Chapter Text
David thanked Dorio as she drove them back from the Ripperdoc. “Are you sure Lucy will be okay?”
Dorio glanced at the solemn figure in the passenger seat of Maine’s ride and sighed. “She’ll talk when she’s ready.”
With a silent sigh, he pinged Rebecca. > “hey. how u holdin’ up?” <
>> “Maine says the badges are done with my bro, if that’s what you mean.” <
> “How are YOU doing?” <
>> “Pissed and planning on getting absolutely smashed.” <
David tried to get Lucy’s attention, but she curled her shoulders inward and clenched her upper arms. Nobody was taking this hit well, no matter how rough Pilar was at times. He flipped the messages back open. > “Oh … Want me to join?” <
>> “You couldn’t handle a sip of the strong stuff, Dimples. Gotta finish this bottle somehow.” <
> “i’m no rookie anymore” <
>> “Then … I’m a mess. I’ll probably start blabbing about how that shotgun should’ve been double-barreled as it couldn’t hit from being two-triggered. Or that bro’s now a blunder bust, not just because he made a huge blasted mistake, while I try and hear the ocean in the shells I spent on him. I’d say some dumb stuff, too.” <
> “more than your- no, it’s … it’s u. we’d be fine” <
The car pulled up outside of Lucy’s, David walked her to the door, and she sighed. “Here’s fine.”
He tucked his hands in his pockets. “Okay.”
She glanced back at the car, then back at him, like she wanted him to say something.
Rebecca’s message text popped up in his view. >> “I mean it. I … I don’t want to lose anything else. Anyone. Not again. Sasha, Pilar …” <
> “u think i’d run just cuz u wanted comfort?” <
It would be rude to leave Dorio waiting on me. David still wanted to stay. To comfort Lucy. To tell her that even if she didn’t care, he did. I also don’t want to lose anyone else.
“Good night.”
“Um …”
Lucy paused in the doorway, hand hovering and refusing to close it.
Becca blipped him again. >> “I know you won’t. You’re pretty resilient, I believe in you. I’ll get some air.” <
David forced a smile. “Hey, uh … Want to go for a run? Get some air?”
Lucy motioned to the car. “Not tonight.”
“Then … Tomorrow, can we talk?”
“I’ll message you.”
Rebecca sent a picture of the endless night sky and the corporate logos that hid the rest of the universe. Hid any future. >> “Still in, choom?” <
David gripped the door handle and sighed. “I guess this is goodnight.”
“Oh … okay.” Lucy clenched her forearm and turned away. “Get some rest. This is what happens to all Edge Runners, don’t let it get to you.”
Already is, I suppose. His smile stretched a little wider as he closed Lucy’s door. “I’ll try.”