"Limited to ones' Imagination" - DC Fanfic

The break room was quiet, save for the faint hum of the vending machine and the occasional rustling of plastic as someone passed by outside. The air smelled faintly of burnt coffee and stale bread, but Margaret didn't seem to mind.

She sat on one of the worn-out chairs, her posture far more relaxed than it had been in weeks. She was doing way better now.

The weight of the past few days still lingered on her shoulders, but it was lighter now.

A cigarette rested between her fingers, smoke curling lazily into the air as she exhaled.

Across from her, Alex leaned back in his chair, watching the smoke dissipate.

Margaret caught his gaze and smirked. "You smoke?"

Alex shook his head. "Nope."

Margaret chuckled, offering him one anyway. "Smart choice."

Alex waved a hand dismissively. "I just don't like the taste. That, and I'm pretty sure I'd get addicted if I started."

Margaret took another drag. "Fair enough."

Silence settled between them, but unlike before, it wasn't heavy.

Margaret had been tense for weeks, constantly looking over her shoulder, dealing with Robert's mess, and preparing for the legal storm ahead.

Now?

Now, she just felt tired.

She tapped the ash off the end of her cigarette, watching it fall into the cheap plastic ashtray. "You happy here, Alex?"

Alex thought about it for a moment. "It's alright."

Margaret raised an eyebrow. "Just alright?"

He shrugged. "I mean, if I really wanted to, I could probably get a scholarship in a couple of weeks and move on to something bigger."

Margaret smirked. "That confident, huh?"

Alex grinned. "Hey, I know my worth."

Margaret laughed at that. "So why stick around?"

Alex leaned forward slightly, resting his arms on the table. "Because when I'm here, I get to meet people like you."

Margaret blinked, caught off guard by the genuine warmth in his voice.

It wasn't a flirtatious comment, nor was it some half-hearted attempt at making her feel better.

It was just honest.

And for the first time in a while, Margaret felt good.

She smiled, looking down at her cigarette for a moment before taking another drag. "That might be the nicest thing anyone's said to me in a long time."

Alex just gave her a small nod, and they returned to silence.

But this time, it was uncomfortable.

Alex hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Did Robert take James?"

Margaret scoffed. "Of course not. Not with what I have on him."

Alex raised an eyebrow at that but didn't press.

Margaret was many things, but she wasn't stupid. Whatever dirt she had on Robert was big enough to keep her son safe, after all, he gave it to her.

That was enough for him to know.

Still, there was something else on her mind.

She took a deep breath, exhaling slowly. "I have a… cruel but not entirely unwelcome gift from Robert."

Alex frowned. "What do you mean?"

Margaret glanced at him, then down at her stomach.

It took Alex a second to put the pieces together.

"…Oh."

Margaret nodded.

Pregnant.

Alex leaned back, processing the information.

"Congrats," he said after a moment.

Margaret smiled, but there was a hint of sadness in it. "Thanks. But… she won't be able to have proper parental love."

Alex's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

Margaret tapped her cigarette against the ashtray again, her gaze distant.

"If I met a man I knew for a couple of months and we went out on dates, I'd love for him to meet James," she said.

Then, she turned to Alex.

Alex blinked.

Margaret just watched him, waiting for his reaction.

For a second, he thought she was joking.

Then, he saw the seriousness in her eyes.

Alex chuckled, shaking his head. "That's a weird way to ask me on a date."

Margaret smirked. "Is it?"

Alex exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "Well, yes."

Margaret leaned back in her chair, watching him with amusement. "So? What do you say?"

Alex grinned.

"Yes. I'd love to."

Margaret's smirk widened. "League Pizza next week, then. Afterward, we head to my place."

Alex nodded. "I'd love that."

Silence fell between them again, but this time, it was comfortable.

Margaret finished her cigarette, snuffing it out in the ashtray.

Alex glanced at her, a small smile tugging at his lips.

While he wasn't usually into older women, Margaret was only about ten years older than him.

Besides—she had been ordering from him at this place for years.

Four years, to be exact.

And now?

Now, things were different.

Alex didn't know what the future held, but for the first time in a while…

He was excited to find out.