Zoe (history_repeats) wrote in nevermore_logs, @ 2014-04-23 20:49:00 |
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Entry tags: | greed, temperance, zoe hansen |
WHO: Greed, Jonah, & Zoe
WHEN: Wednesday
WHERE: Zoe and Jonah's apartment, Greed's work, Park
WHAT: Zoe starts to feel better, Jonah starts to feel worse
WARNING: Angry golden retriever
It took days for Envy to leave her system entirely, even when the anger and viciousness drained, Zoe was left with self loathing and then just tiredness. She was getting better. She had taken a few days off work to recuperate and Greed had spent whenever he wasn't working with her. He'd asked her to come meet him for lunch on Monday and Tuesday but she didn't want to leave the apartment. Today, Wednesday, he'd asked her again... she said she still didn't feel up to it but he made her smile with his texts so she put in some effort, got out of bed, dressed in a captain america shirt with a white trench and slipped on some sneakers. She made sandwiches and put them in a brown paper bag. Her hair was done in a messy updo and she still looked a shade paler than usual but way better than she had when she'd been hurling black stuff so when Greed got off for his lunch hour, he found her waiting for him.
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When Greed wasn't being a nanny to his girlfriend in the most Greed way: spilling soup all over the kitchen counter and mixing chicken noodle and tomato together because it sounded like it would be good. The trying to brush her hair with a vacuum brush when she didn't want to get out of bed because it was laying on the couch where Jonah had left it. He ended up just sticking with pizza and takeout because what he couldn't cook, someone else could better. He'd texted her during the day with a I WANT A PICNIC WITH THE SQUIRRELS, but after she declined again he had accepted that he'd be having sushi down the street. So when he walked out into the lobby he hadn't expected to see her. She was getting him used to surprises. His fat little lips opened up into a 'o' shape, which was the only indication outside of those fancy sunglasses that told her he was shocked.
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He wasn't the best caretaker but his gestures (while sometimes strange and horrible) were very loving and Zoe adores him for it. For no other reason than he tried and that was what mattered to her. So if he could make the effort, she had wanted to try too. She smiled and walked over to him with the bag, "I was hoping your offer was still open... unless you have other plans?" she didn't kiss him or touch him, they were still in his building and she didn't want to do any PDA to make him uncomfortable but she wasn't as on edge with all the other women around them as she had been days ago.
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"Your hair looks better then when I tried the brush..." he gave her a slick smile as he approached. "I didn't think I'd see you here?" his voice had dropped a little softer so only she really heard. He was surprised. "I was just gonna get sushi." There was the hint of disappointment when she'd first told him no because he'd been excited by the idea of going outside.
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"A valiant attempt but I thought an actual hairbrush might be better." she was just teasing. "I wanted to come.." her own voice hushing to match his, "I wanted to see you. And the squirrels. I made sandwiches." it was one thing all the boys in her life tended to really love that she made. She frowned, "I mean, you don't have to.." if he really wanted sushi, she wasn't going to stop him. He'd been putting up with a very not attractive her for days, she didn't want him to feel suffocated.
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He took off the shades for a second to reveal those pretty blue eyes. "Well, the squirrels would be disappointed if you didn't see them. They were really excited about it." He took the bag from her to open it and stuck his nose in it. Smelled like heaven.
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She smiled and for a moment, it brought warmth and color back to her face, she couldn't really blame other girls for wanting him. He was adorable. "I do love them a lot, I hope they know that." she'd also packed juice boxes, same flavor so he wouldn't be as tempted to steal her drink (tho undoubtedly would anyway)
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"You might have to remind them they're still important. They've kinda been down and out for days." He scrunched his face a little rolling the bag back up and taking her hand gently with his, fingers wiggling into the slots in between her fingers. There was something proud about holding her hand now. It put a big invisible sign out that said 'She's with this guy'.
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She stretched her fingers and felt happy when he twined them with his. She took in a deep breath of the fresh air once they got outside, she was feeling better. "I'll give them a kiss and tell them how lovely they are."
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He paused mid-step as she announced her intentions. Those lucky ass squirrels. "What? Even before I get a kiss?" He mocked his offense, or maybe it was actually pretty genuine. "Miss Zoe Hansen I am not taking another step until I get a kiss first." There was that delectable pout of his. He made sure he licked those lips just for the performance so he'd suck her in. Had she honestly thought she'd get away with that? True, he hadn't touched her for days outside of late night snuggles. He hadn't want to get intimate with Envy floating around in there.
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She grinned and turned to face him, "Mr. Chance Avaritia, all you want is a kiss?" She put an arm around his neck and went on her tiptoes because she was without heels to kiss him. It wasn't playful or horny. It had what Envy had zapped out of her for a few days. It had sweetness. It had emotion. It was tender and kind and above all loving.
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He prolonged that kiss as long as he was able, before his legs literally gave out from under him. He needed a minute to hold onto her has leverage because she'd just zapped his energy right out of him and made him feel like hurling. He'd gotten used to that feeling, knowing that with that sting he had something else no one in this world had. It was all HIS because he wasn't allowed to have it.
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"Oh!" she put her other arm around him when she felt him kinda go weak a little, "Are you okay?" she asked softly with great concern. She didn't know if she did something wrong, if she made him sick, if there was still Envy residue that made him sick..
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"Just going to throw up or pass out first. I don't know which..." it still had been a while since he'd been numbed by her kisses. Since Jonah they really didn't have the issues they'd had before, so it was a wallop to his system. At least for a moment. He unlinked her arm so he could bend over at the waist to try and get air to his head. It wasn't Envy, it was just pure Zoe knocking him off his feet.
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She stepped to the side and was upset, "Oh Chance, I'm so sorry..." she rubbed his back soothingly while he tried to get his bearings. She'd forgotten to reign in her emotion but she'd been feeling so shitty the past few days... "Come on, let's find you a place to sit."
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It was a jolt like a triple shot of espresso in the morning. He just had a little nausea, he'd get through this. "I forgot how potent you could be..." It at least told them both that she wasn't harboring any other Sin but himself in there. He linked his arm around hers when he stood back up, "Keep walking, just a little slowly." His feet were a little bowed as he tried to let his energy seep back in. After some silence he spoke up. "You hit those squirrels with that we're gonna have a massacre on our hands."
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She had a winced face, "Sorry..." she relaxed a little when he took her arm again and she made sure to give him support as they walked. His quip about the squirrels made her smile some and she squeezed his arm, "Maybe I'll spare them and save all my kisses for you. Sparingly..." since she didn't want him to get sick.
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"Then I'll just lay out on the ground and let you take me..." he felt like shit but he was happy about it. As they walked a little further they finally reached that nice shady spot in the park. He paused again just before they could sit, not sure if he could sit, his legs and everything just locked up on him. Zoe was like venom.
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She had smiled at first but when she saw he was still having trouble, her smile fell. "Oh Chance.. I don't think I should be taking you for awhile." She put their lunch down and offered him her hands, so she could help him sit.
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"I think you stopped my heart." He patted his chest and dropped the lunch bag onto the ground, letting her put things where they needed to be. A blanket for one so he could finally force his legs to bend.
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She had an apologetic and worried look on her face as she said for the hundredth time, "I'm sorry..." she put the blanket down on the ground and took out the food and juice boxes. She held her hands up to him in case he needed help sitting down or stretching his legs out.
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"Stop," she was apologizing too much since Envy. He took her hand though so he could crawl to the ground like an old man. "I'll live."
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"Sor--" she stopped and smiled, helping him sit down. She put an arm around him and kissed his cheek sweetly, "You better." she unwrapped a sandwich and held it out to him, "Can you feed yourself or are you too feeble?" this was one thing none of the office sluts or Karen would do. Make a picnic for their boyfriend because he wanted to eat with the squirrels. Just in return he had to deal with getting sick if she kissed him.
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"If I said I couldnt move my arms would you still feed me?" She knew him well enough to know he was milking the special treatment. If he could get away with it before the squirrels he was down.
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"Maybe. Depends on what I'd get in return and she took the straws and put them in the juice boxes.If he wanted to be pampered then she knew he was fine.
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He stretched out on his back looking up and smelling the fresh air full of tasty sandwhich. He opened his mouth expecting a bite. "Wait what do you want in return?"
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She shook her head, "Surprise me with an offer." she held the sandwich out to him for him to take a bite, "I like hearing your deals."
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"You get to be seduced by me and my big mouth." He wiggled his brows. "I know you're a big fan of these lips..." he patted them with little pucker. Once he was completely relaxed and his body had calmed down he crossed his feet at the ankles, stretching his neck out to see if she was interested.
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She laughed, "I think you'd seduce me with your big fat mouth even if I didn't feed you." she leaned in to give him the briefest of kisses before replacing her lips with the sandwich, accepting the deal and willing to feed him. More really because he'd taken such good care of her. But something was troubling her in the back of her mind...
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"Hey, this big fat mouth has a lot of advantages!" He grinned cheekily at the invitation not being snubbed. He was happy and bouncy now that his momentary life-threatening Zoe attack had passed. He hadn't noticed yet that she was overthinking. He chowed down on the sandwich finishing it off with his obscene and obnoxious noises. Greed was out in public, of course he was going to make orgasmic sounds when he was chewing his food.
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She smiled and watched him be obnoxious and loud adoringly. He was a weirdo but he was hers. She scooted closer to him and picked at her own sandwich, "Chance... do you think your brother knows about us? Or I mean, was this whole thing random... because I know the girls at the store were effected too... do you think maybe one of them was his target and I just got the backlash?" she was hoping that was the case. She didn't want to stop seeing him.
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"I don't know." He hadn't figured that one out yet. "But I have a feeling Jonah knows something..." it was the way the Virtue would act when the topic was brought up. It was in his eyes. Greed knew how to lie, he could tell when someone else was holding back something he needed to know. Jonah was being secretive, which for a Virtue meant bad news. Something was going on there and Greed was determined to find it out. "Whatever Envy wanted, let's just assume he got." But Greed wasn't as sure as his words.
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She was really proud of Greed for working with the Virtue to help her but she didn't say anything. She knew he wasn't thrilled about it but it also showed how much he loved her (now that she could think clearly). She was surprised, "Jonah know something?" she shook her head, "Why would he keep it to himself if it meant we were in danger?" she frowned, that didn't sound right but he had lied to her before... she scooted even closer to him and put her head on his shoulder, "Maybe your brother wanted Karen." saying it in a half joking manner. If Envy had wanted to hurt them... then they wouldn't be able to be out like this, would they?
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"Because it means you're on my side. Jonah knows something...maybe I'll drug him and make him talk." Greed stuffed him full if drugs before and it had proved successful. "Anything with Envy is dangerous, even for me. He'll use anyone to destroy them. I think he was who shredded your clothes. Seems his style..." that meant Jonah knew something.
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She wanted to curl up in his lap... so did that. She slid down and put her head and arms in his lap, not feeling safe anywhere else. "Why shred my clothes and then infect me...? Is he trying to get to you?" she knew Envy was Greed's least favorite sibling and she was sure the feeling was mutual.
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"No. He's not after me. If he were after me he wouldn't be playing little head games with you. It would be so much worse." He fingered her hair loose. It made him happy to mess with it. Not n being reminded of how he wanted to strangle Envy's head right off.
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She focused on the feel of his fingers in her hair and tried to look at the bright side, "So he's not after you. Which means he doesn't know about us. Which is good because I don't want to be apart again." since they normally had to separate when someone was after one of them. She traced a pattern on his pant leg.
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"If he were after me he'd be doing a lot more to jab that knife in my side. This is almost child's play. He's just toying..." Envy would want to leave a mark on Greed, and this was too easy for him, there would be a lot more he'd do. He knew how superficial Greed could be, if he wanted he'd gut him a lot deeper than this. This was just a kid on the playground throwing rocks. He was quiet as he put himself in his thoughts.
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She turned in his lap so she could look up at him, "So he's not after you... what're you thinking?" she didn't want to be left behind or 'protected' in this conversation.
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"Just thinking...." he hadn't even eaten anymore, his brows knitted in deep thought. There was a time he and Envy were close but all Envy was was a destructive force that suffocated Greed. Greed for so long under Lust was just a puppet on strings, and the same could be said of Envy when Envy really pulled the punches. Greed didn't want to be on anyone's strings. He was on his own and that was the way it was going to stay.
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"I can see that...." she put a hand on his chest, "We're a team tho, remember?" she didn't want him pulling what he did with Poseidon, thinking he could go off and do his own thing when it was something that concerned them both. Now, everything in their lives concerned them both. "I want to hear what you're thinking." she didn't say it as a demand, her tone was more soothing and a reminder that she was the one that liked listening when he talked.
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"Just thinking how I don't want to be anyone's toy anymore..." he sounded so serious. He joked and played around a lot, but there was a lot more depth to Greed than anyone actually chose to see. "At one time Envy and I were brothers, but when I follow anyone be it him or Lust I get roped into being a second fiddle and not on my own." It was why he chose to leave so often, what Lust deep down hated to think about because the longer Greed stayed away from her the more he became his own person. And this time he was an entity all on his own that was stronger than anything she had created.
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She fell silent and just looked up at him for a few moments before she sat up. "You aren't anyone's toy anymore." she was close to him, her words for his ears only, "You are a man. Your own man. Even with me, being with me is always your choice. Never above, never below, a team is always equal." she took his hand and squeezed it. She did see them as equals, "And no matter what happens, you choose to be your own man than a toy, okay? No matter what."
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His eyes searched hers so hopeful. She'd given him the answer to a question he'd always had of what was it going to be like completely on his own. He'd conjured it up before when he skipped around doing things his way, but he always went back. When Lust was the only clear choice to getting him out of his messes, he went back. Here he chose so many times to not go back to do what HE wanted to do and not what everyone else saw fit for him. They thought he was a child to clean up after, but he had something real now didn't he? Something he hadn't had before?
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With Zoe, there were never lies in her eyes, she didn't know how to lie. Especially to him. It was far simpler to just tell the truth. "I don't know why you'd settle for being a toy when you're such a capable man. And you don't only take care of yourself, but you work hard, and you take care of me." granted, he'd hurt her physically and emotionally a lot but he was learning, "Toys can't take care of others." so he most definitely was not one.
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She always answered him even when he had nothing to say (which wasn't very often). She was a mind reader he had decided that a long time ago because this was something so real for him it hurt. Was it supposed to hurt like this? It was obsession to it's highest degree and he never wanted to let it go. "But children do. They can't take care of others..." But she didn't see that little boy. She didn't see a kid that was just slamming his stuff around to break it, she saw him. He had to say it was a very vulnerable feeling.
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She wasn't a mindreader.. she just knew when he got quiet, he was looking for her to keep saying what she was saying. She gave him a firm look, "Well. It's a good thing you're not a little boy then and that you're a man." and because envy wasn't in her system and she wanted to emphasize they were together to both of them, she added, "My man." and she kissed his cheek.
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She didn't try to bend him and break him when he was curious. He wanted to know things, he wanted to grow it was something Sins didn't get to do. He wanted to learn and see why humans had these things he didn't have. He wanted to be someone he'd never gotten to be before. And for a second he thought, she's brainwashing him and making him think that this is normal---but those weren't his words. His words were the one that was reaching out to grasp what it is humanity had that was so very, very different. And he had it in one package, kissing his cheek and letting him not fall into that void that Lust often dropped him in. He was part of humanity as dark as a place as it could get, he still wanted to be the good guy too.
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She wiggled her fingers through his to hold his hand closer and she knew he was having a torrent of thoughts in his head so rested her chin on his shoulder, "Talk to me...." she said softly, not wanting him to drown.
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"I know I'm a bad guy, but I like getting to be the good guy too. I like getting to grow...I've never gotten to before before I went running to someone to clean up my messes...." he clenched her hand. "What does that mean? That I'm getting the chance to become and have the things I couldn't have before?" His questions were ongoing....
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She took a deep breath and thought about his question, her grip firm and loving to make sure he knew she wasn't going anywhere. "What you're describing there, being a good and bad guy, cleaning up your own messes, that's being a person. Maybe it means that you're opening yourself UP to changing and growing. Maybe instead of experiencing humanity, you're experiencing what its like to BE human. Because part of it, how you grow and change, is you need to lo-- you need to care about more than just yourself, you need to be vulnerable, you need to trust. And you've been doing all those things..."
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"Am I allowed to be human?" He thought it might blow up in his face. Or what if it was just a fairytale? Was he the only one to consider all these questions? There were still millions. He'd never let in a person before to be so important.
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She put her head on his shoulder and considered his question, "Why not? You're born of humanity, or maybe humanity is born of you and your family. You're a person, you just skew radically towards greed, because it's what you are. But you're here. You're thinking. And breathing." she put a hand over his heart, "There's blood and flesh and guts and a heart and mind inside of you. Your thoughts and actions aren't controlled by God or the devil or whoever. You are your own person as well as being one of seven Sins. And I don't know why... someone who wants everything," meaning him, "Couldn't have both."
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No one had ever put it to him like that. What if humanity formed from then? Was that really a disillusion at all to think that highly of himself? Didn't that make him pretty damn powerful? He pondered it, and liked to think of it in that way. He was learning the way humans really worked, wasn't that to his advantage? "That makes me pretty damn powerful...."
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She scoffed a laugh and then kissed his cheek again, "And pretty damn insane." only he would take her words and interpret them like that. Though she hoped he knew if he got high and mighty with her, it would end badly for him... she rarely put up with that from him anymore.
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"The rest don't have what I have." He was finally learning the tricks that made humans so unique. "I'd say insane is power..." that was pretty fantastic. And the Sin was pleased.
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She eyed him, "Yes... no one has what you have but don't insane WITH power. Then you won't be thinking clearly and that makes more problems than anything else. Plus, we work because we're a team, not because I'm your toy." and if he took this new power thing to heart, he'd try to dominate her (in the bad way) and she would be turned off. He did dominate her now and she 'belonged' to him but all within bounds she was okay with. "I still like you as my dorky boyfriend." he didn't want to lose that.
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He could let it seep in too far. It wasn't being Greed to want to be most powerful. All if them had pride in them to a degree, which may have been why she was the root. But, in Zoe's defense she made a point that brought him down from his high cloud---if it sunk in too deep he would lose her. Like he had the time of the con.
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"Kiss for your thoughts?" she asked him with her chin on his shoulder again, bambi eyes looking at him, "I don't think you'd trade them for a penny." she explained since the expression normally was 'penny for your thoughts'.
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"You'll leave me if it goes to my head." He knew that. He leaned over for a kiss. "Nope, these lips are mine." He was realizing if that's all he had to get from her at times, he'd take it.
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"Because if it went to your head you wouldn't be you anymore and that's who I'm crazy about." she put her free hand on his cheek to be closer to him, "Can they be half mine? Just the bottom one?" she teased since the conversation was so serious.
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"The bottom one what?" he was a little oblivious that they were still talking about his lips. His thoughts were still weaving in and out of his head like the subway system. He was figuring out that this was really quite a miraculous thing here, something he wouldn't let God or the Devil himself destroy. He'd fight it as hard as he could, because this was what it meant to be Greed----latching on to all the things that he didn't have or have yet. He simply could not get enough of what this girl offered him.
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He still looked adorably serious so she leaned in and sunk her teeth into his fat bottom lip in a quick bite as if he was the sandwich, "That." her hand slipped from his cheek to his chest as she eyed him, "Or are you planning a takeover of New York in your head and I've totally lost you?" he did tend to get a bit power crazy at times.
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"If it was a take-over it wouldn't just be new york. It would be everything...." but his eyes were focused on her lips and the tingle she'd left on his own. He sucked in that bottom lip with his teeth, running his tongue over top before releasing it again. His mind was slowly being sucked into that world he only had with her. A world that nothing else could touch, not even the squirrels in the park. The world just stood still sometimes with her.
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She searched his eyes and smiled a little, "There you go again... drifting off. What's gong on in that handsome head of yours now?" she asked curiously as he molested his lip and looked at her so intensely.
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He mangled that lip again before he spoke up, eyes still honed in on her face like it was a target and he was ready to aim. "I'm thinking the world just stops with you sometimes..." those big blue eyes were staring right into her.
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Her cheeks went a little pink, "Oh." but her eyes were shiny and her smile soft, "I hope that's a good thing.." she knew he liked things fast and wild. Sometimes she worried she was boring and slow.
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The corner of his lips turned upward as her cheeks burned with that shy look on her face. "It's like nothing can touch me...." because he had her. He had them. "Because there's just us...." and that's all he wanted. It's really all he wanted. She unfolded something inside of him, a cocoon awakening a butterfly. Something so unique for this world and sometimes, just sometimes he didn't want anyone else to share that with him----except her.
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She loved when he became sweet and romantic without realizing it. She touched her nose to his and said quietly, "I L word you for saying that and if we weren't sitting in a park and you didn't have to go back to work, I would maul you in the best way possible right now."
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"Mmmm I'm so turned on by that statement right now," he mirrored, his nose rubbing side to side against her fat, little, adorable nose.
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She slipped her hand away from his and literally pounced on him, making sure that if he fell back, he still landed on the blanket, she'd never hear the end of it if he got grass stains on his clothes. She grinned down at him, "You can imagine the rest..." since they didn't have time or means to do what they wanted to do.
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He landed on his back with a pleased grin on his face. "Im imagining quite well. You can ride me like a bull..." but they were in no position to do anything without being in the presence of her limp dick roommate. It didn't mean he could enjoy something right now.
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She put an arm on his chest and nuzzled his nose, "You're gonna have to settle for a kiss..." and she gave him a quick one, but her lashes lowered and she said in a shy voice, "Buuuuuut... you could come over after work if you wanted..." it was a little embarrassing since there were so many people out and about that could easily overhear her sex invitation.
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His eyes were closed just listening to the invitation with that feel of her lips leaving his a little too quickly. He parted them to speak just waiting a moment to keep the visual in his head a little longer. "An invite. Mmmm. Do I have to RSVP?"
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She smiled and gazed at him since his eyes were closed and she could check out his cuteness, "Of course, it's a formal invitation."
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"What is the dress code for this invite?" He was enjoying this, as silly as it was it gave him something to look forward to for the last part of his day.
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She reached out and ran the pad of her finger over his soft eyelashes gently as she looked at him, "Very very formal. Suit only. Birthday suit preferable."
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"I think that can be arranged. What else do I need to bring? Is there going to be a reception party too?" His hands found their way up her sides, just holding her in place gently while he kept his eyes closed. He knew she was appreciating the handsomeness, he was going to gloat and let her savor it.
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They weren't being gross, maybe grossly cute and she ran the tip of her finger along his cheek and jaw, "Mmm yes, but the reception party is exclusive. Two people only. I mean, I'm going of course... but I don't know if your name is on the list..."
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"Oh?" his voice hit a hitch of disappointment, his brows indicating the confusion. "How does one get on this list? I do like a good party..." His tongue ventured out long enough to wet his lips and slip back in all the while still keeping his eyes closed to tempt her as they discussed their sex life in the most classy of ways.
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She folded her arms on his chest, using him as a pillow, leaning forward to kiss his chin as she said in a low conspiring voice, "Well..... don't tell anyone that I told you but the hostess can be bribed..." and she chuckled.
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"MMmmmm good to know. What kind of bribe? I have money, fancy cars, or does she want something a little extra?" Yes, he was setting himself up for sell with his own girlfriend. That was the fun of it.
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She lounged on him and thought about it, "Hmmm... she doesn't drive, and money is nice but it'd take billions, she's not cheap." she said while pointing a finger, "But I think your best bet would be the extra. I hear she likes men who bake." she said in a tone that suggested she was trying to be oh so helpful.
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"Bake?" He started a moment. "What am I baking?" He relaxed with his arms behind his head. It was a gorgeous day, he had a gorgeous girl laying in him and they were discussing his favorite topic, this was paradise wasn't it?
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She thought about it, "Mmm... cupcakes?" she nodded and gave a bright smile, "With a maraschino cherry on top." Whoops, wasn't this supposed to be about sex? She tried to think of how to tie it together, "Or with chocolate topping... I remember you saying something about melted chocolate...?" she raised a brow. He'd said earlier how he had a fantasy of licking chocolate off her lips.
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His eyes opened on that one but she had back-peddled by that point and covered it well. "Chocolate is always good. Can't go wrong with it."
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She gave him a big smile when he opened his eyes, her face close to his, "So bring some and bribe her with it. Tho you know, I hear you're quite the kisser, Avaritia. Maybe you could try something a bit sweeter than chocolate to charm her..." she was looking at him as if they were the only ones there in the park.
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"I'm more than quite. I'm delicious." He eyed her with those dangerously sexy eyes, his mind wad tripping over itself and she knew it. She was keeping the wheels rolling.
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She grinned and touched her nose to his, "You got that wolf look in your eyes.. and we're in a public park... so why don't you come over tonight, prove you're delicious and maybe, just MAYBE, you can get on the list because I hear it's going to be an amaaaaazing party in my room tonight." and she nipped his lips since they had to get up to get him back to work.
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"I'll see what I can do...because it sounds...." his tongue lined his teeth as he kept his hungry eyes glued to her, "like a party I wanna remember." She had him all revved up with little time left before he had to be back at the office. Now his brain was in two different places and had to get screwed back on so he could focus. Zoe was killing his focus.
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She cracked up laughing and put her hands on his face, saying in a slight whine, "Oh my god... stooooop looking at me like that, I feel like you're trying to melt my clothes off." She leaned back up to get off him, "I think we should get you back to the office.." and she held her hands out to help him up, not that it would do much good.
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"Maybe I have...I have superhero powers...." but then as soon as this little charade of words had started between them it was over and he had to get back to the grind of the office. He took her hand, standing but nearly tipping her over in the process. She definitely knew how to leave a boy sexually tense.
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"I thought I was supposed to be the one with superhero powers...?" she gripped his hand to keep her balance and put the blanket and trash back in the bag. She felt more relaxed and walked hand in hand with him back to his building. She didn't walk him inside because she wanted to kiss him goodbye and she couldn't do that inside his office. Her arms went tight around his neck and she gave him a sweet close mouthed kiss, staying close as she whispered while looking in his eyes, "I hope you come home soon... I've missed you." he'd been with her every night since Envy infected her but that wasn't what she was talking about. They hadn't gotten to kiss properly even because of it and she just wanted to suck face.
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He'd physically kept his distance that wasn't just wrapping her in his arms like a pretzel the whole time that this Envy situation had gone down. He looked her over, up and down and hugged her close, squishing her against his chest. "Don't go moony-eyed over the squirrels until I get there." He kissed her back on the cheek, heading back into the building where he had to make it through at least another four hours.
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She squeezed him just as tight, this had been a harrowing few days. "Pffft... they know I'm your girl." Zoe went home, feeling... cleaner than she had in days. She still took another shower (she'd been taking them twice a day, sometimes more to try to scrub Envy off) and changed into a loose blue sweatshirt that showed off her naked shoulders because she knew Greed found that incredibly sexy on her. Her candy floss hair hung open and she was cleaning up the kitchen since Jonah had been doing the bulk of the cleaning and it hadn't been fair.
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Jonah picked up a few dishes setting them aside on the counter. "I'll get this, go take a break." She'd had a few days off which had been nice, but keeping Greed around while helpful, it wasn't exactly how Jonah wanted to share his apartment. It was meant for him and Zoe, Greed had been there so much it had almost been like the Sin lived there. It was too many bodies in one little space. It was that tinge of jealousy that had kept Jonah from opening up about what he'd seen. Greed kept asking him questions like he was an interrogator vying for information, Jonah just wasn't going to budge yet. He'd wait until there was calmness in the air.
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"I've been on a break for days... I just want to put this entire thing behind us and get on with my life. Get things back to normal." she smiled tiredly at him, "Have I thanked you enough for how great you've been through this?" she'd thanked him almost every time she saw him but she still gave the giant stick virtue one of her lovely Zoe hugs.
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Her head literally came about mid-chest and he still towered over her. "You don't have to keep thanking me," he didn't feel so thankful these days. It was almost as if Envy had left her and started seeping into him. But Envy had been working on Jonah for some time now, there was enough still lingering around that it could pollute the air and taint the strong mind of a Virtue.
Jonah kissed the top of her head with a soft rub against her back with his hand. "You're welcome."
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She squeezed him, the hug going on forever, "And you and Chance worked together.. I'm so proud of you both for doing that." she leaned back, the tips of her fingers on his waist as she looked at him with wide eyes, "Do you know, he actually referred to you as Jonah instead of--" she stopped herself because Greed always called him Temp, Virtue, Tokyo tower, or some other insult so she just smiled and said, "He actually called you Jonah." and maybe this would mean Jonah could call Greed 'Chance'.
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Somewhere in there the big guy wanted to give Zoe the benefit of the doubt. She was happy when she was with Greed, but it still unsettled him. A lot could have been due to Envy still floating himself around, or the fact that Madison was trying to push through and something within Jonah right now was very weak. He was not the strongest one of the two, he knew that, but he felt like he was the most calm. Now, with everything going on he was anything but. It didn't help either that Emma had been injured by Envy as well. It seemed the Sin had it out to destroy him by taking down everyone around him. He was worried for very obvious reasons. He hadn’t even mentioned it to Zoe.
"Did he?" his voice was a little flat, not exactly as excited as she seemed to be.
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She dropped her touch to move back and nodded, "He did. I don't think he realizes he's doing it tho but I take it as a good sign. I mean I don't expect us all to take a meal together any time soon but I'm glad that you guys seem to not be at each other's throats as much." she was a little clueless about Jonah's extreme disdain since he was hiding it and letting it fester. "Maybe when he comes over tonight we can all have some tea..." she said as if she was thinking out loud.
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"Maybe," he didn't want to dash her hopes but he wasn't feeling like a social butterfly these days. She looked happier and that should have made him feel content. Instead it made him feel hurt. It was no secret to himself that he cared for her, but every time she looked at him with those big brown eyes clueless that he felt anything it was painful. Envy had made it that much more painful. He had so much to give someone and no one to really give it to.
Greed had taken the opportunity to drive with the windows down. It was a cool spring night. Maybe he could even convince Zoe to keep the window cracked open so that there would be a nice breeze circulating through the room. He'd be there and he would body slam anything right into the floor that tried to squeeze through that wasn't him. That was his window. His bedroom. His bed. He'd decorated it for her and nothing else, not even that dog was allowed to sniff or touch anything in there.
When he came through the front door his hair was a fluffy little mess. His smile dropped a bit, looking far more serious. "Am I interrupting something?" Jonah was too close for comfort for Greed to be okay with.
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She paused what she was doing and looked at him with narrowed eyes as if scrutinizing him, "Hey..." she said softly and touched his arm, "You okay?" he just seemed.. off. Before the tall pillar of goodness had a chance to reply, her boyfriend was there and looking cross. But Zoe dropped her hand and just smiled at Greed, "Heeeeey...." she said happily, pleased to see him and his fluffy hair.
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The goodness was being tainted which for Jonah was dangerous. How could he allow that to happen? Jonah's hand was wrapped around her wrist without even realizing that he'd done it in a defensive manner the moment Greed had come through the door. "Do you ever knock?" it seemed as if the Sin just thought he could walk into their home without any warning. It wasn't fair to either of them. They had worked together yes, but not willingly.
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She sighed, this peace between the boys had been too good to last. She hadn't realized that Jonah's hand was holding her wrist at first but when she'd tried to move she felt it like a handcuff. She frowned, "I left the door unlocked for..." she trailed off as the guy was still holding on. She wriggled her wrist in his hold, "Jonah..." her eyes going from his hand on her wrist to his face. What was he doing?
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Greed pointed at Jonah's hand. "Mind taking your hand away before I rip it off?" Greed looked more like a golden retriever ready to snap than a lion. Jonah looked down not even sure himself why he'd grabbed her, but he still hadn't let it go. "I just would like to know when you're coming over sometimes instead of you bursting in like you live here."
"Remove your hand." Greg emphasized again this time with a little more bite.
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Zoe could feel the tension rising at astronomical rates and looked from one boy to the other, she held up her free hand in a calming manner as she looked at the Virtue, "Jonah... okay, I did mention Chance would be dropping by tonight, remember? Maybe he can go back to knocking so it gives you a bit of a warning to prepare..." she was trying to appease him because this was not like the Virtue who rarely took a stand. She discreetly took a step away from him, now feeling nervous that he wasn't letting her go.
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Jonah looked down releasing his grip as Greed got closer and she got further away. "I'm sorry," he shook his head not sure what was coming over him.
"Step away and go play with your puppy." Greed wasn't feeling any less defensive with Jonah backed away.
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"It's okay... it's been a stressful week for everyone." she said but had quickly closed the distance between her and Greed and put more space between herself and Jonah. Her arms went around Greed's waist and she clung to his side, clearly choosing the Sin but also trying to calm Greed down since he still looked kinda ticked off.
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Greed's jaw clenched as Jonah pretended to be the victim. If Zoe hadn't touched him he would have been ready to tear off Jonah's arms. "Nothing has changed between us, Virtue. Paws off!" They were both a bit tense.
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Zoe cringed and rubbed Greed's chest as he barked at Jonah.. and we're back to calling him a thing and not a name. She sighed a little but kept her arms securely around Greed, "Chance... come on, we've all just been tense, that's all." she stood up on tiptoe to kiss his clenched jaw, "Come on.. let's go relax, okay?" she said softly, her baby seal eyes imploring him to let the goody two shoes go and focus on her and her naked caramel shoulders.
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"What are you not telling me?" Greed hadn't calmed down at all, even with Zoe's little belly rub. He knew Jonah knew something. "I'll drag it out of you." Jonah held up his hands in defeat. "I'm sorry." He felt like two different people trying to split down the middle, now wasn't the time to get into this.
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Zoe frowned and kept her hold, "Chance.. what are you talking about?" she put a hand on his cheek to make him look at her instead of Jonah, "Don't you think if he knew anything he'd have told us? He might hate you but he doesn't hate me. He's not gonna put me in danger just to spite you." he scared her when he got like this.
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Greed wasn't ready to believe that, maybe it was just paranoia floating around but there was more to this than he was seeing. "I'm watching you...." They had helped Zoe, yes, they'd become comrades in arms so to speak. It didn't mean he had to like him. Greed may have not been as on edge had his girlfriend not gotten hijacked by Envy and rolled in it like a fish at a sushi bar.
Jonah put up his hands. "Chance, I'm not here to fight you. We'll talk later when neither of us are on edge." Jonah wanted to speak up, the side of him that always wanted to do the right thing wanted to press the issue, but the side that was being tampered with thought the right thing was to leave it alone for right now.
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Zoe eyed Jonah warily but her priority was Greed. She tugged on his waist and kept her arms around him, softly pleading with him to go with her into her bedroom. He still seemed ready to hit the Virtue.
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The growly, fluffy-haired retriever that Greed still looked like barking at the air finally got dragged into his safe zone with Zoe. He shut her door expecting to be able to lock it (but it wasn't like his doors which had a zillion locks). "We're getting a lock for this door tomorrow." He looked around the room for something to bar against the door because he didn't want some stinky Virtue walking in. Greed just might punch him in the neck.
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She gave him a look, "Seriously? What's he going to do? Glitter on us?" she didn't consider Jonah a threat or dangerous in the least, it didn't mean she trusted him but she didn't think he'd bring physical harm to her. "Why don't you get more comfortable, huh?" she tugged on his tie, "You look like a hyper alert puppy."
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"He's hiding something Zoe!" The end of that statement came out in a perplexed whine. She didn't understand just how bad he needed to know what, especially when it dealt with her. This could be the groundwork for something serious if a Virtue was keeping it from him. When it came to his things he needed to know all the details. He couldn't think straight with this as a threat looming over him, he was still that barking dog.
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She undid his tie and took it off, keeping calm, "So what if he's hiding something? You can't know everything about him and frankly I don't know why you'd want to." tho Jonah was acting a tiny bit weird...
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"Because it involves you. If he's keeping something from me that involves you I need to know it." His voice was stern, his brows heavy over those baby blue eyes. He was serious, but the floppy-headed puppy hair didn't really make him seem as intimidating as he was aiming for.
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She pulled up his dark sweater over his head, leaving his hair even more messed up, "Well, in that case I'd need to know it too but let's look at this logically. You said yourself if Envy was doing this to get to you, he would have done so much worse and I probably wouldn't be standing here right now. And if Jonah knew something then I'm pretty sure he's obligated by some Virtue code to tell us. Plus, he lives with me. So if I'm in danger, so is he, right? Isn't it more likely that your brother saw me crying that day when those girls were mean and recognized he could have some fun? And maybe this is all over now?"
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Greed wasn't buying into this yet. She was giving him some logical tips but it still felt fishy. "No, I don't think he saw you crying after those girls dragged you through the ringer. I think he made them do it." It took him a long time to figure that out, but it made sense now. This wasn't the first time Envy had tapped into playing with Zoe, and the big question was why. The fact that Jonah had something to hide told him there was more to this than Greed could figure out on his own. She had him stripped down to his tie and white shirt underneath, but he still wasn't budging from this serious face.
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She looked stunned and her hands rested on his chest with her mouth open. She didn't know what to say to that, so she closed it again. She shook her head, "Karen was new... I mean maybe he was already playing with her and I was collateral damage and when he saw how sensitive I was, he thought it was entertaining..." she was trying to find any reason to explain this that didn't make her a target.
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"It wouldn't have mattered if she was new or not. Envy can sense things in people. I told you, he preys on existing thoughts and twists them around." His jaw clenched. Greed was in ultimate stealth mode, telling himself that he needed to figure this out now, he was completely disregarding the opportunity to really be with his girlfriend. He hadn't had any in days, no real physical time with her anyway so his mind was completely focused on something else. That was his real threat. Envy.
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"Then he preyed on Karen and she saw you drop me off and the thought existed and he got a kick out of seeing me cry." she unbuttoned his shirt, peeling it off him and pressing a kiss to his throat, "Either way, he isn't here now. And we just need to think he isn't coming back."
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He was still pretty tense, all his muscles tight and he didn't move from the spot he stood in. "Maybe," Greed wasn't convinced, but he wouldn't let it go tonight unless she peeled his thoughts away and wired them in a different direction. There was a lot of frustration going on that she could take care of in one way, she just needed to divert his attention.
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He felt like concrete and she lightly smacked his chest a couple of times, "Maybe yes. For tonight, we're gonna go with yes. You're here so nothing will happen." she put her arms around him and said, "Now put the conspiracy theories on pause because I have other plans for your mouth..." and she leaned up to kiss him like they hadn't been able to do in days.
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He was a stone statue until her lips caressed him sweetly. For a moment he didn't invite them, still keeping his mind on what he didn't know. There was more to her kiss than just lips though, it was enough to jar his brain and kick it into another direction. He scooped his arms around her, easily picking her up off her feet in that embrace to put her at eye level. Then she wasn't leaning up for those kisses and he wasn't leaning down.
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It was the emotion in her kiss that other women lacked. You needed time to develop love for someone and no one else had the chance to get to know him like she did. She made a muffled noise when he lifted her up, her feet dangling in the air but she wasn't complaining as she swayed them back and forth as she kissed him. It wasn't even for sex or horniness, she just wanted to show how much she loved him, how grateful she was for him, she wanted him to know.
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It was because of that emotion that he was always knocked to his feet. Whether or not he was paralyzed by Virtue temperance or not. Zoe could captivate him with those kisses faster than any sexual invitation. He'd become obsessed with them. He finally returned that kiss with his own eagerness. He had to even catch his breath after a little bit, still holding onto her. The look on his face said the same thing his words did..."I've missed you..." He'd dropped that stone cold angry face for a softer one.
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Her fingers played with the hair at the nape of his neck and she smiled softly at his words, "I've missed you too.." she whispered before giving him another loving kiss. When it broke, she just rested her brow against his, nose touching his, wanting to be close to him. She didn't understand why his brother would want to take this away... then again, maybe that's why he was Envy.
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It was strange that he missed her, missed her mouth more than the fact that he hadn't gotten laid in a number of days. He was still tense over that, but he just wanted this...a closeness he couldn't get anywhere else. If they could melt right into each other with that gaze they could have. His eyes closed, nose to nose just as he had done earlier in the park. He was just soaking it in.