She Chose Him

It was amazing how Audriana knew Gavin was essentially as close as he could possibly be, yet she still wanted him closer. When he pulled away, she half expected it to precede his running kisses along her jaw so they could catch their breath. When he never did so, however, her eyes opened to find the last thing she wanted to see. Robin was literally pointing a weapon at Gavin and staring at the both of them like she’d just caused him physical harm. The idea made her sick, and her brow furrowed in concern.

Gavin didn’t reply to Robin’s question, though his hand did reach back for her own at Robin’s request for her to leave with him. She felt the guilt ram into her as she pulled her hand away before his could brush against her, lacing her fingers together in front of her stomach. She needed a second to think. This was likely to be the last chance she had with each of the men standing before her, so whatever she decided would undoubtedly feel massively final.

Somehow, Audriana couldn’t bring herself to look away from Robin as his hand waited in the space between them. She half expected Gavin to swat it away or step between them, but he seemed as stiff as a board. She could hear her name, as Robin had said it, over and over in her mind, too. Audriana couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually said it – just the first name, and she was sure he had never said it like that before. It almost sounded like her going with him was the only thing he wanted just then.

And yet, there Gavin stood, hardly moving, hardly reacting. Would he really be bothered if she went with Ivanov? She couldn’t tell. Sure, Audriana had been convinced for a breath of time that the kiss meant what she had always imagined it would mean. But then, people did stupid things under stress or when remembering past desires. How was she to know if she truly still cared for him in that way? Did she? It wasn’t like she could figure that out in the two minutes they had spent together. (Okay, so it was more than two minutes. But who was counting?) Gavin had done nothing but protect her in the time that they had been reunited, but even so, he hadn’t said the words she needed from him to make her stay.

While Robin had never come close to saying anything like that either, Audriana could place all of the times she had considered marching right over and kissing him. And although she had done the same regarding Gavin while in school with him,  it didn’t change the fact that he had never tried to contact her after seventh year. If he had actually cared about her like she thought he did during sixth year, he would have tried to find her.

Robin, on the other hand, had saved her life.

And now she owed him.

The job wasn’t done, either, or she could’ve just walked away with Gavin. No, she couldn’t go with him. Not when every cell in her body was desperately begging her to cling to Robin and take away the pain in his voice and the confusion on his face. She had caused that, and it needed to go away. Immediately. As she lifted her hand, she could nearly feel herself rethinking, but knew that no amount of considering could change her mind at this point. Not when she’d worked it all out in her head. She must have been standing there a good half a minute or so as the two men waited. How strange it was to have people want her – regardless of the manner in which they wanted her. It wasn’t like Robin wanted her in the way Gavin might (provided he wasn’t just trying to dump off years of unresolved tension). But then, perhaps Audriana wanted Robin in the way she had so long pretended she didn’t.

Her fingers tucked against her palm briefly before she extended her hand and hovered above Robin’s. She nearly looked at Gavin, but the idea of seeing his reaction made her want to shudder. Dropping her hand into Robin’s with purpose, she stepped around Gavin and curled herself into his arm. If she could make it look like Robin had done it, she wouldn’t need to look over at her first love as she effectively ruined any chance she had ever had with him.

“Okay,” she whispered into his shoulder, feeling much smaller than she really was.

Suddenly, she realized just how much trouble they both were in by her having sided with him. Now ‘Amanda’ and Robin were criminals and Gavin could arrest them if he decided to take out whatever feelings he had on them. Her free hand came up to rest against Robin's chest in a sort of fear she hadn’t expected to ever feel – fear of getting caught, of getting arrested. “Robin,” she started, looking up at him and suddenly feeling amazed by their closeness. “Now.”

They didn’t have time for him to comment on her choice or for him to pull any stupid, last minute stunts. She had chosen him, just as Natalia had always said she would have to do. Her choice didn’t really feel so tough after she realized that. Incidentally, Audriana knew that the moment they got away she would feel the adrenaline she always felt when she avoided whomever she was running from. Audriana didn’t know what this would get her, but it was too late to change her mind now. Merlin help her, but if he didn’t want her the way she wanted him… well, she would either have to make him, or have to leave.

And just like that, everything stopped. Gavin froze, Audriana froze, Robin froze, three sets of eyes flickering from face to face in a gunless standoff. As the seconds dragged on Robin's eyebrows began to raise almost comically as he watched Audriana for any sign of what was happening. The boy was completely clueless to his partner-in-crime's internal struggle and after several more seconds his gaze shifted to meet Gavin's, the two men sharing a millisecond bond of confusion before both returning to intimidating each other with their frowns.

After what was quite possibly an eternity Audriana dropped her hand into Robin's open palm. Her motion released the other two men from their invisible restraints. Robin grabbed hold of her hand and allowed Audriana to curl herself under his arm as Gavin's rigid posture slouched into defeat. "Robin, now" The words filled the space more fully because of the silence and the pair immediately began to move forward, down the hall and away from the other man. After only a few steps Robin turned to look over his shoulder at Gavin, flashing the man a smug smile.

Robin turned to face Audriana and with an almost gleeful smile he leaned to her ear and whispered "Run." In one smooth motion he uncurled her from his arm and took off at a sprint, keeping hold of Audriana's hand as he guided her behind him down the hall, through a staff door, and down several flights of stairs. After the first hall their sprint slowed to a jog. They didn't stop until they were through the back door and had wound through several back alleyways and streets. Robin eventually pulled them in to a sheltered corner where they took a moment to catch their breath.

As soon as Robin's breathing slowed to an almost normal rate he began to laugh. The sound was almost manic as adrenaline pumped through his veins and he allowed the joy of a successful job go to his head. An image of Gavin's downtrodden face floated to the surface, prompting another wave of laughter from the Russian as he turned and looked towards where Audriana was slumped on the wall beside him. "You did good, Amanda." Robin nudged her lightly with his elbow, a toothy grin teasing her.

"We should probably get back. I'm sure your blonde boy-toy has alerted the authorities by now. I'd hate to be caught in a compromising position." Robin pushed against the wall of the alley and began to step back out towards the road, turning back to make sure Audriana was following him after a couple steps. He knew he would feel even better when he was back at the hotel, the sword tucked away in the properly secure containers, and out of this suit. A few laps in the pool sounded good right about now. Maybe Miss Swan would join him.

“You know it’s exciting, seeing you like this.”

The words were breathy and halting as Audriana leaned against the wall. The tone was sarcastic but oddly light-hearted, considering whom she was talking to and what had just happened. But honestly, the adrenaline was running high, and something about his demeanor was curiously charming. Rolling her eyes at his backhanded compliment, she couldn’t help but consider how very amusing the whole event had been.

Playing a role with him hadn’t been so hard, and admittedly, the dancing hadn’t been the worst part. Her hand tingled a bit, and though she knew it was technically because she’d only just been released, Audriana told herself it was part of the running from someone who could have them arrested. That someone, of course, was none other than that one person she had once imagined everything with. Eight years hadn’t changed that for her, but their ridiculous first kiss had been… well, really it had been wonderful, but that wasn’t the problem. The problem had been the fact that she just didn’t know him anymore.

Audriana knew Robin, even if it was in a weird capacity. Even if their interactions were terse and confusing and, actually, really interesting.  Okay, so she never minded seeing him. She got a rush just like the one she had as she leaned against that wall and laughing along with him. As he sauntered away, though, her mouth fell open in surprise before she stuttered out a reply. “He isn’t my- Well. That’s not the point.”

Hurrying her steps to catch up with him, she debated over pointing out the obvious. It would just give Robin more of an ego trip if she discussed the fact that she had given Gavin up for him. So she just fell into step beside him and kept quiet until they made it back to the hotel. She wasn’t reminded of the sleeping arrangements until he opened the door and she brushed past him to walk in first with a cheeky smile over her shoulder. As her head turned back to take in the room, she hesitated and frowned slightly.

Her mind started working, and she moved to her bag, lifting out a pair of shorts and a shirt that would be fitting to sleep in. Maybe if she made it as awkward as possible, he would give up on wanting to share the bed. But the goal would be to use the bathroom first, so he inevitably would go second and she could flop out across the bed. Sleep sideways if need be. Because as much as she wanted to turn over the idea of Robin filling that space that Gavin had taken up in her mind, she couldn’t let herself. Maybe if he initiated something, she would run with it. But she wasn’t someone who went after men just because she felt like it. Especially when she had to spend a night at least and a plane ride with him. If she tried something out of the ordinary, she wouldn’t get to live it down.

So instead of trying to pull anything, Audriana just glanced Robin’s way and held her clothes in one hand as she rounded the bed to stand in front of him. “So. Can I take a look at the spoils of our little adventure?” she asked, gesturing to the sword with her spare hand as she lifted an eyebrow conspiratorially. “Or do I have to wait until you’re asleep and sneak around the hotel with it?”

The ride back to the hotel was disappointingly uneventful and Robin's heart rate quickly slowed down to normal by the time they were at the door to their room. Their room that had one bed. If the situation wasn't so comedic he might have had it in his heart to feel slightly bad for the brunette who would, at this point, either willingly sleep beside him or be forced to take up residence on the floor. The pair made their way into the room and Robin quickly lost both his jacket and tie to a nearby table. Audriana turned to Robin. He stared down at her extended hand and felt his eyebrows raise slightly.

Robin held the sword back further out of her grasp and made a clicking sound with his tongue. "Not tonight, darling. After all that trouble I wouldn't let this go too far, would I?" He smirked slightly and turned away towards his overnight bag that he had thrown on the chair when they arrived. Robin unzipped the side pouch and the sword disappeared effortlessly into the space. "After all, people have a bad habit of taking back what isn't theirs." He zipped the pouch and muttered a protection spell before glancing back over his shoulder towards his new partner in crime and flashing her a sly smile.

Without warning Robin turned back towards his bag and began to unbutton his shirt. When the front of the white shirt was completely undone he turned back towards Audriana to glance at the clothes she had tucked in her arm. "Are you going to bed already?" he asked in disbelief. Shrugging, Robin slid the light, slightly sweaty fabric off his arms and back into the bag with everything else. The thief's hands had moved to the clasps on his pants but before any buttons were undone he looked up at Audriana for a second time.

"I'm going swimming downstairs." Robin stated flatly, as if the reason for him being half naked was perfectly obvious. He stood facing her for a solid second before adding as an afterthought; "You can come if you like."

Late night swims were Robin's favorite kind. Almost all of the manors that he had spent his childhood in housed some form of in-ground pool, his house included. During the long winters the pool room was something of a sanctuary with it's hot tub and Robin had found almost no better way to relax. He particularly liked the hotel at this pool. During the day it was packed with guests but after closing hours it was, naturally, completely empty and a simple noise cancelling charm was enough to make the space his personal playground. It was dark, quiet, and the hot tub felt like home.

Robin realized he was standing there, waiting for Audriana to either turn away or go to the bathroom. The Russian had never suffered from being overly modest about his body before (and for that matter he wasn't exactly suffering from it now) but the small part of him that had the slightest bit of common sense of telling him that pulling down his pants in front of Audriana Swan might not be the smartest plan.

A puff of breath left her in her frustration, Audriana's eyes narrowing at him as he pulled the sword out of her range. Still, she stood her ground, uninterested in any attempts for him to refuse her the opportunity. So she crossed her arms over her chest, pursing her lips. An eyebrow lifted at his comment about people taking what didn't belong to them, and for a moment her stomach dropped. For all of two seconds, she considered the possibility that he had been referring to Gavin as well as herself. But that didn't make sense. Robin had no reason to be jealous - and it was more likely that he was talking about her on her own, regardless of the whole kiss with Gavin. Her first, by the way. She had never found a reason to trust anyone with her heart nonetheless her mind, and it finally hit her that she had just given up her first kiss to the boy - well, man now - that she had so long been sure she loved. And then she had walked away.

But owing people was something Audriana didn't know how to do. Something she didn't know how to get out of without making up for it. Her eyes were following his movements, darting over his chest as her lips parted of their own volition. Air left her lungs silently, her eyes widening as she gave him a slow once-over. It wasn't like she hadn't seen him shirtless before, considering how she typically found him in naught but his boxers. But this almost flirtatious interaction was so far from their usual banter that she couldn't find her footing. His talk of going swimming didn't help, and with her mind so far gone in the direction of more... well, bedroom activities and talk that the idea practically sounded like a come on.

Something told her that no one else would be in the pool at that hour, and a large part of her pointed out that going down with him could be either extremely awkward or lead her even further down that road she was afraid of. Did she want to go with him? Yes. That much was probably obvious - especially when she hesitated but then extended a hand to unceremoniously drop her sleep clothes on the bedsheets. The problem, of course, was that she hadn't expected to even share a bedroom nonetheless a pool with the man, so she had failed to even consider swimsuits. If she had even thought about it, though, Audriana couldn't believe that she would have decided to pack one. Were it not for the adventure and the plane and the general closeness between the pair of them in the past twenty-four hours, Audriana would never have wanted to say yes. Now, she was terribly, terribly tempted.

Throwing her hands out, Audriana tore her gaze from his hands where they hovered at the latch of his trousers and settled instead on his eyes. "What am I supposed to wear, then, hmm? I didn't exactly prepare for this." Rolling her eyes, Audriana turned, intending to walk away and change. But then she remembered the difficulty she would encounter when it came to removing the stupid dress he had bought her. It really was a nice dress, when it came down to it, but she couldn't help the frustration that Robin had brought up within her.

She couldn't be sure it was the bad sort of frustration, though, because a part of her just wanted to throw his shirt at him and demand that he put it back on. At least, the more naive and innocent side of her did. Audriana would be lying to herself if she didn't admit that she just as badly wanted to reach out and touch him. Or, you know, make an exception to her earlier demand that she alone would have any ownership of the bed. But that was neither here nor there.

Snatching up her wand, she changed her hair back, taking the charm away and shaking her head so the curls fell down in their typical wild manner. Audriana didn't know what she had been thinking upon crossing the room to speak to him. Or even when she had returned to the hotel with him. Never had she felt so flustered around him, and she definitely did not like it. So she just frowned and dropped her gaze to the floor, only peeking up at him when she finally spoke again, voice barely there. "Robin... Why did you bring me here?"

This was new territory.

Robin knew he had been in similar situations many times with many women but this was somehow new. Audriana was oh so off limits but here he was feeling suddenly confident and there she was.. letting him. She rolled her eyes, asking what she could wear and it took all of Robin's restraint not to reply "Nothing". He warded off the thought with a smile, unsure even within himself if he had meant it. Before he had to come up with some clever solution to their wardrobe crisis Audriana whipped out her wand to transform her new pixie cut back into it's old, untamed mess. Something shifted slightly in the pit of Robin's stomach as he looked at her. The short hair had made her Amanda - someone he could drag down hallways and harmlessly flirt with. The long hair somehow made her Audriana Swan again. The not-so nemesis that he couldn't live without.  

She was staring at him now, speaking softly with eyes that were just a little too innocent for his liking. Why did he bring her here? He wished he could say it was to torture her but that would be blatantly untrue. Robin would have liked to be honest in this odd little moment but he genuinely wasn't sure what the honest answer would be. Part of him wanted to make a joke and lighten whatever this mood was but he couldn't bring himself to do it when she was staring at him in that way. Robin felt as vulnerable had he had in the hallway, waiting with his hand outstretched for Audriana to pick a side.

"I brought you here because you're smart, you're good at your job, and as odd as it may sound.. I trust you. You keep your promises." Robin looked down at the woman in front of him, suddenly feeling, for no particular reason, that he had given too much away. The thief wasn't sure he had even taken the time to pay Audriana a compliment beyond a sarcastic comment about her looks. He wasn't sure he had ever wanted to before.  

Feeling uncomfortable, Robin broke the gaze and took a couple steps around to her back, murmuring "Here, let me." Steady fingers undid the clasp at the top of the dress, accidentally brushing across the triangle of exposed upper back before continuing to undo the zipper. It undid down to her lower back, exposing the violin-like curves of her waist and spine. Robin's touch lingered a second too long but the  confidence that had been soaring only minutes before was experiencing slight tremors and he moved to the night table to grab his wand. He pointed the wand at two of the extra hand towels and muttered an incantation, transforming them into an expensive looking (and only slightly skimpy) bikini.

Robin took the red pieces of cloth and handed them to Audriana. "Now you have no more excuses." He raised his eyebrows at her, a look of familiar smugness creeping on to his face as he began to readjust himself the new situation.

"I should hope so," Audriana pointed out rather unhelpfully, "considering that I just hurt Gavin for you."

She couldn't bring herself to add a comment about the kiss, especially after she had gone back on it, leaving Gavin standing there as Robin drew her away. Instead, she turned her head to watch him as he walked around, realizing what he was after and lifting a hand to move her hair. Her chin turned so she could look up at him over her shoulder almost demurely, Audriana felt herself square her shoulders at his touch, a chill running over her. Not actually registering the fact that she was holding her breath, she curled her arms around the front of the dress to ensure that nothing more awkward occurred.

She hadn't anticipated his actually creating a swimsuit for her, though, regardless of the complaints she had made. Her lips parted, and she simply stared for a moment before extending a hand and taking it from him. Audriana made sure, though, that her fingers didn't brush his - she wasn't sure she could handle any more direct contact for the time being.

"Red?" she muttered to herself, looking up in surprise at his next comment, taking in his expression. A more guarded and defiant look grew across her features, not open to giving him any idea that he had won.

A smirk of her own grew as she turned towards the bathroom, not even believing herself capable of the audacity when she turned to look at him, giving him a once over as she closed the door. It was pushed shut slowly, almost like a dare directed at Robin - practically suggesting he stop her. In the end, she did as she was meant to, and changed, but tugged a towel around her torso and drawing her hair in front of her shoulders before moving back into the room.

"Well. If you're quite ready," she trailed off, gesturing to the door as she snatched up a towel for him as well. Not bothering to wait for him, Audriana picked up the room key and started out into the hallway, tossing a look over her shoulder.