4:05 am, Saturday morning. One hour, fifty minutes until dawn.
Fulbright sniffled, wiping dog slobber off his face, as he and Simon sat. Simon did not need to ask what had happened, certain he already knew. He felt even more sure of this when Fulbright reached over, running his fingers along and tugging at the edge of Simon's face.
Apparently satisfied, Fulbright leaned into the headboard, running his hands through Rovers fur.
Simon shrugged, watching as Rovers tail swished back and forth, back and forth. "It is nothing. Do not trouble yourself."
"I just......I really thought..."
Burnie was standing a little awkwardly in the doorway, and Fulbright froze a moment.
The firefighter entered, sitting himself on the edge of the bed, between Fulbright and Simon.
".....I think so." Fulbright's voice waivered, and Simon could not help but doubt the answer given. Still....not his place.
"Hell, Bobby. You scared the shit outta me, what was that?"
Simon stood, walking over to where Taka was perched on the dresser, and started stroking her feathers. She stared back at him with her large, golden eyes, as though she could stare right through the lot of them. Behind him, Fulbright was finding it difficult to answer his paramour's question.
"I.... I'm sorry, I should have told you...."
"should have told me what? That you'd freak out?"
"it's been awhile since it happened, I thought maybe-"
"-awhile? Is this something that happens often? Is it going to keep happening?"
"I don't know, probably, I didn't think-its been a minute-I thought I was in a good place..."
It was painful listening to this, instead Simon tried to lose himself Takas feathers, soothing himself as much as he did her.
"it was about two years ago now, well, two years and a little more, and I was working with Prosecutor Blackquill, he was still an inmate then, and, and-"
"-perhaps the more detailed events can wait until morning." Simon's own stomach was beginning to turn, he did not want to be there for this. And based on Fulbright's state, they should keep this short, anyway.
Fulbright swallowed, and continued, audibly shaky, "I was kidnapped. An-and...held. For a long ti-time."
Simon could hear the firefighter shift, but refused to turn and look. Instead he listened, willing the conversation to move on.
"sweet holy mother.....so, when you didn't recognize me..."
Fulbright didn't answer, and Simon could not take the conversation any longer. He signaled taka to perch on his arm, and walked to the kitchen.
Athena was sitting at the table drumming her fingers.
Simon sat across from her, staring past her, at nothing in particular. The clock ticked above them.
There was nothing to say.
(and with that, our event comes to a close. Our heros are alright, but may be a little off kilter for a bit...
Send asks, as we return to our regular questions and answers soon)
