In The Rough

Better a Diamond with a Flaw – Part B

Author: Cher

Rating: R

Listening to: Shapeshifters – Lola's theme

"You tip big, you must be American. I haven't seen a tan that dark since I visited down under." A gravely timbre, definitely male voice purred into her ear.

Usagi felt the hairs on the back of her neck bristle and a shiver of delight ran from the base of her spine. She carefully turned and found herself face to face with a handsome man of about her age. He was wearing loose jeans and a dark zip-up sweater and smelt heavenly of sandalwood and masculinity all mixed to form an undeniable scent of male.

They were very close, their face mere inches apart and as more people poured into the small country pub, he was pressed against her. Her head was level with his shoulders and she had to lean back against the bar to find his eyes.

"Well I hadn't quite intended for this rather uncomfortable situation." He said with a rakish smile, brushing a stray piece of blonde hair from his sparkling green eyes.

Laughing awkwardly, Usagi tried to move aside to give him some room but was rudely shoved by another patron, sending her stumbling into his embrace, her small hands resting on his upper arms. She could feel his firm muscles beneath the cotton of his sweater and blushed.

"This was just destined to end miserably. Can I buy you a drink?" The handsome man asked, his honey-smooth accent was delightful to Usagi's ears.

She smiled up at him and shook her head, "I've just ordered a jug I'm afraid." Usagi said, finally releasing his arms from her grip. His remained in place, holding her waist steady so that she wouldn't be shoved anymore.

"A whole jug? My you're on a mission to wipe yourself out aren't you?" He chuckled.

Usagi laughed with him and shook her head. "For my friends too." She fought the urge to stick out her tongue but she couldn't keep the jokingly petulance from her voice.

"I'll take you to them, where are they?" He asked, as she began a slow but determined push through the throng of people that blocked her path to the corner booth. She reached behind her for his hand and clinging to him, slowly dragged him to the booth where the girls were waiting.

"Hi guys, the jug's coming, I hope you don't mind I've bought someone from the bar to join us…" Usagi said softly.

The man moved from behind her, still clutching her hand and smiled at the three girls with a rather sheepish expression.

"If I had of known she was with you I would have taken a less forward approach." He said with a small cough.

"Andrew!" Rei and Lita shrieked simultaneously, jumping up and throwing their arms around his neck. He laughed and affectionately kissed each of the girls on the cheek.

Once he had untangled himself from the doting girls and his beloved sister, he leant over to where the mortified Usagi stood and whispered theatrically to her, "if I had of known you were friends with my harem of adoring maidens, I'd have taken a less forward approach." Andrew's mouth, so close to her again, was making her mind fog in confusion. He was so attractive, and clearly interested but she felt somewhat torn between himself and the brooding enigma that was Mamoru who was probably knee deep in whore back at Eastwell.

Usagi laughed, forgetting her earlier awkwardness towards Andrew and gave him a dramatic wink. "Don't worry, I'll keep our earlier encounter entirely to myself. I'm Usagi by the way." She said, squeezing into the booth opposite where he had currently parked himself. Lizzie was sitting beside Usagi and leaned over to talk to Andrew.

"Usagi is Mamoru's new assistant. She only arrived here yesterday. Can you believe he'd do this to himself again?" Lizzie laughed, wrapping an arm around Usagi's shoulders. "No offence Usa, but the boss has a tendency to hire beautiful women and fire them as soon as they respond to his come-on's." Lizzie rolled her eyes dramatically and gave Usagi's shoulders a squeeze. "You seem like you've got your head screwed on pretty tight though. Luckily we've gotten to you first so we can warn you against his 'irresistible' charm. I hope you stick around a little longer than the other ones." Lizzie said, her cheeks reddening as she consumed more alcohol.

Usagi met Andrews gaze and saw a darkness thundering in his eyes she wondered if it were because his sister was drunk, or because he was jealous of Mamoru. Usagi had once been rather skilled at reading a mans reactions but her long hiatus from the dating scene made her feel rather inept when it came to Andrew…not to mention her boss.

Later that evening, after several jugs of beer and getting to know one another, Andrew and Usagi stood outside the pub while Rei and Lita were currently participating in a 'dance-off' on top of the bar and Lizzie was caught up in an intimate conversation with a local farmer.

Despite the cold, Usagi had long ago slipped out of her coat and had Mac, the ancient bar tender keep it safe for her behind the bar. She stood with Andrew as he inhaled deeply on a cigarette. He offered it to her and she shook her head.

Feeling loose and abandoning any pretences of a sober, responsible young lady, Usagi wrapped her hand around a lamp post and proceeded to swing around it, her other arm outstretched, delighting in the peals of laughter from Andrew that echoed into the empty street.

Suddenly stopping, Usagi felt dizzy and stumbled in the direction of the road. Andrew, slightly less inebriated then herself caught her by the arm and pulled her back to the footpath. He wrapped a protective arm around her and marvelled down at the tiny girl. In this state, she was much more confident than when he had first laid eyes on her and his attraction to her was becoming almost unbearable.

Usagi, suddenly feeling the cold shivered violently. She purred in delight as Andrew wrapped his arms around her smaller body and held her to his warm chest. He was still taking deep drags of the cigarette.

"You know, I really hope Mamoru doesn't fuck you around like he did the other assistants." Andrew said, a hint of venom in his voice.

Usagi looked up at him, her arms now around his waist, her eyes twinkling in the moonlight. "What like literally fuck?" She asked, with a timid voice.

Andrew let out a hearty laugh and shook his head. He flicked the cigarette away and tucked a loose strand of blonde hair behind her ears.

"No, no, I mean like muck you around with the job. I uh…I really like you and I think you're good value. You'd be great to have around…just…you know I'm not saying…" Andrew's voice got smaller and smaller as he stumbled through his sentences and Usagi took delight in seeing a crimson blush creeping across his cheeks.

Forgetting herself and revelling in her drunken state, Usagi put an unsteady hand on his cheek and slowly lifted her face to his. She rose on her tiptoes and felt the heat of the moment consume her as he pulled her body roughly against his. Just as he was about to crush his lips to hers the door of the pub slammed open.

"Oi, lovebirds! It's time to fucking high tail it out of here, Lita's spotted her ex and he doesn't look happy that she was snogging the life out of some tourist at the bar!" Rei laughed, tossing Usagi's coat to her. Andrew sighed and helped her into it, which was a task much more difficult than he had expected as both were reasonably drunk.

Leaving Usagi with Rei, he ran around the corner to find a cab for them all. As he jogged down the road to where he could see a parked cab, he cursed his rotten luck. Usagi was quite possibly the most amazing girl he'd ever met. Before she'd gotten trashed, she was elegant, soft-spoken and graceful. He loved the way she held that classiness but didn't let it consume her. There was a wild child buried somewhere deep within her prim and proper ways and all it took tonight to let it loose was a couple of pints of good beer. His smiling face fell at the thought of Mamoru. His childhood friend fawning over Usagi and the possibility of him treating her like all of his other assistants. He would have to have a word to his bad-boy buddy.

----

The cab ride was long and rather uneventful. The sound of Lita and Usagi snoring was enough to kill any conversation. Lita was propped up against the window, mouth open and head lolling with each corner. Rei and Lizzie stared silently out of the window, sometimes giggling quietly about the events of the night. Usagi had fallen asleep as soon as she and Andrew slid into the cab, her arms around his waist, her head resting on his chest. Lost in thought, he absentmindedly stroked her hair as she snored loudly.

Finally they arrived at Eastwell and Andrew was surprised to see the entryway light on. He helped Lizzie and Rei from the car and assured them he'd get Lita and Usagi safely to their rooms. After paying the cabbie, Andrew was able to wake Lita who stumbled into the house. Usagi, however, wouldn't budge and he ended up lifting her into his arms and carrying her from the cab to the stone steps.

He was damned if he knew which room Mamoru had allocated for Usagi and was contemplating waking him to ask when Mamoru appeared in the open doorway with a redhead draped from his arm.

The two friends stared at each other in shock. Andrew saw the flash of anger cross Mamoru's eyes at the sight of Usagi, hanging from Andrew's arms.

"Andrew, what a pleasant surprise." The redhead drawled, she was American and he knew that they'd met once before but he couldn't remember where.

"You remember Ann, don't you pal?" Mamoru asked, holding the woman tighter against him.

Andrew nodded and grinned. "Of course, New Years right?" Ann nodded, smiling somewhat freakishly, her red lipstick almost clown like against the pale pallor of her face.

Andrew smiled again and looked down at Usagi. "I'd offer you my hand but uh…" He trailed off with a small chuckle.

Ann laughed as well, disentangling herself from Mamoru's side. "That's okay, looks like someone had a little too much to drink. Is she your girlfriend?" Ann asked, slipping into her shoes.

Mamoru lit a cigarette and blew out the smoke with a hard puff. "Hardly, that's Usagi, my new assistant. She was looking a little better when I last saw her though. I hope she'll be okay for work." Mamoru grinned at his friend, his past animosity fading though jealousy was still running rampant with his emotions.

At the sound of Mamoru and Andrew's laughter, Usagi's eyes opened and she moaned softly.

"Are we home?" She whispered, lifting a hand to her head and cringing at the oncoming headache.

"Sure are, do you think you can walk?" Andrew asked, slowly lowering her to the ground.

She held tightly onto his lapels and squeezed her eyes shut. "I think I'll be okay. Thanks Andrew. I had a great time tonight." Her voice was hoarse and to her sounded like death, but to the two men standing by, she sounded like she'd just had the life fucked out of her. Mamoru shifted uncomfortably and felt his heart go out to Andrew he was clearly uncomfortable with her closeness.

"Yeah, me too Usa, I should go, the cabbie is waiting." Andrew said.

"You're not staying here tonight, pal?" Mamoru asked, helping Ann to her feet and offering her the remaining cigarette which she took gratefully.

"No, I just wanted to make sure the girls got home okay." Andrew smiled and lifted Usagi's hands from his chest. She stumbled a little and this time Mamoru caught her before she fell face first into the steps.

"Woah, this one has had way too much to drink." Mamoru laughed, propping her against the rail of the stone steps where she happily leant, safe for a while at least.

"Let me fix you up for the cab." Mamoru said, reaching for his back pocket.

"Don't be silly, I've got it." Andrew brushed him off and gave him a tight hug. "Next time you'll have to join us, whew, what a night."

Mamoru laughed and clapped his mate on the shoulder. "Definitely."

At that moment Ann appeared and smiled up at Andrew. "I'm driving through town, I can give you a lift if you like, it's no trouble at all." She drawled, kissing her hand and patting Mamoru's cheek. "Goodnight Sugar, thanks for the lovely evening. Tell your friend I hope she feels better." Ann grabbed Andrew by the wrist and practically dragged him to her waiting Porsche. He in turn looked over his shoulder in panic at the laughing Mamoru who gave him a thumbs up. The disgusted look on Andrew's face sent Mamoru into fits of suppressed laughter.

Mamoru turned and found Usagi looking blearily around her. Even in her drunken state, with her hair messy and her eyes glassy, Mamoru found her incredibly attractive. Although it was more a factor of cuteness than anything. She gazed at him in confusion and reached forward.

He caught her hand in his and just in time too, because she was stumbling precariously over the stone steps.

"Hey, hey, easy now, slow down, you're going to hurt yourself." Mamoru chuckled, pulling her close against his body and wrapping his free hand around her waist.

"Hey…" Usagi said, mustering all her energy to try to at least appear angry. "You shouldn't be so…touchy. You're my boss." She slurred, swaying so much that her forehead eventually landed on his chest.

Mamoru felt the smile fall from his face and looked down at her. She was so close, so achingly close. His nights exertion was wasted because Usagi was drunk and vulnerable and looking good enough to eat.

"Come on Usagi, lets get you to bed." Mamoru said, untangling himself from her and leading her up the stairs.

"Already? But we're having so much fun, Mamoru. Can't we just stay out a little longer." She sighed softly, tripping into his back. She could barely walk and Mamoru was feeling frustrated and flustered at her constant touch and closeness.

"Not tonight." He all but growled, swinging her up into his arms. He carried her down the hallway, cursing the fact that he could smell her shampoo up close.

"Did you have a good night with your friend?" Usagi mumbled, even her drunken state remembering to pay close attention to his deliciously smelling aftershave. She didn't even care that just hours ago he was probably in bed with the red-head Usagi vaguely remembered seeing out the front.

At Usagi's query Mamoru snapped and lowered her to the ground, he pushed her body roughly against her bedroom door and ignored her squeak of fear. He leaned in, his hands resting on the wall either side of her head and his mouth hovering dangerously close to hers. "Let's get one thing straight Usagi, my personal life is personal and I'd appreciate it to stay that way. I'll let it slide this time because you're drunk but it is entirely inappropriate of you to be asking about anything that goes on after hours. Do you understand that?" Mamoru growled, his breath warm on her flinching face.

Usagi had squeezed her eyes shut and his outburst had shocked her into sobriety.

"I understand, Mamoru." She said, her voice soft and quivering in fear.

His heart leapt into his throat as he heard her deflated tone and he moved his hand to lift her chin, her eyes fluttered open and she stared up at him with her mouth open in an o of shock.

"I'm sorry about that, I'm just…trying very hard to ignore this…" he coughed and looked away from her gaze. "It was just inappropriate is all." Mamoru said with a softer tone.

Usagi narrowed her eyes and shook his hand from her. She lifted her hands to rest on his chest and shoved him backwards, he barely moved but his hand dropped from where it was blocking her path to her bedroom.

"As inappropriate as that little display, Mamoru. I'm going to hope that that was a moment of weakness for both of us, but in the future unless you keep your hands to yourself, than maybe we should rethink this arrangement. I will not have you manhandle me in order to get a point across." Usagi said, remnants of her snobbish tone sneaking back into her voice.

Mamoru gazed at her in shock, her little nose pointing high into the air. Her British accent had thickened and he noticed that she was no longer the drunken, mumbling girl he held in his arms just moments ago.

She was about to enter her room when Mamoru called her name. "Usagi!"

She turned, glaring ice at him, "What?"

"I apologise." He mumbled, one hand in his pocket, the other ran rakishly through his hair.

She nodded, unsmiling and entered her room. When she had disappeared, Mamoru swore loudly and stalked away, kicking the wall fiercely as he rounded the corner. What the fuck was that?

----

Whew. That chapter was HUGE! I am so sorry. I hope I didn't bore you all to death hehe. In any case it was fun to write and I guess a little treat for you guys. Thanks for putting up with my lateness. Remember. Email me. I love hearing from you guys so much. Usachi10 Ciao xoC

And I'm sorry for the delay of part b. God knows what happened, I possibly killed the fanfiction dot net limit. Cheers!