14
Two Months Later
The creak of the immense, thick, bulky door sets my teeth on edge. But with every entrance I make to the Muddy Rudder, I realize that I am getting more accustomed with the screeching doors of Rivet City. But I can feel my liver quench every time I enter this scummy bar to get hammered.
The floor is disarrayed with empty bottles that loudly clank when I kick them as I walk. I see Ted and Paulie playing pool. Ted is pretty cool. Both of them hide in the abandoned storage rooms and get a fix, hiding from the guards or their families.
The dim fluorescent lights give a dim green color to the room. It is darker than it was last night, some lights are flickering. But all that doesn't matter when I see Harkness sitting at the bar. I smile. Harkness and I having been drinking together almost every night starting about a month ago. I like Harkness and he likes me. I am just waiting until he makes the move and I am swooned. But for now, I will settle for a round being bought for me.
I sit on the barstool next to him. Belle already knows what I am going to ask for, vodka. I usually start out with hard liquor and then fall asleep to wine. Belle waves me away from saying anything, and pours me a shot. As Harkness drinks his whiskey, he eyes me. I smile with a brow raised.
"What's going on Harkness?" I ask. He gives me a charming grin and I find myself gawking at his lips. I quickly gulp down my drink.
"Nothing really, got a few newbies in the town today." He says while putting down his whiskey. Ever since I met Harkness, I have always felt there was something mysterious about him. In his eyes, there was something more to him and his story. It intrigues me.
"Any trouble makers?" I question with a mischievous simper. He snickers. I love it when he laughs, small boyish dimples show on his face. I take another drink.
"No, at least I don't think so. One is sitting at a booth over there if you are interested to investigate." He says nodding his head to a dark corner.
"Well I can already tell he is a loner." I say not removing my eyes from the corner. I can hear the skepticism in Harkness's voice.
"How is that?" He asks. I look back at him with my eyebrows raised. When I realize he is totally confused, my gaze softens.
"Sitting in a dark corner in a bar is an obvious cliché." I explain. "Almost pathetic." I run my mouth. I smile and feel a little cocky. After downing another shot, I held my hand up high and wave Belle over.
"Belle! Send a round to the loner in the dark." I say. I am sure that the guy in the corner hears me. When Belle delivers the drinks and I can see the dark silhouette glancing over his shoulder at me.
I keep my eyes on the dark object as I drink another shot. Harkness laughs behind me. I turn to him wondering what is amusing him so much.
"What?" I ask. He smiles exposing the dimples that make me want to sigh.
"Nothing, just you are so brave? Is that the word?" he questions. I throw my head back and laugh. Is he serious?
"No I don't think so. I am cocky, but it's the alcohol that's loosening me up." I say. He cocks up a brow. It makes him look sexy and daring. I straighten my back and it arches a little, I want him to sweep me up and take me to my room. I would let him. It's been a long time coming. When I am about to reach into my pocket and give him my key to my room I hear someone say my name behind me.
"Daenerys?" the man says. I turn around and I gasp. I don't laugh, I don't smile and I don't cry. I stay there with eyes wide and jaw dropped. He survived longer than a second in the wasteland.
"H-Hey Butch." I say. His grin is more charming than Harkness's. I look up at him wishing I haven't been so cocky.
"Thanks for the drink, Nosebleed." He says. Raising his glass to me, I can see his eyes and that's when I lost it. My handshakes and my shot glass spills. His eyes… they remind them of my fathers. Blue, but not as icy as Butch. But just the hue can make me feel unsteady. I can feel Harkness's possessive behavior radiate off of his body. He stands.
"You got a problem?" He questions. Butch laughs. I tense up. I have a feeling Harkness is going to punch Butch and I think Butch is going to fight back. my fingers go through my hair. Instead of looking at Harkness, Butch keeps his gaze on me.
"You got a boyfriend? Im hurt you didn't tell him about me." he says. I roll my eyes.
"You didn't come up in conversation." I say looking down. Harkness doesn't relax. I look over my shoulder. "This is Butch, uh, a childhood… um bully? Whatever I helped him out a few times and I uh… yeah. Oh and Nosebleed is my nickname." I say. Harkness tenses.
"Let me guess, he punched you and got a nose bleed. So he thought it was a clever nickname?" he asks angrily.
I nod. He almost marches up to Butch but I stop him by putting my palm on his chest. What surprises me is that, he is cold. I keep my hand on his chest.
"Don't. He isn't worth it. Besides…" I say laughing. "I broke his nose." Even Butch laughs but Harkness only smiles.
"Okay, if you really don't want me too." He says. Then he glares at Butch. "But if anything happens, it will be your nose that bleeds." Butch nods.
I look back at Butch and the pain of dad's death fills my stomach and clouds my mind. I look at Belle and nod. she gives me the rest of the bottle of Vodka.
"Cheers." I say and I leave the Muddy Rudder.