Excuses: Kira

[Maverick]

Firecracker!

God damn it.

It was all he could think of. That, and how bad his luck was. And here he thought he left her and those memories back in Tennessee. "Guess I guessed wrong." He mumbled, staring down at the dark wood of the bar top.

"What can I get for ya?"

His eyes lifted, finding them looking at a hot brunette. "Jack, large cup. Straight, with just a lil ice." He ordered, looking down again. "New here, huh?" She asked as she filled his order. "Yeah." He replied half-heartedly.

"Well," She paused, sliding his glass over to him. "Welcome to New York." She smiled lightly. "Don't really want to be here." He commented lightly. "Then why are you here?" She asked, leaning onto the bar.

"Job." It was all he could say.

"Well, in my experience, no job is worth being somewhere you don't want to be, hun." She smirked. "I'm Kiera." He nodded. "Maverick."

His mind kept going back to her, and how much she seemed to change. "Red hair." His brows furrowed as he took a large gulp of his drink.

"What about redheads?"

Maverick shook his head. "Nothin'" Running a hand down his face, he sighed, shaking it off. No reason to ruin his night over Kira. "Wait a minute, your name is Kiera?"

She nodded, tending to another man at the end of the bar. "Yup." She smiled softly. God, they're everywhere...

[Kira]

Fuck.

Fuck.

Kira practically snarled as she started up her bike. She needed a drink and a pick me up now. Perferably one with muscles and an IQ of 12. The only place to find large muscle-y dumbasses was The Lone Wolf.

Why was he here?

She had taken this job in New York because she needed new scenery. New men, new places to drink, and more money. But he was here. Stopping at a red light she revved her engine thinking back to times when her and him used to actually get along. One night still lingered in her mind when they actually opened up to each other. Then it was all gone just like that.

Swerving throughout traffic, she made the 15 minute drive to the bar a 5 minute one. Parking and slipping out of her helmet she propped it on the handle and left it be. All she needed now was a nice double shot of their best bourbon.

As soon as she walked in the door she felt heads turn to watch her as she made her way to the bar. Her attention weren't on them. It was on the top shelf behind the bar. Four Roses her all time favorite sat there basically untouched. Slipping in beside a bruting guy with long hair she paid no attention to she waved over the bartendar girl.

"Double shot of Four Roses." She didn't throw in a please there was no need. This chick was going to take her money whether she was polite or not. Her mind began to trail off on how ignorant Maverick had been at the meeting. He ignored her, and then when they did talk he just barely said a few words to her.

Well fuck him...

[Maverick]

The place went suddenly quiet. He could hear the door open and close, and a few whispers among the men at a table that were playing poker. But, everything else seemed to cease. Maverick was too far into his memories to even bother paying attention to anything around him.

God, she looked good. He had to admit that, because... well, because he had to. It was that simple. It wasn't always like this. They use to be close. They use to be partners. Yeah, until that night... He reminded himself. Chugging the rest of his jack, he nodded to the bartender once more. "Another already?" He just nodded. "Looks like you're trying to drown out something..."

"Memories." He commented, making eye contact with her as she passed the full glass back to him. "Thanks." He cleared his throat as he took a sip, head leaning back to it's downward position as someone sat beside him.

"Double shot of Four Roses."

"Fuck, my luck." He immediately said aloud, knowing that voice all too well. Lifting his head up, his eyes landed on that red hair. "Kira." He acknowledged her. "Yeah?" Maverick smiled lightly, shaking his head. "Not you."

"All of the bars in New York, and you just had to pick the one with me in it, huh?" He huffed, digging into his pockets for a cigarette. "Fuck my luck."

[Kira]

"Fuck, my luck." He immediately said aloud, knowing that voice all too well. Lifting his head up, his eyes landed on that red hair. "Kira."

All she could do was shake her head. Only she could manage to find the only bar in New York that was crawling with assholes...assholes named Maverick. She couldn't even pay attention to the fact that the bartendars name must have been Kira too. She was too busy cursing herself and her drinking habits.

The bartendar obvioulsy caught on to the tension because she poured her drink and made her way to the other side of the bar. Taking a sip she tried to ignor ethat he was even there. Yes, ignoring him would definitly make him disappear. "All of the bars in New York, and you just had to pick the one with me in it, huh?" He huffed, digging into his pockets for a cigarette. "Fuck my luck."

These past two years of controlling her temper seemed to snap within two seconds. "Don't fucking flatter yourself, Mav. I just wanted a drink..not to beg on my knees for your ass to forgive me." She spoke her tone light and yet cold as ice. He was starting to piss her off. Like she knew he was here. Argonant ass.

Kira brought the glass to her lips, but she turned to look at him instead of taking a sip. Which was a mistake. He was still handsome. As handsome as he used to be...hell maybe even more. Everything about him that used to secretly drive her wild back then was more defined. She shook all those thoughts. "And if you can't live your life without holding a grudge on something from the past. Then you really have changed..." She paused taking a sip of her drink. "For the worst."

[Maverick]

"Don't fucking flatter yourself, Mav. I just wanted a drink..not to beg on my knees for your ass to forgive me."

He huffed, rolling his eyes as he turned to face her full on. "Forgive you?" He raised his voice a tad. "You left me alone, Kira!" He shouted. "And thanks for that by the way. It took two surgery just to make my back stop hurting, where the knife was" He pointed out.

As she paused to take a drink, he noticed she was looking at him. "Well, take a damn picture, Kir." He huffed, turning back to the bar. "I've heard it lasts longer." Shaking his head, he took a large gulp of his jack daniels.

"And if you can't live your life without holding a grudge on something from the past. Then you really have changed..." She paused taking a sip of her drink. "For the worst."

He couldn't help the soft grunt that followed. "And you sure have become more of a snarly bitch." He commented. "That red hair suits you, you little firecracker." He also couldn't help that a tiny smirk seemed to fall on his lips. "Well, if that makes me a bad person, then we're both fucked."

Kiera walked back in then, looking between the two. "Just so you know, we have one simple rule here. No fighting." She paused. "Don't make Badr come in here...." She told them both, looking back into the back room.

[Kira]

"Forgive you?" He raised his voice a tad. "You left me alone, Kira!" He shouted. "And thanks for that by the way. It took two surgery just to make my back stop hurting, where the knife was" He pointed out.

Kira rolled her eyes. "You know what. Fuck you Maverick. Fuck you and your stupid back wound." She couldn't believe she said that, but he was so insensitive. He never even asked her why she hadn't come fast enough. Like she purposely let him get his ass kicked. She was tired of him dogging on her when that happened to be the worst night of her life.

"Did you ever stop to think if their was a legitimate reason for me not coming to your side faster? Or do you truly believe that I was letting you get your ass kicked?" And if he did then he was not the man she thought he was. They were close and he knew back then she would have done whatever she needed to do to protect him.

"Well, take a damn picture, Kir." He huffed, turning back to the bar. "I've heard it lasts longer."

She actually let a smirk climb across her face as she shot him the bird. Why did things have to be this way? They used to be partners, and that bond was almost stronger than marriage. It didn't have to be this way...

"And you sure have become more of a snarly bitch." He commented. "That red hair suits you, you little firecracker."

Kira flipped her hair and gave him a smirk. "Why thank you. My goal was to make sure I became a bigger bitch and for my hair to match my personality. Thanks for noticing." She commented in a fake appreciated tone. "Well, if that makes me a bad person, then we're both fucked."

"Been there done that. Doing it again tonight." She starred into her glass trying to avoid looking at him. She knew she wouldn't be able to keep up this hate act if she managed to look into his eyes. The bartendar finally found the need to walk down there and say something to them about fighting and the rules.

Kira assumed that this Badr character was probably the owner and Kira was not one that liked to piss off people that supply alcohol. Holding up her hand she gave a little smirk. "Oh honey don't worry. This isn't fighting. It's four play." She chugged the rest of her bourbon and gave a full grin to her. "Another please?"

[Maverick]

"You know what. Fuck you Maverick. Fuck you and your stupid back wound."

He glared over at him. This was going no where, they were acting like two four year olds in adult suits. "Y'know, I would say fuck you," He paused, taking in a deep breath. "Fuck it." He downed his second glass, moving it aside as he stood up. "Fuck you."

Walking to the jukebox, he put in a quarter and put on a song, something that could maybe... drown out her voice. Chris Young's voice came over the bar as the song started up.

"Did you ever stop to think if their was a legitimate reason for me not coming to your side faster? Or do you truly believe that I was letting you get your ass kicked?

His eyes locked his hers as he made his way back to his seat. "I thought about it." He admitted as he sat back down. "Then I realized something," He paused, looking over at her. "The only reason that would make you lag behind was if someone died." There was clearly no expression on his face. "And in those moments at the hospital, you never gave me a reason."

"Why thank you. My goal was to make sure I became a bigger bitch and for my hair to match my personality. Thanks for noticing."

He just rolled his eyes. "Been there done that. Doing it again tonight." Kiera came back and explained the rules. Making him thankful for the interruption. A man was standing at the corridor to the back room, and there was something in that mans eyes that made him think twice about causing a fight. "No problem, can I get another?" Kiera smiled nodding lightly.

"Oh honey don't worry. This isn't fighting. It's four play." She chugged the rest of her bourbon and gave a full grin to her. "Another please?"

His eyes widened as he looked to both of the woman, shaking his head. "Ignore her, she's joking. She thinks she's funny." He paused, turning to Kira. "But she's not."

[Kira]

"Y'know, I would say fuck you," He paused, taking in a deep breath. "Fuck it." He downed his second glass, moving it aside as he stood up. "Fuck you."

Kira held her hand over her heart as if what he said really pained her. "Ouch, that really hurts." She gave a light laugh. "But don't we both know that you wish you did when you had the chance." She flashed him a full on smile as he got up and walked towards the jukebox. She tried not to make it a point that she was staring at his ass the whole time.

"I thought about it." He admitted as he sat back down. "Then I realized something," He paused, looking over at her. "The only reason that would make you lag behind was if someone died." There was clearly no expression on his face. "And in those moments at the hospital, you never gave me a reason."

All things became serious for the moment as she smile faded and she looked into his deep dark brown eyes. "Maybe someone did." She said barely audible to anyone around them, but she knew he had heard her. 'I didn't give you a reason at the hospital because I was so worried about you I could barely speak, sleep or even eat."

She shook all sadness from her head, and she put her bitch face back on. "Ignore her, she's joking. She thinks she's funny." He paused, turning to Kira. "But she's not." Kira only shook her head as she waited for the bartendar to pour her some more. As she handed her, her full glass she gave a her a smile. "Well I bet she thought I was funny.

"Well unless you are into her and trying to get with her tonight then I guess it's not funny to either of you..." She gave him a savvy smile before taking a long sip of her drink.

[Maverick]

"Ouch, that really hurts." She gave a light laugh. "But don't we both know that you wish you did when you had the chance."

"Maybe." He said, leaning in as Kiera poured their drinks. "But, you'll never know now, huh?" He smirked, leaning back as Kiera handed him his drink. "Maybe someone did." He went to take a drink, but paused immediately.

'I didn't give you a reason at the hospital because I was so worried about you I could barely speak, sleep or even eat."

"Who?" He asked softly. "Well I bet she thought I was funny." And there she went, back to her bitch-phase. Sighing, he took that drink he had been meaning to take since the glass was refilled.

"Well unless you are into her and trying to get with her tonight then I guess it's not funny to either of you..."

"Still not funny." He smirked, shaking his head. Pausing a few, he turned to her fully. "What happened to you, Kir?" He asked softly.

[Kira]

"Maybe." He said, leaning in as Kiera poured their drinks. "But, you'll never know now, huh?"

Kira only looked at the amber liquid in her glass with a smirk planted on her face. He was trying to get to her, but it wasn't going to work. She didn't need to be reminded of their past. She was more concerned about her future, and what the hell she was really doing at the new job.

Taking a nice slow sip she wanted to avoid talking about her mother's death, but it seemed that tonights theme was bringing up the past. And that was exactly what was happening. "Who?" Sighing she shook her head. "There's no need to tell you now...the past is the past."

That was how she felt. If he wanted to know he would have figured out before he ran away three years ago. Amusing herself was the only way to get through the rest of tonight. And the only way to do that was to piss him off completely before he left or he forced her to leave. Either way there was no way they were staying in the same place all night.

"Still not funny." He smirked, shaking his head. Pausing a few, he turned to her fully. "What happened to you, Kir?" He asked softly.

Kira giggled softly. "I think I'm hilairious." She flashed him a smirk. Then he turned to her full on, and his face went serious. Her smirk fell and she found herself truthfully speechless. "I lost two people I really loved...." She kept his gaze for a moment before turning away from him and taking another sip of her bourbon.

[Maverick]

"There's no need to tell you now...the past is the past."

If that's how she wanted it to be, then so be it. Not like her cared, right? Righ. His hold told him, but something in his chest pumped a bit faster. Damn it to hell. He thought, sighing heavily. "The past is never just the past, Kira."

"I think I'm hilarious."

He just stared, blank face, no expressions; just a raised brow.

"I lost two people I really loved...."

Well, for once she got him to the point of not knowing what to say. The only people she admitting to have loved were her family. That, and how close she was to her m-- "Oh..." He paused, sighing as he shook his head. "Kira... if I would have known... Why didn't you tell me about your mom? What happened?"

[Kira]

"The past is never just the past, Kira."

All she could do was shake her head. Obviously it wasn't. Not to him. He still held a grudge, and probably always would. She found herself not wanting to be at this bar. Wanting to be at home...real home in Georgia. A lump grew in her throat, but she wouldn't cry. Not in front of him.

"Oh..." He paused, sighing as he shook his head. "Kira... if I would have known... Why didn't you tell me about your mom? What happened?"

Shock caught inside of her as he caught on so quickly. She looked at him her grey blue eyes swimming, but not a single tear falling from her eyes. She just looked at him a moment. Swallowing the lump in her throat she sighed. There was no way she could look at him and explain herself. Her attention went to her glass as she spoke.

"To be honest.. I don't know. The doctor's said unexpected heart failure." She felt herself choke up, but once again refused to cry. "She...was all alone, and no one was answering their phones so they called me." Taking a deep shaky breath she looked up at him, her face completely serious.

"By the time I hung up the phone and went to you...well you know." Her eyes fond his and she held his gaze so intensly. "I never meant for that to happen, Maverick." She paused her eyes almost pleading with him, decieving her. "I didn't know what to do..." She looked down at the floor and found herself feeling the way she did that night. Confused and sick.

He made everything so hard for her. Hard for her to keep him out...hard for her to be mad at him..hard for her not to love him the way she did. He understood her even when he so obviously hated her...

[Maverick]

"To be honest.. I don't know. The doctor's said unexpected heart failure." She felt herself choke up, but once again refused to cry. "She...was all alone, and no one was answering their phones so they called me."

All he could do was listen, as his eyes fell to his boots as she kept talking. I'm a fuckin' idiot. He thought to himself, shaking his head. In all of his life, and all the deaths he's witnessed or funerals he's been too, he's found there were no words that could stop the hurtin'. All you could really say was sorry.

"By the time I hung up the phone and went to you...well you know." Her eyes found his and she held his gaze so intensly. "I never meant for that to happen, Maverick."

Lifting his head, their eyes locked instantly. "I know." He whispered in that deep southern voice of his. "I didn't either, y'know. No one expects things like that to happen. But, in a way it made me realize that the job I was doing was eventually going to get me killed. I would have left eventually," He paused. "Just so happened it was sooner, rather than later."

"I didn't know what to do..."

He shook his head, looking down at his boots again. "I'm sorry," He paused, letting out a large breath he was holding as he looked back up and to her. "For your mom, and everything."

[Kira]

"I know." He whispered in that deep southern voice of his. "I didn't either, y'know. No one expects things like that to happen. But, in a way it made me realize that the job I was doing was eventually going to get me killed. I would have left eventually," He paused. "Just so happened it was sooner, rather than later."

Kira finally shook the tears in her eyes. Drying up and straighting up. She didn't want to be caught looking sad in a bar that was bad karma waiting to happen. A sigh erupted from her lips. "Yeah, but you left because of me. Left me to be protected by a few insecure assholes that I didn't trust..." She rolled her eyes taking a sip of her drink until it was gone.

She pushed the glass away from her. There was no need to get wasted tonight. She didn't have to. It was going to be a rough night whether she remembered it or not. "You could have taken me with you... anything..." Shaking the thought she just sat there. Not drinking not talking... she just sat there.

"I'm sorry," He paused, letting out a large breath he was holding as he looked back up and to her. "For your mom, and everything."

She nodded slightly. "It's fine. Not like you could have done anything to help it." She sighed once again. Facing him her blue eyes were filled with her firecracker charisma. "Did you even think about me after you left, Mav? Did you even care?"