you’ll only hear the knock of your own heart as signal - Adrina, Quinn, Flynn

[noplaceforthee.insanejournal.com]

Every time Adrina turned her head on the tube ride home she could smell Eamon. He was all over her and by the time she'd reached home the overwhelming sadness had lifted from her and now she was filled with a bittersweetness about it all. She had been given one last night with Eamon. She had been able to end it all on their own shared terms. They were over, but it would be okay. Not tomorrow and not next month but, eventually, Adrina would be okay and missing him would become easier.

She showered slowly, letting the hot water drown her and not minding that it was washing Eamon's handprints away. It felt good and ritual and needed. She felt good.

She toweled herself dry and made her way to Quinn and Flynn's bedroom, knocking on their door and poking her head in. Birds were singing by now and sunlight was just beginning to properly enter the world.

"Quinny?" she asked. "You awake?"

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[quinntaessentia.insanejournal.com]

Quinn groaned, but the creak of the door and the sound of his best friend's voice was enough to cut through his sleep. "Mm?" he asked, because words were beyond him. Still, he managed to lift his head and blink wearily at her.

[noplaceforthee.insanejournal.com]

"I'm sorry," Adrina said, coming over to the bed, "I really didn't want to wake you but I just feel really good right now and- can I hop in?"

[quinntaessentia.insanejournal.com]

Quinn hadn't seen Adrina like this in far too long and that was enough to rouse him even more. "Of course, but I'm not wearing bottoms." Not that he thought Adrina would mind, but it was better if she knew.

Beside them, Flynn groaned and then rolled over to give Adrina more room before promptly falling back asleep.

[noplaceforthee.insanejournal.com]

She acknowledged the lack of bottoms but didn't care much beyond that - she'd cared for Quinn after his coma when he'd needed help and he'd gone into bathroom stalls with her when she was too scared to even be alone for long enough to pee. There weren't many naked body embarrassments between the two of them anymore.

Adrina ignored poor sleepy Flynn. He'd fall back asleep easy enough, he always did. She snuggled up to Quinn. "I was with Eamon last night," Adrina said, smiling brightly. Then, before he could get the wrong idea, she added, "we're not back together. It was just... it was sort of a last goodbye and... I feel so wonderful. Just being with him again, just one last time... oh Quinn. I think I'm going to be okay."

[quinntaessentia.insanejournal.com]

Hearing her say she thought she was going to be okay was music to Quinn's sleepy ears. The knot he had been walking around with in his belly for the past several weeks started to loosen and he grinned widely at her before leaning forward to kiss her forehead. "Oh, Adrina. I am so happy to hear that."

[noplaceforthee.insanejournal.com]

"I'm really trying hard not to tell you details about your brother's sexlife as of last night," Adrina assured him, "but he was so wonderful to me and I don't think he even knows how much I needed him and needed that. I want to be able to move on and be a real person again and- I love you, Quinny."

[quinntaessentia.insanejournal.com]

Quinn's face when from smiling to 'blechy!' in seconds flat, but it went right back when Adrina babbled on about feeling good. That was all that mattered and not thinking about his gigantic brother putting bits of himself inside his best friend because no.

"Eamon is pretty wonderful," Quinn agreed, and then he pulled Adrina into a hug. "And so are you. I love you too, Adrina. This is just so good to hear. I've been so worried!"

[noplaceforthee.insanejournal.com]

"I've been worried too," Adrina said. "Don't get me wrong, I still feel sad and hollow and I'm missing him like a limb, but... I'm going to be okay. It's a relationship that ended on something beautiful unlike... well... all my others."

[quinntaessentia.insanejournal.com]

Of course she was still sad, and Quinn was sure there would be times he would silently get the ice cream out of the freezer and bring it to her like an offering to chase away the tears. She had done it for him while Flynn was missing and again while they were fighting and separated.

"You're going to make he cry!" he said, grinning at her. "I'm just so pleased for you!"

[noplaceforthee.insanejournal.com]

"Things are going to be okay," Adrina murmured, drawing herself closer and burying her face against his chest, heavy eyes falling shut. "I'll stay here with you. Mmmm, Quinn time."

[quinntaessentia.insanejournal.com]

Quinn grinned and he kissed her forehead again before letting his eyes fall closed. "Adrina sleep is good sleep," he mumbled, and he fell asleep with his best friend in his arms.