Molinos o Gigantes

i can't say when i'll be back to be honest. i'd like it to be soon but honestly i can't say. and when i do i will probably have a revamp of sorts (maybe).

All too quickly he felt her pull away and as much as he wanted to grasp onto her tighter, worried that if he left her go she might suddenly vanish, he let her go. Elliot cleared his throat a little, suddenly remembering they were surrounded by hundreds of strangers in the middle of the airport. A small smile tugged at his lips, catching how she wiped the tears from her eyes, glad to know he wasn't the only emotional one. He'd been worried their reunion would be an awkward and rocky one but so far Elliot felt like he could relax a little and just savor this moment being face to face with her after all this time.

His eyes glanced down to the Ziploc in her hand and a quiet chuckle escaped him as he noticed it's contents, recognizing his favorite sandwich immediately. He was as amused by the gesture as he was appreciative of it. He didn't think she could probably begin to imagine how much such a simple gesture could mean to him though as he'd many times in prison craved a BLT the way she made it. A part of him was tempted to just open up the bag now and start scoffing it down but he held himself back.

She led him to where the car was parked, mostly smiling and quiet, unsure as to what to say or how to approach the multitude of topics that were running through her mind. Once she was driving them back home, she decided it was safe enough to talk--she was driving within limits (the lower limits) and tapping at the wheel with both her thumbs.

"Elsa and Wednesday? Sounds like a team-up the world should be scared of. One with ice powers, one with the icy stare." As much as the words were deadpan, she couldn't hide the gleam in her eyes as she spoke. "What do you say, wanna take over the world with me?" Scrunching her nose, before she shook her head.

Being an only child wasn't much better, Lena wanted to say but they weren't comparing family angsty dynamics here--at least not today, God knew they both had their fair share of that. "Uhm, I'd say mildly competitive? I am fair though, not gonna lock you out of the apartment in the middle of a snowy day from beating me at munchkin," she teased.

"Well, there's brownies. They're easy but also have their little tricks. I also make apple pie rolls. I came up with it one night and they became a pretty big hit at the restaurant, I'll save you some once you get there. I'm still trying different things, tastes--some vegan things too."

Dottie sighs, moving back to sit on the ledge of her bathtub again. "I think that should have been my choice, Juan. I knew what I was getting into when I dated you." She ran a hand trhough her hair.

Juan hesitated and took the proverbial verbal beating. He deserved every word and everything she said was valid. He couldn't just waltz back into her life whenever he fucking felt like it. It wasn't fair to her or himself. "No I just--" of course he wanted her back. Dottie was all he could think about. "I didn't think you taking me back was an option so no and I get it. I really do Dottie--I have nothing to offer and I'm cranky and passionate and stupidly hyperfocused on the wrong thing and I have this stupid sense of not wanting to put the people I love in danger and that's just--it should've been your choice. I'll uh--I'll get out of your way, okay? Thank you for--" he gestured to his face.

"You're looking at the wrong person for advice on how to liven things up. I've done my time in loud homes and parties, you'd have to pay me to go through it again." There had been some benefits to having her kids young, namely that she got to enjoy the quiet now, instead of having to deal with the constant noise and fights. "I think too many people overlook the joy of doing nothing but enjoy the quiet." Gesturing around them, she took in the scenery again. "I'd be perfectly content just watching and listening to the ocean for hours."

Wrapping the shawl tighter around herself, she turned her focus back in front of them. "Is it much further?"

"I do like looking at the ocean. or water in general really. I got this little house by the lake at home and I'm restoring it--well with my friends, when they can be around."

She stepped further into the room, brows furrowing softly. It was either one of them slept on the floor, which she knew neither would want to do, or share the bed. The moment Juan spoke though, she realized the choice had already been decided. She let out a small defeated sigh. "Yeah, I guess we really don't have any other choice." She said before giving him a pointed look. "But just know, I feel one finger cross over that wall and I'm breaking it." She warned, though her voice held an air of teasing.

She knew if she was going to be stuck with him for the rest of the night, she had to play nice and for that, she knew she had to apologize. "Hey look...." she said as she put her bag down onto the small dresser that sat in the room, deciding it was her safest bet for cleanliness. "I want to apologize for going off on you. I know you'd only been trying to help and you didn't deserve that. I promise I'm not usually this much of a bitch... this trip has just turned out to be far more stressful than I anticipated." She was throwing out an olive branch, hoping he'd take it. | @molinxsdeviento

He listened to her apology, back resting against a nearby wall and nodding. "Hey i get it. Buses and people can be too much sometimes and getting locked in that bathroom was probably--" a health hazard, he was sure of it. "Not that great. I'm glad i could help, though you need to keep an eye on your things. People are also shit most of the time."

Pushing away from the wall he extended his hand for her to shake if she wished. "So, roadtrip roommates?" he joked. "Since you're being nice again, I do have those empanadas still. We can eat them in our bed slash dinner table."

Dottie stopped her movements for a moment, her breath catching for a moment before she went back to the task at hand. "Juan, most people would show up with flowers or chocolate or soemthing, not broken noses and busted lips."

"I'm not most people, but I hear ya," Juan whispered watching her focusing and gosh she was so close he could feel her warm breath against his skin and he just wanted to lean in, just a bit and kiss her--lips, cheek, neck, didn't matter where. He was aching to brush her skin with this fingertips, apologize again and again, explain.

"Words are the hard part, that's the problem. How do I say it? Hey, Ben, I've been madly in love with you, wanna go make out?" She paused. "Maybe it is that simple, maybe I do go and just say that. What if I ruin it all? What if I ruin one of the best friendships I've got because I'm being a greedy attention whore. I am that, I know, and I'm straining every other relationship I've got because of this."

"I just worry I'll start proving certain people right when I push forward and it'll blow up in my face. Then I will lose someone I care about deeply. I know you're right. I know I'm being ridiculous and cowardly but it's worked for me so far." She sighed, giving it more thought.

"He and I have got that vacation coming up. If nothing happens before then, I'll do it then. If it goes wrong, I can write off the last night and the flight and make the best of the rest of the holiday. If it doesn't, then maybe I'll come back pregnant."

...

"You're not an attention whore, you're in love with him and he's in love with you. You're just two fucking idiots that don't have a clue and probably have the same misgivings. Have you thought how is must be for him? With his track record? He doesn't wanna fuck up the one good thing he's got going for him," well, technically the second good thing -- to Tomas, Adam's aunt was the other best thing he had going for him, too bad she was too old and happily married.