(un)lost

Not all who wander are lost.

[professorperalta]

ofcaffeine‌:

“Yes.” She affirms, managing to clock his wrist in her peripheral vision and reaching out, wrapping her slender fingers around the pulse point and trying to focus all of her attention on his heartbeat, allowing her to eventually slow her own to match his. “Okay,” she says after a moment, releasing his wrist. “Okay, I’m… I’m good now.”

He waited patiently until she seemed to be at a level of calm where she could better speak, but didn’t allow her to completely break from him when she released his hand. Instead, his fingers closed around hers, and he crouched to her level. “I missed you,”

[professorperalta]

ofcaffeine‌:

“No. No, I just, um-” she heaves in another breath, “I just need a minute.”

Carter nods, not trying to rush her. It had been a while since they last spoke and part of him wondered if his being there was simply making things worse. “Do you want me to stay?” he asked quietly.

[professorperalta]

ofcaffeine‌:

“I’m a great liar,” she says, clenching an un-clenching her fist rhythmically as she focuses on trying to fix her breathing, “when I’m focused on it.”

Carter took a small step towards her. “Can I help you?”

[professorperalta]

ofcaffeine‌:

“I’m f- I’m fine.”

“You’re not a very good liar, y’know.”

[professorperalta]

ofcaffeine:

Reese’s eyes dart between Carter and Alex, unable to do anything but maintain her breathing. Nails dig into palms as she struggles to maintain control, hoping the situation doesn’t escalate.

Alex takes a long moment to consider exactly what Carter had said, her eyes darting quickly to Reese, and noticing the poor girl hadn’t been prepared to witness a possible murder. She puts her knife back in it’s sheath and crosses her arms. “You have my attention. Continue speaking.”

Once the knife disappears Reese’s breathing should have regained some normalcy, but unfortunately her disorder never worked they way she wanted it to. Hands still clenched against the table, she just tried to keep the attention away from herself, trying to look as calm as possible.

Carter straightens up before continuing, taking a swig of whiskey to steel his nerves. Once his thoughts are collected, he looks his sister dead in the eyes. “I found out about a year ago, and since then, I’ve been trying to find you. It wasn’t until I ran into your adopted brother at this very same bar that I knew what you looked like. Once I had a face and a name, it was all a lot easier.”

[professorperalta]

ofcaffeine:

queenxofxterror

ofcaffeine:

As irritated with him as she is, the panic she sees in his eyes before he reveals the news to Alex makes her heart twinge with sympathy. She remembers the struggle she went through keeping the secret of their shared patronage from Garrett, and knew how he must be feeling as she watched for Alex’s reaction.

Alex is quick to process the information, and even quicker to react. She pulled a knife from her boot, holding it to Carter’s throat without a second of hesitation. “I just lost a brother, you know that, right? And after I lost him, I did everything I could to hurt everyone that was part of the reason that he died. So for you to come around and make jokes about being my brother…well, that makes me a little murderous. So I’m gonna give you about three seconds to leave or you’re gonna regret it.”

Reese goes completely still when Alex takes the knife to Carter’s throat, her hands clenched into tight fists on the table so that neither one of them will see her hands shaking. She’d like to help, of course, but her breath is caught in her throat as the world begins to spin around her, and it’s all she can do to try and pass herself off as not having a panic attack.

Carter, in his drunken state, didn’t even have time to react before the blade was pressed against his throat. The threat of imminent danger sobered him up incredibly quickly, and he locked eyes with Alex. “I’m not joking, Alex. I’m adopted. My name is Carter Peralta, but I was born Carter Henderson. I was born in Montpelier, Vermont. Just like you. I’m your brother, I swear.”

[professorperalta]

ofcaffeine:

queenxofxterror:

Alex was confused as she approached the pair, smiling at Reese and giving Carter a quizzical look. When he blurts out some obviously pent up feelings, she raises her eyebrows again. “If you’re hitting on me right now, you should know I have a boyfriend.” She looks at Reese. “Do you know this fuck?”

She sighs, giving Alex an affirmative nod. “Unfortunately. He’s not hitting on you, though. He is very drunk, though, so it might take him a minute to get around to his point.”

Carter wrinkles his nose in disgust at the thought of dating Alex. “Ew! I mean, no offense, you just don’t get why that’s gross.” He looks at Reese in a moment of panic before plunging right in. “I’m not that drunk. I’m your brother. Your real brother. I mean...we’re biological siblings.”

[professorperalta]

ofcaffeine:

[Her snarky retort dies on her tongue when he spots his sister, and she can’t help but cringe as he shouts and waves her over.] Are you sure you wanna do that?

[Carter brushes away her worries, shaking his head.] It’s gonna be fine. See? She’s comin’ over. [Carter braces himself as the tiny brunette strolls up, an expectant look on her face. He doesn’t even let her speak before introducing himself.] Listen, I, uh....I know you don’t know me. But I’m Carter. I’ve been wanting to meet you for a long time.

[professorperalta]

ofcaffeine:

[She tries not to let her reaction to his words show on her face, still feeling betrayed over his actions earlier that week.] You’re nice looking, sure. I would have thought a well-educated man like yourself would know that the male gender isn’t the only one that can use people for sex.

Well, if you were just using me, then c’mon and use me a... [He trails off as he sees a tiny brunette crossing the bar, and he’s too drunk to hold himself back from calling out to her. He glances at Reese first, whispering.] That’s my sister. [Then his voice is suddenly much louder as he calls out across the club.] Alex! Hey, Alex! Over here!

[professorperalta]

ofcaffeine:

Yeah, well. [She turns away from him, back towards the bar, but doesn’t walk away.] Maybe you should.

Don’t act like you’re not attracted to me anymore, Reese. We both know you can’t just turn it off. It’s why I had to do what I did. I like you too much. I ‘ould have made it obvious.

[professorperalta]

ofcaffeine:

Jury’s still out on that one. What happened to it being a bad idea for you to speak to me outside a professional setting?

Can’t say I care as much about my reputation when I’m piss drunk.

[professorperalta]

ofcaffeine:

[She recognizes the voice before she looks up, but still rolls her eyes when she looks up to confirm her suspicions.] Probably because you don’t know shit about me, Teach.

I guess I deserved that. You just gonna be mad at me forever? 

[professorperalta]

Well, well, well. Didn’t think this place would be your kind of scene. 

[professorperalta]

ofcaffeine:

[Her pride stings, but she doesn’t have it in her to worry about that right now. All she can focus on is holding off the impending panic attack long enough for her to get away from Carter.] Right. Yeah. See you, I guess.

See you.

[professorperalta]

ofcaffeine:

[She doesn’t believe him, that much is obvious to anyone with eyes. She can feel her hands start to shake and her heartbeat quicken. Knowing exactly what’s happening, she’s determined not to let him – or anyone – see her panic for no real reason.] Okay. Fine. Yeah, I get it. I’m going now.

[Carter didn’t want to do this anymore than she wanted to hear it, but it had to be done. He was taken with her, enthralled by her, and that was dangerous. He was doing what was best for both of them, even if she didn’t want to admit it.] I think that’s a good idea.

[professorperalta]

ofcaffeine:

Yeah, no shit, but it’s a little late for that. What about all the other stuff you said? Or was that just you trying to get me to take my clothes off more quickly?

I meant what I said when I said it. That doesn’t change the fact that it was a mistake to verbalize my feelings to you.

[professorperalta]

ofcaffeine:

Well, I was going to ask if you wanted to go get something to eat later tonight, but now I think I should probably ask if you’re really going to pretend that the wedding never happened.

What happened at the wedding was a mistake, Reese. It...it was foolish of me to get involved with a student.