Just me and my shadow... (RP for brave-soldier)

[little_leaf]

Chicken Little has flown the coop.

"Great." Jane sighed, hiking up her reading glasses to better see the text message she was reading. All of the triplets had condos in the same building, each of them on a different floor. It let them stay close, have privacy...and watch John.

Who didn't go out alone often, at least not outside of work. As a rule, he could be trusted on his own during cases he was deep into, otherwise he stayed home or at the office by choice. Now that he had a girlfriend, that would probably change...but John out alone and sans a case still felt like trouble.

Jane texted Jock back after a moment's thought.

Your problem tonight, not mine. I have a broken heart to nurse, bugger off.

Jane tossed her phone on the coffee table right after, vowing not to answer another text message for the rest of the night. She knew Jock would at least pretend she was still wounded by Bob's treachery, but she was pretty sure John had told him everything. After all: twins usually did. They all knew what she was really brooding about...at least Jock would preserve the gentle fiction, and her last scrap of dignity.

Men sucked.

That was her story, and she was sticking to it as she burrowed deeper into the cushions of her ratty old sofa with its threadbare maroon cushions, trying to make herself read the deposition for an eviction case she was taking to court in two weeks. She found herself scanning the same paragraph repeatedly, though, remembering the feel of stiff whiskers against her cheek, the sinewy back under her hand, the bright and adorable smile that made her forget everything and feel like she was something rare and amazing...

Why the hell did John have to be...John? She wouldn't blame Paul if he'd deleted her number the second she was out of sight. Bloke like that could have his pick, war hero with an irresistible accent and that lethal grin...

"I do not care." she muttered to herself, trying to make herself believe it and failing. "I don't care...didn't fancy him that much anyway. I can do much...oh, bollocking shitbags, someone just beat me unconscious and leave me to my fate..."

Comments

[brave_soldier]

When Paul woke sometime before 6pm, he felt like a new man. A hungover new man, but a new man nonetheless. A shower got him in a good mood once more, making him feel like a human being again. Even if he felt like an absolute ass for what happened earlier. He'd dropped the case on Robertson's desk with nary a word, and gone straight home where he crashed the minute he hit the bed.

He felt like he could've slept the night through, but he set the alarm so he didn't sleep for twenty hours straight. Fixing himself some tea, he found himself thinking about the events that happened in the morgue. He shouldn't have snapped at them like that, and knew he needed to apologize. To one of them in particular. Reaching for his phone, he thought about how to phrase this.

How about that pint I owe you? Heading to Clery's on Dartmouth, if you'd care to join me. Paul sent the text, convinced he'd be ignored. But even if he was stood up, he could use the drink anyway. Grabbing his jacket, he pocketed his keys and headed out.

[little_leaf]

When the text alert went off, Jane frowned in confusion. She had personalized alerts for her brothers, so it wasn't them...

Dropping her file, Jane rolled over, grabbed her phone...and gaped as she read the message. Her heart swelled with hope, but she wasn't sure if she should trust it. What if he changed his mind? What if he didn't mean it like before? What if...

Forcing herself not to over analyze it, Jane tugged off the off-the-shoulder sweatshirt she wore over jeans and a black tank top. Adding some cute ballet flats, a faux pearl lariat necklace, and some makeup, she ran a brush through her hair, grabbed a hoodie, and hoped for the best as she headed out.

The place was easy to find, and cozy without being overly commercial as she arrived and walked inside. Still silently praying for a nice evening (and more, if she was very lucky), she scanned the room for some sign of Paul.

[brave_soldier]

Paul had saddled up to the bar, hailing down a bartender and ordering a Guinness. A proper Guinness, served the way it should. 45 degree angle, 3/4ths of the way, before letting it settle and then filling it up. Paul wasn't much of a drinker, so when he did drink, he liked it to remind him of home. There weren't many places that served it right, so once he found one, it was a Godsend.

He found a seat facing the door, more on instinct than anything else. He didn't like having his back to the door. The habit also made it easy to see Jane when she walked in. He smiled and rose to his feet, moving to the chair opposite his and pulling the chair out for her. "I'm glad you came. I was afraid I'd scared you off."

[little_leaf]

Spotting Paul, she walked over with a shy smile, stopping to offer him a friendly one armed hug before settling into the chair he offered.

"To be honest, I figured you would lose my number after this afternoon." she confessed sheepishly, peering appreciatively at his Guiness and gesturing to it as she draped her purse strap over the back of her chair. "Never been here before, do they do it up right here?"

[brave_soldier]

Sheepishly, he returned the hug lightly, waiting until she was seated to tuck the chair in toward the table. Moving to the seat opposite her, he found himself grinning broadly at the realization that the woman knew her beer. "Would I come here otherwise? They certainly do. It's on me, if you want one. The least I can do. And before we go any further, I need to apologize for my behavior earlier. I was... well, not myself to put it mildly. You had the right intention, and normally I would agree with that. It's just... well, it's been a particularly bad few days."

[little_leaf]

Jane raised a hand to stop him before he could go further, shaking her head. "No apology is necessary...having John as a brother, I'm used to it. All of it, so now that I'm here? Water under the bridge, if that's okay with you."

She offered him an impish grin. "And I'll definitely take one. I was born in Dublin, Da taught my brothers to drink, and they taught me. Maybe if you're real nice to me, I'll even bust out the accent for ya."

[brave_soldier]

Paul found himself smiling softly at that. "You already have, lass." He motioned to the waiter, then down at his drink before pointing to Jane. The man nodded and moved off to get his drink. His eyes flickered back towards her. "And water under the bridge it is. I could use the break from work, anyway." He took a drink from the glass and looked at her absently. "So, Irishwoman, are you? I wouldn't have guessed, your American English is flawless."

[little_leaf]

Jane met his gaze as he spoke, blinking a little, startled by the frank and gentle honesty of it...and just how hard her heart twisted with the shock of such simple, powerful understanding. She'd never felt that with anyone but her brothers before.

"...ballroom dancing."

She was saying it before she could think about it, the words coaxed from her with such forthright...care, by his interest and his determination to get what he wanted. Instantly, she was blushing and giggling again, covering her face with both hands.

"Jeez, I can't believe I just admitted to that." she giggled, face still covered.

[brave_soldier]

She giggled again. Paul's smile returned. It was much better to hear her giggle than to see her pout. He reached out then, curling his fingers around hers to gently ease her hand away from her face. "There's no reason to be shy about it. I'm afraid I'm a horrible dancer, though. I have no sense of musical coordination, from the admittedly limited experiences I've had on a dance floor."

He paused then, and cleared his throat a bit, shifting in his seat. He couldn't believe he was about to admit to this, but if it made her feel better, he'd admit to anything. "I knit. Sometimes. When I'm restless and need to calm down. Picked it up from my aunt."

[little_leaf]

When he gently pried her hand away from her face, it felt a little like he was tugging something else loose, something deeper, hiding her from sight. She found herself clinging to his fingers as he did, hesitantly looking up at him, then grinning at his own admission.

Shifting a little, she reached for his other hand, giving both a squeeze.

"Knitting hedgehog...definitely sexy." she replied, laughing softly. "How's this for a deal: teach me to knit a proper jumper? And I will teach you..." She paused, giving him her best mock smoldering, seductive stare.

"...to rumba."

[brave_soldier]

A bold laugh escaped him at her suggestive look, and he grinned in response. He could kill the waiter for arriving with their food just then, and Paul squeezed her fingers before withdrawing to let the man put the food in front of him.

He looked up at her apologetically and put the napkin on his lap before reaching for the lemon to douse the fish with, digging into the food a moment later. It really had been far too long since his last proper meal, and this fish was positively sinful. It was one thing he adored about Boston: their fish was the best in the world.

[little_leaf]

Jane was just as upset by the bad timing, because he was grinning at her again, and she loved it, the way his face seemed to shift and he was...just kind of incredible to look at.

Reaching for the malt vinegar, she doused her fish liberally, snapping her fingers at him when she wasn't satisfied with the speed at which he was eating.

"Tuck in...faster you eat, faster I kiss you." she teased through a bite of her fish, pausing to wash it down with a swig of beer. "And just so ya know? When I teach you to dance, you'll be wearing shoes with heels."

[brave_soldier]

He waved her off when she teased him about his speed. He was used to eating quick: years in the military had ingrained it in him. But the line about wearing heels through him completely for a loop, and he looked up, his confusion clear. "Wait what? Why are you making me Roger Daltrey?" Would she even know who the Who were? The comment had come out before he'd even thought about that.

[little_leaf]

Jane nodded in understanding, picking at the remnants of her food.

"I get it...it's kinda the reason I went to law school. When I was a kid, I was a drama nerd, and someone turned me onto mock trial. I'm impossible to argue with, so once I had the rules down I was really good at it. I'd score verdicts and wins at competition even if the original verdict was against me. That never seemed right or possible...justice is justice, right? I got so curious that I made a career out of it...or would have if John hadn't needed me."

She paused, finishing the last of her fish as she flashed Paul a smile. "Better this way, I guess. You'd have fucking hated me when I was a public defender. I'm a rotten loser."

[brave_soldier]

Paul gave a soft smile then. She was a good woman, willing to give up her life because of her twin. "And here you are, making a big deal about me. You're just as willing to help and seek out justice as well." His grim broadening, he continued. "And I don't think I could ever hate you. I think that was part of my problem earlier, actually. Felt like you were using my crush on you against me," he admitted, feeling sheepish as he did, running a hand through his short cropped hair. "I can't hate you. You're trying to do right by yourself and your brother. In the brief time I met him, I can tell it's a delicate balance. I'm surprised Randy hasn't shaped him up more though. Unless that's something new?"

[little_leaf]

Jane grinned and blushed at the remark about a crush, refusing to comment on it. Yes, they were kind of out on a technical date, and yes there was...well, interest on her part, but she still wasn't sure why Paul was all over her in the first place, she just knew she loved it. But crush? Seriously?...

"The, uh...the Randy thing is beyond new. It's completely impossible." she laughed, happy to be tipping the spotlight even a little away from her and the rest of her boring, uninteresting existence. "To be honest, Jock and I kind of thought John might not be capable of it. Meeting someone, falling in love...he's been sick his whole life. Diagnosed sociopath, even if we don't totally agree with it, but he's always been very disconnected. Then Randy showed up and it was...it's like a miracle. Not exactly normalcy, but I have way more hope for him than I probably should have."

[brave_soldier]

"Well, a lot of that has to do with Randy, really. She's a good girl. Cares too much for her own good. I left the Navy before she did, so I wasn't around when that situation happened, but... It didn't make me any less mad. Of all people, she didn't deserve it." He realized then that he was gushing a bit too much about her brother's girl. "Before you get too concerned, we were never an item. She was a good friend of my wife's." It was hard to mention her like that, and he found himself pursing his lips briefly before continuing. "And before you think me an adulterer, I'm not. Mary died in Afghanistan. It's... well, the main reason I left England." There was nothing left for him there anymore. A drunk sister who hated him and a father who he'd lost track of years ago. What reason did he have to stay?

[little_leaf]

She waved off his explanation about Randy...she hadn't worried, she did the same thing when it came to her brother. When he went on, though, her expression gentled as he tried to explain about his wife, compelling her to reach across the table again to take his hand in hers, giving it a comforting little squeeze.

"I know you were married." She assured him. "I thought she might be dead, too...it's one of the reasons I was kinda surprised you tried to chat me up. I'm sorry, though, I can't even imagine what it's like to lose someone you love like that."

[brave_soldier]

His smile wasn't joyous anymore, and for a brief moment, Jane saw the lonely man that resided behind the persona he put forth. "It's not easy. I figured a fresh start was in my cards as a result." He shrugged a bit, taking a drink from his beer once more before continuing. "But I also know she wouldn't want me lingering on her memory for the rest of my life. We both would have wanted that: it's part of the life of a soldier, really." What always got him was that it was the only life he'd known with Mary: the military life. Their civilian life never existed, since they'd met and married while still soldiers. Perhaps that was why it was simpler for him to move on, once he was in the States. He never knew what he was missing out on.

He cleared his throat then. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to be a downer. Curious though, how'd you know?"

[brave_soldier]

Paul laughed lightly, loosening himself from her grip to stroke her hair with his fingertips, brushing it away from her face. "I'm flattered. I can think of a great deal of things I can compliment you on, but it would seem brash on my part, I'm afraid. You do, however, make an excellent blanket." His grin showed that he was teasing her, and his other arm curled around her to more comfortably let her rest her cheek against his chest.

A contented sigh escaped him, and his fingers shifted to stroke her back absently, losing himself in thought. "I don't normally do this," he admitted to her. "I figured it happened, but it's never been my thing." He could only hope that this didn't turn into a one night stand. He really enjoyed this evening, beyond the obvious reason. Her company was amazing. She was beautiful, smart (oh so smart), and witty. Somehow, she was also interested in him. He was absolutely chuffed that she was interested enough in him to warrant him doing something that normally he did not do.

[little_leaf]

"Oh, don't be so sure. A girl likes to feel special, even if it's dirty special." Jane giggled, tilting her head to rest her chin on his chest so she could look into his face while he smoothed her hair away. Arching and rubbing her head into his touch like a cat, she grinned sheepishly at his admission.

"I don't either, don't worry." She assured him. "And I don't plan to sleep over...not unless you want me to." She shifted, scooting higher so she could kiss him, slow and warm, running her fingers through his hair and leaving them happily buried at the crown of his head.

"And if I do leave, I won't leave without another dinner date." She narrowed her eyes at him playfully. "I am an evil lawyer, I will secure it in writing if I have to."

[brave_soldier]

Paul's initial response was a crooked grin, and her reaction to his gentle hair stroking only encouraged him to keep going. Not that such a thing was incredibly difficult.

She moved then, assuring him she wasn't planning on spending the night. He was about to protest when she kissed him, splaying her own fingers along his scalp. Oh yes, he could see the attraction in the touch. His response died temporarily, allowing her to continue.

He laughed softly. "I know better than to mess with a lawyer. What's your favorite place? I've shown you mine, seems only fair to see yours." He stroked her back gently, looking sideways at her. "And I won't kick you out if you don't want to leave." He'd almost feel guilty if she left. It'd feel too much like a one-night stand, and he desperately didn't want that impression to take place.

[little_leaf]

Jane grinned, trying not to look as pleased as she felt at his invitation to stay. It was probably a little heavy for a first date...but considering she'd come more that night than she had in the week she'd dated Bob, she supposed there was an argument to be had.

"My favorite place? I won't lie: it's a dance club." she grinned, tucking her head against his neck with a happy sigh. "Samba. I can show you some steps so you can dance with me." She tilted her head up to smile at him. "You'll have to learn to shake those hips...which, based on what I just experienced, won't be a problem."

[brave_soldier]

Paul groaned at the thought of dancing, bringing his free hand run a hand through his shortcropped hair. "Are you certain you don't have a favorite restaurant...?" He chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I just... well, dancing isn't quite something I'm very good at. Clubbing isn't quite my scene, I'm afraid."

And so the generation gap strikes. Of all things to make him feel old. Dammit.

[little_leaf]

Jane laughed a little as she stretched up to kiss him again, smirking mischievously against his mouth.

"Well for one, it's not exactly that kind of club." she assured him. "Lot of my dance classmates go there. And for another? Where the Latin dances are concerned, it's not really about the dancing, if ya know what I mean."