***Hey howdy! Welcome to this thing that I have written that I like a lot, and I hope you will too. Wanted to give a heads up: TW for physical violence, assault, and sexual themes. Nothing full on yet, but it's a possiblity. Enjoy! 3***
The cold November air wrapped around Chicago's New East Side fueled by the frigid waters of Lake Michigan.
Sarah stepped out into the cold night tightly wrapped, blowing clouds of steam through the gap between the beanie pulled down as far as it would allow and the scarf around her neck. Newly arrived in the Midwest she still hadn't gotten used to how the cold air seeped into her bones. The power outage left her sullen and unkempt as she dragged herself to work. The bar was magically unphased by the loss of electricity affecting nearly half the city.
"There you are!" A voice from behind the bar called out. "Was beginning to think you weren't going to make it. We're getting pretty busy in here." Sarah looked around the bar at the 5 people milling about before rolling her eyes at Reggie. She unwound herself from her scarf and removed her jacket, rubbing her hands together as she stepped behind the bar.
Why was she even here? Reggie could have managed this on his own. There was no need for two bartenders on a Thursday night. She shook her head, walking back to the kitchen to refill the ice as she started completing tasks Reggie seemed to forget. This had not been a good week. The power outage hadn't helped and coming into a night promising little to no money wasn't a consolation.
"Why am I here, Reggie? You can't handle a Thursday night... rush?" she joked.
"Boss says it's gonna pick up. Half the city outta power nothin' ta do but drink." Reggie popped his gum and leaned against the back of the bar. "Saw Elliot leavin' after you on Tuesday. How'd that go?" He smiled roguishly, clicking his gum behind his teeth.
"Oh, you mean my stalker?" Sarah grumbled while dumping the ice into the nearly empty well.
Reggie pushed himself off the back of the bar. "Stalker? Whaddya mean?"
Grabbing a rag and the sanitary spray she started feverishly wiping down the bar top. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Well, you're gonna have to tell me now." he stepped closer, furrowing his brows. "Do you need me to beat his ass? He comes in here all the time."
"Reg, I said I don't wanna talk about it. I told him to fuck off. I'm just gonna pretend like I have something to do and forget anything ever happened. He's harmless, I'm just pissed about it, okay?" she huffed.
"Jeeze got it, got it. Well is there anything I can do?" like a scolded child he shoved his hands in his pockets and stepped away.
Sarah sighed. "Your job, Reg."
People slowly started filtering in as time passed. Reggie managed the floor, bringing out heaping trays of oily bar food to the few patrons rushing in orders before the kitchen closed.
It did indeed get busier. Sarah mentally crossed her fingers hoping for a busier tip jar, and a night without...
"Elliot!" Reggie called out as a group of men approached the bar.
"Brrrrrr. Chilly out there eh?" he chuckled as he removed his gloves and reached his hand across the bar.
Reggie grabbed the man's outstretched hand and pulled him close.
"Not as cold as the shoulder I'm about to give ya if you don't mind your P's" spitting out the words as his jaw clenched.
"OH come on. Whadaya mean?" Elliot was already tipsy.
"I mean if Sarah tells you to fuck off, you better stay fucked off? Got it?" Reggie raised a threatening eyebrow at him.
"Alright, ALRIGHT. I didn't mean anything by it. I was just trying to be friendly." Elliot smiled and looked over at Sarah with glazed eyes.
Her eyes were beginning to hurt, almost rolling into the back of her head.
"two bourbon's, love." The rough English accent broke her from the thoughts of physical violence against the douchebag chatting with Reggie and his friends down the bar.
"Uh yeah, any preference?" Sarah smiled.
"What's your favorite?" The man winked back.
"I prefer the Japanese whiskey, but these are popular." She waived her hand towards the multitude of shining bottles on the back wall.
"I'll take two of whatever you like then. On the rocks." a woman sitting with his group reached up three of her fingers and nodded toward the man. "Scratch that. Make it three."
Sarah poured three glasses of her favorite whiskey, wishing she could pour one for herself.
"Do you already have a tab open? What's the last name?"
"Price." he winked and tapped the bar with his knuckles.
"Copy that chief." she pushed the glasses toward the man who walked back to his group at the very end of the bar.
Sarah watched as he left. A dark cloud seemed to hang over the group. A man still donning his mask. It was chilly in the bar, but it couldn't be that cold. Maybe she was starting to get used to it.
She made the rounds, grabbing empty bottles and glasses from tables on the floor and around the pool table. Her sour mood was evident on her face as she tried to keep from shaking her head at everyone else's fun.
"I'm going out for a smoke." She shouted back at the bar, sliding into her jacket before Reggie could protest.
The blast of air hit her like a freight train almost making her gasp as she stepped into the wind. She headed for the alcove next to the dumpsters where she might find shelter from the fierce lake wind.
"Hey, there purrdy lady." The slurred speech from behind her back made her jump.
Fuck.
The one person in the world she didn't want to get cornered in a dark alley with.
Elliot stood braced against the wall pissing on the far side of the dumpster.
"Put your dick away you fucking delinquent." she took a hard drag from her cigarette, her voice annoyed.
Elliot zipped up his fly and stepped around the dumpster toward her. She could smell the booze seeping from him making the air feel thick, even from a distance.
"Now why you gotta be so mean to me huh? You know I'm just trying to be nice." His words sounded more like a threat than a peace offering.
"And I'm just trying to preserve my sanity. Reggie shouldn't even still be serving you."
"I'm just drinking a few beers with the boys! I'm not even drunk. Why do you have to be such a bitch all the time?" malice crept into his tone.
Elliot stepped toward her, dwarfing her as she sat on a milk crate against the wall.
"Oh, you haven't even seen bitch yet." She stood like a cornered animal, jaw tight, trying to disguise that she was more than a little frightened. His height became scarily imposing. "Now I'm gonna tell you again. Fuck off, before I 86 you from the bar."
"You're not gonna 86 me. I've been coming here for years. I'm practically family. What are you gonna do, huh?" Elliot slammed his hand against the wall next to Sarah's ear, his rancid breath wafting around her face as she turned away. "Now, why don't you be sweet to me? Come on, I'm just trying to be friendly." Elliot drew his face ever closer to hers.
"Oi." a voice echoed down the alley. Both of their heads snapped towards the street. The man in the mask, half of it pulled up, had a cigarette hanging loosely out of his mouth.
"I think the young lady told you to fuck off."
"I think you should mind your fucking business." Elliot barked, now red-faced, his words still garbled.
The man took a final drag and flicked the cigarette to the side as he slowly approached.
"I'm gonna tell you one more time" another rough British accent. "The lady said fuck off."
Elliot pushed himself off the wall and stepped between her and the man in black. "I don't know who the fuck you think you are, but you're obviously not from around these parts."
"Easy there cowboy, don't wanna hurt yourself now." the man at the end of the alley commented on the staggering steps Elliot took towards him
Sarah watched as the rest of Elliot's trio filtered out of the bar and onto the street in front of them.
The men lurched in surprise at the scene.
"Hey, why don't we all calm down." one of them called out, reaching a hand into his pocket.
The man in black turned his head to the side assessing the two other men behind him. He pulled his hands from the pockets of his coat.
"Now. Like I said. I think you'd better mind your fucking business." Elliot shuffled back toward Sarah, still backed up against the wall and the dumpster. He grabbed her chin in an attempt to pull her closer, ignoring the others present in an attempt to continue what he had started. She struggled against his sharp grasp looking with wide eyes back towards the man slowly walking toward them.
The masked man took determined steps toward them, clearly demonstrating his intent to intervene. The men behind him shuffled. It was apparent that they were wary of the whole situation by the nervous glances they exchanged.
The clicking of one of the crony's unfolding pocket knife alerted the man and he stopped, slowly raising his hands up at his sides.
"Listen, boys. I don't think you want to cause any trouble" the man glanced back toward Elliot's friends before facing back down the alley, his eyes dark and intense.
Sarah saw Elliot's companion with the knife shuffle forward, clearly unsure of himself. He lunged toward the man. "LOOK OUT!" she screeched, wrenching her face free of Elliot's hand.
The man deftly caught his friend's wrist, forcing the knife from his grip and pushing him out into the street. The second of Elliot's friends sprang into action, throwing a punch toward the masked man. He flung the man across the alley with his own momentum, his body hitting the icy pavement with a disturbing thud. Sarah made easy work of Elliot, pushing him from behind and onto the ground as he turned towards the scene. She tried to run towards the street but instead felt the pain of the rough ground hitting her cheek and chin as Elliot grabbed for her ankles.
"I'll show you now bitch!" he snarled as he dragged her leg towards him, the cold and wet of the pavement seeping through her jeans.
She kicked at his hand, pulled herself from the ground, and broke into a sprint. She ran towards the man in black making surgical work of Elliot's other friends. The two other men lay sprawled on the ground as Elliot growled his frustration struggling to get up off of the cold cement.
Her mind was nowhere near the bar, her cigarettes, Reggie, or the cold air that whipped against her bleeding, scratched face. She just ran. Ran for as long as she could before sinking to her knees and trying to catch her breath, eyes wide from the event that had just taken place. From what could have taken place. Her eyes began to well as the feeling of her injuries started to take hold.
A hand came to her back. She sprang to her feet, fight or flight adrenaline still pumping her heart into overdrive. The man in black caught her wrists as she lunged.
"Shhhhh. Calm down. It's over." the man breathed, his voice quiet and low. "It's over."
Sarah couldn't help but lean into the man's chest. She began to sob, as the pain in her legs caused her to slump further against the man. He held her up, wrapping his arms around her shoulders to provide what little shelter he could against the cold.
"Listen, we've got to get you inside." His voice was calm but firm. He pulled her to his side bracing her.
"NO! I can't go back there. Please don't. Don't make me." She sobbed pushing back against his strong arm with what little strength she had left.
"I promise you they're not there." He gently pulled her forward. "Ran like dogs with their tails between their legs." She staggered forward sheepishly. "I've got you."
"Who are you? What are you even doing here? Why did this..." She stammered, her mind still racing.
The man was silent for a moment, slowly guiding her back to the light of the bar sign in front of them.
"You can call me... Simon." his voice seemed to waver as he said the name. No intensity behind it, roughness only in the calloused hands wrapped tightly around her shoulders.
The warmth of the bar was welcome, but Sarah thought she might be cold forever.
Reggie ran to the end of the bar and lifted the counter.
"Where the fuck were you. You left half your shit here. You were out there forever! I thought you..." Reggie stopped dead, eyes widening in shock as he saw the state of her.
Her jeans were soaked and covered in gravel and dirt, face scratched and muddy.
"That man. Tall blonde fuckhead and his friends." The man didn't even have to finish his sentence. Anger bloomed across Reggie's face.
"Did... Did Elliot do this to you?" he stammered, his throat dry. "I'm going to fucking kill him! I swear if I..."
"Shut up." Simon barked back. "Save it for the next time he tries to come in here. Now get me a rag with some hot water." He sat Sarah gently on a stool at the bar.
"I shouldn't have even let him get that close. I should have left when I saw him. I should have..." her thoughts raced, replaying through the events in the alley and yet struggling to push them from her mind.
"You did nothing wrong. That little shit needed to be dealt with proper. You did half the work back there. You should be proud." Simon's voice even and almost clinical.
Reggie hurriedly returned with a clean bar rag and a bucket of hot water.
"This'll sting but we need to get this cleaned so we can have a proper look, alright?" Simon dipped the rag into the water and began slowly dabbing at the wounds on Sarah's face.
His group quickly fell in as they observed the scene.
"Ghost, what the bloody hell is going on here." The British man she had served earlier approached his side quickly. She flinched.
"She was attacked. Outside the bar." The woman at his side's eyes widened as the rest of the gang circled around.
"Soap, grab my bag. I've got an aid kit."
"On it, LT." a man with a Scottish accent headed back toward their end of the bar. He walked like a bulldog and sported a short mohawk, which somehow seemed more charming than ridiculous.
Ghost continued to dab at Sarah's face with the wet rag. The gravel in her cheek loosening and sloughing off.
"How did you get involved Ghost?" the woman grabbed his shoulder, her tone hushed.
"I was out for a smoke. The man cornered her, his friends tried to take me. I took care of it. simple as."
"Ghost, we can't be drawing attention." The woman's tone was serious and her eyes intense.
"All do respect Laswell, what would you have me do? I'm in it now. And what I start I finish."
The woman drew her shoulders back. Her jaw was sharp and taught but her manner conveyed a motherly concern.
"Got your bag LT. What do you need? I'm not a medic." Soap's Scottish accent was thick and his smile slightly crooked as he winked at Ghost.
Ghost rolled his eyes. Sarah took note of the hazel color. Something in the expression reminded her of herself. She started to feel more at ease despite the painful heat radiating across her cheek.
"Gaz, help him find some alcohol wipes and wound ointment."
"On it LT." The third man took the bag from Soap and began digging for a first aid kit. He was notably younger than the rest of the group, his British accent almost more refined. He held himself with strength but there was also a boyish glint in his eyes.
Gaz set the kit at the bar and retrieved alcohol wipes, wound ointment, and a couple of bandages and handed them to Ghost.
Sarah's breathing steadied and her mind somehow seemed relieved by the presence of the people at her aid. She grabbed Ghost's hand as he lifted the alcohol wipe to her face.
"Please. I can... I can do it. I don't need your..."
"Hush," he sharply interrupted, "we're nearly done." His voice was stern but soft, and Sarah relented as she prepared for the sting of the alcohol against her cleaned wound.
"Tschhhhh" the alcohol burned against her cheek and chin. Ghost worked as quickly as he could to ensure that the wound was properly sterilized before applying a small amount of ointment to her scratched face. He applied the bandages and something surged in her as his hand softly pressed against her cheek.
"There. Sorted." Ghost gave her a hardy slap on the side of her shoulder. Despite the events of the night, Sarah smiled weakly at the gesture.
"Quite the resilient one aye?" The man, Price, said with a smile. Echoing Ghost, he gave her shoulder a squeeze. The man could only be described as jolly. His cheeks colored slightly pink beneath his bushy beard, thanks to the whiskey no doubt. His voice boomed through the bar but more in a jovial way than some of the more intoxicated patrons of the establishment.
Sarah sighed, relieved that her heart rate had returned to a reasonable level.
"I don't know what to do now. I can't really process what just happened but I... Thank you, Simon, I really can't even put words to it. I just... Thank you." she breathed. "For everything." The stress had all but left her voice, replaced instead by a tired tone.
The entirety of his group leaned back at the sound of his name coming from her lips. Laswell and Price's eyes seemed especially wide.
As Ghost stepped back to admire his work Soap pulled him away.
"LT. She knows your name. It's dangerous to..." Soap whispered into his ear
"It's fine." Ghost stopped him. "She was attacked in a dark alley. Couldn't exactly tell her my name was Ghost could I? Poor girl hardly let me walk her back."
"Sarah. Go home." Reggie's eyes seemed misty, sadness mixed with anger in his voice." "I can finish up here." He glanced at the few remaining patrons in the bar. "You need to relax. Be somewhere you feel safe. I know you're walking distance, but I'm gonna call you a cab." Worry tinged his words.
"Come on Reg," Sarah said sheepishly. "I'm... I'm fine now." she flashed him a half-hearted smile and rubbed her palms on her thighs, trying to convince herself it was true.
"Nah, I'm not gonna let that fly. Don't make me kick your ass outta the door." Reggie tried his best to bring some humor to the situation, the glint of sarcasm she was so fond of returning to his eyes.
"He's right." Ghost chimed in. He turned to address his group. "I'm going to see her home. I'm making sure she gets where she needs to be with no further incidents."
"Ghost." Price stepped up and grasped his shoulder. "do you really think this is a good idea. We're trying to lie low until we have more intel. We shouldn't be involving civies, especially not ones who know your bloody name." he hissed into the man's ear.
"Like I said. What I start, I finish."
"No no no." Sarah hopped off the bar stool, wincing at the pain in her leg and the shock of standing. "I am fine. I can walk home just fine. I have a taser in my bag, and I want the time to process what the actual fuck just happened." She rubbed her palm against her forehead. "Listen, I'm incredibly grateful for your help, I legitimately don't know what would have happened if you hadn't been there, but I will be fine on my own." Her patience at being doted on was starting to wear thin. The hushed words and ginger energy of Ghost's group made her feel distant from them.
"No." Ghost's voice was commanding. "We'll call a car now, and I'll ride with you, make sure you're in, and," He turned back to his group, "I'll rendezvous at our HQ. Sorted."
Sarah furrowed her brow at the man's words. "I'm going to walk." she asserted. "You can follow me home all you want or not, but that's the only way I'm stepping out of this bar." She turned to get her things from the bar and prepare for the blistering wind outside.
Under his mask Ghost raised an eyebrow. "10-4" his voice almost surprised.
"Listen, Simon, you need to do this fast. We can't risk making our location known. We don't know who's watching, especially with Shepard gone dark." Price's voice was hushed.
"He's right, Price. She doesn't have anyone here and we're not just going to let her walk out into the cold at 1 in the morning after what's just happened. Ghost, keep us updated. We need comms open until we can regroup." Laswell nodded her wary approval.
"LT?" Soap handed Ghost his repacked bag and nodded his head. "Need extra eyes?"
"Yeah, maybe we should support?" Gaz chimed in.
"No. Best not to draw extra attention. The other barkeep said she's not far from here. Should be a quick job."
"Alrighty, Ghosty? You ready?" Sarah let out an exasperated breath not only at the insane situation she had now found herself in but also at the exertion of bundling herself back up to face the cold. The rest of the crew's eyes widened, Soap and Gaz trying desperately not to let out chuckles at the comment.
"Fuckin Hell." Ghost sighed. Shaking his head. "Good to go."
Sarah pushed the bar door open against the cold Chicago wind, Ghost following behind her.
"So. Marines or Navy?" Sarah sighed. Her teeth chattered slightly at the cold.
"Pardon?"
"I'm assuming you're here for some military thing right? The way you were all talking."
"Just visiting. Never been to Chicago before. We're retired military. Like taking group vacations now. Heard you all have a giant bean." The stoic man almost seemed as if he was trying to make a joke. Some of the harshness of his accent was muffled.
Sarah let out a giggle.
"We do indeed have a giant bean." She laughed. Snow started gently falling around them, flakes disappearing almost as quickly as they appeared.
Curious, even after the events of the night, Sarah prolonged her time with the man, taking the scenic route through the park giving her 30 minutes to find out more.
"Retired military but still stuck with the lingo, huh?" She raised an eyebrow and looked up at the man. Walking by his side she was suddenly aware of his height. He towered above her, but she didn't feel intimidated.
"Hard habit to shake."
"Uh-huh. And you're in Chicago to see The Bean. Anything else drawing you to the frigid Midwest during the worst possible weather?"
"Hoping to make it to Kentucky. I'm a bourbon fan." He shrugged slightly and cocked his head to the side, his massive shoulders creeping up to his neck.
"Ah, so you're the bourbon lover."
"Hmm." Ghost grumbled.
They walked in silence for a moment.
Sarah stepped in front of the man, startling him slightly. "Okay so, I'm Sarah." she stuck out her cold bare hand to the man. He looked at her quizzically. Sarah grabbed the man's hand out of his pocket and placed it in hers, the touching of their hands warming them both. "This is where you say "Nice to meet you, I'm Simon." or Ghost. Or whatever you want me to call you."
"Either is fine." The man's answer seemed nonchalant. She raised an eyebrow wondering about his flat tone.
"Very nice to meet you, Simon." She chose. "Thank you for saving me from horrors beyond my comprehension." Sarah suddenly shivered again at the thought of what could have happened. She had tried to push the events of the evening out of her mind, but like the winds off the lake, a wave of fear and sadness swept over her. She stopped walking. "How did you... How were you there?" she shuddered. Ghost turned to face her. His eyes seemed quizzical even hidden beneath the hood of his jacket and his mask. "How did you do it? Why were you there?" Sarah shook her head, looking at the ground, tears welling in her eyes.
"Hey." Simon stepped toward her, his tone stern. He placed his hands on her shoulders. "Hey," he said again, lifting her chin to meet his gaze. "You need to breathe. We are here now. You are safe." His eyes searched through hers, the golden hazel color almost matching his own. He felt a heat in his chest as he held her gaze for longer than he intended.
Sarah turned her head away from his grasp on the unscathed side of her face. A tear slid down her cheek burning against the chill. Unprompted, she wrapped her arms around him tightly, the aftershocks of her fear excusing her from being unfamiliar. It was an automatic response. Other than Reggie and other co-workers, she was alone. Her family on the other side of the continent, no real friends. There was no one who could have protected her. Helped her. Saved her. And here, this man, in the right place, at the very right time. Like he knew there was trouble looming.
Simon didn't know how to respond, his arms lingering at his sides as he looked down at her. Slowly he gingerly wrapped his strong arms around her. She held tighter. Something inside of him pulled her into him. He had not felt this kind of touch in a very long time. Pure, genuine, gratitude? Happiness? He couldn't have named the feelings that made her grasp his waist so tightly, but his grip around her tightened. He moved his hand to the back of her neck cradling her head against his chest.
"I'm sorry," she whispered into his jacket. Her tears continued as she held onto him. "I don't know what I'm doing." Her voice was muffled against the thick material of his jacket. "I just... I'm sorry. And thank you? I don't know what to say. I still don't know what to say."
Simon had no words. What could he say now to comfort her? He simply held her.
"You have nothing to apologize for. Like Price said. You're resilient. You protected yourself. I was just there for overwatch." he slowly loosened his grasp and pulled her away to look again into the forest of her eyes illuminated by the lights of the park. "Now. We've got to run you home."
Sarah nodded and rubbed the tears and snot away from her face with her sleeve. "Sorry for crying all over you."
"Nothing a good washing can't fix." Simon smiled beneath his mask.
When they finally arrived at her apartment Sarah felt so heavy and so tired. Both from the cold walk and the events of the evening. She slipped her key into the lock, turned, and slumped against the door using her weight to open it.
Ghost stood at attention outside of the door. She turned back to the man.
"You're coming in." she demanded.
"Negative. I've seen you home. I need to return to my crew."
"No no. We've just walked through the freezing wind and after all you've done I'm not letting you leave until you've got a cup of tea and a chance to warm up." She placed a hand on her hip and shot him an aggressive stare that surprised him.
Ghost tensed up. Price and Laswell had been right. While there was no way he could not have intervened in the situation that unfolded before him, he could not become further involved. It put not only him and the rest of his group in danger but also this woman. Sarah. This Sarah.
"Well? Chop chop." Sarah opened the door further and ushered him into her home.
Luckily the old apartment ran off a hot water radiator and the small studio was comfortably toasty. Sarah began unwrapping her scarf and pulling off her coat. The lights in the apartment had returned while she was away, and the fluorescent overhead light of the kitchen illuminated the small space. She walked into the living area to turn on a floor lamp, its warm light more friendly than the light of the kitchen.
Simon was not a man to be nervous. Quite the opposite. He was used to being in charge. He was a leader and a strong one at that. He was startled by the experience of the orders being imposed on him by this girl. No, this woman. But, if he was going to be ordered to have a cup of tea, perhaps it wasn't that bad. He watched as she removed her fleece sweater revealing her slender frame.
"Please. Have a seat." She waved towards the bar stool at the counter of her small kitchen. "I'll be right back." She left the room momentarily and emerged from the bathroom in sweats and a camisole. Returning to the kitchen she gripped her counter until her knuckles were white. He watched her, somehow feeling the energy of her emotions ripple through the room. He felt uncomfortable. Something about this was unexplored territory. He knew he had to distance himself from what she was feeling. He was practiced in the art of separating emotion from the task at hand.
She filled her electric kettle and flipped the switch, sighing again. Sighing so much. Sighing to breathe, sighing to try and expel the pain in her chest, the pain of her injuries, the pain of how alone she felt even with the heat radiating from the presence of the man sitting in her kitchen.
Ghost tightened his jaw, sat in silence, opened and closed his fists tightly, intertwined his fingers. Watched. Carefully. Watched her pace back and forth, tighten her jaw, open and close her fists as she waited for the water in her kettle to boil.
"So. We've got Earl Grey, English Breakfast, Sleepytime (created by a cult, fun fact), Matcha, Black Tea, Peach and Turmeric. All teabags, I don't have anything fresh right now I'm afraid."
"Earl Grey is fine." Ghost muttered.
"Cream? Sugar? Lemon?"
"Little sugar, Little cream."
"I have to admit I'm quite scared to serve you tea right now. You being British and all." Sarah grimaced. "I feel like I'm going to be judged."
She waited as the hot water steeped the tea in the mugs on the counter.
"You know what?... I'm gonna need you to come over here and do this. I would be devastated if I fucked up tea in front of an Englishman." She smirked.
Ghost slightly winced under his mask, but she wasn't wrong. He got up from his seat and walked around the wall to join her in the kitchen. She retrieved the half and half from the small refrigerator and her sugar container from a cupboard. He watched as she prepared her own tea, her hands shaking slightly as she sprinkled sugar into her mug. Her hand brushed against his as she passed him the carton of half and half.
She lifted the mug up to her lips, and the heat of the tea startled her. Too hot to drink as the liquid touched her mouth she dropped the mug, leaving shattered glass and tea all over the floor.
"Shit! Shit! Shit!" she exclaimed. "Fuck, now I've really done it. That's more embarrassing than preparing it wrong, I've completely wasted it. God damn it." She pushed a hand into her hair as she bent down to pick up the shards of porcelain on the ground.
"Stop, stop. I've got it." Simon reached down with her to clean the mess, grabbing paper towels from the counter. Down on one knee, he deftly swept up the glass and began mopping up the tea with the paper towels. He placed the towel with the porcelain shards in the rubbish and came back to finish the liquid remaining on the floor.
Sarah waited as the man cleaned the remaining tea around her feet that had partially soaked into her socks. When he stood up he was so close to her. He towered over her. He could feel the heat radiating from her body even through his thick coat.
She placed a hand on his chest and looked up at his still-masked face. Her hand followed the zipper of his sweater to his neck. Her other hand pulled it down. She rested her hand on his chest over the thin material of his shirt. She felt the man's heart pounding against his chest.
Simon stood completely still, hardly breathing. No one had touched him like this in a long long time. It both scared and steadied him, a dizzying feeling bubbling in his head. Sarah gingerly reached her hand towards his mask.
Ghost snapped to attention and grabbed her wrist almost hard enough to hurt her. His breath caught in his throat and he swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry. His grasp softened as he gazed into her eyes. He released her hand and slowly moved to fold the mask above his mouth still covering the majority of his face. Scars traced the sides of his mouth, and her eyes widened slightly at the sight. They almost seemed like decoration on his strong jaw.
She gently pulled his face to hers. Both of their breaths quivering. Slowly and softly their lips touched. Sending lightning down Simon's spine and igniting a fire in his stomach. Feeling the heat radiating through his chest Simon pulled her closer. The feeling dared to swallow him whole. He wanted to pull her so tight that she would become a part of him.
Sarah feverishly wrapped her hands around the back of his neck, fingers gently weaving through the small amount of hair that the slight absence of his mask allowed. His fingers slightly lifted the edge of her shirt as his hands ran along the small of her back and shock waves encapsulated her as the rough calloused skin touched hers.
She quickly pulled at his sweater. He helped remove his arms from the sleeves, the fabric falling onto the still tea-soaked floor, more of his skin exposed. She still grasped the back of his neck, frantically pulling him closer and deeper into their kiss. Her hand ran along the length of his now exposed arm and in the back of her mind she made note of the raised scar tissue along the muscle, taking in every bit of exposure.
In a quick motion, he pulled her onto the kitchen counter. Her face now level with his, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders as he began to ravage her neck and collarbones with hot kisses. Her mind had pushed out any thought of what had happened that night and instead relished in the feeling of her legs wrapped tightly around his waist.
The moment began to crescendo as sweat began to bead on his chest, feeling now almost an animalistic need. He had gone so long without this. He was not thinking about his duties, or the need to stay stoically apart from the people that surrounded him, or his allies waiting for his call. Whatever had been pent up inside him these last few months unleashed itself now as he poured it onto this woman's skin in fumbling grasps and hot trails of kisses.
And then he stopped suddenly, his breathing heavy. His hands untangled themselves from her long brown hair and instead found a grasp on the edge of the counter top.
"I can't. I can't do this. This isn't... I came here to make sure that you were safe." His head hung close to her shoulder and she could feel his hot breath against her skin. He shook his head. "You...You've already been through enough excitement this evening." he tried to smile but instead pulled his bottom lip into his mouth, pushing himself back and forth against the counter. He seemed to be fighting himself. The thread of need still tying his chest to hers.
Sarah panted and opened her eyes slowly. Putting her hands on his chest, she pushed him back and looked into his golden eyes, filled with emotion when before they had been dark.
"I know..."