Property of Kimra Lelanst, do not duplicate without consent.
Serena, Sailor Moon, whatever name fit the costume at the time flipped back from the energy burst directed at her with a level of co-ordination she rarely displayed. Right then of course, Sailor Moon was the name to fit the costume. She barely spared a glance for her transformed friends, knowing there expression wouldn’t be congratulatory, not even close.
Another attack was thrown at her and she dodged to the right disappearing behind one of the many trees that dotted the parks landscape. Her breathing was haggard as she leant her head back against the trees surprisingly soft bark. She wouldn’t be able to keep the pace up, and she knew it. That her friends where being exceptionally lax in the battle wasn’t helping.
Obviously they had realised she would not feign injury or danger, so they where leaving her to fend for herself more then usual. She didn’t know why they bothered, no matter how she tried in every other battle they had, there had always been that perfect moment for him to save her.
“Jupiter, Supreme Thunder!” The sound of thunder roared through the park in compliment to Lita’s voice as her attack lit up the strangely normal looking Youma they faced.
Sure normal. Serena bit in annoyance. If you ignore the blasts of energy it keeps throwing at me from nowhere. As was typical for the Youma, it seemed to know to focus on Serena. She wondered if it was an inbuilt defence system, something like ‘kill the weakest first’, because she couldn’t think of any other reason they favoured her with their attacks.
“Mars, Fire Soul.” The roar of flames brushed close by and the sound of a screaming woman followed. Serena swallowed down at the sound. Screaming Youma, get it together Serena.
“Sailor Moon?” Lita called from the clearing the battle had inadvertently ended up in. Serena breathed deeply wondering if she should respond. It was true they weren’t letting her get killed, they had deflected the larger attack from her as they always did. At one point Amy had even tackled her to the ground to protect her. Serena had given a shaky smile but hadn’t looked into the Water Scouts eyes, she didn’t want to know what they where thinking. But it didn’t mean she wanted to respond.
She couldn’t help but remember the second she slipped, the moment she showed her usual weakness her protector would unwittingly put himself in danger. The youma wasn’t a problem, it was certainly weaker then they where used to and maybe that was why she was holding up so well against it why the others waited patiently for there plans to be activated. What ever the plans where however they hadn’t bothered to tell her, that one meeting she had missed the day after Molly’s party had obviously had a great deal of tactical planning.
It made her dislike Darien all the more for the disturbance in her life. If not for that one event she knew she would never have gotten out of the scout meeting. Luna would have hounded her till the end of her days if she merely chose to not go to a meeting. And she would have been able to defend Tuxedo Mask before their plans where solidified.
“Mercury, Shabon Spray.” Amy’s voice shouted over the rest of them. Serena risked a glance around the edge of the tree to see Amy standing to the side a little restlessly, her computer already having been put away. Serena gritted her teeth at the image, knowing it meant the genius had already figured out the creatures weakness and was now buying time, more then giving the normally needed cover.
Fine just kill the Youma, then there wont be anything he has to save you from girl. Serena nodded her head, spinning the moon rod in her fingers as she prepared to jump out and courageously finish off the creature. After all she couldn’t delay forever, however tempted she was to try. When in a fight it was so much easier to forget her real life. It was easy to forget that the only sleep she had managed to get since that fateful night had consisted of odd and broken dreams, and those few moments had been short and fitful.
“Moon Tiara Magic.” Her body moved in sync with the words, pinning the youma’s position as she released the weapon.
Latter she would debate that it could have worked. That in all reality it should have worked. But right then all she could do was stare as a burst of energy repelled the tiara and enfolded the youma. Her tiara spun back into her grip and automatically she slipped it back into place. She saw instantly that her three friends where alert, Amy once more frantically typing into her Mercury computer, Raye looked apprehensive and Lita ready to jump into another fight.
Lita got her wish as the light burst from the youma leaving a much more mutinous, much more dangerous looking creature where the one with near human appearance had been. The creature had gotten bigger, subtly so, another foot in height, larger breasts, broader shoulders, and all of it was encased in a strange shell like armour.
It gave a crackling laugh and launched a direct attack at Sailor Moon. Serena went to dodge and her feet refused to move. For a moment she wondered what was wrong with them and remembered she was a coward.
Warm arm’s wrapped around her and pulled her from the Youma’s path. Serena spun sharply meeting the masked face of her saviour with surprised anger.
“Jupiter Supreme Thunder!” Roared and the battle was thrown away from them at the strength of Lita’s attack.
“What are you doing?” She demanded hotly and shoved him away from her. Her eyes went to her three friends who where converged on the Youma, then back to him.
“I thought I was rescuing you.” He replied the frown obvious under the mask.
“Well.” She glanced at her friends nervously. “You shouldn’t. I was doing fine on my own.” She bit the words out, trying to get rid of him. But his feet didn’t move.
“Sure you where.” He drawled, his expression not as casual as his voice sounded.
“I was!” She snapped in reply. She did wonder if she would have survived the blow he had saved her from then pushed the thoughts away, she didn’t want him to be right.
“Just like every other time?” He snapped in reply.
“Mars, Fire Soul!” Echoed behind the two, but Serena wasn’t paying attention as she glared at the masked man.
“I don’t need your help you know!” Her anger was mounting, and his feet still weren’t moving. “I never asked for it!” Nervous eyes shoot to the trio of fighting Sailors. It was nice of the Youma to have decided to become a challenge because they still hadn’t taken notice that Tuxedo Mask was there.
“Without my help you would have been dead months ago!” He retorted his fist curling at his side. The fist suddenly relaxed and a casual smile moved into place. The shift was so amazingly unexpected that Serena stopped what ever response she had been forming in the depths of her mind. “Beside’s.” His casual voice made her body tense with expectancy. “Your always falling over in battles. Sometimes it’s a wonder you can put your fuku on without falling over.”
Her blood boiled at his calm attitude and her own fists curled with the need to strike. She went to refute that she didn’t have to put it on because it was magic but before the words left her mouth she realised that wouldn’t help her case at all. What his words did manage to do however, was completely distract her from the objective of her evening.
“Why you!” She screeched with ferocity. “You-you Tuxedo wearing, pansy little pathetic excuse for a super hero!” Anger she hadn’t realised she was storing broke through her protective barriers.
“What about you? Miss can’t stand on her own feet long enough to finish a battle?” He leered.
She tried to remind herself that this wasn’t Darien, but the fight did little but remind her of him. And the unreleased anger she felt for the collage boy mixed with her aggravation for her hero to make a heady mixture that left little room for thought. And she was ready to blast him with every piece of spite and anger she could conjure. Her voice was deadly as she began. “Why you-“
“Sailor Moon!” Amy’s voice cried in desperation and Serena turned sharply to find her friends looking ruffled and tiered. Remembering herself she moved into the battle again, ignoring the hero behind her.
“Moon Tiara Magic.” She withdrew her tiara as the words slipped from her throat in an almost shout. Power flooded through her fingers into the weapon and she followed through on the token movements that came with the attack before releasing the weapon at the distracted enemy. It sliced through the youma breaking it down into a pile of silver dust and the tiara returned to her.
Without a second thought for the destroyed youma she spun on her heel, recapturing her anger and stormed over to Tuxedo Mask who looked as willing to continue a fight as she felt.
“Well at least I can do something!” She snapped, not sure where the fight had ended but willing to start a new one there. “You just throw roses around, at least I’m useful!”
“Only if you survive to the end of the battle.” He mocked lightly, an eyebrow rose as he looked over her shoulder and she turned to see the three girls watching the scene with calculating eyes. “What’s wrong with your friends?” He asked half interested, but his eyes went back to her. She faced him quickly, surprised at her stupidity.
She had planned to actually finish the battle properly for once. Finish before he had to save her, and it had done little good. Had the other’s been a little more co-operative it would have worked, she knew she had been doing better then usual at the beginning of the battle. She had planned to somehow contact him, after the battle. Logic had always suggested, from the dramatic entrances he had, that he witnessed the majority of the battle before he intervened. So it was only logical to assume that he would be hiding somewhere just out of sight. She had wanted to find him before the others did, and talk it through rationally, or at least leave the fighting to her. If anyone was to fight Tuxedo Mask she felt she owed him enough to do it herself.
“Shit! Go.” She directed him away glancing out of the corner of her eye as her friends began to approach.
“What?” He stared down at her, with what looked like surprise.
Why gods? Why of all days does he chose to stay and fight with me today? “Just go!” She repeated and tried to push him away. Another glance over her shoulder revealed the scouts had disappeared. That can’t be good. She admitted and a second latter three figures jumped into positions around the two of them.
Serena looked about quickly, they where in a clearing, there was nothing near by to jump to. She scanned the three girls, they had looked weakened before, exhausted and out of spite, but they looked fine now. She wondered if that had been a trick and hastily put the thought from her mind, not even her friends would manipulate her that much.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” Tuxedo Mask asked calmly in spite of the look’s of murder that where directed at him.
“We’ll make this easy for you Cape Boy.” Lita began a grin splitting her features. Serena stopped to consider a reaction to the situation. She could, she was pretty sure, get him out of there. But the honest truth was the other scouts where right, they needed the crystals. But that didn’t mean she’d let them hurt him in any way. He reached into his jacket pocket and immediately the three scouts where in defensive positions. A smile quirked onto his lips as he looked at them.
“And what are you making easy for me?” He looked at Serena pointedly and she felt like hiding behind a tree. It felt like a betrayal, like she was throwing him to the lions and letting him go.
“We want to Crystals.” Raye snapped, flames flicking at the edges of her fingers as her dark eyes narrowed onto his form. His expression shifted to confusion as he stared at the fire priestess then looked up at Serena the confusion still there.
“You want the crystals?” He asked slowly, the question directed at Serena and no one else. The others didn’t seem to notice though.
“We are more able to protect them from the negaverse.” Amy replied casually but his eyes continued to bore into the guardian of the moon.
“You want the crystals?” He repeated, his voice shifting into disbelief, the kind of tone you would get in reply to asking what one plus one was.
Serena didn’t appreciate it. “Look I’m sorry, but it’s our job. So yes we want the crystals!” She snapped. Anger that had been temporarily put aside resurfaced.
“So you haven’t told them?” His voice was dead with calm and Serena’s back snapped straighter her eyes fixed on him. Three sets of eyes latched onto her questioningly.
“Told us what?” Raye demanded, but Serena couldn’t hear her. Her mind was searching, frantically for what he was referring to. She couldn’t think, couldn’t remember what ever he was trying to refer to. She looked anywhere but at the four set’s of eyes that where locked on her. Somewhere inside she was sure she should remember what he was referring to but she just couldn’t. She worried that there was something wrong with her memory. But the only other thing she couldn’t remember had been that night. An awful thought occurred to her.
“I don’t have the crystals.” His eyes moved from her, she could feel it, though she was still not looking at the others. There where two sets of gasps and the sound of Mercury typing on her computer faster.
“If you don’t have them where are they?” Lita growled in distrust.
“Zoisite has them.” And she felt his eyes return to her, but she couldn’t get over the thoughts that pumped through her head in possibility.
Mercury had mentioned power spikes a couple of nights ago, she had never elaborated, of course it wasn’t them, if one of them had been in a fight they would have said something. Unless they where drunk. Her stomach clenched with uncertainty.
“You expect us to believe you?” Lita shouted in reply.
“No. But why don’t you ask your little leader. After all, it was her fault.” His mocking voice didn’t hide a tinge of anger.
“What? No it wasn’t!” And that was a reflex she would never be able to explain. Perhaps it was the need to always deny fault when laid at her feet, what ever it was the damage was done. She could feel her fellow scouts emotions shifting into uncertainty. So she stared at him defiantly, knowing she would never be able to face their expressions.
“And you kept it to yourself.” He continued his eyes burning into her own. “And let your friends threaten me over things you knew I didn’t have. I didn’t think you had it in you to sink that low.”
* * * * *
* * * * *
* * * * *
The silence following Tuxedo Mask’s words pulled at Serena’s pounding veins. But she met his eyes stare for stare. Lita the scout of Jupiter, Raye the scout of Mars, and Amy the scout of Mercury did nothing but stare in at the both of them in response to the accusation.
“How-“ Her voice cracked, the oppressing silence breaking the nerves she had been desperately scavenging for. Not now. She ordered herself remembering she was in scout form. Her back went a little straighter her eyes harder. How she could even for a moment forget she was transformed when staring at the tuxedo clad man was a little beyond her. Especially with her three friends powered up and standing around them.
She took another breath and all eyes fixed sharply on her.
“How dare you.” She managed, feeling proud of the anger that came with the words. All her friends reacted in surprised caution, he didn’t even flinch.
“How dare I?” He mocked his eyes sweeping over her. “How dare I?” He repeated and his eyes moved to the three scouts. “I thought you would have at least told them. Your friends. But then I guess, I suppose I can understand why you didn’t. I wouldn’t want to admit to that much failure either.” He sneered it, his eyes hidden in the shadows of a mask she desperately wanted to rip off so that at least she could guess what he was thinking.
Instead of tearing the cloth from his face she sought a response, an excuse. The three scouts, her friends, where waiting for a response. The tension in the air so thick it shook her visibly.
“Is someone going to tell us what happened?” Lita demanded from the side lines of the unproclaimed battle. Serena didn’t look to her friend, but the man before her did.
“Your little leader made some what of a spectacle of herself, the other day. What was it? Sunday night?” He looked back to her, and she found her attention sharpening at the demand in his expression.
“I was sick.” She snapped sharply in defence, it was the best she could do. She refused to tell them she was drunk, it was far to late to tell them now.
“You didn’t look sick.” He snapped, his mouth set in a grim line. She could see the anger in his stance, his very existence radiated the anger, but he was keeping it in check.
She wondered fleetingly why he was holding it in.
“Well I was okay!” Serena shouted then waved her hand vaguely at the three. “Finish the story then.” She managed to keep her voice relatively steady, her body on the other hand was shaking with nerves. She needed him to tell it, give her some idea of exactly how she had let Zoisite take the crystals.
She saw his eyes narrow, even beneath the mask. “Don’t you think they should hear it from their leader first?” He sneered again, his expression intent.
Damn mask. Serena still had the compulsion to take it off him, she could see his focus on her but nothing else and it was driving her insane. How are you supposed to have an argument with a mask? She growled to herself, all eyes on her once more. She realised they where waiting.
“Well I’m sure I wont do my stupidity half as much justice as you will.” She managed to retort, not even having to feign the anger that pushed through her. She despised the fact that he put her on the spot like this, wondered if he knew she had been drunk. Wondered when exactly in the night she had managed to fit a Negaverse battle in. To many questions. Serena snapped and her eyes darkened.
She had failed in her duties, duties that made her something more then the average person, the only thing that marked her special. This time anger made it’s way into her. She felt nothing like guilt in the face of Tuxedo Mask’s treatment. He should have known there was something wrong with her, what where hero’s for if they couldn’t tell when someone was drunk or sick.
“Yes well.” She began glancing at her friends to see Mercury typing away on her computer with alarming speed. “If were all done fighting the Youma, I’m sure it wont matter if I go.” Serena walked between Amy and Raye, her only choice if she didn’t want to pass him, and began for the park’s exit. “I’m sure Tux Boy can insult me quit effectively without me being around.” She stated blandly sure they could hear her and not caring in the slightest.
She walked steadily, not faltering in her exit. Even outside of the park she did not run, although she knew there eyes weren’t on her. She couldn’t very well force information out of Tuxedo Mask, not when the other three where there. Admitting to him that she was drunk, especially if he didn’t know would diminish her in his opinion. Not that you can get much lower then the creature responsible for the lose of his precious crystals.
She had hardly progressed from the park when she felt a presence behind her. She didn’t turn, didn’t acknowledge it, only kept her pace, her small fists balling as she readied to attack who ever would interrupt her brooding.
The hand that landed on her shoulder, was familiar to the extent that her fists unclenched and her head lowered away from her friends face.
“What’s up girl?” Lita asked in a companionable way. Serena shook her head and shrugged the hand from her shoulder.
“I’m sorry I didn’t tell you.” Serena muttered, not understanding how she could be sorry for something she couldn’t help, but saying the words anyway. Silence followed her words and Serena dreaded when it would be broken
“Cape boy decided to do his disappearing trick.” The casual remark was to break the silence, and Serena appreciated the subtle approach Lita was trying to take to get the information she was probably dying for.
“So he didn’t tell you?” Serena’s shoulders slumped, now they would hound her for an explanation and she had none to give.
“Nope.” Another pause. Serena’s nerves where stretched thin, too much stress, to many unexplainable mystery’s and none of them seemed like they where going to let her relax any time soon. “So…” Lita took a breath and let it out loudly, her pace matching Serena’s with ease. “…you going to tell me what happened?” Serena looked over at her tall friend, then around them. The street was empty.
“Where are the others?” She asked cautiously.
“Mercury went home to do a scan, see if there’s any traces of the Crystals anywhere in Tokyo. Mars went to read the fire.”
“And you came to get the story out of me.” Serena finished off for Jupiter.
“Yes. So are you going to tell me, Sailor Moon?” Lita’s brows where drawn in a tight frown as she stared at Serena.
“What’s to tell?” Serena asked as casually as she could, pushing sudden and unexplainable tears away. Lita’s expression showed she was ready to pursue and Serena bit into nothing wishing the lie wasn’t half as necessary as it felt to be. “We fought, I klutzed out, Zoisite got the crystals.” Serena shrugged as if it wasn’t anything, hoping it didn’t show how pathetic she really felt.
“You klutzed out?” Lita asked casually, her eyes on the road ahead of them.
“Yeah? So what’s new?” Her voice was light and perky, surprising even her with the normalcy it presented.
“Nothing… I guess.” Lita’s voice was vague then a smile lit her face. “Hey look. It’s late, and I’m beat. So I’m going to go home. But I’ll see you at the meeting tomorrow afternoon.” Lita went to turn in the direction of her house and paused catching Serena’s shoulder once more. “We’ll talk tomorrow.” She promised in a companionable voice. Serena stared into the green eyes and saw the worry that hadn’t been audible in Lita’s voice. She didn’t give a response, Lita didn’t wait for one, instead the scout of Jupiter turned and disappeared into the night’s shadows.
Serena didn’t move as she watched the shadows where her friend had gone. Time passed, she could tell, because time never stopped but it was only logic that told her time had passed.
Abruptly she turned to face the direction she had been heading in and her feet began movement without a conscious thought. Her hand reached to her broach and mid stride she de-transformed, knowing there was no one about to see her. The transformation didn’t even make her pause.
Serena fumed as she walked. Her booted feet crunching into the cement beneath her as she moved. She couldn’t remember it sure, but that didn’t mean she had been in the wrong. But how can you defend actions you can’t remember? She demanded of herself. She knew despite how much she didn’t want to that, having being drunk she may very well have been the cause of Tuxedo Mask losing his crystals.
But he had pushed her into lying to her friends, and that was unforgivable. Even if he hadn’t known what he was doing he had caused it to happen. And if his so pissed off with me, why did he come to my rescue? She pushed that thought aside, not even wanting to think on it. Some thoughts where too much at times, and she already had a hundred things to worry about.
She had an entire night of her life to remember, a night that seemed to have been a lot more eventful then even she had expected. Sure, fine, she had slept with Darien, but that was beginning to subside into something less then important. She had also let the enemy get a step closer to ultimate power, and that was unforgivable. Strike nine million and ninety nine for Serena Tsukino.
Her feet continued to stomp. She suspected if she were still transformed she would have seriously dented the concrete, it didn’t matter how weak she was, every ounce of her strength was going into blaming the ground for her problems.
One redeeming thought, one that did little to actually fix anything but did relieve her slightly came to mind. If she had been in a battle, a battle she had obviously lost, there was every possibility that she had gotten injury’s from the Negaverse, and that Darien had done no more harm to her then taking her virginity. But it wasn’t a full proof idea, and she refused to let the possibility take hold of her thoughts.
She didn’t notice the lighter step of her feet as she contemplated the possibility.
One thing was for sure, she knew, she had begun the night at Molly’s and finished it at Darien’s. She had asked Molly as obtusely as she could, and gotten little more help then a name she still hadn’t matched to a face. And that left only one person to try and pry information from. And logically he would be the easiest to ask, because she didn’t have to hide where her night had ended from him.
Setting her shoulders she made a decision that she could no longer avoid. It wasn’t a question of her embarrassment or fear anymore, it had progressed past her. Now it was for the scouts and for a princess she doubted they would ever find. Now it was her duty.
* * * * *
* * * * *
* * * * *
Serena watched as her hand brushed invisible dirt from her pant legs. Eyes fixed on her reflection in the store windows. Behind her, through the reflection she could see the blinking lights of the Crown Arcade, deceptively calm and peaceful, waiting for her.
Her nerves where fluttering about wildly but she pushed them down. They kept twittering but her body did not react to them. Her shoulders we’re back, her hair tied back in her token buns, tails of gold flooding down her back to brush clothed legs.
She was dressed for battle, as close to battle as Serena Tsukino ever came. Comfortable and concealed. Soft baby blue full length pants, a short sleaved black top that clung to her frame, leaving the gap between pants and top bare, and over it a slightly opaque shirt of a dark blue with silver specs. She could have looked nicer, but that hadn’t been her intention, the last thing she wanted him to think was that she was trying to impress him. So it had taken extreme care to dress that morning.
She brushed the side of her pants absently, her eyes watching the Crown Arcade through the glass sheets, with weary caution.
“The things I do for them.” Serena murmured as she fortified another piece of her courage, and turned on her heel to face the arcade. She forgot, conveniently, that this was entirely her decision, that the others still knew nothing and therefore were the last people to have ordered her into the situation she was heading for.
She walked across the street, not too single minded to not look for traffic, her mother had raised her properly and she always looked. Approaching the doors she watched like a hawk as they swung open in greeting. She paused then, rallying her nerves and forcing them away from her reach, she did not want to be effected by this confrontation. It was important, it had to happen, and it would effect her in more ways then just as Sailor Moon, even she couldn’t lie about that. But she still wished she could enter and leave it without being effected. One last effort to push all emotions aside and she crossed the threshold, the glass doors sliding back into place with a surprisingly ominous ‘swoosh’.
Her eyes went to the same place they did every time she entered the arcade, and found the familiar raven’s hair she had been checking for long before the night of Molly’s party. Lithe eyes brushed across his frame, fortifying the knowledge that it was indeed Darien Shields.
Flash’s of memory instantly bombarded her, and she pushed them away. They still kept her awake at night most of the time. She wondered if it was honestly possible to survive given the complete lack of sleep she had gotten over the last two weeks. She didn’t think all up it would count as more then two hours sleep a night.
Roughly her eyes skimmed his body, hidden under black jeans and a top that clung to his muscles like skin. Her mind hazed for a second in thought, and before she could decide whether her dreams had overembellished his physic in any way she felt his eyes on her. Still a smooth feeling, rolling over her skin with warmth, which surprised her, she had expected the feeling to change.
She took her eyes from his arm’s where they had stopped and found he wasn’t facing her, for a moment she was confused then quirked a grin at herself which left as quickly as it came. Her eyes travelled past him to the mirror lining the bench where customers food was prepared, and found his eyes watching her through the mirror.
Calm. She reminded herself and began forwards. I hope I wasn’t standing there for too long. She didn’t let the second small grin escape her, this was serious and she would treat it as such. Her chosen seat at the bar was one down from his own, leaving a gap anyone who knew them would deem intentional, and although it was, the reasons they would assume where anything but right.
“Hey Serena, haven’t seen you in here much recently.” Andrew’s cheerful blonde head appeared before her, his smile overbright and she returned it begrudgingly.
“Yeah.” Serena replied slowly, her eyes quickly skimming the arcade around her to be certain her friends weren’t there. “I’ve been busy.” She continued when she was sure no one was in sight.
“Really?” He chirped overzealously as an un-requested milkshake slid into place before her. She frowned at it for the briefest of moments then managed a small smile.
“Yeah. Thinking and stuff.” She knew it was vague, but that’s how the words left her mouth and she was being careful, oh so careful to not let Andrew know what she was saying and praying that Darien would.
“Your friends where in here earlier.” He continued unperturbed by her brisk responses.
“Good for them.” Serena muttered sinking into her chair. Nothing like a reminder of the friends you failed to make your day. Her hand’s didn’t fidget any more then the slight twirl of her straw, she was minutely proud of that, but her insides had gone crazy again. Before Andrew could think of something else to say she decided to distract him the best way she could, give him something to do. “Hey can I have a triple chocolate banana split with extra sprinkles?” That time she made her voice perky, after all, it’s what he would have expected from her when she ordered something that big. He turned away and moved across the counter to prepare the requested desert.
A silence settled over her as she waited, though she could feel Darien’s eyes once more on her. She twirled the straw in a seamless motion riding out her fears and uncertainty, her large eyes flicking to Andrew only to be certain that she still had time before he reappeared with his excentric chirpiness.
Time was defiantly not on her side, she knew it. Bending down she took a long sip of her milkshake, still trying to delay the inevitable. Her left hand slipped down into her pocket grasping the Luna Pen.
“We have to talk.” Serena told the beverage softly knowing he would hear her. Soft blue eyes skiting up to the mirror where she found Darien’s once more watching her. Watching the reflection was easier then looking at him. It kept the arcade she always frequented unawares of her actions, and it kept her from being able to see his entire body at the same time. The dream’s seemed to have made his physic obscenely appealing.
“I know.” The deadpan look she received in return would have made her turn away if her left hand hadn’t still clutched the Luna pen in reminder. She had to do this, for them, not for her. She wanted to run away, but for them… they where everything, far more important then her own sanity.
“Good.” She snapped, masking thoughts and feelings from him, but unfortunately unable to do the same for herself. Her stomach was fluttering with those same butterfly’s that had assaulted before she had even entered the arcade.
Andrew returned, and her serious expression evaporated into a gorgeous smile. “Andrew!” She gave a quick giggle, almost certain that’s what she was expected to do. And he returned her smile with zest. Her eyes fixed on the desert she had ordered and she wished she hadn’t ordered it. Her stomach, still butterfly filled, felt like it would reject anything that even slightly resembled food, it was having enough trouble with the mouthful of milkshake she had already put in it. Maybe a dry cracker or two would have worked but Ice-cream was completely beyond her.
“One triple chocolate banana split with extra sprinkles for my favourite customer.” And surprisingly he disappeared along the counter to some other customers.
She forgot Darien for the briefest of moments as she tried to contemplate what to do with the mound of ice-cream waiting for her attention. Maybe I can give it to the homeless. Her head titled ever so slightly, watching the dribble of chocolate sauce trailing down the thing. She didn’t even attempt to hide her expression of repulsion at the thought of eating the thing, it was far to much to handle when her nerves where being battered about so much. But she couldn’t’ very well ignoring it, that would hurt Andrews feelings and she didn’t feel up to that either. The dilemma’s of modern woman. It took three more stares at the desert before she decided she didn’t care what Andrew thought and pushed it away in disgust.
“I’m done.” She muttered, standing from the stool only then sensing the change in her companions demeanour. She looked a little surprised and found Darien. Her shoulders straightened abruptly, her mind snapping to the point. She ran her tongue along the bottom of her teeth as she considered her next words. It wasn’t all that hard to say, considering her resolve, but she still wanted to keep it as unobvious as possible. “I’ll- I’m going outside.” She did roll her eyes as she left the arcade, almost certain that she had made absolutely no sense in her attempt to remain inconspicuous.
* * * * *
Outside of the arcade Serena walked left past the clear glass windows until she found solid wall. Her back lent against it gratefully as she once again rallied the control she needed for nerves. Through her mind she repeated the warning that the entire meeting was for the scouts so emotion couldn’t hold it’s place. Sure she had allowed emotion to effect her when they had threatened to tackle Tuxedo Mask for the crystals, but that had been different, she owed him her life.
She didn’t allow herself to fidget as she waited, her hands locked before her, her eyes on the traffic, her ears on the arcade door. Every time it swung open her eyes would join her ears for the briefest of moments to identify whom so ever was exiting of entering the arcade. And the more people who did either, the more her nerves would gyrate with uncertainty and a tinge of anger. Just like him to ignore me. She thought with spite, she was getting to the point where she would walk away, or go back in and drag him out the consequences be damned, when a figure settled against the wall beside her.
She jumped, and glanced at the arcade doors, wondering if she had been paying attention or if he simply had a way to make the darn doors open without noise. Of course he doesn’t your just being a ditz again.
“Fine.” She growled more to herself then him, and she didn’t look up to make sure it was him, she knew. Without a doubt every bone in her body was humming with recognition and they only did that for him.
She pushed away from the wall and began walking, feeling the presence follow her, wondering where exactly she was leading him. The idea of his apartment was shoved aside before she could really consider it. There is not a chance in this shell of a planet that I’m going near his apartment again. She considered the park, but was afraid her friends would be there. Having already being to the arcade it was highly possible. Why they where meeting without her she would have to think about latter, she would have said no, but it was odd for them not to invite her. Think about that latter. She demanded of herself still aware of the presence a few steps behind her.
She was almost impressed by their stealthy exit from the arcade, as if they did that often. Because she doubted, besides her forgotten ice-cream and milkshake there was anything out of skew. Except we didn’t fight. Setting aside worry of discovery she went back to her search, she was going to have to find somewhere quickly, she knew, or he’d get sick of it and start the conversation in the middle of the street. At least she presumed he was, nothing about Darien had ever seemed subtle.
Stepping past an alley she stopped, the body behind her seeming not to notice walked into her back propelling her another step forwards.
“Hey!” Darien’s voice bit. “Give a person some warn-“ Without a word she grabbed his arm and yanked him into the secluded ally. “-ing Meatball Head.”
She didn’t heed the triad that seemed to die as he spoke. She wondered though, if he had only just realised the insult slipping out of his mouth. Automatic reflex. She noted but pushed that away. She wanted nothing more then to deal with the moment.
The alley bent at an angle so that they couldn’t see the street once they had moved a couple of lengths into it. Serena looked about to be certain that it was empty, noting that it was moderately clean and feeling a little smug that she could pick an alley at random and it still had a generally nice feel to it.
“Okay.” She stated once more, and looked up at him to find he had caught up to the moment, he too was making a note of their solitude. “Okay.” She repeated, and took a breath to settle her infernal and uncontrollable nerves. “We need to talk.” She began once more. Outside of the familiar Arcade she found it was actually easier to talk, there was no one who could overhear them here.
“We do.” He commented look down at her through dark indecipherable eyes. She did resent the fact that the sun was almost behind him, making what would normally be a hard expression to read impossible.
“Okay.” She repeated once more. Shut up, just shut up. You can do this. You have to do this. She had been nervous to begin with, she couldn’t even think of a word to describe the butterfly’s that had crept in under every pour of her skin and where presently giving her a squirmy weak feeling. Her mouth went to say they need to talk and she stopped. Something else. She reminded herself her jaw clamped in her refusal to talk until words of sense or originality where willing to emerge. She glared up at him angrily, he wasn’t being any help at all. At least I’ve made a couple of attempts, his just standing there like an idiot. She continued to glare, her mind filtering incoherent thoughts and gibberish into something that was mushy but a bit more stable. She was going to filter them a bit more when he interrupted her attempts.
“Look.” He began, a hand sliding through his hair, his eyes skimming up the alley way to where the main street waited. He paused, taking a deep breath, his tongue snaking out to wet his lips.
And for some odd reason she got her courage, like a flash of light she remembered why she was there. Not just a realisation but the firm knowledge seeping into her that she had to know what had happened that night. It wasn’t honour or pride, although they both held a strong pull on her, it was life. The life of the world, the need to defend the planet from an evil that made her shudder every time she let herself think about it. Something had happened that night and she needed answers.
So the question she forwarded next was with a strength and certainty she usually reserved for Sailor Moon or a very pissed off Serena. “What happened?”
He looked at her for a moment then back up at the alley.
“I don’t remember what happened, Darien. I need to know.” Saying his name took a few inch’s of her courage but she clung to it. Determination just as bright as before.
“I was-” He gave a pause, a nervous pause she realised. “I was incredibly drunk-“
“You don’t remember do you?” She demanded through gritted teeth. Her body was quaking with uncertainty, he had been her hope for a little solidity to the night.
“I was incredibly drunk.” He repeated his voice strong. She looked up into his eyes and met the blue depths with a sinking feeling in her stomach she refused to display. “I don’t remember a thing.” He continued, not looking from her eyes and she could see the honesty in his expression as much as she heard it in his voice.
Her body trembled with confusion. It shouldn’t have happened, she knew it, it wasn’t supposed to have happened. All because of a drink, she wanted to go as far as blame it on Molly’s party but she had no grounds for it. If it wasn’t for that one moment she wondered where she would have ended up. Certainly at least, Tuxedo Mask would still have his crystals.
And if Darien had been sober, she knew, if he had been sober nothing would have happened. He probably would have picked on her a bit, and he probably would have made sure she got home or somewhere safe. She had never thought so little of him to think that he wouldn’t have driven her home. Sure she never would have lived down being drunk, he would have picked on her for a lifetime or two before it became one of those story’s he only told when he ran out of new things to pick on her for. One of the “classics”. She mockingly reminded herself. But the simple fact was, he hadn’t been sober.
“You shouldn’t have been drunk!” She exploded suddenly, wanting to blame him. Easier to blame him then herself.
“What?” He demanded staring at her. “Who’s the fourteen year old?” He snapped staring down at her, obviously surprised by the outburst. “I’m a collage student! That’s what there meant to do!”
“But you never drink! Nothing but coffee! Don’t think I wouldn’t have noticed if you had a hang over at least once. I can’t imagine Mr. Straight A’s going within ten feet of an alcoholic beverage yet alone getting drunk.” Her voice was hot with poison, she needed it to be his fault, for sanity’s sake.
“How would you know Serena?” There it was again. Her name on his lips. She realised he had been avoiding naming her, maybe he didn’t want to call her anything but Meatball Head, but the situation would only have hurt more if he had been calling her that. He ran his hand through his hair, turned from her took two steps away and turned back, closing the distance between them once more. He was closer when he returned, she wondered if he noticed. “I was-“ He took another breath, leaning back from her.
Obviously he noticed then. She grumbled to herself, and she took the step back that had her leaning against the filthy wall. It was obvious he hadn’t been going to take that step away from her, and the proximity had pulled the few memory’s she had of the event to the surface.
“I-“ He began again, looking haggard. “I lost something very important to me that night. And your right. I don’t usually drink. But I was a bit upset and very easily swayed under the drunken persuasions of my fellow college students.”
How does he make getting drunk sound so fancy? She gritted her teeth and pushed that thought away again. She hatted her mind, it jumped far to quickly for her to maintain focus, even on something this important.
“Okay.” She cringed as she said the word, the same emotion’s of uncertainty lacing it as the conversation had begun with. “Do you remember anything?” She managed in a meek voice, it felt pointless after his admission, but she was being hopeful. His expression darkened for a minute but he shook his head in a no, shaking the expression away with the action. “Nothing at all?”
“Bit’s and pieces, I guess.” He replied casually, his eyes on the end of the ally once more. She felt herself flush at the words, that was probably how she would explain the flash’s that kept her awake at night and distracted of a day. She wondered if those where the kind of ‘bit’s and pieces’ he was referring to and decided she did not want to broach that subject.
“I-“ She bit into her bottom lip, looking at her feet, the uncontrollable blush hidden from his sight. “I don’t even know how we met up.” She rambled, eye focusing on a crushed can by her feet. “I mean…” She stammered, suddenly uncertain of what to say. “W-w-where were you?” She managed. Your being childish. Her voice sing-songed to her ashamed over her stammering.
“I was at a college party. Where were you?” His eyes returned to her, and she was glad she had, had time to battle the blush.
“Molly’s party.” Serena responded automatically, her concentration engaged in trying to pry memory’s from her unyielding brain.
“Where does she live?” Darien’s voice was smooth, with a feeling of control laced through it.
“Above her mothers jewellery store, Osa-P Jewellery Store“ Serena mumbled almost incoherently.
“That’s no where near the park.” Darien replied casually. Serena’s head shot up.
“You where at the park?” She asked slowly, not quite certain of how to respond to that information. It occurred to her, she hadn’t pried out of Tuxedo Mask where the attack had been.
“Yeah, probably, I mean, I can’t imagine you, even a drunk you, catching the elevator up to where the party was. And it had sort of spilled across the road from that guys apartment building into the park.” He rambled for a little bit and she lost what he was saying somewhere along the lines.
She didn’t even notice that pause that happened, Too caught in her own thoughts about how to question around about that Justin character without her friends noticing to remember the presence. That was of course, until a large hand slipped gently onto her shoulder.
Surprised her eyes jumped up to meet his, and found concern and a little confusion that was so much more understandable now she realised he didn’t remember.
“Shit Serena.” He breathed quietly, his eyes holding hers with there intensity. “I have flash’s bits and pieces, but…” Another breath was drawn in, as if he was afraid he would run out of air before being able to get the words out. She didn’t blink, couldn’t blink at the expression staring at her. “but-“ Another breath. “I don’t remember doing anything…” Again he paused, he shifted to look away and automatically she captured his check preventing his eyes escape. Her nerves didn’t even let her register her own movements, all she knew was she couldn’t look away and neither could he. He frowned down at her, the tiniest frown but it was there and with her attention devoted so wholly to his expression she noticed it. “I don’t remember doing anything that-that would have caused those kind of bruises.”
Her breath escaped her sharply, she hadn’t thought she had been holding her breath, too transfixed with him to pay attention to herself. She released his check, finally realising her hand was resting on it. Her head tilted back to the dirty bricks, and she let out another breath. She had been expecting worse, far worse, but then she couldn’t exactly brush the possibility that it was him away either.
He surprised her by capturing her chin and tilting her head back to face him.
“I don’t think.” He continued, that little frown flicking in and out of existence. “I don’t think I would ever do something like that.” His voice was firm, with a sense of assurance that held in his eyes as well. “Drunk or not. I would never hurt you.” And he released her, his hand moving from her shoulder, his other from her chin. One of his hands automatically went to the back of his own neck, rubbing tense muscles.
“That’s nice to know Darien.” She teased in a joking voice, needing something to remove the tension that had built in those two attempted sentences. “I didn’t know you cared.” She continued. After all it was the token teasing remark to be used when confronted with a statement like that, besides it was slightly true, but she wouldn’t admit it.
He groaned and hit his head into his hands.
“Oh gods. This is all wrong.” He muttered into his hands with a degree of desperation that set her on edge. She was the tiniest bit worried about his mental health, and she guessed the situation couldn’t have been playing very well for him either. Control was one of those things she attributed to Darien, waking up in bed with a fourteen year old certainly didn’t hint towards anything like control. Concern she couldn’t explain flared.
“Hey. What’s to worry right?” She teased lightly, watching him move across the alley in a frustrated manner. “Look.” She began with a rational voice, catching his attention again. “I don’t remember it.” She breathed and straightened her shoulders in determination. “You don’t remember it.” She nodded her head to herself in agreement. “So let’s just forget it happened.” She didn’t even stutter. The first thing to come out of her mouth that she felt the most certain about. His expression went blank, and behind her back she clenched her hands together with uncertainty. His response had not been what she had hoped for. She gave a nervous laugh. “Because considering our memory problems it wont be that hard right?” She watched him carefully as she rambled, sure she had flash’s but she could ignore them, they would probably go away eventually, and they might not have even been real. The only real memory she had of the event was waking up in his bed, naked, and sore. She cringed inwardly at that but stared into his eyes in hope.
“Okay.” He whispered his eyes settling on her. “We forget.” He repeated as if uncertain.
“Back to Meatball Head for me.” Serena chirped, her hands clasping tighter under his scrutiny. “Back to Jerk for you.” She gave him a smile, a friendly smile trying to smooth the deal over.
“We forget.” He repeated in a near whisper, then seemed to shake himself, because the next second he was standing taller and looking determined. He nodded his head at her and her smile broke into a grin.
“See you latter then!” She cheerfully called and headed for the exit. She heard him murmur something, but couldn’t make out the words. Not wanting to stand in the alley with him any more, her nerves still stretched to the limit she left, aware of only two problems remaining. Not a single one of them where small. The Rainbow Crystal’s where still missing in action with the overwhelming chances that Zoisite had them, and more importantly, Luna needed to be told. She had held it off, the others had assumed she had confided in the cat, obviously, because they two hadn’t told her guardian. So she had to tell her, convince her not to tell them about Darien, and somehow sort the whole thing out. Her mind jumped back to the only thing left before confronting Tuxedo Mask for answers.
Justin had to be found.
But first, she would see if Andrew had thrown out her triple chocolate banana split.
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Property of Kimra Lelanst, do not duplicate without consent. |
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