Rating: R
Fandom: Runaways
Characters: Yorkeses
Prompt: Haunted
Notes: For the Lover100 challenge
Warnings: Implied sex.
Disclaimer: This is me owning nothing.
Summary: Stacey thinks she's spotted someone.
053: Haunted
It was a beautiful spring morning, bright and clear and sunny, when Stacey saw her.
She was a picture. Perfect. Exact. Like someone had dredged up her old nightmares and fears and slapped them, personified, on a slender, graceful brunette she’d rather never even meet.
The woman was younger than she was by a good couple of years. Taller, probably six feet and something. Long, perfect, shiny hair. Big, beautiful green eyes. An elfin face and a long neck.
Stacey almost dropped her groceries when this goddess in high heels strode past.
She meant to mention it at dinner, but the subject never came up. She was going to say something before they went to bed, but Dale came up. Breakfast, she missed, and lunch was hasty and all but abandoned. It took her almost a week to say anything.
When she finally got up the nerve, Dale just laughed. "That’s just some out-of-towner staying with relatives. She’s nice. I met her," said he. Stacey’s heart plummeted.
"What’s her name?" she asked.
"She’s not who you’re thinking of," he replied. "Sarah, or something."
Her fears must have been more obvious than she thought. She’d never been good at hiding from Dale in any case, though.
He smiled and pulled her into a gentle hug.
"I married you, not Annaka," he said, referring to the girl he’d left for Stacey. "I ran away with you. I sleep in your bed. I live in your house."
"And?"
"I love you."
She gazed up at him forlornly, eyes wide and vulnerable. He cupped her chin and traced her bottom lip with his thumb, followed it up with a sweet kiss. She blushed.
"I’m sorry."
"Hush."
He stepped back and offered her a hand. She slipped her own into it. He led her into the house. It wasn’t long before her insecurities were dashed and she was happy and tired. Dale held her and kissed her and teased her gently for a moment, then slipped his arms around her and persuaded her to go another round.