Long Time No See

Now that he was just about fully healed, an old friend of his had insisted that they get together with the old crew. Needless to say, the night wasn't exactly going all that well and, oddly enough, John was starting to feel as though he had outgrown his old friends. Splashing cold water on his face in the bathroom, John gripped the edges of the sink and looked up at himself in the mirror in an attempt to focus on something, anything to keep him from going back there. He could still hear the explosions, still see the faces of his dead friends... not the ones who were sitting at the bar, laughing and undoubtedly wondering why he had spazzed. No... he was thinking about the friends that had laid their lives down for one another... and for him as well. All it had taken was one wise crack at John and the marines from one of those drunk bastards.

The water was still running as he rubbed the spot on his arm where there was now a scar, one that would hopefully fade at least somewhat, overtime. He vaguely remembered being blinded and feeling metal tear through the skin and muscle. Just thinking about it made the spot ache. Catching his breath, John turned off the water and dried his face before heading out the bathroom door. Just as he was making his way toward the bar, he saw her.

It was amazing how much people changed in the matter of a decade. For a moment, he hardly even recognized her; not surprising considering he had been a senior in high school the last time he had seen her. Rather than join in on the new conversation with the guys when he returned to them, John merely ordered a shot, all the while debating on whether or not he should approach Kat. It was the douche who approached her that helped him make up his mind.

Draining his glass, he set it back down on the bar and headed toward her table, blue eyes gleaming. "Well, I'm flattered, but you could at least buy me dinner first," John said from behind the man, a devilish smirk crossing his face.

CLOTHES

John watched as the man walked off, presumably to find his net victim, choosing to ignore Kat's words. When he turned back to her, it was with his usual, devilish smile. "You mind if I sit here?" he asked, sitting down across from her before she could even respond. "It's been a while, KitKat. What have you been up to?"

Signalling a waitress, he ordered himself a Guinness. "You want another drink, KitKat?" He offered her a smile, knowing full well that she probably wanted to hit him. He hadn't exactly left her on the best of terms, that last year of high school.

He didn't let her words bother him, he rarely did. "Someone sounds a little bitter," he said, nodding to the waitress when Kat pretty much agreed to another drink. "Keep them coming," he said to the woman, smiling at her with a gleam in his eyes and then watching her walk away. "Sticks and stones, love," he said, turning his attention back to Kat.

"Now you know you don't want to hear about what I've been up to," he responded. Though his smile didn't fade, the look in his eyes changed as he purposely evaded talking about the one thing he truly didn't wish to talk about. "Besides.... I asked you first." When their drinks arrived, John took a drink of his, his eyes scanning the room out of pure habit. Since being overseas, he was use to scanning the area and being vigilant. Remembering that he was home though, where he was half as likely to be blown up or shot, he turned his eyes back to her.

John raised his brows, wondering when she would stop to breathe. "Wow," he said when she finished. "You know, I bet I can help to take away your frustration." With a smile, John leaned forward and wiggled his brows. "An art student, huh? I hear they can get pretty freaky in the sack, is that true?"

John just loved to torment her, that much was obvious, but it was more than just that. She wasn't the worst person to have around, even when she was mad at him. Which she still seemed to be, after a decade. "So did you? Find yourself that is? I'm pretty good at finding lost things, you know." This time, it was a wink he had to offer.

John didn't need telling twice and signaled for another beer for each of them. He considered her for a moment, realizing just how much she had changed since he... well, since he pretty much broke her heart. He'd changed as well... in some respects. He would admit to feeling guilty for what he did to her, but there was nothing he could do to change it. What he could do though was try to make it up to her, something that he had never done for a girl before.

"So do you want to sit here all night and drown your sorrows, or would you rather go and dance?" he asked Kat, raising his brows at her. One thing that hadn't seemed to change about her was the fact that she was a light weight, and he could already see her getting hopped up. Not only that, but he really did want to dance with her. And why not? She was a beautiful woman, smoking hot as a matter of fact.

John gave her a half smile when she finally gave in and got to his feet. "Don't leave your drink behind," he said to her, waiting for her to head to the crowded dance floor with him. "I'm not paying for your drink, only to have someone slip something into it." Standing there, he offered her his hand and, for a moment, he couldn't help but remember being in high school and going to all of those crazy parties.

He, of course, wouldn't have been the least bit surprised if she rejected his hand. The music was really starting to pick up, bodies pressing in closer together on the dance floor and daughters shaming their fathers as they grinded up against strange men. John had never minded dancing, especially if it involved the word "dirty." For a moment, he vaguely wondered if she had improved her step at all. He had never really cared if a woman was a bad dancer though, though he wouldn't deny that it turned him on if they were. He just really liked having the excuse to get all up on a woman. "You're not too drunk for this, are you? I'll try to catch you if you fall on the dance floor, but I can't make any promises."

John laughed, genuinely amused by her sudden openness. "I didn't realize sex was like dancing. I'll have to test that theory out; maybe you could help me," he said with a wink. When they found a spot where they weren't as likely to be crushed, John grabbed her by the hips and pulled her closer.

"You've changed a lot since high school," he said to her, trying to talk over the music. He wasn't normally interested in talking that much while dancing, but... well, he wasn't sure why he was more interested in talking to her. Maybe because they had history and he was interested in what had happened between then and high school. "You've really grown too, mostly in this area..." He held his hands up to his own pecs as they moved to the beat of the music, John's dancing unsurprisingly rather dirty.