tibetanmethod | (no subject)

(no subject)

He'd suggested a game of chess.

Their cups -- tea and coffee -- sit by the pieces they've taken. Moiraine has more. Cooper's mind isn't really on the game.

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"Is it," she murmurs. "I see."

Cooper sips his coffee, and waits patiently for Moiraine to make her move.

She studies the board in silence for several seconds, or appears to, at least.

Abruptly,

"It is done, then? There is no going back?"

Cooper glances at her.

"No going back."

Mild.

Moiraine nods, once, and says nothing.

After a moment, she reaches to move her knight.

The fine tremor in her fingers as she does so is almost unnoticeable.

He watches her hands -- of course. And just because he doesn't employ traditional methods in investigation, it doesn't mean he doesn't know them. Doesn't mean he's not one of the best with them. It begins with observation.

Cooper watches her hands.

"You're bothered by my leaving the Bureau?" Once she's made her move.

She glances up at him.

"Should I be?"

He'll turn it around on her, as she does on him. "I don't know. Should you?"

"It is a good question," the Aes Sedai replies, serenely.

A pause.

"Both more and less than I am, perhaps."

Cooper raises his eyebrows.

"Why is that?"

Her hesitation is visible, but brief, and she meets his glance directly as she says,

"I will be frank with you, Dale; it is the timing that concerns me."

"Can you expand?"

He knows -- he's pretty sure he knows -- but he wants to hear it.

A soft breath, followed by a slight sigh, and then:

"Did my presence here have anything to do with your decision?"

He knows.

"Not as much as you might think," Cooper says, mildly. "Call it the catalyst."

She studies him for several moments, then nods, evidently accepting this.

"May I thank you anyway?"

"As long as you understand that any thanks are completely unnecessary." With a slight smile. "Truly."

"I do," Moiraine replies. "And yet."

A beat of silence.

"Thank you. Guardian."

The slight smile turns into something a little more rueful, a little more crooked. Cooper hides it by finishing off his cup of coffee.

After:

"Friend," he says. "Guardian when necessary, especially now. But friend first."

And at this, a soft light brightens the dark eyes, and a faint smile curves her lips.

"Friend first, then."

Moiraine leans forward, and places her free hand over his.

"I confess that I am glad of it."

For a moment Cooper looks surprised -- but only for a moment.

His faint smile deepens.

"I hope you're not surprised."

"Not particularly, no," she admits. "But sometimes it is good to be certain."

She gives a very slight shrug.

"Immersion in Daes Dae'mar affects one's perceptions."

Cooper nods. "I have... some idea." Lightly, he brushes his thumb against her fingers -- a brief touch, no more. "I also have hope that it won't be necessary as often for you, here."

"It is the habit of a lifetime," Moiraine says, very simply.

"But be that as it may, this is a different sort of place than anywhere else I have lived, as I think you realize."

"Yes." He's silent for a moment. Then: "When you've settled in more. And when you have a better grip on the town's fault lines."

"Perhaps," she allows.