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 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."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She smiled her thanks, sliding her arm through his.

She didn't know why she was still trembling a little.

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

He called her wrap, and took his time placing it over her shoulders.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She snuggled into it, but didn't say anything else until they were outside again.

"It's been...an illuminating few days.'

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

His arm linked hers once more, as he carefully watched her.

"It certainly has." He could not help but ask, though. "Does the good outweigh the bad?"

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She glanced up at him and she was quiet for a moment, then she nodded.

"I think so, yes."

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

"Then every night. The theater." He watched the street ahread, the path the lights made. "I will make sure you see every moment of that festival."

The sidewalk was narrower. It was why he wasked closr.

"It will be your reward, for being so open, when it is all so different." Rainier finally looked down at her again. "I know it isn't easy."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"I get a reward for being open?" She asked lightly, scrambling to find some of her equilibrium. "Why didn't someone tell me that? I might have tried it ages ago."

But she welcomed his warmth as he pressed into her, pressing into him as well and trying not to think of all the other ways they could warm up on such an abnormally cool night.

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

"Maybe the time wasn't right before," he offered quietly, before trailing off to enjoy Surreal's initiative. Rainier briefly considered walking to the theater, every night.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"Maybe not," she agreed with a slightly rueful smile. She shivered a little, and cast a warming spell on her wrap, though not so much as to need to move away from him.

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

"You can draw the line you know." Rainier felt the need to reassure her as they approached her door. "If their behaivor doesn't please you, and if the -- fussing becomes too much. You just have to let them know."

There was a tightness in his smile.

"They respected your wishes in the alley, and they will keep respecting them. That is simply how it works. And if you ever come across one who doesn't listen?"

He finally looked at Surreal again.

"Well, you are the strongest Blood here. Of course you can handle things."