Page 25 of Sidhe
The startling sight had Nathan clenching his eyes shut to banish that awful image, and when he opened them again they were green. Whatever had made Malak ineffective when he lunged for Nathan in the car, it didn’t mean Nathan was free.
He still had to choose Malak, that was clear, and he had said ‘fuck no’. Then again he was still running, had no intention of doing anything but, and if he kept running would he remain justas vulnerable, waiting for Malak to come back and try again? Nathan couldn’t go back to the Gatehouse. How could he go back knowing now what his choices really meant, knowing that he just kept letting all of them down?
Nathan’s head jerked to the jukebox at the start of a new song. JohnnyCash. And not classic Johnny Cash either but one of the last hits he ever had, a cover: “Hurt,” which hit far closer to home than Nathan could handle at the moment.
Where the hell is that damn remote? he thought frantically as the line, “my empire of dirt” played. He practically dove over the counter to find it.
Soon as he had the remote snatched up in his hand, Nathan flicked to the next song. Why couldn’t it have been “Ring of Fire” or “A Boy Named Sue?” Nathan loved “A Boy Named Sue.”
The music was back to some random Country song, something he didn’t know, so he ignored it, slipping the remote back where he had grabbed it from. Just in time too since it was right then that Dave came back out of the kitchen with a plate of hot fries.
“Hey, and looks like I was right,” he said with a grin at the filled coffee pot. “How do you take it?” He set the fries in front of Nathan, slid over a bottle of ketchup, and turned back to grab the pot of coffee and a cup.
“Just black, thanks.”
“No problem.”
Nathan wasn’t expecting anything special of the coffee when he took his first sip, but damn, it was the best coffee he had ever had. Nathan almost asked if the guy had sneaked a little secret stash into the mix or something. It was hot and bitter and everything he liked.
“So,” Dave said, leaning forward on the counter all in Nathan’s space suddenly. He didn’t say anything else.
“Uh…” Nathan just wanted to sit and enjoy his coffee and—damn, even the fries were awesome.
“Didn’t you read the sign when you came in?” Dave smirked, pointing back toward the door.
Nathan looked. There wasn’t anything but the ‘Open’ sign that from his angle read ‘Closed’.
“If your server is bored to tears, you must keep him company. Diner rules.” Dave winked when Nathan turned back to him.
It wasn’t that Nathan didn’t like the guy, and he appreciated the extra attention to some degree, but right now he really didn’t want to deal with anyone. “I don’t think I’ll be very good company tonight,” he said plainly, taking another long gulp of that amazing coffee.
“What’s your definition of good?” Dave shot back. “Coz mine’s pretty loose. Haven’t even gotten your name yet, son.”
“Nathan.”
“Well, Nathan, it’s nice to meet you. And it seems to me the people who most don’t wanna talk to the bartender or waiter,” he gestured to himself, “are usually the ones who most need it. So what’s with the haunted look? As the grand scheme of things usually goes that means trouble with the law or trouble with a woman. Maybe in your case it’s a little of both. Am I close?”
A smile wormed its way out of Nathan despite himself. “You could say that. But uhh…and I’m risking you asking me oh so politely to leave after I say this…” He didn’t know why he had the urge to explain himself, but the words poured out of him. “It’s not a woman. The rest you meant by saying that is implied, but…definitely not a woman.” He eyed Dave carefully to gauge the guy’s reaction.
To his credit, Dave only looked mildly ruffled. “Okay then. Well. I won’t be asking you to leave, I can tell ya that. Can’t say I know how to give the right advice though. All my tricks involve flowers and candy. Unless your man likes that sorta thing.”
“I don’t think there are any tricks for making up for what I did. And it’s not just him, I…” why was Nathan even saying allthis, “my…brother. Our whole mock family, I…sorta ran out. Still thinking it was the right choice to be honest but…I don’t know.” He shook his head, took another drink of coffee, smashed a few fries into his mouth. He didn’t know what the right answer was anymore. Even if he wanted to run back home, even if that was the right choice, how could he face them? “I used to believe I was a good man…”
“You don’t think you’re a good man anymore?”
“I’m not,” Nathan said without pausing to think about it. How could he even imagine considering himself good after the things he had done and knowing now what he really was and how far he had fallen?
Dave leaned a little further over the counter and stole a fry from Nathan’s plate. “Did someone tell you that, give you a reason to believe it, or did you just decide that for yourself?” He raised an eyebrow at Nathan as he ate the pilfered fry.
“How many good men do you know who carry knives?” Nathan asked.
“Son, this is the South,” Dave chuckled. “I’m used to things more heavy duty than a knife on my regulars. And you know, the thing about good men is, and despite what you say, your eyes say ya are one…good men can always go home.”
Nathan set his coffee down and stared at Dave with a narrowed brow. “You don’t know the things I said before I left, the things I’ve done.” Dave opened his mouth to say something but Nathan held up his hand to stop him. “You don’t know me. You don’t know if I’m a murderer…or a monster…or what. So best not to push your luck, pal.”
So much for not wanting to scare the guy, though despite Nathan’s best efforts, Dave didn’t look at all spooked. “Top you off?” he asked with a kind smile, raising the pot of coffee.
Nathan grimaced but held out his cup. “Just…leave it alone, alright? Your coffee’s awesome and I appreciate the fries, but Ididn’t stop for conversation. I’ll be out of your hair before you know it.”
