For Zev Thread challenge: Rinna - Not Dying. Hm... And probably for CMDA 'Minor Character' challenge, as well. :D

Big thanks to my lovely Seika for her help and comments. :)

Also: If I didn't reply to someone's review, please forgive me. Your reviews, and alerts and favs always make me bounce with joy. But the first week in work after being ill for more than five weekscaused big delay in everything - writing, reading, reviewing and replying to reviews. I'll catch up with everything soon, I promise.

Maya: I'm happy you like my crazy kid. :D You can read more about him in Failed to Fail, Meet Cute, and most of my other oneshots. If that's not enough, there's a devArt story about him here: http:/ / ventisquear. deviantart. com /art/ Commander-of-Grey-283809588

Good Crow Is Hard To Find

The first time he met her, was the morning after Master Xavier claimed him as his apprentice. Sore, tired, but triumphant, he was hobbling to his new room, thinking about all the new and exciting things that would start now. Like having his own room. His fingers wrapped around the key more tightly. He did it; he had survived, and his ultimate goal–to become the best Crow ever–was one step nearer. Now, he had to convince Xavier that he was the best of the apprentices. That shouldn't be so difficult; he doubted that any of the others was quite his level. He hadn't met any of the other apprentices yet, but–

One of the doors opened, and a small elf walked out, yawning. They both stopped, watching each other warily. A boy, of his age, possibly even younger, small and skinny, dressed in tight leggings and loose white shirt, messy short hair that looked as if it hadn't been combed for days, bright face and lips twisted in a scornful smile.

"Not another freshling," the elf said, and he found out that it was a girl. "I really don't understand why Master takes so many… especially as unsexy as you. I bet you won't survive a week."

"I am sexy," he blurted, and immediately wished he could take it back. The elf's brow flew up, but she didn't say anything. Of course she didn't say anything–something that lame wasn't worth a reply.

Before he could come up with something properly witty, she closed the door behind her and walked past him, down the corridor. For a moment he wanted to cry after her, to ask for her name, but he decided he had embarrassed himself enough for a day. Or for a lifetime. No, he should come with something really impressive that would teach the damned knife-ear her place.

He looked at the door to her room. She didn't lock it. Fatal error. Really, how could an apprentice be that stupid? And the corridor was empty once again now. Without hesitation, he walked over, opened the door and stepped inside–

"Aaaaaaaaaaargh!"

He hopped out of the room, trying to pull out the bolt from his left thigh at the same time. But he was becoming dizzy; his hand was too heavy and didn't want to obey.

"Whasgoinon?"

"Who's that?"

"A new apprentice? Did he try to get into Rinna's room? Idiot."

"Heh. Wanna bet how long he'll last?"

"Mmm… it seems the bolt was poisoned… two hours."

Gritting his teeth, he limped into his room, pretending he didn't hear the laughter that was following him. There he calmly examined the wound. He should probably go to see the healer, but he'd rather die than to admit this humiliation. No, a poultice would have to do. Rinna. Stupid bitch. She was going to pay for this. Nobody humiliates him without paying a terrible price. He would punish her, make her beg for mercy. In public. She would cry herself to death, when he was done with her. Just wait.

oOo

It didn't work quite like that. He managed to prove his worth and gain the respect of the other apprentices, but never her. Whenever she looked at him, her lips twisted into that scornful smile. Give it up, the smile said, I'm the best apprentice and you're just dirt under my feet. The worst thing was, that he had to admit–albeit grudgingly–that she was almost as good as him. He was better with daggers, and stronger, but she was much better in traps and poisons. Even the senior apprentices couldn't outmatch her in that.

Other than that, they were evenly matched, the two best apprentices of the year. Of course, neither of them liked that. Only one can be the best. Their rivalry soon became notorious; the other apprentices were making bets whenever the two of them were assigned a task.

And they were often assigned to work together. Officially, it was because the Master thought that working together brought out their full potential; privately he always suspected that the Master was simply amused by their hate of each other.

But… as annoying as the knife-ear was, he found that he was more irritated whenever he had to work with different partner. Compared to her, they were all so dumb. And clumsy. None of them moved as gracefully as her, it was a pleasure to watch. Not that he watched, of course, but he couldn't not notice, right? None of them had such a spark in their eyes, nor could they express so much by a single smirk.

When he and Rinna became lovers, nobody was surprised.

oOo

And then two became three, and life was as perfect as it could be.

There was nothing they couldn't do, there wasn't a target too difficult, a mission too dangerous. 'Team Art', they called them, as their fame spread, first within their cell and then trough the guild. Their names were always said in almost pious whisper: Arainai, Rinna, Taliesen. They were praised by the Masters, worshiped by other Crows.

Envied and hated by all.

But so certain of their own superiority, they didn't care. In those blessed years they really believed it could last, that they would move up the ladder and rule the Crows together.

Perhaps they would. The bond between them was… unique. Not friends–that word is such a cliché. No, it was so much more than that: they were equals. Each of them excelled in something else, but they were at the same level. That was why it worked so well: they could admire each other without jealousy and all that emotional nonsense. And they were expressing that admiration frequently and thoroughly.

Yes, they were happy years.

But then things changed again.

The three started to become two again, and in the worst possible way. If they had said they were bored of their arrangement, that they preferred to have sex without him, he would have accepted that. But this… they behaved like those clueless targets, not like Crows. Soon they would vow eternal love to each other, the way it was going. He wanted to scream in helpless rage and disgust. Were those two fools not aware what they were doing? Everything they were working so hard to achieve would be destroyed. And for what? For what?

"I see you finally opened your eyes to truth."

He winced; he didn't hear Master Xavier coming. And what was he supposed to say to that? What was truth, anyway?

"Most disappointing, isn't it?" The Master nodded towards the two fools below, who still didn't realize that they were watched from the roof; the best proof how idiotic and dangerous all this 'love' business was.

"You're a good Crow. You know what needs to be done. I'll leave the decision to you. Choose wisely."

He looked at the two envelopes the Master gave him, the names written on them, and felt something shatter inside him. This was it, this was the end. Nothing was ever going to be the same.

"Yes, Master."

He remained on the roof long after the Master left, long after the two fools left, wondering if he would feel better if he could cry.

oOo

"Zev, we need to talk."

"Not now, Tal. We have to meet Rinna– "

"Zevran. Rinna betrayed us." How easily it came from his lips.

Yes, Master Xavier was right.

He was a good Crow.