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

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

"You doubt my abilty to safely escort you through a lobby?"

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

Why did males have to twist everything.

"Safely? No, not at all." She gave him a look. "But you seem to be of the distinct impression that females ought to be petted."

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

He grinned widely.

"Ought'nt they?"

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"Do you have any idea what it is like to be on the receiving end of that much attention?" She looked at him steadily.

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

"To that extreme?" Rainier didn't even have to think. "No."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"You'd have a different opinion of it if you had," she grumbled slightly.

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

Rainer was quiet.

It wasn't as if he was going to apologize for the behaivor.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"It can be...smothering."

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

There was another sip of wine. Then a bite of the dessert.

"Have you ever considered the other view? The dead, empty feeling that consumes when we are not allowed to serve? The inability to dance the edge on our own?"

At least without causing damage so fierce, and to loose the ability to recognize your own hands work.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She tilted her head, studying him. "I understand when it's needed to bring you down from the edge. It's the...daily fussing. Not letting a woman cross a street on her own. Not finding a...balance."

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

"You can heal daily. Become the heart, and center of an entire community, daily. Spin webs and weave dreams, daily. If it suits? Paternity can be denied, daily."

He was done with his wine.

"So why can't there be the daily connection? The reminder of what Service really means. Why can't the young one lead you across the street, and feel the touch of an anchor. To feel, more than know why it works, if it is honored? Why does that just have to be about -- an edge?"

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She hadn't thought about it quite like that. Because it wasn't...

She pushed her hair back behind her ear, eyes thoughtful, and maybe just a touch of the broken little girl in them.

"I don't know," she admitted quietly. "I've never...I've never seen it be like that. Never seen it...work."

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

He was more than willing to show her, how it could work. But he still wasn't sure just what Surreal would say to that.

"You should see. Because -- it can."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She nodded slowly, watching him carefully.

"Perhaps...I should."

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

He smiled broadly, unable to hide his pleasure.

"Then the theater -- and its lobby -- is an excellent place to start."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She glanced at him with a slightly rueful smile.

"You won't let them all pet, will you, sugar?"

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

Mother Night, he would not.

"I will protect you."

His voice was low. Specific.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She felt that little flush of pleasure again. Her smile was softer than usual.

She could point out that there were only three males in Kaeleer she couldn't take, but she didn't.

"Thank you."

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

"It is a pleasure, Lady."

There was warmth behind the formal nature of the words.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She smiled at the warmth. At him.

Glancing down at the remnants of the creme brulee, she fiddled with her spoon, unsure of what to say next. Feeling like there was something.

Finally she just looked back up and smiled again.

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

His hand reached out, and covered Surreal's where she played with the spoon.


"I think you could be happy here."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

Her hand stilled under his, then very slowly she dropped her spoon, turning her hand until their palms were pressed together and her fingers curled around his.

"Wouldn't that be something?"

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

Rainer smiled, something dark in his eyes. Then he reached aross the table, and covered her hand with his own. The leftover food was gone -- vanished.

After a moment he slowly lifted both hands away. Then one returned to hers, still palm to palm. Only, beneath her hand now. Supporting.

"It most certainly would."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She swallowed hard, fingers trembling a little in his, but she kept them there.

"I...could we...walk?"

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

This was why his hand was beneath hers.

Because it worked that way.

In a single, fluid motion Rainier was standing, easing Surrea's arm upward with his own.

"Of course."