Here it is; the next chapter! Fairly random, but any excuse to write fluff is a good excuse.
Enjoy~
Pink: Grace; Admiration; Joyfulness
"Beka, open up! Aw, c'mon, you know I didn't mean it!"
Beka pointedly ignored the banging on her door. Ersken could stand out there all day if he wanted to; she didn't care. His comment had hurt her, and though it hadn't been out of spite, Beka had taken it the wrong way entirely. She hadn't been in a good mood this morning, and now he had only made it worse.
"You know, your sulking reminds me of Pounce when he doesn't get any tuna."
She looked up to see Rosto leaning on her windowsill, barefoot and utterly relaxed. Though she was tempted to push him from his perch, she said, "Aren't you supposed to be at the Dove?"
He smirked, taking it as an invitation to come fully inside. "It's far more entertaining over here right now. Besides, you looked like you need company."
"So long as it isn't Ersken," Beka grumbled. "Watch your step."
He landed gracefully on the floor, avoiding the piles of clothes, books, and who knew what else as he made his way to her bed, where he had to move aside Achoo so he could sit down. Plunking down beside her and making her bounce, he said, "So what made you get so mad at him?"
She didn't reply at first, instead rolling her shoulders- he immediately began massaging them, and she let out a sigh, relaxing. "Well, Tunstall and I got a Puppy today, by the name of Nathanial. He's a smart lad, with brown hair and unusual grey eyes." She paused, and seeing that he made no move to stop, continued. "That in itself isn't the problem, though. He has a twin sister and a father who're rushers in your court- I think their names're Natasha and Berry Clive."
His hands continued their soothing motion. "Yes, I know them. Berry's been around for years, but Tasha joined up right after you came back from Port Caynn. Even though she's only sixteen, she handles knives like the best of 'em." He paused. "She can't beat me, though. She lost a practice duel to Mad Martha, and everyone knows I can beat her in my sleep."
Beka nodded. She knew Rosto was the best. "Well, anyway, when Ersken heard of it, he said…" under his fingers he could feel her tense up again, "he said that those with connections to the Rouge should stick together, so's everyone knows who to blame if a rat slips away!" She was visibly trembling now, and Rosto knew that if he didn't calm her, she may just do something she would later regret- like punch Ersken. And he knew Kora would want revenge, friend or no. "Beka," he said softly, "You know I would never put you in that position, and that I would never blame you for it if you were."
"I know," She said. "But Ersken doesn't. Just 'cause Kora's a mage, and technically not a rusher, he thinks he can get away with it. Rosto," she turned to look at him, "I'm scared that our friendship will hurt one of us in the long run."
Well, he knew that already. Taking her hands, he said, "Beka, I should think that you know that if anything happened to you, I wouldn't rest until I find out who hurt you and exact my own revenge. Remember the Pell brothers?" When she stayed silent, he said, "As for me, I'm the Rouge. I have my own means of protection, and though I will doubtless fall one day, I swear that time will be years away. Alright?"
She nodded, though he could tell she was still troubled. "And I know your temper, Beka. Words don't usually bother you that much- you're hiding something."
Turning those beautiful ice-blue eyes on him, she said, "Lately, I've been having this…feeling… that something is coming. And I don't like it. It feels worse than the Shadow Snake, the opal murderers, and Pearl's colemongering put together. I've lost so many people I care for because of those things… I don't want to lose someone else."
He had heard about Slapper, of course. Though he knew how much the pigeon had annoyed her, he also knew it had been her favorite, in a way. Then, he remembered, Goodwin had accepted promotion upon arrival back in Corus… he squeezed her shoulders. "Beka," He said, "death is a part of life. If what you feel does come true, I know that you can get through it. Just promise me that we'll face this adventure beside each other."
The young woman in front of him nodded. "I promise, Rosto. We worked together with the Shadow Snake and Opal Murders, didn't we?"
"Exactly." His smile giving his features even more beauty, he said, "I have something for you. A little pick-me-up."
She stared as he got up to leave. "I'll be right back!" he promised. "Unless you want to follow me to my rooms at the Dove…"
"Friends, Rosto, remember?" She laughed, shoving him out the window, but she still wished she could take him up on it. "You better not be lying, and leave me stranded here with Ersken," She warned.
"Wouldn't dream of it, love." His eyes sparkling mischievously, he shimmied down to the ground and strode jauntily across to the Dove, walking as if he owned the place- which, technically, he did. Beka's eyes followed him all the way.
It was when the door to the Dove closed behind her favorite rusher and Rouge that she turned to scream at the door. "Ersken! I swear, if you don't stop that racket right now, I'll come out there and make you stop!"
The Dog fell silent, and she heard footsteps seconds later- he had finally given up. Which, when she thought about it, he had a reason to- once she spoke, he knew she had forgiven him. Grumbling that she couldn't keep him on his toes for too long, she lied down on her bed and waited for Rosto to get back, feeling under her pillow to the two slips of paper she knew resided under there. At this point, they were the only things that could ease the ache inside her heart- an ache that was made worse when she knew that she could never heal it the way it demanded.
"Why does every aspect of my life have to be difficult?" She complained. Achoo wuffed softly in her ear as a reply, then licked it. Beka patted her scent hound on the head. "Well, I guess I have you, don't I?" She said. Achoo wriggled happily, barking an agreement, and nearly deafening Beka in the process. Hastily she sat up. "Love you, too," She grumbled as she rubbed Achoo's belly.
Rosto arrived moments later to see Beka and Achoo wrestling for control of the bed. Amused, he watched as his Bloodhound lost utterly to the smaller canine, being dumped unceremoniously onto the floor as the dog refused to give up her spot, only to move into the area Beka had made warm moments ago. "Ungrateful, that's what you are," Beka complained. "See if I give you any treats this week!"
He crossed the room, hauling her up. "I think," he teased, "Your dignity was shot."
"No need to remind me," she huffed, and then fell silent when she saw his present. "Another one?" She finally asked, as he raised the dark pink rose to present it to her.
"Do you have a grudge against roses?" He teased. "I was trying to show my appreciation for everything you've done for me, and one of the flower-girls recommended it." At her look, he said, "It was a strictly innocent conversation, Beka, and I sent Phelan to do it, anyways- Though I did supply the money." He tapped her nose with the flower. "So, do you like it?"
She sighed, smiling. "Yes, I do. Thanks, Rosto." She looked over to where his last rose had been, and slid the pink one in the vase. "You know, pink isn't exactly my favorite color," she said.
He shrugged. "They don't exactly have light blue roses, Beka. I tried my best."
"I didn't mean it like that!" Beka protested. "And…light blue isn't my favorite color." She admitted. "It's dark brown, almost black." The color of your eyes, Rosto.
He raised his eyebrows, genuinely surprised. "But blue is much prettier. I'd rather look at blue any day than brown."
"Well, I'd rather look at brown." She insisted. Rosto studied her for a moment, and then shrugged. "Well, they don't have brown roses anyway, unless you wanted a dead one," he said. "And personally, I don't think that's a good present." He began walking to the door, and then said, "Ersken's gone, isn't he?"
"Should be," Beka admitted. "He left a while ago." Just when he was about to close her door, she asked softly, "Rosto, do you think I'm wrong, being friends with you?"
He looked at her blue eyes, and almost cried at the heartbreak and worry he saw in them. "No, Beka. You being my friend is the best thing that's ever happened to me. I wouldn't trade it for anything." The door closed softly, and he leaned against it, closing his eyes. "I love you, Beka." He whispered to himself. "What wrong could ever come out of love?"
On the other side of the door, Beka gently traced the rose's petals, a sad smile on her face. "I wouldn't trade it for anything, either," She murmured. "With you, my life is much brighter. I love you, my savior, my friend…my Piper."
What'd you think? :)
Next chapter, I assure you, will be much more juicy in Beka/Rosto goodness. Keep an eye out; you won't be dissapointed!
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