A/N WARNING: Potential trigger/drug use. Sexual content.
"Are you suffocating over there?", Harlee stares at his favorite tie. It feels like a fucking noose, Harlee.
I can't deal with you right now. I can't continue yesterday, she sighs.
Your call, darling...
He leans against the back of his chair, his responses rehearsed, smile a little too bright. Only two at the table notice that.
Finally done with this evening, he gets up and squeezes Tom's shoulder, his grip a little too hard. His teeth flash again and he bids them goodnight. What an excellent liar. She cannot help but feel some respect. The glass door gives in to him with the minimum effort and a heavy breath leaves his lungs. Tonight he will let hell overtake him.
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She folds herself into Tom's arms under the stairs, old hurts temporarily pushed aside. The bulb overhead has burned out and the darkness is perfect. Everything happens so fast, the desire for truth shrinks the distance. They remember each other's bodies and get the first chance to explore what each of them likes. The apartment door flies open and they almost fall through, mad with regrets. The clothes stay on, their hands impatient, urgent. She takes off his jacket, he picks her up and sits on the edge of the bed. She uncurls herself slightly and rubs against him and he suddenly feels her fit him so well. As for Harlee, he feels sweet and familiar, still beloved somewhere deep.
Her skin is hot and exquisite under his fingers. She relearns to follow his every move. His voice is older and deeper, growls sexy as fuck. Where the hell have you been? it doesn't matter right now.
"I missed you forever"- he is so unbelievably gentle. "And now miss you more...", his thrusts unbearably, sinfully hard.
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On the other side of the city, Stahl sits on the beach, completely consumed by his hurt. Half-assed is not him and tonight he falls hard.
The stingy bite of the needle feels remotely familiar. He welcomes it knowing relief will come next. The vein takes cocaine hungrily and he stows the syringe away. His eyes finally close and he can almost feel her underneath him, bringing him gorgeous, radiant pain. He almost hears her whisper the words that can bring him some solace but how can she ever love a sick fuck like him? Soon the poisonous bliss crawls around his body and sweeps away any rational thought. He does not mind, quite the opposite. What does he have to lose now?
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Stahl's dream.
She deliciously hurts from the want.
He asks," Look at me, baby, tell me you love it..."
"I love...you."
He feels his universe tilt.
"What did you say?"
"I love you".
He plunges into her, dizzy, and his Phoenix arises, high high above. His past and his present collide and he loses control. A sure death lifts his soul but his Maker returns it to Earth. With great care, he holds her tight and brings both of them home.
Time fast forwards and he smiles as he watches his son build a sand castle with a tiny dark-haired girl.