Type of work: Chapters of In Joy and Sorrow
Genre: Romance, fan fiction
Title: In Joy and Sorrow: Chapter Six, Ferry fear
Author: dreamsinfiction
Fandom: Ville Valo of -H-I-M-
Rating: R
Warning: swearing, sexual tension kissing
Summary: A walk outside....
Disclaimer: There's a reason it's fiction, my dears. ;-)

Links to previous chapters


Lighting a cigarette after leaving the hotel, Ville's left hand clasped Kat's as he lead her away from the hotel. Neither really had any destination in mind, only intent on walking the streets. The day had chosen not to rain for once, not even a drizzle. As it had been when Kat attempted to slip out of the bed earlier that day, the sun was showing his face every now and then through the cloudy haze. That alone was reason to be out walking the streets of the Emerald City.

"Suppose we could watch the sun set on a pier? Or maybe on a ferry?" Kat asked, taking Ville's offered cigaretter for a few puffs.

"That sounds like an excellent idea, sweetheart," he replied with a smile. "And gives us direction on these streets. Especially since the sun should be setting soon I would think."

Kat nodded, pulling him across the street as the light had just changed as they reached an intersection, "Maybe get something to eat out on one of the islands?"

"Whatever you want," Ville responded, squeezing her hand slightly.

As they walked down streets, Kat was certain every now and then someone would recognize him. He wasn't that unknown in the States anymore. The concert the night before had proven that. And she knew the internet would be a-buzz of Ville having some unknown girl with him, not his fiancee. That worried Kat a little bit. Jonna certainly wouldn't like hearing that, but maybe, just maybe she never paid any attention to the internet rumblings about Ville.

"Ville," Kat stopped at a crosswalk, her voice low.

"Yes, darling?" he looked at her.

"I...." she bit her lip, keeping her worries contained for the moment. "I just wanted to say I've been having a really nice time with you."

He smiled at her, "Good. I've enjoyed our time together as well."

Kat didn't say anything else, choosing to cross the street instead. It's not like it really mattered. He would get on the tour bus the following day and Kat would be faced with figuring out what to do with herself now. And all of it would fall into the category of memories, unbelievable memories.

They walked in silence a few more blocks until they reached waterside. Kat slowly directed them towards the ferries. The sun was probably an hour from setting so they were in no real hurry. Even as it was, she didn't want to arrive at the station and find the ferries were all full. She figured they could buy their tickets and then wander the shops along the water for a bit before heading to the ferry. Ville seemed fine with that as he offered no objections when Kat stepped up to the window and purchased ferry tickets. He did however not like her buying the tickets, but Kat never even gave him the opportunity, standing fully in front of the ticket window, blocking his attempt to pay with her body.

Strolling the gift shops along the piers, they wandered into a rather.... interesting curiosity shoppe. Ville seemed tickled about it, gesturing at shrunken heads in cases, chattering about the mummies on display, grinning a lot. Kat found it odd he hadn't been in the shop before, but apparently he hadn't. And of course he ended up purchasing something, as it made him laugh to no end. Carrying a metal sign out with 'Please do not throw cigarette butts in the urinal. It makes them soggy and hard to light.' embossed on it, Ville continued to smile.

"That was... interesting, Kat," he declared as they headed back towards the ferry docks.

"I can't believe you haven't been in it before. You've been here before," she replied, smiling crookedly at him.

"We never spent much time down here. Usually it's—"

"Bars?" she teased.

"Precisely," he answered as she fished the tickets out of her pocket.

Finding their way onto the ferry, Kat was a little nervous. She had always been nervous on boats of any kind since.... since the incident when she was six. Ville picked up on her nerves, especially as they did not seem to be associated with being in public with him, but jumped in intensity when they set foot on the ferry.

Leading her away from the others, his hand on the small of her back, he uttered, "Are you all right, Kat?"

Her blue eyes darted to his, "I'm fine. I'm wonderful. How could I not be? I'm with a very sexy man who seems to have taken a shining to me."

"That last part is true, me liking you," he confirmed, reaching up and pushing an errant pink strand of hair from her eyes. "But I can tell something is bothering you. Did I say or do something wrong?"

Her stomach lurched when the ferry went into motion. Her hands clamped down on the railing, her knuckles turning white. Ville's eyes glanced down. Setting his shopping bag down, he moved behind her, wrapping his arms around her from behind.

"There's no need to worry, sweetheart. The ferry is completely safe," he breathed in her ear.

Kat closed her eyes, forcing herself to focus on Ville and nothing else. She shook her head, causing her cheek to rub against his slightly. Ville was uncertain as to what else to say to her, so he just held her until her hands relaxed on the railing. Her knuckled returned to their regular pale peach colour as she disengaged her hands from the cold metal. Folding her arms over his, she kept her eyes closed, not wanting to see the water below them, not wanting to have visual confirmation that the ferry was in fact moving.

They did not speak until the ferry docked and Ville reassured Kat the journey was over and lead her from the boat. Her legs were weak from the short journey and she still didn't want to open her eyes, though she knew it necessary to get off the blasted ship.

Guiding her to a bench, Ville knelt before Kat, his hands holding hers, "Kat?"

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have suggested that. I thought maybe.... I thought maybe a ferry would be different. But... as soon as we were on it, I knew... I knew... Oh we should have turned around and went right back. I don't know that I can do that again to get back to the city," she stated quickly.

He reached up and touched her cheek, "You made it this far safely, we will make it back just as safely. I promise."

Kat shook her head softly, trying to keep from crying, "Nothing is ever that certain, Ville. Nothing."

He wanted to ask what haunted her eyes with the thoughts of being on a boat, but he kept the question to himself. Getting Kat to calm down was more important than knowing why she freaked out in the first place. So he stood and leaned down to her, pressing his lips to hers briefly.

Kat's eyes went wide and a little gasp passed her lips after he stood back up. Blue met green, a million questions dancing across the orbs of her eyes. He had not just kissed her. In public.

"Come on, sweetheart," he offered his hand. "Let's go find some place quiet to sit and eat dinner."

She nodded and slipped her hand in his, letting him pull her to her feet. Unable to help herself, her eyes glanced at his left hand and she frowned slightly, seeing the 'J' tattoo. But she said nothing of it while he lead her away from the docks.

Silently they walked down the street to a nearby restaurant. The hostess had a recognition glance when Ville requested seating some place quiet and out of the way. Kat merely smiled crookedly at the teenage girl who undoubtedly would tell all her friends that Ville Valo came to her restaurant and not alone. But Kat did not worry of gossip at that moment. Ville had kissed her.

Lead to a booth in the back, Ville waited for Kat to slid into place before sitting next to her. While intentional so as to be closer to her, sitting next to Kat rather than across, not only gave Ville a decent view of the bay, but also situated both of their backs towards the entrance of the restaurant. The hostess stumbled over her words slightly when explaining their server would be right with them, causing her to flush slightly before leaving.

"She knew who you are," Kat commented, chuckling a little bit.

"Did she?" Ville asked, paying little attention to the menu in front of him. "I didn't even notice."

She was going to ask why, but she knew why. He was wondering what had happened on the ferry.

"I don't want to talk about it," she stated, the second time that day.

Ville arched a brow but nodded, "Whenever you're ready."