Archive of Our Own ^beta

Some people never leave us. Some are even able to make a dedication, no matter what they have to do to reach us.

Layla looked at her boyfriend resting on the bed, his face tranquil. Carefully, she touched his cheek and gently ran a finger along his face, memorizing the little details. It was something she had done with him for as long as she could remember, though she can no longer recall the reasons why.

“Where has the time gone?” she wondered. “It seems like we just met for the first time only yesterday. He’s still as handsome as when we first met. Same smile, same handsome face, maybe even more so." A faint smile crossed her face. She wanted to stretch out next to him, hold him, and just feel him pressed against her one more time. However, she knows one more time would lead to another and another and another. She couldn’t stay for long so she refrained from her impulses, an unusual feat in and of itself.

He stirred slightly and she withdrew her hand. The last thing she wanted was for him to wake up before it was time. God only knew how well he slept at night. Old memories haunted him, even in his sleep. She wanted life to be better for him, not worse.

“I shouldn’t be here. She looked down. He sighed softly and she looked at him once more. “I can’t stay away from him.” She tilted her head slightly as she sat next to him on the bed. Out of habit, she traced his face until her hand reached his. Gently, she grabbed it and exhaled. She missed him with every ounce of her body and despised having to settle for nightly visits.

“Layla,” he whispered in his sleep. “I love you.”

A deep pain stabbed her in the chest and she wanted nothing more than to respond to him. Why? Why does it have to be this way? Why does it have to be so difficult? There were no answers to her questions. There were never any answers to her questions, but that did not stop the mental anguish. Even though she wanted it to, her pain would never go away and she wanted to scream as loud as she possibly could.

She sighed heavily before raising his hand, then rubbed it against her cheek. Screaming and banging her head against the wall was not her style. Words were not her style. Actions always spoke louder than words in Layla’s opinion, but actions were of no avail thanks to her current situation.

“I love you Toretto. With everything, I have to offer. I never knew how sweet life could truly be until I met you,” she murmured. To her ears, the words sounded sappy and contrite, but they were the truth. “I’m not the romantic type. I never have been. Chasing the star’s ain’t my style. I don’t have to chase them though, not when I have you. I will always be there for you.” She leaned forward and gently kissed his forehead, then his lips. She said everything she needed to say to him and hoped that he heard and felt her presence on some level.

Layla remained at his side for a long time, unwilling to leave him. Reluctantly, she let go of his hand and stood up. She began to walk away when she heard his breathing quicken and glanced in his direction. His face changed from calm to scared in the blink of an eye. Immediately she knew something disturbed him in his sleep. In a flash, she was at his side, gently stroking his cheek.

“It’s okay. Nothing’s gonna happen. I promise. I’m here and I’m not leaving you. Relax, it's just a dream...only a dream.”

He began to calm down, his breathing quieting. She continued with her ministrations and soothing him. As she did, she began to come up with a way to find the source of these recurring nightmares and end them. Believe it or not, there was a time where it was the other way around. He would help her with her nightmares. Them often being from her criminal past. He didn’t deserve this. He deserved a night where he would sleep in peace once again.

He quieted a soft smile appearing. Though his eyes were still closed, she returned the gesture. She believed he could see her no matter what.

Once he was back in peaceful rest, she stood up and attempted to leave. She couldn’t be there when he awoke, but she couldn’t bring herself to leave him.

“I have to go now,” she whispered.

“No, please don’t leave. Stay. Don’t leave me again.” he pleaded in his sleep. His words stabbed her to her very core. It led her to believe that he could still see her, even in his sleep.

“I have to go, Toretto.” Her response was half-hearted at best. She didn’t want to leave.

“I don’t want you to go. Stay...please…”

“I’m right here. I always will be,” she choked. She kissed his cheek again before opening the door and walking out silently.

“Tony!”

Someone pounded on the door, calling his name. At the sounds, Tony opened his eyes and fought the urge to groan. It was morning already. Despite the number of years he lives, he would never get over how the night seems to slip by faster than in the daytime.

“Come on Tony. This is urgent! Please open your door!”

“Alright, I’m coming,” he mumbled, though doubted the one at the door heard him.

Groggily, he stumbled to the door and opened it revealing a worried Echo, Cisco, and Frostee.

“Tony, are you okay?” Echo asked. Immediately she placed her hands on Tony’s arms as if she believed he would disappear.

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he replied. “I just wasn’t expecting a frantic wake-up call. What’s up?”

“Come,” Echo pulled him out of his base living quarters. Cisco closed the door behind him. Surprised, Tony blinked and tried to pull away.

“Where are we going?”

“To get you some help,” Frostee answered for Echo and trailed behind them. His pace is sedated in comparison to Echo’s.

“Something isn’t right,” Echo added.

“Echo, I’m fine. There’s nothing wrong!” Tony protested as Cisco and Echo half-dragged, half-pulled him down the hallway. He stopped walking and tried to pull back. The two, however, did not relent.

“I’m fi…” Tony stopped short when Echo continued to ignore and drag him. There was no use in turning her mind. He of all people should know that by now.

“He’s stressed,” Gary told them. “Although I'm not an expert in these situations, I know what’s up here. Give him a day to himself...to collect his own thoughts.”

“I’m not stressed,” Tony snapped irritably. His behavior reminded them of someone else who played with her attitude and sass.

“Noted,” Echo replied.

Gary shrugged and left. Echo looked at Frostee who looked at Cisco. They all seemed to have already known what Gary was going to say and have already decided what to do before even dragging Tony around their base in LA looking for Gary.

“You’re taking the day off then, T,” she said, keeping her voice low. 

“I don’t need to-”

“Tony, you are stressed, overworked, and tired trying to deal with Lay-the situation...you can’t do it all. It’s gonna tear you apart!” Frostee snapped.

Tony stiffened at his tone and silently walked away from them.

“We’re doing what’s best for him right?” Cisco asked Echo.

“I hope so. He can’t take much more of this. No one can.”

As he walked, Tony fumed silently. He could not believe Echo made him take the day off. What was he supposed to do now? Stay locked in his room, leaving him to his thoughts? He did not want to go there. He’s been throwing himself into work so he could preoccupy himself rather than trying to face what had happened.

Maybe he could try racing for the day.

He glanced outside. His car was repaired and ready to be driven again. The spot next to it was empty. Her car was always parked next to his. Not anymore. He continued to walk down the hall to his room. Racing brings too many memories and that’s exactly what he was trying to prevent from happening.

Tony opened the door to his room and stood at the doorway. Even here, he thought of her. There was no escape. He walked in farther and locked the door before sitting on the bed. He stared at a scorch mark on the wall and thought back to the day when it happened.

Tony looked at Layla as he sat on the bed. "So what are you going to do with that?"

Layla looked down at the lighter she had in her hand. "I saw this cool trick online where this guy made the flame look like it was floating."

Tony stared at her and smiled. She was crazy. That's what he loves about her. "And you know how to do it?"

"Nope! But Imma try!" She turned on the lighter and grabbed a pen and took it apart.

“What are you going to do with that?”

“Just watch Toretto.” She pressed the pen's ink against it.

"So you are going to make a floating flame...by smearing pen ink on it?"

"Exactly!"

She lit the flame and he watched as her face changed and stared at it in awe.

“Wow...it actually worked! Alright, I’m over it. What do you want to do?”

Tony stared at her again. Just like that, she already moved on to something else. Maybe something more exciting. She put the lighter down on the bed as she sat down and Tony picked it up. He was still interested in the floating flame and relit the lighter. Layla threw herself back on the bed and stretched. He got distracted and smiled at her as the flame was still burning. She looked at him and laughed.

“Tony, the wall is on fire.”

“What?” He turned around and sure enough, there was a small flame on the wall. “Oh…” It took a couple of seconds before he had a full reaction to it though. “Wait...THE WALL IS ON FIRE!”

Layla continued laughing and leaned over him and blew out the small flame.

Tony wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her in, towards his chest. He could feel her shift around until she fit against him. As if they were two halves, put together to make one whole. She hummed and listened to his heartbeat as he held her close.

"Ya know, all ya had ta do was blow."

Tony stifled a laughed as he kept his own thoughts in his head. She understood what he was going at though and shook her head trying to choke down a laugh of her own.

"I love you." He whispered in her ear. Tony looked down at her in his arms. She closed her eyes and smiled.

"I love you too, Toretto. Ain't nothin gonna change that."

Tony threw himself on the bed and stared at the ceiling before he drifted off. He walked down the crowded streets of LA with his hands in his pockets when he saw her amongst the people. Her red jacket was unmistakable. Her blonde-rainbow hair had some kind of shine from the sun. He couldn't see her face, she had her back to him. Tony knew it was her either way and ran over.

"Layla!" She turned around at the sound of her name and was ambushed with a hug. Tony wrapped his arms around her and dug his face in the crook of her neck.

She hugged him back and sighed. "What are you doing here, Toretto?"

Tony pulled back and looked into her eyes. "Chasing you."

Layla laughed and kissed his cheek. "Alright then, I'll accept that."

He stared at her with a grin.

Layla looked back at him and frowned. "Something wrong, Tony?" Her face was clear with concern.

"Why does everyone keep asking me that? I'm fine. I have you." He brought a hand to her face. "All I need is you."

She gave him a soft smile in return. Tony leaned in to kiss her before noticing her looking past him. Her smile faded and he turned around. Everyone was gone. The streets were empty. There was nothing over there. No one was there. He looked back at her.

"Layla?"

Tony watched as her face paled. "I have to go, Toretto."

"Where are you going?" His hands dropped to hers and he held onto them. She tried to pull back but he didn't let her. "Layla, what's going on?"

"I-I can't...I have to go, now."

Tony let her go as she pulled her hands away. She turned around and began walking away as Tony stood still.

"Please don't leave. Don't leave me again."

Layla turned around. "I won't. I'll be right here." With that, she disappeared.

Tony stood where she left him for not more than a couple of seconds before he began walking in the direction she walked off to. After a bit, he picked up his pace to a jog. Then a stride. Then a sprint.

He was tired of running, but she was out there and he didn't want her to be alone. He didn't want to be alone.

"Layla!" Tony called for her. Again and again. There was never a reply. She wasn't there. Not anymore. He stopped running and stood in the middle of the streets of LA and looked around. The city streets looked eerie with how empty it was.

Out of nowhere, the ground beneath him crumbled and fell. Him with it.

When he came to, felt a sharp pain came across his right arm and winced as he sat up.

"You lost a fight to a wall."

"What?" He looked at Cisco in confusion.

"You hit a wall while you were asleep."

"Oh…" he looked at his arm. It was fine. Just a bruise for the most part. "So why are you here?"

"You were talking in your sleep. Something about Layla leaving you. I happened to have been walking back at the moment."

"Oh…" Tony looked down. “But my door was locked.” He looked at his door, now wide open.

“Not anymore,” Cisco gave a light laugh. Tony smiled at him. He chose the best of the best.

The room was filled with awkward silence after that. Not that there was nothing to talk about, there was plenty. Cisco didn’t want to risk pushing his best friend into a conversation Tony didn’t feel comfortable with just yet.

Tony let his eyes wander around the room until they fell on the balcony. There was a beautiful sunset outside. A deep pain stabbed him in the heart. Layla never missed a sunset. At least, not as long as he knew her. She would go out on the small balcony and watch the sunset. It was her thinking time.

Sometimes Tony met her outside and sat next to her. He didn’t join her every day though. Sometimes she needs time to herself and he would let her have it. They wouldn’t talk much when they were out there. It was one of those moments where they could tell each other everything without having to say anything at all. And that was all they needed. She’d often lean against him and rest her head on his shoulder when he came. And just as she did, he’d wrap his arms around her and they would just stare out into the sunset together.

Cisco looked over to where he saw Tony looking. He knew what Tony was thinking, though he didn’t let on. He spent the time wondering how to tell a friend that they are worried, without telling him he’s worried. Because he was. Layla has been gone for over 3 months now and Tony hasn’t changed. Tony keeps saying everything is fine when the rest of the crew could see it in his eyes, he was hurting. He keeps throwing himself into work to distract himself and keeps his emotions bottled up and it’s messing up his game. It was probably the cause of the nightmares he’s been having lately.

He took notes on everything Tony did. Cisco wasn’t oblivious. He wasn’t stupid and he wasn’t dumb. Any blind fool would notice something is wrong but Tony would just brush it off and throw himself into something new.

Tony stood up after some time and walked around a bit. “I’m going for a drive. Just trying to clear my head.” Cisco was about to say something when Tony walked out.

He opened his car door and sat down before looking to his side out of habit and groaned as he slammed his head on the wheel. Tony ignored the pain and sat up again. Now to think of where to drive…

Tony only drove around for about 2 minutes before he decided to turn on music. Sometimes it made him feel better. The radio station turned on to the middle of a song. “ Well, I found a woman, stronger than anyone I know. She shares my dreams, I hope that someday I'll share her home. I found a love, to carry more than just my secrets. To carry love, to carry children of our own.” He was about to turn off the radio before he stopped. As hard as this would be, he considered Frostee’s words. This is hard and it’s tearing him apart. He was just running from his problems. Not facing them. And that was turning things for the worse. She was gone. And there was nothing he could do about it.

"We are still kids, but we're so in love. Fighting against all odds."

Tony smiled to himself and looked around. It was dark now. Probably a good time to get back. He turned the wheel and headed towards their safehouse. When he arrived, he was ambushed by his friends.

"Where were you T? You were gone for hours!" Echo shouted. It wasn't her fault for being concerned. She normally wouldn't mind but with everything that has been happening lately, she had the right to be worried. Everyone did.

Tony just smiled, "I'm fine Echo. I just went for a drive." Echo stared at him in confusion. The place was dead silent for a bit before Tony spoke up again. "It's kind of late. I'm going to bed if you need me."

"Ok?" Echo, Frostee, and Cisco watched as Tony turned to his room.

"Well, that was new," Frostee spoke up as he continued to stare in the direction Tony went.

"I guess one drive changes everything...why didn't we have him do that in the first place?" Cisco asked.

Echo shrugged. "I guess sometimes you have to clear your head to get it out…"

Tony sat in his bed. His back against the headboard. He sat cross-legged, half asleep. A light touch on his cheek brought a smile to his face.

"It's about time you got here." He said sleepily.

Layla gave a soft laugh as she sat next to him. Tony felt the bed shift under her weight and he felt her warmth as she brought him in for a hug. It was as if she never left. "I didn't think you'd be half-awake," she confessed. "You're usually asleep when I get here."

"Do you come every night?" He asked, opening his eyes.

"I do," she replied with a nod. She looked pretty solid to him, un-ghost like as the movies portrayed them.

"Will you be here all night?"

"If you want me to, I will."

"I do," he paused, "Layla?"

She hummed in response.

"I miss you," he confessed

She looked at him. He had a smile on his face, though his head was starting to droop. His eyes started to shut yet again.

"I…" his voice trailed off, sleep trying to desperately take hold.

"I know," she whispered. "You tell me every night." She slid her hands around him and kissed him deeply.

'I can feel her, this isn't a dream. I can feel this!' His mind cried out, overjoyed. Tentatively, he raised his arms and wrapped them around her shoulders, pressing closer and returning the kiss.

Every part of him ignited on fire at her touch. He felt her start to let go. He wanted to hold her tighter but sleep took over him and soon he fell into a blissfully peaceful sleep.

Sunlight streamed through the window waking one of the two lovers. The distant thumping of feet and TV chatter could be heard through the door. Tony sat up and looked beside him at his girlfriend still asleep.

"Hey," he shook her awake. Layla blinked several times trying to adjust to the light. She groaned before she sat up and stretched.

"What time is it?"

"7 I think…" he replied.

She glared at him. "It's too early, Toretto." Even now, she'd never change. It was amusing, to say the least. Tony was about to respond when he heard a knock at his door.

Frostee poked his head into the room. "Tony?"

He smiled at the younger spy.

"Are you okay?"

Tony looked at Layla who smiled back at him. "Yeah, I'm okay."

Frostee smiled "Great! Cause I was wondering if you had the time to drive me to get some more yoka cause we ran out and Echo and Cisco are busy and you're the only other person here who would-"

"Sure Frostee. I'll take you."

Frostee was about to walk out before he stopped. "It...it's good to have you back T...even with all that happened."

Tony smiled back at him as Frostee walked out.

Layla sat next to Tony on the bed, smiling at him. He smiled back at her.