A/N: Well, here's the TIVA talk I've wanted to write for a loooong time! Enjoy!
The elevator doors opened with a bing!, and a mildly surprised Tony was left facing a conflicted Ziva. He knew she was conflicted, yes; despite her relaxed eyebrows, her slightly parted lips, and her loose arms, her bright, wavering pupils gave her inner wars away.
"Excuse me." He asked, polite, brushing her away with a firm hand, which she blocked easily.
"Not yet." Ziva said, and pushed him back into the corner of the elevator. The elevator doors closed, and she tightened her lips. There was no going back.
He locked eyes with the Israeli, furrowing his brow in a frail attempt at discouraging her, and she smiled.
"You will need more than that, Tony." Closing her eyes, Ziva breathed in. "I merely wish to speak to you. You are only required to listen."
Tony huffed. "Well, if that's that, then..."
"Listen." She took a large step closer, vanishing the gap between then save for a few polite inches.
"Fly away, ninja. Too close." Tony crossed his arms and eyed her sternly.
"It is always fun to tease you." She lowered her head, her forehead brushing his chest. "I do not open up. It is not in my nature to share what makes me most vulnerable; it implies that someone other than me is aware of my weaknesses. It is not... safe." She paused to contemplate her fingers.
Tony spread one arm to press the stop button, and then allowed himself to relax his posture, subtly offering his arm as support.
"I like that about us, Tony." She murmured, smiling timidly. "You know everything that crosses my mind, sometimes even before it does. And always without me having to voice those thoughts. It... it is really something."
The dim light was somewhat comforting, but Ziva's words echoed something entirely different in Tony's ears. He started to grow more restless by the minute, and his body stiffened at the impending meaning behind the israeli's confession.
"I need you to use your super powers now, Tony." She smiled softly, attempting a playful tone. "I know you know. I do not know how you found out, but I can tell you do."
As if a moving car, to which you give a slight push and it derails, Tony shook his head and pushed her away, recoiling to the other corner of the elevator.
"That's the thing, Zi! That's the freaking thing!" He yelled, frustrated, and she stood there, unbalanced as she tried to make sense of the outburst. "You expect me to stay put until you need saving. You expect me to let you make the same mistakes you always do, and then come to your rescue. I'm glad you feel safe with me." He smacked the wall. "I'm freaking glad you feel safe with me, but the thing is, Zee-Vah, it's me who doesn't feel safe with you."
Her shocked expression matched her tone. "Tony..."
"Oh, it isn't about me dying, no. I don't doubt you have my back – literally. But do you have any idea... any idea, really," He hammered the words, his stiff posture wearing off. "how much it hurts to know that no matter how many times I save you, I will never be enough to make you want to stay alive?"
Ziva gaped at him, shimmering eyes defying his own. "It is not about you. Don't make it abo-"
"Oh, it is about me." He smirked. "For future reference, it is about me, Ziva. When you all but pay someone to get yourself killed, it becomes about me. It has to do with you? Then it becomes about me. I'm your partner, your friend, I'm someone to you."
Her lower lip trembled, and she brushed her thumb against the scar in her wrist. Somalia. "I won't let it get to that." She murmured, firm. "They won't get that far."
He snorted. "What? You'll die before they touch you?"
Ziva held her gaze up, a tear falling down her cheek. The atmosphere grew heavier.
"You'd give up everything you have now for revenge?" He asked, suddenly gentle before her admission, lacking the emotional strength to be as brusque as he wanted.
"It is not a choice." She sat down slowly, resting her head on the wall. "I would rather not, but it is something I have to do, Tony. I do not want it, though." She bit her lip. "I promise."
Tony sat on the opposite side, running a hand through his hair.
"You don't have to."
"I do."
"No, you don't." He insisted. "You could stay here. He'll kill you, Ziva. You could stay here, where I can keep you safe. You know, safer, ninja." He offered her a smile.
She smiled back, the corners of her mouth sad as she fidgeted. "Here?"
"Hum hum." He nodded.
"In this elevator?"
He grinned. "No safer place on earth."
"Untrue. We can still fall to our deaths."
"Unlikely."
"But possible."
Tony sighed. "True."
Ziva eyed him expectantly. "Protect me there. Come with me."
"What?"
"Come with me." She repeated. "Come with me, and I promise to take care of myself. I'll have your back, but I'll also have mine."
"Same thing." He informed her with a glint in his eye. "Why, is that an invitation?"
"Don't expect a card, DiNozzo." She teased, and then turned serious. "But I would really like to have you there with me."
"Then I'll be there. Simple as that." Tony shrugged and stood up, Ziva following his lead. They unpressed the stop button. "Where is it we're going again?"
Ziva smiled. "Verona, mio caro."
Was it Christmas already? Why, dear Tony, yes it was.
A/N: Verona is in Italy, for those who don't know : ))
One thing: I opted not to have them go to Berlin so I can be as original as my mind allows me to. Hope you enjoyed!