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"You couldn't wait until the whole group was in sight before you fired off?" Zea shouted as she dodged an oncoming swing form an Antaam soldier.
"I thought that was all of them." Gemma grunted back after unleashing a flurry of lighting at the small group of enemies.
꧁𓆩༺✧༻𓆪꧂
Viago had requested Zea for a mission and to work with another crow. He warned that this other crow has a hard time working with others, yet was crucial for this mission.
When Zea meet Viago's 'Canary', she was impressed. The tiny elf woman, smaller than average, was engaged in a one on one fight with a rather large Antaam just outside the market in Treviso. The qunari man was already large, yet compared to her, towering still felt small.
Suddenly the qunari hit the floor with a thud, dead. The crackling of lighting and the smell of burnt flesh filled her nose. The tiny woman looked up noticing Zea standing there.
"You the one Viago told me to meet?" The orb in her hand disappeared in a flash as she sheathed her dagger.
"Yup. I take it you're canary?"
꧁𓆩༺✧༻𓆪꧂
Once the job was done, some painting Viago wanted that was stolen with a handful of other rare paintings, the pair made their way back to the Diamond.
"I haven't had someone I just meet command a battlefield like you did. Felt like we had been doing this together for years." Zea praised. "Your communication was really clear."
"Thank you. I find missions go smoother when people listen and instructions are clear." Gemma stated matter of factly.
The more they talked, the longer the trek back took as their pace slowed.
Zea found herself even more impressed with the tiny woman and watching her in action made it clear why Viago, recommended her. Crossing the market, lively music could be heard from nearby and a rather large crowd was gathered.
Gemma, vibing to the music, began moving towards the crowd. People were cheering and dancing and just having party for the sake of it. Zea lost track of Gemma as she maneuvered through the crowd, the small woman nowhere in sight. Finally reaching the center, Zea spotted her, dancing. She danced with no one and, yet, somehow seemed to dance with everyone.
Zea observed her, moving as if in her element and not a care in the world. Gemma locked eyes with Zea and danced over towards her.
"You like dancing, Rook?" Gemma inquired, arms and hips still moving to the music, even as the tune changed.
"I do. Just not good at it." Zea shifted all her weight to one foot and crossed her arms across her chest that in a relaxed manner.
"Come on, if you can follow the rhythm, you can dance." Gemma playfully retorted, sauntering backwards in a dancing motion, her hands beckoning Zea to the center.
Zea stared at Gemma as she continued her gesture.
"You know the others are waiting on our return?"
"Vi will live." Gemma twirled about. "He can wait a bit longer."
Zea softly chuckled while shaking her head. "Ok. but what happens next is completely your fault.” Zea declared in amusement, pointing her finger at Gemma.
The two danced with the crowd for an unknown length of time. Laughter and jubilation filled the small space in the market. Though Zea could keep up with the rhythm, there was no coordination in her movement, which, inturn caused Gemma to let out a gut bursting guffaw.
"Ya know," Gemma began, her hands in the air as she kept swaying to the music. "Had you not joined me out here, we couldn't be friend and I probably would tried to stab ya."
"I appreciate you not stabbing me, Canary."
"Gemma."
"What?" Zea was taken aback.
"My name is Gemma."
Surprised by the sudden openness and extension of trust from a woman Zea only met that day, she stopped moving. Gemma continued to twirl about as if she hadn't just shown, in Zea opinion. a vulnerable side. Zea hesitated in her response, unsure if it would be wise to share her own vulnerability.
"I…I don't share this often and only with people I trust." Gemma had stopped dancing, noticing the weariness on Zea face. "It's only fair since you shared yours." My name is Zea."
The tiny elf shot Zea a wide genuine smile and simply nodded before continuing her dancing. Curious about Zeas begrudging over something as trivial as a name but said nothing. Looking over her shoulder she motioned her head towards the center of the crowd for Zea to follow. Coming up on Gemma's side, she held out fancy looking dagger. More a decorative piece than a functional one. Zea looked at it than back at Gemma.
"For you. I see why Vi suggested you and you've proven to be a great fighter and now friend." Gemma stared up at Zea a soft smile on her face as she held the dagger out. Taking the gift, Zea traced her fingers along the decorative jewels, variety of colors and sparkling gems that glistened in the light of the market.
"Thank you, Gemma. Truly. Now…" pocketing the knife. "Lets make Viago wait a little longer."