Northern Downpour

Part 6

The cab ride to the Pudding N Pie was quiet. It was dark out already, though it wasn't that late. You stared out the window, lost in your thoughts and not really seeing anything. All this shit had happened, and it had only been two--no, three days now. Three damn days since this whole thing started. It felt like weeks.

"Blue."

You blinked and looked over at Bigby. You got the feeling he'd been trying to get your attention for a minute. "Sorry, what?"

"When was the last time you got some sleep?" He asked, looking you over.

You squinted a bit, having to think about it. "Uh, I dozed a bit during the cab ride to the Trip Trap last night. Why?"

"You space out a lot when you're tired," he replied.

"I do?"

"Yeah."

"If I start doing that in the club, feel free to slap me."

Bigby snorted, prompting a tiny smile from you.

"You doing okay?" He asked.

You lied to a lot of people about a lot of things. Bigby was not one of those people. You told little white lies to him, ones he knew were bullshit but it wasn't a big deal. The first time you ever really truly lied to him was in the alley, when he asked how you were, and you said you were okay.

And with a tightening throat, you lied through your teeth again as you said, "I'm doing fine."

It was complete and utter horseshit. You were far from fine. You had mastered bottling up your emotions a long time ago, and it was a habit you simply didn't want to break. You hoped Bigby would leave it at that, and not ask again until this whole thing was over, because you did not want to lose it in a cab ride to a stripper club.

You also didn't want to let Bigby see you lose it, because it would be first time and you didn't know how to handle that, but you had yet to admit that to yourself.

He furrowed his brow and looked at you in that way of his, like he could see every part of you, and it both thrilled and terrified you that maybe he could, and your eyes were beginning to burn and you really wanted to just hide your face in his shoulder and cry for a while, because even when you were in real physical danger you always felt safe around him. He opened his mouth to speak, and the cab slowed to a stop. You glanced behind Bigby and saw the Pudding N Pie sign, the light from it bathing the sidewalk and Bigby in a neon glow.

You opened the door as quickly and smoothly as you could. You took a few deep breaths, trying not to rush around the back of the cab to the sidewalk as you willed your heartbeat to slow back down to a normal rate. You needed to get a fucking grip. You were about to enter a strip club, for fuck's sake, now was not the time to be doing this. Again.

You knew he was worried about you. You'd be worried about you too. But you didn't wanna talk about it. Not now. Maybe not ever. Maybe when this whole thing was over, you'd deal with it your own way, by yourself, and be back to normal, and nothing would feel so different. Even if everything was different now with Faith gone.

You ignored the worried look Bigby gave you as a blonde woman came around from the side of the building, a pleasant smile on her face. "Sheriff, Blue. What a nice surprise. I'm not sure I've seen either of you here before. Is it business or pleasure?"

"Strictly business," you replied. "Where's Georgie?"

She gave you each a quick once-over, obviously not as happy to have you here as she claimed. "You're in luck, he's here. Come on."