[Yeeehaw, copyrights.

All characters recognized as being products of Forgotten Realms are © Forgotten Realms. You know, the usual.

Story is mine. I doubt FR would want to be responsible for this, anyway.

And yes, the story is slashy. Gimme a freaking break, people. I'm not even going to go, 'warning', because warning someone that your fic contains something 'out-of-the-norm' is just depressing.

Unless, of course, it was a Harry Potter fanfic. Ahah. Then you HAVE to say what the pairing is, unless you want to get stoned…

Anyway. Yay.

Oh, wait. Note:

I used REAL DRIZZT, other than the substandard CLONE DRIZZT. Wheee!]

He's grown up now.

He doesn't whine anymore. He doesn't look at his past with chagrin. He doesn't wish for his father or a family, or anything.

He doesn't chase impossible love.

He doesn't flinch from contact.

He's grown up and he's a dangerous person. He was dangerous before, even when he didn't know what he was doing. But that was different. That wasn't so very dangerous at all, because he was younger.

But he's dangerous now. In the older way.

He doesn't kill orcs anymore. He's not really a ranger. He helps people but he doesn't go genocidal. He's just a man living his life, just a delicate blade of an elf that has a sweet laugh and can wield a sword.

He left her before she chose wrong. Because he realized that love is, well, love. And it's not something you only encounter once.

She deserved someone that would grow old with her, someone who would happily bear her children. Someone other than him.

So he left. And he'd get another chance, with someone else. So would she.

And centuries have passed, and he's become what he is now – fragile-looking and devilish. And the fire is still in his eyes… he's certain that, had he stayed, the fire would be gone and dead or guttering.

He never lived by the book. So why chase a cliched romance? Maybe he was being selfish. But at least he wasn't going to do something he regretted. And he didn't regret it now.

"Say, Craulnober?" he asked, "ever fall in love?"

"That's an idiotic question, Do'Urden," was the curt reply he received, "and I believe I won't answer it."

"Oh." Pause. "I'll be home later tonight."

"I honestly don't care. But mark my words, you bring home another drunk, giggling little dandy, I'm afraid I'll have to kill him. And you, for that matter. Giggling gives me a headache."

"You nearly killed the last one."

"Threatened to nearly kill, Do'Urden. Threatened."

Elaith Craulnober was a dangerous elf too, and he never fell in love. Or maybe he did, but he brushed it away. Now he just served as Drizzt's companion, a partner and someone to talk to. Nothing more.

"Who was Danilo?"

"A dandy."

"Was he a pretty dandy?"

"Why ask me? You could ask his wife."

"Who is his wife?"

"She was supposed to be my daughter."

"You're not making any sense."

"When do I ever?"

Elaith didn't make sense because he didn't live by the book.

And so Drizzt decided, neither will I.

Drizzt didn't come home with a giggling anybody on his shoulder. He went into the townhouse he and his companion currently inhabited, climbed the stairs, and ducked the knife Elaith – good-naturedly, he hoped – threw at him.

"It's early morning. You said late at night."

"Sorry."

"You damn well better be. I had to do all the bloody accounting."

"Say, Craulnober?"

"I hate it when you use that tone. What?"

"Will you kiss me?"

"Absolutely not."

"Why? Is it because I'm a dark elf? Because you don't love me?"

"No."

"Then why?"

"Because," Elaith said, looking highly amused, "it's expected."

So Drizzt didn't ask again.

He just did it without asking.

[:P this came out entirely the wrong way. I was attempting to write FR without any slash, and look at what happened!

But you gotta admit, it's a hot pairing.]