Putting Out Fires
Paul sat in his truck and stared at the large house a few moments before he got out. This was far different than the first time he came here for the party. There was no long line of cars down the drive, nor were there strobe lights or loud music. It was actually really quiet, which he figured had more to do with the fact they were out in the middle of the woods. But it was also peaceful. Welcoming.
Needless to say, if someone other than Roisin answered the door, Paul wasn't so sure the welcoming feeling would last.
He finally got out and walked up to the door, slightly nervous as he rang the bell and then stepped back to wait. The door opened almost immediately, revealing a scowling Sean. Paul nearly jumped, his eyes wide, though he had already been expecting this. He then cleared his throat and put on his most winning smile (at least he hoped).
"Hi, hello… Mr. O'Connor… sir. I'm here to pick up Roisin," he said, wondering if he should shake his hand or not. Sean just stood there, staring at him, as he slowly crossed his arms in front of him. Okay, maybe no shaking of the hand. "We, um, we have a date tonight…"
Sean raised an eyebrow at him, but didn't move to let him in. Didn't say anything. There wasn't much that scared Paul, but he had to admit he was slightly frightened right now. No, not frightened because he didn't get afraid - more like… extremely concerned. Sure, Paul was used to disapproving parents, but that never really bothered him. However, there was something about the way Sean stared him down. That air of menace and foreboding was most definitely back.
"Oh my god, stop it, Sean."
Paul breathed a sigh of relief as Roisin pulled her uncle back and frowned up at him, the moment of panic passing. Sean looked down at her, raising an eyebrow, and two seemed to enter a battle of the wills for a few moments. Finally, he stepped back, allowing Roisin out the door.
"Not too late," he said sternly.
"I know," Roisin replied, not even bothering to look at him as she smiled at Paul. She stepped up and hugged him, kissing him on the cheek in the process. She then turned back to Sean. "Seriously, you don't have to hover. I'll see you in the morning. Tell Cara I said hi."
Paul chanced a glance at Sean after that small display of affection, almost worried he had made him angier. Surprisingly, it looked as though Sean was barely suppressing a smile. Ah, so he was one of those uncles that took joy in scaring the crap out of his niece's dates when they came to pick them up.
Paul wasn't sure if he should be relieved that Sean didn't hate him, or angry that he was pulling the overprotective bullshit.
"Be safe," Sean called out with a smirk and a wink, though before Paul could react, Roisin had his hand and was yanking him towards the truck.
"Is he always like that?" he asked, looking down at her.
"Like what? Annoying?" she asked, smiling slightly, though Paul could easily tell that it didn't completely reach her eyes.
Okay. He had picked up through their phone conversations and texts this week - or well, he supposed the imprint also had something to do with it - that something was bothering her. This just confirmed it. At least they had an hour-long drive to Port Angeles. More than enough time to get it out of her and try to make things better.
Huh? Wait. Since when did Paul ever try to make things better? Right. Imprint. God, this was weird and wonderful all at the same time, which certainly made for a sometimes confusing combination of emotions.
"More like intimidating," Paul said as they reached the truck and he pulled the passenger side door open. Roisin laughed softly.
"Sean intimidates you?" she asked as she climbed in.
"A little bit, but I'm not sure why since I'm so much-" Paul stopped speaking before he finished the sentence. He hadn't meant to say that, even though he thought it true - he was much larger and, he felt, stronger than Sean. He had no doubt if it ever came down to a physical fight, he could take him.
Maybe it was an authority figure thing. Yea, that had to be it.
"I wouldn't underestimate him. He's surprisingly strong. And can get pretty scary if you push him the wrong way," she said.
"Oh… shit, he hates me, doesn't he," Paul said, gulping and glancing back towards the house. He was fully expecting to see Sean watching from one of the windows.
But Roisin guided his head back around to her, a small smile on her lips. She pressed a brief kiss to his lips that had warmth and calm spreading through his body.
"Don't worry about Sean," she said before turning back into the truck and reaching for her seatbelt.
Paul shook his head slightly to clear it and then shut the door. He quickly walked around the hood and got in on the other side. He pulled on his seatbelt and started the car, then took off, realizing if he didn't hurry, they wouldn't have time to go to the snack stand before the movie started.
Roisin leaned forward and messed with the radio - something that would usually get someone chewed up and spit out, though for some reason Paul didn't want to stop her - finally stopping on some sort of soft, acoustic song. All guitars and smooth crooning. She then sat back in the seat and turned towards the window, her brow furrowed slightly.
Paul could feel it more strongly in his bones. Something was upsetting Roisin, though she had been a bit better at trying to cover it earlier. Maybe it was linked to the family emergency on Wednesday. She still hadn't told him what it was. Hadn't even mentioned it, now that he thought about it. Anytime he tried to bring it up, she would skate around it and end up changing the subject.
"Everything okay?" he asked. Roisin sat up suddenly, her eyes wide as though she had gotten lost in her thoughts for a moment. "You seem a bit off. This anything about the family emergency?"
Roisin stared at him a few moments and then sighed, looking down at her hands as she studied her nails, seeming hesitant.
"You know, you can tell me… whatever it is. Maybe I can help," he ventured. She glanced at him again.
"So… When I got back to the house that night, Mae and I got into this huge fight. She hasn't spoken to me since," she finally admitted, looking up at the road.
"What happened?" he asked, feeling a spike of dislike towards Mae.
"I came back and found out there was no emergency. She just… really wanted me to hang with her and her friends. But then we started yelling at each other and..." she stopped speaking for a bit, her brow furrowed. "We've never had a fight like this before and I don't know what to say or do to fix it."
Paul wasn't sure how to respond. He wasn't good with girl issues. Or well, just dealing with issues in general. He tended to attempt to solve his own problems with his fists more often than not. True, Sam and Jared would often force him to sit down and talk things out rather than allowing him to clobber whoever made him angry, but it still didn't feel very natural for him. Paul was more a man of action than words.
"Have you tried to fix it?" he asked, keeping his voice gentle and trying to sound like he knew what he was talking about, rather than grasping for straws like he was currently doing. Roisin glanced at him and laughed softly.
"I've tried talking to her. She just ignores me. Or avoids me altogether," she replied ruefully with a slight roll of her eyes.
"Well… what was the fight about?" he then asked, realizing she had never actually said anything about the source of the issue. Roisin remained silent a bit longer this time.
Okay, she obviously didn't want to tell him. Shit, he really hoped it wasn't about him, thinking back to his assumption that the interruptions on their dates were intentional. Well, this one had been intentional, though he wasn't exactly sure why. He was going to have to work harder to win over the rest of Roisin's family, it seemed. Unless he had it all wrong and this was about something else completely, which was just as plausible.
"Just… more of what I talked about before. We're… changing. And she's not exactly happy with how I'm changing," Roisin replied finally.
"Well, do you think you're changing for the better? Or the worse?" he asked, silently wondering where this was coming from. He actually sounded like he knew what he was doing with that question.
"I'm not really sure," she said. Paul looked over at her, seeing the concerned look on her face.
"I admit… I'm not so good with this sort of thing, but I guess the only thing you can do is… keep trying to talk to her. But if she won't talk to you… after awhile you'll have to make peace with the fact that there probably isn't much you can do," he said.
He wasn't sure if that helped at all, but he was desperate to say or do anything that might make her feel better. Roisin looked over at him, a soft smile on her face.
"Yea? How do you usually solve problems, then?" she asked, smoothly directing the conversation back to him yet again. He chuckled and kept his eyes on the road.
"Truthfully? I used to get into a lot of fist fights," he said, not wanting to chance looking at her. "Wouldn't recommend that with Mae."
He heard her laugh softly and he glanced over at her. She was smiling - a genuine smile this time.
"Yea, I don't think that would fix anything," she said, though for a moment it almost looked like she was considering.
Maybe they were more alike than he previously thought.
"You and Mae have been friends a long time. I'm sure whatever it was about, eventually you'll work it out. Sometimes Jared and I have misunderstandings. We might not talk a couple days, but eventually it works itself out and we go back to normal," he said.
And, well, a lot of times, it still took the two of them throwing a few punches to get over it. But yea, not something he was keen on sharing at the moment.
"Yea, you might be right," she said with a sigh. "Thanks… for listening to me and giving me some good advice…"
"Anytime, Ro," he replied, smiling at her. He saw her smile grow.
"So… what movie are we going to see?" she then asked, seeming brighter.
"Thought I'd let you choose. There's this rom-com that's supposed to be really funny with Jessica Alba. And then a scary movie with Josh Harnett. It's vampires in Alaska or something," he said, thankful he had checked out the times and such in advance.
Roisin thought it over a bit before turning to him, grinning a bit deviously.
"Josh Harnett and vampires. Definitely," she replied.
"You sure? It's supposed to be gory," he said, not sure if she would be up for it.
"Eh, I can handle a bit of gore," she replied nonchalantly.
Paul smiled, finding he liked that response. There was definitely a more devious side to Roisin, he decided. And he hoped that he would get to see more of it soon.
"Then it's settled," he replied, turning his attention back to the road.
"So… how are things in La Push?" Roisin then asked, seeming eager to keep the conversation focused on him.
"Good, though, you know those weird signs that have been popping up in Forks? Looks like whoever is doing it is getting bored. They started showing up in La Push," he said. Roisin turned to him, her eyes wide.
"When?" she asked, seeming far more worried about it than Paul thought was warranted. Unless she knew something about it.
No, he was not about to let Jacob get to him.
"Started showing up yesterday. Just a couple," he replied. "Police are looking into it. And it's just spray paint. Nothing serious. In fact, they were all painted over by today."
"Oh," Roisin said, settling back into her seat, though her brow was still furrowed.
"Seriously, Ro. You don't have to worry," he replied with a chuckle. "It's a bunch of harmless graffiti." She nodded.
"Right."
Okay, she was definitely worried. Maybe he shouldn't have brought it up. He needed to change the topic fast.
"We were thinking about doing a bonfire on the beach soon. You want to come?" he asked.
Roisin looked over at him, a slight blush coming over her cheeks and her mood changing instantly. She still seemed a bit worried, but he had a feeling it was for different reasons.
"We? You mean… you and all your friends?" she asked. Paul chuckled, wondering just why she was nervous.
"You've already met most of them," he said. "Though there are a few others you haven't yet. But there's nothing to worry about. I know they'll like you."
"So… I would be going as your date," she then stated.
It was Paul's turn to blush. Which was strange. He couldn't recall a time when he had blushed as much as he had since meeting Roisin. Had to be the imprint.
"Yea… as my date," he confirmed. Roisin's smile blossomed.
"Okay, yea. I'm in."
OOOO
Roisin felt loads better.
They had settled into talking about the bonfire and everyone in Paul's friend group that Roisin hadn't met yet, before moving on to other, lighter topics. The hour-long drive passed pretty quickly and soon they were at the theater, with Paul buying their tickets. She then insisted on getting the snacks and now they were settled in their seats with way more food than Roisin usually got when she went to see a movie.
Paul really could put it away. He must work out a lot. That was the only explanation she could think of to explain how he managed to be so cut while eating a ton - dear goddess how she dreamed of feeling those rock hard abs again, maybe even actually seeing them. Didn't she read something about professional athletes needing to eat a lot of food to keep up their form or something? Maybe that was it… though he never actually talked about playing sports or working out, now that she really thought about it. A genetic thing, maybe?
And then he was so unnaturally warm all the time. Even now, she could feel heat radiating from his body through her clothes and they were barely touching. Maybe it was a genetic thing as well. Or maybe it was her? No, that made no sense.
Paul smiled at her as the lights dimmed. She turned to the screen, smiling into her soda as the previews started up. About halfway through, he slid his arm around the back of her chair and she naturally snuggled against him, finding his warmth comforting. Just as she was getting settled, there was something out of the corner of her eye.
Trying not to alert Paul of anything, she surreptitiously glanced over, but all she saw were the other moviegoers. Seriously, she was letting the graffiti get to her. They were in Port Angeles. Nothing fae was going on here.
So she settled back in to watch the movie, tossing some butter popcorn into her mouth as the screen dimmed and the movie started.
Immediately, she realized this was a bad idea.
Shit. It was set in Alaska. She should have fucking known better.
As soon as a vast, frozen wasteland appeared on the giant movie screen, filling her vision, her mind went to places she didn't want to go. Fuck. She should have chosen the stupid rom-com. But it was too late to walk out now and she couldn't let Paul know anything was wrong, so she fought to keep calm. Regulate her breathing. Surely she could make it through a stupid mortal movie about vampires. Even if it was set in a land covered in snow and ice.
She felt Paul's hand begin to rub up and down on her arm. She didn't look at him, worried she was somehow showing that she was upset. Instead, she tried to keep her body relaxing, focusing on the soothing touch of his hand.
Keep it together, she urged herself silently.
Roisin didn't even realize that she began to tense up more and more as the movie continued on, but at one point, Paul finally leaned over towards her.
"You okay?" he whispered in her ear.
She didn't respond at first. There was nothing dramatic going on screen. There was no reason for her to be so tense as nothing scary had even happened in the movie yet.
But she couldn't lie. And telling him that she was fine would be lying. Shit. She needed to think.
Before she could answer him, the first attack happened on screen and Roisin jumped and gasped, nearly completely tossing her popcorn box into the air, though she was grateful for some sort of action that she could focus on rather than the snow and ice. She shot him an embarrassed smile.
"Sorry," she breathed. Paul seemed to accept this as he turned back to the screen, though he continued to glance at her out of the corner of his eye every so often.
Roisin looked back at the screen, not bothered by the blood and violence. Honestly, she had seen worse. Fae were far more vicious than mortals seemed to think, if the depictions of them in pop culture were anything to go by. For a time, she was able to stay calm. But as more and more scenes involving the barren snowy landscape showed, the more she felt herself slipping.
A palace of snow and ice. Cold creeping into her veins and bones. Overwhelming fear.
Roisin knew her breathing was becoming erratic. And that Paul knew something was wrong, even though she was trying so hard to hold onto control. Another vampire attack happened on screen and Roisin squeezed her eyes shut, but that was a bad idea.
All she could see were ice blue eyes. A cruel smile.
You are mine...
There was a loud noise and Roisin jumped, her popcorn flying through the air. She could hear complaints from people around her, but she ignored it as she leaned over, putting her head between her knees as she hugged herself and began to rock up and down, just trying to breathe.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. This wasn't supposed to happen. This shouldn't be happening. Why was this happening?
"Ro, just breathe," Paul said softly, rubbing her back.
"What the fuck, man?" a voice hissed next to him.
"She's having a panic attack," Paul growled at him.
"Then get her the fuck out."
Roisin could feel the rumble of a growl that ran through Paul. Somehow she managed to gather her wits enough to sit up.
"Come on," she said softly, grabbing his arm and standing.
Earning a lot of glares and complaints, she somehow managed to pull Paul out of their row and then out of the theater. Once there, she collapsed on a bench, again dropping her head between her knees and fighting off the onslaught of memories as her entire body began to shake.
Even though she was far away and she knew she was safe here in the mortal world, she could feel the bitter cold. The bite of ice forming up her arms, around her throat.
"Ro, what's going on?" Paul asked, warmth enveloping her as he sat down next to her and put his arm around her. She leaned into his touch, welcoming his body heat and willing it to chase away the cold. "God, you feel clammy."
She couldn't speak. Not yet.
"Dude… you left all your fucking trash!"
Roisin's eyes flew open as she looked over, seeing the guy who had been sitting next to her had followed them out, holding up some of the food containers. Apparently he was aching for a fight. Immediately, Paul was on his feet, towering over the guy. He suddenly started backing away, his eyes going wide.
"What? You got something to say now?" he growled. For a moment, Roisin was distracted from the whirlpool in her mind.
She wasn't sure just why he was being so aggressive - his entire body was tense and his hands had already formed fists, reading to strike out - or why she found it so attractive. But then she realized she needed to stop this before someone called the police or they got kicked out.
"Paul, it's fine," she said. "Leave it."
In an instant, the shaking stopped, though he didn't back away from the guy, who now held his hands up in defeat.
"Paul," she said again.
"Get out of my sight," Paul growled before turning back to her and returning to her side, his look of fury now replaced with one of concern. "Are you okay?"
"Better," she said with a weak smile, almost having emotional whiplash with the rapid change in the tone of his voice. The aggressive edge was gone and replaced with a soothing, gentleness.
"I'm sorry. I didn't realize the movie would be that scary," he said, looking guilty.
"It's fine. I was the one that chose it," she replied. "I didn't know it would be like... that." She looked away from him, finding it easier to fight off the memories with him next to her. "Sorry I lost it in there."
"You don't need to apologize," he said immediately. "And you don't need to be embarrassed."
Roisin smiled up at him, wondering just how someone could be so understanding without knowing anything. For a moment, it was on the tip of her tongue to tell him everything. That she wasn't human. That she had run away. Why she ran away. But she didn't. She couldn't.
"Maybe we should go back to town or something," he suggested. But Roisin didn't want the date to be over. She didn't want to be away from him.
"We could go back to my place. Watch some movies there," she said instantly. Sean was out for the night with Cara and Roisin was fairly sure that Mae would be out with Carly and Rosemary doing goddess knew what.
It would be just the two of them alone in the house.
"Yea, that sounds good," Paul said, seeming happy with the suggestion. Probably because he knew as well that they would have the house to themselves.
They then stood and walked out of the theater hand-in-hand, quickly making their way to his truck. They didn't talk for a bit and Roisin used the time to calm herself.
She was fine. She was in the mortal world. Far from the Winter Court. And she would never have to go back there. Hopefully. They still hadn't found a way out of her conundrum.
"You want to talk about it?" Paul finally asked, glancing at her. Roisin stiffened unconsciously.
But she should have expected this. Normal people didn't have panic attacks in scary movies. At least she didn't think they did. Maybe they did...
"Not really," she replied. "Not… now, anyway. But maybe later…"
He nodded, seeming to accept this.
"Okay. But you know that you don't have to be afraid or embarrassed or anything. You can tell me. I'm not going anywhere," he vowed.
Roisin looked over, studying him. He kept his eyes on the road, but glanced at her a couple times. She could see his muscles tensing slightly under his jacket, as though he knew that someone had hurt her and he wanted nothing more than to go after them. And she found this comforting. Endearing, in a way, that he wanted to run off and fight for her. Even though she knew there was nothing he could do.
And she believed him. That he wasn't going anywhere.
"Thanks," she said. Paul just smiled and then reached over, turning the radio on.
Roisin settled into her seat and looked out the window, but after a few moments, she felt his hand cover hers on the seat. A smile came over her face as she looked at him, intertwining her fingers with his.
She knew he was mortal. Knew this wouldn't last. But she couldn't help but wish that it could.
OOOO
As soon as they pulled up in front of the house, all the warm fuzzies from the car ride back were gone. Roisin didn't even wait for Paul to turn off the truck before opening the door and hopping out, then coming to a stop as she stared at the house.
Her anger kicked in as soon as they hit the long drive through the trees to the house, already seeing the cars lining it and then spiked by the time they had made their way up to the house.
She was absolutely livid. Of all the things for Mae to do to get back at Roisin, she had to resort to this.
"I thought you said no more parties," Paul said, coming up to her side and sounding confused.
"I did," Roisin growled, sure there was heat radiating off her, but she didn't bother to temper herself.
Before she had wanted to fix things with Mae. Apologize. But this… oh, Roisin was going to let her have it. And if she saw one drop of fae wine, she just might have a hurricane-level blowout with her so-called best friend.
"Come on," she said, stomping up to the front door. "I've got words for Mae."
OOOO
So… shit's about to go down…
twilightlover427 – Thank you!
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