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English
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Published:
2012-04-21
Completed:
2012-04-21
Words:
48,934
Chapters:
7/7
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13
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143
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The Flavor of the Wind

Summary:

"Henna-painted leafs grew up her toes, wrapping themselves around her ankles, and for a second he wondered how far up her leg the decoration went." AU.

Notes:

This is a historical AU, set in a time and place when slavery was common, and it involves slave!Tony and slave trader!Ziva, so please be aware of this before you go in.

Yes, there is sex in it, too. And although this is Tony/Ziva all the way, there is one Tony/Tali scene. (I did mention that this is an Alternate Universe, yes...?)

Added as a reminder, because it seems to be necessary - Ziva is in her mid- to late twenties in this one. That makes Tali somewhere around twenty. She's far from a kid. Although she does like to have her childish moments. ;)

author's note: A lot of research went into this one once it was clear that it isn't just a crack!fic but would be something based on actual historical events. If there are remaining mistakes, please forgive me - I obviously haven't been there myself. ;) And yes, there is a lot of backstory in this one that is only hinted at. That is intentional. There is also most likely a sequel that will come out of it.

love & thank you: There are a few people without whom this would not exist, at least not in the form it has come to be in, and I owe them each a big thank you. One is countryole, for breathing the spark of life into it, for saying "DO IT!" and happily plotting away with me. The second is anr, for her incredible feel for the bigger picture and for giving me Oz. (We're talking about the original novel here, which was first printed in 1900. The movie, obviously, came around much too late for this setting. ;) ) And the third is silencero, for being my alpha reader and official cheerleader. And for giving me aunt Nettie, even though he insists that he never does anything. ;) I love you, guys. Really, I do.

A pdf version is available for download - 134 pages, 1.2 MB, includes the pretty pictures

Chapter 1: Prologue

Chapter Text

There were moments when Anthony DiNozzo thought that he could actually get used to the sun scorching his neck, and that was something he would have never believed if someone had suggested it a mere week ago.

But a week ago, he had also been a mere agent of the Office of Naval Intelligence. A week ago, he had taken on an assignment issued directly by the President, and he had taken Roosevelt's offer gladly because it sounded like the chance of a lifetime and the best adventure ever. A mere week ago he'd had no idea that this assignment would blow up in his face like none before ever had and that it would leave him cut off from the rest of his unit shortly after landing, stuck in the middle of nowhere.

He turned his head and raised a hand to scratch the stubble on his cheeks. Three days since he had been taken prisoner just a few miles east of Tangier. Three days since he had last seen his team. He had no idea what had happened to them after that. They had looked like they could stand their ground, but of course that last impression had come before someone had clubbed him into unconsciousness.

He rubbed his neck, feeling the heat that had soaked into his skin since his torn shirt had come off, and he wondered when it would turn into the itch of a real sunburn. Couldn't be all that long now.

Morocco had presented itself as far less of a desert than he had thought it would be - that's what one got for not doing proper research before diving headlong into the adventure offered - but its sun still had a fierce temper, and he hadn't been prepared for that. This should have been a simple sneak in, get the job done, sneak out mission, after all, and it should have involved mostly night travels. Getting captured by armed horsemen had put this part of the plan to rest really effectively.

A hectic voice yelled something in Arabic at him, and he rose from his crouch when the barrel of a rifle poked him in the side. He still didn't understand the man but by now he knew enough about his situation to guess that it was most likely another potential buyer coming to take a closer look at the merchandise. Or maybe it was finally his turn on the auction row.