Author's Note: Sorry it took me a while. Thanks to all the reviewers/readers! This piece was inspired by the word 'searching'.


RAMBLE ON

Walking down the street next to her, Ray couldn't help but think about that brief eye-contact they'd had back in the restaurant, as cryptic as her side of it had been. Was there really anything to be read from it, or was Ray searching for something that wasn't there? He couldn't help but wonder…

"Ray?"

He looked to her suddenly, head lifting from its downward pensive position where it had dropped somewhat. "Hmm?"

"You okay? You seem a bit… I don't know; distracted maybe."

Ray chuckled at her furrowing of the brow, as if she were concerned. "No, I'm fine. It's just… cold. Are you warm enough?" He inwardly froze after saying that, wondering if she'd spot just how stupid he felt for saying that. It had to be written all over his face, surely.

Well this is going splendidly…

The inner sarcasm was far from appreciated, so he just did his best to ignore it.

"Oh, I'm okay, thank you." Her smile was soft, and warmed Ray somewhat. He returned it with one of his own; crooked but heartfelt. His hands were shoved in his pockets, as if reaching for something that wasn't there, and they continued on their casual walk to the movie theatre.

Maybe we should've gotten a cab, he thought to himself, suddenly having lost track of where they were. He'd lost his concentration on top of that, and felt a little foolish. The night certainly was turning out differently than he'd planned… not that he'd planned much beyond 'ask Abby out to dinner'. Maybe he should have. He'd remember that next time.

If there is a next time, you mean.

"Are you sure you're okay?" she asked him, angling her head so she could look him in the face, one of her neat brows quirking inquisitively.

Ray met her gaze, losing himself there for just a moment before he nodded. "Yeah, sure. I'm fine." He smiled once more, kicking himself inside for making her ask it again, however he'd managed it. The sooner they got to the theatre, the better, he supposed. At least inside the theatre, it would be dark, and he could think without her seeing all his – obviously troubling – facial expressions. Sighing lightly, he watched the cool Chicago air claim it in a puffy cloud, and noticed Abby was staring at him again. "That's a little unnerving," he chuckled, looking down at her.

"It is?" she inquired cheekily. "I thought you liked being watched."

Ray laughed. "You're not gonna start that again, are you?"

"Start what again?" she asked innocently… a false innocence, he knew. She was mischievous; he could see it like a sparkle in her eyes… and he liked it.

"Don't play dumb," he teased. Before he knew what he was doing, he'd added, "It doesn't suit you."

Abby quirked a brow again, clearly thrown or intrigued by his comment, and Ray cleared his throat, looking away from her to see the theatre just down the street. There were people emerging from the entrance, showing that a movie had just kicked out. He had no clue what was showing, but he supposed they'd find out soon enough. They continued their walk, silent now that their little banter had been cut short, and by the time they reached the building to look at the options, Ray found himself closer to Abby than he'd intended. He contemplated shifting away subtly to give her some more space, and then realised she either hadn't noticed, or wasn't bothered by the proximity. He was comforted by that, and so, made no move to change it.

"So," he began casually, hunching his shoulders under his jacket a little out of restlessness, "what do you wanna see?"

"Did I ever mention I'm terrible when it comes to choices like this?" Abby quipped, gazing to him for a few moments, making him laugh quietly again.

"That makes two of us," he lied. There were a few different movies on, of varying genres, from the downright cuddly to the utterly violent. Of course, Ray didn't want to influence her… but there were a couple he'd prefer.

"Got a coin?" Abby asked, looking to him as she turned her body to face his. It was Ray's turn to quirk a brow. She nodded for emphasis, and he retrieved a single coin from his pants' pocket, handing it to her. "Okay," Abby began anew, "pick two movies."

"Um…" Her question had thrown him a little, but at random, he looked to the board and found himself saying, "'Constantine' and 'Sin City'."

Crap, bad choices. One genre, dammit; you picked one genre. Stupid…

Abby nodded. "Okay. Heads for the first one; tails for the other." With that, she flipped the coin, and Ray stepped back, watching her catch it and put it down on the back of her hand. She looked to him almost playfully for a moment, and then revealed the coin's face. "Heads it is," she said in clarification as the coin caught the light. "What're we seeing again?"

Ray nodded to a movie poster beside her.

"Didn't he play Neo?"

Ray laughed. "Yeah he did." Well, at least she knew something about the movie. It was a start.

The two of them headed for the ticket booth, Ray still smiling discreetly.

To Be Continued