Disclaimer: I own nothing. Atlantis is owned by Disney.
A/N: The idea for this story came from a prompt provided by Leona.
A/N 2: Reviews are Good. This has been a subtle hint from the author - Please return to your regularly scheduled reading.

"Hmmm," Helga gave an almost purring hum as she twisted their hand's connection, until the hold suited her - until their fingers intertwined so she could run her thumb back and forth over the skin of Kida's wrist instead. "You're back to having skin now," she stated, seemingly in lieu of nothing, looking at the skin she stroked thoughtfully.

"Yes," Kida answered, her worry ratcheting up at this odd behavior - the fever they had been warned about must be spreading in (even as she scolded her own body for the way it shivered at the touch, blamed her reaction on her previous daydreams).

She glanced back up then, meeting her eyes. "It's better than the crystal - the blue," Helga stated seriously and Kida felt a flare of happiness, deep inside of her at this matter-of-fact statement. Because even if Helga might be an enemy ( and not just a little out of her mind with pain, lack of food, and fever ) - at least someone preferred her as a human woman.

Still she attempted to deflect, "You are feverish." And it was true, much to her worry, what she had thought were drops of water, from when she had washed her hair, were instead beads of sweat were along her forehead. This was even more alarming because the cave was quite cool - and Kida herself had been shivering slightly as she dried off.

"Not warm, Pri-, Your Majesty," she corrected herself with a tilt of her head that would have seemed polite with most people but with Helga somehow seemed privately amused.

Helga then gave a husky laugh that made Kida shiver again - this time for reason far beyond the cold, "I often like skin better," she murmured as ran her thumb along Kida's pulse again, as if in demonstration, half closed blue eyes watching intently, "and people often like mine," she continued blatantly. And Kida swallowed hard, fought not to blush (she was decades upon decades older than this woman, it should not be this hard. Was not like this with Milo) "But that does not mean it is quite the proper thing to do or say, Your Majesty," this time the use of her title was distinctly sarcastic.

"As Queen, I think I should get to decide what is proper. My people have the freedom to speak their mind," Kida tried to take back control of the conversation, wondering when it had gone so askew - when she had started to feel so out of control of herself. But she did not believe this response quite hit it's target how she wished, because her statement caused a small grin to flash across the face of the woman in front of her before it disappeared again. Not a smirk but something oddly young and playful.

"Are you saying then, Your Majesty, that you think it proper for me to say things like," her grin appeared again and this time stayed on her face - Kida held her breath for what it meant, for what she would say, "I think that a woman like you, that enjoys the fight as much as myself would also enjoy touch as much as I do." As an example she raised one hand and let it set upon her collar bone, her fingers running gently along the graceful slope and up her neck. Kida didn't realize she had been watching hungrily until they stopped and Helga spoke again, her voice deeper this time, a sensual touch in and of itself, "Or perhaps, you would enjoy touching me yourself and I could return the favor."

"I do not think that was as in line with propriety as you seemed to wish to be," she responded in a shakier voice than she wished.

"I thought you just said, your Majesty, that you decide what was proper?", Helga asked with a raised eyebrow.

"I do," Kida agreed, then said truthfully. "But I fear it is I that might be acting less than properly at the moment given your state of health."

"Oh, I assure you that won't be a problem," her smirk was a thing that made Kida stare at her lips, made her swallow hard. "I am thoroughly improper in every way, your Majesty. In all of the worst ways, as you have already witnessed," her hold on Kida's arm tightened and Helga rolled onto her side and jerked Kida forward until she fell into the blankets beside them, their bodies pressed together, "but all the best, too," she purred the last looking straight into her eyes. "Of which I would be pleased for you to become acquainted more intimately."

And in that moment, blue eyes feverish, grip firm upon her arms almost to the point of bruising, this woman was giving her as much passion as she has ever had just with a look, with her words and voice. And Kida wants more than just that - she wants to touch. Has craved this sort of touch to feel solid and real (and human) again.

So even though Kida knows she should pull away, instead she curls her fingers into blonde hair and allows her mouth to meet another. (Another that perhaps needs the solidity of touch as well, with her world blown apart. With her existence in a position so vulnerable.) She lets herself breathe again as fingers explore her body over her clothing (yes, yes she is real. Is Kida with skin, lungs, and want. Is not a hollow being of blue crystal divinity), with gentle skill - and tries to reciprocate while working around her injuries.

They don't do a lot sexually this time, mainly desperately kissing and touching both over and under the clothing with hands that are terribly delicate and careful at times but all the more burning for the want of it. Neither is ready for more there is still too much hurt both inside and out - and Kida knows for all of her own attraction, to this woman, she still holds some distrust about Helga's previous employers that will probably be slow to fade. But she is almost certain that this it is only the first of such encounters they will have - and despite everything, that potential is an oddly hopeful thing inside of her.