Bless your body, bless your soul; pray for peace and self control [locked]

[crimeatthetime]

Adrian doesn't take his arm from around Rachel's shoulders, all the way back to the Gauche. No way he's leaving her alone right now. He unlocks the door to his apartment and flicks on the light. The interior is stark, more like a hotel room than a place where anyone lives. Generic blank slate, waiting to be personalized. He leads Rachel to the

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[gotbottle]

Rachel takes the glass and downs about half the water in one go. "Thank you, sweetheart," she replies, reaching down and covering his hand with her own. "I really appreciate that, I just..."

She closes her eyes, sighing. It's so difficult to admit, but...

"...I don't think I could handle going back to my room alone tonight. Or, like. Being alone, period."

She turns and opens her eyes, studying Adrian's face. "What happened to us?" she asks. She wiggles her fingers, working them between his, holding his hand. "I don't... that place creeped me out, but why?"

[crimeatthetime]

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.

What the fuck. Where did that come from? Adrian presses his free hand against his lips. He is not going to puke. Then the carpet would smell. That would be bad.

"I don't know, mija."

If he sounds a little rattled... well. He is. For a second he's sure he smells the tar of burning hair, burning skin, but then its gone. He squeezes Rachel's hand gently.

[gotbottle]

Rachel watches him, frowning. It's clear he's not okay, either, and she feels bad for leading with her own fear and discomfort. "Hey," she murmurs, pressing the glass of water into Adrian's free hand once it drops from his lips. "Here."

Her free hand reaches up, smoothing a bit of his hair away from his temple. "Not to be rude or anything, but you look like hell, Adrian. Do you want to rest? I can get off your sleeping spot, here."

[crimeatthetime]

He turns the glass in his hand, only half-hearing Rachel. It takes a beat or two after she's finished talking for him to respond.

"I'm all right. Just..." Just what? "I'm fine, cariño."