I am going back in time to show the development of Arthur and Sara's relationship. I always label when I'm going back or forward, so keep an eye on those headings :)

Six Months Earlier

Arthur and Joe were at the bar. Joe had already put in his eye drops and went off to party, leaving Arthur alone with his thoughts.

"You look tired," a voice said beside him, making him turn to see a woman standing there with her elbows resting on the bar top. Her head was resting on her folded hands, facing him. Arthur felt something inside of him the moment he laid eyes on her. In fact, she took his breath away. He stared at her stupidly until she started to laugh.

"Now you look like someone has hit you over the head with the 'Love at First Sight' stick," she teased.

"Maybe someone did," Arthur commented. She grew serious then.

"No," she shook her head. "You don't want to love me. Trust me."

"How do you know that?" he challenged. She sucked her teeth.

"I just do," she replied simply. He noticed then what she was wearing.

"You work here?" he asked.

"Yes," she nodded. "It's temporary. I'm trying to move on to bigger and better things, but you need money for that."

Someone came by and passed her eye drops, which she took without even looking at the person. Arthur felt a slight disappointment then. He was not a fan of the drops. He didn't think they were good for a person. Joe couldn't last hardly 12 hours without them. Arthur looked to see Joe walking away with a girl. Then he looked back to see the woman next to him blinking her eyes rapidly.

"Want some?" she asked, holding it out to him.

"No," he shook his head. "I'll stick with my beer, thanks." He lifted his bottle to show her.

"Fair enough," she said, moving away then and disappearing into the crowds.

He realized after that he hadn't even gotten her name.

Days Later

Arthur looked down at the body on the ground, the one he had just blown away. He was always tempted to remove the bag, to see the person he had just murdered, but he could never do it. A part of him wondered why he was doing this. Then he always remembered that he had nothing and no one. It was like a mantra to him.

Nothing and no one. Nothing and no one. Nothing and...

His phone chirped, making him look at it. Joe.

Bar tonight?

See you then, Arthur replied. He put his phone away and looked back at the body. He sighed and bent to collect his silver and put it in his truck before coming back for the body.

...

Sara looked at herself in the mirror, taking in all of her features. The women all around her were chattering and laughing with one another, but she didn't join in. She wondered what she was doing here exactly. Was this really who she wanted to be?

"Why so glum, chum?" her friend, Brenda, asked, nudging her.

"No reason," Sara answered, turning to look at her.

"This ain't forever," Brenda promised, smiling. Her dark skin sparkled with the glitter, and her teeth were extra white in the low light. Sara envied Brenda's features. The woman was beautiful.

"I know," Sara nodded.

"Maybe your fellow will come back," Brenda commented.

"He's not my 'fellow,'" Sara corrected.

"You liked him," Brenda nudged her again. "Don't deny it."

Sara didn't reply, but she knew her friend was right. She did like her mystery man, and she had been looking out for him since she met him a few days earlier.

She hoped he would come tonight.

...

Arthur managed to delay Joe from putting in his drops long enough to have a beer with him.

"I heard Abe wants to make you a Gat Man," Joe said as he sipped.

"Is that so," Arthur said dryly.

"What, you don't want to do it?"

"Not really."

Joe made a face as he chuckled.

"What?" Arthur asked, feeling annoyed.

"I just think you're making a mistake, not taking the offer," Joe shrugged.

"How so?"

"I dunno. Abe doesn't just pick anyone, you know."

"Oh, trust me, I know," Arthur said, taking another swig. Then he saw her. She was walking in his direction, scanning the room. He somehow knew she was looking for him. He felt that same rush as well as his stomach dropping in that pleasant, roller coaster effect kind of way. Their eyes met, and she stopped, obviously surprised and happy to see him.

"I'm gonna go hang with Seth," Joe said. Arthur barely heard him.

"Yea, fine," he said dismissively. He sensed Joe get up and leave, and in a matter of moments, she was sitting in Joe's vacant chair.

"Can't stay away, huh?" she asked.

"Not when you're here," he answered. Her dress was doing a very good job at showing off her figure. He resisted reaching to run his finger down her arm.

"You wanna have some fun?" she asked, pulling out her eye drops. He immediately put his hand over hers, covering them.

"Not like that," he answered. She gave him a puzzled look, not understanding.

"Why not?"

"I just don't like that shit," he explained. "I like having my wits about me aside from a small buzz from alcohol. That's it."

"I see," she nodded slowly. He removed his hand, and she put the drops away. This was intriguing to her, having someone who wanted to be sober when they were around her. It never happened.

"What's your name?" he asked. Then he held up his hand. "Wait, let me guess." He peered at her closely. "Emily?"

"Nope," she shook her head, a smile on her lips.

"Kate?"

"Ha," she snorted. "No way."

"Rita? Rachel? Elise?"

"Okay," she said, stopping him. "You're so far from it that I have to stop you before you start embarrassing yourself."

"Sorry," he smiled. It was a bit crooked, which made her all that more attracted to him. "One last guess?"

"I suppose," she laughed. "Although I doubt you'll get it."

She felt slightly unnerved, but in a good way, as he looked at her. He moved in a little closer to her as well, his face in front of hers.

"Sarah," he said quietly. He didn't know why he said it, but he was thinking about the last woman he had been with, also named Sarah. The sharp intake of her breath made him realize he was right, and he wondered what that meant. Was it fate telling him he was meant to be with a Sarah?

"How did you know?" she asked. "Did someone tell you?"

"No," he shook his head. "Lucky guess. You also look like a Sarah."

"I somehow doubt that," she retorted. He reached to touch her cheek gently, and she practically melted at his touch.

"You do," he said. "But with an 'h' or without one? I always ask."

"Without," she told him. She was bold enough now to reach and smooth his t-shirt over his chest. She stopped her hand over his heart, and he put his hand on top of hers.

"It's nice to meet you," he said.

"Likewise," she replied. There was so much electricity running up her arm from his hand on hers that she felt like she could explode. What he did next surprised her the most, though. He let go of her hand and turned to pay the bartender before standing up.

"I'll see you later," he said.

"Wait...what?" she asked, both shocked and confused. Did they not have something going here?

"I mean what I say," he assured her. "I'll see you later."

Sara sat there stunned as he walked past her and through the crowd. She sat there for about five minutes trying to understand what had just happened when some other guy came along and interrupted her thoughts. Then she was flying high and having a good time, but she didn't entirely forget her mystery man.

She still hadn't gotten his name.

A Week Later

"So...what?" Joe asked. They were at the diner having breakfast. Arthur had just declined Beatrix's offer for more coffee. "You're just gonna keep toying with her?"

"I'm not toying with her," Arthur replied. He had told Joe about the woman he had met. He had refrained from telling him her name, though. He wasn't sure why, but he wanted to keep it to himself.

"Oh, I get it," Joe said, realizing suddenly. "You're trying to make her want you that much more. Build the suspense."

"Now you're getting it," Arthur grinned.

"That's smart," Joe laughed. He stuffed more food into his mouth then. Arthur knew he was still young, and it made him think of Steve every so often, the young man he had apprenticed in 2011 before Steve had tried to kill him. That resulted in Steve getting killed. Arthur tried not to think about that. He had been skeptical of having apprentices ever again, but Joe was different from Steve.

"Better hurry up," Arthur said, gesturing to his watch. He knew Joe had a target soon.

"Yea, yea," Joe said, shoveling the rest in and setting his fork down with a clatter. He wiped his mouth with his napkin and tossed his bills down on the table before getting up. "See you later."

"Have fun," Arthur replied. Joe just waved over his shoulder as he walked out. Arthur was sipping his coffee and looking down at his phone when he felt someone slide into the booth across from him. He looked up and almost dropped his coffee mug.

"Didn't think I'd ever find you, huh?" Sara asked. He immediately noticed how different she looked. He realized he liked her better dressed plain. Her blonde hair was in a bun at the back of her head, and she had on a white t-shirt. He imagined she was wearing jeans.

"I didn't realize you were looking for me," he commented, setting his phone down.

"You said you'd see me later," she said almost accusingly.

"I did, and I am, aren't I?"

"Don't play games."

"I'm not playing games," he promised.

"Were you ever going to come back?" she asked.

"I was tonight, in fact, but you beat me to it."

"I feel like you're lying," she said. Arthur tilted his head at her, trying to get a better read on her.

"And why does it matter if I did? You said you didn't want anyone to love you," he reminded her.

"No, but I'm fine with casual," she said. "We all need it. Company, that is."

His face broke into a smile, and he knew she was hooked, just like he was hooked on her.

"Plenty of other guys out there for company," he noted, pulling his money out to pay for his meal. Sara watched him, and she knew he was leaving soon. She caught sight of his gun then.

"Are you law enforcement or something?" she asked.

"No," he shook his head. "I'm a Looper." He left his blunderbuss in his truck, but he never went anywhere without his pistol.

"What is that?"

"I'll explain it someday," he answered. "But I have to get going right now."

She stood up the same time he did and held her ground in front of him. He waited for her next move.

"Will I see you tonight?" she asked.

"What time are you off?"

"11."

"I'll see you at 11," he promised. He moved past her then, and she let him go. She wondered if he would keep his word.

...

At 11:03, Arthur saw her come out and stand by the entrance of the bar. He watched her for a moment, seeing her anticipation and hope on her face. He stepped out of the shadows then and approached her.

"You came," she said upon seeing him.

"Like I told you, I mean what I say," he replied.

"So, what now?" she asked. He stepped closer to her, guiding her back against the wall. People were walking around them, not paying them any attention. Sara's eyes were on his, her full attention on him. He reached to hold her waist, and she put her hands on his arms.

Without saying anything else, he kissed her.

"Wait," she said breathless after a moment. She had pulled back a little. "I don't even know your name."

He was happy to see that she was just as into him as he was into her. Her reaction to his touch was even more proof.

"Arthur," he said. "Arthur Bishop."

"I meant it," she told him. "Don't fall in love with me. This is just casual, got it?"

"Got it," he nodded. "Just casual." He knew himself, though. He knew he had already fallen for her and wouldn't be able to keep it casual. He just hoped that she would eventually feel the same way, if she didn't already. He had an inkling that she was afraid to go deep with someone, but maybe she could with him once she knew him better. He could only hope.

Sara breathed out a sigh and smiled before pulling him back into her and kissing him again.

Nothing and no one.

Well, it seemed that was about to change.

If you have time to leave a review, I'd really appreciate it :)