Kira stands there, away from the two men having a stare down. Looking around the room, she can see that the festivities have come to a complete stop, and the people are standing around the room- wary and careful of the possible danger.
She is no different.
Knowing that if there is going to be any further incitement, she would be caught in the crossfire if not be the actual target herself, she decides to back away, and remembering Pete's actions from a moment ago, holds Ricky's hand, intent on making sure he is far away from the eye of the storm as well.
She had only taken a single step back when Gerard's eyes snap to her, boring into hers as she stops. The fury has been turned on her.
'It's okay,' she consoles herself, 'just stay still, and he will turn back to Pete. It's okay.' She hoped desperately that it was in fact going to turn out this way.
It didn't.
He took large steps towards her, reaching her in seconds and taking hold of her upper arm, right where Pete had gripped her, and yanked her behind him.
She yelped in pain, her hand slipping from Ricky's, as she was dragged forward a step only for Gerard to turn around, change the arm he was holding and continue on past Pete and towards a dark hallway to the side of the room that she didn't even know was there.
"No! Please!" Kira tried twisting her arm away, tried dragging her feet...it was all useless.
"Kira!" She heard Ricky cry out behind her, and turned just in time to see him run to her and be stopped by Peter. She gulped and looked forward again.
She had no idea where he was taking her, and she had no way to know what would happen. All she knew, was that it was not something she would have done willingly.
The dread inside her grew dangerously as the people standing in the way parted like a sea at the coachman's approach. Well, mostly.
A couple of men, seeing her struggling against the large man, stepped forward, blocking the entrance way.
Hope bloomed in Kira, her eyes widening, the anxiety ringing in her ears slowing down as she looked at the people standing in Gerard's path.
"We will not allow you to impeach the honour of a Lady in our presence." The larger of the two imposing men, demanded Gerard, crossing his arms and walking up to her captor, "Let her go."
He got in his face as he stared Gerard down.
To Gerard's credit, he met the eyes of the taller man, shaking his head in frustartion as he stated, "Move aside. That is not what is happening!- Listen to me," He huffed, "don't get in the middle of what you don't understand."
"No, you listen to us." The second man joined the first one arrogantly, and walking up to the two demanded again, "There are two of us, you will be no match. Now- Let.The.Lady.Go." He growled out each word in a whisper, shorter than the other man but somehow more intimidating with his quick temper.
Gerard stood in his spot, not moving forward as he stared at the men disdainfully.
It was a tense few seconds, and Kira was holding her breath.
Gerard finally moved his gaze to the side, his jaw working as he thought out the situation.
Finally, he relented. "Fine."
Kira let out the breath, relief flowing through her at her potential release.
"-But she is-"
"Pete!" Gerard shouted over whatever Peter was about to say, turning to look at the man over his shoulder. They seemed to have an entire conversation with their eyes as all stood still.
The second man, the one who had stood up to protect her huffed in impatience, and opened his mouth to say something when-
"Whatever. Fine" Peter didn't look happy about it, but he took a look around the room, and seeing the people there watching the scene with bated breath, agreed.
He felt the need to clarify to the people around him, turning around to the gathered crowd, "Just so you know, nothing untoward was happening, this is not that kind of establishmen-"
"Peter..." Gerard stated exasperated.
"What! They should know!" Pete defended as he turned back to the crowd again, addressing the trepidition on their faces as he continued, "This is all a big misundestanding, which we will work to sort out." His natural smile and charisma went a long way, as he continued with crowd-work, and eventually got them all to loosen up. Now they were chatting and even smiling, as if the woman being dragged across the room a few minutes ago had never even happened.
Kira had to admit- Peter was truly gifted. Heck, if she was not the one being manhandled, she would have no problem saying it out loud. She watched, intrigued.
He was at the end of his short speech anyway. Finally, he ended with, "Meanwhile the next round of drinks- ON THE HOUSE!"
The cheer that went around the place this time was genuine, as the musicians started their band again and the guests who had earlier been huddling together in fear now reignited their dance and fun.
Kira raised an eyebrow, impressed.
Pete turn around smugly, and faltered at the sight of her, before ignoring her altogether and turning around to face Gerard, who looked pretty astonished himself.
She watched them, still anxious of their presence even as her two saviours ushered her and Ricky-who had long since been clinging to her after Peter had let go- towards one of the tables in the middle, between themselves.
She smiled gratefully, and even voiced her gratitude to the two men many times.
"Really, thank you." Her eyes shone with unshed tears, "If the two of you had not- I don't know- "She trailed off, unable to finish, because she herself didn't know what she would have done.
"It is no matter, ma'am. You are safe here with us." They smiled at her and the child, before clapping along with the merriment around them.
"Yeah, we will take you to the soldiers in the morning. They will keep you safe."
She nodded her assent hesitantly. She knew they had made wrong assumptions, knew that Gerard and Pete only tried to capture her and not anything else because she had heard them talking about how she was 'wanted', but she didn't dare correct them now.
They were her only protection. But for now, she was safe.
Kira watched with significatly less fear as the festivities continued late into the night. She did not try to go anywhere, she couldn't. Not with the two men protecting her at her sides, and with Gerard and Pete keeping an eye on her.
She had tried to usher Ricky away a few times, afraid that he would get into trouble with Gerard, to no avail, and let him sleep in her lap.
The night was drawing to a close when it happened.
"There she is!"