He was losing… Again.
Dagger sat on the steps of the card tournament building as Zidane cussed and threatened the man behind the counter for "Rigging the tournament". This wasn't a particularly new development for the thief, and she often found herself asking him why he even played, since losing made him so angry.
"This is bullshit! There's no way that guy just happened to save a zaghnol for last. I know a godsdamn cheater when I see one!" Zidane yelled defiantly.
"Sir you lost fair and square, but I can let you back in to try again for fifty gil." The man offered. "Would you like to re-enter?"
"You're damn right I'm gonna re-enter." Zidane replied, slamming his gil on the counter and stomping back inside.
Dagger let out a groan and rolled her head back to look up at the sky. There goes the money we made from those mu hides, she thought. When they had journeyed before, it hadn't really bothered her at all when Zidane had wanted to play Tetra Master. Money had been more plentiful, and even though none of them had been rich, money had been much easier to come by than it was now. If it weren't for Zidane's considerable hunting skills she doubted they would even be able to afford to eat.
Beatrix had of course offered to give them whatever amount of money they might need, but just the thought of taking the kingdom's money after abandoning the throne and leaving them to take up all the responsibilities made her feel sick to her stomach.
After what felt an eternity, she decided that she was tired of just sitting there. Normally she would have went and talked with Doctor Tot, but he hadn't been feeling well lately and she doubted that he would be in a very talkative mood. No, she wouldn't bother him.
Making sure that no one was around to pick pocket her, she look in her small money pouch and with dismay realized she wouldn't have enough to pay for a room at the inn. She supposed she could try to haggle the inn keeper, but when had that ever worked? There was no way she'd do the things other women did to get a discount. Making sure to carefully re-tuck her small amount of gil where it couldn't be stolen, she found herself aimlessly walking the streets of Treno.
As she passed one of the new restaurants, that she would probably never be able to afford, she saw a mother pushing a tiny baby girl in a stroller. She tried not to think about it, but soon realized that she was stating at them. What would it be like to have a baby of her own? Her mind asked almost greedily. Thoughts of being a mother had been something she had tried not to think about, but watching them, there it was. Did Zidane even want to have kids? If so, would they even be able to given his origins?
She began to wonder if she would even make a good mother. Before her "kidnapping" in which she had left the castle to try to help her mother, she had often dreamed of being swept off her feet by a prince charming and of course starting a family. She had thought it would be so easy, if she had kids she would be able to spend time with them when she wanted and the maids would of course take care of all the unpleasant things. But, what about now? They were always traveling, and she doubted Zidane would want to stop everything and help her raise a baby.
What would she even name it? She had always been taught that you should name you child after one of your parents, of at the least someone very important to you. She didn't think she would have the heart nor Zidane have the desire to name it after her mother if it was a girl, and if it was a boy she never really knew her adopted father that well. With a chuckle, she realize if she had stayed at the castle and had a boy, she probably would have named him Tot. But now she supposed that she and Zidane would just come up with a name they liked together. It would probably have his hair and-
She had to stop this, she decided, breaking her gaze from them after staring for far too long. Making herself stop thinking about the family, she realized with dismay that she was positively starving. She hadn't eaten anything since the small meal they had shared early that morning, and the sun was already setting. She felt and heard her stomach grown as the delicious smells wafted from the restaurants open windows. Remembering that she still had a little gil, she decided that if Zidane could blow in their money on a card game, what was stopping her from having a nice warm meal?"
With that thought, and still a little frustration, she was soon seated at the bar. "How can I help you ma'am?" The bartender asked cheerfully. "Perhaps you would be interested in our special? Tonight we are serving our famous Zuu Stew with homemade cornbread!"
She was afraid to ask how much it was, but to her empty stomach it sounded positively delicious. "That sounds very good." She replied with a smile.
Will you like our crystal clear spring water to drink or perhaps something stronger such as a glass of red wine?"
"Um.." she look at him with mild embarrassment. "How much would it be with red wine?"
The bartender went to the register for a moment and returned before answering. "35 gil, ma'am."
Dagger quickly looked in her small gil pouch, and realizing she had forty five gil, eagerly told him that she wanted wine with it. As she sat there waiting for her wine and meal, she slumped into her seat beginning to feel guilty about spending the last of their money. The bartender handed her the wine, assuring her that the food would be out shortly.
"I'm betting someone as beautiful as you could use some company." A man commented as he slid into the seat next to her. Judging from the way he was dressed, he was obviously wealthy. He was clean shaven, and well-manicured with jet black hair that was neatly combed. Despite her reservations, she decided he definitely wasn't unpleasant company and just wouldn't let it go any further than a pleasant conversation. As frustrated as she was at the blond thief, she had no desire to be with anyone else.
The man glanced at her half empty glass of wine and waved at the barkeeper. "Get this beauty another glass of wine and keep them coming, they will be on me."
She didn't really know how to respond, she hadn't even realized she had drank that much of her wine. despite being queen, she had never really been much of a drinker, having really only taken sips of her wine at the castle when she had known that guests we expecting her to. She had ever only been drunk a handful of times, most of which had followed Zidane's departure into the Lifa Tree and her depression that had come with it.
"Thank you." she smiled politely and finished her first glass. The bartender brought out her food and it smelled heavenly. She took a taste of it as the man whispered something to the bartender. She was thoroughly enjoying her stew and barely even noticed that her second glass of red wine was considerably stronger than the first. "How rude of me! I did not even introduce myself." The man started, grabbing her attention. "My name is Gerald, might I ask yours?"
"I'm Dagger." She replied simply, feeling a pleasant buzz in her head.
"So, what brings you here tonight?" he asked warmly.
Dagger thought back to Zidane probably still losing at the card tournament. "I'm just waiting on someone." Gerald motioned for the bartender to fill up her drink again that was somehow already empty.
"Waiting for someone to come here or..? He trailed off of as she drank her renewed full glass that strangely tasted a bit like the whiskey she had shared with Zidane a few weeks ago.
"No, doesn't know here card tourment." She slurred. Was it just her, or was it starting to get very warm in here?"
"Don't worry, I will be more than happy to keep you company." He grinned as the bartender gave him a knowing look. "Do you have anywhere to go tonight?"
Hazily, she remembered not having enough to stay at the inn. "Not enough inn." Did that make sense? She looked at her glass suspiciously, hadn't it been empty a second ago? She really needed to be getting back, Zidane would be-.
"Why don't you let me walk you where you need to go?" Gerald asked, moving closer. She didn't know why he was being so nice. "Okay." She replied as he helped her to her feet.
….
Damn it! Why the hell had he went double or nothing in the last round? Not only had he lost his best card to that asshole, but now he was flat broke too. He would've blamed the guy for cheating, but this time there was no denying he'd lost fair and square. Shit, Dagger was gonna be pissed. He ran his hand through his blond hair, and noticed that she was no longer seated on the steps where she had been waiting for him. Shit, how long had he been playing to try and win back his money? Looking back he should have never started playing; he had told her that they we coming to Treno to spend time together. Maybe he got lucky and she had just went to stretch her legs?
He looked around the area but saw so sign if her. Who was he kidding? He had screwed up. He began to walk toward Doctor Tot's but remembered that he had not been feeling well and had declined her company earlier, so decided that she probably wasn't there. Where would she have gone? He doubted she would be at the monster cage, as she had always hated that place, so that meant she was either at the auction house, or the new part of town. Deciding on the latter, he headed down the streets toward the new part of town. He passed some flowers and contemplated stealing some for her, but knew she would probably be mad at him for stealing them.
When he arrived in the new sector, and still didn't see her, he began to worry about her. What if some asshole had tried to mug her or worse? He should have never left her outside alone. He began to head to the auction house when he noticed two people walk out of the restaurant. The woman was staggering clumsily and the man was holding her up. "Don't worry. I got a nice warm bed you can lay in." he laughed. As soon as he drew closer it became obvious who the woman was, as well as the man's intentions. "You fucking son of a bitch!" He yelled as he hurried closer.
As soon as the man laid eyes on the thief, his eyes widened and he let go of Dagger nearly causing her to fall to the ground. The man didn't try to reason with the furious thief, instead he turned and bolted as quickly as he could. "What the hell, Dag!?" He asked lividly, grabbing her arm before she fell to the ground. "Who the fuck was-"
"Zidane.." she breathed dreamily, her eyes unfocused and her breath smelling strongly of alcohol. Once he realized how drunk she was, his anger at her dissipated and the guilt he had felt before returned. Had he spent the night with her instead of losing all their money this wouldn't have happened. Was he the reason she had gotten drunk? She wasn't much of a drinker, so someone must have spiked her drink. "Are mad me?" she asked sadly, placing her hand on his cheek..
He shook his head. "Nah, let's just get you home Dag." He wrapped his arm around her waist and tried to walk her forward, but still she dropped to her knees circling her arms around his waist and giggling. "I miss you'd"
He couldn't help but grin down at her, gods she was cute when she was drunk. "How bout I carry you?" he asked with a chuckle. She squinted at him suspiciously. "That loooong way to marry me." He swept her off her feet and headed toward the entrance to Treno. It was particularly difficult going up the stairs, not because she was heavy, but because she chose that time to run the tip of her finger from his chin to his chest. "You're sesy." He gulped as he looked down and saw the lust in her eyes. Yes, this was definitely repayment for his very small gambling problem.
They managed to make it out of the city without any incident, but by the time he could see the chocobo tracks, he was completely exhausted. Dagger on the other hand had found more than a little enjoyment from being carried by him. She was currently giggling to herself something incoherent about his tail. More than once, he had almost dropped her when apparently the furry appendage had come into her field of view and she had grabbed at it like a child snatching candy.
It still amused him to no end that she couldn't handle her alcohol. Up until he had first seen her drunk, he had naturally assumed that all nobles drank regularly and ad built up an almost solid tolerance to it. If that was actually true, Dagger was definitely the exception. Two small glasses of wine or more than a shot of whisky in, and she was usually already relaxed enough to talk about whatever was on her mind. Any more than that and she would more than likely be reduced to the state she was in now. Though she rarely ever let him get her drunk, it had once or twice resulted in a night and mood he wouldn't forget.
As he sat her down tiredly to retrieve the foul smelling vegetable that would send their ride for the night running, he noticed that her eyes were more focused. "Feelin better?" he joked.
She stood, though a little shakily, and looked at him guiltily. "I'm sorry I got drunk, I don't know how i-" Suddenly a look of nausea washed over her and she turned around quickly, causing her to fall to her knees as she began to throw up the meal that now tasted anything but delicious. He crouched down beside her and gently held her hair out of her way as tears streamed down her face from the effort.
After a few minutes, and doubting she had anything left to throw up, she leaned back tiredly. Zidane reached into his back pocket and handed her a small rag which she accepted gratefully. "I doubt you'll even want to kiss me now." She stated, not meeting his gaze.
"Are you kidding?' He replied. "You don't think I can handle seeing you sick after everything we've been through?"
She finally met his gaze as he whistled for Choco to pick them up. "I'm still sorry, I should have never went in there by myself."
He shook his head grabbing her small hand as Choco came to a stop beside them. "You should have never had to go alone. I'm the one that should be apologizing for making you sit and wait all night. Thanks to me we didn't even go on that date I promised you. I won't do that again."
She smiled and he could have sworn he saw a flirtatious spark in her eyes when he helped her onto her seat behind him. As they began to head toward home, she leant forward and whispered in his ear words that sent shivers down his spine. "I'm sure you can find a quiet place to can stop at before we get home."
