shark-girl-in-japan:

Sitting on the tiolet seat in the bathroom stall, she could only describe how she was feeling as “Cold” even though she was on the outside perfectly warm. Her fingers hurt and felt a little numb and her teeth were rattling as she pulled out her phone and clumsily speed dialed he first number she could button smash into it.

C- Coco

Holding the phone to her ear she pulled up her legs to make herself smaller and keep in her warmth which seemed to be getting drained out of her from the inside out.
Conrad grabbed the phone, and balanced it between his shoulder and cheek while trying to figure out how to make a more decent tasting blood coffee.

“Vesper? I swear to God if you’re calling to make a fart joke—” The phone slipped, and knocked over his little bag of fancy Hawaiian coffee onto the floor. “Fuck!” He at least had the social tact to pick up the phone, and focus on the conversation instead of cleaning up his mess first. “That was graceful. Sorry, I’m listening now.”
The ease and banter of him answering the phone helped a little, just hearing a safe voice was good. Hearing him cuss even softly on the dropped phone made her flinch.

“H-hey… M’sorry t’but you a-are you busy?” She couldn’t quite stop the click of her teeth unless she clamped her mount shut, which didn’t help talking much.
She also didn’t want to make him angry, if he was busy she’d be fine.

Somehow.

Conrad’s brows furrowed. The tragedy of good coffee lost wasn’t enough to distract him from Vesper’s stutter.

“I was just experimenting with my coffee. Got work done early tonight. You could come have some if you want. Coffee, that is. Not the Kona, since I just dropped it on the floor and all, but I’ve got more.”
“Mmn… I’m… I’m really ssorry but c-can you come get me?” She felt stupid for asking but she was still shaking and just wanted to be somewhere safe and couldn’t stand the idea of a cab right then.
“Ihadapanicattack.”

The last part she mumbled out, still feeling shame about not being a strong enough person to just brush things off no matter how much her shrink told her that it was ok.

“… I’ll be right there. I just need an address.” Conrad was already putting things back in the cabinet and fridge. He looked at the coffee on the floor. It could wait until he got back.

“I’m at the Starbucks on… on Buffalo Ave?… Across from the g-gym” She didn’t want to tell him to hurry although she wanted him to, so she apologized instead. “Sorry, I know it’s stupid.”

“If it were stupid, I would tell you,” Conrad said as he pulled on a jacket and grabbed a decorative blanket off the couch. “I think I know the Starbucks you mean. I’m going to double check, and I’ll be right there.”

“Kay… Thank you.” She sighed and put her arms over her head feeling worse because now she was embarassed she needed help.


Conrad was there as quickly as he could manage, and parked in front of the Starbucks.

Once inside, he looked around before spying Vesper in one of the chairs curled up over a paper cup of coffee.

“Hey,” he said as he walked over, “need a cookie with that? Since we’re already here.” Casual. Yeah, he could do that. Maybe.

Opening her eyes she smiled weakly up at him, not even drinking her coffee she just wanted it for her hands. She looked kind of bad too, crooked purple nose and two racoon eyes thanks to Veser’s dad, a slightly brused cheekbone and cut lip thanks to Chris.

She hadn’t felt this shit or looked it in a long time.

“If you give a Vesper a cookie, she’ll ask for a glass of milk… And a hug.”
She had to close her eyes again because the relief of seeing someone safe made her want to cry and then she’d just feel even worse.

It took an immense amount of control not to burst into a rage right there in the cafe over the state of Vesper’s face. You didn’t get that sort of damage from something accidental like a fall. But because they were in public, and because he was smart enough to know how badly Vesper would react to it, Conrad simply bit his lip, and took in a deep, unnecessary breath. He let it out while counting slowly, and then finally answered.

“Chocolate chip, or ginger molasses?”

“You don’t have to…” She’d already inconvenienced him enough.

Conrad looked at her, then over to the counter, then to her again. “Chocolate chip, or ginger molasses?” he reiterated. “I’m buying you one of them, and if you don’t pick, I will.”

Oh great now she had to think, at least it was a distraction. “Uhhh- Choclate? No, molasses… No, Chocolate.” She sure was decisive. “If that’s ok?”

“I could get both?”

“No Chocolate’s fine. Or nothing I mean you already came all the way here I don’t need a cookie.”

“I’m going to get the cookie, and you can decide whether or not to eat it.” Conrad turned, and headed for the counter, quickly buying a cookie, and throwing the change in the tip jar. He offered it up to Vesper.

“There. Now, how about we get in the car? It should still be nice and warm, and there’s a blanket in the passenger seat for you. I don’t know about you, but when I have a bad day, they help. Just a little.” Conrad fidgeted a little, embarrassment at admitting that creeping up on him.

She got up a little slow when he went to get her a cookie, feeling stiff from being so tense, she still felt cold on the inside even though the cafe was warm and her coffee was still hot in her hands.

“Thank you… I’m sorry.” That’s all she seemed to be good to say tonight but getting a cookie and being led out helped.

Sitting in the car she snuggled into the blanket, not quite ready to comment on Conrad’s choice in vehicle right then but it made her smile a little thinking about it.

“So… I broke Chris’s nose…” She finally said. “Had a… *mumble*panicattack*mumble* after I guess from coming down from the adrenaline”

 Conrad looked over at Vesper. “… Well then good. If you broke his nose, then he probably deserved it.” Not the most sympathetic response, but then this was Conrad. He did realize it wasn’t very tactful, though, and cleared his throat. “No offence, but you don’t look so good yourself. I don’t know where you wanted me to drive you, but how about we fix you up at my place, and then I’ll take you wherever you want?”

“Yeah… This is old but yeah…” Old she gestured to her nose, which was a bit ago, but her lip and cheek could use some ice.
“Home… And I mean other Conrad’s house after… I uh… I moved but I’m not really there yet y’know?”
She hunched over the seat with a sigh and a tired groan “It’s been a pretty goddamn horrific week…”

“Moving takes time,” Conrad said, pulling out of the parking lot. “And to be honest, I wouldn’t want to leave you alone right now anyways.”

He drove them back to his apartment, making sure to park near the parking garage elevators so they wouldn’t be in the cold long, and holding the doors for Vesper so she didn’t have to let go of her slowly cooling Starbucks drink.

She’d finished the cookie in the car, a little surprised at how hungry she’d been but then adrenaline and throwing up might do that to a person. Following him into the apartment she sighed being in a safe space and feeling a million times better.

Looking at the floor in the kitchen she cocked her head to the side before looking down. “I’m sorry I rushed you out for nothing…” She felt like it was nothing now that she was calm, and felt stupid for calling him.

“Nothing? I don’t consider breaking a man’s nose and having a panic attack nothing. I’m glad you called. Really.” Conrad bustled around, cleaning up the coffee he had abandoned in favour of picking Vesper up as quickly as possible.

“Well… Yeah… Do you have any ice? My hand kinda hurts… And my face.”

“Of course I have ice. What sort of person has a fridge and no ice?” Conrad put his broom away, and went to put together a baggy of ice. He wrapped a dishtowel around it, and handed it over to Vesper.

“Thanks.” She sat in a chair and leaned back balancing the ice on her face and hand. “God I hate everything right now…” She sniffed closing her eyes not wanting to start crying again.

“You can’t hate everything. What about puppies? Or—God, what is it you Americans eat—deep fried twinkies and oreos?”

“I have never had a deep fried twinkie or oreo, I think that’s a southern thing though I really wanna try. And like British people can talk all you guys eat is fish and chips and drink.” She teased back with a sniffle glad for the distraction. “Thanks…”

“That’s because fish and chips is bloody delicious, thank you,” Conrad huffed. The realization that he’d never have another regular order of it just made him pout more.

“Yeah, well, friends look out for each other. I mean, I don’t have much of a frame of reference, but that’s what people tell me at any rate.”