Obligatory Disclaimer: Dark Horse and Mr. Mignola own all, save for my own original characters. A special thank you to Guillermo del Toro for bringing this wonderful character to my attention.
A/N: Well, I survived my trip to Chicago and the Wizard World comic book convention. Everyone wanting to get published has strong leads, but my hopes of shopping were nearly shattered when I realized that there was next to NOTHING being sold that had anything to do with Hellboy. However, I did manage to snag a roto-articulating bust of Hellboy for next to nothing. But my dreams of snagging a Hellboy t-shirt that was not already available online did not materialize. Beh.
Thanks for stopping by. And for your patience. A slow, melancholy piece.
Strolling out into the fading light of evening, Torie opted to walk home from the woman's shelter rather than take the bus, despite hearing Hellboy's words of caution from the night they met echoing through her head. Torie knew if he found out that she was forsaking the bus there would be a lecture, but it was well before midnight and the sky was gorgeous, continuously illuminated by lightening skittering amongst the clouds. So what if it rained? Torie figured that she'd have a better chance of witnessing the light show if she walked.
Besides, the less people she talked to, the happier Torie would be.
Walking the streets of Fairfield, Torie watched the world around her with a detached amusement. No matter how sad one felt, the world kept spinning. Life went on, even in the wake of death. But, somehow, the Heavens must have known how alone she felt, for they put on quite a show for Torie.
Once home, Torie opened her sliding glass doors and let the breeze dance around the apartment while she puttered around on several projects. Once her necessary tasks were completed, Torie finally allowed herself the pleasure of sitting on the balcony so that she could watch the natural light show in earnest.
No rain seemed to be forthcoming, so Torie poured herself a glass of red wine out and sat back to enjoy the natural phenomenon. Even though the night air was warm, the wind was wicked, blowing her hair this way and that, so Torie wrapped herself in a light throw as she leaned against the brick wall that adjoined her bedroom. Lance sat next to her, his eyes closed in bliss, as the breeze brought forth scents uncommon to the area.
Torie had the foresight to turn off all the lights in her apartment before escaping to the outdoors, thus giving her an unhindered view of not only the approaching storm, but also of the surrounding neighborhood. She watched through the windows of surrounding apartment buildings as people ate, watched TV, played with their children, even fucked. Torie felt very small and insignificant as she spied on the world around her during breaks from watching the lightening.
A low growl rumbled from her dog's throat as they both heard a key turn in the front door, but Torie stilled her dog with a hand placed on his side. She listened as someone entered the apartment, then pause just inside the doorway, before moving into the kitchen. The refrigerator door opened, then closed, and steps became louder as they approached her side, stopping beside her.
"So… what are ya doin'?"
His voice was hushed and reverent, like that of a man in church. Torie didn't turn her head, but felt Hellboy's warm presence beside her. She smiled tightly and took a sip of her merlot before answering.
"Having a pretty crappy night. Missing my parents, hard. But I see the spare key I gave you works."
Hellboy was squatting next to Torie, not the most comfortable of positions as he balanced on the balls of his feet. He thoughtfully tugged on his soul patch and regarded his friend quietly. Despite being wrapped up in a blanket, Torie was without shoes and one bare foot was dangling off the balcony in the night air. The brick wall gave her some shelter from the wind, but tendrils of hair still whipped around her face. Hellboy had to resist the urge to tuck her hair behind her ears.
"Sounds like a rough way to spend an evening."
Torie nodded her head and shrugged her shoulders before pulling her throw tighter around her shoulders.
"Tor… How long has it been?
"Three years. Today. But you of all people know how it goes. Death is hardest on the living."
Hellboy was quiet again. His gaze turned away from his friend as a bank of clouds was illuminated a bright orange.
Wanting a cigarette more than anything, Hellboy quietly said, "You don't look much up for company tonight, so I'm gonna head back to the Bureau and call you in the morning."
He saw Torie visibly stiffen. Her head whipped around and her eyes locked with his as Torie grabbed the edge of Hellboy's duster. "Please!" Realizing that so much desperation came out in that one single word, Torie softened her tone to a near whisper. "Please… don't go. I actually… uhm… I'd rather not be alone tonight. I know it's not a great way to spend an evening, but it would mean so much to me if you'd just sit out here with me. I mean, I'm not much of a conversationalist tonight, but it might be kinda fun for you to watch the sky."
Her eyes bore into his, pleading that he stay out on the balcony with her. Hellboy had to admit that this wasn't how he intended to spend the evening. But after seeing her distress there was no other place he wanted to be.
Nodding his head, he stood. "Just let me raid the kitchen and then I'll bunker down out here with you. Want anything?"
A slight smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Torie broke his gaze and looked up to the Heavens, shaking her head. "No, but thank you."
Looking down at his friend, Hellboy regarded Torie with a careful eye. There was nothing he could do for her but let the evening work its way through her system. However, he had heard her stomach growl while he was talking to her and figured that she had probably forgotten to eat.
Hellboy turned back into the apartment and went straight to Torie's kitchen cabinets. He didn't know what he was looking for, but it had to stick to her ribs and not have to be eaten hot or perish if kept out of the fridge for too long. Because who knew if she would want to eat right away?
Pop Tarts! And chocolate no less.
Perfect.
Grabbing the unopened box for Torie, Hellboy opened the fridge and grabbed the six-pack of Coke sitting on the top shelf. No beer tonight when he had to make sure that he was completely in tune with the situation at hand. Making his way back to the balcony, he noticed an opened photo album on the coffee table.
He also noticed Torie's CDs were strewn all over the floor in front of her stereo. The front plate of the CD player was illuminated, blinking red, but no music was playing. So that meant the CD had been paused. Hellboy furrowed his brow and fired up the player again. Maybe some music would help her mood.
The sounds of Tom Wait's 'Tom Traubert's Blues' filled the silence…
I begged you to stab me, you tore my shirt open,
And I'm down on my knees tonight.
Old Bushmill's I staggered, you'd bury the dagger.
In your silhouette window light go.
To go waltzing Mathilda, waltzing Mathilda,
You'll go waltzing Mathilda with me.
Hellboy rolled his eyes at his own stupidity, but figured the damage was done. No point now in turning it off, even if the song selections were going to keep Torie in the pity pot.
In the doorway to the balcony, Hellboy asked, "Have you eaten dinner?"
Torie just shook her head in the negative; her eyes locked on the color bursts in the clouds.
Hellboy sighed in frustration. "Well sweetie, you're gonna. You don't have to right now, but sometime before I leave, you're gonna have a Pop Tart or two – if nothing else. Now, your balcony isn't really big enough for us both to stretch out. I think the best way for me to keep you company tonight is for me to lean against the brick and for you to lean back against me. Whadaya think?"
Torie was silent as she acquiesced by scooting forward, allowing Hellboy to slip in and sit behind her. As Hellboy sat, he took notice that Torie had wrapped her hands so tightly around the wrought iron railing that her knuckles had turned white. When he found a position he figured he could be happy with for a couple of hours, Hellboy tapped on Torie's shoulder, indicating she could move into place.
Once Torie had settled back against his chest, her head tucked under his chin and her fingers curled around the opening to his duster, like a child gripping a security blanket, Hellboy closed his eyes and quietly sighed. The situation would be perfect if Torie could only like him in the same vein Hellboy felt about her.
He needed to stop thinking about her backside resting against his groin. A cigarette might clear his mind. "You gonna be okay if I smoke?"
Torie's response startled Hellboy. "Only if I can steal a drag, too."
Hellboy arched a brow, but was silent as he pulled a pack of cigarettes from the chest pocket of his coat. Tucked inside the cellophane wrapper was a Zippo lighter, one of many from the collection he had shown Torie when she toured his apartment. As he struggled to keep the flame going in the wind, Torie scooted forward to give him room to maneuver. Looking through the balcony bars to the street below, Torie absently slid the ponytail holder off of her wrist and pulled back her hair. She knew that everyone lost those that meant the most to them, but Torie wanted to scream out at everyone that they had no right to be happy while she felt so miserable.
"Hey, sweetie, come scoot back."
Hellboy's voice was like a buoy in her sea of grief. She shot him a smile over her shoulder before sliding back into place. Taking the offered cigarette, Torie inhaled deeply, feeling the nicotine rush through her system. Releasing her breath slowly, Torie handed back the smoke to Hellboy and snuggled tighter against his chest, the throw casually draped across her lap.
"Thanks for staying, despite my inability to hold a decent conversation. You have no idea how indebted I am to you. I thought I wanted to be alone, wallowing in the pity pot. But, now that you're here, this is much better. I feel much better. Thanks for letting me just… be. And if you're okay with it, I think that all this talking is making my head hurt and I'm gonna shut up."
Hellboy closed his eyes as he breathed in a long drag from his cigarette. His oversized right arm was resting on Torie's lap, holding her in a protective gesture. If only her sadness could dissipate, then the evening would be perfect. But, of course, if Torie wasn't sad, she wouldn't be nestled on his lap.
Exhaling smoke high above her head, he replied, "Sometimes talking is overrated. Thanks for wanting me to be here."
Hellboy then rolled his head back and regretted starting up the CD again. 'Innocent When You Dream' reminded him of his own father.
Running through the graveyard.
We laughed, my friends and I.
We swore we'd be together,
Until the day we died.
Until the day we died.
It's such a sad old feeling.
The fields are soft and green.
It's memories that I'm stealing.
But you're innocent when you dream.
When you dream.
You're innocent when you dream.