Title: Absolute Beginners
Author: SecretAgentSmutGirl
Summary: They may be old souls, but they get to start again.
Disclaimer: I don't even own the computer this was typed on yet.
ooo
It started with an electrical shock- her sixth sense picking up danger.
It was not unusual for Rei to size up dangers in the world around her, guardian first and foremost, but it had been a long time since the feeling of danger pertained to her own personal safety instead of that of the princess. It was almost novel, the experience of reflexive fear before she reasserted her own ability in her mind.
What was laughable was that it was occurring in a Starbucks.
Violet eyes scanned the coffee shop under guise of perusing the menu. Nonchalant, calm, letting her senses roam over the collected souls without any outward sign. She ordered a double espresso, dismissing the waiter as she removed her agenda book from her shoulder bag. Calmly, methodically.
Left hand corner of the room, furthest table from her visual range, pressed up against the glass of the store front.
She opened the book to her days schedule, content to use her inner eye to glean initial information. The danger was motionless. It was a male, overtly so, and the energy around him told her that he was on a laptop. She smirked to herself- her predator was probably just another Armani clad junior leaguer with a couple of date rape charges from his college days.
Pushing the length of her dark hair behind her ear, she spared her quarry a glance and froze before she could look away- snared, caught off guard. Her breath caught as his stormy gaze matched hers evenly, daring her to break the connection first, to admit the game. Inside her chest, her heart clenched.
Jadeite.
Once it responded, her mind went running at double speed, calculating escape routes along with contingency plans. It had been foolish not to withdraw at the first crawling sensation of danger, it had been prideful and arrogant but she knew her failings well enough. At least, she mused, she'd been right about the Armani. He'd always been so vain.
"Double espresso." The painfully young waiter intoned, startling her as he slid her mug securely in from the edge of the table. She stared at the boy wide eyed, shocked by his voice so close, before smiling and nodding her acceptance of her order. It wouldn't do to lose her composure.
Predictably, when she looked back to the front of the shop, the man was gone.
The second time she was more prepared.
After completing her weekly lunch with the Senator she'd declined to take the car back in lieu of walking back through the shopping district, a guilty pleasure to window shop but the spring weather begged to be enjoyed. Her pace was leisurely, set partly by the weather and partly by the delicate heeled sandals she wore. So she meandered, enjoying the breeze that slid her skirt softly around her calves.
It was too early for the crush of schoolgirls on the sidewalk, so she was able to browse unharmed amongst the crush of housewives and business men going about their day. She was leaning into the glass of Hermes to better see a display of scarves when she felt the familiar prickle of cold race up her spine.
Danger.
His reflection joined hers on the glass, tall and lean with hands cavalierly buried in his pockets but no less dangerous for the posture. She couldn't stop herself from smirking at the studied casualness, tilting her head to look up into his eyes. "How long have you been following me?"
The sun gave his golden hair an ironic halo, but his smirk complimented her own. "Sweetheart, I've been following you since you decided to give chase."
"Are you trying to catch me, or to kill me?" She cocked an eyebrow in challenge. "Is this time going to be different than the last time?"
"This time, well I hadn't given it much thought." He laughed, casting his eyes down the length of her before settling back on her eyes. "I don't imagine there will ever be a time when we won't want to kill each other, but my intentions are no more malicious than that. I needed to see you."
"How did you find me?"
"Mamoru."
In the glass the reflections of the busy sidewalk were a frantic counterpoint to their frozen postures. Turning away from the glass Rei walked to the next part of the display, waiting for him to fall into step with her, which he did easily. Naturally. They'd strolled like this a thousand times before.
"I take it your sudden reappearance means that something is going to happen," she started, conversationally. "We've been on the edge of something, the fire has been cryptic."
"Setsuna inferred the logic of our reawakening, that's all I've been told," he admitted with a wry grin, making Rei laugh and remark, "I'm sure that's all she gave away. Are the others...?"
"Not when I left, but soon. I suppose they figured I'd need a head start on getting back into your favor."
She considered this as they reached the corner, where the street sign said not to walk. Flagging down a cab, she turned to him and smiled. "We'll have to work on that. Meet me for dinner tomorrow night, pick me up at 8."
He didn't answer before she climbed into the car, but they both knew he'd be there.
Dinner was leisurely affair. He sent lilies with the car to pick her up and she wore a backless red dress. He spoke about modern technology with wonder and she kept her cards close to her chest. The wine flowed, starting with a Cabernet and ending with a Pinot Noir that tasted like cherries. In the backseat of the car on the way to bring her home, he found that she tasted like the dark chocolate torte and that that her skin smelled of warm amber.
He walked her to her front door with true gallantry. He kissed her cheek lingeringly and turned to leave, but was stopped by the pull of her small hand on his own. There was question in his eyes when he looked at her, she didn't speak but pulled him close and pressed her body against him.
When she spoke her voice was soft, painfully soft and earnest and she said something he never thought to hear. "Stay with me tonight."
He hesitated, still holding her close. He was at a loss but she was pure fire against him, consuming, the bare skin of her back nearly burned his palms. "Princess..."
Violet eyes snared him, hypnotized him into relaxing against her. He had to remember that had been another time, another life for them. Splaying her hands across his chest, she gazed up into his eyes. "This time we will be lovers in truth."
Leaning forward, he rested his forehead against hers and whispered, "This isn't why I came back to you."
"That's why I know it's right."
When she unlocked the door and entered her flat, he did what he always did.
He followed.