Chapter Text
The dinner rush having just finished, the tavern began to empty of patrons. Still a handful or so left, but enough gone for the staff to begin cleaning and tidying up the space for the evening guests.
After the bar emptied out, a blonde woman with golden skin was more visible. She's sat on a stool at the bar making notes in a book. A half drunk ale she'd been nursing for a few hours sat in front of her along with an empty plate. She didn't even look up when a figure took the stool next to her.
"I didn't expect them to send you," Cordelia said as she immediately shut the book. The smile that had been on her face faded.
A coy smile spreads across the other individual's face. "And here I thought you'd be happy to see me," Regi said. "Also wasn't sure you'd recognize me."
The frown on Cordelia's face deepened. "Your face may change, but your demeanor does not." She moves to slide the book back into her bag, but a hand reaches out and stops hers. "What do you want, Regi?"
Their hand was softer than it should be. In this form, they had softly tanned skin, a swoop of dark brown hair that fell mostly to one side. Their eyes were a soft hazel that lock onto Cordelia's brown ones the second their hand met hers. Regi got lost for a moment in the golden flecks dancing around her irises.
They shook themselves out, and their cool, cunning posture returned. "There's a job to do that they've decided you need my help with," they replied. Their hand still held hers with the book in it. "Wanna tell me why so quick to put this away?" Their eyes remained on Cordelia's as they spoke.
Cordelia pulled her hand away but maintained the eye contact, daring Regi to look away first. She wanted to prove she could hold her own. That she didn't need their help. "It's none of your concern," she answered flatly.
Regi took the challenge as their smile widened and they turned to fully face Cordelia. "Then why try to hide it?"
Beginning to lose her nerve, but holding on as best she could. "Like I said. It's none of your concern." She cleared her throat. "So what do you need?"
Regi leaned forward ever so slightly. Torso moving. Smile widening. Eyes glued to Cordelia's. "Straight to business, huh?" The smile grew just a bit more as their eyes narrowed playfully. "So different from last time."
Cordelia broke the eye contact and scoffed quietly. She turned on her stool to sit facing Regi but avoided eye contact. "Last time doesn't exist," she whispered harshly. "We've got a job to do here. Now. That's all there is. Understand."
Regi threw their head back and laughed. Cordelia took that opportunity to slide the book into her bag of holding where it disappeared into a pocket dimension. Hopefully, far away from Regi's grasp.
Regi noted the book being gone but doesn't say anything about it. They bent forward so their mouth was right next to Cordelia's ear. Their smile turned playful when they heard the aasimar's breath hitch. "Based on how quickly you knew it was me, I'd say last time left an impression." Regi gently placed a hand on Cordelia's knee to see how long they could get away with it.
Cordelia froze the moment they leaned in. They looked human last time. This time they were a half-elf. But their presence had the same effect. Though Regi's hands were soft this time. Before they'd been rough and calloused. With the work they did for the guild, they probably should be, but she couldn't stop herself from thinking about how gentle this all was. The hand on her knee. The same one that'd touched her skin earlier. Their delicate breath that danced across her neck as they spoke.
She tried to blink it away and come back to herself. And in that moment, she decided to test something. She lifted her left hand and placed it firmly on the back of Regi's neck. Hearing their sharp inhale, Cordelia returned their playful smile. "Seems I'm not the only one." Then she pushed them back and folded her arms. Her expression more serious, but her eyes still have a glint of a grin in them. "So shall we get to work?"