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Near Misses
JayBird -- Romance -- Posted: 25/09/2013 -- Updated: 25/09/2013
It was the last night of what the Assassins would ever after term their 'well-deserved rest' (often followed by 'and we deserve another'). All the drama of the first few days was behind them, and for the end of their vacation they had simply been resting.

Now it was almost midnight, and silence had finally fallen over OFUM. The last fangirl screams (Morgoth and Sauron were holding a 'Which form of torture is most evil?' contest) had died away, and aside from some muffled snores from the rest of the corridor, all was quiet. Acacia turned restlessly in her bed, trying to get comfortable. It had taken her all week to get halfway used to pillows and sheets again – just in time for her to give them up.

There was a soft creak from the far side of her bedroom, and Acacia's eyes snapped open. She reached instinctively for her pack, but it wasn't there. Then her hand went to the dagger on her belt – which was also absent. As was the belt. In fact, all she had on was an extremely comfortable, but not very defensive, nightdress.

"I warn you," she hissed into the darkness, "I'm skilled in over seven forms of martial arts."

There was a moment of silence, and then, "No you're not," replied Jay. "Every time you try to kick someone you end up flat on your back."

Acacia relaxed – not that she was going to let her partner know that. "What are you doing?" she whispered. "I could have killed you!"

"With what, your teeth?" Jay asked, and lit a candle. Holding it carefully away from the flannel of her pyjamas, she walked across the room and perched on the edge of Acacia's bed.

"But really, what are you doing?" Acacia asked, sitting up on her pillow. "Do you have any idea what time it is?"

"Not really," Jay admitted. "Too many years in HQ – my internal clock is permanently set to 'elephant'. But I can't sleep."

"So you decided to disturb me?" Acacia demanded. "I was having the most lovely dream…"

"Not the way you were moving around, you weren't," Jay retorted. "You were either having as much trouble as I was, or you had company. And since I can't really imagine Boromir sneaking up here…"

"You needn't take that disapproving tone with me," Acacia snapped. "I'm not the only one with certain… tastes. If Elrond were to come up here…"

Jay shivered and ran a hand through her hair. "Unfair," she said. "I wouldn't actually touch him – probably."

"I bet you would." Acacia smirked at her friend's discomfort. "If he knocked on your door right now, you would be all, 'Yes, your Lordship, please come in, your Lordship, the bed is right this way…'"

Jay sniffed and tossed her hair. "The fact that your mind dwells permanently in the gutter has no bearing on mine," she said, and then grinned. "Besides, the beds here are quite-"

"Soft, and warm, and very very big," Acacia joined in. "They are, aren't they? Do you think the staff did that deliberately? To keep at least some of the students from chasing after canons?"

"It's not all the rooms, though," Jay confided. "Lina and the other students have narrow little bunk-type things."

"Oh, so they're trying to keep us from jumping the teachers," Acacia snorted. "Who were they expecting us to pair off with? Each other?"

Jay laughed, but there was a hint of tension in it. "Ridiculous," she said. "What will they think of next?"

"Yeah… exactly." Acacia looked over at her friend. Not even aware that she was doing it, she pulled her knees up and hugged them to her chest. "That said, it seems like almost a shame to miss out on these truly wonderful beds."

"Yes…" Jay glanced at her, looked away again. "Which is why we should try to get to sleep."

"Sleep. Yes. That's exactly what I meant." Acacia ran a hand through her hair, echoing Jay's earlier motion. "Because tomorrow we have to go back to HQ."

"Right," Jay agreed. "And these beds are very good for sleeping on."

"Definitely." Acacia paused for a long, tense moment. "'night, Jay."

"'night, Acacia."
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