Post by recluse on Oct 29, 2006 10:19:59 GMT -5
If anyone had walked into the room, they would have seen quite an unusual sight. Gracie was standing with her face pressed up against the wall, doing her very best to shred the sticky web of her hammock with her teeth while not getting her face stuck.
It wasn't working particularly well, and a string of expletives could be heard as she peeled her face away from the wall.
Unfortunately, she couldn't distract herself from it any longer - she'd already cleaned up the rest of the room, packed up the rest of her stuff. She was doing her best not to completely destroy the hammock - she could probably use it later, with a few minutes' work to strengthen it again - but it was looking like she'd have to soon. Maybe Dom could dust it the way he had the car - if he could avoid dusting the rest of the room in the process.
For a moment, she tugged ineffectually at the strands. It wasn't going to work and she knew it, but it didn't stop her from swearing in frustration when she failed.
Having spent the last few hours trying to fix the damned garage door, Lucas swore in frustration and threw a grease rag to the cement floor. He was just going to have to call someone to get it done. More money. Maybe he could sweet talk some out of Dom or something.
He was angry enough at the situation he didn't even laugh, in spite of the mental image his thought brought to mind.
Deciding to give up for a while, he came back into the house, slamming the door a bit harder than he meant to. He stomped upstairs while lighting a cigarette, going to Gracie's door- or at least, the door to the room Gracie was staying in, and pushed it open a bit, leaning against the doorframe. He was conscious of the fact that he was sweaty and greasy, and almost took pleasure out of not being presentable. Fuck her anyway.
"Thought you guys could just eat your webs or something."
"Yeah, yeah." Normal spiders could. Gracie wasn't a normal spider - despite the fangs, she still had an entirely human digestive system. Which, in her mind, was a very good thing. Sucking out the liquefied insides of insects? Yeah, not a pleasant idea.
"It's the sticky bits that are fucking me over." If she'd tied it to something instead of sticking it, she'd be fine. But no, in her frustration she'd stuck it straight to the walls rather than look for anchor points, and now she was paying for it. She couldn't just cut it - it was too strong, had too much give. Maybe with bolt cutters or something... but that'd still leave strands stuck to the walls for god only knew how long.
Of course, what she was thinking now was that a big knife would let her scrape it off. Probably with a good lot of the paint, too.
"How'd you do with the...?" Gracie waved vaguely towards the garage, leaning over to squint at how much of the web was stuck to the wall.
"Pretty well fucked there," he said, taking a drag of his cigarette and rubbing his fingers over his scalp through his short hair. "Gonna call Sears and have them take care of it."
"So we're staying another night huh. Think we should get a room closer in?"
Looking back at him over her shoulder for a moment, Gracie shrugged. "A bed'd be nice, but I thought the whole point of coming out here was to get... you know, away. Safe."
Giving up, she turned and sat on the hammock, looking at him with one eyebrow raised slightly. They'd had a bed, after all - well, she and Dom had - until Lucas had come and knocked down the door and dragged them to a titty bar.
Not that she'd minded the tits.
"That was a few days ago, you had Dom's car and you were too close in. Finding a place on Long Island can't hurt... and we should probably get out of here. You and I ain't exactly laid low." He smirked.
She was in a bad mood. Then again so was he. He wasn't really in the mood to fight with her. Didn't mean he was in the mood to make up either.
Walking into the bathroom, he tossed his cigarette in the toilet and stripped out of his sweaty shirt, turning on the shower. "So what you planning on doing with your little nest their Spidergirl."
Well, he was right about that. They'd probably attracted enough attention now for the whole 'safe house' thing to be fucked for a few months. At least she wasn't the one that had to tell Mr. Mob Boss that, though.
Gracie made an 'Mmm' sound at him, though it was more for the fact that he was taking off his clothes than to show her agreement. With another shrug, she laid down, her hands behind her head and her eyes on the ceiling. Just 'cause he was getting in the shower didn't mean she had to join him.
"Trying to figure out how to take it down without scraping all the paint of the walls. Was going to take it with me, unless you think a silk hammock would, you know, go down well with the owner." Wasn't exactly the kind of thing you could pass off as a decorative feature, though.
He laughed. "You could always let him figure the damned thing out. I suspect he wouldn't have a clue it had anything to do with me anyway."
Dropping his jeans to the floor, he stepped into the shower and groaned, closing his eyes as the scalding hot water drew fiery lines down his shoulders and chest.
"Think Dom'd have a fit if you and I got our own room?" He smirked. It was the first time he'd really addressed 'them' as some sort of entity, and it even made him cringe, opening his eyes and looking at the ceiling.
Two days, ya fuckin idiot. You going to let her get under your skin like that?
She made another 'Mmm' noise. In the end, if she couldn't get it off, then she couldn't get it off. No harm done. Still, she did want to take it with her if she could. Still some time, though.
Lucas' question left her staring at the ceiling for a few seconds, her mind running over the words carefully. Yeah, she was thinking about whether Dom would object - which he probably wouldn't, although she knew he'd give her that look again - but mostly she was thinking about the idea of sharing a room with Lucas. The 'our' thing.
Gracie didn't really do 'our'. She had a strong suspicion that whatever the arrangement was, she'd end up in his bed at some point anyway, but the idea of actually going there intentionally from the beginning as an 'our' thing made a statement that she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to make so soon.
Still, it was just one night. It wasn't like it meant they were moving in together.
"Dunno. Don't think so." She shrugged again, although Lucas in the shower wouldn't be able to see that.
They'd probably end up destroying the place by accident. Unless he could keep his mouth shut and manage to not be an asshole for the night.
"Yeah."
The shower, strangely, wasn't improving his mood. He needed some time away from her, time alone to get his head together. But he didn't want to be away from her. She was too much fun, when she wasn't being a bitch.
Maybe the four of them should go out for beer or something. Seemed like a reprise of the night before, but eh... anything to stave off boredom. And the strong desire to pull Gracie into the shower that he was doing everything he could to fight off.
He didn't say anything further, turning off the water and pulling a towel off the shower door to dry himself off. Getting back into his jeans and picking up his tshirt, he stepped back into the bedroom.
There Gracie was, in the same spot she was in when he left her. Well, he could take a hint.
Without another word he left, down the stairs again with a thunking rhythm.
"Huh."
What, she couldn't just relax for a few minutes without him stomping off? Did he want her following him around like a fucking puppy?
She left it a good five minutes, scowling up at the ceiling, until she rolled herself out of the hammock and padded down the stairs.
Rummaging around in the kitchen, Gracie banged drawers open and shut, looking for a decent knife. She knew there was one, she'd been cutting stuff up with Dom the day before.
Eventually, she found one, straightening up and examining it for a moment with a smile.
Lucas sat out by the pool, smoking a cigarette and listening to the wind through the trees in the expansive back yard.
What was he thinking anyway, when he'd asked her that. He figured it wasn't worth getting an extra bed if neither was going to use it, but just because they'd fucked a few times didn't mean he was gauranteed a slot on her dance card for the next night. For all he knew Dom and Roy were waiting their turn.
Frowning, he glared out at the trees and let smoke drift in front of his eyes, feeling like a dragon breathing smoke and just waiting for some hapless traveler to wander in front of him.
Looking past the knife, Gracie saw him sitting outside and shook her head. Jesus, he was so fuckin' moody.
Leaning against the doorframe, she slid the little paring knife through her fingers. As tempting as it was to make a crack at him, she really didn't want to start another fight with him - not while she was moody herself and holding a blade.
"You're going to run out of cigarettes at this rate." It was said in an entirely conversation tone, though she was still sliding the handle of the knife through her fingers. Well, she had shit to do, she wasn't just down here to look for him.
"Sad ain't it. Here's hoping they have a decent store wherever we're headed." He didn't look at her, feeling tension build in his shoulders. He wasn't sure what it was that had him so keyed up, but he knew it wasn't about to be resolved with Dom and Roy in the house. God he needed some time alone. Even if time alone in his mind meant time with Gracie.
Stupid pain in the ass smartmouth whore that she was.
"Did you want my help with that," he said, sounding as if he was at least trying to be helpful.
"You can try." As long as he didn't put a hole in the wall without thinking, which seemed entirely possible. What, the idea of sharing a room with her for a night was that bad? He was the one that had fucking suggested it!
Well, if he wanted to stalk off and sit around being all hot and broody, he could do that. No skin off her nose - Gracie certainly didn't need his help, even if she might have liked the company.
Fucking boys. There was something wrong with them, she was sure.
Rubbing his eyes, he groaned, putting his cigrette out under his heel.
"That's not what I asked." He said, looking over his shoulder at her. "Something got you pissed off today, girl?"
For a moment, all she did was look at him, her grip tightening on the handle of the little knife.
All she wanted to say was, 'You.' Somehow, that didn't seem like the best way to avoid a fight, which Gracie seemed to recall thinking she should do.
"I know it's not..." She shook her head.
"Yes. I would like your help." Why the fuck was it always her that had to say it, had to take the extra step and leave herself open?
Well, he had asked her about the room, but that hadn't even been a proper way to ask her, it was like... assuming that she'd want to and wondering if Dom would have any issues. What the hell was with boys?
"And," Gracie looked down at the knife in her hands, running her finger along the top of the blade, "If we are taking off tonight, then... I think a room would be... nice."
Lucas wasn't exactly where most girls would look for 'nice'. He did not have a reputation for 'nice'.
Jesus, why the hell was she even trying?
Because you can't get him out of your head.
Lucas smirked, nodding. “Yeah. Guess I kind of stuck my foot in my own ass on that one.” He stood and looked at her as he walked back to the doorway. “Sorry.” His hand ran down her arm as he slipped past her.
It made him feel like a complete dickhead acting all sweet, and surely Gracie thought he was a complete Melvin for doing so. But he just didn’t know what else to do. It didn’t seem he could do a thing to please her. So why was he trying?
Because you can’t get her out of your head.
“So it’s built like steel, Dom tells me. Stronger even. You think a knife’s going to work?” He said as they went back up. “I may be able to do something, I’m no doubt stronger than you but if I really put myself into it, I might take out the wall as well.” Frowning, he thought about it as they got to the top of the stairs and walked back into the room.
"I wasn't going to try cutting it - I don't think I can. Maybe with like, bolt cutters or something. Figured I'd try to scrape it off the wall where it's sticky, but if you can break it..."
She chewed on her lip, tapping the knife against her hip - thankfully, she remembered to do it with the flat of the blade, not the sharp edge. It was an unthinking motion to keep her hands busy while she thought.
"It's like steel cable, yeah. But it's got more give. So yeah, it's hard to break."
Gesturing with the knife, Gracie pointed to where it was stuck to the wall.
"If you tried to break below there, where it's just the one strand for a while? I don't know, that might be easiest."
Or, she could just leave it there. Maybe push him into it, sit on his lap and...
She blinked a few times and shrugged at him.
Wrapping his hand around the place where it connected to the wall, he jerked it a few times, just testing it out.
“Wow. Still can’t quite get over it. That is just…amazing.” And he meant it. Her power fascinated him. The teeth were okay, if a bit of a nuisance when it came to kissing her, but the webbing…
“Have you ever tied someone up with this shit?” He looked back at her for a moment, then realized how that sounded, and laughed, looking back at the webbing.
Yeah, he could get it down. But it would bring the sheetrock with it. “Hand me that knife wouldja?”
Flipping the knife so that she was holding it by the blade, Gracie raised an eyebrow and nodded. She couldn't keep a slightly suggestive smile from her face as she held it out to him.
"Trying to say something?" His questions about her power seemed to focus on the more sado-masochistic possibilities. Pain freaks, typing people up... Well, she knew what business to get in if she ever wanted to get away from all this.
"Actually, the other day, when Dom and I..."
Wait, that sounded bad. It struck her that Lucas still didn't know exactly how she'd gotten the wads of cash that were spread through her bag.
"Well, there was this superhero guy, wearing a fucking cape and everything. Wrapped him in it, slowed him down for a while 'til Dom took care of him." She still didn't know what had happened to him - as far as she was concerned, he could rot in the coffin of earth Dominic had put him in.
Lucas offered back a suggestive smirk of his own before turning back to the hammock, listening to her story. He tested the knife out just for kicks, watching it slide over the thread without touching it.
“Hmmm.” Then she mentioned the super hero guy. “Oh really?” He grinned. “That wouldn’t be Guardian by any chance would it. I heard of that dick. Capitalizing on his mutant powers.” He shook his head. “Can’t say I blame him. So did that have anything to do with who you knocked over?”
He was slow, but he wasn’t stupid.
Tapping the blade against the corner of the hammock where the webbing was thickest, he felt the forces kick back against his hand and get sent back in return. Yeah. He could break this thing off. It would just take down the wall too.
Sighing, he lowered the knife and shook his head.
“Damn baby. You got me beat.” He handed the knife back to her, blade pointed towards him.
"Yeah, must have been. Who else wears a cape?" Even the X-Men had better style than that.
"And it was an armoured car. He showed up before the cops." Gracie shrugged. Lucas was going to find out anyway, she had no doubt.
She watched with what was probably pride at the strength of her webbing. Well, some people thought it made her a freak - she thought her mutation was awesome. She took the knife from him with a smile.
"Well, I guess we just leave it then. I can make another one." She put the knifeblade on the windowsil, coming back to run her fingers over the smooth strands of silk happily. Yeah, it had taken effort, but she didn't mind.
"Actually... What's the problem with the garage door?" She never paid much attention to how things like that worked - they just did. Still, she knew that some of them had cables... No doubt this one wouldn't be like that, though, or if it was that wouldn't be the broken part.
He slipped his arms around her from behind, leaning over to put his chin on her shoulder.
“The chain mechanism snapped. I’m lucky I didn’t bust the door itself, sure it wouldn’t have been inexpensive to fix.” He hugged her a bit tighter to him, and took a deep breath.
“Why. Thinking you might be able to help there too? Check you out, McGuyver.” Lucas grinned.
Her eyes closed as his arms slid around her, and Gracie's hands came down to rest on his.
Damn. It felt way too good, being held like that when he could probably break her with a simple squeeze.
"Mmm, I dunno. I mean, if all you need is a replacement chain than I can probably rig something for you."
He'd probably want to watch. Did she really want him knowing that she could crochet a chain for him simply enough? Since, you know, crochet really wouldn't do anything for her reputation.
"As long as the web's not too thick and everything. And I need to know how long the chain is."
“We can take a look at it.”
He closed his eyes and breathed her in, kissing along her neck slowly to her ear. She made him dizzy. He hated that. And he loved it. He wished they could freeze time and let things go, not have to worry about what the other was going to say or think or whether they were going to do this again tomorrow. He just wanted to touch her like this and… not have either of them open their god damned mouths.
Lucas wasn’t prone to regret or wishful thinking. It wasn’t his style. When he lifted a hand to run through her dark hair, he looked down at her and considered how much he already had changed for her. No one got away with the shit she did. He’d have written off any other girl for the shit she’d done to his head. And here he was, only wanting more of the same… bullshit.
Luke found himself wanting to say something about wishing they had a little more time to run around the city together, but he figured her only response would be to shrug. He grunted instead against the uncomfortable feeling that gave him. Lucas hated it when she reminded him of who they were. Why was it always him compromising, reaching out, exposing himself?
Gracie's mouth did open as he kissed her neck, sucking in an almost shaky breath. God, right now he could have done anything, said anything, and she'd have gone along with it unthinkingly. He messed with her head so bad, pushed all her buttons - the right ones and the wrong ones, it seemed. Right now, the right ones.
"Mmm." She wriggled in his grip, shifting around so that she was facing him and looking up at him with a small smile.
Too fucking gorgeous for his own good. Too gorgeous for her good - how was she supposed to have any chance against that? Her arms snaked up around his neck, her fingers running through his short hair, and she rose onto her tiptoes to plant a soft kiss on his lips - gently since she was still far too aware of the cut her fangs had given him.
"Suppose we should go do that, then."
God damn.
Letting out a shaky breath of his own, he held her to him, looking down into her eyes.
“Now how am I supposed to do a god damned thing with you looking at me like that, Gracie?” A lazy half smile drew across his face just before he lost his mind. “You make a guy think crazy thoughts. Half wanting to fuck this Brotherhood plan and drive away from all of it with you. You’re sure there isn’t some kind of mind control serum in that poison of yours?” He opened her lips with his, letting just the tips of their tongues touch.
Fuck it. He didn’t care what she thought of what he’d said. It had felt incredible to say it, as if for a second he was an entirely different person.
Fuck. He was such a tease, kissing her like that. That she'd never be able to kiss him the way she wanted to, for fear of hurting him, left her feeling incredibly frustrated and a bit upset, and she closed her eyes for a moment before she broke the kiss. Even though it was the last thing she wanted to do.
"Pretty sure, mmm." The smile she gave him held a hint of seduction - Gracie was pretty sure that it wasn't her fangs that had him saying what he was. Although, on the other hand, maybe that was exactly what it was.
"Where you going to take me, Lucas James?" Her voice was low and even huskier than usual.
Groaning softly, he picked her up and wrapped her legs around his waist. Walking to the window, he set her on the sill and kissed her collarbone where it met her throat. His hands ran along her back. Not knowing what to say without sounding like a complete idiot, he lowered his face and rested his forehead against her chest just above her breasts.
“Depends on where you want to go, Gracie Smith.” He closed his eyes, smiling a little to himself.
Breathe, man. Get it together.
Her fingertips, rough in a way that no-one else's were, skittered over his cheeks for a moment before moving back to run through his hair again. She could feel everywhere that they were touching, feel the heat of him against her... Fuck, it felt incredible, and she didn't know how she was supposed to react.
She didn't just let people have her like this. Gracie kept herself closely guarded, only giving as much as she knew she could to stay safe. So the next words to come out of her mouth were not the kind of thing she'd ever said before, and they came not much louder than a whisper.
"Doesn't matter, as long as it's with you."
Lucas sucked in a breath, not daring to react to what she said. He didn’t say a thing, holding her tighter still to him. Kissing his way up her neck again, he whispered in her ear.
“Good then. Get away with me for a bit once we get out of here. Before Pyro comes and we end up doing whatever it is we’re gonna do for the Brotherhood. I have a feeling there isn’t going to be a whole lot of time after this.”
Lucas lifted his head, looking at her for a moment. He smiled again, that subdued, distant sort of smile they both knew so well. Guarded but giving it a shot anyway.
"OK." She looked almost innocent as she nodded, her smile nowhere near as bold as it had been.
They wouldn't have long, since they already seemed to have stolen an extra night together. Gracie still couldn't help but think things would change with their change in scenery, the change in the group and the dynamic, but she didn't want them to. Fuck, she'd be happy playing house indefinitely, the way she was feeling now.
She wasn't used to feeling this way. God, she never thought she would, and she didn't know how to express it even if she wanted to. As much as her mind told her to keep her guard up, the rest of her didn't seem to be paying attention.
"I think... Right now, we should sort out this garage, then, so we can get out of here." Still, she didn't move, almost clinging to him in an unconcious contradiction.
Lucas laughed. At himself, at her, as the fact that they were here and not, you know, in a castle somewhere in armor. Cause he seriously doubted Gracie would ever wear one of those fruity princess dresses.
“Yeah. Let’s get it taken care of. I bet those boys are about as ready to go as we are.”
Kissing her once more, he put her on her feet again and picked up the knife, heading downstairs.
It wasn't working particularly well, and a string of expletives could be heard as she peeled her face away from the wall.
Unfortunately, she couldn't distract herself from it any longer - she'd already cleaned up the rest of the room, packed up the rest of her stuff. She was doing her best not to completely destroy the hammock - she could probably use it later, with a few minutes' work to strengthen it again - but it was looking like she'd have to soon. Maybe Dom could dust it the way he had the car - if he could avoid dusting the rest of the room in the process.
For a moment, she tugged ineffectually at the strands. It wasn't going to work and she knew it, but it didn't stop her from swearing in frustration when she failed.
Having spent the last few hours trying to fix the damned garage door, Lucas swore in frustration and threw a grease rag to the cement floor. He was just going to have to call someone to get it done. More money. Maybe he could sweet talk some out of Dom or something.
He was angry enough at the situation he didn't even laugh, in spite of the mental image his thought brought to mind.
Deciding to give up for a while, he came back into the house, slamming the door a bit harder than he meant to. He stomped upstairs while lighting a cigarette, going to Gracie's door- or at least, the door to the room Gracie was staying in, and pushed it open a bit, leaning against the doorframe. He was conscious of the fact that he was sweaty and greasy, and almost took pleasure out of not being presentable. Fuck her anyway.
"Thought you guys could just eat your webs or something."
"Yeah, yeah." Normal spiders could. Gracie wasn't a normal spider - despite the fangs, she still had an entirely human digestive system. Which, in her mind, was a very good thing. Sucking out the liquefied insides of insects? Yeah, not a pleasant idea.
"It's the sticky bits that are fucking me over." If she'd tied it to something instead of sticking it, she'd be fine. But no, in her frustration she'd stuck it straight to the walls rather than look for anchor points, and now she was paying for it. She couldn't just cut it - it was too strong, had too much give. Maybe with bolt cutters or something... but that'd still leave strands stuck to the walls for god only knew how long.
Of course, what she was thinking now was that a big knife would let her scrape it off. Probably with a good lot of the paint, too.
"How'd you do with the...?" Gracie waved vaguely towards the garage, leaning over to squint at how much of the web was stuck to the wall.
"Pretty well fucked there," he said, taking a drag of his cigarette and rubbing his fingers over his scalp through his short hair. "Gonna call Sears and have them take care of it."
"So we're staying another night huh. Think we should get a room closer in?"
Looking back at him over her shoulder for a moment, Gracie shrugged. "A bed'd be nice, but I thought the whole point of coming out here was to get... you know, away. Safe."
Giving up, she turned and sat on the hammock, looking at him with one eyebrow raised slightly. They'd had a bed, after all - well, she and Dom had - until Lucas had come and knocked down the door and dragged them to a titty bar.
Not that she'd minded the tits.
"That was a few days ago, you had Dom's car and you were too close in. Finding a place on Long Island can't hurt... and we should probably get out of here. You and I ain't exactly laid low." He smirked.
She was in a bad mood. Then again so was he. He wasn't really in the mood to fight with her. Didn't mean he was in the mood to make up either.
Walking into the bathroom, he tossed his cigarette in the toilet and stripped out of his sweaty shirt, turning on the shower. "So what you planning on doing with your little nest their Spidergirl."
Well, he was right about that. They'd probably attracted enough attention now for the whole 'safe house' thing to be fucked for a few months. At least she wasn't the one that had to tell Mr. Mob Boss that, though.
Gracie made an 'Mmm' sound at him, though it was more for the fact that he was taking off his clothes than to show her agreement. With another shrug, she laid down, her hands behind her head and her eyes on the ceiling. Just 'cause he was getting in the shower didn't mean she had to join him.
"Trying to figure out how to take it down without scraping all the paint of the walls. Was going to take it with me, unless you think a silk hammock would, you know, go down well with the owner." Wasn't exactly the kind of thing you could pass off as a decorative feature, though.
He laughed. "You could always let him figure the damned thing out. I suspect he wouldn't have a clue it had anything to do with me anyway."
Dropping his jeans to the floor, he stepped into the shower and groaned, closing his eyes as the scalding hot water drew fiery lines down his shoulders and chest.
"Think Dom'd have a fit if you and I got our own room?" He smirked. It was the first time he'd really addressed 'them' as some sort of entity, and it even made him cringe, opening his eyes and looking at the ceiling.
Two days, ya fuckin idiot. You going to let her get under your skin like that?
She made another 'Mmm' noise. In the end, if she couldn't get it off, then she couldn't get it off. No harm done. Still, she did want to take it with her if she could. Still some time, though.
Lucas' question left her staring at the ceiling for a few seconds, her mind running over the words carefully. Yeah, she was thinking about whether Dom would object - which he probably wouldn't, although she knew he'd give her that look again - but mostly she was thinking about the idea of sharing a room with Lucas. The 'our' thing.
Gracie didn't really do 'our'. She had a strong suspicion that whatever the arrangement was, she'd end up in his bed at some point anyway, but the idea of actually going there intentionally from the beginning as an 'our' thing made a statement that she wasn't entirely sure she wanted to make so soon.
Still, it was just one night. It wasn't like it meant they were moving in together.
"Dunno. Don't think so." She shrugged again, although Lucas in the shower wouldn't be able to see that.
They'd probably end up destroying the place by accident. Unless he could keep his mouth shut and manage to not be an asshole for the night.
"Yeah."
The shower, strangely, wasn't improving his mood. He needed some time away from her, time alone to get his head together. But he didn't want to be away from her. She was too much fun, when she wasn't being a bitch.
Maybe the four of them should go out for beer or something. Seemed like a reprise of the night before, but eh... anything to stave off boredom. And the strong desire to pull Gracie into the shower that he was doing everything he could to fight off.
He didn't say anything further, turning off the water and pulling a towel off the shower door to dry himself off. Getting back into his jeans and picking up his tshirt, he stepped back into the bedroom.
There Gracie was, in the same spot she was in when he left her. Well, he could take a hint.
Without another word he left, down the stairs again with a thunking rhythm.
"Huh."
What, she couldn't just relax for a few minutes without him stomping off? Did he want her following him around like a fucking puppy?
She left it a good five minutes, scowling up at the ceiling, until she rolled herself out of the hammock and padded down the stairs.
Rummaging around in the kitchen, Gracie banged drawers open and shut, looking for a decent knife. She knew there was one, she'd been cutting stuff up with Dom the day before.
Eventually, she found one, straightening up and examining it for a moment with a smile.
Lucas sat out by the pool, smoking a cigarette and listening to the wind through the trees in the expansive back yard.
What was he thinking anyway, when he'd asked her that. He figured it wasn't worth getting an extra bed if neither was going to use it, but just because they'd fucked a few times didn't mean he was gauranteed a slot on her dance card for the next night. For all he knew Dom and Roy were waiting their turn.
Frowning, he glared out at the trees and let smoke drift in front of his eyes, feeling like a dragon breathing smoke and just waiting for some hapless traveler to wander in front of him.
Looking past the knife, Gracie saw him sitting outside and shook her head. Jesus, he was so fuckin' moody.
Leaning against the doorframe, she slid the little paring knife through her fingers. As tempting as it was to make a crack at him, she really didn't want to start another fight with him - not while she was moody herself and holding a blade.
"You're going to run out of cigarettes at this rate." It was said in an entirely conversation tone, though she was still sliding the handle of the knife through her fingers. Well, she had shit to do, she wasn't just down here to look for him.
"Sad ain't it. Here's hoping they have a decent store wherever we're headed." He didn't look at her, feeling tension build in his shoulders. He wasn't sure what it was that had him so keyed up, but he knew it wasn't about to be resolved with Dom and Roy in the house. God he needed some time alone. Even if time alone in his mind meant time with Gracie.
Stupid pain in the ass smartmouth whore that she was.
"Did you want my help with that," he said, sounding as if he was at least trying to be helpful.
"You can try." As long as he didn't put a hole in the wall without thinking, which seemed entirely possible. What, the idea of sharing a room with her for a night was that bad? He was the one that had fucking suggested it!
Well, if he wanted to stalk off and sit around being all hot and broody, he could do that. No skin off her nose - Gracie certainly didn't need his help, even if she might have liked the company.
Fucking boys. There was something wrong with them, she was sure.
Rubbing his eyes, he groaned, putting his cigrette out under his heel.
"That's not what I asked." He said, looking over his shoulder at her. "Something got you pissed off today, girl?"
For a moment, all she did was look at him, her grip tightening on the handle of the little knife.
All she wanted to say was, 'You.' Somehow, that didn't seem like the best way to avoid a fight, which Gracie seemed to recall thinking she should do.
"I know it's not..." She shook her head.
"Yes. I would like your help." Why the fuck was it always her that had to say it, had to take the extra step and leave herself open?
Well, he had asked her about the room, but that hadn't even been a proper way to ask her, it was like... assuming that she'd want to and wondering if Dom would have any issues. What the hell was with boys?
"And," Gracie looked down at the knife in her hands, running her finger along the top of the blade, "If we are taking off tonight, then... I think a room would be... nice."
Lucas wasn't exactly where most girls would look for 'nice'. He did not have a reputation for 'nice'.
Jesus, why the hell was she even trying?
Because you can't get him out of your head.
Lucas smirked, nodding. “Yeah. Guess I kind of stuck my foot in my own ass on that one.” He stood and looked at her as he walked back to the doorway. “Sorry.” His hand ran down her arm as he slipped past her.
It made him feel like a complete dickhead acting all sweet, and surely Gracie thought he was a complete Melvin for doing so. But he just didn’t know what else to do. It didn’t seem he could do a thing to please her. So why was he trying?
Because you can’t get her out of your head.
“So it’s built like steel, Dom tells me. Stronger even. You think a knife’s going to work?” He said as they went back up. “I may be able to do something, I’m no doubt stronger than you but if I really put myself into it, I might take out the wall as well.” Frowning, he thought about it as they got to the top of the stairs and walked back into the room.
"I wasn't going to try cutting it - I don't think I can. Maybe with like, bolt cutters or something. Figured I'd try to scrape it off the wall where it's sticky, but if you can break it..."
She chewed on her lip, tapping the knife against her hip - thankfully, she remembered to do it with the flat of the blade, not the sharp edge. It was an unthinking motion to keep her hands busy while she thought.
"It's like steel cable, yeah. But it's got more give. So yeah, it's hard to break."
Gesturing with the knife, Gracie pointed to where it was stuck to the wall.
"If you tried to break below there, where it's just the one strand for a while? I don't know, that might be easiest."
Or, she could just leave it there. Maybe push him into it, sit on his lap and...
She blinked a few times and shrugged at him.
Wrapping his hand around the place where it connected to the wall, he jerked it a few times, just testing it out.
“Wow. Still can’t quite get over it. That is just…amazing.” And he meant it. Her power fascinated him. The teeth were okay, if a bit of a nuisance when it came to kissing her, but the webbing…
“Have you ever tied someone up with this shit?” He looked back at her for a moment, then realized how that sounded, and laughed, looking back at the webbing.
Yeah, he could get it down. But it would bring the sheetrock with it. “Hand me that knife wouldja?”
Flipping the knife so that she was holding it by the blade, Gracie raised an eyebrow and nodded. She couldn't keep a slightly suggestive smile from her face as she held it out to him.
"Trying to say something?" His questions about her power seemed to focus on the more sado-masochistic possibilities. Pain freaks, typing people up... Well, she knew what business to get in if she ever wanted to get away from all this.
"Actually, the other day, when Dom and I..."
Wait, that sounded bad. It struck her that Lucas still didn't know exactly how she'd gotten the wads of cash that were spread through her bag.
"Well, there was this superhero guy, wearing a fucking cape and everything. Wrapped him in it, slowed him down for a while 'til Dom took care of him." She still didn't know what had happened to him - as far as she was concerned, he could rot in the coffin of earth Dominic had put him in.
Lucas offered back a suggestive smirk of his own before turning back to the hammock, listening to her story. He tested the knife out just for kicks, watching it slide over the thread without touching it.
“Hmmm.” Then she mentioned the super hero guy. “Oh really?” He grinned. “That wouldn’t be Guardian by any chance would it. I heard of that dick. Capitalizing on his mutant powers.” He shook his head. “Can’t say I blame him. So did that have anything to do with who you knocked over?”
He was slow, but he wasn’t stupid.
Tapping the blade against the corner of the hammock where the webbing was thickest, he felt the forces kick back against his hand and get sent back in return. Yeah. He could break this thing off. It would just take down the wall too.
Sighing, he lowered the knife and shook his head.
“Damn baby. You got me beat.” He handed the knife back to her, blade pointed towards him.
"Yeah, must have been. Who else wears a cape?" Even the X-Men had better style than that.
"And it was an armoured car. He showed up before the cops." Gracie shrugged. Lucas was going to find out anyway, she had no doubt.
She watched with what was probably pride at the strength of her webbing. Well, some people thought it made her a freak - she thought her mutation was awesome. She took the knife from him with a smile.
"Well, I guess we just leave it then. I can make another one." She put the knifeblade on the windowsil, coming back to run her fingers over the smooth strands of silk happily. Yeah, it had taken effort, but she didn't mind.
"Actually... What's the problem with the garage door?" She never paid much attention to how things like that worked - they just did. Still, she knew that some of them had cables... No doubt this one wouldn't be like that, though, or if it was that wouldn't be the broken part.
He slipped his arms around her from behind, leaning over to put his chin on her shoulder.
“The chain mechanism snapped. I’m lucky I didn’t bust the door itself, sure it wouldn’t have been inexpensive to fix.” He hugged her a bit tighter to him, and took a deep breath.
“Why. Thinking you might be able to help there too? Check you out, McGuyver.” Lucas grinned.
Her eyes closed as his arms slid around her, and Gracie's hands came down to rest on his.
Damn. It felt way too good, being held like that when he could probably break her with a simple squeeze.
"Mmm, I dunno. I mean, if all you need is a replacement chain than I can probably rig something for you."
He'd probably want to watch. Did she really want him knowing that she could crochet a chain for him simply enough? Since, you know, crochet really wouldn't do anything for her reputation.
"As long as the web's not too thick and everything. And I need to know how long the chain is."
“We can take a look at it.”
He closed his eyes and breathed her in, kissing along her neck slowly to her ear. She made him dizzy. He hated that. And he loved it. He wished they could freeze time and let things go, not have to worry about what the other was going to say or think or whether they were going to do this again tomorrow. He just wanted to touch her like this and… not have either of them open their god damned mouths.
Lucas wasn’t prone to regret or wishful thinking. It wasn’t his style. When he lifted a hand to run through her dark hair, he looked down at her and considered how much he already had changed for her. No one got away with the shit she did. He’d have written off any other girl for the shit she’d done to his head. And here he was, only wanting more of the same… bullshit.
Luke found himself wanting to say something about wishing they had a little more time to run around the city together, but he figured her only response would be to shrug. He grunted instead against the uncomfortable feeling that gave him. Lucas hated it when she reminded him of who they were. Why was it always him compromising, reaching out, exposing himself?
Gracie's mouth did open as he kissed her neck, sucking in an almost shaky breath. God, right now he could have done anything, said anything, and she'd have gone along with it unthinkingly. He messed with her head so bad, pushed all her buttons - the right ones and the wrong ones, it seemed. Right now, the right ones.
"Mmm." She wriggled in his grip, shifting around so that she was facing him and looking up at him with a small smile.
Too fucking gorgeous for his own good. Too gorgeous for her good - how was she supposed to have any chance against that? Her arms snaked up around his neck, her fingers running through his short hair, and she rose onto her tiptoes to plant a soft kiss on his lips - gently since she was still far too aware of the cut her fangs had given him.
"Suppose we should go do that, then."
God damn.
Letting out a shaky breath of his own, he held her to him, looking down into her eyes.
“Now how am I supposed to do a god damned thing with you looking at me like that, Gracie?” A lazy half smile drew across his face just before he lost his mind. “You make a guy think crazy thoughts. Half wanting to fuck this Brotherhood plan and drive away from all of it with you. You’re sure there isn’t some kind of mind control serum in that poison of yours?” He opened her lips with his, letting just the tips of their tongues touch.
Fuck it. He didn’t care what she thought of what he’d said. It had felt incredible to say it, as if for a second he was an entirely different person.
Fuck. He was such a tease, kissing her like that. That she'd never be able to kiss him the way she wanted to, for fear of hurting him, left her feeling incredibly frustrated and a bit upset, and she closed her eyes for a moment before she broke the kiss. Even though it was the last thing she wanted to do.
"Pretty sure, mmm." The smile she gave him held a hint of seduction - Gracie was pretty sure that it wasn't her fangs that had him saying what he was. Although, on the other hand, maybe that was exactly what it was.
"Where you going to take me, Lucas James?" Her voice was low and even huskier than usual.
Groaning softly, he picked her up and wrapped her legs around his waist. Walking to the window, he set her on the sill and kissed her collarbone where it met her throat. His hands ran along her back. Not knowing what to say without sounding like a complete idiot, he lowered his face and rested his forehead against her chest just above her breasts.
“Depends on where you want to go, Gracie Smith.” He closed his eyes, smiling a little to himself.
Breathe, man. Get it together.
Her fingertips, rough in a way that no-one else's were, skittered over his cheeks for a moment before moving back to run through his hair again. She could feel everywhere that they were touching, feel the heat of him against her... Fuck, it felt incredible, and she didn't know how she was supposed to react.
She didn't just let people have her like this. Gracie kept herself closely guarded, only giving as much as she knew she could to stay safe. So the next words to come out of her mouth were not the kind of thing she'd ever said before, and they came not much louder than a whisper.
"Doesn't matter, as long as it's with you."
Lucas sucked in a breath, not daring to react to what she said. He didn’t say a thing, holding her tighter still to him. Kissing his way up her neck again, he whispered in her ear.
“Good then. Get away with me for a bit once we get out of here. Before Pyro comes and we end up doing whatever it is we’re gonna do for the Brotherhood. I have a feeling there isn’t going to be a whole lot of time after this.”
Lucas lifted his head, looking at her for a moment. He smiled again, that subdued, distant sort of smile they both knew so well. Guarded but giving it a shot anyway.
"OK." She looked almost innocent as she nodded, her smile nowhere near as bold as it had been.
They wouldn't have long, since they already seemed to have stolen an extra night together. Gracie still couldn't help but think things would change with their change in scenery, the change in the group and the dynamic, but she didn't want them to. Fuck, she'd be happy playing house indefinitely, the way she was feeling now.
She wasn't used to feeling this way. God, she never thought she would, and she didn't know how to express it even if she wanted to. As much as her mind told her to keep her guard up, the rest of her didn't seem to be paying attention.
"I think... Right now, we should sort out this garage, then, so we can get out of here." Still, she didn't move, almost clinging to him in an unconcious contradiction.
Lucas laughed. At himself, at her, as the fact that they were here and not, you know, in a castle somewhere in armor. Cause he seriously doubted Gracie would ever wear one of those fruity princess dresses.
“Yeah. Let’s get it taken care of. I bet those boys are about as ready to go as we are.”
Kissing her once more, he put her on her feet again and picked up the knife, heading downstairs.