Inertia
This is set post the season finale with Tom out of the picture. Liz has forgiven Red or moved on from her anger... although I think she forgives him too easy and next time they fall out (and I'm positive that'll happen again and again) she shouldn't forgive him so quickly. Let him stew! Despite all the stories I've written with Lizzington I'm not 100% sure where I stand on the ship. For me it's all about Raymond Reddington/James Spader. Red is such a compelling character and James is a wonderful actor. And besides ... I ship me and Red ;-)
Chapter 1
Liz thinks about the turn her life has taken in the past few months. She's gone from happily married to more than happy to be divorced. She's gone from newbie profiler to integral part of a major task force. And she's gone from not knowing the FBI's fourth most wanted man to waiting for him at the bar of a restaurant where she'll be joining him for dinner.
Red and Liz now regularly see each other outside of the Post Office, outside of her professional duty and her job description. They're friends she supposes, he's good company that's for sure. Red didn't let her sulk after Tom; he didn't let her dwell on events. Instead he supported her and buoyed up her confidence in simple quiet ways. They'd talk and he'd focus on the right deductions or insights that had helped them remove Tom from her life. With just a smile or almost imperceptible nod he'd tell her he liked what she wore, or how she stood up for herself or justified her decisions to Ressler and the rest of the team. As she waits for him she thinks back on all the flak she got about Tom's secret identity and is glad that she has Red and that he has her.
Unbeknown to her, while she's thinking about Red's single minded focus on her, she's gained some unwanted attention of her own. Liz saw him coming from the moment he stood from his table. He has the look of a banker about him, like he imagines himself talented and influential because he's successful in finance. Lucky. It's the over inflated ego that slows his path to her stool by the bar. "Can I buy you a drink?" He asks when he and his giant head finally arrive.
"No thank you", Liz responds, trying to indicate by her unenthusiastic and frosty tone that she isn't in the slightest bit interested.
"I know you're looking for someone. You haven't stopped looking around since you got here" the man says.
"I work in law enforcement, it's an ingrained habit." Liz tries to explain to him that she was merely maintaining routine and most definitely not looking for company.
"Nice try, nice try. I don't believe you though. I caught your eye more than once, thought I'd come over here and save you the journey to my table; where we both know you were headed" he continues.
"Let me assure you, the only reason I would have for ever approaching your table is because it's on the way to the bathroom" Liz decides on a little sass, hoping that will help to dissuade him.
"Playing hard to get! Cute" the intolerable man continues as he leans towards her, in what she can only assume is his attempt to flirt.
She's exasperated, unsure how to reject him further without resorting to violence, though it's tempting.
Just then the door opens and Red enters, followed by Dembe. Liz hides her hand, not wanting her ruse to be given away by the absence of a ring.
"Do you see that man who just walked in? The one with the bodyguard and the expensively tailored suit. That's my husband. He is handsome, rich and he loves me passionately, which is really good for me. He's also jealous, vindictive and prone to violence, which is really bad for you." Liz says to her would be suitor before turning to smile at Red.
The man gets up and all but runs away, which causes Liz to giggle a little, which in turn causes Red to raise an eyebrow as he approaches her but he doesn't ask her about it.
He kisses her briefly on the cheek, a habit he began when they started meeting for dinner. She's comfortable with the gesture, pleased that the only time he refrains is when they are in the presence of other Federal Officers. Tonight it also helps to support the little lie she told her persistent admirer.
They are shown to a large round booth near the back of the restaurant. One undeniable truth about Raymond Reddington is his good taste; it's always exquisite food, the finest wine, the most desired restaurants and always always the best table in the house. She knows that even if he was to leave, if she was never to see him again that she's gotten so used to life's luxuries that she'd continue to indulge, where her finances allowed at least. Their table is quieter than the bar and it affords a view of the whole area. Dembe waits at her stool at the bar, sipping his beer and keeping guard.
The meal progresses and Red chats, during the starter recalling a similar dish he enjoyed with an associate in Bucharest, shortly before the man pulled a gun on him. It seems he was quite determined to punish him for stealing some business, much to Red's gleeful amusement. Liz listens, smiles at the intricate detail of his description of the food and marvels at the way he glosses over the threat to his life.
Before dessert arrives he excuses himself, she watches as he exchanges a few words with Dembe then makes his way to the bathroom. Liz glances around, she wasn't lying earlier, it's a difficult habit to break. This sweep results in the knowledge that her admirer no longer seems to be in the restaurant, though his friends are still there. Her brow furrows slightly before her eyes wander on. Then her thoughts travel to other diners, briefly alighting on a couple, seated close, enjoying a romantic meal. She looks away before she has even has a chance to think, to dwell, to feel something about other peoples lives.
Liz doesn't see him return but feels him slide in beside her. She doesn't immediately turn to face him, distracted by her observations and the music that's being played, she's entirely too content in the moment. Red takes his chance to move extremely close, wrapping an arm around her back and bringing his lips to whisper over her hair, placing the faintest kiss before moving again, breathing in her scent.
"Ahem" she says without moving, trying to appear that she's not at all thrown by this sudden onslaught of affection. He doesn't respond, but she hears a quiet rumbling growl escape from his chest. He's clearly enjoying this and clearly trying to elicit a reaction. "Can I help you with something?" she says, hoping for more of an explanation.
Red moves his lips back towards her ear, whispering, "oh I'm just playing the part of the predatory husband Lizzie. I wish you'd told me earlier, I feel like we wasted valuable time". As he says this she lifts her eyes, only to catch sight of her admirer hastily making his way out the door.
"Oh ... That. I can explain" Liz says a little flustered.
"Please don't" Red says as he begins to kiss his way along her jaw.
Liz can't help it, the sensation created by his soft lips and the warmth of his mouth as he continues to tease her is so intense that she closes her eyes, breathes deeply and just takes a moment to enjoy it. A small involuntary sound of pleasure escapes her lips. The sound is lustful, accepting and encouraging all at once. Liz is unaware of it herself but it stops Red in his tracks and he moves back a fraction to look at her.
Self consciously she turns and their eyes lock; for a moment they just stare at each other. Then Liz drops her gaze, looking down and away as embarrassment heats her cheeks. The moment feels tense and she scrambles to think of anything to say that can divert his attention from the fact that he just kissed her; not because he wanted to but as part of some game, yet despite that fact, she enjoyed it, really enjoyed it, and now he knows it.
"The guy" she starts to blurt something out, "he asked to buy me a drink. He was awful and wouldn't be put off. I just... I just said that, you being my husband, cause I thought it would put him off. Did he say something to you? I... You... You weren't supposed to find out". She says as she nervously brushes a strand of hair behind her ear.
Red lifts his arm, moving away until he is no longer touching her. The action brings another wave of mortification and Liz feels like her heart sinks a little at the rejection. Up till now she hadn't acknowledged the depth of feeling she had for Red but now she's certain of it because she is already starting to feel the now familiar splintering of her heart.
The awkward silence that ensues extends until dessert arrives. Liz wants away, to hide from what just happened, from Red and from the realisation they've both made about her feelings towards him. Yet she can't bring herself to move, to lift the spoon or her head. She knows she should just affect nonchalance and blag her way through the last remaining course but she's frozen.
Less than half a minute passes but to Liz it feels like an eternity. Time has a way of expanding when misfortune is to be enjoyed. It's the torturous silence that finally spurs her into action, "Red, I'm sorry" upturning her hand in a passive gesture before resting again on the table. "I'm just gonna go" she says, lifting her purse before she begins to remove herself from the booth and this now awkward situation.
But Red's hand stops her, reaching out and resting on the one she has on the table. "I'm sorry", he says simply lifting his gaze to her.
"Don't be" she shakes her head and smiles shyly at him. She hasn't really even begun to process the feeling she has or the ramifications for them both but Liz thinks he can't help how he feels. He can't help that he's shocked by her willingness for physical contact with him, for his attention and affection.
When she makes to go again he tightens his grip on her arm. "I need another moment Lizzie" he tells her. Finally when he's thought how to proceed he turns his body to hers again.
"I'm much older than you" Red finally states.
"I know" Liz responds.
"I'm a criminal, you an FBI Agent." Red tells her.
"I know" she says again.
"It's dangerous for you to spend time with me, to know me at all" he continues.
"Red, I know" she says a bit more emphatically. He doesn't have to spell it out, she suspects that he's letting her down the easy way, telling her impersonal reasons. Even when he's rejecting her he seems to seek the path of least discomfort for her.
This time when she smiles at him it's warm and loving. "I know" she whispers, gathering her purse again before exiting the booth. But Red seems to have decided their conversation is far from over, following her away from the table, having quickly left a generous amount of cash to cover their meal.
Dembe, having observed everything up to and including Liz's attempted departure, is already waiting by the car when they exit. Liz slips in while Red walks around to take his seat. She's folded her arms over her body, in an unconscious effort to hold it together or comfort herself or both. When Red slips in he slides further over than usual, lifting his arm and resting it over her legs. Liz lifts her eyes to meet his gaze but he's already looking away, swept up in his own thoughts.