Disclaimer: I do not own anything Saw related.
Authors Note: Next chapter in the series. It's springtime here so I figured it should be springtime for the guys too. Plus I got tired of them freezing to death all the time. :) Not much angst in this one, but I kinda like making them happy sometimes, they're kinda cute that way. Plenty of angst to come though.
Spring in New York is much like spring in every other city. It starts out with the small buds on the man made trees that line the carefully carved out parks on city corners -the only rendezvous with nature the city dwellers indulge in. The air is suddenly not so frigid and winter coats are thrown aside in favor of fashionable spring attire and boots up to the knees that make clanking sounds when they hit the manhole covers. In addition, spring in New York brings about new beginnings to all of the residents who spend more time breathing in the air, still smog filled but with a new freshness that wakes them from their winter comas, and less time hiding behind concrete walls inside of tall steel buildings. The wind moves around the skyscrapers in a familiar and highly anticipated dance and strikes each person in a direct and deliberate wake up call as if to say what every New Yorker needs to hear sometimes.
Wake up and take it all in. There is beauty all around and love is in the air.
It is this very message that Lawrence Gordon receives, as the wind blows against him until his perfectly maintained tie is flapping like a flag of surrender. The snow has melted and a simple brown leather jacket is all he needs on this particularly beautiful day in the city. In the park, the grass is turning green and the trees have just begun to sprout leaves.
Life is returning to the city and Lawrence has never felt more alive.
He walks down the path towards the park and smiles as he recognizes landmarks that only existed encased in snow prior to today. He finds the bench where Adam took that picture, the bench where they met for their second time, and stops for a moment to admire the memory of it all. It has been two months since that day. Two months and he can't imagine what his life would be like without the wiry smartass photographer around to piss him off and then, shortly after, make him smile bigger than he ever has.
There is only one thing that could complete his circle of happiness, and she is three thousand miles away.
The sadness of this thought only lasts a moment, though, as Lawrence reaches his planned destination. It is a large open area in the middle of the park. Currently, it is filled with a checkerboard of black suits and fuchsia dresses with one white dress planted firmly in the middle. The owners of the suits and dresses are laughing loudly and dancing around in celebration of another love that has blossomed and matured on this spring day.
It isn't hard to pick out the one who doesn't quite belong here. He is wearing khaki's and a white button up shirt, open at the neck. A strap hangs, in place of a tie, to support the weight of a camera that is currently being aimed at a group of excited children. No matter how hard Lawrence tries, he can never convince Adam to wear a tie. He says he feels like he is being strangled. Still, this is as dressed up as Lawrence has ever seen him and it is something of a treat to see a side of Adam that is usually very hidden.
Lawrence finds a tree and takes advantage of the cool shade. Adam doesn't know he is coming. It is supposed to be a surprise. He worked a late shift in the ER last night and Adam has been busy, wedding season and all, so they haven't seen much of each other recently. While he misses Adam greatly, this has given Lawrence time to research his options regarding Diana. He has even found a lawyer who would be willing to take his case, should he decide to move forward with it.
He wants to see his daughter more than anything. He needs Diana in his life.
He also knows that he cannot be without Adam. He cannot go through those two years all over again and cannot pretend that he isn't in love with someone who is definitely not who everyone wants him to be in love with.
So Lawrence waits until he can find a way to have both. He waits against the tree until Adam notices that someone is staring at him and looks up from the group of kids he has been playing with for the last ten minutes.
Adam is cynical and can hardly get through a conversation without swearing. He is also amazing with kids and they flock to him like moths to a flame. He talks to them like adults and yet somehow they understand him and he understands them and they engage in conversations that leave Lawrence baffled.
If only Diana could meet Adam.
Adam meets Lawrence's eyes and now they are both staring at each other with big goofy smiles. Lawrence knows he must look euphoric, leaning up against a tree with his hands in his pockets and tie flapping in the wind. It must be a strange site for Adam, yet it doesn't stop him from sending the children away on a mission and striding towards him, camera still in hand. When he reaches the tree and Lawrence neither says a thing at first, they just stare.
"Are you surprised?" Lawrence speaks first and Adam raises his eyebrows in amusement.
"Fuck yea. You're lucky I didn't have a heart attack just now. Think that's considered bad luck? Your photographer biting it at your wedding…"
"Don't make me kiss you again…" Instead of responding, Adam grabs Lawrence's tie and pulls him in until their lips touch. It is brief but Lawrence still feels the tingling in his stomach – he is addicted to that feeling and subsequently to Adam.
"So why are you stalking me anyway?" Lawrence laughs and steps side to side awkwardly.
"I just wanted to see you." He pauses and considers before speaking again. He can look Adam in the eye through anything, but this subject makes him nervous. "And, uh, I wanted to talk to you about Diana."
"Oh, ok." Adam's stance changes and he pretends to fidget with his camera though Lawrence knows he is really just trying to distract himself. The subject is an awkward one since he first brought it up and he suspects that Adam didn't really mean what he said about helping him. Adam is not nearly as selfish as he tries to pretend to be.
Lawrence reaches down and takes Adam's hands away from the camera, forcing him to look back up at him.
"Adam, I'm going to try to get her back." The gray eyes, now dark with emotion, barely meet Lawrence's. "I'm going to fight for her like you told me to. We're fighters, right?" Adam cracks a small smile and Lawrence smiles back. "I just wanted you to know that, whatever happens, I'm with you. Whoever asks, the lawyer, Alison, the judge, I'm telling them the truth- that I'm in love with you."
"Lawrence…" Adam starts but Lawrence doesn't let him finish this time. He grips Adam's wrists tighter to get his attention.
"Adam, for once in your life will you shut the fuck up and listen to me?" It takes a moment for this to sink in but soon Adam laughs and nods in response. When he is satisfied, Lawrence continues. "If you want to leave I can't stop you, but I'll still be in love with you and that's not something I can change even if I wanted to." There is a long pause in which only the sounds of the screaming children can be heard. Adam is looking at him and waiting for whatever comes next. "So, I'm going to ask you again. Will you help me, Adam? Even if that means just being with me."
There is another long pause and Lawrence finds himself getting more and more nervous as the silence continues. Adam seems to be considering something and finally, just when Lawrence can barely stand it anymore, he speaks.
"Sorry, am I allowed to talk now? Cause you didn't clarify how long I had to shut the fuck up so…" Lawrence feels the relief wash over him as the sarcastic tone rings in his ears. Adam smiles at him and moves forward until only the camera is between them. "I love you too, man. If you want me around I'm here. I can probably even kick the judges ass or…mysteriously find some obscene photos of him and his secretary…"
Laughing, Lawrence reaches out and pulls him in for another quick kiss. "I'll keep that in mind." He pauses and locks eyes with Adam, making sure he understands. "Thank you."
Their moment is broken up by a group of kids who proudly gather around Adam.
"Mr. Adam we found it!" One of them shouts loudly and holds an object in front of him with a look of complete satisfaction. Adam laughs as he kneels down and looks at the small toad in the kid's hand.
"Hey little man, you actually found one." Adam seems just as surprised and Lawrence shakes his head, still amazed. "You guys are good."
"Is he big enough to scare the asshole who flipped you off for taking his picture?" The kid on the left asks and Adam looks up at Lawrence, feigning innocence.
"Looks like that asshole will get what he deserves, right Mr. Adam?" Lawrence can't help but mock the situation and Adam sends his best 'fuck you' glare back at him.
"Uh…yea. Come on guys, Mr. Adam's gotta get back to work before Mr. Asshole fires his ass." Adam sends the kids towards the wedding first and looks back at Lawrence one last time. "Chinese tonight?"
Lawrence smiles back and slips his hands into his pocket. "Sounds perfect. I'll see if they have frog legs…"
Adam makes eye contact one last time as he discreetly flips Lawrence off and hurries to catch up with the kids.
Lawrence heads back home, looking forward to the day when Diana will meet Adam and fall in love with him too.
