ONCE BURNED was made by MEL. Copying, altering, or stealing any of the site's content is prohibited. All of ONCE BURNED's characters are the original work of their owners and may not be replicated or stolen. All images and graphics belong to their rightful owners and ONCE BURNED does not claim to own any of them.
Wednesdays were her longest days at Bellefonte; to work around classes often coincided with strange training times every now and then. In this instance, Natalie's student was only available in the late afternoon, bordering early evening. That wasn't a bother though. She doubted she could consider her job a bother at all.
Even if it meant she had to herd dozens of rabbits that managed to find their way into her training room.
It took far longer than expected to get the situation under control, and worse was that it put a dent in her student's self confidence. With the few minutes that were left of their session, Natalie was determined to get the poor girl to leave in high spirits. "Did I tell you about the time I had accidentally made a horse come into the middle of my statistics class?" Both her arms were wrapped around Oz as she bent down, because all the convincing in the world wasn't enough to stop the dog's curiosity in chasing the rabbits outside. "I was just sitting at my desk and daydreaming - I hadn't even realized that I was talking to a horse. It had broken out of its stable and suddenly trying to get in the classroom. I'm dead serious."
At least the girl laughed, for which Natalie was thankful for. She even laughed at herself thinking back on the story. "That was in my last year of training. Sometimes it just happens, so don't worry about this, okay Ellen? You're doing great." It seemed to work, and the girl gave a nod as she headed for the door. "I'll see you next week."
Afternoons free were a rare occurrence for someone who liked to work an intense amount of overtime. Though Teddy had every intention of always ensuring her business was being run correctly, she wasn't about to deny the opportunity for a little spare time when it presented itself.
Straight from work and still looking as flawless as she had when she left her own home that morning, Teddy made her way to the school she'd never visited before. Finding her way to the necessary building was all about asking the right questions, and it didn't take long to get where she needed to be. She eased her way into the training room as quietly as she could, careful not to intrude so blatantly on the situation at hand.
She didn't need to be in earshot to catch the conversation; her eyes worked wonders to gather the jist of what was said as they steadily focused on one mouth in particular, and facial expressions added the extra layer needed to the partial pick up. From her own experience, she knew what it felt like to have a trainer who obviously didn't take the time to provide grace to a growing student. Witnessing the difference - and everything she should have been afforded - was such a stark cry from what her own experience had been.
When it seemed to be drawing to a close, Teddy didn't breach any great divide between them. She had no intention of breaking up the dwindling interaction that was going on; it was far better to simply watch her in her obvious element.
A hand reached forward, giving the student a small pat on the shoulder before she went off. Though it had been a harder day than usual, the trainer could help the way she smiled, eyes dropping down to the dog she still latched herself to. Her hand returned to Oz, giving the smaller dog a scratch on the chin like she could really distract her from any ideas of chasing bunnies. "I know you want to play, but you'll scare him." She whispered down at them, focus so intently on Oz that she hadn't picked up on Jodie's excitement over a familiar face.
It wasn't until that familiar name formed in her mind like a sort of greeting from the German Shepard did Natalie's head quickly snap up, gaze turning to the direction the larger dog had already moved to. Surprise filled her features, but with genuine happiness as she stood upright - even Oz briefly forgot about the rabbit she wanted to chase as they both were making quick footing towards the lawyer.
"Hey." Natalie tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as she neared her. As usual, Teddy looked perfect, even after what Natalie imagined was a very full day of work. The trainer felt herself lose her breath as she neared. "What brings you here?"
On some level, Teddy knew she couldn't be much of a surprise for very long. Not when she saw the particular company Natalie had brought with her to her training classes. The animals she surrounded herself with would likely alert her before her eyes could even catch the lawyer at the end of the room.
Because eventually, she looked right at her without any kind of search. It forced a small smile onto Teddy's face; a little greeting when she couldn't give much else. Was that the same kind of surprise that lit up her own features when she walked into the office?
She herself took short steps to greet the large part Natalie had taken to cross the distance between them. Her hands stayed steady in the pockets of her jacket; this was her ground, now. A first move couldn't be hers to make. She let it all filter through her eyes, instead; she hadn't seen her in days, and that sense of longing must have showed.
"What else would bring me all the way here?" Teddy asked her.
Met halfway and although her hands remained in her pockets, Natalie was quick to reach out with her own. A palm pressed to the side of Teddy's face, thumb brushing along her cheek. It didn't take acute sight to catch the way she looked back at her - those bright eyes looked at her like they had missed her, a sense her animals were quick to point out as well. Her other hand found Teddy's side, slipping beneath her jacket and around her waist, because she had missed her dearly, too.
Who knew only a handful of days would be so hard? It must have reflected her her own expression as she looked back at the lawyer. A small breath managed to escape her lungs at the clever reply Teddy offered. It was so like her to say just seeing her was excuse enough to drive herself out to the academy.
Natalie leaned closer, lips pressing graciously against the lawyer's. "I've missed you."
Hands welcomed her without the slightest delay, sliding beneath the material of her jacket and drawing her in in the most inviting way. She barely got a chance to make a move when familiar lips graced her own with a deserving kiss. Time spent apart was now more obvious than ever. Enthralling as that connection was, it left her practically numb for a few spare seconds before she was smart enough to move again.
Her hands left her pockets finally, moving to wrap around her waist instinctively. It took seconds before she managed to open her eyes to look at her again. The mentality she'd tried to carry when first walking in here seemed so irrelevant now. "You should've told me sooner." She admitted. Chances were, she wouldn't have let so much time slip away had she heard little words like that.
All it took was the hint of a first connection, and Natalie could already feel the way it was reciprocated. In an instance like that, one kiss seemed hardly like enough. Already, she felt overwhelmed by the lawyer's presence - how her hands felt against her form after what felt like too long, despite only having been a couple days.
Her head tilted down, the corner of her mouth turning up to a shy smile at the thought of saying something sooner. Would it really have been so easy? Somehow, she absolutely believed Teddy when she offered those words. "Next time I will." She promised, hand drawing up into her hair.
"You have perfect timing; I was just wrapping up."
That was a new kind of expression for Teddy to receive. She'd never seen an ounce of a withdrawn nature from this woman, yet there it was, the beginning of a shier nature peering from somewhere amidst that smile. It was easy to forget in moments like this that these interactions were supposed to be casual. Delving into any deeper feelings was strictly - usually - off limits.
But she believed her; she'd hear about it next time such a feeling took hold. Happy with the thought as it was, she decided not to say anything on the matter. It all depended on whether she actually would. On a brighter note, it seemed timing was absolutely on her side.
"Lucky me." She declared, "Though, I wasn't even sure you'd be here. Wouldn't this be considered working late for you?"
Though the sinking feeling of shyness started to wear on her features, Natalie didn't let them settle for long. IT was hard to tell if she'd be pushing past any lines in the short time they'd been seeing each other. It hadn't been that long, but the trainer found herself constantly wishing for her counterpart's company. More so, now, after learning further details on the lawyer. She didn't want to push, but Natalie could say she was practically encouraged to.
And her smile grew at the idea of luck. Again. It was a running theme between them at this point, and the trainer let out a little laugh. "Wednesdays are my long days," she replied without hint of complaint in her voice. She had a fortunate schedule to work with - staying late once a week wasn't at all a bother. "What made you consider I would be here, then?"
Information on it usual schedule was something Teddy quickly took on board. At least she didn't seem to find any issue in working extended hours; that passion fot their jobs was something clearly shared.
"You weren't home." Teddy replied with ease. Though she knew little of what else Natalie got up to, she was sure this place was a decent shot to take. Palms pressed flat against her back, drawing up slowly to her shoulder blades. It brought her just a little bit closer.
"Worst case scenario, I heard this campus is a great place to meet Amazonian goddesses." She added, nodding her head to the humoured thought.
Hands against her back needed no pressure to draw Natalie in closer; any distance between them was practically gone by then. Even in the middle of the room she regularly worked in, there wasn't anything that could seem to stop her from closing what was left with another little kiss, and like the last one, it was painful to pull away. "That may be just a rumor," Natalie played along, eyebrows quirking upwards.
It was endearing that Teddy went to find her - how she continued even after realizing that Natalie wasn't home. Really, the academy was the next best place to look. Teddy was smart, but it wasn't as if Natalie ever doubted that fact.
"Did you have any other evening plans?" She asked, hoping to have already known the answer.
Her own movements granted her another kiss, and while it was good, it never felt like enough. It rocked her senses like it may as well have been the first time she'd been graced by the connection.
She feigned an obvious frown at the notion of all that effort being for a rumour. It was at least good to make a joke of the whole thing.
And then the corner of her mouth dragged to the side slightly at the new question. She really should have thought this through before she ventured out this way. "I always have plans on Wednesdays." She admitted, but she'd never really considered that that could be a bad thing. Any denial felt so wrong; "I always have dinner with my best friend."
It had seemed their scheduled coincided well for this particular day of the week. She smiled at the idea of Teddy having a regularly planned dinner with her best friend, even if it meant that the lawyer had plans for that evening. "That's very sweet of you two to do." Even she couldn't manage to keep regular plans with Clarke, only catching the redhead every couple of weeks or so.
And even though Teddy had plans for the evening, it still didn't change the fact that she came looking for her all this way. She would take any amount of company that she would be allowed. "I'm glad I have you for now, then." Natalie tilted her head a fraction, the tip of her nose drawing lightly against Teddy's.
Truth be told, Teddy thought nothing of her weekly plans with Emmett. Now wasn't the time to point out that once a week was hardly the only time she saw her friend. It was a small miracle that they hadn't collided in the middle of her office yet. Despite the lack of present company for the near future, she couldn't possibly feel bad for keeping her date with her friend.
"You have me." She repeated lightly, struck by the way she toyed with their proximity and willing enough to play along. The thought to steal another kiss was overwhelming, but she exhaled harshly instead.
"Tell me about the work you do." She said then. It seemed only fair; she had a slightly in depth understanding of what Teddy sought to achieve in her own career, but this was the fist time she'd ever had the thought to ask for more. "You teach with such kindness; they must love you."
Closeness was something Natalie wasn't ready to deny, especially when words like that fell from the lawyer's lips. She had her, and the trainer sucked in a quick breath at the thought, eyes drawing shut briefly. The thought of luck filtered into her mind again; how she managed to be so lucky as to gain the attention of this woman.
At the question of her work, Natalie opened her eyes again, but she didn't pull away just yet. A smile crept into her features as Teddy pointed out something she was proud of in being a trainer. "Almost every student has to walk away from their families to come here." She recalled her own journey halfway across the country, and even considered the story Teddy offered about her father's threat to sue. "Whether it was parents, or siblings, or friends - they all left something behind. I want my students to know their not alone, and then work forward from there." Results of which spoke for themselves.
"These two steal the show, though." Natalie pointed out with a little laugh as she tilted her head down to gesture at the dogs by their feet.
