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[grey_gabriel]

Who: Az and Gabe
When: January 18th, 6 pm-ish
Where: Az's chambers
What: Gaze fluff.

Johnson had relayed the news once Az was settled as comfortably as possible, and frustration rented Marion's features. Az needed to be taken care of, surely, but she wanted to see that man? To say the least, she hadn't heard very nice things about Gabriel, and she

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[az_of_the_oz]

Johnson had tried to sit her down on her bed, but she had shook her head and made him set her on the nearby couch instead. She did not want to go to her bed, too many memories had been ingrained into it in such a short time. Memories she wanted to avoid at that moment. The couch was safe, plushy and nearly blank memory-wise

[grey_gabriel]

A look of pain nearly crossed his features when she looked at him. From the looks of things, she needed comforting, and well, if it wasn't already obvious, comforting wasn't his thing. Especially when it came to battered and broken women, even one he had had a indirect part in hurting.

Licking his lips, he moved forward and caught the door with his palm, shutting it part way, but open enough to keep Johnson at bay. Nevertheless, he was sure Az didn't want their conversation broadcasted. "You asked for me?" he questioned, a look of curiosity on his face. After all, he had no idea what she thought he could do for her.

He ran a hand down his cheek, trying to surpress the worn way his body wanted to slump. But his face still shown the lack of energy, the dark purple bags evident underneath his oil hued eyes. "Mm, why aren't you with the Viewer?" he mumbled. "You're hurt." He was stating the obvious, but maybe she needed to hear it from him before she would do something about it.

[az_of_the_oz]

Picking at the fabric of the dress as it fell over her knees with two fingers, Az's mouth quirked slightly, not happy or sad, just a small movement. She nodded, looking down for a bit before back up at him. "Yes, I di-didn't want to be alone."

"Raw's with Deeg, I...I didn't want to meet someone new. Someone I don't know. Not now." His comment made her drop her head enough to see the rainbow display across the exposed skin, where the cloth of her dress dipped in the front. The dark green fabric covered much more than her ballgown had, but less than most women around the Palace preferred. It seemed to be too casual now that her mind flittered over it. "Hmm," she agreed.

When her eyes raised back up to rest on him she could not help but notice how exhausted he looked, and guilt flared. "I'm sorry, you came all the way to the Realm to save me, and you didn't have to. And now I'm keeping you from sleep." Her arms went back around her knees, letting her chin rest on top of her kneecaps, not wanting to meet his eyes any longer.

[grey_gabriel]

"That's fair enough," he noddded and pursed his lips together as he listened to her. He was at a loss in this scenario, knowing there was a particular emotion that would have aided him greatly if he still possessed it. But guilt-or was it compassion?-had left him years ago, had flitted away without so much as a sound when he had first killed in revenge. And then when he began killing and enjoying it, the emotion showed no sign of ever returning

[az_of_the_oz]

She nodded, and hoped he would not ask about her dream. But at the same time she felt the need to try to exorcize the images from her mind, confide in someone about it. Wiping her cheeks with the back one one hand, she shook her head at his question. Even as she relaxed under the comfort of his stroking her hair. It reminded her of...well, it was pointless to keep hounding on that point, she concluded. Everything seemed to remind her of Jeb, but lesser

[grey_gabriel]

He made a noise of understanding as she rejected the offer of water, continuing the pattern of running his fingers through her hair. While he wasn't sure if it bothered her or not, she hadn't told him to stop, so he had no plans of spoiling a rare opportunity himself. Thankfully, the small nap they had just had renewed his energy, so when she began to share her dream, it wasn't difficult to be attentive

[az_of_the_oz]

His stroking her hair was comforting, familiar and yet not. It was soothing, helping her calm down and relax. Her pulse slowly returning to normal as she tried to regulate her breathing again. The constant yearning for Jeb was assuaged slightly by Gabe's continued presence, a friend there for her when she needed him most.

She shook her head at his question, "No!" Az paused at how desperate that sounded. "I...please just stay. At least until I fall asleep again. I can't sleep by myself. It's...difficult to rest soundly in any circumstance, but when I'm by myself I can be lucky to get a few hours at all."

She was not used to sleeping by herself, not anymore. It had been such a short time that she and Jeb had been together before this last event tore them apart. But even in those few days, she had gotten too used to having someone there beside her to keep the nightmares at bay. Or at least keep them to a minimum.

One of her hands tangled in his shirt again without her knowledge.

[grey_gabriel]

Gabriel could feel the way she relaxed into his body and wasn't ashamed to say he enjoyed it. It was good to know she trusted him, only adding to the thrill of his danger. He untangled his hand from her hair and let his palm find her back, stroking it gently. The moment was something akin to the admiration of a precious porcelain doll-one wrong move and he could easily crush it, the broken pieces unmendable.

"Okay," he nearly chuckled at the urgency in her plea. "I'll stay as long as you need me to, Az," he assured her. "Whatever helps you sleep," he nodded. "You certainly need your rest tonight." And it wasn't like he had a problem with letting her curl into his body.

When she had settled again, he tucked his chin back on the top of her head, letting his hand continue carressing her back.