Who: Anna, Bubbles and Wash When: July 18 Where: Out at a Bar What: Wash told Anna he had to work, so Anna and Bubbles decided to go out. But lo and behold… who do they spy at the bar instead of work? Dun dun dun! Rating/Warnings: Mediumish for some angst and Bubbles' Angry Face Status: Complete when posted
Wash had never lied to Anna. Not once. Not ever. He had told her he was working tonight, pulling in some late hours. He wasn’t. He had finished at the agency at his usual time. He didn’t have any bounties to pursue and instead of going home, or even calling Anna, he had gone straight to a bar. He needed a drink. He was desperate for it. He knew what his mother was doing. She was using him, manipulating him to get what she wanted. That’s the way Nora Jenkins had always operated and probably would always operate. She didn’t love him, he knew that. But there was still a part of him, however small, that had held out the smallest bit of hope that maybe, just maybe, this time would be different.
It wasn’t.
He needed a drink tonight. Badly. So instead of telling Anna where he was going and why, he’d gone to the bar instead and was currently drowning in a bottle of whiskey.
Anna had been a bit bummed. Over the last couple of weeks she’d been so busy that she hadn’t been able to see as much of Wash as she’d have liked. And his mother was around, too, which made Anna nervous. She only knew what Wash had told her about his mother, and that wasn’t good. So she wanted to make herself more available. He’d come over, sure, and she’d provided a great distraction for him, but somehow it felt like it wasn’t enough. A lot of what Anna had been doing lately felt like it wasn’t enough.
Bubbles had been around, so Anna convinced her to go out. They could get all dressed up and have a girls’ night, she’d said. And then Anna had dug through her closet for cute dresses, long chains of faux pearls, lace gloves, the whole nine yards. She figured she’d drag Bubbles to a bar where she’d been once to sing karaoke with Hans and Caroline. They could have a few drinks, sing a couple of rounds, and then head home before it got too late. Perfect evening, right?
Bubbles was easy to convince into things. She knew that Anna was feeling a little bummed about Wash and considering she was living with Anna, Stefan, and Lexi now, it was a lot easier to be around for the other girl. She didn’t know everything about what was going on with Wash, but she knew that whatever it was had Anna concerned. If she could make anything about the evening better, then she would.
Even if she did feel a little silly all decked out. But it made Anna smile and that was what was important to her. “So what song do you want to sing first when we get there? It’s got to be the best song everrrrr!”
Up on the stage opposite of the bar someone was currently butchering ”Sweet Child of Mine” and Wash was doing his best to ignore it. There had been a couple of decent singers over the course of the evening, but Wash had ignored them too. He wished he had paid more attention when he’d walked in. Karaoke nights usually meant larger than usual crowds and Wash hated crowds. There was no way he could keep an eye on what was going on in the room with people constantly getting up and moving around, getting in the way of quick exit routes, hiding the doors, getting in the way of what was going on on the opposite side of the room and in general being loud. At least he could still get a general read of the mood of the room, which was lighthearted for the most part. Another few drinks, though, and he probably wouldn’t care about that either.
It was because of someone currently standing right next to him making annoying small talk with the bartender instead of ordering their dumb drink and blocking his line of sight to the bar’s main entrance that he didn’t catch Anna and Bubbles as the two girls entered the bar that evening. If he had, the entire evening would have gone much differently and better for all parties involved.
Hey, Sweet Child of Mine! Anna could hear the karaoke coming from the other side of the darkened bar. There were plenty of people inside, which suited her just fine. Anna had a bit of a thing about performing. It made her happy to sing in front of people. Hopefully Bubbles would come up and sing with her! They could entertain together! She reached for Bubbles’ hand and led the way through the crowd, taking a long circle around the outside and bypassing the bar.
“What do you think we should sing?” Anna asked Bubbles. She hadn’t seen Wash sitting at the bar, either, through the crowd. Not yet, anyway.
Bubbles had never really minded crowds either. She was happy enough being around people and interacting. She didn’t even mind singing in front of a large group of people. Not that she really considered herself to be a great vocalist, but she was awesome on the drums! Or at least that’s what the dreams had told her. Showed her, really.
As her and Anna went through the crowd, Bubbles glanced around to see if anyone else they knew might have shown up. Not that she could know everyone, but there were a lot of really cool people in the OC and she’d met a lot of people on Valarnet. She’d have to invite Cindy sometime. If she was up to it. Karaoke should be enjoyed by ALL. As for what they should sing? “Something pop!” Her eyes lit up. “OR DISNEY!!!! Whole New World or...or...I don’t know. Anything.”
The “singer” performing Sweet Child of Mine had thankfully finished to drunken applause. There was a few moments that followed that contained absolutely no music. The DJ was up on the stage calling up the next “singer” and what it was they would be singing. A Top 40 song Wash had never heard of, and that almost made it worse.
Wash lifted his glass and motioned the bartender for a refill. Said bartender eyed him. He’d been sitting there alone drinking for the past two hours and that couldn’t have been a good sign. Wash narrowed his eyes back at the man. He wasn’t ready to be shut off just yet. Give it another hour. He got his refill and nodded his thanks.
He wasn’t feeling any better. But he wasn’t feeling worse. Actually, he wasn’t feeling much of anything, which was exactly what he was looking for.
Anna laughed at Bubbles’ enthusiasm. They were both so excited, and feeding off one another. That made everything so much more fun and exciting! Anna glanced to the bar, then back to the stage. “Why don’t you go get a song list, and I’ll get us some drinks?” She asked, beaming, then without waiting for a response, turned to head over to the bar.
Anna sidled up at one end of the bar, enjoying the loud music and the sparse crowd. But then she glanced down to the other end and felt her heart stop in her chest. It couldn’t be. Maybe she just saw Wash down there because she wanted to see him, and when she took a couple of steps closer, it’d turn out to be someone else. But a figure between them shifted, and Anna got a solid look at her boyfriend’s face down at the end of the bar. What was he doing here? Why had he told her he was working if he was here?
Anna felt her stomach drop, too. Wash had lied to her. Was he drinking again? More than just a casual thing here or there? Was he meeting someone else? Both thoughts made Anna’s blood run cold. She turned, all the mirth gone from her face, and headed back over to where she’d left Bubbles, walking quickly and wishing she could just disappear.
Bubbles had been happily looking through the song list and trying to decide on any number of songs they could have done. There were so many good choices! She couldn’t be expected to choose!! Maybe when Anna came back, she could help her choose between the ones she was in favor of.
Only the moment that Anna walked back over toward her, Bubbles’ brow furrowed. There was an obvious change since she’d left. She’d been so happy and now she was upset. Bubbles’ first thought was that someone had been mean to her and she looked for a culprit, determined to find said person and MAKE THEM APOLOGIZE! Whoever they were. She was going to shake them. She put the list down and walked the rest of the way over to Anna. “What happened and who do I have to beat up?”
Wash had been watching the room, but the more alcohol he drank, the less concerned he became with it. Roughly half a bottle into his night and he had come to the drunken conclusion that if something was going to happen, it was going to happen. Constant vigilance wasn’t going to save him. Nothing was going to save him. The Dreams and his fucked up memories had driven that point home again and again.
He shook his head. He couldn’t say the Dreams were responsible. His mother’s arrival had nothing to do with the Dreams. His fucked up childhood had nothing to do with the Dreams either. Nor had his military service or its abrupt end. This was life, the Dreams were just a part of it. Even without them, Wash wouldn’t have had any control.
And since that was the case why shouldn’t he drink? He at least had some control over that. Or so he told himself. But as he worked through his current glass, he knew that even what he chose to defile himself with wasn’t really his choice any more either.
He caught movement out of the corner of his eye and instinct made him look in that direction just as another patron had stepped away with their drink order. And wouldn’t you fucking know it, there at the other end of the bar Wash saw red hair with an unmistakable white streak just as the owner swiftly turned and hurried from the bar. Wash watched with widening eyes as Anna made her way across the floor towards a blonde-headed girl he instantly recognized as Bubbles. Wash didn’t have to wonder if she had seen him or not, the stiff way Anna was walking, as though she couldn’t get away from the bar fast enough, told him everything he needed to know.
Wash’s stomach twisted tightly. His first thought was the lie he had told her earlier that evening. It wasn’t so much that he’d been caught in the lie, but the fact that he’d lied to her at all that suddenly made him feel sick. He shook his head, swore dismally to himself and slid off his stool ready to go explain himself.
“Nothing,” Anna shook her head, her insides twisting at the thought that now she was lying. “I mean, I just don’t want to be here anymore. Can we go? I want to go home.” She couldn’t stand the thought of staying while Wash was over there doing whateverhewasdoing. Couldn’t be good, could it? If he lied to her about it, it meant he had something to hide. And that was never good.
The redhead wasn’t one to run away from her troubles, but in this moment she just wanted out. It was muggy in the bar, and there were too many people. The music, which had thrilled her just a few minutes ago, was now too loud and stifling. Anna wanted to breathe the cool, night air and try to think again. She wrapped an arm around Bubble’s elbow.
Bubbles gave her a concerned expression before nodding at her question. “Okay. Sure.” She glanced around to see if she could see anything through the people. She wasn’t exactly the tallest person, so she couldn’t see too much around all the other people. One day she’d be able to fly and then she wouldn’t have to worry about her height making things difficult. Sighing, she let Anna guide her toward the exit.
“Do you want to do something when we get back home? We could watch a movie and cuddle up on the couch.”
They were leaving. Suddenly Wash’s heart sped up to a panicked pace. He knew he had to get to Anna before she walked out the door. He had to say something to her. Explain himself, apologize, do anything to take back what he’d done. He’d be unable to do any of that if Anna and Bubbles made it out the door and away into the night.
Wash bobbed and weaved his way towards them desperately. He bumped into one or two people on his way. He apologized and was vaguely aware that he’d spilled someone’s drink, he could feel it on his hands, but his eyes were glued on Anna. “Anna!” He called out after her. “Anna, wait! Anna!”
“Yeah, I think that’s a great idea.” Anna was busy rushing Bubbles through the crowd toward the door when she heard Wash’s voice coming up behind them. He sounded desperate. Anna closed her eyes for a moment, trying to push back the panic and confusion. And the sadness. There was sadness, too.
Anna turned, not loosening her grip on Bubbles’s arm, and swallowed hard as Wash caught up with them. When her voice came out it was low, soft, and a little cold. Hurt. She definitely sounded like a girl who was hurt by the man standing in front of her. “I thought you were going to be working tonight.”
The minute Bubbles heard Wash’s voice, realization dawned on her. Realization and a little anger. As they turned around, Bubbles looked at Wash with a frown on her face. It was very much a disappointed face altogether. Especially since she’d known how bummed Anna was about Wash only to have him be there...at the bar. She had a feeling that didn’t mean good things. She was aware of a twinge of concern, but she was nothing if not loyal to one of her best friends.
“I think you need to go, Wash.”
Wash had caught up to the pair just before they’d gotten to the door. Relief flooded through him when Anna stopped and turned to him. That relief was short lived however when he saw the look she was giving him. It tore through the alcoholic daze he’d spent most of that evening building up and hit him straight in the chest. His stomach twisted and a rare expression of panic and helplessness crossed his face.
Bubbles frowning at him didn’t help either. It was as though she could look straight through him to his core and had found what she saw wanting. Wash would have preferred to get punched in the face than have to endure that look from someone like Bubbles.
Under the look the two young women were giving, Wash had a moment where he was unable to speak. He glanced at Bubbles a moment before turning his attention at Anna. “I know. I needed to get away for a night. I needed-” he stopped a moment. He didn’t look at Bubbles again, but he was more than aware of the look she was giving him. The last thing he wanted was for Anna to give him that same look. It was that kind of look that had kept him from telling anyone he had started drinking again, against Pete’s advice. He took a breath and pushed on. He wouldn’t lie to her again. His voice was strained, but full of regret. “I needed a drink. I shouldn’t have lied to you. I’m sorry, Anna.”
Thank goodness Bubbles understood what was happening. Anna's heart was thundering, and her nose was burning, and she wasn't sure she could explain it any better. He'd said he needed to work, she'd been sad, then she convinced Bubbles to come out with her, and now this? He could have told her the truth. She loved him. She trusted him. She was convinced she wouldn't have judged him. And now? Anna couldn't trust him.
The look on his face hurt. It physically hurt to see the man she loved so much with fear and helplessness on his face, to hear the regret in his voice. But the betrayal Anna felt was stronger than the pain--a different kind of pain, really. She didn't know what to do. "I didn't know you were drinking again." She spoke with an accusatory tone of a girl who'd been deceived. She was angry at herself, too, now. A part of her just wanted to run away. Her grip on Bubbles tightened just slightly.
Bubbles looked at Anna and Wash. She knew his troubles, but...she was also Anna’s friend. Probably her best friend if she was lucky. She didn’t know what to say in this moment except “Maybe you need to go talk to someone about that. Get help. Like we would have helped if you’d told us instead of making something up so Anna wouldn’t find out.” She didn’t think that he was overly worried about what would have happened if she’d found out. She figured that they would still help even with this...but it might take Anna a bit to get past it.
Wash deserved the looks the two young women were giving him, their disgust and disappointment. Anna’s anger and fear. He winced mentally at what Bubbles said. He hadn’t wanted help. That had been the reason he hadn’t said anything. He’d just wanted to go numb. Not talk about his mother or the way she seemed to be able to get to him, even when he should have known better. He’d just wanted one night. One evening to not feel anything. It was stupid and it was selfish. The worst part of it was, he’d hurt Anna and destroyed her trust in him.
He felt as though he should say something, but his mind and mouth were both betraying him. He hadn’t realized his hand had moved to the back of his neck until he felt his grip there tighten. “I’m sorry, Anna. I really am. I love you and I know you can’t trust me anymore.” He didn’t deserve her trust either. He would make it up to her. Earn that trust back. Anything to see her smile at him again. But the longer he stood there, the more hurt he was just going to inflict. “Bubbles, please, take her home.”
Anna nodded. She was still trying to process it all, and wasn’t really sure how to respond. She loved him, too. That may have been why this hurt so much. But she knew she couldn’t be with someone who was going to lie to her, her dreams had told her that much. She was trying her best not to feel that way, but the lie felt like a betrayal. “Have a good night, Wash.” Anna managed to say. It came out a lot colder than she meant it to, then she turned for the door. Hopefully they could at least get outside before she started to cry.
Bubbles went with Anna. She didn’t like the situation because it made Anna upset. She didn’t like anyone to be upset, but that wasn’t how the world worked. She wasn’t sure what was going to happen, but she was going to make sure that Anna got home...even if she had to carry her all the way home and wrap her up like a little Anna-burrito in a blanket and cuddle her until she fell asleep. Stefan would understand.
Wash watched the two women leave. He didn’t know how he was going to make this right, but he was going to make it right. Somehow.
The first step was not going back to the bar and finishing the drink he’d abandoned. Once Bubbles and Anna had left and enough time had passed that Bubbles would have gotten Anna bundled into their car and driven off, Wash ventured out of the bar himself. He walked straight past his van. It could spend the night in the bar’s parking lot. The thing was locked up tight, Wash wasn’t concerned about anyone attempting to break in or steal it or what was inside.
The next several hours were spent walking, attempting to get a grip on himself and how far he was falling again. He hadn’t even realized he’d wandered into York’s building until he found himself outside his apartment door. It took another few moments of hesitation before he knocked.