obligatory fourth of july post

[drquacksays.livejournal.com]

[HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY EVERYONE!]

[Come to the roof to do American things! Like have cookouts, and eat watermelon. Stay for the fireworks, too.]

Comments

[old-papa-john.livejournal.com]

Besides, you'll always look thin and svelte standing next to me.

[drquacksays.livejournal.com]

You're a man, though. That's different.

[She steps closer to him, her arm faintly touching his.]

If a man and a woman were both dainty-looking, they wouldn't but such a 'handsome' couple, would they?

[old-papa-john.livejournal.com]

[He chuckles.] I suppose not.

[drquacksays.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't call us Bogey and Bacall, but...

[Her hand goes to his shoulder, her cheek resting against her own arm.]

I'd think we're still a pretty handsome couple. [She looks at him with a smile.] Wouldn't you?

[old-papa-john.livejournal.com]

[He nods.]

Yes...

[drquacksays.livejournal.com]

[She gives a small laugh and then pulls away from him. Her hand lingering for a moment. Then, she silently starts to clean up their area behind him, the faint sound of the beer bottles clinging together.]

[old-papa-john.livejournal.com]

You don't have to do that. I got it...

[He turns around, deliberately getting in her way so that she will stop.]

[drquacksays.livejournal.com]

[She takes a step back, a confused expression on her face.]

What? I don't mind cleaning it up.

[old-papa-john.livejournal.com]

I'd like to help you for once- [Besides, it's in doing things that help him feel useful, otherwise he just feels useless. Maybe it's because of all his years as a soldier, he can't seem to sit still for too long. He had a hard enough time staying in his chair here all day as it is.] -let me help you. Please.

[drquacksays.livejournal.com]

I...

[She looks at him for a moment, her eyes straining in the dim lights, trying her best to see his entire face. As if it will help her understand him at all. Her own expression turns sympathetic.]

I don't understand how cleaning up a few beer bottles is going to really be helping me with anything, it's simple work, but... if you really want to.

[old-papa-john.livejournal.com]

I know it helps. Quit being so modest.

[He takes the bottles from her, plus what he left by his chair.] Besides...I'm the one that emptied them. I should be the one to clean them up.

[drquacksays.livejournal.com]

[She gives him a small glare before sitting herself down in one of the plastic chairs again. She sits on the edge of the seat, instead of leaning back, because she knows that she will have to get up soon enough.]

Fine.

[old-papa-john.livejournal.com]

[He takes all the bottles and other miscellaneous trash items to the tall trashcan in the kitchen.]

[drquacksays.livejournal.com]

[Her hands rest in her lap. There's a bit of an annoyance look on her face as she waits for him to come back.

Not to say, she isn't used to this (her husband always did the same exact thing), but still, it didn't mean she liked it all that much. Even if the good always outweighed the bad.]

[old-papa-john.livejournal.com]

[He returns back to her and looks down to where she is seated.]

[drquacksays.livejournal.com]

[At first, she doesn't look at him. Her eyes stare off straight ahead, at nothing in particular. She tries her best to pretend to be focused on herself, but after awhile she looks up at him.]

Do you even feel positive emotions anymore?

[old-papa-john.livejournal.com]

...What?

[drquacksays.livejournal.com]

Kiss me.

[She says this like how one says a greeting or speaks in a casual conversation.]

[old-papa-john.livejournal.com]

? [That took him by surprise, but irresistibly...like a moth to a flame, he obeys her command. He carefully kneels down and leans in to plant a gentle kiss on her lips.]

[drquacksays.livejournal.com]

[She presses her lips back, there's a bit more force into it, but it still remains gentle.

When she pulls away, her lips are still very close to his.]

Why would you deny yourself of happiness when you deserve it the most?

[old-papa-john.livejournal.com]

I don't understand... [John whispers back to her. He's not entirely sure where she's going with this.]

[drquacksays.livejournal.com]

[She rests a hand on his face, pulling back a bit more.]

You always make it sound like you don't deserve to be happy. [Then she leans forward again, resting her cheek against his own.] There's plenty more emotions than those that are on the battlefield, you know.

[old-papa-john.livejournal.com]

[He sighs quietly when their faces touch. He doesn't reply to her remarks, she just lets her speak her mind while he enjoys their closeness.]

[drquacksays.livejournal.com]

You have the best intentions for everyone else.

[She tilts her head a little, her eyelashes gently brushing against his cheek.] But not for yourself.

[In a way, she's the same. Not to a point where she doesn't think she deserves happiness, though.]

[old-papa-john.livejournal.com]

...

[He listens to what she has to say, but his deserving of happiness died years ago the day he killed the Boss. He hasn't known true happiness since that day. His heart remains broken and his soul void, but he's become extremely adept at feigning mirth when needed.]