VERSE FOURTEEN: ENTRE MES MAINS

Natasha shouldered through the tavern entrance and nearly tripped over the threshold. Unconcerned, she trudged over to the bar, skirting a table full of customers. One of her co-workers approached with worry evident on her face, but Natasha ignored the other girl and her distressed nattering.

When she'd reached the bar, Natasha calmly set down the bags at her feet and gathered the work supplies she'd fetched on her errands. She hefted them up onto the counter with a heavy slam, distracting Vulpecula from his attempts to woo some new female patron.

['Tasha,] the older fox set down the tankard he'd been pretending to clean and turned from his latest prospective conquest. [I thought you had class this evening...what's all this? Are you al-]

[We were out of shampoo. And some other supplies,] the female mephit interrupted, sorting them out on the bar methodically. She didn't look Vulpecula in the eye.

[Well...you've seen to that, it seems-]

[Just...stop it,] Natasha asked when she finally met his gaze. Her employer was taken somewhat aback, but the fox shut his mouth, at least. 'Tasha stared him down for a few moments.

[Why?] She asked finally. [Why did you do it, Mr. Fox? And don't piss and tell me it's raining. I know you had Klisoura following us. What makes you think anything we were doing was any of your business?!]

The more she spoke, the more Natasha felt the burning anger building up in her once more. It was an unfamiliar, unpleasant sensation, but with the flames stoked she didn't seem able to quell them. Instead they lapped higher, consuming her. [Who do you think you are?!] She demanded shrilly, drawing more than a little unwanted attention to their conversation. Vulpecula glanced around nervously, bashfully, his black ears splaying.

[I'm sure he's fine, 'Tasha. You have to understand we did this for the best. We came to learn some very...disturbing things about your new friend. He's not what he seems.] The fox moved to place one of his paws over Natasha's where it rested on the counter, but she withdrew it swiftly and balled both of her little hands up into fists.

[You're wrong, Mr. Fox! He's a good person who just...had some bad things happen to him.] Natasha was struggling to find the right words to explain the situation when it occurred to her that she really didn't understand it all that well, herself. She'd heard Damon's side of things, certainly, but she didn't know very much in the way of details... And here she was defending his character staunchly.

[If that's true then he has nothing to fear from the po-]

[But that's beside the point when it comes to you interfering with my personal life!] Natasha countered, unwilling to let Vulpecula finish; unwilling to let him find a hole in her argument. Unwilling to hear the truth? She creased her muzzle in a snarl: an expression to which she was unaccustomed. [I'm your employee, not your damned daughter! I'm a grown woman who can take care of herself!] Natasha felt her tail frizzing, the fur standing on end. Other aspects of her mephit biology had made themselves ready at the behest of her fight-or-flight response, but she used all of her available willpower to keep that in check. It wasn't easy. She was almost working herself into a frenzy.

[I've never - I don't think of you as a daughter,] Vulpecula reassured her, hurt showing plainly in his eyes no matter how he tried to hide it. [But I look after my people; you know that. Natasha...running the sort of business I run and dealing with the people that I do...I've become a good judge of character. Make no mistake: there's something dark lurking inside that fox.]

Natasha shook her head while tears welled in her eyes, blurring her vision. No, she wanted to say, but the lump in her throat kept her from speaking. She tried to swallow it down to no avail. She wanted to tell Vulpecula how wrong he was, but she couldn't - was that because he was right?

[You're a good girl, 'Tasha,] Mr. Fox continued, speaking softly. He stitched his brow thoughtfully and looked like he was about to say something else. After a moment's hesitation, he continued: [Vagrants and criminals like this Damon Vulpes...you shouldn't go getting yourself mixed in with his sort. You're better than that; you don't need to get involved with the wrong crowd.]

[Oh, but you're the 'right' crowd?] Natasha sobbed, finally finding her voice. [Is that what you mean to say? Shouldn't I know better than that, then? You and Klisoura and everyone else...you think I'm too stupid and naive to know what else you're up to around here. Well, fine, maybe I _don't_know! Not exactly - but I know it's not what they call 'honest work'! So...so which is it?! Am I a stupid girl, or should I know better than to work for someone like you?!]

The tavern had fallen silent, but Natasha had a hard time telling whether that was in fact the case or if the ringing pulse in her ears had deafened her. Vulpecula stared at her bemusedly, mouth agape, his face distorting behind a veil of tears. Natasha blinked as they welled up and began to run down across her cheeks.

The young mephit sucked in a few shaky breaths before she turned to gather up the bags filled with Damon's new clothes. Vulpecula said something to her, perhaps, but the skunkette ignored him and made for the stairs. She bolted up them in a hurry and all but bowled Melodie over at the top.

[Oh! 'Tasha, darling, I'm sorry. Are you alright?] The beautiful vixen caught Natasha by the shoulders and looked her up and down, eyes full of concern. Natasha thought of carrying on right by her, but that moment's indecision saw her break down and lean into Melodie, sobbing against the fox-woman's shoulder.

They stood there for a few moments, awkwardly, while the she-skunk wept into her companion's fur. When Natasha was finally able to suck in a few ragged breaths she stood back up and sniffled, blinking some more tears from her eyes.

[I...I'm sorry, Melodie. I just-]

[Shhh,] the vixen soothed, placing an elegant finger over 'Tasha's lips. She threw an arm around the skunk and turned to continue down the hall with Natasha. [It's alright, darling. Why don't you tell me all about it, yes? Is it about that new beau of yours? That sexy, shy, dark-furred fox? He didn't stand you up, did he? There's not another woman, is there? I'll castrate him for you if there is.] In spite of herself, Natasha giggled.

[N-no, Mel. Nothing like that. It's not his fault. I just - can we get these things to his room?] She gestured with the bags weighing down her arms. Melodie nodded understandingly.

[Of course, my dear.]

Natasha unlocked the door to room seven - Damon's suite - and led the way inside. She all but dumped the packages of clothing on the floor on her way to the bed and, once there, sprawled face-down on the mattress. It still smelled strongly of him. Of them.

She'd stopped crying.

Instead, Natasha lay there for some time - she couldn't say for sure how long - while the tears dried on her cheeks. She was sure her makeup was running. The skunkette jumped a little when Melodie's claws trailed slowly through her hair in soothing strokes.

[There there, 'Tasha,] the fox crooned. [It's alright, my darling. Why don't you tell me what's the matter, yes? You say the fox hasn't played you? Then shame on you for letting something as pretty as him out of your sight.]

The chiding was playful, and it managed to make Natasha smile a little. She giggled half-heartedly, turning to glance up at Melodie from the corner of her eye.

[Damon didn't do anything wrong, no...but I'm not sure what you mean,] she said. Melodie clicked her tongue and shook her head.

[Come now, 'Tasha, you can't tell me you haven't noticed.] The vixen's pearly white teeth flashed in a coy grin, and in spite of the pain she still felt, Natasha couldn't suppress a tiny flush of embarrassment.

[W-well, no, of course not, but...]

['Tasha, darling, you haven't been very good at hiding your interest,] Melodie stated plainly. [Besides...I can still smell him on you...and you, in here...] Natasha's ears wilted after that playful dig and she averted her eyes.

[Oh...] was all she could manage. Melodie nudged her gently, that grin remaining.

[Ah, come now, darling - how was it? You can tell me, can't you? I don't think I've ever seen you show so much interest in a man before...]

Natasha shook her head a little. Melodie had the truth of it, at least. But then, the sultry vixen had only been a regular around the tavern for about four or five months, herself.

[No,] Natasha admitted anyway, rolling onto her side and forcing herself to smile a little. [It's silly, I know...] Melodie grinned wider.

[You have men trying to bed you all the time while you're working here, and you never pay them any attention. Damon - that's his name, yes? - he must be something special to earn your attention...and your affection.]

[H-he is,] Natasha admitted, biting her lip. Then she deflated. [I mean, he was...]

[Was?] the she-fox wondered. [You say this like he's gone, but here you are bringing up these bags for him. Surely he hasn't left Paris on you?] Natasha bit her lip and shook her head.

[No,] she began, then trailed off. She bit her lip harder and tasted blood, struggling to find the right words. [But he...Mr. Vulpecula...I think he's driven Damon off.] Natasha sat up slowly and bundled her big, fluffy tail in her lap, hugging it like a stuffed animal. That usually made her feel better. Usually. Melodie's slender fingers brushed at the skunk-girl's hair again and Natasha's ears twitched, making her earrings jingle.

[He is very protective of the people close to him,] the foxette observed. [Especially his employees...and you.] Natasha looked up from her tail and furrowed her brow.

[I am one of his employees,] she reminded. Again that toothed grin in reply.

[Yes, well,] Melodie leaned back and stretched her long, slender legs. Natasha had always been jealous of her figure. [You are, and you aren't,] the vixen concluded. [Mr. Vulpecula seems to regard you more dearly than the rest of his staff.]

[What...are you talking about?] Natasha wondered, ears going flat.

[Come now, darling,] Melodie cooed. [You can't tell me you've failed to notice the way he looks at you...] Natasha shook her head, disbelieving.

[Wh- no, he doesn't. He's always interested in the ladies hanging around the bar. He doesn't pay attention to me...] she insisted. Melodie grinned.

[He may flirt with the local bar-flies, yes. Sometimes he even takes them to bed. But sex is one thing, my dear. He cares about you - respects you,] the fox assessed, her sentence trailing off with lingering implications.

Natasha was taken aback, but the more she thought on Melodie's assertion the more she realized the vixen might have a point. 'Tasha had always taken Mr. Vulpecula's protective, sometimes overbearing attitude as a kind of misplaced fatherly concern. And the way he'd stepped in when he had found out about Damon's criminal record...

Damon...

Natasha hid her face in her tail again as she felt her puffy eyes welling with fresh tears.

[If Mr. Fox respects me he wouldn't have done what he did to Damon,] she concluded miserably. Melodie must have been able to hear her mumbling through the fluff of her tail, because she stroked Natasha's ears again and replied:

[So, what has our grumpy bartender gone any done, darling? Did he get one of his...bouncers to intimidate your beau?] Natasha shook her head and looked up at Melodie again, sniffing.

[No, Mel, it's worse than that...] she trailed off, unsure how, exactly, to elaborate. Melodie smiled sympathetically and brushed some hair from Natasha's eyes.

[You don't think he's done anything to hurt him, do you?] she asked.

[No...not exactly,] Natasha squirmed a bit, then sat up with an uneasy sigh and fidgeted with her tail. [But Damon...he is in some very real trouble,] the skunk-girl concluded vaguely. Melodie's smile softened, and she reached up to brush her fingers against 'Tasha's cheek.

[You seem to care about him a great deal,] observed the vixen. Natasha felt her cheeks redden under her dark fur while she managed a tiny nod.

[Y- well, of course,] she affirmed.

[Are you falling for him?] Melodie inquired bluntly. Natasha squeaked.

[Wha- no, of course not, that's silly, Mel,] she protested while her cheeks burned hotter still. Silly or not, though... [We've only just met,] Natasha added uncertain whether it was only Melodie to whom she was making her case. [And...and he's in love with someone else, still...]

[My apologies,] Mel shrugged. [But you have to admit, 'Tasha, ever since that dashing fellow arrived it's been hard to ignore how...infatuated you've been, with him.] The vixen allowed herself a tiny smirk while Natasha drew her tail up against herself once more.

[I...just...like Damon. There's...I feel a connection with him, and I'm not sure why,] she protested, [that's all.] Melodie digested those words in silence for a few moments before she ventured to reply.

[Like you've met him before, or perhaps you've known him all along?] the vixen suggested. Natasha's heart skipped a beat and she looked up at her friend in surprise, blinking.

[Well...yes. I suppose it's like that, yes. How did you know, Mel?]

Melodie laughed and flicked her bushy red tail. Drawing her legs up onto the bed, she turned to face Natasha directly with a smile.

[Maybe it's destiny, darling,] she posited, [Maybe you two were fated to meet.]

[I'm - I don't know that I believe in that, Melodie,] Natasha admitted, unable to hide a frown while her shoulders sagged.

[No?] Mel's head canted to one side, but that smile never left her muzzle. [What do you believe, Natasha LaFleur?] Natasha shook her head uncertainly, too tired by that point to care. Between the bouts of crying and the emotional roller coaster she'd been riding for the past couple of hours, she was all but exhausted.

[I...I don't know, Mel,] 'Tasha admitted.

[You believe in your fox-beau to some extent, I think,] the female fox surmised with that trademark grin. Natasha blushed again.

[I suppose...but I don't know that it matters what I believe, there,] she concluded fatalistically. Melodie clicked her tongue disapprovingly and ran a finger under Natasha's jaw, stroking her chin with a gentle, painted claw.

[Now now, 'Tasha, darling, why would you go and say a thing like that?] When all Natasha managed was a meek shrug, Melodie continued: [You say Mr. Vulpecula has gone and driven your handsome fox away? Perhaps he can bring him back to you, just the same.]

Natasha's rounded ears pricked up at the suggestion momentarily, but then she deflated again.

[Do you really think he could? But...but why would he? I mean...he doesn't care for Damon. To hear Mr. Fox tell it, he's done me a favour,] the skunkette sighed.

[Perhaps. He may not like that handsome fellow, 'Tasha, but I would be willing to bet that he cares about you more than he cares to detest that charming Englishman.] Melodie smirked, swishing her tail mischievously. [Why don't you let me talk to him?]

[Would you?!] Natasha asked, heart in throat. She perked right up, sweeping her tail behind her and swishing it merrily. She knew she oughtn't get her hopes up, but it was hard not to let her optimism get the best of her. [Do you think you could, I mean?] 'Tasha added in a bid to temper her expectations.

Melodie leaned closer while stroking lightly under Natasha's chin, raising the she-skunk's nose so as to land a gentle kiss on it.

[For you, darling, anything,] the vixen purred. [Just leave it to me, 'Tasha. Don't worry; I'm sure we'll be seeing that fox of yours again very soon.]