~~~~Part 7~~~~
0146 est
AMC Skyline 12
Skyline Mall
Falls Church, VA
(Harm's POV)
We walk out of the theater into the empty mall, and make our way outside to the car, talking about the movie. Okay, more specifically, about Legolas, her elf in shining spandex.
"Come on, Harm, you have to admit that the part where he slid down the stairs on a shield, shooting arrows at the orcs, was awesome! I mean, he even got one more with the shield when he let it fly out from under his feet at the bottom, now you've got to agree, that was pretty cool."
"Eh...I guess it was okay, I mean, sure, he can shoot a bow and arrow, but I didn't see much hand-to-hand combat from him."
"Harm, did you totally zone out on the part where he takes both his daggers from the sheaths on his back and starts killing the Uruk-hai left and right?"
"Yeah, I saw that part, but it was only one part. And how about when he was supposed to kill that one orc or whatever, that was about to blow up the wall, huh? He missed the neck, where he was supposed to be aiming. He didn't kill him, and the guy blew up the wall."
"Well, yeah, but what about all those other times where he did-"
"No, no, hang on, are you completely ignoring the fact that he couldn't take out that one orc, where it counted the most? Mac, I thought you were a better judge than that."
"Harm."
"Yeah?"
"Shut up."
"Okay." We're now standing next to the passenger side of my SUV, grinning at each other, because we both love arguing about such unimportant things as elves and orcs. It seems to take away, for a time, the complications that surround our lives.
Out of nowhere, Mac is overcome by a huge yawn, and I suddenly remember that it's already almost 0200 Saturday morning. I unlock the door, open it, and help her into the car, then close the door and walk around to my side, get in, and look over at Mac. Her head is leaning back against the seat, and she's already asleep. I reach carefully over and grab the seatbelt and try to fasten it without disturbing her. After it's fastened, I take a moment to just look at her. I notice an errant strand of hair over her forehead, and, naturally, I brush it lightly aside with the tips of my fingers.
Finally, I'm able to tear my gaze away from her and I start the car and point it towards her place.
0233 est
Mac's apartment
(Harm's POV)
I pulled into the parking lot of Mac's apartment building about 5 minutes ago, and I've just been sitting here, watching her sleep, wondering what I sould do. I really hate to wake her up, I mean, she looks so content. But we also can't just sit here in my SUV all night (well, morning), because it's just too cold. I finally just decide to carry her inside. She's a light sleeper, so she'll probably wake up the moment I touch her,anyway.
I step out of the car and walk around to the passenger side and open her door carefully, just to be sure she isn't leaning against it. I fumble with my key ring, looking for the key to her place, so that I have it ready when we get upstairs. After I've got the key, I undo her seatbelt and gently put one arm around her back and the other under the bend of her knees. I straighten up, and she stirs a little, mumbles a soft, "Harm?" and then wraps her arms around my neck and leans her head against my chest.
"I wish I could stay like this forever." Yeah, so do I.
I get her up to her apartment, and fumble a little with the keys, but I manage to get the door open without dropping her. Once inside, I gently nudge the door closed with my foot and bring her into her bedroom and place her on the bed. I stand contemplating whether I should have woken her up after all. She's dressed in a nice skirt and shirt, and she has a jacket and shoes on. I think I'll just take off her jacket and shoes. I do that and pull the covers over her, tucking her in nice and tight.
I turn to leave, and she says, "Harm..."
I turn around and look at her and say, "I'll be back later on. Is 0900 too early?"
"No, that's fine."
"Okay, I'll see you then, Mac." And then I turn to leave again, but she calls out again,
"Harm."
I turn around again and say, "Yeah?"
"Thank you." I hesitate for a second, and then walk back over to the bed, lean down, and give her a light kiss on the forehead, accompanied by a whispered, "My pleasure."
"Hmm...that was nice." I smile and then turn and leave, turning off the lights and shutting her bedroom door quietly. I really wish she were awake now to fasten the chain lock, but I think it would be kind of silly to wake her now. So I just settle for locking both door locks from the outside.
I get into my car and head for home. I'm halfway there, and I've stopped at a red light. I look over at the passenger side, and on the floor, I see her purse. Damn. It's too late now. I don't think she'll need it before 0900 anyway, so I'll just take it in with me when I get home.
When I finally do get home, it's about 0315, and I'm dead tired. I pick Mac's purse up, and her phone falls out onto the floor of the car. I grab it and head up to my apartment. Once inside, I go to my bedroom, put her phone and purse on the bedside table, and strip down to my boxers and get into bed. I'm asleep the second my head hits the pillow.
0146 est
AMC Skyline 12
Skyline Mall
Falls Church, VA
(Harm's POV)
We walk out of the theater into the empty mall, and make our way outside to the car, talking about the movie. Okay, more specifically, about Legolas, her elf in shining spandex.
"Come on, Harm, you have to admit that the part where he slid down the stairs on a shield, shooting arrows at the orcs, was awesome! I mean, he even got one more with the shield when he let it fly out from under his feet at the bottom, now you've got to agree, that was pretty cool."
"Eh...I guess it was okay, I mean, sure, he can shoot a bow and arrow, but I didn't see much hand-to-hand combat from him."
"Harm, did you totally zone out on the part where he takes both his daggers from the sheaths on his back and starts killing the Uruk-hai left and right?"
"Yeah, I saw that part, but it was only one part. And how about when he was supposed to kill that one orc or whatever, that was about to blow up the wall, huh? He missed the neck, where he was supposed to be aiming. He didn't kill him, and the guy blew up the wall."
"Well, yeah, but what about all those other times where he did-"
"No, no, hang on, are you completely ignoring the fact that he couldn't take out that one orc, where it counted the most? Mac, I thought you were a better judge than that."
"Harm."
"Yeah?"
"Shut up."
"Okay." We're now standing next to the passenger side of my SUV, grinning at each other, because we both love arguing about such unimportant things as elves and orcs. It seems to take away, for a time, the complications that surround our lives.
Out of nowhere, Mac is overcome by a huge yawn, and I suddenly remember that it's already almost 0200 Saturday morning. I unlock the door, open it, and help her into the car, then close the door and walk around to my side, get in, and look over at Mac. Her head is leaning back against the seat, and she's already asleep. I reach carefully over and grab the seatbelt and try to fasten it without disturbing her. After it's fastened, I take a moment to just look at her. I notice an errant strand of hair over her forehead, and, naturally, I brush it lightly aside with the tips of my fingers.
Finally, I'm able to tear my gaze away from her and I start the car and point it towards her place.
0233 est
Mac's apartment
(Harm's POV)
I pulled into the parking lot of Mac's apartment building about 5 minutes ago, and I've just been sitting here, watching her sleep, wondering what I sould do. I really hate to wake her up, I mean, she looks so content. But we also can't just sit here in my SUV all night (well, morning), because it's just too cold. I finally just decide to carry her inside. She's a light sleeper, so she'll probably wake up the moment I touch her,anyway.
I step out of the car and walk around to the passenger side and open her door carefully, just to be sure she isn't leaning against it. I fumble with my key ring, looking for the key to her place, so that I have it ready when we get upstairs. After I've got the key, I undo her seatbelt and gently put one arm around her back and the other under the bend of her knees. I straighten up, and she stirs a little, mumbles a soft, "Harm?" and then wraps her arms around my neck and leans her head against my chest.
"I wish I could stay like this forever." Yeah, so do I.
I get her up to her apartment, and fumble a little with the keys, but I manage to get the door open without dropping her. Once inside, I gently nudge the door closed with my foot and bring her into her bedroom and place her on the bed. I stand contemplating whether I should have woken her up after all. She's dressed in a nice skirt and shirt, and she has a jacket and shoes on. I think I'll just take off her jacket and shoes. I do that and pull the covers over her, tucking her in nice and tight.
I turn to leave, and she says, "Harm..."
I turn around and look at her and say, "I'll be back later on. Is 0900 too early?"
"No, that's fine."
"Okay, I'll see you then, Mac." And then I turn to leave again, but she calls out again,
"Harm."
I turn around again and say, "Yeah?"
"Thank you." I hesitate for a second, and then walk back over to the bed, lean down, and give her a light kiss on the forehead, accompanied by a whispered, "My pleasure."
"Hmm...that was nice." I smile and then turn and leave, turning off the lights and shutting her bedroom door quietly. I really wish she were awake now to fasten the chain lock, but I think it would be kind of silly to wake her now. So I just settle for locking both door locks from the outside.
I get into my car and head for home. I'm halfway there, and I've stopped at a red light. I look over at the passenger side, and on the floor, I see her purse. Damn. It's too late now. I don't think she'll need it before 0900 anyway, so I'll just take it in with me when I get home.
When I finally do get home, it's about 0315, and I'm dead tired. I pick Mac's purse up, and her phone falls out onto the floor of the car. I grab it and head up to my apartment. Once inside, I go to my bedroom, put her phone and purse on the bedside table, and strip down to my boxers and get into bed. I'm asleep the second my head hits the pillow.