31_days | [Feb 9][Shediao Yingxiong Zhuan][Better Than None]

Title: Better Than None
Day/Theme: Feb 9/mad in the teahouse
Series: Shediao Yingxiong Zhuan
Characters: Huang Rong, Ouyang Feng
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: Shediao Yingxiong Zhuan belongs to Jin Yong, et al.

Being kidnapped, Huang Rong had discovered, was one of the most boring things that could happen to you.

First of all, her kidnapper was not the talkative type. This she could deal with. What made her itch to give him a resounding kick on the butt (he would probably break both of her legs for that, but no one could fault her for not trying) was that he did not want her to talk, either. She would only have to mention the weather and he would give her a level look, as if disgusted with her prattle. Two more sentences into the description of the sky and the day's temperature would result in him saying, "Be quiet, or I'll make you." She would sulk and stick out her tongue behind his back, derived no satisfaction from doing so, and ended up feeling a bit sorry for herself. On and on it went, until she thought she would endure those broken legs for the joy of a variation in the routine.

They stopped at a teahouse on the wayside. It was a quaint little establishment, obviously meant for wayfarers and travelers. Huang Rong saw that many of the tables were occupied. A group of riders - she saw their horses tethered outside - sat in a noisy clutter on one corner, slurping their drink and guffawing heartily. The other patrons were either men sitting on their own or couples.

Ouyang Feng went to the only vacant table and signaled to her to sit down across him. She plopped down on the wooden chair, giving him a mutinous glare. Ignoring her, he gave an order to the waiter, who hurried off with an occasional glance over his shoulder.

"That man's afraid of you," Huang Rong remarked. "You should throw away that ugly staff of yours - trade it for a new one."

"What I carry around is none of your business."

"I mean it, though. You may think that staff is imposing, but it looks like an aborted attempt at handicraft. It's explosively ugly. Seriously."

"I wonder if Huang Yaoshi would mind a daughter with a pair of broken legs."

"You keep saying that, but are you really going to do it? Ha! Of course not! You've got no guts, you're scared of my father, you're even scared of Brother Jing!"

"Will you shut up?"

"No, I won't! I won't shut up, I won't, I won't!" Suddenly losing her patience, she leaped to her feet (which, she was sure, she would retain in whole, his threats notwithstanding) and shouted, "Help, help! This old man is insane! He kidnapped me, and now he wants to marry me! Help!"

The teahouse had fallen into a thunderstruck silence. All other eyes swiveled around to watch them. Huang Rong pressed her fists against the surface of the table, scowling down at Ouyang Feng. "Sit down," he said with deceptive mildness.

"No."

"All right." The table was swept aside; she had not even registered the move with which he pushed it out of his way. A scream rose as the table crashed into the one next to it. She kicked her chair backward and ducked. His staff struck the spot where her head had been a split second ago. More screams rang throughout the teahouse. She noticed the exodus for the door out of the corner of her eye, and then a swift stroke landed on her upper arm, so hard that she lost her balance and fell to the floor. Through the tears of pain, she saw Ouyang Feng tower over her, his face unreadable.

"And now will you be calm and obedient?"

"Never," she said, wiping at her eyes. The arm was going to sport a glorious, rainbow-like bruise before the day was over. But it was worth it, and at least her legs were intact. "Cowardly old man. Going around hitting little girls. You'll be the laughingstock of the martial arts society."

"I can make sure you will never tell anybody."

"Not only hitting them, but threatening them as well."

"Get up. We'll find another place to eat." He was striding past her. "And you'd better move sharp, unless you want your other arm to get it."

She understood that he was deadly serious, and also that he would not aim for her arm, either. "Fine, fine." She got up and shambled after him, muttering, but inwardly smiling.