When the sun rose, its light managed to snake through the blinds and fall in a strip conveniently only big enough to cover Desmond's eyes. Which was not how he wanted to wake up... But it was what he got, so with a sigh, he threw his legs over the side of the bed and stretched.
Today was hopefully going to be a good day. His mother was coming back.
It seemed odd, the prospect of seeing her again... It had been so long, he wasn't sure if he was excited about it. Or nervous. Or both. Yeah... yeah, "both" was probably the safest bet.
He knew how everybody ELSE felt about it. How could he not? All he'd heard for the last week whenever he was around the Headquarters was about his mother. Everywhere he wandered, someone would bring her up. They all seemed to think he should be pumped about it. And he was, just... not as much as he should have been. Or rather, as much as he wanted to be.
The sound of the alarm going off made him jump. The sun's discourteous waking had beat the alarm to it. Thinking about the sunrise made him wonder, how was he already up? After the strenuous activities of the night before, why had he not slept soundly straight through THREE mornings' worth of sunrises? Going back to Bad Weather had been simultaneously his sanity's saving grace and his body's wearing toil. Especially with Nick... It seemed, now that he had Desmond firmly in his sights again, he was not about to let go. It made Desmond chuckle a little...
Chuckling that was abruptly interrupted by a knock at the door. He yawned, and his face settled into a glare as it passed. Who the fuck was awake at... a quick glance to the clock... 9:30 in the morning and bothering him? The answer could only be...
"Desmond?!"
...his father.
The sound of William's voice did not do anything to ease the frown off Desmond's face. Of all the people who had been harping on him about his mom coming back, William had been the worst. And yet, Desmond still crossed the room and yanked the door open.
"Ah! There you are..." And without waiting for an invitation, he crossed the threshold. "I thought we should go over the plans. You know, for your mother's party."
At this, Desmond's previous annoyance was immediately replaced by shock. "What party?!" he demanded sharply. "Nobody mentioned a party to me!"
"Really...?" William did not seem to notice his son's sudden change. "Well, I suppose nobody thought they had to. It's big news, you know? I'm glad, everyone is so excited to see her coming back."
Moments like these were pretty much why Desmond stuck around. Since the war had ended and the pre-humanity shit resolved, he'd toyed so often with the idea of running off again... But, his father's decidedly-aged eyes sparkled like he was young again, and it softened Desmond's tone up a bit.
"Uh... yeah." He scratched the back of his head. "So... what's the plan?"
"Well, I was thinking we might want to have it on the roof. She says one thing she misses about cities is the large rooftops. But hauling all the equipment up there would be a huge pain in the ass. So, we're going to stick to the standard surprise-at-the-front-door plan. I'm sure it'll be enough. Her plane lands this afternoon, but we couldn't get in at the main airport. She's coming in on the secondary one. Which is probably best, for obscurity's sake, you know how it goes."
While William kept going on, Desmond began to dig into his dresser for something to wear. The Headquarters were, for all intents and purposes, just a large hotel where the Assassins primarily gathered. The building had cost a surprisingly low amount...
Go figure, thought Desmond with a smirk. They owe their lives to us.
But, it certainly served all their needs. It had given Desmond a warm and comfortable place to stay at nights, if anything. But recently, he hadn't really been in at night, much... Something that made him blush a shade of red he was sure would be visible even through his dark skin. He angled his eyes to the side, where he could just barely see his dad chattering on and watching him...
He wasn't even sure what his dad was saying, but he decided to interrupt. "–Yeah, that's great, dad. It really is, I bet mom loves it. But, look, I need to get ready to go, alright?"
"Certainly. Don't mind me, I'm just going over it in my head."
"And out loud. But, not the point. I need to take a shower and find something to eat for breakfast."
"Ah, yes. Breakfast. So nice to be able to just... have breakfast, isn't it?"
Desmond grinned. "Sure is. I'll be downstairs in a while."
William turned on his heels and headed for the door. "Excellent. I'll bring Lila to breakfast, she can fill us in on what everyone else has cooked up. See you in a few." And he smiled conspiratorially before closing the door behind himself.
It felt like climbing into a warm bath at the end of a long day in the snow as William went... and Desmond rushed to recreate the sensation physically by hurrying into the bathroom and turning the shower on. As soon as the water began to run, he took some deep breaths to calm down. He knew he shouldn't be so bothered, but a party was definitely not what he had in mind for the evening. Even at Bad Weather, it was a Thursday. Not a busy night, in most cases.
As he stripped of his boxer-briefs and climbed over the edge of the tub, it occurred to him, he should probably catch up to Shaun and see what he thought of the whole thing. He chuckled when he began to imagine some of the things he was sure to hear...
"And WHOSE idea was it to throw together an asinine, over-done spectacle of a party?! Such a waste of money... and they couldn't even get me an espresso machine! I remember your mum, mate... and this isn't anything SHE would have asked for...!"
Yeah... yeah, something like that sounded about right for Shaun. But not even his outspoken new friend's humor could totally erase the heavy feeling that the promise of a long day usually brought with it. With his head pressed against the wall and the hot water running down his back and chest, he tried to imagine it was taking all his negative anticipation with it. For a few minutes, it really worked well...
But then he just had to give up and face a couple of very potentially-unpleasant facts. The first of which, he would be driving with his father for at least an hour to the airport on the outskirts of the city. And if William's behavior kept in form, it wouldn't be a quiet drive during which they were both just honest and mature enough to admit they had nothing to say to each other – no, it would be either a chatter fest or an attempt to get inside Desmond's mind.
The second was that he HAD begun to notice the concerned tone of his mother's emails recently. So that made it likely that if his father didn't try to pry information out of his head, his mother would. And even if she didn't, she would at some point. He was sure his attempts to pretty up the situation weren't really working on his mother. And another side to that was that his father might be less oblivious after his mother got there. Whereas disappearing at nights to the rooftops, the lobbies, or recently the bar would be enough for Desmond to escape before... it wouldn't last long if his mother started pointing his solitude out.
Say what one will about New York, it was a beautiful place. For a moment or two, Desmond just stood in front of his window and opened the curtains to look out over the cityscape. He could never make up his mind about what time of day he liked the looks of more: sunrise or sunset. In both cases, the sun's rays came through the steel cylinders and rectangles of the buildings to stream across everything below it. Except that in the day time, it continued to grow until it shone down on the busy streets below it. And in the night time, it would sink behind the buildings and allow for the thousands of smaller lights to take its place temporarily...
It occurred to Desmond, he probably shouldn't stand naked in front of an open window in the city and stare out, but he didn't really care. It was so captivating to look at the sun, especially now that he knew so much more about it. He couldn't help wondering... would someone in the far future have to do what he did? Or would it stop now, and let the Earth live in peace.
Or, as peaceful as we allow ourselves to be...
He shook his head, and felt grateful for the long-sought pleasure of being able to just decide it was no longer his problem. He had an event to attend to, and several things he wanted to do before that.
So he dressed – although more casually than he planned to wear to his mother's arrival – and exited the room. He'd told his father he'd be downstairs, and that was twenty-five minutes ago. He supposed he could blame it on the elevator, or something. His lip twitched by itself when he reached it and it opened. Because once he saw who was inside, he immediately wanted to turn around and climb down the side of the building instead.
"Good morning, Desmond," said Rebecca.
He inclined his head towards her.
"Your dad wants you to have this. He said to see if I could catch you on your way down."
She held out a hand, and Desmond did, as well. She dropped something small and light in his palm. He examined it for a moment, gently bouncing it between his fingers. It was a golden-colored necklace.
"What is it?" he asked, eyes squinted and focused on it.
"It's something your mother sent you a while ago. Your dad kept forgetting to give it to you."
At this, Desmond looked up and raised his eyebrows. "My mother sent me a necklace?"
"Yeah, she saw you wearing them in some old photos we recovered from your old apartment. After Abstergo got to you. She wanted to get you something, so... that's what she landed on."
For reasons he couldn't quite pin down, Desmond felt mildly touched by this gesture. The little golden chain in his hand was the first real present either of his parents had ever given to him. Or rather, one that wasn't intended to be a side-winding hint about what they wanted him to do with his life. Like... kill people, which is what ended up happening anyway.
He blinked away a sudden prickle in his eyes and lifted it over his head. It hung proudly on his t-shirt, and he couldn't help turning it between his fingers a little. "Wow... thanks."
Rebecca shrugged. "Don't thank me, thank your parents."
"I mean... for bringing it to me."
"Sure. Not like I had a lot of choice, you know?"
Desmond clicked his tongue. "Yeah, it's not quite like a party invitation. You can't just pretend to forget."
He edged around her into the elevator and pressed the lobby button. She folded her arms across her chest crossly and waited in silence. For a second, Desmond wondered if she was going to bring up his date with Lucy. For a second more, he wondered if HE should... Just tell her to shut up and mind her own business, or something like that. But, he didn't think that would turn out well, so he pretended to scratch a persistent itch on his bicep the whole ride down.
When the elevator hit ground floor, Rebecca disappeared right after the door slid open. "See you at the party," she threw in curtly.
Desmond watched her go for a moment, and did a double take when he saw her waltzing right up to a very distracted-looking Lucy. She was pacing back and forth talking on her cell phone. Desmond figured it couldn't really be Gary, because Facebook still worked on the other side of the world – there had been hardly a break in the pace of the preppie flirting and web-speak posts to each other's pages.
Still, when she noticed him watching her (however long later), she smiled at him and waved. Something Rebecca, who had reached her by then, did not seem to like. The latter's intense dislike appeared magnified when Lucy brushed her fingers along her neck in an indication of Desmond's newly-acquired bling-bling. But Desmond turned the edge of the green jewel embedded in it across a ray of sunlight coming in through the glass walls. Lucy and Rebecca both flinched... and shielded their eyes for a moment, so Desmond knew he had accomplished his intended effect. Rebecca seemed unimpressed, but Lucy was clearly laughing silently. Desmond winked, and pointed to her with his index finger with a grin.
"Very smoothly done," came the snarky, British whisper of Shaun.
As Lucy again waved and then turned away, Desmond shrugged. "Surprised?"
"I suppose not. And you've definitely done SOMETHING to warm her up to you. Been a while since she's looked like that. I daresay, not since the last time she saw..."
"...Gary," finished Desmond, softly. "I know."
"Well, speaking of, I have some good news on that front. I was TRYING to tell you last night, but you were... apparently out, and I could hear your phone ringing through your door."
Even though he had tried to resolve not to, Desmond couldn't help feeling a little guilty. Given how much effort Shaun was extending his way... "Yeah, sorry. I must've forgot my phone. I'll try not to let it happen again."
Shaun didn't seem to believe that. "...Yeah, well, don't worry about explaining yourself to me, mate," he said, with a shrug. "I'm not your mum. Or your girlfriend... But, about girlfriends, Gary won't be back as soon as he thought he might. There are other Templars roaming the area, and since his team is the closest, they are going to deal with it."
Desmond smiled a little wider. He was still staring after Lucy, although she and Rebecca had rounded a corner into another little cafe underneath a large, white, granite staircase a while ago. Suddenly, he felt like the day might not be so bad... If he made it through his mother coming back.
"Good," he said in reply to Shaun. "Good, very good..."
"Yes, aren't I the best, though?" continued Shaun with a cold edge of bitterness in his voice.
"You all right?" asked Desmond, turning to him.
"Oh, I'm just bloody stoked. About the party, and all that... I mean, no offense, mate–"
Here we go... thought Desmond, with a grin.
"–but I knew your mum, and I don't think a glamorous party is her idea of a good time. I'm sure, after a long day of air travel, she just wants to effing rest. I know I would. Glad to see her and all, but..."
Desmond waved a hand nonchalantly. "Yeah, don't bother with the pleasantries with me, Shaun. I'm not exactly bouncing off the walls, either."
For a moment, Shaun seemed confused. But then, "Ooooooooooooooohhhhhhhhh... right... You have to drive with dear old daddy to pick her up, don't you?"
With another click of his thumb, Desmond gave him the thumbs up. "Exactly."
Shaun rubbed his hands together. "How delicious. Oh, to be a fly on the wall to see how you handle THAT one..."
"Maybe I'll tape it," Desmond mock-suggested, and went to lean against the wall by the elevator. "Or call you and put you on speaker. Consider it... payment."
"'Payment'?"
"Yeah, for... helping me out. A bit of family drama, should be real entertaining for you."
Shaun snorted. "Oh, please, Desmond, pay me by sparing me a lifetime of Gary."
"Mmm..." said Desmond at first. Then, it registered exactly what Shaun had just said. "What?"
"Hmm?" answered Shaun with false-innocence.
"What did you just say?"
"Nothing."
"No, no... No, I heard you say something. How the hell would you possibly end up with a 'lifetime of Gary'?"
"Oh, you know how it works: people bring their lovers around with them. I'm bound to run in to Lucy fairly frequently for the foreseeable future. And Gary would likely be around for it." He jabbed Desmond in the rib. "Finally found a mug uglier than yours, if you know what I mean."
Desmond narrowed his eyes. "Uh huh... Hey, is there something you want to tell me?"
"Not really," replied Shaun. "I've already told you what I know. But..." he checked his watch, "...I saw your daddy waiting for you in the cafe. Better hurry, don't want to be late."
Desmond sighed. "Yeah..." He looked at Shaun and again felt the gratitude. "Thanks, Shaun. And I'll try to have my phone on me. Seriously..."
"Haven't got it on you now, have you?" questioned Shaun, eyebrow raised.
"Well..." Desmond patted his torso down for a moment and sighed again in admission of defeat, "...no. But, I will. I'll get it whenever I next go to my room."
"Probably to change before it's time to bring your mum home." His eyes scanned over Desmond and his lips turned up. "I can't imagine that's the best you have to wear."
Desmond rolled his eyes. "Oh, yeah, yeah." He took a playful swing at Shaun, who ducked beneath it and scurried out of the way. "Go on, get out of here. Don't you have plans to make?"
"Sure, sure!" called Shaun over his shoulder. "Whatever!"
Desmond laughed as he watched him go. He had thought Shaun would be the one he'd get along the least with when they first met. Based on their interactions... Or, at least, so HE thought. Lucy, he remembered, had said she knew they'd be good friends someday.
Luce... he thought, as he began the walk to the cafe by the main lobby. Right, again...
When he entered the cafe, he found William was not alone. Seated next to him with a stunning casual outfit on was Lila. She looked up as Desmond approached and smiled for a moment before going back to whatever she was writing down on her tablet.
"There you are!" greeted William.
"Yeah, sorry. Long day, long shower," replied Desmond, lamely.
"Sure, it happens. So, anyway, Lila has the digital plans all written up."
"I sure do. Now, Desmond..." She scooted her chair across the floor to be a little closer to him... and laid the tablet out in his hands carefully. "Here's what we've got."
Her skin was so much softer than usual, Desmond wondered if she ever took care of herself outside of her work. She flicked through the virtual layouts with a type of grace she rarely used, too.
"This is the front lobby," she said, softly... almost whispering. Her finger trailed across the screen and left a print he was certain nobody but him could see, with his heightened senses. "You see, here is where you would come in, all three of you, by the front door..."
She leaned down a little closer. Desmond had already caught the scent of whatever she was wearing, but it seemed to angle into his nose at twice the prominence. His head swam a bit. He followed Lila's finger movements as they slid from one screenshot to the next...
"Here's where I would be. Here's where Lucy, Shaun, and Rebecca would be..."
Her voice dropped a little more. Desmond tightened the muscles running down his arms and clenched and unclenched his fingers. A twitch at his lips pulled up into a grin...
"Yeah?" he asked.
"Yeah," she repeated. "And here..." Another finger slide. "This is where the banners will be. And because I know you'll want the food, I highlighted it for you."
Her head turned at the same time his did. They locked eyes. Out of the corner of his, he saw her finger slide across the screen one more time. And it turned black.
But neither of them moved. Just stared...
For a moment.
Then Lila straightened up and brushed her hair back with a flourish. "Like it?"
Desmond cocked his head to the side slightly. "Definitely," he answered with husk. "It was a good plan."
She mimicked his head movement and smiled. "Excellent. I think it's a go, then. Mr. Miles?"
That reminded him, William was still there.
When he turned to look at his father, he saw there was a degree of shock on William's expression.
It took him a second to get his answer out. "Uh... Uh, yes. Yes, that's–" He shook himself a little. "Certainly, that'll be fine, then. If Desmond likes it, we'll, uh... we'll go with it."
Seeing his father so nervous about his blatantly-sensual moment brought something of a savage grin to Desmond's face. "Yeah, I do like it. Good job, Lila."
William cleared his throat. "Yes, very good work, Lila. We'll expect all that to be in place." He stood up and stepped around the table with more speed than most his age probably could. "So, Desmond, it is still early in the morning. Your mother's plane doesn't land for a few hours. You've lived here longer than I have. Your bar is a short walk from here, actually."
Desmond's head shot up, and his face became a hard glare that was focused directly on William. His fingernails dug into his palms underneath the table.
But William didn't really seem to notice. He kept talking. "So, about how long would it take to get there, do you think?"
"Oh, I'm gonna say... probably a couple hours."
"Excellent. Then, let us leave here about five. That will put us there is plenty of time. Now, uh... excuse me. I have a few other things to attend to. Shall we meet by the door?"
"Yeah. Sure, dad..."
William's smile was formal before he simply said, "Lila?" and then proceeded into the lobby.
Desmond watched them go for a moment, but then let his head fall to rest on his palms. He couldn't be sure if his dad's half-baked smile was embarrassment at the scene by the table... or if, by some chance, he'd realized he touched a nerve by bringing up the bar.
Desmond sighed and looked out the window. The sun was still coming up, and it looked peaceful out. As peaceful as New York could ever really get, anyway.
Yet, it was still more peaceful than Desmond felt. And that seemed odd to him. That he, just one man, felt more tumultuous than the vastly expanding city...
His mind wandered back to the bar. He again wondered, as he so frequently did now, what they were doing there. And the more he thought about it, the more he knew it was too late: he was already entrenched there. Yet again, it was a place he was attached to. A place he hid from the cruel world in. And that also felt strange, because it wasn't really the type of place a person is supposed to feel secure in. But he did... and he was too wrapped up in the people and their lives to turn away from it. Even if Shaun was right. And Desmond supposed, really, that he was.
He just wished his dad hadn't mentioned it... or rather, that he hadn't reacted so strongly to it in front of his dad. He was sure William would put that away in his mental arsenal somewhere, and use it later. Having the conversation he was sure would have to happen at some point about the bar wasn't Desmond's idea of a good time.
He let his eyes fall back behind his palms. He was already tired... But it was nice behind his fingers. Darker and more comfortable-feeling.
The air machine kicked on nearby. Its steady hum sent a chill up Desmond's spine. He shook his whole body a bit... and peered through his fingers over at it. A smile came to his face as he realized the degree of comfort that little thing had always provided him. Stupid as it was, he was almost tempted to go up to it and thank it.
Instead, he pulled his phone out of his pocket and busied himself with it. He wondered about texting Lucy, on the grounds of asking her if everything was okay. He decided not to, and instead looked down at Lila's number. He grinned when he remembered how she'd given it to him... as well as the shudders they seemed to have sent up William's spine... and far less pleasant ones than those the air conditioner sent up Desmond's. But he realized who he REALLY wanted to talk to, a the moment, was Christine. Her number was up past both Lucy and Lila's.
He scrolled to it, but didn't end up doing anything with it. He sighed, and stuffed the phone back in his pocket. He closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. All he wanted was to get through the day. The necklace pressing against his chest reminded him that he WAS happy to see his mother soon... but he was still looking forward to however it would end. And he hoped it would end on fairly-decent terms. It looked like it might be the same Catch 22, as always...
He definitely didn't feel prepared for it, though... Whatever "it" was going to be.