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mrsreginagold · 1 month

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Fic: A Funny Thing That I Cannot Explain

Fandom: Nikita

Pairing: Ari Tasarov x Nikita Mears (Nikari)

Rating: R

Spoilers: Canon-divergent AU, would take place sometime during the second season.

Summary: Nikita discovers that the more time she spends in Ari’s company, the more she wishes for it to never end.

Author's note: I love them your honor.

On AO3

A Funny Thing That I Cannot Explain

Nikita Mears winced when far too bright illumination hit her directly in the face and an evening of incredibly bad choices decided to remind her of its existence.

Her head was pounding, and she felt sore all over. Groaning, she clung tightly to the pillow in her arms while burying her head further into the plush fabric. “Kill me.”

“Where would the fun be in that?”

She shot up abruptly at the sound of a familiar, deep, and incredibly alluring male voice.

Ari Tasarov merely peered over the rims of his reading glasses and lowered the book he was holding a fraction.

Unable to help it, Nikita gaped at the image he made beside her. His dark hair was tousled attractively, and his exquisitely defined torso was on full display since he was shirtless with the bedsheets pooled around his waist.

Her heart thundered as she glanced down, relieved to see that she was covered, but frowning when she realized that it was by one of his dress shirts.

She inhaled shakily before asking, her voice unsteady. “What happened last night?”

There was a rustle of fabric and then a feather-light brush of fingers against her arm. “You don’t remember?”

She glanced over at him, pulse jumping when she saw him stretching languidly before resting on his side. He propped up on one elbow, so they were face-to face, and brought his hand up for a gentle caress along her cheek, which caused her breath to catch.

“The room probably needs to stop spinning before I can,” she admitted with a hard swallow, resisting the urge to reach out and trail her nails through the hair that dusted the broad expanse of his chest.

His lips curved into a slightly wicked smile, as if he knew exactly what direction her thoughts had headed. “I suppose I’ll just have to remind you myself.”

His proximity and her addled mind made it very difficult to focus. Ari’s eyes were a stunning mix of blue and gray, framed by eyelashes that could make other women jealous. They were arguably his best feature, though the rest of him was just as appealing.

Not helping matters was the fact that he was observing her so intently, and it was taking every ounce of her self-control to not pounce.

She was seconds away from having a full-blown crisis, tempted to pull him to her and claim that soft-looking mouth in a kiss, but reason demanded that she know the extent of their current intimacy. “Ari, just answer me one question honestly.”

“What’s that?”

Nikita took a sharp breath. “Did we have sex or not?”

“Call me old-fashioned, but it’s definitely not standard practice to make love to someone who is unconscious.”

Relief was the primary response she felt to his answer, though it was tinged with some disappointment as well. “I was unconscious?”

“To be fair, you had consumed quite a large portion of alcohol. I didn’t realize cocktails were so dangerous.”

With an embarrassed sound, she flopped with minimal grace onto her back and stared up at the ceiling. “I don’t know why you put up with me. I swear you have the patience of a saint…though. Wait a minute,” she furrowed her brow and looked at him. “If nothing happened, why are you naked?”

He flipped the bedsheets back to reveal he was wearing pajama pants. “Not completely.”

“You didn’t answer the question.”

Ari shrugged and got out of bed – running his hands through his hair and smoothing it away from his face. “Maybe I wanted to see how you’d react. Or maybe it was because someone barged into my bedroom, took off most of her clothes, and I needed to cover her up.”

“The second part sounds more likely, and more humiliating,” she threw one arm over her eyes, her pretty features flushing considerably. “Could I ask you one more thing?”

“Of course,” she heard him rummaging around.

“Help me to the bathroom? I want to freshen up but I’m worried that I’ll get sick if I move too quickly.”

He turned back around from where he had been messing with the room’s coffee maker, his expression softening at noticing her distressed one. “Sure.”

Ari’s method of helping, apparently, was to bridal carry her into the washroom.

Nikita was torn between mortification and appreciation for this gesture. She found herself leaning towards the latter when he went to get her some fresh clothes.

She took advantage of the privacy while he was out to brush her teeth and then started the shower.

A brief respite in the warm water combined with some medicine for the hang-over was just what was needed to clear her head, and by the time she emerged, she saw that he had placed a new outfit for her on the counter.

She was touched that he had respected her space despite the fact that she wouldn’t have minded if he had joined her. Quickly, she dressed and then wandered back out into the hotel room.

Her companion had also changed and was now fully clothed in a simple white button-down, tucked into dark blue jeans. Both seemed to cling to his build in all the right ways, making color rush to her cheeks as she recalled just what lay beneath the fabric covering his chest.

He was preoccupied with examining the contents of a room-service spread that was laid out on a roll out table, and if he had any inclination of how keenly she was checking him out, he didn’t show it.

She cleared her throat to announce herself. “What’s all this?”

He looked over in her direction with a smirk. “I believe it’s referred to as breakfast.”

Nikita rolled her eyes. “I know that, but why go to the trouble?”

“Because, we don’t have to be back at our respective headquarters for another couple of days and I want to spend this one with you.”

Her heart flipped at the warm, inviting and completely sincere expression that lit up his handsome face. “Really?”

Ari bridged the distance between them and tucked a lock of hair back over her ear. “Really. We’re in Paris, Nikita. We should take advantage of it.”

The idea of exploring the most romantic city in the world with him had an appeal she couldn’t resist.

“One stipulation,” she inched closer.

“What’s that?”

“Just for today: we aren’t agents for rival organizations working together in secret. We’re normal. That’s what I want.”

“Very well, we’ll be an entirely normal couple,” he leaned in, nudging her nose with his. “On a completely normal date.”

“As long as that date starts with you kissing me because I’m about to lose my mind if you don’t.”

He grinned before doing exactly as she requested.

The kiss was tentative at first – a testing of the waters, so to speak – but any imaginings that Nikita might have had paled in comparison to the delicate sensation of Ari’s lips against hers.

She relaxed into the embrace immediately and curled her arms around his neck to tug him closer, nipping playfully at his mouth to signal that he could be less careful if he wished.

Skilled fingers weaved into the silk of her hair, the kiss deepening as they allowed months of pent-up emotion to take hold, teasing and tasting each other until they had to part in order to breathe.

They stood there illuminated by the light pouring in through the room’s windows, foreheads touching, and eyes closed, unwilling to separate just yet.

He was the first to break the silence, amusement lacing his tone: “We should eat before the food goes cold.”

“I’m half tempted to call the whole thing off and drag you back to bed,” she confessed with a nuzzle.

“Fun as that would be, I have plans for you that involve clothes,” he took a step back, though he twined their fingers together so he could lead her to the breakfast table.

“Damn,” she half-joked, beaming when he gallantly pulled out a chair for her. “We’re in a country with nude beaches, so I thought we might have a work-around.”

He choked on his drink at her remark, which was a reward in and of itself. “That’s not what I had in mind.” he sputtered.

With a giggle, Nikita loaded up her plate with scrambled eggs, some croissants, and fresh fruit. She figured that whatever Ari was plotting, it would require energy.

They fell into pleasant conversation while they ate and enjoyed their coffee, and when it was finally time to depart – they did so arm-in-arm.

The life of a rogue operative was actually the furthest thing from glamorous, and though Nikita had traveled to many foreign countries, she had never been given the opportunity to explore.

This was partially what drove her to dive fully into the guise of tourist, much to Ari’s delight.

Their first stop of the day was to procure sunglasses – though her hangover had abated somewhat, the bright sun still hurt – and brochures to guide them through the famous landmarks.

They perused shops, visited the Paris Opera House and the famous Notre Dame cathedral, and then had lunch at a quaint café. When the weather began to chill later in the afternoon, they ducked into a store to get jackets before they continued to the Eiffel Tower.

The couple had an early dinner in the famous restaurant that overlooked the city, and finally took a romantic walk along the banks of the Seine.

Though her feet hurt a bit from walking so much, and exhaustion was starting to seep in, Nikita was in bright spirits. “Today has been wonderful.”

“I’m glad.” Ari bumped her shoulder with his, pausing at a scenic vantage point on the bridge that they were crossing. “I know things haven’t been easy lately.”

“They haven’t.” She confirmed, referring to the ever-complicated battle to take down the organization that had turned her into a lethal weapon, for better or for worse. “Having you by my side certainly takes the edge off though.”

They stood close together and watched the sun dip into the horizon – appearing to disappear into the famous river. The sky above was awash in hues of red, pink, and orange, and she now understood why the song La Vie en Rose was so beloved.

A flurry of emotion settled in her heart when she turned to gaze at her companion.

There was no doubt that the man beside her was handsome, but the evening light cast a soft glow that befit the sharp angles of his face and made him irresistible in her eyes.

Her heart began to beat rapidly. Instinctively, she reached out to touch him, only to falter when his gaze caught her own.

A quizzical look was directed her way. “What is it?”

“Do you ever wonder if we should just stop? Run away. Adopt new identities. Start a proper life?” The words came pouring out, and she blushed before ducking her head. “I mean…”

“What are you actually trying to say here, Nikita?” elegant fingers curled beneath her chin to tilt it back, so she was looking at him properly.

Her breath hitched. His expression was utterly tender and full of affection but tempered by concern at her unexpected rambling.

“I’m trying to say that I’m in love with you,” she declared. “I tried very, very hard not to fall for you because the life we lead is always uncertain, and I’m sorry but, I couldn’t help it.”

He shushed her and placed a palm against her cheek. “Don’t ever apologize for how you feel.” He leaned in and granted her a sweet kiss that seemed to calm the anxiety that had erupted unintentionally.

Then – he said the words that would change everything.

“I love you, Nikita. If you’ll have me, I’m yours.”

Tears sprung to her eyes, and she practically leapt into his waiting arms, stealing a far more passionate kiss. “As if I’d want to get rid of you. Let’s go back to the hotel.”

He smiled against her mouth. “Fine by me.”

Although she had been the one to suggest it, by the time they reached their destination: Nikita found herself dealing with a different case of nerves.

The irony of them ending up back where they had started wasn’t entirely lost, and while she certainly wanted nothing more than to spend the rest of the night in Ari’s arms, she was also hesitant. After all – the man she loved had been utterly respectful in every sense of the word, mindful of her boundaries and putting her feelings ahead of his own.

She followed him silently after they reached the floor they were staying on in the hotel, mulling over her insecurities when it came to the subject of intimacy. She was no virgin, but her few sexual encounters had been brief, to the point, and usually as part of a cover. The truth was she had never actually made love with someone besides the fiancé that she had lost, and that was some time ago. Nikita was certain that with Ari it was going to be about more than the physical act.

“You’ve grown quiet,” her companion remarked, jolting her from the reverie. “Is something wrong?”

Her cheeks flared with color, and she shook her head. “Nothing’s wrong! I was just thinking.”

He turned around to face her, apprehension written on his striking features. “If you think we’re moving too fast, I’m fine with slowing down.”

“That’s not it.” She shook her head again and draped her arms over his shoulders. “I want this. I want you.” She kissed him lightly to prove her point. “But I also don’t have the greatest track record when it comes to relationships.”

“I wouldn’t say that” he leaned in, pressing his forehead to hers. “Earlier, you seemed to be doing just fine.”

“That’s because you’re the first man I’ve felt comfortable enough around to let my walls fall,” she confessed. “And I’m afraid of taking the next step and having things end up awkward between us after.”

“I’m honored that you trust me,” he murmured, nuzzling their noses together. “And I understand your trepidation. You’re also the first person I’ve wanted to be with in this way in some time.”

Her heart fluttered at the affection and his heartfelt admission. She leaned into him instinctively, emitting a quiet sigh. “I didn’t mean to ruin the mood by laying this on you so abruptly.”

“You’re not,” he whispered, pulling back just enough to look deeply into her eyes. “Nikita, the last thing I want is for you to ever feel uncomfortable. Whatever happens between the two of us needs to be mutual.”

At a loss for words, she nodded, her heart skipping when he offered her a gentle smile and another kiss that she gratefully returned.

“So…what now?” she inquired.

“Now – we go into the room, and I draw you a bubble bath.”

She blinked, not expecting that answer. “A bubble bath?”

“You need to relax,” he elaborated, taking the room key out to unlock the door. “When was the last time you were pampered?”

“Never?”

His response to that was to hoist her into his deceptively strong arms, lifting her effortlessly so he could carry her inside. “Now, that simply will not do.”

Though his action had momentarily startled her, Nikita was quick to wrap her arms securely around his neck.

He toed off his shoes but didn’t let go of her once they were through the entry, pausing only so she could pull off her ankle boots, and then he carted her off to the bathroom.

It was there that he set her down carefully on the small vanity chair, and she watched contentedly while he discarded his coat and then rolled up his shirt sleeves.

She cast aside her own jacket by draping it over the back of the chair as he tested the temperature of the water before letting the faucet run.

A delicious strawberry scent filled the air after he added a few capfuls of shower gel to the bath. Then he rose and faced her, wiping his hands off with a spare washcloth. “I’ll leave you to it.”

“What?” confused, she snapped out of her trance-like state. “I thought you were going to join me.”

“I never said as much,” he chuckled, moving to her side, and brushing his lips against her temple. “However, if you decide that’s what you wish –I’m right outside.”

Stunned, she watched him exit the room and then returned her attention to the state of the bath.

When it appeared to be more foam than water, she turned off the faucet and methodically began to undress, wondering just what kind of point her beloved was trying to prove.

Surely it’s a test…he’s probably stretched out naked on the bed by now, waiting to see how desperate I’ll get.

Completely nude, she padded over to the door and cracked it open, peeking out cautiously.

Ari was indeed stretched out on the bed, perusing a magazine, but had not removed one stitch of clothing. The only alterations were that he had undone several buttons on his collar and his sleeves remained rolled up.

Blushing, she ducked back inside and hastily wrapped a towel around her body. Well. I read him wrong.

After a few more minutes of consideration, she realized that her embarrassment over the circumstance didn’t change the fact that she wanted him there with her.

She breathed in deeply to steady herself, quickly checked to ensure the bath wasn’t starting to chill, and then opened the door again so she could lean against the frame.

“Ari?”

He looked up from reading, the crystalline blue of his eyes glittering with appreciation as they took in the sight of her. “Yes?”

She extended out one hand. “Please join me.”

He smiled and stood, his fingers entangling with hers seconds later.

She coaxed him into the room, drawing him to her for a kiss while her hands worked to free him from his shirt.

The crisp fabric parted over his torso, and he rotated his shoulders in assistance so she could slip it down his arms.

She pulled away from the kiss so she could stare at her leisure, her eyes roving over the sculpted contours of his chest and abdomen, and then lingering along the fine taper of his waist. The bright light of the bathroom should have been unforgiving, but being able to discern the bits of silver in his hair frankly made him more of a sensual picture than ever.

Without preamble – she lunged, claiming his lips urgently and quickly removing the barriers that remained between his skin and hers.

Strong arms circled around her protectively while they embraced, and she marveled over how right it felt to be with him. She could barely stop kissing or touching him long enough to steer them over to the tub, and she jolted in surprise when he scooped her up and did the work for her.

They sank together into the bubbles, naked limbs entwining while they became lost in one another.

“If you’d waited any longer, the water would have gone cold,” he remarked, tugging back to caress at her face.

“What can I say, I’m all about timing,” she smirked.

A playful grin was directed her way before he dipped his head and pressed several kisses to her throat, his tongue laving over her clavicle and then drifting further down.

She tilted her neck back and reclined fully against the edge of the bathtub, her legs hooking over his waist under the water to keep him close as he continued in his explorations.

Ari proved a generous lover: discovering paths along Nikita’s increasingly sensitized skin that he followed with both hands and mouth.

Suds of strawberry-scented foam were eased aside to grant him better access as he worshipped her body in a manner that was downright intoxicating. Even the most feather-light brush of his fingers along the curve of her hip was enough to spark pleasant tingles, heat gathering at her core the longer his ministrations wore on.

She idly wondered if he was drawing everything out on purpose, but then he finally joined them together with a fluid thrust and the world around her shattered.

A whimper tore from her throat, and she gripped tightly to his biceps, her legs coiling around him to anchor them fully before they set off on a steady rhythm.

Their eyes met; raw emotion evident in the bright blue of his gaze that was mirrored in her own. As she’d suspected – this was about so much more than a physical attraction.

Her heart thundered as they engaged in an intimate dance, damp skin causing delicious friction that led to inevitable surrender.

His mouth found hers right as they reached completion, embracing wildly in a manner befitting their coupling until – at last – they were entirely sated.

They stayed in the bath long enough for the water to turn cold, at which point Ari suggested that they finally switch to the more comfortable appearing bed.

Nikita made no protests and was quick to join him in cleaning up around the tub, as their exertions had resulted in plenty of water splashing onto the floor.

They wrapped themselves up in the comfortable, fluffy robes provided by the hotel and settled together on the mattress not long after.

With a content sigh, she cuddled close and took his hand within hers, grazing her mouth lightly over his knuckles. “I want more days that are just like this.”

“I want to give them to you,” he admitted. “Were you serious earlier? About stopping?”

“Did you think I wasn’t?” she slung a leg over his.

He reached out with his free hand and tucked a lock of errant, still-drying hair back over her ear. “I just know that bringing Division down means a lot to you.”

“It did… I’m not so sure anymore.” She traced an invisible figure over the triangle of exposed skin revealed by the open collar of his robe.

“Then let me rephrase that,” he leaned in to give her a languid, gentle kiss before murmuring. “What is it that you really want, Nikita?”

She searched his gaze, taken in by the honesty there, and knew to be sincere in return. After a moment of pondering his question, she answered. “I want to be happy, Ari. With you. With a life where I’m not constantly looking over my shoulder. What about you?”

“I want to be the one who makes you happy,” he confessed. “And I’m willing to do whatever it takes to ensure it.”

“I think I already knew that; I just wanted to hear you say it,” she smiled, stretching, and then twisting so she could pin him beneath her, hands fisting in the soft fabric covering his chest. “I also think we’ve taken a long enough break.”

There was a low, seductive sound on his part and then she was yanked into an ardent kiss that proved that there was nothing further to discuss for the time being.

After all – the promise of a future was more than enough.

The End

#nikari #ari x nikita #mine #mrsreginagold #fanfiction #otp: enemy mine #otp: this is the life we've chosen #peter outerbridge #ari tasarov #they invented romance I don't make the rules #nikita 2010

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