She fell off the chair. Laer, the tiny girl with impeccable balance, just fell. Her face twisted into a scowl as her heart damn near stopped in her chest. She didn't speak, and her eyes very, very slowly moved up to meet Cris'. A storm churned in her stomach.
He sat up immediately after she fell. "Laer? You alright?" He reached out his hand, touching her arm gently
She took a long deep breath in, "Yes." Physically! Her face remained a scowl. She tried a smile but it looked very off with that furrowed brow.
"I ran into Brisa at the Booty and she reminded me of the problem that the asshole was still alive. We need to finish him, once and for all." He glared at her. "I want him dead."
What the hell was she going to tell Cris? That they were going away together for a week? That she thought she loved him? "He isn't even looking for you anymore." She'd made damn sure to get Cris in the clear. Why kill him? WHY?!
"Doesn't matter. I'll be at peace knowing that he's out of the picture. I have to get back, but I'll be expecting news from you soon. If you can't, I'll get Ziggly to do it."
She nodded, "Alright." Hopefully Cris didn't quite understand her hesitation. She stood up, brushing her uniform off as she did.
"Unless you can do it now. I didn't see his sorry ass leave the building. I would love to see him dying." There was a hint of madness in his eyes as he sought revenge.
She shook her head, "He is too well guarded right now." The thought occurred to her that she couldn't kill the Admiral and wouldn't kill Cris if he tried to, but Ziggly? Oh, she'd end him in a heartbeat though she considered him a friend. There had to be a way out of this. "It may take some time. But we will see."
He swung his legs off the bed and shook his head. "We don't have some time. We need it done as soon as possible. Do it tomorrow. In two days. I don't know. I'm sure a tight-ass like him has no life. No one would miss him."
She gritted her teeth, "Oh no, its going to take some doing. You don’t rise in this miserable army without knowing how to handle your shit." That part wasn't bullshit. Though, she wasn't sure if Tarin could take Ziggly. He was a crafty little fuck. "Is this about vengeance?"
He stood and walked toward her, getting somewhat close. "Perhaps." He looked at her and a finger caressed her cheek. "Does it matter?"
"Yes actually, it does." Her face burned under that finger, in passion and rage and shame. "Because if its revenge you’re after, I'm sorry, but he's the wrong one. I'm the one that wasn't smart enough to smell the trap, and it’s my fault you ended up in that felhole of a prison. I got us both out of the mess I made." She took a deep breath and made sure her gaze didn't waver from his. "Also, just what in the hell do you think is going to happen if the Admiral in charge of arresting, sentencing, and policing piracy all of a sudden comes up dead? Do you think the empire you're rebuilding will stand a chance when Garrosh sicks the whole light damned armada after every ship flying the black flag? It'd be a financial and personal disaster that I don't think I could fix from in here." Part of why she stayed in service was to in the future make damn sure Cris looked as clean as new bed linen.
He frowned, "You sound like Alaia." He turned away, and shook his head.
She snorted, "Revenge isn't worth throwing your life, or hers, or Gerty's, or even Zig's life away. I'm this close," she held up her thumb and index finger, barely an inch apart by her face, "to having access to every document that goes in and out of his office. You would throw away that much information, and power just because you got busted to my fuck up?"
He turned instantly to look at her. "Laer, you work for me, not for this pathetic Horde organization. He will die. If you won't do it, someone else will do it for me."
She took two steps forward and grabbed him by that long blond hair, making damn sure he couldn't look away. "Iam working for you. And I'm not at all willing to let you blow the whole trade out of the water because you're pissed off. Do you not understand what it means to make sure that any and all information that gets to the Horde about any captain, but especially you, and in turn out of it, will do for business? He's a fucking desk jockey now; just as stuck in that prison as you were, only not on the business end of the torture rod. Death would probably make him happier than life at this point. You want vengeance? You let me make sure the horde only gets your enemies in their cells, and only chaos comes back out. It will keep him trapped in there like a rat in a box till the old gods finally manage to reshape Azeroth."
Just as she finished what she had to say, he reached for her chin, gripping it in place. He spoke calmly and gently while his eyes looked down at her. "I don't give a fucking rat's ass what the fuck he does. He can be cleaning the prisoners' shit, scrubbing the smell out of their fucking cells for all I care. That fucker is going to die, understand?"
"Cris, I'm going to be as blunt as I can. I am not going to let you fuck us all." There was something in her look, something cold and hard and not at all Laer, at least not Laer as Cris knew her, or Laer as even Tarin knew. The horde made this cold monster who was almost standing on her toes to meet Cris' gaze.
He glared at her and let go her of her chin harshly. As he pulled his hair from her hand he nodded. "Alright. Fine." He turned and reached for the old patchwork cloak and hat. "Fine." He reached for his gun, checking it carefully. He began to check his weaponry before putting the cloak and hat on.
And just like that Laer was back. She took a lunging step forward and hugged him from behind. "Cris, I know you're mad at me but I love you. Hopefully you'll figure it out later. Be safe." With that she left him. Good thing she was near enough to the barracks to get herself packed and to the zeppelin in time.
Cris missed her presence for a moment before the pain of betrayal hit him. He sighed, muttering, "I'll do it myself if I see him." He covered up and walked out toward his ride: the zeppelin.
It was a very hectic time and she was relieved to see the blond, wonderful man in something other than his uniform. "Tarin." Laer was dressed in typical fashion: a pair of leather pants and a top, which could be described not as a shirt, but as by a boob cover. To humor Tarin, she had on a pair of sandals.
He smiled his almost militant smile. "You always look nice outside of your uniform." He shuffled in his well-pressed casual outfit. Even outside of uniform, he was proper. "I do hope that this trip is to your liking." The zeppelin began to approach and he insisted on carrying any bags that she may have.
Her only bag was a messenger style that she only reluctantly let him have. "It will be marvelous." She looked around, keeping track of the small crowd for the evening zeppelin, habit more than anything.
As the crowd began to board, he carried his and her bags and walked onto the zeppelin. "I heard that there was a masseuse who was capable of removing stress. I thought you might like that. It seems like something you might like." He was at a loss for words. "I hired her."
Toward the end of the crowd, an old beggar boarded and stood near the edge of the zeppelin. The front of the large-brimmed hat was pointed in a certain direction, as if trying to hear everything being said.
She nodded and squeezed the admiral's hand, "You need to spend some time with her." Poor, dear Tarin did he really not acknowledge his own stress knots anymore? Laer hadn't caught sight of the beggar as she lightly leaned against the rather stiff man at her side.
Tarin nodded. "You...you will be there, right?"
"Of course." Was that insecurity she heard in his voice?
As the zeppelin departed, Tarin looked down at Orgrimmar and looked at Laerchel. He smiled a bit softer now and took her hand. He kissed it softly and nodded, "Thank you."
Her smile was small but warm, "Thank you, Tarin." She had no idea what he'd be thanking her for.
Now that the ship was away from Orgrimmar's eyes, the Admiral dared to lean a little toward her and gave her lips a faint kiss. Still after months and many nights together, he still said, "I apologize for daring to do that."
“I will tell you as I have a thousand times, you don't have to apologize." Part of her was examining how it felt to be with him, and another part remembered the feeling of Cris' touch and gaze. Both made her heart flutter and her mind raced with thoughts and feelings, but it was very different with Tarin. He was like a steady light in the darkness, there and guiding. Cris was a flame flickering and dancing in the wind, threatening to catch it all on fire.
He nodded, "One must be respectful at all times." At a distance, the beggar sat against one of the ship's walls and stayed perfectly still. Nothing gave away anything about him.
"Mmmhmmm." She leaned against him and watched the water pass by; it would be a short trip, thankfully. Tarin dared to reach for another kiss, this time a bit more intimate.
The beggar seemed to have reached for something from under the cloak when he stopped and tilted his hat up a bit. For a moment, the beggar, Cris, stared in silence while Laerchel kissed the one he longed to see dead. Several feelings surged in the pirate. For one, he was jealous because he had once ‘claimed’ Laerchel for himself, even if he never really committed to her. There were times when he did consider Laerchel to be his woman, but she had been more of a sister to him, before they became intimate. The most important feeling he had was that of rage. How dare she be with the Admiral? Out of all people? Cris felt betrayed and most importantly, hurt.
The elf was breathless as they kissed, she still didn't quite understand how her love for Tarin was working but that's what it was. She pressed herself against him to feel his body by hers. Hopefully, Cris had listened to her and forgotten the grudge.
Tarin let go of her, "I did not eat at all. Perhaps they have something onboard. I will head down below deck for a moment. Shall I bring you something?"
"Uh, I'm fine for now. But go on and take care of yourself." She smiled at him. Honestly, she was too nervous to eat.
Instantly, as soon as the Admiral walked below deck, the draped beggar was at her side. "Really, Laer?" he whispered, making sure the hat was covering his face.
"Yes." She didn't look at him, and somehow, she wasn't surprised. "Also, I wasn't lying to you earlier." She figured that should be gotten out of the way
"No, just all this time. How could you do this to me?" The large hat turned to the side to make sure no one was near them.
"Do what to you, exactly? How on earth did you think I was privy to what I told you about?" Her personal feelings for Tarin were really none of his business, since he didn't seem to care about her as a woman.
He continued to watch out from under the brim. He narrowed his eyes, but they went unseen. His voice deepened and his words slowed a bit. "I know the way your body moves and how you act when you’re intimate; The way you kiss and the way you sound. That right there is not spying." He turned and happened to glance at her with one blue-green eye from below the hat. "I know you very well, Laer. You are not doing all this for your "job."
"Not all of it, no. But you made it quite apparent three lovers ago that I wasn't anything other than a friend and a tool. I don't know why you have your panties in a twist over a part of me that you obviously care nothing about."
Cris growled softly. The last thing he wanted to show was any emotion, especially if the Admiral was returning soon. He moved closer to her, whispering angrily, "I told you a long time ago: I don't care who you fuck.” The words tasted sour in his mouth. Deep inside, he didn’t mean them. “But that man ordered others to hurt me to the near point of death!" The memories rushed at him and he seemed to tremble slightly.
"I know." Her shoulder and right ear twitched. She knew, but there wasn't really any changing how she felt. "I didn’t plan on the feelings."
"Well, enjoy this little fuck, because he's dying soon." He pulled the brimmed hat over his face and crouched a little, back into his 'beggar' position.
"No, he isn't." Cris was an asshole sometimes, but she'd find a way to keep stupidity from reigning.
"We'll see about that. He could accidentally fall off the zep."
"You are selfish enough to do that, I suppose." Her voice was so flat it could have been dead.
"Aye. Pirate, dear." His voice was a bit melodious toward the end of his phrase and a smile could be heard as he spoke.
Tarin emerged from below deck and wrinkled his nose at the sight of the beggar. "Is this man bothering you, Laerchel?" He over-towered the beggar, one hand promptly moving toward the hilt of his sword.
"No, its fine. I helped him find a meal and a place to clean up earlier. It's a bit surprising to see him here though." She honestly didn't miss a beat with a warm smile to both men and a hand placed over Tarin's sword hand.
"Just being grateful to those that help, sir," Cris responded with his fake creaky voice. "It's good to know that there is still loyalty in this world, eh?"
Cris moved away from them and Tarin shifted closer to Laerchel, taking her hand and pulling her close to him. "Yes, well, excuse us, sir, but we are on vacation and would like to be left undisturbed."
The pirate’s jab wasn't missed. "You have a pleasant evening." She didn't relax properly after the 'beggar' wandered off. "Did you find anything to eat, Dear?"
Tarin nodded. "Fruit." He seemed protective for a moment, making sure the beggar, who remained at a distance, close to the edge of the flying ship, was truly away. He turned to look at her once he felt the threat was gone. "I did not want to spoil our appetite. I did hire a cook to make our meals and I hear he is quite good."
"I take it you've picked up a full staff?" She wasn't really surprised by that, but honestly, such finery wasn't what she was accustomed to.
He chuckled a bit at her question. "Of course I did."
"Someday, I will have to show you where I grew up."
He furrowed his brows and took her hands. "It does not matter." He lowered his voice, turning to face her, and lifting her chin with his hand. "I want you to feel like a queen this week and I will make it happen while I can." It was a struggle trying to remain proper while wanting to relax.
She smiled and touched the side of his face, forcing herself to relax knowing full well Cris was in stubborn-ass mode and wanting to kill the man in front of her. "You already do, Tarin."
He blushed a bit, which he tried to hide by looking down, nodding. The beggar stared at them at a distance the entire trip until they landed in Tirisfal Glades. The crowed began to walk off the zeppelin and Tarin grabbed their bags and walked along with them. The beggar took his time in getting off.
Laer walked with him, keeping an eye on the beggar whenever the opportunity to catch a reflection, or turn her head just so presented itself. Perhaps there was a chance that Cris would figure out that he'd be shooting himself in the foot for killing such a well-placed chess piece. Perhaps not.
Tarin led her toward the teleport sphere and Cris stopped short of entering the courtyard. He stared at Laerchel for the entire time she was still in the area.
While Tarin concentrated on teleporting himself to Silvermoon Laer turned and gave Cris a wave, her face somewhat unreadable. Then poof! Right through she went.
"Fuck." Cris removed his costume and dragged everything with him. He didn't feel like going home at that very moment.
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