she scares me but I know how she ticks
Author: Nathalia
Rating: PG
Challenge:Angel Food #12 - damnation
Flavor of the Day #240 - cosset (to treat as a pet; to treat with excessive indulgence; to pamper)
Extras / Toppings: sprinkles, hot fugde, peaches (Nine o'clock p.m. is the "bewitching" hour, and people are fascinating company - for the moment. Enjoy, because you may never see them again!), pineapple (Culcha Candela - Monsta)
Word Count: 722
Story: Misfits
Summary: Mara seeks Lucas out at a bar after he’s had a particularly bad day.
Notes: I seem to be on a minor Lucas/Mara phase.
He was at his local bar, not thinking too much, enjoying the drinks just because they were readily available and they took his mind of other things, things he didn’t want to think about right now. Life wasn’t going well right now. Yet another job that hadn’t turned out the way he had expected it to and he knew his father and sister would kick his ass if they found out but he had no intention of ever telling them. Of course, his father would still know. He always knew everything.
He wasn’t taking in his surroundings in until he felt someone softly touch his arm and looking up, he found himself staring at none other than Mara Ivanov, the redhead who worked for his father. At first, Lucas has been incredibly scared of the Russian but he had started to notice that she had a soft side and out of his family members, she was probably the one he could talk to without feeling like he was being judged. Mara did judge him but it felt okay for her to do so. She was leagues above him, after all.
“Let me buy you a drink,” Lucas greeted her.
They often met at the most unexpected places, it was as if Mara could sense when he needed someone to talk to and she would show up, have a few drinks with him and listen. The first few times it had greatly disturbed Lucas but by now he liked it when Mara found him. They both knew that he had developed a severe crush on her by now even though Mara liked to pretend that that wasn’t the case.
Mara raised an eyebrow. “One? You’ll need to invest more money if you want me to spend the evening with you.”
Lucas wasn’t sure if it was a joke or not. It was always hard to tell with Mara. “One to start out with and then as many as you want to have after that first one?” He offered and she seemed to consider the offer for a second before nodding and motioning for the bartender, ordering a shot of vodka and an Old Fashioned.
“I haven’t told your father,” she said out of the blue. “I intercepted the news.”
“Why?”
Mara never went behind Ahmik Bishop’s back. She was loyal to the businessman and nothing would change that. At least that’s what Lucas had thought until now.
She shrugged. “My father kept tabs on me and I didn’t react to it very well when I found out about it. I understand why your father does the same thing and unlike my father, he only observes without interfering and manipulating, but I still think you should get the right to live without him scrutinizing your every move.”
Lucas nodded, surprised while Mara downed her shot and then proceeded to pick the maraschino cherries out of her drink before taking the first sip. She managed to be so casual about everything, she never seemed to lose her temper and he wondered why a woman like her would even seek him out and go through this trouble for him.
“Thanks,” Lucas whispered, placing his hand on her bare forearm. “This means a lot to me.”
“It isn’t reason enough for sudden body contact,” Mara pointed out. “It was of no major relevance.”
“You know I appreciate everything you do for me,” Lucas reminded her, his hand lingering on her warm, pale skin.
“You read too much into what I do for you, sweetie.” Mara turned to face Lucas, her green eyes meeting his blue ones and Lucas felt like she was all business now. She reached out to him and set her hand down on his cheek ever so carefully. “Don’t get me wrong, Lucas, you are the sweetest boy I’ve ever met in my life and I doubt that that will ever change. Never forget that.”
“Then what’s the problem?” Lucas’ voice was trembling. Never had Mara been so candid, said something like this to him. She usually pretended that there was no attraction between them. It was the first time she acknowledged him. “Why do you reject me every time I try to make a move?”
Mara sighed, lowering her hand and a sad look appeared on her face. “I’ve outgrown boys years ago.”