Zoe (history_repeats) wrote in nevermore_logs, @ 2013-03-06 16:56:00 |
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Entry tags: | greed, zoe hansen |
WHO: Greed & Zoe
WHEN: March 6
WHERE: Lithuania!, At the cottage and in town
WHAT: Third time is.. almost the charm?
WARNING: Boobage
Greed wasn't prepared for this emotional war he'd started in this trip. There was a lot invested, a lot of pressure that had been released. He hadn't given up, but he needed a new angle. He needed to get control of himself again, come at it simply which was hard to do when there were a million emotions talking in his head. Love, regret, pain, anger, guilt even. It put up a new barrier and he had to break it down.
He woke before her this time, stuffing his face with some cereal after his shower. Spoon in his mouth he buttoned up his plaid shirt and tucked it into his jeans with a belt. He didn't look quite like death had slapped him in the face. His headaches had dulled down to just a light throb, he barely noticed it. He had a little color back in his face. Once he was all settled he finished up his cereal making room for another bowl.
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Zoe hadn't fought Greed snuggling her. It was all they could do and as far as she was concerned he'd agreed that they just leave this at friends and stop trying. She was half asleep when she walked into the kitchen to make her breakfast. Not realizing Greed was in there at first. She was still in jammies and when she opened her mouth only a yawn came out. She scratched her nose and glanced at him, "Hi..."
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"I ate all the cereal," Greed said through a mouthful. He pointed to the bagels on the counter, he wasn't a fan of then unless they were loaded down with cream cheese. He wiped a spot of milk that dribbled on his shirt, but he'd missed the bit on his chin that was covered in a little peach fuzz.
"You look like a zombie."
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Zoe couldn't hate him more in this one moment if she tried. She stared at him for a good long ten seconds. He looked happier. Healthier. He was dressed and he looked gorgeous as ever even with milk on his chin. She was a zombie and he looked like that. Perfect. And he'd eaten all the cereal because as always, why should there be anything left for Zoe. She looked at the counter at the plain dry chewy bagels. This was the saddest representation of her life ever. Greed got all the types of cereal and ate all that variety to the last drop and she got dry. plastic. bagels.
She made her cup of tea and the only response she gave him was, "I'm going to shower." and walked right back out of the kitchen. Maybe she'd hate him less after she woke up.
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"Okay," he said through a mouthful of crunch, bounce in his voice. He followed her a few steps making sure she made it without dropping to the floor.
"Should I feel bad about the cereal?" But she had already made it into the bathroom. She'd looked as if she had wanted to cry over cereal. He dug through some of the groceries in the fridge. There were some strawberries that he cut up into slices. Then he tried to toast the bagel for her and burnt it instead.
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Zoe took her time in the shower and she did feel better some afterwards. Even in mortal form, Greed got over and bounced back a lot faster than she did. She frowned when she smelled something burning and quickly went to the kitchen, now looking fresher. She saw the strawberries and burnt bagel but didn't approach it. To her it just looked like Greed was making himself a second breakfast.
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Greed stuffed one of the strawberry slices into his mouth, handing her the plate with a few spoonfuls of fruit dip. It wasn't cereal but he'd tried. "It's a little burnt." He dropped the plate into her hands waving away the smoke that had piled up in the air.
"You look good," he glanced over her outfit. He liked her best in skirts, but she looked cute.
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Zoe looked at the plate like he'd handed her a snake. He never did things like that for her. "Thanks.." she mumbled with a bemused look. She sat at the table and picked up a piece of strawberry, "I thought I looked like a zombie?" she asked wryly and munched on the fruit, scraping off the burnt part of the bagel.
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"You did, but now--" he picked at her hair, smoothing out a fly hair, "but you look good." He sniffed her hair, "smell nice too." He picked off another slice of her berries before heading off into the bathroom to finish cleaning up. Brush his hair, teeth and throw on a little cologne.
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"Oh, so glad I could please you." she said sarcastically and ate her food. She slapped his hand when he stole some more food from her.
While he went to get even more freshened up, Zoe headed outside. It was a nice day. A little chilly but a walk would warm her up. She took in a deep breath, to clear her lungs. She didn't want to be in this sour mood. And she didn't want to hate Greed. No, she wanted to hate Greed but didn't and she hated that she didn't. She just wanted to go home. Go back to their old life where there was that torture of not knowing if maybe they could have more instead of this horrible knowledge of knowing they couldn't.
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He checked his breath three timed before heading back out. Zoe was outside, he watched her there for a few seconds before taking his place beside her.
"You ready to go?" He stretched wide. "Cold?" He took her hand in his. It was nice to feel the fresh air.
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"Yup." was all she said when he asked if she was ready to go. "Nope." was her reply to if she was cold. She didn't complain when he took her hand but she didn't even really acknowledge it as she looked ahead, her hand curled around his. The place was beautiful and she was content with just enjoying it with him like this.
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Greed tugged her hand swinging their hands as they walked. When he wanted them to pick up the pace he jumped ahead pulling her with them. He saw a few puddles ahead itching to splash around.
The sun was out but a little overcast. "So what's out here?" He had a lot of energy to burn off.
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Zoe pulled his hand to keep him away from the puddles. "Town is a mile that way.." she pointed, and then pointed in a different direction. "There's some woods over there and a lake. And before you get any ideas, it is waaaay too cold to go swimming in."
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"What no skinny dipping? Come on," he tilted his head to bat her a pair of sad puppy eyes. "It's a fantastic idea." It wasn't New York weather, they could handle it. That's what fires were for later.
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She gave him a dull look and sighed with maybe a hint of a smile, "You are welcome to jump in the lake." she would not be joining him.
She picked a path she hadn't been down yet and fell quiet again. It was kinda amazing to her, being in Europe. "I have to say.." she admitted quietly, "I never expected Lithuania to be the first stamp in my passport.." she wasn't like Greed, she had no money and she hadn't traveled all over.
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"I'll drag you down there. Then you'll shrivel up like a prune with me." He shook his finger. "We are not leaving until you do at least for five minutes." It didn't have to be today, but sometime before they packed up.
He dropped his hand from hers when they turned the path, watching her go ahead of him. The light was pretty when it bounced off her hair. It collected this light brown hue with flecs of gold and red. Her skin turned slightly alabaster in the light too, popping those little freckles off her face.
She was still dragging, he'd hardly seen her smile. It irked him that he couldn't get her to losen up. It wasn't like he'd slept off his feelings, but he had his mind on a one-way track, it was the only way he could dodge through these horrible, pesky feelings.
"What stamp do you want?" He'd dragged enough with them to go on for longer than a few days. Maybe he could skip the flight home for a detour.
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"I'll drag you down there. Then you'll shrivel up like a prune with me." He shook his finger. "We are not leaving until you do at least for five minutes." It didn't have to be today, but sometime before they packed up.
He dropped his hand from hers when they turned the path, watching her go ahead of him. The light was pretty when it bounced off her hair. It collected this light brown hue with flecs of gold and red. Her skin turned slightly alabaster in the light too, popping those little freckles off her face.
She was still dragging, he'd hardly seen her smile. It irked him that he couldn't get her to losen up. It wasn't like he'd slept off his feelings, but he had his mind on a one-way track, it was the only way he could dodge through these horrible, pesky things.
"What stamp do you want?" He'd dragged enough with them to go on for longer than a few days. Maybe he could skip the flight home for a detour.
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Zoe narrowed her eyes at him when he said he'd take her in the lake too. Freezing water was not her idea of a good time. She went on ahead when he let her hand go. She liked this peaceful place and closed her eyes to feel the sun on her face, tilting it up towards its rays. At his question, she didn't even open her eyes, her answer was ready and she smiled, "France." her eyes fluttered open slowly. "My parents had their honeymoon there. They'd talk about it all the time and it just sounded almost magical. They were going to take me with them for their fifteenth wedding anniversary." her smile faded and she started walking again.
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He and France had a history, and not a good one. Greed watched her play in the sun, the hint of a smile gone when she started to talk about her family. "So let's drop off in Paris on the way home." He didn't mind running up his credit card bills, he liked spending money. For a second though, he wanted to see her smile again instead of this mopey girl.
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Zoe gave an incredulous laugh, "Are you crazy? You're already spending thousands of dollars just by being here for nothing. No way I'm going to let you spend money on taking me to Paris." this was the most he was paying and getting nothing in return. She couldn't help but ask, sneaking a look at him, "Have you been..?"
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"What? Spending money is what I do." He threw his hands up in a shrug. It seemed a ridiculous question. "Come on. One day and night. You can't say no." He looked himself over as if something had crawled up his nose, running his hands up and down himself. "Have I what?"
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Zoe kicked a small rock with her boot and turned to look at him, walking backwards, she took a deep breath, "Here's where so much practice with you comes in handy. Watch the lips." she used both forefingers to point at her mouth and opened it to say, "Noooooooooo." she paused, "Wow, I can say it. How about that. Besides, I'd hate it more if I only got to go for a day. I hate to rush things."
She rolled her eyes and spun in a circle with a sigh worthy smile, "France, Chance! Have you been to France, to Paris? I mean you're as old as dirt, you must have been all over the world, right?"
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"Alright, we'll go." He ignored her drawn out no. Telling Greed to do something was like popping a kid for touching a burning stove. He kept going back.
"Yeah, I've been. I lived there for a few years in the 19th century." As if it should have been common knowledge. "Haven't been back since." There was a past there.
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Zoe automatically countered, "No, we won't."
She gave him a look, "Don't sound so entranced by it." since he didn't seem so thrilled by his time there. She still stayed a few steps ahead of him, "If I had the money, no way would I live in New York. I'd want to travel around and see places." more than that, it would just be a form of escape. New York was painful, it was always a reminder of homes she couldn't have. With Greed. With her Grandfather.
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"It wasn't happy for me." He'd rather have been site seeing. "Besides, I never got to see the Eiffel Tower." He wasn't diving into the story just yet. That on top of his emotions held a world of guilt.
"So why not just leave?" He'd follow her like a shadow. "No job. No school." He shrugged. There was nothing tying her down but him.
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Zoe stopped and looked at him but then looked away not pursuing the cause of his unhappiness. She wanted to. But she couldn't yet. She filed it away for later. "Well, you can make a pitstop at the tower, I'm going straight back to New York."
She found a fallen log and started to climb it. She held her arms out on either side as she teetered like she was on a tightrope as she slowly walked along it. "Uh, let's see, I have negative dollars?" she narrowed her eyes at him, "How do you know I quit school..?" she hadn't told anybody.
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He was glad she didn't push it, he wouldn't have been able to handle it like this. If he focused on too much he'd break down and she would have to drag him back a corpse.
He'd snooped around while she was with Mike. School was one of the places he could shop around without the bastard picking up on. It was also one of the few places Mike wouldn't crash. "Oops," Greed grinned. "Forgot about that. Well, cats out of the bag now?" He shrugged. He'd been playing stalker, no need to repeat it. He jumped on the log behind her, making her struggle a little more to keep her balance. When she couldn't hold it anymore and hobbled back on solid ground he'd be there to catch her.
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Zoe sighed, "Is it sad that I'm not phased by you stalking me?" she focused on her footwork, "I just couldn't study there knowing what I know.." she said quietly an then didn't bother explaining further because she figured he wouldn't care. But she had no one to talk to about why she quit school, she didn't think anyone would understand. "But trust me, if I had the money, I'd leave New York in a heartbeat." his jump on the log was unexpected and she went, "Whoa...!" as her arms waved a little and she tried to regain her balance but failed, falling off the log.
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"Knowing what? About all of us? Me, your grandaddy and psycho water gods?" She seemed unhappy about it though. "Did you want to really quit or did you quit because it was the easy thing to do?" He caught her when she stumbled, that had been the whole point. "I gotcha." He tangled his arms around her, which acted more like octopus tentacles.
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She slowly nodded. It was a trip knowing all of them were real. "I don't know.. I went to school because my grandma had always wanted me to get my masters. After she died, I felt guilty and lost so I went to get my masters like she'd wanted. I just feel so betrayed by her.. she knew. She knew all this stuff was real and she never told me. She never told me that I was part of it. Everything just seems like a lie."
Her mouth dropped open when she fell into his arms and she gave him a look but seemed a little amused, "Thanks for catching me.. and throwing me off balance in the first place." she very lightly slapped his cheek because she wasn't stupid.
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"Maybe she didn't want you to know. It's not a lie, its omitting the truth for your safety. Now that you know its like being on the lookout. Some immortals don't like broadcasting who and what they are. Never know how a human is gonna react." He was lucky, this could have blown up in his face. Hard to tell if it wasn't already. "Imagine being locked up in a mental ward for centuries because someone thought you were a fucking nutjob."
Greed smiled seeing her loosen up instead of looking like a stiff board. He dipped her back and twirled her back to her feet. "My pleasure. I did it completely on purpose."
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Zoe gave him a look, "Omitting the truth is what you do and it's still a lie. It's a lie of omission. But... I can understand her wanting to protect me but she died and left me in this crazy world knowing what's out there and leaving me blind. I don't know.. I think maybe I quit school as a way of getting back at her. Does that sound dumb?"
"Well that would never happen because I won't live for centuries." she tried not to but couldn't help but smile when he dipped her and was so blatantly honest. Her hands on his arms went up and loosely settled around his neck as she rested her head on his shoulder, "You're such a weirdo."
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"It's not a lie, though I'm good at that too. It's all in presentation," he grinned. "You know with guys like Poseidon...knowledge is power, and power is dangerous for you with those who attack without a motive."
He coiled her against him. "It sounds like something my siblings and I would do for fun. At least she loved you, most of us spend lifetimes trying to find it," his voice dipped lower and softer, squinting his eyes as he spoke. He knew she loved him, but telling her he felt the same seemed easier now than ever. Her expressed it to Wrath and George, but never to her. Love was dangerous because he knew someone could take it away from him. It was safer if she kept it.
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She raised her head to look at him, "You sound very wise. It scares me." she smiled a little and settled back into his arms, slowly relaxing. They were good at being friends at least. "Great, so I'm being petty." she said when he compared what she did to being a Sin. They weren't the most.. mature of characters.
She didn't look at him as he talked about her grandmother and how she was loved, just said softly, "Yeah.. and she left me." she closed her eyes and stayed in the warm safe embrace that Greed provided. It all went back to how everyone she cared about eventually left her. Even if she could never have his love or be with him. It was nice to pretend. It was less painful to pretend. Because pretending meant she could capture small moments that wouldn't crush her. Pretending was a pebble that hit her and didn't cause damage. The real thing would be a boulder that would annihilate her.
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"I have my shining moments," he laughed letting her cling a little longer. "It's such an strange thing, love. But...its easier to feel in the middle of this fuckstorm of emotions..." He shut his eyes tightly wondering how he'd managed to blurt that out without thinking it through.
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Luckily for him, the idea of him loving her was not even a thought in her head. He could have gotten a skywriter to plaster the words across the sky and she would have assumed it was a typo or something. She chuckled against him, "Welcome to being mortal. How you feel here is how I feel every day. It's messy and horrible but there are some good bits that remind you why you keep going forward." she squeezed him, "It's like a tasty chocolate bar that has raisins in it which is gross. So you eat the chocolate and spit the raisins out."
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Greed groaned pounding his head on her shoulder. "You totally ignored me." It was laughable really, fucking hilarious actually. He'd told her forever that he wasn't capable of loving her....and to a degree he wasn't. He'd never believed a Sin could have that but Wrath proved otherwise. God had created all things, including the hell kings, they were a cut of divinity. It made sense that Wrath or his design was good in doses. It didn't mean it wasn't a twisted love, it just meant it was possible. Now, Zoe completely blocked the meaning behind it.
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Zoe laughed incredulously, "What? How? Oh my God, Greed.. I don't think I could ignore you if I tried." she paused and rubbed the hair at the nape of his neck, "In fact, I have tried. Over and over." he always complained she didn't listen to what he said. But when it came to love, she had heard him loud and clear the first time and she would not open the door on a new world of pain by entertaining the thought.
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He just whined stomping his foot because she always diverted things he wanted her to get. "Nevermind," he groaned flatly. It was probably better that way. Just once when he blurted something all Hallmark card on her ass, he wanted her to pick up on it.
The delicate touch made his skin prickle. He didn't want her to stop that. He liked it. With his face still pressed into her shoulder, he relaxed almost with jelly legs. That made everything feel good. She had magic fingers.
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Zoe idle movements on the back of his neck paused as she nudged him with her nose, "Nuh uh, tell me." she frowned curious about his temper tantrum. Normally when he behaved like this he forced her to recognize whatever it was she missed.
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"Mmmmmm, don't stop," he mumbled with a pleased sound. "Keep going..." He did usually press when it came to things he wanted her to know, but this was delicate.
"I could spell it out with a fucking banner and you would shrug it off."
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Zoe didn't know what he was talking about at first and then moved her hand along the back of his neck again, "This?" she laughed a little, "You're like a puppy." he seemed to like pets and scratches. She kept going lightly and then stopped again, "Hey! That's not fair.. spell what out? Come on."
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"Stop stopping," it sent shivers down his spine, as little of a touch as it was. If they were going to keep this simple, she'd have to tangle with something else or distract him, because it made his whole body light up. He mumbled again, burying his face into her shirt.
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Zoe's touch was suddenly gone all together as she raised her hands up and off him, her hands open palmed so he could see. She gave him a look with raised brows as if to say she was holding her touch hostage. He better pony up the goods if he wanted her to keep going.
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"Zoeeeeeee," he crossed his arms over his chest. "I didn't tell you to stop." He furrowed his brows defiant. "The moment's passed, its gone. If I were to say it now you would think I was making fun of you. So no, not saying." He stuck his nose in the aid for dramatic effect.
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"Moment's gone then so are these." she wiggled her fingers at him. She eyed him, "You're acting very strange. And you make fun of me. Constantly. I'm used to it." she wasn't used to him hiding things from her. It was weird.
She looked down the road, "Do you want to sulk at home for dinner or walk the rest of the way into town and get food there?"
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Greed groaned throwing his hands up in the air. "Let's go to town." He needed to get out and into the open with other bodies. The Sin was screaming at him throwing darts at his head that he hadn't done that already. Greed wasn't used to frustration, not on this level, especially not so much sexual tension that he had the means to take care of but couldn't at this moment. Her stupid little, tiny fingers and their brushwork just always made him go crazy. Every time she did it it was something new, he sure as hell didn't get those little jabs in his stomach like butterflies flapping around when anyone else did it.
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Zoe pulled on his shirt a little and they walked the rest of the way into town. It was a bit of a walk and it took awhile so it was nice to find a place to sit down. The town was cute and old fashioned, especially this tavern they were heading into. Zoe saw something down the street and stopped walking so he'd get pulled back, "I'll be right back." she said without clarifying and let go of his hand.
Inside, as Greed took a seat at the bar alone, the first thing to come into view was ample cleavage on display, the owner of the perfect bosom was pretty gorgeous, tall, with red hair and a mouth that looked like it was designed to suck more than talk. She was asking Greed something in a foreign language, most likely what he wanted to drink but it was sounding like she was asking something else entirely with the way she was looking at him.
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"What, where?" but Zoe was already steps behind him, he headed inside because god damn it he needed a drink. It was at the bar that a strong perfume caught his attention before the cleavage. Then there was the entire package that went with it. Greed knew a little French here and there, probably a few other languages, but he was a little lost on this one. "Just a beer," he said waving it off, really not able to control the stare because the tall redhead was fucking gorgeous. The rest of him was also instantly attracted, but he was certain this time it revolved around the fact that as a human, Zoe had him bundled in sexual frustration across the board. The redhead's voice purred. It god damn purred at him. Her tongue rolled out whatever the hell she was saying, licking her lips with it. Well, that looked like an open invitation. He just slapped the bar, pointed at a drink and made a motion of two with his fingers, though it almost seemed to turn Miss Cleavage on.
This could go south, quick if he didn't keep his head on straight for two fucking minutes. This nervous energy, where the hell was it coming from? He didn't like it. Along with human emotions came this weird vibe like there were eyes on him the entire time.
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Miss Cleavage poured him a beer on tap and set it in front of him, she was again saying something in a foreign tongue but she leaned in to say it in his ear, the foam from the beer actually spackling the exposed parts of her breasts. She giggled when she noticed. running a hand across her collar bone as she said something and gave him a suggestive look. Greed might be mostly mortal, but you didn't need to be a Sin to know what this chick was suggesting.
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He wasn't used to this vibe where he had something offered right in front of him when there was something waiting for him. Unless he juggled balls between Lust and Zoe---he took a deep breath this was no different. And this girl no matter how gorgeous was no Lust. Especially when she literally sucked on his ear to whisper some foreign question he wasn't going to answer. He rubbed the spot on the back of his neck where Zoe had played with during their walk in the woods. It made him chuckle to himself, the bartender looking at him as if she were waiting for him to stand up. He was off in his own world, he wasn't going to give her a damn thing. What he did know, was that the moment Zoe showed up, there was definite sexual energy in the air---something his Sin self was ecstatic for.
Greed moved out from behind the bar, swallowing down a healthy gulp of the tap. He held up his fingers again with a full mouth. This time he said three. He would down seven of them until Zoe got there if he had to.
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The redhead set another mug of beer in front of Greed and seemed a little put out that he wasn't biting at the bait. She watched him rub the spot on the back of his head and she hooked a finger in the open area between buttons on his shirt and tugged him towards her, her chest right against him almost as she asked another question while her free hand rubbed the spot on the back of his head he just had.
Zoe had been gone just a couple of minutes and pocketed what she purchased and headed inside the tavern.
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He'd just curled his fingers around the second mug, because he'd already downed the first when he felt invaded. Normally that was a fantastic thing. "This bar just get a little smaller to you?" he asked. The touch she gave didn't send a shock down his system as when Zoe had. What bothered him more was this flustered feeling. It just put him on edge, he didn't like it at all. His confidence was still well intact, but there was something more innocent about him that wasn't there when he was at his full Sin self. The redhead was pushing the wrong signals now and he didn't like it. That and her cleavage felt like grapefruits being squished against him. He detangled himself, spilling the beer in the process all over himself.
Lust could do that and he was dropped to his knees like a horny teenager. This, it just felt weird. He didn't like it at all. He pulled out his wallet to put some foreign bills on the counter. They were dripping with the rest of him. He wasn't even drunk yet, that was just a terrible combination.
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The redhead looked insulted and repulsed as Greed got the beer everywhere. Zoe was just in time to see him spill it on himself. "Chance, are you okay?" she asked with concern as she walked up to him. She'd been gone less than three minutes. She shook her head, "It's a walk back to the cottage.. come on, maybe we should try to get you cleaned up here." she looked at the redhead and asked, "Um.. bathroom?"
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He didn't react to Zoe calling his name for some reason, it didn't register. That part of his brain was fishing for Greed in a way it hadn't when they'd gone to Kansas. It was almost as if Greed were just this little voice in his head. He wondered if that's what it felt like for humans when he advanced on them. The napkins he'd picked up weren't doing anything but crumbling as he tried to wipe it off, finally seeing Zoe when she came nearer. The redhead had a sour look on her face with her hands on her hips. She pointed into the direction near the back of the pub.
Greed was still trying to wipe off the drenched shirt. The bathroom itself was no bigger than a closet. A tiny one. There wasn't even a stall for the bathroom. It was a small space for one person, let alone two.
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Zoe squeezed in with him because he seemed shaken up, the place was small so they actually had a real towel in the bathroom, it wasn't big but it'd do the job. "Chance.." she tried again and wiped his hands, "Are you okay?" she looked at the cramped area and then scooted so she could sit on the edge of the counter next to the sink, her legs dangling off the side so they'd have more room and she could wipe his shirt.
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Greed untucked his shirt from the waistband, though it seemed as if all the drying off in the world wasn't going to soak up that beer stain. He ran some water over his hands, then his face when he looked at it in the tiny, dust-speckled mirror. "I don't know. I'm flustered, this doesn't happen." It put him into a panic. "I can actually hear myself screaming at me. Greed, you know the guy that is branded to hell? It's weird." By having his Sin wiped away in Kansas there was nothing there to miss. He'd been an emotional wreck there, but he'd also been sick as a dog. Having a piece of him still hanging out in the back of his mind was like having an outer body experience. "I feel like I'm floating watching myself from above, it's fucking weird." He caught her eyes between the mirror and scanning the rest of the tiny room. The light overhead flickered a little, leaving them in an almost completely dark room.
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This seemed worse than Kansas. She padded at his face and neck with the towel but when he still seemed disoriented, she put the towel down and cupped his face in her hands, "Look at me." and when he did, steady brown eyes looked into his blue, "We'll be back in New York soon and all of this will be gone, okay?" she smiled reassuringly at him, her thumb stroking his cheek soothingly, "Just have to hold on till we get back and everything will be fine." for him probably. She'd go back to her life where she would always be painfully aware of how close he was, like right now. This bathroom needed to be bigger.
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She had him locked with her eyes, it was a good thing because it reminded him why he'd wanted to come here in the first place. She was right at first, when she'd worried that this experience would kill him. Maybe not physically, but mentally this was already a mind fuck. He didn't say anything as he just bore a hole in her eyes. His own bounced back and forth, clinging to hers because he felt like he was going to sink right there. There were fifty things running through his mind at that moment but only one to act on. With his hands pressed on either side of her on the counter he just dived in, lips hanging on to hers because he felt he had no where else to go before he started to panic. He needed to feel something more concrete.
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Zoe didn't take her eyes off his, wanting to calm him down. Her hands pressed into his face when he fell on to her lips, something muffled and lost being said as he kissed her. This wasn't a loving kiss or a sexy kiss.. they were in the dinky bathroom of a pub and it smelled like beer because Greed was soaked in it. She didn't take the kiss personally, in a good way or bad. She gently sucked on his lips in an effort to calm him down, to slow the pace. When she could feel less of a desperation, she broke the kiss and stroked his cheeks, "You're okay.." she said softly and brought his face to her for another kiss, she repeated the words in a soothing tone, giving him a couple more kisses. She knew he was lost in his mind but she wouldn't let anything happen to him so he didn't have to feel this way.
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She eventually stilled all that panic that was starting to well up inside him in a way that was not very becoming of a Sin. But he wasn't a Sin here, not fully, he knew that---but it still played games with him inside. His eyes were closed when she spoke again, taking a calmer breath. One at a time. She managed to still his flustered, racing heart. He tried to just think this was the two of them, no one else, they were just together. It was the musty smell of beer that broke the tender barrier. He hung on her lips until the last possible second, finally opening his eyes again to see her still staring at him softly. He nodded but didn't know what else to say, his desperation had spoken for him.
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She smiled again, wanting him to see everything was alright. She gave him a big kiss and slid an arm around his neck to keep him close, her nose touching his. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small pack of milk duds, "Wanna see a movie?" that was what they were used to, right? It sucked they wasted his money to fly half way around the world to do what they did at home but... her heart sank a little.. isn't that what they realized here? That what they did at home was what worked. The barrier wasn't his sin and burning up.. the barrier was them. They just weren't meant to do more than what they did.
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"I wanna go back." He nuzzled her nose, stealing another small kiss before backing up and slamming into the wall looking for the handle which seemed jammed. His body and his mind were saying so many conflicted things right now, which was such a deviation from what he was used to. Usually they were both on the same wavelength. Once he had the door opened he helped her down off the counter, the small ounce of contact sending his heart racing. He handed her a few wet bills from his wallet once they'd gotten out of the pub. They still needed some food. More than what they'd brought with them, because surviving off milk duds was not going to curb his appetite later. He kept her hand closely twined in his the entire time, heading back on that long trail towards the cottage. Hills were easier to go down then go up, and eventually Zoe would get tired. They were about a half a mile when the bottom opened up from the sky with a downpour.
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Zoe nodded when he said he wanted to go back. She didn't blame him. Of course she assumed he meant New York. They went and bought some more food and Zoe was a little tired but it wasn't so bad, it was evening by the time they were on the way home and she stopped at the sudden downpour and then chuckled and shrugged. No point in running, they were soaked already. She let his hand go when they got to the cottage to step inside, she was soaked to the bone and dripping on the floor. "I would help you with the groceries but I think I might die if I don't warm up.. do you mind?" she gestured to the bedroom asking if he minded her getting changed first.
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The rain was nothing, just a drizzle as he'd walked through a hurricane for her before. His way of putting the groceries away was throwing them in the middle of the floor. She'd left the door cracked (just a tiny bit) which was a fantastic peeping hole as he stripped out of his own shirt. Her clothes hugged in all the right places. That little peek turned into a full on stare, especially when she started shedding articles of clothing. She had to know he was there, he wasn't being very discreet about it as he knocked on the door. "Need a shirt," he stepped inside promising not to look, though he'd seen nearly all of her just days before when he'd fished her out of the shower.
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She knew he was there but as in the other room, she didn't know he was full on staring at her change. She peeled the sopping wet shirt off her and let it drop on the floor, shaking out her wet hair with a hand. Next it was her soaked jeans and she was left in only her undergarments. She jumped at the knock and when he wandered in. She threw on a cami that still hugged her body and cut off below her tummy. She discreetly looked at him, shirtless and wet. She took in a breath and looked away, turning away from him as she unhooked her bra under the cami and tossed that with the other pile of clothing, everything was wet and making her clammy.
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He looked over his shoulder more than once while digging through his suitcase for a shirt and a fresh pair of boxers. When she'd turned around he tossed his wet shirt in her direction, laughing when it didn't hit his target. He was unbuckling his belt when he turned, holding the clean clothes under his arm and dropping it onto the bed. That flustered feeling from earlier was gone, as he had no shame in stripping down with her there. "Cold?" he asked pulling up the dark gray boxer brief. He debated on the shirt, swinging it around his finger and then coming around the other side of the bed where she was, slapping her on the ass with it.
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Zoe wrinkled her nose when his gross wet shirt landed near her, she picked it up between her toes and added it to the soggy pile. She needed fresh underwear to change into too. She rooted around in her suitcase for a pair, "No I--" she jumped when he slapped her ass with the shirt. She made a huffy face at him, "Do you mind..." she rubbed her butt with a pout and looked back in her suitcase, "You promised you wouldn't look." she pointed out with just a glance in his direction.
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"I do mind actually," he grinned, threading the shirt in his hands as if he were getting ready for another slap. "I'll be gentle," he teased with that goofy grin. He teased her with a few false moves and did it again. "I'm not looking," he covered his face with his hand, only peeking through an open crack between his fingers. "Alright, alright," he acted more seriously, sliding onto the bed comfortably, laying on his side, "not looking," he was still facing her, propped up by his elbow with his eyes closed. He wasn't leaving her alone for a minute.
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Zoe narrowed her eyes at him, "Don't you dare.." she shook her head as she grabbed a pair of dark green undies from her suitcase, "I think we should have you tested. Mentally." she looked at him with his eyes closed and two seconds after he closed them he'd get a pillow hitting him in the face. Zoe laughed and stepped back from the bed out of reach, hugging the pillow to her chest, fresh undies still in one hand. She grinned, "Lookit that, your eyes really were closed." she shrugged her brows as if to say who knew.
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"I'm stable, everywhere important," he grinned. Two seconds later he had a wallop to his head, full of pillow fluff. He grabbed at it first but she'd locked a grip on it. So he went for the next thing. The undies in her hand which really did expand like a sling shot. Once he had them out of her hands and in his grip he wasn't giving them back. "Did you want these?" He held them out of her reach, sitting up now on his knees waiting for her to launch for them. He'd tackle her right back down to the bed.
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Zoe's mouth dropped open and she looked like she couldn't believe it, "Chance, come on, give them back to me." she held her open hand out for them, fully expecting him to hand them over. She kept the pillow clasped to her torso with the other arm. She gave him a look, "My butt is freezing, give 'em."
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He held them out to her as if he were leading a puppy back to him. She didn't come so he waited for her to make a grab when he offered them so gently, and then almost as quickly he snatched them away. "So, just drop the wet ones?" His grin was far too devious to be sincere. He crawled off the bed, standing up beside her, still holding them away from her reach and going for the pillow. She still wouldn't let that up. He stood right behind her, within breathing distance and nothing else between them, dangling the undies above her head.
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Zoe pouted, "Greed!" she pursed her lips, "No, I'm not dropping the wet ones you jerk, gimme." she wouldn't give him the pillow and looked at him over her shoulder when he moved behind her, "Give me my undies." she said in as stern a voice as she could manage but it ended in a slight whine. "This is ridiculous." she leaned her head back, her wet hair tickling his naked chest, "I am not jumping for those. So you better give 'em or else..."
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"Oh? Or else what?" He reached for the pillow again, this time just twirling her around to face him. He tapped his lips. "Gimmie one of those first." After the two times he'd pitted her to the wolves with his rejection, he didn't expect her to think he'd want her---but he did. There was a chance she'd reject him and he hadn't an ounce of Sin in him to wiggle out some influence. It was the only time he'd debate using it, because it was the only time he'd ever felt in the pit of his stomach that he would be rejected. It was an awful thing to think. "I mean it. In all seriousness," he dropped the grin.
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Zoe faced him and raised a brow at him asking for a kiss. She didn't appreciate his weird sense of humor when he got strangely serious. What was he playing now? She leaned in closer as if she might kiss him but only said, "Keep 'em." and walked away from him. He was mental.
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"Zoe!" He grabbed her arm, tugging her towards him. "Let's stay another day," he asked in the smallest voice. His heart was beating so fast he could practically hear it sing in his ears. When he'd said he wanted to to back at the pub, he'd meant here. With her. She didn't make him feel like he was going to drop straight to the floor. "Please." He'd actually asked her, there was that same desperate voice as the little boy she'd tried to dry off in the pub bathroom.
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She looked at him with wide eyes, surprised. Her mouth dropped open and she blinked several times not understand why he wanted to stay but.. "O..okay.." she seemed taken aback but tried to smile, "Sure, we can do that.." she touched his cheek, "Calm down, it's okay..." she yoinked the underwear out of his hand and wrinkled her nose cutely at him, "Gotcha."