<span style="color: #FF0000"> His face fell, as he felt like he ruined whatever moment they had shared with one another. “Um...yeah...sure...” he said and fished the ticket out of his pocket to hand over to her. When she left he stared after her and felt like he again embarrassed himself or did something wrong. All he wanted was to share with her and express how he felt. But...apparently he had been wrong.... <br/> <br/>The hot chocolate before him became bitter and so he left it there to cool.</span><br/><br/>“Thank you…” came her mumbled reply, taking the ticket silently and walking carefully over to the booth to get their shoes. She dragged it out a bit, trying to come up with some excuse to leave. And, had it not been for his shoes, too, she would have just left right then, but she couldn’t leave his shoes there, either.<br/><br/>Walking back up, she put his down by him and sat down on her side of the table, taking her skates off and putting the boots on. “I guess I’ll…” Then, with a shake of her head, knowing she wouldn't see him around (couldn't see him around), she left. Slow, but left, forcing herself to not even look in his direction, unable to.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Something had happened. He had said something and ruined it all.  <br/> <br/>Worst of all he was not even sure what it had been. <br/> <br/>Hastily he went to put on his shoes, the skates thrown into the table caused the still mostly hot chocolate to spill. Some of it got on him and produced a hiss of pain, though the moment of brief while he rushed off to try and catch her.  <br/> <br/>“Chrystal! Wait!” he called out to her. “Please...don't go....”</span><br/><br/>For the smallest moment, she thought he wouldn’t follow after her, and there was a brief sigh of relief. Even if she wanted to continue anything with him, she couldn’t. It needed to end. …And then his voice reached her and she continued walking, not looking back, refusing to look back. “I have to,” was all she offered him, voice sounding pathetic even to her.<span style="font-style: italic">Please please please, just let him take this and that’ll be that…</span><br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Why?” he asked the pain and confusion in his voice. “What did I do? I'm sorry...”</span><br/><br/>Her steps faltered, slowing to a halt and looking down at the ground at her feet. “You…you didn’t do anything,” came her reply, shaking her head. “I just need to go. I just…” Needing to look back, against her better judgment, she stole a glance. “I don’t feel well and…I don’t want to get you…sick…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Let me walk you home at least....please?” his voice full of unspoken emotion. “I just want to make sure you are ok...”</span><br/><br/>“Really…I’m…I’m fine…I’ll just get myself home and…you can…” A pause, glancing back at him again with a look that was pained, sad. “I’m sorry, Elijah…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Chrystal...” he began then stopped as he thought about just what to say. “I don't know what changed between us, but I don't like it. I want us to be friends and perhaps....well who knows. Let me walk you home at least, ok? We can all off the plans we had for tonight and just see each other again on Saturday like planned....ok?”  <br/> <br/>He wanted that to be ok, he wanted her to agree to that at the very least. It would give him some time to figure out what happened. To try and fix whatever he broke.</span><br/><br/>A hand rubbed up and down her arm.<span style="font-style: italic">That’s not a good idea…</span>she thought, shaking her head.<span style="font-style: italic">Him walking you home will be awkward, will lead to you changing your mind…but the way he’s reacting…</span>Her mind quieted, looking back at him again, with some hesitance. “…You can walk me home…”<span style="font-style: italic">This is a bad idea; Such a bad idea…</span>but she was going to do it anyway. If only so he’d feel whatever semblance of comfort afforded in at least walking her home. She didn’t touch Saturday’s plans, not even wanting to think about breaking him any further telling him those would be off. That could wait just a little bit longer.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Though he smiled in relief he still felt like things had changed. For the worst.  <br/> <br/>He fell into step beside her, silent but there and walked with her home. All the while his mind was full of thoughts, as he ran over every detail of the conversation to figure out where it had all gone wrong.  <br/> <br/><span style="font-style: italic">Maybe it was my kiss? I could have done it wrong...</span></span><br/><br/>She was silent for the duration of their walk, not sure what to say or how to say it. If there was a way to tell him that it wasn’t not wanting to be around him, but not being able to be…she would. But, that’s the “It’s not you, it’s me” talk that no one wants to get and refuses to believe so that wouldn’t work…<span style="font-style: italic">This must be what kicking a puppy feels like,</span>came an annoyed, guilt-ridden thought.<br/><br/>And, despite his occasional comment, with some sort of confirmation she heard whether an “oh?” or “nice”, she didn’t add to anything he said. As the apartment building loomed, the dread in her stomach built. “If you want, I can…take it from here…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> All too soon, the apartment building came into view and he sighed. The way she seemed to want to get rid of him only further confirmed his suspicions about their relationship being over. “No. It would go against our contract....remember?” his best attempt at a happy comment. As per usual he opened the door for and waited for her to enter before he followed her up to her apartment door.  <br/> <br/>Once there, the tension there was awkward and he felt like he should just cut his losses and crawl under some rock and die.  <br/> <br/>Instead, whatever bit of bravery and confidence that he had kicked in. And he spoke before she had a chance to say anything. “I don't know what is wrong, but I can feel it and I don't want to feel like this. Not with you. I want to feel the way that it felt when we had fun together and when we kissed. I want that with you and whatever I did to upset you I am truly sorry. If we could get past this and if you could please forgive me I promise to do my best to not mess up again....”  <br/> <br/>Heart poured out and on his sleeve he just stood there and waited for what she had to say. Waited for whether or not he needed to go and crawl under that rock.</span><br/><br/>His comment, even at his attempt to be happy, spoke volumes. Her eyes couldn’t even meet his as she walked passed him slowly to get into the apartment building, and then continued silently up the stairs to her floor. She’d fished her keys out, had them in hand, and was ready to get it all over with as she turned to speak to him, lips already parted…<br/><br/>But no sound came out. Instead, he poured his heart out, which only tore hers out all the more. Eyes dropping again, a hand pushing away a stray hair while she struggled with what course of action to take. She liked hanging out with him, liked seeing him, couldn’t put her finger on what it was but was happy whenever he was around.<br/><br/>…It just wasn’t safe around her, and to know that people were watching, taking stock this early on…proved that. And to know she’d be taking away his future, his ability to have a family, to find the person he could spend the rest of his life with so he wouldn’t be alone and have that dream finally happen…<br/><br/>“…Lets…talk inside?” she asked quietly, not wanting to have this talk out here in the hallway.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> This did not feel good. Instead, it felt like he was about to get some talk about how it was not him, but her, etc, etc. A small nod and a silent sigh, he followed her into the apartment. He waited until she gave instruction to head to the livingroom. After that he just stood there, hands tucked into his pants pockets while he waited for this...<span style="font-style: italic">talk</span> to happen.</span><br/><br/>The way he was reacting told her he knew what was coming, but she needed to talk to him and doing it in the hallway wasn’t wise. Anyone could overhear, and she’d rather it be done privately…try to reach some sort of understanding with him.<br/><br/>Unlocking her door and letting him in, locking it behind him, she gestured toward the living room. “Do you…want anything to drink or something?” she asked, trying to prolong it as long as possible while he stood awkwardly just within her view. “You can sit if you want…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “No thank you, I am fine and would rather stand. Besides, I still have like hot chocolate on myself and would rather not ruin your furniture,” he explained.</span><br/><br/>Her eyes widened as she noticed the hot chocolate, and winced at not having noticed sooner. “Here, we can clean you up…I have some baggy sweats, men’s sweats, that could do if you want to get out of the hot chocolate-covered pants? I’m sorry, I…didn’t even realize…Do you need ice? Are you burnt?” The concern was evident in her voice, the talk the last thing in her mind right then.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “No...I mean....don't trouble yourself...” he sighed as he looked down at himself. “It did hurt and honestly I am a bit afraid to look at just how bad it was...” he explained. “I don't want to be a bother...” he finally said.</span><br/><br/>Shaking her head instantly, her hand took his, leading him to the bathroom. “You need to look at how bad it was…” Opening the door to the bathroom, she gestured for him to go inside, closing it behind him. “I’ve got a first aid kit that I can grab, and I’ll get the pants for you. But you’ll have to tell me what you need.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> There was no talking her out of it,instead he just stood in the bathroom and looked at himself in the mirror before he removed his jacket and then his pants. There was a bit of blistering, but nothing too bad, mostly on his knees and inner thigh (thank god).  <br/> <br/>“I have some blistering...do you have like an ointment and some bandaging I could use?” he called through the door. “I might need your help in putting the bandage on,” he said after a moment.</span><br/><br/>Nodding, even if he couldn’t see the gesture, she was back at the door with the first aid kit and pants. “I’ve got both, along with a new pair of pants…Is it safe to come in or do you need a moment?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “No you are fine,” he said while he stood by the sink.</span><br/><br/>Still careful to keep her eyes averted, she entered the bathroom, closing the door out of habit, handing the ointment forward. “Just tell me what you need and I’ll do it,” she remarked quietly, hoping it wasn’t as bad as she was envisioning.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I will put the ointment on and then you can help me with the bandage,” he said. Carefully, he applied the ointment, it stung at first but then it cooled and helped with the burn. “Alright, now just wrap and tape my legs and we should be fine.”</span><br/><br/>She nodded, again careful to keep her eyes averted while she waited for him to apply the ointment. Then, kneeling down, she put on the bandage on the first leg, wrapping it and taping it in place with just a little extra cooling added to try and help with the blistering she was almost certain she’d caused in her sudden wish to leave. As she was setting the second, she spoke.<br/><br/>“It’s…nothing that you did, Elijah,” came her voice, barely a breath above a whisper. “Really, you’ve been…wonderful since we met.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> A deep sigh came from a mixture of her words and the cooling sensation on his burns. “Let me guess...then it has to do with you?”</span><br/><br/>There was another wince, this one at his remark. “This isn’t supposed to be a ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ talk…but what you want, what you need, you won’t get with me…” Her eyes cautiously glanced up while she worked at cooling the next leg. “It’s just…I don’t want to hurt you…You’re so nice and…perfect, if I’m honest…and I don’t want to be the one to-”<span style="font-style: italic">…intentionally…</span>“-hurt you…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Why do you think that you are going to hurt me? Whats wrong with us just being friends? We don't even know what this is between us and you want to just end it before it has even had a chance to be anything...” he said with some frustration.</span><br/><br/>“You don’t even know me,” came a frustrated remark, getting up and handing over the pants. “You don’t know anything about me. I’m trying to do the right thing, to stop it before it gets to the point that I hurt you. What is so wrong with me trying to be the friend that won’t let another friend get hurt?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Because, you don't know” he stated with equal frustration as he pulled on the offered pants. “I don't know you, but I want to change that and get to know you. I just don't think it is right or fair for you to decide what is best for me. I'm not some child and can handle being hurt, <span style="font-style: italic">IF</span> it comes to that.”</span><br/><br/>“I’m not saying you can’t hand-” She cut herself off, letting out a breath. The talk was going exactly the way she thought it would: Terribly. “I just…I’m not going to lie and say I don’t like spending time with you because I do,” Chrystal started again. “I do…a lot. But you’ve been through enough without adding my shit on top of it. And you may think I’m being unfair by trying to decide that for you, but you’re trying to decide for me that this risk should be a conti-…”<br/><br/>Again, she cut herself off. “…You’re making this so difficult, Elijah…” came her whisper, her eyes pleading with him. No frustration, nothing else. Just a plea to make this easier on her. Her teeth bit into her lip again, eyes dropping which made her feel like more of a coward.<span style="font-style: italic">Can’t even look him in the eyes and tell him this. Lie to him, tell him something so he’ll understand…</span>“I want to hang out with you, Elijah. As frustrated as you may be with me, and as angry, I’m sorry…I’m just scared that I’ll do something and hurt you…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The anger and frustration he had begun to feel dissipated and he sighed, “I am not trying to be difficult...” he began then stopped himself. His hand lifted, hesitation in his actions at first, before his finger touched the bottom of her chin and tilted her face up so that their eyes met. “This whole thing is a bit...different and at times scary, but I would rather see where this goes and end up with at least an experience I can say I did. Rather than look back on this and think about what could have been....”</span><br/><br/>When his voice stopped, she was almost afraid of what he’d say then. But then she saw his hand reaching for her chin. At first, she resisted…and then she allowed it to happen. Her eyes were slower to rise, looking anywhere but at his gaze for as long as she could until they eventually met. There was nothing to be found there, nothing except confliction and pain. He wanted an experience he could say he did…<br/><br/>…He wouldn’t survive to say that if she stayed.<br/><br/>“I don’t want to hurt you…” she whispered again, barely able to get it out. “…But I can’t keep trying to push you away, for both our sakes, when you do that…”A long pause. “…So…all I’ll do is…apologize now for what future me might…”<span style="font-style: italic">Will.</span>“…Do…and ask, instead, what else you need?” Switching topics to something that made more sense. “Do you want anything to take? Something for the pain? Something to drink?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The relief that washed over him was enough to make him think that he would just about pass out. All he could do was smile for a bit and then, just hug her. It was impulsive but it felt right and well it was what he wanted right then. When he finally did release her, “Um...some water would be nice.”</span><br/><br/>The hug was unexpected, her eyes widening briefly as her body stiffened at the hug…but, she melted into it, even returning it before he released her. “Water, it is,” she repeated with a smile, even as the guilt welled up again at his response. “…Now, will you sit down on the couch, or do I have to find you something to lean against?” This she asked over her shoulder, walking on ahead to get the water set up.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I think I can sit down,” he stated while he followed her from the bathroom to the livingroom. “Think I am going to have to cancel tonight's outing, as I would rather not deal with this while trying to walk around and hand out supplies. I think it will be better by tomorrow though, so that is good,” he said this mostly to himself while he waited for her to return with the water.</span><br/><br/>“Well, if you want I could hand them out for you?” she offered.<span style="font-style: italic">It’s the least I can do, anyway…</span>“I could walk you home and do a route that you normally would, handing out what you need and checking in with people?” Coming back with water, chilled despite the lack of ice, she handed it over and taking up a seat in one of her arm chairs across from him.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Thank you,” he said as he half rose from his seat to take the glass from her. “I don't think that would work. They are rather suspicious of new people and might think you were there to try and hurt them or take their possessions. Besides, it is not safe and you are under contract with me for protection,” he smirked. “I can't have my one and only client getting hurt, right?”</span><br/><br/>That got him an eyebrow raise. “Ah, but what’s one to do when the contractor is injured? Who’s to keep me safe then? Who knows? I could go out to get you food or something, since you can’t really walk anywhere like that…and get hurt while out. I could get hurt falling in the shower. I could get hurt dropping a pot on my foot. The list goes on.” Of course, she was being a bit of a smart ass, but he<span style="font-style: italic">was</span>injured. “I’m supposed to be taking care of you right now, otherwise you can’t hold up your end. And, taking care of you includes taking care of things when you can’t, doesn’t it? I mean…do I look threatening to you?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Everything she said had a point and made sense, but that still did not mean he wanted her wandering about looking for stuff for him, or helping him with his duties. “What if I said I just wanted to spend some time with just you? Would that change your mind on this whole venturing out into the city thing?”</span><br/><br/>Her eyes narrowed in thought, dropping as she considered it. “…What would you want to do instead?” she asked, still hesitant.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "Maybe watch some television? Since you know that is a foreign concept to me, I can see what all the talk is about," he smiled.</span><br/><br/>The smile was infectious, and against her better judgment, she found herself saying, “…Alright. But, on one condition.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "What's that?"</span><br/><br/>“If I stay here tonight with you to watch television, instead of picking up where you’re leaving off with your route…” A pause as her eyes lifted. “You have to call out of work due to the burns, and stay here tonight. Otherwise, we’ll end up with a repetitive cycle of ‘let me walk you home’, which would be counterproductive. Then, and only then, will I agree to staying in.” She was serious, eyes saying as much, before they lowered again. “…Time someone took care of you for a change…” came her added remark, quiet and barely audible, but just as serious as what came before it.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> What could he do or say in this matter? It was not every day that an attractive woman asked him to spend the night, even if it would just be sleeping and nothing else. Not to mention the fact that he had never called out of work before, so he would really not have an issue there. It was the last remark that sealed the deal and made up his mind.  <br/> <br/>“Alright, it's a deal.”  <br/> <br/>His hand patted the seat beside him, “Now, what do you usually watch on this thing?”</span><br/><br/>Nodding, a smile pulling at her lips, she got up and sat beside him, settling in to her usual spot on the couch. Though the guilt was there, it was put on the backburner; Taking care of him, even if she didn’t have to do much, left her feeling batter (at that moment, at least).<br/><br/>A hand took up the remote and turned on the television, a shrug moving through her shoulders. “Anything really; Crime dramas, comedies, the show you named me after without knowing…Whatever’s on at the time that I make my dinner and reinforce the dent I’ve made into my couch cushion.”<br/><br/>Gesturing just below where the TV sat to the case below it, she added, “When nothing else is on, I watch a movie. So, it’s really all in what you want to watch. You are the deprived one, after all.” And, as an afterthought, “Do you want me to order anything for dinner? Since that was part of the plan that we won’t be doing, takeout would be the next best.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “That would be fine,” he said a smile on his lips while he looked over at her. “Not sure what you want to eat, but I am not too picky so whatever you want is fine with me,” his tone easy and relaxed. “So, is this like a sleep over?” he asked with a smirk.</span><br/><br/>“A sleepover…sans pillow fight, girltalk, crying over tubs of ice cream, or ‘truth or dare’,” she replied with a laugh.<span style="font-style: italic">Not that I’ve ever been to one, but the movies are probably accurate, right?</span>Leaning away to get the stack of takeout in the table’s sidebar, she started reading things off. “Pizza…Italian…French…Asian…American…Thai…Take your pick and we’ll go from there?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “No pillow fight?” he half pouted. “Fine, but I want some icecream to sooth my blistered legs,” he smirked. “Um...I guess French,” he said when he looked over the menus. “Geez, you don't have to even get up do you?” he asked in reference to how she just had to lean away to get the menus.</span><br/><br/>She glanced at him over her shoulder at him with a grin. “I wasn’t exaggerating about my routine. At least you got beyond first letter basis; The delivery guys haven’t yet.” A wink before looking back at the menu. “I think I have ice cream in the freezer if you really want some.” And then, since the awkward moment had passed for the time, she added, “So…Captain America, huh?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> At first he was not paying attention his focus more on the television and what there was on at the time, which happened to just be some random drama. “Hmm?” he asked and then when it set in he blushed a bright red, “Umm...well..they were on sale and there was a like a pack of them....” he stammered.</span><br/><br/>Waiting for it to sink in, she got her phone out, and ready to dial, looking over the menu for something she’d like. …And then it hit him and she couldn’t hide the smirk. “Who wouldn’t like a pair of those?” she asked. “Though…hard not to notice the um…shield to….you ratio…” Throwing a look his way before handing him the menu, “Anything that’s standing out to you that you’d want?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “The um...shield to me...ratio....” he stammered and felt his face get even hotter. “Well....I um...said that I was not average and um....well.....yeah.....” he blundered through. “And...um...whatever you recommend is fine,” he managed.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">This is more fun than I thought it’d be…causing his blush…</span>“You did…I didn’t think it was quite so…” Her eyes widened with a glance down at his crotch for a brief moment before focusing back on the menu. “Are you sure? I mean, I’m not sure what you’d like, and may pick the wrong thing. Friends at sleepovers don’t order the other one bad food…” Her grin grew a bit as she looked back up at him. “Can’t wait to spend the entire night with this, huh?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “What do you mean by...not that...” he blushed more and covered his face. “I trust you...” he said from the confines of his hands.</span><br/><br/>“If you trust me…will you stop hiding your face?” she asked. “I promise, I won’t laugh at your blush…or poke fun at it…Can you just look at me?” Another pause, as she watched his hands. “Please?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> It took some effort, but he managed to look at her. "Better?" he asked with a small smile.</span><br/><br/>He was met with a smile, a genuine smile and nod. “Much…” A hand reached up to touch his blush, smoothing over it before dropping again to pick up the phone to place the order. She figured she’d give him a break so he could focus on the television and not blush for at least a moment. Once the order was placed, Chrystal put the phone down and settled back into the couch. “We’ve got forty minutes.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The touch made his eyes closed and he relaxed. When she stopped he looked at the television and focused on the show for a bit, “So...this whole Criminal Minds thing, it's about a team of people who hunt bad guys?”</span><br/><br/>“Yep,” she confirmed. “They’re like you, Captain America, except that they’re FBI, and deal with serial killers, rapists, those that escalate passed what local authorities can handle. Hell, I’d even say you’re like Spencer: Know about a lot of things, and have that…boyish charm, even when not meaning to. I’d say you’re adorable like he is, but we all know how you feel about the word ‘adorable’.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> A brow was arched at the comments about him being adorable and would have blushed more if a part of him did not like her calling him that. “Is Captain America going to be my new Nickname or something?”</span><br/><br/>“Would you prefer I call you ‘adorable’?” she asked with a grin. “Because I can…Adorable Elijah…It has a nice ring. I could also use ‘cute’…Cute Adorable Elijah…Yes…that will be your new nickname.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “No no no....Captain America is fine,” he laughed. “Is my name going to change with every pair of underwear that I wear?”  he asked with a grin.</span><br/><br/>“That depends…” Another pause as she glanced down at his lap again and then back up. “Will I be seeing your underwear that frequently?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> And the blush returned along with a shrug of his shoulders, “Um....I....um....um....maybe?” he stammered.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">That blush…</span>she thought again, as her lips curled back into a grin. “You sound very unconvincing…I think I may have to stick with my first nickname for you, if talk of your varying underwear-based nicknames is going to cause such a reaction…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Um...well....I just had not thought that far ahead....” he tried to explain himself though he thought that it was somehow too late to plead his case.</span><br/><br/>“That’s fine. I think ‘Adorably Cute Elijah’ has a great ring to it, so I’ll go with that for your name,” she brushed off with a light smile, taking out her phone. “In fact, I’ll change it to that in my phone now!”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "NOOOO!" he made a grab for her phone to try and stop her. "Please no!"</span><br/><br/>Yanking her phone back and jumping off the couch with it, she shook her head. “Nope! It’s happening! Don’t fight the inevitable!”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "Oh come on!! I'm injured and can't chase you!" he protested.</span><br/><br/>"Exactly the point," she replied easily before showing him the newly changed name. "It's already been done! Now...to get an even<span style="font-style: italic">more</span>adorable picture..."<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "Really?" he partially pouted while he sat there on the couch. Effort made to not smile.</span><br/><br/>Her own laughter ensued as he tried not to laugh, and failed miserably, capturing the smile and using it as the new picture for him. “There,” she showed him again. “Signed, sealed, delivered.” Putting the phone back in her pocket after checking the time, she settled in. “Only a few more minutes, I expect.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Are you going to like send that or show that to people?” he asked, with a smile that he gave up on trying to hide.</span><br/><br/>“Possibly…” came her reply with an even larger grin. “Why? What are you gonna do about it?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "Nothing....or....maybe something...." he said with as much confidence he could muster.</span><br/><br/>“Oooooo, I’m shaking in my boots,” she replied to that with a shake of her head. “You need to work on that…convincing thing.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "Yeah yeah,"he said with a roll of his eyes.</span><br/><br/>That had her brow perking up. “In that case, I’m going to start with the delivery guy. You don’t mind right?” she asked, while waiting for the knock on the door.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “What! No!” At this he lurched from the chair and regretted it nearly instantly. “Ow!” he grumbled and sat back down. “This is so not fair....” he pouted.</span><br/><br/>At his exclamation of pain, she was instantly concerned, looking him over and trying to figure a reason to put her hand on his thigh to try and numb him again. “What do you mean, it’s not fair?” she asked, going for it and putting a hand there anyway, trying to keep the cooling as subtle as possible. “You said you wouldn’t do anything! I don’t think the picture’s a bad one, do you?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The hand on his thigh was not unnoticed, though what was came the sensation of cool relief. <span style="font-style: italic">I would have thought that would cause an increase in body temperature...</span> Came the thought, though he made no move to voice it or remove her hand.  <br/> <br/>“I don't know, you just took it without you know letting me know or giving me a chance to at least smile and stuff....” he pouted some more. “I barely got to see it, so I am not really sure how bad it is.”</span><br/><br/>“You were smiling plenty, believe me,” she replied, withdrawing her hand to pull out the phone and show him again. “See? Your smile is clearly evident.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "Hmm....I suppose that is not too bad...." he mumbled after a moment.</span><br/><br/>“What was that? I couldn’t quite hear you,” she prodded, putting the phone away.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “You really are enjoying my company tonight, huh?” he asked with a smirk.</span><br/><br/>The knock at the door caught her attention, causing her to get up with just one more look over her shoulder at him. “I think the question would be whether or not you’re enjoying mine. With all of that blushing, I’m beginning to think you’re too embarrassed to be around me…” Stopping at her purse, she took out some money, and went to the door with a smile, whispering something to the delivery guy with her phone pulled out, which caused him to laugh, giving her the food and leaving.<br/><br/>She made her way back, stopping at the kitchen to grab some plates and silverware, and started setting up shop on her table. “Do you want some more water? Or anything else to drink?” Chrystal asked while unpacking the food. “Foie Gras Au Torchon, Recette Maison”, for their appetizer, and “Magret De Canard Gras (Moulard) Sauce Montmorency” for herself. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you, though…” she commented. “I picked Onglet Poêlé À La Facon Luchonaise for you, thinking it’d be safe.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The exchange between herself and the delivery man was not lost on him and he thought he would just burn from how bright red he was now as he blushed. It was not that he was embarrassed, just unsure of what to do at times with her, given his lack of experience in such areas. When she returned and began to list off what she got, he could merely just smile and nod as his command of French was definitely limited to the point of being none existent.  <br/> <br/>“Yes, water please and well, I will have to trust your judgment,” the smile on his lips hid the confusion, but regardless he was rather enthused to try whatever it was that she got for them. “What did you show to that delivery guy?” he asked as nonchalantly as he could.</span><br/><br/>“Yours is a hanger steak; I thought it’d be safe enough,” she replied with a laugh, going to get the water for him, along with some for herself. “And the delivery guy?” A pause as the sound of cabinets being opened and closed filled the room, padding back with his glass and her own. “I didn’t show him anything.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Then what was all the laughter about?”he asked while he placed his stuff on a plate. “Thank you,” he said when he received his water. “I mean it seemed that the two of you were talking about something that you showed him on your phone...”</span><br/><br/>She let him think on it for a bit, sampling the hors d'oeuvre she’d picked. “Actually…” Another pause while she savored its flavor. “I told him to laugh for me, while I handed him the money and had my phone, still in sleep mode, just in my hand.” A grin flashed across her features. “You really should relax, Elijah.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> A sigh, smile and chuckle were all that she got from him before he tried some of what she just ate, “Mmmm, this is good.” Subject change in effect, as he focused on the meal before him, “Never had French before, unless you count French bread pizza?”</span><br/><br/>“Guess I’m broadening your horizons all over! You get to get in touch with your adorable side while expanding your culinary palette,” she said with another grin. “Do you really like it? I mean, I guessed about what to order you, and stuck with my general favorites.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “It would appear that your taste is good,” the smile on his face reached his eyes. “So, tell me is this better than eating alone? Or, am I too imposing on your personal space?”</span><br/><br/>A light shrug. “Dunno…Do you think it’s better than eating alone? Or am I too imposing on yours? After all, it is me that keeps causing you to react the way you do, despite the smiles. All blushes and foreign food.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “This is definitely much better than eating alone,” then with a small bump of his shoulder against her own. “With the blushes and everything,” he said without hesitation.</span><br/><br/>“I guess this isn’t<span style="font-style: italic">so</span>bad…” she admitted after he nudged her. “To have actual conversation rather than the recorded drone of a television show…Now, to figure out what to do for the rest of the night. Have to keep you entertained, of course!”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "Lucky for you I am easily entertained and well, if I get bored I could always just....do what I do at home," he shrugged and focused on his food for a bit.</span><br/><br/>"...What do you do at home?" she asked them, curious.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">"Work out...." he said rather slow and just a hint of embarrassment.</span><br/><br/>"So..." she started, and paused again. "You're going to workout...sounds more like entertainment for my benefit than anything else."<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "Oh? How so?" genuinely confused.</span><br/><br/>That earned him a perked brow, head tilting to the side. “Rippling muscles…fine sheen of sweat highlighting said muscles…I mean, you’re already attractive, so for you to start working out and seeing the muscles I’ve felt once or twice in action…” Her eyes let his, traipsing over him for a brief moment, making their way back to his with a shrug before going back to her food.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Flustered. If one were to use just a single word to describe how Elijah felt at that moment that would be it. Oddly he did not blush, instead he just gave a shy smile and became rather aware of his own body. Sure, Tim had made a comment or two, then there was the waitress the other day, but still he was not completely aware of how others perceived him.  <br/> <br/>“You would really like to see that?” he asked, food now ignored while he waited for her to answer.</span><br/><br/>His reaction wasn’t one that she’d expected, her head tilting a bit more as her eyes stayed on his and tried to gauge him. Everything else was ignored, it seemed, as he focused on what she’d said. After she let his question sink in, she continued eating, and answered simply, “Any woman—and man for that matter—would want to see that.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Hmm,” is all he said before he went back to his food. A bit into eating he paused, sat back for a moment and the removed the sweater vest he wore (as if he were hot), then went back to eating.</span><br/><br/>She didn’t think much of is lacking reply, instead savoring her meal and occasionally checking that he liked his food…only to turn one time to make sure everything was alright and watch him pull the sweater vest over his head. Her eyes widened just that little bit more, before going back to her plate. “Everything alright? Do you need some more water or anything?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Top two buttons of his shirt undone, “Actually, if you would not mind, could I get more water please?” he asked.</span><br/><br/>“Sure thing,” she replied with a light smile, taking his cup with her into the kitchen with her. Taking a little longer than needed just to catch her breath, she let out a quiet sigh and filled his glass. “Do you need anything else while I’m out here?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Hmmm...is it wrong that I want that icecream now?” he asked with a small chuckle.</span><br/><br/>“Not wrong at all,” she replied with a laugh. “I’ll bring you your water and then get some ice cream for you.” Walking back into the room, his glass was replaced on the table, and his plate was picked up, along with her own and the appetizer. “I’ve got vanilla, black raspberry, and chocolate. Which would you like?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The water was taken with a smile, “Thank you. Um...I guess the black raspberry.” This sudden bout of confidence felt really good and oddly had him relax for a change.</span><br/><br/>Two scoops of Black Raspberry for him, and one for her later, and she was back on the couch, handing him his bowl and mulling over his sudden confidence boost. During these rare bouts, he relaxed. There was no blushing, no hesitations. It almost had her off balance, but she managed to not think on it too much. Taking up the remote, she pulled her feet up onto the couch next to her, curling one ankle under the other and flipping through channels. “Alright, we got your crime drama fix, unless you want more comparisons to Spenser, and/or Morgan, which I would happily oblige with. So, what to watch now…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Bowl taken he focused back on the television, “Not sure. This show is pretty interesting, I mean they figure out how their minds work and use their own habits to track them down and stop them.” He took a spoonful and finished it before he continued to speak, “I wonder what you have to do in order to learn how to do that?” he mused, for the moment he ignored her teasing remarks. On the next spoonful, for whatever reason, he missed his mouth and instead dropped the icecream on himself.  <br/> <br/>“O...man....” he said with a sigh, bowl now set down before him he undid the buttons of his shirt and removed it while he stood. “Um...can you put this with my pants....I guess?” he asked. Now he was left in the tank he had under his button up shirt. “Did I get any on the couch?” he asked suddenly, back now to her as he inspected the cushion to make sure it was still clean.</span><br/><br/>“Probably extensive training, I’d imagine, to learn patterns and human behavior well enough,” she answered, deciding to leave it on that station since he’d expressed interested. Just as she’d settled back into the couch, barely a spoonful into hers, he’d dropped some on himself. Eyes widening and her bowl replaced on the table, she was instantly looking for any on the couch, oblivious to him stripping his shirt off.<br/><br/>“I don’t see…any…” Blinking, her words drifted off as she turned and saw him in the tank top, mind going blank for a moment as she was intent on the muscles beneath that tank. “I, erm…have to start the laundry anyway, so I’ll just throw that in with your pants then?” Without another moment spared, the shirt was taken and she departed the room back down the hallway toward the bathroom, opening up the “closet” to the laundry and put them both in.<br/><br/>Then she just braced on the washer, taking a moment.<span style="font-style: italic">Yep…who wouldn’t want to see that?</span>came a thought, partly begrudging, and partly happy that she’d asked him to stay if only so she could watch the muscles.<span style="font-style: italic">Look, but don’t touch.</span><br/><br/>Making her way back, she had a paper towel, slightly damp ready. “Did you find any elsewhere?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “No, I think we are ok.” Gaze cast down to himself, just encase some of the icecream had managed to make it onto his last piece of clothing. “I need to be more careful or I am not going to have anything left to wear. And we both know that would be a shame....right?”  <br/> <br/>Question posed with a smirk and a glimmer of something unfamiliar in his eyes. Confident, dominant and predatory. If she liked what she saw, then that would mean he had that information as a means of an extra boost to his confidence.  “Do you see any on me?” he asked, arms slightly raised and a slow spin for her to “check”.</span><br/><br/>Her mind had been so stuck on “no touching, no touching,” that she almost missed his comment, which, in turn, caught her off guard, tongue darting out over her lips at the thought of that<span style="font-style: italic">shame</span>.<br/><br/>And then her eyes caught his, and something was there. Something she wasn’t used to. Whatever hesitant and overcompensating puppy had been there was suddenly gone, and in its stead was something she refused to let herself think about. When he started to spin, asking her to check, her lip found its way into her mouth and she gawked, openly so as all her thought was now focused on him and his form and not on what she’d just been chanting to herself.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Maybe you can pretend something’s there just so you can “clean” it,</span>came an unbidden thought that had her snapping out of it, a hand rubbing the back of her neck while she left to throw away the paper towel. “No, no, there’s nothing else there,” she answered over her shoulder. While in there, she collected her thoughts, letting out more calming breaths before returning to the living room. “Think you can manage to eat the rest without incident?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “You sure?” he asked her again, hand at the hem of his shirt which he lifted ever so slowly. “Nothing anywhere?”  <br/> <br/>At the question she gave him, he shrugged. “All I can say is that I will try my best, but if I do make a mess I may need your help in cleaning up....” another smirk and he resumed his seat on the couch. Sure he was burned and on the way over he had been near desperate to keep her as a friend. Now...well he had the upper hand and he felt like exploiting it a bit.  <br/> <br/>“Can I trust you to not be clumsy and “accidentally” pour icecream on me?”</span><br/><br/>Then the image of him taking that tank top off was dangling over her head. Sure, she could “accidentally” pour her ice cream on him, and sure, she could “help him clean up”, but that would be in direct violation with her own rules! He needed to keep that tank top on as long as possible.<br/><br/>“I dunno…maybe…” she answered back, trying to focus more on the ice cream bowl she picked up, while sitting on the opposite end of the couch. “We’ll see.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> All he did was smirk and sit back down on his end of the couch, “Now....” he waited till he had her full attention. “How am I like Morghan?”  <br/> <br/>Sure he knew the answer to the question, but he wanted to hear it from her.</span><br/><br/>She didn’t even glance in his direction, instead keeping her eyes on the television. Talking was far easier when he was out of her sightline. “Strong, intelligent…confident when you want to be…Muscular, if you really want to throw in the obvious…I’m sure you’ve already gathered that from the show itself to not need it reaffirmed by me,” she answered casually, no longer interested in her ice cream. At all.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "And," he asked now half turned to face her. "You find these all attractive qualities that I possess?'</span><br/><br/>“Once again, stating the obvious, but yes,” she answered, once again not looking in his direction. Tongue darting out over her lips again to pull the lower in for a moment, she shook her head, trying to keep the smile from her face. “You seem to be taking far too great a joy in this question and answer portion of our sleepover.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "You seem to be enjoying it as well," he said, then added. "Or at least the notion of me losing more of my clothing...."</span><br/><br/>…This time it was her turn to blush, though she didn’t say anything right off. “So you think.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "I think..." his hand went to the bottom of his shirt again and he slowly lifted it up over his head. "Because I know...." the top was purposely thrown where she could see it.</span><br/><br/>She was doing so well; So damn well ignoring him as she tuned him out and her eyes honed in on the television. Anything, it could have been a Shamwow commercial, so long as it wasn’t him and his muscles and that smile, and the sudden confidence that he seemed to exude. …But that last bit of clothing between her view and his abs…<br/><br/>Her chest rose a little as a shallow, rushed breath was taken and she leaned even further away, resting her chin on her hand and becoming really intent on the television. All the while, she chewed on the inner of her lip and tried to think about something else, anything else. “Think I’m done my ice cream…” was all she said before picking up her bowl and walking from the room.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Eyes, still held that predatory glare, watched her as she left. A smirk crept to the corners of his mouth before he stood and grabbed his own bowl to dispose of as well. "You ok?" he asked softly. "You seem...agitated. Did I...do something?" he asked again while he closed some of the distance between the two of them just a bit more.</span><br/><br/>Bowl placed safely in the sink (a small fact she’d be thankful for in just a moment), she turned around to meet Elijah, eyes widening as her chest rose a bit higher, breath hitching as her heart tripped. But, those eyes didn’t remain on his…no, they took the route south like she’d been trying to avoid, wandering over the muscular contours that were his washboard abs.<span style="font-style: italic">Shit…</span>came a mental groan before shaking her head again and meeting his gaze with a smile, albeit a flustered one. “Nope, you didn’t do anything,” she replied, once her verbal capacities had returned. “You can just…put your bowl in the sink, and I’m going to go check on your…laundry…”<br/><br/>But then came the time that she had to scoot by him. Skirting as much as she could all the way around him, pressing against the wall to make her exit, she hastened to the bathroom, and started fiddling with things that didn’t need fiddling.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> This was interesting, fascinating and if he were to ever admit to himself definitely arousing. Since they had met, she had been the one in control, or at least the one to have all the fun. The jabs, the teasing comments and even an occasional touch or two that would cause him to melt into a pile embarrassment. Now, the show was on the other foot and Elijah had the upper hand, had her feeling the way he had felt more than once. And all he had to do was remove a little bit of clothing, who would have thought that? <br/> <br/>A brief moment was spared to wash the bowls in the sink, then he followed her to where the washer and dryer were. “Are my clothes ruined or will I be able to walk out of here in more than what I currently have to work with?” he asked, eyes on her form a smile on his lips and a casual lean against the wall.</span><br/><br/>It hadn’t been nearly long enough. Her small reprieve was barely enough to catch her breath, and refocus a little bit…when he was suddenly in there with her, leaning against the wall. That, of course, had her having to open the washer and start switching it over.<br/><br/>“I don’t think they’re ruined, so you should be good once they’re dry,” she replied to that. “Though, if I remember correctly, there’s a tank top you threw that you could…put back on…” It was casually said, refusing to look back at him while she got the dryer situated. A dryer sheet in, the temperature up, and the timer set. “Now…going to go back and watch television. You’re welcome to join me unless you…think that you need to walk around shirtless some more?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "What do you think? I mean if I am making you uncomfortable I can cover back up? I generally sleep shirtless and don't care to remain in my work clothes once I get home. But, I mean if you don't like this...I can just cover back up..." tone pitched just a bit lower.</span><br/><br/>“No…no, I didn’t say I didn’t…like that…” she said with a gesture to<span style="font-style: italic">all of that</span>. “I just…think you look cold…yeah, cold, so I thought you might want to warm up with fresh clothes from the dryer or something…” Even to her, that excuse sounded weak, but she continued to look the other way, and shifted her weight from foot to foot before skirting around him. “You coming?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "Cold? I don't feel cold...maybe you should feel me and see for me?" he asked while he followed her to the livingroom.</span><br/><br/>Begrudgingly, she put a wrist to his forehead, refusing to feel anywhere else. “Yep. Cold. I’ll toss you the blanket from over the back of the other chair…” So, with that, she overshot the couch to the chair she’d sat in earlier, taking the blanket from its back, and unfolding it, handing it over.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> He smirked and just followed her to the livingroom, once he got the blanket he covered up and snuggled back on the couch. “Want to cuddle under here with me? Help me warm up?”</span><br/><br/>“I’ll likely just make you colder,” she replied with a shake of her head, returning to her…far…side of the couch. “So, we’ll let you warm up and I’ll keep to myself. Over here.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> All he did was smile and get more comfortable on the couch, when he ended up drifting off he was not sure. It was an interesting sensation to no longer be alone and be in the company of someone other than he grandmother at night. Even then, the woman was so old often when he visited she would drift off before him and he would be left up and alone.  <br/> <br/>Always alone.  <br/> <br/>Now, there was Chrystal and for whatever it was worth and for however long, it was better than nothing. A lot better. With her he felt a different side of himself, a confidence he never had with anyone else and nor was he sure he could ever have it anyone else either. The way she smiled, the way she touched him and even the way she teased him, it was a comfort to him. Filled a void in his life, in his soul that had been empty since the death of his mother.  <br/> <br/>Long nights spent in foster care where he wished that someone would be his friend, someone would just be there for him.  <br/> <br/>Finally, he found it. Found a friend and he hoped it would turn into more....as long as the future permits it.</span>