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_/]

Rainier was careful not to let the simple pleasure from being asked for his opinion, reflect on his face. Not because he did not have them - he most certainly did.

No, there were other reasons.

"I suppose, to give the best answer, I would have to know more about how they -- handle you."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She considered that for a few minutes. "It's not that they aren't respectful..." Never that. "They're just..." She thought of Falonar. "Very protective. Uncle Saetan and Lucivar perhaps aren't as aware of what my life was, but Daemon knows. They know I can take care of myself. But if someone...insults me..." She shook her head slightly. "Jaenelle's the only one who can stop them from rash behavior."

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

"I don't know about that," he said fimly after a moment's thought, paying specific attention to each word. "I think you could stop them if you wanted to."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She gave him a wry smile. "Perhaps. When all three of them descend, though..." A little shrug, pushing her hair back behind her ear again.

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

"I've dealt with them all individually, so the implications there are not beyond my comprehension." Well, truthfully it was. Buy at least he was aware of that fact.

They were at her door, and Rainier looked it for a moment before extending one hand to offer Surreal a seat on the stoop. Some converstions were better had outside.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She looked slightly surprised at the thought of staying outside, but she acquiesced out of curiosity if nothing else. A bit more warmth from her wrap, and she looked up at him expectantly.

"Trust me, sugar. They're far more forbidding as a group. Though at least I've some idea of how to handle Daemon, and he's the most volatile. It makes the other two easier on an individual basis."

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

"We've talked some about your old life Surreal, about what it was like before." He sat down next to her. "But what about now? What is your life like now?"

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She considered that for a long time, taking a moment to scoot closer to him.

"I don't know. It's in flux, really. Things changing. I suppose I'm just trying to figure out where I fit here."

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

His voice was quiet, but focused.

"I think? That when it stops fluxuating, and you figure out what you want? When you take control of your life -- now?"

He studied her in the darkness.

"Then they will finally stop trying to control so much of it for you."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She sighed a little. "That would be...nice. Coming here, leaving Askavi. It's what I'm trying to do. Take control back."

And she was very afraid of giving it away again. The tremble that ran through her said that as loudly as any words could have.

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

The arm he placed around her shoulder was there to sooth. And to comfort.

"This is a good place to try."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She tensed for a moment, tempted to pull away. In the end, she leaned into him, accepting the comfort.

"It certainly seems as if it could be."

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

A flare of understanding passed through him.

"It's never been simple, has it?"

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

"No," she admitted quietly. She slowly lowered her head to his shoulder.

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

"To be fair? Not very many people have." At least from their perspective. "I may not be able to guide you towards anything close to simple. But I think I can promise some fun."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She smiled a little. "It's been a while since I just had fun."

She wasn't sure she ever had, when she thought about it.

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

He pulled her closer, still careful to keep the embrace loose.

"We will have to fix that then."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She sighed, softly, a content little sound.

"I'd like that."

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

"I'd like that too."

He was unable to mask the slight purr in his voice.

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

Her breath caught at the purr, and she looked up at him, meeting his eyes.

"It's warmer inside..."

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

He nodded.

"I am sure that it is."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She swallowed, wetted her lips, which felt too dry.

"Would you like to come in?"

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

"I suppose, my answer is?"

Rainer reached out with his free hand, two fingers tucked under Surreal's chin as he tilted it upwards.

"That depends."

[birthrightgreen.livejournal.com]

She held his eyes. Her voice was very soft.

"Depends on what?"

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

He didn't take his hand away from her face.

"On if I will be trading weeks worth of your company --"

Deft fingers traced the elegant line of Surreal's jaw.

"For just one night."

Not that it would ever be just one night. Rainier knew that. But he wasn't sure what the morning after would look like, and he much prefered the idea of seeing her again.