intrepidxx

//02

Oct. 20th, 2007 at 10:29 PM

For

erewhile. A Cross/Linali fic set in a 'cowboy' age.

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The dim lighting gave the entire place a feel of antiquity.

Red hair on tanned skin, white gloves and maroon wine, a flash of gold on black. A perfect colour palette. A person that caught the eye. The amount of women circling around him certainly testified to that. And her eye was no exception.

They were all the same kind of women. Tall, stunning. All with low-cut necklines and receding hemlines. The very sight of them brought an embarrassed tinge to her cheeks.

She sidled around the bar, trying to clear up glasses as best she could. Her brother was not thrilled about her working here, but Linali had been firm. She was 18, now. Plenty old enough to be working. He was looking after her alone, and at the same time trying to finish his studies. He wanted to be a doctor, perhaps even save some lives. Do something, because heaven knows that no one else will.

Expensive wine, and women. What else could he possibly want? Cross Marian was not exactly hard to please. He was stretched on at the bar, leaning backwards as far as possible, with his boots hefted up onto the counter. The pose was dashing, really.

Linali's thin frame was loaded up with glasses on her tray, trying to nimbly wave around the crowd of people in the bar. Saturday night, the place was packed. The buzz of somewhat drunken chatter rang in her ears, a wet patch of floor made her feet slip.

Gravity did its work. She fell forwards, and yet, she was not falling anymore. A pair of strong arms were wrapped around her waist, hoisting her back to her feet. The red-headed man. She knew it before even turning around.

He smiled at her somewhat, and she could tell that it was a rather rare event that he did so. "Be careful. It would be a shame if a pretty girl like you were injured. I wouldn't get to see your face at this bar for a while."

His voice was deep, and somewhat rough-sounding, probably due to years of pipe-smoking. In fact, a long, thin cigarette dangled from his fingers at this very moment. Cross enjoyed the look of the blush currently tinging her cheeks. It was rather endearing.

His eyes looked her up and down, once. Subtly enough not to make her feel uncomfortable. A pretty girl, of all accounts. Dressed much more modestly than the women currently surrounding him. He could tell just how embarrassed she was, how out of place she felt right now.

"What's your name, miss?" the question was a surprise for her, taking her aback. "Linali. Linali Li." she corrected herself on the second count, trying very hard to avoid eye contact. He was probably the sort of man of 'ill-repute' that her brother had told her to stay away from.

An elegantly gloved hand reached out and tilted her chin up. A pair of lips brushed her cheek, spreading a heat like wildfire through her face.

"Excuse me, sir. I don't accept kisses without even knowing a man's name." her voice was firm, dark eyes were hard. Strangely, she wasn't offended when he laughed.

"That's a good idea, Miss Linali. It was just a greeting, nothing more." another laugh. His voice entranced her. "My name is Cross Marian."

He liked her. Her feistiness was rather amusing. She wasn't going to be one to give in easily, and that was one of the things he liked. She was interesting, and his curiosity was quirked.

Cross drew up a chair, taking the tray off her hands and setting it on top of the counter. Taking a quick look at the disgruntled bar owner, he slipped him a small wad of bills. "That's for Miss Linali's salary for the next hour, so I take it there won't be any problems." his tone brooked no arguments.

He turned back to her, giving her his full attention (well, perhaps not. A few side glances at beautiful women never hurt anybody). It was really all just a game, and he had already mastered the rules of it. She had not yet learned the rules.

A small smirk graced his handsome face. This was his favourite type of game.