Sophia pulled her jean jacket on over her short white cotton dress and slipped into a pair of fluff-lined black moccasins. As much as she preferred wearing something more revealing and skimpy, Who the fuck knows, Canada was beginning to be too nippy outside for that. Even while she traveled, she stuck to the warm weather, and now that she was far North in Autumn in ten above freezing temperatures... It was safe to say she wasn’t sure exactly why people lived here at all, and she was probably going to regret coming here as the season progressed into Winter.
Closing and locking the door behind her, she made her way down the steps and toward where Nathan was supposed to live. The images of his perfectly sculpted tanned abs clung to her mind, she was definitely looking forward to running her fingers over the smooth planes of his chest. She sucked in a breath and pulled her jacket tighter as a burst of wind swept over the sidewalk. She really hated the cold... and snow... Now that sounded terrifying, she’d never seen snow, and really she didn’t want to, but it wasn’t like she’d be leaving town any time soon. -So it was inevitable, that by December she was probably going to turn into a popsicle.
Soon enough, she found herself in front of Nathan’s house, her musings about cold fleeing from her mind as lascivious thoughts flooded her psyche. She wetted her lips and rang the doorbell, waiting patiently while wondering what kind of sex partner Nathan would be.
Nathan: walks into Elle's kitchen in just a pair of jeans in a t-shirt, happy to be out of his coveralls from work. it was hard working when more than half of your body ached from being in four fights, but he had to work, so he took some painkillers before he left and then again afterwards. He looks around to see if he could spot Nokas, but doesn't see him right away so he takes a seat at a table in the corner and waits for him. He isn't sure what the guy needed to talk to him about, but he had a feeling he was about to find out.
Nokas hadn't really gotten the chance to speak to Nathan since the guy got let out of quarantine, though he had been meaning to. He was sure the guy wasn't his biggest fan, but Nokas was trying to work on making amends and truces now after everything that had been happening lately. He really had no reasons to be upset with Nathan, in fact he had asked the other boy to meet with him to talk about something else entirely. Lady. And maybe more if they felt it was appropriate. Seeing him enter the restaurant, Nokas approached the table he was sitting at and rested in the seat across from him. "Hey...," he greeted. "I know this probably seems random to you but I just needed to say some things. So thanks for coming here."
Nokas let out a breath when Nathan spoke, as though he was about to start a longer sort of speech. In a way he was, but he also wasn't about to preach to Nathan about anything, he knew the guy didn't need that. "Well...it's about Lady." He began. "Nothing bad. Anyway...I'm sure you already know most of what has happened. I've hurt her and I don't want to make excuses for that because I already know what I've done has no taking back. I just won't ever stop caring about her which is why I feel like I needed to say this to you." He shifted a bit, grabbing the napkin holder to give his hands something to do. "I want her to be mad at me, to not forgive me because let's face it. I don't deserve that. But I think that she does deserve to have someone to be there for her. To remind her that she can be happy. I just don't think I'm that person. You care about her too...I can tell. So I really just wanted to say you should be there for her, because she's going to need it. I think we both know that, you know what I mean?"
Nathan wasn't exactly expecting to come listen to him talk about Lady, but he sat in silence while the other talked. And he found it ironic that they were on the same page, even if they didn't know it. "I did tell you when you and her first started that if you hurt her, I'd kick your ass," He reminded him, "And I honestly really wanted to. Hell, I still have moments when I want to." He leaned forward, pushing off the back of his chair and crossing his arms on the table, "I do know what you mean, though. And I agree. She needs someone, and it sure as hell isn't you after what happened. But I was planning on doing that anyways." He sighed, "I don't get how she isn't mad at you, seriously. Since I know I can't be the only one that doesn't like you for this." He waited a moment before speaking again, "You've got word, dude. I'll look after her, be there for her."
Nokas nodded along to Nathan's words because he found himself in agreement with them. He was glad that the other guy had been already planning to do these things, but getting it out on the table and saying it felt better than keeping it back. "Thanks, I know she will appreciate that. It's almost odd to say that I want her to be mad at me...heck she should be furious. I've not been the best of guys, but I would rather admit that then pretend to be something else." He told Nathan. "After this weekend I went to a dark place that I swore myself I would never go to again. The rage in me was blinding me and it scares me that I could have really hurt someone worse than I did already. I'm just the poison right now, but Lady needs...the cure. Or something like that. I feel like I'm rambling now, but I'm glad that we both agree on this. I know it will be better for all of us this way."
Nathan actually felt better now that the guy knew how he felt about him, since he had mentioned it to him that he wouldn't be happy if he hurt Lady. Even though it's a little late, he still said it. "I get what you're saying," He said, nodding, "I don't know if she'll ever really be mad at you, but I'm sure she feels something about what happened. Will she admit it? I have no idea. But, we'll see." He shook his head, "Dark place? Did you see me? I went to hell and back this weekend, hence this," He said, bringing a hand up to gesture to his face, sporting a black eye and bruises scattered over his face. "We all get like that sometimes, it happens. You might not be my favorite person, but I give you a hell of a lot of credit for doing what you're doing, dude. It's the right thing, especially if you feel so strongly about it."
Nokas swallowed hard, because it wasn't easy for him to say these things and in his mind he didn't see it as pushing Lady away at all, but more so letting her know that he wanted what was best for her and right now that was Nathan and what the other guy could do for her. He release a small sigh. "I don't know if she could be mad at me, but it would be better if she was. I should have done this sooner, but I was going through a lot of confusion at once." He tapped his fingers on the table, pushing the napkin holder back to its spot on the table. "I was...I didn't see you. I just was so gone that I couldn't see anymore, Nathan...I could have killed someone. I don't want to ever go to that place again if I can help it. There's no excusing what I did, but I can only do my best to protect the people I care about in whatever way I can...and right now if that's keeping them away from me, so be it. I'm just glad that Lady does have you there for her."
Nathan nodded, "Happens to everyone, dude. Trust me. But, like I said, you're doing the right thing. At least from what I can tell." He knew that Nokas had cared about Lady, it was obvious. If he didn't, he wouldn't be asking Nathan to do this, and that said a lot about the guy. "Wow," He said, shaking his head, "Then I guess I missed most of it. But I get what you're doing and why you're doing it. I should probably be doing the same thing, considering I attacked four people, not including Jackie, who I locked in a closet, and Lady, who I screamed at for no reason. I don't exactly want to be that guy again, hell no." He smiles slightly, "I'm glad I have her, too. I sort of need her now more than ever, as well."
Nokas bit his bottom lip and listened to Nathan's words. He was saying a lot of the things that Nokas was thinking. Though it did hurt Nokas that he had hurt Lady and he wanted to show her how sorry he was, somehow he felt this was a better way of doing it than getting her involved with him anymore. "I know but I'm sure you didn't almost kill someone," he said with an almost shaky voice as the thought of it scared him bringing it up. "Then I'm glad that you have each other. I mean that. You're a good guy, Nathan. I just need to pull myself together, take responsibility for what I did and not baby the issue because it's pretty serious. I don't want pity for it either." He sighed again, not even sure why he was telling Nathan all of this. "Be the someone that won't hurt her. I have a feeling you can be."
Nathan had a feeling that this was hard for the guy, even though it seemed like he was handling it pretty well from what he could tell. It was evident that what happened over the weekend was not something that he wanted to discuss, "This is how you have to look at it, you didn't kill anyone. And you're doing everything you can to make sure it doesn't happen again, that says a lot about you. I feel like it'll work out in the end, trust me. And then you won't have to worry about sacrifices and shit." He smiles a bit, looking down at the table for a moment and then up at him again, "You gotta do what you gotta do, and I'll support you, or whatever." He nods, "I think I can be that for her. I promise you I'll try."
Nokas was just thankful that Nathan was taking the time to hear him out because he knew that he didn't have to and that others in his shoes wouldn't listen. Managing a weak smile, Nokas told himself this was all for the best. "Right, the only plus side to this is that I didn't. I'm just going to take the road one step at a time, that's all I really can do now." He explained with a smaller shrug of sorts." He pushed himself up so he was sitting straighter and held out a hand to Nathan. "Thanks for hearing me out, and being honest with me."
Nathan said, "Like I said, just do what you have to do. In the end, it'll be worth it." He looked from Nokas to his outstretched hand, smiling a bit before putting his own hand in his, "Not a problem, dude. And hey, just because you're not my favorite person, doesn't mean I don't respect you or won't be on your side through this."
Nokas shook Nathan's hand as a sign of agreement and moved to stand up slowly. "Likewise," he returned. In the end, Nokas knew he wasn't doing this for himself, he was doing it for Lady and right now her happiness was more important than his own even if that couldn't be found with him. Standing up Nokas brushed off his apron and nodded to the kitchens. "I should get back to work, but I'll see you around town."
