Boundaries

Conor: breaking up

                  

{Conor}

I got better, slowly putting the weight back on and the weakness I felt from the silver poisoning abating. Tish hung around a lot, but we had mostly returned to a normal schedule. Grant would take turns with Peter and me sitting with Ralph, who was getting stronger and more capable in the wheelchair but had seen no change in his legs or hands. I kept hoping, but it seemed that the damage done in the fight, full moon pending, was here to stay.

Sasha seemed to be peering around every corner. Tish didn't tease me as much when we were in the halls or training room; I think she was worried that someone would see or hear something they shouldn't and report back to Sasha.

Which was why we were outside, walking the icy sidewalks of Chicago. Tish wore a heavy coat, but I was wearing my usual flannel. The wind stung my face, but since we ducked into stores every block or so, it didn't bother me. Ralph was doing a full physical with Frank, and the both of them had decided I would hover too much. Tish had been more than happy to pull me from the room. I hadn't realized how stir-crazy I was until we were out of the building; I just got used to wishing I was elsewhere and free.

"We could have lunch out here," Tish suggested. "What do you want to eat?"

I thought about it for a minute as we continued strolling

"I'd like to try the pizza, if you don't have any particular ideas," I told her. "Aidan said it was delicious."

"Well, I don't know where Aidan got his pizza, but I'm sure that we can find some just as delicious," she promised. "Come on."

She navigated from her phone down the block and around the corner to a place that I could smell the tomato sauce and hot cheese even from outside. We were shown a tall table by the window, and Tish hopped up, opening up the menu. There were a lot of choices; I had expected pizza to not be so complicated. I ignored the pasta and sandwich options and focused on the page of pizza.

"Let me know if you have questions," Tish said. "Also, you can get your own pizza. I like weird things in mine. Oh, and if Aidan had Chicago-style, it's these deep dish options."

She pointed to a small section of the menu, and I felt like I could tackle this section with less struggle. It wasn't that I couldn't read, but there were a lot of ingredients I didn't know as well as the immense amount of text. Stefa had usually ordered for me when we had gone out. Mel and Ralph fielded my endless questions, but we had only eaten out a couple times during my stay with them.

Tish asked the waiter for root beer and unsweetened tea, though sighed as he walked away.

"What?" I asked.

"I'd rather have a beer," she admitted. "But I haven't drunk alcohol since I've turned and I'm not about to in a crowded restaurant. And I don't want to sneak a six-pack into our headquarters like I'm a child. I assume you've never drunk."

"Ralph used to get beer when we went into town," I replied. "I tried one once, didn't like it. Stefa let me taste her cocktails, but those were too sweet."

Tish laughed. "Stefa drank fruity cocktails? I just can't picture that for some reason. Your stories of her make her sound like a hard liquor sort of gal."

"I think she liked the colors," I shrugged. "I know she couldn't really taste it, couldn't get drunk. But it was weird to watch me eat so she would try various cocktails."

"I'm glad vampires can't get drunk," Tish mused. "But what if, say, they drank blood from a drunk person. Do you think they'd be drunk then?"

"I don't know," I admitted.