Stay by Rihanna
42.Seeing Red
Liz liked to watch him in his sleep. All the worry and stress melted away from his face when he was deep in the throes of slumber. She leaned against her hand, peering over his broad shoulder at his smooth face. It was funny how time had not managed to catch up to that smooth skin of his. One would think that with all the smoking and drinking he did, that wrinkles would start peeking around his eyes. But no...she was almost jealous, and found herself hoping more than once that she would age as gracefully as he was.
Sleep didn't always come easy for Red. There was a time before they had moved in together when he would doze off beside her on the couch over a book he had been pursuing. Incoherent mumbles would suddenly meet her ears, and for a fleeting moment, she would think that someone had left the television on; that was until she'd remember that Red didn't keep a television in the Hempstead house.
With a wave of confusion, she would lift her gaze from the file she'd be reading and gaze at the man sprawled beside her. The pleading would begin, and soon after she'd place her hands on his shoulders. She never knew what it was he was pleading for. It could've been for her, for his wife, his daughter, or even for himself. All she could do was pull his head onto her lap and try to soothe him. He would never talk about the nightmares afterword. Only smile gently and press his lips against hers in silent thanks.
These incidents happened few and far between in the months since they had begun living together. She found that whenever he curled his body around hers, cocooning her with his presence, that the nightmares no longer visited him. Liz would find herself on top of him, pressed against his chest. Always with that small content smile on his lips, making him look so serene.
They were reaching the end of it all. Only three names were left on the list. Number one had been taken down two years ago after Red had been taken captive for six weeks. At the end of the whole ordeal, he had been reduced to a quivering, shell shocked man, contrary to the one he was meant to be. For months afterword, he sat outside on the terrace of his villa, reliving the hours of torture he had endured for the simple fact that he would not sell out Lizzie and her team of G-men. For her...
How long had it taken for her to bring him out of the shell that his own body, mind and soul had become? To calm the terror filled screams that would rip across the night?
She couldn't say how long it took the sooth that singed heart of his. All that mattered, was that she now had the man behind the mask.
A/N: So-I know I suck...but the good news is you guys get the last few chapters in one update!