**When It Pains, It Roars** (finished)

[Fenrir Shade]

"Of course. I think they look like emeralds, not vomit." replies Fenrir, starring intently into her eyes again not as a contest, but because he just liked looking into them.  

[WritingWithLove]

Briar had only ever known guys who were, using the laymans term, players. Guys who said anything and did anything to get with the girl of their choice were the norm where she grew up. The only decent guy she'd ever known was her father, who was forced out of her life at the age of eight.
That being said, she felt very confused. "You're a weird guy, Fenny." she concluded as she returned the gentle stare, "Whaddaya want from me? Cash? Wine? A show, perhaps?"
She was convinced that he was trying to come on to her somehow; not because she was refusing the truth, but because she didn't think that any guy could ever be... respectful when complimenting a girl.  

[Fenrir Shade]

Fenrir let out a light laugh, "No. None of that. I'm just enjoying the night, and your company." He was finally getting the hang of this, no longer overly nervous. He still didn't know what was causing him to act this way, but he was. So he rolled with it.  

[WritingWithLove]

"None of that"?
Huh?
Briar pulled a puzzled face and said, "Wait, enjoying my... company?" What kind of way to pick up chicks was that? Or did he even have anything like that in mind? He was obviously flustered when she flirted with him, so there was definitely some sort of attraction there... But why wasn't he acting on impulse like other guys did? Had she been wrong about other guys? If so, what else was she mislead about?
One thought came to her mind.
"Fenny, what's your mom like?"  

[Fenrir Shade]

A flash of deep deperession flashed over Fenrir's face, recalling the events that he was about to describe. "She died when I was just six... She was executed while my father was forced to watch in shackles, and I to watch from the crowd. I don't really know much about her... But i still own this dagger that she crafted with her own two hands. What's yours like?" he asks, unsheathing the dagger and placing it on the table.  

[WritingWithLove]

"I'm sorry about that..." she said with her best attempt at sincerity. Why was he sad that his mother died? If she had the guts, Briar would kill her mother in an instant.
She sighed. "You want the long, heart-tugging description, or the short and fast one?"  

[Fenrir Shade]

"Whichever you feel most comfortable saying." he says, still not taking his gaze off of her eyes.  

[WritingWithLove]

She smiled at him and said with perfect calmness, "My mother is the biggest b*tch that had ever tread upon the face of the planet. When I was born, my dad mostly raised me. He was killed coming home from work when I was eight, and my mother convinced me for years that it was all my fault. She got to work right away, inviting all kinds of guys into our house, yelling at me if I got in their way. She likes to yell. You're hungry? Make food yourself. You're thirsty? Go down to the well and fetch your own damn pail of water. You're sad? Suck it up. Tears are for whiners. Of course I've had more than my fair share of beating from all that, and one day when I was fifteen I got so sick of it I just up and left. Haven't seen her since, and I don't plan to any time soon."
She matched his gaze and grinned. "But who am I to complain? I've seen worse."  

[Fenrir Shade]

"I am so sorry. I didn't mean to stir up such horrid memories..." appologizes Fenrir. He regretted asking, now seeing how horrible her mother was.  

[WritingWithLove]

"No need to apologize," she replied with a solemn smile, "You live and learn, right? No use holding on to the past."
This is what she always told herself; and yet, there was still a spot in her heart reserved for the sheer, bitter loathing of her mother.
She forced it to the back of her mind as she noticed how intently Fenrir was looking into her eyes. If this was how palace guys flirted, she thought that she could easily get used to it. She smiled kindly, hoping to please him just a bit more. She had always heard that eyes sparkle when accompanied by a smile.  

[Fenrir Shade]

"Indeed. Words of wisdom to live by. So what would you like to do now?" asks Fenrir, returning her smile, and enjoying the slight Sparkle added to her eyes, and the soft glow as well.  

[WritingWithLove]

She glanced at the clock. "Five already? Ouch." she said with disappointment. She yawned and asked, "As much as I'd love to stay up, I've kinda got a really important meeting later. Could escort me back to my room?"
She smiled wide as she said the word "meeting." She felt so professional.  

[Fenrir Shade]

Fenrir stands and offers his hand to help her up and out of the chair. He also picks up the furball in his other hand and places him on his shoulder, "It is getting late. I'll have to finish this ice cream fun some other night. And I think it's time for a certain nuke to go to bed too."  

[WritingWithLove]

She took his hand and chuckled, not letting go of it.
***
They found their way back to Briar's room, B.E.N. still on Fenrir's shoulder, starting to yawn. "Thanks for taking me in," Briar said with newfound drowsiness, "I'm pretty sure you've just changed my life."  

[Fenrir Shade]

Fenrir grinned, extremely happy that he made a difference in someone's life, instead of ending one. "Yeah, well, I try."