Vasquez remains where she is as she watches the shuttle depart, the wash of hot air from the thrusters temporarily blasting away the winter chill (and probably sending a few strands of hair right in Jason's face). Once the bulky old vehicle is out the sound of the engines gradually fades away, leaving the sort of silence that you get when you don't realize how loud the room you're in is. There's no chattering guests or music to
#RedrockAgency – March 17, 2021
break it up either. They're alone. There's an almost relieved sigh from Vasquez, and she lingers for a bit.
Jason winces against the faceful of hair he receives, turning his head away from it until it's no longer at the whim of the shuttle thrusters. He watches as the shuttle disappears out of sight, a smile lingering on his lips. He gives the woman in his arms a gentle squeeze from behind, tilting his forehead against the back of her head in a small, silent show of affection.
Vasquez ' hands rest idly on the arms wrapped around her, watching the snowy landscape outside through the hangar door before a metallic groan signals that Fergus has begun to close it. She gently frees herself, turning around to press a quick kiss to Jason's lips, left hand briefly lingering against the side of his face. "Let's head back up." she says quietly before pulling back.
Jason brings his hands to Vasquez' side when she turns around, studying her for a moment before offering a small nod. "Yeah..." he agrees softly. As he turns towards the door, he tosses an arm around Vasquez' shoulders, giving her a playful little sidehug and nudging her back towards the door. Despite some obvious fatigue given the long day they've all had, it's not hard to tell that he's pleased over how the day has turned out-
maybe even just a little bit relieved that it's over without any hiccups- given the familiar lopsided smirk plastered across his face.
Vasquez lets out a quiet snort as the sidehug jostles her a bit, and she starts to lead the way back through the base's corridors with Jason by her side. She walks in silence for a while, a small smile continually tugging at the corner of her mouth despite how tired she is. She remains close to Jason as they walk, gaze following the lights strung up, softening the look of the businesslike hallways. A quiet chuckle slips out as
they near the stairs, that smile finally manifesting fully. "That went... well." she says quietly, almost sounding a little disbelieving. She's stopped with one foot on the bottom step, hand on the railing as she glances back down the corridor.
Jason snickers softly, coming to a stop beside Vasquez at the base of the staircase. "Right?!" he agrees, sounding every bit as surprised as she is. "And-... I gotta say, we made one hell of a dinner." he adds proudly, seemingly having decided to take a little credit for himself as well for what was almost exclusively Vasquez' work.
Vasquez shoots Jason a questioning look, just studying him for a moment before letting out a snort of laughter and grinning. "Couldn't have done it without you." she settles for, a solemn nod accompanying the words. Her gaze lingers on him for a moment, struggling to maintain the sincere expression. As she starts to crack up she shakes her head and pulls Jason in for another brief kiss with a tug on his shirt. "Come on. I'm pretty
ready to just fall into bed." she says as she pulls back, starting to lead the way up without waiting for a response. "Gonna save the cleanup for tomorrow..." she mutters as the sight of the rec room door coming into view reminds her off the mess that lies beyond. Given her rather asleep state at the time, she's unware of Jason's promise to Ilyna to toss her and Li's things in the office.
Jason lets a small snort out through his nose, well aware that his roles as 'potato babysitter' and 'slicer of cheese' probably weren't what caused it all to come together so well. Still, he offers a sharp, confident nod. "Of course not." he agrees with her assessment through his smirk which gives way to a full on smile as he's tugged towards Vasquez, a chuckle beginning to spill out of him before it's silenced by the short
kiss. "You and me both..." he agrees quietly, reaching out to grasp the railing and follow behind her. Her commentary on the rec room as they crest the top of the steps causes him to offer a few nods that go unnoticed given his position behind her. "Sounds like a plan." he says, seemingly also having already forgotten his promise to Ilyna. He manages to get a few steps before a stray dart that he missed during his cursory
cleanup catches his eye, tucked away against the doorframe. "Actually-..." he winces, his steps slowing to a stop. "...how about I catch up with you in a few? I-... uhh-..." he sighs, the comfort of their soft bed suddenly feeling much further than it did a moment ago, "...told Ilyna I'd bring Li's gifts down to her office so she can pick them up tomorrow. Shouldn't take too long."
Vasquez stops to look back at Jason when she realizes he's stopped, briefly puzzled before his words prompt a nod. "Alright." she says. Sure, she could offer to help, orrr she could head right to bed. Right now? Easy choice. She takes a quick peek through the rec room door, which has opened as they drew near, to check on Cynthia. Unsurprisingly, she's still soundly asleep, splayed out in the armchair and snoring. She nods to
herself and starts towards the bedroom. "Fergus." she calls out as she walks, fighting back the yawn that threatens to interrupt her. "Don't let anyone but me, Jason or Cynthia through the rec room door until I say so."
Jason lets out a deep breath as Vasquez starts down the hall, suddenly regretting not simply loading the boxes onto the shuttle. But as he crouches down and collects the small dart from the hallway floor, his smile quickly returns. The small, foam dart is a firm reminder of the importance of tonight. It was about more than just Christmas. The Collectors are gone. And with them goes that shadow that has hung over every part of
their lives for far too long. Maybe they can finally start looking towards the future. Towards building something that will last. A family. His smile grows mischeivous as he studies the dart, shooting a quick glance Vasquez' way as she continues away from him. "Think fast!" he warns as he rises to his feet and takes aim, launching the dart down the hall at the back of his wife's head.
Vasquez turns her head in confusion as Jason calls out to her, just in time for the dart to hit her in the forehead, making her flinch, but she still reacts fast enough to catch it before it falls to the floor. She shakes her head and palms it, an exasperated smile breaking through her surprised look. "Who were those toy guns for again?" she calls out, disappearing into the bedroom before Jason can respond.
Jason gives a roll of his eyes. "Real funny for someone who just took a round to the head." he taunts, his muffled voice chasing after her as she disappears into their bedroom. Finding himself alone in the hallway, he shakes his head to himself, fond smile remaining on his face.
Vasquez heads right for the bathroom to get ready for bed, good mood lingering as she brushes her teeth. She ends up remaining by the mirror for a moment afterwards, struggling to accept that the smiling woman in the sweater looking back is her. She snickers quietly, faint smile lingering as she exits. Only when her gaze falls on the package on the coffee table does it vanish, and she stops in place. She remains frozen for a
moment before heading over to pick it up. She turns the soft package over in her hands, chewing on the inside of her cheek. Soon enough she goes over to the bed to take a seat on the edge, still holding it, scowling at her name on the label.
Jason true to his word, is only gone for a few minutes. Judging by the small stack of gingerbread cookies in his hand, it appears he made a pit stop in the rec room on his way back. Brow furrowed, he crunches on one as he steps back into their room, absently closing the door behind him as he seeks out Vasquez with his eyes.
Vasquez doesn't look up as Jason enters, gaze still fixed on the package in her hands, which she's holding in a tight grip judging by the creases in the plastic. Her previous high spirits seem to have evaporated.
Jason crunches away for a moment before shoving another cookie into his mouth. "These are pretty damn-..." he begins through his mouthful of gingerbread cookie, gesturing idly to the cookies in his left hand with his right before realizing what Vasquez is holding. ".....good." he finishes quietly.
Vasquez sucks in her lips for a moment, tasting the minty remnants of toothpaste. She opens her mouth as if to say something, but then closes it again, shoulders dropping a little as she deflates, looking over towards Jason.
Jason's gaze shifts from the package in Vasquez' hands to her eyes. Gingerbread cookies momentarily forgotten, he starts towards her. "You-... uhh-... you good...?" he asks quietly, acutely aware of the shift in mood.
Vasquez draws in a breath and offers a few less than convincing nods. "Just, uh... throw this away?" she requests, shifting the package into one hand and holding it out for Jason. If she can't bring herself to do it, maybe she can at least hand the task of to him.
Jason swallows. Both at the crumbs of gingerbread cookie in his mouth and the lump in his throat. But he accepts the package with his free hand all the same, offering a few small nods. For a moment, he looks the package over in silence, brow furrowed. "You sure that's what you want...?" he asks cautiously, his blue eyes flicking back her way.
Vasquez ' gaze shifts away from Jason, down at the floor as she slumps forward, elbows on her legs. She responds with a half-hearted nod. How can she accept wanting anything else after what her mother has done? How stupid would she have to be to accept a gift from that woman after everything she's put them through?