OOM: Bogotá, post Maria

[latino_menace]

Perhaps it wasn't really the manly thing, letting Fi deal with getting her out. Under normal circumstances, he'd just give her a smack and be done with it. But isn't shock bad for unborn kids? He doesn't know and he's still struggling with mixed emotions about the baby - on one hand, he wishes it had never happened. But on the other...it has. And it's going to be born now, no matter what so shouldn't he start getting used to the idea?

None of this is easy. He's glad of the half-minute or so that Fi is out of the room because it gives him just a little space to breathe and think about what he's going to say, if he has to say anything. He really had no idea she'd show up here.

When Fi comes back, she'll find him sitting on the bed with his back against the wall, smoking a cigarette and staring at nothing in particular.

Comments

[justcallmefee]

Oh any number of reasons, she thinks. Starting way back when she decided to let him into her bed in the first place, going back even further, to the moment he followed her over that bridge and into her flat.

She studies his face, one fingertip tracing along his brow, down his jaw.

"I have someone waiting for me."

Ask me to stay.

[latino_menace]

He smirks and slides his arm around her waist, holding her tight. If she wants to get up, she'll have to fight it off.

'I'll understand.'

He will, too.

[justcallmefee]

There is a moment when she wonders, will you? Do you understand?

It's not the same as him asking the question, but he knows, she's doesn't have the will or the desire to fight him off. He pulls her close and she goes to him, submits willingly. She nuzzles under his chin, her eyes closing.

"I'll tell him you said that."

[latino_menace]

''f I don't remember saying it, I'm obviously too old to be with you.'

He musters up the last of his energy and pulls the quilt over them, keeping her close. He hopes she'll still be here when he wakes up but part of him admits to himself its unlikely. And maybe it'd be better that way. Easier for everyone. Less awkward.

[justcallmefee]

"Caro?"

[latino_menace]

'Yeah?'

[justcallmefee]

It's easy to ask, curled up here like this, boneless and sated, tangled up in him. She needs just one more thing from him, and for some reason, he's made her feel like she can ask for that.



"Say my name?"

[latino_menace]

He looks down at her sleepily, confused by the request.

'Fiona?'

It sounds unsure because he doesn't know what she wants from that. He doesn't know what she would get from it.

[justcallmefee]

She smiles, and he can feel it.

"Not a question," she corrects gently. "Just -- like you --" She swallows hard, trying to find the words.

"Just like someone was asking you, who was that crazy puta with the shotgun? The one you were dancing with in the club? The banshee who threw your fiancée out by her hair, who was she?"

[latino_menace]

Now he feels like he's under a spotlight, like he has to do it right or everything goes wrong again. He tenses, not so sleepy any more.

'Fiona.'

It's said pretty much without inflection. A touch resentful perhaps, if she's really looking to hear it.

[justcallmefee]

She hears it and feels it both. Her eyes cloud over and she dips her chin again. Her palm comes to rest over his heart.

"I don't when I'll see you again. I just don't want you to forget me."

[latino_menace]

'Why would I forget you?'

How could he forget her, is what he should say, really.

'After that.'

Beat.

'After everything, tonight.'

[justcallmefee]

Her hand curls into a fist and she nods, nestling even closer. She doesn't know when she'll see this man again, the one who touched her in ways she never expected.

"Just -- don't forget."

Her voice is small and fierce, like it's the most important thing in the world to her that he do this one small thing.

[latino_menace]

'I won't forget.'

He's sure of it.

[justcallmefee]

She nods again, resting her head on his arm. Her hand skims down his arm and she catches his fingers in her own, bringing them to her lips.

She keeps them there, closing her eyes and listening to the sound of his breath, trying to find her way down into sleep.

It never comes.

~~~

It's dawn when she wakes and extricates herself from his arms. (Don't look back.) She dresses in the dark, grateful that someone had brought her tunic and her jeans back from the other place and left them in the bathroom for her. (You can never look back.) She leaves his shirt in the trash.

The chain, she keeps.