Chapter 6: Chapter Five
Elric and Ann were making lunch in the kitchen when Dmitri walked in with his hands in his pockets, deep in thought about seeing Elena again later that night.
"You're home early," Elric said as he took off the oven mitts and walked over to give him a half hug.
Dmitrei winced. Elric was picking up so many human habits, like being friendly. "I worked a half shift."
"We thought you would want to work all day, considering the cute little lady next to you," Ann teased from her seat at the counter where she stirred something in a large bowl. "Have you eaten?"
He nodded. He had finished the sandwich on the way home. "Are you about to eat? I need advice from Elric."
"Hey, I'm the emotionally intelligent one. You should get advice from me," Ann said.
She had a point. She was also a human woman. He would get both of their advice, anything was useful to him at this point.
"Okay," he said sitting down in one of the chairs and stretching. The chairs were bigger than at the shelter, meant to withstand the substantial weight of a gargoyle, and still be quite comfortable. "I need to know about taking a human on 'a date.'"
Elric let out a short bark of a laugh. "Yeah, I'm glad you're asking Ann on this one," he said. "I thought the way to ask a woman out was for all her I was a gargoyle and she was fortunate to be chosen by me."
She snorted, "It was sort of charming, in a completely wrong kind of way." She lifted her shoulders in a shrug, "Then again, now knowing you aren't crazy, I suppose it's sort of romantic how quickly you knew."
He swung an arm around her waist pulling her in against him for a quick kiss, "Instantly, baby."
"Ugh, so human," Dmitrei muttered.
They both laughed and went on kissing, ignoring him. He averted his eyes, waiting for them to finish so he could have an answer to his question. Then again, he thought, peeking at them. If he went out with Elena, would he end up with something like they had? Not what he had pictured wanting before, but it didn't seem so bad now. Kissing Elena had definitely been something.
Elric pulled back abruptly and stared at Dmitrei, "Ew. Stop thinking about kissing while I'm trying to make out with my mate."
"Stop making out with your mate while I'm sitting at your kitchen table," Dmitrei retorted sharply. "And get out of my head."
Elric snorted, "Gargoyle thoughts. Hard to ignore, especially in close proximity."
Ann, on the other hand, pushed forward and sat across from Dmitrei. "Oh my gosh, you kissed her already?"
"I did. It was nice," he said with a small smile.
"Whoa," Elric said sitting beside his mate. "Start over at the beginning."
Dmitrei did, telling them about holding Sebastian, the other shelter worker, the shelter, their conversation, and lunch.
"Get to the kiss," Elric snapped impatiently.
Dmitrei told them about the way she misunderstood his staring and how he surprised himself by going for it. How they exchanged numbers.
"So, you haven't set a time or anything?" Ann asked.
"No, I needed help knowing more about dates first," Dmitrei said.
"You came to the right place," Elric said putting his hands behind his head.
Ann smirked, "Says the guy who used, 'I'm an immortal, mythical creature' as a pickup line."
"Yeah." Elric looked thoughtful, "Did you try that?"
Dmitrei stifled a smile, "No."
"Thank heavens for that," Ann giggled.
"Hey, it worked for you," Elric defended.
"No. Getting to know you worked for me. I had to try to just not think about all the crazy gargoyle, shifter stuff."
Elric pouted, "Crazy gargoyle, shifter stuff? How about awesome gargoyle, shifter stuff?"
"Back to me," Dmitrei said. "I still need help."
Ann grinned, "Right. Well, what do you want to do together?"
"Do? I thought we were just being together." He was confused again.
"It's a date. You have to do something. Spend some money."
"I don't have access to mine yet," he said flatly.
"You can have some of Elric's," Ann offered before noting Elric's scowl. "I'm kidding. Look, you can borrow anything you need from us, okay? Money. A car. Wait, can you drive?"
"I took a course at the Oracle's place. I believe I am sufficient," Dmitrei replied.
Elric and Ann looked at each other. "Well," Elric said, "I guess it's a good thing we have a Volvo." They both laughed.
"What?" Dmitrei asked, confused as to what was so funny.
"Oh, nothing," Ann said. "So, does she want you to pick her up at work or wait until she gets home and has time to get ready?"
Dmitrei blanched, "I don't know. Do I need to call her and ask her all of this?" This entire thing was getting more complicated than he ever imagined.
"You could text her," Ann said.
"Text?"
"You know, write something and send it, then she sends something back. On the phone."
"Like letters?" he asked. "Why would you do that when you have telephones and can hear each other's voice?"
"Because it's easier, especially if you need to focus on something like work instead of talking on the phone. Here, unlock your phone and I'll show you."
Dmitrei sighed and pushed the phone over. Ann had been a good, kind person to him. Despite her being a human, he knew he could trust her, especially if Elric did.
She took his phone and hit the keys rapidly then handed it back to him with a smile, "Easy. See?"
He looked down at the screen. Next to his avatar, which was an ocean, was a bubble with words inside: Do you want me to pick you up from work or at your place? And what time is good for you?
He looked at Ann, "Now what?"
"Now, we wait," she told him.
"See?" he said in frustration. "I told you we should have called. It would be instant--"
He was cut off by a beep from his phone and a little bubble appeared beside a photo of a gray cat: How about seven? My place? Then she had listed her address.
His heart thumped. That was fast. Perhaps this texting thing wasn't so bad. "So, I can send her anything this way?" he asked.
"Just don't send anything you care about someone else seeing," Ann said. "That is going over the Internet."
"Right, keep secrets off it, then," he said.
"Yeah, I wouldn't go announcing you're a gargoyle," she said. "Unless you're Elric."
Dmitrei snorted, "Thank you for being patient with me. It's more then I deserve."
"Hey," Elric said. "We're friend. Besides, you can help save the world. We're going to need you with Aloys out there, plotting with whoever helped him escape."
"It's disappointing," Dmitrei said. "I know he was always jealous of you and that his powers kind of leaned to the darker side of things, but I didn't expect him to completely turn like this."
"Yeah," Elric said.
"It hasn't been the same since Octavia," Dmitrei said.
"Yeah," Elric repeated, a somber mood fell over the room instantly.
"Who is Octavia?" Ann asked glancing between them.
Neither spoke, and Dmitrei looked down at the phone screen. He tapped on the text part and began to type: Seven is good. I will pick you up. In a car. He ignored Elric and Ann, who were having an awkward moment, and waited for her response. Since he hadn't sent a question, would she still say something?
Great! Cars are much preferable to spaceships. Or bikes. ;)
He handed the phone to Ann, "What is she talking about?"
Ann laughed, "She's just teasing you. You didn't need to specify you were picking her up in a car. There isn't really any other way."
"If I were in my natural form I could fly her everywhere."
Ann snickered, "Okay, but you aren't in your natural form, and she knows nothing about that side of you. So, just for future reference, most humans assume your transportation is a car."
"Fine," he said, suddenly thinking about how fun it would be to fly with Elena in his arms. Kissing the sky, clouds swirling around him, sheltering her in his wings so they could be truly alone up there.
"Dude," Elric said, tearing him from his thoughts. "With thoughts like that, she really might be your mate."
Dmitrei blinked. Perhaps Elric had a point. Despite him never thinking of a mate as a possibility, he had to admit that if he had ever guessed what it would feel like to have one, it would probably be something like his obsession with Elena.
"What should I send back?" he asked, emboldened and wanting to flirt with her.
"Tell her you'll leave your spaceship at home," Ann joked.
"Tell her you can still bring the tricycle," Elric said.
But Dmitrei paused, wanting to come up with his own statement. "Got it," he said, typing on his phone. He hit send and handed it to Ann and Elric to read.
Doesn't matter what we go in as long as I go with you.
Elric snorted, "That's, um… not really teasing. That's more…"
"Sincere," Ann said. "I guess now we wait and see if it works."
Dmitrei guessed he didn't understand teasing, but it didn't matter. He didn't have time for silly games. He just needed to get closer to this intriguing human. The phone beeped.
"I have to know what she said to that," Elric said.
Dmitrei looked down at the phone: You're so sweet. I'll see you in a few hours. PS: I like your ocean avatar. It reminds me of your eyes. And oceans are the best, aren't they?
He smiled, a full, genuine smile that he felt warming him from his toes to the top of his head. What had he done to deserve meeting this human? Or more accurately, what had he been forgiven for? He closed out the bad memories and focused on the phone. He was here. This was a new world, a new him. A new life. One more chance to make things right.
See you tonight.
***
Dmitrei felt confident until he stood waiting on Elena's doorstep after ringing the little bell, he became so nervous his palms were starting to sweat. The idea of a sweaty gargoyle was extremely unseemly. He hoped she opened the door soon.
The door opened and his jaw dropped. He had never seen her wear something like it before. The dress was formfitting, yet soft and casual stopping just below her dimpled knees, with sleeves at her elbows. The front dipped, low, showing a generous amount of soft, plump cleavage, deliciously pressed together and on display. Good heavens, with the skin showing, soft arms, curvy legs, and that gorgeous face, he was going to have his hands full trying no to kill men who looked at her. Then there was her hair. She had let it down and curled it in soft waves around her face, as well as something added to her face that enhanced her eyelashes, making them darker and sultrier. She wore shoe that were flat and made of shiny leather. He was relieved to see it was easy for her to walk.
"You look amazing," he said, putting out an arm for her as he'd seen chivalrous humans do back in his time.
She smiled so bright it almost blinded him and looped her arm through his. Soft and warm. He nearly melted at her touch, but he lead her down to the black car he had been lent for the drive over. He opened her door as Ann had shown him and waited until she was in to go around to his side. When he was in and the door was closed, he sat there for a second staring at her, wondering how he was supposed to focus on anything but the gorgeous woman beside him.
"You okay?" she asked. "We don't have to do this if you're uncomfortable."
He raised an eyebrow, "Uncomfortable?" His eyes roamed over her, "That is not what I'm feeling."
She squirmed and he found himself mesmerized by the movement of her body.
Snap out of it, Dmitrei. You have things to do.
"So, um, I thought we could go out for ice cream," he said. It had seemed the safest of the options Elric and Ann had suggested. Mud wrestling had also been on the list.
"Oh," she said looking down at her outfit. "Am I overdressed?"
"If anything, I would say underdressed," he said bluntly.
Her face fell, "You don't like it?"
He bit the inside of his cheek, "I love it." The last thing he wanted was to hurt her. Sure, he would have to try to keep himself from punching every man who looked at her all night, but it was worth it for her to wear whatever she wanted to. "I just know you are going to get a lot of attention, and I want you all to myself."
Her eyes were wide with surprise when she looked over at him, "What planet are you from?"
"This one. Why?" he said flatly.
She folded her arms over herself cautiously, "I just… I don't get that kind of attention."
"Perhaps you do and you simply do not notice it," he told her.
"Maybe you're biased," she retorted. "Maybe you're the only one looking."
"That suits me just fine," he said glancing over to spy her blushing.
She sighed, "This is what makes me think you're from another world sometimes. Look, guys who look like you don't say things like that to girls like me."
"I think you are the one who is coming down to my level," he said, reaching out to tiled her chin and force her to look at him. "You are a good person. An amazing person. And you are beautiful, too." He let her see the heat in his gaze, "And if others do not look at you, they are fools. If they do look at you, I will try not to kill them."
She let out a shaky breath fanning her face as she sat back, "Whew. You're seriously something."
"I think you are something," he said. "And I think you do not give yourself enough credit."
"I like myself," she said. "But sometimes people just don't understand. They bully and that stuff sticks with you." She gave him a rueful smile, "But I'll try not to think about that and just enjoy a date with the hottest guy in the world."
He was busy thinking of all the was to kill her bullies when he realized she called him hot, and a grin spread over his face, "Hottest?"
She shifted away with a giggle, "Stop fishing for compliments."
He did, focusing on the road as he drove to the small ice cream shop Elric and Ann had recommended.
When they arrived, he made sure to go around to her side and open the door, helping her out. As they walked across the parking lot, he held her hand, enjoying the contrast of her closeness with the cool air of the night. It was empty, save for a few cars, and he realized he could have parked closer, but he was glad since it gave him the opportunity to hold her hand a while longer.
They walked up to the counter, her hand swinging in his while they ordered, then he felt a small shockwave of pain. She stepped back slightly and he looked at her, concerned.
"Sorry, I think I need to go sit down. I'll go save a booth for us," she said taking a cup from the cashier, giving Dmitrei an apologetic glance, and went to sit down.
He finished their order and waited by the counter, keeping an eye on her while not openly staring. He knew her pain was a point of pride for her, something she didn't want people poking their noses into, but he was getting to the point where he felt he needed to know more. So he could help her in whatever way he could. He flexed his hands, wishing he had his full power flowing through him.
Out of the corner of his eyes, he saw Elena take out a small container and pop something in her mouth, which she then washed down with a gulp of water. Medicine, most likely. Cold moved through him. Whatever was wrong with her, was it serious? Was it just an old injury, or was it something like Sebastian? He shook the thoughts from his mind. They brought back old fears, and he didn't want that.
Once their ice creams were ready, he brought them over to Elena and set them on the table. She gave him a big smile, seeming as if she were doing better. But Dmitrei wondered how much pain he would be feeling from her if he had access to his full empathy rather than icy walls around his heart with only tiny cracks in them.
She took her ice cream from him, giving him a big smile as she dug into it. "Ah, it's the little things in life," she said with a content sigh.
He wanted to ask her how the little things could matter so much when something else really sucked. But he was too busy being entranced by how happy she looked while she ate. He wished he could learn to just live in the moment like that. Instead, the past and the future hung over his head constantly, waiting to drop like heavy, punishing weights. She licked a drop of her ice cream slowly off her full lower lip, and he felt his heart kick up a beat.
She was so beautiful. Watching her happy, watching her enjoy anything was bliss.
"You're staring at me again," she said nervously. "I told you it makes me feel awkward when you--"
He slid into the booth next to her, surprising her, and caught her lips with his own. She instantly calmed, sinking into the kiss, and lifting a hand to touch his hair.
Amazing.
When he pulled back, she was quiet and ready to listen. He brushed a loose wave of hair from her face. He spoke in a low voice, "Of course I am staring at you. I like you. I have from the moment I saw you. You intrigue me unlike anyone else ever has before."
"Why?" she asked.
There were so many reasons. He could tell her it was because she was beautiful and kind, but it was more than that. It felt… fated. Like she had been destined to help him come back to life. But he couldn't tell her that. "I'm still figuring that out."
"At least you're honest, I guess," she said smiling as she turned her attention back to her ice cream.
Honest. The word burned him as he pulled his ice cream over to him and swirled his spoon in it, stirring it up. He couldn't begin to be truly honest with her yet, and it was starting to bother him. He was beginning to wonder if Elric had the right idea all along in blurting everything out, when a group of men came into the shop and turned his attention to them.
He didn't like the way one of them looked at his date.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone