So I'm keeping this filler short and sweet, as I'm sure you're all getting as bored of them as I am. They'll be taking a different direction after this one, so bear with me! Another update is coming after this one, so stay tuned. :)
3rd May, 2012. Scotland.
Maria woke up feeling safe. And as an Assassin, that was really saying something.
The first thing she knew was warmth – the solid warmth of another human being, and first sleepy instinct was to get closer and wrap her arms around it like she'd never let go.
Things only got real, however, when it hugged her back.
She opened her eyes, and was greeted with a muggy sort of darkness – she pulled back and realised it was Darren's chest she had been sleeping against. He must've gotten warm and removed his shirt during the night, and she found herself admiring what she saw. Not too muscly, but not fat, either. Just the perfect size, really. She looked up and saw him, face lax in sleep. He did look rather funny, and she couldn't' help but smile: his mouth was half open in sleep, and he'd dribbled all over her pillow. Some stubble had grown during the night too, and he looked all the more attractive for it.
She pulled herself out of his grip carefully – he grumbled in his sleep and drew his hands under his chin, going as stiff as a board. His ribs must still be bothering him, and knowing it made Maria feel a pang of guilt.
Kevin. She should call him. But then again, why should she? It was him that went behind her back and did what she thought was best for her. No, he could wait – let him sulk for a bit. Some space was definitely needed.
And some alone time with Darren wouldn't go amiss.
She got out of bed carefully, and reached for her dressing gown. She wasn't sure how to go about thanking him for staying the whole night with her, but she had an idea.
McDonald was accustomed to waking up to the sound of roaring traffic outside his apartment and the sound of his alarm clock, but this was something new – the sizzle of bacon. It guided him out of sleep so gently and sweetly, and he began salivating onto the pillow he'd apparently already soaked. He sat up quickly, forgetting himself, and the pain ripped through his chest – he grunted and wrapped a hand around his chest, and wasn't as quiet about it as he hoped.
'Are you alright?' Maria called from the kitchen.
'Yeah, fine,' McDonald called airily back, wincing. 'Is that bacon you're cooking?'
'Would you like some?'
'Read my mind,' McDonald replied, smiling to himself as he tried to shuffle out of bed. Having spent a night curled around someone else really had not done his ribs any good. He was halfway off the bed when Maria appeared in the doorway, carrying a tray laden with bacon and toast and a pot of steaming tea.
'No, no – you sit down,' Maria said firmly, advancing towards him as if she wouldn't accept any other option. McDonald protested half-heartedly as she bullied him back into bed, but let himself be tucked back in and handed breakfast.
'A thank you – for last night. You didn't have to come back.'
'Nah, I don't need thanking.' McDonald replied, waving her thanks away before tucking in. It was great. Best breakfast he'd had in ages. They shared the tea and sat in companionable silence, sipping from Maria's chipped mugs. A question was lingering, and it was McDonald who asked it.
'So, uhm…Maria,' he said, setting down his empty mug on the tray. Maria looked at him expectantly. 'See, uhm…I didn't do this properly the, erm, the first time. If it can be counted as that. Well, it probably can't be counted at all, so. Yeah,' he coughed awkwardly. 'Don't suppose I could, uhrm, take you out for a drink sometime? Maybe?'
McDonald watched Maria carefully. If she said no, then he'd probably ruined everything. The night before had been completely innocent…but…maybe…?
Maria's face broke into a smile. 'Yeah. Yeah, I'd like that.'
McDonald grinned back, hardly believing it. 'You would? You really would?'
'Sure. What's wrong in having a little bit of fun?' She replied.
'That's – that's great,' McDonald said, grinning like an idiot. 'I'll, uhm, I'll text you! Shall we do a Saturday night or something?'
'Sounds good to me,' Maria said, smiling. They shared another quiet moment, smiling at each other over the tops of their mugs.
And McDonald felt happy again.
As I've said, another update's on the way! :)