Might Have Been
A/N: Alright, I feel like I need to explain this. So, I've seen all these stories that were written for Holly Black's contest about what Kaye said that made Roiben smile. I thought it was an interesting idea, so I went and reread Valiant. This was the first thing that popped into my head (since I'd just reread Tithe the night before). I don't know all the rules that were in the contest, but it doesn't really matter, cause I'm not going to enter it at this point, now am I? I've only read about three of these, so I know someone probably already wrote one like this and I just haven't seen it. So, my apologies to them! It wasn't on purpose!
And no, I don't own any of it. Duh. I'm not awesome enough to be Holly Black.
Gold, instead of iron.
That was the only difference Kaye could find.
Golden chains pinned this mortal to the ground, chains that Kaye imagined would be cool and smooth instead of the painful iron touch she remembered. Yes, Kaye remembered lying there to await her death as a tithe. She had escaped. But perhaps this girl – at least, Kaye thought so, despite the roughly shaved head – would not be so lucky. Kaye's eyes flickered to her lover. Roiben's face revealed nothing, as if chiseled in marble. She didn't like him like this, not one bit. She liked him smiling and trying out that sense of humor he'd been developing lately. Of course, it wasn't his strong point, but still….
Terror, instead of a charmed something-ness.
It had been what seemed like forever since the failed tithe, but it still burned like iron in Kaye's mind.
A short laugh escaped her throat, and Roiben shot her a questioning look. Had he not noticed what Kaye had? Surely, he remembered that night as well as she did. Surely he could still taste how close death – for both of them – had been. She leaned down, her cheek brushing Roiben's as she whispered in his ear.
"The similarities are astounding, aren't they?"
His face changed, lips tightening. It might have been a grimace, or it might have been a frown.
But it might have been a smile.
A/N: So, that's it! It took quite a while, for it to be so short. Please review, even if you hate it. Constructive criticism is my drug. I do love nice reviews too, and you shall be honored forever, at least in my rather short memory.