found herself slipping into the blue depths of those eyes of his, and she didn't even have time to revel in the dumbstruck look on his face. He got closer, their noses almost touching, and Lillia found she couldn't breath suddenly. A flush entered her cheeks as she went still. Her heart hammering loudly in her ears.  

What in the hell was happening?

For a brief moment, whatever edge she had suddenly softened as she stared at Cawdor, and there was a brief flicker of fear in her eyes. Was she having a panic attack? She hadn't had one in a while but this was enough to cause one right? Why else would she find it nearly impossible to breath and to feel like her chest was going to beat out of her chest. Lillia didn't like that he'd gotten so close, and she felt her control slipping on the situation. No, no this was bad. He was smirking at her, she could see it out of the corner of her eyes while he arched that brow. Tie. Right, they were tied now. Focus Lillia! She scolded herself. 

She found that her breath only came back after he lifted that staff back over her head. No longer caging her in, but it didn't stop the labored breathing as her chest rose and fell. Get away. Get back. A voice told her. Care to let me go so you can get your other two, Beignet? She almost missed it, too occupied in drowning in those eyes of his. Feeling her arms still around him. For a brief second she wondered what possible on lookers were thinking. Cawdor was still close, she could smell his soap still and it was frustrating how intoxicating it was. Get away Lillia! A voice screamed at her, and it was enough to suddenly break the trance. She let go of the staff with one hand, and she took several steps back. That soft, almost fearful look she had on her face quickly disappeared behind her well placed wall, and she turned to look away from him. She knew it would give him an opening but she needed to breathe. 

She ran a hand down over her face, taking in slow breath as she regained her composure quickly. Not again. Never again, was she going to let him get to close. It was dangerous. And for a moment a she closed her eyes and could hear her own screams at twelve years old. Never again.  

It only took her brief moment before she was turning back to face him. "My other two? Don't tell me you're going to just hand them over Cawdor. Where's the fun in that?" She asked him, faking a little pout before she twirled the staff in one hand and then gripped it with both. "C'mon Sugar Plum." She smirked. Two could play in the name game.

[Nicholas Cawdor]

That was...interesting.

Something about Lillia Degraff had changed, just then, like he'd glimpsed something behind that aggressive front she put up all the time. He wasn't sure what he'd seen in her eyes, just then, but it was something raw, vulnerable. He almost felt guilty.

His smirk started to fade, his brow creasing into something a bit like worry. "Li--" he began, softly, but she was already moving away. The moment popped like a soap bubble, gone before he could get a good look. But now she was running her hand down her face. Had he done something wrong?

Now he really was worried, and he took a step after her, raising his hand to put it on her shoulder, to check on her. But once again he was too late, too slow. He quickly dropped his hand to his side as she turned to face him again.

He quickly pulled his smirk back into place. "Oh, no way, Cupcake. I wouldn't dream of giving up that easy. I live for the challenge, and so do you." He winked, flipping his staff up to lean nonchalantly on his shoulder with one hand, and using the other to beckon her over.

"Your turn. Come at me."

[Lillia St. James]

It was as if the previous moment hadn't happened, and Lillia a had smirk of her own on her face as she watched Cawdor wink at her and lean his staff nonchalantly on his shoulder. "Cupcake? What happened to Beignet, Goldilocks?" She asked with a tsk, and slight shake of her head. She clicked her tongue, as she looked at him with a hooded gaze.

Careful moving forward Lillia... She warned herself. She didn't want to be knocked off her rocker like that again. She didn't want to admit that the action had shaken her to her core and for a brief moment, possibly allowing the blonde haired Garoyle a glimpse of her inner most core. She didn't want him to see her vulnerable side. To be seen as weak. He already made fun of her for being a girl, and she was out to prove him wrong on many fronts. She wasn't a sweet treat, she was damn poison. Or something bitter, or a sour tart. She liked tarts...

The moment he beckoned her, he didn't have to tell twice as she was already on the move. Not wanting to be caught in the same position she was in previously, she lurched forward. Making the staff become an extension of her body as she aimed to land a flurry of blows at him. 

[Nicholas Cawdor]

"You surprised me, so you got another upgrade. I could always drop you back down to creme-puff, if you want."

He had been planning to say more, some joke about her creme-filling being made of sugar and spice and pure hatred, but she was already moving. No time to fuck around, he had to think fast.

For once, having a bunch of sisters came in handy--he'd helped them make up a baton-twirling routine, and that led to a few moves with a staff that came in handy (although he'd never admit where they came from). He whipped the staff off his shoulder, sweeping it toward the other, down toward his feet, then twirling his whole body away from her. The staff itself moved in a kind of figure eight, down on the other side, and back up for him to catch in his other hand and make a two-handed jab for her stomach. He wasn't sure he would land the hit, but at least she hadn't gotten her second point--yet.

[Lillia St. James]

She would never tell him, but Cawdor wasn't all talk sometimes. He was good, and it showed. There was a reason why she wanted to beat him, because then it would put her on top of everyone else. The Farm Girl would be the one on top for once. As he practically twirled out of her way, his skill showing with the staff, Lillia found herself getting annoyed, and when she got annoyed she got angry. 

Mistake one.

Her competitiveness only built and as he came at her, and she grunted as she jumped back, curving her back and standing on her tiptoes as she leaned forward for the moment. He nearly got that point. She swatted his staff away with one of hers as she spun, dropping into a lunge and swung upward, aiming to nail his side. 

Mistake two.

Lillia glanced up just as the light broke the sky and dawn was suddenly upon them. The golden rays of light breeched over the rooftop of the barracks filling the courtyard with sunlight, and suddenly Goldilocks had a halo of gold light around his head. Making him look like an Adonis as the light turned his hair to gold and those cheekbones of his stand out more, and for a brief moment, Lillia didn't know if she'd gotten her point or not as she was suddenly transfixed with the literal golden boy above her. 

Mistake three?

Her heart was pounding so loudly in her chest and for a moment she felt like time had stopped. She felt the staff hitting her torso with enough force she went toppling to the ground suddenly. Too distracted to see his blow coming.