AU for _deadlydance_, set immediately after "The Price"

[birthrightgreen]

She wasn't nervous. She had nothing to be nervous about. It wasn't like it was a romantic evening. They'd just worked so hard on the case, working to catch the rabid witch who'd been slaughtering innocent males. And they had, with Jaenelle's help. Now Jaenelle and Daemon were back on their honeymoon and she...

She was here in Amdarh, back how she had been, nursing the bruises Falonar had left. So, why, exactly was she changing her dress? The one she had on was perfectly acceptable. She was going out dancing with a friend. She could use a friend right now. What she couldn't use was a male thinking he was just going to sweep in and carry her off.

Not that he was probably thinking that, but she was suspicious.

He was a male, and years of seeing them abused by her own sex still hadn't made her trust them as a gender. Then again, she didn't trust most people.

With a growl at herself, she finally settled on a black dress with enough slink to impress and a enough swirl to make a statement on the dance floor, no matter how elegant and formal. Hair pinned half up, the rest left down. If people stared at her ears, so be it.

She was ready. It was going to be fun. She kept repeating that. Fun. With a friend.

Just a friend. He wasn't expecting anything. He wouldn't be that foolish.

She just wished she knew what he wanted.

Comments

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She shrugged. "There'll always be somewhere, I suppose. Now that there's...family. But all my places are back in Terreille."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

Rainier just nodded, understanding that this might not be a conversation she was ready to have yet. Instead, he smiled down at Surreal. His voice was soft.

"Would you like to dance again?"

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She relaxed the tension that had started again with recent reminders. She smiled looking up at him. "I'd love to."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

"Is there a dance that you would prefer?" Rainier extended an arm and escorted Surreal from the terrace after vanishing their glasses. "Ladies choice? I can see that it is arranged."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"The waltz," she said promptly. She wasn't sure she would survive another tango without doing something foolish.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

Rainier nodded, and the music had already started by the time they reached the floor.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She smiled, settling in his arms, fingers curling around his again.

"Did you always love the dance?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

He settled one hand on her waist. Rainier enjoyed the feel of it there, and knowing Surreal would sense it, he didn't even bother to hide the reaction.

And sensed it was best to keep things open, and honest.

"I have." The first turn. "For as long as I can remember. That doesn't mean I was always good at it, but I did always love it."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She flushed a little, a tell tale sign of her own simple enjoyment in the light touch.

"And love pushed you to become good at it?"

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

"That was part of it," Rainier offered. He had always appreciated this particular tune. There was a distinct softness to its touch. "You dance extremely well Surreal. Did you have lessons?"

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"Thank you," she said with a smile. "Yes. Daemon saw to it that a dancing master was included in my tutors."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

Rainier pulled Surreal closer, expertly avoiding another couple as they passed.

"And Daemon certainly knows his dance."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She chuckled, fingers tightening on his shoulder as they moved closer together. "He does at that."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

"He does what?" Rainier's eyes were warm on Surreal. "Knows things?"

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

Her lips quirked in a slight smile. "You danced with him. And that was him being...polite."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

His back stiffened.

"I was extremely aware of that fact."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

Her hand soothed down over his shoulder, stroking lightly with the dance. She hadn't meant to set off anything.

"Most of what I know, he saw to it that I was taught, or taught me himself." It seemed important to say that. To explain, and possibly to warn.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

Something worked in Rainier's jaw, but he forced it away. This was not the place for it. "I am used to taking the lead on the dance floor," he finally admitted. "Or at least freely and conciously relinquishing that control. I was not prepared to feel it slip away like that. To have it taken away."

No matter what he had heard.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

Light touches, even if they weren't at that point, and never would be, she swiftly reminded herself. Soothing, petting, she knew this sort of thing. The way to calm a Warlord Prince.

"Daemon won't surrender control unless you nearly break him to take it." Or unless he trusted you completely, but. That was a different sort of control. "He let you have it for the waltz."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

There was another spin, and a look of distinct appreciation. He thanked Surreal for her attention with several sweeping turns on the floor.

"Not exactly. When we were waltzing, Daemon had convinced himself I was the enemy. That was cold calucation on his part, putting me in a place he desired. Setting a form of prey up for the fall."

What Rainier chose not to say? Was that he had recognized the motivation all to well. Because he had done the exact same thing himself.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She gave him a delighted smile in return for the turns, eyes lighting up. It faded a bit, listening to him, and she nodded solemnly.

"He thought you were a threat, not an ally. Whatever you said disabused him of that notion, though."

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

A smile such as that deserved yet another turn.

"I simply informed him that he was looking in the wrong direction."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"You offered assistance. He remembers things like that."

The turn got another smile.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_deadlydance_/]

"Love like theirs," Rainier admitted after a moment. "It is the Dance. And I will always be part of taking care of anyone who purposefully threatens that."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"As will I," she said, almost too softly. Even if it was her. She needed that reminder occasionally.