Staring at the drink in front of her, Red barely heard any of the conversation that Flycatcher, Lawrence and Jack were having and instead thought about what had just happened with Bigby and felt annoyed at herself for the wasted opportunity.
You should have said something, you fucking idiot she inwardly scolded herself, that was the fucking moment and you blew it!
"-I'm just still surprised your car still had its wheels," Flycatcher's voice interrupted her thoughts and she glanced up to see the two young men grinning at Jack, "Especially when it was left in that part of town."
Jack shot Red an annoyed look and she realized that they were talking about her 'borrowing' his car when she was chasing after Georgie and Vivienne. "Yeah, I got real lucky," he muttered, taking a deep drink of his beer, "considering how I'm gonna have to live in the fuckin' thing."
"Consider us even now," Red told him sweetly, as Flycatcher and Lawrence chuckled, "you cheated on me… I stole your car."
"If it gets you to stop throwing that in my face, fine, I'll take it," Jack rolled his eyes as Red smirked at him, "you're lucky your cute, Red…you really are."
Shaking her head, Red sipped on the beer that Holly had sent over to them free of charge and tried to ignore the stares she was getting "So, Lawrence," she asked, trying to shift the attention off of her, "you all moved in now?"
"Yeah, Jack and Flycatcher helped me… so did Woody," Lawrence suddenly looked down, "I just… couldn't stay in that place any longer."
Flycatcher put a hand on his shoulder, "We understand man. You've been through hell. You don't have to explain."
"Jack helped?" Red cringed a little at the looks she got in response and held up her hands, "I'm sorry but that just took me by surprise."
"Hey, you're making me sound like the biggest asshole ever," Jack actually looked hurt by her words, "I can be a nice guy, Red. You don't need to be like that."
Feeling genuinely sorry, Red bit her lip, "I'm sorry Jack, I didn't mean to sound like a bitch there."
"Well… there is one thing you can do to make it up to me," he waggled his eyebrows suggestively and earned himself a slap on the arm, "hey, hey! It was just a suggestion."
Red glared at him, "Get a grip, Jack."
"Looks like I'm going to have to do exactly that."
Before Red could hit him again, she heard someone laugh behind her and seen Woody standing with a tray of drinks, "Nothing new there, eh? Horner," his eyes turned to Red and she seen him looking almost concerned at her, "Doing alright, Red?"
"Yeah, thanks… I'm getting there," she nodded and then raised an eyebrow at the tray of drinks, "What's that for?"
Woody shrugged and put the tray down on the table, "Thought I'd buy you a round," he said casually, "a little thank you for getting rid of the Crooked Man."
"I appreciate it," Red said honestly, not many Fables had thanked her or Bigby for ending the Crooked Man's rule, "thanks Woody."
Looking over her, Woody gave a small frown, "Holly says you're sleeping on her couch… you got nowhere to go?" he asked.
"Well… if I stay…" Red ignored the sad looks on her friends and Jack's faces at her words "I might be moving in with Flycatcher and Lawrence…"
"I don't think you should leave," Flycatcher said quietly, "things will become bad again if you do."
Lawrence nodded and stared into his drink, "You and the Sheriff are the only ones who give a damn about the nobodies."
"Speaking of the Sheriff, what does he think about you leaving?" Jack asked, raising an eyebrow curiously "It seemed like you and Wolfy were getting awfully close."
Red thought about Bigby's words to her:
"I'd miss you if you went… I really would."
But she sure as hell wasn't going to tell the others that he had said that and instead shrugged, "We're friends yeah… but he's told me to do what feels right for me," she said lamely, "to be honest, I don't think he's that bothered."
"Oh yeah, I disagree," Woody snorted, taking a deep drink before wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, "I really fucking do."
Red scoffed, "Oh yeah? Why's that?"
"Because of the look on his face."
Frowning, Red looked at the older Fable in confusion, "What are you-" she followed his eye line and her own widened when she seen Bigby heading towards their table with a look of determination in his eyes. What was he doing here? The other Fables around them, hastily moved away as the Sheriff stood in front of Red and averted their eyes to avoid the wrath of the Big Bad Wolf.
"Can I talk to you?" Bigby asked, and raised an eyebrow at the other Fables who were listening into their conversation, "In private?"
Getting over her surprise at seeing him, Red gave herself a shake and nodded, "Sure… let's go outside. Can barely hear anything over that music." She followed him to the door and looked over her shoulder at Flycatcher and the others. Aside from Jack, they all had smug grins on her face and she blushed a little.
Outside, she watched as Bigby got out his pack of cigarettes and put one in his mouth, the click of the lighter echoed in the quiet night as he lit it. "So…what did you wanna talk about?" Red asked, feeling suddenly nervous in his presence.
"Do you like steak?"
Stunned at his question, Red waited for him to laugh and tell her he was only joking but it never came, instead he looked perfectly calm as he leaned against the door of the bar and raised an eyebrow as he waited for her answer. Still confused, Red nodded a little, "Steak, sure… who doesn't like it," she said slowly, "Though I'll probably like mine rare now."
"I know a good place down the road that does reasonable steak dinners," Bigby inhaled and then blew out a ring of smoke and watched it disappear before turning to Red "you up for it?"
Red stood watching him and felt speechless, "Are you… are you asking me out?" she asked, a small smile growing on her lips "Like on a date?"
"I'm asking you out for a steak dinner… if you wanna call it a date," he shrugged "that's fine with me."
Red met his eyes and seen him smile at her, "Is this some plan of yours to get me to stay in Fabletown?" she asked coyly.
"Would it work?"
Red let out a quick exhale of amusement, "Depends if you're paying for my steak."
"I'll even buy the first drinks… but you're buying the second," Bigby told her, "I'm not that rich."
Laughing quietly, Red shook her head and felt her stomach tie into knots at the way he was looking at her, "So… you and me… going out for steaks?" she said slowly, "Is this really happening?"
"Too good to be true, huh?" Bigby straightened up and pushed a strand of her hair out of her face, making her breath hitch in her throat at how close he was to her.
"Something like that," she replied, her eyes locked on his and she noticed that his hand had come to rest on her cheek, his touch was warm and she couldn't help but lean into his hand slightly.
Bigby's eyes flickered over her face and she felt him take a step closer towards her, "Red… I wanted to say this back at the flat…I want you to know that-" but he stopped as the door was pushed open and hit them both on the side, ruining their moment and making them back away from each other.
"Oh I'm sorry," Jack said sarcastically, a frown on his face as he glanced between the two of them, "I didn't realise this is where people went to get cosy."
An annoyed Woody appeared right behind the scowling Fable and with an annoyed look, pulled Jack backwards by the scruff of his neck, "What the fuck man, I told you to leave them alone," he shot them both an apologetic look as he shut the door, "we'll let you get back to your… conversation."
Rubbing her head, Red made a mental note to punch Jack in the face, "So much for privacy, huh?" she joked and Bigby snorted.
"Don't think it exists these days," he said and then looked out into the darkened streets where it was beginning to rain, "well, I'll book us a table for tomorrow night. How does that sound?"
Red frowned as he walked up the small set of stairs towards the street: he was seriously leaving her with that cliffhanger? "What did you want to tell me?" she asked, watching as he hailed down a cab.
"It can wait till dinner," Bigby paused and turned as the rain began to fall on top of their heads "where Jack can't interrupt us."
Smiling, Red held the door open as Bigby got in, "Don't forget you're paying for the steak," she said teasingly, "and the first round of drinks. I'll be having a pitcher."
"I doubt you'll let me forget," Bigby joked and gave her a small grin, "see you around, Miss Hood."
"Good night Sheriff."
Stepping back, Red closed the door and stood in the rain, watching the taxi disappear into the night. Smiling to herself, she looked up at the sky and made a thoughtful noise.
"I suppose I could stay a little longer," she whispered and felt the excitement for tomorrow night rise within her as she turned and returned to the bar. Ignoring the strange smell that was hanging in the air.
Across the street, inside a dark sedan, a man lowered his camera and grinned to himself as Red opened the door and went inside. His employer would pay a lot for the information he had. Smugly, he brought out his notebook and wrote down the address of the bar, "Who'd have thought it," he muttered to himself, throwing the notebook onto the passenger seat and turning the keys in the ignition, "Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf shacking up together…. Wait till I tell the others back home."
The car's engine revved loudly as he drove off down the street and like the Sheriff's cab, disappeared into the night.