SCENES
Disclaimer: M-X,Don't own them. Enjoy!
Thank you for ALL the wonderful reviews, and to GOLDSTRANGER (a little tease is always good!). This part is also inspired by MY IMMORTAL (Evanescence).
All right! Here we go!
A MAN'S WORDS
"Shalimar!" Emma whispered, watching her friend slide under the table. "Shal! What are you doing?"
"Has he seen me?" the blonde's eyes were wide and frantic on the redhead. "I can't face him right now!"
"You're gonna get gum in your hair if you don't get from under there!" Emma absently pulled at the woman not noticing the figure coming towards her. Out of reaction to the pull, her eyes met the elemental's. Now she wanted to crawl away.
"You okay, Emma?" he asked with that half-smirk half-frown thing he did. The redhead grinned, letting go of the blonde only to feel Shalimar grasp her leg.
"Hey! Brennen! I'm fine! My coat just got stuck!" Her hands let go. "See, it's free now."
"Uh huh." The tall man sat down next to her, stretching his legs so booted feet just missed Shalimar's nose. "Company?" he asked staring at the half empty glass of milk.
"Was." She started nervously. Brennen grinned before pulling at the half-eaten plate of pie, and slipping the fork out of her hand. "Please," she smirked. "Go right ahead."
"It's always good to share, Em." Upon looking at him, the psionic could see how Shalimar got lost. Brennen was so childishly casual, while still being dangerous. The fact that he could have been one of S.E. Hinton's THE OUTSIDERS didn't help either. Even now, the leather coat and dark shirt seemed a little too natural for the man. "So, who was it?"
"Excuse me?"
"Your company?" he replied between bites.
The woman could feel an experiment coming on. "Shalimar."
Immediatly, his chewing stopped. Brennen sat up, scanning the diner with 'interested' eyes. "She still here?"
Emma's lips moved, but feeling the nervous hand on her calf, paused her. "No." The elemental's eyes flashed a little in disappointment, making her heart twinge. "She'll be back to pick me up though."
"Okay, I'll wait with you." Now a pinch pulled at Emma's pants leg, signaling the woman to get him out of there.
"You looked a little disappointed." The redhead started. "When I said Shal wasn't here. What? I'm not enough company now?"
"You have jokes tonight, Emma?" he grinned. "I guess you'll do." The younger woman smiled at her teammate and 'brother', watching as he beckoned the waitress over to order them two more slices.
"Brennen, can I ask you something?"
He looked up from his now empty plate, eyeing her with open dark orbs. His mouth gestured in his tongue sucking something from between his teeth. "Maybe."
"I just wanted to know, why you and 'a certain blonde' never got together."
The man sat back smirking, his dark brows raised over lowered lashes, while large fingers absently played with his COMM link. "Just didn't happen." He lied.
Emma studied him, knowing there was another angle to this all- together. "Why?"
"You sure are nosy tonight," he grinned.
"Just 'curious'." She said.
"Well," the man leaned back, resting his head on the vinyl backing, and staring of aimlessly. "She didn't want me."
Emma's brow rose at that, the hand on her leg, signaling a nervous feral under the table. "I find that hard to believe, Brennen."
"Well, thanks, but we both know I'm not exactly the greatest catch here." His words drifted slightly at the joke. "Some things are a little too broken to fix."
"I don't know. It just seemed like you had a thing for her."
"What man wouldn't?" he absently pushed at the feral's glass of milk, her lipstick becoming present in its pale shade before his eyes. Emma watched knowing he would drink from that same spot her lips had touched, and he did. The contents emptied into his throat, but it was the connection he'd wanted. "Some things are just out of reach," he replied.
"Sounds like you have a story to tell."
His brow rose as his teammate eyed him. "Sounds like you want to listen."
"If you want me to."
"Alright. There was a time that I did pursue Shalimar. I can never really read her; y'know the on and off flirting and stuff? But there was this one night when things did 'happen'. And I thought we'd gotten to a place where we could discuss some sort of relationship."
"But?"
"But, I think she took it as though I took advantage of her. Which, I would never do, I mean, its Shalimar-she bites." Fingers pinching her skin cut Emma's laugh. "So, what happened?"
"Well, there was this time that I went to talk to her. We were in the dojo, just sitting there. The words wouldn't come out right then."
"But they did." Emma added.
"Eventually."
He had watched her in the Dojo, lost in her meditative extensions. Everything in the man wanted to wrap his arms around her and ride the slim muscles against her rhythm. But the knot in the pit of his stomach knew that paradise was coming to a close.
That day, when he woke with the blonde sprawled in his arms, the elemental didn't know what to think. There were definitely no regrets for having made love to Shalimar, but that 'connection' had singed a part of him, he didn't believe reachable. Speaking it out loud, would only make him that much more open to the impending rollercoaster underneath his stomach muscles. They finally needed to talk.
"Shal." He interjected, watching the woman turn to face him. In her eyes, he saw the conversation they needed to have.
"Hey Brennen." She replied nervously. Her head lowered as gold curls fell around her shoulders. He itched to run his fingers through the locks and pull her close.
"You know we need to talk."
Her brow rose in defeat. "I know."
"You or me?" he asked indicating who starts. The woman gestured in an undecided manner before walking around in small circles. "Okay, then. I just want you to know, that I didn't mean to-"
"You didn't." she interjected. "You didn't take advantage of me. I don't regret anything that happened."
Brennen exhaled at that, watching her. "Good, because neither do I."
"It just can't happen again."
That was the hit he knew was coming. "I know."
The woman studied him. Almost deciding on her words, and Brennen knew that when someone thought so long on something, something else was being covered. "Brennen, I think I was in heat the other night."
"That's bullshit."
"What?"
"Shal," he said moving towards her. "If you were in heat, than I was too. And I'm damn sure not a feral. What happened was meant to happen."
"Maybe so, but it shouldn't have."
The woman moved to pull away, only to be caught by a massive hand to her arm. "Whoa! I though you said no regrets."
"I did and I mean that, but we-I-I pushed for something we shouldn't have done."
"Shouldn't have done? Shalimar!" She knew whenever he used her whole name it was serious. "Shalimar, we made love. I touched you because I want you, and you want me."
"Brennen! I wasn't thinking straight! We were caught up in the moment, and I couldn't control myself- my actions."
"Well then, I damn sure like when you lose control." He grinned. "You're a shitty liar, Shal. Now tell me the truth."
"Brennen," she whispered. "Please don't push this."
The man leaned in, purposely shadowing her smaller form. Whenever he really felt so, he knew he could intimidate someone. And it felt needed to get to the truth. "I'll break this down for you. You don't regret what happened, or why it happened, but you are lying about why it did happen. What is it? Why won't you admit what you feel?"
"Because I don't want to 'feel' something for a man who'll 'feel' that way about any woman he fucks! Brennen!"
He stood there silent for a minute hands pushed deep into his pockets. His lips curled in an action determined to hold back anger. "You know I wouldn't betray you like that." He started. "And you're still lying."
"No I'm not. I'm not one of your 'women of the week!""
"And I wouldn't treat you that way, Shalimar!" he now crossed his arms. "Why are you dodging the issue?"
Her own arms folded, as the anger burned in her eyes. She was fishing for him, and he wouldn't bite. There was no way she'd get out of this that easy. "And what's the issue?"
"You're afraid."
"Of what?"
"Of giving yourself to someone again."
"Well, you're halfway there." She smirked. "I'm afraid of giving myself to a man who, TONIGHT, I know will bang some chick! I'm afraid that I jut became one of those women and you won't even admit it to yourself! And I KNOW that the Brennen Mulray standing here is not the one, I slept with the other night! The one that had me is the one who will be out in the streets fucking women he doesn't even know!
"You're crazy,,," he replied running a hand through his hair.
"Am I? Tell me that you weren't just being physical the other night. Tell me that you did give in because of emotion. Tell me-"
"Tell you what?! That I love you, Shalimar! Okay, you hear it straight from me- "I LOVE YOU SHALIMAR! Damn! Are you happy now?"
She eyed him surprised, but still not believing. "And you said I couldn't lie."
Brennen grabbed her arm, pulling the woman in front of him. "I'm tired of your shit! Believe me not but know if I've ever told you anything, it is the truth. Now, I don't know what you're fighting so hard, but understand I am a man. I may be broken man but I'm a damn good one!" his eyes burned into hers, causing a ripple of fear in the brown orbs. "And I won't wait forever."
He let go forcefully, turning to walk away. Her lips stumbled over the words. "Then don't wait at all." The ego in her to finish the argument was ripping her heart apart. "Nothing's waiting for you here."
The man just stood, swinging his arms as if ready to strike. "Your call." With that he left the room. "I won't wait."
Emma stared in disbelief at the man now poking at his dessert. Shalimar still clutched her leg under the table, her tears dampening the knee of the redhead's jeans. Brennen made no faces of emotion- like any man. But his eyes were searching, processing. "I should have known that her issues were more so about Richard." He started. "I've lost enough people to know how hard it its to trust. She was afraid of losing again. And I pushed when she wasn't ready to confront those things."
"I'm sorry." The red head whispered.
"For what? Shalimar was right. I was back in the bars that night, drinking and doing anything in a skirt. Part of me didn't want to come back to Sanctuary. I had to be gone for a few days."
"I understand. Did you guys ever resolve it?"
"Not really. When I finally came back, we just kept a safe distance. After a little while, we started talking again. But it was kind of understood that we never mention 'that' again."
"That 'night' or 'that' conversation?"
"Both."
"You were telling the truth." She said. "You do love Shalimar."
Brennen finally pushed the plate away, before looking at her. "Of course I do. I wouldn't lie about that." Emma could feel Shalimar leaning on her; tears now had the denim on her knee damp. She absently slid a hand into the blonde locks, comforting her best friend. The other wrapped around Brennen's
"Anyway, our 'possibilities' faded after that. Since we never talked about it again and all."
"Do you think she feels the same way?
"At the time, I knew she did." He said. "But now, I doubt it."
Emma watched him, knowing the torment the two faced. They were battling each other for no reason. Two people so desperate for each other used the other as excuses not to advance. The psionic had finally had enough. "Brennen?"
"Yeah, Em."
"Shalimar's here."
He continued to sit not moving for any reason. "Really."
"Yep." The redhead pulled the woman's hand causing a thump on the underside of the counter. Brennen watched with a strange look on his face.
"You bump you knee?" he asked the red head.
"NO. Shalimar's under the table."
"Right." He chuckled. Emma pulled the wrestling hand from under the counter and into his view. "What the fuck!" he yelled pulling pushing the red head over. The feral looked up at him with a caught expression. "Shalimar!?"
"Uhmm,,,,Hey? Brennen?" The elemental burst into laughter, nearly rolling out of his seat. Other diner occupants thought he'd lost his mind as they eyed the scene. Brennen was doubling over, nearly coughing up laughter as the blonde moved into her seat, obviously not enjoying the moment.
"Jess has got to hear this one!" He smirked before calming down. Shalimar's nails clicked on the tabletop as she eyed the jolting elemental. He finally managed to subside.
"Thanks, Em-ma." She said sarcastically.
The redhead grinned watching the eyes flash feral for the moment. "You're welcome."
"Shal, you're loungin' under tables now?" Brennen smirked. "The cat thing is really starting to get you, huh."
"Shut up, Mulray!" she grumbled.
"Hey, I wasn't the one curled up on Emma's leg. But it was nice to look at." You girls that cozy all-"
"SHUT UP, BRENNEN." Emma repeated.
"Okay, I'm done." Emma watched as the two eyed each other. The feelings were so still there- for both of them. Shalimar played with her empty glass, while Brennen suddenly found his food inviting again. He chewed on the dessert while watching her with intent, low lashed eyes. There was a smirk to his chewing that seemed unsettling to the feral. Emma felt like she was in the middle of an impending porn movie. "So, what's goin' on?"
"Nothing." Shalimar smirked.
"You two need to talk." Emma said. Both flashed disbelieving looks at her. "Well, you do. And I'm not leaving because you'll both find excuses to walk away." She settled back into her seat. "So, let's begin."
Disclaimer: M-X,Don't own them. Enjoy!
Thank you for ALL the wonderful reviews, and to GOLDSTRANGER (a little tease is always good!). This part is also inspired by MY IMMORTAL (Evanescence).
All right! Here we go!
A MAN'S WORDS
"Shalimar!" Emma whispered, watching her friend slide under the table. "Shal! What are you doing?"
"Has he seen me?" the blonde's eyes were wide and frantic on the redhead. "I can't face him right now!"
"You're gonna get gum in your hair if you don't get from under there!" Emma absently pulled at the woman not noticing the figure coming towards her. Out of reaction to the pull, her eyes met the elemental's. Now she wanted to crawl away.
"You okay, Emma?" he asked with that half-smirk half-frown thing he did. The redhead grinned, letting go of the blonde only to feel Shalimar grasp her leg.
"Hey! Brennen! I'm fine! My coat just got stuck!" Her hands let go. "See, it's free now."
"Uh huh." The tall man sat down next to her, stretching his legs so booted feet just missed Shalimar's nose. "Company?" he asked staring at the half empty glass of milk.
"Was." She started nervously. Brennen grinned before pulling at the half-eaten plate of pie, and slipping the fork out of her hand. "Please," she smirked. "Go right ahead."
"It's always good to share, Em." Upon looking at him, the psionic could see how Shalimar got lost. Brennen was so childishly casual, while still being dangerous. The fact that he could have been one of S.E. Hinton's THE OUTSIDERS didn't help either. Even now, the leather coat and dark shirt seemed a little too natural for the man. "So, who was it?"
"Excuse me?"
"Your company?" he replied between bites.
The woman could feel an experiment coming on. "Shalimar."
Immediatly, his chewing stopped. Brennen sat up, scanning the diner with 'interested' eyes. "She still here?"
Emma's lips moved, but feeling the nervous hand on her calf, paused her. "No." The elemental's eyes flashed a little in disappointment, making her heart twinge. "She'll be back to pick me up though."
"Okay, I'll wait with you." Now a pinch pulled at Emma's pants leg, signaling the woman to get him out of there.
"You looked a little disappointed." The redhead started. "When I said Shal wasn't here. What? I'm not enough company now?"
"You have jokes tonight, Emma?" he grinned. "I guess you'll do." The younger woman smiled at her teammate and 'brother', watching as he beckoned the waitress over to order them two more slices.
"Brennen, can I ask you something?"
He looked up from his now empty plate, eyeing her with open dark orbs. His mouth gestured in his tongue sucking something from between his teeth. "Maybe."
"I just wanted to know, why you and 'a certain blonde' never got together."
The man sat back smirking, his dark brows raised over lowered lashes, while large fingers absently played with his COMM link. "Just didn't happen." He lied.
Emma studied him, knowing there was another angle to this all- together. "Why?"
"You sure are nosy tonight," he grinned.
"Just 'curious'." She said.
"Well," the man leaned back, resting his head on the vinyl backing, and staring of aimlessly. "She didn't want me."
Emma's brow rose at that, the hand on her leg, signaling a nervous feral under the table. "I find that hard to believe, Brennen."
"Well, thanks, but we both know I'm not exactly the greatest catch here." His words drifted slightly at the joke. "Some things are a little too broken to fix."
"I don't know. It just seemed like you had a thing for her."
"What man wouldn't?" he absently pushed at the feral's glass of milk, her lipstick becoming present in its pale shade before his eyes. Emma watched knowing he would drink from that same spot her lips had touched, and he did. The contents emptied into his throat, but it was the connection he'd wanted. "Some things are just out of reach," he replied.
"Sounds like you have a story to tell."
His brow rose as his teammate eyed him. "Sounds like you want to listen."
"If you want me to."
"Alright. There was a time that I did pursue Shalimar. I can never really read her; y'know the on and off flirting and stuff? But there was this one night when things did 'happen'. And I thought we'd gotten to a place where we could discuss some sort of relationship."
"But?"
"But, I think she took it as though I took advantage of her. Which, I would never do, I mean, its Shalimar-she bites." Fingers pinching her skin cut Emma's laugh. "So, what happened?"
"Well, there was this time that I went to talk to her. We were in the dojo, just sitting there. The words wouldn't come out right then."
"But they did." Emma added.
"Eventually."
He had watched her in the Dojo, lost in her meditative extensions. Everything in the man wanted to wrap his arms around her and ride the slim muscles against her rhythm. But the knot in the pit of his stomach knew that paradise was coming to a close.
That day, when he woke with the blonde sprawled in his arms, the elemental didn't know what to think. There were definitely no regrets for having made love to Shalimar, but that 'connection' had singed a part of him, he didn't believe reachable. Speaking it out loud, would only make him that much more open to the impending rollercoaster underneath his stomach muscles. They finally needed to talk.
"Shal." He interjected, watching the woman turn to face him. In her eyes, he saw the conversation they needed to have.
"Hey Brennen." She replied nervously. Her head lowered as gold curls fell around her shoulders. He itched to run his fingers through the locks and pull her close.
"You know we need to talk."
Her brow rose in defeat. "I know."
"You or me?" he asked indicating who starts. The woman gestured in an undecided manner before walking around in small circles. "Okay, then. I just want you to know, that I didn't mean to-"
"You didn't." she interjected. "You didn't take advantage of me. I don't regret anything that happened."
Brennen exhaled at that, watching her. "Good, because neither do I."
"It just can't happen again."
That was the hit he knew was coming. "I know."
The woman studied him. Almost deciding on her words, and Brennen knew that when someone thought so long on something, something else was being covered. "Brennen, I think I was in heat the other night."
"That's bullshit."
"What?"
"Shal," he said moving towards her. "If you were in heat, than I was too. And I'm damn sure not a feral. What happened was meant to happen."
"Maybe so, but it shouldn't have."
The woman moved to pull away, only to be caught by a massive hand to her arm. "Whoa! I though you said no regrets."
"I did and I mean that, but we-I-I pushed for something we shouldn't have done."
"Shouldn't have done? Shalimar!" She knew whenever he used her whole name it was serious. "Shalimar, we made love. I touched you because I want you, and you want me."
"Brennen! I wasn't thinking straight! We were caught up in the moment, and I couldn't control myself- my actions."
"Well then, I damn sure like when you lose control." He grinned. "You're a shitty liar, Shal. Now tell me the truth."
"Brennen," she whispered. "Please don't push this."
The man leaned in, purposely shadowing her smaller form. Whenever he really felt so, he knew he could intimidate someone. And it felt needed to get to the truth. "I'll break this down for you. You don't regret what happened, or why it happened, but you are lying about why it did happen. What is it? Why won't you admit what you feel?"
"Because I don't want to 'feel' something for a man who'll 'feel' that way about any woman he fucks! Brennen!"
He stood there silent for a minute hands pushed deep into his pockets. His lips curled in an action determined to hold back anger. "You know I wouldn't betray you like that." He started. "And you're still lying."
"No I'm not. I'm not one of your 'women of the week!""
"And I wouldn't treat you that way, Shalimar!" he now crossed his arms. "Why are you dodging the issue?"
Her own arms folded, as the anger burned in her eyes. She was fishing for him, and he wouldn't bite. There was no way she'd get out of this that easy. "And what's the issue?"
"You're afraid."
"Of what?"
"Of giving yourself to someone again."
"Well, you're halfway there." She smirked. "I'm afraid of giving myself to a man who, TONIGHT, I know will bang some chick! I'm afraid that I jut became one of those women and you won't even admit it to yourself! And I KNOW that the Brennen Mulray standing here is not the one, I slept with the other night! The one that had me is the one who will be out in the streets fucking women he doesn't even know!
"You're crazy,,," he replied running a hand through his hair.
"Am I? Tell me that you weren't just being physical the other night. Tell me that you did give in because of emotion. Tell me-"
"Tell you what?! That I love you, Shalimar! Okay, you hear it straight from me- "I LOVE YOU SHALIMAR! Damn! Are you happy now?"
She eyed him surprised, but still not believing. "And you said I couldn't lie."
Brennen grabbed her arm, pulling the woman in front of him. "I'm tired of your shit! Believe me not but know if I've ever told you anything, it is the truth. Now, I don't know what you're fighting so hard, but understand I am a man. I may be broken man but I'm a damn good one!" his eyes burned into hers, causing a ripple of fear in the brown orbs. "And I won't wait forever."
He let go forcefully, turning to walk away. Her lips stumbled over the words. "Then don't wait at all." The ego in her to finish the argument was ripping her heart apart. "Nothing's waiting for you here."
The man just stood, swinging his arms as if ready to strike. "Your call." With that he left the room. "I won't wait."
Emma stared in disbelief at the man now poking at his dessert. Shalimar still clutched her leg under the table, her tears dampening the knee of the redhead's jeans. Brennen made no faces of emotion- like any man. But his eyes were searching, processing. "I should have known that her issues were more so about Richard." He started. "I've lost enough people to know how hard it its to trust. She was afraid of losing again. And I pushed when she wasn't ready to confront those things."
"I'm sorry." The red head whispered.
"For what? Shalimar was right. I was back in the bars that night, drinking and doing anything in a skirt. Part of me didn't want to come back to Sanctuary. I had to be gone for a few days."
"I understand. Did you guys ever resolve it?"
"Not really. When I finally came back, we just kept a safe distance. After a little while, we started talking again. But it was kind of understood that we never mention 'that' again."
"That 'night' or 'that' conversation?"
"Both."
"You were telling the truth." She said. "You do love Shalimar."
Brennen finally pushed the plate away, before looking at her. "Of course I do. I wouldn't lie about that." Emma could feel Shalimar leaning on her; tears now had the denim on her knee damp. She absently slid a hand into the blonde locks, comforting her best friend. The other wrapped around Brennen's
"Anyway, our 'possibilities' faded after that. Since we never talked about it again and all."
"Do you think she feels the same way?
"At the time, I knew she did." He said. "But now, I doubt it."
Emma watched him, knowing the torment the two faced. They were battling each other for no reason. Two people so desperate for each other used the other as excuses not to advance. The psionic had finally had enough. "Brennen?"
"Yeah, Em."
"Shalimar's here."
He continued to sit not moving for any reason. "Really."
"Yep." The redhead pulled the woman's hand causing a thump on the underside of the counter. Brennen watched with a strange look on his face.
"You bump you knee?" he asked the red head.
"NO. Shalimar's under the table."
"Right." He chuckled. Emma pulled the wrestling hand from under the counter and into his view. "What the fuck!" he yelled pulling pushing the red head over. The feral looked up at him with a caught expression. "Shalimar!?"
"Uhmm,,,,Hey? Brennen?" The elemental burst into laughter, nearly rolling out of his seat. Other diner occupants thought he'd lost his mind as they eyed the scene. Brennen was doubling over, nearly coughing up laughter as the blonde moved into her seat, obviously not enjoying the moment.
"Jess has got to hear this one!" He smirked before calming down. Shalimar's nails clicked on the tabletop as she eyed the jolting elemental. He finally managed to subside.
"Thanks, Em-ma." She said sarcastically.
The redhead grinned watching the eyes flash feral for the moment. "You're welcome."
"Shal, you're loungin' under tables now?" Brennen smirked. "The cat thing is really starting to get you, huh."
"Shut up, Mulray!" she grumbled.
"Hey, I wasn't the one curled up on Emma's leg. But it was nice to look at." You girls that cozy all-"
"SHUT UP, BRENNEN." Emma repeated.
"Okay, I'm done." Emma watched as the two eyed each other. The feelings were so still there- for both of them. Shalimar played with her empty glass, while Brennen suddenly found his food inviting again. He chewed on the dessert while watching her with intent, low lashed eyes. There was a smirk to his chewing that seemed unsettling to the feral. Emma felt like she was in the middle of an impending porn movie. "So, what's goin' on?"
"Nothing." Shalimar smirked.
"You two need to talk." Emma said. Both flashed disbelieving looks at her. "Well, you do. And I'm not leaving because you'll both find excuses to walk away." She settled back into her seat. "So, let's begin."