Fireworks

"Thanks for comin' with, Nights," Dusty flashed her a smile, as he waited for the light to change. "Karida still feels kinda responsible 'bout you gettin' shot and all."

"Karida, now huh? What happened to calling her, what was it, basically Princess?" Nightshade chuckled watching the way Dusty's face flushed.

"Yeah, well, with Azula Seculari officially absorbed into Saudi Arabia now, there's nothin' to be the princess over. They've landed political asylum here State-side." With the light green, Dusty guided the black SUV to the left. Through the flush trees, Nightshade could just barely get a glimpse of the Capitol building. "Kasim was smart. He kept most a' his wealth in offshore accounts, and US stocks. So they're at least not bereft."

"Please, even if they were destitute he holds such a ridiculously high stake in six different oil companies that no one would shut him off. I read the mission briefing before we flew out to get me shot."

Dusty's face paled at her tone. She sounded angry with him. The wide-eyed look he shot her way got the Latina to laugh, and pull her sunglasses down just far enough to let him see her wink.

"Easy, ese, I'm kidding." She shook her head slightly when Dusty's white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel eased up. "I'm flattered I got invited along, but.. I dunno why. Not like she had anything personal to do with my bad attitude."

"She just said she feels responsible."

With a huff, Nightshade turned her attention back out the window. She took note of their location, and direction: traveling west, towards the National Mall. She hated when people felt responsible for something they had no control over. But she swallowed the vitriol. The brass wouldn't have given Dusty the leave day if she hadn't accepted the invitation too. Wounded in combat carried a bit of weight, especially when she had nowhere but on base to convalesce. It was healing nicely, but she was still at least a couple weeks from being cleared for duty. Which, according to Lifeline also meant until she didn't need the cane to get around anymore.

"Why's it so damned busy?" The SUV had to stop and wait for the sixth time to let a gaggle of people cross the street.

"Fourth of July?" Dusty asked rhetorically. "No, seriously, Independence Day, remember?"

"Well... fuck." Nightshade had to laugh again, this time at herself. "I completely lost track of time. National Mall for fireworks?"

"You got it!" Dusty sounded cheerful, but she couldn't shake the idea that he was more nervous than not.

"You've been talking to her a lot, I take it?" Nightshade had to pry. He wouldn't fess up otherwise. The tips of his ears colored red at her question. There was her answer. "Dusty... you're crushing on the princess!"

"No, I am not!" His denial was too fast. "I hardly even know her. I thought I knew Kourosh, but.. he wasn't even a real person."

"Oh, madre de dios, Dusty... you were crushing on Kourosh! They're the same person!"

"I..you.. Nights... it's not like that." He turned into a side street, and then turned again, to an underground parking garage. Nightshade took the clue and fell silent while their credentials were checked by the guard onsite. She kept her quiet while Dusty followed directions to a reserved parking space.

Only after they'd both debarked the vehicle, and adjusted their dress uniforms, did she push the envelope. "So tell me what it's like, if it's not like that?"

Stricken, Dusty rubbed the back of his neck, feeling exposed and vulnerable without the keffiyeh to cover it. "It's... I dunno. Maybe I do like her? But it's not like she's going to notice me."

"Please give yourself some credit." Nightshade tapped his foot with her cane. It was the only thing she really liked about being forced to use it, the fact that it made a really good weapon. "You should talk to her... every time you talk about her, your ears get redder and redder. Her father already likes you."

Dusty hit the button to the elevator, but shook his head. "It's not that easy. She's Muslim; there's tradition to look at and.. she's basically royalty."

"Didn't you just tell me there's nothin' for her to princess over?" Nightshade rolled her eyes behind the sunglasses, and leaned against the elevator wall as it began to carry them to the highest floor. "would you listen to yourself? Finding all these excuses? Just ask for permission to date her, or whatever it is the Muslim do for dating. Stop overcomplicating things."

"Oh, like you and Snake Eyes?"

"That's complicated for an entirely different set of reasons, okay? I happen to have a thing for emotionally unavailable men, and I'm perfectly okay with that. I know shit's gonna go nowhere with him. It's safer that way."

Dusty just stared at her for a few moments, until the elevator dinged the top floor. Nightshade flashed him a smile that put the coffin nail in that conversation before limping her way carefully into the foyer of a five-star restaurant. She glanced back at Dusty with a raised brow. Invited along to a double-dinner date with the deposed leaders of a small country, and one of her coworkers. This wasn't going to be awkward at all.

They were met by the maitre d and escorted into the restaurant, specifically to a table set up by the wide windows facing the National Mall. As Nightshade approached, she could tell this was one of the premier places to watch the impending Independence fireworks from, and likely a place that only the richest of the rich could afford. Which was why the former Sheikh of Azula Segulari rose as they approached. His daughter stood as well, her dark eyes only for Dusty.

Nightshade smiled through the greetings, clasping hands with Kasim, and giving a half-embrace to Karida. She was the beard for the moment, a convenient excuse to get these two back in each other's satellite. Nightshade specifically chose the seat across from Kasim, forcing Dusty to sit facing Karida.

There would be fireworks of more than one kind tonight.

Kasim caught the way Nightshade was watching the shy and awkward interactions between the other two and then caught the Latina's eye. He knew, just like Nightshade did. Kasim was cordial, expressing that dinner was an expression of thanks from him to those who had saved their lives. Dusty demurred, like Nightshade expected him to. It went back and forth for a while, through the appetizer and into the main course.

Finally, something Karida said caught Nightshade's ear. "You know asylee's can join our military right?"

Dusty shot her a sharp look, but Karida's attention grew intense and focused.

Nightshade gestured with her fork slightly. "There's special provisions... a fast track to U.S Citizenship too. Dusty tells me you were fighting alongside your troops in Azula..."

"As a man, yes." Karida confirmed.

"As a dervish," Dusty clarified. "A holy warrior for Allah."

"That was to enable me to wear the robes, Rudat." Karida told him gently. She had started to reach out, to touch his hand, but stopped herself midway through the movement. "But I trained, and fought, and led our warriors to secure Azul's borders many times."

Nightshade glanced at Kasim, who seemed interested in the idea of his daughter putting her training to a good purpose. It was Dusty who was put off by the idea, trying to find a way to put the kibosh on Nightshade's train of thought without being disrespectful to anyone at the table.

"Honestly, it would be a good fit. You don't really seem to be the kind of person that likes to sit around on her ass doing nothing when there's a good fight to be fought." Nightshade was pressing the matter. "Your thoughts, sir?" The final question was directed at Kasim.

He stroked his beard thoughtfully, looking at his daughter. "It would be nice to see the smile back on your face, daughter. You have smiled more today than I have seen in a very long time."

Karida glanced at Dusty, and on cue, both of them began to blush. Nightshade was fairly certain that everyone seated at the table knew exactly why she was smiling today. The restaurant lights dimmed, a sure signal that the show outside was going to begin. Nightshade grinning, because as the first firework lit off over the National Mall, she saw the shadow of hands creeping closer together on the table. It wasn't exactly the fireworks she was hoping to see, but the shy happiness that was taking place before her made her content. Dusty was a friend, she'd decided somewhere along the way. And her friends deserved to be happy.