Desmond opened heavy eyes, beeping in his ears. A women with curly brown hair towered over him, looking over a board. A man came into view but seemed blurry. Desmond squintted to make out the form to realize it was Shaun. He wanted to leap from the hospital bed and hug the bastard but he felt sore and weak. She gave him a friendly smile, standing on her toes to kiss his cheak.
"How is he doing?" Shaun asked her. Desmond noticed the wedding ring on her finger. Desmond looked over her visable features, it was obvious she was beautiful. How long did you keep her a secret Shaun? Desmond thought to himself.
"He's stable." She said with a thick English accent, more distinguishable then Shauns, returning her gaze to the chart. "He's healing quickly. Should be waking any day now." she made a few notes before hanging the board at the end of the bed. Desmond looked at Desmond for a few moments before returning his gaze to her.
"and how's the little fella?" he asked.
"Kicking like mad." She sighed. She walked down the bed, Desmond now seeing her swolen belly, and pulled Shaun's hand to rest it on her stomach. "He's going to be a little football player." she laughed, Shaun chuckled.
"Actually, the proper name here is soccer" He corrected her, returning his hands to his pockets.
"Whatever." She laughed, passing Shaun to attend to the drip at the head of the bed. She pulled out a light from her belt, pulling Desmond's lid open and shining it in.
"Gah!" Desmond yelled, sitting up and moving away from the women, his hand over his eye. She flinched away, shocked. "ya trying to blind me!" Shaun stood there bewildered for a moment before launching at Desmond, hugging him tightly. "Okay man, that's a bit close for comfort" Desmond commented, trying to push the ginger off of him. Shaun pulled away and punched Desmond in his arm. Desmond pulled away, grabbing his attacked arm. English people must hate me, Desmond thought
"Well it's about bloody time you woke up!" Shaun yelled. Desmond rolled his eyes and looked around the room. A balloon was strapped to his bed and a bouqet of flowers sat in cheap glass vase. Three get well cards rounded the vase perfectly. On the other side were three drips, one for blood and one for medicine and the last for pain killers. He had a private room. Rebecca walked, coffee in hand, phone in the other.
"Hey Shaun, I heard you yell down the hall." she commented, head buried in her phone. "but all I really heard was bloody so what happened?" she closed her phone, slipping it into her jean pocket. SHe had begun growing her hair out. She looked at Shaun.
"Hi Rebecca?" Desmond called to her.
"Hey Dez" She nodded to him then turned to her, realization dawned. "Oh my god!" she shreiked before throwing herself at him. "I thought you were never gonna wake up!"
"That's nice" Desmond choaked out, now knowing why he needed painkillers since everything seemed to hurt under her tight hug. Shaun pulled the over excited Rebecca off of Desmond.
"Yes, we're all very glad Desmond is alive." he said in his usual sarcastic tone. "Let's not try to kill him." Rebecca rolled her eyes at the English man.
~forwarding memory to a more recent one~
Desmond stepped onto the concrete outside the hospital grounds. He streached out his arms and threw his head back, taking in the morning air. A mist hung lightly over new york city.
"Get 'em Lads!" he heard a cry. He rectified his position just in time to see Connor run past him, being chased by red coats. His figure flew through cares and rounded something then crouched. Desmond supposed that he had rounded a fence and was crouching to hide. Surely enough, the guards forgot he was there and left. Connor toke a few steps before finally disappearing. Desmond shook his head, clearing the image and coming back to reality.
"Must feel like forever since you seen the city!" Rebecca called up to his from the bottom of the hospital ramp then continuing to her car. Desmond nodded.
"Yeah, it has." Desmond gazed at the buildings. People bustled around the streets, minding their own buisness. Desmond notice something across the road. Abstergo guards. Desmond jumped down the stairs, landing with a grunt the jogging over to Rebecca. "What are THEY doing here?" Desmond asked hurriedlynodding towards the guards.
"One of our people was caught in infiltrating a co office. The one their guarding to be exact." Rebecca popped open the boot, throwing the box of Desmond's belongings into it. "So they're doing some checks to make sure nothing fell out of place, you know what I mean."
"Yeah" Desmond stared at the guards again. "Unfortunatly I do"
"Hey Des" Rebecca said shyly, almost embarresed "I need to pick up some things from the drug store, you mind if we hang around for a bit?" Desmond wanted to laugh. Since when was Rebecca shy. He remembered Shaun getting on her nerves so she yelled at him that she was on her period and if he kept pissing her off that she'd throw him into the abyss.
"Actually, I wanted to do some looking around. Get my barings" Desmond replied. Rebecca almost looked relieved.
"Oh good, then it's no trouble. Oh, and Des." She reached into her back pocket and pulled out Desmond's old leather wallet. "You'll probably need this. Me, Shaun and your old man threw a little something in there just to help you out. 'Till you get a job or start work for the brotherhood." Desmond gingerly toke the wallet from her hands. He remembered having eighty dollars in it last. He flipped it open to see he had nearly five times that amout.
"That was very unnessisary but thank you very much." Rebecca pulled Desmond into a quick hug.
"Your welcome. Theres a italian style cafe and ice-cream bar at the end of the street across some gothic store. Meet there?". Desmond nodded and Rebecca climbed into her car. Rebecca drove off from the side street and Desmond began to walk in the opposite direction.
He flowed easily through the crowds to central park. He climbed to what had to be the highest hill in the park. He could peer over the trees and see the sky scrappers reaching the heaven. The mist hung a little more stiff here but was quickly fading as the early morning left and the sun raised.
"Leave me alone!" Desmond was dragged from his daze by a struggled cry. A group of teens were herassing a young lady, maybe a little younger then the rest. Desmond jogged over to the group, hiding behind a tree just to hear some more. "Please leave me alone. What did I ever do to you?" it sounded like she was pleading.
"You were eyeing up my girl, lesbo!" One of the males yelled.
"I would never look at her!"
"You mean I'm ugly?!" shrieked a female. For some reason to Desmond, she sounded fat. He looked around the tree to see quiet the opposite. She was anerexic. That was twice as worse in Desmond's eyes.
"No! I didn't mean it like that!" she defended herself. Another boy came up behind her and pulled her to her feet by her hair.
"I think we gotta teach lesbo a lesson!" He yelled, landing a blow at the back of her head. She shrieked as she toppled to the ground again.
"Help!" she yelped out, curling into a ball. Three boys toke satisfactry in her cries. Desmond had the last of it. He swiveled around the tree and punched one of the boys in the face. Scaring the group and causing them to disperce. All that was left was the boyfriend. Desmond almost cowarded to the boy. He was younger, bigger, and most likely stronger then Desmond. But Desmond had experience. His, and his ancesters. The boy threw a faltly punch that easily missed Desmond. He threw another that Desmond caught. He twisted the boys wrist, turning him around and kicked him into a tree. The boy feel to the ground, revealing a bloody nose and cracked tooth. Desmond marched over to the brat and picked him up by the colar of his sweat shirt, pressing his back against a tree.
"You think it's funny to beat up girls in parks?" Desmond asked in a dark voice. The boy shook his head no wildly. "Get out of my sight before I decide to do more damage." he threw the boy to the ground. He scrambled along the grass before stumbling to his feet and breaking itno a sprint.
Desmond turned to the girl. He noticed she was dressed in blue skinny jeans with black shoes and hoodie. She had an electric red pixie cut. He crouched down to the still curled up girl.
"It's okay" He spoke gently. "They're gone now." She raised her head slowly. She didn't wear make-up, her eyes were a dark colour and she had a barely noticable nose peircing. She thanked Desmond and pulled herself to her feet. "What was that all about?"
"Just Robert trying to show off how much of a macho he is" The girl explained, limbing over to a disgarded skate-board and back-pack with books and pages around it. "Nothing out of the norm." she said. She cried out in pain as she tried to bend down to get her things, grabbing her back.
"Let me help you." Desmond walked over, placing the books into the bag.
"Thanks. Just stuff them in." She groened. Desmond looked at one of the pages for a moment. It had been hand-drawn. It was a picture of a women holding a baby close to her with a world war scene going on in the background.
"Are you an artist?" Desmond asked, zipping up the bag, leaving the drawing out, and picking up the skateboard.
"Sort of. Mainly just figures and hidden meaning things. pretty basic." she explained, rid of the pain in her voice.
"I see." Desmond lifted up the page again. "and what's this one about?" he inquirred. The girl blushed slightly.
"Well..." she begun, gently taking the picture from Desmond and pointing to the mother women. "This one is a bit more like a story. A mother cradles her starving child in a bunker, praying silently for the war to end, and for her and her beloved kin to survive. She doesn't want to die, and she wants the child to live too."
"Wow" Desmond uttered. "it's really a great drawing by the way. and I see what you mean." the girl blushed deeper.
"Thanks. Here." she motioned for Desmond to take the drawing "You can have it...um..." Desmond toke and picture.
"Desmond, and thank you." He looked at the picture for a moment, hooking the back-pack on his shoulder and floding the picture, slipping it into his pocket.
"Name's Elanora" She replied.
"Like a fairy tale." Desmond commented, making the gir blush again. A thought sprung to Desmond's mind. "Maybe you could help me. I'm looking for a cafe but I don't know the name." The girl payed attention to Desmond's words, nodding. "It's an italian style cafe and ice-cream bar with a gothic store near by." Desmond sounded unsure of the words as he spoke.
"I know that run down old place. I can show you if you like." She beamed. Desmond smiled back.
"That'd be great." he replied. Elanora reached for her items but Desmond pulled away. "I think it'd be better if I carried these." Elanora gave him an odd look then just shruged.
"Follow me then." She made way for a street exit. Desmond followed the limping girl through the crowds patiently. If he wasn't waiting on her he could've easily been there soon, but he was patient. Eventually, they reached their destination.
Desmond expected something overly cheesy when he heard of this place but it was much different. The outside path had been speicially lined with cobble stones. Black metal tables and chairs sat inside a cut off area just outside. A giant wooden sign read "Italian Style Cafe". Desmond wanted to slap himself when he saw that. Outside was bult up with white rock that covered the two storie building. Inside was wooden and whicker furniture with red leathered bouths along the walls with the same wooden tables. A green wooden counter broke off to a glass food desplay full with salids and other cold savouries, next was the hot counter with pizzas, pastas. lasagnas and some other dishes Desmond couldn't name right off. At the end of the counter was, of course, a display of ice-creams. Desmond had his heart set on a cone of cookie ice-cream.
"You should call your parents or someone to pick you up." Desmond advised as they settled into a small bouth. Eanora nodded.
"My mom's outta town but I'm sure my uncle won't mind." She said, pulling out her touch phone. Desmond hungrily looked over at the ice-creams. Elanora hung up on her phone. "He siad he can get me in half an hour" She sighed, slouching back in her seat. Desmond couldn't take it. Call him childish but he wanted that ice-cream.
"Do you want an ice-cream while we eat?" He asked, pointing his thumb to the ice-creams.
"I wouldn't want to trouble you." she slouched further. Desmond stood up.
"It's no trouble, what would you like?" He smiled to her friendly. She smiled back.
"Um...mint and vanilla ok?" she asked shyly. Desmond nodded and walked over to the ice-creams where he was greeted by a brunette.
"Your not a pedophile, right?" she asked, face serious. Desmond looked appauled then she began to giggle. "Sorry, My humor is weird." Desmond rolled his eyes. He was used to these people. Taking a joke too far. He didn't mind much. If anything, he admired how people can just not care. "What can I get you?" She picked up the Ice-cream scooper.
"Mint and vanilla cone and two scoops of cookie in another." He told her straight. She nodded and began scooping.
"Is the cookie for your daughter?" she tried to make small chat, slipping the first cone into a holder.
"She's not my daughter. Just a girl I found getting beat up in the park-"
"and you helped her?!" The server nearly shouted in disbelief. Desmond backed up slightly and nodded. She slipped the second cone into the holder. "and I thought the good guys had died out. That'll be four dollars." Desmond handed the money over, picking the the cones out of the holder.
"Keep the change" He said, turning and walking back to Elanora.
"Woohoo! Six dollar tip!" She called back, making othr emplyees laugh. Desmond supposed she was the clown.
"Thanks for the Ice-cream. It was nice to meet you." Elanora said, giving Desmond a quick hug before running out to her uncle's car. Moments later Rebecca strolled in. Desmond noticed she was wearing the same thing, always. Either she only had one outfit that she kept washed or she had tons of the same outfit. She ploped down in Elanora's previous seat.
"Gotten your bearings yet?" She asked, pulling her headphones down.
"Just about." he replied. "Thanks for letting me stay in your apartment for a while."
"No problem." she leaned back and waved it off. "It's getting kind of lonely with just me and the dog and my boyfrien ain't making any moves. How about you be a dear and get us something to eat." she said, pulling out her ringing phone. "I'll take a pepperoni pizza slice" Desmond rolled his eyes they dragged himself to the counter. He couldn't say no since she was housing him and she knew he had the money. He ordered Rebecca's Pizza and himself a Carbonara. He smiled un-knowingly when he seen that the till worker was the same brunette.
"Another girl." She whisled. "I have to ask, are you a player or are you gay?" she asked in a joking manner. Desmond laughed to himself.
"Neither, I'm living with her till I get on my feet." Desmond explained, reading the glowing price on the till and pulled out his wallet to pay.
"don't get up to anything funny" she playfully warned. "Lemme get you your knife and fork. Just a sec" she turned around. She scribbled something down then returned with Desmond's cutlery. "Enjoy." she smiled. Desmond picked up the tray.
"Thanks,..." he paused, trying to read her name tag. She pulled the gold tag closer to him.
"Molly. You?" she smiled again.
"Desmond. Thanks, Molly." he replied. He blonked the tray infront of Rebecca, startling her. She smiled awkwardly before taking her food and digging in. Molly passed them wearing a coat. She dropped a peice of folded, checkered paper as she passed, then left. Desmond eyed the paper for a moment, his name scrippled on the back.
"What's that?" Rebecca asked through a mouthfull of food. Desmond tried to pick it up but Rebecca snatched it first.
"It's addressed to me." he said, Rebecca ignoring the warning tone and continuing to unfold the paper. She beamed and grined mischivously when she finished unfolding it.
"Your such a womenizer!" she laughed. Desmond snached the paper away from her. A number was scribbled onto it with 'Call Me' at the end. He smirked to himself, refolding the paper and tucking it into his pocket. The two ate in silence. "We better get moving." Rebecca raised from her seat. "You've got some unpacking to do." Desmond climbed out of the bouth and followed her out of the cafe, making their way to the car parked along the some way down.
"What unpacking? I don't own anything." Desmond looked at her with a quizzical look as she searched her pockets for her keys. They stopped at the car.
"I know" she pulled out the keys and looked at Desmond. "Shaun and William picked up some things for you. Cloths, sheets, wash stuff. William even got you a radio."
"You guys don't have to make such a big deal of this." Desmond replied shyly. He never really had people fuss over him so much, now he had three.
"Nonesense." Rebecca objected. "We thought you were dead and I bet this whole thing has been a shocker for you too. It's just till you get back to normal." Rebecca's phone beeped. She quickly pulled the device out of her pocket. "Think fast!" she threw the keys into the air. Desmond caught them with one hand. Looking confused. "Your driving." she called, climbing into the passenger seat. Desmond rolled his eyes and climbed in.
The drive was pleasent enough. Rebecca stayed burried in her phone the whole time so Desmond juct chilled to the radio. Now he stood in his room. Bags and boxes lined the walls. He opened one of the boxes and pulled out an lamp. He plugged it in and turned it on. It looked really basic, but that's how Desmond liked it. He wasn't bothered to unpack everything. He threw his hoodie onto the floor and flopped onto the bed.
"ahh~" he sighed, closing his eyes. "It's good to be back."
"Honestly Des, do you have any shame at letting this poor lady wait?" Shaun laughed, looking at the number. He sat on Desmond's bed on new blue sheets. He had come over to visit Rebecca and Desmond and said he'd help unpack but spent the last few minutes talking about the phone number. Desmond snached the number away and tucked it into his rear pocket.
"Do you mind? it's private." Desmond said, returning to filling his wardrobe with his new cloths. Shaun rolled his eyes and walked over to the other side of the bed where he had left a half finished side dresser. He begun to screw the legs on.
"How does it feel? To be back?" Shaun asked, looking over the rims of his glasses.
"ok...I guess." Desmond replied distantly, pulling out another hoodie. "How many hoodies did you buy me?"
"Four hoodies, three jumpers and your dad got the coat in the purple bag." Shaun replied, focusing on his work. Desmond reached into the bag and pulled out the leather jacket. He threw it on and looked himself in the mirror.
"Somebodies looking good." Rebecca commented. Desmond looked at her in the doorway.
"Do you mind? There's another person in the room." Shaun commented, Putting the side dresser onto it's new feet.
"Shut up, Shaun." Rebecca countered. Desmond laughed to himself at the two. He pulled the Jacket off and hung it up "You call that girl yet?" Rebecca asked, plopping down onto the bed.
"Nope." Shaun answered, standing up from his knees. Desmond turned and glared at the duo. Rebecca laughed.
"Aww, Desmond's a little shy." she teased. She brought herself back to her feet. "I'm going out, see ya soon." she called as she left. Shaun fixed his sleeves, silently laughing at Desmond.
"Sorry for being shy." He mumbled, closing the wardrobe.
"Seriously, mate." Shaun walked around the bed to look at Desmond, grabbing the younger by the shoulders. "Just call her and ask her when she availible, you'll be fine." he dropped his hands back to his sides. "I have to get going to before the Misses thinks I'm cheating." He picked up his coat, pulling it over him. "A bit of advice, have something planed first." Shaun called back. The door slammed shut and with that Desmond was alone. He had gotten his job at bad weather back so he wasn't stuck for money. He pulled the number out, staring at it. What's the worse that could happen? Desmond mentally asked himself. He picked up his cell, which was really Rebecca's old phone. He typed in the number and waited the ring, his heart racing. He sat on the edge of the bed, waiting for the pick-up.
"Hello?" Molly's voice came down the line. Desmond froze up a bit.
"Uh...Hi. It's Desmond. From the c-cafe" He mentally slapped himself for stuttering.
"Oh yeah, I remember." she replied. Fuck! Desmond thought, Why does she have to be so damn confident!?
"Yeah, I was w-wondering if you b-be free sometime this week? To see a movie or something." Desmond felt his heart stand still in anticipation.
"That sounds cool. I was actually going to go to that new thriller tomorrow at around seven. Now I won't have to go alone." She replied, giggling slightly. Desmond heart rate dropped emensly. He supposed he was just afraid of rejection. "So, where should I pick you up?". Desmond gave Molly his address, they said they're good byes and hung up.
This was the first time Desmond felt this way. So nervous. So scared, yet wanting. He had girlfriends before, but they never really meant anything. They were more for satisfying a need. Had he found something more? He hoped.