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Gabriel was not great with directions, but fortunately he was able to follow the ones that Jean gave and guided her through the evening streets of New York City. Even though he did not wear a coat or jacket, he was doing his best to make sure that Jean was warm by keeping an arm about her; perhaps a bit protectively both from others walking nearby and from the elements.
Since departing the apartment of the wonder-twins, he'd been a bit on the quieter side but only now starts to speak quietly. "I had hoped the first time I came to the city would be for a more joyful reason than looking for that box." It was an attempt at conversation as he paused, looked at a street sign, and lead them down a new direction.
*
It was cold, Jean did have enough sense to wear a jacket, but even still, she quietly shivers as she bundles her arms against her chest. The heat from Gabriel was a godsend, and she melted into him, her head down, her mind forcibly blocked to all thoughts of those that passed by. She was quieter still. The talk with Marie and Scarlett did wonders, the burger was delicious and the nap that she had in Gabriel's lap refreshed her.
It was odd! He turned out to be the protector when all she wanted to do was protect him!
"I should have known better." She says quietly, keeping her head ducked and low. Occasionally, a voice slips into her psyche, which has her hand reaching up to cover her face as if something was thrown in her direction. "Do you know where we're going?" She asks quietly.
*
Gabriel nods his head towards Jean, "You told me the location. The girls gave me directions and explained out the city is laid out. It is a grid so I just am following the lines until we get to the right point." He manages a smile down at her, a confident smile despite himself to reassure that he does know where he's going, even if he's never been there before. As it is, he reaches another street and waits for traffic before guiding Jean across.
"You'll be in the apartment very soon, and we'll get you taken care of and a good rest. You'll feel better then." He enjoyed taking care of her, helping her as she does for him so often. They are only about two blocks away from the address indicated, having made good time along the way, spurred on by the chill.
*
Jean could only nod, keeping quiet as he makes sense of the directions that were given. She looks up just once, finding that they were on the right path, her eyes closing again in trust for him to lead them to the destination. "I wish I could take care of you this way too." Jean murmurs, leaning against him as they continue the path. The smile of pride that he gives was something that made her smile as well, and with a slight uncurl of her arm, she draws it around his waist.
"We need to learn to drive."
*
"In the car thing?" Gabriel asks, sounding less certain of that before he shakes his head. "But if we drive, then why would we ever walk together?" It just doesn't make sense to him, he'd rather spend the time walking. But he probably just doesn't know any better. "And you do take care of me. Who makes sure I eat? Have clothes? Sleeps?" He pauses at the block next to the apartment, turning to face Jean for a moment under the streetlight. "You found me. What more does there need to be?"
*
"Mmhmm." Though his question? It actually makes her laugh. It was the sweetest thing that she had ever heard, especially coming from him. "We can sit together while it moves." She states, ".. and we can listen to music. And we can sing together. And we can drive up to a place and watch the stars in the sky at night." She was a dreamer, slowly becoming herself again with the time spent alone with him, even as he stops her in the middle of the light that illuminates their figures against the concrete.
"I know Gabriel, its me. But those are just basic necessities.." She explains. "You need those things. But.." She just shakes her head, lifting upon the tips of her toes to press a light kiss to his lips. It was a very brief one, spurred on by the chill and the need to get inside. "Nothing more. I promise."
*
A smile brushes his lips and he nods, slinking an arm about her, for warmth of course. Then the last walk towards the apartment is undertaken to cross those few block streets. All along the way he actually starts speaking, babbling as it were in a way that she does. Commenting about the things he's seen in the city so far, asking questions. Most of them seem to revolve around the various types of food that he's born witness to. It is only upon reaching the apartment building that he stops and looks up at it. "This is much bigger than the cabin.."
*
Once they were in front of the building, Jean looks up just as he does. "It is.." She comments quietly, then steps into the foyer, the smile given to the doorman as he parts the ways for them, and her leading them to the elevators.
It was actually close to a penthouse near the top floors, the elevator doors dinging to a stop, leading out into a singular hallway that takes them down to the solitary door of the Professors apartment. A key was used to open the door, and such a grand thing it was inside. Much, much bigger than the cabin, yes. And with rooms that needed to be filled.
The kitchen itself was as large as the main living space, the fanciest tv that money could by. Sofas line the front of it with tables, and the Master Bedroom was practically up the steps. It.. was just fancy. "Are you hungry?" She quietly murmurs. "I could make you something to eat.."
*
The words pull Gabriel out of his moment of looking around the extremely fancy location, finally pulling his attention to Jean and he shakes his head a bit. "No. No that isn't necessary. You need to rest." His moment of awe is put aside as he carefully removes his boots and sets them by the entryway before entering further into the penthouse.
"It is quite fancy, this place. And quiet, I think you'll be able to rest very well here. I can make sure you sleep well without being distrubed." He nods his head at his own words, already staking out a plan of where he'll set up at to make sure she can rest in peace.
*
"Are you sure? It's no trouble. I feel better.." But he was already pulling off his shoes, and soon hers were taken off as well. With a wave of her hand she arranges them neatly by the door, her jacket soon pulled off and hung upon the hook, her arms lifting towards the ceiling as she stretches. With a nod, she steps forward into the main room, gesturing around to show him what he needs.
"The kitchen is over there. I shopped a few days ago so everything is still fresh. Bathroom is down the hall. The television is right here so you can watch tv. Um.. I'm going into one of the smaller bedrooms, it just didn't feel right to sleep in his bed." She smiles slightly. "Uhm.." She didn't know what else to say, she was used to sleeping in the same space with him. "Are.. you sure you don't want anything? I.. really think you should eat."
*
He ponders for a moment but Gabriel shakes his head and starts to walk into the kitchen area. "I can maybe find some fruit… you usually feed me fruit so I know what I should eat." He in fact does find what he's looking for quickly, strawberries and cherries; even out of season but close enough that he pulls them from their cooled containers and begins to eat at them. Salads and fruits, the standard diet for this guy.
"I really like when you help me, when you take care of me." Gabriel starts to explain to Jean before he smiles, "But sometimes, I think it's ok if you can focus on yourself. I'm very glad you're feeling better, but I am still a bit worried. I could do nothing, and all I wanted to do was scoop you up in my arms and make everything right."
*
"I.. I can get.." Okay! So, she really didn't have to do much after all. There was a lean against the wall as she watches him, her arms folding around her chest. She was glad at least that he was eating. She couldn't remember if he ate or not while at Marie and Scarlett's. It felt like her energy was drained and she slept the entire time. She was still feeling that little bit of drowsiness, a yawn soon cutting her lips as she covers her mouth.
It was soon stifled, a little blush given as she glances away to avoid eye contact completely. "I.. would like it if you did." She smiles slightly, then finally watches him. "Like in the woods, when you kissed me and carried me inside. After your eyes began to glow."
*
Watching her lean, Gabriel slowly picks up a strawberry from the container and walks over to where Jean is, looking down at her as she leans against the wall. Holding the strawberry up, offering it to her he smiles and shrugs so innocently. "I just did what my instincts said. I was trying to think but the thinking didn't work well." The strawberry is offered, a brush over her lips with it as he tries not to chuckle.
"You are tired, you need more rest. Then maybe, since we're in town, we could find something to do tomorrow that is not stressful? That will help you smile?"
*
Jean's eyes watch the strawberry within his grasp as he lifts it, her eyes drawn up towards him as he brushes it against her lips. She doesn't hold his hand to take a bite, trusting him to hold it still as she sinks her teeth into the delicious fruit. "Mm… I see.." She says, her hands lifting to cover her mouth as she chews, a little step taken backwards as she gives him a grin. "I have a few ideas of what we can do tomorrow. Movies.." She nods faintly. "And a gift for Charles."
But, she was in fact tired, favoring a nice warm bed, she does take a slight step away from the wall, hesitant. "Do.. do you want to stay with me until I fall asleep? That would make me smile, right now anyways."
*
"Of course." He nods in affirmation, reaching out for her hand when he notices that Jean has become hesitant. "Whatever you need in order to smile, to feel at peace." Gabriel's tone matches the look and body he carries, compassionate and caring. "I will stay at your side until you are peacefully asleep, even if takes all night."
*
She draws his hand up as soon as he captures hers, pulling him backwards, turning so that his arm is around her shoulders so that hers could find his waist. She leads him into the hall and into the open door of her designated bedroom, the bed was a mess with a few pairs of shirts and pants upon the floor, but she wasn't ashamed.
Moving away from him, she slowly begins to unbutton her pants, her hips a slight shimmy as she tugs them downward, stepping out of them and leaving them right upon the ground where she stood in favor of the bed. "Come on.." She murmurs, climbing atop of the soft mattress, bundling the heavy blanket up as she falls into it with a bounce, the pillows bunched underneath her head. "Lets get warm."
*
Following after a tilt of his head at the disrobing, Gabe wanders to the bed shortly after Jean and climbs upon it tentatively, having never experienced it; at least as far as he can remember. Sinking into the mattress and finding himself face to face with Jean upon pillows he blinks at her and manages a smile. "So. This is a bed?" He asks it after several moments, just to make conversation it would seem.
*
There was a little shock that settles in. She realizes that soon after he's asked the question that he never laid upon one. "Yes.." She says quietly, her head nodding. "It's a bed." She slips a little closer, drawing the blankets around him to cover him. "Does it feel good to you?" Her hand lifts to lightly brush along his cheek, her thumb brushing against the bottom of his lip.
*
Fingers lift, reaching to lift a lock of red hair up and back behind her ear and tracing along after placing it in a gentle touch. "It's… different." He responds noncommittally. "I'm not sure if I like it or not yet, I suppose I'll know in the morning." The brush of his hand mimics that of hers, soft and promising. "It is much softer than the floor for sure."
*
Her eyes close as he brushes his fingers against her face, the touch so gentle yet harsh upon her senses. She slips closer still, her leg drawing up to lace with his own, her fingers sliding against the shirt that he wears to lift so that she could feel his skin in response. "I think you will love it.." She admits quietly, her eyes finally opening as she leans in, only to close them yet again to kiss him.
*
Memory detaches itself from instinct. His lips part as he leans back into her, kissing a deeper lover's kiss than any they've shared. The body knows when the mind does not, the press of his own weight back against her and the slight roll of his weight to quarter lay against her. One hand on her cheek to caress the kiss along while the other running down to the leg that is entwining with his. It is only after he must breathe that Gabriel breaks and whispers, "I think I might."
*