[Finding five minutes out of the day to make a quick phone call had never seemed harder, and getting enough privacy to do so undisturbed almost seemed impossible. In fact, it wasn't until the end of the day that Reid finally found enough space to call home and let Kitty know he'd be back that night.
It was surreal in ways that made his heart beat faster, despite the long hours. Calling home because someone was waiting for him.]
[She answers on the first ring. Yes, she'd been waiting. She really thought she might hear from him earlier in the day just to know whether he was flying out somewhere or not. When day passed into night she got anxious about it. Books and television had lost all interest to her hours ago. She kept trying to read, but she stayed on the same page for almost an hour without taking any of it in, but she could tell you the exact time.
In the week that she'd lived there she'd never felt so...trapped. She even went outside once, thinking that might help, but she just felt more alone around strangers than she had in the apartment. So, she was extremely relieved when the phone finally did ring.]
Reid? [Her voice is a little rough, not having used it since earlier that morning.]
Hey. [And in just that one word there's as much of an apology as he can squeeze into three letters.] Sorry, I couldn't get away sooner... but I'll be coming home tonight. Local case, all wrapped up.
Good. Good... [Again, SO MUCH RELIEF. She kind of hates how much honestly. She doesn't like being this waiting by the phone, not knowing what to do with herself person, but it was just the first day.] Do you know what time you'll get back?
Hour and a half, maybe. I'm just finishing up now. [Pause. He doesn't know if he should keep asking this or just leave her be, but in the end he needs to.] Are you, uhm... how was your day?
[She had managed some awakeness for his departure in the morning. In fact it may have been her similarity to a zombie that helped facilitate his leaving. It would have been all too easy to just stay attached. And yet even after he left and there was no reason for her not to fall back asleep the bed just felt cold and empty.
Of course the rest of the apartment was no better and for all the feeling better she was doing the night before she was still feeling anxious now. It wasn't a feeling she was all that familiar with. Even in desperate times she seemed steadier than this. It wasn't unbearable, but it was noticeable as she went through the motions of a morning. Breakfast. Shower. Looking out the window at a city she didn't feel like a part of.
After a couple of hours of this she took a deep breath and pushed herself out the door. She didn't have a mission. No errand. No real goal even. She just wanted to be out there in that unfamiliar place where no one has heard of mutants—not the kind she is at least. She takes the phone with her. She's looked at it several times already as if it's been secretly ringing and she's missed it somehow.]
[ There were busy days and then there were busy days. Luckily for Reid, this was a busy day of the less emphasized variety and although there wasn't a lot of time between morning meetings and paperwork and planning for lectures for local law enforcement, it wasn't as hectic as it could be.
A few hours into the day he'd managed to work ahead enough to grab an early lunch, which naturally needed to be spent on the phone and so he left his desk behind, not bothering to even really exit the building before dialing Kitty's number. ]
Unless you've been giving out your phone number without me realizing it... no. [ So amused. ] Busy of the less explosive variety. I've been in meetings more or less non-stop until now.
Well, to be fair, you have no idea what I've been doing all morning. I mean after redecorating your apartment of course. [She does, by the way, think of it as his apartment even though she lives there.] Meetings sound a lot scarier actually.
Of course. [ That's okay. He still pays the rent. It's not weird. ] They're... not too bad. A necessary evil, maybe, this job isn't as glamorous as tv might lead you to believe.
[A couple of more or less uneventful days had passed before today. Reid should be home from work soon, but her thoughts aren't on him right now. They are very much drawn to the new computer he'd gotten for her. She sits curled up in front of it, staring at the screen, unable to look away as click after click bring up more information about the Pryde family still living in Chicago. There are even tear streaks on her cheeks. Since when does she cry? She doesn't even know what she's crying for here. Even without understanding her feelings she is definitely having a lot of them. She probably won't even notice the door opening if it does.]
[ For a moment it felt like they were about to settle into comfortable routine. Something nice and easy, or at least easier than how it was in the beginning. Of course, good things are never meant to last, as Reid was about to find out in a few minutes.
Keys rattling noisily in the door (a habit he picked up the day after they arrived) he stepped into the apartment, unsuspecting of anything out of the ordinary. ]
Kitty? [ And that's when it hits him, a feeling more than an actual realization. Something is wrong.]
[She's quiet for a minute, not trusting her voice and unsure what to say. She feels strange for feeling so strange about all this. Finally, she looks up at him, evidence all over her face.] They're alive.
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It was surreal in ways that made his heart beat faster, despite the long hours. Calling home because someone was waiting for him.]
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In the week that she'd lived there she'd never felt so...trapped. She even went outside once, thinking that might help, but she just felt more alone around strangers than she had in the apartment. So, she was extremely relieved when the phone finally did ring.]
Reid? [Her voice is a little rough, not having used it since earlier that morning.]
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Why are you asking me hard questions already? I'm fine.
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I'll be back soon, okay? We can talk then.
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Of course the rest of the apartment was no better and for all the feeling better she was doing the night before she was still feeling anxious now. It wasn't a feeling she was all that familiar with. Even in desperate times she seemed steadier than this. It wasn't unbearable, but it was noticeable as she went through the motions of a morning. Breakfast. Shower. Looking out the window at a city she didn't feel like a part of.
After a couple of hours of this she took a deep breath and pushed herself out the door. She didn't have a mission. No errand. No real goal even. She just wanted to be out there in that unfamiliar place where no one has heard of mutants—not the kind she is at least. She takes the phone with her. She's looked at it several times already as if it's been secretly ringing and she's missed it somehow.]
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A few hours into the day he'd managed to work ahead enough to grab an early lunch, which naturally needed to be spent on the phone and so he left his desk behind, not bothering to even really exit the building before dialing Kitty's number. ]
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Where are you, anyway?
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Keys rattling noisily in the door (a habit he picked up the day after they arrived) he stepped into the apartment, unsuspecting of anything out of the ordinary. ]
Kitty? [ And that's when it hits him, a feeling more than an actual realization. Something is wrong.]
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You're home. [Her voice is rough.]
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