Epic 43: Opening Play

I stood up so fast I almost fell to the ground. Luxord merely smirked at my shock, and continued to smirk as it evened into threatened irritation. "You lied."

"Not in the slightest." Luxord countered. "Oh admit I've heard things since my arrival, things about Art collectors and a mad woman with a taste for blood and those who brought them to justice. However your name was distinctly absent from these murmurs." He smiled slyly. "It was your knowledge and arithmetic that alerted me to your identity." He made a gesture for me to sit back down.

"I suppose now you're going to start telling me how untrustworthy and dangerous he is?" I mused still standing. Given he hadn't attacked me yet, and the way he was talking I figured I was mostly safe, but still.

Luxord laughed. "Oh so you are aware. Please," He motioned again and that time I did sit slowly back down. "Yes the man is proficiently Machiavellian, deadly and ruthless," He leaned forward. "But only to those who dare meddle with what he treasures."

"And you believe I am something he values?" I asked glaring.

The gambler laughed sitting back. "Several weeks back you had the pleasure of meeting Xigbar on the street." My shoulders went tense. "Did you notice Axel's action when he was alerted to your presence?"

I blinked, I hadn't, I couldn't think of anything he did. His attention had been firmly set on Xigbar, only looking at me once. Luxord watched me try to recall for a moment before putting his arm out in a replication of a gesture I had seen before.

"It's quite the protective reaction, one you seem to be quite use to if you didn't notice it." He observed.

"Not from him." I replied. "From my mother." I remembered it most distinctly in the car, when she had to stop abruptly and was afraid she'd hit the car in front of us. She'd put her arm out across me as a shield, and now that he mentioned it, I did recall the same action from Axel that day. It had been more subtle then my mother's action though.

"You truly are a most intriguing creature." Luxord's musing brought me out of mine. I looked up at him. "You have brought out a startling king from a pawn."

I snorted. "As if Axel ever was a mere pawn."

His blue eyes narrowed at me, and a smirk spread slowly. "Indeed." And with that he stood. "I do hope I have the gratification of meeting you again my lovely Queen."

"Leaving?" I asked.

"Certainly. This city is a battle field, and one I do not wish to be part of." He smiled wryly. "Moreover I am, ill-fated here." He bowed and turned to leave.

I whistled through my teeth, he turned back to me and blinked at the bills I held out to him. I waited till he took them before speaking. "Try Las Vegas, Luck might be more of a Lady for you there." I smirked at him.

He seemed taken aback by my actions for a moment before smirking again. "Kindness is bred into your soul it seems." I shrugged. He lifted my hand from the table and kissed it again and disappeared.

I scowled at my hand for a moment before rubbing it against my jeans for a second. I sat back folding my arms over my chest deep in thought. Luxord had given me a huge chunk to consider. From what he said about this being a battle field, and the whole disaster about being the 'Queen of Hearts' to Axel's King, I flinched, that better not have meant anything about a relationship between us. Mostly, I just kept thinking. 'What the hell did I get myself into?'

I came out of my thoughts when I realized that the buzzing sound I heard was my phone vibrating. "Hello?"

"Where the hell are you!?" I jumped holding the phone away from my ear.

"Good grief!" I growled exasperated. "Axel, for once, just once could you say hello or something civil before yelling at me!?"

He sighed and I instantly felt a little bit guilty. It was probably later then I realized. "Hi." He said.

I couldn't help but chuckle. "Hi. I'm okay, just got a little delayed talking to someone." I scowled and picked up the card I just then realized Luxord had left.

"Okay," He was quite for a moment. "Who?"

I scowled at the Queen in my hand and opened my mouth. "Nosey." I chided. I had intended to tell him, but at the last second decided to dodge instead.

"Concerned." He corrected. "Look whatever you're doing, it's made you less aware of how much you're letting through." My eyes widened and I fumbled to get my emotions under control. He sighed. "What's going on?"

I chewed my lip. "Christmas nostalgia." I lied laying the card in my hand face down in front of me.

"Right. By the way your Mom called." He said, his tone taking on a much more relaxed quality with the change of subject.

"Mom?" I asked getting up and collecting my coat and bag.

"Yeah, she wanted to start making arrangements for Christmas."

"Oh, right, that would be good. I'll give her a call." I said staring at the card on the table.

"Fine," He went quiet again. "Coming home soon?" He asked, and I noted a weird edge to his voice. Same one he had when we talked in front of the fire at his grandmothers.

"Yeah yeah, on my way."

"Je n'aime pas que vous être loin. Ça fait mal."

I growled. "I don't speak French!"

He laughed. "I know you don't. That's why I do it."

"Smartass." I snapped and hung up the phone. I almost left, but that stupid card caught my eye again. Something told me I should just leave it behind; leave everything the platinum blond had said at that table. But two things bothered me; His King and Queen of Hearts analogy and that he had left so peacefully.

I growled again and snatched up the card stuffing it into my pocket as I left. "Why do I get the feeling I just opened a can of worms?"