Inktober 2025 - 13 - Drink

"Hey! Bolt!"

"Yes?"

Skylar was lying on the bed, on her stomach, her chin resting on her fists. She was watching her captor clean one of his numerous weapons, as he often did. He didn't even turn to her to reply.

"I have a question for you."

"Shocker…"

His eyebrows rose, but he still wouldn't look in her direction, focused on his task.

"You know, given the fact that you're the only person I've been in contact with for weeks, and the amount of time you spend here with me, I don't think I ask that many questions, on average," she objected to the taunt.

"Just ask; get it over with."

"Were you really drinking ice tea, the night we met?"

That made him pause. He had not been expecting that.

"That's your question?"

"It is."

"Well, considering you were all up in my personal space that night, like you have been many times since, I think you should already know the answer."

His greenish brown eyes finally darted toward her ice blue ones. For a loner, side glances were a thing he had full mastery of.

"That's a stupid assumption; by the time my tongue was on yours, you'd already brushed your teeth."

If he had been drinking or eating, he might have choked. He should be used to her provocativeness, by now, and yet…

"Good to know you noticed that. As we both know, my reputation as a gentleman is very important to me. However, I was referring to before that moment. You do know how invasive of a person you are regardless of your more… physical cravings, don't you?"

"I had drunk alcohol myself. I couldn't tell."

She managed to shrug even in her current posture. He sighed, and finally laid down his tools so he could focus on the conversation.

"Fine. By now, you have searched every inch of this loft and found no alcohol. And you also have never seen me come home so much as smelling like it. What does that tell you?"

He was trying to be pedagogical, but she was having none of it and made a face, pouting like a child.

"Why can't you just answer the damn question, Bolt?"

"Because from what I know about you, I don't believe you're ever going to take my answer at face value, so I better back it up with tangible evidence, otherwise this back and forth will never end."

"Are you calling me a sceptic?"

Did she need to remind him she had believed him right away, when he had told her about his stupid job? She narrowed her eyes, but as usual, what would make most men fall down to their knees to worship her did not work on him.

"More… argumentative," he corrected.

"That's rich! You fight me at every turn!"

She had straightened herself up now, and crossed her arms.

"Fine. Yes, I was really drinking ice tea, the night we met. Happy now?"

"Meh… No. Now I'm just thirsty."