Of course he’s thinking the same thing. The playful grin remains as she quickly glances over his outfit. It’s snug in all the right places. Yum.

Her gaze follows his towards the clerk. When he takes her hand, she instinctively moves closer, mirroring his movements like a practiced dance. Their footsteps are light and well-placed. If it wasn’t for the blaring alarm, they would have gotten away with it.

“Oh shit,” Lex laughs, nearly pushing Killian out the door as he pulled her along. No dragging necessary, she can keep up. Running to get away is part of what she does for a living, after all.

Autopilot kicks in, and the familiar maze that is Goldenrod’s alleyways comes back to her. Instinctively, she pull shim right, down a narrow offshoot of the larger alley they were just running through, “This way,” she smiles with a foreign confidence she hasn’t felt in a long time.

What seems like a dead end, curves sharply to the left. They trot down some stairs before reaching a fork in the road. She tugs him right. The first left would have been a dead end, the second left takes them back to one of Goldenrod’s main streets where they can easily mesh back in with the crowd. Lex stops short, catching her breath between fits of laughter. A bright smile turns towards Killian before she pulls him in for a kiss.

Killian Decker

They're not that far into their escape, maybe a block away from the store at most, when Lex takes charge. Tugging him down familiar twists and turns of a city that's as much hers as it is his. Killian doesn't resist her pull, falling into place behind her with a smile.

This is what he missed. She and him in a city they ruled from the shadows. King and queen of Goldenrod's underbelly. The memories of those days are clear as the spring sky. Never mind the dark clouds that linger at the edge, creeping up from the horizon. Bring thunder that rumbles out a single name.

Killian's thankful when the hustle and bustle of the main street halt his thoughts before they can ruin the moment. "That was - " the warmth of a kiss silenced him. His hands find their way to her waist and hold her tight. The need for air is the only reason he breaks away.

"Fun." he smiled, "What do you say we go get those drinks now?"

Alexandra Briarwood

The nostalgia is overwhelming. The directions came through instinct, and it feels like she never left. Even the kiss in the grubby alley reminds her of when they first met, when they couldn’t make it half a block without tucking away into the shadows with whiskey heavy on their breath. Surprisingly, the passion has only grown stronger since then.

It’s a passionate kiss, fueled by adrenaline, nostalgia, and love. She holds him just as tightly with her arms wrapped around his neck. She needs a sharp breath for air when he breaks away, forcing her to loosen her grip slightly from around him. Her body feels like it’s on fire in all the right ways while her mind races, overwhelmed by everything that’s happened in such a short period of time. It makes her a bit lightheaded, but his tight hold keeps her steady.

She nods, “Fun,” she agrees with a whisper against his lips. Lex steals one more kiss before pulling away and reaching for his hand, “Lead the way, my King,” she smiles, waiting for him to tug her along towards their old stomping grounds.

Killian Decker

The way to Murkrow's Nest is forever engrained into his mind. Head straight on the main street until you reach the train station, then take a left down the dusty alley that still has the Granbull graffiti sprayed onto the wall. Killian grinned at the sight of it. It's faded over the years, but the artwork is an unmistakable sight.

At the end of the alley sits the bar. The bright neon glow of the Murkrow sign hung above the dark steel door pulled him into the past. Back to the day they first found the place. How Lex had insisted they go in despite Killian having things to do. A pretty face and batted eyelashes won him over without much of a fight.

"It looks the same." he says, squeezing her hand. Still made from bricks chipped either by time or patrons who'd gotten a little too rambunctious.

Killian admired the building a moment longer before pulling open the door to the creak of hinges and stepping inside. Immediately, the smell of whiskey curled up his nose. The clatter of a game of Billiards echoed from off in the corner, barely audible over the jukebox playing some classic rock song.

"Well, I'll be damned. If it isn't my favorite pair of whiskey chuggin' lovebirds." a gruff and familiar voice called out from behind the bar.

Killian grinned at the sound, baby blues darting to find the source at the counter. Tall with a wrinkled face, sporting a greying beard and deep jawline. Anthony couldn't have looked happier to see him. His dry lips curled into a hearty smile.

"Anthony!" Killian waved and pulled Lex over to the bar, "It's been a while, you old geezer. How have you been?"

"Ay, watch it. I ain't too old that I can't kick yer ass."

The pair laughed.

"But I've been good, still keeping the old nest running, but it's not been the same without ya. What about you two? Last I heard ya both split town."

Alexandra Briarwood

“Just like I remember it,” she agrees with a satisfied grin aimed towards Killian. Her hand squeezes his back. She’s ready to lose herself in the past tonight and not think for a moment about the troubles that plague them currently. Unfortunately, Goldenrod would be filled with reminders of both.

Lex is anxious to enter, but she lets Killian admire it a moment more before he pulls her through the threshold. The familiar scent of whiskey and smoke makes her take a deep breath. Her nose scrunches, it’s not as pleasant as it used to be. The shock is quickly wiped away by the gruff, familiar voice of Anthony.

“Anthony!“ her smile turns even brighter. She was hoping he still worked here. Out of old habit, Lex pulls away from Killian to quickly circle the bar, shamelessly crossing the threshold to wrap him in a big hug, “Careful, Anthony, you know I’ll have to kick your ass then,” Lex is quick to return back to Killian’s side, sliding in close next to him, “We’re just . . . passing through,” her tone flattens, indicating no one needs to know they were ever here.

“Ye, ye, ye, I know the drill,” he huffed, leaning back to pour them a set of three shots. Shitty stuff from the well, of course. It’s good to see his loyalties still lie with Killian.

Killian Decker

The warmth of nostalgia pulsed through his chest and tugged a grin onto Killian's lips. Being here, watching Lex hug Anthony and hearing the smile in her voice, Killian couldn't have asked for anything better. More than anything, it's nice to see that light still lived inside the woman he loved.

Killian stared at Lex as Tony poured them each a drink, the grin he wore curving into a goofy smile that reached his eyes. "Damn, Tony, I'm jealous. You make her smile brighter than I do." he teased with a chuckle.

His arm wrapped itself around Lex's waist, and Killian reached for the shot. He threw it back quickly, the sour taste of cheap whiskey forcing his nose to scrunch as it burned a path down his throat like lava.

"Shit. I don't miss that."

With a clatter, he slammed the glass back down onto the counter.

"Eh? Got a problem with my boozes, Ian?"

Killian nodded, "Always." the two men shared a heated look before breaking out into laugher.

"So, what brings ya back into town?"

Killian's smile widened, deep blues looking up to ask a silent question. Did she want to tell him or have Killian do it?

Alexandra Briarwood

The soft clink of their glasses followed by the tap against the bar is a familiar procedure before Lex shots down the bitter whiskey. Despite it being her regular drink, the cheap stuff stings. It involuntary, and he face twists into something sour. It’s a burns he use to be able to handle without flinching, but time away and better booze has lowered her tolerance for it. She nods in agreement with Killian – she doesn’t miss that either.

A hand gently slides her own glass back towards Killian’s so Tony can scoop them up and place them back behind the bar. His question makes the redhead smile behind the burn of the whiskey. Honestly, she’s eager to share the news with someone that pulled them into a familiar, comforting past. She is content relishing in the good news of the present.

After shooting Killian and small grin she raises her left hand, slapping it down onto the bar. Her fourth finger wiggles, drawing his attention to the glimmering diamond ring that still held its shine despite being in the dimly lit establishment.

“Well, damn! It’s about time!” he moves to collect a higher shelf whiskey, no doubt in celebration, “Careful wit that ‘round here, someone might try ta cut it right off yer finger,” he pours three more shots.

Killian Decker