WHO: Natalie Godfrey & The Red Baron WHEN: Valentine's Day night (2011-02-16) WHERE: Con's apartment WHAT: A lovely Valentine's Day dinner and a crazy lady. WARNINGS: drug references, language
The last time Natalie had actually really had someone do Valentine's Day with her had been when she was twenty and dating a thirty-six year old heroin-addicted ex-pilot. She had loved him because he talked about the sky with such passion (even though they'd taken his license) and he liked her because she was young and attractive and not smart enough to realise that when he said she was more important than the drugs he didn't mean it. For Valentine's Day they'd sat on the rug in his apartment and eaten Chinese food. He'd bought her a bouquet of roses and the next day he'd screamed at her that it was good money he could have used on drugs.
Most of the sort of men Natalie found herself attracted to weren't the romantic Hallmark holiday type.
Except Con. Her Baron had taken her out to an expensive restaurant, for which Natalie had bought a dress she couldn't really justify the price of nor could she ride her bike on. (Which had meant showing up at Con's place and demanding he close his eyes while she ran off to his bedroom to change into it.)
During the dinner Con had, as always, been a complete gentleman. He'd been attentive and wonderful and gorgeous and all those other things that bastard just couldn't help but be and Natalie grew more and more uncomfortable even though she kept it buried. He was too good to her and she didn't deserve it. She didn't know how to take it.
Which meant that without realizing it, Natalie fell back onto ways to force more distance. The ride home from the restaurant in his car was quiet and each time Con asked if she was alright, Natalie said she was fine. She continued being fine until they got inside his apartment and then made a frustrated sigh and glared over her shoulder at him.
This relationship had started off well enough, even if it had powered faster than either of them had been expecting. Conrad wanted Natalie to be comfortable in this, but he could tell tonight that something was slightly off.
He couldn't help but dote on her when the opportunity arose, it was part in the gentleman he was. He knew Natalie from the experience of hearing her dating horror stories, that she was used to the pricks. He was showing her over and over again that she deserved someone who appreciated her for who she was instead of snubbing her over. She was too comfortable with that kind of attention, and Conrad would not beat her just to appease what she was used to.
She'd sat quiet through dinner by the end of it, the ride home more than an unbearable silence. When they finally reached the apartment he caught that glare with a heavy sigh. He took off his coat, hanging it up on the coat rack. "What is it, dear?" he asked feeling prickly at the cold shoulder she was giving off.
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[info]bornincrossfire 2011-02-16 06:40 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "I saw you," Natalie said, remembering it from the evening. "I can't believe you were flirting with that waitress right in front of me." She seen him smile at her even time she came to the table, smiled more than he needed to.
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[info]the_red_knight 2011-02-16 07:15 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "What?" Conrad asked confused. He was always polite to the waitresses. What made tonight any different?
"I was being polite," he said in defense. "What are you talking about?" He was far from a womanizer, she knew that. If anything he was still getting used to the idea of being in a serious relationship again. He adored her, why would he think of ruining that?
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[info]bornincrossfire 2011-02-16 07:27 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Oh, polite," Natalie scoffed, pulling off her battered leather coat and tossing it aside. She might have felt strange having an argument in such a fancy dress but thinking wasn't on Natalie's mind. "Yeah, you looked real polite. God, Con, if you want to fuck her, then go fuck her!"
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[info]the_red_knight 2011-02-16 07:29 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He threw his hands out. "Where is this coming from?" He felt completely confused. He wasn't going to buy into this, he hadn't done anything wrong. He wasn't about to trample all over her like she suspected.
"No, I don't. How could you even say that to me?"
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[info]bornincrossfire 2011-02-16 07:31 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "You think I'm blind?" Natalie snapped, hands on her hips. "You and that pretty little blonde thing. Did you slip her your number when I went to the bathroom?" Her voice was low and venomous.
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[info]the_red_knight 2011-02-16 07:39 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He didn't know what to do with this. She was acting crazy.
"Natalie," he started bemused shaking his head. "No." He stepped forward still shaking his head. He was at a loss, honestly this was insane. On top of everything he'd gone through, and what she'd done to pull him out of it, this seemed so left field.
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[info]bornincrossfire 2011-02-16 07:42 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select Natalie glared at him. "Don't lie right to my face. Don't be an arsehole."
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[info]the_red_knight 2011-02-17 03:42 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Natalie," he countered. "You're being ridiculous, you're acting like a school girl. I'm not lying to you. I've never lied to you." His brows lifted in confusion. She certainly shouldn't be throwing that in his face not after the fiasco of telling her who he really was. Even then he'd never lied, he'd just kept it from her until he couldn't anymore.
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[info]bornincrossfire 2011-02-17 04:12 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "Oh, I'm being a school girl. I'm glad to know what you really think of me then!" Natalie stomped off down the hall. She had to get her things and leave her, far away from his lying bastard.
She knew what she was doing on some level but she refused to listen to the sane voice inside. She wanted him to get angry, to leave her, to yell back. She wanted to push him away because he deserved better than damaged goods.
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[info]the_red_knight 2011-02-17 04:52 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "That's not what I meant," Conrad said softly reaching out to grab her arm but she'd stormed off. He followed her blocking her from going any further. Why was she doing this?
"Why are you doing this?" he asked her sincerely. Confused, worried, and at a loss.
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[info]bornincrossfire 2011-02-17 04:56 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "You started this," she told him. "Clearly you'd rather be with anyone but me." She shoved him a little, just wanting some sort of reaction. Wanting him to give up and walk away so she could tell herself how right she was.
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[info]the_red_knight 2011-02-17 05:00 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select Yet, he wouldn't give her that. Conrad would never lay a hand on her forcefully, he'd never hit her, yell and scream. "Natalie," he said with a heartbroken voice, swallowing that heavy lump in his throat. "You know that without a shadow of a doubt there is no one else I want."
He could feel everything inside turn inside out. How could she pull him up like this only to throw him back down?
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[info]bornincrossfire 2011-02-17 05:04 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select Natalie turned her face away from him, deeply guilty at that look on his face. She couldn't continue this, no with him looking so upset. She didn't want to hurt him. (Natalie only ever wanted to hurt herself as much as she'd never admit that.)
Natalie squeezed her eyes shut. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I'm- Jesus fuck, I'm just sorry."
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[info]the_red_knight 2011-02-17 05:14 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select He was still confused, shaking his head lightly before caressing the side of her cheek with his hand.
He shook his head again not knowing quite what to say. For some reason he didn't feel she needed to apologize. He pulled her into his arms.
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[info]bornincrossfire 2011-02-17 05:16 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select Natalie practically melted into his arms, letting his strength be hers just like it always was. "You don't deserve this," Natalie said into his chest. "You deserve so much better than this."
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[info]the_red_knight 2011-02-17 05:19 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select His brows crossed that embrace tightening around her. "Why do you think so little of yourself?" He reminded her so often of the amazing woman she was, because there weren't many out there that could adore him so much and who he was. She'd never tried to change him, and he would never do that to her.
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[info]bornincrossfire 2011-02-17 05:38 am UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select "You just deserve more," Natalie said, drawing herself away from him after a few more moments. "I get crazy."
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[info]the_red_knight 2011-02-17 11:40 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select What could he really say to that. "Stop selling yourself short. I'm here...." his voice paused, feeling he was getting a tad choked up considering the previous months. "I'm here because of you."
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[info]bornincrossfire 2011-02-17 11:52 pm UTC (link) DeleteFreezeScreenTrack This Select Natalie took an unsteady breath and leaned up to press her lips to his. God, she was so rubbish. Hadn't he been through enough of late without her playing her stupid fucking mind games? "Love you," she promised, as she drew away, expression guilty. "Sorry."