Work Text:
S Cell: Hey! Checking on you…
S Cell: So, we got interrupted this morning, and I just want you to know that I’m here whenever you’re ready to talk.
S Cell: How’s Mary?
Not only does this approach feel safe, it’s also honest. Sophie cares about both of them, after all.
R Cell: She’s…trying. 😕
S Cell: I bet. Can I do anything?
R Cell: I’m not sure there’s anything to do besides letting her know we’re here for her.
Not a yes, but not a no. After pumping herself up to send the first text, now is not the time to deflate. She shoots a shot.
S Cell: Maybe I should come by?
R Cell: Sure
Sure? This is exactly as unclear as her response when Luke asked if it was a problem that he’d called Sophie to help with Renee. Does Ryan want her around or not?
R: I’m not there, though.
Sophie exhales in relief for this clarifying crumb of hope.
S Cell: Oh, should I wait for you?
R Cell: I’ll come get you. I’m not even sure what I’m driving around looking for right now.
S Cell: Cool 😉
Marquis is still dried out, and Renee is jetting off to Coryana with Pam. While anything could happen at any time in Gotham, Sophie understands that Ryan probably isn’t sure what else to do with herself after the near constant urgency they’ve been living through. Whether or not Ryan is using the time to process or avoid thinking remains to be seen.
~~~~~
Sophie is waiting behind her building when Ryan drives up. She attempts to gracefully ease into the too low to the ground batmobile, and huffs from the effort when she plops down. Given everything that has and hasn’t exchanged between them, she’s equally excited and anxious for them to be in such close quarters.
S: Thanks for coming to get me.
R: Always.
It could have just been something to say, but Sophie believes Ryan means it.
They ride silently at first, both looking ahead or out of their respective windows. For Sophie, the silence feels too loud, and it’s doing nothing to help her figure out what to do with her hands. The urge to touch Ryan in some way is always so demanding. She needs a distraction.
S: So, level with me. What am I getting myself into?
Ryan looks over, unsure of what Sophie means.
S: With Mary. Are we talking tissues and pep talks? Denial by drinking? What’s the deal?
R: Honestly, I don’t really know.
Sophie frowns, trying to follow Ryan’s train of thought, and realizes that this distraction is only mildly effective. Looking through the windshield had proven to be a better bet than looking at Ryan in the bat suit, driving the batmobile. The latter did nothing to help Sophie keep her hand to herself. She balls it into a fist, in her own lap, as a physical reminder to keep it together.
R: I’m pretty sure I heard her crying in the shower, but she hasn’t actually said anything about it. She stays nearby but also doesn’t get too close.
S: I get that.
R: You do?
S: Well, yeah. I mean, things can’t just go back to normal?
R: Why can’t they? None of that was her fault. And she’s Mary.
S: I don’t think it’s that simple, Ryan.
And then Sophie realizes she’s lost the internal battle. Her hand has made its way over to Ryan’s thigh, seemingly on its own. She starts to ease away, having completed the purpose in the gesture - offering comfort while Ryan reflects on what’s happening with her best friend - but Ryan’s hand lands on Sophie’s, keeping her in place.
The moment is short, because it occurs right before Ryan pulls into her parking spot behind The Hold Up, where delivery trucks make their drops. She takes off the cowl, and Sophie instinctively shifts back to give Ryan a space to set down the mask.
S: Hey, is that why you were driving around with nowhere to go?
R: Maybe. It’s like, I’m so glad she’s home, and I want her to know that, but at the same time…
S: She’s not the only one figuring out how to get back to normal.
Ryan looks over at Sophie, searching for validation. Again, Sophie can’t help herself, and she returns her hand to Ryan’s lap, and scoots close enough that she knows Ryan can really see her.
S: You’ll get there, but I think you need to stick around if that’s going to happen.
Ryan replaces her hand on Sophie’s and squeezes it in thanks. After a beat, she lets her head fall back against the headrest, closes her eyes, and takes a deep breath. Sophie gives her all the time she needs.
R: Okay, let’s go.
Sophie flips her hand around to squeeze Ryans once more, before they both get out of the car. Ryan leads the way inside, and Sophie takes the opportunity to mentally confirm that she will get no answers tonight, and should not seek them out. She tells herself that this is okay, and good in fact. The three of them haven’t spent time together like this since Mary’s graduation, which is just another reminder of how they got into this situation. And, really, any time with Ryan is better than no time. This will be good for everyone.
They walk into a nearly dark loft, with only the lamp next to the couch where Mary is seated turned on. She’s staring into a mug, and Sophie wonders if she’s drinking tea to calm her nerves, coffee to avoid sleeping, or something stronger to lose track of it all.
R: Hey, hey!
M: Hey guys!
Mary perks up when she sees them both, apparently happy to no longer be alone, but the relief doesn’t reach her eyes. She’s in sweatpants and a hoodie, and Sophie sees a bottle of Tequila on the coffee table, answering her question. The scene reinforces what Ryan was trying to convey. Ryan flips a switch for every light she passes, trying to brighten the place up.
M: Is everything okay? Did you end up needing backup? Luke didn’t say anything…
Confusion and doubt start to sink in, and Sophie quickly interjects.
S: No, no. I wasn’t doing anything and wanted to come hang out. Ryan came to get me.
M: Oh, cool!
R: I’m going to go change.
M: Okay. Want me to fix you a drink?
R: Sure!
Ryan’s voice echoes from inside the bathroom. Mary shuffles up, heading to the kitchen to get more glasses, and Sophie makes her way to the black, leather chair adjacent to the couch. When Ryan returns, Mary and Sophie are already drinking and chatting.
R: What are we talking about?
M: You.
R: Me?
S: Mary was telling me that it takes you ten times longer to get out of the suit than it does to get into it. I hadn’t really thought about it…Seems like it would be the other way around, though.
R: Oh…well, I sort of take an inventory of it when I take it off. And, I put everything back in a certain order so that I can get dressed quickly.
S: That makes sense.
Mary drops her eyes, nervously. Ryan doesn’t seem in the mood to be teased. Mary is seated on the side of the couch closest to Sophie, and Ryan sits on the opposite side. Sophie notes the space between the best friends. They probably weren’t going to play another game of Never Have I Ever, tonight. Sophie decides to try to break the ice.
S: You know, you’d be proud of Ryan. She’s had no shortage of statement making dresses to wear, lately.
Why not let Ryan know Sophie has noticed?
M: Oh yeah? I bet she looked hot!
S: Mhmmm…
R: Not sure when I’ll be needing to wear anything like that again, now that I’m not leading Wayne.
Sophie grimaces at Ryan’s tone of defeat.
S: We’re going to get it all back.
R: How?
What was Sophie thinking choosing to sit in this chair - so far away from Ryan? This isn’t her seat! Then she reminds herself that they’re here for Mary, and she’s right where she needs to be.
R: Anyone else want chips?
Ryan jumps up and makes a beeline for the kitchen. Sophie responds to Mary’s fallen shoulders with an ‘I’ll get her’ nod in the same direction. Ryan grabs the chips, and Sophie retrieves a large bowl from the high cabinet, so Ryan doesn’t have to grab the step stool. Then, Sophie gets close, and tries to speak in a hushed but sympathetic tone.
S: Are you sure it’s just Mary keeping the distance?
Ryan looks uncertain, and then relents.
R: No…But I was with her all day, feeling weird, and now I think I’m just in a funk. Maybe this was a bad idea.
Sophie finally grabs Ryan’s hand, steadying her.
S: Let’s just take it one step at a time. We’ll ease into it.
They're closer than they were in the forest, the last time Ryan relinquished all that she was carrying around with her to Sophie - before Sophie tried to clear Ryan’s head with a kiss. Ryan closes her eyes again, and takes another breath, like she did in the car.
M: Need any help?!
Sophie rests her forehead against Ryan's, and responds for both of them.
S: We’re coming!
Ryan lets out the breath she’d been holding, and Sophie tells her what she needs to hear.
S: I've got you.
Sophie pulls Ryan behind her. It’s definitely not an excuse to keep holding her hand.
After organizing the snack on the coffee table, they retake their designated seats, and Ryan glances once more at Sophie, who sends her an encouraging smile back.
R: You know, all those dresses were yours. And dry cleaning has always been your thing. I’m not sure I left you anything to wear.
Mary smiles, glad that whatever conversation she and Sophie had seems to have shifted Ryan’s mood.
M: You know what? I think this is actually a perfect opportunity to expand our wardrobe. We’re going to need double the clothes if we’re both going to be dressing up. Not that it seems like you need my help, anymore.
R: Are you kidding me? Do you have any idea how many things I had to try on to figure out what to wear every day? I do not like spending that much time thinking about clothes. Please, come reclaim your job.
M: Oooh! I did see this one skirt set that I think would look amazing on you!
Mary pulls out her phone and quickly finds the page. She scoots closer to Ryan to show her the image. Ryan laughs, not actually having an opinion one way or another about what her best friend dresses her in, but is enjoying seeing Mary get excited about dolling her up, again. She looks at the outfit on the phone, and then quickly peeks at Sophie, who has a very curious look on her face. Ryan grins slightly, but returns focus to Mary, who’s already clicked on another outfit to show Ryan while describing the best timing for wearing such attire.
Sophie grabs her glass, and scoots back into her chair, watching her people take small steps forward. She knows her presence makes Ryan feel better, and that’s all the clarity she needs for tonight.