[RP] Light up, light up...
(Co-written with imnot_likeyou.)
Sam stood behind the bar, picking up the knife and starting to cut through the lime in front of him. The job itself was tedious and mundane, but it wasn't hunting, and that was where Sam wanted to be. He was tired of the games, tired of trying to do good and only managing to make things worse. He was ready to just be left alone and blend in to the background, rather than standing out. It wasn't easy, adjusting to a regular way of life, but he was tired of the life he was living and he was ready to make a change.
They only needed Dean to end things. It would be easier for Dean if Sam was just out of the way.
He finished cutting the lime, before wiping his hands on his apron and looking over at the person who had placed herself there. He gave her a small smile, before nodding. "What can I get you?"
Paige had orbed into the back alley. She shivered and untied the jacket from her hips, glad she had brought it. Cleveland was much cooler than San Francisco. She sighed lightly at the thought of being home, curled up nice and warm in her big bed at the Manor. But this was work. Work was important.
She walked around the building and in the front door of where her new charge was. She was connected to him now, and she didn't need to be told where he was. She could feel him. She could also feel that he was in trouble, but it didn't seem urgent, more...dull. When she got inside she glanced around until she spotted him behind the bar. She held her head tall and set across the room, plopping herself down on a bar stool and smiling at Sam when he noticed her.
"Club soda with lime, please."
He raised an eyebrow a bit at the drink, but fixed it for her. "Waiting for someone?"
"Nope!" She took the glass and took a sip, her eyes on him.
"So you walked into a bar for a club soda -- and you're not planning on meeting anyone?" he considered that for a moment before shrugging. "Could have just gone to a convenience store for that."
Paige wrinkled her nose. "Not the same. Besides, I didn't say I wasn't meeting anyone, Sam. I said I wasn't waiting for anyone. Biiig difference."
He startled slightly at his name, before glancing down at the bar again. "Think you've got me confused with someone else."
"Sam Winchester. No confusion."
He grit his teeth, glancing around to make sure no one heard that, before shaking his head. "My name is Ken. Ken Harland. I don't know who this Sam guy is, but you've got the wrong person."
The smirk slid off of Paige's lips and she gave him a hard, set look. Her eyes narrowed and her voice lowered. "Fine, Ken. But the longer you play stubborn little boy, the longer I'm going to be around. I know who you are and what you've done." She sighed and let it flow off of her, a smile coming back to her lips. She flipped her hair. "So would you like to talk here or maybe...find something a little more private?"
Sam's first thought was 'angel,' and it only made his jaw set more. He didn't want to deal with this. He was done with that life. "I get off shift at two. Meet me by the employee exit?"
She checked her watch and shrugged. "Works for me. I've got some things at home to do." She got to her feet and pointed to the drink. "You've got that, right? I forgot my wallet." She gave him a shrugging smile.
Sam rolled his eyes, before nodding. "Yeah, I got it."
She grinned and waved, before heading out the door. She had enough time to orb back to the manor and catch some of Piper's cookies out of the oven.
Sam went back to work, trying to get the woman out of his head and focus on his job.
Cookie break a success, Paige eventually orbed back to the bar, and found her way to the employee entrance. She crossed her arms and started rocking on her heels. After a couple minutes of waiting she started singing under her breath softly. "Oh Suzanna, won't you cry for me...waiting for this guy named Sam in a dark, creepy alley. Oh Suzanna..."
Sam had been waiting for her. He actually got off around one-thirty, but he wanted to see how she arrived. He couldn't see much from his angle with the door, but he did see what looked like some kind of lights. And that wasn't in his reference book. He waited until she turned around, before coming at her, moving quickly and spinning her around so that she was facing him but pinning her up against the brick wall. "What are you?"
Paige wasn't into the whole "element of surprise" thing, and she didn't appreciate the roughness. She orbed away from him and came back in behind his back. She crossed her arms and glared. "Hey, Mister. Watch the hands."
Sam spun around and glared back at her, shoulders squared and very much not happy. "What are you, and how do you know about me?
She really hated that word. What. "I'm a Leo, and it's my job to know about you," she said smartly.
"Cute," Sam rolled his eyes. "So what are you? Some kind of demi-angel something? Because I'm really not in the mood. I'm done with this life, and I'm not going back."
"Okay, one? Stop asking me what I am. I'm not a what. Two, stop being such a brat. It's really not charming. My name is Paige and I'm a witch. A good witch. I'm also a whitelighter, and I'm here to help you."
"I don't need help."
"Yeah. You do." She could be very stubborn, thank you.
"No, I don't," he said, shaking his head. "For once I'm doing something that will keep me out of trouble. The last person who tried to 'help' me? Manipulated me into starting the end of the world. So no, thank you, but I don't need your help. I'm better off handling this on my own."
"In case you didn't hear me the first time around? Good witch. Maybe you've heard of us, The Charmed Ones? And part whitelighter. I'm as good as they come. And my name isn't Ruby." She bit the last part, realizing she was going to have to be tough on him.
Sam's eyes fell at the last part, before shaking his head as he walked away. "Look, I'm not trying to insult you or anything, and I appreciate your offer, but I don't want any help, okay? This is something I have to do on my own."
"It's not an offer, Sam. It's how it's going to be. The Elders, my bosses," she pointed to the sky. "They think you need guidance. That's what I'm here for. Usually whitelighters charges are witches or future whitelighters, but you're an exception. You're my charge, and whether you like it or not I've been assigned to look after you."
"You don't have to look out for me," he said softly. "As I said -- I'm done with this life. I'm not -- running into danger anymore. Look, maybe you got the wrong brother. Dean's the one who needs the help, not me."
Paige shrugged. "They didn't send me to Dean. They sent me to you. Maybe...I don't know. Maybe you just need a friend."
"My friends tend to wind up dead."
"I'm not so worried about that. I don't die easily."
"Yeah, you'd be surprised. People out to get me can get creative."
Paige rolled her eyes. "I've seen it all, buster. Not to mention my whitelighter has brought me back from death...god, I can't even remember how many times. I'd be handy to have around." Looks him over and spots a cut on his hand. How about proof? She walks towards him. "Give me your hand."
His eyes wandered up to her cautiously, before slowly extending his hand to her. He didn't say anything, just waited.
She moved closer and cupped her hands over his. The blue lights he had seen earlier circled between their hands, along with a warm glow, and slowly his cut healed over. Good as new. She glanced up to meet his eyes.
He watched her carefully, before looking back at her. "Can you do that to yourself?"
She shook her head. "No. Technically I shouldn't have done it just now, but one example won't get me fired. First rule in my world. Can't use any of my powers for personal gain."
He shook his head. "Then it's not going to do me any good. I'm not the one I'm worried about."
Paige glared. "I can take care of myself, Sam. And if something does happen to me? I've got a whitelighter an orb away. Just like I am for you. You know where I went just now? Home. In San Francisco. I've got myself covered, and there's no reason you should be worried about me."
And that pushed Sam into a bit of a snarl. "You don't get it. Everyone I've ever cared about has died. No matter how well they could take care of themselves. It doesn't matter. And I don't even know what they fucking want from me, but everything I care about, they take. I'm better off alone."
She didn't need the woe-is-me bullshit. She'd been there. She stepped back. "From what I understand, your brother is still alive! That isn't everyone. And no one is better off alone. I was left alone, too, and it hurts. And there's blame. But in the end? That doesn't matter. In the end you find people who refuse to let you be alone. You're not helping anyone by pushing everyone away, and you're sure as hell not helping yourself. You're only sounding like a bigger child than my three year old nephew."
"My brother was in Hell for forty years because of me!" Sam fired back. "And maybe I am sounding like a child, but at least I'm being responsible."
She shrugged. "And my parents died because of me. Only they didn't have a second chance to come back." She shook her head. "You can't be mad forever, and you need someone on your side. Might as well be someone who can do some good."
"I'm not mad," he said with look. "I'm not. I'm just -- taking myself out of the way. I don't want to hold him back."
"You sound pretty damn mad to me."
"I'm mad that people keep poking their way into my life."
"I'm not exactly thrilled either, pal. You think I'm starting to look forward to this job?"
"If you're not looking forward to it, why do it?"
"Because. It's my job," she said simply. "It's what I do."
He ran a hand over his face before looking back at her. "I'm not getting rid of you, am I?"
"Not even if I want to be gotten rid of."
He slumped back against the wall, before looking up at her. "San Francisco to Cleveland is a hell of a commute."
She shook her head. "Not for me."
"So you want to teleport across the country every day?"
"Orb. And...it's really no different than orbing across town."
"Suit yourself."
She rolled her eyes. "Stop being grumpy."
He rolled them back. "Sorry. I don't exactly have a lot to be happy about right now."
"Well don't take it out on me," she said with a slight pout. "How about I get your mind off of things?"
"And how would you do that?"
She held her hand up. "Wanna see how I travel?"
Sam, again, was hesitant, before reaching for her hand and taking it in his.
She held his hand gently, squeezing it slightly. "Some people feel a little dizzy or nauseous after the first orb, but just breathe through it."
Sam just nodded, taking a deep breath and waiting to see what would happen.
Paige focused and soon orbed them away from the bar, thinking of one of the places that made her the most calm and content. They were soon making a soft landing on the roof of P3. San Francisco stretched all around them.
Sam took a step back when they landed, a little dizzy, and just blinked as he tried to get the lights to come into focus and not feel sick.
She held onto his arm and rubbed his back. "Hey, it's okay."
"I'm fine," he said with a sigh. "I've traveled that way before, it's just -- still a bit of a headrush."
Paige nodded. She let go of him and started to walk around a bit. The roof stretched out quite a bit, higher parts reaching towards billboard rafters. She turned to face him, walking backwards. "Welcome to San Francisco."
He nodded. "I've been here before. Not here here, I mean, but San Francisco. When I was in college."
"What did you do in college?"
"History major on a pre-law track?" he said with a nod. "Never actually finished."
"Hey, you started, that's something," she nodded.
He nodded. "I came home from a hunting trip with my brother during the fall semester of my senior year to find my girlfriend dead on the ceiling of our bedroom."
She watched him closely, not making much of a reaction. "It's really hard....losing people in our world."
His eyes dropped to his shoes. "Don't have to tell me twice. She was just the first in a long line of people."
"Yeah. I know how it goes."
"Do you?" he asked, turning around to face her. "Everyone I ever cared about is dead or has died. And even if Dean is alive now, if I stick around, he probably won't stay that way for long." He sighed heavily letting his head drop down to his hands. "I'd probably be better off to everyone if I was dead, but now, that's never gonna happen. I can't even fucking kill myself."
"So shut up and do something better with your life," she said softly.
"Do what?!" Sam said, looking back at her. "I hunt, people die. I don't exist as a person, legally. What is there for me to do?"
"Be alive."
He snorted slightly. "I don't feel like I am."
She raised her brows slightly and watched him for a moment, before walking over and reaching up on her toes to kiss him softly. After all, she was the kind of girl who did what it took to do her job right.
He blinked, surprised at first, before he melted into it, his hands coming up to brace her waist lightly and pull her closer.
Paige leaned in, continuing the kiss for a moment, before pulling back. She blinked slightly. "Wow..."
"Huh," Sam said softly. He wasn't sure if he wanted her to do it again, or to push her away, but pushing her away was winning out. As much as he wanted the contact, this was the same way Ruby had gotten under his skin before, and as much as he wanted to -- on some level needed to -- he couldn't. He still didn't know if he could trust her. He pushed her back gently, before stepping away and trying to get some space between them. "That was a bad idea."
She watched him walk away with a brow raise and ran her fingers through her hair, smirking slightly. "Hey, I was just trying to loosen you up some. Not like it can ever happen again." She shrugged slightly. "Kinda against the rules."
"Good," he said softly, before shaking his head. "Look, just take me back. I'm not sure what whoever you're working for is going to gain my 'helping' me, but I guess there's not much I can do about it, is there?"
Paige sighed, shaking her head. "Yeah, fine." She held her hand out.
Sam couldn't help it. Every side always had an angle. He took her hand and waited for her to take him back.
She orbed them back behind the bar and let go of his hand, watching him. "Just...take care of yourself, Sam. I'm around if you need anything. Even if it's just for talking."
Sam nodded. "You too, Paige."
Paige nodded and stood there a moment longer, before orbing away.
Sam waited for a moment, before grabbing his stuff and starting to head for home, not sure what this all was supposed to mean.
Sam stood behind the bar, picking up the knife and starting to cut through the lime in front of him. The job itself was tedious and mundane, but it wasn't hunting, and that was where Sam wanted to be. He was tired of the games, tired of trying to do good and only managing to make things worse. He was ready to just be left alone and blend in to the background, rather than standing out. It wasn't easy, adjusting to a regular way of life, but he was tired of the life he was living and he was ready to make a change.
They only needed Dean to end things. It would be easier for Dean if Sam was just out of the way.
He finished cutting the lime, before wiping his hands on his apron and looking over at the person who had placed herself there. He gave her a small smile, before nodding. "What can I get you?"
Paige had orbed into the back alley. She shivered and untied the jacket from her hips, glad she had brought it. Cleveland was much cooler than San Francisco. She sighed lightly at the thought of being home, curled up nice and warm in her big bed at the Manor. But this was work. Work was important.
She walked around the building and in the front door of where her new charge was. She was connected to him now, and she didn't need to be told where he was. She could feel him. She could also feel that he was in trouble, but it didn't seem urgent, more...dull. When she got inside she glanced around until she spotted him behind the bar. She held her head tall and set across the room, plopping herself down on a bar stool and smiling at Sam when he noticed her.
"Club soda with lime, please."
He raised an eyebrow a bit at the drink, but fixed it for her. "Waiting for someone?"
"Nope!" She took the glass and took a sip, her eyes on him.
"So you walked into a bar for a club soda -- and you're not planning on meeting anyone?" he considered that for a moment before shrugging. "Could have just gone to a convenience store for that."
Paige wrinkled her nose. "Not the same. Besides, I didn't say I wasn't meeting anyone, Sam. I said I wasn't waiting for anyone. Biiig difference."
He startled slightly at his name, before glancing down at the bar again. "Think you've got me confused with someone else."
"Sam Winchester. No confusion."
He grit his teeth, glancing around to make sure no one heard that, before shaking his head. "My name is Ken. Ken Harland. I don't know who this Sam guy is, but you've got the wrong person."
The smirk slid off of Paige's lips and she gave him a hard, set look. Her eyes narrowed and her voice lowered. "Fine, Ken. But the longer you play stubborn little boy, the longer I'm going to be around. I know who you are and what you've done." She sighed and let it flow off of her, a smile coming back to her lips. She flipped her hair. "So would you like to talk here or maybe...find something a little more private?"
Sam's first thought was 'angel,' and it only made his jaw set more. He didn't want to deal with this. He was done with that life. "I get off shift at two. Meet me by the employee exit?"
She checked her watch and shrugged. "Works for me. I've got some things at home to do." She got to her feet and pointed to the drink. "You've got that, right? I forgot my wallet." She gave him a shrugging smile.
Sam rolled his eyes, before nodding. "Yeah, I got it."
She grinned and waved, before heading out the door. She had enough time to orb back to the manor and catch some of Piper's cookies out of the oven.
Sam went back to work, trying to get the woman out of his head and focus on his job.
Cookie break a success, Paige eventually orbed back to the bar, and found her way to the employee entrance. She crossed her arms and started rocking on her heels. After a couple minutes of waiting she started singing under her breath softly. "Oh Suzanna, won't you cry for me...waiting for this guy named Sam in a dark, creepy alley. Oh Suzanna..."
Sam had been waiting for her. He actually got off around one-thirty, but he wanted to see how she arrived. He couldn't see much from his angle with the door, but he did see what looked like some kind of lights. And that wasn't in his reference book. He waited until she turned around, before coming at her, moving quickly and spinning her around so that she was facing him but pinning her up against the brick wall. "What are you?"
Paige wasn't into the whole "element of surprise" thing, and she didn't appreciate the roughness. She orbed away from him and came back in behind his back. She crossed her arms and glared. "Hey, Mister. Watch the hands."
Sam spun around and glared back at her, shoulders squared and very much not happy. "What are you, and how do you know about me?
She really hated that word. What. "I'm a Leo, and it's my job to know about you," she said smartly.
"Cute," Sam rolled his eyes. "So what are you? Some kind of demi-angel something? Because I'm really not in the mood. I'm done with this life, and I'm not going back."
"Okay, one? Stop asking me what I am. I'm not a what. Two, stop being such a brat. It's really not charming. My name is Paige and I'm a witch. A good witch. I'm also a whitelighter, and I'm here to help you."
"I don't need help."
"Yeah. You do." She could be very stubborn, thank you.
"No, I don't," he said, shaking his head. "For once I'm doing something that will keep me out of trouble. The last person who tried to 'help' me? Manipulated me into starting the end of the world. So no, thank you, but I don't need your help. I'm better off handling this on my own."
"In case you didn't hear me the first time around? Good witch. Maybe you've heard of us, The Charmed Ones? And part whitelighter. I'm as good as they come. And my name isn't Ruby." She bit the last part, realizing she was going to have to be tough on him.
Sam's eyes fell at the last part, before shaking his head as he walked away. "Look, I'm not trying to insult you or anything, and I appreciate your offer, but I don't want any help, okay? This is something I have to do on my own."
"It's not an offer, Sam. It's how it's going to be. The Elders, my bosses," she pointed to the sky. "They think you need guidance. That's what I'm here for. Usually whitelighters charges are witches or future whitelighters, but you're an exception. You're my charge, and whether you like it or not I've been assigned to look after you."
"You don't have to look out for me," he said softly. "As I said -- I'm done with this life. I'm not -- running into danger anymore. Look, maybe you got the wrong brother. Dean's the one who needs the help, not me."
Paige shrugged. "They didn't send me to Dean. They sent me to you. Maybe...I don't know. Maybe you just need a friend."
"My friends tend to wind up dead."
"I'm not so worried about that. I don't die easily."
"Yeah, you'd be surprised. People out to get me can get creative."
Paige rolled her eyes. "I've seen it all, buster. Not to mention my whitelighter has brought me back from death...god, I can't even remember how many times. I'd be handy to have around." Looks him over and spots a cut on his hand. How about proof? She walks towards him. "Give me your hand."
His eyes wandered up to her cautiously, before slowly extending his hand to her. He didn't say anything, just waited.
She moved closer and cupped her hands over his. The blue lights he had seen earlier circled between their hands, along with a warm glow, and slowly his cut healed over. Good as new. She glanced up to meet his eyes.
He watched her carefully, before looking back at her. "Can you do that to yourself?"
She shook her head. "No. Technically I shouldn't have done it just now, but one example won't get me fired. First rule in my world. Can't use any of my powers for personal gain."
He shook his head. "Then it's not going to do me any good. I'm not the one I'm worried about."
Paige glared. "I can take care of myself, Sam. And if something does happen to me? I've got a whitelighter an orb away. Just like I am for you. You know where I went just now? Home. In San Francisco. I've got myself covered, and there's no reason you should be worried about me."
And that pushed Sam into a bit of a snarl. "You don't get it. Everyone I've ever cared about has died. No matter how well they could take care of themselves. It doesn't matter. And I don't even know what they fucking want from me, but everything I care about, they take. I'm better off alone."
She didn't need the woe-is-me bullshit. She'd been there. She stepped back. "From what I understand, your brother is still alive! That isn't everyone. And no one is better off alone. I was left alone, too, and it hurts. And there's blame. But in the end? That doesn't matter. In the end you find people who refuse to let you be alone. You're not helping anyone by pushing everyone away, and you're sure as hell not helping yourself. You're only sounding like a bigger child than my three year old nephew."
"My brother was in Hell for forty years because of me!" Sam fired back. "And maybe I am sounding like a child, but at least I'm being responsible."
She shrugged. "And my parents died because of me. Only they didn't have a second chance to come back." She shook her head. "You can't be mad forever, and you need someone on your side. Might as well be someone who can do some good."
"I'm not mad," he said with look. "I'm not. I'm just -- taking myself out of the way. I don't want to hold him back."
"You sound pretty damn mad to me."
"I'm mad that people keep poking their way into my life."
"I'm not exactly thrilled either, pal. You think I'm starting to look forward to this job?"
"If you're not looking forward to it, why do it?"
"Because. It's my job," she said simply. "It's what I do."
He ran a hand over his face before looking back at her. "I'm not getting rid of you, am I?"
"Not even if I want to be gotten rid of."
He slumped back against the wall, before looking up at her. "San Francisco to Cleveland is a hell of a commute."
She shook her head. "Not for me."
"So you want to teleport across the country every day?"
"Orb. And...it's really no different than orbing across town."
"Suit yourself."
She rolled her eyes. "Stop being grumpy."
He rolled them back. "Sorry. I don't exactly have a lot to be happy about right now."
"Well don't take it out on me," she said with a slight pout. "How about I get your mind off of things?"
"And how would you do that?"
She held her hand up. "Wanna see how I travel?"
Sam, again, was hesitant, before reaching for her hand and taking it in his.
She held his hand gently, squeezing it slightly. "Some people feel a little dizzy or nauseous after the first orb, but just breathe through it."
Sam just nodded, taking a deep breath and waiting to see what would happen.
Paige focused and soon orbed them away from the bar, thinking of one of the places that made her the most calm and content. They were soon making a soft landing on the roof of P3. San Francisco stretched all around them.
Sam took a step back when they landed, a little dizzy, and just blinked as he tried to get the lights to come into focus and not feel sick.
She held onto his arm and rubbed his back. "Hey, it's okay."
"I'm fine," he said with a sigh. "I've traveled that way before, it's just -- still a bit of a headrush."
Paige nodded. She let go of him and started to walk around a bit. The roof stretched out quite a bit, higher parts reaching towards billboard rafters. She turned to face him, walking backwards. "Welcome to San Francisco."
He nodded. "I've been here before. Not here here, I mean, but San Francisco. When I was in college."
"What did you do in college?"
"History major on a pre-law track?" he said with a nod. "Never actually finished."
"Hey, you started, that's something," she nodded.
He nodded. "I came home from a hunting trip with my brother during the fall semester of my senior year to find my girlfriend dead on the ceiling of our bedroom."
She watched him closely, not making much of a reaction. "It's really hard....losing people in our world."
His eyes dropped to his shoes. "Don't have to tell me twice. She was just the first in a long line of people."
"Yeah. I know how it goes."
"Do you?" he asked, turning around to face her. "Everyone I ever cared about is dead or has died. And even if Dean is alive now, if I stick around, he probably won't stay that way for long." He sighed heavily letting his head drop down to his hands. "I'd probably be better off to everyone if I was dead, but now, that's never gonna happen. I can't even fucking kill myself."
"So shut up and do something better with your life," she said softly.
"Do what?!" Sam said, looking back at her. "I hunt, people die. I don't exist as a person, legally. What is there for me to do?"
"Be alive."
He snorted slightly. "I don't feel like I am."
She raised her brows slightly and watched him for a moment, before walking over and reaching up on her toes to kiss him softly. After all, she was the kind of girl who did what it took to do her job right.
He blinked, surprised at first, before he melted into it, his hands coming up to brace her waist lightly and pull her closer.
Paige leaned in, continuing the kiss for a moment, before pulling back. She blinked slightly. "Wow..."
"Huh," Sam said softly. He wasn't sure if he wanted her to do it again, or to push her away, but pushing her away was winning out. As much as he wanted the contact, this was the same way Ruby had gotten under his skin before, and as much as he wanted to -- on some level needed to -- he couldn't. He still didn't know if he could trust her. He pushed her back gently, before stepping away and trying to get some space between them. "That was a bad idea."
She watched him walk away with a brow raise and ran her fingers through her hair, smirking slightly. "Hey, I was just trying to loosen you up some. Not like it can ever happen again." She shrugged slightly. "Kinda against the rules."
"Good," he said softly, before shaking his head. "Look, just take me back. I'm not sure what whoever you're working for is going to gain my 'helping' me, but I guess there's not much I can do about it, is there?"
Paige sighed, shaking her head. "Yeah, fine." She held her hand out.
Sam couldn't help it. Every side always had an angle. He took her hand and waited for her to take him back.
She orbed them back behind the bar and let go of his hand, watching him. "Just...take care of yourself, Sam. I'm around if you need anything. Even if it's just for talking."
Sam nodded. "You too, Paige."
Paige nodded and stood there a moment longer, before orbing away.
Sam waited for a moment, before grabbing his stuff and starting to head for home, not sure what this all was supposed to mean.