#jakob.

Jakob wasn't surprised that they ended up here – tangled in a heated embrace. But a few weeks ago he hadn't expected their follow up to be in Ines' childhood bedroom, at a wake in her father's house. But! You just couldn't account for everything. Or so Jakob told himself with a snicker as he deepened their kiss, mouth parting Ines', arms wound around her slender frame. They were pressed against her bookshelf after a game of let's try not to eye fuck each other in front of your dad. It seemed that she remembered their dalliance in the bowling alley as vividly as he did. Cut off only because of Felix's call.

It began as a night like any other, with Jakob wandering the city streets. Music playing, he found himself lost in the scene of the city around him – the rush of cars, the crush of people. It was almost a comfort to know that no matter what happened, the city continued.

It began as a night like any other until Jakob found himself walking down 5th Ave, hands in his pockets as long legs carried him down the city blocks. At first, he considered it wandering – a simple stroll through the city before he turned in and attempted to turn off his mind. A constantly racing thing, it was easier said than done, but that didn't stop Jakob from trying. It was much easier to tune out the world around him, however, when his earbuds didn't cut out.

Jakob's steps slowed at the sudden static filling his ears, senses sharpening as he did so. In a flash, his snapped from one side to the other, narrowing at the edifice in front of him. A museum he hadn't stepped foot into for years. Jakob frowned, tucking his earphones away as he studied the looming structure. Set beneath the evening sky, the museum loomed. But it wasn't simply it's physical structure that arrested Jakob. It was the magic that hummed around it. How many times had he passed this building without a second thought? Art, after all, wasn't his forte. But it had never caught his attention like this.

Without a thought, Jakob moved ahead, curiosity getting the better of him as an unseen force urged him forward. If he'd stopped to consider it at all, he might've hesitated, but in the moment between feeling something was amiss and crossing an invisible boundary within the vicinity of the museum, all qualms ceased. All Jakob knew was that he needed to keep moving forward. That there was something inside to the museum calling to him.

Restless nights. Jakob is used to them, even after all these years. He doesn't particularly relish them. He doesn't see them as an opportunity to think. He's mainly just fucking tired by the time morning comes.

But tonight, in particular, to the smell of singed fabric. His dreams had bled into reality, fingertips flinching as he slept, sparking flame to life. It had been small and contained but Jakob couldn't sleep after that.

No more accidents. His mantra for years. Ever since then. The train. The accident. The incident. The tragedy. All names given by papers as Jakob obsessively read each article and biography and obituary.

Maggie May. 35. Doctor. Newborn at home.

Thomas Wycoff. 67. Retiree. Veteran. Grandkids in town.

Some nights, he can't unsee their faces. The grainy black-and-white photos moving to the forefront of his mind. Tonight is one of those nights. So he ends up at the practice tent, hands itching to create fire, especially on such a crisp autumn evening. The temperatures in Berlin this time of year are lower than New York, but better than Oslo. But once inside the tent, he finds the constant source of heat welcome.

Jakob is impatient at the best of times, so the hour between leaving Ines and when she's supposed to arrive is torture. He's managed to get the nicest room at the hotel, inspecting to make sure it's perfect for when she arrives. Every sheet and pillow in place, every chair tucked in. Not a single thing out of place.

Oddly enough, there are nerves. Bubbling up in the pit of his stomach as he paces the suite. What if she doesn't show up? What if she thinks he's just another dipper? What if she was just being nice? All the doubts creep back in with each moment that passes, but, somehow, so does the anticipation. It's not just the fact he wants to run his hands and mouth over every part of her, it's that he wants to see that small, smirking smile of hers. He wants to see the mischief in Ines' eyes and hear it in her laugh. He's sure Max would make fun of him for acting like this is his first date but he can't help it. Especially as time draws nearer and nearer, and then passes.

The moment the minute goes past the hour, Jakob's heart sinks slightly. Disappointment begins to flood before there's a knock at the door and his heart somersaults in his chest. Practically tripping over an ottoman, Jakob gets to the door. He rakes a hand through his hair and tries to act like he hadn't almost spiraled into a very Ranström despondency at the thought of her not showing up. Tugging the door open, a grin works it's way onto his lips at the sight of her. "Hey." @rviner