nina wanted to ask danny why he looked so surprised.

”yeah, really.” she didn’t blink.

his sentiment then caught her off-guard, and she was bombarded with exciting possibilities she'd never known before. romance, free of deception and inevitable disappearing acts. she had to remind herself not to fantasize. this was casual, and also, this was danny. 

she found herself at a loss for words. no might make him feel like she hadn’t enjoyed herself, while let's do it again felt far too daunting to commit to.

”um…”

anxiety rose in her chest, and silence built between them, soon compelling her to admit what she’d previously intended to keep to herself.

”actually, what i meant is… i’ve never done this before, danny.” there was plenty left unexplained in the statement. out of the things it could likely imply, the whole truth surely wouldn't be obvious. still, she suddenly felt like she’d divulged too much. 

”i don’t know how i’m supposed to feel, really.”

she hesitated, as though on the edge of saying something more, but ultimately shook her head, crossing her arms again.

”maybe it was kind of impulsive.” not that it wasn't a perfect time in the region to release one's inhibitions.

”i think… i just need to sleep. sorry.“

DANNY HALL

”okay.”

his gaze faltered, and she frowned. she hadn’t meant to reject him, but now it felt like that’s what she’d done. she felt the stifled urge to reach out for him. 

”it’s still really nice, though.” she had said that already but repeated it anyways.

she waited for him to lead the way. her gaze never left.

DANNY HALL

she went along with him, happy to oblige when he reached out to guide her. in the bedroom, she took a brief glance around before her eyes fell to the clothes in his hand. cute. too cute, even.

”thanks.”

taking them, she began to dress, and surprisingly, they did fit.

”wow. you really were small.”

she was quiet as she pulled the shirt on the rest of the way, before adding,  ”i mean, you’re bigger now, so that’s pretty cool.” 

better?

DANNY HALL

”that makes sense. i think i put on some muscle since joining too.”

nina wasn’t exactly buff, although parts of her had become more rigid with strength. she was a runner now, and not just on the treadmill. she’d become good at hopping fences, and scaling things, and even snap decision-making. it would never be easy to catch her again.

his smile was returned with one a little lopsided, genuine. she wasn’t used to his compliments, and it was nice, despite her worry. ”thanks.”

and at his question, she nodded, ”yeah, water sounds good. like, maybe a gallon of it.”

DANNY HALL

it was surprising to her that he’d noticed, not thinking he’d ever paid much attention.

when danny left, she pulled her legs up onto the bed and allowed her eyes to travel around the room slower than before. they searched vaguely for anything reflecting parts of him she hadn’t yet seen. decor and a person’s close possessions could be telling. she had often used such intimate clues to weave together deceptively alike characters to fit her victims. such trained attentiveness was, this time, only spurred on by genuine curiosity. of course, she had no idea the place was a rental.

he returned with… was that actually a gallon of water?

”wow. thanks. yeah, room temp is great.” 

she took the cup and promptly downed it before pouring more, admitting, ”i haven’t drank that much in so long. fyi, i’m never doing another jager bomb ever again.”

her grin twisted in a brief grimace.

DANNY HALL

her tongue stuck out in disgust at the memory of too many jager bombs—and one was too many, really.

she set her water aside, eyes lingering on him.

”at pool?”

there was a smile, and even an urge to lean down, to break the gap between them. the pause she left there might’ve given it away, that she’d been thinking about it; however, her legs tucked as she withdrew deeper into his bed.

”not a chance.”

DANNY HALL

”ooh, me too.” breakfast already sounded great. hopefully, she wouldn’t be expected to cook anything—although that day at GABRIEL BLACK ’s had proven her to be decent at cooking eggs, surprisingly.

settling under the covers, she tilted her head towards him.”goodnight, danny,” she smiled, rolling over so as to not stare at him for too long.

the night would begin with respectful space between them. gradually, nina would inch closer, closer, until snuggled against him, and from there, she wouldn’t move. she slept deep and soundly, dreams peaceful and apocalypse-free.

DANNY HALL