The Way Out is Through

[Clint Cross]

Clint took it all in as his desire for her grew stronger with each second and each article of clothing that hit the floor, when he saw her standing there in that lace he got up and pulled her into his arms and kissed her passionately on the lips. His hands undoing the clasp on her bra as he touched her smooth skin, her toned back muscles. Gently pulling her back down onto his lap, he continued to kiss those soft inviting lips and then looked into her eyes. The intimacy they were sharing now was stronger than before, before it was more raw and carnal, this... was more intimate, more sensitive. Each touch felt like they were connecting more. The tea was doing what it should have done before... he could see that she was a little nervous, as was he, because they were finally exposing their truest selves to each other.

And neither flinched at it.

[Liara]

“Clint.” Selene said softly looking into his eyes. “Will you...will you make love to me. No ones ever done that before. I...I want you to.”

[Clint Cross]

Clint looked into her eyes and smiled softly. "I will... always." he said as he kissed her again. It did feel so much different, this was certainly the start to a whole new element of their budding relationship. While he did feel like it was a 'do-over' with Selene, he felt like this time around things would be different, while she didn't need a 'protector' she needed a partner that had her back. And he needed a partner that would have his. The feelings of nervousness he had earlier were slowly fading. He wasn't replacing 'his' Selene, he was doing for this Selene what he had done for the one he knew. In the ways that only someone like he could. "Stronger together." he whispered as he slid her panties off and carried her from the couch to the bed.

[Liara]

“Stronger together.” She agreed as Clint laid her gently on the bed where they made love into the early hours of the morning.

—

“I’m disappointed in you Abigail.” Khan said as she circled Selene. She stood at attention, muscles stiff. He’d left her standing like this for almost an hour waiting. “Your mission was a failure. Did the target fuck you that well you couldn’t bring yourself to kill him?”

She knew better then to reply when he was angry. It only made the situation worse.

“Your mother had that problem. She’d get attached to anything she fucked.” Khan said as he stopped in front of her. “It’s a weakness we must work out of you. Oh Abigail if I could remove her DNA from you I would, unfortunately we must do the next best thing. We must force it out of you and you are my off spring you will not be weak. Is that clear?”

“Yes Khan.” Selene replied automatically.

“Good Malik the box.” Khan commanded.

“No.” Selene said as she took a step away right into Malik’s waiting arms.

“Your weakness reflects poorly on me. Lucius is out cleaning up your mess right now!” Khan said as he took a menacing step towards her. “You will go in the box until I say you can come out! Malik!”

“As you wish my Khan.” Malik said dragging across the room.

Selene screamed and kicked a Malik shoved her into a box the length and width of a coffin.

“Please don’t.” Selene pleaded as Malik closed the lid plunging her world into darkness. She laid there for a moment in the darkness as panic began to settle in and the walls started to close in. Selene let out a scream as she clawed and kicked at the top of the coffin trying to get out. Pleading for someone to release her.
—

Selene was still in the throes of her nightmare tangled in the sheets. She fought against them as if they were the coffin confining her and clawed at the air moaning to set free.

[Clint Cross]

Clint woke up when she started thrashing in the sheets and helped her out of them. He knew what a nightmare looked like, both he and Selene had more than their fair share of them and the bruises to boot.

"Hey... hey... it's alright... Selene." Clint said gently as he put his arms around her.

[Liara]

“Let me out!” She said struggling against him as she woke up into darkness. It only amplified her nightmare. “Please.” She pleaded as tears streamed down her cheeks.

[Clint Cross]

Clint let her go and put his hand on her back. "It's alright... it's a nightmare... you're safe... you're not confined." he said as he turned the light on near the bed.

[Liara]

The lamp was bright enough to illuminate the sleeping area and reassure Selene that what she’d experienced was a dream.

“I’m sorry.” She said setting up as she wiped at her eyes, her body trembling. “I didn’t mean to wake you.”

[Clint Cross]

"It's alright... really." Clint said as he held her and kissed her shoulder. "Want to tell me about it? Sounded like it was pretty intense."

[Liara]

She considered telling him no but his earlier words about how they were stronger together rang in her mind. The feel of his arms around her made her feel safe something no one had ever made her feel.

“My father wasn’t big on cells. He had this thing for Mongolian prison boxes. Their basically the size of a coffin with a small hole for food and water. He enjoyed putting his enemies in them and seeing how long they’d last. It usually wasn’t long...a week. Maybe two.” Selene told him as she relaxed against him. “He also thought it was a great way to punish me. The first time I had sex I cried...the thought it was weakness. I spent two days in one and I never showed genuine emotion again. When I was sixteen my first mission was a failure...I don’t even remember why. I seduced the target, slept with him, but I just couldn’t kill him. I don’t remember feeling anything for him I guess I just didn’t feel like it. Maybe it was an act of rebellion. It doesn’t matter but it angered my father. He thought I was weak...that I had to much of my mother...She died in childbirth that to meant she was weak. To reward my failure he put me in the box and forgot about me. I was locked away for a month before he remembered. I don’t know if Lucius finally got through to him or if he realized what he’d done. All I remember is the constant darkness broken by the harsh light when it was time to eat and the smell.”