Nicolette did not like being touched without permission. She held herself stiffly most times to avoid such unsolicited and unwelcome contact. So the Rogue’s kisses, though well intended were not in any way welcome. Perhaps it was the shock of the Captain sitting up, speaking his absurdities. Perhaps it was the unexplained miracle of his healed flesh. But she had sat there, stunned in the wake of the captain’s hands pushing her face away from him, blinking at him as he said what he said her tongue not finding it’s sharp edge in time. 

That was why the Rogue got her hands on Nicki and why the Rogue had the chance to whisper her sweet little threats in Nicki’s ear. Those little bits of sweet poison, delivered lightly stabbed into Nicki like nails hammered home even as the Rogue traced her promise across Nicki’s flesh. Nicki’s eyes narrowed, her mouth tightened and she let herself be removed from the Captain’s lap. As she stood she caught at the Rogue’s elbow and looked down at her from her slight advantage in height. Her entire bearing was that of a self-assured aristocrat, one who knows her place and was born and raised to be exactly where she was. It was something that as no affection for all that it was a part of her she left to slumber. For now it was ascendant.

“I will say this only once and I will forgive you your threats only this once, Mademoiselle because I imagine you are distraught and shocked otherwise you would not presume to order me about. I will do as I must and you will not interfere.”

Nicki stepped just a little closer to the woman where she sat on the edge of the bed, keeping her hands to herself, her manner stiff, confident but not aggressive. A strange flash of light, forked and flickering danced across her iris as she spoke to the woman. 

“He was my Captain before he was your lover, mark that. It is not [i]my[/i] affection that puts him at risk. Once did not begin with me, twice was in the line of duty and if there is a third time, it will be for good reason. Or would you rather I leave you to the funeral celebration you were in the midst of? He breathes now, not because you wept for him.”

She turned to the Captain, her face tight, but there was a light of relief in her eyes as she bowed stiffly.

“I have duties to attend to, Sir.” She said. “I would examine you later if I might be so permitted, to make certain you are truly as healed as you appear to be.”

She looked to poor Jax where he stood, looking out of place in the room filled with tension and politely delivered threats. He was as wet as she, his shirt plastered to that dangerous anatomy of his. Upon seeing it she felt all anger and resentment at the presumptuous Rogue fall away. She looked at him, her eyes scanning his beautiful body. She cleared her throat and nodded at him, casually even though her heart was pounding in her veins for a great many reasons. 

“I have your boots, Monsieur Jax, in my cabin. Perhaps you would care to retrieve them with me?”