They arrived at Dilandau's lavishly decorated quarters after some time of walking on the echoing floors. When they arrived, Gabrielle took herself to the smaller and less important-looking of the two chairs there, not wanting to offend the sense of superiority that she detected was so strong within him. The foreign girl curled up in it and sat with her knees up to her chin, gazing across at him. The chairs faced each other.
"Thanks for coming back for me," She said blankly after a moment, unable to think of anything else to say in the sudden solitude with him.
"I'm…" The girl trailed off. She couldn't bring herself to say much else.
"Well, it's my responsibility to go after you. You're one of my men, er, people. Besides, even if you weren't, I wouldn't leave you to those barbarians. What's done is done, objective completed, that is all." He closed his eyes as he spoke, reclining into the chair. Gabrielle thought it was rather unlike him to downplay his efforts.
Dilandau opened one eye a slit as he changed the subject.
"This affair of ours going on tomorrow night, what time do you want to go?" He asked.
"Whatever's good for you." She said casually, looking about at the room. An expression came across Gabrielle that made Dilandau open both eyes slowly.
"Do I have to dress up…?" She asked, her expression that of masked concern and embarrassment.
"Well... I was planning on it, yes. It's a nice place we're going to." He replied. She looked at the floor. "What's wrong? You have something to wear." He said.
"Yes, I do, but... That dress... Shows my back." She said, staring avidly at the floor as if she were talking to it instead.
"What's wrong with that?" He asked, confused. She'd worn it for Gatti. Was this some kind of cultural thing?
"Allen gave me cuts on my back," She said, and he could see the tears forming. "I can't show it, people will think you hit me or something. I can't feel them because of the healing stuff in the Infirmary. Allen never failed to punish me when I wouldn't answer his questions." She stuttered, her voice hot with shame, and Dilandau was silent.
"He... Also tried to make advances on me, and when I refused, he beat me. There are bruises… I wouldn't let him near, and when he tried to overpower me I kicked him in the face. He threw me against a wall and then lashed me. He only did things like that when no-one else was around. Vaughn wouldn't stand for it and would make him stop each time. He caught Allen trying to dislocate my arms or something… Twisting them around because I wouldn't tell, and he got furious and ordered Allen to stop. He said that Allen was nice when you got to know him and if you were on the right side of the argument." She explained, and she stared at the floor. Dilandau felt the anger building up inside him. Loathing for Allen coursed through his being.
"And so that's why I can't wear the dress." She said, almost choking on the memories. Dilandau remembered how he'd somehow healed the cut. That would have made a scar, and yet there was no mark on her where the cut had once been. Just maybe... Maybe...
"I have an idea," He spoke up.
"What is it?" She asked.
"Just let me see your back." He flatly told her.
"Why for?" She asked, looking confused.
"Well, they may already be gone." He said.
"That can't be." She said.
"Neither's me healing the cut on your chest possible. Or you remember when the Libreia drew blood from you? I healed that too. Just let me see." He insisted, his tone becoming clipped, like when he ordered others around.
"Well... Okay... But, turn around, please? I can't exactly open the top from the back." She said, and Dilandau stood up and faced the wall. He blatantly ignored the screaming fact that he wanted to look. That burning curiosity flared as the rustle of clothes moved about. He ignored them.
"Okay…" She sighed, and he turned around. She was standing out of the chair, and she had her shirt clutched to her chest. "I don't understand, but..." She trailed off. He walked behind her, and he blatantly ignored the other screaming fact that he wanted to push her onto the bed and kiss her all over. To get it out of his mind, he crushed the thought down as small as possible, but it still remained, not small enough to be completely ignored. He looked at Gabrielle's back. She was not lying, as there were two long, slightly curved lines where something had lashed her. She had a few other bruises, and some small cuts. He then spread his wings gently and cautiously, having gained more control of them in the time since he knew he had them.
Gabrielle sat patiently as she heard his wings spread. She watched a single feather float to the ground, spinning lazily as it drifted. She reached out and caught the feather between her fingers and looked at it. The blade of the wind was long and a pure black. The light that shone on it made bands of deep rich violet and highlighted blue appear across its width. She stroked its shape, feeling the softness of the feather on the tuft right before the small stalk where it had once connected to one of Dilandau's wings. She blew the thing away, and it flew all the way across the room from just a small breath.
Gabrielle felt him tentatively place his cool, long-fingered hands on her back, and nothing happened for a moment. She just felt the dull warmth of his spread hands. Confused, she paused as then a strange feeling took her over. Like a shock, but it was more of a tingle. It traveled down her back and spread over her entire body. It was warm, and almost comforting in a strange way. She felt lines on her back with a sensation like they were being undrawn; Erased completely from her back with precision. The feeling died down to a gentle buzzing sensation, and then it dissipated into nothing. Dilandau had taken his hand away.
He felt horribly weak for a second, but he quickly regained his strength, and it turned back to normal. She had no marks left on her back. No marks but the small brown freckle she had underneath her right shoulderblade remained. He walked around to the front of her again.
"They're gone. All your scars on your back are gone." He said. He realized his wings were still spread, and he stretched them. He spread them wide, and it was a good thing his room was as big as it was. The tips of his primary feathers just brushed the wall on either side of him. He stretched his arms at the same time.
She thought he looked quite impressive; Standing there at his tall height, his magnificent wings spread to their maximum wingspan. He let his wings droop slightly for a moment after he'd stretched them. "I need to fly some more," He said simply. "Else they'll get weak."
She wanted to touch the sleek, soft wings. She wanted to be able to fly, too, and it made her feel the smallest tweak of jealousy. She hated the fact that she couldn't fly.
"You're so lucky," She said to him with wonder in her eyes. He looked away to hide a smile and looked away, and the shining black wings went back and disappeared from view. She put on her shirt.
"And on that note, I think I'll go to bed." Gabrielle said, and she stood up. She could see the disappointment behind Dilandau's eyes that he was trying to hide. He stood up to show her to the door. She walked over to him, and she hugged him. He stood stiff under her gentle embrace. She felt so grateful to him for all he'd done for her.
"Thank you for everything. It's so good to see you again."
She hesitated for only a second before she stepped up on her tip-toes and kissed him. Gabrielle felt his body relax slightly. She hugged him again briefly, and felt his hand very lightly touch her back as she did so. She then turned from him and walked to the exit. "Goodnight, Dilandau." She whispered, and she left him standing in his quarters.
She made her way down the hall quietly, and her thoughts were lost for a while as she walked. She heard her name called and looked over her shoulder. Migel was approaching and walking up the same hall. "Hi Migel." She said softly.
"Good to see that you're back, and that you're all right." He said, at a loss for other words. He didn't really talk much.
"Thanks, and yeah... I'm going to bed now. I'm glad to be back, too. I'll see you in the morning." She said, and she smiled at him and continued on her way after he'd said goodbye.
She arrived at her quarters and got changed swiftly, with no other aim but to go to sleep. She lifted the book she'd been reading before she left and placed it on the night-table so she didn't knock it off the bed while she slept. She stripped of her uniform and fell straight into bed because she was so tired.
Back in his quarters that same night, Dilandau just felt a sense of relief now that she was home safe and was only two corridors away from him. All the days of no sleep seemed to finally catch up to him, and he got changed and lay in in the covers but only for a second of consciousness before he fell deep asleep.
Gabrielle awoke to the sound of a message buzzer. She pressed the play button and it told her to go to the dining room for breakfast. She arrived in the dining room to the smiling faces of the Dragonslayers and most of all, Dilandau. They all greeted her warmly and she felt like she had never really left at all and it was all just a horrible dream.
She sat down with them and they offered her food willingly and insistently, because she had become very slim in the week or so she'd spent aboard Allen's ship. She ate hungrily, but had to remember not to gorge herself completely because she had been so starved for a long time.
In the middle of her eating, the door opened, and a very tall, dog-like man came walking in the door. She recognized him immediately as a Melchian. He sat down at the table across from her and next to Dilandau. She hadn't noticed an extra chair was at the table. The tall Melchian man glanced at her a few times, and he waited patiently for his food. After a moment of waiting, he spoke to Dilandau.
"So, Master Dilandau, who is this beauteous creature?" He asked in a very deep, strong masculine voice. "This is Gabrielle. Gabrielle, this is Jajuka, and vice versa." Dilandau said.
"Dhar' yo." Gabrielle said, smiling.
"Oh, you speak some of the Melchian language?" Jajuka asked.
"I read it in a book." She said. "That's about the extent of my knowledge." She admitted, smiling. Jajuka grinned, and his food was served. She noticed that Jajuka's food was not the disgusting slop everyone else was served, except for herself. She had noticed she'd been given the nicer food instead of the gross slippery masses given to the Dragonslayers.
There was a sudden high-pitched beep, and she noticed Jajuka winced. He had very good hearing, and the frequency was painful to him. A young male voice spoke. "Dragonslayers report to the Landing Pad immediately.
The relaxed mood in the dining room dissappeared immediately, replaced by a rushed tension. They all got up and went to the Landing Pad, Gabrielle completely lost but following the last in line anyway. It happened to be Chesta.
"Chesta, what are we doing?' She asked, somewhat worriedly.
"We're going on a ground mission," He replied. "But we're not taking mechas. There'll be a group of horses on the ground to take us to our destination so that we're less conspicuous. We have to jump from a Carrier Mecha." Chesta explained hurriedly. They were almost there. Gabrielle swallowed.
"J-Jump?" She asked, but he was already on the Carrier. She nervously stepped on. She always loved heights, but only when she was in planes, or some other safe method of flying. What if the parachute didn't open? She'd fall, screaming to her death thousands of feet below! She felt the Carrier lurch into the air, and she felt slightly sick. All the colour had drained from her face.
She and the others remained in silence throughout the journey to their jump destination, except for Dilandau giving them instructions. She was practically shaking with nervousness. She'd never ever wanted to try skydiving. Now she was being ordered to. She watched Jajuka just out of fascination. He looked at her and smiled, and he looked out the window.
"Okay, everyone." Dilandau finally spoke. "Up, on your feet. Move!" He ordered, and everyone got to their feet, lining up single file in front of the door. Gabrielle got in line second to last.
Dilandau opened the door, and the pressure made her ears pop. She winced, and she noticed Jajuka did the same. Dalet was passed a pack, he put it on and jumped out of view. Next was Guimel, then Chesta, then Migel, and then Jajuka. It was finally her turn. She looked out the door, the wind whipping by, and her breath caught in her throat, butterflies exploded in her stomach, and the cold knot of fear gripped her seemingly by the neck, suffocating her.
"Jump," Dilandau said coaxingly. She looked at him, and out the door. She looked back, shaking her head. "I can't!" She replied. Gatti passed her a pack. She put it on, but still, she found she was rooted to the spot. Gatti pushed her closer to the edge, and she yelped, digging her heels, and attempting to go back. She was right at the door. She clutched at the steel. "Let someone go before me, I can't do it!" She exclaimed. "It just doesn't feel right, and I'm so afraid! I don't know what to do!"
"Too bad," Dilandau said, but not in an angry tone. "Your orders are to jump. Do it." He said. She looked at him with absolute panic in her eyes. Dilandau looked just behind her and she saw his expression turn to surprise. She felt a foot on her back, and Gatti had pushed her out of the door. What Dilandau saw just before she fell was something that made his heart stop. It was an orange tag sticking on the outside of the pack that read, 'Medical Gear.'
She hung in space for what seemed like forever, she flipped behind her very quickly and tried to grab onto the edge of the door but it was too late. The wind and the speed tore her away from the Carrier faster than her mind could get a grip on. She was falling, falling falling, and spinning through the endless skies, and she felt the whole world must be able to hear her scream.
Dilandau turned to face Gatti.
"You idiot! You fucking idiot!" He screamed. Gatti cowered. What had he done wrong? She was too afraid to obey orders and time was running out. Dilandau stared Gatti in the face. Gatti saw the fear in Dilandau's eyes, but not fear for himself.
"You gave her the Medic Pack. The Medic Pack! You didn't check for the orange tag!" Dilandau roared. Panic siezed Gatti.
"Oh Gods! What're we gonna do?" He shrieked, and Dilandau stared at him.
"Jump now, or get out of my way, you moron." He hissed, and Dilandau took off his pack and handed it to Gatti.
"Drop this and die," He snarled, and Gatti was lost for words. "Jump, you fool! Get out of my way!" Dilandau roared, and Gatti did what he was told with no more further thought.
Dilandau leapt out of the Carrier and spread his wings, steadying himself. He began to drop when he saw Gabrielle. She was still about two thousand feet up, and dropping fast. He lined himself up and opened his arms to catch her.
Gabrielle was incredibly afraid. Her mind was absolutely wild with panic, and she was crying. She had tried to find a ripcord on the bag, but there was none. This was the end. She wished she had wings. There was a tight feeling in her back, and then the whole front of her uniform ripped away. She grabbed half of the shirt that had split apart and held it to her.
She looked up and to the side, and there were two wings that were protruding from either shoulder. They were snow white except for halfway up the primary feathers, which were black. She could control them just as well as she could control her arms.
Panic-ridden, she flapped her wings as hard as she could, and she noticed her fall slowed, but she was still falling fast. Fast enough that when she hit the ground, it would kill her. She was having troubles beating them in synchronization, and they were too weak to keep her airborne properly. They shook as she, panicked, tried to flap them. Eventually, they gave out, too tired to work anymore. She forced them to flap anyways, and for a brief few seconds, she hovered in the air. She continued to fall after that, until something smacked into her, hard, and propelled her sideways.
Two strong arms clamped about her waist. Heavy wingbeats sounded in the air, just behind her. Not her wings. She turned her head, and she found herself in the arms of Dilandau, working hard to keep them from plummeting straight down. They began to move forwards, slowly at first, but then faster, towards the spot that the others had landed.
"Retract your wings," He said. "I can't risk that you be studied, too. I don't think any one of them will tell, but if they do, I can't risk it." He said.
"No, I can fend for myself." She said. She felt like she was being babied.
"No you... Well, yes you can, that's not what I meant to say. I mean you don't understand, I mean... I just can't let you."
"But I have wings... And I want to fly," She said stubbornly. She wasn't thinking straight from the shock.
"I know you do. But you can't right now, not without excercising your wings first. They're too weak right now, you've gone seventeen years without using them once. Please, just retract your wings and do as I say, please." He begged her. She retracted them somehow, and Dilandau hugged her closer. She felt safe in his arms.
Dilandau had an idea, and he skimmed the treeline. He landed a few metres from their destination point, and he and Gabrielle walked into the small clearing where the rest of them waited. The Dragonslayers all looked up when Dilandau and Gabrielle broke the treeline, stepping out onto the grass.
"Gabrielle! Thank God!" Gatti exclaimed. Then he looked puzzled. "How did you... How did you... survive?" Gatti asked, and the rest all voiced their agreement in question. All except Jajuka. They were silent for a moment. Gabrielle looked up at Dilandau, looking for a sign to see what he was going to say.
"You all swear on your honour as a member of the Dragonslayers... Your very lives, that what I am about to show you... You will never tell to anyone?" Dilandau asked boldly.
"Aye." They all said unanimously. Dilandau spread his wings. All of them gasped, all except Jajuka and Gabrielle.
"So that's why you could jump without a pack..." Gatti murmured. Dilandau folded his wings and they disappeared. "And thanks to you, Gabrielle nearly died. If I hadn't had wings, she would have fallen to her death. I never would have made it to her in time. The 'chute wouldn't have opened enough." He said darkly as he glared at Gatti.
"Lord Dilandau, I'm so sorry, I-"
"Just be quiet. The problem is solved, and we have a mission to carry out. Mount the horses." He said solemnly, and they did as he said.
The mission went fairly uneventfully. There was one assassination to be done, which Dalet handled flawlessly. The others were sent for backup, except Dilandau, who had to go regardless because he was the leader. They trotted off after the dirty work was done, galloping over the few hills until they reached the place where the Carrier was going to meet them. They tied the horses up, for the second Carrier to come and pick up.
Dilandau had to snap several times at everyone except Gabrielle and Jajuka to stop staring at him. He'd wished he never had to show them his wings, but how else could he have explained it? It was too late now, anyways. They were his men; He trusted them; They'd never tell.
Gabrielle and Dilandau walked away together from the Docking Bay hours later. Dilandau was talking to her about that night. "You still want to go with me, right?" He asked her, fidgeting with the strap on his sword.
"Yes, of course I do." She said.
"Okay. You have the dress... And I have something picked out, so... Can I meet you in two hours at your quarters?" He asked, and she nodded. "Okay." He affirmed, and then they reached the fork in the hall where they split off to go to their quarters.
Dilandau had a tune in the Melchian language stuck in his head. He smiled when he remembered the title.'Two Rains,' It was called. He pondered the metaphoric rhythm.
Tonight I won't let my mind confuse me. After dinner, I'll tell her I love her. I will. He opened the door to his quarters and shut them, immediately picking out what he was going to wear. He knew exactly what it was. How fortunate it was that his hair was silver! It had lost almost all colour by the time he was seven. He set about getting himself ready and humming the song to himself. He never hummed songs at all. It was strange, but enjoyable. He smiled. Tonight was the night he was going to tell her.
Gabrielle turned on music in her quarters. She had two hours to just put on a dress. She lounged around for a few minutes on her bed, finishing up a chapter in the book on Melchians. She finished the chapter and replaced the bookmark, staring at the wall. She was just in her underclothes because she saw no point in getting changed just yet. She got up and walked to the middle of the room.
She closed her eyes and concentrated on spreading her wings. After a minute, there was a slight rustle and her shoulders felt warm. Her wings were folded behind her back. She spread them wide as far as she could, trying to stretch them, but her room was not as big as Dilandau's. Her wings could spread about halfway, but she had to keep them partially folded. She folded one up and moved to one side of the room and stretched them one at a time. She couldn't help it; She felt she just had to beat one of the glossy, pearl-white wings. She flapped it down, and the force lifted her up into the air about two inches. It caused some papers to flutter off the desk, but that was about all. She smiled to herself and sat down back on the bed, retracting her wings. She decided she'd wait until about forty minutes before he'd pick her up before changing.
She read some more in the book, learning about the language, and she memorized a few words. As she wasn't going to be actively taught Japanese anymore for a while, she figured she should learn another language. Maybe she could learn some from Jajuka? She read some more, and then she glanced at the clock. Fifty-two minutes until he was going to pick her up, and she knew how punctual he was. To the damn second, that boy was. She smiled to herself; she'd not have been surprised to hear of Dilandau standing outside her quarters' doors when the time came, forty seconds early and watching the clock for the second to ring the bell on.
She leisurely got up and stretched. Gabrielle pulled the box out from underneath the bed and opened it. She pulled out the scarf, dress, gloves, and earrings. She kept little Merle's necklace on. The slender girl slipped them on, and fixed them so that they were just right. She did her hair up nicely, put in the earrings, the lipstick, and boots, and went back to quietly reading. She finished another chapter, and then, exactly ten minutes later, right on time, the door buzzer rang.
She stood and went to answer the door, pressing the button. It revealed Dilandau, as expected, but in a completely different suit than she'd ever seen him in before. With one elbow supporting him on the doorframe, his eyes of a haunting blood-wine colour were level with hers. He bore the slightest trace of a mischievious smirk, which was a characteristic expression of his. A long white shirt with small flat buttons was cut to his form, but was comfortably loose on him. A smart black jacket with a slightly lengthened bottom hung open and free from his shoulders. She noted a small, silver pin which bore his initials and symbol of his rank. A fleeting moment of sadness crossed Gabrielle's mind as she saw this - It seemed no matter where he went, he couldn't escape that… Not even for a moment.
Dilandau was just as taken with her beauty as she was with his handsomeness. She looked even better in it than he had imagined when he bought it for her. He'd wanted to see her in it with a desire that was sweet as well as bitter when it was unfulfilled. Now it was, and she shone in glory.
The dress fit her slim frame very well, showing her shape pleasingly. The scarf flowed down her chest with an air of refined dignity. The soft velvet gloves were perfectly cut to the size of her forearms up to the elbow. Her bright blue eyes were harmonized with the other colours of her outfit, and made the colour stand out with a sublime radiance. The earrings hung lightly and beautifully, showing in their symmetry their silver and jet beauty, the light making the small stones held in their beaks stand out a little more.
"So... Are we going to go?" She asked, holding her hands behind her back, slightly shy.
"… Yes." Was the slow reply. She waited a few seconds. He did nothing but gaze upon her, drinking in the sight of her beauty as if he were lost in a dream.
"Ahem, Dilandau?" She looked up at him.
"Go, yes?" He was snapped out of his dreamy state. She smiled slightly. He stepped gracefully to the side to let her out of the room and close the door. He felt almost ravenous in his want to kiss her, but he figured he should save it, even as much as it tore at his insides and raged like fire in every fibre of his body.
She brushed a stubborn strand of hair out of her eyes. "Where are we going, Dilandau?" She asked him. He couldn't tear his gaze away.
"To the ground. I'm taking you to a restaurant there." He said.
"Oh. How will we get there?" She asked.
"Jajuka will take us," Dilandau said, and he smiled at her. "He will escort us all the way down to the restaurant and get us our table." Dilandau explained. Very formally, he extended his elbow to her hand, and felt it slip on the inside of his arm. He led her down the hall, and she followed willingly.
She recieved a few second-glances while walking down the hall, and she smiled, but hid it shyly behind one hand as she often did when she laughed or smiled at something. They reached the place where they were to meet Jajuka in no time at all, and Dilandau rapped on the door. Jajuka emerged, bowing his regal head to them. He was dressed in a very formal-looking azure suit. It was a bright, clean blue, and it's rims were rimmed with a gold thread. His mane-like hair was tied back. He looked just as handsome in his own Melchian way as Dilandau was in his, and Jajuka knelt down formally and kissed Gabrielle's hand. Her hand habitually went up to cover her soft smile and blush. She wasn't used at all to being treated like this.
Jajuka stood and bowed, and then assumed position slightly behind Dilandau to show respect, but he was almost alongstride him. Jajuka asked Dilandau something rapidly in Melchian that she didn't understand. Dilandau replied in the same strange language, and she only recognized the word 'yes' in the sentence, because it was spoken so fast. Dilandau mentioned something in Melchian again to Jajuka, and Jajuka smiled and chuckled.
"What were you two talking about?" Gabrielle asked curiously.
"Nothing, really." Dilandau casually mislead her.
"Curious," She replied wistfully. They arrived in front of a very fancy looking transporter. It looked almost like a type of Railer car, but it hovered above the ground. It could fly, she soon found out.
"People use these to travel from Zaibach to the ground. They're only used on such special occassions as these." Jajuka explained to Gabrielle. Jajuka went and talked to the operator of the car.
"Master Dilandau, you don't mind if two other couples are going on the same car, do you?" Jajuka asked politely.
"No, why?" Dilandau replied.
"Because we can get another car if you prefer, Master." Jajuka said, and Dilandau shook his head. "This one will do just fine." Dilandau said, and Jajuka nodded. He told the operator it would be fine, and the operator lowered the door for all three to step on.
There were several sets of three seats. Two faced the front, and the third was spaced slightly separate from the two and was facing the side door. Dilandau and Gabrielle took the two seats facing the front, and Jajuka took the one facing the side.
There were two other couples, just as Jajuka had said, in the same car. It was tradition for a couple to have an escort to a destination, she found out, and so that was why the seats were arranged that way. After a few minutes of idle chat, the car lifted and disappeared out the bay doors, descending down into a city far below.
Jajuka had his eyes closed and was silent. She could tell he was slightly nauseous. Gabrielle whispered to him if he was all right. "I'm fine. I just get motion-sick in these infernal things." Jajuka said, and he smiled softly. "I can't stand to be in anything that moves like this that isn't a mecha. I don't know, it doesn't agree with me somehow." Jajuka said. His eyes were still closed. "I keep my eyes closed to ward off vertigo. Once we land I'll be fine." He said, and then resumed his silence.
She sat back, but still looked concerned for Jajuka. The ride was fairly short, and the operator announced that they'd landed in less than five minutes time. Jajuka stood up, and he looked decidedly better now that the motion had ceased. Jajuka stood at one of the two doors and let Gabrielle and Dilandau pass by him. Jajuka exited and then assumed his regular position.
Gabrielle looked at some fabulous works of architectury as they walked through the streets. They were in the upper-crust part of town, so their clothes still seemed fancy, but not as out of place as they seemed back at Zaibach. The night was clear, black and starry.
A building came up into view, it was a very impressive looking building that glowed with lights on the inside. Soft violin music and the sound of laughter and clinking champagne glasses emanated through the open doors, as two people walked in behind their escort. Jajuka respectfully lowered his head, and then walked in front of them to the doors of the restaurant.
They entered in the pleasant place, and Jajuka spoke with a female Melchian with white fur. She seemed quite flattered by his politeness and charm. She bowed and welcomed Dilandau and Gabrielle, took their names, and brought them to the elevator. Jajuka bowed and said goodbye. He stood by the elevator until it was out of sight, and then he turned and left, headed back to Zaibach to get some sleep. He was honoured he'd been chosen by Dilandau to be his escort, and he only wished him well as he left.
Another Melchian woman was waiting in the elevator with a clipboard. She'd been given Dilandau and Gabrielle's table number and was going to show them to it. The elevator gently lifted off the floor and came up to the top floor, where there was a beautiful sight.
There was one crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, but save from that the entire room was lit by candles on each table and the star's light. The room was painted in relaxing colours, and there were many plants about the room, expertly arranged and placed in eye-pleasing locations. The room looked stunningly beautiful from all angles.
The Melchian woman led them to their table, and she had them seated. She passed them two menus and left to attend to other tables. Gabrielle read the menu, and she found that all the items on it were of a distinct Italian-like feel. She read it thoroughly, and made up her mind. She'd get something simple, but something she'd always liked. Spaghetti. She remembered making spaghetti at home, and she missed it.
"It's very nice here," She said, as she calmly gazed around at all the simple but beautiful things. She loved looking at the sky and all the stars, twinkling in their pinpointed beauty. The candle let off a soft, pleasant glow. But what she loved most was Dilandau; Sitting there, getting lost in himself and her. He had such a peaceful expression on his face, and something else there, too. Sadness?... No. Happiness?... No, but still, and yet... She couldn't tell what it was. It was a soft expression, his head resting on the back of one hand, his head tilted ever so slightly. It was so unusual for him - a palpable softness that she had never witnessed from him before.
She reached out one hand halfway across the table and rested her hand ontop of his other, still keeping her gaze on his. He seemed to return back to where they were.
"Yes?" He asked.
"Sorry. You looked so... Not here." She said, and smiled.
"Oh," He said, almost sheepishly. "I must have been thinking of what to say again." He said.
The waitress came up. "Sorry to interrupt, but I was wondering if you'd decided yet?" She asked politely.
"Oh, yes I have." Gabrielle and Dilandau both said at the same time, and she smiled politely.
"Spaghetti," They both said again simultaneously. The waitress grinned.
"Should I just make that an order for two, then?" She asked.
"Please." Dilandau forced the politeness. "Oh, and a bottle of your finest red wine." He added.
"May I just have a glass of ice water and some tea?" Gabrielle asked.
"Of course." The waitress said, and she was gone.
"Well, um... What did you think of the mission today?" She asked him, at a loss for any other topic at the moment.
"Boring." Was his one-word answer.
"Oh," She replied.
"Except for the part about you getting wings... That was... Fun. Gatti is such an idiot." Dilandau said. "Well, look at it in this light; If Gatti hadn't given me the Med Pack by accident and pushed me out of the plane, we'd probably never have known I'd had wings." She said, and Dilandau considered it.
"Yes, but then there's the fact that he pushed you out of the plane to begin with. Without checking for the orange tag, which was stupid of him. What would have happened if I hadn't had wings? No one would have been able to reach you in time. You'd have died." He said. She agreed.
"Whenever I die is when and where I am meant to die, and there is nothing I can do to change it. Someday, I will die somewhere, and fate will have willed it to be." She said, with a shrug of one shoulder.
"Let's hope it's no time soon. I would prefer you … Stay." He said simply. She smiled.
"Yeah."
The waitress came up with the wine and ice water. She put down the bottle of wine and presented it to Dilandau. She put the ice water on the table, and she took their orders. She wrote them down quickly, bowed, and left again.
Gabrielle listened to the soft music in the background. "Always wanted to play the piano." She said, gazing through the window beside them at the dark horizon. "Never had time to learn. Too busy doing my own things." She said. She sighed. The very last shred of light there was faded and disappeared. "Never taught it in school. I know how to play the cello, though." She added.
"Chell-oh?" Dilandau asked.
"Oh, similar to a bass, but smaller." She said. He nodded.