[for Lucy]

[neededproof]

It had taken a lot for him not to go after Jude and punch him, but the end, Ryan knew that mostly, he was just looking for a fight where there wasn't cause for one, and he'd never been the kind to come up from behind and hit someone anyway. It wasn't right, wasn't giving fair warning, and whether or not Jude deserved that, Ryan generally played

Comments

[with_diamonds]

She'd never have admitted it, not really even to herself, but with all the running she'd begun doing, Lucy had fallen into the habit of occasionally jogging near Ryan's. She wouldn't always say anything, or even make her presence known; as far as she was concerned, she was just out for a run, and that was where she'd wound up. Really, though, it'd started after the day he'd told her about Marissa's dying, and there was undoubtedly a connection between the two.

He was outside when she approached this time, and despite herself, she had to smile a little at the sight. She'd never do anything, she'd decided that some time ago, but that didn't mean that he didn't look damn good doing push ups like he was. "You busy?" she asked, half-breathless and leaning slightly over. "I can go, if you are."

[neededproof]

"Nah," Ryan said, a touch breathless himself as he pushed to his feet. "I got nothing but time around here." He hadn't been expecting anyone out this way, but Lucy, at least, he could handle. For the most part, anyway, he could. He'd nearly gotten into a fight earlier, or he'd wanted to, and if most of that was on him, there was no denying that a lot of it had been her, too. That part, he wasn't really sure he could handle. Not then, at least. Not yet.

Between that earlier meeting and the push ups and the way she smiled, he really did have to take a moment to catch himself. Breathing was easy, but he was full of adrenaline right then, and it all felt dangerous in a way he couldn't quite explain. Hell, even if he could've, he still wouldn't have done so, certainly not to her. "Ran into your ex earlier. Nice guy." Despite the half-smile, there was an edge in his tone that said what he'd really thought of Jude.

[with_diamonds]

"Oh, god," Lucy sighed without missing a beat, her smile gone instantly, one hand rising to press against her forehead. For all that she'd loved Jude once, he was trouble. No one knew that like she did. And somehow, despite having barely seen him in months, she felt oddly responsible for what he did, too. She'd always been good at taking on other people's problems for herself, but she didn't really even know Jude anymore, nor did she care to. It was a burden she shouldn't have had to shoulder, and yet she saw nothing to do but apologize for him. There'd been no reason for him to cross Ryan's path, anyway. She could obviously lay no claim to him, but it felt to her as if some boundary had been crossed. With as much time lay between them now, it was like there'd been some sort of unspoken arrangement to stay out of each other's lives, and as Ryan was one of the few friends she had, she didn't want Jude getting anywhere near him. He didn't need to ruin what few good things she had left. "He wasn't too bad, was he? If he said anything,

[neededproof]

As soon as he'd said it, Ryan knew he shouldn't have done so. She'd been in a good enough mood. He'd had no reason to mess that up. "No," he said quickly, hands going up, "no, it's - he didn't. And you don't have to apologize, really, - Lucy, he's not your responsibility." He stared at her a moment, then gave another slow shake of his head. Maybe he hadn't liked Jude, but the guy hadn't actually said anything wrong, beyond implying Ryan didn't know the whole story. He didn't like the suggestion that Lucy was lying, and that alone had nearly been enough to send Ryan after Jude, but in the end, he knew what he'd said was true: it wasn't his business. There was no reason Lucy should have to tell him everything - why she should tell him anything, for that matter.