And I don't understand all the things you've seen
But I'm slipping in between
You and your big dreams
It's always you
In my big dreams
(tony/ziva) my konstantine
Chapter 1: Wait
"I'm giving you a year," he said flatly. The humidity was near stifling, and the collar of his shirt stuck to his neck in a way that made this whole ordeal seem ten times more unbearable. "One year."
Ziva looked up to him from where her hands were awkwardly held by his own; the most useful facet of their relationship had always been communication sans words, silent agreements and understandings that did nothing but confuse outsiders to the quiet intimacy into which they'd fallen years prior. The only downside being, neither of them knew the words to use, or how to accept them in moments like these - the ones that mattered.
"A year," she repeated softly. "Before you move on?"
Because whether or not she wanted to admit it, whether or not she'd spent the last 48 hours convincing her former partner to get on the cargo plane, now roaring to life behind them, she never imagined how hard it would be when she succeeded.
"Move on?" he asked in mild disgust. "No. Before I come get you. Listen," he breathed heavily, "I don't understand this…this need you have to create this distance, to go off and make amends. I don't get it, but I'll grant it." Tony's eyes darkened and jaw set, de-lacing their fingers to flex his now shaking hands. "But if you think I'm just going to let you drop off the face of the planet, you're crazy."
Ziva smiled down at the tarp beneath her feet. "Tony,-"
"One year," he repeated, decisively. "That's it. Do what you have to do. Go where you have to go. Fix," he stressed, "whatever it is you feel needs fixing. But I promise you this," he vowed, "the next time I find you, Ms. David, you're coming back with me." He beamed down at her, "If I've got to drag you by that ponytail of yours, I will."
Her features softened and she grabbed his hand again, squeezing tighter than before. "One year," she agreed with a smile.
"Three hundred and sixty-five days," he clarified. "And not a minute more. Unless it's a leap year," his eyes darted around in playful thought. "Is it a leap year? Because in that case, it'll be a few days less, so keep that in mind."
Ziva rolled her eyes at his incessant babble, but allowed it as long as she could.
Because god, she was going to miss his voice.
And as she subjected herself to watching the plane take off from behind the flimsy wire fence, Ziva David decided that this time, leap year or not, he would not have to come for her.
Not again.
Because this time, she would come for him.
A/N: just adding to the never ending list of WIPs.
Thanks for reading!
MK