Time with Gus

[wheatencrown]

Demeter opens the door out into her garden where the moon's out and its starting to get hot and humid.

Everywhere something is blooming and the scents fill the air as Demeter smiles and leads Gus to a table set out in a little grove of trees.

Comments

[thesupersmeller]

Always easily swayed by a kiss and sweet words, Gus follows her without question. Dinner? A lovely place to eat it in and even better company?

The night just keeps getting better.

"You read my mind, girl..."

[wheatencrown]

"Wonderful. Its fairly simple just some roast chicken and salad. How did the rest of your shift go?"

Its a salad mainly from her garden and the chicken is done in citrus and garlic.

[thesupersmeller]

Simple is just fine in his book, better than fine really.

"Not bad," he shrugs, finding his chair to settle in. "Nobody I'm avoiding showed up, and I got to share the wonder of chocolate goodness with a few people."

[wheatencrown]

"That sounds like a wonderful way to spend the evening. Did you meet anyone new?"

[thesupersmeller]

He nods easily, "Pretty much everyone I met to night was new, I guess that's why Bar asked me to tend... get me talking to new people."

He shrugs, hesitating only a brief moment before continuing; "I met, uh... a computer program and Red and Ginny." Pausing again, unsure of whether he should mention the other goddess or not, he quietly offers; "And another goddess named Iris."

[wheatencrown]

"I know Iris, she's from earlier in time and is learning a lot here. I'm glad she met you,"

They'll be good for each other in terms of new ways to approach the world.

[thesupersmeller]

"She's very nice," And, as expected given the other goddesses he's met - beautiful. "She tried pineapple raw, some candy, and I made her first pineapple daiquiri."

He's always proud to share his favorite things.

[wheatencrown]

"I would think she'd like that with all the variations of color."

[thesupersmeller]

Gus nods and looks up at the evening sky with a warm smile; "Mmm, she seemed to. It was pretty cool to share stuff like that."

[wheatencrown]

"Yes, Milliways is wonderful for new experiences even for gods."

[thesupersmeller]

"I guess everyone has something new to learn," he looks back to his companion with a fond smile. "Some of us a little more than others."

[wheatencrown]

She reaches out to squeeze his hand,

"You're a clever young man, Gus, you just need to trust yourself. Then you'll find that you know what you want and need."

[thesupersmeller]

The problem is, when he does trust himself it always goes wrong. As far as he knows the only thing right in his life is Psych and Shawn... and even that seems to be pulling apart at the seams.

"Yeah... I guess. I don't know, maybe I'll just be like this forever." He turns his hand and gently traces his fingers over hers; "I mean, being alone means I can go to bed whenever I want... and nobody will be mad if I stay up late watching movies or eat ice cream for breakfast."

[wheatencrown]

"If that's what you want then you need to make sure you're happy. That's what I want for you, to be you in all the ways you can be,"

She squeezes his hand and smiles at him.

[thesupersmeller]

He knows what he wants, but hasn't got a clue what he needs - and clearly his wants aren't panning out that well.

"Believe me, nobody wants me to figure this out more than I do. I'm pretty sure I'm just doomed to be alone. I may as well make the best of it."

Her smile warms him, but he's far more distracted by the knot of frustration and repressed feelings in his gut that makes him dig a bag of Skittles out of his pocket.

[wheatencrown]

"I don't believe that, Gus and you have so much of your life ahead of you,"

She watches him pull out the candy which seems an odd cure.

[thesupersmeller]

At thirty-five, watching Shawn barreling toward whatever's going to happen with him and Juliet even though he knows full and well he's lying to her? It doesn't feel like he's got much time left before he's another old guy playing chess with the pigeons in the park.

He dumps a quarter of the bag straight into his mouth, shaking his head as he chews.

After a long moment, he sighs; "Yeah, I guess you're right."

[wheatencrown]

Demeter shifts over to hug him, "You found Milliways and it has a way of changing everything."

[thesupersmeller]

He won't argue that, he's made at least one good friend in the goddess - even if that's also how he sort of may have caused his own eternal damnation in ways he doesn't want to think about.

"We'll see." He leans into the hug, tentative at first and then he catches the sweet and earthy smell of her and can't help but wrap his arms around her waist and pull her closer.

[wheatencrown]

"I'll help you as much I can, Gus, I promise. I've seen a lot of mortals in my time and you are wonderful."

[thesupersmeller]

He's not good at accepting genuine praise, so he merely rests his chin on her shoulder and replies; "I know... I just feel kind of lost right now."

Over the last five years he's gotten used to falling in that same childhood position as Shawn's best friend - now that he doesn't need one, he sort of feels like the baby bird that got pushed out of the nest and told to figure it out. So far, not doing so hot.

[wheatencrown]

"Shh, I know. Just be here with me for now and I'll help you figure out what's next."

[thesupersmeller]

Gus sniffs back a tear, telling himself he's really just enjoying the familiar scent clinging to her.

"Okay," he replies softly, his voice still wary despite feeling safer with her than anyone he's met before. "I can do that."

[wheatencrown]

"I know you can and even more, but for tonight just be here,"

She strokes her head and hugs him tighter.

[thesupersmeller]

Part of him just wants to melt against her and let it all out, to air the knot of everything that's happened in the last year that just keeps getting bigger the more he tries to bury it under sweats in work.

Instead, he swallows hard and nods against her shoulder, squeezing even tighter at the gentle caress of her touch. "Just me and you."