the_lioness | (no subject)

*There's a thud to break her from her concentration, and her door swings open and there's an Adam. Frowning, drunk, and carrying a half-full bottle of Atlantean.*

'lanna.

*He stumbles into the room and flops onto the couch.*

*Her eyes widen as she watches him. Rolling on her side, she grumbles as her back chooses that moment to finally crack. Sighing, she circles her neck and crawls over, deftly removing the bottle from his grasp and setting it on the floor.*

Adam... did you drink all that? Alone? Goddess.

*Adam looks at the bottle carefully, a little sadly now that it's on the floor.*

Nawp. Had help.

*He looks up at her, his eyes worried.*

He knows.

Yes, I know. I remember telling him. *Smiling, she climbs up on the couch and hugs him, kissing his forehead.* It's alright, Adam.

*He leans against her.*

No, no, no. Not Thom. HIM.

*Because that makes so much sense. Adam picks up the bottle from the floor and waves it about, offering it to Alanna.*

*Narrowing her eyes at the bottle, Alanna swallows and shakes her head. Instead she smooths his hair back and props her head in one hand, leaning against the back of the couch.*

Are you sure you should drink more of that? Him...

*Confused, she thinks. Realization comes slowly, but when it does, it hits her like a ton of bricks.*

OH. Oh, Mithros. Your father?

*She reaches out for the bottle.*

Yeah, him.

*He won't call him his father. Not right now.*

Well. *Smiling nervously, she takes a tiny, tiny sip of Atlantean.* I... I think I felt that in my toes.

How hard did he laugh, and what did he say?

He didn't have to say anything.

*She moves the bottle away again, shifting so she can better see his face.*

What do you mean?

His face, and I can tell, he's- he's my FATHER.

I know him.

*Not to mention the comment on how to tell between Delia and Alanna.*

*Gritting her teeth, Alanna refrains from voicing her opinion of Lucifer as a Father. She nods slowly.*

I see. *She frowns.* So what, exactly, could you tell? I'm sure he was amused and will delight in telling me so when next we cross paths.

*Eyes flashing, she looks away.*

*He swallows.*

Just-

Stay away from him? Please?

*Surprised, she swings her head back around and stares at him.*

I don't deliberately seek him out. Trust me on that. *She smiles crookedly.* It won't be a problem. We... it will be fine.

I can... handle myself.

I know you can. But there are things he can do-

s'just better if you don't.

*Alanna unconsciously tugs her sleeves over her hands and draws her knees up, nodding.*

I know.

So is this why you're drunk? *head tilt* Did you two argue?

Yes. No. A bit.

*Adam starts laughing.*

We played never have I ever.

...

*This warrants another tiny sip.*

The game we were discussing just a few days ago? *She bites her lip.* What hasn't Lucifer done at one time or another?

How drunk are you? *blink, blink*

Just drank a few.

*He's still laughing. It's not a happy laugh.*

Crowley's mad at me.

*He eyes the bottle.*

Had some after, too.

*The bottle is surreptitiously shoved backwards. Alanna snags one of his hands and twines her fingers through his, squeezing gently.*

Oh? Why would Crowley be mad at you?

...He isn't sore that we threw out his waste bin, is he?

*He sighs, closing his eyes and leaning back.*

No. Because-

I kissed Aziraphael.

You... *Not happy, she furrows her brow.* After the Raguel incident, right?

*She breathes, squeezing his hand again.*

Well, he's with Aziraphael. *She smiles wryly.* Did you explain, Adam?

No, there wasn't time. And... all the people.

*He sighs, thinking of the way Lucifer had been looking at him.*

*Wincing slightly, she leans over and kisses him.*

Of course. Some things are better said in private. I'm sorry. But everything will turn out alright once you explain. *pause* You did tell Crowley about that, didn't you? Raguel?

I did. He was-

*Adam shakes his head.*

Said it was a bad idea. Said I was stupid.

*She sighs, wrapping an arm around him.*

No, it wasn't the brightest thing to do, but it was brave and loyal and says a great deal about your regard for both Aziraphael and Crowley. *She smiles to herself.* Brave and smart, while not mutually exclusive, rarely go hand in hand. Sometimes there are larger issues afoot than one's survival instinct.

The angel was hurting, and thus you were too. It will be alright, Adam. Just explain.

*Adam nods, and pulls his legs up on to the couch, curling into her.*

I know it will.

Good.

*She hugs him close, wishing she could ease that ache.*

All those people, huh? Who else was there?

Lucifer, Crowley, War, Sariel and Raguel.

*He manages not to choke over the last name.*

Never have I ever attacked somebody with a poker.

*He collapses into a fit of disgusted giggles.*

...Adam? *She pulls back, eyeing him worriedly.* Gods. I think... I see now. I do not know War

(Or do I?)

or Sariel, but I can only imagine what came up with the others there. I'm a little surprised, truthfully.

*She swallows.* What else was said?

Never...

have I ever...

been a parent.

*He falls on her, no longer quite laughing.*

Shit.

*There's not much else to be said to that. Alanna kisses his forehead, scowling at the opposite wall.*

Did he drink?

*There's no wondering what he it is she's talking about.*

Yeah.

Shithead.

*Irritated, she digs her nails into her palms and keeps her head turned so he can't see her face.*

Sam the Shithead. It fits, I think. He may be your father, biologically speaking, but he wasn't your parent.

*Alanna thinks of her own father and her scowl grows more pronounced.*

*Adam has lots of thing to say about his father, but every time he goes to open his mouth, nothing comes out. He just buries himself into her shoulder.*

*She swallows and just holds him for a few minutes, absently playing with the ends of his hair and thinking of all the things she would dearly love to yell at Lucifer.*

Well.

Thus far, I would still be quite sober.

There were other questions, but they were just...

*he waves his hand, as if to wave the questions away.*

nothing. Anyway.

Ah.

*She rubs her nose distractedly, gaze fixated on the wall, and thinks that nothing is probably not an accurate description. Shrugging, she lets her head fall back and blinks at the ceiling again.*

Delia is going to translate those papers for me. I know what's in them now. I don't understand why I have them, however.

Are you going to be alright? *She wants to lift her head and look at him, but the Atlantean is making that harder to accomplish than it should be.*

'course I am. Aren't I always?

*Adam chokes off a laugh and smiles at her before laying a kiss on her cheek.*

So what's in them, then?

Better now, I hope.

*She blinks, smiling a bit.*

The story of Alienor's life. The legend, but a bit of the woman as well, I think.

Do you think maybe somebody's trying to tell you something? Or maybe thought you needed some light reading?

I do not know. Hopefully the translation will give me a clue.

*She smiles and lifts her legs, dropping them in his lap.*

M'cold.

I do not know details of her death, beyond that she did not die on the battlefield. Delia says it is there. I am intrigued. Also, cold.

*Adam wraps his arms around her and squeezes.*

Well, I don't think I can do anything about the first thing, but we can do something about the cold.

*He takes her by the hand and leads her to bed.*