Room 6620, The Morning Of...

[lady_bols]

The evening had passed quietly, with no more talk of promises or commitment, or anything of consequence, really.

She'd tried to fall asleep, but only succeeded in dozing lightly off and on.  Every time he shifted or exhaled too sharply, she'd found herself wide awake.  Hypervigilance, she thought.  Her mind was fixated on the thought that she might miss saying goodbye. He wouldn't dare sneak out on her.  He was a bastard sometimes, but he wasn't exactly heartless.

Well, most of the time.

When the first light of dawn hit the windows, she was already awake, listening to the sound of his breathing.  She debated getting up and laying out his suit for him, but that would mean leaving the warmth of the bed.

'Love?  It's time.'

She knows he's anxious to get back.  A part of her understands, remembering how hard it was those first few days and weeks in Fenchurch, waiting to wake up from the nightmare.  At least he has the option to go home.

Comments

[the_gene_genie]

'Supposed to be. An' there's stables, and that beach.'

And, y'know. Lots of alcohol. Which is surely the only thing a pub needs.


'And...lots of magic people?'

If that's a draw?

[lady_bols]

'Mmm, yeah, people.'

Other people. People who are not him. That would be all sorts of healthy and forward-thinking, wouldn't it?

She's not sure she's ready to go there, yet. Someday, possibly, but not today.

Mmm, beach, though. That's a nice memory. 'I think I'll save the beach for when you get back.'

[the_gene_genie]

He glances at her. A touch concerned, in all honesty.

'You know it's not going anywhere, don't you? If you want to go on it, I'll still be allowed on it too.'

His heart sinks a bit, which, considering it wasn't high to begin with, doesn't feel good.

'And yes, people. Alex, you can't stay shut up in here all the time.'

[lady_bols]

She looks at him, her eyes searching his face.

'There's a pub, right down stairs, love. With a proper fire place, and unlimited tea service. With chocolate biscuits from all over the universe. I don't think I'll be spending that much time in the room.'

Besides, she's always enjoyed people watching. It's good practice for someone in her line of work.

'Don't worry about me, please. It's not like I'm going to run off and join a convent while you're away.'

[the_gene_genie]

His eyebrows shoot up.

'A convent? Christ, you'd better not.'

Where did that even come from?

'Though if you want to rent a room in one for when I'm not here, I wouldn't mind.'

[lady_bols]

She quirks an eyebrow at him.

'Oh really, now? You're not worried I'll step out on you while you're away, are you?'

He can't be serious. She asked him to marry her.

[the_gene_genie]

'Pass on the Gene Genie? Nah.'

He wasn't worried, until right this minute. And not too much now. After what they've been through, he's pretty sure her head isn't going to be turned by some magic-wielding pretty boy from outer space.

'Anyway, if you did you'd tell me about it. So-'

He shrugs, the hint of a smile on his lips.

[lady_bols]

'I wouldn't,' she cuts him off, her voice serious, despite the smile. And then her tone softens, somewhat. Still intent, but more passionate than angry.

'I mean, not that I wouldn't tell you. It would never happen in the first place. I'm in this for the long haul, Gene. You've seen me when I get my teeth into something. You can't say you didn't know what you were getting yourself into.'

[the_gene_genie]

He rolls his eyes in a good-humoured way, leans up and kisses her gently.

'I was teasin', Bols. Calm down.'

She always did get wound up at the smallest provocation. He quite likes it when it's about nice things.

'You know very well I've been trying to get into you for years.'

[lady_bols]

Her eyes narrow, but she can't suppress the grin. Damn him and his smug sense of superiority.

'Just so I'm not another notch on your legendary bedpost, Mister Devastatingly Attractive Air of Mystery.' She turns the last word into a purr, leaning down to return the kiss with intent.

[the_gene_genie]

He snorts quietly, returns the kiss, and then lays his head back to watch her.

'Nothing wrong with notches and bedposts, Bolly.'

And of course, he's not sure his conquests count, any more.

'But I think you rank a but higher than that, yeah.'

[lady_bols]

She shakes her head, still grinning.

'I should hope so,' she murmurs, watching him right back. After all they've been through together, she's still not quite sure this is happening. That this is her life now.

Her smile goes crooked, and she tilts her head at him.

'High enough to take home to meet your mum.' She'd honestly never got just how much he'd opened up to her that trip. She'd been so wrapped up in her own little psychodrama. 'I really wish I could do that whole thing over again, and try not cock it up so terribly.'

[the_gene_genie]

'You don't need to be so hard on yourself over that. You'd just seen your mum and dad die again.'

And it's not like his mother is any more real than he is.

'It could have been a lot worse.'

[lady_bols]

Alex is a psychologist. If she thought about it, she'd confess she thinks meeting his own ideal of his mother is probably more important than meeting the real one. But she doesn't look at things in his world as constructs, not anymore.

Not for a long time.

Her lips thin in a smirk.

'Bad as you meeting my mum for the first time? With me bent over a desk and my skirt hitched up?'

God, that was a nightmare.

[the_gene_genie]

He smiles dryly, and pushes a wisp of hair off her forehead.

'I'd met her before that. I think that was probably more embarrassing for you, than me.'

Because it's not like he cares what uptight solicitors think of him. They're as bad as judges, in his opinion. Professional awkward, yes. Not personally.

[lady_bols]

Her eyelids flutter closed at his touch, echoing the butterflies she feels in her chest.

'Yes, but you didn't realize she was my mother. And yes, it was a nightmare. Mostly because she didn't realize who I was.'

'Still, she'd never approve of you.' She looks up at him from beneath her lashes, smiling.

[the_gene_genie]

'Well, no. She made that abundantly clear.'

He's not bothered.

'I don't approve of her, either.'

There's a tiny hesitation, then he adds;

'Was she the same as you remember?'

[lady_bols]

She hesitates for a moment, thinking back. The memories are strangely layered now, both realities interwoven.

'Well, she was larger than life. Driven. Brash. And... cold. So, no, not that much different. I -- I was much closer to my father.'

Her expression shifts as she talks. Even knowing what she knows now, it's still a confusing and painful memory.

[the_gene_genie]

He's thoughtful for a moment, still watching her face.

'Must have made it worse,' he says, quietly.

[lady_bols]

'Mmm. It did, at first. But it also -- brought a strange sort of relief, just knowing what happened. If that makes any sense.'

It's not the kind of memory she relishes going over and over in her head, so she sets it back in its little compartment and closes the lid on it.

She cuts a glance at him, realizing something.

'You never talk about your father.'

[the_gene_genie]

He wasn't expecting that. Luckily, there's been bigger stuff going on, so it doesn't have the impact it usually does, when a question comes out of the blue.

'No.'

He shrugs a shoulder minutely.

'Not much to say about him.'

[lady_bols]

She watches him, and gently reaches out to run her fingers through his hair. It's a wonder just to be able to touch him like this.

'Well, we can leave that conversation for another time. Preferably after a bottle of wine or two.'

She lays her head on her arm, looking up at him with dark eyes.

'There's so much I still want to know about you.'

[the_gene_genie]

There's quite a lot he'd like to know about himself. Or at least be sure of.

'All you have to do is ask.'

He's not enthused about such conversations, but if they're what she wants, he'll try.

He glances around the room, in a probably obvious attempt at deflection.

'I suppose I'd better...'

He's not enthused about that, either.

[lady_bols]

Her smile shifts, the sadness rising again. She feels like they never get a break, but then, they've had the last few days, so... Asking for anything more seems greedy.

'I'll lay your suit out, if you want to have a wash.'

She can do this. It's what needs to be done, and she's always been good at doing what needs to be done.

[the_gene_genie]

'You don't have to do that. I've worn 'em off the floor enough times.'

He still doesn't move. He wants to go home, and has wanted to since he got here. But the idea of it is better than actually walking out of the door.

'I'll go and have a shower. I don't suppose it really matters, going back cleaner than I came in.'

His world has dealt with weirder shit than that, in its time.