#justabartender

She’s really out. After two years, their reunion’s only moments away, although Noah had occupied himself for the time being with briefing another Runner on their next job, simply to pass the time. He’s already spoken to Faith through the Beat, relief washing over him when he finally got to hear her voice again, but this was different.

After two years, home finally felt complete again.

“So Noah, what’s the beat?”

Noah hadn’t heard the door sliding open behind him, but he does hear her when she speaks his name, and he’s thankful that she appears to not be harboring a grudge against him for what happened the last time they’d been in the same room. He’d been angry back then, said things he didn’t mean to say and cast Faith out of his cabal and his home without trying to even understand why she’d started running for Dogen.

The guilt had torn at Noah ever since he’d found out her reasons.

But he won’t let it show - yes, she wasn’t faultless in this mess either, but more importantly, he didn’t want past events to put a stain on their relationship if he could help it. A quick tap on the other Runner’s arm is all he needs to do to tell him that he’ll go back to him in a moment, and he turns towards his adoptive daughter with a bright smile and wit to boot.

“I heard some Runner got out of juvie today.” She looks exactly the same as he’s remembered.

“I heard she’s eager to run.” Acts the same too.

“She’s been gone a long time.” He’s missed her and he isn’t ashamed to admit it.

“…I also heard she’s sorry.” That takes him off guard.

“…Maybe she learned something whilst she was away.” He’s more bemused than surprised.

“…Maybe.”

He closes the distance first, almost taking her off guard when he hugs her, although she quickly returns the gesture with an even tighter grip than he remembers. Behind all the gestures and light-hearted talk, they still had problems to settle, conflicts to resolve, and a debt to repay to the biggest crime czar in Glass.

“Stormy, your reasoning is poor. You haven't even gotten out of bed yet."

And yet, as he lifts the bed sheet to offer up a place beside him, she does not take a moment of hesitation to ditch her hoodie and crawl into bed. Shuffling closer, Sarah carefully wrapped her arms around his bare waist, cool palms settled on his back, face pressed to his chest.The sharp cold of the outside was clinging to her skin, and she was quick to realise her mistake when he jolted at her touch, shiver running down his spine.

“Sorry! Sorry. I didn’t even run today, went outside, was too cold, came back.”

Listening to the soft murmur of his heartbeat for a moment, she let her eyes flicker shut, smiling as his hand lazily sailed through her hair. Head tilting up lazily to kiss Des' jaw, her head rolled back to brush against his neck, arms loosening as she stretched out to yawn.

With the alcohol finally reaching her head, Sarah couldn’t help but burst into a fit of giddy laughter, free hand trying to shield her face so he wouldn’t see the embarrassed flushing of her cheeks. Even with their ridiculous, minimalist costumes, he had still managed to find a way to compliment her.Dork.

“Ah, yeah! Des!” She had to pause a moment, setting her glass down so she could cover her face behind her hands, grin quickly spreading across her face. “God, he’s so cute, y'know? And he’s mine! My Stormy… I’m so lucky, I dunno how I managed to snag him.”

Sarah hesitated a moment, legs swinging slightly, chewing on her lip as she pondered over her words. Hazy gaze fixated on the remains of her drink, her smile softened as she mentally rhymed off every little detail about her partner."He's been through a lot... An' I worry, but he is strong as hell. Never met anyone like him, he's just- just incredible! I still think he loves Pic more than me but, that doesn't matter.He listens... He understands... Got me a little notebook so I could write things down, so I wouldn't forget... Then, he found out most of the stuff I wrote was about him, hah!

27. Scars

These days were always her favourite. The ones that they managed to take off to take care of each other and have a break. Never planned what to do, went on impulse as always, and Sarah wanted nothing more.He was still asleep, she knew more than well that he would sleep the entire day if she left him alone, and she had given him a chance to get up without any encouragement. Pale eyes danced over to the clock, squinting slightly as she carefully leant over him to read the face. Coming up to eleven. Definitely time to get up.

With one hand resting on his side, other brushing through his dark curls, she leant forward to give a light peck to the scar on the corner of his mouth before letting her lips rest against his own. It was enough to get him to shuffle a bit, a groan interrupting his soft snores as his eyes flickered open.Though she had paused to speak, she couldn't help but hesitate and take a minute to appreciate Desmond. As groggy as he was freshly awoken, the vibrant golden flecks of his eyes never failed to mesmerise her, nor the messy locks failed to make her smile. So perfect.

“What?”

It was hard to control how her voice wavered as she spoke, bordering on aggression as her brow furrowed.Another episode, violent, too hard to control, too scared to try and find help. It was insane of her to try and calm him down on her own, considering his height and strength advantages, she wasn't able to put up much resistance to calm him down.

Her cheek was burning, and though she was trying to play it off, the soft winces as she spoke said otherwise. Sarah didn't blame him. She never did. She had taken it upon herself to try and physically calm him during a bad episode, the consequences were ones she should have already been aware of.It did not stop the scratches and bruising from aching, swollen skin enough to make her eyes water.

Yet, despite the pain and fear, the woman leant forward to rest her palm against his cheek, thumb running across the tanned skin as she smiled. Not an ounce of rage. Nothing could be mustered to act out against him. Not against Desmond.He was still shaking, eyes trained onto his trembling hands, flinching when she touched him.It made her heart ache, to love him as much as she did and being completely powerless to stop the slow rot of his mind as it unwound.

[txt to Doofus:] Good bloody God, don’t even try. That movie is a classic, and I’m sure you can’t grasp the depth of quality theatrics.

[txt to Doofus:] She’s got dimentia, he’s her husband, and he’s going through a lot of trouble reading her a diary she wrote herself just to have a few moments with her again.

[txt to Doofus:] Tragedy at its finest. Though I doubt YOU comprehend the kind of devotion it takes to relive the best moments of your life over and over again just to keep a promise that’s falling apart.