Burnt Bridges

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Burnt Bridges
Topic Started: Oct 24 2009, 08:55 PM (51 Views)
Neilmoon	Oct 24 2009, 08:55 PM Post #1
New Raider Posts: 20 Group: Members Member #32 Joined: Jan 31, 2009 Your favorite TR? TR:A Male or Female Male	BURNT BRIDGES Neil Burns (Neilmoon) PG-13 (some language) Winston was enjoying his steak dinner as he thought about his ex-employer and surrogate daughter Lady Lara Croft. He had taken care of her since birth and was a sympathetic shoulder to cry on and a friendly ear to bend. Like everyone else, he had thought her dead when the Pyramid of Horus collapsed on her in Giza, then was shocked and thrilled when she showed up at the front door three months later. However, that thrill turned to sadness and horror when, from out of the blue, she fired him on the spot. Six months later, the ex-butler was enjoying his "early retirement", thanks to his investing his salary which accrued over the years. His reviere was interrupted by the waiter approaching. "Excuse me, sir?" the waiter asked politely. "Is everything satisfactory?" "It is," the older man replied. "Thank you for asking." "Very good, sir. Your bill has been taken care of." "Really?" Winston arched an eyebrow. "Might I inquire my benefactor's identity?" "Benefactrix, actually. Lady Croft is picking up the tab." Winston followed the waiter's finger which pointed to Lara sipping a glass of wine while giving her order to another waiter. She turned and raised her glass in salute, her full lips curved in a sad smile. Winston returned the gesture with a coolly polite stretching of lips of his own. Lara got up and walked over with her glass. She was wearing a snug-fitting gray power suit with no tie and black low-heeled pumps. Lara stopped in front of Winston and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder, kissing his cheek before sitting down. "Hello, Winston," she greeted softly. "Lady Croft," Winston returned, wondering why she was at his table. "You look well." "So do you, old friend." "I'd ask how Mr. West is, but I know you are not here to discuss him or our mutual health." "No." Lara took a cleansing breath before continuing. "I was a completely unforgivable and you did not deserve that." "Well, I wouldn't use that word, but you were disagreeable that night." Lara smiled as she put her hand in Winston's. "You're very sweet, but my behavior was abomidable and uncalled for. I apologize for it." "Might I ask what led to my dismissal? Was it something I said or did?" "No, Winston. It wasn't you, it was me." Lara sighed as she took a sip from the wineglass she brought over. "I was in a dark place at the time," she continued. "I was stuck in the pyramid for God knows how long and it took me forever to dig my way out. Then a Bedouin tribe took me in and I lived with them for three months before I returned home." "Which was a miracle," Winston smiled. "I prayed to God every night that you were safe wherever you were." "Then, you wished I was dead after I sacked you," Lara smiled dryly. "I discovered that the world that I saved from disaster basically gave up on me, figuring I was dead. It was like they didn't need me anymore." "I confess to being among those thinking you dead." "I figured that if the world didn't need me, then sod it. I didn't need the world. I was going to live for myself and screw everyone else. Then, Werner called me from Paris." Lara went on to tell of the Monstrum Killings, Von Croy asking Lara to retrive the fifth Obscura Painting, meeting the Cabal, including the alchemist Pieter Von Eckhardt and Joachim Karel, who wanted to resurrect the ancient Nephilim race. She continued with the crystal skull and having visions that a Mayan god told her she and Kurtis Trent were to work together to find jade dagger. She sighed as the events played out and how the Lux Veritas' condition of never contacting him again sat in her heart like lead. She sighed while rubbing her eyes. Suddenly, her waiter came over with her order. "Excuse me, Lady Croft?" he said politely. "Your order is ready." "Thank you," she smiled. "You may put it on the table. I will be right over." "Very good, mum." With that, the waiter left. "God, I made a real up of things, didn't I?" "You did, indeed." Winston's tone was neither concilitory or condeming. Yet, Lara knew that if she was expecting comfort from the older man, then she was wasting her time. "I don't suppose I could persuade you to return to the Manor? I'll double your salary and as for being 'target practice', I'll let you get your own back once a month." "Anything else?" "Yes." Lara patted Winston's hand with hers. "You were always there when I needed you. When my parents died, you were my surrogate father. My anchor in this mad world. A sympathetic ear, a shoulder to cry on and, more importantly, a good friend. Please, don't let it end. That wasn't me that fired you. That was someone who was hurt and angry with the world. Someone who needed to take it out on someone who was convienent." "Someone like me?" "Yes. I am so very sorry, Winnie. If there is anyway I could make it up to you, name it. I miss you so much and I really want you back." Winston removed his hand from Lara's, his eyes narrowed to gray slits. "As tempting as it is, Lady Croft, I am afraid I must decline." Lara's face fell and formed a disappointed mask. "However, I wish to recommend my nephew as a suitable replacement." "Your nephew." "Yes. Nicholas Hillary. Junior Fencing and Karate Champion. Excellent horsesmen and he served in the army for a time. Verry efficient and polite and he will certainly keep up with you during your regime." Lara felt a tear run down her cheek. "I see. So, there is no changing your mind?" Winston patted Lara's hand mockingly as he smiled. "Unfortunately, Lady Croft, I believe the Americans use the expression 'that bridge is already burnt'. Besides, I am an old man and I wish to enjoy my remaining few years on this world without having to worry when, if ever, you will come home or if you were coming home in one piece." Lara stood and embraced her friend and ex-butler, kissing his cheek. "Well, then. Take care of yourself, Winston. Godspeed and thank you so much for everything, for being there when I needed you and for serving my family and being a friend." The Seattle WHOCON was chaos. Thousands of people dressed as various characters and monsters, various Doctors and Companions and Jack Harkness. There were trivia and costume contests and meet and greets with David Tennant, John Barrowman and Freema Agryeman as well as other events. It was between meet and greets and Kurtis and David Tennant shared a smoke while talking about various topics, including who was their favorite Doctor and what was their favorite episode growing up. Suddenly-- "Oi, Lara!" David called. Kurtis turned around and saw Lara approaching, her figure clad in a black turtleneck and tight-fitting jeans tucked inside black calf- length boot. Her dark eyes were hidden by her trademark red sunglasses and her lips were wrapped around a Montechristo cigar. She stopped in front of David and placed a hand on his shoulder, kissing his cheek. "Hello, David. How're things?" she greeted before turning to the ex-Lux Veritas. "Mr. Trent." "Croft." he replied coolly. "What are you doing here?" "Do you two know each other?" the "Doctor" queried. "Business associates," Lara smiled dryly, "although currently there is a difference of opinion of logistics on a project. But I interrupted your conversation. I apologize." "Don't bother," Kurtis smiled icily. "It's almost time for John to have his meet and greet with the audience. Dave, thanks for the autograph and photo. My nephew will greatly appreciate it." "No worries, mate," the Scotsman replied dismissedly. "It's a pleasure." "Well, continued success." The LV left without saying another word to Lara. Three hours later, he was outside smoking a Pal Mal and wondering what the hell the Tomb Raider was doing at a Doctor Who convention. He had made it clear that if he helped her, he did not want her contacting him ever again. He had a normal life post-Prague until that pompous stormed back into it, basically "recruiting" him to asisst her and treating him like excrement found on the sole of her hiking boots. For five months, he was free and doing what he wanted, not having to deal with her privileged upbringing and y, I'm-better-than-you attitude. Now, here she was in his life again. "Stalking me?" Kurtis turned around and saw Lara standing just a bit away, smoking her cigar. "No," she puffed. "I'm here at the convention, having a smoke, just like you. I never took you for a Doctor Who fan. I would think your dad wouldn't permit it as he might've seen it as a distraction from your training." "Well, I watched it on the DL, until I entered the Legion where there were a number of fans. I never knew you were one." "You know us limeys," Lara smirked dryly. "We worship our Doctor. Besides David, I always liked Sylvester McCoy. Tom Baker was too foppish for me." "What the hell do you want, Croft? I thought I said that if I helped you with the dagger, you wouldn't try to contact me ever again." "I didn't. The fact we're both here is purely coincidental." "Riiiight." 'I talked to Winston. I apologized for being a and asked him to return to the Manor." "And he told you to get bent." "Not in so many words, but pretty much." "Smart man." "He did recommend his nephew, who I'll meet with on Monday." "Poor . God help him." "You asked me what happened to turn me into such a shrew. Well, to make a long story short, Werner abandoned me in Egypt and, after, the world gave me up for dead after I saved it so many times. I felt confused, hurt and furious. So much so, I began to take it out on people who really didn't deserve it." "Like me and the old man." "Correct. Like you and Winston. I actually thought I was going to die. The first time, my mother and I crashed in Nepal when I was nine and she disappeared. The second was when my school chartrer crashed in the Pyrennes. Egypt made it the third time." "Well, either you are one lucky , or the Old Man is putting a good word for you." "I make my own luck. How have you been?" "Until I saw you again, terrific. I was actually enjoying life, not having to deal with your bull:censored: . What about you? Still ing off people?" Kurtis smiled cruelly as Lara sighed and walked up to him, exhaling her smoke and smiling sadly. "I deserve that. I was a horiffically unforgivable who only cared about herself and made no effort to see if you were alive or not. I gave you up for dead like the world gave me up. To make matters worse, I suddenly barge into your life and, without so much as a by-your-leave, begin ordering you about like hired help and treat you like crap. You deserve so much better." "Glad we agree." Lara placed her hand on his shoulder, not flinching as he leveled an icy glare at it and at her. "It's now however many months after you helped me and, per your condition, I didn't contact you or make any attempt to do so. However, as crazy as it sounds, I miss you." "You what?" "I miss your aggravating smirk. I miss your American arrogance. I miss that Frisbee or whatever it is. Your whole James Dean mystique. Even crazier still, I think I'm falling in love with you." Kurtis arched a condescending eyebrow as Lara shifted her hand from his shoulder to his cheek and traced her finger along his jawbone back and forth. "Do you even know what 'love' means, Croft? How many times have you used that bull:censored: on other guys?" "I know what 'love' means and, no, I didn't use it on other guys. I am truly sorry for my beastly behavior and my selfish indulgence. I'm sorry for intruding on your life and making you risk it. I love you and I realize I can't live without you. Besides Winston, you're the only one who can put up with my crap. I beg you to forgive me. Please." Kurtis grabbed Lara's hand and dropped it to her side, while puffing on his cigarette. He took it out with his free hand and blew smoke in the Tomb Raider's face. "Sorry, darling, but you don't do a damn thing for me. I don't do spoiled, daddy's girl-type es like you, so you can take your apology and shove it up your sideways." He then took out his Chirugai and held it against her throat, blades open with one pressing against the skin. "If you ever try to find me again, I will make sure there is nothing left for them to indentify you with. Am I clear? So, OFF!" With that, he turned and walked away, flicking the cigarette off to the side. Lara watched him go while burning tears coursed down her cheeks. It was her second cruel disappointment in as many days. THE END Done. Sorry, it's a bit harsh. I'll try to be fluffier next time.
	Good luck in your new bed. Enjoy your nightmare, son, while you're resting your head.- BASEMENT JAXX


Singstar90210	Oct 27 2009, 05:54 PM Post #2
TR Mythbuster, Avid 007 Fan, Fanpire, and Official OMwD Patient Posts: 1,039 Group: Admins Member #14 Joined: Aug 27, 2008 Your favorite TR? TR1 Male or Female Female	That was pretty good here, NeilMoon. I have to admit though, the censorship is a bit twisted on this site. I remember when we first started, it was so bad that we couldn't even use the word "classic" for a while! If there were no harsh words that happened to be censored out of your story, feel free to correct it. There were a few sentences that I had to second-guess the words. But the concept's excellent. I'm pretty curious about Winston's nephew!
	Speak softly and carry a big jo. - O'Leary-Liu


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