The Sash

Chapter 1

Diego was frustrated because it was another useless day spent in disguise. There was a woman he loved and who loved him back, but except for waiting nothing came of it. He hovered in the shadow of himself, disguised as a man lesser than his true self with no chance of being accepted for himself. The short minutes when he could be himself, he was always under the threat of being shot or captured and even then he had to be disguised, this time with a mask that disguised his face with a black could he ever be himself without a mask, either visible or invisible?

Today in the tavern he had nearly automatically backed up in a confrontation with the alcalde and when he realized it, he had shown his anger when he had confronted the alcalde later as Zorro. The kiss he had given Victoria had been much more demanding than usual showing his inner turmoil.
Now he had come back to the tavern as Zorro to apologize to her for his earlier behavior.
Quietly, he waited for her in the kitchen to close the tavern for siesta after the remaining lunch guests had left.

"Zorro!" Victoria said, startled when she became aware of his presence. "Is something wrong?" she asked when he didn't step closer to her.

"I came to apologize for my behavior earlier today," he said remorsefully. "My kissing you today wasn't really proper, and I don't want to ruin your reputation."

"There is nothing to apologize for," Victoria smiled putting her arms around his neck to meet his kiss. "In fact, I really like you being improper."

After some more kissing, they drew apart again and Zorro started to pace the room in frustration. He would have to go in a few minutes before the lancers spotted Toronado on their patrol and came looking for him in the tavern, but he wanted more than these few moments with Victoria. He wanted to be himself and be accepted as his whole self.

"Zorro, what's wrong?" Victoria asked, sensing his mood. "Why are you so different today?"

"I somehow can't stand it anymore. This life of deceit, of hiding, not being able to be me, not being accepted as myself!"

"What do you mean by that? Why can't you be yourself? Don't you know I'd love you always?"

"Because you don't love if I'm not wearing the mask. But I want you! I need you!" He took her in his arms again and kissed her hard and passionately. He only let her go because there was commotion outside. Both were breathing heavily.

"Lancers! I have to go!" He whistled for his horse, but before he could climb on it, Victoria stepped beside him.

"Take me with you!"

Unsure what to do, he looked at her beautiful body for a moment, but then he heard the lancers coming closer. There was no more time to lose! No longer hesitating, he swept her in his arms and put her on the horse in front of him, riding away before the lancers got sight of him.

After a fast gallop to put some distance between them and the pueblo, Zorro slowed down, taking a sidetrack leading away from the main road where they wouldn't be pursued by the lancers if they decided to follow him. From here, he could already see the canyon with the secret entrance of the cave. Should he take her there? He hesitated for a moment.

"I think today is not one of my brightest day," he mused, holding her close to his chest, stopping the horse. "What are we going to do now? I have more or less ruined your reputation today. I should take you to the de la Vega hacienda immediately."


A/N: I wrote this beginning originally titled 'Take me as I am' about seven years ago and I had no idea where to take the story from this point. Should he take her to the hacienda or to his cave? When I looked at it again recently, I finally decided how to continue, making the sash an important part of the plot. ;) I checked the pictures of Zorro. He wears a black sash around his waist under his sword belt.
I kept the beginning as it was in plot and in style (I think I have improved that somewhat in the recent years). The story is split into short chapters where it makes sense and will be about 5000 words in total. Enjoy reading and sorry for not finishing my other story first (I'm still working on it).