Another night brought another visit to the bar to see Alys. Danny understood that this wasn?t just about a nightly patrol any longer, or about protecting Alys (although that was part of the reason he visited); this was about his own desire to see her and to be in her company... even if that company was fleeting. When he was around her he had even started to forget he was wearing a mask. It was so natural and he was so comfortable in her presence that he felt like himself -- like how they were years ago when they were alone with each other and momentarily had escaped from the crushing weight of the world around them.
When he approached the bar, Danny caught sight of the back door which was propped open. Maybe it was nothing, or maybe it could have been a sign of a possible attempt at a break in or at least a vulnerability that could possibly be exploited. Either way, this wasn?t something he was going to let go. Danny silently and stealthily dropped from the rooftops to the back door, first checking out the surrounding area to make sure there were no possible burglars in the area. Once sure the back alley was secure, Danny slid his fingers between the slightly ajar door and quietly pulled it open enough to poke his head through.
Alystelle had left that door ajar for this very purpose. How did she know he would be the one to find the door propped open? Because he had made it a habit of being there at the same time each night and checking everything over for her. How could she have been certain that someone else hadn?t exploited that easy opening into the lucrative establishment? She wasn?t certain at all, but Danny was only a few minutes away from his arrival and anything that went amiss would quickly be solved by him. That was the faith she had in him.
The last stragglers were being ushered out of the front exit then Alys locked the door and set the deadbolt in place. The same was done to the side door and then she began turning out all of the neon signs and lights, closing down for the night. Finally.
Peering at her watch, she actually grinned; it was time. She gave the bar one final swipe with the bar rag and then made her way into the kitchen, trying not to look as eager as she felt.
There wasn?t a sign of any person at first, and the kitchen was quiet. Of course it was, he thought, it was past closing time and they?d likely have shut it down at least an hour ago so everyone could leave on time. It was difficult to hear, although he could make out the voices of various patrons on the opposite side of the establishment. Nothing sounded amiss, but he was certainly not going to leave until he was certain Alys was not in any danger... and he wasn?t going to leave until he at least said hello to her, and caught one of her smiles, and looked into her eyes...
He gave a light tap to the side of his head to regain his focus. It was enough that he couldn?t stop thinking about her throughout the day, but when he was most likely within shouting distance and seconds from her -- and in an establishment owned by a slimeball with a gun who lurked about -- he should really pay more attention to his surroundings. Danny quietly closed the door behind him to insure nobody would sneak up that way without some sound to warn him and moved further into the kitchen. When he heard footsteps approaching the kitchen he flattened himself against the wall and dipped into a few shadows.
His heart pounded hard against his ribcage as the first thing he saw was the honey blonde color of her hair that seemed to shine in the darkened room. He felt a grin tugging the corners of his lips upwards, taking one moment to just study Alys in full. It wasn?t a leer, or anything that could be misconstrued as lustful; he was simply taking in how beautiful she looked, even in this setting after having worked for who knows how long. She was a natural beauty, and never failed to take his breath away.
Danny cleared his throat after a second to announce his presence before stepping out from his hiding spot. ?Hey, Alys. The door was open so I just wanted to make sure everything was okay. Um, is it? Or do you need me for anything?? He lifted his brows in hope, which would still be noticeable even with the mask on, and moved over toward that familiar island.
When he approached the bar, Danny caught sight of the back door which was propped open. Maybe it was nothing, or maybe it could have been a sign of a possible attempt at a break in or at least a vulnerability that could possibly be exploited. Either way, this wasn?t something he was going to let go. Danny silently and stealthily dropped from the rooftops to the back door, first checking out the surrounding area to make sure there were no possible burglars in the area. Once sure the back alley was secure, Danny slid his fingers between the slightly ajar door and quietly pulled it open enough to poke his head through.
Alystelle had left that door ajar for this very purpose. How did she know he would be the one to find the door propped open? Because he had made it a habit of being there at the same time each night and checking everything over for her. How could she have been certain that someone else hadn?t exploited that easy opening into the lucrative establishment? She wasn?t certain at all, but Danny was only a few minutes away from his arrival and anything that went amiss would quickly be solved by him. That was the faith she had in him.
The last stragglers were being ushered out of the front exit then Alys locked the door and set the deadbolt in place. The same was done to the side door and then she began turning out all of the neon signs and lights, closing down for the night. Finally.
Peering at her watch, she actually grinned; it was time. She gave the bar one final swipe with the bar rag and then made her way into the kitchen, trying not to look as eager as she felt.
There wasn?t a sign of any person at first, and the kitchen was quiet. Of course it was, he thought, it was past closing time and they?d likely have shut it down at least an hour ago so everyone could leave on time. It was difficult to hear, although he could make out the voices of various patrons on the opposite side of the establishment. Nothing sounded amiss, but he was certainly not going to leave until he was certain Alys was not in any danger... and he wasn?t going to leave until he at least said hello to her, and caught one of her smiles, and looked into her eyes...
He gave a light tap to the side of his head to regain his focus. It was enough that he couldn?t stop thinking about her throughout the day, but when he was most likely within shouting distance and seconds from her -- and in an establishment owned by a slimeball with a gun who lurked about -- he should really pay more attention to his surroundings. Danny quietly closed the door behind him to insure nobody would sneak up that way without some sound to warn him and moved further into the kitchen. When he heard footsteps approaching the kitchen he flattened himself against the wall and dipped into a few shadows.
His heart pounded hard against his ribcage as the first thing he saw was the honey blonde color of her hair that seemed to shine in the darkened room. He felt a grin tugging the corners of his lips upwards, taking one moment to just study Alys in full. It wasn?t a leer, or anything that could be misconstrued as lustful; he was simply taking in how beautiful she looked, even in this setting after having worked for who knows how long. She was a natural beauty, and never failed to take his breath away.
Danny cleared his throat after a second to announce his presence before stepping out from his hiding spot. ?Hey, Alys. The door was open so I just wanted to make sure everything was okay. Um, is it? Or do you need me for anything?? He lifted his brows in hope, which would still be noticeable even with the mask on, and moved over toward that familiar island.