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Tunnel
Tales Drabbles
Her
Balcony
“I’ve seen your world,” he’d said reflectively. “There’s no place for me in it…”
But
there was a place for him…
here, on this balcony, with her…
Tears scalded Catherine’s eyes as she leaned over the wall, staring into
Central Park, fancying she could see him among the shadows. The moon had
fled before Vincent finally left. She’d clung to him, only parting when
he’d said he couldn’t stay.
Catherine frowned. He’d also said he could feel the things she was
feeling. Had he sensed her break-up with Tom tonight?
She’d therefore been alone. Was that why he’d finally appeared?
Auntie
Edie
“You
look like you had some hot date last night, girlfriend.” Edie’s dark
brows rose interrogatingly at Catherine. “Anyone I know? Maybe I could
date him when you’re done?”
“I
stayed in… read a book,” Catherine lied. She compressed her lips.
How could she share her incredible balcony reunion with Vincent?
“Nothing special.”
“Yeah,
sure…” Edie grimaced. “Must’ve been
some book. From that starry
look in your eyes, I could’ve sworn…”
“It’s
windy outside.” Catherine shrugged dismissively.
“Fine…” Edie grimaced. “Well, Auntie Edie’s always here… when you decide
to talk. Having no love-life myself right now, I gotta share someone’s…”
Elliot’s Stuff
“Best
stuff… yours.” Mouse nodded vigorously.
“Thank
you, Mouse.” Elliot watched him closely. Conversations with the tinker
were never uneventful.
“Need
something more…” Mouse lowered his voice, shuffling closer.
“Like
what, my friend?”
“Detonators.” Mouse frowned. “Got plastics. But no
boom!” His mobile hands flew
outwards.
“Does
Father know what you want?” Elliot mused.
“Not
for Father. Or Vincent.” Mouse looked puzzled. “Mouse needs only.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of…” Elliot laughed. “How about we ask Vincent
first?”
“Why?”
Mouse cocked his head.
Why
indeed?
Elliot
shrugged. “Because he would want to know.”
“Oh…”
Mouse brightened. “Okay, good, okay fine!”
A
Miracle
“How
is he?” Falcon entered Father’s chamber.
“Well,
he finally stopped crying about three o’clock this morning.” Father’s
deeply haggard face told its own story. “Three whole days…” He shook his
head. “I don’t know where he found the strength. He finally slept only
when I held him.”
Both
men stared down at the tiny baby cuddled against Father’s chest, tucked
within his heavy woollen vest. They saw only tight-closed eyes and a
shock of dirty blond hair, sticking straight up like an exclamation
point. The rest of his body was hidden from view.
“He’s
an actual miracle…” Falcon breathed.
Sweet
Delight
“What
is it?” Vincent peered into the bowl Catherine held out.
“Try
some and see.” Catherine smiled at his caution. She spooned a large
portion, lifting it towards his mouth.
Vincent reared back, his gaze zeroing on the creamy mound perched on the
spoon. His suspicions didn’t alter.
“Aw,
come on,” Catherine wheedled. “It’s only ice cream. I thought, since
it’s so hot tonight…”
“Ice
cream…” Vincent mused. He sampled it with his fingertip, before testing
it with his tongue. He smiled.
“You’ve never had ice cream?” Catherine puzzled. “Never…” Vincent swirled the taste around in his mouth. “Not bad…”
Love
and Hope
“…the
clouds that gather round the setting sun, do
take a sober colouring from an eye
that hath kept watch o'er man's mortality…”
Vincent finished reading, closing the book.
Lying
against his shoulder, Catherine slept, her breathing slow and even. He
sighed, looking down at her, turning his head to press a kiss against
her forehead. She didn’t move or wake. For a long moment he hesitated,
considering the implications. He could wake her and leave,
or…
Gathering her into his arms, he stood effortlessly, pausing briefly at
the threshold, before carrying Catherine into the darkness of her
apartment beyond…
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