For Fame and Glory

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"Kusanagi." Dahlia DeAngelo was grinning from ear to ear as she flopped into the seat opposite her partner in crime. This bar was their favourite haunt when trying to relax, and she had known where to find the other woman right away. She let the word hang for a moment and waved for the attention of the bartender and gestured that she wanted a beer. Dahlia leaned back and let her arms hang over the back of her seat, though it was clear she was damn near bursting with excitement.

"Where are you headed?" Erik countered with another grin, taking Gabbi's bag from her slender fingers to carry it for her.

Dahlia looked up at Italy with something far worse than disgust. "What ball?" She asked, taking another long gulp of her drink.

"I was headed home. But...I'm not sure where home is now." Gabbi said, not sure why she was confessing this. "I bought a new computer so maybe I'll take it with me to Ireland. I've always wanted to go there." 

"Oh...you didn't get an invitation? What a surprise. Well, you can have mine. I don't need it. I'm going to be the chosen mate and the master will offer me the final kill." Italy held out a strange golden slip of paper.

"Want to find a bit of luck, do you?" Erik teased, offering Gabbi another grin. When they were children, he and a much younger Gabbi had often daydreamed about Ireland. It touched him that she still thought of it.

Dahlia found herself taking the piece of paper. The instant she did, the name on it changed to match her own. Her bright cobalt eyes stared at it for a moment before looking at Italy again. "Final kill... of what?" She asked, afraid that she already knew the answer.

"Who me?" Gabbi laughed softly. "I used to make wishes and dreams with a friend of mine. We were going to get lost in a castle and fight a banshee. But he..." She stopped speaking and closed her eyes, missing Erik so much it hurt.

"The last of the dragon Lords, Justice, of course!" Italy said with a giggle and a clap of her hands. "Rama is going to bathe in his blood!"

"Probably misses you too." Erik finished for her, reaching rough fingers out to touch Gabbi's cheek gently.

Dahlia was doing everything she could not to react to this news. "Is he? And he wants an audience?"

Gabbi gave a soft sigh and kept her eyes closed. Memories of summer nights in the DeAngelo's back yard flooded back. She and Erik stealing a kiss while Dahlia slept, "just to see what it felt like." 
"He...passed away when we were teenagers. I've never gotten over it."

"Apparently." Italy snorted, inspecting her perfect nails. "All of the most powerful of our kind will be there. Justice has been a thorn in our sides for years. This is the event we have been waiting for. That bastard's blood flowing as we dance...I can't think of a better engagement party."

Those kisses were what had kept Erik going all these years. He never thought fate would bring Gabbi back into his life. "You're a hard one to get over..." He breathed.

"If it were your party, why would you have needed this invitation in the first place?" Dahlia snorted, unable to hold her tongue.

"You don't know me." Gabbi snorted, opening her eyes. "A couple of nights in bed with me doesn't make you know something like that. I'm easy to forget. Trust me."  She added bitterly, yanking her bag out of his hands. 

"It's a surprise." Italy snorted. "Haven't you ever heard of a purposely? No wonder your father never made you like himself. He'd rather the dragon Lords died with him than pass it on to a fool like you." She spat.

Gabbi's words hurt, but Erik tried to simply let them roll off him. He didn't try to take her bag back, but was struggling to find a reason to make her stay. "Did you find what you were looking for while you were here?"

Dahlia couldn't really argue with that one. "Probably for the best." She replied with a nonchalant shrug, most likely infuriating Italy further.

"No. All I did was lose more stuff. I'm good at that I guess." Gabbi mumbled. "I had pictures of Erik on that computer too." She stopped where she was her chest heaving. "It's not fair!" She shouted. "I lose everything I love! My parents, Erik, my best friend! What the hell is wrong with me?" 

Italy reached out and knocked the bottle from Dahlia's hand. "You shouldn't come. You'll only embarrass yourself."

"Then why don't you go and get it?" Erik asked, knowing Rama had handed back that which he stole. "If  help you reclaim it, do I get one more date before you leave?"

Dahlia glanced at the bottle then back up at Italy with another grin. "What's wrong? Afraid I might decide I want your precious Rama all for myself?" She mocked.

"I don't know where it is." Gabbi confessed, still trying to settle herself down. "Besides, I told my...friend I was going to look. And...we haven't been on a date at all. So how can you say one more?" 

"You couldn't handle him." Italy laughed rudely. "He's far too much for you."

"Alright... first date then." Erik countered, still grinning playfully. "Does your friend not know where it is?"

Dahlia got to her feet, though Italy was considerably taller, so it didn't exactly seem all that menacing. "Lady, he wouldn't know what to do with me if he had me." She replied coolly.

"It's not that..." Gabbi said softly. "The plane to Ireland doesn't leave for twelve hours so...even if I don't get that computer...I'm all yours." 

"You give yourself too much credit." Italy snorted. "You should never have been born. You can't keep up with a beast like him."

"Promise?" Erik breathed, leaning in close. "Because... every time you lie, a puppy loses his tail." He breathed, something he had teased her with as a child.

"Scared that you might be wrong?" Dahlia purred, pushing Italy away from her. "I'd love to give you a whole bunch of reasons why you're just not good enough... But i would seem I have a dress to buy."

"What?" Gabbi nearly dropped her bags at his words. The sound of it broke her heart. Erik would say that when he knew she was lying to him. When she would make a horrified face he would laugh and push his glasses up on his nose. Those big thick glasses...

"Buy what you want. No one will see you. They'll be too busy looking at me and you'll be too busy watching your father die." Italy hissed, stomping off.

"What?" Erik asked, feigning innocence. "Sorry... I guess that's not a nice thing to think about." He added sheepishly.

Dahlia was genuinely grinning as Italy walked away. The other woman had no idea she had just given the young woman the perfect way to ruin everything.

"Dont...oh please..." She didn't know what it was but the way he ducked his head and shrugged his shoulders reminded her of Erik. It was tearing her apart. 
All at once grabbed his face and kissed him deeply. It was all she could think of to do.

Erik wasn't going to do anything to stop what was happening. It was as though he knew exactly what would happen, as it always happened exactly this way when they were teens. "Carry on... and there won't be a first date... again." He teased, his forehead leaning against Gabbi's as he grinned.

Gabbi's heart skipped a beat when her eyes met the golden ones that were now so very close to hers. "Erik..." She breathed, her voice full of longing.

Erik couldn't bear any more questions, and was quick to capture Gabbi's lips with his own once more. "Forget the flight... Come to the masquerade with me." He found himself breathing, despite knowing it was the worst idea ever.

"Ok..." Despite not knowing what he was talking about she had to agree. Dahlia may not want her around but this man seemed to. "When is it?" 

Rama was watching everything from his home, siting back with his hands behind his head. This was too easy. Like shooting fish in a barrel.

Erik was stunned Gabbi had said yes, though he was grinning like a fool. "It's tomorrow night. A massive deal, I usually avoid it." He confessed.

Dahlia had already picked herself a gown, and was working on a mask. She was focused solely on getting in there, destroying Rama, and getting her father out. She didn't have a plan for getting herself out of whatever situation she was getting into.

"What should I wear? Something fancy?" Gabbi asked, unable to hide her giddiness. "I've never been to one."

Rama didn't count on Dahlia being invited. He was certain everything was under control. Not a single hiccup to worry about.

"Whatever you want." Erik breathed, reaching out to run his fingers through Gabbi's golden hair. "You always look beautiful to me." He added with another boyish grin.

Dahlia didn't get word to her mother what she was planning. It was only as night fell and she arrived at Rama's grand estate with his other guests that she began to feel nervous. Only part of it was due to the rather expensive gown she wore, she also knew she may not be leaving the building alive.

The hotel was filled with every type of ornately dressed covered in a mask and grinning from ear to ear. Gabbi felt out of place as she stepped from the limo, her white feathered dress clashing with the midnight costume colors around her. Everyone looked at her strangely, some of them even hissing at her. 

Rama was watching everything from the balcony above the ball. Already his guests were taking their turns at torturing the great dragon lord. To his disappointment, Justice was making no sounds. He wasn't even acting like anything was bothering him at all.

Erik had known Gabbi would stand out, he was just sorry she stood out so much; he worried someone was going to swoop in and steal her away. He snarled at anyone who dared hiss, and gently placed Gabbi's slender hand around his arm as he escorted her into the ballroom. "You say the word... and we disappear." He breathed against her ear.

Dahlia had been in the ballroom for a short while now, taking everything in, noting possible escape routes and how many of the guests were actually Rama's men in disguise. She was paying little attention to how easily she was able to flit among the other guests here, like she was one of them.

"Why didn't you tell me this was a black tie party?" Gabbi asked softly, glancing at the balcony above them. "And what are all those people doing over there that they're keeping us from seeing?"

Rama was watching the dark headed woman moving through the crowd below him. He couldn't take his eyes off her. He couldn't tell exactly who she was but he knew that he wanted her. It was because of this he instructed his men to bring her to him.

"It's not... they just like to be miserable." Erik teased, sliding an arm around Gabbi and kissing her lightly. "You look beautiful, and they can't stand it."

Dahlia put up little resistance, knowing she couldn't create a scene if she wished to help her father. Thankfully her mask helped keep her identity somewhat of a mystery as she was brought before Rama like some sort of offering. "If you wanted to dance, you could have just asked." She remarked in a velvet soft voice.

Gabbi didn't feel much better at hearing this. There were those that treated her with hatred and those who smiled at her as if they knew something she didn't. And the. There was still the question...
"What's in that room, Tattoo?" She asked again pulling him toward the enormous guards who were standing on either side of the door they had yet to let her enter. 

"I'm afraid I don't dance, my dear. But thank you from the offer." Rama said with a half smile, stepping away from the balcony edge to return to his seat. "I simply wanted to personally thank you for coming and offer you a place at my table for the evening."