CHAPTER 42: WHISKEY

Chapter 42: Whiskey

Danielle woke to the sound of city life outside the window.

For a moment, she forgot where she was...

Then, blinking too fast, Danielle noticed sitting on the couch near the window, and having a cup of coffee in his handd.

"Morning," she said huskily from sleep.

Theo looked up from his cup. "You finally woke up."

"You say it like I slept for days."

"It has been hours," he said, glancing at his watch. "You needed it."

Danielle stretched her arms and walked toward the window. The city looked different in daylight, more real but less magical. "I want to go out," she said suddenly.

Theo raised an eyebrow. "Out? You’re wearing pyjamas."

Danielle looked down at herself. Her light-blue pyjamas didn’t exactly say "ready for the city." She laughed quietly. "Well, it’s not like I brought anything else."

Theo stood up and opened a closet on the far side of the room...looking at that one specific dress longer than he should’ve had, Theo finally made his mind.

"There’s something in here. Try this."

He pulled out a black velvet dress....it looked elegant but simple. Danielle blinked again, but this time from surprise. "Wait. Is that your girlfriend’s dress?"

Theo turned around and furrowed his eyebrows. "No."

"Then whose is it?" she asked, folding her arms.

He looked at the dress for a moment before saying, "An old friend’s. Don’t worry. She’s not around anymore."

Danielle didn’t ask what he meant. The tone of his voice told her enough. She took the dress carefully. "All right. But if I look ridiculous, it’s your fault."

Theo almost smiled. "You never look ridiculous."

When she came out of the bathroom, the dress fit almost perfectly. The velvet hugged her body in all the right ways, though the shoes that came with it were too tight. She frowned, pulling them off. "I guess I’ll wear these."

She pointed to her soft slippers. Theo looked down at them and raised an eyebrow. "You’re not serious."

"....I am...They’re comfortable."

He shook his head. "You’re going to walk into a city, and then a club wearing slippers."

"I’m going to walk into both wearing confidence," she replied proudly.

Theo sighed, but his eyes relaxed from this amusement. "You’re really weird, Bunny."

Later that night, when they were done exploring, and ignoring Felix’s warnings, they both went to a club near the hotel.

At first, Theo was really against it...but this weirdly-hyper bunny had been through a lot, so he allowed it.

Danielle’s eyes widened with excitement. "It’s been so long since I went somewhere like this."

Theo leaned close so she could hear him over the music. "Stay near me."

She rolled her eyes playfully. "You act like I’m a child."

"You act like one," he said, though there was a smile hiding in his voice.

Danielle made her way to the bar and ordered a drink. Theo was always beside her, scanning the crowd. The bartender handed her a glass of whiskey, and she took a small sip. It burned, but it felt good.

Theo didn’t order anything.

"You’re not drinking?" Danielle asked.

"Someone has to keep an eye on you," he replied and looked around to make sure no one knew who she was.

Danielle laughed, but the sound blended into the music. "You worry too much, Captain."

As the night went on, Danielle had more drinks than she probably should have. She started talking to strangers, then laughing at things that weren’t even funny.

Theo was silent most of the time, only stepping in when someone got too close.

At one point, she looked at him and giggled. "You’re too serious. Do you ever dance?"

Theo wasn’t pleased with this question. He just looked at her, and for some reason that made her laugh even harder.

When she got up to dance, Theo followed, never leaving her.

But when she turned to face him again, her cheeks were flushed, and she held a bottle in her hand. "I bought this for us," she announced proudly.

Theo sighed. "You bought a bottle of whiskey?"

"Yes...So we can drink when we go back to the hotel."

Theo was too tired to argue with her. He knew there was no point.

Back at the suite, Danielle kicked off her slippers and placed the bottle on the table. "Come on, Theo," she called for him, unscrewing the cap. "Just one drink."

He sat down on the couch, and slowly crossed wrapped his arms around his chest. "You’ve already had enough."

"Exactly why you should catch up," Danielle started pouring two glasses.

Theo hesitated, then finally took the glass she offered. "You really don’t give up, do you?"

"Never," she said proudly, clinking her glass against his. "To surviving another day."

They drank...and the whiskey was strong, but Danielle didn’t care. She poured another. Theo didn’t stop her.

"You know what’s funny?" She sounded slightly slurred. "You act like you hate me sometimes. But then you do things like this."

Theo looked at her over the rim of his glass. "I don’t hate you, Danielle."

"Then what is it?" she whispered.

He didn’t answer. Instead, he leaned back on the couch, trying to look thoughtful. "You remind me of someone I couldn’t save."

Danielle’s smile vanished in less than a second. "The friend who owned the dress?"

Theo nodded his head. "Yes."

She placed her glass down gently. "I’m sorry."

"Don’t be," he said. "It was a long time ago."

But the way he said it told her it still hurt.

She stood up, a little unsteady, and walked toward the window again. "You know, Theo...you spend so much time protecting everyone else that you forget to protect yourself."

"Maybe that’s the only way I know how to live."

Danielle turned around and smiled weakly. "Then maybe I’ll just have to remind you that there’s more to living than surviving."

He stood up and walked closer to her. The lights of the city reflected in his eyes. "You always say things like that when you’re drunk."

Danielle chuckled like, hiding her smile with her hand. "Maybe... But that doesn’t make them less true."

Theo was close enough now that she could smell the trace of whiskey on his breath. For a second, it felt like something might happen, but then he stepped back.

"Go to sleep...You’ll thank me in the morning."

Danielle shook her head and sat down on the couch. "You really are no fun."

"Someone has to stay sober in this mess."

She raised her glass one more time, "To the sober one who saves everyone but himself..."

"Dan-"

But before Theo could finish his sentence, Danielle kissed him...

It was her second time...