A Light for the Dark

((Please note: this is closed for myself and Malkaviankitten. Feel free to read a long, but please do NOT post!))

"Don't look at me like that. He's not a looser, he's just a little misguided," Harmony said to the pair of disapproving green eyes that stared at her from the face of her black and white cat. Jester sat there, eying her and when she came closer, he nuzzled at sleeve of her shirt, where it draped down slightly over her hand. Of course there were reasons other than style that had prompted the flame haired young woman to wear a long sleeve shirt in the middle of July...

"He didn't mean it, Jes, it was a mistake. Sometimes he doesn't know how strong he really is." She was talking about the bruises that mottled her arms under the shirt. The culprit? Tobias, her older brother. Tobias had about three years on her, and he lived in the upper level of the house their parents had left her with. Oh true, it was her inheritance, as Tobi had been disowned years prior to their deaths after dropping out of high school and running off to join a heavy metal band.

And so, three days after Harmony's 18th, just after her high school graduation, she'd been faced with the difficult task of tracking down her brother to tell him that mom and dad had been killed in a car accident on their way up into the mountains for their annual summer vacation. Harmony had been due to leave for London the next day, but she'd received the phone call at about midnight.

Two months after their death, Harmony finally managed to convince Tobi to come home. She didn't like living alone, and she knew he was all but living on the streets, perhaps staying in motels whenever he had the money. She'd been prepared to have to work to make it comfortable for and with him... but she hadn't been prepared for the raging meth addiction that followed him, or the tendency to bring home whatever girl would sleep with him.

The hot temper had also come as a surprise, and more than once in the past 8 months since he'd moved in, had Harmony been forced to wear long sleeves or dark glasses to hide the results of one of Tobi's outbursts.

He'd just called moments prior to her little conversation with her concerned feline, calling from the cell she'd gotten him so they could keep in touch when she had work and/or school and he was away. She'd lost him for years once, she wasn't about to loose him again. The night prior, he'd lost his temper with her when she'd asked him to turn down the amp hooked to his guitar. He'd been high, she could tell, and he'd grabbed her by the arms to maneuver her out of the room, before pushing her out into the hall where she'd hit the wall hard. Bruises were on her arms from his hands, but they were the only fresh ones.

Grabbing up her bag, Harmony leaned down to kiss the top of Jester's head. "I'll see you after work, Jes," she said softly, smiling and tucking her cell into her pocket.

Working evenings suited Harmony, as she often had her days filled with college courses. Of course, she could have switched her schedule around during the summer, but it was just easier to leave things the way they were.

Pulling up infront of the Midnight Tide Club, Harmony climbed from her small blue Chevrolet Aveo and made her way inside, curious as to what the pickings for the night would be, if any big tippers would be there. It was a cocktail bar, afterall, and Harmony liked to think she was good looking enough that she got good tips.

"The Midnight Tide Club..." Sean read aloud the sign of the first halfway decent looking place he'd seen all night. He'd been driving since sunset and so far, all he'd found were near empty gas stations and a Taco Bell. Nothing with any sort of crowd. In a few nights, he'd be more familiar with the town and know where he could go for a good drink, but for now, Sean decided to play it safe and take the first club he'd found.
He parked around back and tossed his sunglasses aside. It might be more comfortable with them on, but again, playing it safe. Sean also grabbed the black jacket from the passenger seat and slid it on as he left his car behind. The club already had a decent crowd but it was a little better lit than he preferred, but still, plenty of people.
Sean took a seat and looked around, letting his black hair fall into his amber eyes. Through dark lashes, he took in each person in the club, less than a second on each one. He made eye contact with a handful of them, but not one was even slightly appealing. Letting out a heavy sigh, Sean looked back to the table he sat at, waiting, hoping someone new would show up. He could wait a few hours, but another night without finding anyone, he wasn't sure if he was up for that.
He didn't even notice the waitress as she approached his table, having only been looking at customers and letting himself get so lost in his thoughts.

Harmony made her way over to the latest table to have attracted a customer. Most of them went to the bar for their first drink of the night, but she always kept her mismatched eyes open, careful to watch for that random person who'd rather go straight to their table. Of course, she'd noticed him when he'd first entered, and for a moment she'd only been able to stare, taking him in.

He was handsome, almost to an unsettling degree, and she was tempted to stand there and stare all night. But she did have a job to do. Taking the glasses the bartender put on her tray, the waitress made her way to the next table, placing them infront of the customers who awaited them. She was careful to lean forward, her corset styled top laced firmly around her already slender, curvy form, the lowcut neckline giving the young men at the table an ample view of pale cleavage. Flashing them a friendly smile, she stood straight and turned away.

Stopping to check on a few tables along her way to the new man who sat alone, Harmony always had one eye on him, watching him carefully. Almost as carefully as he was watching the other patrons. Hips swaying, she made her way to him, her three inch stilettos clicking some on the floor. Oh it was true they were hard on her legs and feet after a long night, but she didn't have a choice... What the boss wanted, he got. The pay here was too good to give up just because the uniform showed off more skin than she'd like or her feet were usually aching after a few hours.

"What can I get for you, Sir?" she asked, her voice sweet, soft but still somehow loud enough to be heard over the crowd. Her soft, silken red curls spilled from her high ponytail atop her head, falling around her to dance against pale skin as her blue and green eyes regarded him quietly, rosebud red lips curled into a soft smile.

The voice of the waitress caught Sean off guard and as he looked up, he found the shock continued as his amber eyes locked onto the pair of mismatched blue and green eyes that stared back at him. Most men would be lost in the obviously displayed cleavage, but what kept his attention wasn't something most men could see. This woman was positively glowing and the scent... his amber eyes veined momentarily with red in response to a scent no one else in the room could smell for sure.
So caught up in ther overwhelming presence, it took Sean a moment too long to process what she'd said and to realie why he'd not seen her before now. He didn't usually bother with staff as they could rarely be taken away from their job and if they were able, they were noticed missing too soon. Still, this woman was perfect aside from the fact that she was waiting his table and he was runnign out of options.
After that moment too long pause, Sean put on an odd, crooked smile as he ran his fingers through the long black hair, brushing it out of his amber eyes. He forced the red from his eyes and spoke in a deep, silken voice, "Mmm... A little company would be nice."
He kept his eyes locked on hers, forcing her to stare and keeping her as long as he could.
"Of course..." his silken voice continued to purr, "...not much in the crowd tonight. Least, not when put next to a doll like yourself."

Harmony was lost. For the longest of moments, she forgot why she was there. She couldn't possibly be there to work, afterall... not when he was there, oh so friendly and smiling at her. As she stared back into his amber colored eyes, the young woman bit her lower lip softly, blushing gently at his compliment. Blushing at compliments here was a rare thing indeed for the busty redhead. Usually she just brushed them off and didn't take them seriously...

But coming from him? There was something different... far too different to be ignored... in him. Without much thought, she slid into the chair that was neither completely across from him, nor right next to him either. "I don't think I've ever seen you in here," she said softly, her voice having dropped slightly again, just barely loud enough to be heard by normal human ears.

"New in town?" she asked, offering another smile, though the blush grew deeper. It sounded like she was hitting on him, even she had to admit that. Was she? She'd never really hit on anyone before... was this considered hitting on someone? She admitted a lot of what she said sounded like corny pickup lines, but she was certain she hadn't meant them that way.

As he expected, as easily as always, Sean's gaze worked it's magic. He knew it was risky, but as the waitress fell so easily into her seat, and gods, her smell was growing all the more intoxicating as she blushed, hot blood flowing in her cheeks. He made sure not to break his gaze for even a moment as the waitress fumbled for words.
He nodded and laughed casually, "Yeah, I was supposed to be moving here for a new job only to be told last night that they chose a more 'qualified candidate'." Amber eyes rolled quickly before settling back on the waitress. "Would have been nice if they could have done that before telling me I had the job and letting me quit my old one and move across country."
He stretched out before resting his chin in his hands, elbows propped up on the table. Continuing in his velvety voice, Sean changed the subject with a crooked smile, "Still, I can't complain too much. Afterall, such lovely scenery tonight. I think I could be persuaded to stick around so long as such scenery lasts."
Something odd crossed his eyes as he fought back the reddening once more. Sean laughed again, "Though, here I am getting ahead of myself. My name is Sean and what might I call you, lovely?"

"Well that sounds awful. I'm not sure what I'd do if I had to uproot myself... even for work..." she said softly, and her voice grew thoughtful. For a few moments, her eyes seemed rather far off, still looking at him, but at the same time it was like she was looking right through him, to something not quite there.

As quickly as that shift in her eyes came, however, it was gone and she was looking at him again, smiling in that oh so friendly manner of hers... Never mind that she didn't normally smile this way for people, he seemed to be a special case. "It's nice to meet you, Sean. I'm Harmony," she said, and held out a petite, long fingered hand to him.

At first, she hadn't seemed to pick up on his scenery comment, not really realizing it was in regards to her. But then it clicked, and her eyes went a little wide, before the blush settled in once more, growing ever darker as she bit her lower lip and her eyes dropped slightly, though for only a moment. Quickly, they returned to his own amber gaze, locking eyes with him once again. It would seem she just couldn't keep her eyes off of him.

Sean took ahold of her hand momentarily, red flashing over his eyes once more. He smiled and leaned down to give the quick, cliche kiss, but instead, turned over her hand to instead touch his lips to her wrist. Still, keeping eyes locked, he allowed his tongue to graze her wrist and let go smiling.
"It's not the first time I've uprooted like this and work was one of the better excuses." He spoke with a slightly dark laugh, "To be honest, I just get bored seeing all the same place too long and so I find a reason to keep moving."
His face then turned serious as he returned his chin to resting on his palms. "Could a woman like you ever find a reason to travel a bit?"

Harmony tilted her head to the side at his suddenly serious tone. Well that was an odd mood swing... she thought, even as she watched his eyes flicker for what she was sure wasn't the first time. Must be a trick of the light... she answered her own curious mind's pondering.

"Me? Travel? Well I don't really know... I've lived here as long as I can remember. But maybe, if a good enough reason came up..." What was wrong with her? She'd never even considered moving an option since before her parents had died... What suddenly had her considering relocating? What would she do with the house? And Tobi? Who would take care of him?

Shrugging some, she offered the oddly handsome man another smile. "Why do you ask? I mean... no reason for me to move, really... I've got a pretty good life here. Got my own house, college, a decent paying job..."

"Mmm.." he nearly purred, "But that's not all you have here. Responsibilities that are unpleasant more often than not, memories that bring you pain and something else..." His voice trailed off as he read the mix of emotions that crossed Harmony's face while she considered his question. She had lost someone close, that much was apparent, but there was more hurt he could see. It shouldn't be hard at all to sweep this one off her feet and convince her that he was offering her the only lifeline in the stormstruck sea.
Sean's odd, crooked smile returned as one hand quickly brushed the hair back out of his eyes. He wanted to make sure she got the full effect of those entrancing, amber orbs.
"I'm sure there are plenty of reasons to let yourself be persuaded, though..." he paused to take ahold of her hand once more as his other hand traced up her sleeve, stopping just over the hidden bruise. "This might be a good enough reason all it's own."
His fingers than trace up her shoulder and across her collarbone as he continued in that silken voice, "Such lovely porcelain should be handled with more care."

Harmony was in silent shock, staring back into his eyes as a mixture of confusion and wariness, and yet still somehow that same naive curiosity swirled within her eyes. How did he know? It couldn't possibly be that obvious... It wasn't like she didn't have it covered up.... But how did he know?

She was so lost in his eyes she couldn't think straight... She was honestly considered leaving... leaving everything she knew. Just because he asked.

"Harmony, you got about three tables need lookin after!" the sound of Paul, the manager's voice, snapped her out of her reverie.

Several blinks and a shift in her seat later, and Harmony was turning away, looking over her shoulder, glancing back at him with a blush and a soft smile. "I... I'm sorry, I should get back to work... Did you want something? Beer? Wine? Water? Anything?"

She was obviously flustered at having been caught, still reeling from the effect his eyes had on her. Such a simple thing... to look into someone's eyes... How could it leave her like this?

Sean forced himself to laugh when the manager broke the gaze lock he'd had Harmony in. The casual laugh covered up the urge to do something violent and unacceptable. He gave the waitress an understanding and almost apologetic smile as she stammered through her question. The blood rushing to her cheeks was slightly distracting, but he found a response quickly enough.
"I can wait." he answered and brushed his fingers past her cheek, pushing her hair back over her ear. "How long until you have a break, lovely? Maybe we could steal that half hour away somewhere a little quieter and cooler?"
Following through with the same hand that was in her hair, he pointed just left of the door and continued, "About five minutes that way, you can actually see the sky well enough to appreciate the stars and the owner of the dock owes me a favor. We could sit on the water for a bit, if you'd like?"
While his invitation, coming from any other complete stranger, would have been unsettling at best, the way he smiled and the sound of his honey-sweet voice, purring here and there was familiar and comforting all at once. Something in those unnaturally golden eyes was warm and welcoming, despite the occassional glimpse of red vein through the irises.
"What do you say, Harmony?" Her name rolled off his tongue with purr.

And for another long moment, Harmony was drowning. Drowning in warm honeyed gold, feeling as if his gaze alone could swallow her whole. What was he asking again? Oh yeah... her break?

Half an hour, on the water, watching the stars? Nothing had ever sounded so romantic. Of course... it shouldn't have sounded that way, considering that she didn't even know him... But it seemed so sincere... And she hadn't had just a nice conversation in a long time.

She glanced at the clock even as Paul shouted for her again. "Two hours...." she said with an almost playful smile, standing up straight, curls bouncing around her head from her ponytail. "Ten o'clock."

And then like that, she was sweeping away, moving to other tables, trying to go through her evening without any more hitches, though her eyes continued to return to his table now and then, to assure herself she wasn't dreaming him up.

Sean sat patiently as the time passed too slowly. He watched Harmony constantly, though made enough glances around the room as to cover up his staring. A few drinks found their way to his table, no doubt as result of his focusing so much of his energy to charm the waitress. He noticed a number of other women staring his way, blushing and making comments to others.
Usually he had a better focus and kept from having such a strong impact on so many, but it had been too long. He would have to be more careful when he returned to keep his energy on his target only.
All the while, he kept himself calm and unruffled as he waited the two hours for Harmony to go on break.

Harmony seemed to glide from one table to the next, work coming unusually easy for her, though the time did seem to drag. She found her eyes going from him to the clock almost constantly, and occasionally she'd find him looking back in her direction. A soft blush colored her cheeks each time, and each time she'd force herself to look away. Afterall... they'd only just met, and first impressions were everything.

Why she was worried about impressing a complete stranger was beyond her, and more than once, she puzzled over that question as she served this person their drink, or graciously accepted that person's tip(and a few times, their number as well). She was wracking up the numbers from men and women alike, but as usual... they would all find their way into the trash bin at the end of the night.

It wasn't like she'd been paying enough attention to know which was which, anyway. When ten o'clock finally rolled around, Harmony couldn't put away her tray fast enough. She hit the time clock program on the register, nearly dancing in place as she clocked out for her half hour meal.

That done, she grabbed her "dinner"(a bag of grapes and some pita bread and humus), pocked her mint gum, and headed out to meet him with a bright smile on her face and a deep blush on her cheeks.

Sean's golden eyes followed Harmony as she slid back behind the bar to clock out and returned toward him, her cheeks deliciously red. Though he'd managed to wait quite patiently while Harmony worked, for just a moment, his eyes flooded red and he smiled just a bit too wide at the waitress walking towards him. A step closer and he'd corrected his smile to one less frightening, though still quite hungry. Mentally, he chastised himself for allowing his hunger to get the better of him and hoped he corrected it quickly enough that the waitress would not notice.
He stood as she approached the table and locking his golden eyes onto hers, Sean laughed casually, "Time certainly seems to slow when waiting for someone lovely."
He moved his arm, gesturing for Harmony to walk toward the door and spoke again, his silken voice too sweet, too smooth, "If you're ready, the stars and the bay are waiting."
He walked half a step behind Harmony, matching her pace perfectly, despite his legs being a good deal longer. As Sean walked, he placed his hand behind her back, not quite touching, yet close enough to look it. As his hand rested just barely abover her skin, he did everything he could to push a comforting warmth over her, hiding the ice cold of his body and of the night.

Harmony blushed slightly deeper, the color touching her neck and the tips of her tiny ears as he complimented her, even indirectly. As he rose to walk outside with her, she walked ahead of him, her hips carrying a delicious sway, long legs moving her gracefully over the floor of the club and out into the cool night air. Normally, she'd be in the back in the dingy little break room the staff usually used.

But tonight, it would seem, was her night. Despite the bruises that were on various places of her body, Harmony truly felt as if she were the luckiest girl in the world. She was in the presence of a charming man who wanted to sit with her underneath a canopy of stars and talk. It helped that he was good looking, too.

When they reached the peer, she smiled, looking out over the shifting black glass of the bay's waters. "I love it out here at night," she said softly, waiting for him to show her to the particular peer he planned to sit on.