Coming clean

[a_time_slip]

(This is for NYC Noir, but I don't have the brain power to make this into a proper post...  I'll probably fic it later and post it there)

Sometimes, the past catches up with you when you least expect it, and that's what happened that day at Janie's cheap hotel room.  An Agency vehicle was outside, and she knew what was inside.

So, she ran, and kept running until she realized she was at Phoenix's door.  All Janie could do was knock.

Comments

[ashes-ascended.livejournal.com]

"Okay. Look. As much time as you need, okay? Then we're gonna have to take things slowly and carefully." He takes one of her hands. Phoenix feels almost as bad as Janie does about this whole Vito thing. "We're both bruised and hurting, it's never a great idea to go from one guys arms straight into anothers, not without a little healing time."

"I still got my contacts, we'll see what we can find on the Agency. Then maybe we can hack your accounts."

[a_time_slip]

Janie nodded, and clung to Phoenix's hand. "I'm happy in your arms, and I don't know if I can be alone right now."

She was scared, about everything changing, and had no idea of what the future held. She had no idea how Vito would take the news, and briefly wondered if setting him up with someone else was a good idea.

"Thank you... I- you do so much for me, Phoenix."

[ashes-ascended.livejournal.com]

He shifts position, arms around Janie's shoulders. "You don't have to be alone, we just... need to understand how messed up we are. Take things carefully."

He's still too scared to hope, and screwing up someone else's heart never makes this kind of thing any better.

"It's okay. You do so much for me in intangible ways, you don't even know it. And anyway, I'm gonna need your help with Lex. The only way to get him back to his own time is to get into present-day Guln, and travel back from there." Phoenix hates to make such requests of Janie when she's vulnerable like this, but maybe it'll help her feel less useless.

[a_time_slip]

"Will you keep your arms around me?" she asked, wanting so much more at the moment.

Janie still feels terrible for breaking someone's heart, and is just waiting for something terrible to happen to her.

"Guln?" But she nodded, because she'd do anything for Phoenix. "I'll take him... Poor guy. Maybe, before he has to go, I'll take him somewhere nice. Would that be okay?"

[ashes-ascended.livejournal.com]

"I'm not letting go." He reassures her. Very much meaning every word.

"We'll have to see what intel Drake has for us, first. Hopefully the future version of Lex can throw a little light on what we're meant to do. It obviously worked, so we just have to make sure we get things right."

[a_time_slip]

Janie breathed in deeply, trying to make a memory of his scent, of how she felt in his arms and rested her head against Phoenix.

"Let me know, whatever I can do. Please keep me in the loop, Phoenix."

[ashes-ascended.livejournal.com]

She feels so small in his arms, Phoenix gently rubs Janie's back as he holds her. A small comforting motion he tends to employ automatically.

"I will. On both scores. We're in it together, okay?"

[a_time_slip]

That motion tends to calm her fairly quickly, and Janie is now a hundred times more relaxed than she was when she first got to Phoenix's.

"Always..."

[ashes-ascended.livejournal.com]

And it's not as if the universe has decided they should spend an eternity torn apart from each other. At least she's a part of his family. Phoenix strokes Janies hair, reminding himself of that fact.

"If you want to come here, afterwards. You know wherever I am, it's your home too." It's the emotional part he wants to take slowly, Janie's staying here makes sense, especially from the children's point of view.

[a_time_slip]

Janie wonders herself why they haven't ended up together, but knows that looking into it might prove a bit disastrous.

"I've already moved out from his place." she admits. "To a hotel... he said that I didn't have to move, but I couldn't stay there any more."

[ashes-ascended.livejournal.com]

The angel's heart perks up at that, far more than it should do.

"We'd all love to have you here." He plants a kiss on her head. "But I won't pressure you again."

[a_time_slip]

"I'll stay until I get paid again." she said, carefully. She felt too guilty to stay with Vito, which was why she'd packed up and left his apartment. She hadn't been able to break up with him yet, though.

[ashes-ascended.livejournal.com]

"Well, hopefully we can free up your assets some. I know some people who can cover their tracks pretty well. Even from the Agency."

He keeps holding Janie because it feels too good to stop.

[a_time_slip]

"I wish I'd told you sooner." she says, finally. She's not going to let go of Phoenix.