A/N: The last thing the world needs is another fan fic author, in my opinion. But I love critiquing the fan fics out there so much… and I thought it unfair to judge them on something I have never tried. So here I am, giving it a go. Just a small snippet, a scene, more than a chapter. A short, short story. Obviously, I don't own Lara Croft, Tomb Raider – the movie or the game, or I'm sure I could have come up with something much wittier…
Lara felt the weight of the orb in her hand. The legend went that the orb contained the answer to the meaning of life. The Mayans had discovered it just before they had mysteriously disappeared from the face of the earth. It glowed a regal and rich blue in her hand. She smiled smugly. To hold such power, such ancient treasure… such a precious secret.
She sheathed her gun in her thigh holster and turned back toward the exit. And there he stood, gun aimed at her head, stance steady and mouth set. Lara's smile deepened.
"Hello Matthew. Fancy meeting you here," she said, allowing humor to weave through her tone. She scanned his body appreciatively.
"You're looking well," she added. Matthew smiled slightly before his mouth returned to a determined set. Lara congratulated herself on his reaction silently. Men and their egos, always waiting to have them stroked…
"Hand it over Lara," Matthew said. Lara laughed lightly.
"Really, Matthew, I think you know me a little better than that," she scolded him playfully.
"C'mon Lara, don't play games," he said. Lara raised her eyebrows, then tossed the orb slightly before catching it one handed.
"All this trouble for a little orb," she commented. "Anyone would think that it held the key to the meaning of life," she jested. Matthew frowned slightly. Almost imperceptibly, his finger twitched on the trigger. Lara caught the movement and felt the weight of her guns, both sheathed on a thigh. Her left palm itched for it, but she resisted. A gun fight could potentially destroy the orb. If it wasn't necessary… why waste the bullets? But if it came to that… well, it came to that.
"Lara," Matthew cautioned her. "I want that orb." Lara raised an eyebrow and tilted her head.
"What a coincidence, I have the orb. And you aren't getting it," she replied.
"Lara," Matthew repeated her name. "I have a gun trained on you."
"Yes, I see that. But you haven't used it yet. And I don't think you will either, will you?" Lara asked confidently, lips pursed. She saw Matthew's internal struggle. He shook the gun at her.
"Just give me the orb, Lara. Is it really worth dying over?" Matthew asked. Lara sighed.
"You still haven't answered the question, Matthew," she reminded him, tucking the orb up underneath her backpack securely. Matthew made an annoyed noise and sheathed his gun.
"Screw you, Lara," Matthew spat at her. She just smiled as she walked toward him.
"Shame really," she said as she walked past him.
"Why's that?" he asked, confused.
"I would have let you screw me if you'd taken the shot," she tossed over her shoulder as she deftly leapt from the platform and onto the staircase back to the surface.