((Dir and Tess’ SECOND meeting! Wanna check out the first? You can find it at Regatta’s blog, Please Don’t Die. Along with a host of other goodies. I may be biased though, she’s my best friend.))
Murder Row.
Dir was more comfortable here then he was anywhere else. Sure this area had it’s pitfalls but some of the best things in life were the riskiest. After all, the only difference between him and the street corner whores was the price tag. It had been that way since a noblewoman had tossed him an exorbitant amount of gold after a pleasant afternoon of “breaking in” the then-adolescent boy. His mother had never spoken to her best friend again after that.
As if summoning such downfalls with merely a thought, Dir saw her. A flash of pale wheat hair atop a too-thin form that stopped just short of being lithe. Her… He didn’t think she had seen him yet so he ducked in the doorway of a trader’s tent, the scent of something dark, drugging and highly illegal enveloped him along with the shadows. From his hiding spot, Dir could watch her head towards him. The girl was clearly at work. Her gaze was darting everywhere and though she held her body loosely, there was a tension to her that said she could make a break for it at any moment if threatened. He’d have to play this one fast and loose to retain the upper hand.
The look of shock on her face when Dir casually grabbed her arm from the doorway of the tent was a satisfying one. The expression of oh shit! in her eyes when she saw who had just snagged her was priceless. He winked at her as he tucked her arm through his. The gentlemanly gesture was a ruse, his grip was hard and she’d have to outright struggle to even think of breaking it. It was possible he was even leaving bruises. “Walk with me, my dear.” The smile lighting his face was deceiving as Dir forced the girl to stroll beside him at a sedate pace. “I must admit that I can’t recall your name. It’s possible you didn’t give it, I was quite sotted that night.” Burgeoning panic rose off her in waves before she straightened her spine with a near audible snap, roguish boldness taking it’s place.
Saucy wench. He liked that in a woman.
If you could call her a woman. She was young, very young, but there was a hardened air about her. She expected him to kick her like an errant puppy and was fully prepared to kick back. He disguised a thorough inspection in a leer. There was a disturbing hollowness to her cheeks and a sense of distrust she wore like a cloak. However, he wasn’t about to tell her he didn’t have the heart to be a puppy kicker. “Tess.” She ground out her name between gritted teeth.
“Tess, what a lovely name. I’m Dir, in case you missed that when you robbed me blind.” He had to give her credit, she had the stones to not even flinch at that. “I’m not fool enough to drink this time around but how about some dinner?” The growl of Tess’ stomach could clearly be heard over the babble of the dingy street. That did make her wince. Dir’s smirk turned to one of certainty. “Dinner it is.”
—–
Dir pretended to be asleep when Tess snuck out of bed and flitted about the room like a wraith. Dawn light was starting to filter through the curtains as she rifled through his pockets. Her eyes held a far-away stunned look and she walked carefully, as if soreness was starting to settle in. He’d made sure not to disappoint this time around. Effort well spent.. she left him his clothes and only took half his gold. Dir figured it was a fair trade for some comeuppance.
