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]

He knows she's trying, she's amazing like that. He just can't pull away from the circular path.

Nothing changes.

Forcing himself to look back at her, he nods and licks his lips. "I could use a drink, please, if you've got something?" He's probably already had too many drinks while tending bar, but it makes things a little easier and makes him a little more brave.

[wheatencrown]

"Your wine's right here,"

It worries her how he seems so stuck and she can't seem to do anything.

[thesupersmeller]

He considers it a moment, swallowing before he says; "I should probably switch to water. It's been a rough night."

He doesn't want to go that road, not in front of someone he knows wants to help and doesn't want to see him fall apart even worse than he already is.

"I'm sorry I'm putting all of this on you, it's stupid."

[wheatencrown]

"Gus, I'm here because I care. You're not putting anything more on me than I want to take,"

She pours him some water and puts it where his wine was along with putting some bread near him.

[thesupersmeller]

"Thank you," he looks back up at her with no attempt to hide himself, and then back down. "For the water and you know, everything."

He takes a long drink of water and picks up a piece of crusty bread for something to do with his hands more than anything.

"I know I need to stop what I'm doing..." he pauses a second and then clarifies; "...with her." There's no need to say that name, they both know what he's done.

[wheatencrown]

"You need to take care of yourself, Gus. Stay here tonight and tomorrow you can make a plan of how to get her out of your life."

[thesupersmeller]

He nods slowly and lets out another humorless laugh as he splits the bread between his hands.

"Thank you... I kind of feel like I don't deserve to be here, to be with someone like you." He crumbles the hard crust between his fingers, curling into a gentle fist. "I'm sullied."

[wheatencrown]

"Gus, no, you're not. You made a stupid choice, everyone does that. It doesn't change who you are. I don't want you to leave."

[thesupersmeller]

His lower lip quivers until he sets his jaw firmly, admitting the one thing he hasn't been able to bring himself to say since he slunk back downstairs with a torn shirt and no dignity left. "Maybe the first time was a stupid choice... the second time was purely willful defiance."

He crushes his hands into tight fists, letting the crumbs drop into his lap.

"I knew what I was doing was wrong, but something in my head told me it could be the last chance I had to feel desired and strong." And he realizes he can't look at her again, that it makes him feel lower than dirt to admit that to someone who seems to see him as a much better person than he sees himself.

"I think if I honestly had the choice and I felt that way again, I'd probably do it again."

[wheatencrown]

She moves to squeeze his hand as it doesn't look like he'll let her hug her,

"She probably helped you feel that way as well since its what she wanted. Its not a nice situation to be in but I've known of far worse, Gus. Look at my family. We're good at making awful choices and doing things that are foolish, because they feel right at the time."

[thesupersmeller]

For her? He'd let it happen, if not a little reluctantly.

The gentle touch of her hand once more draws his eyes up and they've glassed over - he's close to breaking and it's the last thing he wants to do in front of anyone.

He nods gently and lets the crumbled mess fall into his lap, turning his wrists to take both of her hands. "I'm just tired of everything being wrong," he whispers, swallowing the lump in his throat; "just once I'd like to do something right that I can feel good about."

[wheatencrown]

"You will but tonight you're going to get some rest. You look far too worn down and sleep will do you good,"

Demeter shifts to be closer to him.

[thesupersmeller]

With a shuddering sigh, he leans against her and brushes a kiss over her cheek. "Thank you."

It's probably the best idea he's heard all week.

"Will you... I mean..." he pulls away just enough to look her in the eyes; "...can we, maybe... you know, together? Not doing anything, just maybe sleep?"

[wheatencrown]

"That's what I was thinking of, Gus. Come with me,"

They'll have to carry a few things back in but that can be easily done.

[thesupersmeller]

He's easy to lead and takes what he can without question, already imagining the warm comfort of another warm body... the pure, earthy glow replacing what's disgraced him.

"You're good to me, you know that? You always know what I need."

[wheatencrown]

"I've had a lot of practice taking care of people,"

Inside the house which is simply furnished and old, she leads him upstairs to her room. Its a warm room with a balcony that leads out to the garden, screens and plants, everything speaking of life.

[thesupersmeller]

He's not one to skip dinner, but after the night he's had and everything that's on his mind the only thing he can think about outside of the overflow of drama is the company he's got and the beautiful place he's blessed to be in.

"This is amazing..." he murmurs, looking to her, "you're amazing."

[wheatencrown]

"So are you. Come on and get out of those clothes and come lay with me,"

She pulls back the light blanket on the bed and turns on the bedside lamp.

[thesupersmeller]

The lamp casts a perfect glow as he watches her, fingers working quickly at his buttons. Any other time, he'd be nervous and shaking with the pressure of a sexual encounter - but they've got no airs of it. Even if they were going to end up there, she made him feel calm and utterly at ease.

"You like the show?" He teased, hollow though the joke may be it felt good to try one.

[wheatencrown]

"Always,"

She slips out of her dress and into bed, leaning up to kiss his chest as it appears.

[thesupersmeller]

The gentle press of lips as he peels off his undershirt is enough to elicit a small sigh and make him question just how much he wants a platonic evening. Of course, that's his body talking and his body's what got him into the mess to begin with.

Stupid body.

Instead, he fights open his belt and then removes his pants and folds them neatly with his shirt at the foot of the bed - choosing to leave his shorts on before he climbs in with her, finding her sweet lips for a proper kiss.

[wheatencrown]

She smiles into him the kiss, snuggling into him.

[thesupersmeller]

It's an easy gentleness to fall into, wrapping his arms around her as he drags her down to the bed - the single long kiss dissolving into several smaller ones before he lets out a soft, honest laugh.

"You bring out the best in me, you know that?"

[wheatencrown]

"It's not that hard to bring it out, Gus,"

She reaches around him to turn off the light, letting the room instead slowly fill with the light of stars and moon outside.

[thesupersmeller]

"You'd be surprised," he murmurs, nuzzling into her hair and smelling the unique scent of her as she easily fits herself against him.

Smiling, so genuine it almost hurts in light of things he's admitted, he presses more kisses against her temple and down her cheek.