(Yes, for this one I
borrowed "Brothers in Arms" by Dire Straights. It's their song, they wrote it,
yadayadayada, and all that copyright stuff. On to the story!)
Reno stepped out of the
car, waving a thanks to Reeve before turning and surveying his party for the
first time. His eyes widened at Elena's dress, a long velvety black thing with
sparkling bits scattered throughout. "Hey…where'd you get that?" "Oh, I had it in
safe keeping." Reno whistled. "Nice. Hey, we could've sold that! Why didn't you
show us?" She shrugged. "I didn't want you to sell it." Reno chuckled. "Fair
enough."
Rude
had pulled together a suit, and Reno had borrowed one from another of the
'army' members, since he'd already decided that they were going somewhere fancy
tonight. It had been hard to find a place where they could eat for free, but
even the high-class restaurants gave in when he said that they were part of the
group fighting to save the world. No one really cared. It was one free meal,
and they were all going to die anyway. Elena had suggested a place that looked
nice, and they'd hitched a ride in Reeve's car to get here. Reno had to admit
that everything was easier now that the world was going to end-for a second
time.
As
they walked in to 'The Dark Flower' restaurant, they could hear music playing
from somewhere nearby. They stopped to listen in the doorway, and Elena lowered
her head as she made out the words of the song.
These mist colored
mountains,
Are home now for me
But the lowlands
Home always will be
Someday you'll return to
Your valleys and your farms
And you'll no longer burn to
be brothers in arms
Through these fields of
destruction,
Baptisms of fire,
I've witnessed your suffering,
As the battle raged higher
And though it all hurt me so
bad.
In the fear and alarm,
You did not desert me, my
brothers in arms.
There's so many different
worlds.
So many different suns,
And we have just one world,
But we live in different
ones,
Now the sun's gone to hell,
And the moons riding high,
Let me bid you farewell,
Every man has to die,
But it's written in the
starlight,
In every line in your palm,
We are fools to make war on
our brothers in arms…
They
all stood there for a moment, looking around for the singer, and not seeing
him. Sighing, Elena led the way into the restaurant, while the others
maintained a thoughtful silence. Reno cursed under his breath. "We're here to
have fun, you guys," he said suddenly. "Not contemplate the future. Now,
where's the waitress?"
She
did arrive, and they all ordered. Conversations ensued, about the weather, and
the past, and what they'd do the next day. Elena cracked some jokes about them
being able to con people into giving them everything they wanted for free, and
Rude commented that he still intended to try and make waffles the next morning.
But the talk had a forced cheerfulness about it that all of them recognized…and
were unable to end.
They
stayed for a long time, watching the sun go down outside and the stars come
out. A candle was lit at their table, and even Reno had to admit that it was a
beautiful night. He watched the candle flicker in front of him, finding himself
fascinated by the layers of heated color within the flames. Rude was munching
on his pie, and Elena was humming quietly to her herself, looking thoughtfully
out the window. When the waitress came to take their empty plates, she turned
around again.
"You
know," she commented, smiling slightly, "The next time we do this, it won't be
free." The next time? Wondered
Reno. Rude looked up. "…Who'll pay?" Reno had to laugh slightly, realizing that
they were already getting into the usual banter about who should pay the bill,
even if it was about the next time they ate. The next time,
he thought to himself. There probably won't be a
next time. They know that…
"Well,"
he said. "I think Elena should be punished for keeping that dress from us."
Elena looked startled, then smiled. "Oh no, my dear Reno, I think it should be
you who are punished for suggesting that a 'dainty young woman' like myself
should give up her mother's possession." Her mother's, thought
Reno. "Oh, well excuse me," he replied, "But survival comes before vanity in my
opinion."
They
went on like this for some while, as they left the restaurant, stopping to look
up at the sky as they walked out. Elena bit her lip, and turned to the others.
"I guess we'll have to all pitch in…next time. When it's all over." "When it's
all over," echoed Reno, nodding and doing a pathetic impression of his old
cocky smile. "…next time," allowed Rude. "When we're all back here again,"
agreed Elena.
No
one said anything after that, they just walked to the curb as Reeve's car
pulled up, right on time, to take them back the observatory. As they rode back
in the car, Rude looked out the window, and thought to himself, when we come back…
