Fanfic: Incommutabilis (1/1)

[smokingmirror]

Title: Incommutabilis
Author: Avarice
Rating: PG
Pairing: Fox/Dinah
Spoilers: pre BMB and FH
Summary: Out of all the people she could go to for help, Dinah chooses Collin.
Word Count:
Date First Posted: 26-07-2002
Date Revised: 25-05-2011
Beta: Tink.
Awards: -
Notes: Incommutabilis is Latin for 'unchangeable'. I always loved Fox and Dinah as a couple. They went well together until Fox's devotion to Collin in a friendship capacity just got way too much for Dinah, and Fox was left pretty much heartbroken (see: Disposable Teens). Fox loved both of them, and it seemed that his life was perfect having his best friend and girlfriend such as they were, but he just didn't quite realise that neither of them liked sharing him.
Feedback: always welcome, as is constructive criticism.
Also Archived At: LJ

The bell rang signaling the end of fourth period and the beginning of lunch, but Collin barely noticed. He sat on one of the school's few green lawns under a tree, close to the mathematics block. An unlit cigarette dangled from his lips.

He read the heavy book perched on his knees intently, clinically, occasionally snorting his contempt at its contents. Collin had spent his free fourth period doing the reading for his modern history class, seeing as last night Fox had somehow convinced him he needed company while he chain-smoked and watched Wheel of Fortune.

Students raced across the lawn in their haste to get out of classrooms. They barely spared him a glance. And if they did, his unwelcome posture proved an apt deterrent to everyone.

Except one.

He heard the footsteps slow from a brisk walk to stop directly in front of him. Shapely legs encased in calf-high black boots were in his peripheral vision, and he smelled a decidedly feminine scent.

In a bored tone of voice, Collin spoke without looking up. "No thanks. While I'm sure you've got a great personality," he mentally rolled his eyes. Yeah, right. "I'm not interested."

The feet shifted nervously, but didn't leave.

"Collin?"

The marginally familiar voice was the only thing that prompted Collin to look up.

"Dinah," he greeted without inflection. She gave him a hesitant smile at his acknowledgment. The smile faltered when he looked back down at his book. "You're a little early. He won't be here for another five minutes." The cigarette moved between his lips as he talked.

"That's okay. Actually, I was hoping to talk to you before Fox got here."

Collin turned the page. "What about?"

Dinah wrung her hands nervously. She licked her dry lips and pressed on. "I need your help."

Collin's left eyebrow rose ever so slightly above his right. With an inaudible sigh, the blond closed the book, and set it in front of him. Dinah nodded and sat down opposite him, gracefully tucking her legs underneath her.

He briefly glanced at what she was wearing. Aside from the black boots, she wore a black skirt and leopard print top. The top's left sleeve reached her wrist, while the right was non-existent, leaving her arm and shoulder bare. On the same side, three long, ragged vents slit the material, the ends dyed red. They looked like claw marks, and showed more of her tanned skin when she moved.

Collin stared at her expectantly, waiting for her to begin. Dinah shifted uncomfortably under his unwavering hazel gaze. There was something about him that was so intimidating. She wasn't the only one to feel it, practically everyone else did except her boyfriend. She didn't quite understand how that worked, but it did sort of make sense; Fox was a very unique individual, and definitely not scared easily.

Taking a deep breath, Dinah began. "Okay, Fox and I have an anniversary coming up and--"

"What anniversary?" Collin interrupted.

Dinah's cheeks went slightly pink. "Our uh... three and a half month anniversary... It was something we decided on..." She coughed embarrassedly. "Anyway, it's next week and I don't know what to get him. I've tried really hard to come up with something, but I just have no idea."

She waited for some kind of natural interjection from Collin, hoping he would offer before she had to ask.

"What do you want me to do about it?"

Dinah blinked. Not the interjection she was hoping for, but at least it was something. She surged on.

"I thought maybe you could give me some ideas? I mean, you've known him since--"

"Kindergarten," Collin supplied blandly.

Dinah winced slightly at the blunt reminder. "Right... I know it's asking a lot, and we don’t really know each other that well... but no-one knows Fox better than you." She lowered her eyes humbly. "I hoped maybe you could help me out."

Collin's face betrayed nothing as he thought about Dinah's request. After a moment of silence that Collin knew was uncomfortable for Dinah, he somewhat abruptly gave his answer.

"Alright. Leave it to me."

Dinah's head snapped up quickly, an optimistic expression on her face. "You'll help? That's... that's great! Do you have any thoughts?"

Collin's lips turned up in a sarcastic smirk. "Plenty. Just let me handle it."

She frowned. "You mean... you'll get the gift?"

Collin shrugged. "It's easier this way."

"But, you could tell me what and I could get it, couldn't I?

Silence.

Dinah sighed. "It's easier this way?"

"Correct."

***

Fox hoisted his bag onto his shoulder and left class. It usually took him only a few minutes to traverse a third of the school grounds with his long legs, pending no distractions.

As it happened, nothing caught his attention on the way, so he turned the corner of the mathematics block almost on time. Collin was easy enough to spot, sitting in his preferred place under the large tree. His steps faltered slightly when Fox saw who Collin was sitting with.

Dinah.

Dinah and Collin. Collin and Dinah.

They looked like they were... talking. His girlfriend. And his best friend. Talking.

Dinah had briefly mentioned her difficulty in making any sort of connection with Collin, but he'd just told her that was how Collin was, and that seeking his approval would be a futile gesture.

He secretly hoped Collin would give him some approving sign, though.

The corners of his lips twitched, and his mouth soon spread into a large, happy smile. His best friend sitting and talking to his girlfriend without an expression of boredom or distaste was about as close to approval as he was ever going to get.

By the time he'd managed to wrestle his smile into a more sedate, less suspicious version of itself, Fox had swaggered up to the tree. He looked down at his companions, and a little of that unbridled happiness fought its way back to his face.

"My boy and my baby, waiting for me. Now what did I do to deserve this?"

"Turn up late," Collin quipped, leaning back against the tree. Fox flopped down artlessly in between Collin and Dinah. He retrieved a cigarette from behind his right ear and lit it, automatically reaching over and lighting the blond's, too. They both inhaled deeply at the same time, the action bringing a shared smile to their faces.

Fox turned and sweetened his smile for Dinah, ducking to kiss her bare shoulder. "Meow, kitty," he mumbled, finding the vents in her top and dancing fingertips over her ribs. She laughed and protested, but her cries were without heat.

Collin pulled the book back onto his lap and opened it, ashing his cigarette on the grass. Fox took his lips away from Dinah's and nodded towards the volume. "You done the reading?"

Collin scanned the page methodically. "Enough to count. Would have gotten it all done if you hadn't called me last night."

"I swear! It was 'A View To A Kill' by Duran Duran. The people they get on that show are so fucking dumb. If I went on I'd--"

"Hey Vannah," Collin marked the page and put away the book, "this is lunch time. Are you going to fill your trap with food anytime soon?"

Fox grinned salaciously at Dinah and stood up. "Does it have to be food?"

"As long as you shut up, I don't care," Collin grunted, holding his arm out. Fox instinctively grasped it in a monkey grip and helped him to his feet, before turning his attention to Dinah. She watched their synced behaviour quietly, waiting for Fox to remember she was there.

He always did, and was never anything less than devoted, but sometimes that devotion passed through Collin before it reached her. They hadn't been dating long, though, and he'd known Collin most of his life. It was understandable... she just hoped it wouldn't always be like that.

Fox held out both hands to her, palms upraised. She took them and he gracefully pulled her to her feet. He looked heartbroken when she refused to let him dust off her skirt. Dinah soothed his rejection with a kiss.

"Lunch," Collin reminded bluntly.

"Sure thing, boss," Fox appeased with an easy smile, slinging an arm around each of his companion's shoulders, pulling them close as they walked. "So anyway, the guy buys a vowel. There's a one-letter word. Anyone with half a goddamn brain would pick an 'A' or 'I', wouldn't they? But the dumb prick picks a 'U'. I mean, a 'U'?! Who fucking well picks 'U'? I swear, if I went on..."

***

Dinah paced in front of the wooden seat, dodging people and hugging her arms around her body. She was waiting for Collin.

No, she was waiting for Fox.

Okay, she was waiting for Collin, then Fox.

She'd scarcely seen Collin since his unexpected offer to get Fox's anniversary gift, and she hadn't had another opportunity to be alone with him when she did see him to ask about it.

Fox had already arranged to meet her on the special day at 3pm at the mall, right near the music store. In passing, Collin had said he'd meet her there some time before that, never giving an exact time. How much was 'some time before?' Fifteen minutes? Thirty? An hour?

Dinah had been waiting for him since 1.30pm. It was now 2.50pm, with no sign of Collin, and soon to be sign of Fox.

It was only when she had reached her last mental straw that Collin rounded a corner and came into view, carrying a bag and walking at an unhurried pace. Dinah barely restrained herself from running over to him, instead giving a relieved smile and greeting him.

"Collin, hi! I'm glad you made it, I was starting to worry..." Collin sniffed disdainfully, clearly telling her to cut the crap and get on with it. Normally that sort of attitude would irritate her, but under the circumstances, she complied. "Did you find the right gift?"

"I said I would," Collin replied tersely, setting the bag down onto the seat relatively carefully, and sitting next to it. The bottom clinked like glass on the wood. Dinah's smile showed a crack. Glass like bottles. In a paper bag. With a liquor store logo on it. Dread settled in her stomach.

"Oh no... you didn't..." Opening the bag, she looked down into six long-necked bottles. Dinah's eyes widened in horror. "Beer? After all that, you got him beer?!" Collin shrugged.

"I don't believe you... I don't believe this... Why did you get that?" She scowled. "For god's sake, I could have gotten him beer!"

"Why did you ask for my help then?" Collin said, barely looking at her, far more interested in picking at flaky parts of tobacco at the end of his cigarette.

"I- aargh!" she growled in frustration, before the gravity of the situation sunk in.

"Shit... he's going to be here any minute. What am I going to do?"

"Me?" Fox suggested as he arrived, smiling peculiarly when Dinah jumped. She paled, but fixed a happy expression on her face. Fox wrapped his arms around his girlfriend's waist and kissed her soundly. The bag he carried lightly bumped the back of her knees.

His eyes lingered on her face warmly before slipping to Collin. Dinah saw them question his presence for not even a full second before accepting it unequivocally.

Fox brushed a pink-tipped lock from Dinah's face and grinned. "I have something for you."

Dinah smiled weakly. "Yeah?"

"Mhm." Fox took her hand and led her a little out of the way of the traveling public. He began rummaging around in the bag he held. "I didn't really have time to wrap it," he apologised, "But it's the thought that counts, right?"

"Right." Dinah felt sick.

Fox pulled a bolt of fabric from the bag. It was a shimmering blue-green, decorated with stars and moons. Some were embroidered in gold, others printed on in silver. It messed with the eye's perception of the symbols, some popping out, others staying flat. It was gauzy and silky to the touch.

Dinah's mouth hung open slightly. It was absolutely beautiful. "I know you like to make your own clothes and stuff," Fox explained, "I thought this might be nice. I dunno what you could make with it, but I'm sure it'd look great."

"I... it's amazing, Fox," she told him sincerely, rubbing the fabric between her thumb and forefinger. He looked pleased at her reaction, but watched her like a child on Christmas morning -- happy to give, but hoping beyond hope to receive something wonderful in return.

Dinah felt terrible. He had gone to such trouble to be thoughtful, and she was about to disappoint him so much, either with a meaningless gift, or by not giving anything at all. She never should have trusted Collin, but what was done was done. What could she do now?

In the end, her despair at his disappointment of not receiving won out. She put the fabric back in the bag, and gingerly picked up the one Collin had brought.

"I um, got you something," she began hesitantly. "It's... uh. Okay, if you don't like it? Just tell me, I promise I'll get something different."

Fox gave a slightly confused frown as he was handed the bag. His eyebrows rose marginally at the clinking. He peeked inside the bag, an unreadable expression on his face.

He looked up quizzically. "Beer?"

Dinah winced in embarrassment. "...Yeah."

"You got me beer for our anniversary?"

"It's all my fault. I couldn't think of anything and I wanted to do something good so--"

Dinah's breath violently left her body and her words were cut off as her boyfriend collected her in an exuberant embrace. He talked as he bounced up and down with her in his arms.

"You got me beer! That is so fucking excellent! How'd you guess?"

Dinah's eyes were wide with shock, but Fox didn't seem to notice, he was too busy crowing and hugging her. He held her tightly around the shoulders and grinned to Collin. "How good is my girlfriend? She got me beer!"

Collin looked up finally and met Fox's, then Dinah's eyes. Fox was satisfied with a perfunctory nod, but Dinah kept looking. Shamed that she thought he'd purposely screwed her, she looked for a sign in his eyes that perhaps he approved.

She didn't find it.

"I've got something else for you," Fox's words broke her eye contact with Collin. He grinned and took a small folded piece of paper out of his pocket. Dinah read Fox's scrawled writing, a small smile growing on her face.

The paper was a coupon entitling the bearer (Dinah) to unlimited trips to Heaven via the inimitable Fox Rocket, complete with illustrations. Fox nuzzled the side of her cheek with his nose as she laughed lightly. "So, what do you think?"

"I think there are still seven hours of our anniversary left. We shouldn't waste any of them." Fox pulling her to him, planting a long, toe-curling kiss on her mouth, prevented her from further comment.

Fox slid an arm around her waist, carrying their bags with the other. Without breaking eye contact with her, he somehow managed to give a careless wave behind them as they walked.

Dinah, lost in blue eyes, didn't remember Collin until they'd been walking for almost a minute. She risked a quick glance backwards when they were almost out of sight of their meeting place.

All she saw was Collin sitting back on the seat, a wisp of smoke rising from the cigarette between his fingers, as confident and apathetic as a large feline.

A small, barely discernible smile crossed Collin's lips fleetingly as he watched them go. Dinah had been ready to throttle him, now she felt she owed him.

She didn't really, and he wasn't going to call on her to pay off her 'debt'. Nor was he going to disprove it, either. Dinah could believe whatever she wanted.

Collin stood, lazily blowing smoke from his mouth. What Dinah thought about him was inconsequential. In the end, the only one that mattered was Fox. And if he was happy, then the blond was content with that.

Ashing the cigarette in a nearby trash receptacle, he put his hands in his pockets and walked in the opposite direction.

~finis