[ He doesn't think about those things - the danger he poses to her, because she's brood, because even when he mistakenly thought Sam was threatening her well-being he viciously jumped at his back immediately. It's more possessiveness than a protective instinct, knowing and wanting Angel to be his. Maybe the day will come when he's so hurt or blind that he'll try to harm someone he actually likes, but it doesn't even cross his mind. He'd need to have a conscience first.
Instead, effectively enough, Angel gives him pause. Where he'd been at a conflict he now stands with confusion, because she can't be offering him a hug. What would that even look like? ]
Uhm. Okay.
[ The demon becomes an awkward teenager, as he should have been all along, shifting closer to sit by her side, fingers curled into his hands. ]
[ And they're both just so awkward aren't they? She has no real world experience what the brood has given her, and he's well -- a demon that seemed as lonely as she was. He's more human right now than she's seen him when he's gloating of his gluttony at least. Sitting stiff beside her, she regards him quietly, and awkward as she is, has been ( Lexa, but she's really not thinking about that right now ), she is determined.
Instead, she shifts, pressing her shoulder to his, she's not exactly tall, and sitting down that didn't change much. Her arms come around his shoulder then -- and she knows how much she wants for these sorts of things, and rather like this, there's no helping the connection, lets him settle against her with a tug in, to press his face against her shoulder, turning her own into his hair as carefully as he'd allow. Shifting herself to brace his weight against her. More than that, to her the connection is no more than an extension of herself, and she is always shifting, not defined. Rather she moulds herself as a place to rest now, flings the corridors of her mind open wide for him to settle into -- connection, what it was to be brood, that intangible wholeness that was being chipped away at, little by little.
Softer this time, an echo in her mind, as she pries herself open for him to settle against, whatever it cost her so be it. It's the only surety she can give at the moment, it is the only one she has. ]
[ He's split between awkward teenager and an apprehensive small animal, eyes open while he allows her and himself to drift closer, one arm around him, her face in his hair, all very soft and gentle. It's the opposite of what he's used to, the opposite of what he's supposed to enjoy. All he has is uncertainty now, and it's a bit like dipping into cold water little by little until your body adapts to the temperature. From then he manages to find comfort, however strange that still is, and his eyes droop a little.
He's no longer pushing and shoving to stay connected with her. They just are. ]
[ And there -- for all there is worry about what he might do to her, there is the same, there is as much she might do for him too. The influence worked both ways and it is no more apparent than in this, how as he slowly adjusts, he settles against her and she turns her head to lay her cheek against his hair, a little more comfortable. The open back and forth of their minds. Settling herself comfortably to the back of the small couch.
A hum, soft, small, she doesn't have an answer for that, she might never. She doesn't want to go. Doesn't want him to go, either. He's part of her, now. After what had happened to Parker, she would never make the mistake of letting them slip out of her hold again. ]
(I don't know. ) [ silence. ] (But I don't want to go, either. So I can promise you, I'll hang on as long as I can. )
[ The answer, for how well-intended it is, still has the edge of Petre's fear coming true, so he stirs with tension in his arms and shoulders. He imagines being completely alone, no Angel, no Diana, not even Aoba. It'll be him against the other broods, he'll just be angry and bitter. There will be no comfort in the hollowness that is left behind. ]
[ She tightens her arms around his shoulders, pressing her face into his hair with a softness. Affection she's not used to but that - makes it easier. The things she had wanted for herself but never had, given back. ]
(I'll be right here.)
[ Soft as rain, just there, tucked in his mind, where he is tucked in hers. Where, as there is less and less of them, but they're still just there, if out of reach. Their thoughts, feelings, the little bits of them scattered. ]
[ For a long moment, Petre remains quiet. It's a bit like letting oneself fall asleep under the warmth of the sun, nerves and mind going quiet. He'd been so agitated coming here that it's almost strange to have it calmed down, but the purpose of seeking out Angel had always been for comfort and security. He just hadn't consciously counted on it happening. ]
[ Her fingers settle against his hair, drawing through it slowly, absently. It's soft, she notes. Wonders if psychos can be soft too - and makes sense. The world is never as straightforward as it appears, not that she has ever seen. ]
(I'm glad you are Petre, I think I'd be too scared to be here all by myself.)
[ She could, she is used to be alone, but that had been different. It was hard enough looking at everyone else's broods as they were, to how little they have left now. ]
[ It makes him look up at her, some incredulity in his eyes. He hadn't expected her to feel scared, and - well. Fear is something he knows what to do with, because fear requires safety in order to be quieted down. He thinks he can do that. He thinks he can finally be useful to Angel.
[ She looks at him with a smile then, grateful, that she'll have him in this. They can face these things. ]
Thank you. I'm glad to hear it. [ Smoothes her fingers through his hair over again, pushing it away from his eyes in a careful gesture so she could look at him properly. ] I won't let anything scare you either.
[ She can afford to feed it right now, get him calm, make him feel in control of himself. It's the best way she knows how to counter the swings, after Jack, she had worked that out. ]
Yeah, guess you wouldn't huh? Demons must not be scared of very much.
[ Catches the glimpse of it, but in turn she knows people like that - beings that kill like they were destruction itself. Murderers and saviours, they have a gun in each hand and she misses them in her way. ]
[ The reluctance in his voice isn't to admit it - rather just. Say it out loud at all. What if someone else is listening in on Petre having feelings. ]
[ She both knows and does not know missing. She knows longing, she knows wanting, but missing someone in particular? Rather than just a notion? She's not sure it's the same thing. It hadn't felt the same as what Steve talked about, or what Petre is currently pretending he doesn't feel. ]
Maybe. I haven't... really missed anyone since I came here. I definitely don't miss my home at all.
[ He's surprised, but even that sentiment is only mild. He supposes he's surprised at how little he misses everything about the place from where he came, too. He knows he misses hunting people, but the mission itself was just... something to do. Others would call it purpose, but he's too brash to understand it for what it was. He just wants Diana back. ]
[ she shrugs, one finger lifting up and then down again. ] I spent my life locked in one room with no one else.
[ Like this it's, easy to keep the memories locked away. Instead she tilts her head, drawing her fingers through his hair in a languid motion. Letting them curl through it and humming softly. ] No one misses their cage.
[ She keeps up the shifting motions of her fingers, as long as he seems to be letting her. She likes this. Likes being close and comfortable with someone she doesn't have to pretend quite the same around. ]
No more cages. [ she trusts in those words. Never again. ] What do you miss most about your Diana?
[ He tells her everything he can remember - and whatever he can't put in words comes in his thoughts instead, mental images of her face, her strength, her valor. Her body is covered in tattoos and she's brimming with power, both patient and disciplinary with the boy whenever he challenges her or others. He misses her sense of humor, he misses how she manages to get out of trouble in more than one way. He misses someone so powerful that he can count on, misses the link they shared just because they are made of the same burning matter. ]
[ Quietly, without hesitation, she takes the memories without comment, just lets him let it go as he pleased, however it twists about. Seeing her as he sees her, being awed as he is. Settles her chin on his head, and her arms loose about him, it comes easy, a back and forth that is nothing but that he is part of her and she is part of him.
After awhile then, when it seems right to, she hums softly. ]
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circumspector) wrote2016-03-14 03:55 pm
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Instead, effectively enough, Angel gives him pause. Where he'd been at a conflict he now stands with confusion, because she can't be offering him a hug. What would that even look like? ]
Uhm. Okay.
[ The demon becomes an awkward teenager, as he should have been all along, shifting closer to sit by her side, fingers curled into his hands. ]
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Instead, she shifts, pressing her shoulder to his, she's not exactly tall, and sitting down that didn't change much. Her arms come around his shoulder then -- and she knows how much she wants for these sorts of things, and rather like this, there's no helping the connection, lets him settle against her with a tug in, to press his face against her shoulder, turning her own into his hair as carefully as he'd allow. Shifting herself to brace his weight against her. More than that, to her the connection is no more than an extension of herself, and she is always shifting, not defined. Rather she moulds herself as a place to rest now, flings the corridors of her mind open wide for him to settle into -- connection, what it was to be brood, that intangible wholeness that was being chipped away at, little by little.
Softer this time, an echo in her mind, as she pries herself open for him to settle against, whatever it cost her so be it. It's the only surety she can give at the moment, it is the only one she has. ]
( we're still here. )
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He's no longer pushing and shoving to stay connected with her. They just are. ]
( What if you leave me too. )
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A hum, soft, small, she doesn't have an answer for that, she might never. She doesn't want to go. Doesn't want him to go, either. He's part of her, now. After what had happened to Parker, she would never make the mistake of letting them slip out of her hold again. ]
( I don't know. ) [ silence. ] ( But I don't want to go, either. So I can promise you, I'll hang on as long as I can. )
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( I won't let you leave. )
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( I'll be right here. )
[ Soft as rain, just there, tucked in his mind, where he is tucked in hers. Where, as there is less and less of them, but they're still just there, if out of reach. Their thoughts, feelings, the little bits of them scattered. ]
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( I'll be here too. )
[ Is the nicest promise he can make to her. ]
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( I'm glad you are Petre, I think I'd be too scared to be here all by myself. )
[ She could, she is used to be alone, but that had been different. It was hard enough looking at everyone else's broods as they were, to how little they have left now. ]
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So his next words are spoken, not sent. ]
I won't let anything scare you, then.
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Thank you. I'm glad to hear it. [ Smoothes her fingers through his hair over again, pushing it away from his eyes in a careful gesture so she could look at him properly. ] I won't let anything scare you either.
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Nothing scares me.
[ A blatant lie, since he just came crying to her. ]
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Yeah, guess you wouldn't huh? Demons must not be scared of very much.
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[ She had absolutely nothing to be afraid of, Diana. Except, perhaps, losing her newest small brother. Which she has now. But he's lost her too. ]
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[ Catches the glimpse of it, but in turn she knows people like that - beings that kill like they were destruction itself. Murderers and saviours, they have a gun in each hand and she misses them in her way. ]
Do you miss her?
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Yeah, of course I miss her. You'd miss her too.
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Maybe. I haven't... really missed anyone since I came here. I definitely don't miss my home at all.
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[ He's surprised, but even that sentiment is only mild. He supposes he's surprised at how little he misses everything about the place from where he came, too. He knows he misses hunting people, but the mission itself was just... something to do. Others would call it purpose, but he's too brash to understand it for what it was. He just wants Diana back. ]
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[ Like this it's, easy to keep the memories locked away. Instead she tilts her head, drawing her fingers through his hair in a languid motion. Letting them curl through it and humming softly. ] No one misses their cage.
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No more cages.
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No more cages. [ she trusts in those words. Never again. ] What do you miss most about your Diana?
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After awhile then, when it seems right to, she hums softly. ]
( I can see why you miss her so much. )