“Your faith in me is astounding.” His own voice had lowered as they made their way into the subway. His hand had dropped down to the handle of his gun while he followed closely behind her. It was amazing what the outbreak had done to the underpass. Turning it from one of Austin’s primary means of transportation to one of Austin’s most dangerous and eerie locations.
Some of the Ghouls down here were even worse than the zombies and raiders on the streets. Misfits and junkies had found their place among the darkness. But, unlike the society above, they had no order. Not since their leader was killed. Theo had the good sense to avoid the area. As much as he had a knack for getting himself in trouble, he didn’t actively seek it out unless it was for a case.
If he was going to be honest, he would prefer it if Torrie lived elsewhere. It wasn’t safe down here and it worried him. If he didn’t know she would turn him flat down, he would suggest for her to move into the Capitol. They had rooms. Luxurious rooms, by standard of the apocalypse. He might have chosen to live poorly in a small and cluttered office at the precinct, but he could turn it around.
“I happen to like my cot,” he pointed out, his eyes slowly beginning to adjust to the lighting (or lack thereof) of the tunnels the further along they went, “And I like to think I have more self-restraint and better manners than that, no matter how comfortable your bed is.” Theo would only be fooling himself if he thought he didn’t feel something for Torrie that went beyond a normal friendship. The realization might not have dawned on him right away, but, after the indirect threat she had received from the Supply Scout Annihilator, his surprise at his own reaction had confirmed it. He liked her. She was important to him.
At the same time, he couldn’t help but hold himself back. He didn’t want to jeopardize what they had. He wasn’t ready to take the next step, or at least he didn’t think he was. It might have been five years since his former partner’s death, but he couldn’t be sure if he’d healed from it yet. And, given what kind of world they were living in now, he didn’t know if he could handle another significant loss. So, he was going to deal with this the best way he could – tentatively.
Plus, when all was said and done, he wasn’t even confident she would reciprocate.
As they approached her train car, Theo ducked inside and waited for her to close the door behind them before he finally released his grip on his gun. They were going to be as secure as they could ever be in the subway. “How have you been doing recently?” He asked, dropping the bag he had brought along with him on a hard surface. He scanned the interior of her home idly while he started to unclasp it.