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[specialmonster]

Gabriel slept well for the first time in ages. His arms were wrapped around Elle's waist, keeping her close to him. Between the alcohol and the physical exertion he found himself sleeping in much later than he normally ever would. But eventually the sun pouring into the room caused him to stir, his eyes opening slowly

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[electrocutesy]

It was strange, how she didn't panic as she woke up. Elle always slept in late--because of her job, because of her habits--but the sad truth was she hardly fell asleep in her bed. She liked having the TV on as if it could drown out her loneliness. Sometimes she thought she should get a puppy

[specialmonster]

It was hard to deny that he was attracted to Elle in a way that went beyond just physical attraction, not after last night. It was dangerous though, letting himself get attached to her like this. After all, getting attached to a woman had never ended up good for anyone in the past.

Part of him just wanted to think maybe this time would be different. Another part of him thought he was stupid for even considering the possibility could happen.

But he kept those thoughts to himself, forcing out a small smile as he looked down at her. She was finally stirring and awake. "Morning," He mumured softly in response.

[electrocutesy]

She lifted her heavy eyes to trace his tight smile, and made one of her own, and then fell quiet. It didn't matter if she liked him, anyway. It wouldn't work out, because it never did. He wasn't a prince in shining armor, and she was certainly no princess, no damsel in distress. She took care of herself, and she didn't need anybody else.

Not him. Not friends. Not even that little imaginary puppy. She'd probably starve it by mistake, anyway.

She shifted, and untangled herself from him, even though she didn't want to move from his solid warmth. "I have to go to the bathroom," she said quietly, shivering at the cool air away from his body. It wasn't a lie. She did. "You can use my toothbrush if you want," she told him, padding across the room to the door.

[specialmonster]

He couldn't help but miss her weight a little as she got up from the bed, out of his arms. He knew it didn't mean anything (despite the fact that the time, it had felt like it meant everything) it was just a fling. She wasn't interested in him like that, and he wasn't interested in her either. There was a reason why he normally avoided relationships. Less people got hurt that way.

He grabbed his boxers as he got up, sliding them on. "Thank you," came his reply to her offer.

[electrocutesy]

She didn't bother dressing, and glanced back from inside the bathroom, watching him pull on his boxers, a second too long. Something ached in her chest but she ignored it, closing the door with a quiet click to go to the bathroom and relieve herself. It was chilly, and she shuddered as she finished and got up, reaching for her toothbrush, her eyes flicking up to her reflection.

She almost looked sad. Disappointed. But that was stupid. He should get out of her bed, and put his clothes on. They had their fun.

It was just fun. Maybe.

A little forcefully, she stuck the brush into her mouth, and reached for the knob again, twisting and half expecting to find him gone. It wouldn't have been the first time.

Maybe it would be the first time it hurt, though.

[specialmonster]

Gabriel had made his way to the doorway where they had abandoned most of their clothes the night before and was in the middle of pulling up his pants and zipping them up when he heard the bathroom door creak open, causing him to pause and glance back in Elle's direction. He didn't know why there was a sudden sting in his chest over the fact that he was leaving, but there was.

"I'll be leaving shortly," He finally called out, his words a little less sure than he had planned them to be. He didn't really want to leave, honestly, but he knew it was best that he did.

Besides, he doubted she wanted him to stay around or anything like that anyways.

[electrocutesy]

She wanted to be able to say she didn't particularly care when she saw him standing at the door, pulling his pants on. Especially when he said he was leaving. For a moment, she just couldn't, and she hoped he didn't see what felt a lot like hurt pass over her features.

She brushed her teeth mechanically, and leaned against the frame, trying to make her face blank. She wouldn't ask him to stay. She would rather cut herself than give up her pride.

But that didn't mean she didn't think about it.

She turned around to spit out the toothpaste and rinse out her mouth, choosing to not even answer his words, acknowledge them verbally. Maybe if she ignored them they wouldn't hurt so much.

She straightened and held out the blue piece of plastic. "Here," she said, and her heart beat a little quicker, because she wanted him to come over and take it. Wanted him closer.

[specialmonster]

He did though. He saw that flash of pain across her face and it confused him. Did she want him to stay? He had just assumed that she wouldn't. Why would she?

He almost volunteered to stay, or offer to at least but he closed his mouth, swallowing his words. He couldn't get them out, somehow. He couldn't say them. It's not he cared if she was hurt or anything.

He made his way back over to her as she offered the toothbrush. He reached out and took it from her, his pulse racing as his fingers brushed against hers. He couldn't resist letting them linger there for a moment. Just a moment.

[electrocutesy]

A moment was enough to make her ache a little, remembering. Remembering all those little lingering touches from last night, too. Her eyes drew up to his, and she tried to keep her face blank, indifferent, uncaring. It shouldn't be so hard, really. She feigned emotion all the time.

[specialmonster]

He finally removed his hand, his own chest aching just a little as he did so. He tried to focus on just brushing his teeth for now. He didn't want to think about how...couply it was to use her toothbrush. Because it wasn't like that. No matter how much he wanted it to be.

It's not like he could afford a girlfriend. It would be too risky. And if she knew about the truth of him, she'd probably be disgusted and he'd probably have to kill her to keep her silent so what was the point in getting attached in the first place?

[electrocutesy]

There was no point of getting attached, and she kept her back to him, standing still as he started to clean his mouth for a few, long seconds.

Men were dogs. Toys at best. None of them cared, and he clearly didn't either, did he? She had been through this before. So many times. They got what they wanted and they left. It was easier just to want one thing from them, too.

She wouldn't make him pretend it was something more. Ask him to stay when he didn't want to. He had said he was leaving, and he wouldn't be leaving if he didn't want to.

Elle swallowed thickly and walked into her room, grabbing up a pair of small, silky boxers shorts to pull on, and a t-shirt. She had work at the club tonight anyway. No reason to tie up her day.

[specialmonster]

As he finished cleaning his teeth, he watched Elle dress from the corner of his eyes. He tried not think about how she had slowly undressed for him the night before, let him explore her body. They had just been drunk and horny, that's all.

Women never wanted him the way he wanted them anyways.

Still, as he spit into the sink and headed back into the bedroom to find his shirt he found himself hesitating. He really didn't want to leave just yet.

"...If you want, we could get breakfast or something," He found himself awkwardly offering.

[electrocutesy]

She wanted to say yes. She did, but something annoying and awful was lodged in her throat. She kept her head down and stuffed her feet into her slippers, her words flat and angry in a way she hadn't planned. "You don't have to, Gabriel. You got what you wanted."

[specialmonster]

He bristled and his body tensed at her tone. "I wouldn't have offered it if I didn't want to," His voice came out much more insulted than he originally planned. He would be lying if he said he wasn't a little hurt. It hadn't been easy for him, going out on a limb like that, despite his own instinct.

[electrocutesy]

Elle felt a flare of indignation and disbelief and stupid hope rise in her chest, and it was enough to stop being pathetic and lift her head to meet his offended expression. She stared at him, her jaw tight, and resisted the urge to hug herself against the pressure in her chest, against his flashing eyes.

"You want to have breakfast with me?" she asked, flatly, seriously. "Why?"

She cursed the tremor in her voice.

[specialmonster]

"Why?" He repeated, his voice still a little harsh, more of of defense than anything else, really. He took a deep breath, trying to still his racing heart beat before answering.

"Because I like you," He continued, his tone softer, gentler, and a lot more vulnerable now. "That's why."