Chapter Text
Glynda felt her knees begin to buckle, and the movement had him pushing her against the bookshelves. The wood dug painfully into her back but she could have cared less as he began to push aside her collar in favor of kissing her neck.
“James,” she ground out somewhat breathlessly. He paused, momentarily, drawing back and looking at her. His pupils were slightly dilated and there was a hint of triumph in his expression, and Glynda wished her glasses weren’t beginning to steam slightly.
She couldn’t help it as her eyes darted back to his lips. Her chest rubbed against his with each breath, and soon they were kissing again. This time, however, it was slow and methodical. There was no anger in it, only memories and an intensity like love.
They stopped too soon, what felt like ages later. Their faces rested against each other’s but this time Glynda’s arms were wrapped around his neck, hands rubbing his scalp and playing with the grey hairs. One of his hands, much larger than hers, rested against her hip. His thumb was stretched and running over one of the buttons on her skirt. The other hand was on her back, his arm wrapped around the side of her chest.
They breathed quietly, hearts calming down and passions cooling. They moved together as one, not exactly coming apart but shifting and putting more space between them. Glynda’s lips were slightly swollen, as James knew his were. He couldn’t bring himself to smile—the moment wasn’t right—but hoped his emotions were conveyed through his eyes. Glynda’s face was now completely devoid of all anger and impassiveness.
“I’m sorry, about that,” he started to say. He was at once both grateful and slightly mortified at how husky his voice was. He cleared his throat and opened his mouth to speak again. The huntress shook her head.
“I started it. You never really were the one for impromptu anything outside the bedroom.”
He grinned, an unabashed grin she hadn’t seen in a very long time. She couldn’t help it and smiled back. She leaned forward, on her toes, and brushed a gentle kiss on his lips. Glynda pulled back and sighed, extracting herself from his arms. She walked back to her chair behind her desk, not running away but rather moving the interaction (after all, it was more than just a conversation).
She glanced at him and sat down in her seat, gesturing at the chair in front of her. The general ignored that and came to stand behind her, hesitantly rubbing her shoulders. A pleased breath of air rushed out of her as he began to talk.
“I hate to say it, but I think your mother will be receiving a package from Ozpin soon.”
Glynda raised an eyebrow, already bringing up her itinerary for the next few days.
“And why is that?” She asked, closing her eyes for a moment as the tension that had plagued her seemingly from birth in her shoulders began to release in a way it only did when Ironwood touched her.
“Because, according to what she informed me, and based on Qrow’s information, you just caused the headmaster of Beacon, the almighty matchmaker, to lose a very serious bet he had going on with only her.”
Glynda snorted and shook her head.
“It’ll probably be his cookies. They’re practically siblings the way they go on sometimes.”
James chuckled and slowly pulled his fingers away from her shoulders. He moved to lean against her desk, looking down at her. Glynda didn’t look up, knowing that her still pounding heart would not be able to handle the guaranteed emotions that his face and eyes would be pouring out at the moment.
“I want us to take it slow, Glynda,” he said, his voice quiet. She looked up in surprise, the pieces of her hair that had escaped her immaculate bun swinging.
“I don’t want us to make the same mistakes, and allow anything but love and respect to influence our actions. We haven’t exactly let our heads always do the thinking, you know.”
She nodded in agreement, bringing one of her hands to her chin.
“I agree, but that doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy ourselves in the meantime. We’ll figure out the distance when you leave, James. For now, your place or mine?” Glynda filled the question with as much sarcasm and mockery as possible. Her heart skipped in anticipation as he leaned down, closer, closing the distance between their faces.
“Yours, I think. After all, we wouldn’t want you leaving any certain…items just lying around in a general’s quarters, would we?”
Glynda rolled her eyes and pushed his head back with her hand on his face.
“You take my things for sentimental value and we both know it. I’m still missing a certain set of jewelry, you know.”
He just grinned and stood. One last precious kiss, and he walked out of her office. For once, without anger causing his back to be rigid or things being thrown at him.
As he walked out the door, winking at Eleanor who was back and glanced up at him, sitting at the desk, Glynda started a phone call. The student suddenly began looking very obviously at her scroll as she viciously typed something on it, and the huntress sighed.
An older version of Glynda with silver hair and brown eyes looked out at her from the screen.
“Hello mother. I thought you might want to know, James and I have decided to give us a go again.”