Catarina (catdevigri) wrote in no_true_pair, @ 2010-08-12 14:57:00 |
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Entry tags: | ! 2010 eight characters challenge, author: catdevigri, crossover: tol/tor, pairing: eugene/fenimore |
Strangers in the Night (ToR/ToL, Eugene/Fenimore)
Title: Strangers in the Night
Author: catdevigri
Fandom: Tales of Rebirth/Tales of Legendia
Pairing/characters: Eugene Gallardo/Fenimore Xelhes
Rating: PG
Warnings: None particularly.
Word count: 945
Prompt/challenge you're answering: Fenimore takes a wrong turn, and runs into Eugene
Author's comment: Here, Eugene (and presumably Mao) has somehow stumbled into the ToL universe.
That Walter. Fenimore frowned. Why couldn't he have dropped her off closer to the settlement? She wasn't as used to the Legacy as he was. Couldn't he have at least given her better directions? She stumbled about in the dark, fighting away drooping willow branches that caught at her clothes and pigtails, raising her feet to avoid shuffling into suddenly rising roots, and peering blindly the whole way into a weakening blackness. Honestly, the whole affair was starting to strike her as more and more useless. She wasn't going to stumble across Maurits and the others without the light of day on her side. It would be best to simply stop and find a secure location to doze, waiting out the closure of the night. But there it was- something flickering. She caught it in the corner of her eye. A lamp? A campfire?
She didn't think it was any of Vaclav's men. They were massed around the bridge. In any case, they wouldn't have such a small campsite or feel such a need for secrecy. There weren't many forces on the Legacy that could threaten Vaclav's battle-hardened troops. She crept closer and the bulky silhouette of an unusual, armored man filled her vision. She had snuck up as softly as a mouse, so there was still time to back away, wasn't there?
The man turned. She held in a squeal. He saw her! She hadn't moved. She hadn't stepped on a leaf or a twig. The only sound had been her breathing. How had he known she was there? Now what? Did she try and run? There was no use in trying to fight him. She already knew how useless she was in that regard. Fear and firelight illuminated her widening eyes.
"Stop," he said. His voice was gruff and strong. He wasn't exactly ordering her to do as he said, but she could tell he was someone accustomed to giving orders. Maybe a military man. However, as he came into focus she saw it wasn't his voice that she should be worrying about. She felt like a rabbit cornered by a wolf. He was a black panther. She had never seen one before, but she had heard of them... And if there were Oresoren, talking otters, on the Legacy, then a talking panther wasn't entirely unbelievable. Still...
Fenimore decided not to run. His armor wasn't like that worn by Vaclav's men. She would take her chances with the panther-man. "Oh." He sounded relieved that she hadn't fled. "Good. Miss, I seem to have gotten separated from my traveling companion and this is unfamiliar territory. Perhaps you could hunker down with me for the night and in the morning we might be able to find our way together.
It was impressive how the stranger took the situation in stride. Of course, Fenimore figured, it wasn't as if there was anything so weird about her. This had to be more difficult for her than for him. She was up to it. She accepted his invitation and sat down cross-legged by the fire. "What's your friend look like?"
Eugene sat down alongside her, resting his arms on his knees. His fur looked sleek and smooth in the firelight. She almost wanted to reach out and touch it. He wouldn't feel fuzzy like an Oresoren. Even the type of fur that cloaked his body held a military, masculine precision. "His name is Mao. He's just a boy, but he can manage to get himself into some real trouble from time to time. With red eyes and red hair I suppose you would know him if you'd seen him."
"No, you're right. I haven't seen anyone like that." The silence that intruded between them now was comfortable. "My name is Fenimore." She didn't feel there was anything to be gained in hiding it, although she appreciated that he hadn't asked.
"I'm Eugene Gallardo."
She shivered at a lingering chill in the air. Who expected such cool nights at this time of year? Wasn't spring far along already? Fenimore hated to show her weakness. After all the abuse she had taken at the hands of Vaclav's men, maybe she was just a bit too sensitive now. She looked over at Eugene, hoping he hadn't noticed her trembling. Drat. His sharp yellow eyes were on her even now. Slowly, he spread wide his left arm, the one closer to her, inviting her in. His gaze was gentle (she had no way of knowing that he was used to acting this way with Mao, whom he always treated with love and compassion). Could she trust herself in those outspread arms? Of course, after the torments she had suffered across the past weeks, could she ever trust herself in the arms of any man again? She found herself quivering these days even at the touch of a male Ferines. If she couldn't trust her own people, how could she ever expect to feel at home with anyone again?
Fenimore bit her lip. She couldn't be afraid forever. She forced the barest form of a smile onto her face. She scooted over and leaned stiffly into his embrace. "The place where my people are staying isn't suppose to be too far from here," she admitted quietly, feeling it was her turn to say something. "We're sort of a ways off the beaten path, but I'm sure in the morning we can meet up with them and they'll help you out too, Eugene." As soon as she had said it, she found she felt more optimistic. It was funny. She was smiling for real now.
"I'm certain they will," Eugene agreed, mild and patient.