An Old Love Story ~ Bob Floyd

**Chapter One**

**Chapter One ~ The Hard Deck**

Startled by the sudden noise of the door opening, Katelyn turns around, becoming slightly defensive. She relaxes slightly when she realises who it is.

Robert Floyd, callsign Bob. Our Orpheus. An awkward pilot who, like Orpheus, has a kind heart and loves easily. Even when he's awkward, he has his moments of confidence. Such as now as he chose to follow Katelyn out of the crowd to the patio.

"Sorry if I scared you. It's not what I intended to do." He mutters, chuckling slightly and rubbing the back of his neck, embarrassed and nervous.

Katelyn shakes her head. "No it's fine. I just didn't expect anyone else to come out here." She turns back around, facing the sea.

Bob walks up next to her, looking out at the sea. He turns to her for a moment. "I'm Bob. You already know that though." He speaks up, awkwardly laughing at the small joke he made.

Katelyn looks at him before looking back to the sea. She doesn't laugh back, causing Bob to become even more awkward.

"I'm Falcon." She says, a blunt tone playing on her voice. She's not used to talking to others very often, being someone who likes to stay by the side-lines and do her job when she has to.

"Falcon.. How did you get that?" Bob questions, intrigued by her callsign. 

"It's said that I'm the fastest pilot alive. Can't say I believe it. They also say my eyesight is also like one of a falcon's." She shrugs, clearly not thinking any of it is true. Then again, it shows that she tries her best to be humble.

"Guess we'll put that to the test on this mission." He chuckles, becoming more comfortable around her, "Any idea what it is?"

Katelyn shakes her head. "Nope." 

"Hm." He replies, looking at her for a moment. Katelyn feels his eyes on her but doesn't look over to him.

After a while of standing in silence, chanting comes from inside the bar.

"Overboard! Overboard!"

Katelyn turns to the look through the window. She watches as the older pilot gets picked up by Hangman, Coyote and Payback. She also notices how an old friend of hers, Bradley 'Rooster' Bradshaw heads to sit at the piano. She takes this as a sign to head back inside. 

Unconsciously taking Bob's hand, she leads the two of them inside and towards the piano as the older man gets thrown out.

Rooster starts playing some notes on the piano, drawing the attention of the crowd. Once there's a small group gathered around, that's when he begins.

"You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain." He starts singing the all too familiar song. 

"Too much love drives a man insane." She starts to sing along, enjoying herself so much to the point that she doesn't notice the gentle hands of Bob wrap themselves around her waist.

"You broke my will," She sings with Rooster, looking around at all the other pilots singing along, "but what a thrill."

"Goodness gracious, Great balls of fire!!"

*~*

The night goes on with more singing, drinking and laughing. After a few drinks, Katelyn loosens up a little bit. She even got Bob to have a few however him being a lightweight, he got drunk quite easily.

"How about.." Bob starts, his words slightly slurred but no one really caring, "a game of truth or dare?"

The small crowd of pilots cheer, including Rooster, Phoenix, Coyote, Hangman, Payback and Fanboy. Katelyn watches, a look of slight concern on her face for how drunk he really is.

"Falcon?" Hangman asks. Katelyn hums, snapping herself out of her trance. "You up for it?"

"Of course. As long as it's brutal." She chuckles, hoping it doesn't get as brutal as she's thinking but still isn't too easy.

"Right." Phoenix starts, "Falcon, truth or dare?"

Katelyn thinks for a moment. "Dare." 

Phoenix smirks slightly. "I dare you to make uncomfortable eye contact with Bob for the entirety of next round. Starting now."

Katelyn chuckles, "Easy." She says as she starts staring into Bob's eyes. He does the same. The thing is, it isn't at all uncomfortable. It's almost as if they can read each other just from one look. Katelyn can see in his doe-like eyes how kind hearted he is. How honest and sweet.

Bob on the other hand can see a lot deeper than Katelyn thinks. He can tell from her dull eyes how tired she is. How the mask she wears impacts her day to day life. Her mental health. How she wishes she could show her true self but is scared people will judge her and leave her if she does.

His eyes soften up, almost to say it's okay.

The next round goes by quickly and Katelyn can finally break eye contact. She makes out that it was painful when really, it wasn't. It was like it was needed.

"Right Hangman.." Katelyn starts. "Truth or dare."

"Truth." He replies. Some of the others 'boo' and call him boring but Katelyn knows just how to make it difficult.

"Why are you so cocky and arrogant?" She smirks. His grin drops as he realises how harsh and honest she is.

Katelyn raises her eyebrows as if to say 'go on'.

"Because I know I'm the best." He states, his usual cocky grin returning to his face as he sips his drink.

"Right.." Katelyn replies, clearly not taking his bullshit.

"Katelyn. Truth or Dare." Hangman asks, staring at her with a glare. Some of the pilots groan and Fanboy even states that some others haven't had a turn.

"Dare." She says coldly, glaring back at him.

"I saw you and Bob earlier. And just now when you were staring. You have chemistry." He pauses for a moment before saying his dare. "Sit on his lap."

For a moment, Katelyn can see Bob sober up, shifting uncomfortably in his seat. He notices her and nods.

"Or you buy the next round of drinks." Hangman adds, trying to get her to do the dare. She groans slightly, taking her drink and standing up.

She walks over to where Bob is sat. "It's okay." He says quietly to her. She nods and sits down on his lap. She feels Bob wrap his free arm around her waist and tries to fight the blush that is creeping onto her face.

She notices Hangman smirk at her and she shoots him a cold glare, causing his smirk to fade. She also notices Phoenix smiling at her, winking slightly. She can't help but feel confused but chooses to ignore it rather than question it.

The game goes on for about an hour. It was fun but also irritating at times. Especially since Hangman kept daring her to stay on Bob's lap.

Soon enough, it's time for the bar to close and everyone pays their tabs.

"Can I walk you home?" Bob asks as the two walk out of the bar together. Katelyn nods and sends him a straight smile. The two walk side by side along the beach back to the apartment building it turns out they're both staying in.

"Have you ever heard the tale of Orpheus and Eurydice?" Bob asks. Katelyn looks at him.

"Of course." She replies.

"Well, if you look up and.." He walks up behind her, one hand on her waist, the other pointing at the sky. Katelyn follows where he's pointing and smiles.

"It's Lyra!" She chuckles, noticing the constellation that they say was put there by the Greek gods for Orpheus.

"Yep!" He replies, stepping back to beside her.

They can't help but stay there for a moment looking at the constellation.

Katelyn can't help but think to herself. Is this the beginning of a friendship?

**End of Chapter One**