Work Text:
Of all places to come face to face with a Sandman, sitting at a booth of a hole in the wall pastry stop was one Infernus never thought to think of. It was a small place that opened exclusively at night to the wee hours of the morning for all the folk whose shifts ran late. At a stunning 4AM, the bartender decided to treat himself after having to cover for several shifts of his colleagues. Rare to come at that time but the unexpected meeting with the Sandman made it a bit more of an exciting time.
Haze immediately took notice of the other, speaking not a word. Spoon between her lips. An odd sight. She gestured for him to come over to which he did.
On the table was a large plate with half a cake sitting. Chocolate with cream cheese frosting and a chocolate drizzle on top. There was a strong smell of vodka; he worked with it all day but he did try not to smell like a walking aging barrel to which he did well at. Moist naturally though the inclusion of an alcoholic wash gave it more of a shine.
“Didn't expect to see you here. Finished your work?”
He leaned against the side of the booth. Haze popped the spoon from her mouth, setting it on the plate.
“No. I'm on my break.”
She spooned up a cakeful, pointing it at the Ixian.
“Grab yourself something and come sit. I'll cover the bill.”
Infernus chuckled and playfully waved her off.
“Sure sure Ms. Haze. I'll be back.”
The Sandman glared but stayed quiet. Though, Infernus was sure he caught a slight smirk on her face.
______________
“I don't find it surprising you got yourself cheesecake.”
Half of the cake now just a quarter in just the little time Infernus was away from the booth. Haze had undone her hair from its classic bun. Her boots were set on the floor, gloves on the seat next to her. Trenchcoat draped over her shoulders and her button up had the first couple of buttons undone. The spoon spun around between her fingers.
Infernus took his seat across from her. A very large slice of cheesecake on his plate. Edge a perfect golden brown. A perfect graham cracker crust. He fully pulled off his tie and set it the spot next to him. Hat soon found its spot on top of it.
“Side effect of being born and raised here.”
Smile bright as could be, wasting not a moment on enjoying the dessert. Both indulging in their treats for the night; barely a sound other than their utensils occasionally tapping against the porcelain plates. Though before Infernus was done with a half of his slice, Haze had already finished hers. Scrapping what was left on the plate with a content sigh. Movements were perfect as to get every scrap without ruining anyone’s eardrums. Each swing of the spoon to her mouth were done so with a hint of ravenousness.
“I have to ask, did that start out as a whole cake?”
The Sandman nodded, spinning the spoon between her fingers once again
“I need the sugar to keep me awake. The remainder of my shift isn’t long enough to justify taking drugs.”
Eyes slightly widened. The Ixian rested his spoon on his plate, staring at the other. The laziness in her speech left a further unnerved feeling.
“How much longer is your shift then?”
“Few hours. Sometime before noon.”
“And when did your shift start?”
Haze narrowed her eyes. A pause.
“2AM yesterday.”
Infernus sighed, shaking his head. Expression changed to a bit more of concern. The Sandman now stared at him in return, stopping her fidgeting with the spoon. She folded her arms and leaned against the table.
“I already took 80 milligrams around noon yesterday. I would rather not push it.”
“Wearing off so soon?”
“Side effect of taking them for at least the last ten years.”
Her gaze traveled to her plate. Not of annoyance of eye contact but rather in thought. Her index finger tapped against the table as if she were counting.
“So getting a sugar high is just so you stay awake instead of accidentally overdose, huh?”
Head tilted and glasses slid a tad down his nose. Now to his turn to narrow his eyes. Haze did meet Infernus's eyes; greeting his with her own that glowed dull and deeply muted.
“I prefer not to risk overdosing unless I have to. Can’t do my job if I’m put under special observation.”
A silence grew between them. Only the breathing of each audible. A plethora of questions bubbled into the Ixian’s head. All questions kept to himself. An envelope waiting to be sent. Worry soon bubbled up far more than before as she stood from the table with her plate in hand. Words on the tip of Infernus’s tongue yet all they did was sit and watch as Haze walked out of view.
He stared at his own dessert, debating on whether he should continue eating. Something felt uncomfortable about eating regularly with the bitter taste in the air. Nevertheless, shoving that looming feeling aside while it still sat right in view, he managed to bring himself to eat. One spoonful after another. Ears occasionally tuning in on Haze’s and the owners of the establishment’s conversation. They both spoke in a whisper; not much to gather from that. The tick of the clock almost pounding against his head.
More than half of the way done with the slice even while eating at a snail's pace, a hand suddenly rested against his shoulder.
“Enjoy.”
Set right on the table was a box, a takeaway box with a plate of cookies resting on top of it. The Sandman returned to her seat taking the plate off and immediately munching at the small mount. Infernus raised his face from his dessert to the box. A look to Haze who nodded gave the confirmation that it was for him. Dish set aside, keeping the ties done around the box in tact. Peaking in where it was most loose; smell hit him first. Exactly the same as the cheesecake he was just eating away at. It was more than a half of a cake. A dessert for at least three days in the fridge.
“Haze… Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
Setting the bartering gift to the side, the Ixian gave the other a smile, weary still.
“Call it thanks for the alcohol the other day.”
The plate of cookies was moved to be in-between them rather than being hogged. Assuming the new offering was also part of her scheme, Infernus only sighed with a weak but genuine smile. He grabbed a singular double chocolate cookie and returned to eating his cake slice.
“How have you been, Fern?”
“Tired but life's good. Had to cover a few shifts at the bar. Other than work putting you to the grindstone, how about you?”
Leaning back in the booth, stretching followed by a deep sigh. She popped another cookie in her mouth. Face then moved to rest against her hand as if it was preventing her from falling over.
“I have no complaints.”
A chuckle was the response. A chuckle a bit poorly timed as the bartender still was eating; managing to prevent himself from choking. The Sandman narrowed her eyes. An exasperated sigh fell from her lips.
“Talking to people is part of my job. You aren't gonna pull one over on me.”
The Ixian’s posture straightened and arms folded on the table. A laxness still in the air with the undertone of bitter palatable. The Sandman's eyes relaxed themselves. Looking to the corner of the table, or perhaps the floor. Anywhere not at her table mate. Mouth so tiny bit open. Finger tips tapped on her face. Index finger rubbed her temple.
“Just this once…… Once… I could do with a massage. My bones have been aching. I really need to see someone about it.”
Her eyes kept themselves focused elsewhere. The bartender kept himself quiet, listening to each syllable which came from her mouth. Watching as she fidgeted with her free hand; tapping at the table. An idea soon came to mind.
“Just from fieldwork or being cooped up in an office all day?”
“Both. When it isn't meetings discussing possible targets, it's filing paperwork and doing menial things till I get the sign off to go hunting.”
Finger pressed deeper onto her temple. Motion slowed due to the friction. Body tensed, furthered so when the Ixian delicately took hold of her wrist and forearm. Even so, resistance was non-existent, allowing for him to straighten it across the table. Sigils on his arms brightened with ones closest to his fingertips being the brightest.
Palm side up, Infernus cradled her wrist. Thumbs massaged at the thinnest part of her arm with softness one would have for a puppy. Wrist was the main focus but he did trail up the arm for a small change up.
Eyes kept a close watch over his actions. At the start of the very least. Glancing up the first time to see Haze watching with an interest to the second time to her having closed her eyes and slowly breathing. The glow of the skin was dull but a bit more saturated.
The bartender watched the other as he continued on with the massage. Perhaps he had failed to notice the extent of it or if she allowed herself to be more clear, but the orange glow gave a good clue into thoughts. The glow became heavily saturated if he applied too much pressure; brightened when his touch was too soft. The muted orange was the perfect spot.
Further encouragement of Infernus's actions was the gift of her other arm. Slouching still though minus the support.
“You can sit up if you want. Don't need to get a hunchback.”
“I don't want to get fully comfortable; I'll fall asleep.”
“And I'm just as capable as waking you up as I am at making the best gin and tonic.”
Eyes opened solely to throw a half hearted glare at him. Her eyes softened and quickly closed again.
“Perhaps another time. When I can properly return the favor.”
“I'm not expecting anything back. You know that.”
“I'm aware. I want to show my gratitude.”
The pace in which the Ixian massaged her wrists slowed. Pressure just the same. One hand for each of hers. Fingers moved to the back of her hand. Working on her palm. For wearing gloves all day, there were still heavy calluses. A deep scar extended across Haze's right palm with smaller ones decorating her skin. Careful with his touch at first, watching as her glow stayed the same as he massaged over the old wound.
What once were perfectly still became antsy. The Sandman's fingers fidgeted. Her breathing wasn't as weak and she had opened her eyes again at some point. Infernus curiously yet worriedly looked to her face. She was far off somewhere. It was similar to the one she used to describe his the day after the two met. When she gave him freedom as long as he behaved himself. It meant leaving an entire life behind; almost all his own person or as she said “An awaken of a buried self.”
Haze's expression maybe wasn't as intense. He never did get a chance to look at himself in a mirror at the time. But the Ixian was sure as rain her's was similar to his.
Her fidgeting of fingers became a larger movement. Fully turning her hands over and laying them lightly atop of his. Fingers rested gently against his wrist. Infernus soon mimicked hers with his resting higher up on her arm. Hands decently larger than hers to make resting on the wrist difficult. The unknowing encouragement brought her fingers to move down his hand. He followed till those fingers were pressed against one another. The final move not destined for her, silently passing the baton to the other as her movements stilled. And with baton did he clasp their hands together. All but the thumb together; the other digit gently stroking the side of her hand. An action soon copied by the Sandman.
“You are a good friend Fern.”
She sat up, keeping her hold firm. Nails dug into his palm; Infernus not commenting on it. A small pain to tolerate for a once in a blue moon occurrence.
“So are you too. A very good friend.”
Haze sheepishly tittered. She brought herself to properly look at her tablemate. A smile soft yet it didn't fully reach her eyes. Truthful but hiding.
Still as a statue with an expression who desperately needed to be captured with stone. For it didn't wear away as seconds turned into minutes. Her gaze wasn't locked with his the entire time. From hands to the plate of cookies. Infernus's held the staring for a bit longer then her; choosing to stare elsewhere at certain points to not create any sort of pressure.
The place was quiet for the time. The bell at the door never rang. Chatter in the back by the counter was at a minimum. Tick of the clock being the one gateway to reality.
“I have to get back to work.”
Yet the Sandman didn't move with her words. Eyes fixated on her friend with a sorrowful glow.
“Alright then. Hope the massage helped some.”
The Ixian loosened his hold to which Haze slowly followed. Her eyes stared at one of her hands for a split moment. Attention then turned to putting herself back together. Hair back into a bun and boots back on her feet. Perhaps improper but Infernus watched her. Fresh scars framed by her open blouse; noticing only now as she unknowingly pointed at them while buttoning her shirt back up.
Standing and slipping on the trench coat properly; the interior lined with slots for her knives. Its movement sounded both the crisp leather and something like little rocks against glass. Empty.
“Where’d you get pills from?”
The Sandman stared. Deadpan and blank. Either stunned or thinking. Eyes themselves seemed unsure themselves.
“The OSIC. It's a ‘business’ expense. Why did you want to know?”
Narrowing her eyes with an imprinted agitation; a far change from the soft ones just before. For a brief moment, he was reminded she was still a Sandman.
“....I wanted to see how often you were able to get them.”
Her heels sounded loud on the floor. Four steps. Standing directly next to where the Ixian sat. Her hand grabbed onto the back of the booth. Trench coat like a divider as it hung out with her extended arm. On the opposite, Infernus had to look up at her though soon lowered his gaze as he watched her other hand fish around in her pocket.
The source of the rattling came to light in the shape of a medicine bottle with white tablets. No official labels with brand or dosage. Instead, wrapped around it was masking tape. The edges were peeling off and the red ink on it was fading to various degrees. Month, day and presuming year. She held the bottle in a manner so her fingers covered it.
“Every week we are able to ask for–”
With the same kindness as when they held hands did the Ixian place his hand around her’s and ultimately the bottle. Enveloped in warmth; an earnest beckoning. Haze’s grip tightened, muscles and bone of her hand stiff. Calloused fingers felt the patches of scars. Smooth to rough.
Slender fingers loosened a bit. Just the slightest amount so Infernus would notice. His hand then moved to take hold of the bottle fully; empty yet so heavy in his hand. The most recent of dates was that of five years ago.
“They used to limit us to a refill every week. Saw improvements in work ethics and positive results so they dropped the limit. Cocaine, steroids, amphetamines… As long as it doesn’t negatively affect our work, they’ll supply as much as we need.”
Fidgeting hand, waiting for it to recover its heavenly light. The glare of the eyes further enforcing its anxiety and agitation. The Ixian noted the behavior but kept the bottle still. Resting it in his lap as he looked up to the other.
“How often do you refill it?”
“Once a week.”
“Don't lie to me.”
The Sandman said nothing in response. Tapping her foot with a lightness; unaware of her own behavior. Evident she didn't want to have the situation pressed any longer yet… only so combative about it. Infernus sighed, handing the bottle back to his friend. She glanced down at it, looking annoyed at the sight. Said sight was the pills melting into each other. Scowl turned to the Ixian who's face seemingly told all as she sighed and tucked the pills back into her pocket. Both her hands soon rested in a pocket of their own.
“Be safe and have a good night.”
Despite Haze's expression, her voice carried a flow of tenderness. Though her irritation seemingly faded and replaced with a tired one; not physically tired.
“Same to you Haze… Try and take it easy.”
Infernus watched; Haze shoving down a scoff. Somberness filled her eyes.
“I'll try. And...thanks.”
The ring of the bell at the door; the Sandman taking to the streets leaving the Ixian on his own. Head leaning back against the cushioned booth. Smiling. Just a small smile. Worried to the brim; biting down on tongue. But smiling nonetheless.