004. Video; un: driver

[killertrack]

[ When the video starts, nothing shows but a Cadelle street. It's the middle of the night and the streetlamps are all the light around. There's music playing, obviously coming from the phone's speakers, tinny. But it's half covered by Baby's humming. ]

Hellooooo everyone! I thought I'd sing you a lullaby.

[ It's obvious that Baby is drunk when he starts speaking, even without being on the screen, and it's even more obvious when he moves the camera a little, half his face appearing, shadowed by the streetlights he's walking under. He's wearing sunglasses.

Eyes half closed, the unsteadiness of the video shows how much Baby has had earlier. He stumbles for a step, then stops, laughing to himself as he runs a hand over his face.

Then, he starts singing, along with the song playing: ]

So take a look at me now
Since I told you it's over
You got a hole in your heart
I'll find a four leaf clover
You can't tell me this now
This far down the line
That you're never, ever gonna get over me

[ He might be drunk, but at least he's not a bad singer. It's a bit wobbly, and there are tears in his voice as he sings, the words feeling like they're stabbing him, over and over.

Isabelle's gone.

He stops singing, looking ahead at the mostly empty street. He stumbles again, closes his eyes while he takes a deep breath, head tilted up to the sky. When he opens them again, and then turns to the camera, he's grinning. ]

Feels like a perfect night for a joyride, right?

[ The words are slurred, and Baby's smile is already wavering, but then he turns the camera to his car, parked a few feet away. ]

Comments

[killertrack]

Are you angry she's gone?

[ He might not be. After all, Alec has an advantage on Baby, and that's he and Isabelle come from the same world. He can see her again, much easier than Baby.

Which isn't fair.

Baby squints at Alec, patting his pockets for a second, before taking his keys out, and then... holding them over his head. ]

Do you know how to drive?

[ Because Baby might be impaired, but he's still a better driver than someone who doesn't even have a license. ]

[risers]

[ choosing to ignore the first question, alec opts to look unimpressed instead. he doesn't give it much time to ruminate — of course he misses izzy. he's here for izzy. the fact he doesn't show his sadness by drinking himself under a table is his own decision. alec copes by shooting arrows from rooftops and brooding. ]

[ not giving baby the satisfaction of glancing up, he doesn't make to reach for the keys dangling above baby's head. he stands with his arms crossed against his chest. with a pointed look, ] Why don't we find out?

[killertrack]

[ Baby's eyes go a little wide at the question. ]

Because - because this car is -

[ He hesitates. Then, in a rush of breath: ]

- this car is my baby.

[ Under different circumstances, he'd never have gone for it. Never, in a million years. It's way too stupid a joke, but right now he doesn't even care. ]

Right now, she's all I have.

[ Which isn't fair to his friends. But he doesn't feel like much is fair, right now. ]

[risers]

[ alec barely seems to react. before it'd been impatience curling around him, but, believe it or not, now it's transformed into patience. he's used to these sorts of outbursts from shadowhunters (and simon) that he lets himself ride the wave with baby. ]

[ he wonders if the pun is intended. he'll ask baby later, possibly when his head's pounding with a hell of a lot of regret. ]

I'll take care of her. [ there's not too much emotion in his voice. if it pains him to refer to the car as a her, he doesn't show it. sighing deeply, he injects conviction into: ] Promise. I'm not pinky swearing it.

[killertrack]

[ Baby fixes Alec with a look - or at least he tries, but wavers quickly, closing his eyes and clenching his jaw against a sudden wave of nausea. He allows it to subside before he speaks again, words feeling tight as he lowers his hand down. ]

Fine.

[ He drops the keys into Alec's hand. He sways a little, managing not to stumble straight into Alec by putting his hand back on the top of the car, fingers curling against the metal. ]

Why are you doing this? You don't even like me.

[risers]

[ he sighs. fingers wrapping around those keys to keep them locked in his palm, alec doesn't make a move to enter the car just yet. (it's not because he has never entered a car before. sliding into the driver's seat right now doesn't seem to be the main point to make here.) ]

It's the right thing to do. [ and he's all about following the rules. it may not be the rules of the clave that he's adhering to now, but his own. it isn't for izzy he does this, either. she's capable of picking herself up, even when she sometimes leans for him to extend his hand. this isn't solely born from a sense of loyalty to his sister. ]

[ pushing himself off where he leans against the side of the car, he regards baby with a pointed look, ] And I'm not an ass. Thanks for the vote of confidence.

[ he makes to enter the car. vroom vroom. ]

[killertrack]

I never said you were an ass.

[ Baby sounds a little despondent when he talks, stomping his way around to the passenger door and sliding in, a little precariously. He sighs, the sound loud in the quiet of the car. ]

Just. I tried to be your friend but you didn't seem very interested.

[ He shrugs, dramatically, before falling against the passenger seat. ]

But thanks. For this.

[risers]

[ alec keeps his gaze straight ahead, first ducking his head to find where the key slots in. after completing such a small action, he lifts his head, and still doesn't honour baby with even a split second of a glance. he's doing the whole feelings and emotions thing, and while alec's capable of having those conversations, it doesn't mean he freely throws him into them. baby had wanted to be his friend. ]

[ he lets out a sigh. turning the car on, he's a little grateful the engine is so loud. ] I'm not really good at friends. [ putting the car into gear, he doesn't take off, foot on the brake as he knows — knows exactly what izzy would say, and exactly what max would lecture. ] We can try again. If you want.

[killertrack]

I think you can be great at the friends thing. You care about people. [ Case in point, he is driving drunk Baby back to his place. If that's not caring, then Baby has no idea what is.

He shrugs then, wanting to burrow into the purr of his car. It's so soothing. ]

I'd like to be your friend. I don't have many friends.

[risers]

[ this is the type of moment where alec would find izzy popping in, breaking the discomfort he feels and putting words into his mouth he can't quite find himself saying. it's when clary would perform the task in his sister's stead. being in baby's car with only their shadows means alec has to navigate this on his own, and he doesn't particularly want to drive it into a ditch. ]

We can be friends. Only if you don't ever drive after you've been drinking. You call me.

[ this is alexander "mom" lightwood, your friend. accepts friendship request. ]

[killertrack]

No drunk driving. Gotcha.

[ The words feel heavy in Baby's mouth, the purr of the engine lulling him into a daze, his eyelids drooping, his hands relaxing, slack against his lap. His eyes closed, Baby sighs softly, sort of contently, before he speaks again, a soft rumble of words he's not sure make sense. ]

I mean it, too. You're beautiful. Your eyes are beautiful.

[risers]

[ alec has always been a straight shooter, but even he knows when someone's drunk. he's used to this, being the designated driver, so to speak. so when baby starts talking a little crazy, he knows he made the right decision to sit behind this wheel despite his discomfort and try and take baby back to his apartment block. ]

Yeah. You're the only one who thinks that. Probably because I'm driving your car.

[ the method of deduction, thy name is alexander nancy drew lightwood. ]

[killertrack]

Pssh. My car doesn't make anyone more beautiful just because they're being the wheel. I'd know.

[ Because he's behind it all the time. Get it. Get it? ]

Whatever, learn to take a compliment. [ A slurred compliment is a compliment all the same. Let's just hope that Baby doesn't remember any of this in the morning. ]

You need to relax. [ Says he, burrowing a little into the leather of the passenger seat, sighing gently as his eyes close. ]

[risers]

Right.

[ what he's responding to will remain a mystery until the end of time. alec's patience isn't wearing thin, even if it may appear it is. the indifference, the distance ... it's how alec copes with almost any interaction. baby's intoxicated. he's not taking anything he says to heart — except the fact he let him drive his car. although he's oftentimes stupid, alec knows what it means. ]

How do you suggest I do that?

[ drunk baby is kind of amusing. whether or not alec intends to follow his advice is currently up in the air. ]

[killertrack]

Hmmmmmmm.

[ Baby closes his eyes again, taking his time to think about it, which is hard because his brain feels so, so slow. ]

Weeeeeeeellllll..... is there a girl you like? Because that helps, for relaxing. You know, have some fun.

[risers]

[ pressing his lips together, alec doesn't even think to humour baby. he hadn't done it with clary, he hadn't done it with izzy, and a part of him hadn't truly done it with himself. ] I'm not interested.

[ in women or having fun, take your pick. alec would personally opt for "both". indicating to turn, he manoeuvres the car to the right, almost like he was born to drive (he wasn't, he's just going grandpa speed). ] I'm relaxed enough. [ says the person with stiff shoulders. ]

[killertrack]

No? Oh. Then why are you here? Isn't it the whole point of this place?

[ Baby closes his mouth, confused for a moment, before his brain goes around, the look on Alec's face, the way his knuckles are white on the steering wheel, the stiffness he carries himself with.

It takes Baby a long time, but then: ]

Or, wait. You're not interested in girls?