Work Text:
Want to do a Shot!
Irritated. Annoyed. That is what Dimitri felt as he followed Rose, Lissa, and Adrian into the human nightclub. Adrian, the royal moroi whose affinity for drinking and partying was too much for the model guardian. He should have pressed more against going into the human world but he was under orders. They come first. They always come first. As a guardian it is his duty to protect the Moroi, more specifically Lissa. That’s why he ventured out into the human world. Someone had to be the responsible one. Someone had to follow the rules and make sure nothing happened.
Bright lights and loud music consumed him as he walked further into the nightclub. One entrance, look for any signs of multiple exits. It had been difficult when decorative shards of glass were spattered around the club making it impossible to see anything. Stay focused, keep guard. He knew that both Rose and Lissa would be mesmerized by the human club and it irritated him that Adrian didn’t have a care for their safety. He kept looking around and around for the safest and fastest way to escape if strigoi were around. Then it happened, he got a glimpse of Rose and Lissa laughing. Laughing as Rose began to dance with some young women. She looked happy. Free. He didn’t have time for freedom. Not now, not ever. He looked around again, looking for any signs of an exit as they ventured further within the club.
Fuck. This was supposed to be quick and easy, but now it had turned into a game of cat and mouse. He did not like not knowing where they were going. This was a guardians nightmare. How could he protect Lissa if he had no information of where they were going. He kept looking and then he saw it. Rose danced in front of the young women. A beautiful smile, full of joy filled her face, but now Adrian had draped his arm over her shoulder, pulling her close. He doubted Rose knew it was him as she had her eyes closed and was enjoying the music and freedom. Freedom. She was laughing and enjoying what he could not enjoy. Freedom.
Something snapped within him as he made eye contact with Adrian. The smug little bastard. He knew exactly what he was doing. Flirting and then touching Rose. His Roza. As he walked up to Rose and Adrian, the bastard moroi had the nerve to pout at him. As if he didn’t know the dangers they were already in. He pushed Rose trying to gain control of his emotions before he spoke.
“Focus, Rose. This is a protective nightmare.”
“I got it, Mr. perimeter control.” she replied nonchalantly.
“Really? How many entry and exit points?” He knew he was being harsh but the reality of the truth was if he couldn’t find any then there was no way in hell that Rose would be able to find any too.
He didn’t wait for her response, “Yeah, I don’t know either.” He continued, “We’ve got 360 degree exposure on our two charges with only two of us to cover”
“I’m aware, but we're good.” her voice still had that nonchalant tone to it.
“We could be walking through a strigoi buffet line.”
“I’ll know if there are strigoi.” she stated obviously.
He didn’t know how Rose knew but it still didn’t make the uneasy feeling of not being prepared go away. So he continued to look around hoping to find some sign of an exit or way to protect their charges. Fuck, nothing.
He watched as Adrian walked them right up to the bouncer. He didn’t enjoy the tone the bouncer had made when she identified Adrian. He especially did not like what he heard as the bouncer stated no muscle allowed. Great. They were being forced apart from Lissa and Adrian. He remained silent, trying to formulate his escalating thoughts about why this was a terrible idea.
“Go, be quick.” spoke Rose.
Adrian looked at the door and quickly replied, “Got it. One drink. . . maybe two.”
“ No uncovered entry points.” He whispered to Rose, but more for himself. He continued, “They’d better be quick”. Annoyance and irritation tainted his voice.
“We’re only for information.” replied Lissa . “And maybe one drink.” She dashed in after Adrian. What information? He wanted to know why he wasn’t looped in. Did Rose know what was going on? It didn’t matter, their two charges were going behind a door and they had no way of keeping them safe.
“ Hey, uh, Rose, try not to get too bored without me, all right?” Adrian stated as he walked into the secluded room. Flirtation in his words. He had been doing that since he saw Rose in the house. Hello, little Dhampir. The first words spoken to Rose from Adrian filled his head. Irritation plagued Dimitri’s face, his arms crossed indicating that he was done with Adrian and this wild goose chase they were. Even more so with his one sided flirtation with Rose.
The look of confusion upon Rose's face was best described as what was wrong with that guy. She turned to look at Dimitri. Taking in his stance and facial expression. Wanting to lighten up the mood, she did what she does best.
“Want to do a shot!” humor and playfulness plagued her voice.
Music continued to blare as Dimitri turned to Rose. The look on his face had been her answer followed by his signature tilt of his head had answered her question without needing a response.
She nodded, understanding. Yet she could not help responding, “Joking.” followed by an “ish.” before she turned away.
Dimitri turned to look back at the door, a mixture of worry, annoyance, and irritation plagued his face. All he could do was wait. Wait until they come back with the information they needed.
Waiting. Waiting was all they had to do but Rose had to be Rose and it meant trying to have fun. Fun, something he could not have no matter how hard he wanted it. He looked as she began to move to the music, a frown covering her face when she realized he was not going to join.
“This isn’t our world.”
“No.” she replied. “This is fun. . .You’re so awkward.” she laughed. Relishing how uncomfortable he was feeling.
“I’m doing my job.” he replied coldly.
“Or maybe you don’t know what to do with yourself when you’re actually kind of free.” How. How did she do that? Find a way to peel back the layers of him. “No Moroi. No Dhampirs. None of your rules. Just the music. . . and us.” Each time she spoke, she had gotten closer and closer to him.
He looked away, trying not to give into the temptation that was Rose. Roza.
“Come on. Just dance with me.” a sweet promise of fun and freedom coated those words as they fell from her lips.
The music continued to play, fueling Rose as she moved closer to him. Moving her body to the beat of the music as she continued to wait for him to join her. Fun and freedom looked good but he couldn’t. Not now, not when.
Rose dragged her hands up his sides, moving to touch his chest as she attempted to get him to relax and enjoy what the club was offering to them. The chance to enjoy one another without the responsibilities of being Dhampirs or Guardians. Slowly she moved her hands across his abdomen and up his chest moving across his pectorals.
Stuck in the moment. It felt so right. Why continue to fight it. She continued her attempt and with each attempt, his guards began to fall. His guards always fell with Roza. She had this way of always surprising him with everything. This was no exception. He licked his lips, moving his hands to her hips just as her hands found his waist. Slowly they inched closer to one another, their noses touching. Her right hand found the back of his head and cradled it as his hands continued to roam across her lower half of her body. She smiled. The same smile he had seen when she was dancing as the first came into the club. Freedom. That was a smile of Freedom. Yet, as she moved with him, he couldn't resist checking out the area as they danced. Old habits die hard. While he looked on she grabbed his hands, lacing them together. Bringing his focus back to her as they continued to dance. Inching closer and closer to one another, the music fueling this desire within them. The desire to have this freedom. Freedom of having each other no matter what. He looked at Rose, desire etched onto his face as he began to swing her around in front of him in a circle. Watching as she looked free . Her laugh, the same one she had when she was dancing plagued her face and it forced him to bring her close to him. She continued to smile that beautiful and breath catching smile of hers. That freedom smile of hers.
Unaware that Adrian and Lissa had reappeared. Both looked confused as they watched Dimitri and Rose dance. Wondering when they had gotten so close and comfortable to dance with each other.
He inched closer, the thought of kissing her filled his mind as he continued to dance closer and closer. . .
“Fuck.” groaned Rose toppling over clenching her abdomen area before popping back up with a worried expression on her face. He knew by now she could send something. How was another question he didn’t have time for at the moment.
“Which is it?” He asked Rose, gripping her forearms. “Is it strigoi or Lissa?" He continued. Rose looked confused, unable to understand how he knew she was aware of something.
“I’ve seen this enough times, Rose, at home, in Caroni.” He knew he was right, the many times he saw her topple over in pain before she knew something she shouldn’t have known.
“You feel things coming. Which is it?”
“Strigoi.” she replied. “We have to get out of here.” worry laced her voice.
“Lissa. Go.” Dimitri knew he had to get her out. Adrian too but Lissa was his charge and he worried for her at the moment. “Go, go, go!”. As they ran, he went ahead of Rose behind Adrian with Lissa leading them as they ran quickly through the club. Thoughts of freedom no longer clouded his mind. He was in guardian mode. He looked behind making sure Rose was following them. She’s fine. Unbeknownst to him, Rose slowed down. The feeling was much closer which meant. There it was, the strigoi staring straight at her. Cloaked in a balck hoodie hidden from the human but making eye contact with Rose. Her expression of fear etched her face as she quickly lost eye contact and continued out of the club with a haste.
Tires squealed as they got into the car. Dimitri driving, checking the rear view mirror for any signs of the strigoi. Lissa and Rose fastened their seatbelts. Panting from having to rush from the club in the midst of fleeing from the strigoi. The strigoi that hid in plain sight amongst the humans, hunting after Lissa, Adrian, or any moroi nearby. Or were they looking for something else now.