Chapter 64

Author's Note: Yay, another chappie! It's basically what Dafne and Basta got up to while Dustfinger was busting out Silvertongue and friends. He needed some time to do it. This chapter also indulges my love of making Basta speak Deutsch and I wanted to write a bit of fluff (well fluff mixed with angst) since there's gonna be a whole lot of drama ahead. Thank you once again to my reviewers. I LOVE you so much! Love, love, love!

The first thing Dafne noticed when they reached Basta's house was that the window next to the door was open slightly. She tensed, thinking this had been a slip up on Dustfinger's part. He must have exited that way and not closed it fully in his haste. She looked to Basta, expecting him to notice it as well. But Basta made no comment on the suspicious opening. He simply unlocked the door and moved aside so she could enter first.

There was a familiar cat sitting in the middle of the living room. It threw Dafne a brief uninterested glance as it stalked over to slither around Basta's legs.

"Hey you stupid cat," Basta said, looking down at the creature, "I see you got in alright," he pointed to the window which had been intriguing Dafne, "I've been leaving the window ajar for him to get in."

I bet Dustfinger couldn't believe his luck when he discovered that, Dafne thought uncomfortably. An open window meant he hadn't even had to pick the lock. Basta had unwittingly made it very easy for his enemy to break into his house. No doubt that would pain him later, when he found out.

But right now Basta was still oblivious. He picked up Ignazio by the scruff of the neck, lifting him to face level. The cat scowled, obviously not liking being dangled in the air.

Basta returned the scowl good-humouredly,

"Yes I'm a good master, aren't I, you ungrateful cat. Indeed I am."

He turned the irritably wriggling cat to face Dafne,

"Look you stupid cat, Dafne's come home for the night. You remember Dafne, don't you."

Basta smiled as he proffered the cat to Dafne.

"Say hello."

Dafne took Ignazio into her arms, giving him a soothing scratch behind the ears.

"Well you two seem to have grown on each other," she said to Basta a little teasingly, "You leaving the window open for him and him greeting you like an old friend when you walk through the door."

Basta sneered a little,

"Old friend my foot. He only treats me like that because he knows I'm the one to suck up to," his eyes lowered to Ignazio, "You know that, don't you, you stupid cat. You know I'm the one who takes care of you."

"It's good of you to do that," Dafne said, sensing Ignazio's edginess in her embrace and setting him down on the floor, "I know Netta would appreciate it. Silvio too."

She watched Ignacio prowl into the kitchen, a feeling of sadness washing over as she thought of the pair. She missed them dearly, Silvio especially. She glanced at the spot where Basta's couch had been. He had gotten rid of it since she had been there last. But she could still imagine Silvio sprawled out on it, asleep or almost asleep, fighting to keep his eyes open so he could hear more of the stories she told them.

"Well I'm only doing it because of the boy," Basta said, causing her to turn to him. His expression was solemn. She wondered if he looked at the same empty spot and conjured the same memory of the boy, "I know he would have wanted me to. He was always so stupidly soft when it came to animals."

He shook as head as if to appear disapproving but Dafne could tell his heart wasn't in it. It was obvious he missed the boy as much as she did. The difference was he didn't have the comfort of knowing where Silvio was. He didn't have the comfort of knowing he was safe whereas Dafne did. She knew Silvio was safe and she had only betrayed Basta tonight in order to keep it that way.

She wondered if he would understand if she told him the whole truth. Would he be less hurt and angry if he understood exactly why she had helped Dustfinger? She had no idea. All she knew that was the guilt of her involvement was like an itch she couldn't sooth, an itch which could drive her crazy.

She stood on the spot, watching Basta, not sure what to do.

Basta watched her in similar indecisive silence. Then he sighed deeply as if trying to push the melancholy out of him, his mouth forming a smile.

"It's good to have you back in the house, dear heart," he said, "It's rather lonely here without you," he pointed to Ignazio who was curled up under the table, "The stupid cat doesn't make great company. He can't argue with me or tell me stories like you do."

A smile crawled onto Dafne's lips,

"You miss arguing with me?"

Basta's smile grew mischievous,

"Not as much as I miss doing certain other things with you."

He bridged the gap between them and kissed her,

"Like that for instance."

Dafne tried to shut out any feeling of guilt as he moved to kiss her again. He tasted so sweet, so wonderfully sweet. Sweet Basta, the man she loved. Had betrayed. She broke the kiss and put her head despairingly on his shoulder. She felt his hands in her hair as his lips brushing against the side of her head.

"I have a surprise for you," he murmured.

She looked up at him meekly, thinking please no surprises, I don't deserve surprises.

But Basta couldn't mind-read and he led her towards the kitchen.

"What's the one thing you like the best besides me?" he gave her a clue as they went.

"Books," Dafne knew that was the right answer. She could see the two books stacked on the table, waiting for her.

"That's right," Basta smiled at her indulgently, "Surprise."

Dafne didn't hesitate in her curiosity to check the titles. The first book she had read before. The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien. The second book she hadn't read and intrigued her more. The Ill-Made Knight by T. H. White.

"Well?" Basta asked, "Do you like them?"

Dafne nodded,

"Where did you get them?" she couldn't help asking.

Basta sighed.

"Does it really matter?" he said wearily.

Dafne took this to mean he hadn't purchased them from a book store.

She placed The Ill-Made Knight on the table, her fascination in it somewhat spoiled.

"Are they Darius'?" she asked with faint reproach in her voice.

Basta plopped himself into a chair with another sigh,

"No. If you must know, I found them in the car Dustfinger and Silvertongue's brat came here in. I saw them and thought they might appeal to you," he eyed her sullenly, "Obviously not anymore by the looks of it."

Dafne picked up The Ill-Made Knight again,

"I wouldn't say that," she said, opening the book up to the first page before glancing at Basta, "They do appeal to me. It's just that I don't like idea of having other people's books. This one probably belongs to Silvertongue's daughter," she caressed the page lightly, "It must have meant something for her to bring it with her."

Basta sprung to his feet abruptly, causing Ignazio to shoot out from beneath table.

"What do I care about that," he growled, "I was only trying to please you. You know if Silvio were here, he'd tell you to get off my case and just read the story," Basta grimaced as soon as he said this. Mentioning the boy reiterated the sad fact of his absence. He lowered himself back into his chair, staring soberly at the floor, "You'd do it too," he went on more quietly, "just because it was him saying it and not me. That boy had you wrapped around under his finger."

"That's true," Dafne said softly as she closed the book gently.

She placed it on the table before drifting over to Basta. She cupped her hands to his face and he looked up at her somewhat miserably.

"I know you miss him Tiger Eyes," she murmured, stroking his face.

Basta didn't answer. He didn't have to. His eyes wandered over to the door before trailing back to her,

"I keep expecting him to pop up out of the blue, smiling that dopey grin of his," he said before sighing, "I don't know why. I shouldn't want him to. It'd be the end of him if he did. Capricorn is not going to change his mind about having him killed."

Dafne knew that very well. It was why she had agreed to help Dustfinger, to stop him from potentially alerting Capricorn to Silvio and Netta's whereabouts. Because if Capricorn found out, he would send Basta to kill them. She had prevented this from happening. She had kept Silvio and Netta safe.

"That's why it's comforting to know they're alive and safe somewhere," she found herself saying, "Even though we miss them. Their safety is the most important thing," more important than the guilt she was carrying, "The most important thing."

Basta's hand cupped her face,

"I know," he said, solemnly meeting her gaze.

Guilt suddenly overtook Dafne in a powerful surge,

No you don't, she thought as she stared into his face, you don't know I betrayed you to keep them safe. I'm so sorry I had to do that. So sorry.

Guilt burst through her eyes as tears.

Basta's brow furrowed in concern at the sight of them.

"Oh dear heart," he murmured pityingly, "I know you're sad but please don't cry. I hate seeing you cry."

Dafne rubbed her eyes,

"Sorry," she said throatily, apologising not for the tears but for the thing he had no idea about.

Basta reached to smudge away a tear she had missed,

"I think I have an idea of how to cheer you up," he said, "I'll give you a German lesson, would you like that?"

He didn't wait for an answer. He got up and pushed her into his seat.

"Alright," he said, rubbing his hands together briskly as she stared at him mutely through swollen eyes, "How about this, you switch me over to German and then you point at something in the room you want to learn the word for. Like, er," he looked around for an example and found one, "Table," he tapped on it for emphasis, "You point to the table and I'll say table, in German that is. Got it?"

Dafne couldn't help smiling. It was amusing to have him assume the manner of a teacher.

She nodded eagerly,

"Got it."

"Okay then, switch me over," he told her.

Dafne's smile increased to a grin,

"Basta speak German ja ja," then she pointed to the table.

"Küchentisch."

Dafne repeated it then pointed to the other kitchen chair.

"Stuhl."

She pointed at the floor.

"Küchenboden."

She pointed at the ceiling.

"Zimmerdecke."

She pointed to Ignazio.

"Dummer Kater."

She pointed at Basta. He laughed and rolled his eyes.

"Basta."

She shook her head. She had actually been pointing at the red flower in his buttonhole of his jacket. She pointed again.

"Jacke?" Basta guessed, tugging on his jacket.

Dafne shook her head and beckoned him closer so she could put her finger on the flower.

"Ah," Basta said in understanding, "Blume."

He popped the flower from his buttonhole and tucked it behind her ear with a smile.

Then he took her hand and placed her fingers on her mouth,

"Lippen," he said.

"Lippen," she repeated against her fingers.

Basta nodded. He moved her fingers aside so he could kiss the place he had just taught her the name of in another language. She kissed him back, grabbing his jacket and pulling him closer towards her, she wanted him close, needed him close...

Then she heard the sound of distant gun shot and stiffened, tearing her mouth away from his.

Dustfinger and Silvertongue, she thought instantly, thinking the worst.

Basta's face was brushed against her own, he was murmuring to her in German, in a soothing tone, trying to coax her lips back to his. She gave in after a little while, went back to kissing him, telling herself to believe the shot had been intended for a cat instead of humans.

She soon lost track of time and wasn't sure how much time passed until someone started pounding on Basta's door.

"Basta! Open up!"

Basta grit his teeth, putting one finger on Dafne's lip to keep quiet, as if he thought his caller might be deterred by silence.

By he wasn't. He kept on banging on the door and shouting,

"Basta! Quick! Silvertongue's escaped!"

Dafne grimaced as she watched Basta react to the news.

"What?" he said to himself in a horrified voice.

He sprung away from her and flew over to open the door.

"What do you mean escaped!" he yelled at Flatnose.

"What do you think I mean," Flatnose hissed urgently in his strained voice, "He and the rest of 'em managed to bust out of the cages. They've just driven off in the fat one's car!"

Basta shook his head vigorously in disbelief.

"They can't have. Not in that car. No way. The keys are..."

He turned wildly and raced up the stairs. Dafne could hear him rustling around.

"No!" he cried, "There's no... How!"

He came rushing back down the stairs, looking incredulous and frantic,

"Those keys were under my pillow. I don't know..."

His eyes came to settle on the open window. He stared for a moment before his face contorted with rage,

"Dirtyfingers!" he screamed, "He's been in here. He stole the keys. He got in through the..." Basta seized hold of Flatnose's jacket, trying to shake him though the sturdier man didn't budge, "He's helping Silvertongue!"

Flatnose pushed the smaller man away,

"That doesn't matter. We need to go after Silvertongue. Otherwise the boss'll be furious."

He wrung his hands, looking anxious.

Basta swung around to look fearfully at Dafne. She knew exactly what he was thinking. He was thinking about her being punished. This was something she had already known would happen. She had prepared herself for it. But she couldn't prepare herself for the horrible feeling of seeing him so frightened for her, of having made him so frightened for her.

"Dafne," he said in a voice which quivered too much to sound as calm as he wanted it to, "I need you to go back to Capricorn's. I'll get Silvertongue back. Don't you worry."

She nodded, guilt stabbing her like a million pins. She was so sorry to have put him in this situation. But there was nothing she could do but let him go after Silvertongue, let him attempt to rectify what she had helped do.

"Hurry idiot, let's go!" he hissed, shoving Flatnose's bulk though the man needed no prompting to get going, "Move it! Move it!"

Dafne listened to Basta cursing as they hurried off after the escapees.

"When I catch Dirtyfingers, I'll cut him into ribbons! I'll take my knife and..." there was a pause before Basta wailed, "My knife! That dirty son of a bitch stole my knife!"

To be continued...

Can you tell Basta likes his kitty pal but won't admit to it? My dad used to have the same attitude with our cats. It's all "stupid animals, why am I stuck taking care of them, they cost $$$" / secretly pats them when no one is looking. Yeah Basta's like that :3 except with dogs 'cause he beats them remember D: I have a feeling Basta won't be leaving the window open for Ignazio anymore though

My intention with the whole Dusty-got-through-the-window thing was so Basta wouldn't catch on very quickly that someone had been in his house. A broken lock would be pretty cluey though I know Dusty is good at lock-picking. He saved his skillz for the cages.

Here is Basta's German (I hope it's right Ziliverina, if not please give me another free German lesson :D)

Küchentisch / Kitchen table

Stuhl / Chair

Küchenboden / Kitchen floor

Zimmerdecke / Ceiling

Dummer Kater / Stupid (Male) Cat :D

Jacke / Jacket

Blume / Flower

Lippen / Lips

Until next time bellas!