#datr week

Art work by dreamwalker44

@datrweek

As the sounds of gunshots died down and the fire died down, Tak found the cold body of his lover lifeless.

Datr Week, Day Seven: Music (What If by Kane Brown)

The reverberant night air abruptly grew silent with the final utterance of his vehement speech, yet the tension remained as the night grew still once more. Rigid they stood, with hearts beating and eyes staring, they squared off against one another upon that lone, grand balcony. 

A sudden chill went down Tak’s spine as her bare, hologrammed skin pressed against the frigid stone column. The whipping winds from the ravine below did little to help with her temperature situation, flipping up the long skirt of her backless gown. At least that’s what she told herself.

Her pride wouldn’t allow it as she glared back into his determined gaze. No, she would not admit to it. That the way his chest and shoulders bobbed with each panting breath made her insides squirm, or the way his usually warm, brown eyes burned with a tenacity that set her aflame from squeedilyspooch out to the tips of her antennae. She felt her skin, particularly at the back of her skull, tingle, and she fought the urge to shudder once more.

This was ridiculous.

This damn cold weather was ridiculous!

With a disapproving frown Tak snapped her head down and to the side, away from him. Away from his eyes. Her crossed arms drew closer to herself, almost protectively, as Dib waited on baited breath for her answer.

Despite turning her head, she could feel his eyes on her. She couldn’t escape their fire nor the hint of despair, pleading to listen to him. To let go. To take this chance.

Yet she couldn’t. There were too many obstacles, too many variables, and too many outcomes. To dedicate one’s life to something so fickle, so delicate, so, so, so...so human. The potential pain and safety was a risk she couldn’t take while banished to this lonesome, backwater planet. Her instincts screamed at her to focus on survival, as she always had. She was better off alone, for others’ had and will only bring her pain. And yet…

And yet Tak didn’t want to be alone. Sure it was necessary to watch your own back, but it was tiring. She was tried, especially after being stranded on a planet that would sooner rip you open for study than bother to ask questions. It would be so nice to have a...a partner. Someone to talk to who knew what it was like to give your all to your race, yet considered as different and shunned for it. Someone who understood. Someone smart and easy to talk to who could let her relax because she knew he had her back. It was a nice thought to entertain. One she yearned for, not that she would dare admit, and one that tempted her….

She could feel the blessed warmth radiating off of Dib’s body as he stood so close. The stark contrast of which practically sucked what little warmth she had left into him. Like her lost warmth, her gaze drew back to his, back to his natural warmth, as she defiantly met his stare. It was so very tempting to just reach out, to touch him, to take in his warmth to…

Tak’s arms loosened and her hand twitched, a motion his bespectacled stare hardly missed. Within the reflection of his glasses she watched her angry, stoic expression soften just a smidgen. For a second, he perked up, and a ray of hope shone in his eyes.

His final speech to her, to let where this awkward yet passionate dance that they did around each other for months, toeing the line of what they should and shouldn't, echoed through her mind once more. One particular phrase that made her almost lean in….almost…

The doubts stopped her. Her arguments of why they shouldn’t, why she shouldn’t, and of why they should even bother ran through her head, desperately clawing to the forefront. Her chest felt tight, and she jerked back. She grew closed off again, and ignored his outstretched hand.

Tak’s head snapped to the other side, overlooking the banister to sea the thick pines below. Her eyes clenched shut to avoid seeing his face grow somber and pained.

Suddenly, the scratch of shuffling feet caught her attention, and she looked up. His back was turned to her, and he was walking away. He was walking away!

Her eyes grew wide and heart froze as she panicked. He didn’t look back, and fear gripped her that he wasn’t coming back. That if she didn’t stop him now, he wouldn’t. Before he would always look back when she would finish establishing the status quo, but now he....but now…

But what if…

He was out of arms’ reach

Now or never!

Warmth. That’s all Tak could feel before she registered what happened and what she did, as she stood with one foot forward, arm outstretched. Her brain slowly caught up to her as she stared at her hologrammed hand clutching at the crook of his elbow, stopping Dib dead in his tracks.

For a moment, the world stopped at the spark of that touch, shooting electricity through them.

Slowly, ever so slowly, he partially turned his body back towards her to stare. His eyes watched her for any sign of doubts, tricks, or second thoughts. Searched her soul for what secrets that dwelled behind her hopeful, amethyst eyes. Meanwhile she did the same, searching for his warmth, for any sign of ill intentions, or for any lack of will.

After a millisecond of soul searching and soul bearing, Tak frowned and her brow furrowed as she looked down, down at their joined hands. Blood roared in her antennae as she fought to keep her composure. A relatively easy task as all of her anxiety melted away at the tentative tightening of his fingers. Their warmth enveloping hers. She felt vulnerable, and she hated it, yet it oddly wasn’t so bad as the earlier phrase, the one with so many varied meanings, repeated in her head. Despite her vast vocabulary, both Irken and English, Tak found her mind void of anything else to say except for two words.

“What if,” Tak murmured softly, leaving the rest unsaid for she didn’t know what else to say, as her eyes drifted back to his. Earlier, she had used this phrase many times in a negative light; however, this time was different. This time there was an unusual, hopeful hint to it that was full of uncertainty.

For the last time that night, their eyes met, and Tak felt a flood of relief flow over her. Fully facing her with a soft smile, staring into Dib’s eyes was like bathing in a field of sunlight. At the sight of the dopey, knowing, and warm look on his face, Tak’s confidence and defiance to replace that borderline smirk on his face grew, and so did her boldness

The wind flared up again to flare her dress and tussle her holographic hair as she suddenly tugged him forward. Dib let out a gasp as his suited chest met hers harder than he was expecting. He always did have a habit of underestimating her strength. Her right arm wrapped around his lower waist in an almost protective and possessive manner. She always did find delight in his reactions and of throwing him off guard.

With her left she would’ve been content to just hold his wrist, where it slid from its previous perch in the crook of his arm, but Dib had other plans.

Her heart and anger briefly leapt up into her throat, as Dib shook that hand away. However, this feeling quickly morphed into a pleasant one as Dib grabbed her hand, slowly pressing their palms together, and spreading their fingers just to intertwine his five fingers with her three. So focused on what he was doing with their hands, Tak didn’t notice the hand at arm across her shoulders nor his head moving closer. She went to slightly jerk back, but his arm prevented her. She quickly calmed down as he leaned his forehead against hers, and even found herself smiling back at him.

With eyes closed contentedly he sighed, as me murmured back in confident and loving affirmation, “What if.” 

Something quick for late day one :v

 poster by @rebeccatmntlover6548 and @bakedbaguette25

Another year another DATR week unfortunately this years datr week will belater then last years , but it is still going on from December 5th to 11th. This years prompts are 

Day one: date  

Day two Beach day 

Day three: Betrayal 

Day four :Fall /Autumn

Day five :  Future 

Day seven :Engagement