The 5 Blind Dates of Gabriel Gray (fic)
Author: Razycrandomgirl
Title: The 5 Blind Dates of Gabriel Gray
Fandom: Heroes
Rating: G - Hard R
Characters/Pairings: Virgina, Gabriel/ OFC (and some hints to canon characters)
Disclaimer: Don’t own them, just like to play with them sometimes.
Spoilers/Time Line: None really. AU
Summery: Virginia sets her son up on a blind date (4 ways it went wrong and one way he escaped)
Author’s Notes: For Bellonablack Warning: Unbeta'd (word count 3460) ConCrit and all that Jazz.
Blind Dates
"Marcy raves about her! A real live date, Gabriel! Oh I'm so excited!"
"It's not a date mom, I'm just taking her out. Per your request."
"Potato, potato. You should be so lucky that we could find anymore nice girls in this city to go out with you. We practically had to import this one."
Gabriel ran his tongue over his teeth and let out a harsh breath though his nose. Other then that he kept quiet. You make her sound like a mail order bride.
"Remember, whatever she wants to do, Gabriel, I want you to take heed. She's a nice girl-church from out of town, so I don't expect she would require anything too outrageous."
"What do you mean, mom?"
"I mean, if she wants to talk about movies or books or make-up, whatever it is, I want you to engage her."
"It's a first date mom, I'm not going to ask her to marry me."
"Date! I told you!" She smiled clapping her hands together. "And you know what I mean, don't be smart."
"I was joking."
"Next time be funny. Yes! Funny! Good girls like it when you make them laugh. Try a joke or two, but nothing gimpy like the one you just use on me. I'll die before I see my grandchildren if you keep that up."
"Mom."
"You know what I mean, Gabriel. I want you to try your very best to impress her."
"I think we're done here. I'm going to be late if you keep fussing with my tie."
"Oh well. That's as good as it can get, huh? You look so sweet with your glasses and hair and your cute little bow-tie! Wait right there, I have to get my camera."
"I don't have time."
"It wont be but a minute!"
"I'm walking out the door now."
"Oh! Don't forget the flowers. And call me right after. I'm anxious to know how it goes. Good luck Gabriel! I'll be praying for you!"
Bridget The "date" seemed to drag on and on. She talked and talked and talked about nothing, but Gabriel was a good listener and kept up a very good act of being 'engaged'.
"... So if it hadn't been for that janitor's mistake, the girl wouldn't have fallen down those stairs. But still, they were convinced that I had something to do with it."
"I see."
"I know, right! I can't help that she's so clumsy." She took a drink from her glass. "I said 'excuse me', clear as day, but you know, shit happens, as they say." She said with a jerky shrug. "Maybe if she took more time to learn to speak the language before she swam her ass over here, the whole thing would have been avoided." Bridget laughed at her own joke like it was the best in the world. Stopping short only when she noticed she was laughing alone. Gabriel frowned, but didn't say anything; letting his eyes blur as his mind began to wander.
"You like my dress?"
He blinked as she drew him out of a daydream he'd been having about feeding his fish. "Yeah, it's nice."
"It's probably worth more money than you make in a year, but I had to have it. It's one of a kind and the designer practically made it for me." She took another drink from her glass and made a face. "Sheesh! You're not big on talking are you?"
He stared at the plate no longer hiding his uninterested expression. "I was thinking actually."
"Whoa. Mister, Big Brain. What's on your mind, if I may be so bold."
"I'm thinking, I'd like to start eating. So what are you going to order ..."
"No, no, no. I want you to tell me what you are thinking about right now."
"What I'm thinking about right now?"
"Yes and be honest. Tell me what you're thinking about."
"You're pantyhose."
"Okay ... this aught to be good."
"There's a run in them, but i don't think you should be embarrassed about that. Such things happen. What I was wondering about them is, why it is that pantyhose, stockings and the like, are strong enough to throttle a person to death, but so fragile that to always run whenever caught on a nail or zipper. And your hair ... more specifically the roots. Why do so many women do that? I don't mind the roots so much, but the falseness of the dye. Where's the honesty in that, Bridget? I mean if man says the right words at just the right time, he's going to find out eventually, isn't he, Bridget? Find out if 'the carpet matches the curtains' as they say. When I was a little boy, I used to think that was how a woman's hair grew; dark at the bottom then lightening, changing color as the sun hit it. But you don't go out side much do you Bridget? I can tell by the coloring and complexion of your skin. Even underneath all that caked, cracking concealer. You didn't really want me to be honest tonight, did you Bridget?"
And another thing; the floral pattern in your dress. That pattern reminds me of this time I vomited in grade school. I remember it vividly, I was eating some left over spaghetti my mom had packed for me the night before ..."
Natalie.
Natalie is nice and Gabriel doesn't want to mess it up.
"You're a total square, Clark."
"It's Gabriel, actually."
"I know, I only meant that you ... you know, Clark Kent?"
His face scrunches in confusion; bottom lip poking out in thought. She finds it slightly amusing. "I'm sorry, I don't get the reference." He pushes his glasses up on his nose and her jaw drops in amazement.
"Okay... So what did you do for fun when you were growing up? You obviously didn't read comic books or watch movies." She finishes under her breath.
"Brain-rot, my mother always said. I was in the boys choir at church."
For fun? "Or course you were. Did your mom also run a motel and make you wash her back during her afternoon bath?" She mumbles.
"Yes, I was pretty good at it, and my mom thought, since I could sing, it might be a good idea for me to learn an instrument."
"So lemme guess, guitar lessons?" she asks sarcastically.
"Well, no. See she has this thing about guitar and how 'good children' don't play them. 'It's only for heathens and sexual deviants!' she'd say. So I played the French horn."
"I can see that. I bet you even went to band camp."
"Is it that obvious?" She watches his eyes grow in excitement as he continues. "This one time, at band-"
"You're kidding right? Please tell me your kidding!"
"I don't kid, Natalie. As a matter if fact I think after this we could go by my mom's, if you want."
"That's okay. Gabriel ... Just out of curiosity you're mom's maiden name wouldn't happen to be 'Bates', would it?" Natalie chuckles.
" ... It's amazing how everybody can guess that!"
"CHECK PLEASE!"
Cheryl.
"Hello."
"Hello." He bent to kiss her cheek, but it turned awkward as she turned head and his mouth caught her nose.
"Oh excuse me!" Her hand brushed her nose.
"No, it's my fault, really. Uh'm here. I got you some flowers."
"Oh they're really nice." Her face pulls into a grimace.
"You don't like gardenias?"
"It's not that, it's just that I'm kind of allergic." her voice rose at the end, making it sound like a question.
"Oh golly, I'm so sorry, I didn't know."
"Well, why would you? We just met."
He shrugged his shoulder and picked up the menu. "What would you like to start the night off with?"
"How about a little honesty."
"I'm sorry?"
"I mean I've been on so many of these things, that I pretty much know the ins and outs. It's all so old. I don't think we should go by the guidelines of what's supposed to happen on these things. Just say what we feel."
"I-I don't know. I'm not as experienced in situations like this, as you seem to be. I wouldn't know what the norm was."
"Not as experienced?"
"I-I don't mean to offend you --"
"Not at all. I find this refreshing."
"Please can we just order our --"
"I guess that's all the better, you wouldn't know when or where to lie about things. Here's the trick; don't try to impress me. Say what's on your mind. Nothing you say is wrong. It can't be, because we're not playing by the rules. You get me?"
"I think so."
"So now... Do you come here a lot with all your other dates."
"I don't have a lot of dates, really."
"You mean not as many as me right? Cause I'm a huge slut, right? Are you still a virgin?"
"I don't feel comfortable answering-"
"I guess that wasn't fair of me. I went to deep too, soon. We could start out light."
"Maybe a salad to start --"
"So, now I'm a fat, greasy pig, is that it? Now I have to have a salad because I might explode if I have anything else on this fucking menu!"
"Marilyn".
"Excuse me?"
"What is it?!"
"Jeeze, you don't gotta bite my head off!"
"I'm sorry, it's just, I've kinda had a bad night. You aren't ... are you Marilyn?"
"Okay? What ever you want."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"Okay, I'm Marilyn."
"Well, you're late."
"I didn't know I was already on the clock, baby. So what do you wanna do ... uh ...?"
"Gabriel?!"
"Gabriel, Okay. What's your pleasure?"
"Seeing as how late it is, I'm thinking about sleeping in my own bed."
"A man who knows what he wants, then."
"Look it's too late to do anything now, but if you want I can walk you home or ..."
"What's with the flower?"
"It was for you."
"Was? You mean its not for me anymore?"
"No, you can still have it. I would hate to think the miserable little thing died in vain."
"Jeeze! Sour much? Why don't we just get to the point?"
"Sorry, I just, I'm tired. I've been waiting out here for 3 hours ... I thought you'd ditched me. You could have called or something."
"So what are we doing now?"
"I don't know about you but I'm on my way home."
"Mind if I, uh walk with you?"
Gabriel turned to look down at the girl (well, 'girl' was the wrong word for her because a 'girl' would never be out this late.) taking in her appearance. He stared at her a bit, considering her question, before shaking his head taking a step away from her.
"So, like are you on you way home or something."
"I believe I said that."
"You need some company?"
"Okay, I'll walk you home, as long as it's on the way."
"Home? As in 'your home'? I don't usually do that, but I might make an exception for a fellow as patient as yourself."
"You don't usually do what?
"Go home with guys."
"You barely made it out. And I should hope you wouldn't. That's very dangerous. For all you know I could be a crazy axe murderer."
"I don't see an axe."
"Funny. Are you in the neighborhood?"
"Obviously."
"Okay, then which house is yours?"
"The one you invite me into."
He laughs at the statement. "Okay, you sound like a vampire."
She shrugs doubling her stride to catch up with him.
"It's cold out here. Can't I come inside with you? The night's still young."
"You want to come in?"
"Sure."
"Why?"
"Cause I think you're really cute."
"Maybe for some tea, I guess."
"For some tea."
As soon as the door to his apartment closed behind them she had him up against the wall, using that peculiar mouth on him. It made him feel so very good. Groaning when her cool hand slipped under his waist ban and curled around his hardening penis. He gasped. Too fast. And gripped her wrist in his, but she held firm and he panted against her.
"It's okay sweetie. Give it up to me. I could see it in your eyes the whole time and it's okay."
"What are you do- Oooh!" her hand sped up, tightening and pulling at him. He felt his hips bucking in a mindless secondary motion and he had no idea where to begin to stop. "Oh God!"
"Yes, yes baby, just like that. I make you feel so good." Her tongue came out and lulled against his lips and she moan as his hands came around her and she kissed him. "That's it baby, that's it!"
Gabriel threw his head back slamming it against the wall and felt his knees almost give as he came into Marilyn's softly, warmed hand. Oh God. He brought his hand down on her shoulder trying to catch his breath. His head moved and he tried to kiss her. His hands moved to slip between her coat, to push it away. His fingers brushed against her thighs when he heard her speak.
"That will be 20 bucks. But if you want more, say, my mouth or my cunt, then that's an extra $40 to $150. Prices aren't usually this good for any other trick, but I kinda like you."
Gabriel got a sick feeling in his stomach. "Wha- what do you mean?" His mouth whispered against hers and he tasted the bile rising at the back of his throat.
"I said what I mean. That was $20, but if you want something else that'll be more."
"You're a --"
"I'm your date, hun. Or at least that's what I became when the "real one" didn't show. But not to worry ..."
Gabriel's mind clicked, hearing came and went and he only heard pieces of what she said as the fragile part of his mind went to the Special Place. The place it coiled to whenever it hurt too damn much to care. "... because one girls trash ..." He looked down at Marilyn's small, deceivingly fragile form. He lost himself in her huge deer eyes, her tiny hands and thought, she could almost be the real thing. "So what do you say? What's your pleasure? What's your poison?" Real enough he considered, hearing a sound like door shutting in his mind. Tick.
He reached for his wallet and pulled out all of it, all the money he planned to spend on his and Marilyn's date.
-"Show her a good time, Gabriel. Let them see what a good boy I know you can be."-
"$300 dollars." A hundred for every hour he waited. "What will that get me?"
"Anything you want, baby." She crooned and he thought he caught her eyes glow warmly in the dim light.
"Then, I'll take it all."
And 'Marilyn' earned every fucking inch of that date money. Gabriel made sure of it.
(Undisclosed)
"So this is your apartment?"
"Yeah, this is it."
"It's so ... clean. I mean, like, really clean. Like scary serial killer -- I'm kidding! I'm kidding! I'm sorry, I can't help myself sometimes."
"That's okay," He watched her from the other side of the room, leaning against the counter. Cautious.
"It's really nice of you to open up your house for 'dinner'. I don't think anyone really does that anymore."
"It's for quick get away purposes, because restaurants are not my friend." He said under his breath. "Though, I guess it doesn't really work in my favor."
"It could, if you really thought about it."
"How so?"
"I don't know, you could have one of your friends call your house and say there was an emergency where you had to come over to her place and eat dinner at her place and go over the plans to fool your mother about all these dates you're not actually having over her place." She paused taking a much needed breath then continued at a more relaxed rhythm. "But I suppose you could do that anywhere if you had a phone handy." She winked and walked around the lone cushioned chair in his apartment, sliding her fingers over the prophylactic covering. It squeaked.
"I don't have friends." He replied absently and she scoffed at his remark.
"You wound me to the quick. And what am I? A little insulted, is what, Mr.Gray." She gave him her best over exaggerated glare and he lowered his head to hide the smile. "I see you." Her sing-song voice rang out as she rounded the chair once more before sitting in it, immediately sliding off the plastic cover and on to the floor with at soft thud.
"Are you okay?" He asked, stifling a laugh as he bent over her prone form on the floor. She was just lying there.
"Oh my God. That was so embarrassing!" She said, then began to laugh. It was a garish honking sound that blared against his hears and he took a step back, surprised. He watched as her eyes got wide and she threw her hand over her mouth, taken aback by her own laugh. She blushed. "Well that wasn't supposed to come out until I decided you liked me enough ... fuck." She added the last bit under her breath but he heard it and smiled anyway.
"I liked you enough before that, but now ... I'm going to have to reconsider this friendship." He said as he helped her up.
"Funny! I'll have you know it's one of the many reason why hoards of men are so attracted to me. Thank you, very much!"
"I'm sorry about the chair."
"Totally my fault. My Nan had this stuff all over her house when I came to visit." She said with a shake of her head, as her cheeks flared with fresh coloring. "I should know better."
"Don't be embarrassed." He said pushing his glasses up his nose.
"I'm working on it. You know what might help? If you embarrassed yourself, that would level the playing field." She winked again.
*
"... And I cried so hard because I thought the tree was bleeding."
"That's pretty adorable."
"Crying over tree sap is adorable?"
"It is when your doing it. You're very sensitive."
"Yeah well, don't let that one get around. I have a reputation to look out for. So your turn, strongest memory."
He thought about it for a while as pictures of bloodied knees and playgrounds flashed in his minds eye. Then his face smoothed over and he begin to talk. "One of my fondest memories was of a girl I knew when I was growing up, actually."
"Oh la-la."
"I can't remember how old we were, though, I do remember she was younger, smaller. Her hair, it was shiny-black, and it kinda glowed in the sunlight. I remember she was so lovely in her fluffy Easter dress. I was paired with her during the hunt. She ran all over the place, always running; and she fell, broke her basket, so I let her have mine." He paused for a while, lost in reverie. Then took a breath and continued.
"Her's was the brightest smile in the whole wide world. I remember watching her run up and down the street after, basket full of colorful Easter eggs. Even then she never stopped running. I fell in love with that little girl."
"That's really sweet. Do you remember her name?"
"I do." She waited, but he didn't continue.
"What happened to her?"
"She and her family moved away a little after that. Back to some sun warmed island, I guess."
"That's ... a memory."
"Yeah, well it was a long time ago."
"You think she contributed to you asking me out?"
"You asked me out, actually."
"I know just wanted to see if you still remembered who saved your ass tonight. Who was it again? Oh, just me, that's who. You hungry? I'm hungry. Lets get some desert? Come on Mr.Gray, how does two scoops of phish food ice cream sound? Don't worry, I'll pay for your rainbow jimmies, but on one condition. You have to take off that God awful bow tie! It's bad enough you still wear these as warm as it is outside." He laughed out loud at that, loosening the tie as she tossed him his tweed jacket.
"Ice cream is your kryptonite, Mr. Kent."
"Please, don't ever call me that. Not ever, ever, ever." He said as he closed the door behind them.