solids | ❝𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭❞

Do you know how many times I thought about the first night we met? How glad I was that I went to you? [Maria wouldn't tell him that what had made her choose him was that he seemed the most sober. not right now, anyway. maybe never. it wouldn't be fair, she thought. it took away from how important that night had been for both of them. they both had needed each other and no matter the reason for why she had gone to him, it didn't matter. meeting Adam still felt like fate.]

We didn't know it then but I was yours as soon as we spoke. And you were mine. I consider myself just as lucky as you. Someone to accept me, all my text messages, and how you don't mind that I can't calm down when I love you so much. [so many men had always found her annoying when she did that. always a matter of liking them more than they cared for her. or just wanting sex from her. Maria had never thought she would find someone like Adam, who seemed to view her as some kind of angel that graced his life. how the police had treated her, talking down to her because she was a stripper; that had always been what she was used to.

there was no way Maria would have given up on him and nothing was changing that even now.]

I don't know how you make a cat a ring bearer but we'll figure it out. He's missed you too, you know.

( in that moment as he sat up there in the hospital bed he looked deep into her eyes and basked in the moment the two were sharing. from the soft roughness of her voice, the way she said those words and how they seemed to swim in his head, all he could do was smile at her softly. he was more than sure, deep in the back of his mind the reason why she might have approached him― he wasn't that into the dancers, kept to himself, and was mostly there to drink away the loneliness and stress of his job. at the end of the day their thoughts were mutual; it didn't matter.

what mattered was the outcome of their meeting and it was here in this moment, free from being close to death that he felt grateful that she approached him first. he probably wouldn't have at all and not because of her profession or anything; in that moment he just knew rejection was always waiting him.

not now though, there was none of that. )

That's because I love you so much too. It makes my day seeing all your silly thoughts...I kept thinking about them there.

( in that room where he was being held prisoner of course. )

Crazy thing about fate right? I couldn't in a million years imagine that uh....we'd really be here talking about marriage after that first hello.

( it was cheesy in a way really but that's what he needed now when his mind and body were so fragile. )

Did he? Fuck...( and don't mind a tear or two escaping him as he thought about his cat. dejected and broken much like he was now when he found him― adam had been the only one to give the poor guy a chance and now it seemed the tables were turned. maria was the one saving adam now. )

I missed you both so much really. I'm never letting either of you go even if I get taken kicking and screaming again.

[it really didn't matter why things had happened that night. certainly her reasons for why she had talked to Adam were not what stayed in mind when she looked back on it. no, it was simply Adam that she thought of. their talk, how cute she had thought he was, and how she liked he'd worked up so much nerve to ask her out on a proper date. something Maria now understood to mean a lot, given his trust issues. all of that mattered more to her than anything else.

and it made her happy to know that he could love her despite how clingy she knew she was at time. desperate to be reminded that he liked her, liked all of her thoughts, and didn't mind she needed that. most of the men she had been involved with had never been able to stand it. Adam was different.]

I didn't think so either. And there's probably some rule for how long you're supposed to wait but I don't care about that. [he could have asked her before he disappeared and she would have said yes.] When you know, you know, right? [and she knew. she always had.]

You think we're letting you go? Listen you thought I was clingy before, I'm not letting you out of my sight even if you tell me I'm annoying you. I don't care. Mr. Whiskers is your guard cat at this point. And he probably won't want to be leaving you either.

Yeah I guess so, when you know, you know.

( all he could do was smile at her, face swollen and bruised from the injuries he faced but past the ugly reminders of what he was put through, all he could do was bask in the happiness of this moment. what he asked of her was a blind request with no expectations of reciprocation of an actual answer anytime soon. with her saying yes, his heart felt healed for once— all of the angst and bitterness he had towards the world was quelled right then and there, and even if he was still a bit angry with jigsaw, he couldn't help but thank him in a weird way.

he certainly would have gone a darker path if it weren't for that wake up call in reality. he would have found a way to ruin things with maria, he's sure of it, led to them breaking up and another cycle of depression and apathy for him. instead he had the courage now to tell her how he felt and what he wanted, and as she affirmed her love for him, he looked at her with eyes full of love and passion. )

When have I ever told you that you were annoying me? I love all the attention you give me.

( certainly far more private and personal than the attention she gave to customers— but as they sat there, nurses began to fill the room, noticing the change in his heartbeat [excitement from what they had discussed] and ushered maria out in order to bring in the police. jigsaw was hot on their trail, and adam was a new key witness for them to prod and probe.

—

a month had passed since adam had crawled his way out of that dark room and made his desperate escape back to the apartment he knew. there were a number of unique changes that occurred in his life after being set free into the world, changes he could have never handled on his own without maria. apart from the police threatening him, accusing him of somehow being compliant in his own abduction given he had taken photos of the other captive, there was a strange popularity surrounding him. he was being contacted for work he had never even considered before— photographing at events such as weddings, escape rooms, being offered a chance to talk about his experience on day-time talk shows, and being asked to call into all kinds of radio stations to talk with other 'survivors' and form some kind of jigsaw survivor group.

what he was focused on now though was his new life with maria, and getting compensation for the ordeal the city and law enforcement put her through. )

Hey babe, can you get me a pack of smokes when you get a chance?

( by now the two had settled into a new apartment with money provided by local charities and organizations. his wounds had mostly healed by now, but his leg still required to be in a cast and he was mostly wobbling around their home with a crutch in hand. the kindness he so rarely saw from humanity was now in full swing, with local organizations offering both help to him and maria, even offering to fund a wedding dress for her upon hearing the news.

currently he was in the kitchen, tv on low towards a news channel talking about jigsaw and his newest kidnappees, a group of former criminals on parole. he watched briefly before turning it off as maria walked in. )

I uh....got the documents faxed over to me right now. If you wanted to go over it but we do need a witness. You said you had a twin sister right? Think she'd come?

( moved from here )

and you have the audacity to call me a fuck up? you're beefing with book store owners and buying drugs from them?

talk about the pot calling the kettle black.

hey it wasn't about drugs!! he's an ornery piece of shit, it's not my fault he gets the stock that i need

[ Angry little pot : ) ]

look he doesn't know you know me, I'll give you the cash and wait in the car, it's not that complicated

[before Adam was taken, they hadn't know each other very long. Maria had had to learn about Adam, get to know him, and it had only been very recent that she thought she did understand him well. and then he was taken and now back, she had a new Adam to relearn. it was still him, sarcastic quips and all. but things had changed. he went through something awful and he needed help more than ever. they went through these new discoveries and Maria helped him traverse through them. all of the attention he was getting, from newspapers to to the talk shows. the attention was exhausting and Maria knew it had to be for him.

but after the terror of what she went through, fearing him lost to her forever and feeling like she had nobody to help her; having so much charity was a reminder that not all was bad. that there was always some good. even if the police were as awful as always, that would probably never change, but they had each other.

the new apartment was definitely an upgrade and even the fact people were offering to help her with a dress. there had been offers to make it this huge extravagant wedding but Maria wasn't interested in that. mostly because if it got any bigger then that would take time and Maria didn't want to wait. part of her was still afraid of him disappearing again and if she didn't do something about this right away then he'd just be gone. that was an irrational fear and she'd definitely gotten a little more clingy, much more worrying if he had to go anywhere by himself.

when she entered where he was, she did hear the new information about Jigsaw's latest victims before Adam turned it off. she hated they still couldn't find him, still didn't stop him. again, the thought entered her mind that if the police had just listened to her then maybe--

but it was a pointless thought to still be so angry over. not when she had Adam, not when he wanted to marry her and was working on it.

she hands him the pack of cigarettes she got for him and kisses his temple.] She'd come, she'd be more than happy to come. Mary helped me with your missing posters. [one of the two people who had helped her, the other being Tom the bartender.]

( in spite of the changes and the perplexing fears, uncertainties that this new life held for them, there was one thing adam was sure of. his paradise was here in this home with maria and his cat. she was everything he could ever want and more, and his ordeal helped me to truly realize that. so even if she felt she was being clingy, needy he didn't view it like that at all. he understood her fears and he was more than relieved that she wanted to be with him more now than ever. truthfully? he was scared as hell too that jigsaw or anyone else would come after him again.

after all, that was the gift being a victim and surviving the game gave him. it made him a target for anyone who either wanted to interview him and get as much of the story as they could, or anyone who wanted to taunt him for his ordeal.

those thoughts and fears were pushed to the side for now though, because as soon as she entered the room, the darkness that loomed from the news was drowned out by the brightness of her arrival. she truly was a bright light in his life. )

Did she? I need to thank her properly and introduce myself.

( he took the pack from her, giving it one tap against the counter, then another before opening it with one hand and flicking a stick out of it into his mouth. for now he nursed it between his lips, thinking how things were now changing between each other.

families to meet one another and proper introductions to be made. judgements to feel and ignore, all of that jazz and while a past version of himself might have scoffed at the idea of such domestic endeavors, now he felt excited about it. )

Feels kinda silly that our first meeting is gonna be 'Hey I'm that dude whose gonna marry your sister and also survived being tortured.'

[Maria did worry that someone would come after Adam. the twisted logic of Jigsaw's games was still confusing to her and she wondered if Adam had truly won his freedom in that psycho's mind. or anybody who wanted to copy him because people did that, didn't they? Maria didn't know if she was just paranoid or what but she thought she had every right to be. that man was still out there, still hurting people, and she worried for Adam's safety.

part of her knew that Adam needed her to worry for him. even if they did never talk about it too much or she made a big show of it, only clung to him, it was good for Adam to know Maria wasn't going anywhere.

as if accepting his proposal hadn't shown just how serious she was about staying with him.]

Hardly, babe. [she rested her head lightly on his shoulder.] Mary's a romantic and she's sweet. I know she's wanted to meet you and kept asking me. [but when was a good time to introduce your traumatized fiancé? there wasn't one and Maria knew Adam needed to have some control as well. the last thing Maria had wanted to do was stress him out all the more.]

( the moment her head came down onto his shoulder, he rubbed his cheek gently against the top of her head much like a cat marking their human up. they had become so close in the time they've been together and everything felt so right between them. there was no need to hold back, even if fear loomed behind them.

as they stood there, he fiddled with the pack of smokes, closing it as he wriggled the smoke already on his lips away from her and towards the opposite end of his mouth. )

Did she?

( it's an old habit from a different time, when he was still insecure and unsure of where things were going with maria, but he couldn't help but be surprised this 'mary' knew about him at all. still he's quick to laugh, placing the pack of smokes on the counter. )

Well I don't want to keep my dear 'sister' waiting for me for very long. Let's do it, before we get married. Besides we need witnesses and I'd rather ask them than take up Oprah on her little 'offer'.

( he was more stressed by all the interviews and grandiose displays of charity and kindness everyone was suddenly showing him. he took it a bit bitterly; angry that they only showed up when he was now known for such a terrible thing, but he also wasn't outright saying now to them. they both needed as much help as they could get given he technically had to retire from his line of work now. )

Uh so....I've never really met any of my girlfriend's families. Should I wear like a suit and tie? Bring flowers? Help me out here future wifey.

[these were the simple moments, where Maria and Adam could enjoy each other's company. where it didn't feel like they had so many things weighing on them and they could simply just be two people who loved each other. wanted to spend time together. Maria thought that Adam needed this just as much.

her head remains on his shoulder as he talks to her.] Fuck Oprah honestly. [or anybody else that interviewed Adam. the publicity was a double-edged sword. it helped in some ways, got their story out there and got Adam help. but she knew it just made him relive his worst moments. the media were like vultures, wanting to pick apart him and his story. it wasn't fair. but until Adam was old news, this was their life.

and Maria wouldn't be leaving him.

though she was also stuck. she was the fiancee of the man who escaped Jigsaw. the first time she tried to work at the bar, it had been a nightmare. certainly didn't help Adam any and so she couldn't work much either. Maria had to figure out what she was going to do for money in her very limited skill set.]

As much as I think you'd be very cute in your suit and tie, I don't think black tie is the style we're going for. Just dress like you always do. Be yourself. Be the man I'm proud to be marrying.

( it was that sassy-wit and sharp tongue of hers that he liked the most. he was far too changed now to say such a thing, but he would have been the first to roll out the middle fingers to her or any other grifter that came moseying about. now he simply laughed, letting maria take charge of such heady attitudes and jokes. )

Alright, old band-tee and jeans, got it.

( he rolled his head to the side a bit, cigarette pushed off to the side of his mouth as he gently rubbed the tip of his nose against her forehead. it seemed they both had similar worries, because soon enough adam was reaching for a package that came in the mail. )

Speaking of, I have something I wanted to discuss with you. It's about this whole Jigsaw and corrupt, shitty cops thing I've been going through. Can we uh...sit in the living room?

[Maria did miss his sarcastic quips and jokes but she knew that after what he went through, he was changed. it didn't change that she loved him. there was still that sarcastic edge to him, even if it had dulled some. it was to be expected.]

That's the man I'm marrying and the man they'll meet.

[she didn't want him to be anybody else. she would love every version of him.

when he takes out the package, she eyes it and there's worry there in her eyes. even if she knew that by marrying Adam, by continuing to stay with him, meant marrying this...it didn't mean she didn't wish it would stop.] Yeah, come on. [she moved to help him get up. just a natural action now.]

Guessing this isn't a fun wedding present, is it? [she jokes as she helps him get to the living room so they can sit.]

( it had dulled but in a good way; he was no longer waxing poetry about how the world was out to get them and how he was a little man being stomped down by the greedy fat cats in wall street. no, instead adam took the time to actually appreciate the little things in life and to find solace in what he had. it was twisted that this was the influence jigsaw had on him but....he supposed it could be worse.

he also had trauma but he'd prefer this. to her movements though, he limped alongside her and made his way into the living room as their cat trailed along, purring against maria's legs before scooting off to the couch. it'd become natural to him too; providing comfort to them both through affection and remaining close. it seemed adam's disappearance had an affect on mr. whiskers as well. )

Well actually here's the funny thing, if I agree to it, it could be.

( this was clearly something serious. once they were in the living room, he fell back onto the couch and let out a soft grunt as he adjusted himself. with the package in his hand, she looked over to maria. )

So here's the thing. I got approached by this lawyer who said he helped this other Jigsaw victim you know? He said the guy's case was fumbled by the cops and he helped get him a good settlement but he had only been missing for a day and ended up having to uh.....well let's say he wasn't injured and left for death for almost a month.

I wanted your opinion on this because it's going to be one hell of a battle. Court visits, gas money, the works. He said this charity would help with the bills until we got our settlement but they can't pay for basic stuff like food or lost wages you know?

[it's their first time apart since he escaped from Jigsaw and Maria feels clingy. terrified of him being on his own, like he'll be taken from her again. will she ever not be terrified of the idea of him not coming back again? who knows. certainly not today.]

hey i miss you