Who: Xena & Gabrielle What: First Date. When: After this. Where: A club. Rating/Warnings: Low. Status: Complete!
Wear something tight. That request had been running through Gabrielle’s head most of the day.
They hadn’t even done anything yet, and Xena was already dragging her out of her comfort zone. For about the thousandth time, she looked down at the outfit she’d chosen. The dark jeans fit her like a second skin, and the top, though a little looser, dipped down far enough to make her self-conscious. Who was she kidding? She was a schoolteacher, and mostly, she dressed the way people expected a teacher to dress.
But it was too late to change now. She’d pulled her hair back into a braid, and she nervously smoothed a few stray flyaways before running her hands down her sides and taking a deep breath. What was she so worried about, anyway? It was only Xena.
Somehow she thought that should make her feel better. She’d been very comfortable with Xena. The trouble was, she cared about Xena, even with as little as she knew of her, and it mattered to her what she thought.
With one final self-conscious glance at her chest, she decided she could do this. She wanted to do this. It was now or never.
Xena could have asked worse. Tight. Short. Sheer. The possibilities were endless and her thanks to her dreams she’d seen Gabrielle in things that would be considered fetish wear in the modern day. Or cosplay wear. Xena didn’t see much difference.
She’d also seen Gabrielle naked but one didn’t open up with that. Ever.
Arriving with a roar of her motorcycle that would be sure to bring curious looks, Xena leaned back and waited. She wore black pants that looked painted on, and a corset that emphasized her chest. She’d had it designed after her armor, so it was easy to breathe in and gave her a modern warrior sort of look.
Well, there was no doubt that was her ride. She’d anticipated the motorcycle this time, and she was ready for it. A part of her felt like she should be apologizing to her neighbors, but then she got her first good look at Xena for the evening and all those other thoughts went away. There was something so familiar about her, yet so different. Xena was beautiful and she knew exactly what she was doing.
Gabrielle had to remind herself to breathe. And to stop staring.
“Hi.” Let her try that again. “I hope this is okay, Xena. It’s the best I could do on short notice.”
Her closet had been hopelessly unprepared. She had a feeling if she kept spending time with Xena, that would start to change.
She was making Gabrielle speechless, something which she’d always taken great pleasure to do in her dreams. Since making Gabrielle speechless was a feat and a half. Xena smiled at her, her expression a mixture of genuine happiness to see her, and quite obvious checking out.
Gods, but she loved this woman. She only prayed she didn’t scare her away. “You look amazing. Everyone is gonna be staring at you.”
Gabrielle had to disagree with that. “Me? Look at you.” She thought it was obvious who everyone was going to be staring at, and she didn’t think anyone was going to be paying her much attention at all. Well, okay, maybe one person. If the way Xena was looking at her was anything to go by. It was just as well she was the only one Gabrielle cared about.
She was close enough to touch, and Gabrielle couldn’t resist reaching out to brush her hand lightly over the corset. Was she allowed to do that now? She realized it was the only time she’d really touched Xena, apart from the ride when she’d taken her to lunch. That had been different. This felt good, it felt right. “I like this.”
She was talking about so much more than the corset.
The breath hung in Xena’s throat when Gabrielle touched her, and she gripped the handles tighter. Sounding a little more tightthroated than she was comfortable with, she replied. “I was hoping you’d say that.”
She also thanked whatever gods were listening that Gabrielle was still… Gabrielle.
Touching was welcome, then. Good. That was good.
The change in Xena’s tone made her stomach flutter, and she answered the comment with a warm smile. “I think I’m ready now.”
“You’re not ready yet,” Xena promised, something rough about her voice. She gestured for Gabrielle to sit, and barely gave her time to settle in before she pulled out.
Gabrielle was still getting used to the motorcycle, but it felt natural settling against Xena. She had much less of a death grip this time around, letting herself enjoy it just a little.
Maybe Xena took a longer route than necessary, but she wanted to enjoy this quiet while it lasted. It reminded her of the times Gabrielle would be behind her on horseback. It made her yearn for the simpler world of her dreams. But she wouldn’t want to give up a lot of tech either.
Eventually, they wound up at the club, the sound of heavy bass thudding in her chest.
This was definitely not the kind of place Gabrielle was used to visiting, but it wasn’t so bad. And she’d been hoping for a new adventure. If she stayed a little closer to Xena than necessary, well, it was meant to be a date. It certainly had nothing to do with the crowd and the music and how unfamiliar it all was.
“It’s nice.” After a second, she added more convincingly, “It’s different.”
But she didn’t seem disappointed. Different could be good. “What do we do?”
Xena wanted to put her arm around Gabrielle, but refrained. Still, she kept her close as she filtered her way in past the bouncer and into the club. It was warm, the press of bodies gyrating to the music making the air humid.
“Drink or dance?” She had to lean in close, her lips brushing Gabrielle’s ear, just to be heard.
Having Xena so close, her breath warm against her skin, sent an involuntary shiver all the way through her. Drink. Definitely drink. She didn’t see herself as much of a dancer. Besides, she thought dancing with Xena, like that, might prove to be her undoing.
This time Gabrielle took the lead, reaching for Xena’s hand and making a path through the crowd. It was easier than trying to be heard.
Well. She’d just have to get her to the dance floor eventually. But Xena let herself be led along, grinning like she’d won the lottery.
She ordered herself a whiskey, and let Gabrielle choose whatever she wanted. Leaning in, she said. “Keep one eye on your drink at all times, and never keep it low enough you can’t see it when you’re holding it.”
Gabrielle chose something bright, probably exactly the sort of thing people would expect her to drink, nodding in response. Xena was wiser about these things, and it was good advice.
“Do you do this a lot?” Go clubbing. Take beautiful women out on dates. She wasn’t picky about how that question could be taken.
It was exactly what Xena had expected and she stifled a laugh when Gabrielle ordered it. “I don’t club that often. Usually I hang out in bars.”
She almost left the implication open, but then admitted, “Usually if there’s someone else involved it’s a one night stand.”
Gabrielle wasn’t sure if that made her feel better or not. She was beginning to recognize that feeling in her chest as jealousy. It wasn’t particularly like her, but there it was all the same. “Usually?”
“Sometimes I’ll pick someone up.”Xena scanned the people dancing, as if she were a hunter looking for prey. “Sometimes I’ll go home alone. It depends on my mood. And how rowdy I want to be.”
Though granted, rowdy usually led to barfights, which in all honesty were the best way to end the night.
Well that definitely didn’t make her feel better, but it did seem like something she should expect Xena to say.
“Maybe not so rowdy tonight, okay.” It was only a request, as casual as she could manage. “You know, personally, I usually go with dinner and a movie. Or something equally predictable.” And she’d never had a one-night stand in her life. They did relationships very differently.
She wasn’t complaining though, not really. She wouldn’t have agreed to come if she hadn’t wanted to be here.
“No throwing down?” Xena asked. She would to protect Gabrielle anyway, but she wasn’t in a mood for that just yet anyway.
Casually, Xena slid her arm around Gabrielle, resting her hand on her hip. “Where’s the fun in predictable?”
She smiled, shaking her head, her tone light and vaguely amused, “Does every night out with you have to be eventful?”
Visibly relaxing into Xena’s hold, she tilted her head to the side. “Predictable can be…nice.” Which, admittedly, wasn’t the same as fun. “I’m boring, aren’t I?”
“Not boring. Predictable can be nice. Just need to loosen things up now and again.” Xena flashed her a wide smile. “And somethin’ tells me if you didn’t think so you wouldn’t be here.”
“No, I guess I wouldn’t.” Sometimes Gabrielle wanted a little more adventure. She had to admit, though, Xena did make her feel more reckless than most. She had a feeling there were things she’d agree to for her she wouldn’t agree to with anyone else.
“Is that why you brought me here?” Gabrielle was genuinely curious.
As if waiting for Gabrielle’s reaction, Xena replied, “Mostly I just wanted to see you wearin’ something tight.”
She couldn’t help it. It was too easy to flirt and to tease, and Gabrielle seemed receptive.
Gabrielle didn’t know why she would have expected anything different as she almost choked on her drink, but she recovered quickly. “Next time, you could try just asking nicely.”
As if it was a given there would be a next time and that she’d give into her so easily.
“That’s dangerous talk, Gabrielle. I could ask almost anything.” And Xena was dangerous enough that she’d consider it, too. If only to see the expression on Gabrielle’s face.
Still, something told her to slow down. Some of the dreams Gabrielle was likely destined for weren’t exactly conductive to emotionally healthy moments, though Xena knew it had all worked out in the end. Mostly. Except that pesky dying thing.
“Almost anything.” It was quieter than she intended, like she was considering what that meant, then she looked back up at Xena intently. “What do you want to ask?”
It felt like a dangerous question, and Gabrielle wasn’t sure if she was ready for the answer.
“I’ll let your imagination run wild.” Xena knocked back the rest of her drink, setting the glass on the bar and then sliding her hand down to the small of Gabrielle’s back.
That was an answer she could live with, and if Xena wanted to put ideas in her head, well she’d done that too.
“You know, this isn’t so bad, Xena.” The club, she meant. It still might not have been her first choice, but she thought she could get used to the atmosphere, especially if Xena stayed this close. She felt safe. She felt like she belonged. And the longer they were here, the more she relaxed.
“Next time you can pick the place.” If there was a next time. There’d probably be a next time, though Xena was paying attention to Gabrielle’s reaction to that idea. “But only if you let me take you to the dance floor.”
Gabrielle very much wanted there to be a next time. Xena was interesting and, it seemed, interested. She’d never met anyone like her. Being with her was thrilling but somehow comfortable at the same time. And that sounded a lot like a promise.
Still. “Xena,” it sounded like there might be a protest coming as she surveyed the room, “I’m really not much of a dancer.”
But she didn’t want to tell her ‘no.’ She’d already come this far, what was one more step outside her comfort zone?
It was clear the moment Gabrielle made her decision, taking a final sip of her drink and setting it aside. “Okay.”
“Just follow my lead.” Xena took Gabrielle out to the dance floor, squeezing through the writhing bodies until she found a place where there was enough room for them. It still meant they were close together, which was entirely the point of this kind of dancing. It reminded her of a few moments in their dreams. Though different circumstances.
She followed Xena willingly. At least staying close to her wasn’t a problem. She was finding she didn’t mind having Xena in her personal space. But this was a new kind of close, and it was obvious she was out of her element though she was trying not to look it.
She put her hands on Gabrielle’s hips, pulling her against her and starting to sway. “Just let the music take you.”
In the course of two days, Xena could go from a biker bar that was playing country music and old timey rock and roll, to a night club playing techno.
Then again, there’d been rock contests in her dreams.
Slowly, Gabrielle started to relax, ultimately closing her eyes. It was easier, she decided, if she didn’t think about everyone else, and she trusted Xena to be alert enough for them both. Of course, that also meant she was very aware of Xena’s hands on her and of just how close they really were.
Xena’s hands could have wandered, and once or twice they inched just a little bit, as though her self-control were slipping. But mostly she kept them to herself, letting their bodies move together and do the talking.
She whispered in Gabrielle’s ear, “Not so bad, huh?”
With her eyes closed, Gabrielle was conscious of every movement, and the longer they danced together, the easier it was to get caught up in it all, to get lost in Xena and the music and forget about everything else. What she felt was the opposite of bad.
Words were a little hard to come by but talking had always been her specialty. She couldn’t help smiling. “Not when I’m with you.”
From anyone else, it would probably sound like a cheap line, but Gabrielle managed it with such sincerity and genuine happiness.
“Gabrielle, you’re going to be the death of me.” Was it an inside joke if only one person had the memory? Xena hoped Gabrielle remembered that - getting hit would be worth it.
She started to dance them out of the crowd, towards a more quiet area.
Gabrielle was considerably more comfortable now. It had just taken her a while to get there. But she wasn’t disappointed to be moving away from the crowd again. “Xena, I’m glad you brought me here.”
“Glad you think so.” Another night, with another person, Xena would already have her against the wall (with permission). But this was different. This was Gabrielle, and her feelings ran deeper, and the dreams were like a tangled web.
“You were right. I needed to loosen up.” Even away from the crush of people, Gabrielle stayed just as close, her hand resting at Xena’s hip. “But next time, somewhere quieter.”
She was thinking maybe dinner. She could ask Xena to wear a dress. Then again, she was partial to all the leather. “You’re sure you wouldn’t mind?”
She still wasn’t sure Xena was the quiet type. But she trusted they would find a compromise.
The girl really wasn’t making this any easier. Xena bit her lip hard enough to taste blood. “I can do quiet. I can’t promise it’ll go perfect, but I can at least try.”
With her luck, she’d get into a fight with the waiter.
Gabrielle was very pleased. And it would be perfect, even if she did get into a fight with the waiter. Gabrielle didn’t want to change Xena. She just wanted to know she could bend a little.