"My thief sense is tingling."
Natasha looked at her reflection, she had been so exhausted when they finally made it back to Caldeum that she had just paid for a room and collapsed in a bed. Now that she was awake and could see herself, she cringed.
"I'm filthy."
She was covered in sand from head to toe. Maghda's dried blood was splattered across her face and blood and guts from various creatures and cultists stained her armor. Natasha turned away from the mirror in disgust. She needed a hot bath, dearly.
After asking a maid to bring her the hot water for her bath she walked back into her room and slowly removed the armor from her body. She had worn it for so long it was almost like an extra skin. She hadn't even realized how much she needed to take it off until the cold air touched her skin. Natasha wasted no time in sinking her body into the water.
Sighing with pleasure she submerged herself under the water entirely, letting it soak her sore limbs before scrubbing the dirt and blood from her body. Then she took the time to comb through her hair. She had promised Lyndon that they would take a day to relax and had even agreed to his demands that everyone wear 'nice' clothing and not armor. Eirena had suggested that they go shopping and though she didn't relish the idea of it, Natasha knew nothing about fashion and decided it might be best to have some help.
It was going to be a long day.
A knock on the door brought Natasha out of her reverie, "Yes?"
"It's me." Eirena called through the door.
"Come in! It's unlocked."
Eirena walked in, "Oh, I apologize, I didn't realize you were bathing."
Natasha nearly laughed, "Its fine."
Eirena watched as Natasha battled her hair with a comb, "Would you like some help?"
Startled Natasha looked from her hopelessly tangled hair to the smirk on Eirena's face.
"I…suppose."
Pulling a stool up beside the tub, Eirena took the comb from Natasha's hand and combed through her hair.
"You have lovely hair."
This time Natasha did laugh, "It's a tangled mess, I know."
Eirena smiled good-heartedly, "Well, yes, but it's such a pretty raven color. It matches your eyes well."
"I always thought you hair was much prettier. It always stays so perfect. How do you get your hair to stay?"
"Magic," Eirena said mischievously,"I could style your hair for you."
Natasha turned towards her, while wrapping a towel around her body.
"If you want," Eirena added hesitantly.
A smile spread across Natasha's face, maybe today would not be so bad after all.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes! Yes, it's perfect! Kormac won't be able to keep his eyes off you."
Natasha turned abruptly, "I...why should I care if he…Kormac doesn't…" she trailed off blushing and turning back to the mirror.
Eirena gave a knowing smile, "I've seen the way he looks at you, and you him. He likes you," she watched the conflicting emotions on Natasha's face.
"No, no you're wrong...He doesn't...and I...I don't like him."
With a sigh, Eirena gave in, "Even so, you look lovely and you should absolutely wear it."
Natasha looked at her reflection once more with a smile, "If you say so."
They continued talking as they continued getting ready. Eirena styled Natasha's hair just as she said she would and Natasha was surprised to find that she truly enjoyed Eirena's company. Their conversation continued and they spoke of all sorts of things that Natasha had never considered before. It was tentative but Eirena was beginning to think that they had finally become friends.
Lyndon and Kormac heard laughter erupt from Natasha's room once more. They shared a look.
"Was that Natasha laughing again?...Is she ill?" Lyndon said, staring at the door with a look of confusion. Kormac blinked. He was certain it was her, yet just days earlier the two woman had hardly said two words to one another. It was odd to say the least.
"A charm spell, perhaps?" Lyndon suggested.
When the door opened Eirena and Natasha walked out only to stop just a few steps out the door. Lyndon and Kormac, who had been discussing the possible reasons that the two woman were getting along, were now gapping at the them. Eirena was wearing a variation of her usual dress. It was dark purple with gold trim and showed plenty of her smooth pale skin, which Lyndon was especially appreciating. Kormac on the other hand, hadn't even noticed Eirena. She was smiling in approval as his eyes took in Natasha. She wore a dark blue floor length dress, the top was a corset that flowed seamlessly into the skirt. Her hair was half up and half down, falling in beautiful raven curls.
"Wonderful," Lyndon said, breaking the silence, "you're ready, we were beginning to think you had planned to skip out on us."
Natasha sneered at Lyndon and he laughed.
"So, where are we going?" Eirena asked.
"Someplace special," Lyndon smirked.
Natasha blinked once. Twice. The room was dimly lit by various lanterns and candlelight. On one side she could see tables, poorly treated ones with water damage and cracks in the wood. To the other side of the room, a bar lined with drunks for every stool they owned. She could smell ale, sweat, puke and a few other things that she was trying hard to not recognize.
"I'd hardly call a tavern special."
Lyndon laughed, "But you haven't tasted their Scotch."
"I can't believe I dressed up for this," Natasha grumbled.
Hours later they were nearly the last ones left. Lyndon was struggling to keep Eirena from falling on the floor as she laughed. Natasha watched amused, she could feel her buzz numbing her senses but refused to drink as much as Lyndon had convinced Eirena too. Natasha gave a sympathetic smile, Eirena would be hurting in the morning.
Kormac slammed his hand down on the table, "I win!"
Lyndon glared at the cards, "For someone supposedly freed from sin you sure do gamble well," his eye narrowed, "and you can hold your liquor. Natasha I think your Templar here is holding back on us."
Natasha sputtered, pulling the tankard away from her lips, "He-he's not my Templar. He's just a Templar." She tried to ignore the flush she felt in her cheeks, telling herself it was the alcohol. Which only caused her to frown, she told herself that she wasn't going to drink. She pushed the drink further from her and glanced back down at her cards, she couldn't quite remember what a winning hand was made of.
"Come now, love, don't hold out on us," Lyndon said gesturing for Natasha to show her cards. She looked at their expectant faces and gave a shrug, "I don't really know if I have anything," she laid her cards down and Lyndon and Kormac let out groans.
"She doesn't even..." Lyndon sighed, exasperated.
Kormac pushed the winnings towards her and Natasha smiled, giddy like a child, "I won?!"
He couldn't help but smile at her, it wasn't often that she smiled, especially not with such an innocent expression. His body stirred at her warm laughter and he wanted to hold her. Kormac swallowed the lump in his throat and reached for his ale, attempting to recite his Templar vows but instead thinking of how wonderful she looked in that dress... How soft her skin was... Damn he needed some air.
Natasha watched as Kormac left abruptly.
"Natasha, why don't you go see what's bothering Kormac? We'll shuffle the cards for the next hand," Lyndon said, with an unusually neutral tone. There was no hint of mischief and no nuance to his words.
Natasha stood and walked out of the tavern, instantly she wish she had brought a cover. The cold wind blew and she looked around not seeing Kormac. Odd, he hand only left a minute before her, where could he have gone? She moved silently through the sandy city, her thoughts wondering past her original task.
It was quiet here, unlike the forest that she was used to traveling in, or even at sea. There had always been the sound of birds or the waves, but now there was just silence of the desert. Suddenly she felt a tug on her arm and she was pressed hard against the back of a building, her head smacking it painful.
She felt a mouth against her ear before she even had the chance to close her eyes, "Hey there lovey, lookin' for a lil' company?"
"No," she grunted shoving him off of her. It was then that she saw he was not alone, in fact he had quite a few buddies. Ten to be exact. Her hands reached for her weapons and found nothing but air. The only weapon she had was strapped to her thigh and she didn't think lifting her skirt would be a good idea right now. Damn.
Her eyes darted around her surroundings, she had managed to wonder between to buildings and both ways out were blocked by these idiots. She didn't like her chances with hand-to-hand, but she sure as hell wasn't giving up without a fight.
"Come now, lil'darlin' we just wanna hav'some fun." She could feel his tongue against her cheek and wanted to throw up. One had made for his wrist and the other for her knife. As he moved to grab her arm she brought her knee up as hard as she could, giving her enough time to pull out the knife and kick him backwards into the other wall.
In a matter of seconds they were coming for her. She threw her knife into the leg of the largest one, causing him to fall forward, the man just behind him tripped stumbling into a crate. She used his back as a springboard to kick the last man on that side, into the others that we dashing for her. With no one guarding the exit she turned, making a run for the end of the alleyway. A hand wrapped around her hair and tugged causing an unbidden scream to pass her lips. The man pulled her back and she found herself slammed against the wall again.
"You filthy wench, alls we wanted was t'have a good time. Now looks like we're doin' it th'ard way."
Natasha struggled against them but with two men on either side holding it down, it didn't matter that she had fast reflexes or that she was flexible because their strength clearly out weighed her own.
"I believe the lady said no." Natasha's head darted up, at the end of the alleyway she could see Kormac's large silhouette. He calmly walked forward, stepping over the bodies on the ground.
"Ey! Who asked you?"
The men holding Natasha down went after Kormac, allowing her the advantage she needed. She swiftly flipped them, getting to her feet and placing her heel at his neck, "You disgust me."
With a sickening snap she broke his neck, and walked back to Kormac whose strength had already beaten down the rest of the men.
"Are you okay? The didn't hurt you, did they?" He hands were around her faster than he could finish his sentence, both checking for wounds as well as moving her closer to him. Natasha could feel his body shaking, she put her hands on his chest and looked up at him, "I'm fine...are you okay?"
"Am I..." Kormac sighed, he wanted nothing more than to kiss her, to mark her, make her his but now was not the time, and an alleyway definitely wasn't the place. He never wanted another man to touch her like that again. He settled for pulling her into a crushing hug. He'd been furious when he saw those men touching her in the alleyway, and his body was still shaking with anger.
"Let's go back to the tavern, Lyndon and Eirena are waiting."
Natasha led the way back and Kormac followed quietly behind. Once they were just outside the tavern her reached for her hand, pulling her back towards him. He wouldn't wait any longer, if nothing else he needed to tell her. She needed to know how much he loved her.
"Natasha, I-
Lyndon and a very drunk Eirena tumbled out of the tavern, crashing into Natasha. The force sent Natasha and Kormac to the ground in an ungraceful heap, Natasha sprawled across his lap and chest.
"Yes?"
