Night Watch I: Eliza, Ward of Andrew

*Alice’s POV*

“I tell you, forget fifty silver, I’d put down fifty gold on less than 24 hours!” Patti was broadcasting doubt like a motherfucker.

“Gold, Alice, gold?” She grinned at me. She was hoping I was right, she thought the oddball couple looked weirdly cute together. Giant, amazon, chubby Watchman with dark past. Moody, maudlin, handsome (eeew Patti- not you too!), wiry, Second Officer. She thought he had such great hair.

Ugh. Everybody loved Andrew’s hair. Except Blasko. He really didn’t care for it, thought it was a bit much…

I sneaked a glimpse at the departing duo, and verified they were out of earshot. I gave Patti the hand signal, the one we’d developed over the years to indicate something confidential, and continued on softly. “Eliza thinks Andrew prefers men, Patti.” She started chuckling, and I could tell she was laughing hysterically on the inside. She thought he was awfully pretty for a man that professed to like women.

I chuckled too. “I thought it wasn’t my place to say anything, but they are both crazy about each other, I tell you! It was gross, every time I’d skim, it was like being hit in the face! I could hear Andrew’s mind bellowing, ‘Must apologize!’ clear from the other side of the tent!”

Patti was surprised, but pleased. “And Eliza thought of Andrew the entire time we were working on her. She was worried sick about how he was doing, feeling terrible about hitting him so hard, and forcing herself not to ask after him, so our concentration wasn’t broken.”

Patti thought to me, ‘I wondered why you kept telling Eliza he was alright when nothing had changed.’ I grinned.

“Because, Patti. They’re lovesick for one another. Andrew’s going to go nuts on their shopping spree, I wouldn’t be surprised if Eliza is the only one capable of stopping him from purchasing the entire Village for her. And…” I held on to the suspense, reveling in the small moment. Patti, predictably, gave me a small swat. “Andrew has plans to tell Eliza how he feels as soon as they’re done shopping.” I smiled widely, but Patti clapped her hands and jumped up and down, excited. I shushed her, repeating our little signal. “I’ve no doubt, as I mentioned, that everyone else will know soon enough, but no need to advertise, missy!”

Patti just grinned, feeling happy. She was glad Andrew seemed whole again. Eliza seemed to have healed him in a way we never could. She missed Juliet too, but she hadn’t wanted her to take a part of Andrew away forever. “No, Patti, Jules took nothing, you know that. Andrew was just in pain. A part of him had to sleep and wait until he could be whole again.”

She hugged me.“I know, Alice. The wounded heart is the hardest thing to see, because I can do nothing. I hope soon he can see the world as beautiful again, and want to be a part of it. I hope he wants to live, not just for Eliza, but for himself.”

I patted her back. Damn, woman, couldn’t we give the poor guy, like, at least a week to make that kind of progress? I mean, demanding a transformation from totally socially isolated hermit/workaholic to happy-go-lucky and in tune with nature and society in, what, two days? And she meant it- ha! Patti was such a firecracker! “In time, Patti, in time.”

Notes

a little Alice for you! so excited to get to see him on Tuesday with Motley Crue! this chappy's for you, my man!

i certainly hope everyone has checked out the Hollywood Vampires, right?

Alice does a lot of their vocals, they're fucking awesome! (I think Johnny Depp is in the mix too?)