Incomplete (A VA Fanfic One-Shots & Shorts Collection)

Choice: Part 3

I cut off Rose's argument over Tasha having no guardians. "You wouldn't mind the girls tagging along if Lissa allowed me to guard you too, would you?" I looked at both Lissa and Tasha.
"Of course, Dimitri," Lissa granted, "as long as Rose and I get out."
Tasha laughed. "Then let's get going."
"And what am I to do?"
"Obey curfew," I told Christian. We were already pushing it for time.
"Humph."
"Don't be a sourpuss," jokingly reprimanded Tasha.

After twenty minutes of non-stop back-and-forth arguing with Alberta and Kirova I finally had permission to take the girls with me. With Rose on duty again and... Janine joining us. This was going to be brilliant. Just perfect. Absolutely perfect!

Janine'sPOV
"Dimitri!" Rose screeched. "Really? I mean, seriously, Her!"
"I didn't choose her," Belikov calmly replied as she approached the SUV. Just barely meeting us on time. "Now, does being on duty make you feel any better?"
"On duty!" I exclaimed. I hadn't been briefed my under-skilled and bad-mannered, uncontrolled teen was going to be helping us out.
Belikov shrugged. "More or less."
"Do I get a stake and earpiece this time?" She was attempting- and failing- to mirror Belikov's earlier single-brow raise.
To my surprise he unsheathed a stake and flipped it so it spun above his hand before he caught it by the hilt.
"Stop showing off!" demanded both Tasha and Rose. Then my daughter added, "That doesn't answer my question."
Belikov let out a short, single laugh. "I thought it was perfectly clear..."
"It's perfectly unclear, Comrade. Now, just sheath it or hand it over."
Belikov shook his head in what I gathered to be amusement. "Oh, Rose. You're impossible."
I was surprisingly scared of her responding glare.
"No need for theatrics."

Belikov handed the stake over and it was as if Rose became an entirely unrecognisable other person when her hand embraced the hilt like one would a newborn. Her whole demeanour changed as we piled into the vehicle. Rose rode shot-gun- much to Tasha's subtle displeasure. I sat in the back row between Tasha and Lissa. Belikov drove.

"What is the deal, Dimitri?"
"Rose," I warned from my spot, "it's Guardian Belikov." To my shock, Belikov ignored the reprimand just as completely as Rose.
"You're not getting the earpiece, but you've got the stake. You know how pair-guarding works, but this will be a little different."
"There's pair guarding or there isn't. So please explain your recent trip to crazyville."
Beside me, Tasha looked hopeful for some reason.
"There's one far guard and two near guards for this trip."
"And who's who?"
"You're near-guarding me, aren't you, Dimka? So we can catch-up more!"

In the rearview mirror I noticed a tense Rose and Belikov's eyes locked for just a moment, barely two seconds, but it was as if an entire strategic conversation occurred. What about me? Where's my input? I'm officially involved in this guarding operation! Rose is just playing pretend.

"I'm better off near-guarding- your proper charge is Princess Dragomir, here, Belikov."
Rose and Belikov's eyes met again via the rearview mirror. There was an uncomfortable tension about them, as if they were reluctant to pair or reluctant to not.
"Oh, come on, Dimka!"
Rose looked ready to cry. "Liss?"
The Princess looked utterly torn. Her eyes flicked between each of us.
"You're the guardians, you decide."
"I'll far guard," Belikov decided.
"But, Dimka!"
"It's the logical solution," Rose snapped then sighed.
"Settle, Rose. You're stressing too much," Belikov almost cooed, "it's not healthy."
"He's right, Rose, you need to calm down," agreed a compassionate Princess.
She sighed and curled back in on herself. She wrapped her arms around her torso and sank back into the car seat.
Tasha looked suspicious. I was completely lost. Why was she being told it wasn't healthy to stress? Better yet, why was she listening? The Rosemarie I knew never listened to advice from anyone.

While we moved from store to store and one section of clothes to another I didn't miss the professional job the novice- known as my daughter- was doing. She was using every technique she should while also interacting with her friend.