OOM: Suite 130

[watching_you]

Veronica leads Mills through the labyrinthine corridors of the Milliways guest area until, eventually, they reach the right hallway.

"This place can be a bit confusing at times," she offers apologetically. "Things have a tendency to move. But I'm right up here --"

She cuts off, stopping short. This hallway's not empty.

Super.

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[particularskill.livejournal.com]

At this point, Mills has handed off the armload of their stuff to the baker for safekeeping and is now joining Veronica.

"May I?" She passes him off like a pro.

He takes the guy by the nape of the neck and the locked wrist and leans in to speak in a low voice.

"I fall into the 'or something' category and you and I are going to walk the half block to the end of the market, and you're going to leave under your own power. And if I ever see you here again? We'll have this discussion again. And you won't leave under your own power. Are we clear?"

The man whimpers as Mills begins to move him.

"Good. I thought so."

[watching_you]

As Mills takes over arm wrestling duty, Veronica finds herself facing a stunned crowd of onlookers. Oh my. Time to run interference.

The woman with the purse is still looking frightened, so Veronica takes her hand. Loudly enough to distract from any threats of violence happening behind her, she says, "I'm sorry that happened. But you're being very brave."

To the crowd at large, "Isn't she brave?" And she starts clapping. The collected group of people picks it up and turns it into a gentle round of applause, all attention now focused on the woman.

Now it's just street theatre.

The man at the jam booth waves Veronica off paying, so by the time Mills gets back she's attempting to juggle all of their bags again, purse slung over one arm, produce gathered in her arms, flower held between her teeth like she's an incredibly awkward salsa dancer.

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

Mills stalks back, eyes on the crowd, concerned that pickpockets never work solo. The air around him seems electrified as he returns to her side, taking the produce and smirking at her, shaking his head.

"Next time, a little communication?" He quirks an eyebrow at her, painfully aware of all the bystanders now gawking at him.

[watching_you]

With her arms freed up, she takes the flower from her mouth and quirks an eyebrow at him.

"Every second counts. I knew you'd have my back if anything came up."

She gestures with her head, indicating they should continue on.

"At any rate, I don't intend to make a habit out of breaking up petty crime every time we're on a -- a field trip."

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

"Good," he growls, clearly relieved to be moving on, his eyes scanning the crowd.

"Your subtle style might just land us on the five o'clock news, and -- that would not be optimal, if you take my meaning."

He gestures down a side alley, watching their six to make sure they weren't followed. "A little shortcut," he explains.

[watching_you]

Her laugh is cynical.

"The news? Nah. Not enough blood. This is L.A., right?"

She twirls the sunflower, sniffing it.

"Within an hour half the witnesses will swear it was me mugging him."

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

"I'm not so sure about that. Beautiful girl fights crime in local farmer's market? It's a classic fluff piece. But no, you handled it just fine. Turning the focus away from you was rather clever."

The alley takes a turn back toward the boulevard, passed some dumpsters, a stack of empty pallets and the back door of a restaurant, where a scruffy little dog barks and wags at them.

Mills shifts the produce to another hand as they emerge onto the sidewalk, so he can offer his arm again. "I think the tequila's worn off."

[watching_you]

As he mentions the tequila she glances up at him. "Kicking ass can do that," she says. "I hope nothing else has worn off."

She quickly glances away, blushing slightly, and slips her hand into his arm again.

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

If she hadn't had a hand on his arm, she never would have felt the hesitation in his step. There is a significant pause before he answers. A vintage Chevy drives by, windows rolled down to appreciate the warm spring day and share the deep thumping bass with the entire street.

Mills watches as it rolls passed, and she feels him sigh, a modicum of tension fading. "On the contrary," he rumbles.

[watching_you]

"Oh."

Veronica bites her lip, and for once, she can't think of anything to say.

But she does lean her head against his shoulder once again.

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

His elbow grips her hand tight against his side and he keeps his stride measured and easy, not at all in a hurry to get where they're going.

He can't help but feel as if he's gone back through the wrong Door and ended up in someone else's life. Her presence here with him seemed more improbable than anything else Milliways had thrown at him. And the events of the afternoon might be a fantastic dream, one that he'd wake up from any moment.

But no. He could feel the warmth of her cheek through his jacket.

After another block, they take a turn down a little side street lined with trees and brightly coloured bougainville. He guides her to a typical Mediterranean style apartment complex, nothing spectacular. Through an iron gate and passed a central courtyard with the obligatory swimming pool.

"Afternoon, Mrs. Kazerian." He waves to an older woman sitting in a lounge chair. She waves back and then tips the brim of her huge straw hat up and pulls down her shades to give Veronica a long hard look. Mills, for his part, keeps right on walking.

[watching_you]

Sensing she's being watched, Veronica glances over, and gives the woman a wink. If she's going to gossip, might as well make it interesting.

They're not quite out of earshot when Veronica speaks. "So this is your place, is it? Can't wait to see."

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

"Not much to see," he says, fishing his key ring out of his pocket (just a simple ring, house key, car key, and a few others, nondescript, possibly for a padlock on a storage locker or a gun safe). "I've only been here for a little over a year."

The interior is spartan. Tan carpets, tan couch, a bookshelf, an entertainment center, and a large black reclining chair. A simple breakfast table in the kitchen holds a few newspapers and a stack of mail. There's a door to what she assumes is a bedroom at the far end of the living room.

[watching_you]

She moves away from him as they enter, one arm folded across her chest, the other tapping a thoughtful finger against her lips. Her eyes sweep over everything, taking in little details, filing away a mental catalogue of the room.

"It's nice."

She turns back towards him. "Did you want to eat here?"

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

"We could, or we could go back to your place. Your call."

He's setting the produce down in the kitchen before stepping back out and pacing through the space, his eyes checking the sliding glass door as he moves passed into the bedroom. That checked, he returns.

"I don't tend to spend a lot of time here. It's more a place to sleep when I'm not travelling."

[watching_you]

Smoothly, "Well, if we stay here it does give me time to rifle through your things."

One hand's still near her mouth, and she bites her thumb teasingly.

"But hey. Whatever."

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

His eyes draw down to slits as he regards her. The thumb thing, really. Shouldn't being working as well as it is, he thinks. A languid smile ghosts over his lips.

Comfortable in his own space, he moves back into the kitchen.

"And it would give you time to ask impertinent questions. Beer?"

[watching_you]

"I object. My questions are entirely pertinent."

She wanders over, leans her hip against the counter.

Skeptical, "You're going to start drinking again?"

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

Mills takes off his jacket, draping it over a kitchen chair, and slips his holster off, dropping it on the table.

"Good point," he mutters. He looks back into the fridge, frowning. "I guess you need your wits about you. For the interrogation."

"I have diet soda, on the off chance that Kim ever stops by. I have bottled water." Looking back up at her again.

[watching_you]

"Water would be great, actually."

She marvels at the fact that he removed his gun without her even mentioning it. Interesting.

"Do you see your daughter often? Oh, that's --" She puts her hand over her mouth, looking sheepish. "Interrogating. Sorry."

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

He chuckles, reaching in the fridge and getting a bottle of water for her. "I'll let you know when you're out of bounds, all right? I see her as often as I can, actually. She's seventeen, so that's not as often as I'd like."

He leans on the bar, looking at her for a moment, and then shifts away, circling around the end of the counter. "Can I hang your coat up for you?"

[watching_you]

"Mm, thank you, yes." She shrugs out of the red trenchcoat and hands it over, then leans back against the counter.

Seventeen seems young -- he must have become a father relatively late in life. She would have expected his daughter to be...

Well, to be a little closer to her own age. Um.

Veronica shoves that awkward train of thought right off the rails.

"What's she like?" she asks, uncapping the water.

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

Mills hangs her coat in the front closet and returns to the kitchen, all business. Cutting board, colander, greens into the sink for a rinse, some ingredients out of the pantry, olive oil, balsamic vinegar.

And her question brings him up short.

He leans on the counter, his expression pained. "I -- don't really know. I missed most of her childhood, and I've been playing catch up."

[watching_you]

Veronica winces.

"Wow. From zero to foot in mouth in two questions flat."

She crosses the space, hesitant, and presses a hand on his back between his shoulderblades.

"I'm sorry. For asking. And for..."

She doesn't say it. She doesn't need to.

[particularskill.livejournal.com]

"It's all right," he turns his head, his body leaning towards her touch.

He gives her a little half-smile, looking into her face.

"What's done is done. The only way forward is through."