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.
He did not ask her to marry him that night.
When Torie's plane landed ahead of the projected snowstorm, Hellboy was too relieved that she was safe to remember that he was going to propose. As soon as she had stepped onto the tarmac, Hellboy sprinted from the building and scooped Torie up in a crushing embrace until she squealed in protest. Setting Torie back on her feet, Hellboy acquiesced, but refused to sever a physical connection with her for the rest of the day.
Which was just fine with Torie.
Back at the apartment, no sooner were they past the front door than they fell onto Torie's bed, making up for the time she was away. She smiled against his lips when her bare legs bumped the mattress and high density thread count bamboo sheets greeted her. Hellboy has quickly stripped her of her coat once they crossed the threshold, then both made fast work shedding the rest of their garments as they crossed the tiny studio apartment, finally landing on Torie's well-reinforced platform bed.
Hours passed as they alternated between making love, snacking on the smorgasbord of foodstuffs that Hellboy had stockpiled and just chatting about whatever subject that entered their minds. Neither could recall feeling so carefree, although Torie was suffering from the effects of jet lag… and thus rambled on merrily about nothing as she struggled to keep her eyes open.
Not wanting the moment to dissipate, but knowing that Torie needed to succumb to the call of slumber, Hellboy brought the festivities to an end by turning off the lights and stroking Torie's hair… a sure-fire way to relax her into sleep. And her quiet, even breathing soon became a lullaby that pulled Hellboy into Hypnos' embrace.
But waking with a sudden start, Hellboy rolled over to look at the time and saw that Torie's side of the bed was empty. The alarm clock glowed a blue 3:49. He looked around in sleepy confusion, checking from his vantage point for either a light below the bathroom door or a shadow in the kitchen. Seeing neither, he furrowed his brow and started to fret. Where in crap did that infernal woman wander off to?
Wading up his pillow and shoving it under his neck, Hellboy heard paper rustle. Rolling onto his left side, he spied a folded piece of notebook paper laying on the sheet. Silly goose. Leaving me love notes…
He opened the sheet of paper and read: UPSTAIRS – followed by a smiley face.
Ever since the abductions, Torie had made a point of letting Hellboy know where she was at all times… even if she slipped away unexpectedly… even for the briefest of moments.
Folding the sheet in paper in half, Hellboy tapped it against his bottom lip as he contemplated his next course of action. He had no idea of when she left the note – anywhere from 5 minutes ago to over an hour or more. It was snowing, so he knew that the frozen precipitation pulled Torie from bed so that she could quietly commune under the mantle of its beauty. Usually, she didn't mind him encroaching on her solitude, but of late it seemed like Torie would rather be alone than spend time with others. So Hellboy felt torn – check in on Torie or leave her in peace.
After a few moments of musing, Hellboy opted to go the better-safe-than-sorry route and decided that if he was awake – and Torie was out of bed – there was no reason for them to not be awake together. With a grunt, he heaved himself off the bed and pulled on a pair of workout pants, then shoved his feet into a pair of slippers. Although Torie got them for him, Hellboy hated the idea of slippers; they made him feel like he needed a smoking pipe and reading glasses. Don't jinx yourself, old man.
The apartment building wasn't in a much better area than Torie's old one. In fact, her apartment was even smaller than her last unit, although much closer to the Bureau campus. Torie would normally run to work, shower and change into her office attire, then start her time on the clock. But the apartment, despite its less than stellar area, had one amenity that enraptured Torie – a rooftop garden.
During the summer, the roof was awash in every known flower Hellboy could think of. Butterflies and bees floated through the perfumed air from spring until fall, bouncing from one brightly colored blossom to the next. Practically a visual assault of the senses, the garden was an ever changing palette of reds, oranges and yellows at one end of the roof, the other end housing lush, leafy plants and flowers in shades of blue and purple. The center held a mix of whatever didn't fall into one end of the spectrum or the other. One of Torie's elderly neighbors had lived in the building since the dawn of time and had commandeered the roof as her domain. All tenants were allowed – even welcomed – to enjoy the fruit of her labors… but only if they helped care for the flora overtaking the rooftop.
Since Torie lacked a green thumb, she helped by not only hauling the items up the stairs for her elderly neighbor, but by also splurging and buying a small fountain. The neighbor was terrified of Hellboy… until he carried the heavy concrete base and insert for the fountain up the two flights of stairs for the ladies. After that, he was showered with Baby Ruth candy bars every time he was spotted.
Hellboy chuckled to himself as he shrugged on a waterproof trench coat, then climbed the stairs to the roof. Who would have thought that he of all people – and I use the word people loosely – would enjoy the simple pleasures of being domestic. Geez Louise! I need to get my head back on straight. Pretty soon, I'm going to be imagining the pitter-patter of little feet. Get it together man. You just want to show you are committed, not that you should be committed.
The door to the roof was difficult to open, the hinges groaning in protest as Hellboy pushed against the wind. Even with his strength, Hellboy was impressed with the power of Mama Nature… and Torie's stubborn determination to commune with the elements. Fat, wet snowflakes dropped gracelessly onto his face, blurring his vision… and making Hellboy silently curse not letting Torie have her privacy. He was having flashbacks of too many excursions to cold, wet countries where cases didn't go quite according to plan. But he was keenly aware that Torie heard the door's protest over the sound of the wind so he plodded onward.
Instead of the lush garden that was an oasis in the middle of urbanization, the rooftop was a symphony of desolation and frozen barrenness. In fact, the whole world seemed to be bathed in a veil of drab grayness. The fountain was covered with a tarp, held in place by thick rope. The potted plants were hidden away in the storage shed on the backside of the roof access. The trees were hauled downstairs to Torie's neighbor's apartment to winter indoors.
The only thing that really stayed the same was the wooden covered swing. Which Torie was silently… slowly… swinging on.
She was wearing the same gray skullcap she wore the day they met in the park, many lifetimes ago. He knew it was impossible, but somehow Torie managed to look younger than she did back then. Snow clung to her eyelashes and the tendrils of hair that escaped from under her hat. Her skin was luminescent in the moonlight, her cheeks rosy with cold. Her lips, full and wet, were parted in a half-smile, as if Torie just heard a delicious secret. The coat she wore was different from when he first laid eyes on Torie, but it was no less threadbare. Her gaze flitted towards him and a shy smile curved her lips.
Hellboy thought she was a warm beam of light in all the cold darkness. Little did he know, as Torie looked towards the movement in her peripheral vision through her lashes, that she thought his bright, red skin was a comforting presence amidst all the dreariness. How could she explain that she could feel the heat radiating off of him in waves without hearing a self-depreciating comment? Both kept quiet, internalizing their feelings, yet hoping they would be broadcast nonetheless.
Hellboy smiled at Torie as he sat down next to her, the wood groaning slightly in protest, before pulling her into the shelter of his left arm. He beamed down at her, his white teeth gleaming in the night.
Torie figured that she would be having company eventually, but was still pleasantly surprised to see his bright red skin, standing out in stark contrast to her drab surroundings. "What?" Torie asked playfully, somewhat befuddled by her boyfriend's amusement. Sleepiness tinged her features, but there was a twinkle in her eye.
Hellboy was silent as he tried to articulate his feelings. He sighed deeply, his chest rising and falling beneath Torie's mitten'd hand, before he replied, "Was just thinking about the first time I met you. It was snowing then, too."
Cuddling closer to Hellboy, Torie smiled, dimpling her cheek. "Who knew, all these years later, you'd be such a romantic? I really had you pegged as more pragmatic than sentimental." Torie tilted her head back so that she could look him in the eye, her chin resting on his chest.
A chuckle rumbled deep in Hellboy's chest, warming Torie against the cold. "Glad I can still surprise you."
Torie smiled and then took Hellboy's large right hand into the shelter of her own, before looking back out towards the water. Choosing the location on the apartment because of its proximity to the Bureau of Paranormal Research was not why Torie lived where she did – the view from her window of Long Island Sound caused her to sign the lease. A few moments of comfortable silence passed before Torie gave an involuntary shiver.
"You're cold. C'mere."
Hellboy pulled Torie closer against his body, opening her coat slightly so that his natural body heat could warm up his girlfriend. He slipped his hand inside her coat so that as much of her could be pressed against as much of him as possible. But instead of his fingers gliding across the fabric of a cotton t-shirt or tank top, his skin touched her bare skin. Thinking that maybe her clothing had somehow ridden up, his hand crept higher until he was absolutely positive that Torie wasn't even wearing a bra. Holy crap, she's not wearing anything topshelf-wise at all under her coat!
"Hot," he commented, not even attempting to keep the appreciation out of his voice.
Torie felt her blood speed up as Hellboy's hand continued to rest against the underside of her breast. Breathing suddenly became difficult and swallowing even more so. But she did take small consolation in the fact that Hellboy seemed to be suffering the same ailments as Torie let her gaze drift down to Hellboy's lap, as the intensity in his eyes came too much. "No. Cold. Remember?" Good, her voice came out playful rather than husky.
"I can't remember much of anything before right now, to be quite honest."
His voice, normally deep and gravelly, took on the cadence of liquid honey, raising goosebumps along her skin. Tearing her gaze away from Hellboy's pants, Torie looked around at the swirling flakes before turning and looking back at her boyfriend, her narrowed eyes locking gazes with his. "We are so not doing what you want to do out here in the cold. Simmer down there, Sam. You're like an insatiable teenager."
Hellboy was the picture of pure innocence as he looked at Torie in mock indignation, while completely palming her breast. "When you wear a coat and sweatpants… and nothing else, I can't help it!"
Neither encouraging or discouraging the placement of her boyfriend's hand, Torie laughed ruefully. "I never thought I'd hear you say that sweatpants were sexy."
His features softened as Hellboy removed his hand, then allowed his knuckles to graze her cheek. If ever there was a time, this was it. I think. I hope. "You look like an angel…"
"But act like the devil," Torie finished, cupping her hand over Hellboy's. A playful smile curved her lips, but there was a wariness in her eyes. For the first time in a very long time, Hellboy couldn't tell what Torie was thinking.
Not sure of how to respond, Hellboy opted to go the self-depreciating route. It was always the safest bet. "Ah, but that's my job. I look like a devil–."
"But act like an angel," interrupted Torie, fire dancing in her eyes, as if daring Hellboy to dispute her statement. She lowered his hand off her face and held in her lap, imprisoned by her interlaced fingers. The only chink in her resolute armor was when she bit her bottom lip, as if unsure of the situation.
Hellboy was quiet a long moment. "Thank you."
The snow was all but stopped and Torie felt the air pressing down on her. There was a change in her boyfriend's mannerisms. It was very minuet, but it was abrupt enough that it worried Torie. However, it wasn't drastic enough for her to ask what was weighing on his mind. Whereas Hellboy opted for self-depreciating humor when uncomfortable, Torie went with flirtatious banter. And since she wasn't sure what was going on inside his head, Torie decided to step it up a notch. "So… have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?"
Hellboy cast his gaze towards the Heavens, squinting one eye shut. The snow had let up and the sky was becoming tinged with the palest of pinks, indicating the coming dawn. Maybe a sunrise proposal… He looked back at Torie and replied, "Never."
"Then there's no time like the present."
Torie stood, rising to her feet in a fluid motion that made Hellboy think of a wave caressing the sand, then extended her hand to help him rise to his feet. The gesture was sweet and kind, making Hellboy feel completely shy and awkward. The moment had the feeling of a first date in terms of bashfulness and vulnerability, but the nervous butterflies in his stomach were just as exciting as they were distressing. Hellboy knew that the excitement racing through his blood was mostly due to the ring weighing heavily in his pants pocket, but there was a certain… freshness?... to their relationship that materialized as Torie struggled to find her footing.
Allowing himself to be lead towards the center of the rooftop, Hellboy smiled at Torie as she crabwalked them to the spot she had in mind. There was a hunger in her gaze that reminded him of last night, but also a playfulness that had been missing for the last several months. Becoming part of the bureaucratic machine took its toll on Torie, although she never once complained to anyone. However, the spark of vitality that drew Hellboy in like a moth to a flame had all but extinguished. Oh, there was no doubt that he was still crazy about Torie, but he had thought that their relationship had turned a corner. However at that moment, for however long it would last, the woman before him was carefree and effervescent.
Maybe, just maybe, I should hold off. A vacation backpacking through the Australian outback might be a better proposal. If we could actually pretend reality didn't exist for a little while, then reality might be easier to deal with…
Torie paused, then turned and stepped into the embrace of Hellboy's arms, smiling up at him coquettishly. Looking down at her, Hellboy realized that the smattering of freckles dancing across the bridge of her nose stood out in stark contrast to her milk-white skin.
And suddenly, the moment seemed feel, rather than fairytale-esque.
Every so often, he felt like he was in a dream and that some day he would wake up to find that reality was the actual hell he dreamed of every night he was away from Torie. But at the moment, with Torie in his arms, her freckles more prominent than ever, Hellboy never felt more sure of his relationship with Torie.
Just don't mess the moment up, old man.
Hellboy began to quietly hum a nameless tune as he began to shuffle Torie around the roof in a rather fluid, if simple, two-step. After a few moments, his humming began to take on words, until enough words were strung together to form a song…
"Well, ring the bell backwards and bury the axe, fall down on your knees in the dirt.
I'm tied to the mast between water and wind… believe me, you'll never get hurt.
Our ring's in the pawnshop, the rain's in the hole…
Down at the Five Points I stand.
I'll lose everything, but I won't let go of your hand"
"Well, Peter denied and Judas betrayed… I'll bail with the roll of the drum.
And the wind will tell the turn from the wheel, and the watchman is making his rounds.
Well, you'll leave me hanging by the skin of my teeth.
I've only got one leg to stand
You can send me to hell, but I'll never let go of your hand."
As Hellboy's deep baritone faded off, both continued to leisurely waltz around the rooftop. Neither wanted the moment to end, but the snow was beginning to pick up again. So their steps slowed until both stood still, each reveling in the bliss the simple bout of silliness generated. Hellboy's forehead rested on the damp softness of Torie's hat. His left hand left the hollow of Torie's back and entwined itself in the waves of her hair.
Torie sighed happily, content to let the snowflakes settle on them like a white veil. "I don't think that I've ever been happier than I am right now," she murmured against the lapel of Hellboy's duster.
"Marry me," he whispered, his voice hoarse with emotion.
Torie looked up at Hellboy and smiled wistfully. Her left hand escaped from the warm confinement of his coat to stroke his whiskered cheek. She then inhaled sharply and responded, her voice barely audible.
"I can't."