[ Survivor AU ]

[bothbarrels]

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[ghostthatlingers]

It had been one very long year.

She's not sure why she's here. This bar had been a favorite of theirs, the regulars and bartender knew them by sight. Their usual seats at the bar were even open when she came in and she found herself drawn to them despite that voice of reason telling her what a bad idea it is to even be here. It's been a place she hasn't dared to set foot in since she lost him.

Everything has changed, even in a dumb place like this and it hurts sitting here, in the same fucking seat she sat in with him, and not recognizing a single person in this place. It's a mistake being here, one she realizes acutely when the bartender comes over to take her order. Yet, she opens a tab and orders a beer.

As the bartender grabs her drink, she pulls out her wedding band from her pocket and absently plays with it. Leonard's is safely tucked away at home, one of the few mementos she allowed herself to keep after his passing. She's tried not to stay in the past, to move on, even throwing herself into her work more than usual this last month to keep her mind occupied as the date drew closer. Even after a year, it was hard coming home to an empty house and waking up to only realize she was dreaming about his presence.

It's been a long year and she has a feeling she'll be calling a cab to take her home before the night is over.

[bothbarrels]

He's been living a pretty transient lifestyle with the business he's in, but he does have a home base in this city that he returns to now and again. He's just returned from a lengthy job and he's slowly recuperating from the stress and tension doing this kind of work can inspire.

Today has been a nice change of pace—a lot slower pace, that is—and he's capping it off by visiting a local bar for a drink. He savors it slowly and rests his elbow on the bar. Yeah, unwinding like this is just what he needs.

A little while later he notices the woman who's sitting a few seats down. He recognizes her. They'd been on a mission together a while back, both having been hired by the same client. He watches her for a moment before arising with his drink to move to the seat next to hers.

"Hi. Remember me? We worked a job together a while back."

[ghostthatlingers]

He startles her out of her thoughts and the ring is quickly pocketed. It only takes her a moment to regain her composure and she sizes the other man up. He's familiar and it takes her a second longer to actually place a name with the face.

"Yeah, I remember. You call yourself North, right?" Real names were a luxury in their line of work.

[bothbarrels]

He can't help but notice her evasively tucking something away but just what is none of his business. He's sort of noticed the pensive look on her face but when he first spotted her he didn't take it to mean anything much.

"Yeah. That's me," he responds to her inquiry. "And you go by Texas, right?"

[ghostthatlingers]

She nods and glances around the bar. "Yeah, but you can just call me Allison. Codenames don't really fit in here."

[bothbarrels]

He smiles. "You're right about that. I'm Andrew."

[ghostthatlingers]

This isn't the best day for her to want to make pleasant conversation with an almost stranger, but it's better than being alone with her thoughts. She holds out her hand to shake.

"So, what brings you out here? I didn't think you lived nearby."

[bothbarrels]

He shakes her hand pleasantly and returns to his drink.

"I do, actually. I'm not there often, though. Almost makes me wonder why I keep paying rent on the place but I do love it there."

[ghostthatlingers]

"It's got a certain charm to it. I grew up around here and find my way back pretty often." How much longer, she's not sure. She and Leonard invested in a home and had talked about starting a family, but now it's a lonely place full of memories.

[bothbarrels]

"There are always those places that draw you back. Sometimes it's friends or family, but sometimes it's just the city." That's what it was for him.

[ghostthatlingers]

She gives a slight nod. "You on your own here?"

[bothbarrels]

"Yeah. My sister doesn't live far either, though. Couple towns over. What about you?"

[ghostthatlingers]

She shrugs and her gaze focuses on the wall behind the bar. It helps her keep her composure for the words that come next. "I live here alone. It's my hometown."

It hurts more than it should a year out and she downs what remains of her beer before flagging down the bartender for a shot of tequila.

[bothbarrels]

There's something about the way she says it—the way she almost shuts down any vestige of emotion in her expression—that tells him he asked the wrong question. He's not going to press, though. "I haven't been to my hometown in a long, long time."

[ghostthatlingers]

The shot is thrown back as soon as it is placed in front of her. She lets out a breath she doesn't realize she's holding. Goddamn, she couldn't be more of a mess if she tried.

"I might be leaving mine soon enough. Where are you from?"

[bothbarrels]

"Mars. A long way out." He's been working on his rum and coke slowly and finally takes the last swallow. "It's been a few years now."

[ghostthatlingers]

"I've been out there a few times for some jobs. Haven't had a chance to enjoy the scenery." She motions to his empty class. "Want another of the same or a shot? I'll buy."

[bothbarrels]

"More of the same is great," he says. Once the drink is placed in front of him he motions with the glass toward her. "Thanks."

[ghostthatlingers]

"Thank my recent paycheck," she jokes lightly and clinks her glass with his. This time she went for a tequila sunrise with instructions to be generous with the alcohol portion. At least a cocktail would take her longer to drink than a shot.

"How long are you in town for?"

[bothbarrels]

"Until I decide not to be," he says. "I haven't got any jobs lined up as of now."

[ghostthatlingers]

She nods in understanding. "One good thing about our job. It's dangerous, but at least we set our schedules."

[bothbarrels]

"That's how I see it." He takes a sip of his drink. "How many jobs do you take a year?" They were paid well enough that if they felt like it they would only need to take a few.

[ghostthatlingers]

She shrugs. "Enough to live well. I took on a lot this year because I enjoy what I do." And she needed the distraction. It was either work as much as she could or spend all her time in that damn house and that wouldn't have helped one bit.

[bothbarrels]

"I take it in bursts. A lot of jobs for a few months and then a long break."

[ghostthatlingers]

"And you keep up a place here? Do you have a lot of places you rent or just the one?"