I know this idea has been done before, but I really love this song and I've wanted to write something for it since the first time I heard it.

I also know this idea has been done with this pairing before, but I really do believe that it just seems to have them stamped all over it. It's just that sort of melancholy, nostalgic undertone. Oh, it's also AU, as I so commonly do.


Before Richard turned 23, he'd never gone out for New Year's. He'd never felt the need. When Roy, his sometimes best friend, had found out, he'd insisted on accompanying Richard to his first ever New Year's night out. After that, it had become somewhat like tradition. It didn't matter what city they were in, but they always went out. This is how he ended up almost but not quite drunk out in Jump City, his old stomping grounds.

He's been drinking since 9:30 and it's almost midnight. The alcohol has definitely gone to his head, but he's suddenly sobered when he catches a glimpse of familiar purple hair. She's changed a lot, but there's no hiding that unmistakable hair. The bar lights are right behind her head, so he can't really see her face, but he can see her smile. And he can hear the band playing like the background music in some movie moment. Except this isn't a movie and (he actually pinches himself) it's not a dream either. No, this is really happening. She is really right there in that white dress and goddamn, it's been so long.

He knows that she sees him and he can see her turning, can see her laughing, can see her clutching her drink as if her life depended on it. He knows her, can spot her tells from a mile away, even after all this time. She's turning to avoid eye contact; her laugh is too forced, too contrived as she tries to seem more engaged in her conversation. And well, she's holding her drink that tightly because she's obviously nervous.

He knows eye contact is unavoidable when they're both stealing as many glances as they are and when it finally happens, she smiles that little half-smile she gives when she's unsure if she should be smiling or not. And suddenly, she's not smiling at him from across the room, but standing right in front of him asking how he is. The room is suddenly spinning more than it was before (or is that just his nerves?) She's just close enough for him to smell the familiar scent of her perfume (she always was a creature of habit) and at once, Richard can't help but to imagine what it felt like to hold her in his arms, her hair in his face. The rush of thought and emotion he'd long held at bay seems to assault him at once and he can only manage to choke out a simple, "Good. How about you?" He knows how she hates fake pleasantries and that if she asked, she meant it and expected him to say something more substantial than just 'good,' but it's too late to take it back. She tries to give a smile, but her mouth barely tugs up at the corners, betraying her disappointment. "I'm doing well, thank you." And just like that, what could have been a conversation is over in only twelve words.

She leaves with a dark-haired man Richard has never seen before. But then, Richard doesn't know jack shit about her life anymore, so it's no surprise that he doesn't know the guy. Hell, for all he knows, Raven or Rachel or whatever she's going by these days doesn't know the guy either. As she's leaving, she shoots a look back over her shoulder, seeking him out. Then she can't get out the door fast enough. It's that last look that reaches him in a way that he knows he can't just let her walk away…again.

He passes by Roy as he's making his mad dash for the exit and barely stops long enough to spit out, "Be back later. Rachel." Roy knows him well enough to be able to decipher what that means, even though Richard himself is not exactly sure what it means at this point in time. All he knows right now is that he just needs to see her again. He's knows that if he allows her to leave now, he's going to regret it for a long time. He just knows it, can feel it. He just needs to see her, even if it means traveling to the depths of hell or the end of the world.


Alright, so again I kind of leave the ending open. And I always have trouble with endings, I feel like they are too abrupt, but I don't really know how to fix that.

Anyways, let me know what you think about, whether you liked it or not. I appreciate feedback. Thank you for reading.

Sorry, one more thing. See what I did at the end there? C; (I couldn't resist.)