» ( I RUN TO YOU ), redford-♥♥♥

this world keeps spinnin faster, to a new disaster, so i run to you, i run to you baby As Maci sat at the computer, yet again watching the 'trio' interact, she grew more and more frustrated. Since when was Kendra more important to Eli than she was? Even more important to Roddy, it felt. Yes you could say Maci was jealous, but it was reasonable... right? he'd gone out drinking the night before, even though she hadn't wanted him to, and still hadn't shown up back home twenty-four hours later. For the last hour he had been confused as to where he was, until he realized, and announced, that he was actually in Roddy and Leo's apartment.And now, he was just sitting back as Kendra bitched at her, saying she was PMSing and paranoid, and being a bitch. But the second Maci went to tell Kendra to leave her alone, both Eli and Roddy were there asking what Kendra did wrong.. It went on like this, until Eli eventually told her that he wasn't coming home tonight, because she was being crazy. Naturally this made her begin to tear up. -- The night before, after an upsetting conversation on the computer with her fiance and his 'trio', Maci had gone running without even a spare thought, straight to Roddy's old apartment. She knew he didn't live there, that he wasn't there. She knew that even before she left her own place. . . Knew somewhere in herself that she was running to someone who she'd never even considered as a comforter before. Once she got to his place, chest heaving as she worked to catch her breath, she stared at the door. What am I doing? Running to Redford? Redford who will probably just laugh in my face, And even if he didn't. Even if he let me in, listened to me, even if he attempted to comfort me. What am I doing here... ? I'm engaged to Eli. Need to work it out with him. If he even comes home tonight. Before she could even knock on the door, she turned and left, shaking her head at herself and rubbing at her nose to stop the familiar tingle that meant she was going to cry. Stupid Girl.--Maci grimaced as she thought about last night, the thoughts that had crossed her mind.. were they going to stop her this time? She pulled her jacket tight around her, though nothing could stop the wind from making the tears running down her face ice cold against her cheeks. She had given up wiping her nose off, resorting to sniffling every time it ran. Being cold and crying made it practically impossible to keep up with, so didn't bother until she was in the elevator and stepping out onto the floor that she had been to only the night before.As she reached the door for the second time in two nights, there were no thoughts running through her mind. Nothing she was thinking to convince herself to go home. Actually the only thing she was thinking was taking the tiny roll of tissues out of her pocket and wiping her nose to make herself not look as pathetic as she felt. As she knocked on the door, she pressed her lips together tightly and sniffled again. After a few seconds, she knocked again, and looked at the number on the door, ready to greet Redford with her red face and puffy eyes. © CHUCK!!

a sinner like me

Try as he might to deny it, Red actually did miss having his brother around the apartment, not because he needed Roddy’s constant obsessive compulsive ways, or his natural condescending look in his direction or even the annoying ever looming presence of his lover, Leo. Nope, he just missed having someone make up for the lack of noise. With his recently brooding self, it was always just silence that would meet his foot steps, ghostly echoes would reply his heaving sighs and nothing but utter emptiness would wrap itself around him. It was truly a pathetic sight if he’d ever seen one.

He’d just gotten back from work again and the stench of alcohol and cigarettes clung to his clothes like musk, something which he would have often found appealing and comforting but now just reminded him of bitterness and regret. Shrugging out of it, he made his way to the bathroom, depositing his guitar in the corner before taking off his shirt, readying himself for a quick shower before his thoughts were distracted by the sound of knocking.

He had to stop himself and just stare at the door for a few minutes to make sure if it was real. He never invited anyone to his apartment unless it was a girl and he’d dragged her from the bar. And tonight didn’t happen to be his good night. And Roddy would have no need for him in any circumstance. He had Leo.

So with a curious quirk of his eyebrows, he approached the door warily, opening it to find a puffy faced Maci looking up at him. He didn’t know whether to question his sanity or hers while he resisted the urge to wrap his arms around her and then slowly demand who the hell was the cause of her tears so he can punch his face out.

”What happened?” The words however were out before he could even control them.

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this world keeps spinnin faster, to a new disaster, so i run to you, i run to you baby Maci pulled her jacket tight again as she heard footsteps coming towards the door. She sniffled one more time, wiping at her nose again with the tissues as the door swung open and revealed a confused looking Redford. Worrying she might have annoyed him by surprising him at him, Maci gave him a weak smile. It was all she could do not to break down and cry even harder as he asked what was wrong. Her lip did tremble, and she tried to control it before shaking her head and looking down at her feet bashfully. Maci hadn't thought about the embarrassment factor that would play in to her crying in front of Redford. "Uh.. some stuff with Eli and Kendra. And Roddy. Eli's being..." She started quietly, weakly, before letting the sentence drift off. Finally looking up at him, she forced herself to continue, taking a step toward him as she asked, "Can I come in?". She had never felt as weak, or unloved as she did in the moments from the conversation to the walk here. And if it wasn't bad enough that she was crying due to her fiance in the first place... there was the fact that what he did to make her cry was cruel enough to make her want to seek comfort in the one man that seemed to cause all the conflict between the two of them in the first place. The one comforting thought was that this time it was Eli's fault.© CHUCK!!

a sinner like me

Seeing her force that smile was more than Red could honestly bear, it tore him to pieces to just stand there and feel helpless with making her feel better. If there was one thing Redford Cooper was even more terribly better at then making other people feel like crap, it was keeping them miserable. He couldn’t cheer up anyone even if his life was depending on it.

His fists curled up at his sides as she told him who had caused her this much trouble, the bitter venom that filled his mouth at the mention of Eli, he had no idea what had happened but he was already forming a violent plan to avenge her in his head despite how well he knew she would frown at it. He shoved his hands in his pockets to stop himself from showing any other sign of restraint from the obvious urge to just leave her there and kick the living shit out of the three mentioned people. He made it a rule to never hit a woman but maybe he could make an exception for this one.

With his jaw tensed, he moved back and let her in, his grip tightening a little more around the knob as he forcefully closed it, closing the window to put some serious damage on Eli’s face as well. ”That asshole!” He whispered under his breath, though with the anger running through his veins it probably came out louder than he had hoped. ”He’s not supposed to make you cry! Dammit!” He added, now shouting at no one in particular. ”No one else is allowed to make you cry but me!” He started pacing, throwing his hand around the air, glaring at the floor. ”Fuck this! I’m going to kick his ass!”

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this world keeps spinnin faster, to a new disaster, so i run to you, i run to you baby somewhere in her mind, Maci processed the physical reactions. The fists clenching the look on his face, the flashes of different emotions in his eyes. Of course, a sensitive Maci Donahue, after her emotions had been triggered, was not aware of anything that might be extremely clear to the eye of a less touchy person.She hesitated, before taking his moving aside as her invitation to come inside. It was going to be a night of playing it safe. Being over-cautious about everything because she honestly didn't think that she could cry twice in one night and be able to interact normally with another person again. "Thank you," she said, stopping to give him a pained look as she stood next to him before continuing into the apartment and letting herself fall on the couch.Maci had begun taking off her jacket, but paused and returned her gaze to Red as he began his frustrated outbursts. She didn't know what to say about the asshole part, she agreed with him whole-heartedly at the moment. It was the rest that got her standing up again, leaving her jacket in a bunch on the couch. "Redford.. that sounds a little..." What would she say? He wanted to be the only one to make her cry? It was sweet.. .but in the oddest way. Which seemed to suit their relationship. Acquaintanceship. "Thanks... I think." It was hard to stop herself from grinning like a stupid school girl as he began pacing and throwing his hand in the air, until he said he was going to kick his ass. (Which she still found sweet, but couldn't allow). Hurrying to his side, she grabbed his arm with her girly lack of strength and protested. "No... Redford. You don't have to do that... really. Don't do that."© CHUCK!!

a sinner like me

”He made you cry!” Red argued vociferously, his frustration obvious in the strain in her neck and the control in his curled up fists. It was all the argument he had, really, stupid as it was and to him, that was all the reason he needed to punch the living day lights out of her fiancé. Fiance or not, no one was allowed to make her cry. Not even him, if he would have it.

But he should have known better than to attempt when surely as soon as her hands reached his arm and softly wrapped around them, he was still in his place, staring at her small finger tips, closing his eyes to restrain himself from any further outbursts. If someone had warned him how much hell he would end up in falling for someone else, then he might have arranged his life further enclosed around himself. It would certainly make things a lot easier than they are now.

"I know, it's fucked up, coming from me, but -" He sighed again as he looked down at her, his jaw clenching as he stared at those still red puffy eyes. ”Are you sure you don’t want me to kick his ass? I can make it look like a random thing, you know?” He offered, his tone still profusely serious and lacking any form of mirth or satisfaction at the thought. He just really wanted Eli to pay for making her cry. Nothing more and nothing less.

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this world keeps spinnin faster, to a new disaster, so i run to you, i run to you baby He caught her off guard with his loud argument. Causing her to jump again slightly. This time she noticed the look in his eyes, his neck, his clenched fists.. .though she wasn't sure why this was such a big thing to Redford. She sucked her bottom lip in under her top row of teeth and just stared at him for a minute. "It wasn't just him though... It was the situation. It was how he treated me. He acted like I was just crazy. He let Kendra talk to me like I was stupid, and call me a bitch. Both him and Roddy. It's not just Eli."Maci removed her hand after he stared at it and closed his eyes. She worried that she had upset him in touching him, and she realized that touching him in the first place had gone against her "play it safe" idea. As a result of this thought process, she removed her hand from him and tucked it in her back pants pocket."I think it's sweet, in a twisted way. I appreciate it." Maci said in a voice croaky from the crying, then cleared her throat before continuing. "I'm sure. Besides, you beating him up and making it look like a random thing doesn't really make him realize what he did wrong." She raised her eyebrows in a way that said she had made her point, then smiled at him. "Stop pacing, and being so angry. You could get an ulcer or something... Come sit on the couch with me."© CHUCK!!

a sinner like me

Red inwardly flinched at how she jumped away from him again thanks to his outburst. It always felt weird for him to see her fearfully pull away and how comforting it is at the same time. He wanted her to stay away, save him from himself and all of that but he knew that every time, it caused a little tear in his chest he couldn’t quite describe. ”Still, he’s your fiancé! He shouldn’t be doing that!” He argued again, though this time a little calmer, almost dejected and helpless.

He sighed again reluctantly when he felt her hand slowly slip away, ignoring the obvious aching it caused to his chest as he too looked away. He was so much better at pushing her away anyway.

A small laugh however slipped past his lips with her words, followed by a slight shaking of his head as he looked at her with a half-amused smirk. ”Twisted, good word.” He shook his head again and then shrugged, grinning some more. ”Would still make him feel like absolute crap though.” He retorted, tilting his head suggestively. He didn’t really need a reason to fight anymore, he hadn’t gotten into one in a while, it would probably do his ego some good if Eli brought him back in the game. He didn’t even need a reason to fight him, he could just randomly bump into him and throw a fist against his jaw and he wouldn’t care if he ended up in jail for the next six months because of it.

He froze however at her offer, looking at her with another curious quirk of his eyebrows as if expecting some lame joke to follow after the silence, but nothing did. She was serious. And just like that, his anger was replaced with an unsettling feeling of confusion as he realized, nothing of what she’s said so far gave him any reason as to why she went here, to his apartment. Nonetheless, he didn’t have the strength to say no and followed suit, making sure to stay at the farthest end of the couch with his arms folded over his chest. ”Why are you here, really, Maci?”

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this world keeps spinnin faster, to a new disaster, so i run to you, i run to you baby "I know, Redford. Trust me, you're not the only one who thinks so... Most of the people in my life hate you and think Eli is being a 'bitch'." She told him with a slight frown on her face. Her eyes were starting to clear up, her face starting to cool down, and she noticed that she had gained a headache from the stress and the crying. Maci rubbed at her temples for a second, breathing deeply and hoping the pounding would stop.The corner of her mouth twitched up in a half-grin as he agreed on twisted being a good word. Really, it was the best word for anything that happened between them. Everything that had happened between them. The confusion, the anger, the bittersweet moments, everything that they were... it was all twisted. "You're right... It would make him feel like crap. But if we all make each other feel like crap, no one wins and we're just unhappy forever." She told him, absolutely serious. She stared into his eyes for a second before sitting on the couch.She noticed that he sat on the opposite end. It was hard not to notice when she was feeling so hurt and abandoned, lost even, and he was doing all he could to stay away from her, when really one bear hug from him would have made her laugh and probably cheer up a little. She was content to stay where she was though... or at least she was till he asked why she was here. Maci sighed, as she pushed herself up from the couch and straightened her shirt, then moved one cushion over so she was only a foot and a half away from him, tops. Turning, pulling her leg under her as she did so, she made eye contact again with Redford and pressed her lips together. "Honestly? You're the first person I thought to run to. On my way over here..." she moved her gaze to the carpet before continuing, "My brother, my sister, even Vita, crossed through my mind. But I didn't even consider them as real options. I know it's stupid, but I don't even really know why. If you want me to go I can."A part of her wondered if her mind had chosen him out of spite... Eli was the one being a jerk, so she chose the person he would hate the most to be the one to comfort her... But another, more hopeful, part felt like that wasn't all it was. Even though she was worried about pissing him off, practically walking on eggshells, she felt oddly comforted just being here. His offer to beat up the person who had made her cry had made her smile. It was sweet, and all she had wanted in that moment was to feel like someone cared, outside of obligatory family concern. Redford had done that for her, like she'd trusted him to deep down (without really knowing she had). All she was positive of, and you could blame this on the hyper-sensitive nostalgic part of Maci, was that she would never forget the last few minutes where she'd seen a different side of him.© CHUCK!!

a sinner like me

Red couldn’t help but smile as he nodded in agreement. ‘Being a bitch’ was really the only phrase that could perfectly describe Eli’s actions as of late. Sure, he had a right to be angry and honestly, Redford was smug that he was – made him feel like he was still in the running for Maci’s affections even though he’d long accepted that he had no place anymore. Still, it was a nice thought nonetheless. He just didn’t understand it though, Maci and her barely had any interaction since that night and the night at the party. He’d made all efforts to stay away and yet, there he was, still punishing her for something she didn’t even do.

”I wouldn’t.” He argued, shrugging. ”I’d have fun kicking the crap out of him.” It was true though. Fighting was the third best thing he was good at. And whether he lost or won, it always gave him a sense of satisfaction.

He leaned back comfortably into the chair as he waited for her answer, eyes focused solely on her without even realizing. He couldn’t believe, how even now, he was still terrified of admitting the truth to her, how frightened he was of the prospect of even letting her know how mad she’d been driving him since they were toddlers and how excruciating it is to look into her eyes and realize he had been the one that used to cause her that much distress.

”No!” He half-shouted, almost immediately, as if she wouldn’t even change her mind and just go leave. It was insane. It was stupid. And an absolute mistake to keep her there but he just couldn’t let her go, not that easily anyway. ”I mean, you can stay. It feels a little weird here now, with just me alone...it’d be nice to have someone blabbing to fill the silence.”

Red didn’t even care if he was there just to fill a momentary void that Eli can’t. He was just happy to get to talk to her again without him having to constantly shout or be angry at himself half the time. Then again, maybe he was just too exhausted from work to do any of that tonight.

”You want some tea or something for that headache?”

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this world keeps spinnin faster, to a new disaster, so i run to you, i run to you baby Maci returned his grin, though hers showed equal parts confusion and happiness. Only because she had no idea why her statement had made him so happy. It was the truth. Everyone she'd told about her situation, even Vita, had called Eli a bitch without any type of provocation besides her shared story."the sad thing is I know you would enjoy it. Not that I understand why you'd love it so much... If you want to enlighten me, feel free. Other than that.. yeah I'm aware that you'd like to kick his ass." She it slowly, her voice showing no emotion on the subject. Maci wasn't sure how she'd feel about someone, especially Redford, kicking Eli's ass. Eli had had Army training... could Red even kick his ass? Maci would have walked out that door without a question if he had told her to leave. She would have balled when she got home, sure, but she wasn't here to cause him problems. Her willingness to keep the people around her happy, her willingness to go if that's what it took, and the fact that she was used to him not willingly being around her had her thinking she was going to need to put on the jacket and walk out. She froze as she went to pick up her jacket and heard him protesting. Maci opened her mouth to say something, but all that tumbled from her lips was a weak, "Oh.. okay. thanks." there was no hiding her smile as she relaxed back into the couch. Though she had to admit... it was eerily quiet with just the two of them there, not arguing. "I'm sorry if me being here is too weird for you. You could turn on the TV or something?" she suggested, even though she knew that would make the head ache worse. Really, Maci had no idea what she thought would happen when she came over. She hadn't expected anything that had happened so far.. even though she'd been more pleased and comforted than expected. Whatever she expected, it certainly was not civility and awkward silences, which Redford was breaking during her train of thought to offer her tea."Tea sounds great. What about alcohol. Do you think it would help to get freaking wasted?" she inquired, dead serious.© CHUCK!!

a sinner like me

“I like kicking people’s ass if you’ve forgotten,” was all the explanation he offered though in truth, it was more than that. He would have felt an even greater sense of satisfaction to bash his head in or even just get a punch in or two for Eli snaking Maci away from him. Though that delusion died away with that kiss that night, it seemed to him, still a perfectly valid reason to want to kick his ass or make him go through hell. It didn’t matter to him that Eli was probably better than him at hand-to-hand combat but Red had his own fair share of fist fights, and he didn’t really care whether he won or lost, only that he at least inflicted a significant amount of harm on the other man.

More than relief washed over Red as she fumbled back into her seat when he’d asked her to stay, his hand itching to reach out for her retreating back into his pocket as a more than happy smile spread across his lips.

He had to admit he did miss having arguments with her, he missed the shouting matches that went on to no end until one of them gave in. It was the only sort of conversation he was good at her, not this awkward silence, not any of this touchy-feely emotion crap that he’d never been taught to do. Emotions were as complicated to him as elementary algebra, something which he would have failed in high school if he didn’t kick the crap out of one of the nerds in his class to take the test for him. ”It’s not weird.” He retorted, not sure why he had to. ”I mean, nahh, you’re head ache would just get worse.” He added, unconsciously leaning in closer to brush her hair behind her ear and offer a little smile.

He couldn’t help but laugh at her question, unsure whether to say yes or no. He knew with him in the room, alcohol wasn’t really a good decision. He didn’t exactly have a good rapport with alcohol now, did he? ”It won’t help but if you really want to get wasted, I’m not gonna stop you.” He offered, standing up and chuckling still. He really had no idea why it seemed to so funny, maybe it was the image of her drinking and wasted or just her generally asking the question; Maci Donahue of all people wanted to get wasted.

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this world keeps spinnin faster, to a new disaster, so i run to you, i run to you baby "I think that would be nearly impossible to forget about you, Red." Maci said honestly. It was the truth. Redford was the type of person who would go into a fight without thinking about the risks. And if he lost, he would go down swinging. His pride remained untouched as long as he left his mark... some people might call that manly. Maci called it stupid. And besides the fact that she didn't want Eli hurt... she was against them fighting because she didn't want to see Redford hurt either.His adorable smile, yes adorable, didn't help the awkward silence and the tension that accompanied it. She almost wished he'd agreed to turn on the TV. "As long as it's not wierd. And I don't know, I wouldn't mind the noise actually.." It felt like her headache was only getting worse with the silence. Though that could have been because, with all the silence, her thoughts were running rampant in her head. Her heartache was fresh and without any external stimuli, it wasn't going to be off her mind any time soon. This is partially why the alcohol played in to her attempts to feel better. Unknowingly, Maci leaned into his hand as he tucked her hair behind her ear, her skin burning where he had touched her as he pulled it away."I think that getting drunk is a good option, my only option. So please, please, please give me something that will make me walk and talk funny and I promise if I'm a crying drunk you can just throw me out." Maci stood up and made her way into the kitchen, leaning against a counter and remembering the last time the two of them had been alone in the very room. Biting her lip, she crossed her arms and waited for him to join her. It was rude to just rummage through your hosts fridge, and since Roddy had moved out she felt less inclined to consider herself a part time resident rather than a guest. "How have you been doing here since Roddy left?"© CHUCK!!

a sinner like me

Red couldn’t’ resist but to smirk back proudly, his fighting skills were the only few real things he could honestly be proud of because he learned them all on his own. It’s probably hard not to since he grew up getting into fights left and right. He wasn’t always the fittest and strongest in his small group of friendly misfits so he had to learn early how to defend himself as well as how to fight back. It probably helped that growing up with a crush on your brother’s best friend had its overwhelming frustration that only a good punch to someone’s jaw could fix.

He couldn’t help but stare at his hand when he was sure she was looking away, a small smile creeping on his features at the burning sensation her skin left on his palm. If he could repeat the motion without looking like a complete weirdo he would have but she had gotten up and made her way to the kitchen, leaving him shoving the still burning hand in his pocket as he followed after her.

With a few more chuckles, he finally gave in and nodded, walking into the kitchen and hovering on top of her – probably a little too closely than was normal – and reached for his stored bottles of wine in the cupboards. He may be a crude and crass alcoholic but it didn’t mean he didn’t have any taste. ”I’ll put these in some ice. You get some beer.” He told her before pulling away to the opposite side of the room and dropped the two bottles he’d retrieved from the cupboard in a bucket of ice. ”Nothing really changed. The only difference I guess is my guests don’t have to be so quiet all the time.” He answered as he turned around, pulling himself up on the counter to watch her expression – still wary of the red that tinted her eyes.

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this world keeps spinnin faster, to a new disaster, so i run to you, i run to you baby She regretted letting more thoughts of Eli slip into her mind. Even if they were just innocent ones about how well him and Redford would fare in a fight against each other. It was bad enough that she was thinking constantly about Kendra and Eli and their friendship.. the fact that he'd been so drunk he didn't know where he was and didn't remember what happened the previous night. She just needed to forget about him. At least for a while, while she was here with Red.maci was wearing a smile as he entered the kitchen. Sercetly, she was yearning to reach up and touch the warmed skin but couldn't do that, seeing as he had entered the room. Also, she was clueless as to why she wanted to do it in the first place.As he stood close, the tiny brunette could feel her throat restricting. Her chest felt heavier than usual, breathing was hard. Maybe she was expecting him to do something stupid again. that seemed to be her first thought when he was within even two feet of her. She looked down, opening her mouth and taking a deep breath until she felt his presence leave her. A sharp intake of breath and Maci had directed her gaze onto him again, watching him from across the room without a word leaving her mouth. She took 'you get beer' as an order/invitation to get some from the fridge and grabbed two, opening them using the 'ring trick' her dad had taught her on her 21st birthday months ago. "I guess you mean 'lady friends' when you say guests." Maci swallowed hard. Words escaped her, she just stared at him for the longest time, biting her cheek so that not foul words or phrases could be uttered against him. It was his life, and she didn't know why she cared so much, but it was quickly growing irritating to have this inexplicable feeling at the thought of Red bringing his girls here--or anywhere at all-- loud or not. Possibly because he'd always been so rude to her, she didn't know what made other girls so special. Her stare was accompanied by a frown and after she'd decided he was serious, she shook her head and lifted her beer to her mouth so she could guzzle down as much as was possible in the next ten seconds. Maci pulled herself up to sit on the counter opposite him, crossing her arms and refusing to look at him. "Why do you bring so many different girls home?" she asked, trying not to sound as annoyed as she was.© CHUCK!!