Turn to real life {vice}

[Delilah]

Smallish fingers laced themselves through slightly bigger fingers. Ayala looked up at vice and smiled shyly. True that he'd been the one to move outside but once they'd left she hadn't been entirely sure that he would follow her. She hadn't talked much for the duration of the trip. Suddenly, without the cover of the shadows in the dark basement she felt self conscious.

She looked ahead, always keeping notice of their surroundings. They were getting closer to where she spent her nights and they weren't exactly in the best part of the state. The brooklyn bridge, while usually seen as a dirty place, was exactly the ideal place for a girl like ayala to go to when she needed shelter. When she'd first left she'd been fine until it had started raining and then in an attempt to find better shelter she had scampered under the bridge to find a nice little unoccupied space there.

It had taken her awhile to clean it up but it was a pretty decent living space now that she was done making it livable. As they approached the bridge she unlaced her fingers gently so that she could show him where to go. If would be safer to climb down if they went in single file.

"follow me" she said over her shoulder as she climbed carefully down the huge rocks that stood between her and her shelter. She stepped carefully and quickly found her way onto a small ledge tht stuck out underneath the bridge.

She turned to see where vice once and as soon as he was close enough she walked across the ledge to where a small threadbare curtain had been tied up to make makeshift door over a small opening that was between a wall of iron and wall of rock. She pushed back the curtainand slipped into while still holding the curtain open behind her, hoping that he might come inside.

She let the fabric slip from her fingers as she walked further into the space. She pulled off her shoes and set them in a corner where there was a very small clothes. As she looked around she realized how very ridiculous it had to look to outside eyes. In one corner she left her clothes, in another she had a mattress that she'd taken from the hotel when they'd thrown them away and next to the bed there were two books left casually on the ground.

"so..." she said as she sat down on the bed, "welcome to my home sweet home?" she said and bit her lip slightly unsure of what was going to happen now. Her mind wandered back to the dark warehouse basement and her eyes took in every detail of him as she looked up to meet his eyes. It was weird to think that she'd only known him for a little while. On the streets it was possible to make friends in a matter of minutes. The problem was, you could lose them just as easily, and she didn't want to lose him.

She was nervous but tried to hide it.she reached out and tugged his hand lightly, inviting him to sit next to her. "where were we?" she smiled brightly letting a hint of a giggle enter her voice.

[Vice Ingram]

Isaac was curious to see where they were going. It wasn't every day that he spent his night following a girl without having any idea where she was headed. He rather liked the feeling of surrendering control for once, but was a little surprised when he realized sometime later that they were nearing the Brooklyn Bridge. The sky was a very dark purple now, the stars shining dimly through the hazy night, and the moon was large and pale as it glimmered its reflection onto the water below. Ayala had let go of his hand, and Vice felt strangely empty. He saw her a little way ahead, disappearing behind a small curtain, beckoning him to follow. So he did.

As he stepped inside, Isaac felt immediately warmer, both inside and out. He looked around. The place was tiny, yet it didn't seem cramped. In one corner was a mattress, and this took a moment to register in Isaac's mind. It had been four years since he'd actually slept on a mattress, excluding lodging houses and various one night stands he'd had. Vice wondered why Ayala would look so self-conscious as he noted his surroundings; he'd give anything to have a place like this. It sure beat the streets.

"So...welcome to my home sweet home?"

She was sitting on the bed now. Biting her lip. Oh, shit. That again. Vice averted his gaze, but slowly let his eyes wander back to where she sat, looking expectantly at him. He had thought he was past the urge, thought he would be able to easily keep control over himself, but as he stood in the small makeshift room, just the two of them, he wasn't so sure anymore. He let his eyes glaze over, let the room swim before him, struggling to keep reign on his emotions. Her hand was in his again. There was a slight tug downward. All this he felt at a distance, as if in a dream.

"Where were we?"

Her voice again. Isaac came to with an inward jolt, all thought of restraint suddenly gone. He ran his free hand lightly through his shockingly blond hair and let his lips part into a half smile. He realized now that he still wore no shirt, and wondered if she noticed the rippling of his muscular abdomen as he glided easily across the bed. As a vain man, he wanted to appeal to her as he'd never wanted anything before, as she appealed to him. He was on his knees now, and he laughed a velvety laugh as he knocked her slightly backwards, hovering closely over her, his hands placed on the bed on either side of her. They were not touching, but that would come soon enough. He stared down at her, drinking in every last detail, savoring her curves, the softness of her flesh, the invitation of her mouth.

"I think we were here."

[Delilah]

It had been a little while since they'd left the warehouse and as she tugged his hand she wasn't sure if he would accept her invitation or if their closeness had been a single spontanious event. When he gracefully accepted her invitation she felt a tiny surge of adrenaline as she watched him. She realized then that when he'd first broken into the warehouse room he hadn't been wearing a shirt and it seemed that he didnt have one in the first place, or he'd just forgotten it behind. Then again she didn't really mind....

She was a little surprised but definetely not complaining when he pushed her back slightly. His laugh combined with the closeness of their bodies made her stomach jump as adrenaline pumped into her veins. As she'd moved back her body had felt like it was falling so it prepared to catch her and her arms had thrown themselves out behind her. Her elbows had pressed against the mattress but her hands were still up in the air as he'd moved himself to above her. Her fingers brushed his stomach gently as she moved them quickly to the mattress.

She looked up her eyes wide and felt her cheeks burn. She could only imagine what shade of pink her face was and tried to calm herself down. She realized that she'd been holding in the breath she'd taken as shed tugged his hand. She let it out slowly and kept her eyes on his, their expression still surprised and her eyes still wide.

"I think we were here."

She was greatly aware of his hands in either side of her and as her stomach jumped again with nervousness she closed her eyes for a moment.

"here?" she said as she opened her eyes and again and used her elbows to carefully push herself up a bit so that her body was even closer to his. She positioned herself so that most of her body was only centimeters away from his yet her face and shoulders were still a few more inches away, just slightly out of reach.

[Vice Ingram]

Just how many thoughts were running through his mind, Isaac didn't know, but the one thing he did know for certain as he gazed down at Ayala was that he wanted her. He'd decided that in the warehouse, and he now realized as their eyes met that nothing had changed since those moments they'd shared a short time before. He considered attempting to regain control of his emotions, his body, but tossed the thought aside almost as soon as it had come. The invitation was just too strong.

Isaac felt the light touch of Ayala's fingers brush his stomach as he leaned over her, and his skin tingled, the sensation rushing across his body like electricity. Her hands were on the mattress now, and Isaac wanted more. He wanted her hands on his skin, and it was becoming harder to fight the ever growing desire. He swallowed, trying to keep his thoughts clear, his focus sharp. Ayala's eyes were still gazing into his, wide with emotion, and as Vice noticed in the dim light that her cheeks had flushed a slight pink, he smiled softly. Her eyes fluttered closed.

And then her face was next to his. Vice felt his breath coming faster, his pulse quickening. Her eyes were open again.

"Here?"

Vice let the side of his mouth turn up as he searched her face. Her lips were inches from his now, and already he could imagine their softness, their taste. He didn't want to imagine. He moved his face closer to hers, breathing in her intoxicating sweetness, "Not quite..."

When he was just near her skin, he placed his mouth softly onto hers, and one hand behind the small of her back, guiding her gently backwards until she laid flat against the bed. He leaned closely over her, pulled back slightly to study her face once again. He kissed her eyelids, ran a hand down her arm, letting it rest at her waist, as he leaned down again and brought his mouth back to hers, not yet kissing her. Her lips rested against his own, and he felt their softness, which was even sweeter than he had imagined or first felt in the warehouse. Isaac let his tongue slide gently across her bottom lip, parting them, and moved his own mouth in rhythm with hers, kissing her with everything he had in him. Slightly winded, he pulled back for a moment to speak again, "I think this seems about right."

And then his lips were back to her mouth, his tongue with hers, his hands on her face, her hair.

[Delilah]

She could feel his warm breath on her skin and when he started breathing faster she felt herself blush again. She wanted him to move closer but something was nagging at the back of her mind.

"Not quite..."

One of ayalas hands supported her as her other arm reached up to twist itself behind his head and her fingers tangled themselves into his hair. His mouth was against hers and the nagging was gone. As he moved her down onto the bed she let go of him and looked up at him smiling shyly as he studied her face. She closed her eyes as he kissed her eyelid and as his hand moved along her body she felt her skin tingle.

His lips were pressed against hers and yet they weren't moving and it was driving her mad. She kissed him softly once before letting his lips just rest against hers again. She felt his tounge against her lower lip and followed his lead.

"I think this seems about right."

She kissed back, but has his hands touched her face the cut on her face stung just enough that it hurt. She pulled her face away from his and winced. She looked at him apologetically and as she looked at him the nagging returned. Without his lips on hers her brain worked better and she realized what was bothering her. Whatever happened between them, she would remember. As she looked at his eyes she realized that she wouldn't forget him, she realized that she cared.

She sighed and flopped her head down against her mattress looking at the ceiling and then looking back at him. "isaac..." she began unsure of what she could say. Her eyes searched his and he corners of her lips tugged up into a very slight smile and she looked away. "I can't even think straight when i look at you" she whispered. She very gently wiggled her way out from under him enough so that she could sit upright. "slecha.." she said while looked down at her hands which were in her lap. she looked up quickly, "oh i mean, sorry. i really am isaac...." she said as she brought her fingers to rest on his cheek. She noticed that her accent made his name sound different to her ears and she thought back to the first time she'd heard it, in his voice. Her mind followed that thought and the night replayed in her mind. She pulled her hand back watching him until her fingertips left his face. Her eyes focused on her hands which were settled in her lap, her fingers fidgeting and winding together with nervousness.

she was unsure of everything at this point but she decided that even though she'd ruined everything already, maybe she could still just try and take a shot. "i uh..."she began. After a moment she looked him right in the eye. "will you stay with me?... tonight i mean." The look on her face was hopefull although she tried to supress the feeling in the pit of her stomach where it was beginning to build.

[Vice Ingram]

Isaac let the motion of his lips slow, allowed his thoughts to come seeping back into control again. He felt her hands, small and warm, moving to his neck, her fingers in his hair, and his newly regained senses sparked slowly away from him at each touch. He fought against the urge of submission, fought to keep his desires in check, but soon realized that his efforts were fruitless; it was almost certainly too much. He had the strange sensation that his thoughts were not his own now, that they had moved beyond his ability of thinking and into some unknown realm, ruled by some unknown force. Even then, those thoughts were beginning to haze.

His hands were on her face, his palms against her cheeks and his fingers stroked her temples gently. He felt her flinch slightly at his touch, and as she drew her face away, he felt his fingers brush the cut still on her cheek. Realization flooded him, and he instinctively dropped his hands, remembering with a twinge of guilt the cause of her wound. Strange how so many things could change in such a short time. Isaac wanted to touch her, wanted to heal the injury he had so carelessly caused, make right all of her sufferings, even those in which he played no part.

"Isaac..."

She seemed unsure of what words to use, yet very certain that there was something she must say. He watched her as she lay on the bed, staring up at him, the ceiling, and longed to brush away the hair that had fallen in her eyes, longed to comfort her. But he dared not. There was something sacred about her, about the two of them together, and, though his body and emotions were still raging, he dared not disturb it.

"I can't even think straight when I look at you."
Vice's gaze snapped back to hers at the small sound of her voice, knowing all to well the same feeling. She sat upright.

"Slecha...Oh, I mean, sorry. I really am, Isaac..."
Isaac bit his lip as she brought her hands back to his face, her green eyes fixed on his. Why was she making this harder for him? Why was he allowing himself to feel so controlled?

"I, uh...Will you stay with me...? Tonight I mean."
Ayala looked nervous, almost embarrassed, and Isaac wondered why. Had he done something to make her not want him? Why would she think he wouldn't want her? The confusion lessened and Isaac's stomach settled in relief as she drew her hands back, her touch diminishing into nothing. He brought himself into a sitting position, facing her, and smoothed the top of her hand with his. Then drawing her into his arms, he rested his chin on the top of her head, kissing it gently. "I'd like nothing better."

[Delilah]

I'd like nothing better."

Delilahs face split into a sweet smile, all traces of nervousness gone. He'd drawn her into his arms and she hadn't complained, why would she? She wasn't sure what she was feeling, but she liked it. Perhaps it was just the closeness of another human being, Perhaps it was just that she felt safe for the first time since she'd left home, or Perhaps it was just that she didn't have to leave him, and he didnt have to leave her. Not yet anyway. She pushed the thought from her mind and settled herself against him. She rested her cheek against his skin and she brushed her fingers against his skin lightly, making sure that he wouldn't disappear on her.

After a few minutes, his warmth and his heartbeat thumping gently in her ear began to lull her to sleep. She sighed as her eyelids closed gently and she cozied up to him a little more. As her breathing began to steady with the sounds of sleep her mind suddenly snapped into overdrive and her eyelids fluttered open. "oh.." she began quietly and pulled back away from him.

She moved back and settled down onto the bed. She rubbed her eyes sleepily with one hand while patting the bed next to her. "that must have been uncomfortable for you" she said finishing her thoughts. She scootched down to the end of the bed and pulled the top sheet up a little so she could slide under it. She cuddled up under the sheet and yawned.

Her eyes closed but her arm stretched out towards him and if she'd had enough energy she probably would have pulled him to join her. "this might be better for you, or more comfortable... or something" she mumbled as she started drifting away.

She was mentally beating herself for not staying awake but for some reason she couldn't keep her eyelids open. Maybe the trauma from before was finally starting to set in. It wasn't everyday that she had windows smashed in right next to her as she took a nap. But then again it also wasn't everyday that she met isaac.... things would be way more interesting if that was true.

"miss you" she mumbled, longing to feel his warmth next to her again. She hoped that he hadn't slipped out once she'd left him. He'd said he'd stay hadn't he?

[Vice Ingram]

His heart was no longer pounding, the pulsing of his own blood no longer roaring in his ears. As he felt Ayala's cheek rest against his bare chest, his heaving shoulders slowed, his shallow breaths growing quiet and deep. She nestled closer, settling against him, and a peace washed through him at the feel of her warmth in his arms. She gave a small sigh, and her lashes fluttered across his skin. he knew as her breathing began to even that she was drifting, and he tightened his arms around her, his own eyelids heavy with sleep. His consciousness began to slip, and he made no attempt to regain it, instead letting his mind float freely into delirium.

Suddenly, he felt a jerk beneath him as Ayala stirred, lifting her head to look at him anxiously, still dazed and drowsy. He let his arms slide loosely down her frame, releasing her as she moved back, rubbing her eyes.

"Oh...that must have been uncomfortable for you."

Isaac sat motionless while she slid under the sheet, one arm outstretched in his direction as if beckoning him to lie down beside her.

"This might be better for you, or more comfortable...or something..."

There was a pause. "Miss you..." From the sound of her voice, thick with sleep, Isaac didn't doubt it; he, too, missed holding her in his arms and wished she hadn't moved. He had been far from uncomfortable. He looked down at the sleeping girl next to him. Whether she was still barely awake, he didn't know, but as he gazed at her, drank in the creamy hue of her skin, the pleasant expression she wore, the fullness of her lips, he longed for in a way he had never longed for anyone. Not her body. No, not that. He found that as he watched her he wanted nothing more than to be with her, to sit here doing nothing but watching, being, for hours and hours. The thought occurred to him with a pang that he wouldn't mind just staying here forever, as long as it meant she were here, too.

And that thought, as much as he enjoyed it, was the very thought that sent a chill down his spine, made his heart begin to race. He should never have come. he was losing himself, losing his identity. Never had he allowed himself to stray so far from his haven of self-sufficiency and strength, to become so controlled. Isaac was disgusted at himself, angry at the barriers that had let themselves down. Even now, sitting here with the girl who had evoked in him such foreign feelings, Isaac felt Vice creeping back to him, overtaking the sensitivity that still lingered in the night air.

And so, with cold lips, Vice leaned down to brush his lips against Ayala's forehead one last time with a tender reluctance that his fearful self silenced mercilessly. With that, he got quietly to his feet and, stopping uncertainly at the door, stole one last glance at the girl he wasn't sure he wanted to leave behind.

[Delilah]

Sleep gripped her and everything slipped away to be replaced with darkness as she dozed off. As his lips brushed her forehead she stirred slightly but didn't wake from her sleeping. She slept soundly, not hearing Vices retreating footsteps , not knowing that he had even paused for a second.

Delilahs mind started working before the rest of her and before her eyes were even open she felt the absence in her little dwelling. She was cold so she huddled up under the blankets, His warmth wasn't there for her now. The only thing to do now was to validate her thoughts. She didn't want to, but it was inevitable that she'd have to open her eyes at some point so she did. As her eyes slowly opened to take in her surroundings she knew she was right. He was gone.

She sat up slowly, letting everything sink in. She was used to this leaving thing but still for some reason she'd trusted him when he'd said he wouldn't. And this was a little new, she was the one being left this time. Tears pooled in her eyes as she stood but she held them back as she readied herself for the new day as she always did- alone. She was used to this, she would survive.

As she pulled on her boots and stood to face the blinding light outside, she was reminded of her deep sleep the night before. For the first time since she'd left home she hadn't dreamt of her parents or of the family she'd left behind in another part of new york. No, she'd dreamed something so comforting and yet at the same time, so unsettling. She'd dreamed...of nothing.