Ain't Shady Baby, I'm Hot

56

"Who did you dance with at the New Years Ball?" I rolled my eyes, annoyed that he wouldn't let me turn around and answer like I would if we were having a normal conversation.

"Well, there was one older gentleman in a grey suit, then a young kid in a blue suit, then - ow." I whined as he pinched my side. "You, jerk."

"That's not-"

"I did answer your question. I said you comma jerk." I snarked flinching as he poked me again. But he kept his hold on me as I tried to break out of his hands. "Don't pinch me." I smacked his hands once each as they moved to my waist while he swayed side to side.

"Which male did you dance with at Midsummers." I smirked at how he specified his question.

"Gray, Pope, and you."

"You danced with Pope?"

"I was eating too. How many more questions do you have?" I groaned leaning my head back on his chest. Looking up as I caught him staring down at me. "What-"

"Xena. You are horrible at following directions."

"Not always." I winked jokingly as I turned my gaze back to the window.

"Brat." I felt myself skip a breath as I gave him a small elbow behind me.

"Don't. Don't you even start with that." I didn't need to look at him to see his eyes twinkle as he laughed lowly.

"You started it, I'm just-"

"Next question!" I put a finger in the air trying to turn around and catch him off guard but he wasn't going to let that happen. His hands firmly pulling and pushing me to stay where I was.

"What did you say to me earlier this morning?"

"A lot. Be more specific."

"What did you say when you were on the ground."

"That you infuriate me?" I frowned trying to recall.

"And what did I end up saying back?"

"That I infuriated you as well... Rafe this isn't maki-" I gasped as I was pushed away only to be brought back into Rafe with a spin. His arms crossed over me as he dipped me, my eyes staring up into his.

"What did you overhear me say to JJ about you during Midsummers?"

"Tell Xena if she wants to go somewhere privately we can keep dancing." I mocked deepening my voice as Rafe lifted me up and twirled me around twice, pulling me back against his body as the song changed. "Absolutely something a dickhead would say, asshole." I chirped glancing over my shoulder at him.

"And what did I say to you in response about how I knew it was you at the New Years Ball?"

"My eyes light up when I'm emotional?" My eyes were narrowed as I bit my lip out of habit.

"When you're passionate." He whirled me around until I was facing him dead on, his knuckle under my chin as he and I held eye contact. "Why did I say I liked dancing with you?"

"You didn't say you liked dancing with me. But you mentioned it was the only- only time I let you lead." I glanced between his eyes as I got more confused. Hoping to see what I wanted to know in them.

"Half-right. It is the only time you trust me." As if to prove his point, he moved. The two of us taking two steps backwards before he had me spinning around him in the living room missing all the furniture. "Why, would I, someone who is easily classed enemy number one, want you to trust me? Why would I like it when I can get close to you without you trying to demolish me?"

"Because you don't like it when people dislike you?"

"Wrong."

"Because you want to get close to me?"

"Ding-ding-ding."

"But why?"

"Xena." I stopped, our arms outstretched as I kept myself from spinning back into him. "How did you wake up this morning?"

"With you wrapped around me like a koala." I pointed out.

"Do you know how we got that close in the first place?" He tried to pull me back in but I refused.

"Because you're clingy?" He stepped towards me, moving his arm and mine making me spin.

"Because you, this ball of light and rage, were trapped in your mind and sought comfort in the darkness." I shivered as he whispered his next words in my ear. "What did I say as I left you on the floor at Midsummers?" His hands slid along my arms raising them both to hold around his neck.

How did I get here? How did we get here? What alternate universe have I been living in these last 24 hours?

The small gut wrenching feeling blew up as I realized now why I couldn't help but want him close. Why despite everything that has happened in the last ten months or the last week, I was still stuck directly to Rafe Cameron.

"Rafe, this, we-" he hushed me gently as we stared out the window of the living room. The blinds have been closed this entire time.

"What did I say, Xena? You had no problem recalling this earlier, what did I say?" His voice was low as I tried to focus on my words versus the warm body behind me.

"You have no idea, Xena Tallen."

"What else. Come on, I know you heard me." I gulped, dropping my hands as I found his at my waist. My eyes shutting as I played the scene over again in my mind.

We were at the edge of the dance floor, staring out out into the grassy plain we weren't inhabiting. The party and people behind us. As the final notes to the song played out, I seemed to only just remember how to breathe. The cool night air finally made its presence know as the heat behind me remained.

"You have no idea, Xena Tallen." His voice was a whisper as he stepped away from me, back towards the party. Away from the self-anointed Pogue and towards the Kooks.

"No idea how badly-

"I wish you'd feel it too." I whispered stepping away from his grasp as he let me go. I turned to face him as he stared. Vulnerable as I dragged pieces of information together in a giant web.

I looked up at him, slack jaw and eyes wide as he combed his hand through his messy hair. His perfectly imperfect hair.

"I-" I opened my mouth but I couldn't speak. So he spoke for me.

"New rule. When the time comes, which it will, I will end up saying something or doing something and we will end up back to square one. But-but for tonight," he trailed off, "let me hold you one last time, please."