For Fanfic100 at Livejournal, I have to do 100 Marcus/Susan-centric fics based on prompts.
Title: Running Into You
Prompt: 'Passing'
Susan Ivanova moves with purpose through the corridors of Blue Sector, heading towards a meeting with Ambassador Mollari. Blue, while not as busy as the insane marketplaces in Red, still has its fair share of mid-day traffic. Many of the residents, recognising the Commander, determinately stay out of her way.
Blue Section is the Commander's favourite. Besides being the ring where she conducts all her business, it has an official, clean feel. Things run right here- generally. Sometimes she wishes she could just jettison the other sections off into space.
The thought makes her smile- no more crazy vendors, like in Red, secretive alien meetings, like in Grey, or all-over general slummish behaviour- Brown. Perhaps she would spare Green Sector. She was rather fond of the gardens, when she had the time to visit them.
She sees Stephen moving in the halls at a brisk pace; they nod their hellos, and keep walking. There is little time for pleasantries, sometimes, and today is one of those times.
Her mind returns to business; she thinks about the packet tucked under her arm. She has evidence the Centauri have violated several peace agreements, and besides being damn angry about it, she wants to know why. She's never truly trusted the Centauri Ambassador, and so far Londo has done nothing to assuage her paranoia.
Looking at her packet, as Susan turns, she fails to see a second person in her hallway, who also fails to see her. She briefly experiences the sensation of her brain flipping upside down and her feet flying out from under her and someone with a voice suspiciously like hers' saying 'damn-' before it all goes blank. Her folder, his folder, everything goes flying.
"Ivanova." She vaguely hears someone say. "Susan, wake up, there's a dear."
She blinks and tries to focus her eyes. Is that Marcus there? Yes... he must have run into her, damn him.
"What year were you born?" he asks.
"2230," she answers automatically.
"And where?"
"Saint Petersburg."
"And how many fingers am I holding up?" He wiggles a few at her.
"Oh, shove it," she answers.
He grins. The Commander definitely isn't suffering any lasting damage.
He watches her for a moment, just to be sure. She glares at him.
"You really need to watch where you're going, Cole." Her voice is practically abrasive. She fumes at him, inwardly, and tries to stand.
He steadies her, just a little, and replies, "I was, Commander. How was I to know you were right around the corner, absorbed in scintillating paperwork?"
She seethes, grabs her folder, and pushes past him. "Watch your tone, Ranger." He watches her go.
When she is almost to the corner, he calls after her. "Ivanova?" She turns around, practically skewering him where he stands. Yes, she was going to look into that jettison thing. Especially Brown Sector. Especially when he was in Brown Sector.
"Yes?" she asks, a little rigidly. For a second, just looking at his face, she thinks she sees something different there. Warm.
"You look dashing while unconscious."
She storms away, furious. He looks after her retreating form, and his eyes are dancing.
He can only wait until she realises she has taken the wrong packet.