they've always been on borrowed time. years ago, it'd been stolen kisses, shared minutes, motel rooms with late checkout. trying to figure out the finite; trying to avoid the inevitable. in some way, she thinks they both knew that. running stop signs and red lights, fighting against the sway of the wind just to find one another in the middle. wanting what-could be, knowing what-wasn't. those days, he was all crooked grin and leather jacket and a spare wink before he'd let her go— but these days, he's nowhere. nothing. a spare piece of history in her phone, haunting her silhouette in the rearview mirror.
such is life. dean winchester was never the type of man to stay, mari dai was never the girl who'd ask him not to go. or, at least, she wasn't— but times change, so does she, and three a.m feels like a secret both of them can keep. or, maybe, a time that doesn't need to be a secret at all.
the phone sits against the hollow of her cheek, a spare hand cradling a drink that's more than halfway gone. her eyes are shut, drunken and tired and spattered with images that could feel like yesterday, if she tries. the click of the receiver halts the ringing, and mari's mouth opens before she can think.
"dean." her eyes flutter open, something shaking awake inside of her chest. a pause, an inhale, a trembling breath. "i—" mari swallows, sets her drink down, and sits up straight. "hi."