[RP] Still Here
(Co-written with hitchhiker_girl. Set for Tuesday night after the events of Sunday. Set before his sister shows up.)
Randall had been distracted through most of his program. Thinking about whether he should call Anna or let her have her space still. He contemplated texting her or waiting until he was off air and calling her, but he figured she was probably at work.
When the show ended, Randall took his time getting ready to leave. He stopped in the kitchen for a soda and bag of chips and sat down with it for awhile. Then he threw his bag on his back and headed out. iPod on, he headed towards his apartment. He walked nearly halfway there before letting out a long sigh and turning around. He stood there a moment, then started towards the direction of Anna's bar. He took his time, not wanting to get there too soon. When he did get there it was still a little while before closing, but he didn't feel like going inside. He didn't want to upset her if she didn't want him distracting her work.
So he stepped to a storefront beside the bar that was closed, and sat down on the entry way. He turned up his music and waited.
"I told ya, I don't want you workin' with that wrist." Jason Moran, Anna's boss, wasn't pleased in the least that his employee insisted on working while injured. It was a liability for him, and he wasn't all that interested in pushing his luck with a law suit. Anna, on the other hand, just rolled her eyes.
"It's worse than it looks, okay? I promise." She draped her jacket over her shoulders covering most of the brace on her arm. "It'll be off in a few days, and it doesn't effect me doing my job."
"Says you."
"Yes, says me," she sighed. "Look, I need the money, and I'm the one who has to work with it, alright? Not you. So just leave it alone." With that, she turned on her heels and headed down the sidewalk, just planning on heading home and collapsing into bed.
Randall glanced up when she passed and saw that it was her. He stalled a moment, before calling out. "Anna."
Anna turned around at the sound of her name, and freezing slightly when she spotted Randall. She stayed where she was though, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Randall. What're you doing here?"
He didn't stand yet, just watched her. He didn't want to be too pressing. "I don't know," he shrugged and glanced down to his feet. "Feet kinda had a mind of their own."
"Oh," she said softly. "I see." She didn't really know what else to say to him.
He looked up at her again. "I can...go away. If you want."
Oh, how to respond to that. "No, that's -- not what I want," she took a step towards him, but her hands loosening slightly as one moved to massage her wrist -- her new nervous gesture. "But was there something you wanted to say?"
His eyes were drawn to his wrist and he jumped up. Worry washed over his face, displacing the concern of her not wanting him there. He stepped up close and reached for her hand. "What happened?" he asked softly.
"Nothing," she said, shaking her head, but letting him take the wrist. "Just a hazard of the job."
He held onto her hand gently, his thumb stroking her fingers. He glanced over her shoulder. "Not the bartending..."
"Nope," she sighed. "The other job. Got between a zombie and the ground -- generally that's not the greatest place to be."
His other hand moved up to her cheek. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
She bit the inside of her cheek, trying to keep herself from wincing when his hand brushed the bruises on her face. "Not your fault."
He sighed and pulled his hand down. He wrapped it against her arm gently instead. "Don't...don't push me away," he begged softly.
"I'm not trying to," she sighed softly, before looking up at him. "I just -- am used to thinks going a certain way."
"I'm not...I wanted to talk to you, but I thought you wanted space. I hadn't heard from you." He looked down at her and moved closer. "I'm not running yet."
"Yet being the operative word."
He closed his eyes and leaned down to kiss her hairline softly. "Wrong word," he said. "I..." his lips moved carefully towards her ear. "Don't give up on this, baby. Please."
"I'm not, I just -- " Her eyes dropped to the ground. " -- I don't exactly have the best track record with getting people to stick around."
He let go and backed off, moving his hands through his hair. They stayed there as he breathed for a moment or two, then he looked at her again. "What am I supposed to do then?" He let his hands drop. "What's it gonna take for you to stop thinking I'm gonna leave?" And yeah, there was that soft hint of his southern accent.
"I don't -- I don't know," she sighed, burying her face in her hands and trying not start panicking. "I want to. I do. But I don't really think there's anything you can do. I'm just -- screwed up."
He shrugged. "I don't care. Think I'm not? I mean...I hate worrying about what could happen, but...yeah. I'm scared of being left, too. I thought I had it once. Thought I was getting married, making a family...and she left. She wasn't happy anymore. I just...I want you to be happy."
"It hasn't just been guys who have left me, Randall," she sighed, running her hands through her hair. "I spent the first four years of my life in an orphanage, when I was finally adopted, those parents proceeded to kick me out when I was fourteen. I've never -- had a place, you know? I kind of found one when I started getting involved in hunting, and -- " She cut herself off before she admitted too much, an automatic reaction because her brain was still saying that he might leave her. " -- I can't just give up what I have. And I can't shake the fact that people are always going to leave me."
He stepped forward again, hating seeing her worked up. He wanted to put his arms around her, but he resisted. He didn't want to if she didn't want it. "So...let me be your place," he said, looking down at her.
She closed her eyes at that, her head dropping forward, a little too tired to keep fighting over this. "I want to."
His arms moved around her lightly, not wanting to agitate any bruises she might have. "I can't promise I won't...flip out or something if I see a...ghost, or...anything. But that'll be because the shit is scary. And the only place I'll be running is behind your back for protection." He had a slight smile on his lips, but was serious about it.
She snorted slightly at that, before leaning into him more, letting her forehead rest against his shoulder. "Wouldn't do you much good -- you're taller than I am."
He smiled and tilted his head to kiss the side of her head softly. "Yeah...but you're my gorgeous superhero."
"Still doesn't change the fact that you're tall."
"Bit too late to be picky about that now," he chuckled.
"Ghosts like 'em tall. Just ask my friend Sam."
He sighed and pulled back. "Let's worry about my height tomorrow." He glanced towards the street, seeing an empty cab nearby. "Come home with me," he suggested gently. "Get some sleep."
She paused for a minute, thinking it over, before nodding. "Okay."
He nodded as well and wrapped his arm around her shoulders while he stepped forward to flag down the cab. He figured they were both a bit drained at that point to bother with the walk home. When it pulled up he opened the door for her. She slid in ahead of him, leaning back against the seat and keeping her eyes closed. He got in beside her and told the cabbie his address, then wrapped his arm around her again as they took off. Anna leaned into him slightly, just getting comfortable and snuggling into him more.
When they got to his place he paid the guy and opened the door, carefully helping Anna out. "Few more steps and you can collapse," he murmured.
"Sounds good," she nodded, letting him lead the way.
He did so, taking her upstairs and letting them into his apartment. He didn't bother turning the lights on, he just dropped his stuff and guided her back to the bedroom. She followed his lead, starting to shed her jacket as they went. He carefully helped her out of her jacket and shirt. Maybe she didn't need it, but he was doing so anyway. He tossed her the Bon Jovi shirt and started stripping to his boxers. She pulled the shirt over her head, before sliding out of her jeans, before crawling into bed and curling up on her side.
He waited until she was settled, then moved beside her. He turned on his side as well and wrapped an arm around her. He sighed and kissed her neck softly. He was quiet for a minute, before whispering, "Love you."
"Love you too," she sighed softly, relaxing against him and starting to drift back off to sleep. His arm tightened around her and he relaxed, then started to fall asleep as well. She dropped off soon after, falling into a dead sleep.
Randall had been distracted through most of his program. Thinking about whether he should call Anna or let her have her space still. He contemplated texting her or waiting until he was off air and calling her, but he figured she was probably at work.
When the show ended, Randall took his time getting ready to leave. He stopped in the kitchen for a soda and bag of chips and sat down with it for awhile. Then he threw his bag on his back and headed out. iPod on, he headed towards his apartment. He walked nearly halfway there before letting out a long sigh and turning around. He stood there a moment, then started towards the direction of Anna's bar. He took his time, not wanting to get there too soon. When he did get there it was still a little while before closing, but he didn't feel like going inside. He didn't want to upset her if she didn't want him distracting her work.
So he stepped to a storefront beside the bar that was closed, and sat down on the entry way. He turned up his music and waited.
"I told ya, I don't want you workin' with that wrist." Jason Moran, Anna's boss, wasn't pleased in the least that his employee insisted on working while injured. It was a liability for him, and he wasn't all that interested in pushing his luck with a law suit. Anna, on the other hand, just rolled her eyes.
"It's worse than it looks, okay? I promise." She draped her jacket over her shoulders covering most of the brace on her arm. "It'll be off in a few days, and it doesn't effect me doing my job."
"Says you."
"Yes, says me," she sighed. "Look, I need the money, and I'm the one who has to work with it, alright? Not you. So just leave it alone." With that, she turned on her heels and headed down the sidewalk, just planning on heading home and collapsing into bed.
Randall glanced up when she passed and saw that it was her. He stalled a moment, before calling out. "Anna."
Anna turned around at the sound of her name, and freezing slightly when she spotted Randall. She stayed where she was though, crossing her arms in front of her chest. "Randall. What're you doing here?"
He didn't stand yet, just watched her. He didn't want to be too pressing. "I don't know," he shrugged and glanced down to his feet. "Feet kinda had a mind of their own."
"Oh," she said softly. "I see." She didn't really know what else to say to him.
He looked up at her again. "I can...go away. If you want."
Oh, how to respond to that. "No, that's -- not what I want," she took a step towards him, but her hands loosening slightly as one moved to massage her wrist -- her new nervous gesture. "But was there something you wanted to say?"
His eyes were drawn to his wrist and he jumped up. Worry washed over his face, displacing the concern of her not wanting him there. He stepped up close and reached for her hand. "What happened?" he asked softly.
"Nothing," she said, shaking her head, but letting him take the wrist. "Just a hazard of the job."
He held onto her hand gently, his thumb stroking her fingers. He glanced over her shoulder. "Not the bartending..."
"Nope," she sighed. "The other job. Got between a zombie and the ground -- generally that's not the greatest place to be."
His other hand moved up to her cheek. "I'm sorry," he whispered.
She bit the inside of her cheek, trying to keep herself from wincing when his hand brushed the bruises on her face. "Not your fault."
He sighed and pulled his hand down. He wrapped it against her arm gently instead. "Don't...don't push me away," he begged softly.
"I'm not trying to," she sighed softly, before looking up at him. "I just -- am used to thinks going a certain way."
"I'm not...I wanted to talk to you, but I thought you wanted space. I hadn't heard from you." He looked down at her and moved closer. "I'm not running yet."
"Yet being the operative word."
He closed his eyes and leaned down to kiss her hairline softly. "Wrong word," he said. "I..." his lips moved carefully towards her ear. "Don't give up on this, baby. Please."
"I'm not, I just -- " Her eyes dropped to the ground. " -- I don't exactly have the best track record with getting people to stick around."
He let go and backed off, moving his hands through his hair. They stayed there as he breathed for a moment or two, then he looked at her again. "What am I supposed to do then?" He let his hands drop. "What's it gonna take for you to stop thinking I'm gonna leave?" And yeah, there was that soft hint of his southern accent.
"I don't -- I don't know," she sighed, burying her face in her hands and trying not start panicking. "I want to. I do. But I don't really think there's anything you can do. I'm just -- screwed up."
He shrugged. "I don't care. Think I'm not? I mean...I hate worrying about what could happen, but...yeah. I'm scared of being left, too. I thought I had it once. Thought I was getting married, making a family...and she left. She wasn't happy anymore. I just...I want you to be happy."
"It hasn't just been guys who have left me, Randall," she sighed, running her hands through her hair. "I spent the first four years of my life in an orphanage, when I was finally adopted, those parents proceeded to kick me out when I was fourteen. I've never -- had a place, you know? I kind of found one when I started getting involved in hunting, and -- " She cut herself off before she admitted too much, an automatic reaction because her brain was still saying that he might leave her. " -- I can't just give up what I have. And I can't shake the fact that people are always going to leave me."
He stepped forward again, hating seeing her worked up. He wanted to put his arms around her, but he resisted. He didn't want to if she didn't want it. "So...let me be your place," he said, looking down at her.
She closed her eyes at that, her head dropping forward, a little too tired to keep fighting over this. "I want to."
His arms moved around her lightly, not wanting to agitate any bruises she might have. "I can't promise I won't...flip out or something if I see a...ghost, or...anything. But that'll be because the shit is scary. And the only place I'll be running is behind your back for protection." He had a slight smile on his lips, but was serious about it.
She snorted slightly at that, before leaning into him more, letting her forehead rest against his shoulder. "Wouldn't do you much good -- you're taller than I am."
He smiled and tilted his head to kiss the side of her head softly. "Yeah...but you're my gorgeous superhero."
"Still doesn't change the fact that you're tall."
"Bit too late to be picky about that now," he chuckled.
"Ghosts like 'em tall. Just ask my friend Sam."
He sighed and pulled back. "Let's worry about my height tomorrow." He glanced towards the street, seeing an empty cab nearby. "Come home with me," he suggested gently. "Get some sleep."
She paused for a minute, thinking it over, before nodding. "Okay."
He nodded as well and wrapped his arm around her shoulders while he stepped forward to flag down the cab. He figured they were both a bit drained at that point to bother with the walk home. When it pulled up he opened the door for her. She slid in ahead of him, leaning back against the seat and keeping her eyes closed. He got in beside her and told the cabbie his address, then wrapped his arm around her again as they took off. Anna leaned into him slightly, just getting comfortable and snuggling into him more.
When they got to his place he paid the guy and opened the door, carefully helping Anna out. "Few more steps and you can collapse," he murmured.
"Sounds good," she nodded, letting him lead the way.
He did so, taking her upstairs and letting them into his apartment. He didn't bother turning the lights on, he just dropped his stuff and guided her back to the bedroom. She followed his lead, starting to shed her jacket as they went. He carefully helped her out of her jacket and shirt. Maybe she didn't need it, but he was doing so anyway. He tossed her the Bon Jovi shirt and started stripping to his boxers. She pulled the shirt over her head, before sliding out of her jeans, before crawling into bed and curling up on her side.
He waited until she was settled, then moved beside her. He turned on his side as well and wrapped an arm around her. He sighed and kissed her neck softly. He was quiet for a minute, before whispering, "Love you."
"Love you too," she sighed softly, relaxing against him and starting to drift back off to sleep. His arm tightened around her and he relaxed, then started to fall asleep as well. She dropped off soon after, falling into a dead sleep.