A Bit Of Meat

The following is a bit of alternative fiction based on certain characters from the Xenaverse. It is not meant to infringe on anyone else's rights. If you don't agree or disapprove, please go read something else.

Xex Alert: Definitely. It's a mix and match game too. :)

Note: This Story is a bit different than my usual. There is some definite snake and pond action here. (I like snakes just as much as I like ponds.) I wrote this in response to a challenge I recieved. Hope it works. :)

I considered this an excercise in language and love. There is some character building, I think and some episode observation. For those who haven't seen King Con, you might want to pass on this until you've had a chance to watch the episode.

Xena swirled the port in her cup and looked bored. She tilted her wooden hard backed chair so she was leaning comfortably. The legs of the seat creaked against the floor, but would support her weight. Her boots were firmly planted on the table's semismooth surface. She scanned the inn's shadowed interior, noting the attempts at decoration which consisted of a few potted plants, the occasional table cloth (her table didn't have one) and two comely serving maids. The other patrons, mostly of the masculine bent, weren't quite as sightly. She watched them for reasons other than their physique.

Her sword, wielded on too many thugs of late, hung on the rack by the door. It had been a tedious couple of weeks and she had been ready for a break. That's why they'd stopped in this quiet town. She wore her chakram at her hip as usual. Her knives were in their various hidden places. She shifted her armor to a more comfortable position and hid a sigh by breathing through her nose.

Where was Gabrielle?

They were supposed to meet. . .Xena's eyes flickered to the inn's timepiece. . .a candlemark ago. No doubt she'd just gotten caught up in the thrill of bargaining, but Xena was getting hungry.

It was the bard's fault. The strawberry blonde had told her to wait. That she was looking for something special for dinner. So Xena was waiting, somewhat irritably. Gabrielle had promised, however, to make the wait worth it.

She hoped so. She could have scared up a rabbit and had it burned and ready for dinner by now. Or maybe stewed, or . . .She wasn't helping herself here. She blew another sigh through her nose and took a sip of her port. The fire of it soothed past her mouth to her belly. She'd give Gabrielle the rest of the candlemark. If she didn't show, she'd either start without her, or go searching.

Xena was realistic. She'd go searching. But then, she was hungry enough, she'd probably have Gabrielle for dinner. The woman's lip curled upwards. Maybe even dessert. Mm, she could already taste. Suddenly rabbit stew didn't seem like such an important thing.

The light of the candle burned lower and Xena prepared herself to stand up and go looking. She didn't have to worry. She heard the bard's lilting chatter and smiled. Gods, she loved the way that woman talked. Sure it got annoying sometimes, but there was something about her voice. .especially in the heat of. . .

Gabrielle sun-shiny presence brightened the inn's atmosphere as soon as she stepped in. She carried a basket. No doubt it was filled with food. At least Xena hoped so. She was also being followed by a tall blonde man whom Xena recognized.

Xena didn't bother standing up. She was comfortable where she was and the bard would be there soon. Besides, Rafe had to take his sword off and hang it like the rest of them. Xena watched as her bard, who only had a walking stick, moved past the rack and towards her. She spent the time appreciating her lover's smooth gait.

"Hello Xena," the bard said cheerfully. She lifted the basket. Then she looked briefly at Rafe. "I brought dinner. ..and dessert."

"Gabrielle," Xena started. The bard twinkled at her, Xena swore that she did. "Gabrielle," she leaned forward, "what. . ."

Gabrielle set the basket down upon the table and grinned at her lover, "Thought you might like a little filling for your pita." She grinned even wider, "I know you've been hankering for a bit of meat, and he was Right There can you believe."

Somehow Xena managed not to blush. "Gabrielle," her voice was low and could have been interpreted as menacing, "I like berries. You know they," She smiled at Rafe who waved at her and gave her a rakish smile, "fill me up, just fine. Especially yours."

Gabrielle grinned and touched the warrior's hand, "But a varied diet is good for you, Xena. And I know you have a need for the flavor now and then. Why deny it?"

"What are you guys talking about?" The blonde man asked as he came up to stand besides the bard, "Hello, Xena." He looked at the warrior almost solemnly.

Xena nodded, "Hello Rafe, Good to see you again. We're talking dinner."

Rafe smiled winningly and clapped a hand on Gabrielle's shoulder, "And you. Gabrielle invited me to dinner. You don't mind, do you?"

"Me?" Xena slung her feet off the table, "Oh no." That could have been a sneer, but Gabrielle diverted Rafe's attention. "Sit down Rafe."

"Thanks, I believe I will." The man took a seat to Xena's left. Gabrielle sat next to Rafe and in front of the warrior. She grinned at Xena again and patted the basket. She didn't sit down.

"I found some wonderful things at the Market, Xena."

The dark haired warrior set her cup down, "So I see."

"But I'm not finished." This time Xena blinked. She looked at Gabrielle with concern in her eyes. "I've got one other thing to find, then I'll have everything I need, but there's plenty in the basket to eat." Damn it she looked at Rafe again.

"I don't need to eat what's in the basket, Gabrielle. I like what's served here just fine."

Gabrielle looked at Xena for what seemed the longest time, "It's not about what you need, Xena. It's about what I need. Just do me a favor and start on it would you?" She gave Rafe a smile, and he looked at her like he knew he was missing something, but wasn't sure what. She touched Xena's shoulder and smiled down at her warrior, "I promise to join you later, but I really do need to go get some more scrolls. Okay?"

"You'll come back?"

"Oh absolutely."

Xena smiled a real smile. "Okay, but remember, you insisted." Rafe looked at both of them, trying to interpret what he was hearing and missing.

"Just enjoy your dinner, Xena. I see you in a bit." Gabrielle gave a wink and sauntered off, with a sway to her hips that made the warrior feel like she was starving.

When the door shut behind Gabrielle, the dark woman turned to Rafe with a look that said he was going to get eaten right up.

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It was more than easy to get Rafe up the stairs. All it required was a bit of laying on of hands in the right place and she had his attention in every way. She cupped him easily in her palm, fondling gently. He looked at her with startled glazed eyes. She gave him a small smile, leaning her chin upon one hand. She stared with sultry intensity into his eyes. He was mesmerized, which was her intent. She'd forgotten how much she enjoyed this game.

"And just how hungry are you Rafe?" She casually slid her hand along his inner thigh, twisting up until her hand covered his knee. He blinked and tried to inhale. She stood up and grabbed the basket. No point in wasting time. "You coming?" If things went well, he most certainly would be.

Then she walked away, letting the sway of her leather covered hips speak for her. She figured he didn't need more of a hint. The man wasn't Joxer after all and she wasn't exactly being subtle. She smirked knowingly as soon as she heard the chair scrape back, but didn't turn around. Instead she made sure she was at least five steps ahead and gained ground upon the stairs.

She dropped the basket on the inside of the room, just past the door and slid in. Rafe still trailed behind. She'd set a deliberately quick pace. It was designed to get him to think it was urgent, but also to avoid unnecessary public displays of passion. He'd get his kisses in the room.

The door slammed shut.

"Are you sure?" he asked, remembering the last time they'd met. The armor dropped with a metallic clang to the floor. He stepped back to the door, with a sudden expression of doubt, "Oh, I get it. You're setting me up." He held up a finger and waived it at her. She looked at him with narrowed brows. "I know a set up when I see it," He began moving about the room, searching, "Where is he?"

"Who?"

"My partner. I know he's put you up to this." He was on his hands and knees looking under the bed now. Nothing there.

Xena pulled down her right shoulder strap. "He did not," she said reasonably. She sighed inwardly, 'trust a con to think up a conspiracy.' She would just have to convince him. The bodice went down. He looked up and stopped breathing for a minute, then looked away.

"Yeah, yeah, I've heard that before. He's around here somewhere, I know it." It would be just like him too. Now Rafe was looking behind the curtained off closet. The leather skirt came off.

"You're wrong, he is not and you're wasting your time." This was getting tiresome. Now he was looking behind plants. "Rafe." Another big potted plant. "Rafe." He stopped searching long enough to look up again, and froze. "I'm only going to give you one chance at this. Do it well, I might give you two." She crooked a finger at him, "Now, c'm'ere." Her grin turned wicked and seductive.

It was such a . .. different look . .from when he last saw her naked. He felt the blood flow moving again. She was serious!! He managed to pull his jaw back up and move forward haltingly. "Aren't you and Gabrielle. . ." He let the question trail off. He'd just assumed that when they hadn't. .Well, he was Rafe and she'd resisted him. ..but then, she was Xena and. .he was confusing himself.

Xena's smile turned warm and thoughtful. Her eyes sparkled with tender emotion and it was as if he wasn't quite there, "Oh, we are." It was said so softly, gently, that something in Rafe's heart went thump. "We definitely are." She was talking about more than sex. He could feel it.

Her attention returned to him and the smile changed to a feral grin. Her eyes divested him of his clothes before his fingers could move to do the job. Her gaze drifted to the basket and then back to him, "Sometimes we just feel," there was a meaningful pause and Xena licked her lips, "snackish."

Rafe wasn't sure he liked the comparison, "What do you mean by that?" He'd been hoping. .well. .he'd. . .Hey, what kind of trap was this. . .

She stepped up to him, until their faces were inches apart. He could feel the heat of her naked body, the press of her nipples through the soft cloth on his chest. Other places on his body thumped. She pressed her lips against his, starting the kiss. It was moist and sweet, a little rough. When they pulled back, Xena whispered in that velvety smooth way of hers, "It means that I'm hungry Rafe and you're just what I need to fill me up." Their lips met again, this time with a stronger passion. Rafe forgot what he was not liking and started focusing on what he was liking.

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She peeled away his clothes, trousers first. It gave her access to touch and to hold , which was something she enjoyed. She liked to wrap her hand around a man's shaft because she found the fondling satisfying. The evidence of her success was always there. They couldn't disguise desire like a woman could. Well, actually a woman couldn't exactly disguise her desire could she? You just had to feel the slickness to know. So she liked both sensations for different reasons. Besides, she was good at this. She stroked him expertly, wanting him to point without peaking. He groaned and wavered.

She let go of him and moved her hands under his tunic to the flat of his belly and around to his back. Their lips met in fire again as her hands caressed his back, her nipples rubbed against his cloth covered chest and her thigh slid between his legs so that his desire pressed against her hip.

"We're going to have so much fun," she breathed into his ear as she pushed him back towards the bed. Her tongue slid along the line of his cheekbone and then back to his lips. She claimed him with her mouth and he found himself in the odd position of surrendering before the battle had begun. Her hands moved from his butt, up around to his chest. She scraped her fingernails against his nipples.

He moaned at the surprising pleasure of the sensation. He'd not even thought they were sensitive that way. No one had ever really paid attention to them. He began, at that moment to suspect that Xena's reputation was well earned and he meant that in a good way. Her palms covered the two small points and rubbed, even as their tongues joined. He felt the electrical spiked connection and shivered.

Fun was an understatement.

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