Title: Burn It Out Bright
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Tancred x Emma
Word Count: 715
Disclaimer: I no ownz,
Warning/s: Mmm. Language.
Summary: He had to do it sooner or later.
A/N: I'm on a roll! :D (Not a very good roll; I don't like how my fics are coming out today, but a roll nonetheless.) Is it just me, or is it strange how the fics involving EMMA tend to be rated for language? Why do I do that? xD
Because life is short
By the time you know it, it's over
You have to go!
There's more than a million things to do
…
So burn it out bright, burn it out bright, burn it out
Joe Inoue - Go
"Son," his father looked him down as they both skimmed the wind, Tancred trying to get a hang of things. "I'm giving you advice, you know, before you go to that school of yours."
"Uh, sure."
"Remember the flames. The flames that never go out."
Tancred blushed, remembering his youthful curiosity.
"If you ever, well, you know…You oughtta tell the girl, before she moves to another lad, lad. Life's to short for you to delay it."
At the time he just blushed, and brushed the moment off as another one on the "Dad being all sentimental and shit" folder. But now, after he saw Emma giving Gabe a look that may or may not have been flirty, he knew his dad was right. Of course, he could've been being paranoid.
He walked in slow measured steps. Then stopped. If he was going to do this, he was going to do it right. He straightened, cleared his throat, and resumed walking in a way that he hoped looked much more confident than he felt at the moment. If it wasn't then well…he didn't want to think about that.
She heard footsteps and her beautiful blond head turned up. She looked in his direction and he gulped, feeling her eyes look straight at him as she took that moment to recognize his face. Then she, in her sweet voice, said, "Tancred."
He almost stopped.
But he had to go!
Life's too short for you to delay.
He'd thought of how to do it a million different times over, but the more he thought, the more confused he'd gotten. So he'd decided on a simple approach.
"Hi Em." He probably squeaked that out in an ungodly feminine way, he decided, and Tancred couldn't help but scream at himself.
You idiot now she's going to think you're insane and trying to molest her or something oh god what it wrong with you you idiot…
She smiled and he could've died. He almost turned around to make sure no one else was behind him that she could possibly be looking at. She stood, collecting her books and stuff, "Well, uhm, what are you doing here?" She asked politely, like it was weird.
That put him out.
Maybe this wasn't the right flame his dad meant.
Life's too short for you to delay.
He had to do it.
"I was just, uhm. I…Would you like to go for a walk?" He spluttered.
She nodded slowly. She probably thought he was stupid now, or something equally bad. "Oh…kay."
Life's too short.
"Aw, damn," he bit out, startling her. "Do you like Gabe?"
"What?" She sounded alarmed.
He sighed. Yeah, obviously. "Nevermind, let's just go-"
"No. Why?"
"Because." Tancred muttered, both stubborn and flushed. "Because, I wanted to know."
"But why?" She pressed.
"Can't you let it go?"
"No." She was being unusually cynical.
Tancred didn't know what to make of the situation. She was acting weird. But after all, he'd started this conversation, so he better finish it. He'd probably be to embarrassed to talk to her after this - because you're a stupid idiot who asks idiot questions - so he decided on the truth. "Because I want to ask you out." Shit! Too bold.
She smiled softly. "Then no, I don't, and yes, I'd like to go out with you." Tancred looked at her in awe as she grabbed his hand. She caught his look and dropped it. "Sorry, holding hands is too early huh?"
She was back to shy?
What?
Wait.
"No!" He thought he screamed, and hoped he didn't. He pulled her hand back. "No. Uhm. Thanks."
"For what?"
"You're definitely the right flame."
"Daddy, what's love like?" A little Tancred asked.
"Well, son," the giant answered, picking up his four-year-old. He set him on his knee and started to bob it, making the toddler scream. "It's like this." He looked at his wife, who sat in the corner knitting. "It's like a roller coaster and it's big and bright and happy."
"Bright? What's that?" Tancred frowned.
"It's like a fire, son. A bright, bright fire that doesn't go out. And there's only one flame for you boy, so don't go messing it up. Burn it until it ends."
"But, Daddy, you say it don't end."
"It doesn't."
Fin.