Unshackled

Unsaid

Two weeks had passed since the Wu-Chang party. Although on the outside the party had seemed to be a massive success, the people behind the scene were less than satisfied. But two weeks later Little Seoul was finally settling down after Ray's return and the issue with Sparky Kane. Routines were starting to return to normal, the city was returning to its complacency; businesses running, crims robbing, cops chasing, racers racing, cops chasing. 

April had left the city the day after the party. She handed the keys to her apartment to Ray when Ray dropped her off at the airport. She had told Ray her decision to leave the city for a little while in order to avoid the fallout from everything that had happened at the party. Ray couldn't blame her; she had done the same, after all. April promised to call when she got to Liberty City. Ursula was going to pack and send her wardrobe after her, as April had instructed her that same night on the phone. She hadn't returned to the Cubby at all, staying the night at the Clean Manor. 

Once Ray had finally got to the Manor and learned April's plan, she had asked her what she was planning on doing in Liberty City. April waved her off, saying something about doing shows and that events had been begging her to come for quite a while. Ray took her at her word, privately wondering how much truth there was in her claims. Not that she doubted that venues would kill to have April Fooze on their lineups, she just wondered if April was going to actually do them or wallow in sadness instead. But as her friend, she only said supportive things, telling April she'd come out there if she needed her. April thanked her, telling her she didn't expect to need her, and that she wouldn't ask it of her since she had just got back to Los Santos and had begun putting down roots. 

Ray stayed at the manor the rest of that night. Tony and Yuno gave up their room for the girls, electing to sleep down in the study instead. As Ray hugged April as she cried herself to sleep, she found her mind wandering back to the last couple of hours she had spent with Tommy, driving around the dark hills of Vinewood. The dark shape of Mount Chilliad had loomed in the background, and with that plus the thought of April and Ramee fresh in her mind, it had brought up unwanted memories of her last night in Los Santos a year ago. 

Tommy was quiet in the car, allowing her to think, and had handed over a flask as soon as she had climbed in his passenger seat. Her gold dress slid up her thigh as she sat down and it was a miracle they didn't crash right there and then as he briefly forgot which was the gas and which was the brake pedal. Ray briefed him on what had happened, swearing him to secrecy immediately. She trusted him to keep it private because he was friends with both her and April. 

She found herself staring at the black mountain as they drove, hating it. It was strange, hating an inanimate object. Ray knew it was irrational, and that the feelings she was experiencing was due, not to the mountain, but what was buried on it. 

They drove up to the Vinewood Bowl, Tommy parking the car in a very familiar spot. He was content to sit quietly with her, knowing she had a lot on her mind. Ray had other ideas, fed up with the past and the hurt, and unbuckled, crawling over the center console into his lap. He was surprised, but as she kissed him deeply, he decided he wasn't complaining. He tasted the alcohol on her tongue, running his hands up and down her thighs. Her nails scratched the back of his neck, slipping under the collar of his shirt. 

She sat back after a few minutes, staring into his dazed eyes with eyes dark with desire. "You're quite the distraction, Tommy T," she said quietly.

He smiled, a flash in the dim dashboard light. "I do my best," he said, his voice rough and low. 

Nodding, she placed her hands on his chest. "But you want more than just being a distraction," she mused.

Shrugging, Tommy rested his wandering hands on her waist. "Ray, I'm happy to move at your pace. If there's something you want to do, do it. Don't feel like you have to give anything up for me. I'm content with this."