The Harbor -- Boardwalk

[Administrator]

Sell some papes.

[Fighter Mallory]

*NEW DAY*

Fighter walked along the harbor boardwalk with her head down. She hadn't been feeling all that well today and she figured it had something to do with what she'd been doing lately. She'd just left Connor Riley's place and was feeling a bit better since she'd taken a few hits from her pipe while she was there. Now it was safely tucked into her pocket and she was trying to keep an eye out for Davey without drawing attention to herself.

Pulling out a cigarette, she lit it and pushed her hair off of her neck before continuing on. The heat was a little unbearable today and she wished she'd thought to tie her hair back. She'd left her lodging house well before it was light out though and hadn't thought twice about it.

[David Jacobs]

David walked along the harbor with his hands stuffed in his pockets, he'd abandoned his papes into Les' hands that morning, pleading a headache and headed down to the harbor on a whim. It was his favorite place in the city, the place he went when he needed some place to think, or just wanted to be. The air was hot today, almost stifling, but down here near the water it was a bit more bearable, but David didn't give it a second thought because he hadn't gone more than a few feet when he spotted her.

The dark head and pretty profile of the only person who could actually make his heart thud in his chest at just the sight of her. Sometimes it amazed him that just a few months ago they barely knew each other, in name only perhaps, and now Fighter had become such a vital part of his existence. It was funny how things changed.

David lengthened his strides until he could fall into step beside her, enjoying the way the wind tousled her hair, causing a grin to play across his lips. "Seems it's my lucky day," He announced, curbing the urge to toy with the ends of her hair and settling for a smile meant just for her instead.

[Fighter Mallory]

Fighter stiffened for a split second when she heard someone approaching her from behind. Although she was a little high her senses were still to honed to be dampened by that. When she noticed that it was Davey though, she relaxed immediately and a soft smile settled in place on her lips.

Glancing over at him when he spoke, her smile widened. "It must be. I know it's mine." Sparing a small glance to the area surrounding them, Fighter lifted her hand and touched his cheek warmly for just a moment. Usually she wouldn't be so cavalier with public displays but she was still a bit stoned so it wasn't phasing her at this moment.

"How have you been?" She took a drag from the cigarette dangling from her fingers and glanced up at him. Studying his face, she couldn't help the smile that continued to tug at her lips.

[David Jacobs]

Her touch against his cheek was bold, but he found that he didn't mind so much. They'd been spending so long ducking behind buildings, stealing moments when they could and hooding their affection for one another that David had become a little frustrated with the entire process. It felt good to have her fingers again his cheek, circumstances be damned.

"I've been alright," David said in reply to her question, giving into the temptation and lifting a hand to catch an errant curl between his fingers and toy with it playfully before letting it go dancing back in the wind. "What about you?" It had been about a week since they'd last found time for one another, another stolen moment in another dusty abandoned building - though her mouth on his had erased the memory of anything else.

She seemed a little hazy today, perhaps not entirely herself but David decided not to push the issue, he was just glad to have her at all. "Everything been okay?" He asked instead, an open invitation for her to confide in him if she liked.

[Fighter Mallory]

Fighter smiled as Davey replied to her question and caught on of her curls between his fingers. She enjoyed those small touches that to a stranger could be seen as friendly but meant so much more to her. "I've been good...busy."

With Conlon being back in Brooklyn, she'd been avoiding her hometown as much as possible. It wasn't that she wasn't glad he was back, but he was a bit to perceptive for her to feel comfortable there. She didn't feel completely like her normal self and she didn't want anyone, especially him, thinking she'd gone soft and started taking things to heart more than she should.

"How's Manhattan, and your family?" She didn't really want to talk about herself. She wanted to know how he'd been handling everything.

[David Jacobs]

"Busy is good," David admitted, with a little shrug before letting a playful smile betray his true thoughts on the matter. "Except for the part where it keeps me from seeing you." Somehow their relationship had evolved from somewhat cautionary to the point where David took genuine pleasure in spending time with her. Not that he hadn't before, it's just now the worries that had clouded their first confusing weeks together seemed somehow secondary. Especially when she smiled at him.

"Family is good. Les is all fired up these days," He explained, shoving his hands back into his pockets because the only thing he really wanted to do was throw an arm across her shoulders and draw her close. Things might be more comfortable, but some things they still kept confined to their purely private moments. "I think he senses that summer is just around the corner."

"The boys are alright," David said, things had been much different from usual with everything following slowly back into their newly discovered and yet somewhat familiar rhythm. "Heard Conlon is back."

[Fighter Mallory]

"Yes, it is." Fighter laughed when he mentioned how it kept them apart. It wasn't one of the things she enjoyed about their lives but she liked how made light of the situation. "I know what you mean," She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. She'd missed him more than she cared to admit out loud but at least she could admit to herself these days.

A smirk glazed Fight's lips as she leaned closer to him, "I think it's got us all a bit excited these days." Fighter was looking forward to summer coming as much as the next person. She was sick of the dreary weather and looking forward to warm weather.

"Yeah, he's back." Fighter's shoulders tensed for just a moment but she relaxed and a slow smirk graced her lips. "Hopefully for good."

[David Jacobs]

For what felt like the hundredth time in the week it had been since he had last seen her, David wondered if all the secrecy was really neccessary. Logically, it probably was. She being who she was and he being who he was with no real idea of how their friends would react if they knew. But the thought of seeing her whenever he pleased, without making up dodgy excuses or evading his friends was growing ever more tantalizing. Instead of voicing the thought, he sighed and stepped a little closer so they could touch shoulders as they walked.

"Before long we'll all be complain' about the heat," He said with a grin, knowing that summer brought stifling heat in the city. But also swimming with his friends, and maybe this year with Fight, as well as a slew of other adventures and activities reserved for the year's warmest months. "Though a little consistent sun would do us all some good."

He felt her stiffen beside him at the mention of Spot, wondered at it since Fighter had never struck him as particularly bothered by her borough leader, but he didn't press. Instead he nodded in agreement and on a whim, caught a few of her fingers with his own, giving them a gentle squeeze. "There is something nice about what's familiar. Almost makes it feel like things are going to be the same again."

[Fighter Mallory]

A smirk flitted across her face as she took a drag of her cigarette, "You're right, we will be. I'll still enjoy it for awhile before it gets too hot." Fighter bumped her shoulder lightly against David's as she smiled up at him.

Fighter glanced at their hands when he intertwined his fingers with hers, normally she'd pull her hand away but she didn't mind the contact. In fact, she was enjoying it and wished it was something they could do anytime they were together. This whole sneaking around thing had lost it's appeal and she was ready for it to be over. Glancing back up at David she nodded, "Maybe."

She knew things were never going to be the same, but at least she was starting to get used to the overwhelming guilt that filled her up on a daily basis. Well, not really getting used to it but finding ways to deal with it. "It would be nice for some things to go back to normal."

[David Jacobs]

"Maybe once it gets hot enough we can go for a swim," David said, thinking of the days he and his friends had spent last year jumping off the docks into the water to cool off, and the thought of Fight joining him sent a smile crawling across his face. The could find some time to slip away and cool off together, couldn't they? He imagined all her dark hair wet and swirling in the water, her skin damp with droplets of water and the urge to to touch them David knew would be impossible to resist.

Shaking his head he tried to refocus his attention, only now noticing that she hadn't pulled her hand from his, she seemed content to walk as they were with their hands intertwined. It was a pretty big step, a large public admittance that until now they hadn't dared to attempt - but the truth was, it felt good. He liked being here with her, walking like this and not caring that they might be standing to close or casting a look that lingered to long in each other's direction.

"Some things yes," David agreed, thinking that the old rhythm would be welcome in the boroughs, when the biggest concern was with each other and not the rest of the troublesome world. "I hope some things don't..." He said softly, his fingers tightening on hers for a moment, hoping she understood. He didn't want to lose what he and Fight had, he didn't want it to go back to like it was before the warehouse when they knew of each other but nothing more.