Barry
2013
Several glossy prospectuses were strewn across the kitchen table; a plate of biscuits and a mug of steaming tea sat nestled amongst them. Reaching for the ceramic handle Alex took a sip of the hot beverage, pausing for a moment she considered what exactly she was looking for. There were booklets from travel agents to universities, each brochure contained pictures and words all geared to tempt her into doing something, whether it be taking up a course in beauty therapy or going on a mini break to Prague.
The girl sighed; the weight of choice was piling up on top of her, so much so she was beginning to feel immobilized by the sheer force of it. The urge to do nothing was fast becoming the easier option, to stay in Barry, drink tea and watch The Antiques Roadshow.
"Any luck?" Hal's voice sounded from across the room and Alex found she was smiling, the tremor of his voice traveling up her spine, the muscles in her body tensing in response.
"No," Alex stretched; pushing the chair away from the table she placed her feet onto the worn wooden top. "I don't actually know if I want to do any of it."
"You don't have to," Hal replied before he took a seat next her.
"Don't I though?" Alex questioned, her eyes widening as she gave Hal a pointed look. "I never had a gap year, I never went and discovered myself. And then I died. I died before discovering myself, before I had any sort of life and now I can do all of those things. But I'm sitting her, drinking tea and I'm perfectly content, what is wrong with that picture?"
Hal sighed, "Nothing. There isn't one fixed way to live your life. When I was alive, the first time round, you'd be lucky to live to 40 and if you had some children and you gave them a decent enough start you'd go to that grave happy.
"Alex you might not have sailed down the Zambezi handing out mosquito nets but you looked after your brothers, you did live. Living isn't about climbing Everest or diving off the coast of Honduras – it's about doing whatever makes you happy. And part of the joy is finding what does. So if you want to learn how to apply fake tan I will willingly support you, if you want to read history I will gladly help you, I lived through a lot of it."
"Bet you've done all of that though, haven't you?" Alex shot back jokingly as she rolled her eyes.
Hal laughed, "Even at my age I still have firsts it seems."
"And that's another thing, you've been everywhere, with the exception of the Himalayas and Honduras, but you've done so much and seen so much. If we ever went anywhere, I'd be the wide eyed tourist and you wouldn't..."
"Alex, there are always new discoveries to be found in places, especially if you're with someone." Hal reached out for the girl's hand, pulling it towards him he entwined their fingers, marveling at the warmth of her skin.
"But you're still more experienced than I am, I must seem like a child to you…" Alex sighed, struggling to find the words. "Surely you'd want someone more worldly, or accomplished…"
"Alex," Hal's voice was severe and direct, there was a faint strain of anger in his words. "Don't ever for once second think that you are not good enough for me. I don't need bloody River Song when I'm looking for a partner…"
"River Song? I thought you didn't like Doctor Who?" Alex let out a throaty laugh, only half choked back by barely shed tears.
Hal sighed, "Tom has developed a fondness for Karen Gillan, he seemed so happy when he acquired the box set I couldn't say no."
"And that's when you got your predilection for River Song?"
"I'm not into gun toting archeologists," Hal frowned, choice of language aside he was finding it hard to assert his feelings.
"Right," Alex nodded, her cheeks colouring as Hal leant in closer to her. "So that rules out Indiana Jones then."
"Humour and deflection will only serve you so far Alex. And the point I was trying to make is that I am incredibly lucky to have you. Any other person would have run a mile in the opposite direction. I still marvel at the fact that you came back for me, despite all that I have done."
"You were a vampire, and I know the good side of you always felt remorse, you always tried to do better..."
"Alex I don't know if I've ever explained this to you, but the aspects of my personality that reveled in the killing became too much for me to bear, so I compartmentalized, so much so it seemed that I gave myself two personalities. Everything was amplified because of the need for blood; I couldn't face what I had done so I convinced myself it was something else, someone else. But now, I still have some of those darker parts left, it's just now those drivers wont lead me to kill."
Alex squeezed Hal's hand before pulling him to his feet as she got off her seat.
The two now stood opposite each other, the muted tones of Radio 4 surrounding them. Cupping Hal's face with her hands Alex leaned forward, their noses rubbing together she brushed away the tears that had drifted down the man's cheeks. They stood like this for minutes, future choices and past actions melted away, for now they didn't matter – they had each other. Placing a warm kiss on Hal's mouth Alex tried to inject every ounce of affection and love she felt for him. In that moment words had become superfluous, everything Hal needed to know was expressed completely in one physical act.
Pulling Alex into a hug Hal felt the comfortable weight of her head on his shoulder.
"Trieste," he whispered.
"What?"
"I've never been there before."
Alex nodded, "So we'll start there then."
A/N: Sorry this fic has been so light on Tom, I realise Hal has the same amount of affection for him but I cannot get enough of these Halex moments, so please forgive me. Also, any apologies for mistakes!
Anyway, hope you liked this and let me know what you think!
