Title: Non-Traditional

Author: Eeevee

Rating: K

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Baccano! All characters are property of their respective creators.

Author's note: Spoilerish if you haven't seen the OVAs. And a bit rambley due to Claire's personality. For Jill The Vampire, hopefully it was what you wanted  they're one of my favorite pairings too… just hard to write for me.

The rumor had it that Vino was getting married, or that was what was going around the underworld of New York. There was another rumor that said he was dead, so how could he possibly get married? Yet another rumor claimed that he had killed the great assassin Felix and stolen his name. Many more rumors swirled around but only a few knew the truth.

And the truth was that Claire Stanfield never could do anything traditionally.

And the other truth was Claire did things the way he expected them to be done, and done they were. Critics had no bearing on his life; they were merely annoying insects that whined with don'ts, can'ts, and won'ts.

Claire once heard the saying, 'the world is your oyster.' He didn't care much for oysters but it was the sentiment that grabbed his attention.

He browsed through the cases nonchalantly. He knew that if it was the perfect gift, it would call to him. Inferior merchandise never had that ring to it and this gift had to be extra special. Silver glittered on a black velvet pillow, catching his eye, and he moved past all the other gleaming metals to seek it out.

Gently his strong fingers picked up the object and turned it in a small circle. The workmanship was impressive and the metal was even and delicate. It was certainly a nice enough present, but was it perfect? Perfect enough to be given to his future wife?

He placed it back down in the indentation on the velvet and browsed some more. This was the fifth or sixth shop he had visited and that was the first inkling he had. His brother had given up on his quest a few shops ago, but that was the way Luck was, and Claire accepted that not everyone had the standards he did.

When Luck had found out what exactly they were shopping for, he had groaned, 'What kind of present is that for the girl you're going to marry?'

Claire peered around and replied, 'One she'll enjoy.'

'Just what kind of girl said yes to your crazy proposal anyway?'

'The one I'm going to marry.' Claire said with a bit of a warning in his tone. He glanced at a gold one and dismissed it as too gaudy.

Luck wisely shut up. At least until the third shop.

'You should've brought Firo if you were going to go shopping for knives.' He complained, showing no interest in the sharp blades all around him. He shrugged and warned, 'And I'll be even less help with dresses.'

While his brother's company was pleasant, it wasn't necessary, because Claire knew what he wanted.

He went back to the silver one and was delighted to find that it came in a brace. He purchased it not even noting the outlandish price. Money was nice but unimportant. He would always have enough because this was his world and he needed it.

The dress was much harder to pick out. While he was a sharp dresser most of the time, he didn't actually pick out his clothing. Usually his wardrobe was taken care of because if left to his own devices he would either be wearing a conductor's uniform or a skin tight suit for the circus.

Another problem he had was that in his mind's eye almost all the dresses looked beautiful on her, no matter how frumpy they looked on the plastic mannequins. But he could easily recall the black dress that hugged her lithe and wiry frame in all the right places and he decided simple was better. She didn't need a lot of frills and ribbons to make her look better because she made the dress look better not the other way around. Aside from that, embellishments might get in the way of her fighting.

He stopped for a moment to stare dreamily into space, recalling the way she danced across the train top, blades ready and glinting dangerously. Just as dangerous as her yellow eyes. She reminded him of a black panther that had lived at the circus in a tiny cage.

He could see that cage around her and he wanted to free her. He wanted to free her to have her. He wanted her in his universe under his rules because he knew he would treat her the way she deserved to be treated.

There had been others before but he knew there would be no others after. He had known that instantly, even before she had shown him her fighter's spirit and soft uncertainty. She was different; she was what he had been so patiently waiting for.

Love at first sight.

Berga had scoffed at that one. Keith merely gave a ghost of a smile and a nod of understanding before he proceeded to wipe them out with his hand. Claire never did get why his brothers felt comfortable ruling the world of cards, yet did nothing about the rest of their existences.

He peered at a white dress and admired the cut. The fabric was soft to his touch and it moved with the slightest tug. There was a give to it that spoke of its flexibility. He considered for a moment, since he didn't actually know her favorite color and he had only seen her wearing black.

But he felt white suited her better.

…

And the second he saw her wearing it, he knew he had been right. Because he was always right. It was his world and he knew it was right to bring her into it. Chane Laforet. His future wife.

And suddenly he wanted something traditional. He wanted a wedding with friends and family gathered around congratulating him. He wanted to see her wrapped up in fine lace with a train that made her appear to glide across the floor. He wanted to see a ring adoring her slender fingers marking her as his and a ring adoring his finger marking him as hers.

They would make a perfect couple. And that was something he would convince her of. Because she was his world. Claire Stanfield had fallen in love the traditional way, but he hardly minded.