Disclaimer: I don't own Blackbird. Blackbird is © Shilin
Summary: Veloce thought Blackbird was crazy, or down right delusional, when she asked her to dance in the moonlight (but she expected such).
Note: Inspired by fifty sentences by Shaolin! I have permission!
Title: Midnight
Pairing: Veloce/Blackbird
Rating: K+
"No, Absolutely not."
"Aww, come on now, Visrin!"
Veloce folder her arms and refused to look the assassination in the eye. "I… I can't. I won't."
Blackbird grinned. "Which is it?"
"Does it matter?" Veloce, brought her legs to her chest and pressed her flushed face against her knees. "I won't."
Veloce had been enjoying herself, sitting on stairs and keeping a watchful eye for Weirin and Keri on the dance floor.
It was rare to find an inn where the group wasn't attacked as soon as they were recognized. Iriel soon joined them, laughing and dancing in between them and laughing like a child lost in his native language and his bond with the Book of Elements.
Veloce was eating her food, delicately tearing the chicken from the bone. Several times Weirin and Keritzel tried to pull her into the dance floor. Once she told them she does not 'dance'. Second time, she shook off their hands. Third time, she swore like a sailor (and gave Iriel some new vocabulary) scaring the couple.
Sure that the three of them could defend themselves if they were ambushed; Veloce slipped into the night. She lay on the grass, listening to the music and enjoying the gentle night breeze.
Her clothes ruffled against the still air. Veloce cracked open an emerald eye at the intruder. "Hello… Blackbird."
The assassin's white eyes frightened her; not that she showed any visible emotions. At night Blackbird's eyes took an eerie glow as if luring the mage in a hauntingly beautiful provocation, daring the mage to come hither.
Blackbird's wings disappeared into the turquoise gem secured on her left wrist. "Good evening… Visrin. Relaxing I see?"
"One must rest if they are expected to take action tomorrow."
"Action? You plan on training?"
"You sound impatient. Have you not told me that you would give me time to learn, in gratification of our last encounter?"
Blackbird sighed. "I should known that would come back to haunt me. Can't blame me for wanting some action around here…" The assassin took a spot next to the mage by plopping down and forcing a small cloud of dust in the air. Veloce gingerly brushed some dirt off her blacksmith's jacket.
The two sat in silence, enjoying the gentle breeze that had started up once more. Veloce hid a grin as the breeze flipped Blackbird's scarf, annoying the assassin as she tried to keep it down.
A familiar song, a slower song began playing.
'Ugh, that song.' Veloce swore. Vocruen was obsessed with that song. Every morning, he played it on the radio and it made her skin crawl. She was jolted out of memory lane as Blackbird tugged the woman's arms, forcing the mage to sit up.
"Ooh~ I love this song!"
Veloce blinked. "Seriously?"
"Of course, it brings back old memories." Blackbird sigh, a pleasant smile on her face.
Veloce nearly screamed as Blackbird extended a hand to her. "Won't you dance with--?"
"No, absolutely not."
"Aww, come on now, Visrin!" Blackbird whined, grabbed the mage's jacket and tugged the woman with little success.
Veloce folder her arms and refused to look the assassination in the eye. "I… I can't. I won't."
Blackbird grinned. "Which is it?"
"Does it matter?" Veloce, brought her legs to her chest and pressed her flushed face against her knees. "I won't."
"You… don't know how to waltz?" Blackbird raised an eyebrow.
Veloce nodded. "I learned a bit from my servant, but…It… was too embarrassing to dance with Vocruen."
"May I ask why?"
"He likes to thrust his hips forward each time we danced.* I know naught, and I wish to never know." Veloce spoke quickly, her ears burning from embarrassment.
Blackbird pouted as the gears in her head turning as the thought of ways to try to trick the mage into dancing. "Fine, Visrin. What if I told you, I'd kill you if you will not stand up?"
Veloce looked up and frowned. "If I'm dead, then I won't be dancing."
Blackbird grinning and lowered herself to eye level with the mage. "Of course, kill can easily translate to molest in my brain…"
Veloce hurried to her feet. "I'm up. I'm up…"
And the two joined together underneath the moonlight; their hands joining together, and their surroundings forgotten. Both were foreign to the steps of the waltz. Veloce picked up Keritzel's voice as the lyrics carried out to the yard.
Edelweiss… Edelweiss…
Every morning you greet me,
It began slow, and steady. Blackbird grinned as Veloce's head dropped, again refusing to look the assassin in the eye.
"Shy are we?"
"I simply do not wish to step on your feet, unless you want me to do so—well, that can be arranged." Veloce stomped with her right foot, gnashing on the assassin's shoe.
She grinned as Blackbird proceeded to scowl. "I won't let that one go, Visrin."
Small and white, clean and bright…
You look happy to meet me.
There was no reason to stop spinning. Her hand intertwined with the assassin's, upraised from the elbow and pressed palm-to-palm. As they turned, the colors around them spun, blending together with the lights from the lamps into one swirl.
Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Veloce finally looked up, a bit dizzy from staring at her feet. All the mage could focus on was Blackbird's white eyes; the vivid life in the orbs flashing and shining against the artificial light eradiated from the lamps.
Edelweiss, Edelweiss…
Bless my homeland forever!
Blackbird twirled Veloce, bringing the mage closer in a smooth move as the song went into a gentle solo. To Veloce, her blood boiled the moment the assassin took her hand. Even in the heat of battle, like a demon, her blood remained cold and calm allowing her to think strategically. With Blackbird, all logical senses become extinct.
Small and white, clean and bright…
You look happy to meet me
Blackbird grinned, a hint of wickedness gleamed in her eyes.
Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow forever
Their contact of one another was on in their eyes and hands. For a moment, Blackbird twirled Veloce once and Veloce swore under her breath feeling silly as she clumsily turned, feeling like a sputtering wind up toy.
Edelweiss… Edelweiss…
Bless my homeland forever!
The Waltz finished, and the two could hear sounds of applause from the inn. The mage pictured Keritzel sheepishly bowing in embarrassment.
Veloce and Blackbird stopped, each mocked a fake curtsey like children playing with formal attendances.
Their dances continued.
-FIN-
* = shameless reference to Voldo from Soul Calibur.