Zoe (history_repeats) wrote in nevermore_logs, @ 2013-08-07 12:36:00 |
|
|||
Entry tags: | greed, temperance, zoe hansen |
WHO: Greed and Zoe w/Temperance
WHEN: Monday
WHERE: Greed's apartment, grocery store
WHAT: Zoe and Greed go to the grocery store and get checked up on by a male face Virtue
WARNING: Greed in ladies undies
Leaving Lithuania was always sad, but like last time, they were already packed so they could spend what little time they had left just being with each other in the naked way. When Greed got sick, Zoe was there to help him through it. The jet had those super big comfy seats so she could sit up with her legs out and him put his head in her lap so she could massage his temples until the pain would dull enough so he could sleep. They arrived back in New York and went straight to Greed's place. While Greed showered, Zoe made do with what food he had in the fridge, making a breakfast of eggs, bacon, toast and then put a kettle on to boil for their tea. She wandered over to the bathroom as she heard the water turn off, knocking on the door, "Hey, don't forget these." and she strung a pair of her nice undies on the doorknob for him whenever he got to them.
__________________________
It was always transition 1.0 when Greed hit New York. He’d not forgotten about their little poker deal, but he’d been imagining all sorts of other things. She was a distraction one way or another. He opened the door abruptly before she could walk off, snagging her towards his still dripping wet body for a kiss and then went back to his usual routine (new set of undies in tow). It took a little getting used to. At first it felt a little uncomfortable, trying to walk in something so thin in material. Flowy even. It was a breather actually. He had small hips even though he had as good a butt as she did, so after a while he could walk without pulling out a wedgie.
When he came into the kitchen he grabbed a piece of bacon, chomping down on it’s crispiness. “Look!” he said with a mouthful. “No underwear lines!” It was kind of miraculous.
________________________
She was taken by surprise when he yanked her close for a kiss but practically melted when he did. It was one of the things he did that she loved about him. When he emerged into the kitchen, she grinned, “Niiiiice... so how’s it feel?” she poured a cup of tea for him and one for herself.
________________________
“It’s not a new job, it’s your underwear.” He munched down a piece of toast. He still had some more time in between getting to work, but he was starting to feel the jet lag. He needed that tea or he wasn’t going to get going for the morning. He grabbed it quickly, drinking it down like water. He scrunched up his face a little. “It’s okay, kind of comfortable.” But he also hadn’t walked around a 9-5 shift yet. He’d text her how he felt around lunchtime.
________________________
She smiled, “Well..” she hooked a finger in his belt and brought him closer to her, her other hand holding her mug of tea, “As much as I wanna see what it looks like on you right now, I’m willing to wait till you get off work and unwrap you then.” she was still in a very wanting to kiss him all over mood. She raised her brows as she brought the mug up for a sip, “That is if you want me to spend the night here tonight...”
________________________
“I’ll send you a surprise later. Watch your phone.” He looked down at those fat lips of hers, how she was invading his space with her smugness...oh god! He did love her. His lips thinned to a small smile, licking the lower lip and sucking it in under his teeth. “Mmmm I dunno...you hit me kind of hard with all those wins.” He nudged her nose reeling her in for that kiss he could see she wanted, she could practically taste him already. But it never came as he took her mug of tea for another swallow.
________________________
She grinned, definitely looking forward to the promised surprised. She did want the kiss and made a face at him as he used his ways to not kiss her but steal her tea. “I know.... wasn’t I awesome!?” she asked as she put her arms loosely around his middle and tilted her head back to look at him with a big smile.
________________________
He took another swallow of her tea as he’d finished his off as fast as he’d grabbed the cup. “I’m still a little traumatized,” he feigned the distraught look with his other hand to his chest. “I don’t know if you deserve to be around me,” fake sniffles, fake tears.
________________________
She gave him a look but then had a mock distressed face as she nodded in a serious way, “You’re absolutely right...” she dropped her arms from around his middle and stepped back, “I really don’t. I’ll just go home. And have dinner with Gabe tonight. Since I am completely unworthy of your presence.”
________________________
Greed’s charade was over the moment she took her arms off him. She did not just unleash him. He put her glass down on the counter. “What are you doing?” he was a whimpering little puppy that had been playfully slapped. He yanked her arms back, patting them in place as if she were just a strip of velcro that was stuck around his midsection. “There. Now don’t move.” He picked up her tea and finished off what was left of hers as well. He patted his lips. She could go now and stop playing with him.
________________________
She turned her lips in to contain her smile as he took her arms and rewrapped them around him as if he absolutely needed them there in order to finish breakfast. She waited patiently, looking at him and when he was done, she raised her brows, “I’m not letting go til you give me an answer about tonight cause I need to plan my day. And it’ll be very awkward to drive like this.”
________________________
He picked at one arm after having just stuck it in place. She was most definitely gripping him. It was a good thing he didn’t have his jacket on or she would have completely wrinkled it. The tweed vest was a little sturdier than most suits. “I should have thought that was obvious. Duh.” When he came back from deadzones he usually wanted her in his presence for at least an extra day or two.
________________________
Zoe gave him a dull look and like a schoolteacher said, “Saaaay it.” she wanted him to say the words that he wanted her there and she was willing to wait.
________________________
She was poking him! Not as rough as Lust, but she was poking! He growled behind closed lips, holding them together tightly. He didn't spit them out, he hung on as of his life depended on it.
When he did say it he yelled it at the top of his lungs. "I WANT YOU TO STAY THE NIGHT!" was that clear enough for her?
________________________
She held firm, her position and hold (but made sure it was at his belt level so she didn’t wrinkle him). She squeezed her eyes shut and silently laughed at his loud bellow and then dropped her arms only to grab his face with her hands and give him a big kiss. She gave him several kisses even after that. “I’ll meet you at your office when you’re done with work and then we can go to the grocery store, you’re almost out of food. How’s that sound?”
______________________
The words just kind of fell out of his mouth. A tumbling mud slide right down into her personal space. Her ears wouldn't unhear it once it broke through that barrier. Those words he'd said to her before in the deadzones, but never here. Never when his Sin was driving the seat. As soon as those three words fell out after her sexy kiss, his stomach did somersaults. He just had the biggest crush on the only girl who was learning to work with him instead of succomming to all his tricks. He wasn't eating her alive into a ghost.
He stepped back with a hand to his stomach and a sweaty brow. He tried to swallow that back down before anything nasty came out in retaliation.
______________________
She was stunned when she heard him say he loved her. He’d never said the words outside of a deadzone before. He hadn’t said them in Lithuania this time and she’d been fine with it. He’d said it before and now this time it was her turn. But for when the Sin was back in the driver’s seat and those words to come out? She was so touched, she was moved, she was-- oh he did not look good. She remembered how angry, hateful, and euphoric he’d been when she said she loved him and how in Kansas he’d had to vomit so this was probably something similar. She put her hands up in front of her as if to catch him if he needed it, “Do you need to sit down?” she leaned down to look at his face and this wasn’t quite the kodak moment.. but she clasped her hands together and winced as she said in a rush of words, “Chance, you’re going to hate me anyway so I love you too. Do you want more tea?” she asked with concern. It was truly odd. It was the first time ever that one of them had said the words and the other person had reciprocated with the words back... not exactly romantic but they weren’t a conventional couple.
_________________________
He looked repulsed, elated and a hint of anguish. His body was so confused as the Sin tried to push out the poison he'd just swallowed. It was thick and it was heavy. He heard her but his head just spun in circles, running laps until he collapsed. To any other girl this would have been a disaster. What boyfriend falls out on the floor about to barf up his 'I love you'?
______________________
She let out a loud, “OH!” and her hands flew to her mouth as Greed passed out and then she quickly went over to him and checked to see if he was breathing. He was. He had just.. fainted. “Oh god oh god oh god...” what was she supposed to do? He was going to be late for work if he didn’t wake up. She slapped his cheek a few times, “Chance.. come on, wakey wakey... you’re okay, right? You’re okay. Come on, yeah ya are.. let’s go..” she grabbed an arm and tried to pull him up with some effort but he was three times her size.
______________________
He barely budged at her tugs and pulls. He didn't have time to stay out, but between the jet lag and transforming from boy to Sin and human feels he just collapsed. He didn't even flinch.
______________________
She bit her bottom lip nervously, not knowing what to do. If he was late for work, he would be in an even worse mood. She could dump cold water on him but he’d whine about his clothes. She got down on her knees next to him and hoped he’d forgive her. She took a deep breath and SMACKED! him right across the face with her open palm as she yelled, “GREED, you’re going to be late!” hopefully using his Sin name and reminding him that he was going to miss out on his job he loved plus a slap would be enough to bring him back. She scooted backwards out of the way though in case he did wake up and wanted to hit something.
_____________________________
There were sparks literally popping under his eyelids. A whole spectrum of colors dancing around as he sat up in a jolt with a "what the fuck?!" His face was stinging with a thousand pins and needles.
______________________
She stumbled since she was balancing on squatted feet and his sudden sitting up caused her to and right on her butt with an oof! She reached a hand out to him, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry! You fainted and I couldn’t get you to wake up and you’re getting late for work....!” she tried to explain.
_______________________
"Owwww" he rubbed his face giving her a giant pout. "I didn't know you had it in you." She had left a handprint all right.
______________________
She cringed and moved closer, touching his uninjured cheek, “Well, yeah.” she’d punched him in Lithuania so a slap was something she was completely capable of. She gently kissed the handprint on his cheek, “Sorry....” she said again with a wince.
________________________
He grappled her with his arms making her squeal and pulling her into his lap. "I just get to give the boys at work something to talk about." When they asked what he'd just cast a wink and let them use their imagination.
______________________
She squealed, completely taken by surprise and not knowing what he was doing until she saw he was calm and seemed.. amused? She slowly smiled, “Coupled with your new underwear I’d say you’re gonna be the center of attention.” she softened and looked concerned, “Maybe when we go shopping we can talk about this..” because she knew he was getting late.
_____________________
He kissed her on the cheek, his stomach taking a nose-dive again. He at least got out the door and near the car before he had a few rounds of dry heaving. He refused to let his breakfast stain the leather interior. When he walked into work it turned a few heads because he was exactly two minutes late and usually he showed up five minutes early. It wasn't as if his day went any smoother. The idea of Zoe kept his mind occupied. His imagination didn't just run wild, it ran on repeat of their weekend and all he could think about was the sex. So, getting any actual work done just didn't happen. He even sent her an extra slew of texts than usual, including pictures of her stylish underwear---which Karl caught him mid-selfie with the camera. Greed just pulled up his pants and buckle and walked out as if that hadn't happened. He threw the stunned colleague a wink and went on. The giant red mark she'd left on his face finally started to fade by the end of the day. All he had to do was say his girlfriend had stayed over and people's minds went all over the map. They'd seen her and looking at Greed, that was just a given. Oh yeah, he had hot sex all night.
Back at the apartment he'd skipped out right at five and sped home. It was like having a dog waiting for him to return. He had his girlfriend to tackle the moment he got in the door. It was an Oscar sitting on his desk that he couldn't wait to feel up and polish.
"Honey I'm home!" He yelled teasing her as usual, loosening his tie. Could he get naked now?
______________________
She loved the pictures he sent during the day, it was cute to see his butt in her undies and call her crazy but he seemed to actually be enjoying wearing them. His texts were a bit more R rated than usual and she blushed more than once when reading them. She’d gone out to run some errands while he was at work as always there was catching up to do after a trip abroad. She had a big smile on her face when he got home and tackled her in his arms, it felt nice. Almost normal. Very natural. “Good day? Get any work done between feeling yourself up and texting inappropriate things to me?” she teased as she unknotted his tie and tugged on one end to take it off him.
_________________________
"Hell no." He'd not been able to focus at all. His brain had been yanked out and replaced by her. It was witchcraft. He dropped his coat, then started unbuttoning the vest with one hand. "All I could think about was you...naked." His texts had even bordered x-rated. Lithuania had opened doors. Each trip she blew his mind. It pushed him into outer space beyond what he ever thought possible for a spawn of hell. He prided himself for it.
_________________________
She hadn’t been expecting that answer and looked to the side, trying not to smile wide but failing, “Oh. Well. Um..” her cheeks were pink and she took over unbuttoning his vest with her hands so he could take it off while she started on his shirt, “I could think about other things.. but you were definitely in the forefront of my thoughts...” she’d barely been able to focus, any time she did, one of his racy texts would pop up.
_________________________
He shook his hips (what narrow little hips they were) mouthing the words ‘score’ into the air. She was undressing him, she must have had him on her mind. And just by the blush on her cheeks it was obvious his messages had pulled some strings. “Not like my messages?” He teased, pretty sure the last one had been the best. That one probably made her shiver from the inside out.
_________________________
Her blush deepened as she thought of the steamy texts and she couldn’t look him in the eye at first as she undid all the buttons and then undid his belt. She gripped the sides of his open shirt loosely and pulled him closer to her, she hadn’t given him a kiss hello yet even. “They melted my phone.” and she gave him a slow searing kiss that showed he was definitely very much on her mind all day.
_________________________
He laughed in amusement sucked into her lips like a vacuum cleaner. “You’re melting my brain...” hands sat right on her back halfway down her ass as she fired up his hormones in one spine-tingling kiss. They weren’t in Lithuania anymore but it was really difficult to tell their bodies that when neither of them were used to the time change yet. In his head they were still in that sleepy little cottage. “Do you know how hard it is to do math when those freckled thighs of yours are wrapped around me in my head?” Seriously. His mind was a porn star’s wet dream.
_________________________
She moved her hands inside his open shirt to touch his skin as he kissed her, her hands roaming up and slowly pushing the shirt off his shoulders as he said the next bit. “Ohmygod..” she chuckled in embarrassment and closed her eyes for a moment shaking her head. She opened her mouth and then closed it and then looked at him again with her eyes partly narrowed, “Do you know how hard it is to go to the post office and get underwear butt pics from you and not fall over? I think we’re even.” she looked over her shoulder, “Where’s your t-shirt?” she wasn’t undressing him to stay in, they had to go shopping.
_________________________
“Awww, you were at the post office. Did I make you---” then she was changing subjects. Undressing him to ask where his clothes were. What kind of world was this? She didn’t just undress him and ask him where the rest of his clothes were to cover him back up. He nudged her with his finger against her collarbone. “You really want to cover this back up?” It was the chest wall of muscle and sexiness. He should really take offense to this. “You’re disturbing me.”
_________________________
She grinned, “No..” she put her arms around his middle and leaned up to nibble at his lips. Really, she just wanted to throw him down and do things with him that required no clothing at all but it was not in the cards. “But we need to go to the store and if you go out without a shirt, some bimbo is gonna try to steal you from me.” she was sure it would happen even if he was wearing a parka, he was adorable.
_________________________
“Why can’t I go naked?” he huffed with a heavy bottom lip. He was just getting to enjoy being home and she wanted to go out again? If he did go in his birthday suit, then he really would have a train of women following him back to the apartment. He’d have to share his apartment with a line of people who he didn’t want coming in. “T-shirt’s in the bedroom.” He seemed so disappointed to leave.
_________________________
“Cause sluts will wanna bang you and I’ll end up on the news when I start having to fight them all.” she said matter of factly but had a bit of a smile to show she was teasing. She sighed and tangled her fingers with his, “If you really wanna stay in, then how about you wait here and I can go to the store and be back soon? We’re out of food and..” she fidgeted and then bounced on the balls of her feet saying the words every boyfriend hated to hear, “I need to get tampons...”
_________________________
“I’ll bring my camera.” That would be a show he’d start charging people to watch. “Noooooo,” he squeezed her fingers like a pulse. He didn’t want her leaving without him now that he was here. That would be absurd! Then she threw out something a little more personal. “You need the plugs? How...we just got back?” Greed didn’t remember that women had an internal clock that popped up once a month. He knew about periods, but he’d forgotten it was practically every four weeks.
_________________________
“You’re a horrible boyfriend, you’d take pictures instead of help me?” she teased and she relaxed some when he wanted to go with her. But when he looked confused, she gave an equally confused look back because it was such an odd question. She stretched her fingers out and curled them back with his, “Yeah....? I don’t have any here and it’s that time of the month..” she wasn’t sure why he seemed surprised.
_______________________
"It's every month?" He seemed surprised. Lust didn't get them and he didn't exactly get so intimate with a girl like he did Zoe to understand the full workings of a woman's reproductive system. He knew what he could stick in and play with. But he'd also been married before and lived with Josie for months at a time---it wasnt something they shared knowledge about. It was a separate world.
_________________________
She looked stunned, “Yeah......” she tilted her head, her mouth still open a little, “Doesn’t.. I mean, you’ve never had to deal with a woman’s period before? Weren’t you married?” she asked after that remembering he had told her that. Surely he’d noticed... she forgetting the fact that the time period he was married in was a very conservative one and he didn’t have relations with his wife on a consistent basis. And there was his sister but she just didn’t like bringing Lust up.
______________________
"Yeah? But it was a conservative time. It's not like I walked in her shadow. Some things were very private." He hadn't spent time with her and if she left him alone three to four days out of a of a month he considered it a blessing.
_________________________
She looked at him curiously and then simply explained, “Well women normally get their periods every four weeks and they last around five days.” she knew he didn’t ask but he was like a sponge with knowledge and she offered him that tidbit, he could ask if he wanted to know more.
_______________________
"I just thought it was twice a year or something. I didn't realize it was every month. "That sounds like a pain in the ass." He scrunched up his face with an 'eww' look. "Lust doesn't get those, but I don't know about my other sisters."
_________________________
She chuckled softly, “I wish it was twice a year. It’s super annoying and it comes with all sorts of headaches.” she tugged his hand so they could go get his t-shirt while they talked. She didn’t comment about his sisters periods.
_____________________
"You weren't on it in Lithuania." Had it just hit today? "Don't you get warning or something?" Like bells and whistles that went off. That was one surprise he wouldn't want hitting when it felt like. He didn't realize that stress could contribute to an early or late period. He made that face again. "Does being intimate with you mean I get filled in with all this?"
_____________________
She let his hands go to hand him his t-shirt and laughed a little again, “You mean like an alarm?” she cupped her hands around her mouth, “Your body is going to become a mess and gush blood in t-minus 2 hours.” she dropped her hands and smiled, “Nope. We feel bloated and moody and achy and get cramps and that’s our warning, just have to keep an eye out for it if four weeks go by. Comes around then, sometimes later, sometimes sooner, depending on our physical state and if we’re stressed or not. She gave him a look, “I’m gonna assume you mean getting told about this stuff. I know it’s not the sexiest thing in the world, but yes, as the boyfriend, you have to deal with your girlfriend’s period. I don’t tell you every time or any gory details but it helps if you know about it so if I’m really cramping or moody, you know what’s up.”
_____________________________
He was getting the world history of women's bodies. "Ahh yeah yeah, and you girls all blame it on eve." But Adam and Eve both was where he and his siblings essentially were born. It's what Greed considered the beginning.
He slipped the t-shirt over his face once he'd gotten the dress shirt peeled off. But he was not wearing tweed pants with this shirt. He needed his dark wash jeans.
_____________________________
She gave him a wry smile and smooched his lips when his head popped out of the t-shirt. She held his jeans in her hand and smacked them lightly against his chest for him to take, “Noooo.. I blame it on biology.” she was not a religious girl and while she’d seen a lot of strange things and dated a Sin, she still believed that some things were still rooted in science.
______________
"Well let's go get some food and your blood plugs." The last touch to the new outfit was ruffling his slicked back hair and a pair of flip-flops. He smacked her on the butt and started towards the door, walking her towards it with his hands still planted on her rear.
______________
She wrinkled her nose but thought his description of tampons was accurate and funny. She jumped when he smacked her on the butt and squirmed with a small laugh as he steered her that way.
They got to the store and Zoe took out some cloth grocery bag. Just cause her boyfriend was a Sin didn’t mean they needed to add to pollution. “Hey, so about this morning...” she dumped the empty bags in a shopping cart because there was no way Greed would only pick up one or two items. She slipped her arm around his middle and looked at him, “You okay?” it was a lot of L word saying that morning and he’d passed out over it.
________________________
He'd gotten better to handle in a grocery store. He was still spastic, but less bouncing around like a ball. When she spoke of his episode that morning he stiffened a little. It wasn't embarrassing, just a big moment for the both of them. He nodded his head up and down. The idea still made him a little sick. His stomach churned a little with the acceptance of saying such a strong word. There was a lot of attachment there----but it was also possessive.
______________
She felt him stiffen and rubbed his back, “I liked hearing you say it....” she rested her head against him for a moment, “I liked saying it back.” she squeezed his middle and then dropped her arm, “Maybe in the future we can use a different word but it can mean the same thing?” she let him push the cart so he could feel more in control. She picked up a box of pasta, “Like... I waffle you.” she said thoughtfully as she checked out if they wanted to have this for dinner.
______________________
It was kind of the perfect idea. It could trick the Sin from feeling taken over by all human things. He had to still feel he had the wheel here. Greed giggled because everything he thought of sounded dirty. "Waffle?" He poked her side.
He piled a few things in the bag, looking at different names he read off the boxes. Nothing seemed to click with him just yet.
______________
She grinned, “It doesn’t have to be waffle! It was an example.” she poked him back and picked up some butterfly pasta and showed it to him to see if maybe he wanted to make that for dinner. They could order out but she liked cooking with him. “It could be... I yellow you.” she shrugged, “I don’t know, you think of things too.”
_____________________
His lip quirked, tugged at the corners in a little wiggle. "That's my favorite color...." He felt a tingle against his skin. It made him shiver. Something threw him off, but it wasn't Zoe. There was something or someone else that suddenly shook his system. It was as if his feet were stuck to the floor.
______________
She half rolled her eyes with a smile, “I know.” she threw the box in the cart because they’d need it eventually she was sure. “But what do you think? You think it’d--” she looked at him and frowned, “Uh.. hello? You okay?” he seemed distracted but he wasn’t running off anywhere.
_____________________
He was grounded. It shook his nerves down to a standstill, and Greed started to walk slowly as if on the prowl for someone. He peeked over aisles as best he could, watched every person go by with an evil eye. That tingling sensation didn’t go anywhere it just got stronger but he couldn’t see who it was radiating off of. Or where.
_____________________
Zoe just looked at him oddly, “Okay.....” she walked up to him and touched his arm, “Hey. What’s going on?” she asked in a hushed voice. He was acting a bit nuttier than usual.
_____________________
It was as if he’s entire body was out of his control. He was numb, like the Sin couldn’t get out to play. That could only be one of two Virtues and it felt like Temperance. “There’s a Virtue here I can feel it!” He looked like a wolfhound who was sniffing his way through the store looking for his bone. “I can’t....see her!” Damnit! Where was the bitch?
_____________________
She raised her brows, the only Virtue she’d met was Patience. And this one was apparently a girl Virtue. She was instantly scared but also kinda curious. She really didn’t know what the protocol was for when a Sin met a Virtue. “Are you gonna punch her?” since that was basically all Greed did when he ran into Patience last time.
_____________________
“Noooo,” he waved off stopping the cart to a dead halt as this thin redhead went by. He stared her down as if she were diseased. “Not curvy enough.” He started up again looking for her, stopping at the end of aisles, peeking around the corner and then tearing it down the next aisle. This was literally driving him insane. Then he looked up as if she’d be floating up above him. She wasn’t a balloon, but he didn’t know where she was stashing herself. “I want to wring her pretty little neck though.” God she got on his nerves, his teeth were practically clenched so tight they were grinding.
_____________________
She followed him around for a couple of aisles before she realized he wasn’t going to let this go until he found her. She hoped whichever Virtue it was could also sense Greed and just get the hell out of there before he grabbed her. She sighed and kissed his cheek, “Alright, I’m going to go get my stuff. Try not to get arrested.” she knew he’d come after her when he got bored or actually found the Virtue. She was fairly certain he couldn’t do any actual damage.. he was a kid but he wasn’t totally stupid. Maybe she was being hopeful.
_____________________
Greed was on a mission. He kept knocking things into the cart, looking over his shoulder and all around not at all finding Temperance. He didn’t know she’d turned into Jonah, or that Jonah had sensed him the moment he walked into the store. This was completely on accident, which told Jonah that the time had made itself known. He hadn’t stalked or hunted down the pair, but he weaved in and out of a few aisles just to give Greed a starter. Once the Sin had ran off on his wild goose chase, Jonah realized it was his opportunity to just make an appearance. He happened down the same aisle as Zoe. She looked like such a sweet girl.
“Need help with that?” he asked pointing towards the box she was eyeing, but couldn’t reach. He was even a foot taller than Greed it seemed like, a tower among most. It was a wonder Greed hadn’t noticed him, but Jonah took that as fate. There wasn’t much Greed could do with his body slowed down just in Temperance’s presence.
_____________________
Even with her nice brown leather heels, Zoe was kinda on the short side, especially compared to Greed and this guy who was around Gabe’s height next to her. “Yes, thanks.” she said gratefully as she couldn’t quite reach the box that was stored up top. She looked at him oddly, and seemed actually really amused. Jonah was helping her get down a box of tampons in the feminine hygiene aisle. Definitely not a place you found most guys. But she assumed he was being a good boyfriend getting tampons for his girlfriend. She grinned at him, “Picking things up for your better half?”
_____________________
Jonah handed her the box once he’d reached without even getting on his tiptoes to get it down. He realized quickly what aisle he was actually on. He should have been more aware, and if he were Maddy this wouldn’t have seemed as odd. “Oh no,” he said politely, his veneer finish teeth blinding her in a sweet smile. “My sister actually,” he took a box off the shelf and planted it under his arm. Seeing as Jonah saw himself as a separate being from his self as Madison, he didn’t find his response a lie. Some male/female counterparts of Sins or Virtues felt like entirely different people. Jonah was one of those.
_____________________
She smiled, looking impressed, “Well you’re a very good brother. If I can ever repay the favor...” she said in a joking tone as she held up the box because there was really not much she could do for him.
_____________________
“It’s not a problem. I’m taller than most people. It comes in handy sometimes.” Jonah didn’t see it as a hinderance. He liked being helpful. Even for something as simple as a box off the top shelf. “I’m Jonah,” he held out his hand to shake. “You can repay me by a simple handshake.” That’s all he required. He knew who she was already, but it was best not to dive right in to the details.
_____________________
She gave a nod, “I can do that...” she looked over her shoulder first because the last thing she needed was for Greed to see an innocent handshake and fly off the handle about how she and this new ‘tree’ were having a torrid affair in the middle of the aisle. When it looked clear, she looked back at Jonah and stuck her hand in his for a quick shake, “I’m Zoe.”
_____________________
If Greed had seen he’d have thought their hands were practically making love. He would have been disgusted. Jonah set his big hand against hers, with a soft curl of his fingers around for a light handshake. It was sturdy still, he was no waif with his handshakes. All good greetings started with a smile and a good handshake. “Nice to meet you Zoe.”
Greed was still zooming up and down the aisles until he’d come to the freezer section at the end. He wasn’t tired, but with Temperance around he felt like his body just gave up and wanted to stay put.
_____________________
She thought the guy was very wholesome and midwestern. She made sure he didn’t keep her hand for too long and narrowed her eyes a little at him as if studying him, “You’re not from New York, are you?”
_____________________
“Oh you caught me?” he quirked a half smile, releasing her hand before she felt uncomfortable. “I’m kind of a nomad, I’ve been all over. This is my first time in the city though in some time.” It always felt new for him. Maddy had been here since 2007, and up until recently she hadn’t really needed him to pop around. With all the Sins in town practically, the Virtues seemed to congregate to New York pretty easily.
_____________________
“Ah, at least you’re not a total greenhorn so you know the city is filled with less than reputable people.” she thought of Greed but well, he was good to her, his nature was something else and she didn’t get involved much in it. She didn’t know the people he targeted and Jonah seemed like a nice boy so hopefully he’d be able to leave the store with his wallet. “So I guess welcome back?”
_____________________
“Ah yes. I’ve had my run-in with a few colorful characters.” He wasn’t going to say they were rude (even if they were) then he’d look like he was complaining and Jonah was not that kind of Virtue. He was a step back from Maddy, which had Greed known who he was he would have hated him that much more for the natural vibe he gave off with the Excess Sins. Greed weaved back in the aisles a little slower, not nearly as with the energy he’d started with. He looked around still because that bitch was hiding somewhere. He was determined to find her. He put his feet up on the bottom of the cart, watching it tip up and then collide onto the floor again. He did this a few times before just coasting himself down the aisle as if he were on a skateboard.
_____________________
Zoe could hear the bang bang bang of the shopping cart as Greed abused it and she turned her head towards the noise, muttering, “Speaking of colorful characters....” she sighed a little with a small smile as she turned back to Jonah, “I should probably go. But it was very nice to meet you, Jonah.”
_____________________
Jonah knew Greed was within spitting distance now, he would circle around to that aisle at any second, but Jonah didn’t flee as the Sins would like Virtues to do the moment they came in contact with the other. Jonah still had a pause on Greed’s flow until they were out of range from one another. At least now he had a face to go with the name with the girl Greed had a grip on.
“Oh, okay. It was lovely to have met you as well.” He saluted her with the tampon box in his hand. “Maybe I’ll see you around.” He debated on actually purchasing the product once she met back up with Greed, but it would appear deceitful if he didn't. He kept his eye on them from a distance, easing down another aisle when Greed decided to look over his shoulder. He would find a tall dirty-blonde man standing down the hygiene product aisle. Greed narrowed his eyes, something feeling off but he still could not place it because he was still looking for Madison. “Are you alright?” he asked Zoe when she joined back up with him. He looked disappointed and irritated.
_____________________
She nodded as she tossed the box of tampons into the cart, “Yeah, are you?” she looked on either side of him, “I don’t see any blood... is that why you look grumpy?” she put her arms around his middle.
_____________________
Jonah looked up from his position he could still see them as they reached the counter, watching how the two interacted. He wasn’t sure how to feel on the hold thing, but he felt in time he could be some assistance when it was needed. This couldn’t be easy on the girl, but she looked to be in pure bliss with Greed. It was a little unnerving, but he wasn’t one to judge. He just needed to be sure she was okay. For now at least it seemed no harm was on her. Greed’s influence was tempered enough to not bother anyone else, and he hadn’t seemed to use any on her when they’d walked inside. He still continued to watch carefully.
“I didn’t find the bitch,” he pouted, leaning his chest and arms over the handle bar of the cart. He was a cat that hadn’t gotten to play for long with his felt mouse. There was still an unnerving shiver that went from his spine down to his feet. “Let’s get out of here before she hexes me. With Temp around I can’t do shit.” With Charity he was almost completely negated, but that wasn’t what this felt like.
_____________________
She was amused but thankful he hadn’t found the Virtue. And since no Virtue approached her to talk about the evils of bedding a Sin, she was sure that it was just a random coincidence. She put their items on the belt to pay for them and she raised a brow, “You can’t even kiss me?” she asked.
_____________________
“I can. I just feel like everything from the inside out has slowed down.” He hated that feeling. It was why he’d hoped he’d found her so he could push her out the door. “How can I go shopping in this city with her hovering around? What’s the world coming to?” he muttered to himself, piling up all the groceries onto belt with her as the cashier rang them up. It was easy for Greed to hit a hundred plus bill at the food store. His appetite had returned now that they were back in New York and he couldn’t roll around naked in bed with her. So, his appetite was going in the other direction again.
Greed shook his shoulders as if to cast off the vibe Temperance was giving. “You didn’t talk to her did you? Anyone?” Jonah slipped down into another checkout counter where Greed couldn’t see.
_____________________
Zoe was careful to get things that were on sale, or that she found coupons for on her phone. Because of the variety and quantity of food Greed bought, coupons and sale prices, and a grocery savings card actually ended up taking a huge chunk off the bill. She rubbed his back as he whined about how awful it was with Temp. She shook her head as their order got rung up, “Nope. Only person I talked to was a nice guy that helped me get down a box of tampons.”
_____________________
“What guy?” Greed immediately started to scan the store from where he was standing, but Jonah had already checked out and headed out the door. He waved at Zoe with a smile and started down the street. “Where is he?” His attention had gone from Temperance to some ‘guy’ who had invaded his girlfriend’s space. What was this dude thinking? “How tall is he?”
_____________________
Zoe raised her eyes heavensward, “Just some guy, he was buying tampons for his sister.” She looked over to the exit just in time to see Jonah’s wave and she smiled and gave a wave back, “Right there. And maybe as tall as Gabe? See for yourself.” but Jonah was thankfully pretty much out of the store.
_____________________
Greed practically plowed by her to head towards the door but by the time he ran a few feet from the door Jonah had turned the corner. Greed flipped off the air as if the gigantic Virtue had eyes in the back of his head. It wasn’t as if Greed even knew it was Temperance, he still felt weighted down when he ran back inside as if he had done the city a service. He muttered a few more things pulling out a wad of cash to pay for the groceries and then ready to go. Temperance had stained his outing. He didn’t like it at all.
_____________________
She blinked as he tore out of the store after Jonah and sighed for the tenth time that day. She shook her head at the cashier, “He’ll be back in a minute...” sure enough Greed came tearing back in soon after. Once the groceries were in the cart and they started towards the exit, she said, “All he did was help me reach a box of tampons and introduce himself while you were off hunting Virtues.” if Greed hadn’t been ripping the store apart, he could have gotten the box for Zoe and she’d never have met Jonah.
______________________
Greed hoarded those bags to his chest as if someone were going to rip them off him. He gave Zoe the evil eye over the top of the bag. “Well I didn’t even find the fucking Virtue did I? She was playing hide and seek.” God freaking damn it. “They want to take you away from me. They’re plotting!”
_____________________
She made him set the bags in the trunk of the car and then put her hands on her hips as she looked at him. “Maybe she was just buying some groceries, felt you, and was trying to avoid you. If they wanted to take me away from you, don’t you think one of them would have tried to preach to me in the store? Or when I’m not with you?” she put her arms around his neck, “And even if they were plotting, do you really think there is anything on earth they could say to get me to leave you?”
_____________________
“They might,” he pouted, his bright blue eyes turned into big saucers, “I don’t trust them.” He didn’t trust anyone that wasn’t himself really. Sins and Virtues alike had their own agenda and they hardly ever overlapped each other on an even plane. Zoe saw a gray area, a mutual understanding that the Sins and Virtues were like a balance. The two needed the other to be a sturdy set of scales. If one tipped over too far then it threw everything out of order. Greed knew that in itself, but it didn’t mean he had to like them.
_____________________
She gave him a look and said in a dull voice, “Really. What would they say that you think would be so convincing that I’d leave you?” she raised her brows and looked at him expectantly.
_____________________
“That I’m going to drain you of your blood and life and destroy you...” he overacted the moment, using his car as a sturdy base for him to clutch. “They’ll tell you that it’s an abomination.” As if any of the Virtues with as much ‘love’ as they claimed to have could ever actually be in a relationship with anyone. He laughed at himself for a moment because Greed had never thought that would be a tag at on his agenda. One that would stick anyway. A girl who was committed to him and he to her.
_____________________
“Hmmm... well I can always get a blood transfusion. I’m building a life with you, and if you destroy me I think you’d be the most upset about it cause you don’t like messing up your things.” she twisted her lips to the side in thought, “As for the abomination.... well, even if it is, I don’t care. I doubt any of them are half as happy with their relationships as we are with ours.” and wasn’t that what counted? That they loved each other and were happy with their relationship? “What else ya got? Cause that was weak stuff, I still wanna just make out with you.”
_____________________
She was right about that. Tearing up his things was not something he enjoyed. He liked keeping it in order and in mint condition. “I don’t even think Virtues can have relationships. They’re too pious. I think if you even talked about sex they’d cringe.” As beautiful of a thing as it was to be given from God, they shunned from it for the most part. Though the idea of shagging a Virtue and letting them wallow in their own filth was a fantastic way to ruin them. The only problem was he’d die in the process and he’d rather die going down on Zoe than with one of them.
“Make out with me? Why should I let you? After you had an affair with your airspace with some other guy.” He stuck his pouty nose into the air.
_____________________
“Duly noted. If I come across any Virtues, I’ll talk about sex and the problem will be solved.” though she wasn’t exactly comfortable talking about her sex life with pious strangers. She looked amused, “You’re upset that I shared the same air with some random guy?”
_____________________
“He helped you get something down. That means he touched you!” Greed wasn’t stupid. He was also coming off of a spiral of Lithuania juices, he was overly jealous when it really wasn’t necessary. And had he known Jonah had been the very Virtue he’d been hunting down he would have swung a net out and caught him like a fish to drown in the New York Harbor.
_____________________
“Yes.... he touched my hand.” she held the hand up that she used to shake Jonah’s hand. “It’s not like he touched my boobs.”
_____________________
“He might as well have!” He put his hands on his hips flustered. She was driving him crazy, which always happened whenever he was hit with Virtue juice, inadvertently or not. Temperance had zapped him with something. He’d just slowed down completely. He really despised that feeling.
_____________________
She was starting to get annoyed herself and threw her hands up, “Do you want me to call him back and ask him to touch them so you can see the difference?”
_____________________
“Stop yelling at me!” he spat back, his own voice hitting a few decibels higher. “I’m feeling a little jerked around here.” The whole slow motion thing had stopped but he felt like he’d just been flipped up and down on a seesaw.
_____________________
She took a breath to calm down a little, “Stop taking it out on me then.” she took his hand and looked at him with concern, “Let’s just go home and relax..”
_____________________
“Well I have nowhere to put it okay? It’s very disturbing to feel your whole body slow down from the inside out!” He didn’t know what was worse, feeling that happen or being negated.
_____________________
She squeezed his hand, “Then let’s go home. No more surprises, guys, or Virtues. Just you, me, optional clothing, and dinner.” maybe being back in his space would make him feel more normal.
_____________________
It was strange the things that Greed considered normal, but his little invisible force around Zoe was easily penetrated here. He had gotten a little more open in taking her out in public and just being with her like he was allowed! Damnit! And every single time, “I’m going to put you in a plastic bubble then no one can bother us.” He’d roll her around in it, play and take her back home when he had had enough of rolling her around outdoors.
_____________________
She scoffed a short laugh, “Only way I’ll agree to that is if you’re in the bubble with me.” she swung their joint hands loosely. She liked being out in the open with him even if it was ruined by other people almost every single time.
_____________________
He spread their arms out so that her chest fell flat against his. He’d meant what he’d said back in Lithuania. He didn’t want her to give up on him. No matter what happened. “I sushi you.” He finally said with a snort because his Sin gave him the ‘ewww’ face on the inside. It was a what the fuck is my human-like-boy self even doing. He was falling into her trap.
_____________________
She looked confused for a split second and then grinned like crazy. So he had been paying attention before he ran off to go stalk Virtues. “I brownies you.” it was really super ridiculous and didn’t have the same power as the L word.. but she found that she liked it just the same. It was their own code pretty much. Kinda like their relationship, it didn’t make sense to anyone else but they knew what they were talking about.
_____________________
“Now make out with me?” He needed a little R and R after that experience. Nothing they did made sense. It was ass backwards and had been since day one, but fuck if he didn’t like that he had a little slice of heaven and no one else did.
_____________________
She puckered her lips in mock confusion, teasing him, “Since you asked does that mean I can say no?”
_____________________
“No. Just because it’s a question doesn’t mean you get to pull a heads or tails. There’s only one winning answer.” He let go of her hands tugging at her vest. “You didn’t borrow this out of my closet did you?”
_____________________
“Is the winning answer.... no?” she tilted her head. She laughed, “Ohmygod, if this fits you, then I definitely need to go on a diet.” he was twice as wide as her, if not, wider.
_____________________
“Mmmm no. Try again.” He cackled, flipping his head back in that fantastic Greed laugh settling her comfortably within his arms. “So come on now....I’m not Patience.”
_____________________
“Ugh, thank God..” she muttered as she nestled into his arms. No offense to Patience but she liked her boyfriend the way he was. “Okay okay.. the winning answer.... is it.....” she looked deep in thought and then turned her face up to him, “Banana?” she said it in a way a spy in a movie would.
_____________________
His hands moved down her back to lay on her butt and press her as close to him as she could possibly get without looking offensive to onlookers. “No, but there is a banana riiiiiight here.” He tried to give her a straight face, but there was nothing sexy about saying ‘banana’.
_____________________
She threw her head back and laughed amidst getting rubbed up on him and his hands on her tooshie. Banana really was not a sexy word at all. “I can feel that.” it was one of those moments that reminded her how she could only have this with Greed. She rubbed her nose against his, that smile still on her face.
_____________________
He nipped her lip the moment she came into his personal face bubble. “Now, give me a kiss or else I’m leaving you here in the middle of the street.” When they both knew he’d do no such thing. If he flipped out knowing some random Virtue boy Jonah touched her hand, he wasn’t about to give her up to a whole slew of New York strangers and homeless men.
_____________________
She ran her tongue over the spot he nipped her lip and raised her brows a little, “You’d have to let go of me first.” she wasn’t kissing him still. He wanted his feisty girl back and here she was.
_____________________
His grip tightened like a rope. “No.” He was stern with that answer, it was not flimsy at all. It was demanding. She was in his net, he was not letting her swim away. He reached in for a kiss again which she did not give him and he growled very softly under his breath.
_____________________
She liked his possessiveness. It made her feel like he’d never let her go. And she didn’t want to be let go. When he growled at her, she knew he was getting frustrated but just looked at him with big brown eyes saying softly, “Ooooo.. sexy.” her lips brushing over his as she spoke.
_____________________
If she was baiting him with those lips then he was the fish that took the hook. Public or not, he was going to get that damn kiss because looking at those pouty, fat lips of hers after her little stunt inside was not going to go unpunished. This was what she owed him. Then he’d be thoughtful to getting into the car and going home. Home was where the rest of the world was out of their business. It was always the escape route.