SoA: Listen

SoA: Listen

A/ N: Somehow, they make-up but the circumstances aren't very ideal. Maybe when Jess returns, they would solve it once for all but until then...

xxxx

BLEEP! BLEEP!

« I'm coming! »

Asma's voice echoed through the walls of her workshop. She didn't hear the sound of a voice so she assumed it was someone she knew. She put her pen on the table and quietly left her office room. She plastered a smile on her face, in order to welcome the friend she thought had entered her shop but quickly stopped smiling when she saw Alex. He was standing in front of the counter, one hand on the smooth black wooden surface and his piercing blue eyes were staring at her. She swallowed a lump and leaned against the wall. It had been weeks since they last saw each other. Ever since the beginning of their argument, Tig had not slept in Asma's house and they barely talked. They texted each other once a week to check on each other but it always ended in an argument. Her heart was beating faster in her ribcage and she curled her fingers into fists, waiting for him to say something.

« Bella...I didn't come here to argue with you. »

Her face remained stoic as she was trying to process the sudden surge of emotions. Her eyes were shifty looking at him and he could see her chest heave up and down. Good, at least she wasn't cussing him out. Alex decided to take it as an encouragement and ran his fingers over his jaw to gather up some strength or something. Her hazel eyes didn't miss a beat. She was looking at him, her eyes focused on his every move and he knew that he had to be careful with his next words. The truth was that he had missed her. He was focused with the gang, did his part but she always was at the back of his mind. Her request infuriated him because he knew she was basically requesting to put a bullseye on her forehead. He was furious but not to the point of not wanting to spend some time with her. She had him return to his home, spend lonely nights there and refused to see him or speak to him if they wouldn't talk about her desire to know about Jessica's activities and why she wasn't around. The fuck he knew why she wasn't around. He was as clueless as Opie was and it did bother him that the queen wasn't home either. But he trusted she knew what she was doing.

« Why are you here then? » She finally asked.

« I want to go home. » He flat out said. She felt her heart sink and tried to keep the words in her mouth but it was too late.

« You already have a home. » She truly said, holding her left arm with her right one.

« You know what I mean! » He raised a little bit his voice and brought his other hand on the counter. « I want to go home with you. »

« Alex.... » -She sighed and closed her eyes to gather her thoughts. « Please... »

« I know you don't want to see my face. Opie told me you were talking smack about me. » -She opened her eyes and furrowed her brows. Why did Opie tell him that? « I know you're freaking out because Jess is not around. » She bit her bottom lip and held onto her arm tighter. « I know you've been looking around, looking for answers.  But...I can't let you dig further. » His voice was firm, but not harsh. Her eyes grew wide.

Of course, he wouldn't want her to keep trying to know the truth about the club. She wasn't dumb. She had a brother who was a Niners. She also knew what Jessica was capable off and the club was more than meets the eye. She knew that, but what she needed to know was the truth. She wanted to hear about their missions, about the retaliation, about the actual danger they would be facing. She wanted an explanation for Jessica's wounds, for the scars she spotted on her body when they were prepping for a girl's night. She wanted to know what they were up against, so she could protect them better. She also wanted to know why he was bruised up, why he came home somber than when he left. She needed to know and still, he was persisting in rejecting her request. Her lips trembled as anger slowly built up, but then anguish took over. Alex wasn't exactly lucky with love. He lost each and every people who were close to him, including his own daughters. Why would he want to take the risk to lose his new love? She looked at him even more intensely, unwilling to look away from him.

« It's dangerous 'round me. It's fucking dangerous. You think what happened to your brother was the worst? No offense to him, but it ain't even close to the truth. My fucking daughter...Dawn. » He trailed off and shook his head. « I don't want that to happen to you Asma. I don't want to come home and you're dead because of me. I don't want that. » He said, curling his fingers into fists. « I don't want to watch that. So no. You're not going to know. Please. » He added, his blue eyes staring at the young woman whose heart was still pounding against her ribcage. They looked at each other for what felt like an eternity before she took a few steps forward.

« Okay... »

His eyes grew wide as he didn't understand why she accepted without a fight. Was she as tired as he was? Did she miss him the way he did miss her? Did she realize he was saying the truth and was right in his feelings? The truth was that Asma was missing Alex. She cried herself to sleep way too many times in the few weeks spent apart from one another. She knew he wouldn't change his mind unless the others agreed to let her in, she knew how he felt. The guilt, the sorrow, the anger were overwhelming him and instinctively, the young woman went to comfort him. She would comfort him. She would alleviate his pain. Deep down, agreeing to not looking further into the club's activities was killing her but she agreed for his sake. She agreed for their sake. Asma closed the distance between the two of them and cupped both of his cheeks.

«Okay? » He repeated again, to make sure he heard her well. She nodded.

« Okay...I won't ask anymore. » She leaned her forehead against his and pressed her lips to his. « We can go home tonight if you want. » She let her hands move to his shoulders and wrapped them in a tight hug. « I love you, Tig...Let's go home. »

« I love you too. » He was dumbfounded by her sudden reaction and he stared into her eyes. He knew she didn't really agree with his request, but he appreciated that she made the effort. Opie words did work on her. As she hugged him over the counter, the pink haired tattoo artist was wondering what to do now that she decided to keep her questions to herself? What to do now?

-TBC-