Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.
Pride
Chapter One: Atlanta Pride Week
Rick should have considered himself one of the luckiest people alive. Over a year ago he was in a coma, shot multiple times, with no guarantee of survival. He eventually opened his eyes to see joy from his family's faces. His son hugged him and cried. His wife and mother also wept while thanking God. Rick's uncles, staunch as they were, tried to hold in tears but failed. His younger brother, Jeff, shot question after question in pure excitement; he was happy that Rick was awake and he was curious about Rick's experiences during his coma. Shane went to find a doctor. Rick was fine. At the moment all was well.
The road to recovery had been quick; so quick, Rick was back on the force six weeks after leaving leaving the hospital. Lori was furious! Rick wished he had taken her threats of leaving seriously. He wished he could have been the man she needed. For the life of him he still didn't know what she wanted from him despite her screaming it at him daily. He would match her screams with some of his own. Their loving home increasingly became a battlefield. Because of this Rick took a gamble to save his marriage; a gamble he lost tenfold. Rick quit his job and started working on his masters degree.
His master's was being paid for by teaching Criminology undergraduates. The school was in Kennesaw, Georgia. Rick hadn't let Lori know he was making the change before he made it. He thought she'd be so happy that he was no longer a cop that she would go happily. She wasn't and she didn't. With a wound in his heart worse than the physical, he moved to Kennesaw alone.
That was over a year ago. Their separation was finally complete. He was now a divorcee. Rick stared at the divorce papers with a drink in his hand. He would only see his boy every other weekend, some holidays, and the summer. He was missing Carl so much already. Why did it seem like he was the only one who lost everything? Was it even worth it? Was Lori happy now? He wasn't. He missed his old job, his neighbors, his best friend, and his kid. Rick should have fought more. This shouldn't be his life. All around him a different scene was playing out. The atmosphere was lively. The bar was filled with chatter, laughter, and upbeat music. People were happy. An array of colors filled the bar and streets. Multicolored lights changed the room to a passionate red, bright orange, then yellow, green, blue, and purple. Lovers embraced each other without reservation. Rick was sure he was the only one who was sad. It was Pride Week in Atlanta. He was in a LBGTQA bar owned by his coworker and her partner.
Alisha Harkavy worked with Rick in the Sociology Department. They both taught Criminology and had similar backgrounds. Alisha had been in the Army Reserves and he was a former cop. They'd come from small towns and were first generation college students. So far, she'd been the only friend he'd made in Atlanta. She was a beautiful woman. Most would think they would develop romantic feelings for each other, but it didn't even cross their minds. Rick was learning to be a good ally and part of that was not trying to date your homosexual friends. Rick never propositioned Alisha or her partner. Instead he more of their third wheel. This wasn't the first time he'd been to their bar Indigo, but it was his first Pride Week. He thought the festivities would cheer him up. While the other patrons were celebrating recent victories and enjoying their night, he was wallowing in what he lost.
"Somebody just got dumped."
"Damn, guess so. But to cry in public though, she wants to be on the internet."
She. They obviously weren't talking about him. Rick scanned the room and found the woman they were talking about. She was at a booth by herself nursing a Long Island Ice Tea. Her face was stoic, but a thin tear escaped her left eye. She was doing a poor job hiding her pain, but Rick could relate. He reached for a handkerchief he was taught to have at all times. Rick was taught a lot of things that he was betraying right now. Wordlessly, he walked to the woman and offered the plain handkerchief. She looked up and took the simple cloth. Rick gave her a small smile and went back to his stool. Moments later, no longer crying, she approached him.
"Thank you," she said earnestly.
Rick looked at her. She was an exotically beautiful woman. Her flawless dark skin was covered by expensive pinstriped jeans and a tight, purple shirt. Her dreads were long and curled. She would look flawless if it wasn't for those big brown eyes red from sorrow. He'd always been a sucker for pretty brown eyes, however Rick ignored the attraction to this woman. He was in a LBGTQA bar during Pride Week. Hitting on her would be foolish. "No problem. Would you like another drink?"
However the stranger had similar thoughts. She took time to notice him. He was the epitome of an everyman. He was simply dressed, wore light cologne, and had a healthy amount of stubble. His strong features, curly brown hair, and blue eyes helped make him attractive. She could see his sadness too. "Maybe I should buy you one."
"Sounds fair." He held his hand out for her to shake. "Rick Grimes."
She took it. "Michonne." Rick played with her name in his head. He'd never heard a name like that before. He was sure he'd never met anyone like Michonne before. "What brings you to Indigo?"
This question was loaded. He realized she was asking more than his patronage. "My friends own Indigo. They wanted me to have some fun."
"Are you?"
"Well..." Rick didn't know how to answer that without being depressing. "What about you?"
Michonne was sure he was asking, "Who or what hurt you?" So she ignored it. After all he was a stranger. Michonne felt oddly comfortable around this blue-eyed stranger. Michonne didn't want to let her guard down though. Before today she considered herself a rock. She was a corporate lawyer and known for her pokerface. But now she was crying in front of strangers in bars. And for what? Mike? She'd lost her mind. Michonne didn't want to be rude though. Rick Grimes had been nothing, but nice to her. "My lover cheated on me with our friend Terry. So I thought what the hell, it's Pride Week in Atlanta. I'll just have fun tonight. But..." Rick understood her hurt. He could only imagine how he'd feel if it happened to him. Rick wanted to tell her that he could empathize, but instead he handed her his papers. Words failed him even while Michonne looked them over and gave them back. "I'm sorry."
"Me too. It's not like I didn't know it was coming. I did everything I knew to keep it together. Her reasons just seemed so... small. We never go out. She's bored. I work too much. I never understood why she couldn't see that I did all of that for her. She never had to work. I made sure I provided for her and our son. Maybe I should have discussed it with her before moving here, but I thought it'd be what she wanted. A new exciting place, better job, safer. I moved to save us, but it didn't work. But the most messed up part is," He looked up. Michonne was looking in his eyes. She listened to every word. Rick hadn't had that in a while. He hadn't seen Shane or Jeff in a long time. Alisha was busy since she worked at the university and Indigo. Even if it was just tonight, it felt nice to be heard. "I really like my job. I never would have thought I'd be a teacher, but I love it. When I teach them something new, connect with students, help them, or even debate a student who thinks they know it all, I get happy. Maybe I should have done this sooner. I don't know."
"If you two were meant to be together, you two would be together."
"What about you?"
"...Mike's always had problems, I just need to realize I can't help him and let go." Rick was shocked. Mike? Rick had assumed Michonne was a lesbian. Many heterosexual people started going to Gay Pride events since it was less taboo. Although Alisha had complained about heterosexuals intruding in queer spaces, she invited Rick to Indigo. Michonne knew what he was thinking. She wasn't an ally or a curious heterosexual. "I'm bisexual. Many forget B is part of LGBT." Michonne sighed, "Mike is bi too. The three of us have been out since our college years. I was inspired by them for coming out. It's dangerous to be queer. I'd always admired their honesty, their bravery especially since they're queer men of color. I loved everything about Mike. He's gorgeous, smart, strong, an advocate for minority rights, and a good father to our son. I thought he loved me. I didn't see this coming." Michonne thought about walking in on Mike 'and Terry. They were so high they didn't even notice her presence until she cursed them out. They begged her to stay so they could talk, but Michonne stormed out. She signaled for another drink. Rick finished his. "What am I supposed to do now?"
"...Let's get out of here."
"Excuse me?"
"Let's do what we came here to do. It's Atlanta and Pride Week. We're two people with disposable income and apparently no curfew, our kids are taken care of, and we have no partner to answer to. Let's shake this funk."
Michonne looked at Rick incredulously. She considered his words. He was right. Why wallow in self pity? They were still alive, relatively young and lived in a city made for the night life. Michonne finished her drink. "Let's go. Did you drive?"
"I did, but..."
Yeah, Michonne was feeling tipsy herself. "Don't worry about it. There's Uber."
"It sounds like the wait'll be long. We could take the MARTA." He smiled at her slight disgust. "Come on Michonne, I know you're used to the finer thangs, but you can mingle with regular folk for one night."
"You don't know me, Rick Grimes. I have no problems mingling with anyone."
Rick laughed. "Really? Do you even own a MARTA card?"
Michonne feigned outrage before teasing him. "Something tells me you were really excited to get your Breeze card."
Rick blushed. He had been. It made him feel like he'd officially integrated into the city. "I don't like driving in Atlanta, Kennesaw, or Marietta."
"You never know what may happen in Atlanta traffic. That's why I have one. I like being punctual."
"So what do you do?" Rick was curious. This was Atlanta. She could do anything.
"I'm a lawyer."
"Indigent or-"
Michonne smiled. Proudly she said, "I work for Coca-cola."
Rick whistled. That was amazing. It never ceased to amaze him; you would meet anyone in Atlanta. "If I'd known that. I would have ordered a fancier drink."
Michonne laughed. Rick Grimes was refreshing. She had many friends, but she was glad she was with him at the moment. Her friends knew too much. Her best friend Jacqui would probably say,"I told you so." To be fair Jacqui had been right. She didn't think Mike would be good for Michonne from day 1. She'd heard that Mike had struggled with addiction. All his accomplishments after that meant nothing to her. Her family didn't like Mike either. Her family didn't like him either. They appreciated his education and position, but her parents didn't appreciate Andre being born out of wedlock. Right now she just wanted a little sympathy and fun.
Rick was also having his own painful memories. He thought of the good times with Lori and Carl. Michonne was the type of person Lori would like to be around. Michonne was cultured, experienced, and unique. Lori had been bored with King's County, bored of simple people like him. He was luckier than Michonne in that regard. Lori was honest with him; Mike deceived Michonne. Divorce was hard. When Rick said his vows he meant them. He thought they'd be together until death. Even though he was the one who suggested it, being with Michonne was a little disheartening. If some like Michonne, beautiful and accomplished, could have problems with love what chance did he have in truly finding it? What luck did anyone have finding love? It was a complete contrast to everyone around them. Despite conservatism, despite the massacre in Orlando, people were optimistic.
Rick stopped walking when he noticed a sign: glow-in-the-dark minigolf. "Glow-in-the-dark minigolf, what's that?"
"It's exactly how it sounds Rick."
"..."
Michonne shook her head. "Have you played minigolf before?"
"No."
"Regular golf?"
"No."
"Have you been in the dark?" Michonne joked. Rick blushed. "Come on." Michonne took Rick by his arm and led him inside. The was a dim glow from the fake golf green. It was lit in rainbow colors. A group of teenagers were already playing. Rick wondered if Carl would like playing this game. "Two please." The cashier told Michonne the price and handed her two balls. Michonne handed Rick a red ball. She had orange.
"What now?"
"We start at the first hole. Just knock the ball in the hole. The lowest score wins. Simple, but fun." She went first. Despite her tipsiness, she got a hole in one. Rick placed his ball down and hit it. He gave it too much power. It slammed on the edge and immediately ricocheted back to him. Michonne laughed. His surprised face tickled her. "Come on, Rick. It's only three feet away!" Rick tried again, and again; luckily his fourth stroke went in. Michonne went to the hole and grabbed his ball. "Okay, I have one point. You have four."
"That's not good."
"It is for me."
Michonne was so cocky. Rick smirked and grabbed his red ball. "I'm going to catch up."
"Uh huh, okay."
The rest of the game was filled with laughter. Michonne started feeling the alcohol and started making mistakes. Rick just wasn't good. In the end, Michonne won by 10 points. "My ball was unlucky. I think it was rigged."
"Uh huh. All I hear is that Michonne's a winner."
Rick held the door open for her. "You're so humble, Michonne Anthony."
"Thank you, thank you. Let's go back to Indigo. Get drunk."
"Okay, then what?"
Michonne gave him a devious look. "If the bowling alley isn't open would you like to go clubbing?"
"...I've never been clubbing before."
"Jesus, Rick. How long have you been here?"
"About a year," he admitted.
"I'm not saying you should give into a life of debauchery, but the highlight of your stay shouldn't be the MARTA." Michonne took his hand. "Let me show you what Atlanta has to offer."
Rick entwined his fingers in hers. "Okay."
(A/N) I'm trying a Richonne fic that's not dark. It's an AU. This is how I vision Richonne happening if the zombie apocalypse didn't happen.
Next Chapter: Sober Rick and Michonne debate continuing their fast friendship.