(no subject)

[slybrunette]

Title: Gray Area
Fandom: Grey's Anatomy
Characters/Pairings: Alex/Izzie.
Word Count: 474
Rating: PG
Spoilers: Post 4.16/4.17 - Freedom
Author's Note: And here starts the on-slaught of post finale fic. I owe this one to my bff.
Summary: She guesses this is his turn. And, really, it would be great if this cycle didn't have to repeat and they didn't have any reason to be crying.

 

She has no idea how long they stay like that. Wrapped around each other, showing no signs of letting go anytime soon. She’s got one hand cradling the back of his neck, and the other bracing herself against his shoulder, where she lets her head rest after a moment of processing the fact that Alex Karev, the stone-faced asshole previously known as ‘evil spawn’, is currently sobbing on her shoulder. And that makes her want to cry, because it’s beyond heartbreaking to see this total breakdown and know there’s just nothing you can do about it.

 

So she puts her head down. And she tries not to cry. And she doesn’t care that her shirt is probably going to be soaked or that she had a phone call she was going to make, because she’s needed here, and she’s fine here, because even if it’s sad it also manages to straddle the fine line between awkward and comfortable because they are not together, and ideally it isn’t supposed to be her that he’s slung over, but at the same time they’ve still got that gentle understanding between them that never really left since...well since the last time one of them was crying in the other one’s arms. Last time it was her.

 

She guesses that makes this his turn. She thinks it would be great if the cycle didn’t have to repeat and they didn’t have any reason to be crying.

 

That’s probably too much to hope for. It always is. But she’s thinking, she has time to think, because that’s how you stay strong, stay sane, you think about silly things, things that distract you from the big picture, the sad story.

 

She’s thinking about his shirt. The soft cotton under her cheek that smells a bit like the hospital, but mostly like a mix between him and the laundry detergent. It’s gray. Gray like the sky and the place they’re in, the gray area that they’ve found themselves in. Gray like maturity and growing up and all these metaphorical things that she’s trying to find meaning in because that could mean hope. Hope for the future, hope that things will get easier if they just grow up, that somehow they will be wiser and that will keep them from hurting. That experience and knowledge will keep them safe.

 

They need that hope. They need something else other than the “it’ll be okay” she murmurs in his ear every now and then, because it is, just as he once said, just what they say. She can’t foresee the future; she doesn’t know that it will be okay. There are no facts to back up her words, but they’re there, it’s the thought that counts, and she doesn’t think he really hears her anyways.

 

It doesn’t matter; she’s here anyways. She isn’t going anywhere. 

 

Comments

[ladybeth.livejournal.com]

This is why I love A/I so much. When it comes to the big stuff, no matter whats going on, they are still there for each other.

another good fic:)

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

They are there for each other. They've got a not so bright and shiny history and yet they're still there, after all of this, and I love that about them.

I'm glad you liked this hun! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

[ladybeth.livejournal.com]

They really Do. And with the exception of Season 1, I think we have had a almost moment every season. Season 2 was the last time we had anything atually happen. Season 3 was the missing oppertunities and Four was the year of Ava.

I would like someone to have a functioning relationship on that show for an entire season. Doesn't have to be without its drama, but at least stay together for a year.

[nvrpromise.livejournal.com]

Love it. Nicely done. :D

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it!

[enamors.livejournal.com]

So good! You really captured the tension and angst of the moment.

I love Alex and Izzie. I stopped watching the show after the second season, but they were definitely my favorite aspect of it while I was watching.

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

I totally don't think I knew you watched it at all. But yay for you being an A/I fan!

I'm glad you liked this! Thanks for reading!

[sharipep.livejournal.com]

Thank you for being the first post finale fic. This was perfection. Encapsulated everything that I love about these two.

Oh the possibilities....

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

First of many I'm sure ;)

I'm glad you liked this! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

[bebitched.livejournal.com]

You wrote it! Yay! Awesome, awesome fic. I knew you could do it! I love this line: but at the same time they’ve still got that gentle understanding between them that never really left since...well since the last time one of them was crying in the other one’s arms. Last time it was her. because they have a way of being there for each other when they really need it. Great work!

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

You sound like a cheerleader. Not that I mind, but you do. But yes, I wrote it, and you were inspire-y and I do do this kind of thing sometimes.

I'm glad (/surprised) you liked it! Thanks for the prompt and for reading!

[wonder149.livejournal.com]

Oh, I love the element of Hope - it's exactly what A/I need.

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

I think that's what the episode was supposed to be. Hope for everyone else. Not for us, of course not, not really.

I'm glad you liked this! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

[speckled-girl.livejournal.com]

I loved this. When I watched the finale I just thought about all the wonderful Alex/Izzie fics you would be writing!

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

lol, when I watched it I was thinking about all the fic too. And I've got a few more ideas so I hope to see you back for those too :)

I'm glad you liked this! Thanks for reading and for all the great feedback!

[alexaddicted.livejournal.com]

ooooohh i like "on-slaught of post finale fic"
well done & very realistic as usual.IZ pov on the situation is interesting.
i think the finale was left open to so many future possibilities, it's heaven for the fanfic writers! ;-)

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

Well, I've already written two so far, got ideas for another, and it's three days after the finale. So, on-slaught.

They did leave it open. And our ship might just be canon again, so that's nice too.

I'm glad you liked this! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

[remainvanishing.livejournal.com]

That’s probably too much to hope for. It always is. But she’s thinking, she has time to think, because that’s how you stay strong, stay sane, you think about silly things, things that distract you from the big picture, the sad story.
This is so true.

Great story and amazing writing, as always. I loved that it was from Izzie's pov. And I'm waiting for more, I need it to survive the summer.

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

I tried to write Alex POV for five drafts. Five drafts and I wound up with nothing because inside his head? Is not where I think I really want to be right now. I know where he is, at least I think I do, but I can't word it just right. So until I can, I'm doing Izzie POV. And there will be more, don't you worry.

I'm glad you liked this! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

[rymmer.livejournal.com]

Amazing fic

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad you thought so!

[mad-carrie.livejournal.com]

They need something else other than the “it’ll be okay” she murmurs in his ear every now and then, because it is, just as he once said, just what they say.

"It'll be okay" is the automatic response to everything bad that happens. While comforting it's true that they don't don't mean a thing. But it's something Izzie would definitely say to him. She is the only person he trusts and isn't ashamed of opening up to.

I also like your use of color metaphor. Great job!

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

It is. I find myself saying it all the time, even without meaning it. Even if you do mean it there's no way to be sure.

As for the color thing, I've been into that forever. I learned colors in my film study class and have been using them as meaning ever since. Alex's shirt was just an excuse to.

I'm glad you liked this! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

[alexaddicted.livejournal.com]

I forgot the color theme *dumb*
FYI apparently Shonda used one too: the shade of reds tops for all the girls being kissed in the finale....

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I noticed that, that's what made me think of this. I didn't want to do the red thing because it was kind of...obvious.

[xxvenialsinsxx.livejournal.com]

Sad but equally lovely !

I've really missed Alex and Izzie.

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

I missed them too. It's nice to have them back in some form :)

I'm glad you liked this! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

[keebzie.livejournal.com]

Beautiful. = )

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

Thanks hun! I'm glad you thought so!

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

That's what I wanted too. I mean sure the kiss was great but I just wanted her there, for support.

I'm glad you liked this! Thanks for reading!

[starseed4.livejournal.com]

That scene broke my heart so bad. I was hoping for fic and what better way to fulfill that wish than one from you! :)

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

Aw thanks hun! I loved that scene too, now that I look at it with some distance, and I definitely wanted to do a follow up fic to it.

I'm glad you liked it! Thanks for reading!

[ishtar1983.livejournal.com]

First up: post-finale fic! *squee* I take it you liked the finale then? ;-)

I loved this story. So bitter-sweet, and yet that is exactly how I imagined it would be between these two. You captured the mood of that amazing final scene perfectly. So perfectly, in fact, that I could read this as an extension of that scene. I think it's going to take some time for Alex and Izzie to be romantically involved with each other, and that's fine by me, I like slow, I *want* to be able to appreciate the journey that gets them there...but I do hope it happens eventually, and that meanwhile, I get to enjoy them in your fic.

Thanks for sharing!

[slybrunette.livejournal.com]

I liked the finale. To a point. I still have issues with it though.

It's meant as an extension of the scene, so I'm glad you can see it as one and think it fits. I do what them to progress and maybe have a relationship but. like you said, slowly. That's always better.

I'm glad you liked this! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

[ishtar1983.livejournal.com]

"It's meant as an extension of the scene, so I'm glad you can see it as one and think it fits."

Yeah, that's what I meant. When I usually read fanfic, it feels like the stuff in them could only happen in an alternative universe, whereas yours feels very true to the story and the characters. It's something you could picture happening on the show, if the writers went that much in depth into one scene or were able to show the thought processes of the characters.

Great work! Can't wait to read more GA fic from you. :-)