acontritemess | Reunion;

Reunion;

[That meeting had been annoying, awkward, and left Nathan with a bitter taste in his mouth. The last time he'd joined the lot of them in battle, he'd nearly killed them all, himself included. Now they wanted him to join a concerted effort to assault one of their adversary's weapons depots.

It felt really weird calling them "adversaries", but that's what Natalia insisted on calling them, and who was he exactly to argue with a centuries-old vampire? He couldn't help but smile at that thought. Tony'd hate him for it. "Does that make me an exception, Nathaniel?" He could hear it already. The little meeting they'd had after the main one was boring, and he let Cairn do the majority of the talking.

He was actually finding himself a little exhausted from all the meeting he'd been doing. A year was a long time to be in seclusion and contemplative meditation with only one other person for company and he could already tell it was going to take some to to acclimate to being around people again. There was actually only one person he wanted to talk to at the moment. He hadn't seen her for over a year, and she looked so...different now. Not anything too noticeable, just subtle differences. She held her shoulders straighter, made eye contact. She was more confident, that was it, and it was hot.

Adorable, but hot. Like she'd always been, like he'd remembered her to be. Finally he was dismissed for the night to go back to the rooms they'd prepared for him, and he didn't waste any time getting out of there.

What he wasn't planning on was stumbling upon Luther the Egotistical Prick and Airy in the hall. She didn't look happy to be there and Nathan's eyes immediate narrowed.]

I'm not interrupting anything, am I? [His voice was even, controlled. He didn't like what he was seeing, but the past year had taught him that much at least. How to control his anger, at least to an extent.]

[Luther responds to his question, but doesn't even give Nathan the respect of turning to look at him when he does.] As a matter of fact you are.

[Nathan's tone darkens slightly.] I wasn't asking you.

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[Airy laughs.]

I asked. Oh, [She quickly turns back to the woman at the cash register.]

Can I also have a small camerla macchiato with an extra shot? Name's Rachel. [She has some sucking up to do if she wants to try and take the day off. Luckily with it being daytime, all the vampires are asleep. With that done she turns back to Nathan, smiles and steps towards the end counter.]

I bought this really small statue thing I thought was cool and then I found something I wanted to give you. [Her smile widens.] But it's in my room so you'll have to wait until we get back and then I'll give it to you.

[She isn't going to give him any hints, mostly because it's dumb.

Airy knows that Nathan's been good for a year but standing at Starbucks and just talking... it doesn't feel like he left at all. She's changed a lot of that year though and she wonders if he'll notice or if he'll like the person she is now. She's still herself but parts of her were missing, even after Seth put her back together.]

So how was Carin's training? Besides waterfalls.

Rachel? [He raised an eyebrow.] The healer? You know her?

[He really had a lot of catching up to do.]

What kind of statue? [He took a deep breath as they moved to the other end of the table.] ...I don't know. Peaceful, but...complicated? The cabin was within 100 miles of another node. Not too close, but I guess that's why he picked the spot.

Yeah, Rachel is Carin's granddaughter. She was one of my teachers. I thought I'd bribe her with coffee so that we could spend the day together. [Assuming that's okay.] Assuming you want to spend that much time with me.

[She takes a seat across from Nathan swinging her legs beneath her and hooking her ankles.]

It's of the coliseum but... broken. [Since the coliseum is broken.]

[Airy feels a little awkward when he brings up the node. They never have talked about what happened when he came in to get her and she doesn't feel like Starbucks is the place for that.]

How was it complicated?

[She isn't sure what else to ask and while she's kept up eye contact now she glances away and towards the barista's waiting for their coffee. She wishes that she had something in her hands to fiddle with.]

[He blinked at the new knowledge. Cairn never mentioned Rachel was his granddaughter.] I'd love to. [He smiles over at her, running a hand through his hair.] Like I said, I missed you.

[And he laughed.] Isn't it supposed to be broken?

There's...so much power there, and it's...I don't know...more excited? It takes a lot of focus to work with the power in a node. It...it's like trying to push a car uphill just trying to hold on to it.

[Airy smiles in return, she's more than a little happy that he's willing to spend the day with her.] Good.

[Her smile falters some but it's good to hear him laughing, yes, it's suppose to be broken but she has no idea how else to describe it.

Airy listens curiously, his metaphor is the sort of thing she can understand. Her own training has centered on a lot of focus though and less brute strength. She's about to say something more when she hears their names being called by the man behind them. She rises from her seat and turns with a warm smile.]

Thank you.

[Then comes the struggle of putting on the cardboard things and then the green stir for Rachel's coffee.]

Did you want to take this back with us? I have something I want to show you.

[At the appearance of his coffee, Nathan smiles widely and simply smells the delicious smelling drink for a moment before taking a careful sip.

Oh. Oh God. Coffee.]

You're an angel, you know that, right? Like water to a dying man.

[He nods.] Sure. New York feels a little more crowded than usual.

[Airy feels the heat seep into her fingertips as she takes hold of the two cups. She brings the first to her lips and sips it. It isn't her drink and in response she makes a disgruntled face before switching the green stir and taking a sip of her own. She releases a warm sigh, she's almost forgotten how good this tastes.

It was hard to get coffee with Nathan gone. She shakes her head and then gestures towards the door with a smile.]

I'm glad you think so. [She almost wants to laugh after seeing Nathan so happy; coffee always does the trick.] I've always thought that New York was a little crowded.

[Airy uses her hip to open the door and then holds it ajar for Nathan to slip through. She looks back at those behind the counter and is remembered of that day over a year ago when she went to Starbucks. She feels as if they should talk about that but after so long Airy isn't even sure what she should say. Once Nathan is on his way she follows behind, sipping her coffee with a general air of ease and warmth radiating from her. Things haven't been perfect since Nathan left but Airy's stronger now, or at least she likes to think so. Her head tilts to look up at him and then shakes trying to push her long hair over her shoulder while her hands were full.

She wants to tell him about those who'd be excited to see him, like Gus and even Rachel considering the amount of times Nathan's name came up in conversation. Except Airy doesn't really feel like sharing him, he's finally back and she just wants it to be like he never left, where they could hang out all day and just have fun.

Things aren't so simple anymore.

With a heavy sigh Airy turns her attention back towards where they were walking. There is a lot she wants to tell him but doing so on the street doesn't seem like a good idea. Plus he's enjoying his coffee which isn't a moment she's looking to ruin. The sun continues to peek up towards the sky and Airy smiles as the familiar orange glow bathes the city in light.]

I grew up in a small town after all. [She adds the comment as an afterthought, not realizing that Nathan has seen her home town.]

[Nathan frowned a little at the mention of her hometown. He knows what they found there, and what she'd done to the place and the people in it, but he wasn't going to mention it. Besides, this was a good moment. There was no need to ruin it. He was actually surprised at how much he missed coffee.

Well, he was for a moment, until he remembered the month-long headache he had after leaving New York.

It looked like a renewed caffeine addiction was in his future.

He couldn't say he really cared all that much. He nodded at her explanation.]

Yeah. Island Falls, right? That's a weird name for a town.

[Airy looks over at him with a smile.]

What? I always thought it was a cool name. Made it sound like I was from a town in a fairy tail.

[Except that a bunch of crazy stuff has happened since she thought that about her home and there are still times when she wishes things would go back to normal. Airy doesn't really remember what normal is anymore.

She takes a sip of her coffee, feeling the caffeine and warmth move through her.]

Want to know a secret? [She breaths against the lip of her cup and then takes another sip.] I haven't been to starbucks since you left. Coffee made me miss you.

[She also didn't go to 'breakfast' because it always smelt like coffee. It was annoying when you wanted the person it reminded you of to be back.]

[He laughed at her description. It was so, typically and refreshingly Airy. God, he missed her.]

Yeah, I guess it kind of does.

[But at her admission, his eyebrows rose and he looked over to her and just looked for a moment.]

...seriously?

[Airy sudden feels very awkward. She looks over at him trying to keep her tone even as if it isn't a big deal.]

What? You drink coffee all the time.

[...and talk about it a lot. It isn't her fault that she's associated the memories to him. Clearly, it's his fault and that stare is not appreciated because her cheeks are beginning to feel very very warm.

Airy promptly looks away sipping her coffee. The compound is just around the corner so maybe the conversation will drop when they get inside.]

[Do I really talk about coffee that much? ...damn, I had a serious caffeine problem...]

I just...didn't realize you cared that much.

[Airy blinks a few times looking from Nathan to the sidewalk and then to her coffee.]

Why would I not care?

[She's a little confused and she doesn't really want to mention how angry and hopeless she felt when he left. Remembering Nathan... hurt because she missed him. Isn't that normal when friends leave?]

We're friends Nathan...

[Or at least she hopes so...]

[He smiles, nodding.]

Of course we are, I just...didn't know... [That I meant that much to you?]

[Airy feels a little awkward but she pushes the feeling aside.]

Well now you do. [She smiles and then pushes opened the door with her hip when they get back.]

Um... can you get the door?

[She has her and Rachel's coffee.]

[He was already ahead of her and pushed the door open, holding it for her to pass by.]

Yeah...I guess I do. [And he can't keep the smile from his face so he looks back toward the city bashfully. Maybe she won't notice as he passes by.]

[Airy doesn't seem to notice, now focused on the full coffee clamped lightly between her fingertips. She just has to get this bribe to Rachel and then she can show Nathan everything.]

Hey, [She looks back at him taking what felt like the last sip to her coffee. She drank it to fast and she misses it.]

I'm going to run this to Rachel. [She holds up the coffee.] Want to come with or... [Her voice trails off.]

Gus is making breakfast.

[Airy doesn't want to leave Nathan's side until she is sure he's not going anywhere again but she knows that it's silly and it's not worth mentioning or acting on.]

Uh, sure. Lead the way. [Because he honestly didn't spend much time here before he left, and he really doesn't know the place.]

Gus knows how to make stuff other than hotdogs? [He chuckles.] Or wait, are they breakfast hotdogs?

[Airy turns away and laughs as she steps down the hallway.]

You know, I've gotten him to make hotdogs for breakfast before but he makes really good eggs too.

[She can rant on and on about breakfast.]

Rachel's... office I guess it close to my room. Once we drop this off we'll swing by there and then hit breakfast.

[She's only telling him her plans so that he knows where they are heading. The annoying part of this place is that most of the hallways look the same. Airy got lost a lot when she first woke up.]

[He laughs, shaking his head, and takes a sip of his coffee. He did not drink his too fast, he still has plenty left, and he's pretty sure it's turning him into a god, because it tastes like ambrosia.]

You know, I'm not surprised. [A beat.] Well, I am about the eggs.

[And he nods, keeping step with her. He doesn't really care where they go, if he's honest, so long as he's spending time with her.]

I was surprised to.

[She isn't sure if she is more surprised about Gus being able to cook things besides hot dogs or him being a werewolf.

Airy turns the corner and then pauses hearing a familiar high pitch squel shouting at her from a little ways down the hall.]

Airy!

Hi Belle, your mom here?

[The little girl giggles, nods at Airy and then stares up at Nathan.]

This is Nathan.

[She looks over at him with a smile. Rachel sometimes comes with a small child also.]

[Nathan smiles down at her.] Hey, it's nice to meet you, Belle. You're really excited for it to be this early.

[He seems to remember a young girl from a year ago, but only vaguely. He's starting to realize how much he doesn't know about this place.]

[Airy has a sinking suspicion that things were bound to get awkward fast, if only because of the few tidbits of information Airy has shared about Nathan. Before Belle could ask the first question that is most likely rising in her thoughts Airy looks down and preempts her with a smile.]

Why not lead us to your mom before the coffee I got her gets cold.

[Belle seems to know what Airy's game is because she puffs up her cheeks and then stares at Airy. Airy just stares back and in no time at all Belle's concentration breaks into a giggle.]

You win. It's this way. [She runs to Nathan and grabs his hand with her two small ones.] Come on! Is Papa with you? I haven't seen him in a million years!

[Airy laughs as she steps towards the nearest door.]

It hasn't been that long. [While Airy is nice to Belle she's the sort of person who treats both children and adults the same.

She peeks into the room letting Belle entertain Nathan for the time; even if that comes back to bite her. She smiles a little wider and a little sheepishly when she spots Rachel at a thin wooden desk. The woman looks up and her lips curled into a beautiful smile. Belle had given away the fact that they were coming down the hall so of course she doesn't look surprised.]

I brought you coffee. [Airy smiles weakly while Rachel gives her a silent motherly look that merely says 'and?'.] It's a bribe. [She continues softly feeling more and more put on the spot. Airy gets the feeling that Rachel already knows that Nathan is back.]

I wanted to show Nathan around. [She pauses.] And get out of practice today?

[Rachel continues to smile and Airy has no idea how this woman can both be one of her close friends and make her squirm like her mom used too. Silence lingered in the air, only filled by Belle's endless chatter. Finally Rachel spoke and then reached for her bribe.]

Only if you introduce him to me.

[Meanwhile, out in the hall, Nathan has been left at the mercy of Belle, and he smiles first, nodding.] Papa? You mean Cairn? Yeah, he's here. He's the one who brought me back.

Did he make you learn your Latin letter and say them back to him when you made him mad?

[Nathan's eyes narrow at the question.]

Uh...yeah, actually...

[She giggles and covers her mouth.] But it's really easy!

[Nathan laughs, shaking his head even though the little girl is the only one currently able to see it.] Maybe for a genius.

[Belle's little brow furrowed in confusion.] It was hard for you? But Airy says you're really smart! And she says you're funny, too!

[Nathan's eyes dart back toward the room before he smirks slightly and crouches down to be more on her level. He leans forward, whispering conspiratorially.]

What else has Airy said about me?

[Belle's lips curl into a child like smile that suggests she's doing something she isn't supposed too. She leans forward and hurriedly whispers in Nathan's ear like a pixy whispering its secrets.]

She says you're an amazing actor and she wants to see you perform in a musical. Mommy teases her a lot when your name comes up and it always breaks Airy's concentration. She says-

[Airy suddenly feels very nervous and she doesn't even know what the conversation out in the hall is about. She just nods at Rachel before peeking around the door frame. She's just in time to stop Belle from getting to the horribly embarrassing part of her tale.]

Nathan? Come in and say hi. Rachel wants to meet you.

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