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

Tasha's Offer: Consulting Rose

Damn it, young woman! Both the way you say my name reverently like that and the teasing and relaxed 'Comrade' causes my heart to race. That worried and serious face is also damn sexy and makes you all the more painfully beautiful. I so should not be thinking of you like that, but you've given me no choice.

It was now or never. She was a young woman and I saw her as my equal. Time to start truly treating and trusting her as such. "We need to talk, Rose. An adult conversation."

She looked at me with utter seriousness- understanding this was to stay between us, that I was truly confiding in her as my equal and in a way I'd never yet done. She, once again, saw right into my soul before responding. Scaring me in the process. I noticed how pain and worry flashed across her face and eyes before relaxing and putting me and my wants and needs first. She looked as though she felt a little insecure but, to others, it would be undetectable. That being said, she hadn't slammed her mask up, seeming to understand I wanted, needed even, to see her emotions. Right now her look was one of deep concern and a desire to support me.

"What do you need to discuss, Dimitri? What is it that you want my opinion on?" she asked softly, concern and love clearly coming through.

How had I ever doubted her, her emotional attachment to me? It made me feel like a criminal, ironically enough.

I took a deep breath before saying, "Tasha."

Hurt, betrayal, hatred even, flashed across her features. Then, moments later-after looking at me in a way that made me want squirm, because I could feel her eyes burning through to my core-composure, resolution and pure, unadulterated love.
"What about her?" she shakily enquired.
"She's asked me to be her guardian."
"And her personal partner." She'd done it again. Seen and heard what I hadn't shown, what I hadn't said. "Dimitri," she was nearly on the verge of tears as her voice strained in pain and heartache. I could almost hear her chanting 'I don't cry, I won't cry, I can't cry, I'm Rose Hathaway- the emotionless guardian'. After a couple shaky breaths and a deep sigh, tears pushed back but guardian mask not in place, she said "she comes first. It doesn't matter how I feel, she's a Moroi, an outcast royal at that, she comes first. I'm Lissa's guardian who's bound to her. You're free to take her offer." The next part was whispered so quietly I almost didn't catch it, "I want you happy and can't be the cause."
"Roza, no. Please, please, please don't think that. Ever. You matter, how you feel absolutely matters."
I reached out and ever so lightly traced up her jawline, up her cheek, over her temple and pushed back the hair blocking my view of her back behind her ear. Even with a black eye, she was an absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful sight and soul to behold. "You matter, Roza," I breathed out while my fingers twined in her silky hair and brought her face closer to mine. Tipping her head up slightly before brining my forehead down to rest on hers. Our lips nearly touched and the taste of her breath was driving me insane. "You matter," I repeated again before bringing our lips together.

My heart, soul and body-in that order- yearned for her and hers. My lips were burning as our kiss consumed me, overwhelming my senses. This was all us, no charm influenced or amplified this moment, made this contact more powerful than it was.

"No," I said against Roza's lips when we paused to breathe, looking into her eyes lovingly. "I'm telling Tasha no." My beauty looked at me in disbelief and astonishment. "I have to tell her no, Roza. My heart belongs to you and you alone." I gently pulled her onto my lap, her legs instinctively wrapping around me and brining us so close together our most sensitive places touched. "Roza," I groaned into her hair. "Stop being a tease. Please," I, Dimitri Belikov, was begging with her. I didn't want to be the responsible one, I didn't want to stay in control. Not when she already pushed me to my limits simply by existing.
"You don't mean that, Comrade," she practically purred in my ear. Again seeing right through me. "You don't want to be responsible." Rose spoke into my shoulder as she, if even possible, brought us closer together. We were, or at least I was, so dead meat if we got caught right now. That wasn't nearly as scary as her seeing straight through me, however.
"Rose, how? How do you know me so well? How do you keep picking these things about me up? It's scary; you scare me."
"I don't know, Comrade. I guess I can just tell, from your eyes, from your voice. I can read your expressions that no one else would be able to detect." Her lips moved to mine. I never wanted let go of her... But I had to. And very reluctantly did so.
"Oh Roza." I brushed my lips against hers once more. Pulling back before either of us could deepen it.