Luther's House

Luther felt himself being watched and looked over at her, a devious look on his face. He was in a mood, but not an angry one. He would have to go out later tonight if he didn't want to push that on Barynn. "Are you sure you don't want to tell me what you are thinking, Barynn?" He asked. "You know I can't read minds, right?" He asked and let the gravy simmer before lifting her on the counter to sit and placed a hand on each side of her.

Barynn blinked in surprise at his comment, quirking a curious eyebrow. "I've been considering the possibility, but I didn't think so right up until you said that," she replied, folding her arms over her chest and smiling slightly. "Now I'm not so sure." Subtly, she was definitely circumventing the question of telling him what she was thinking by holding on to the remark about reading minds. She was surprised as he picked her up and set her down on the counter, her cheeks going red and her arms unfolding. He had a hand on either side of her, and she tentatively lowered her hands to place them on top of his. She gazed up towards him, more and more curious with each passing second.

She hadn't answered him but placed her hands over his and he smirked. Luther intertwined his fingers with hers, his thumb gently caressing her own thumbs. He couldn't get over how soft her skin was. "I am going to say you are thinking of me?" He said and looked up at her before leaning his forehead. "If I a wrong you stop me." He said before leaning in and kissing her again. This time her lips were like sweet liquor and he wanted more, getting drunk already from them. A low throat moan came from his throat as he kissed her deeper, letting go of one of her hands and cupping her face softly, tilting it up a bit.

Barynn smiled as Luther intertwined his fingers with her fingers, the feeling soft and comforting. Her cheeks went slightly pink as he made his highly accurate guess that she'd been thinking about him, but before she could really work out a decent answer to give, he'd started leaning in. She felt her heart flutter as their lips met once again. Then, he started to kiss her more deeply and she heard a pleased noise from his throat, and her heart began to race, pounding forcefully in her chest. Inexperienced as she was, she kissed back as best as she could, her now-free hand coming up to rest gently at the side of his torso and her fingers delicately gripping his shirt.

Luther was trying hard to fight back against his urges, but she was making things hard for him... literally. His other hand let go of hers and traveled up her leg, pulling her dress up along with it before he broke the kiss and went down to her neck. Fucking stop, Luther... before you go to far. She isn't... STOP LUTHER! He mentally screamed at himself, but he just couldn't and his hand that held her face gently went down to her the side of her chest.

Rylie had forgot something at home and told Bel that he would be right back before running off. When he got home he busted through the door and pass the kitchen up then back tracked. "Boss!" He shouted, knowing damn well that Luther would regret it if he went there with her. Luther froze and slowly moved from her, "I... I... am..." He turned back to his food and turned the gravy off before checking the patties. He took them out and walked out of the kitchen. Rylie watched him leave before looking back at her.

Barynn could feel herself getting swept up in whatever was happening between them. She didn't protest or stop him as his free hand came to run up her leg, and her hand came to rest on his shoulder as he did it. As he broke the kiss and moved instead to her neck, a surprised - but pleased - little whimpering sound escaped her lips, much to her own surprise, and she tilted her head slightly so that he'd have better access. She was loving the feeling until she suddenly heard a voice from the doorway, Rylie's voice harshly interrupting them and causing Luther to freeze before pulling back.

Barynn's entire face with scarlet and she quickly moved to fix the skirt of her dress where Luther had pulled it up, nervously watching Luther check on his patties and then take them with him out of the kitchen. Once he was gone, she avoided Rylie's gaze for a moment by looking down instead. It was only then that she realized that she was actually pretty far off the ground, at least as far as her tiny dwarfiness was concerned. She frowned, giving her feet a wiggle but quickly deciding that she'd probably manage to hurt herself somehow if she jumped down. She lifted her gaze shyly to Rylie, pointing at the floor. "C-can you help?" she asked in a small, timid voice.

Luther placed the pan on a table outside and about screamed. He hated himself more so now than anytime before. He couldn't stop himself and rubbed his hand against his lips as he paced. "What if she said stop? Would you have fucking stopped, Luther?" He hissed at himself. He couldn't believe he let himself go like that. This wasn't him anymore... he wasn't like his brother anymore. Luther always let the girls make the first moves now so he didn't just take what was his and yet she was driving him crazy.

Rylie smiled softly and nodded, "Yeah, sure." He said softly and lifted her with east down to the ground. "Sorry... about all of that. You see, if Luther would have gone any further he would hate himself even more than he does now." He said and walked to the entrance, "I have to head back to work, but... just know he really likes you so doing all of that... was a lot for him." He said before running off.

Barynn was quiet as Rylie came over and helped her to the ground. She smoothed out her skirt again as he spoke, quietly listening. She couldn't figure out why going further would have caused Luther to hate himself. She, for one, had been rather enjoying herself. She'd never felt anything quite like what she'd felt when Luther was touching her, and kissing her...it was incredible, and already she found herself craving more of it. She gave Rylie a small nod before he left, looking around for a moment as she considered his words. He thought that Luther really liked her? Did he mean it in a romantic way, that Luther was interested, or just that he was fond of her, which she'd already more than figured out by now? She decided to wait a few minutes and see whether Luther came back. If he did, she'd talk to him, but if not, she'd make her way upstairs and start sorting her stones.

Luther grabbed the pan and went inside before the flies found their nasty way over and walked into the kitchen. He froze and walked the around her and placed the patties in the gravy and let it sit in there for a while to soak it up a bit. Luther didn't want to talk to her, he was so embarrassed and couldn't think straight. "I am... uh... sorry. It won't happen again. I promise." He said, not looking at her. He couldn't even if he wanted to.

Barynn was quiet as he came in, trying to smile nervously in his direction but noting that he was actively avoiding looking at her. She turned as he walked by, facing him even if he wouldn't face her. "Don't be sorry," she told him, her voice small. She wanted to move closer, but he seemed apprehensive about being with her, so she figured it would be safer not to. "You asked me earlier what was on my mind...do you still want to know?" she asked, her voice still soft. She finally felt ready to open up. If she could let a man pull her skirt up her leg and kiss her neck the way he had, she could talk to him about her feelings.

Luther didn't want to know, he feared he was right. "Yeah... I would still like to know." He said and busied himself around the kitchen by getting large containers to hold all of the food ready so he could put the food in. She didn't understand that Luther had a past and that she was pure while he was nothing but filth. Couldn't she see that he was making up for him being trash? He pressed his hands against the counter and his back to her. Luther looked at his hands and he had touched her with his filthy hands again. She was too good for that and would look for her a nice man when he could get a chance.

Barynn bit her lip. Thinking about opening up was a lot easier than actually doing it, but it was only fair to him that she put her feelings into words and make sure he know where she stood. "You were right. I've been thinking about you," she said softly, her cheeks reddening the more she spoke. "I've been trying really hard to only think about my shop and my work and all the jewelry that I'm going to make, but it's hard when all I can think about is you, and how kind and sweet and generous and good you are, and how handsome you are, and how I feel like I'm floating on a cloud when I'm around you, and that thing you always do where you touch your lips, and how good it felt when you kissed me yesterday and how I've been missing out on so much by not experiencing that sooner, and how I don't understand what you're looking for here, because first I thought maybe the flirting was just the way you were, but then you kissed me and I thought you were looking for more, but then you didn't kiss me again and didn't say anything about it so I couldn't figure out what you'd meant by it..."

She paused for a moment, her voice trailing off as she was out of breath. As she'd been speaking, her voice had slowly been getting a bit louder, and though she definitely wasn't shouting, there was a lot of passion behind what she was saying that rarely came out in her. "I guess...what I'm trying to say, or ask, is... What is...this? I mean...what do you want? Is this going anywhere?" She didn't feel like Luther was the type to play games, and what was happening between them felt good, and it felt genuine, but she also couldn't be certain whether the feeling was real or whether she was just seeing things through the rose-tinted gaze of someone inexperienced in relationships, someone who wanted her first kiss to mean something and her first relationship to be perfect.

Luther listened to her talk and smiled softly as she continued. He was glad she felt that way with him, because honestly he felt the same way about her. Then it hit him that she couldn't feel this way about trash and it was all because of the money. Luther turned around and smiled down at her, "I am going to be honest and real right now... and if I hurt you I am so sorry. Barynn... I have grown to like you more and more each passing day. The way you look so... innocent when you are talking about your work or just experience life on the surface. It drives me crazy. I am sorry I didn't... talk about it after. I never meant to confuse you." He said softly. "This... is me being greedy. I can't take you in a relationship, Barynn. I am mere trash and you deserve better. Just because I am helping people now doesn't mean I did before. I was... I used people as much as they used me. I have killed my father... though it was merely to save me and my brother's life. I have killed army sized people.... for the sake of saving people but it doesn't make up for what I did. I have blood on my hands and... doing all that with you... I don't deserve you. So I will try my best to find you a man who is suited for you, Barynn. I promise." He said. Luther spilled everything, including his heart and he hated himself for it because he left himself wide open.

Barynn quietly listened, as she was so accustomed to doing. She liked hearing how he felt about her, and how confusing her hadn't been his intention, but as he went on, she wasn't quite sure what to make of it all. At first she wanted to protest, because how could he be greedy when wanting to be together was what they both wanted? And then she wanted to protest when he said that he was trash and that she deserved better, because she simply couldn't believe how he could possibly think that of himself? But then he kept on going, and suddenly she understood why he didn't talk much about himself, or about his family. When he finished, she gave a quick shake of her head.

"P-please don't," she said quickly. "Don't find me someone. I don't want anyone." She didn't want anyone but him, that is, because her distaste for other people hadn't changed one bit. It was only her feelings about him that had changed, and that didn't mean anything for anyone else. Even after all that he'd said, she didn't feel differently - perhaps it was because, despite how he seemed to think that he was defined by his deeds, she was seeing glimmers of goodness in his motivations. Killed his father...to save himself and his brother. That was goodness. Killing many people...in order to save others. That was goodness. Since she'd arrived in the city, he'd never shown her anything but a good and kind man, and she could still see that man as the man seeking atonement for things he'd just described.

Part of her wanted to just go to her room and cry. Part of her wanted to insist that he was wrong, to fight for her feelings for him. Neither of those seemed like good options, though, and she had no idea what to say. She glanced briefly away, and then back towards him. "Don't find me someone," she repeated once again. "If you won't have me then there's no reason anyone else should." She could be married to her work and die a childless, career-driven spinster. She'd always assumed that was how her life would progress, and she'd always been content with such a life, so as much as it hurt to think that Luther wouldn't want to be with her, she knew that it would be easy to carry on.

Luther saw her face and how she wanted to cry and how confused she was. If he was her first kiss than she probably never had a relationship before. He took a step closer to her and cupped her face gently, rubbing her cheek. "I won't find you anyone, I promise." He said softly. "I would be more than happy to have you, Barynn. I just don't find myself worthy of you is all. If you want me, I will be yours... but think about it... okay? Then when you are a hundred percent sure come to me." He said softly and leaned over, kissing her head softly before going over to the food and stopping the heat. He put everything in their large foil containers and stuck them in the over to keep them warm till they left.

Barynn was unable to contain her sigh of relief at hearing his words. Part of her had been terrified that he'd refuse her, that his own sense of self-loathing would come between them. She wasn't really sure what she would have done if he'd denied her. She did, of course, have a building where she could have gone to sleep, because she certainly wouldn't have wanted to linger about Luther's house any longer after his rejection, but what would she have eaten?

She stayed where she was, smiling while he went to deal with the food. "I don't want to think about it," she said in a soft voice, "but if you insist, I will." She wouldn't. "On an unrelated topic...I was thinking about shelving and displays for the shop. Do you know where I can find that? Or a woodworker or something who can make them? Although that probably isn't in the budget," she giggled. If there had ever been a budget, she'd long since surpassed it. She simply hadn't realized that Veritas City would be so expensive compared to the smaller town she'd stayed in near her old home. If she hadn't run into Luther, she probably would have needed to ask her parents for a loan to help her get started.

Luther looked over at her, "I do, Nas is a woodworker and his youngest son will probably be too. Hear he is in love with trees." He laughed. "I am sure he would be happy to do it for you. No need to worry about budget. Once we get the metals I feel you will disappear so... maybe I should hold on to them." He said, winking at her. "Just till you tell me where you want everything and I can get measurements before going over to him. Crap... unless you already know what wood you want you might have to come." He said and then forced his mind not to go in that direction.

Barynn grinned as she listened to him. Of course he knew the best woodworker in town. That was so typical of him. She smiled up at him. "I don't know what I want yet. Something in a medium colour. Dark wood looks so elegant, but I'm trying to keep things light. If I wanted a dark shop I'd have stayed underground," she said with a giggle. Discovering the beauty of woodworking was a true joy when she came to the surface. Back home, everything was made of stone, but most things were made of wood here and they looked much better to her. "I'll trust you and the woodworker to know what to do. I'm just along for the ride."

Luther listened and then smiled, "Yes, ma'am. Dark wood. Light is horrible." He said jokingly and winked at her before walking over to her. "I am going get the wagon set up. If you need to bring anything to the shop go get them now while I am outside." He said and walked to the door. He smirked when his hand was on the knob, "By the way, Bary," He said without looking over his shoulder, "You have really smooth legs." And with that he walked out the house.

Barynn's face immediately went beet red at hearing Luther's words as he left the house. It didn't surprise her, of course - her family was generally less hairy than most dwarves. Her mother always said that it was due to some elven blood in an ancestor from long, long ago. Barynn figured that it was just some weird quirky genetic thing in their family. Even her brothers didn't grow the large beards that most dwarves had - which was a relief, since Barynn had always thought they looked silly. She turned and started to head upstairs, figuring she'd grab her stones and take them to the shop with her. She could leave them in the back room so that the next time she was there, she could work on sorting them. She needed some sort of organizational system - bins or boxes or something - but for now, a flat surface would be good enough, and now that her equipment was there, that was feasible.

Luther came back in about thirty minutes later and called for Barynn before gathering the food. He walked back out and set the food in the wagon. There were bags of old coats and blankets donated to the homeless. When he went back in and she wasn't down he went up to her room. He got to her door and stopped, what if she was undressed? One little peek wouldn't hurt. She was practically begging for you to strip her earlier. A voice popped into his head and Luther glared at the door. Fuck this shit. He thought back and knocked. "Bary, are you ready?" He asked through the door.

Barynn jumped slightly as she heard Luther's voice at the door. She'd gone to fetch the stones, but then she'd become sidetracked. She was wearing one of her nicest dresses since they were going to meet a metal vendor and she wanted to establish a good business relationship with this person. She'd ducked into the washroom, though, and she'd noticed that her hair was a little fluffed up, which didn't surprise her since she'd almost made out with Luther on the kitchen counter. Her big sister was going to be so excited to receive her next letter... So, she'd stopped and begun brushing out her thick hair, and adjusting her outfit, and she wasn't really sure how she'd spent half an hour working on her hair, but Luther was here now looking for her. She scrambled out of the bathroom, grabbing the bag of stones and heading to the door. "Yes, all ready," she said quickly, smiling nervously as she opened the door for him.

Luther looked her over and smiled, "You always look lovely... even in that nightgown of yours." He said and began walking. Mentally he was killing himself. Why the fuck did he have to say that. Because I am a fucking idiot whore who knows nothing but the way of Satan. Obviously. He thought and opened the door for Barynn before closing and locking up. Then he helped her into the wagon before hopping on himself. They made their way to a shelter like place and he brought the food and clothes to them. There were homeless people lining up for their food and such. Some of them looked at Barynn and smiled, others just looked at the ground. When Luther got back he went on and got to the merchant. He helped her off of the wagon and lead her in. "Silverson, welcome. Is this your wife? Wait no... wrong man. My bad." He laughed. "I am Jacobs, all the metal you need. What can I do for you today?"

Barynn blinked in surprise, glancing down briefly as if to check what she was wearing. Nope, it was still the same dress as earlier - the one that he'd commented on, saying that it was a good choice, and the one with the skirt that he'd been pulling up. She rolled her eyes slightly, figuring he'd just said it to mess with her, and then she started to follow him from the house. She was quiet as he helped her into the wagon and then they rode along. She looked around curiously at the shelter that they'd come to, smiling shyly at the ones who smiled at her. It didn't bother her to at least be decent - it wasn't like they were trying to make conversation with her. She didn't enjoy conversation.

She smiled at Luther as he got back on the wagon, and then took her to the merchant. She climbed down with him and headed inside. The merchant, Jacobs, seemed kind enough, though Barynn blushed as he questioned whether she was his wife. He introduced himself, and then she knew that it was her turn. "I'm opening up a jewelry shop in town," she told him softly. "I was hoping to buy metal from you. Stainless, bronze, copper, silver, gold. Five- and ten-ounce bars would be ideal but I can work with sheets or unrefined materials if necessary." Finally, she thought, she was doing something that she knew. She spent so much time working with metals that she knew exactly what she needed.

Jacobs looked the girl up and down before looking at Luther. Luther stared down at him as if to dare him to say something out of place, but he just smiled. "She knows her metal. If you don't marry her I will divorce my wife and do it." He said before going in the back and bringing out every thing she had asked for and some papers. "Please fill out this form asking for how much of each you will want. It helps is with records and to see how much we are selling to each customer." He smiled. Luther looked around while they were doing business.