Bag and Tag: 2
Title: Bag and Tag: 2
Characters/Pairing: Gabriel/Eden
Rating: R
Word count: 1,669
Disclaimer: Do not own.
Summery: Eden's first Bag & Tag.
Note: AU. She tries to get closer. One more part, I think.
Parts: 1, 2, 3
He talks to his fish.
I had gone to Queens to return Chandra's book to him on one rainy day, after a meeting. It was like stepping into another world, or more appropriately another age. Everything was so strange, a place that feels so still but really completely filled with motion and noise. It's just all very subtle and drifts away once you're in there long enough with him. He takes your full attention, some how.
He hadn't heard the bell tinkle or saw me standing there so I had witnessed him talking to the goldfish - "Fish" - like it was his friend. I know now it really was his only source of uninhabited communication and maybe he liked that it didn't talk back. Either way it hit me profoundly, taking me back to my old life where my only lasting "friendships" were with the house hold cleaning appliances.
When I had finally cleared my throat he had turned sharply at seeing me, very embarrassed. Asking me how long I had been standing there. I think I would have teased him mercilessly at any other time, or if he was different but I couldn't. I just changed the subject and gave him the book. He looked relieved and held it to his chest.
"Don't worry, I didn't tell him that you had been there." Which was a white lie but I needed his trust. Chandra had turned my interest into a suspicion, even though he had told me - rather sharply - that Mr Gray was not special but there was something guarded about the professor's face. I could have got him to talk but didn't.
God it's tempting, so hard to resist sometimes.
Gabriel had nodded and sat back at his work bench, where he was working on a watch. He stared down at the pieces and started gently fiddling with them, looking so depressed. I moved closer and looked over his shoulder, asking what he was doing. He had sighed, all woe is me and explained that it was his very special timepiece, something he had laboured over for years but now -
"I just don't have the will anymore..." He had turned to me, looking into my eyes. "And if I do finish it then I haven't got anything else left."
"That's not true." I had whispered, hackles rising. I patted his arm in concern and talked in what I hoped was a light tone. "Does this have anything to do with Chandra? I was just wondering because the book..." I trailed off, an almost artificial look of hope in my eyes. Are you one of them I wanted to say but I didn't have to. Gabriel had pressed his lips together and I thought he was going to clam up but instead he had turned his chair closer to me and talked in a low rush.
"I - I thought I was. Chandra told me that I was special, he said it but then his tests..." He took a deep breath and I watched his gullet move up and down. Trying to stop a swell of emotion taking over him. "He tossed me aside when I wasn't any use to him, like I meant nothing. I had everything riding on that outcome, I was so sure this would be the moment my life would change for the better but it just made it worse. To have it and then..." He trailed off, his voice catching. He was always calm but I could feel the massive amounts of anger and despair he was pushing down at that moment.
I felt sorry for him, he seemed like such a lonely man, he just needed some hope and encouragement. This is my new life and as Bennet told me it was to do better.
~
My cover story to the uninitiated is that I work in a book store. That's what I was told but I never thought I would be actually doing that. Bennet had scolded me when I was less then pleased to learn this, pointing out the huge rolls of paper that gets made and distributed at his place of "work". Rather proudly in fact. So Monday to Friday I'm behind the counter of Queen's Antique Book Store to welcome the odd customer. It's not all bad I guess, very flexible time and I am occupied for most of it...
Just as the paper factory is a front, so is this. "Out Back" is where the Company operates, this place just a small outpost in the city. A hidden office and two holding cells. A just in case. It's just me and another woman who runs the shop and out back. I think she's been here for years and she certainly treats the place like it was her business.
It makes me wonder what other places are buildings of deceit. The garage you walk past everyday has subterranean cells. The coffee shop on the corner holds secret laboratories and even more holding cells.
Gabriel's shop would be perfect for us, now that I think about it.
He was so happy when I told him where I worked, the cloak of malaise lifting from him. He said he has a large collection of books, really rare ones. So I invited him to come browse.
And I'm looking forward to it, I think I know what he might like...
~
"There's a smell about them, musty, old. I like it." He speaks from a kneeling position, looking at a shelf on Victorian cook books. He was at home here, his fingers relevantly trailing along the bindings and covers of the books, curiously inspecting the contents and enthusiastically explaining to me his findings. Didn't matter what, he was fascinated by everything.
He keeps looking at me. Before he couldn't for to long but now he keeps up the eye contact. We were building a rapport with each other. It was what I was assigned to do here but with the wrong person. Well I can't sit in the back of Chandra's cab everyday, so there's no harm in this. My little side project...
"This is a nice place, it's calming. Especially compared to where I last was."
"Oh, where?" He comes up to me slowly, still picking up the odd book that catches his eye.
"L.A. I lived there for a year or so and then moved here. Wanted something different, more settled." He nods, his face unreadable. He was like that at times, when he didn't want to talk anymore because it made him uncomfortable. But then he makes a humming noise.
"Sometimes I feel like the opposite, go somewhere full of commotion and be a part of it."
I nod "I agree, to a point. Sometimes it's good to get out and mingle but sometimes...some people lose their way." I lick me lips when his nonchalant face suddenly becomes sharp, eyes trying to pin mine. He comes forward and I don't move until he's right in front of me. He points at my chest.
"Candice?"
Huh? "What?" I look down and see that I've still got the name tag on. Shit. My face heating I rip it off and move around to the counter to throw it in the bin. Staring at Gabriel hard and steady I tell him. "I go to A.A meetings once a week. Didn't even realise I still had it on."
He nods, his expression soft and non judging until he begins to look thoughtful. "Anonymous name..." He says and his lip curls and begins to really stare at me, uncannily so. Then he sighs and turns his back, looking at more shelves. "That would be nice, change of name. You did, right?"
"No, my mother always planned to call her daughter Eden - gurl you sound like a porn star - McCain." He spins around, grinning and I laugh. "I dunno, I just like the word, it's...special." His smile grows and he comes back to me, intense eyes flicking over my face. I open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out, my heart lurches at the sensation and my cheeks burn.
Talk! "So you gonna buy anything or did you really just come here to keep me company?"
"Can't I do both?"
I raise my brows at him and laugh, a ho ho ho sound and he ducks his head down with a shy smile. "Of course you can! So...what you got for me?" He lifts his eyes to mine and fumbling brings a book out to lay in my hands. I stare down at it and choke. "Well, I don't know what to think now..."
"Huh?" He looks down and his whole face - even his neck - goes beet red. He tries to rip the book out of my fingers but I keep a firm hold.
"Oh no, you had plenty of time to chose a book and you picked this. So you're taking it home!"
"I didn't even look at the title!" He whines, eyes aglow with mirth but still extremely red.
"Nope, you can't fool me. 'Sex and Sanity' is going home with you. I hope you keep it in a prized position. Like near your bed, I think that's fitting..." I'm running my mouth off, my stomach tight and jumpy. I can't stop grinning at him as he mumbles longsuffering about what I must think of him. He takes the now bagged book with a smile and runs his fingers through his hair.
"If you insist then I guess I can't say no."
"You betcha. Read it cover to cover and the next time we meet I want a thorough review of it." I smirk at him and his gets a wounded puppy look on his face.
"Now you're just being mean."
When he leaves I press the palms of my hands to my warm cheeks and roll my eyes. "Fuck, I'm hitting on him?" That won't be in the report for Bennet, that's for sure.
Characters/Pairing: Gabriel/Eden
Rating: R
Word count: 1,669
Disclaimer: Do not own.
Summery: Eden's first Bag & Tag.
Note: AU. She tries to get closer. One more part, I think.
Parts: 1, 2, 3
He talks to his fish.
I had gone to Queens to return Chandra's book to him on one rainy day, after a meeting. It was like stepping into another world, or more appropriately another age. Everything was so strange, a place that feels so still but really completely filled with motion and noise. It's just all very subtle and drifts away once you're in there long enough with him. He takes your full attention, some how.
He hadn't heard the bell tinkle or saw me standing there so I had witnessed him talking to the goldfish - "Fish" - like it was his friend. I know now it really was his only source of uninhabited communication and maybe he liked that it didn't talk back. Either way it hit me profoundly, taking me back to my old life where my only lasting "friendships" were with the house hold cleaning appliances.
When I had finally cleared my throat he had turned sharply at seeing me, very embarrassed. Asking me how long I had been standing there. I think I would have teased him mercilessly at any other time, or if he was different but I couldn't. I just changed the subject and gave him the book. He looked relieved and held it to his chest.
"Don't worry, I didn't tell him that you had been there." Which was a white lie but I needed his trust. Chandra had turned my interest into a suspicion, even though he had told me - rather sharply - that Mr Gray was not special but there was something guarded about the professor's face. I could have got him to talk but didn't.
God it's tempting, so hard to resist sometimes.
Gabriel had nodded and sat back at his work bench, where he was working on a watch. He stared down at the pieces and started gently fiddling with them, looking so depressed. I moved closer and looked over his shoulder, asking what he was doing. He had sighed, all woe is me and explained that it was his very special timepiece, something he had laboured over for years but now -
"I just don't have the will anymore..." He had turned to me, looking into my eyes. "And if I do finish it then I haven't got anything else left."
"That's not true." I had whispered, hackles rising. I patted his arm in concern and talked in what I hoped was a light tone. "Does this have anything to do with Chandra? I was just wondering because the book..." I trailed off, an almost artificial look of hope in my eyes. Are you one of them I wanted to say but I didn't have to. Gabriel had pressed his lips together and I thought he was going to clam up but instead he had turned his chair closer to me and talked in a low rush.
"I - I thought I was. Chandra told me that I was special, he said it but then his tests..." He took a deep breath and I watched his gullet move up and down. Trying to stop a swell of emotion taking over him. "He tossed me aside when I wasn't any use to him, like I meant nothing. I had everything riding on that outcome, I was so sure this would be the moment my life would change for the better but it just made it worse. To have it and then..." He trailed off, his voice catching. He was always calm but I could feel the massive amounts of anger and despair he was pushing down at that moment.
I felt sorry for him, he seemed like such a lonely man, he just needed some hope and encouragement. This is my new life and as Bennet told me it was to do better.
~
My cover story to the uninitiated is that I work in a book store. That's what I was told but I never thought I would be actually doing that. Bennet had scolded me when I was less then pleased to learn this, pointing out the huge rolls of paper that gets made and distributed at his place of "work". Rather proudly in fact. So Monday to Friday I'm behind the counter of Queen's Antique Book Store to welcome the odd customer. It's not all bad I guess, very flexible time and I am occupied for most of it...
Just as the paper factory is a front, so is this. "Out Back" is where the Company operates, this place just a small outpost in the city. A hidden office and two holding cells. A just in case. It's just me and another woman who runs the shop and out back. I think she's been here for years and she certainly treats the place like it was her business.
It makes me wonder what other places are buildings of deceit. The garage you walk past everyday has subterranean cells. The coffee shop on the corner holds secret laboratories and even more holding cells.
Gabriel's shop would be perfect for us, now that I think about it.
He was so happy when I told him where I worked, the cloak of malaise lifting from him. He said he has a large collection of books, really rare ones. So I invited him to come browse.
And I'm looking forward to it, I think I know what he might like...
~
"There's a smell about them, musty, old. I like it." He speaks from a kneeling position, looking at a shelf on Victorian cook books. He was at home here, his fingers relevantly trailing along the bindings and covers of the books, curiously inspecting the contents and enthusiastically explaining to me his findings. Didn't matter what, he was fascinated by everything.
He keeps looking at me. Before he couldn't for to long but now he keeps up the eye contact. We were building a rapport with each other. It was what I was assigned to do here but with the wrong person. Well I can't sit in the back of Chandra's cab everyday, so there's no harm in this. My little side project...
"This is a nice place, it's calming. Especially compared to where I last was."
"Oh, where?" He comes up to me slowly, still picking up the odd book that catches his eye.
"L.A. I lived there for a year or so and then moved here. Wanted something different, more settled." He nods, his face unreadable. He was like that at times, when he didn't want to talk anymore because it made him uncomfortable. But then he makes a humming noise.
"Sometimes I feel like the opposite, go somewhere full of commotion and be a part of it."
I nod "I agree, to a point. Sometimes it's good to get out and mingle but sometimes...some people lose their way." I lick me lips when his nonchalant face suddenly becomes sharp, eyes trying to pin mine. He comes forward and I don't move until he's right in front of me. He points at my chest.
"Candice?"
Huh? "What?" I look down and see that I've still got the name tag on. Shit. My face heating I rip it off and move around to the counter to throw it in the bin. Staring at Gabriel hard and steady I tell him. "I go to A.A meetings once a week. Didn't even realise I still had it on."
He nods, his expression soft and non judging until he begins to look thoughtful. "Anonymous name..." He says and his lip curls and begins to really stare at me, uncannily so. Then he sighs and turns his back, looking at more shelves. "That would be nice, change of name. You did, right?"
"No, my mother always planned to call her daughter Eden - gurl you sound like a porn star - McCain." He spins around, grinning and I laugh. "I dunno, I just like the word, it's...special." His smile grows and he comes back to me, intense eyes flicking over my face. I open my mouth to speak but nothing comes out, my heart lurches at the sensation and my cheeks burn.
Talk! "So you gonna buy anything or did you really just come here to keep me company?"
"Can't I do both?"
I raise my brows at him and laugh, a ho ho ho sound and he ducks his head down with a shy smile. "Of course you can! So...what you got for me?" He lifts his eyes to mine and fumbling brings a book out to lay in my hands. I stare down at it and choke. "Well, I don't know what to think now..."
"Huh?" He looks down and his whole face - even his neck - goes beet red. He tries to rip the book out of my fingers but I keep a firm hold.
"Oh no, you had plenty of time to chose a book and you picked this. So you're taking it home!"
"I didn't even look at the title!" He whines, eyes aglow with mirth but still extremely red.
"Nope, you can't fool me. 'Sex and Sanity' is going home with you. I hope you keep it in a prized position. Like near your bed, I think that's fitting..." I'm running my mouth off, my stomach tight and jumpy. I can't stop grinning at him as he mumbles longsuffering about what I must think of him. He takes the now bagged book with a smile and runs his fingers through his hair.
"If you insist then I guess I can't say no."
"You betcha. Read it cover to cover and the next time we meet I want a thorough review of it." I smirk at him and his gets a wounded puppy look on his face.
"Now you're just being mean."
When he leaves I press the palms of my hands to my warm cheeks and roll my eyes. "Fuck, I'm hitting on him?" That won't be in the report for Bennet, that's for sure.