Purple

Where purple on her skin would usually cause his breath to hitch due to the unadulterated sexiness of the colour against her alabaster skin tone, Bill's breath now hitches for entirely different reasons. Lying cradled in his arms on his rack, he can't help but notice the track marks of needles punctuating her skin at odd intervals, and leaving behind blooming purple-blue-black bruises. Almost as though the past and present have melded together, Bill can visualise Laura in her purple blouse, as the bruising is so extensive it could be a garment. Finding this manifestation far more than unsavoury, he can't help but feel remorseful and aggrieved when he sees the multiple perversions of what once was one of his favourite colours on his Laura. Tracing the bruises gently – cautious of waking her troubled slumber – Bill trails his hand up her bone-thin arm, pausing at the swell of her breast. At the beast that he is unable to fight for her, but would give anything to be able to – because Bill knows that this time, there'll be no saving graces or Hail-Mary saves – Laura will inevitably deteriorate and die. And all Bill can do is watch as it happens.

Thus, to him, purple equates to helplessness.

Years on the run with the same three suits has worn down her lavender suit to a threadbare cloth hardly worth wearing. Though the suit was never a particular favourite of hers, Laura feels that it housed the most memories, and thus she was less receptive to the idea of discarding it. First and foremost in her heart, the lavender suit marked the first time she met Bill – currently a slumbering mass contentedly spooning her and providing a warmth that can only be described as emanating from within the man himself, rather than a simple sharing of body heat. The suit is also representative of the last time Laura had anything to do with Adar (fondly referred to as moron by Bill). To Laura, the suit is a perfect example of reinvention – she transitioned from her position as the President's tawdry affair to the President of the Colonies – happily in bed with the military (only literally speaking, of course, for figuratively she still holds her stance impressively). Smiling fondly at Bill as he sleeps, Laura gently cups his jaw, and then strokes the underside – tracing his face as if committing it to memory. This is not the case however, as she has already memorised his features, and revels in that knowledge. Warmth builds up within her as she reaches lower and traces his scar, teasing the puckered skin with her feather-light meanderings. To Laura, purple embodies new beginnings and hope.

Thus, Laura is content to remain purple for as long as possible.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed it! I would also like to thank the Guest reviewer for consistently posting after every chapter - I appreciate it immensely! If you liked it, please leave a review! :)