Despite what he had said earlier, it did not take Archie very long to fall into his old habits of drinking the evening away. He had split off from the girls not long after the three entered to order himself a drink because he had decided that the stool was more comfortable than standing by a pool table or socializing. He was pretended to be interested in one of the TVs that was playing a sport of some kind. He didn't like sports and couldn't tell you the name of any of the players on any well-known team, but he needed a drink and knew from experience that people were less likely to talk to him if it looked like he was into something. He waved the bartender over and pushed his glass out.
"Another."
The bartender, a man this time as opposed to the normal woman- what was her name? Ella? Elsa? No, that was Frozen. Archie didn’t know, and he stopped caring when the barkeep pushed the refilled glass back before moving on to the other patrons. He stared down at the drink, swirling it around, watching as the ice cubes clinked together. He'd never been much of an liquor kind of guy until the past few months, but sometimes he needed something stronger and faster than beer.
Natalie had looked forward to coming here and seeing her roomate at work, but on learning that Ellara had left in a strange manner, she made a mental note to try and catch her and talk to her about it tomorrow morning. At least there was Nicole, who Natalie had tried and failed to make small talk with, and Archie, who was in the corner, drinking at watching the TV. Natalie furrowed her brow and approached him.
”Don’t tell me you’re planning to spend the whole night alone, drinking in the corner and watching sports. Coming here in a group was your idea.”Archie looked over at Nat and smirked. “Sometimes you just gotta.” he replied easily. He patted the stool next to him, urging Natalie to sit. Archie could feel the numbing effect of the alcohol cloud his mind. It was one of the best feelings in the world. His thoughts receded into the depths of his mind and he let his mind go blank. But then, out of nowhere, a thought forced its way out. It was a deep-rooted fear of his that he never really allowed himself to think about because Archie Malcom Anderson refused to admit he was afraid. The mixture he was drinking thought otherwise, though. Nat sighed, and took the seat besides Archie. She stared at his drink with something that almost looked like jealousy.
”I used to love a drink, but ever since...I got my powers, I’ve been too scared to. I’m terrified of losing any control over myself, like you almost saw me do in that house. Stone cold sober for over two years now. It sucks...” she chuckled, as she stared down. So long, she’d spent keeping everything a secret. It felt so good to have met somebody who she could actually talk about her life to, who would believe her, and who wouldn’t call the police.
"Do you ever wonder if there's any point to it all, then?"
It was a vague question, but Archie knew that Natalie would understand what he meant. He waited for an answer. Out of anyone, they stood the best chance of making themselves feel better – She'd probably give him some philosophical answer that would help make their existence make sense.
"I just don't understand it sometimes – the constant control and struggling and for what? To not be you?"
He was drunk, and he knew it. But he didn't care.
"I get that you're worried about it, but what happened in the house happened when you were sober. If you want to drink, have a drink. Might help you loosen up.” Archie looked down the bar and raised his hand. “Paddy, can I get another one of these?” He said, lazily motioning to his currently unfinished concocktion. “For the lady.”
Paddy, seeing that Archie wasn’t alone for once, got to work in helping the regular out. To him, it seemed like both man and woman needed it. After a few moments of making another vodka based mixed drink, he walked over and placed it in front of Archie, who then pushed it in front of Natalie.
“If you want it, it’s on me. If not, I’m sure I’ll get to it eventually.” he grumbled, taking a sip of his own drink, not even wincing slightly at its bite. He returned his attention to the TV, letting Natalie mull the decision over.
Natalie was silent for this whole affair, mulling over Archie’s words and processing them, while staring at the drink in front of her. He was right in that she had never drunk since Project Lion, and had still lost control several times, even if, before last night, she’d had over a year with no incidents. Thinking back to all those times, it was violence and confrontation that had caused her to snap. Was sobriety really helping her? Or was this whole thought chain just her giving in and trying to justify it? She wanted this drink, she really did. She wanted to let go and loosen up so badly. Archie was right again. It was true, she had turned her life of crime around with her new lifestyle, but was it too clean? She had no friends, never had real fun, never let loose. Sure, she enjoyed painting and playing the piano, but when was the last time, before today, that she laughed?
”Screw it!” she abruptly exclaimed, before grabbing the glass, and downing the whole drink in one breath. 0 days since her last drink, and it felt so liberating! A wide, beaming smile broke out on her face as she sighed with relief.
”Paddy, can I get another one of whatever that was?” she asked the barman.
Archie jumped at Natalie’s exclamation, turning his head quickly to the suddenly much more giddy woman and the much more empty drink. “Woah, woah, woah. Where’s the fire?” He said, meeting her gaze once again. “Tryn’a get drunk or enjoy it? Have you had anything to eat recently?”
He probably wasn’t helping a ton, considering he had just encouraged her to live a little, but he didn’t want her to go crazy in case something bad
did happen. “Easy there.” He said, placing his hand on her shoulder and giving her a smile for her benefit. “With the amount you just drank you’ll feel it in no time. No need to rush.”
Natalie gave a low sheepish chuckle, and looked away.
”Sorry. The last time I drank, I was twenty four, and I was in a gang. It got wild. You might need to teach me how to drink like an actual adult with a job. And the last time I ate was at work. It was a Freckles’ big box meal. That would have been about six.” She wiped her mouth and when her new drink came, she eyed it but didn’t drink it just yet.
Archie raised an eyebrow are her comment about the gang, but his better judgement won out despite the liquor in his system and he did not press her for more information. “Okay, step one of drinking like an adult with a job- remember you have work in the morning.” He said, flashing her a goofy smile. “Not that I’m particularly good at adulting. Wish a job made the difference. All it means is a bigger house and more bathrooms to clean. Speaking of, where do you live?”
Natalie groaned, and immediately took a large sip when he reminded her that she had work tomorrow morning.
”Urgh. Don’t remind me. I’ve got the lunchtime shift tomorrow too. And I live up on Ruthven Heights. I rent and share a two bedroom apartment on Stoker Street. My housemate actually works at this bar, but I guess she isn’t here right now.”Archie finally decided to pop a risque question. He’d been single for a while now. Couldn’t hurt. “Want me to walk you back then, before it gets too late?”
Natalie nodded, and downed her drink, before standing up, and following up with the telltale ‘I stood up too fast’ sway. She didn’t necessarily think that Archie was chatting her up, but she thought about it for the first time. He wasn’t bad-looking. Sure, he was clearly older than her, but age was just a number once you’re over 25.
”Sure, I’d like that. Thank you.” she grinned, without making eye contact.
In Archie’s mind, he was doing the right thing, but a small part of him was catching on to Natalie’s bashful behavior. Perhaps this was something they both needed. The better part of him was telling him to at least say goodbye to Nicole, but the rest of him was saying that it wasn’t important. At least not compared to the prospect of whatever
this was turning out to be. He slid out of his chair and reached into his back pocket for his wallet, leaving Paddy a few bills and a tip for his services. “No time like the present.” he said offhandedly. He slid his arm around her shoulders to lead her towards the pub door. “Just lead the way.”
Archie woke up the following morning with no clothing and a feeling particularly sore- as if he had lost a fight. He groaned and turned over, only to be reminded that this was not his room, this was not his bed, and he was sharing it with someone. As the sleep fled from his eyes he was able to deduce why he felt like he’d been hit by a bus. Super strength. Probably should’ve seen that one coming. He looked over his side of the bed and sighed when he saw his pants. Putting those on would certainly make this less… awkward. His movements in bed must’ve woken Natalie, because he felt her shift in the bed beside him.
“Well, good morning.” he said, looking over his shoulder at her but turning away again in case she wasn’t comfortable with him seeing her body when her better judgement was in control.
Natalie jumped, and sat bolt upright in bed when she heard a man’s voice in her room. Her memory frantically scrambled to put together a recollection of last night’s events. When everything came back to her, the ‘deer-in-headlights’ look vanished from her eyes, and she leaned back against the pillows. She smiled at Archie, and blushed when she realised that all she was wearing were her vest top, and her socks.
”Morning,” she replied sleepily, not quite remembering how to do morning-after talk. Luckily, it didn’t seem Archie did either. Natalie wasn’t that drunk, so she remembered the events of the night in perfect clarity. Even the profuse apologizing afterwards, on her part. She might have gotten a bit too rough in the heat of the moment. Some memories, she wished she had been drunk enough to forget. At least she didn’t cry.
”What happened last night, I just wanna apologize again, if I hurt you. Also, do you know what time it is? Oh, I hope I haven’t overslept...”Archie raised his eyebrows and checked his wrist out of habit, only to realize that he still did not have his watch on. He sighed, but with mirth and pinched the bridge of his nose out of embarrassment and then cast his eyes up to Natalie once again. “No need to apologize. Maybe again sometime.” He said. For once, he was pretty happy to be up for the day. Even that all too familiar heat in his chest didn’t so much as stir. “I suppose now’s as good as a time as any to greet the day.” he commented, sliding out of the bed and retrieving his shirt from last night. “You should probably take point- your roommate didn’t see us come in last night. Might’ve heard us though.”
The moment Archie had checked his empty wrist, Nat tried to hide a smile as she reached for the desk and checked her phone. Good. It was 8:20. She wouldn’t be late. Archie’s suggestion that maybe they could meet up again sometime froze Natalie in her tracks. The blush rapidly spread from her cheeks, across her face, and started to encroach upon her upper chest.
”Yeah, I...I wouldn’t say no. But maybe we should, I dunno, dinner and a movie next time. My number should be on my phone. Feel free to take it down. I need to get changed,” she replied quietly, before picking up her panties, putting them on while under the covers, and sliding out of bed. She went to her wardrobe and took out her work uniform; grey slacks, black belt, and the ‘iconic’ red, orange and yellow polo shirt and matching cap of Freckles’ staff. With a quick spray of deodorant, she quickly put on everything except the cap, then moved to her makeup table/computer desk/reading desk. After applying her makeup with a well-practiced efficiency, and finally looking presentable now there were no bags under her eyes, she stood up and headed for the door, slamming her cap on like it was any protection against having to explain herself to Ellara.
”Ready to face the music?” she asked back to Archie.
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