[PSL] Sidewinder reunion

[a_shadow]

 Church and Tex encountered each other before Blood Gulch. Will likely be an AU.

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[beside_myself]

She went with it - good. Keeps him from having to think too hard. Shit gives him a headache.

"Nope," Church says, popping the word. "I don't think anyone could convince ... anyone that you're not a dangerous bitch." He grins, one side pulling up a little higher. "No offense, Tex."

[a_shadow]

She rolls her eyes. "That's not how that works," she says.

There's a knocking from the other side of the glass and the soldier who had recently arrived goes over and picks up her helmet. Actually picks up her helmet! She frowns and snatches it from him. "I can handle this," she snaps. She glares at the window and puts her helmet on, sealing it one catch at a time.

[beside_myself]

Church watches the exchange, his face twisted into a frown. There's something really off going on here. He feels like he's a third wheel, almost — that there's something he's not part of.

"So ... you gonna explain any of this to me?" He eventually asks, breaking the air of "don't think too hard" and "pretend it's all right and joke around." He can accept that they (who is "they," exactly?) didn't want him alone with her, but soldiers? A one way mirror? Something's not right.

[a_shadow]

Some day. Some day she will. Goddamn it. She just...can't right now. If she blurts out something Church will actually find useful that'll be the end of her being able to visit him. And he's under too much guard right now for her to be able to decide to make a break for it on this occasion. She needs to wait until the time is right.

"Just tow the line, Church," she says, slow and measured. She hates this. "It'll make sense later." Later, when she's able to get him away from the Director and the horrible things the man has done to him. She comes and stands directly in front of him. She seems to be preparing to say something else, but she turns her head a bit, glancing away, and then begins to walk away.

[beside_myself]

He catches her wrist and stares at her for a long, long moment. He trusts her, but God damn he doesn't want to be left like this. He's being left behind — again (again?) — and God fucking knows what's going to happen to him this time. But she's always known better, always been some sort of guiding light.

He lets go. "Okay." It's flat, small, and upset. He goes to grab his helmet and pulls it back on. "I'll see you around, Tex."

[a_shadow]

She lowers her arm when he lets go and watches him put on the helmet. She hates his tone of voice. "As soon as I can," she says. "I'll be back." That's a promise, and she says it firmly.

[beside_myself]

"Yeah, sure thing," he says, glancing around the room - almost avoiding her gaze.

"I uh - Yeah. I'll try not to get myself killed out here. Y'know without... you protecting me. Ha, it's a joke. Because you're..." He coughs. Way to make a sad situation into an awkward one. Whatever. Takes the sting off, anyway. "Yeah."

[a_shadow]

She'd respond, but his tone leaves her feeling stung. She can't protect him, not like this. She turns away, and begins to leave.