[reverse darkest timeline au] all you want is refuge

[stilljustandrew]

He goes back to his own cell, after the exorcism. And lies down, after a while.

Nita's okay. She'll be okay. There's no reason for him to feel this shaky.

Except there is. Oh, there is.

He's trying not to think about it.

Comments

[semicharmed]

Matt decides to take a nap and a shower, which turns into going to sleep and taking a shower. Probably for the best: it gives him time to sort through his emotions. Including the prickly, jumbled ones.


Eventually, he concludes that however else he feels, Andrew deserves a thank you.

So here he is in the Security Office again, ambling down towards his cell.


"Hey, uh--this a bad time?"

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew sits up abruptly on his mattress at the sound of Matt's voice, eyes wide and startled.

"What? No, I -- it, it's fine."

[semicharmed]

"Aces."

He's not sure what to make of Andrew's initial reaction, but uh, maybe he was walking too quietly? He smiles, only a little awkward.

"I mostly just wanted to say thanks. For your help with the demon."

[stilljustandrew]

He stares, mouth a little open, like it's the last thing he expected.

"Uh," he says, "I ... thanks? I mean, you're w -- I --"

(Apparently he's determined to make up for all the awkward Matt isn't bringing to the table.)

He rubs a hand over his face, and scrambles to his feet. "Listen, I -- I was hoping to talk to you. Before. I ... I wanted to tell you I'm sorry."

[semicharmed]

Matt nods slowly.

"Yeah," he says, though in more of a soothing tone than a comprehending one.

[stilljustandrew]

"For what I tried to do to you. Before. I just ... I'm really sorry."

His voice grows smaller as he finishes.

[semicharmed]

Matt may need more time and space before he can truly hear him. But he tries to let the words sink in. Let them penetrate.


"Yeah," is the first thing he manages. "I got the impression, ah, that you've been doing better lately."

[stilljustandrew]

"Yeah. I mean ... I guess, yeah."

Very low: "I don't want to go back to him anymore."

[semicharmed]

He sucks in a breath.

Lets it out gently.


"Congratulations."

It runs the risk of sounding sarcastic, but he's absolutely in earnest. Even if, at the back of his mind, he's pretty sure Kali would advise him not to trust this declaration.

[stilljustandrew]

His face burns; even in earnest, that congratulation stings.

"So ... so I had to help Nita. If I could."

[semicharmed]

A frown.

"I'm not sure I understand the connection," he says, trying to make sure these words land a little lighter. "I mean, I could guess, but I'd rather hear from you."

[stilljustandrew]

"I mean I would have -- I would have wanted to help anyway, but..."

His fingers twist together in front of him.

"He wanted people with power. Like her. Like you. That's what he sent me here for. I was, I was afraid -- if that was what the demon wanted her for --"

[semicharmed]

Matt nods.

And waits to see if he'll finish the thought.

[nita_callahan]

Nita spends the night in the cells -- in Baby, where she feels secure. She wakes up early in the morning and spends some time outside.

In the afternoon, she finds herself drifting back to the Security office, not entirely sure what she's looking for, or even if she's looking for anything. Although once she's there, looking down the hallway, it seems obvious.

(Deep breath, Nita.)

She wanders down and pauses at a polite distance from Andrew's -- cell? Room? What do they call it now?

"Knock knock."

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew's sitting cross-legged on his mattress, bent over an open notebook and tapping the page idly with a pen.

He glances up at the sound of a voice, and sees the figure just barely in sight in the hallway, and hurriedly sets aside the pen and pad. "Nita? Hi."

[nita_callahan]

"It's me," she says, wry, and steps forward into his line of sight.

"Hey."

[stilljustandrew]

He scrambles to his feet, and starts toward the barrier at the front of the cell.

"How are you doing?"

(It's very much not a casual question.)

[nita_callahan]

"I'm okay," she assures him. "Better." She inclines her head towards him. "Thanks to you guys."

[stilljustandrew]

"Good," he says fervently. "I ... I'm really glad I could help."

A beat.

"... d'you want to come in? Or, or I could come out?"

[nita_callahan]

"Yeah, um, I wanted to see if you wanted to get tea or coffee or something, out in the bar."

[stilljustandrew]

He starts to smile, a bit unsteadily.

"Yeah. Yeah, I'd ... really like that."

[nita_callahan]

Her own smile broadens a little, briefly.

"Cool. Good." She nods towards the door of the office. "Coming, then?"

[stilljustandrew]

"Sure, just -- let me put shoes on?"

It only takes him a moment to find and tug on his sneakers, before stepping through the barrier as though it isn't there.

[nita_callahan]

It's good to see him seeming a little more relaxed in the space.

She doesn't say much as she leads the way out to a quiet table in the bar, other than flagging down a waitrat.

"Tea for me. Uh, chamomile, I guess, not black. And whatever he's getting."

[stilljustandrew]

"Uh -- ginger tea? With honey? Thanks."

As the waitrat scurries off, he folds his hands on the table, lacing and unlacing his fingers. Seems to be trying to work out what to say.

(Clearly visible, under the sleeves of his flannel shirt, are the bands of pale and withered-looking skin where the cuffs used to be.)