#g1c4

They were silent for a while, but the unbearable tension they’d been living with for months was gone and it was a comfortable quiet. They both knew there was still a long way to go to get back to normal and there would undoubtedly be hard times but finally, they had some hope.

Teddy: Your new hair looks cute.

Josie: Took you long enough to notice–

Teddy: I noticed! I love it.

How 𝘥𝘢𝘳𝘦 he spring this on her after weeks of silence? To wake the babies from their sleep and send them to an unfamiliar house, pull her outside into the frigid evening air, and still offer no explanation?

She needed answers, and she couldn’t wait for him any longer.

She stopped dead and turned on her heel to face him the words bubbling up like vomit. She couldn't have stopped them even if she wanted to.

“𝘞𝘩𝘰 𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘩𝘦?” Josie demanded.

“What? Who?!”

By the time they finally arrived home Josie was shivering, the icy fall air settled into her bones. They stood in the hallway feeling unsure of themselves once again. It had been so long since they’d spent any real time together, what had once come so naturally now felt alien.

“Uhh, so…” Teddy began hesitantly, “I can sleep on the couch–”

“No, you won’t.” Josie interjected, “I’m done with going to bed alone.”

“Babe… The nightmares are 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 bad. I don’t wanna keep you awake.”

“I don’t care if we’re up all night. I miss you… Anyway, how am I supposed to sleep in our bed knowing that you’re on your own in the living room having flashbacks? If it’s gonna happen I want to be there... Now, I’m gonna have a shower to warm up. Are you joining me?”

“Teddy… How you’ve been acting is 𝘴𝘰 much worse than if you’d just told me from the beginning.”

Teddy once again tried to walk away but was stopped in his tracks by Malcolm grasping his arm. The rage he’d been determined to keep under control flared in his chest, sending fire coursing through his veins.

Teddy: Take your hands off of me–

Malcolm: Give me five minutes. I just want to talk.

Teddy said nothing but stopped trying to leave and stared at Malcolm expectantly, who faltered, seemingly unprepared for Teddy to actually listen to him.

Malcolm: What happened to your face?

Teddy: House fire. What happened to yours?

Malcolm: I– There’s nothing wrong with my face–

Teddy: In your opinion.

Malcolm sighed, rubbing his brow as he tried to be patient. This was harder than he expected.

Malcolm: Can we please try to be adults? We’re married men, for Watcher’s sake.

Teddy: Fine. Spit it out.

Malcolm: I heard you relapsed–

Teddy: Wha– How?

Malcolm: People talk. Just because you didn’t come to me…

Teddy: So you’re here to gloat?

Malcolm: No. Why’d you do it?

She wouldn’t let them see her cry. They were determined to hurt her in ways that only they could, and it had worked.

A chill wind swept past the terrace, stinging her face. She was reminded of the last time she had tried to confront them, and how it had ended on the edge of a cliff.