(no subject)

[evolutionaryimperative]

They got together on most of Elle's nights off now, usually at her apartment. They had tried going out for dinner once, but it had ended up being more awkward than anything else, really. Talking to one another still wasn't their strong point. At least if they were at her apartment, they could give up on the pretenses of dinner and conversation more easily. Which is often what ended up happening. Gabriel doubted that was normal, but then again there was little about their relationship (was it a relationship? they had never labeled it formally as such, but it was beginning to feel like one) that was normal to begin with.

Still, the last week or two had been nice. Almost too nice. He felt restless from it, on nights where he wasn't with her he usually stayed at his apartment, locked up in his solitude, plotting his next move. A few nights ago he had went to a strip club he hadn't been to yet, and another blond, Daphne Milbrook, showed up missing on the news a few days later. The official report was that there was a serial killer in their midst, and most of the clubs were beefing up their security because of it. Not that he minded. He liked a challenge. It helped quell that darkness inside of his head. That darkness that threatened to ruin everything. After all, Elle could never know what he truly was, what he was truly like. She would never accept him. Even though she had promised to never hate him, he wondered if that was really true, if she could even keep a promise like that.

But all of that was pushed into the back of his mind (as much as it ever could be)as he knocked on the door of her apartment, a pizza in his other hand to add to all the other dinners they never ate much of. He was dressed like he normally did outside of work, black jeans and a black button down shirt, complete with his worn leather jacket. His hair was slightly gelled and spiked. The glasses, vest and ties were all at home, tucked away in his closet. They were just a costume, this was who he really was.

Or as close to it as he could ever show her, at any rate.

Comments

[electrocutesy.livejournal.com]

It wasn't the question that made her stop and glare at him. It was his goddamn tone. Her eyes narrowed, anger giving her the fortitude to actually look straight up into his oh-so-offended stare. "Yes, Gabriel," she sneered. "Do you know how hard it is trying to convince some perverted asshole who thinks I'm still a goddamn virgin that my dog mauled my neck and not some territorial boyfriend? My world doesn't revolve around your issues, sorry. I work for this place and I work hard."

[specialmonster.livejournal.com]

He was about to snap back at her, to snap angrily at how she didn't seem to mind at all when he did it every other time when he stopped right as he opened his mouth, blinking a little in surprise. "What did you just call me?" He asked, his voice a little softer now. Even though they were clearly...in some sort of relationship they both had been very careful not to label it, not to use words like boyfriend and girlfriend.

Hearing her use the term just made things feel that much more real.

[electrocutesy.livejournal.com]

Her eyes were bright with anger for another moment--waiting, just waiting for him to say something even more stupid. But his question made her pause--freeze, and she blinked at him in confusion even as a pit opened up in her stomach a few short seconds before she realized.

Her eyes widened, grew frightened before they hardened, darting around his face, studying the way he looked down at her. "Nothing," she replied cowardly, because she couldn't tell if he wanted to call this... that. She didn't even know if... she did. "Why?" she asked, her voice too high and her attention too focused. She found herself holding her breath for his answer.

[specialmonster.livejournal.com]

He didn't know why it had been a shock. Maybe it had started out as just sex, but it hadn't been that in a while, not since the night where he had made her promise not to hate him. Things had changed then.

But still even though it had stopped being just sex, he hadn't known just what it was either. He had been hesitant to define things, if only because definitions tended to make things more complicated. "I was just...surprised," He said, trying to choose his words carefully. He was doing his best to ignore the twist in his stomach.

"I didn't think you thought of me like that."

[electrocutesy.livejournal.com]

Her lips pressed together, her heart falling down into that deep pit in her tummy. "I don't," she denied before she even had a moment to identify the feeling. The clenching in her chest. Because she had, hadn't she? It was why he muddled her thoughts. Distracted her. Why this--being with him--was the best part of her day, and the idea was so sickeningly sweet she wanted to squash it. "I didn't--I didn't really think of it all." She looked away from him, her eyes boring below his chin. She was supposed to be a good liar. It shouldn't matter if he rejected her or not.

[specialmonster.livejournal.com]

"I didn't mind it," He admitted softly, as if it was some big thing to admit. Like he was risking even more of himself by talking about this. And he supposed in a way he was. they were both getting in so deep and he couldn't see how it could end except in disaster, because that's how things always ended.

But part of him hoped somehow things would be different this time.

[electrocutesy.livejournal.com]

She let out an involuntary breath at his gently spoken confession, her hands running up his back slowly, tentatively to rest on his shoulders. She hated herself. Hated herself for slipping up. Hated him for getting under her skin, for being able to. Hated herself more for acting like this, now. Vulnerable. Effected. Needy. Everything she hated and never wanted to be. Couldn't be if she wanted to survive.

"I guess I didn't mind it, either," she murmured in a small, uncharacteristic voice, her eyes finally returning to his, guarded and searching.

[specialmonster.livejournal.com]

"Then you're my girlfriend?" His voice was more uncertain than he had meant it to be. He didn't know when it had gotten so real between them. So intense. This kind of intensity never went anywhere good but the last thing he wanted to do right now was just give it up.

[electrocutesy.livejournal.com]

His tone lifted her chin for some reason. Strengthened her. Her lips pulled down into a worried frown, and she managed to raise her brow at him, as if the decision could be made lightly. "It's just a word, Gabriel. I am if that's what you want."

[specialmonster.livejournal.com]

His expression lightened a little at her words, some of that churning in his stomach resting. Maybe they were making this overly complicated. He brought a hand up to cup her face gently. "That's what I want."

[electrocutesy.livejournal.com]

Her lashes fluttered in reaction to the tender touch, her cheek leaning into it without her consent. But she managed to turn the soft smile that tugged at her lips into a playful, soft smirk, her eyes bright and promising. "Then that's what you'll get... boyfriend."

[specialmonster.livejournal.com]

"Good," He murmured softly, leaning in to kiss her gently, a playful grin on his lips. "I would have had to kill you if you said no." Which wasn't....quite the joke he was making it out to be, but she didn't need to know that. It was better she didn't know that.

[electrocutesy.livejournal.com]

Her smirk turned curious at the unorthodox promising joke, and she traced the curve of his jaw with the tips of her fingers. It was moments like these that she understood why he was such a loner. "You're so weird," she whispered, not without affection. "Is this one of those 'if I can't have you, no one can' things?"

[specialmonster.livejournal.com]

"Yes," He muttered softly, tucking a strand of her hair behind her hair. "That's exactly what this is."

[electrocutesy.livejournal.com]

She believed him, despite the nervous smile quirking at her lips. Because of the slight crease between her brows. How could she not, when he looked so intensely sincere? It should worry her: that endless depth of darkness and devotion in his eyes and all that poetic crap. But it didn't settle wrong in her gut when she realized. It made her feel... warm. Scared in a hopeful way, her lashes blinking slowly at the brush of his fingers. "Just don't kill me and preserve my body forever, psycho," she whispered, sliding her hands over his neck, the hollow of his throat and back again. "That's where I draw the line, okay?"

[specialmonster.livejournal.com]

He laughed softly, nodding in agreement. Most women freaked out when he said things like that, called him a psycho or a freak. But she just accepted it. Which was just more proof of how special she was. "I promise not to preserve your body," he joked back with a quirked smile. He liked that he could be himself with her.

[electrocutesy.livejournal.com]

"Good," she murmured with a content smile, her arms hooking around his neck with a soft sigh. She pulled him down gently, fit her lips against his.

[specialmonster.livejournal.com]

He returned the kiss for a moment before pulling away a little. "Maybe we should move to the bedroom." Not that there was any problem with her couch but the bed gave them so much more room for their activities.

[electrocutesy.livejournal.com]

"Why?" she asked, her expression teasing and impish all at once. She shifted beneath him, her fingers caressing small circle into his scalp. "Do you think just because you're my boyfriend you're going to get lucky now?"

[specialmonster.livejournal.com]

"Yes," He replied with a playful smirk, leaning down to steal a small kiss from her lips before continuing. "That's exactly what I think." It wasn't a bad assumption, considering there hadn't been a night they shared together without sex yet.

[electrocutesy.livejournal.com]

"Fine," she murmured, her tone grudging and convincing if not for the promising, mischievous smile on her lips. "Go ahead and fuck my brains out. But I'm not moving so you'll have to carry me and do all the work. I have a headache."

[specialmonster.livejournal.com]

"Now that doesn't sound fun at all," He chided before standing up and scooping her into his arms. It's not like it was the first time he had carried her anything. He brought her into the bedroom before playfully tossing her onto the bed. He then crawled on top of her, flashing her a grin. "What's the point if you're just going to lie there like a dead person?"

[electrocutesy.livejournal.com]

She barely muffled the giggle that left her lips as he picked her up, as easily as she was paper. And she couldn't muffle the second giggle as she bounced onto her mattress, her arms and legs curling around him with a soft hum wrapped in a sigh. But she had an act to put on, so she yawned theatrically, pulling a hand back to cover her mouth. "Guess you just have a challenge ahead of you. You wanted a girlfriend."

[specialmonster.livejournal.com]

"Maybe I should reconsider if this is what having a girlfriend entails," He teased, easing his hand up her dress, brushing his fingers against her thigh. "Cause it's beginning to sound almost boring."

[electrocutesy.livejournal.com]

Her legs parted further for him, her arms settling docilely above her head with a pout. "Think about how I feel," she whined gently. "Soon you're going to ignore me for sports games and make me bring you beers and sandwiches."