PENUMBRA (how the flowers grow)

21. Fists

CW: Panic attack, but everything is okay in the end!

It's not like she hasn't noticed; she's definitely noticed, both in the past and now. She knew then- he did tell her, after all- but now it's as if he has something to prove. Again and again, he keeps touching her hair, squeezing her hands, sending her smiles that can only be described as sultry. She'll be doing something and feel him slip a flower behind her ear, briefly caressing her before pulling away. He brings her all sorts of treats- any berries he finds, hard candies from the stores- makes her tea to help her sleep at night.

Yes, she knows very well he flirts.

It's hard not to with the way Xaniphe giggles every time they so much as bump into each other. It's hard not to after Flix pulled her aside one day and asked her if she knows he's courting her. It's hard not to since he doesn't do any of these things with anyone else.

Sure, he cuddles with Xaniphe and gives touches freely, but it's not the same. He doesn't give any of them flowers. Only her. Sabina's never been good at reading people, but she was trained to notice things, and notice things she does.

She doesn't know what to do with it, the attention he gives her. She enjoys it, really she does, even if it frightens her sometimes. She likes the fluttery way it makes her feel in public, like she's about to vomit, but in a good way. She likes the way it calms her down when they're alone, helps slow down her heart rate, ease her mind.

She wants to make him happy. Flix told her that the proper way to answer a courting is to give a gift. A gift could be anything, Flix said, as long as you give part of yourself with it.

Sabina wants to give him a gift.

She's thinking about how she wants to give him a gift in a bar in Stillhaven, getting drinks for the rest of the Goldhands with Jitho. She's trying to tune out the noise so it doesn't get to her, taking the drinks from the bartender with a smile. He goes to make more drinks. She's not paying attention to what's around her, but she snaps back to reality at the sound of Jitho's hiss.

"They're not interested, man. Just leave them alone."

Sabina looks over. Two brawny men, one human and one shift (maybe a shifter, it's impossible to tell if they can shapeshift or not just by looks) with tiger stripes all over his skin, are leaning against the counter next to a human girl and demon boy, both of whom are rigid in posture.

The shift raises an eyebrow and bares sharp teeth. "Oh, and you are?"

He has alcohol on his breath, but doesn't seem drunk. His yellow eyes narrow. The human smiles at them, but it's a testy one. Hostile.

Well, it's been a while since a fight, Sabina thinks, getting herself ready in case things take a turn. I guess I'm due one.

She sizes the men up. It's been a while since she's done this and she slips back into it so easily it scares her. She's fought bigger men before and more people at once. She has no doubt she could easily deal with them. People always underestimate her and it's always worked in her favor.

"Come on, little mouse," the shift says. "We're just trying to have some fun."

He grabs hold of Jitho's tail. Jitho's eyes go huge and she gasps, face tightening. She slaps the man's hand away and takes a couple steps back, colorfully swearing in Shasani.

The human laughs. "The fuck's she saying?"

"That you need to get out of here," Sabina says, a too familiar coldness settling in her bones. She zeros in on them, watches the way they square their shoulders. Behind them, the girl and boy are tense. The bartender comes back, drinks in hand. He glances warily between them.