Elitism wasn't much for Rachel either. And after having been dragged into a one-hour conversation with one of the debutantes attending the Ball, she was certain she'd have to drink all of the champagne available to stomach it.
Casual had always been the name of the game for Will, and her lips curved as she spotted him. "Is this some kind of Gotham reunion, and why wasn't I informed?"
He stuck his tongue out at her. Just because he could.
"I think the better question is why aren't you hugging me, crying about how your life has been empty and meaningless without my sexy presence?" Will shook his head in mock sadness.
"Your maturity has always astounded me," she replied, but to his surprise, or maybe not, she did indeed step forward to envelop him in a hug. She squeezed him tightly, kissing his cheek.
"Uh, I'm fine," he responded, giving her a smile. "I'm enjoying myself more than I thought I would be. That being said," he added, "I wish you looked happier. What gives, Dawes? Are you sad that I didn't wait for you and I moved on with my life, giving myself out to others who want my sexy ass?"
He tried to say this, teasing like, but he was genuinely concerned.
"Yes, Will, that's it." She rolled her eyes lightly. "I am now devastated and heartbroken, and at a loss as to how I shall move on. Trust that I'll scrape what little resilience I've left to put the pieces of my heart back together."
She'd entertained the thought of confronting him, but tonight was not the night to do so. She'd been worried sick about him but she knew, through past experience, he didn't want her worry.
"I'm fine," she finally answered softly. "I'm just...maybe avoiding certain people."
Looking around the room, he found a vacant corner. With an arm on her elbow, he led her there, standing over her as a shield.
"What's going on Dawes? Are you okay?" The concern was etched all over his face. Gone was the casual smile. He hated to think that Rachel wasn't happy.
There. She'd said it out loud. And if her chest clenched at the words, Rachel ignored them. "And you saw the Joker headlines. Just not really in much of a party mood."
"I didn't really specify?" Rachel cringed. "I couldn't really tell him. I meant it as a break, but I don't know how he took it. I just know I haven't seen him since I went to Boston and I don't know how to react now and yes, I realize I'm being Rachel, and yes, being Rachel is very exhausting, thank you."
He gave a little laugh. "Hey, at least you're rambling again and not thinking about every single word you're saying. That's gotta be a good sign." Will took a small sip of his drink as he tried to muddle through what she'd said.
"And as for Clint, Rachel..he cares a lot and I think he's willing to wait for you to get your shit together. Seriously. You didn't see him afterwards.." he trailed off. He hated thinking about that night.
Rachel shook her head. She understood what he meant with 'afterwards.' Tony had told her all about it, too well. How Clint had punched Steve. How lost he'd seemed.
"He said the girl he wanted wasn't there anymore." Biting her lip, she continued, "He...he said she was still trapped underneath all that rubble."
"Probably because she is," he answered simply. "None of us are the same. We move on and evolve and all that philosophical crap." A shake of his head. "You're you now. You just need to figure out a way to meld that girl under the rubble with the girl that escaped. When that happens...then you'll be good."
Rachel regarded him, before her face dissolved into a genuine smile. "Look at you, sounding smart and philosophical. You're right, you know. But until I fond out how to do the melding, I have no business getting myself involved with anybody."
She didn't think about it twice. Placing her hand in his, they both made their way to the dance floor. Not before Rachel quipped, "Just as long as you keep up with me, Beachum."
Casual had always been the name of the game for Will, and her lips curved as she spotted him. "Is this some kind of Gotham reunion, and why wasn't I informed?"
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"I think the better question is why aren't you hugging me, crying about how your life has been empty and meaningless without my sexy presence?" Will shook his head in mock sadness.
"You suck."
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"How are you?"
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"Uh, I'm fine," he responded, giving her a smile. "I'm enjoying myself more than I thought I would be. That being said," he added, "I wish you looked happier. What gives, Dawes? Are you sad that I didn't wait for you and I moved on with my life, giving myself out to others who want my sexy ass?"
He tried to say this, teasing like, but he was genuinely concerned.
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She'd entertained the thought of confronting him, but tonight was not the night to do so. She'd been worried sick about him but she knew, through past experience, he didn't want her worry.
"I'm fine," she finally answered softly. "I'm just...maybe avoiding certain people."
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Looking around the room, he found a vacant corner. With an arm on her elbow, he led her there, standing over her as a shield.
"What's going on Dawes? Are you okay?" The concern was etched all over his face. Gone was the casual smile. He hated to think that Rachel wasn't happy.
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"Clint and I broke up."
There. She'd said it out loud. And if her chest clenched at the words, Rachel ignored them. "And you saw the Joker headlines. Just not really in much of a party mood."
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And wait, what?
"You guys broke up? Or are on a break? Because there's a difference you know...."
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A sigh.
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"And as for Clint, Rachel..he cares a lot and I think he's willing to wait for you to get your shit together. Seriously. You didn't see him afterwards.." he trailed off. He hated thinking about that night.
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"He said the girl he wanted wasn't there anymore." Biting her lip, she continued, "He...he said she was still trapped underneath all that rubble."
That hurt more than anything else had.
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"Now dance with me Dawes and tell me how fabulous it is living in New York and try to convince me to leave Gotham and move here."
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