WHO: Greed & Zoe w/Theseus WHEN: October 17 [Backdated] WHERE: Zoe's apartment WHAT: Keeping a promise WARNING: More tears
It was a few days and Zoe hadn't heard from Greed but despite all their problems he had promised her he'd be back, remembering how she hated when anyone walked away from her. Theseus had asked to see her and things between them weren't the best still but slowly there was a relationship forming. He took her out to make sure she ate which was amusing and kinda nice. She wore her brown boots and a nice outfit, forgoing her normal PJ's or shorts around the house she'd been sporting for days.
The conversation was kept on her until they got back to the apartment buildding and he insisted on walking her to her door and he approached the subject of her kinda ex boyfriend. When asked about Greed she was honest with her grandfather saying that she spoke to Greed but didn't let him in. She didn't know if they were going to get back together or not but right now they were taking some much needed time apart. At the door she suddenly enveloped him in a hug in her very Zoe way, saying quietly, "Thanks for punching him.." she meant it, Greed deserved it and it meant a lot to her that her grandfather defended her since she knew what a coward he really was. __________________________ Theseus hadn't been expecting her hug, but he embraced her like a father. It was warm and inviting. She was giving him a chance and that was enough for him. He felt relieved that Greed was out of the picture. At least for now it meant Zoe would not be subjected to his foolish games. It meant she would be safe. He didn't realize Greed was nearby watching like a creeper.
Theseus rubbed her back softly. "You're welcome." He hoped she didn't start crying, he didn't know what to do when she started crying. __________________________ She was kinda cried out at the moment but she didn’t move out of his arms, just sighed and stayed there for a moment before giving him a squeeze and then stepping back. “And thanks for the meal..” even though most of it came home with her as leftovers. Her appetite still was kinda off. She didn’t know if he wanted to come in or not… she found that it started to become awkward if they spent too much time together. It was best for now in small doses. __________________________ He still wasn’t entirely comfortable with all this himself, so they’d take it one step at a time. Part of him didn’t want to leave, but she looked better than she had in days. Bringing up Greed again would just ruin it. “I know now is the worst time but I have the impound slip for that car. I can give it to him if you like,” Theseus would love to punch Greed in the face again. Having been beat around himself by Poseidon it felt nice to be the one throwing punches. He didn’t unlock her from his embrace though, just let it sit in case she still felt like she needed someone to hang onto. __________________________ “No… it’s okay, you can give it to me. Not that he deserves it back… but he did have the car taken when it shouldn’t have been.” she made a winced face, “And I got a feeling you’d hit him again. Which I’m not opposed to but the less bloodshed the better.” __________________________ “Would hitting him really be a bad thing?” Maybe that was just it with these Sins, the rest of them needed to show some muscle (even if Greed was like a roided up Sin). He released her reluctantly with a heavy laden sigh. “Here,” he snatched it back almost as quickly. “One thing, you wait to give it to him. You’re finally starting to get some color in your face.” He was worried about her, she was the only thing he had right now to worry about. __________________________ She smiled briefly, “No, but he’s not hungover anymore, he might hit back.” and she was worried about him. He might be only ten or twenty years older than her but she still considered him an old man like a grandfather or father should be. She nodded at his stipulation, “I’m not making any moves to see him and he hasn’t been around for a few days. I just want him to have his things and get out of my face.” because this Sin was not someone who loved her and it hurt too much. __________________________ “I still wouldn’t mind taking a swing. I’m not decrepit.” He was her grandfather but he had the strength of the young man he’d been in the days of early Greece. He kissed her forehead again like he had the night he’d picked her up. “Just be careful. I don’t want anymore late night phone calls that have you a strung out mess.” He gave her the ticket and bundled his pea coat around him as the fall chill settled in. __________________________ She closed her eyes as he dropped the kiss on her forehead and nodded, “I don’t do drugs, Mr. Moreau… and even if I see him again, I’m not going to be taking anything he gives me.” nothing was getting near her lips that came from Greed, food or otherwise. She took the ticket, “I’ll be careful, I promise.” she unlocked the door to the apartment. __________________________ “I know you don’t, but temptation is a difficult thing to say no to.” He raised one of his dark brows in that father-knows-best speech. It was a scary jump to make, but it felt good to have someone to protect in his life again. “We’ll do lunch again.” One day maybe he could take her sailing. He watched her go inside, the lights go on before he moved on. Greed was too far off for him to notice, a safe distance because he would have jumped at the chance to tackle him into the ground again, sober or not.
It was a good ten minutes before Greed slunk up to her doorstep like a lost puppy. Usually she left the door unlocked, and for a solitary moment he thought she still would, but the jerk of the handle proved him wrong. Things with them really were changing and not for the better. He knocked loudly, if her roommate was there well he’d just football his way in. __________________________ As strange as it was to have a father figure in Theseus, that’s what he was becoming and it felt good to have family again. Zoe was very forgiving of family even when she shouldn’t be. She put the food away and pulled off her boots so she stood barefoot. She’d gone to work the day before but had taken lesser shifts this week until she was fully ready and it was still lunch so Jonah was at the college she assumed. When the knock came she frowned, Jonah had a key… but maybe it was Theseus and he forgot something. She was going to open it but then stopped. “Who is it?” she asked through the door, her hand on the lock. __________________________ It wasn’t fair in his mind that Theseus was forgiven but he was still on chopping block. Greed knew he had to wiggle his way back into Zoe’s trust, it wasn’t going to come easily. But he couldn’t help but feel greedy and wanting it right then. It was still too early. He’d had a few days to cool off and collect his thoughts without having any of his siblings to manipulate him, in fact he was manipulating himself in realizing both Sin and boy had the same feelings when it came to Zoe---and that still in some strange way was taboo.
“It’s Chance…” he used that name because when she seemed to feel more comfortable with that, he found he liked hearing her call him that. When she’d spat ‘Greed’ at him so venomously it ached in his ears. He hovered his hand around the shape of the handle again waiting to tackle it open. __________________________ There was silence for a few moments and then she put her hand on the door and asked, “What do you want?” in a tone that suggested she wasn’t happy he was there. It wasn’t cruel but it showed how she was still hurting. But the door was not even unlocking for him. __________________________ He tried to turn the knob again but she without much luck. “I told you I was coming back.” He had nothing to show for it or to be his excuse other than he couldn’t stay away now. With her dangling over the edge of no return and standing firm about it, Greed was taking steps to ensure she didn’t cut the line completely between them. He wouldn’t wait too long and he wouldn’t put so much space between them that there was no returning. There was that doubt that he’d fucked up so bad there was no them anymore but he wouldn’t listen to that voice in his head. __________________________ She didn’t know what to say or do. She really wanted to see him and hit him and kiss him and ask him why he did this to them. But instead she shook her head and tried to stay strong and not give in to temptation like her grandfather said, “I told you… you’re not coming inside. So what do you want?” she’d said it days ago when he showed up but she meant it permanently. She didn’t want him physically near her. __________________________ “Like never ever?” he squealed. That seemed a little excessive didn’t it? He was the one that was getting a heavy dose of just how serious she was about this, and it made him sober up in more ways than just through his body. The Sin was sobering up to the idea that he had made this mess and he had to clean it up all on his own. He’d have to get creative if he was going to waltz right in. Throwing her door down wasn’t the right answer even though it seemed the most logical right now. Then he’d go for a running tear up the stairs to the fire escape if the front door was a failure. __________________________ “Maybe…” she said in a depressed voice, “I don’t know. I just.. I don’t think it’s a very good idea right now.” just hearing his voice was making her want to cry, “If there’s nothing you want, can you please leave..” she rested her head on the door and closed her eyes. __________________________ He rested his head against the door, she could hear the pressure of his body weight on the wood as he flopped on it. “I need to see you.” That one word need was an important one. She was thinking about it, he could hear it in her voice, but it wasn’t enough to let him in. “Fine. I’ll find another way.” At that he left off the door started up the wiry fire escape until he got to her bedroom window. __________________________ She just looked pained when he said he needed to see her and she kept shaking her head but at him saying he’d find another way, she looked at the door wide eyed. “Chance you better not try to come in here…” but there was no response. “Chance?” she asked but it seemed like he was gone. She frowned and then cracked the door open to peek out into the hall. Empty. She shut the door and locked it, feeling oddly disappointed. She went into her room where the window now had a plastic covering over the hole Greed had smashed into it last time. __________________________ He was still making his way up those final few steps when he met her at the window just as they had the night before, but the hole that had given him a glimpse before was now covered, just as she was shunning him from her life. He slipped his coat off, letting the cool breeze hit where he’d warmed himself up in the run. “Is this what you’re going to do now is shut me out completely?” All his texts had gone unanswered, or maybe she didn’t get them at all. He was a little boy looking inside the window where all the fascinating things were that he couldn’t have. It was better for him this way, even if he didn’t see it. When he could touch her it was distracting. This way on the outside he was forced to look at all the things he admired her for that had nothing to do with her body and sex. __________________________ She jumped a little when she saw him at the window but he was there. She glared at him, “Maybe. I’ll do whatever the hell I want. I have to do what’s best for me.” she’d tried to be there for him. Help him. Accommodate him. And it blew up in her face. Now she had to take her of her own damage. __________________________ Why did this hurt so much? To be at arms length from something he wanted and know deep down that he needed to be to really get the severity of the situation. If this were Lust he would have been thrown around in some nasty catfight until they fucked their differences out and she put him in a catatonic submissive state. He knew if he went to her now that was where he would be. But the only place else he wanted to be was shutting him out. “For how long?” he didn’t have patience, but he’d have to make room for it if he was going to get Zoe back on his side.
He flapped the coat out into a blanket across the stoop, getting on his hands and knees to spread it out. So she needed space, but he wasn’t willing to let her slip just yet. He didn’t have a job, he didn’t have anything to keep him occupied now. __________________________ She walked up to the window and looked at him through the cracked glass and wavy plastic. They couldn’t even see each other clearly because of his violent antics, “As long as I need. Weeks. Months. Years.” she really didn’t know. “Why don’t you fuck off and I’ll call you when I’m ‘over it’.” since he was making this sound like she was being unreasonable. It hurt to talk to him and he was just annoyed that this was an inconvenience. __________________________ “Years?” that might be a blink of an eye to an immortal life, but to Greed days felt like years. Years would be decades. He couldn’t waste them. His hands draped across the plastic, sliding down the window until he could peek in to get a decent look through. One look could have her begging for him back. He could even…
He could make her open that window and let him in. He’d never made her do anything with his influence. And even if the thought entered his head it was quickly whisked away because the moment he did that...then everything really was over. He’d have nothing but his own string to lead her along and this would be in shambles without any hope of being built up again. At least now, he had something to hang on to. Something...no matter how tiny. __________________________ “Yes, years. Or never. I don’t know.” she sat down on the bed and shook her head, talking loud enough so he could hear her, “You’re an idiot, you know that? You only want me because you can’t have me and it drives you nuts that you can’t have me and you act like a monster. If you’re that upset that other girls don’t know things about you,” she wasn’t stupid, she knew those questions had to be about that, “Then TELL them, and you can fuck those girls!” she didn’t know why he was even bothering aside from the fact he was like a dog with a bone. She knew they’d gone down this road before but she’d had it. __________________________ “I’m not that shallow…” but he could be. He had been. “Other girls don’t…” he sat down on the coat, drawing his knees up and putting his arms down across. He was in a spot where he could still make out her form on the bed. He reached out to trace it against the glass, where the cold air had condensed. She didn’t understand did she? Fucking holes just wasn’t the same anymore. He drew another little design on her window in an unknown shape. When he rested his chin on his arms he could see it was a lopsided heart. __________________________ “You are that shallow!” she didn’t mean that really but she wanted to lash out at him. He had practically destroyed her and she felt so vulnerable still. “Why did you make out with that girl in front of me, if you’re not? TWICE.” she took off her jacket, “And then gave her the room number while I was about to pass out and then when I did pass out and you thought I was dead, you told her to come back and fuck you later. What do you call that?” __________________________ He rubbed his fingers together, wiping the wetness from the window off on his darkwash jeans. “I wanted to make you jealous. I wanted you to do something…” what he didn’t even know. Between Derek, the energy and all those substances he was too high, “I was high, I wasn’t thinking clearly…” It came out as an excuse, but there was some credibility to it. Greed wasn’t like an average human on drugs, it was amplified. “Correction, I told her to come back later. I did not say Come back so we can fuck later…” Even though it was obvious that’s what Wonder Woman had wanted to do and he thought he’d wanted to do. __________________________ All she heard was one excuse after another. “Oh really? Why did you ask her to come back later then? If you had no plans to fuck, why did you tell her to come back.” he was such an asshole. __________________________ He took in a deep breath and then released it slowly. This conversation was going in circles. “Because I wanted to fuck!” he grumbled closing his eyes. “I mean I wanted to fuck but when it came time to fuck I didn’t want to fuck.” Now he was going in circles, spinning in this nonsense with no chance of stopping. “With you and Derek and all that shit there I just I wanted the chance to throw something back.” She could pat him on the head and tell him Derek meant nothing to her a million times, but Derek had something Greed didn’t and that ate away at an already depressed Sin that had lost so much already. __________________________ She fuckin’ knew it! She just said it was to fuck and he got all no it wasn’t and now he was saying it was. She wanted to strangle him so much. She got off the bed and marched up to the window because it was easier to be mad at him than feel how much pain he put her through. “Then you’re a stupid asshole.” and she still didn’t believe he didn’t fuck that girl. She curled her hands into fists in front of the cracked glass, “I’m going to scream if you bring up the fact Derek took my virginity again because for the millionth time I can’t do anything about it and I’m getting punished for it. You wanna know something though? He might have my virginity card but you, you jerk, you have my heart. Derek never had that. Neither did Mike. No one else on the PLANET has that and you don’t give a damn that you’re the only one who has it -- who has ever had it -- you just stomped all over it and threw it away because it wasn’t as shiny as what Derek had.” and she hated Greed for it. __________________________ Greed sat back when she came charging to the window like a bull. She made him sound like such a monster, and to hear it from her was horrible. It made his stomach churn flop around like she were punching it over and over. Love was such a unique concept, maybe he was never meant to get it...but it was his gold wasn’t it? Why did he want to destroy it so much? “Then I guess my ass should have been born a Virtue huh? Then you wouldn’t be in this shitstorm.” It was a weak retort because she had thrown him something so adult and he was coming back like a child. If he wanted to be a man, he’d better start acting it. “I’m not a monster…” he finally said in a weak voice. He’d said something very similar to Patience once when Josie had jumped down off her cliff. He couldn’t change what he was, but he could cherish the things he had. He’d just jumped off course a little, Poseidon had knocked him around and just like the darkness before, he was trying to hold it together. The glue had still been pretty weak by the time they went to the con, but he’d only proved that she was better off without ever having him and that was Greed’s self-loathing. Actually believing that he didn’t deserve to have her when he deserved to have everything. __________________________ “Then stop acting like one.” she didn’t know why she was bothering, nothing was getting through to his thick skull. “I’m not in this shitstorm anymore because I took myself out of it.” she moved away to the window to where the ticket for his car was on the bed. She snatched it up and went back to the window, “Not because you deserve it...” she mumbled and carefully undid a small section of tape so a little slot opened up and she folded the paper and slid it through, taping the window back up again before he could get any ideas. “Now go away.” __________________________ He caught the ticket just before it blew away down the staircase. “What---is this?” he scanned the paper realizing he had his car again with this golden ticket. “Zoe how did you---” but he felt even more hit with this shitstorm he’d created. It was slamming him in the face with that ticket. “I’m sorry…” he could say it a million times but it wouldn’t erase what he’d done. __________________________ She shook her head, avoiding looking at him, “I asked my grandfather weeks ago if he could help me track down the car and get it back. I felt bad for you, because--” did she need to explain it? “Who cares, you got your precious baby back!” she didn’t believe his sorry, “If you’re that sorry then get off my fire escape and go away.” hadn’t he told her that the Great Greed never felt guilty? That was too human a thing to feel. Along with love. __________________________ No one would have done that for him. He rubbed the paper between his fingers. It was real. Lust would have bought him another car. No one he knew would have tracked down something that belonged to him to give it back. His eyes dropped. Maybe it was too human, but he felt it all the same, Sin and boy all together because she’d done what he’d not been able to do for her to keep her necklace. Was he crazy enough to go try and steal it back. Yes. Was he willing to see her reject him again even if he did it? He wasn’t sure. “Zoe…” his voice cracked. He felt so lost. __________________________ She couldn’t handle anymore of him right now. Her eyes had been slowly filling and now the tears spilled as she heard him say her name. “Just… go away.” her own voice breaking as the words ended on a sob and she moved away from the window to go lay in her bed and just cry until she fell asleep because there was nothing else she was capable of doing at the moment.